Current Affairs

A bilateral exercise is a joint military training conducted by two countries. The goal is to improve cooperation and share tactical knowledge. For example, 'Exercise Mitra Shakti' involves India and Sri Lanka. These drills help soldiers from both nations work together during disasters or counter-terrorism operations. In exams, you must remember the names of the participating countries and the latest edition of the exercise.

Civil strife is a violent conflict between different groups or the government within a single country. This often leads to famine, which is a severe lack of food for the population. War destroys farms and blocks food transport. For instance, Somalia has faced decades of strife, leading to extreme hunger. UPSC tests this to see if you can link political stability with the basic survival of citizens.

A sovereign default occurs when a national government fails to make payments on its debt. Governments borrow money by selling bonds to investors. If the country has no money left, it cannot pay the interest or the original amount. This often leads to an economic crisis, as seen in Argentina. This concept is vital because it affects global currency values and international trade relations.