India finds itself at the intersection of key issues that matter for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The Indian Air Force’s decision to fast-track the mid-life upgrade of its Su-30MKI fleet comes amid its squadron strength shrinking to 29 when the sanctioned number is 42; the upgrade includes new avionics, radars, sensors and electronic warfare gear. Meanwhile, Cyclone Montha is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast with winds nearing 110 km/h and heavy rainfall in Rayalaseema, triggering alerts across districts.

On the diplomacy front, China’s practice of ‘panda diplomacy’—now extended to golden snub-nosed monkeys—raises questions of soft power, conservation and bilateral ties. Together, these topics illustrate three major dimensions: military preparedness and border security, disaster management and climate challenges, and the evolving nature of diplomatic outreach through wildlife-ambassador tactics. Each has direct relevance for General Studies-II and III in the UPSC mains, and for prelims current-affairs questions on India’s strategic environment, regional geography and international relations.