PT 365 International Relations 2019

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Table of Contents
1. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD _____ 3 4.3. Duqm Port _______________________ 15
1.1. India-Pakistan _____________________ 3 5. INDIA AND AFRICA ________________ 17
1.1.1. Indus Water Treaty __________________ 3
1.1.2. Kishanganga Project _________________ 3
5.1. India Increasing Diplomatic Footprints in
1.1.3. Gilgit-Baltistan Issue _________________ 4 Africa _______________________________ 17
1.1.4. MFN Status ________________________ 4 5.2. E-Vidyabharti and E-AarogyaBharati
1.1.5. Track-II Diplomacy ___________________ 5 Network Project ______________________ 17
1.1.6. Geneva Convention 1949 _____________ 5
6. USA_____________________________ 18
1.2. India-Nepal _______________________ 6
1.2.1. Friendship Treaty ___________________ 6 6.1. India USA 2+2 Talks ________________ 18
1.2.2. Water Cooperation __________________ 6
1.2.3. 2+1 Dialogue Mechanism _____________ 7 6.2. India-US Trade Relations ____________ 18
1.3. India-Bangladesh ___________________ 7 7. INTERNATIONAL

1.3.1. Inauguration of Multiple Projects in ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTIONS ________ 20
Bangladesh _____________________________ 7
7.1. UN Global Counter-Terrorism
1.3.2. Border Haats _______________________ 7
Coordination Compact _________________ 20
1.4. India-Myanmar ____________________ 7
1.4.1. Land Border Crossing Agreement _______ 7 7.2. UN Development System ___________ 20
1.4.2. Rohingyas _________________________ 8 7.3. UN Peacekeeping Forces ____________ 21
1.5. India-Maldives _____________________ 8 7.4. United Nations Human Rights Council
1.6. India-Bhutan ______________________ 9 (UNHRC) ____________________________ 21
1.7. India-Afghanistan __________________ 9 7.5. ICJ on Decolonization of Mauritius ____ 21
1.8. Indo-Pacific and Indian-Ocean Region _ 10 7.6. BRICS ___________________________ 22

1.8.1. QUAD ____________________________ 10 7.7. Shanghai Cooperation Organization ___ 22
1.8.2. Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) __ 10
1.8.3. Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean 7.8. Organization of The Petroleum Exporting
Region ________________________________ 11 Countries (OPEC) _____________________ 23
1.8.4. Indian Ocean Conference____________ 11
7.9. International Atomic Energy Agency __ 23
2. INDIA AND SOUTHEAST/EAST ASIA ___ 12
7.10. AIIB ____________________________ 24
2.1. Delhi Dialogue X __________________ 12
7.11. Asian Development Bank __________ 24
2.2. East Asia Summit __________________ 12
7.12. European Bank for Reconstruction and
2.3. India-South Korea _________________ 12 Development (EBRD) __________________ 24
2.4. India-Japan ______________________ 12 7.13. IBSA ___________________________ 25
2.5. India-Indonesia ___________________ 13 7.14. SAARC Development Fund (SDF) ____ 25
2.6. India-Australia ____________________ 13 7.15. BIMSTEC ________________________ 25
3. INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA ____ 14 7.16. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ___ 25
3.1. 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue_______ 14 7.17. APTA___________________________ 26
3.2. India-Russia Relations ______________ 14 7.18. RCEP ___________________________ 26
4. INDIA AND WEST ASIA _____________ 15 7.19. Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-
Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) _____________ 27
4.1. India-Saudi Arabia _________________ 15
7.20. African Continental Free Trade Area _ 27
4.2. India-UAE ________________________ 15
7.21. G7 _____________________________ 27
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DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW 8468022022
7.22. G-20 ___________________________ 27 9.3. Strategic Policy Group ______________ 34
7.23. Organisation for The Prohibition of 9.4. Border Area Development Programme
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) _____________ 27 (BADP) ______________________________ 35
7.24. Asia-Europe Meeting______________ 28 9.5. New Initiatives to Curb Left Wing
Extremism ___________________________ 35
7.25. Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting
Development (AIBD) __________________ 28 9.6. Central Armed Police Forces _________ 36
8. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS____________ 29 9.7. NSG Commandos to be Drafted in J&K_ 36
8.1. Iran Nuclear Deal __________________ 29 9.8. Defence Ministry Issues New Guidelines
for Start-Ups _________________________ 36
8.2. Colombia to Join NATO _____________ 29
9.9. Terrorist Travel Initiative ___________ 36
8.3. Singapore Summit _________________ 30
10. MISCELLANEOUS _________________ 38
8.4. Caspian Sea Breakthrough Treaty ____ 30
10.1. Global Compact for Migration _________ 38
8.5. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty31 10.2. Extradition _________________________ 38
10.3. Draft Emigration Bill _________________ 39
8.6. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) 10.4. Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti ___________ 39
Treaty ______________________________ 31 10.5. Raisina Dialogue 2019 ________________ 39
8.7. BREXIT __________________________ 32 10.6. Beirut Declaration ___________________ 39
10.7. Uighurs ___________________________ 40
8.8. Venezuela Crisis___________________ 33 10.8. Kerch Strait ________________________ 40
10.9. Farzad-B Gas Block __________________ 40
8.9. Places of Conflict and Communities
10.10. Catalonia _________________________ 40
Affected ____________________________ 33 10.11. INSTEX SAS _______________________ 40
9. ISSUES RELATED TO SECURITY _______ 34 10.12. Gilets Jaunes Protests _______________ 40
10.13. Sweden’s Feminist Foreign Policy Manual40
9.1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands _______ 34 10.14. Military Exercises in News ___________ 40
9.2. Permanent Chairman of The Chiefs of
Staff Committee ______________________ 34
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8468022022 DELHI | JAIPUR | PUNE | HYDERABAD | AHMEDABAD | LUCKNOW
1. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD
More about the news
1.1. INDIA-PAKISTAN
• It is a 330 megawatt Run of the River
1.1.1. INDUS WATER TREATY Hydroelectric power project located in Gurez
valley in Kashmir.
Why in news? • It envisages diversion of water from the
Government of India has decided to stop India’s Kishenganga River to a power plant in the
share of waters in the Indus river system from Jhelum River basin through an underground
flowing into Pakistan. tunnel and the discharge of the water into the
About the Treaty Wular lake.
• India and Pakistan, the two main countries in • The project began in 2009 but in 2010 Pakistan
the Indus basin, divided up rights to the appealed to Hague’s Permanent Court of
various tributaries under the Indus Water Arbitration complaining that the project
Treaty of 1960 brokered by the World Bank. violated the Indus River Treaty and deprived
Pakistan the water share to its power project
• Though Indus originates from Tibet, China has
which is under construction at Neelam valley
been kept out of the Treaty.
in PoK, as the Kishanganga river flows into
• As per the treaty, control over three eastern
Pakistan.
rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej was given to India.
• Court of Arbitration ordered India to submit
While control over three western rivers Indus,
technical data of the project and allowed
Jhelum and Chenab was given to Pakistan.
India to go ahead with the construction of the
• It allows India to use only 20% of the water of
dam while maintaining minimum 9 cubic
Indus river, for irrigation, power generation
metres of flow of water across border.
and transport.
• The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was Other Major Disputed Projects
set up as a bilateral commission to implement Project River/Tributary and Location
and manage the Treaty. The Commission also Pakal Dul Dam Marusadar River, a tributary of the
solves disputes arising over water sharing. (concrete-face Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir
Additional Information rock-fill dam)
Sir Creek Issue Ratle (run-of- Chenab River, downstream of the
• Sir Creek is a 96 km tidal estuary on the border of the-river village of Ratle in Jammu and
India and Pakistan. hydroelectric Kashmir.
• The creek, which opens up into the Arabian Sea, power station)
divides the Gujarat state of India from the Sindh Miyar (run-of- Miyar Nallah, a tributary of Chenab
province of Pakistan the-river near Lahaul & Spiti in Himachal
• The dispute lies in the interpretation of the scheme) Pradesh.
maritime boundary line between Kutch and Sindh. Lower Kalnai On Lower Kalnai Nalla, tributary of
(gravity dam) river Chenab in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

• It was established by the Convention for the Pacific
Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at
The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace
Conference.
• It facilitates arbitration and other forms of
dispute resolution between states.
• The PCA is not a court in the traditional sense, but
a permanent framework for arbitral tribunals
constituted to resolve specific disputes.
• The PCA was the first permanent
intergovernmental organization to provide a forum
1.1.2. KISHANGANGA PROJECT for the resolution of international disputes through
arbitration and other peaceful means.
Why in news? • It has a three-part organizational structure
consisting of an Administrative Council that
PM recently inaugurated Kishanganga hydro oversees its policies and budgets, a panel of
power project.
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independent potential arbitrators known as the Leh. It is a ceasefire line which came into existence
Members of the Court, and its Secretariat, known after the 1948 and 1971 wars between India and
as the International Bureau, headed by the Pakistan. It was delineated in the Simla
Secretary-General. Agreement (July 1972) whereby both sides agreed
not to alter it unilaterally.
1.1.3. GILGIT-BALTISTAN ISSUE • Third is the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL),
which divides the current position of Indian and
Why in news? Pakistani troops in the Siachen region. It is 110 km
India recently opposed Pakistan’s Supreme Court long and extends from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the
north.
order to integrate the region of Gilgit-Baltistan
Related news
into the federal structure of the country. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed
a veteran Uruguay Army general, Major General Jose
Eladio Alcain, as the chief military observer of the
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
• It was established in January 1949 with first team
of unarmed military observers arriving in Jammu
and Kashmir to supervise the ceasefire
between India and Pakistan, and to assist
the Military Adviser to the UN Commission for
India and Pakistan (UNCIP), established in 1948 by
the UN Security Council.
