• The United States and China have agreed to create direct military communication channels to prevent potential clashes and enhance stability in the Indo-Pacific. The decision was finalised in November 2025 during the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus held in Malaysia, where U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. This marks one of the most significant confidence-building measures between the two militaries in recent years.

• The United States and China have signed a major trade agreement aimed at easing tensions after years of economic confrontation. Finalised in Busan, South Korea, in November 2025, the pact between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sets out measures to reduce tariffs, reopen agricultural trade, and suspend restrictions on key industrial materials. The deal is valid for one year, marking a temporary but important step toward trade normalisation between the two largest global economies.

• Maharashtra has officially declared leprosy (Hansen’s disease) a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all healthcare providers—government, private, NGO, and corporate—to report every confirmed case to health authorities. The notification took effect on 30 October 2025 and aims to strengthen disease surveillance, ensure early treatment, and prevent disabilities.

Overview

• The Government of India plans to expand its rare earth magnet manufacturing incentive scheme to Rs7,000 crore ($788 million) — nearly three times the earlier allocation. The move is part of India’s broader strategy to build self-reliance in critical minerals and clean technologies, while reducing dependence on China, which currently dominates global rare earth processing.

Strategic Context

• The decision follows China’s tightening of rare earth export controls in April 2025, which disrupted global supply chains. In response, India aims to position itself as an alternative hub for critical material production used in electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy systems, and defence technologies.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for non-weaponisation of critical minerals, underscoring the need for diversified and resilient supply chains similar to efforts underway in the US, Japan, and Europe.

Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on November 3, 2025. During the event, he launched a ₹1 lakh-crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund aimed at boosting India’s private-sector R&D ecosystem. He also announced the creation of the Anusandhan Research Foundation to strengthen academic and industrial research collaboration.

Purpose of the RDI Fund

• The RDI Fund is designed to support high-risk, high-impact research projects that face funding challenges. It will help de-risk early-stage innovation, attract private investment, and promote commercialisation of indigenous technologies. The initiative focuses on bridging the gap between lab research and market deployment, with special attention to deep-tech, hardware, and frontier science sectors.