What’s in Today’s Article?

• India - Sri Lanka Ties Latest News
• High-Level Engagements between India and Sri Lanka
• Symbolism in India-Sri Lanka Engagement
• China’s Expanding Footprint - A Strategic Concern
• India-Sri Lanka Ties - A Strategic Recalibration Amidst China’s Growing Influence
• Conclusion
• India - Sri Lanka Ties FAQs

India - Sri Lanka Ties Latest News

• PM Narendra Modi, on a 3-day state visit to Sri Lanka, held high-level talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and oversaw the signing of 7 MoUs across key sectors, further strengthening India - Sri Lanka ties.
• The visit also marked a significant diplomatic gesture as Sri Lanka conferred the prestigious Mithra Vibhushana medal on PM Modi - the highest such honour for a foreign leader.

High-Level Engagements between India and Sri Lanka

• Delegation-level talks in Colombo: Reviewed progress under the “Joint Vision for a Shared Future” (from Dissanayake’s previous visit to India).
• Defence and strategic cooperation:
  • Landmark India–Sri Lanka Defence Pact signed to bolster strategic and maritime cooperation.
  • Sri Lanka reassured India that its territory won’t be used against India’s security interests.
  • PM Modi welcomed this assurance as a testament to the deep trust and strategic alignment between the two neighbours.
  • Seen as a counterbalance to Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region.
• Energy, digital, trade and development cooperation:
  • Energy: Development of Trincomalee as an energy hub.
  • Clean energy: Sampur Solar Power Project inaugurated virtually.
  • Digital infrastructure, healthcare, trade facilitation, and regional development were focus areas.
  • Eastern province framework for Indian grant assistance signed.
• Economic support and regional stability:
  • India’s crisis-time support acknowledged: India provided $4.5 billion assistance during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. Support included credit lines, food and fuel aid.
  • Discussions included debt restructuring and a proposed currency swap agreement for macroeconomic stability.
• Tech support:
  • India provided ₹300 crore grant to support Sri Lanka’s Digital Identity Project.
  • Focus on collaboration in digitalization across multiple domains including governance, services, and financial inclusion.

Symbolism in India-Sri Lanka Engagement

• First visits: Dissanayake’s first foreign visit was to India, and now Modi is his first foreign guest in Sri Lanka.
• Symbolic diplomacy:
  • Historic welcome at Independence Square: First foreign leader to receive a ceremonial reception at Colombo’s Independence Square.
  • PM Modi received Sri Lanka’s highest honour for a foreign leader (22nd international award for PM Modi).
  • Reflects commitment to regional cooperation, Buddhist heritage, cultural revival, and spiritual diplomacy.
• Symbolic visits - Anuradhapura visit and IPKF memorial:
  • Modi to inaugurate India-funded development projects in Anuradhapura.
  • Scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF Memorial, honouring Indian peacekeepers from the 1980s.

China’s Expanding Footprint - A Strategic Concern

• Chinese investments and influence in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has received $3.7 billion from China to develop infrastructure, including:
  • A new oil refinery in Hambantota.
  • Expansion of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
• Hambantota port - A security flashpoint:
  • Leased to China for 99 years after loan defaults.
  • Used by Chinese surveillance vessels like Yuan Wang 5, raising India’s maritime security concerns.
  • Sri Lanka continues to allow Chinese vessels to dock under “replenishment” claims.

India-Sri Lanka Ties - A Strategic Recalibration Amidst China’s Growing Influence

• A reset in military ties:
  • For the first time, India and Sri Lanka signed an umbrella Defence MoU.
  • It will structure and expand existing defence initiatives across maritime security, intelligence sharing, and strategic collaboration.
  • It marks a strategic reset after decades of cautious ties post-IPKF withdrawal (late 1980s).
  • Seen as a response to China’s rising influence in the Indian Ocean region.
• Support for continental shelf claim:
  • President Dissanayake requested India’s technical support for presenting Sri Lanka’s claim to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
  • This involves extending maritime boundaries beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Conclusion

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit to Sri Lanka marks a watershed moment in India–Sri Lanka relations, reflecting a strategic recalibration amidst evolving regional geopolitics. 
• The conferment of the Mithra Vibhushana medal on PM Modi symbolizes the cultural and diplomatic warmth between the two nations.
• At a time when China’s influence in the Indian Ocean is expanding, India’s proactive outreach reasserts its Neighbourhood First policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine.

India - Sri Lanka Ties FAQs

Q1. What is the strategic significance of the Defence MoU signed between India and Sri Lanka in 2025?

Ans. The 2025 Defence MoU institutionalizes bilateral security cooperation, marking a significant step in countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region.

Q2. How does Sri Lanka’s assurance regarding its territory relate to India’s security concerns?

Ans. Sri Lanka’s assurance that its territory and surrounding waters will not be used against India’s interests directly addresses New Delhi’s apprehensions over Chinese maritime activities, especially near the Hambantota Port.

Q3. Explain the relevance of PM Modi being conferred the 'Mithra Vibhushana' medal by Sri Lanka.