• Following the India-Pakistan war in 1971 and a
subsequent ceasefire agreement, the tasks of
UNMOGIP have been to observe, to the extent
About Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region possible, developments pertaining to the strict
observance of the ceasefire of December 17, 1971
• The region was a part of the erstwhile princely and to report to the Secretary-General.
state of Jammu and Kashmir, but has been • Further, it clarified that mission does not have a
under Pakistan’s control since November 4, mandate beyond the LoC and does not cover
1947, following the invasion of Kashmir by whole of Kashmir.
tribal militias and the Pakistan army. • On the other hand, India has maintained that
• The region was renamed ‘The Northern Areas UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant
after the Simla Agreement and the consequent
of Pakistan’ and put under the direct control
establishment of the Line of Control.
of Islamabad. The Northern Areas were
distinct from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 1.1.4. MFN STATUS
(PoK), the part of J&K that Pakistan calls
“Azad Kashmir”. The Northern Areas are, Why in News?
however, more than six times the size of PoK. Recently, India withdrew the Most Favored Nation
• China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is (MFN) status from Pakistan.
passing through Gilgit Baltistan. About MFN principle
Current Status • According to the MFN principle of the WTO’s
• It has an elected Assembly and a Council General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. (GATT), each of the WTO member countries
• GB do not find any mention in the Pakistan’s should “treat all the other members equally
constitution: It is neither independent, nor as ‘most-favoured’ trading partners.”
does it have provincial status. It was treated • If a special favour such as a lower customs
as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan duty rate is grant to someone by a nation,
till now. then it has to do the same for all other WTO
Additional Information members.
India shares a 3,323 km border with Pakistan. The • Thus, in effect it means non-discrimination.
border is divided into three parts: • Exceptions to MFN Principle
• First is the International Border (IB), which o Right to enter Free Trade Agreements
stretches for approximately 2,400 km from Gujarat o Special Access to developing Countries to
to the north banks of Chenab in Akhnoor in their markets.
Jammu. o Raise barriers against unfair trade
• Second is the Line of Control (LoC), which is 740
practices
km long and runs from parts of Jammu to parts of
4
o General exceptions – The nation has right decisions based on ‘one country one vote which
to take measures which may restrict trade demonstrates democratic structure and processes
in goods but are necessary to protect of WTO.
human, animal or plant life or health. • Also, a dispute resolutions mechanism provides
protection against arbitrariness.
o Security exceptions – A nation has right
Organizational Structure of WTO
to take measures to protect essential
• Ministerial Conference - It includes all members,
national security interests, which may meets once in 2 year. Recently, the 11th Ministerial
restrict trade in goods. India could Conference was held in Argentina.
consider making use of this clause to deny • General Council – It acts a Dispute Settlement
the MFN status to Pakistan or bring in Body and Trade Policy Review Body.
certain trade restrictions.
o Balance-of-payments (BOP) – A nation 1.1.5. TRACK-II DIPLOMACY
has right to take measures to safeguard
its external financial position and its BOPs. Why in News?
o Exception in Services: Countries are India and Pakistan recently held a Track-II
allowed to discriminate in limited Dialogue in Islamabad.
circumstances. Details
• India accorded MFN status to all WTO • It was held on the lines of Neemrana dialogue
member countries, including Pakistan, from between India and Pakistan which was first
the date of entry into force of the Marrakesh held in 1991-92, in Neemrana Fort (Rajasthan).
Treaty. • Track II Diplomacy is also known as
• However, Pakistan never reciprocated citing Backchannel Diplomacy, in which private
non-tariff barriers as well as huge trade individuals (such as former diplomats, military
imbalance. It maintains a negative List of 1,209 veterans, academicians etc.), meeting
products that are not allowed to be imported unofficially, can find their way to common
from India. ground that official negotiators can’t and the
Principles of National Treatment talks under it are not codified as official
• This principle implies that imported and locally- statements.
produced goods should be treated equally — at • Track I Diplomacy is official government
least after the foreign goods have entered the
diplomacy whereby communication and
market.
interaction is between governments.
• Thus, it is also a measure of non-discrimination in
trade.
1.1.6. GENEVA CONVENTION 1949
• The same should apply to foreign and domestic
services, and to foreign and local item of Why in News?
intellectual property (IoIP).
• Charging customs duty on an import is not a
Recently, Pakistan government was accused of
violation of national treatment even if locally- violating Geneva Convention in treatment of
produced products are not charged an equivalent Indian Airforce Pilot who crashed in the Pakistan
tax as this principle only applies once a product, Occupied Kashmir region.
service or IoIP has entered the market. What is Geneva Convention?
World Trade Organization (WTO) • The Geneva Conventions and their Additional
• It (established as General Agreement on Tariffs Protocols form the basis of modern
and Trade (GATT) in 1947) was set up under international humanitarian law, setting out
Marrakesh Treaty (1994) as a result of Uruguay how soldiers and civilians should be treated
Round (1986-1994). during the war.
• WTO as an organization was expected to play
• Although they were adopted in 1949, to take
larger role for improved living standards,
employment generation, trade expansion with
account of the experiences of the Second
increasing share for developing countries and World War, the four Geneva Conventions
overall sustainable development. Trade continue to apply to armed conflicts today.
liberalization was seen as means for achieving the • Three additional protocols were also adopted
above-mentioned objectives. later on which expanded the rules.
• Basic principles of trade liberalizations that were to • The Conventions have been ratified by all
be followed were non-discrimination and States and are universally applicable.
reciprocity. • Any nation that has ratified the Geneva
• These principles are implemented through
Conventions but not the protocols is still
Ministerial Conferences, taking consensus-based
bound by all provisions of the conventions.
5
• The provisions of the conventions apply in International Red Cross and Red Cross Movement
peacetime situations, in declared wars, and in • It is a humanitarian movement with approximately
conflicts that are not recognised as war by 17 million volunteers worldwide.
one or more of the parties. • It consists of various International and National
organizations with common objective but legally
• They contain stringent rules to deal with what
independent of each other.
are known as "grave breaches". Grave Breaches
• International Committee of the Red Cross • It involves any of the following acts, if committed
(ICRC) has been mandated under the Geneva against persons or property protected by the
Conventions to ensure the application of Convention:
international humanitarian law. o Willfully killing, torture or inhuman treatment,
The four Geneva Conventions including biological experiments,
o Willfully causing great suffering or serious
• Convention I: This convention protects injury to body or health
wounded and infirm soldiers from torture, o Extensive destruction and appropriation of
assaults upon personal dignity, and execution property, not justified by military necessity
without judgment. It also grants the right to and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.
proper medical treatment and care. • Those responsible for grave breaches must be
• Convention II: This extends the protections sought, tried or extradited, whatever nationality
described above to shipwrecked soldiers and they may hold.
other naval forces, including special
protections to hospital ships. 1.2. INDIA-NEPAL
• Convention III: It defined 'Prisoner of War,'
and accorded them proper and humane 1.2.1. FRIENDSHIP TREATY
treatment as specified by the first convention. Why in news?
o It states that PoW have to be protected
There have been calls to review the 1950 India-
against insults and public curiosity as well
Nepal friendship treaty.
as acts of violence or intimidation.
o ICRC describes “PoWs as usually members India-Nepal Friendship Treaty
of the armed forces of one of the parties • The treaty:
to a conflict who fall into the hands of the o allows Nepali nationals to work in India
adverse party.” ICRC visits prisoners, both without a work permit, to apply for
military and civilian. government jobs and the civil services
• Convention IV: Under this (except for the IFS, IAS, and IPS)
convention, civilians are afforded the same o allows Nepali nationals to open bank
protections. accounts and buy property.
The protocols o allowing Nepal to import arms and
• Protocol I expands protection for the civilian ammunition via territory of India.
population as well as military and civilian • India had waived its rights under reciprocity
medical workers in international armed as a sign of goodwill.
conflicts.
• Protocol II elaborates on protections for
1.2.2. WATER COOPERATION
victims caught up in high-intensity internal Why in news?
conflicts such as civil wars. It was the first-
A revised second detailed project report for multi-
ever international treaty devoted exclusively
purpose Pancheshwar dam project was prepared.
to situations of non-international armed
conflicts. About Pancheswar Dam Project
o It does not apply to internal disturbances • It is a bi-national project aimed at energy
such as riots, demonstrations and isolated production and augmenting irrigation in India
acts of violence. and Nepal.
• Third Additional Protocol: It provides for • It is proposed on river Mahakali (known as
distinctive emblem- the red crystal - which has river Sharda in India), where the river forms
the same international status as the Red Cross the international boundary between Nepal
and Red Crescent emblems. People displaying and State of Uttarakhand in India.
any of these protective emblems are • A Treaty known as “Mahakali Treaty”
performing a humanitarian service and must concerning the integrated development of
be protected by all parties to the conflict. the Mahakali River, which included Sharda
6
barrage, Tanakpur barrage and Pancheshwar waterways for both inter and intra border
Dam Project, was signed between the Nepal connectivity of Bangladesh.
and India in 1996. • Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative
Other Important Projects between the two countries- aims to facilitate movement of vehicles
• Kamla and Bagmati Multipurpose Projects carrying cargo and passengers in each other’s
• Sapta-Kosi High Dam Project and SUN Kosi storage territory without the need for trans-shipment
cum diversion scheme of goods.
• Karnali Multipurpose Project • India has extended National Knowledge
Network for digital connectivity of education
1.2.3. 2+1 DIALOGUE MECHANISM
with Bangladesh.
