Topic- 1: ‘Key to the City’ of Buenos Aires
GS-2: IR
The context:
Prime Minister of India was conferred with the ‘Key to the City’ of Buenos Aires on 6th July 2025.
The Key Highlights:
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- The honour was presented by Chief of the City Government of Buenos Aires.
- This symbolic gesture signifies recognition of PM Modi’s leadership and contribution to global diplomacy.
- The event highlights the strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Argentina.
- The ‘Key to the City’ is a ceremonial honour traditionally given to distinguished guests as a mark of trust and respect.
- He expressed his gratitude in a social media post, acknowledging the warm gesture from the people of Buenos Aires.
- The recognition reflects Argentina’s appreciation of India’s global role and increasing cooperation in various sectors.
- This event forms part of PM Modi’s wider diplomatic engagements during his visit to Latin America.
- It showcases India’s rising global stature and influence under the current leadership.
- Such international honours enhance India’s soft power and contribute to strengthening its foreign relations.
About Argentina:
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- Location: Argentina is in southern South America.
- Capital: Buenos Aires
- Neighbours: Chile (west), Bolivia and Paraguay (north), Brazil and Uruguay (northeast), and the Atlantic Ocean (east).
Geography of Argentina
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- Mountains: The Andes along the western edge include Mount Aconcagua (6,959 m), the highest peak in South America.
- Rivers: Major rivers include the Paraná, Uruguay, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, and Santa Cruz.
- Other Features:
- Pampas: Fertile plains ideal for farming and cattle grazing.
- Patagonia: Cold, windswept region in the south with glaciers and steppe landscapes.
- Gran Chaco & Mesopotamia: Subtropical lowlands with seasonal rivers and wetlands.
- Coastline: About 2,900 miles (4,700 km) along the Atlantic Ocean.
Key: India-Argentina relations
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- Diplomatic Ties: Established in 1949, with growing collaboration in political, economic, and scientific fields.
- Trade: Bilateral trade has expanded, especially in agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and industrial machinery.
- Energy & Mining: India is investing in Argentina’s lithium reserves—a key resource for electric vehicle batteries.
Source: PIB
Topic- 2: National Biobank
GS-3: Science and Technology
The context:
On July 7, 2025, the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR, inaugurated the Phenome India “National Biobank” and launched India’s first longitudinal population health study at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi. The initiative is a major step toward developing personalised healthcare and genomics-driven treatments.
The Key Highlights:
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- Launch of National Biobank at CSIR-IGIB: A state-of-the-art facility to collect and store genetic, clinical, and lifestyle data from 10,000 individuals across India for long-term health research.
- Start of Longitudinal Population Study: Inspired by the UK Biobank, this Indian study aims to capture region-specific, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity, making it unique and locally relevant.
- Personalised Medicine Vision: The project aims to enable individualised treatment plans tailored to Indians’ genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment.
- Focus on India-specific Health Challenges: Minister cited conditions like central obesity in lean individuals to stress the importance of population-specific strategies.
- Support for Indigenous CRISPR Trials: Ongoing CSIR-IGIB research includes gene-editing trials for sickle cell anaemia, AMR, liver fibrosis, and rare genetic disorders using CRISPR
- Advancement in AMR and Drug Development: The initiative aligns with national goals on combating antimicrobial resistance and improving drug discovery through data collaboration.
- Integration with AI and Genomic Diagnostics: Biobank data will facilitate AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided therapies, boosting precision medicine efforts in India.
- Institutional Collaboration Emphasised: Urged closer ties between CSIR, DBT, private industry, and tribal communities to translate research into accessible healthcare.
- CSIR’s Broader Vision: CSIR’s focus on affordable diagnostics, tribal outreach, and building India’s self-reliant health data ecosystem.
- IGIB’s Genomic Legacy and New Frontiers: IGIB has pioneered human genome sequencing in India, with 300+ genetic diagnostics, COVID-19 sequencing work, and ventures into space biology and AI-assisted pilot assessments.
Source: PIB
Topic- 3: BRICS Session on Peace and Security
GS-2: IR
The context:
Prime Minister of India addressed the BRICS Session on Peace and Security, emphasizing the need for collective global action against terrorism and promoting dialogue-based solutions to international conflicts.
BRICS Session on Peace and Security – Key Highlights
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- Global peace and security are essential for human progress; BRICS has a significant role in promoting these ideals.
- PM Modi emphasized the need for collective efforts to tackle global challenges, reaffirming the BRICS commitment to multilateralism.
- He condemned terrorism as the gravest challenge to humanity, referencing the terror attack in Pahalgam (22 April 2025) as an assault on India’s identity and dignity.
- PM extended gratitude to nations that expressed solidarity with India in the aftermath of the attack.
- He stressed that condemnation of terrorism should be principled and not selective, highlighting the need for universal and consistent response.
- PM called for strict sanctions against terrorists, asserting that victims and perpetrators cannot be equated under any circumstances.
- He warned against political silence or support for terrorism, stating that such actions erode global trust and moral integrity.
- Highlighting the ongoing global conflicts, including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s support for peace and dialogue.
- He invoked India’s legacy of non-violence, citing Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi, and reiterated India’s commitment to global peace and cooperation.
- PM Modi concluded by inviting BRICS leaders to India for the 2026 BRICS Summit, to be held under India’s Chairmanship.
Evolution of BRICS Summit
The grouping was first informally formed during a meeting of the leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries on the sidelines of the G8 Outreach Summit in St.Petersburg, Russia, in 2006. Later that year, it was formalised during the 1st BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York.
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- 2009: The first BRIC (BRICS minus South Africa) summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
- 2010: South Africa was accepted as a full member, and the group became BRICS.
- 2011: South Africa attended its first BRICS summit in China.
- 2014: The Fortaleza Declaration was adopted at the 6th BRICS Summit, and it marked the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB).
- 2015: The Ufa Declaration of BRICS was adopted at the 7th BRICS Summit held in Ufa, Russia. It covers a range of topics, including global governance, international security, and economic cooperation.
- 2021: The 13th BRICS Summit was held under India’s Chairship (virtual summit). It was the third time that India hosted the BRICS Summit after 2012 and 2016.
- 2022: The Beijing Declaration was adopted at the 14th BRICS Summit, where it was declared that the BRICS countries support talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Also, cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, digital transformation, resilience and stability of industrial and supply chains, and low-carbon development.
Functioning of BRICS
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- Relations between BRICS partners are built on the UN Charter, generally recognised principles and norms of international law, and the following principles: openness, pragmatism, solidarity, non-bloc nature, and neutrality with regard to third parties.
- In accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S, the members take turns serving as the forum’s chairman on an annual basis.
- BRICS work is based on action plans approved during annual summits since 2010.
Source: PIB
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