Ans. The 'Mithra Vibhushana' medal, Sri Lanka’s highest honour for a foreign leader, symbolizes deep bilateral trust and acknowledges India’s consistent support and cultural affinity.

Q4. Discuss how PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka reflects India's Neighbourhood First and SAGAR doctrines.

Ans. The visit exemplifies India’s commitment to regional stability and maritime security under the Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policies.

Q5. Why is China’s role in Sri Lanka viewed with concern by India?

Ans. China's control of strategic infrastructure like the Hambantota Port and increased military-linked activities near India's southern coast pose sovereignty and security challenges for India.

Source: ToI | ToI

What’s in Today’s Article?

• National Highways Latest News
• Introduction
• Types of Construction Defects in National Highways
• Real-World Consequences of Poor Highway Quality
• Expert and Government Accountability
• Case Studies of Notable Failures
• Impact on Infrastructure Development Goals
• Structural Challenges in Implementation
• Recommendations for Addressing the Issue
• Conclusion
• National Highway Construction Defects FAQs

National Highways Latest News

• Recently, a woman died and her husband suffered critical injuries after their vehicle crashed into a divider on the newly-constructed Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME).

Introduction

• Despite rapid expansion in India’s National Highway (NH) network, serious construction defects continue to undermine road safety. 
• From surface deformities and potholes to bridge collapses and poor retaining walls, these structural issues have played a direct role in creating hazardous zones, popularly known as ‘black spots’, across the highway network. 
• Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, at least 59 major instances of construction damage were identified across 15 states. 
• These defects have not only raised safety concerns but also exposed systemic flaws in project planning, execution, and monitoring.

Types of Construction Defects in National Highways

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) categorizes defects under four major heads:
  • Pavement Issues: Cracks, rutting, settlements, and undulations often result from poor-quality materials or faulty engineering.
  • Retaining Wall Failures: Retaining walls, meant to hold back soil and prevent landslides, have collapsed in several locations due to weak construction.
  • Bridge & Structural Damages: Slab failures and nose structure collapses during bridge launches point to serious lapses in design and supervision.
  • Other Construction & Maintenance Shortcomings: These include incomplete drainage systems, improper slope protection, and poor maintenance practices.

Real-World Consequences of Poor Highway Quality

• In two tragic accidents reported in January 2025, faulty road conditions were directly linked to loss of life. 
• A newlywed couple met with an accident on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway after their vehicle hit a poorly designed divider. 
• Days later, a truck fell into a 50-meter-deep valley in Karnataka’s NH-63, killing 10. 
• These instances are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact of substandard highway engineering on human lives.

Expert and Government Accountability

• In March 2025, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari openly criticized civil engineers and consultants for preparing flawed Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), calling them primary culprits behind India’s high road fatality numbers. 
• In his statement to the Rajya Sabha on April 2, he revealed that many defects were identified through audits by agencies like NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, and third-party reviewers. 
• Penalties and corrective actions were taken, but the recurrence of such defects indicates systemic issues.

Case Studies of Notable Failures

• Arunachal Pradesh: Retaining wall collapse on NH-713A; 5% of contract value penalized.
• Andhra Pradesh: Settlement issues on NH-71 and NH-16; ₹10.99 lakh recovered.
• Delhi-Vadodara Expressway: Rutting and structural deformation across packages; IIT Kharagpur engaged for permanent solutions.
• Chhattisgarh & West Bengal: Widespread cracking in concrete slabs leading to contractor penalties and DLP extensions.
• Amritsar-Jamnagar Corridor (Rajasthan): Nose structure failure during bridge launch; ₹1 crore penalty and 2-year debarment for the contractor's team.

Impact on Infrastructure Development Goals

• India’s National Highway network has grown from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1.46 lakh km in 2025. 
• While this reflects strong policy intent, structural failures pose a major threat to achieving long-term safety and sustainability goals. 
• Recurrent defects and post-construction liabilities are increasing project costs and delaying economic benefits.

Structural Challenges in Implementation

• Key bottlenecks include:
  • Lack of oversight on DPRs: Often prepared with outdated or incorrect technical inputs.
  • Weak accountability mechanisms: Contractors face penalties, but structural corrections take years.
  • Limited technical capacity in field staff: Engineers and site supervisors often lack specialized training in modern highway construction norms.

Recommendations for Addressing the Issue

• Reform DPR Evaluation: Mandatory independent technical audits of DPRs before project approval.
• Strengthen Post-Construction Monitoring: Enhance accountability through AI-based project monitoring tools and regular third-party evaluations.
• Penalizing Non-Performance: Blacklisting of repeat offenders among contractors and consultants.
• Build Capacity: Training programs for civil engineers and road contractors to align with international best practices.
• Citizen Feedback Loops: Public platforms for reporting road defects and follow-up action.

Conclusion

• India's push toward infrastructural expansion must be accompanied by stringent quality control and greater accountability. 
• The frequency and scale of construction defects in National Highways are not just engineering failures, they represent systemic governance challenges. 
• By focusing on transparency, training, and technology, the government can not only save money but also save lives. Ensuring road safety must be seen as integral to development, not its casualty.