Why in news?
1.3.2. BORDER HAATS
China has proposed a new dialogue mechanism
with Nepal that would also involve India. Why in news?
Details The first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint
Committee on Border Haats was held in Agartala.
• Two Plus One format for dialogue as
proposed is different from a trilateral Details
mechanism. Under the Chinese proposal, • It is a border trade market organised by the
China and India can jointly conduct a dialogue two countries one day a week and it aims at
with a third regional country i.e. it is not promoting the wellbeing of the people
Nepal specific and can be applied to any other dwelling in remote areas across the borders,
country in South Asia. by establishing traditional system of
• This was announced after the Wuhan Summit, marketing the local produce through local
which was an informal summit between India markets.
and China. • Two border haats are located in Meghalaya at
Kalaichar (1st border haat) and Balat and two
1.3. INDIA-BANGLADESH are located in Tripura at Srinagar and
Kamalasagar.
1.3.1. INAUGURATION OF MULTIPLE Additional Information
PROJECTS IN BANGLADESH Integrated Check Posts
• It helps put in place a system to secure the
Why in News? country’s borders against hostile elements. It also
Recently, India and Bangladesh jointly facilitates trade and commerce and boosts revenue.
• ICPs which are already functional include: Attari in
inaugurated multiple projects in Bangladesh.
Punjab (Pakistan border), Petrapole in West Bengal
About the Inaugurated projects (Bangladesh border), Akhaura in Tripura
(Bangladesh), Dawki in Meghalaya (Bangladesh),
• Supply of 500 MW additional power supply Raxaul in Bihar (Nepal) and Jogbani in Bihar (Nepal).
from India to Bangladesh.
• Construction work of various railway links. 1.4. INDIA-MYANMAR
• Construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship
Pipeline Project for transportation of oil, 1.4.1. LAND BORDER CROSSING
connecting Siliguri in India and Parbatipur in AGREEMENT
Bangladesh.
Why in news?
Other Important projects
Recently Indian Government has approved the
• Rooppur project is the first initiative under Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land
Indo-Russian deal to undertake atomic energy Border Crossing.
projects in Bangladesh. India will provide
personnel training, consultation support and More about the news
participate in the construction and erection • The agreement facilitates regulation and
activity and non-critical materials supply to harmonization of already existing free
the site in Bangladesh. movement rights for people ordinarily
• Through Protocol on Inland Water Transit residing in the border areas of both countries.
and Trade (PIWTT), India is assisting • It also facilitates movement of people on the
Bangladesh to capture the potential of basis of valid passports and visas which will
7
enhance economic and social interaction Convention on Refugees and its 1967
between the two countries. Protocol. Both these legal instruments
• Recently, two crossing points at Moreh in enshrine the principle of non-refoulement or
Manipur and Zokhawthar in Mizoram were the obligation of state parties to not return
opened. refugees to countries where they face a clear
• It marked the abolishing of special land entry threat of persecution.
permission which was previously required for • They are treated as illegal immigrants in India
visitors entering the country via land routes. and India does not have any domestic law on
Other connectivity projects through Myanmar procedure or law that governs the protection
• IMT Trilateral Highway: A regional highway being of refugees in India.
constructed under India’s Act East policy. It will • In response to the humanitarian crisis being
connect Moreh in India with Mae Sot, Thailand via faced on account of the large influx of
Myanmar. The highway is expected to boost trade
refugees into Bangladesh, Government of
and commerce in ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, as
India has decided to extend assistance to
well as with rest of Southeast Asia.
• Motor Vehicle Agreement: India, Myanmar and
Bangladesh under Operation Insaniyat.
Thailand has been negotiating for finalising and
implementing a Motor Vehicle Agreement. 1.5. INDIA-MALDIVES
• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a
project that will connect the eastern Indian Why in news?
seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine The President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed
State, Myanmar by sea. In Myanmar, it will then Solih, recently visited India.
link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa, Chin State via the
Additional Information
Kaladan river boat route, and then from Paletwa
• Indian Army's 'Operation Cactus' foiled a coup in
by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India.
Maldives that was attempted by a pro-Eelam group
in 1988.
• India maintains a naval presence in Maldives, at the
request of the Maldives, since 2009.
Recent developments exemplifying recalibration
of ties
• India recently announced $1.4 billion financial
assistance to the island nation in a bid to bail
out its debt-trapped economy.
• India plans to renew its offer to extend the
coastal surveillance radar systems (CSRS)
project. The CSRS project was initially
established in 2015 with the coastal nations of
1.4.2. ROHINGYAS Mauritius, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.
• Backed by India, Maldives recently became
Why in News? Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Recently, Rohingyas were deported to Myanmar Member. Also, it is helping expedite its
via Manipur’s Moreh along the India-Myanmar inclusion in the Commonwealth again.
border. Related Information
Commonwealth
About Rohingyas • It is a unique political association of 53-member
• They are a predominantly Muslim group living states (31 are island nations), nearly all of them
former territories of the British Empire.
mainly in Rakhine State (Arakan Region) on
• The chief institutions of the organisation are the
the Myanmar’s western coast. They speak a
Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on
dialect of Bengali, as opposed to the intergovernmental aspects, and the
commonly spoken Burmese language. Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on
• Though they have been living in the South non-governmental relations between member
East Asian country for generations, Myanmar states.
considers them as persons who migrated to • It was originally created as the British
their land during the Colonial rule. So, it has Commonwealth through the Balfour Declaration
not granted Rohingyas full citizenship. at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and formalised by
• India legally deports the Rohingya to the United Kingdom through the Statute of
Westminster in 1931.
Myanmar since it is not party to the 1951
8
• The current Commonwealth of Nations was Bhutan’s significance for Indian Foreign policy
formally constituted by the London Declaration in
1949, which modernised the community, and • A trusted partner: India Bhutan ties are
established the member states as "free and equal". governed by 1949 Friendship Treaty
• Member states have no legal obligations to one (amended in 2007) which states that both
another. Instead, they are united by English countries will ensure perpetual peace,
language, history, culture and their shared values friendship and protect each other’s national
of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. interests.
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) • Economic overlapping: India continues to be
• It is an inter-governmental organisation aimed at the largest trade and development partner of
strengthening regional cooperation and Bhutan. India has contributed generously
sustainable development within the Indian Ocean
towards latter’s Five-Year Plans since 1961.
region through its 22 Member States and 9
Dialogue Partners. o Also, three Hydropower projects
• The major priorities & focus areas include: developed with Indian assistance have
Fisheries Management, Blue Economy, Women’s already been completed, they are 1020
Economic Empowerment, Maritime Safety & MW Tala Hydroelectric Project, 336 MW
Security etc. Chukha Hydroelectric Project, 60 MW
• The members include Australia, Bangladesh, Kurichhu Hydroelectric.
Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, 1.7. INDIA-AFGHANISTAN
Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Why in news?
Emirates, Maldives and Yemen. Afghanistan began exports to India through
Other Important Organizations in the region Chabahar port.
• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): It is an
initiative to increase maritime co-operation among
navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean
Region. The inaugural IONS was held in 2008 in
New Delhi. Recently, it celebrated its 10-year
anniversary.
• Indian Ocean Commission (COI): The COI is an
intergovernmental organisation created in 1984. It
consists of five African Indian Ocean nations:
Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and
Seychelles.
Relevance of Chabahar Port in India-Afghanistan

Relations
• The development of a port in Iran can serve as
an alternative route.
o Goods brought at the port can be easily
transported to the Afghan border &
distributed to different parts of
Afghanistan via Zaranj-Delaram highway.
o India can export the iron ore extracted
from the Hajigak mines in Central
Afghanistan through Chabahar port.
o It will help in regional integration of
Afghanistan and reducing Pakistan’s
influence.
Other Initiatives to increase connectivity with
Afghanistan
1.6. INDIA-BHUTAN • India-Afghanistan Air Corridor: To reduce
dependence on the Karachi port for foreign
Why in news? trade, subsidized air cargo facilities between
Prime Minister of Bhutan recently visited India. India & Afghanistan were announced at Heart
of Asia Conference 2016.
9
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade • The idea of the Quad could be originally
Agreement (APTTA): Under this agreement, attributed to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
goods originating in Afghanistan would be Abe.
allowed transit upto Wagah and in return • It got operationalized in 2007 and was revived
Afghanistan will allow Pakistan the transit in 2017.
route to Central Asian Republics (CARs).
• International North South Transport Corridor 1.8.2. ASIA REASSURANCE INITIATIVE
(INSTC): ACT (ARIA)
o Though Afghanistan is not a member,
Why in news?
INSTC will boost connectivity to
Afghanistan as well through Chabahar to US President has signed ARIA act to counter the
Zaranj and Delaram. threat from China and to reinvigorate US
o Recently, India signed a MoU with Russia leadership in the Indo-Pacific region.
to fast-track implementation of INSTC.
Details
Russian Railways Logistics Joint Stock
Company (RZD) and Container • It aims to establish a multifaceted U.S.
Corporation of India (CONCOR) signed the strategy to increase U.S. security, economic
MoU for providing logistics services on interests, and values in the Indo-Pacific
INTSC. region.
International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) • The new law mandates actions countering
• Multi modal transport corridor signed in 2000 in St. China’s illegal construction and militarization
Petersburg with Iran, Russia and India as founding of artificial features in the South China Sea
members. and coercive economic practices.
• It was expanded to include 11 new members: • ARIA recognizes the vital role of the strategic
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
partnership between the U.S. and India in
Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Oman, Syria
and Bulgaria. promoting peace and security in the Indo-
• It aims to link India and Iran via the sea route and Pacific region and it calls for strengthening
then through Iran to the Caspian sea onwards to diplomatic, economic, and security ties
Central Asia. between both the countries.
