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🔆 FATF Acknowledges ‘State-Sponsored Terror’ ✅ FATF condemned the Pahalgam terror attack — only the 3rd such condemnation in a decade. ✅ For the first time, FATF will release a report acknowledging state-sponsorship as a source of terror funding. ✅ The report, expected next month, will highlight financial risks tied to state-backed terror. ✅ India’s dossier targets Pakistan’s alleged role in cross-border terror financing. #Infantry #MilitaryStrategy #IndiaDefense #security

🔆 Virtual Assets & Terror Financing 📍 Overview ✅ FATF flagged deficiencies in global standards on virtual assets (VAs) & virtual asset service providers (VASPs) related to money laundering and terror financing. 📍 Virtual Assets ✅ Digital value: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin. (Note: Not government-issued currencies) 📍 VASPs ✅ Facilitate: • Exchange between virtual & fiat currencies • Transfers between virtual assets • Custody/administration of assets ✅ Examples: Crypto exchanges, wallet providers, ATM operators. 📍 Security Challenges ✅ Anonymity: VPNs & anonymity tools mask identities. ✅ Regulatory Arbitrage: Entities relocate to weak oversight jurisdictions. ✅ Crowdfunding: Extremists use social media & crowdfunding for global donations. 📍 India’s Response ✅ PMLA Inclusion (March 2023): VDASPs under AML/CFT norms. ✅ Mandatory FIU-IND Registration: For VASPs. ✅ FATF Evaluation: Enhanced monitoring for 2025 review. #security

🔆 Issues in Handling Left Wing Extremism/Naxalism 📍 Operational & Strategic Challenges ✅ Negligence of established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP): Leads to security personnel deaths. ➤ Example: In Jan 2025, Naxalites killed 8 DRG personnel + 1 driver in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. ➤ Insufficient intelligence backup ✅ Structural deficits and deficiencies: IPS officers posted to senior CRPF roles without field experience. ✅ Laundering of funds: Naxal leaders (esp. Bihar, Jharkhand) invest extorted money in movable & immovable properties. ✅ Inefficient technology: Current tech can’t detect deep-planted mines—leads to casualties. ✅ Complex locations: Dense forests & hilly terrain make operations harder. ✅ Delay in acquisition of technology: Out of 157 sanctioned MPVs, only 13 delivered to CAPFs by Ordnance Factory Board. ✅ Unfamiliar area: Central Forces lack local language & terrain knowledge—limits effectiveness. #security Join https://t.me/Mindmaps_4_upsc

🔆Exercise Shakti ✅Exercise Shakti is a biennial Indo-French joint military exercise, launched to enhance bilateral military cooperation and interoperability. ✅It focuses on sub-conventional warfare training and UN peacekeeping operations, especially under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. ✅Host and Participating Nations: Hosted by France in 2025 at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie. 📍Participants include: ✅Indian Army contingent led by the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. ✅French Army’s 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE). 📍Key Features: ✅Joint training in semi-urban terrain, mimicking modern asymmetric conflict scenarios. ✅Shared learning of Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for sub-conventional operations. ✅Includes physically intensive activities to build endurance and team spirit. ✅Familiarisation with modern military equipment and battlefield technologies. ✅Promotes interoperability in UN peacekeeping and counter-insurgency 📍Significance of the Exercise: ✅Strengthens military diplomacy and deepens India-France defence ties. ✅Enhances strategic cooperation in Indo-Pacific and global security architecture. ✅Builds trust, communication, and coordination between the two professional forces.  

Exercise Khaan Quest: ✅It is a multinational military e The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities. ✅Last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was conducted in Mongolia in 2024. ✅The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003. ✅Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise with current year being the 22nd iteration. ✅The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented mainly by troops from a Battalion of the KUMAON REGIMENT along with personnel from other Arms and Services. One Woman Officer and two Women Soldiers will also form part of the contingent. ✅Aim of Exercise to prepare Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. ✅The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills. ✅It will enable the participating countries to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations. The exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries. #gs3 #prelims #defence #internal_security #security

Border Security Force (BSF) ✅Establishment: On December 1, 1965, in the wake of the 1965 India-Pakistan war. ✅Administrative Control: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). ✅Deployment: Deployed at Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border and Line of Control (LoC), along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations. ✅Officials: Although, the BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS). ✅Logo and motto: The Logo of BSF has two spikes of grains, embracing the National Emblem of India and the typeface BSF. The motto of BSF “DUTY UNTO DEATH” is placed at the bottom ✅It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India. ✅Other Central Armed Police Forces are : 🔸Assam Rifles (AR), 🔸 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 🔸Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), 🔸Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 🔸National Security Guards (NSG) and 🔸Sashastra Seema

🔆 Key Cybersecurity Initiatives in India 📍 Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) ✅ Established in New Delhi, includes representatives from banks, financial intermediaries, telecom providers, IT intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies. ✅ Ensures immediate action and cooperation to combat online financial crimes, promoting Cooperative Federalism in law enforcement. 📍 Samanvay Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System) ✅ A web-based portal for cybercrime data repository, sharing, crime mapping, and data analytics. ✅ Acts as a coordination platform for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) across India. 📍 Cyber Commandos Program ✅ A program to train 5,000 cyber commandos for deployment in states, UTs, and Central Police Organizations (CPOs). ✅ Aims to secure the digital space through specialized cyber manpower.

🔆Druze Community ✅The ongoing conflict in Syria continues to reveal deep-seated sectarian tensions. Recent clashes near Damascus have involved Islamist factions, security forces, and the Druze minority. ✅Violence erupted after an audio clip surfaced, allegedly featuring a Druze cleric criticising Prophet Mohammed. ✅This incited anger among Sunni Islamists, leading to attacks on Druze community members. Armed Druze fighters responded, escalating the conflict in areas such as Jaramana and Sweida. 📍Background of druze community 🔰The Druze religion originated in the 11th century in Egypt, evolving from Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. 🔰The community identifies strongly with Arabic culture and language. Although they recognise prophets, they also believe in reincarnation, distinguishing them from mainstream Islam. 🔰Their sacred text is the Kitab Al Hikma, rather than the Quran. 🔰The Druze name derives from Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi, an early preacher. ✅During Syria’s civil war, Israel allegedly helped Druze in southern Syria. ✅Now, after Islamists took power, Israel claims to defend the Druze while also expanding control over Syrian land in Golan. #gs2 #ir