🔆Current Context: Instability in Myanmar and refugee influx impacting Northeast India's security, economy, and border management. Myanmar Crisis: ✅Military Coup (2021): Resistance from People's Defence Forces (PDFs) and Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs). ✅Tatmadaw Response: Indiscriminate force, aerial/artillery bombardment, heavy fighting near India border (Sagaing, Chin, Kachin). Refugee Influx: ✅Impact: Negatively affected India's border management strategies. ✅Numbers: ~95,600 refugees (UNHCR, Dec 2024), ~73,400 after 2021 coup. ✅Ethnic Ties: Mizo-Chin-Kuki groups on both sides of border, influencing Indian state responses. ✅Free Movement Regime (FMR): 40km movement without visa, reduced to 16km, aimed for economic engagement. ✅FMR Suspension: Union Home Minister announced FMR abolition, citing internal security and demographic concerns in Northeast. ✅New Framework (Dec 2024): 10km border crossing with permits at designated points. 📍Impact on Northeast India: ✅Security: Consolidation of insurgent links across border, need to engage Myanmar ethnic organizations. ✅Economy: Moreh trade decline, setback to India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway plans. ✅Humanitarian: Need for relief, healthcare, education infrastructure in Myanmar near border. ✅Mizoram: Empathy for refugees due to shared ethnicity. ✅Manipur: Concerns over disturbed ethnic balance. China's Response: ✅Border Fencing: To prevent unauthorized movement. ✅EAO Engagement: Tackle criminal/drug syndicates. ✅UNSC Membership: Greater space for Myanmar engagement. India's Response: ✅Limited Space: Not UNSC member, operates within liberal democratic framework. ✅Need for Calibrated Response: Address Manipur situation, maintain economic growth in Northeast. ✅Long-term Objective: Increase economic interactions with Southeast Asia. Possible Questions: ✅Prelims: Which of the following statements regarding the situation along the India-Myanmar border is/are correct? The Free Movement Regime (FMR) allowed people living within 40 kilometers on either side of the border to move across without visas. The influx of Myanmar refugees has generated uniform responses across India's Northeastern States. China has fenced sections of its border with Myanmar to prevent unauthorized movement of people. (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 ✅Mains: "The political instability in Myanmar and the resulting refugee influx have created multifaceted challenges for India's Northeast, requiring a nuanced and comprehensive policy response." Discuss this statement, highlighting the key challenges and suggesting measures to address them effectively. #ir #security