GS Paper II · Neighbourhood
Sri Lanka & Maldives Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)
From the syllabus: India and its neighborhood: relations
Why it matters: Indian Ocean security dynamics and regional influence battles require you to understand maritime safety and strategic island diplomacy thoroughly.
In the news
October 2026
12 Oct 2026
Sri Lanka highlights India's stance on KatchatheevuSri Lankan President Dissanayake noted that India has acknowledged before its Supreme Court that the Katchatheevu island belongs to Sri Lanka. The Indian government has indicated it does not intend to reopen the maritime boundary...
01 Oct 2026
India Reaffirms Development Partnership and Neighbourhood Ties with Sri LankaExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met senior Sri Lankan political leaders in Colombo, reiterating India's enduring commitment to the island nation's economic stability, energy security, and regional connectivity. The discussions...
September 2026
08 Sep 2026
Chagos Archipelago Dispute Resurfaces with Maldivian Diplomatic OutreachMaldives President Mohamed Muizzu initiated diplomatic discussions concerning the Chagos Archipelago, citing historical and geographical linkages. The strategically located archipelago in the central Indian Ocean remains contested...
August 2026
22 Aug 2026
UN Welcomes Sri Lankan Initiative to Facilitate Return of Refugees from IndiaThe United Nations welcomed initiatives launched by the Sri Lankan government to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Tamil refugees residing in India. The process aims to streamline documentation, citizenship verification, and...
16 Aug 2026
Proposed Sri Lankan Bill on Judicial Tenure Sparks Debate on IndependenceSri Lanka's parliament is set to table a controversial bill aimed at extending the retirement age of superior court judges. Legal associations and opposition members have expressed concern that executive control over tenure extensions...
July 2026
09 Jul 2026
Sri Lankan Prison Riots Highlight Critical Need for ReformThe death of an Indian national from Kerala in Sri Lanka's Negombo prison during violent riots has drawn attention to severe issues in the country's penal system. Editorial analyses emphasize that Sri Lanka must do more to prevent...
09 Jul 2026
Dengue Surge Forces Sri Lankan Universities to Move OnlineSri Lankan universities have closed and shifted to online classes as the island nation battles a massive surge in dengue cases. The National Dengue Control Unit reported over 65,000 cases, with the capital city of Colombo accounting for...
Practise Sri Lanka & Maldives
3 of our latest questions on this topic.
Question 1 of 3
The Katchatheevu island agreements, which the Indian government recently stated it would not reopen, were signed in which years?
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.