• It allocates a budget of $1.5 billion over a five-
year period to enhance cooperation with
America’s strategic regional allies in the
region.
Related News
• US recently renamed its strategically important
Pacific Command (PACOM) as the U.S. Indo-Pacific
Command, indicating that for U.S. government,
East Asia and the Indian Ocean Region are
gradually becoming a single competitive space and
India is a key partner in its strategic planning.
• US launched Indo-Pacific Business Forum as an
economic pillar for country’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Rim Of Pacific Multinational Naval Exercise
1.8. INDO-PACIFIC AND INDIAN- • The 26th edition of RIMPAC, hosted by the U.S.
OCEAN REGION Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), RIMPAC is
the world’s largest set of international maritime
1.8.1. QUAD war games.
• Theme of RIMPAC 2018 was "Capable, Adaptive,
Why in news? Partners."
• This is the first time Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) Summit Vietnam are participating in RIMPAC.
was held in Singapore. • Indigenously built stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri,
Details participated in RIMPAC.
• China was absent this year as it was dis-invited
• It is an informal mechanism between India, from participating by the U.S., citing China’s
the US, Australia and Japan, and interpreted military actions in the South China Sea.
as a joint effort to counter China’s influence • The Indian Navy was an observer for the 2006,
in the Indo-Pacific region. 2010 and 2012 editions of the exercise.
10
1.8.3. INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE - Related news
Trans Regional Maritime Network
INDIAN OCEAN REGION • India has recently signed the ascension agreement
to the Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN).
Why in news?
• It facilitates information exchange on the
Indian Navy recently inaugurated the movement of commercial traffic on the high seas.
Information Fusion Centre for the Indian • The multilateral construct comprises of 30
countries and is steered by Italy.
Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). • It will give the country access to information about
ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region,
Information Fusion Centre
thereby helping to check suspicious and criminal
• The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) is a 24/7 activities and illegal trade across the ocean.
regional information sharing centre.
1.8.4. INDIAN OCEAN CONFERENCE
• The IFC has been established at the Navy’s
Information Management and Analysis Why in News?
Centre (IMAC) in Gurugram. IMAC is the single
point centre linking all the coastal radar chains The third edition of Indian Ocean Conference was
to generate a seamless real-time picture of held at Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
the coastline of the nation. Indian Ocean Conference
What functions will it perform? • The Indian Ocean Conference is initiated by
• The IFC-IOR is established with the vision India Foundation along with its partners from
of strengthening maritime security in the Singapore, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
region. • It is an annual effort to bring together Heads
• Through this Centre, information on “white of States/Governments, Ministers, thought
shipping”, or commercial non-military Leaders, scholars, diplomats, bureaucrats and
shipping, will be exchanged with countries in practitioners from across the region.
the region to improve maritime domain • Two successful editions of the Conference
awareness in the Indian Ocean. India has have been hosted so far in 2016 and 2017 in
bilateral white shipping agreements with 36 Singapore and Sri Lanka respectively.
countries.
11
2. INDIA AND SOUTHEAST/EAST ASIA
These are – Environment and Energy,
2.1. DELHI DIALOGUE X Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and
Why in News? Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster
Management and ASEAN Connectivity.
Recently, India hosted the 10th edition of the
Delhi Dialogue with a theme “Strengthening 2.3. INDIA-SOUTH KOREA
India-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation”.
Why in news?
Delhi Dialogue
South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently
• It is a premier annual track 1.5 event to
visited India.
discuss politico-security, economic and socio-
cultural engagement between India & ASEAN. Key Highlights of the visit
• It has been held annually since 2009 in
• Moon coined a new acronym ‘3P Plus’ for
partnership with Research and Information
boosting bilateral ties through cooperation
System for Developing Countries (RIS).
for people, prosperity and peace.
Association of South East Asian Nations(ASEAN)
• Indian Prime Minister and President of the
• It is a political and economic organization aimed
primarily at promoting economic growth and Republic of Korea inaugurated Samsung’s
regional stability among its members. mobile manufacturing plant, touted as the
• It was founded in 1967 by the five South-East Asian biggest in the world, in Noida.
nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, • South Korea would be the second country
Singapore and Thailand. after China with whom India would undertake
• There are currently 10-member states: Indonesia, a joint project in Afghanistan.
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, • Also, India and South Korea launched an
Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. initiative ‘Korea Plus’, as proposed by Indian
Research & Information System for Developing
Prime Minister in June 2016 to promote and
Countries
facilitate Korean Investments in India.
• It is a New Delhi–based autonomous policy
research institute which focusses on promoting Related Information
South-South Cooperation and collaborates with New Southern Policy
developing countries in multilateral negotiations. • The new S. Korean government is seeking to
Track 1.5 Diplomacy is used to denote a situation in elevate strategic ties with the Association of
which official and non-official actors work together to Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on par with
resolve conflicts. Korea’s four traditional, major diplomatic partners
of the United States, China, Japan and Russia.
• It is a new policy orientation being pursued under
2.2. EAST ASIA SUMMIT the government’s broader strategy of promoting a
“Northeast Asia Plus Community for Responsibility-
Why in news?
sharing (NEAPC)”.
Recently, India participated in the 13th East Asia • New Southern Policy is one of the 3 parts of NEAPC
Summit, held in Singapore. which would involve deepening relations with
About East Asia Summit (EAS) India as well as the countries of Southeast Asia,
including in the economic realm.
• It is an annual meeting of regional countries
which was started in 2005. It is an ASEAN- 2.4. INDIA-JAPAN
centred forum which can only be chaired by
an ASEAN member. Why in News?
• The members include 10 Association of South
Indian PM recently visited Tokyo for the 13th Indo
East Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations plus 8
–Japan annual bilateral summit.
other nations such as Australia, China, India,
Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and Details
the US.
• Increased Economic Cooperation: The biggest
• The EAS membership represents around 54%
take away was the $75 billion currency swap
of the world's population and accounts for
that Japan Offered to India (50 percent higher
58% of global GDP.
than the last swap).
• There are six priority areas of regional
• Connectivity through huge infrastructure
cooperation within the framework of the EAS.
projects:
12
o Within India- Japan has been a leading More about the visit
financial donor in the form of ODA (Official
• Both sides have agreed to elevate the bilateral
Development Assistance) to India.
relationship between the two countries to the
✓ It provides support for India’s mega
level of Comprehensive Strategic
infrastructure projects like the Delhi-
Partnership.
Mumbai Freight Corridor, Delhi-
• A shared Vision on Maritime Cooperation in
Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Chennai-
the Indo-Pacific was announced.
Bangalore Industrial Corridor and the
Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail • A link will be established between Andaman
system. Nicobar and Aceh to tap the economic
potentials of both areas.
• Defence ties: They announced the
commencement of negotiations on an Significance of India- Indonesia relations
Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement.
• Strategic importance: Recently Indonesia
This agreement, as and when it comes into
agreed to give access to the strategic island of
effect, would enable Japanese ships to get
Sabang, close to the Malacca Strait for Indian
fuel and servicing at Indian naval bases.
investment.
• Indonesia is important for countering China’s
presence in Indian Ocean, India’s Act East
Policy, Trade and Investment, etc. Also, India’s
vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all
in the Region) matches with Indonesia’s
Global Maritime Fulcrum.
Related News
India and Singapore recently signed a bilateral
agreement that will allow logistical support to Indian
Navy ships at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base located
near disputed South China Sea.
2.6. INDIA-AUSTRALIA
Why in News?
Australia’s Prime Minister has announced
implementation of “An India Economic Strategy
to 2035”, a vision document that will shape India-
Australia bilateral ties.
What is the vision and why?
• It is based on three-pillar strategy- Economic
ties, Geostrategic Engagement and
Rethinking Culture-thrust on soft power
diplomacy.
• The focus of this report is on building a
sustainable long-term India economic
strategy.
• The report identifies 10 sectors and 10 states
in an evolving Indian market where Australia
has competitive advantages, and where it
should focus its efforts. These are divided into
a flagship sector (education), three lead
2.5. INDIA-INDONESIA
sectors (agribusiness, resources, and tourism)
Why in news? and six promising sectors (energy, health,
financial services, infrastructure, sport,
Indian Prime minister recently visited Indonesia. science and innovation).
13
3. INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIA/RUSSIA
of these countries undergo training and
3.1. 1ST INDIA-CENTRAL ASIA human capacity development.
DIALOGUE
Why in news?
1st India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in
Samarkand, Uzbekistan and was co-chaired by the
Minister of External Affairs of India.
Highlights of the summit
• The ministerial level summit saw the
participation of External Affairs Ministers of
Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
• India proposed the creation of a Regional
Development Group for better coordination
on economic and policy issues.
• India also proposed a dialogue on air
corridors with the countries of landlocked
Central Asia.
Important points related to Central Asia 3.2. INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS
• India’s only foreign military airbase is in Why in News
Farkhor (Tajikistan), which is operated by IAF
and Tajik Air Force. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited
• India and Uzbekistan signed a deal for long- India for the 19th Annual Bilateral Summit in New
term supply of uranium. After Kazakhstan, Delhi.
Uzbekistan will become the second Central What has this summit achieved?
Asian country to supply uranium to India.