National Highway Construction Defects FAQs

Q1. What are the major types of construction defects on India’s National Highways?

Ans. Cracks in pavement, undulations, retaining wall collapses, and bridge failures are common defects.

Q2. Which agency monitors these defects?

Ans. Inspections are conducted by NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, PWDs, and third-party auditors.

Q3. What action is taken against faulty contractors?

Ans. Penalties, contract terminations, and blacklisting are imposed depending on severity.

Q4. How do these defects impact road safety?

Ans. They create ‘black spots’—areas with repeated accidents due to unsafe road conditions.

Q5. What reforms are being suggested?

Ans. Improved DPR scrutiny, enhanced monitoring, stricter penalties, and engineering capacity-building are recommended.

Source : IE | TH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• U.S. Student Visa Revocation Latest News
• U.S. Policy on Student Visas: Recent Changes and Crackdown
• Monitoring of Foreign Student Enrolment in the U.S.
• Challenges to the U.S. Visa Revocation Policy
• U.S. Student Visa Revocation FAQ’s

U.S. Student Visa Revocation Latest News

• The Trump administration has targeted visas of individuals suspected of participating in campus protests or even loosely associated with supporting human rights in Gaza.

U.S. Policy on Student Visas: Recent Changes and Crackdown

• Visa Is a Privilege, Not a Right
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that holding a student visa is not a right. 
  • He justified visa revocations by citing campus disruptions and claimed that student participation in such organised protest movements can warrant visa denial.
• Legal Basis for Revocation
  • Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, the Secretary of State has the authority to revoke visas of foreign nationals deemed a threat to public order or national interests.
• Scrutiny of New Visa Applicants
  • U.S. immigration officials have begun closely examining new F (academic), J (exchange), and M (vocational) visa applications.
  • With this, it aims to refuse visas to individuals linked to protest movements, especially those seen as anti-Semitic.
• ‘Catch and Revoke’ Programme
  • Initiated under Trump’s second term, this programme led to over 300 student visas being revoked by March 27.
  • Indian students are reportedly among those affected.
  • The programme is linked to an executive order signed in January to counter anti-Semitism on campuses.
  • Visa revocations are partly based on AI-assisted reviews of students’ social media activity.
• Pressure on Universities
  • The Trump administration has also cut federal funding to prominent universities like Columbia, UPenn, and Johns Hopkins.
  • This is part of its broader crackdown, signalling tough measures against institutions perceived to tolerate such movements.

Monitoring of Foreign Student Enrolment in the U.S.

• Rapid Growth in International Student Numbers
  • International student enrolment in U.S. colleges has grown significantly — from 26,000 in 1949-50 to nearly 1.1 million in 2019-20. 
  • Their share in total higher education enrolment rose from 1% to almost 6% during the same period, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
• Post-9/11 Reforms: Creation of SEVIS
  • In response to security concerns after it was discovered that a 9/11 hijacker entered on a student visa but never attended classes, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was established in 2003. 
  • SEVIS enables the U.S. government to:
    • Track all foreign students and exchange visitors
    • Require schools to submit and update student data in a central system
    • Revoke visas and initiate deportation for students who fail to attend classes
• Expanding List of Affected Universities
  • As visa revocations rise, several prominent universities have been impacted, including:
    • Arizona State University
    • Georgetown University
    • University of Minnesota
    • Cornell University, among others.
  • The list continues to grow as stricter enforcement is applied.

Challenges to the U.S. Visa Revocation Policy

• Limited Legal Remedies for Foreigners
  • The current enforcement actions target foreign nationals, not U.S. citizens. 
  • This complicates the availability of legal recourse, as visa holders have fewer constitutional protections.
• Concerns Raised by Civil Rights Groups
  • The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urged universities to resist federal pressure, including government surveillance and threats to international students and faculty. 
  • They emphasized that campus protests fall under protected free speech and assembly as per the First Amendment.
• Legal Pushback from Academic Associations
  • Groups like the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration. 
  • They argue that:
    • Targeting students for their political views is unconstitutional
    • It undermines academic freedom and institutional autonomy
• Uncertain Legal Outcome
  • Despite the opposition, experts indicate that the visa revocation policy may persist unless successfully challenged in court.

U.S. Student Visa Revocation FAQ’s

Q1. Why are U.S. student visas being revoked?

Ans. Due to alleged campus protests and anti-Semitic activity linked to human rights support in Gaza.

Q2. What law allows visa revocation in the U.S.?

Ans. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 grants revocation powers to the Secretary of State.

Q3. What is the 'Catch and Revoke' program?

Ans. An AI-supported initiative that monitors social media and has revoked over 300 student visas.

Q4. Which students are most affected by this policy?

Ans. International students, particularly those linked to activism, including many Indian students.

Q5. What are civil rights groups saying?

Ans. They argue visa revocations violate free speech and academic freedom guaranteed under the First Amendment.

Source TH | HT