India’s Security Scenario

 

1. In 2025, the global and regional security environment deteriorated sharply due to multiple conflicts, weakening of the international order, rising defence expenditure, technological militarisation, and the expanding terrorism–organised crime nexus.

2. More than 56 wars and armed conflicts were recorded worldwide during 2025, causing extensive casualties, habitat destruction, mass displacement, and the highest scale of violence seen since the Second World War.

3. Civil wars in Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan continued through 2025, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.

4. Global military expenditure reached about USD 2.3 trillion in 2024, marking a 9 percent increase over 2023 and reflecting both immediate security concerns and force modernisation programmes.

5. The global artificial intelligence market was valued at about USD 11.53 billion in 2025 and is projected to approach USD 20 billion by 2030, with an important defence-linked component.

6. The global rockets and missiles market was estimated at about USD 60 to 62.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to around USD 85 to 93 billion by 2029–2030.

7. The global hypersonic missile market was estimated at USD 8.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand to nearly USD 29.9 billion by 2034.

8. Drones became central to modern warfare in 2025, with systems ranging from FPV drones and loitering munitions to MALE and HALE platforms used for surveillance, targeting, precision strikes, and saturation attacks.

9. The Russia–Ukraine war continued as a prolonged attritional conflict in 2025, with heavy casualties on both sides and incremental Russian territorial gains in the Donbas region.

10. NATO countries agreed to raise defence spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, reflecting heightened concern over the Russian threat and worsening the broader NATO–Russia confrontation.

11. In the Indo-Pacific, China intensified pressure in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea, while continuing naval modernisation and launching its third aircraft carrier.

12. In West Asia, Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by Iranian counter-actions, raised fears of wider conflict, though escalation was temporarily contained.

13. India’s security outlook worsened after the brief but intense India–Pakistan conflict of May 2025, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025.

14. The Red Fort terror attack on 10 November 2025 highlighted the continuing threat from terrorism, radicalisation and deepening societal polarisation.

15. Operation Sindoor was India’s first no-contact war, marked by extensive use of missiles, drones, space, and cyber capabilities without large-scale mobilisation of conventional forces.

 

Must Know Terms :

1.OperationSindoor

Operation Sindoor was India’s first no contact war, fought in May 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack. It relied heavily on missiles, drones, loitering munitions, space based assets, ISR platforms, and cyber tools instead of large scale mobilisation. The operation demonstrated how future wars may be shaped by precision technologies, remote strike capability, and integrated battlefield networks in coming years.

2. Hypersonics

Hypersonic weapons emerged as a major focus area in the changing global military environment. The global hypersonic missile market was estimated at USD 8.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly USD 29.9 billion by 2034. Their rising importance reflects the search for faster, harder to intercept strike systems that can alter deterrence, escalation dynamics, and combat planning.

3. Militarisation

Militarisation intensified in 2025 as continuing conflicts, strategic uncertainty, and force modernisation pushed global military expenditure to about USD 2.3 trillion in 2024, a 9 percent rise over 2023. It was also visible in the Indo Pacific, where repeated exercises, expanding naval power, and pressure in contested seas deepened tensions and strengthened hard security competition across the broader Asian region.

4. NATO

NATO became central to Europe’s worsening security environment as the Russia Ukraine war continued and fears of the Russian threat deepened. Under pressure from the United States, NATO countries agreed to raise defence spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. This decision heightened Russian concerns and further sharpened the NATO Russia confrontation across Europe during a period of flux.

5. AttritionWarfare

Attrition warfare described the character of the Russia Ukraine conflict in 2025, where neither side secured a decisive outcome despite sustained pressure and heavy casualties. The war became prolonged, exhausting manpower, matériel, and infrastructure over time. Ukraine carried out deep strikes into Russian territory, while Russia continued attacks on energy systems, cities, and positions in the Donbas region throughout 2025.

6. DroneSwarm

Drone swarm warfare reflects the growing use of multiple unmanned systems coordinated for surveillance, targeting, and attack. In 2025, artificial intelligence increasingly supported autonomous targeting, swarm operations, and real time ISR, making drones a defining feature of conflict. Their spread lowered entry barriers for state and non state actors, increased lethality, and complicated air defence and escalation control increasingly worldwide.

MCQ

1. With reference to the global security environment in 2025, which of the following is correct?

A) Fewer than 30 wars and armed conflicts were recorded worldwide
B) Around 40 wars and armed conflicts were recorded worldwide
C) More than 56 wars and armed conflicts were recorded worldwide
D) No major civil war continued through the year

2. Global military expenditure in 2024 was estimated at:

A) USD 1.8 trillion
B) USD 2.0 trillion
C) USD 2.8 trillion
D) USD 2.3 trillion

3. The global artificial intelligence market in 2025 was valued at approximately:

A) USD 11.53 billion
B) USD 8.5 billion
C) USD 20 billion
D) USD 60 billion

4. The global hypersonic missile market is projected to reach nearly what level by 2034?

A) USD 18.5 billion
B) USD 29.9 billion
C) USD 24.9 billion
D) USD 39.9 billion

5. NATO countries agreed to raise defence spending to what level of GDP by 2035?

A) 3 percent
B) 4 percent
C) 5 percent
D) 6 percent

6. Which of the following best describes Operation Sindoor?

A) A conventional land war with large-scale troop mobilisation
B) A maritime blockade operation in the Arabian Sea
C) A peacekeeping operation after the Red Fort attack
D) India’s first no-contact war using missiles, drones, space, and cyber capabilities

7. The India–Pakistan conflict of May 2025 was triggered by:

A) the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025
B) a naval clash in the Arabian Sea
C) the Red Fort terror attack of 10 November 2025
D) a ceasefire breakdown on the eastern border

8. The Red Fort terror attack referred to in the passage took place on:

A) 22 April 2025
B) 10 November 2025
C) 1 January 2025
D) 15 August 2025

9. In the Indo-Pacific, China continued naval modernisation and launched its:

A) first aircraft carrier
B) second aircraft carrier
C) third aircraft carrier
D) fourth aircraft carrier

10. Civil wars that continued unabated in 2025 included which of the following?

1. Myanmar
2. Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Sudan

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

11. The global rockets and missiles market in 2024 was estimated at about:

A) USD 60 to 62.5 billion
B) USD 40 to 42.5 billion
C) USD 70 to 72.5 billion
D) USD 85 to 93 billion

12. The Russia–Ukraine war in 2025 was primarily characterised as:

A) a short conventional war ending in Russian victory
B) a prolonged attritional conflict with heavy casualties and incremental Russian gains in Donbas
C) a fully frozen conflict without major operations
D) a conflict resolved through President Trump’s peace plan

13. Which of the following categories of unmanned systems were noted as being extensively used in 2025 conflicts?

A) Only MALE platforms
B) Only FPV drones and loitering munitions
C) FPV drones, loitering munitions, MALE platforms, and HALE platforms
D) Only HALE platforms with no smaller drones

14. The Russia–China strategic partnership in 2025 was noted to have:

A) collapsed due to sanctions
B) remained unchanged despite the war
C) weakened because of energy disputes
D) deepened further with Chinese diplomatic, trade, and economic support to Russia

15. Which one of the following was specifically recommended for India’s future security preparedness?

A) Rapid modernisation with self-reliance in drones, missiles, cyber, ISR, and AI-enabled technologies
B) Withdrawal from defence diplomacy
C) Reduction in attention to non-traditional security threats
D) Delaying jointness and military integration