Reinforced Defence-The major breakthrough was
India’s efforts to connect with the region the materializing of the S-400 deal despite threats
• Connect Central Asia Policy which was of sanctions by US under the Countering
launched in 2012 included strong political America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act
relations, strategic and security cooperation, (CAATSA).
long term partnership in energy and natural Related Information
resources etc. S-400
• Ashgabat Agreement: India has acceded to • The Russian-built S-400 Triumf — identified by
the Ashgabat Agreement, an international NATO as the SA-21 Growler — is the world’s most
transport and transit corridor facilitating dangerous operationally deployed modern long-
transportation of goods between Central Asia range surface-to-air missile system.
and the Persian Gulf. • The S-400 is a mobile system that integrates
multifunction radar, autonomous detection and
• Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems,
(TAPI): It is the proposed natural gas pipeline launchers, and a command and control centre.
that runs from Galkynysh field (Turkmenistan) Countering America’s Adversaries through
– Herat – Kandahar – Multan - Fazilika (Pak- Sanctions Act (CAATSA)
India Border). • It is a USA Act which aims to counter the
• Eurasian Economic Union (EEU): India is aggression by Iran, Russia and North Korea
negotiating a comprehensive economic through punitive measures.
partnership agreement with the Eurasian • Under the Act, the Department of State has
Economic Union, which include Belarus, notified almost all major 39 Russian entities from
Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. defence and intelligence sector, dealings with
which could make third parties liable to sanctions.
• Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation
(ITEC) Programme is also an effective
instrument under which young professionals
14
4. INDIA AND WEST ASIA
4.1. INDIA-SAUDI ARABIA 4.2. INDIA-UAE
Why in news? Why in news?
Recently, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince The India-UAE Partnership Summit (IUPS) was
Mohammed bin Salman visited India as a part of held in Dubai where India aimed to attract large-
its 3-nation tour, including China and Pakistan. scale investment opportunities from the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
More about News
• India-UAE Partnership Summit (IUPS) is an
event specifically designed for promotion of
investments from UAE to India and India to
UAE.
• The focus sectors for IUPS 2018 are
investments in Education and SME’s, Skill
Development and Placements along with
presentations by Indian States seeking
investments.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
• It is a regional intergovernmental political and
economic union of six countries in the Arabian
Peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
• Established in 1981, the GCC holds a summit every
year to discuss cooperation and regional affairs.
• Due to their geographic proximity, similar political
systems and common sociocultural stances, the
immediate goal was for these countries to protect
themselves from threats after the Iran-Iraq War.
More about News • All current member states are monarchies,
including three constitutional monarchies (Qatar,
• The visit has broadened and deepened the Kuwait, and Bahrain), two absolute monarchies
strategic partnership between India and Saudi (Saudi Arabia and Oman), and one federal
Arabia, substantially enhancing security monarchy (the United Arab Emirates, which is
cooperation including counter terrorism. composed of seven member states, each of which
• Saudi Arabia increased India's Haj quota by is an absolute monarchy with its own emir).
about 25,000 taking the number of pilgrims
from the country who can perform the 4.3. DUQM PORT
pilgrimage to 2 lakh.
Why in news?
o The Haj subsidy (in form of discounted air
fares) provided by the government was • Recently, India got access to strategic Oman
removed in the light of a Supreme Court port Duqm for military use.
order of 2012. About Duqm Port
Additional information • It is situated on the southeastern seaboard of
India and Saudi Arabia had signed two prominent Oman, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the
declarations: Indian Ocean.
• In Delhi Declaration (2006), the two sides had • It is strategically located, in close proximity to
agreed to ensure "reliable, stable and increased" the Chabahar port in Iran.
volume of crude oil supplies through "evergreen" • This is part of India’s maritime strategy to
long-term contracts.
counter Chinese influence and activities in the
• Riyadh Declaration was signed in 2010 to establish
a strategic partnership between two nations.
region.
15
• With the Assumption Island being developed fits into India’s proactive maritime security
in Seychelles and Agalega in Mauritius, Duqm roadmap.
16
5. INDIA AND AFRICA
African Union. Till now, 49 countries have
5.1. INDIA INCREASING joined it.
DIPLOMATIC FOOTPRINTS IN Related News
AFRICA • Recently, India gifted 200 locally bought cows to
villagers from Rweru village for Girinka
Why in News? Programme.
• Girinka Programme is the Rwanda’s one of a kind
India has begun appointing ambassadors to Social Protection scheme under which the poorest
African countries where previously it had no residing in the region get cows from the
representation. government and gift the first female calf to a
neighbour to promote brotherhood.
5.2. E-VIDYABHARTI AND E-

AAROGYABHARATI NETWORK
PROJECT
Why in News?
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the
Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL)
signed an Agreement for the implementation of e-
VidyaBharati and e-AarogyaBharati (e-VBAB)
Network Project in Africa.
About E-VBAB Network Project
• It is primarily a technological upgrade (digital
bridge) and extension of the Pan-African e-
Network Project.
Some other developments in Africa o Under the Pan African e-Network Project,
India had set up a fibre-optic network to
• India-Africa Summit is the official platform for
provide satellite connectivity, tele-
African-Indian relation with participation from
medicine and tele-education to countries
all African countries.
of Africa.
• Asia-Africa Growth Corridor is an economic
o TCIL, a Government of India undertaking,
cooperation agreement between the
is implementing the project on behalf of
governments of India, Japan and multiple
Government of India.
African countries.
• It will be completely funded by the
• African Development Bank (AfDB): India
Government of India.
joined AfDB in 1983 and has contributed to its
• There will be two separate platforms for e-
General Capital and has also pledged capital
VidyaBharati (tele-education) and e-
for grants and loans.
AarogyaBharati (tele-medicine) which will
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
link, through a web-based technology, various
is the result of the African Continental Free
educational institutions and hospitals in India
Trade Agreement among members of the
and the participating African countries.
17
6. USA
Related News
6.1. INDIA USA 2+2 TALKS • US has granted Strategic Trade Authorization
(STA-1) status to India, giving India same access as
Why in News?
NATO allies to latest technology.
Recently, India and the USA held the first edition
of their 2+2 dialogue involving Indian External
Affairs and Defence Ministers and their American
counterparts in New Delhi, where they also signed
long-pending Communications Compatibility and
Security Agreement (COMCASA).
Other outcomes of the talk
• Promoting defence innovation: a
Memorandum of Intent was signed between
the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and
the Indian Defence Innovation Organization
— Innovation for Defence Excellence (DIO-
iDEX), which will look into joint projects for
co-production and co-development projects
through the Defense Technology and Trade
Initiative (DTTI). 6.2. INDIA-US TRADE RELATIONS
• Negotiations on Industrial Security Annex
Why in news?
(ISA): The two defence ministers also
announced readiness to begin negotiations on Recently U.S. has decided to withdraw
an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits
support closer defence industry cooperation on 94 products for all countries.
and collaboration. An ISA is required to enable
What is Generalized System of Preferences?
private Indian participation in defence
production. • It is a non-reciprocal preferential tariff
system which provides for exemption from
About Communications Compatibility and
the Most Favored Nation principle of World
Security Agreement (COMCASA)
Trade Organization.
• It is one of the four foundational agreements • It involves reduced MFN tariffs or duty free
that the U.S. signs with allies and close entry of eligible products exported by
partners to facilitate interoperability beneficiary countries (developed countries)
between militaries and sale of high end to markets of donor countries (developing
technology. countries).
• COMCASA, an India-specific version of • It was adopted at UNCTAD Conference in
the Communication and Information on 1968 and later enacted by General Agreement
Security Memorandum of Agreement on Trade and Tariff (now WTO) in 1971.
(CISMOA), comes into force immediately and • The objective of GSP was to give development
is valid for a period 10 years. support to poor countries by promoting
o India had signed the General Security Of capacity development and trade.
Military Information • 11 Developed countries including the US, EU,
Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and the UK, Japan etc., extend GSPs to imports from
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of developing countries.
Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016. The last one Related News
remaining is the Basic Exchange and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT)
Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial • India welcomed an announcement by the US State
Cooperation (BECA). department which designated three Pakistan-
• India will get access to Combined Enterprise based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists and terror
financiers as Specially Designated Global
Regional Information Exchange System
Terrorists (SDGT).
(CENTRIXS). It is the secure communication • SDGT is a designation authorized under US
system network of the US. Navy ships. Executive Order 13224.
18
• Designations of terrorist individuals and groups
expose and isolate organisations and individuals,
and deny them access to the US financial system
and all of his property and interests subject to US
jurisdiction are blocked.
Related Information
UNSCR 1267
• Recently, the proposal to designate Azhar under
the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee was
blocked by China for fourth time.
• A UNSC designation subject terrorists to an assets
freeze, travel ban and an arms embargo.
19
7. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTIONS
role of the United Nations system in that
7.1. UN GLOBAL COUNTER- regard.
TERRORISM COORDINATION o measures to ensure respect for human rights
for all and the rule of law as the fundamental
COMPACT basis for the fight against terrorism.
Why in News?
7.2. UN DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
Recently, UN launched a new framework “UN
Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Why in news?
Compact”. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a
About UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination resolution on the repositioning of the UN
Compact development system to align it with the 2030
• It is an agreement between the UN chief, 36 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
organizational entities, the International More on the resolution
Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and
the World Customs Organisation, to better • It calls for UN Development Assistance
serve the needs of Member States when it Frameworks (UNDAFs) to better reflect
comes to tackling international terrorism. country priorities and country needs as they
• Objective would be prepared in full consultation and
o To ensure that the United Nations system agreement with national governments,
provides coordinated capacity-building through an open and inclusive dialogue.
support to Member States, at their • In repositioning, an implementation plan for
request, in implementing the UN Global the inception of the reinvigorated Resident
Counter-Terrorism Strategy and other Coordinator (RC) system is presented. The
relevant resolutions. functions of the Resident Coordinators (RCs)
o To foster close collaboration between the of the UN system in each country are
Security Council mandated bodies and separated from those of the resident
the rest of the United Nations system. representative of the UN Development
o The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Programme (UNDP).
Compact Coordination Committee will • It also presents an implementation plan for
oversee and monitor the implementation operationalization of the funding
of the Compact which will be chaired by arrangements for the new RC system – hybrid
UN Under-Secretary-General for counter- funding, i.e., through the United Nations
terrorism. regular budget as well as voluntary
o It will replace the Counter-Terrorism contributions by UN Member states.
Implementation Task Force, which was • It stresses on national ownership with strong
established in 2005. focus on accountability and results.
Related Information
Related Information
• India introduced the Comprehensive Convention United Nations Sustainable Development Group
on International Terrorism (CCIT) in 1996 that • The United Nations Sustainable Development
defined terrorism and enhanced “normative Group (UNSDG) unites the 36 UN funds,
processes for the prosecution and extradition of programmes, specialized agencies, departments
terrorists.” and offices that play a role in development.
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
• Decision‐making is based on consensus among
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
UNSDG members and are binding across the
adopted it in 2006 and it is a unique global
UNSDG working mechanisms.
instrument to enhance national, regional and
international efforts to counter terrorism. Related News
• UNGA reviews the Strategy every two years. The Pacific Islands Forum has been granted approval to
• The four pillars of the global strategy include: establish a permanent observer office at the United
o measures to address the conditions conducive Nations in Geneva.
to the spread of terrorism. • The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-
o measures to prevent and combat terrorism. governmental organization that aims to enhance
o measures to build states’ capacity to prevent cooperation between countries and territories of
and combat terrorism and to strengthen the the Pacific Ocean.
20
• It was established in 1971 “to work in support of The five permanent members, each with the
member governments, to enhance the economic power of veto, are China, France, Russia, the UK
and social wellbeing of the people of the South and the US. The 10 non-permanent members are
Pacific. elected for two-year terms each.
The General Assembly of UN approved the • Recently, South Africa, Indonesia, Dominican
establishment of two new departments - the Republic, Germany and Belgium were elected as
Department of Management Strategy, Policy and non-permanent members.
Compliance (DMSPC) and the Department of
Operational Support (DOS). 7.4. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN
7.3. UN PEACEKEEPING FORCES RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC)
Why in News?
Why in News?
The United States has withdrawn from the
The 7 Garhwal Rifles Infantry Battalion Group was
UNHRC accusing it of chronic bias against Israel.
awarded the United Nations Medal for "selfless
service" in the peacekeeping mission in South About UNHRC
Sudan. • It is a specialized agency of United Nations to
About Peacekeeping protect and promote human rights across the
world set up in 2006.
• UN peacekeepers provide security and the
• The Council consists of 47 members, elected
political and peacebuilding support to help
yearly by the General Assembly through
countries make the difficult, early transition
direct and secret ballot for three-year terms.
from conflict to peace.
• Recently India was elected with highest
• UN deployed its first peacekeeping mission in
number of votes by General Assembly to the
1948 to Palestine.
United Nations Human Rights Council
• As of April 30, 2018, Ethiopia, followed by
(UNHRC).
Bangladesh and India were the largest
• Members are selected via the basis of
contributors. Over 27% of the peacekeepers
equitable geographic rotation using the
were from the Indian subcontinent.
United Nations regional grouping system.
• Since UN doesn’t have any military force,
• Members are barred from occupying a seat
troops are provided by member states on a
for more than two consecutive three-year
voluntary basis.
terms.
• Peacekeeping soldiers are paid by their own
government according to their own national
rank and salary scale.
7.5. ICJ ON DECOLONIZATION OF
• The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping MAURITIUS
operations are the collective responsibility of
Why in News?
UN Member States. Decisions about the
establishment, maintenance or expansion of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an advisory
peacekeeping operations are taken by the opinion has said that Britain has to handover
United Nations Security Council. Chagos Archipelago to complete the process of
Related Information decolonization of Mauritius.
United Nations Security Council
• It is one of the six principal organs (other include: More on News
General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the • According to Britain, the request for an
Economic and Social Council, the International
advisory opinion by the Government of
Court of Justice, and the Secretariat) of the United
Mauritius circumvents a vital principle: that a
Nations (UN).
• It has been charged with ensuring international
State is not obliged to have its bilateral
peace and security, accepting new members to disputes submitted for judicial settlement
the United Nations and approving any changes to without its consent.
its charter. • Mauritius has maintained that Britain’s
• Its powers include the establishment of “unilateral” decision to ban the right of return
peacekeeping operations and international of Chagossians (African Tribe) and to renew
sanctions as well as the authorization of military the lease for the US base on Diego Garcia, one
actions through resolutions – it is the only body of of the Chagos Islands, breached international
the United Nations with the authority to issue
law.
binding resolutions to member states.
• It has 15 members, including five permanent ones.
21
About International Court of Justice (ICJ) Partnership on New Industrial Revolution
(PartNIR).
• It is the principle judicial organ of the UN
• ‘BRICS outreach to Africa’ and ‘BRICS Plus’
established in 1945 succeeding the Permanent
formats: BRICS plus format initiated at
Court of International Justice (established
Xiamen Summit in 2017 by inviting a few
under League of Nations).
countries from different regions was
• The Court may entertain two types of cases:
emulated in Johannesburg Summit also.
o Contentious cases - Legal disputes
About BRICS
between States submitted to it by them. • Officially formed in 2006, it originally included four
Only States (States Members of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and
United Nations and other States which China. Its first summit took place at Russia in 2009.
have become parties to the Statute of the Later in 2010, South Africa became the 5th
Court or which have accepted its member of the grouping.
jurisdiction under certain conditions) may • During the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014),
be parties to contentious cases. the following were agreed -
o Advisory proceedings - Requests for o Agreement for setting up the New Development
advisory opinions on legal questions Bank (NDB) with $100 billion corpus.
o Pact for the setting up of the BRICS Contingent
referred to it by United Nations organs
Reserve Arrangement (CRA) with an initial size
and specialized agencies. Contrary to of $100 billion to tackle short-term liquidity
judgments, the Court’s advisory opinions demands.
are not binding.
• It has no jurisdiction to deal with applications 7.7. SHANGHAI COOPERATION
from individuals, NGOs or private groups and
it rules only on the rights and obligations of
ORGANIZATION
States. Why in news?
• It comprises 15 Judges, elected by United
Nations General Assembly and Security Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
Council for 9 year term. Five Judges are summit was held in Qingdao, China.
elected every 3 years to ensure continuity. Key takeaways of the meet/ Qingdao declaration
• It is headquartered in Peace Palace, Hague,
Netherlands and India is a founding member • India refused to endorse the ambitious
of the ICJ. It is the only one of the six principal Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
organs of the United Nations not located in • India coined SECURE strategy for
New York. comprehensive security in the SCO region.
Related News Shanghai co-operation Organization (SCO)
• India’s involvement in the Agalega project has
caused disquiet in Mauritius. • It is an Eurasian political, economic, and
• The MoU for the project was signed in March 2015 security organization formed in 2001 and
during PM’s visit. headquartered in Beijing.
• India agreed to provide approximately $87 million • It owes its origin to its predecessor Shanghai
to build an airport terminal, extend its runway and Five (a multilateral forum founded by 5
refurbish jetties. countries China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
• The Agalega archipelago consists of two sparsely
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in Shanghai in
populated islands north of mainland Mauritius.
1996).
• Its driving philosophy is known as the
7.6. BRICS
“Shanghai Spirit” which emphasizes
Why in News? harmony, working by consensus, respect for
other cultures, non-interference in the
Recently, the 10th BRICS Summit took place at internal affairs of others, and non-alignment.
Johannesburg in South Africa. The Theme of the • SCO comprises eight-member states, India,
summit was ‘BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan,
Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Russian, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Industrial Revolution.’ • 2018 year meet is India’s first participation in
About the Johannesburg Declaration: the summit as a full-time member. India,
along with Pakistan, became full-time
• Importance of 4th Industrial Revolution: It
members during the Astana summit in
recommends the establishment of BRICS
Kazakhstan in June 2017.
22
• Besides it has 4 observer states and 6 consuming nations; and a fair return on
dialogue partners. capital to those investing in the industry.”
Related information • It is headquartered at Vienna, Austria.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) • It was set up at the 1960 Baghdad Conference
• It was established under the aegis of SCO in 2002. with Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and
• It is mandated for counter terrorism activities, Venezuela as founding members.
collecting military intelligence and security of the
• It accounts for an estimated 44 percent of
SCO region.
global oil production and 81.5 percent of the
• The Executive Committee of the RATS is the
permanent body of the SCO based in Tashkent. world's "proven" oil reserves.
Exercise SCO Peace Mission 2018.
• It is conducted biennially for SCO member states.
• This is the first time India is participating in this
peace mission post joining SCO.
• The exercise provided an opportunity for the
armies of India and Pakistan to operate together
outside the United Nations umbrella.
7.8. ORGANIZATION OF THE

PETROLEUM EXPORTING
COUNTRIES (OPEC)
Why in News?
India would coordinate with China and other Asian
countries to raise voice against the “Asian
premium” being charged by OPEC.
Asian Premium 7.9. INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC
• It is the extra charge being collected by OPEC ENERGY AGENCY
countries from Asian countries when selling oil.
• It has roots in the establishment of market Why in News?
oriented crude pricing in 1986.
• There are 3 important benchmarks in global India has decided to place four more reactors
market, representing the cost of oil produced in under the IAEA safeguards. With this, a total of 26
respective geographies. Indian nuclear facilities will be under the
o Brent: Light sweet oil representative of international nuclear energy watchdog.
European market
o West Texas Intermediate(WTI): US market About IAEA
o Dubai/Oman: Middle East and Asian Market. • It is the world's central intergovernmental
• However, US and Europe had an advantage forum for scientific and technical co-
because their markets and prices were based on
operation in the nuclear field.
future trading and reflected every trend in the
crude market. On the other hand, Asia represented
• It is an autonomous international organization
by Dubai/Oman do not have any derivative trading, within the United Nations system set up in
doesn’t have that edge. July 1957 through its own international treaty,
• Hence, price charged from Asian countries the IAEA Statute.
remained $1-$2 dollar higher than that from Europe • The IAEA reports to both the United Nations
and the US. This price differential is termed as General Assembly and Security Council.
‘Asian Premium’. • It works for the safe, secure and peaceful
About OPEC uses of nuclear science and technology,
contributing to international peace and
• It is an intergovernmental organisation whose security and the United Nations' Sustainable
stated objective is to “co-ordinate and unify Development Goals.
petroleum policies among Member • It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. India is
Countries, in order to secure fair and stable a member of IAEA.
prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, • The objective of IAEA Safeguards is to deter
economic and regular supply of petroleum to the spread of nuclear weapons by the early
23
detection of the misuse of nuclear material or • Regional or Country Specific Approach: ADB
technology. has, for the first time, adopted a
• In 2009, an Agreement between the differentiated approach to various groups of
Government of India and the IAEA for the member nations.
Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear
Facilities was signed. Then in 2014, India About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
ratified an Additional Protocol (as part of its
• ADB was founded in 1966.
commitments under US-India nuclear deal) to
its safeguards agreements with the • The ADB has 67-member countries, including
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). —48 from the Asian region.
• The AP is an important tool of the IAEA, over • India was a founding member of ADB but
and above the provisions of the safeguard operations in the country began only in 1986,
agreement, to verify the exclusively peaceful when India opted to become a borrowing
nature of a country’s nuclear programme. member.
• ADB has been led conventionally by a
7.10. AIIB Japanese governor.
• Top 5 shareholders in ADB are: Japan (15.6%),
Why in news? United States (15.6%), People's Republic of
Recently, third annual meeting of AIIB was held in China (6.4%), India (6.3%) and Australia (5.8%)
Mumbai where Asian Infrastructure Forum was • It provides direct assistance to private
launched for creating connections & business enterprises of developing member countries
development opportunities for participants drawn through equity investments and loans.
from project sponsors, financiers, governments,
etc. 7.12. EUROPEAN BANK FOR
About Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank RECONSTRUCTION AND
• It is a multilateral development bank with a DEVELOPMENT (EBRD)
mission to improve social and economic
outcomes in Asia and beyond. Why in News?
• It was established in December 2015 but India recently became the 69th shareholder of the
commenced operation in January 2016 and is European Bank for Reconstruction and
headquartered in Beijing. Currently it has 93 Development (EBRD).
approved members with India as a founding About EBRD
member. • It is a multilateral development bank set up in
• India is the second largest shareholder in AIIB 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall to
with 7.5% voting shares while China holds promote private and entrepreneurial
26.06% voting shares being the largest. initiative in emerging Europe.
• Recently it also proposed to invest USD200 • It is headquartered in London.
million in the National Investment and • It invests in 38 emerging economies across
Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). three continents, according to a set of criteria
that aim to make its countries more
7.11. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK competitive, better governed, greener, more
Why in News? inclusive, more resilient and more integrated.
• It has members from all over the world with
Recently, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
the biggest shareholder being the United
released its long-term corporate strategy i.e.
States, but only lends regionally in its
Strategy 2030.
countries of operations.
About the ADB- Strategy 2030 • The EBRD is different from the European
• It is policy framework for ADB that sets out Investment Bank (EIB), which is owned by EU
the its broad vision and strategic response to member states and is used to support EU
the evolving needs of Asia and the Pacific. policy.
• Social Dimension: In contrast to earlier • The EBRD is unique among development
Strategy 2020- the Strategy 2030 document banks in that it will not finance coal power
emphasis on human and social factors, in plants due to their environmental impact. It
addition to the usual infrastructure and the has pledged to dedicate above 40 percent of
private sector. its financing to green investment by2020.
24
• India takes a shareholding in the EBRD but it About SDF
will not be a recipient of EBRD financing.
• It was established by heads of all eight SAARC
• To be eligible for EBRD funding, "a project member states during 16th SAARC summit at
must be located in an EBRD country of Thimphu, Bhutan in 2010.
operations (not in India), have strong • Its Secretariat is located at Thimphu, capital
commercial prospects, involve significant of Bhutan. Its Governing Council comprises
equity contributions in-cash or in-kind from finance ministers of these eight countries.
the project sponsor, benefit the local • It was created as umbrella financial
economy and help develop the private sector mechanism for all SAARC developmental
and satisfy banking and environmental projects and programmes.
standards." • It funds projects in South Asia region via
three windows viz. Social Window, Economic
7.13. IBSA Window and Infrastructure Window.
Why in news? • The SDF has a total corpus of $1.5 billion with
the total capital base currently at $497 million.
Recently, at a Ministerial meeting of IBSA in South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation
Pretoria, South Africa, Foreign Ministers of (SAARC)
India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) adopted a • It is a regional organisation which was
declaration to contribute to greater established in 1985 .
understanding of development and South-South • The main objective of setting up of SAARC
Cooperation (SSC). was to promote the welfare of the people of
About South-South Cooperation (SSC) South Asia, improve the quality of life and
accelerate economic growth, social progress
• South South Cooperation (SSC) is defined as and cultural development in the region.
the exchange and sharing of developmental • Member countries – India, Pakistan.
solutions among countries in the global Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives,
south. Afghanistan and Bhutan
• The formation of SSC can be traced to the
1955 Bandung Conference. 7.15. BIMSTEC
IBSA
• It is an international tripartite grouping for Why in News?
promoting international cooperation of India,
Brazil and South Africa. Recently, the 4th summit of the Bay of Bengal
• It was formally established by the Brasilia Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Declaration of 6 June 2003 by external affairs Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was held in
ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa. Nepal after a gap of four years. The 3rd BIMSTEC
• It represents three important poles for Summit took place in Nay Pyi Taw in 2014.
galvanizing South-South cooperation and greater
understanding between three important About BIMSTEC
continents of the developing world. • BIMSTEC is a regional organization comprising
IBSA Mechanism for Development Cooperation - IBSA seven Member States lying in the littoral and
Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger
adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal including
• It was set up with the objective of facilitating the
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
execution of human development projects to
advance the fight against poverty and hunger in Myanmar and Thailand.
developing countries. • This sub-regional organization came into
• Each member country contributes $1 Million being on 6 June 1997 through the Bangkok
annually to this fund. Declaration.
• The IBSA Fund is managed by the United Nations • Its Secretariat has been established at Dhaka.
Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
7.16. ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC
7.14. SAARC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
FUND (SDF)
Why in News?
Why in news?
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at its
SAARC Development Fund Partnership Conclave Summit in Papua New Guinea failed to develop
2018 was held in New Delhi. consensus on a communique.
25
More on news merchandise goods, services, investment and
trade facilitation.
• This was first such instance in the history of
• Notably, it is the only operational trade agreement
APEC when a consensus could not be
linking China and India.
achieved on final declaration. UNESCAP
• The unprecedented impasse blamed on • It is the regional development arm of the United
tensions between China and the United States Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.
presents an opportunity of admitting India as • It was established in 1947 with its headquarters in
a member — both in recognition of the Bangkok, Thailand.
country's status as a major market and as a • It seeks to promote cooperation among member
means to avoiding a similar impasse in future. States to achieve inclusive and sustainable
o However, India’s geographical location development in Asia and Pacific.
isn’t conducive for India’s membership in
APEC as India does not border the Pacific 7.18. RCEP
Ocean.
Why in News?
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Members of the Regional Comprehensive
• Established in 1989 APEC is an inter- Economic Partnership (RCEP), have finalized an
governmental forum for 21 Pacific Rim early-harvest “package” with the aim of
member economies. concluding trade negotiations by the year-end.
• APEC aims for regional economic integration Background
by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable • The RCEP, forged during the 2012 ASEAN
growth. summit in Cambodia, was built upon the
• India was allowed in APEC summit in 2011 as premise of broadening and deepening
an observer state. engagement among parties and facilitating
participation to promote economic
7.17. APTA development in the region.
• But the negotiations which had begun in 2012
Why in news?
resulted in a stalemate due to various
The results of the 4th Round of negotiations under differences among members.
the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) have • In the earlier ministerial meetings, India has
been implemented with effect from 1st July, 2018. made it clear that it doesn’t favour an “early
More on news harvest”. Thus, agreements on all the three
• India has agreed to provide tariff concessions pillars of negotiations — goods, services and
on 3,142 products to APTA and special investment — can be implemented only as a
concessions on 48 tariff lines for LDCs, with package.
Bangladesh and Laos. o Early harvest scheme is a precursor to a
• China has agreed to reduce or cut to zero free trade agreement (FTA) between two
tariffs on a total of 8,549 types of goods trading partners. This is to help them to
originating in India, Bangladesh, Laos, South identify certain products for tariff
Korea and Sri Lanka. liberalisation pending the conclusion of
APTA FTA negotiation.
• The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), About RCEP
previously named as the Bangkok Agreement, was
• The RCEP is billed as an FTA between the 10-
signed in 1975 as an initiative of UNESCAP (United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia
member ASEAN bloc and its six FTA
and the Pacific). partners— India, China, Japan, South Korea,
• It is the oldest preferential trade agreement (PTA) Australia and New Zealand.
among developing countries in Asia-Pacific. • Once concluded, RCEP will create the largest
• Currently, the following six Participating States are regional trading bloc, making up 25% of GDP,
parties to APTA: 1. Bangladesh 2. China 3. India 30% of global trade, and 26% of foreign direct
(founding member) 4. Laos 5. South Korea 6. Sri investment (FDI) flows.
Lanka (Mongolia is set to become the 7th member) • The RCEP ‘guiding principles and objectives
• It is open to all developing member countries. state that the “negotiations on trade in
• It aims to promote economic development goods, trade in services, investment and
through the adoption of mutually beneficial trade
other areas will be conducted in parallel to
liberalization measures that will contribute to intra-
ensure a comprehensive and balanced
regional trade expansion and provides for
economic integration through coverage of outcome.”
26
• These countries, with the seven largest IMF-
7.19. COMPREHENSIVE AND
described advanced economies in the world,
PROGRESSIVE TRANS-PACIFIC represent 58% of the global net wealth ($317
PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP) trillion).
• Each year, the location of the summit rotates
Why in news? among the member countries. The host
CPTPP entered into force recently for six countries country not only sets the agenda for the year
which had ratified the deal. but also holds the G7 presidency.
About CPTPP • For the first time in the last 44 years, the G7
had a Gender Equality Advisory Council. The
• It is a free trade agreement between Canada
aim of the council is to convince private sector
and 10 other countries in the Asia-Pacific
companies to set up such council and
region: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan,
eradicate the problem of gender inequality
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
from the root.
Singapore and Vietnam. It is informally known
as TPP-11. 7.22. G-20
• CPTPP includes a broad range of sectors such
as agriculture, sea food products, forest Why in news?
products, industrial products, etc. Recently the 13th G-20 Summit was hosted by
• Most tariff lines will become duty-free as the Argentina.
Agreement enters into force for each CPTPP
Group of Twenty (G 20)
country. Tariffs on other goods will be
eliminated gradually over “phase-out” periods • It is an international forum for
(up to 20 years), which vary by country. the governments and central bank
governors from 19 countries and the
7.20. AFRICAN CONTINENTAL European Union.
• The G20 started in 1999 as a meeting of
FREE TRADE AREA
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
Why in news? in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. In
2008, the first G20 Leaders’ Summit was held,
African countries are set to launch the African and the group played a key role in responding
Continental Free Trade Area or AfCFTA, the to the global financial crisis
biggest free trade agreement in the world since • For the first time, India will host the annual G-
the World Trade Organization. 20 Summit in 2022.
Details
• The African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) is the result of the African
Continental Free Trade Agreement among all
55 members of the African Union.
• It is a continent-wide free-trade agreement
brokered by the African Union (AU) and
initially signed on by 44 of its 55 member
states in Kigali, Rwanda on March 2018.
• The proposal will come into force after
ratification by 22 of the signatory states.
7.21. G7
Why in News?
7.23. ORGANISATION FOR THE
The 44th G7 Summit was recently held in Quebec,
Canada.
PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS (OPCW)
About G7
• The Group of Seven (G7) is a group consisting Why in news?
of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the OPCW has been granted new powers to assign
United Kingdom, and the United States. blame for attacks using banned toxic materials.
27
More on news EU and the Association of South East Asian
Nations - ASEAN).
• Until now OPCW had limited power to only
• India joined the forum in 2008.
send teams to places to collect samples and
• The first summit was held in Bangkok,
draw conclusions whether the chemical
Thailand.
weapons attack had happened or not.
• It aims at promoting a more global vision
• It did not have powers to identify the
among European and Asian policymakers by
perpetrator (country or non-state actors) of
allowing them to exchange views on political,
the chemical weapons’ attacks.
economic, financial, social and cultural issues.
• The British-led motion was supported by the
United States and European Union, but
opposed by Russia, Iran, Syria, and their allies.
7.25. ASIA-PACIFIC INSTITUTE
• India also voted against the decision because FOR BROADCASTING
it was critical of the decision to grant DEVELOPMENT (AIBD)
“unchecked powers” to the head of the
group which could be used for “partisan” Why in News?
purposes. Recently, India has been elected (first time) as the
About OPCW President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for a period of
• It was established in the year 1997 with two years.
headquarter at The Hague, Netherlands.
• The OPCW Member States share the collective About Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting
goal of preventing chemistry from ever again Development (AIBD)
being used for warfare, thereby • It is a regional inter-governmental
strengthening international security. organisation servicing countries of the United
• It is the implementing body for the Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Convention on the Prohibition of the Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of
Development, Production, Stockpiling and electronic media development.
Use of Chemical Weapons. • It was established in 1977 under the auspices
• It has membership of 193 countries. of UNESCO and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting
o India is a member. Union (ABU) is a founding organisation of the
o Israel has signed but not ratified the Institute and is a non-voting member of the
Convention. Egypt, North Korea General Conference.
and South Sudan have neither signed nor • It is hosted by Malaysia and its secretariat is
acceded. located in Kuala Lampur.
• The Conference of the States Parties is the • The International Telecommunication Union
plenary organ consisting of all members of (ITU) and United Nations Development
the OPCW having equal voting rights. Programme (UNDP), are also founding
• OPCW has reached a major milestone of organisations of the Institute.
destroying over 90% of the stockpile of the Related Information
chemical weapons and was awarded 2013 Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
Nobel Peace Prize for its extensive efforts to • It was established in 1964 as a non-profit, non-
eliminate chemical weapons. governmental, non- political, professional
association.
7.24. ASIA-EUROPE MEETING • ABU promotes the collective interests of
television and radio broadcasters as well as key
Why in News? industry players and facilitate regional and
international media co-operation.
The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting was held in
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
October 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Discussions
• It is the United Nations specialized agency for
focused on the theme "Europe and Asia: Global information and communication technologies –
Partners for Global Challenges". ICTs.
About ASEM • It was founded in 1865.
• It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite
• It is an intergovernmental process
orbits.
established in 1996 to foster dialogue and
• It develops the technical standards that ensure
cooperation between 51 Asian and European networks and technologies seamlessly
countries plus two institutional partners (the interconnect.
28
8. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
• It will be given the status of “Partner across
8.1. IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL
the globe” in the group. NATO cooperates
Why in news? with a range of countries which are not part
of formal group. They are often referred to as
USA has decided to withdraw from 2015 Nuclear
"Partners across the globe" or simply “Global
Agreement with Iran and reinstate sanctions
Partners”.
upon it.
• Being a global partner Colombia need not
More on news necessarily have to take part in military
• The Iran deal, also known as Joint action and yet will be fully accredited as a
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is an member in NATO.
agreement reached in 2015 between Iran and • Other countries in the alliance with status of
six world countries - US, China, Russia, Britain, "partners across the globe” are Afghanistan,
France and Germany, plus the EU (i.e. Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
P5+Germany+EU). Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
• Under the agreement Iran agreed to
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
completely eliminate its stock of medium
enriched uranium, reduce the stock of low • It is also called as the North Atlantic Alliance,
enriched uranium by 98% and reduce almost an intergovernmental military alliance
by 2/3rd its gas centrifuges for 13 years. between three United Nations Security
• Until 2031, Iran will have to comply with any Council (United States, France and United
IAEA access request. If it refuses, the Kingdom) permanent members and 26 other
commission can decide on punitive steps, North American and European countries.
including the re-imposition of sanctions • The alliance was established by the North
through a majority vote. Atlantic Treaty 1949.
• The reason sighted by the USA for withdrawal • It constitutes a system of collective defence
is that the deal does not target- Iran’s ballistic whereby its independent member states
missile programme, its nuclear activities agree to mutual defence in response to an
beyond 2025 and its role in conflicts in Yemen attack by any external party.
and Syria. • Its Headquarters are located in Haren,
• In current scenario, the nuclear deal itself Brussels, Belgium.
won’t be scrapped as long as Iran and the Related News
other signatories remain committed to it. North Macedonia in NATO
Related news • North Macedonia recently became 30th member
US has agreed to let eight countries including Japan, of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
India and South Korea, keep buying Iranian oil after it • It is a country in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast
re- imposed sanctions on Iran, in recognition of their Europe.
significant efforts to reduce imports from Iran. • It is one of the successor states of the former
• India has given the responsibility to UCO Bank to Yugoslavia.
route the payment as it has no exposure to the US • Macedonia was prevented from joining NATO or
financial system. EU over its name as Greece cited historical
• Oil payments are being made in rupees only as concerns and opposed the use of the name
against earlier arrangements where there was a "Macedonia" as cultural appropriation.
ratio of 45 percent rupees and 55 percent Euros. • Under Prespa Agreement, 2018 between Greece
and Macedonia, the changed name North
8.2. COLOMBIA TO JOIN NATO Macedonia was adopted.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Why in news? Development (OECD)
• It aims to promote policies that will improve the
Colombia will be the next country to join the economic and social well-being of people around
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It has the world.
also been approved as a member by OECD. • It has 36 members which include many of the
world’s most advanced countries but also
More about the news emerging countries like Mexico, Chile and Turkey.
• Colombia has become the only Latin • India is not a member of this.
American nation in the NATO alliance. • Some important publications of OECD include:
29
o Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China About the Treaty
and India
o Going for Growth • The treaty declares 15 Nautical Miles from the
o International Migration Outlook coastline as Sovereign waters and an
Exclusive Economic Zone, with a further 10
8.3. SINGAPORE SUMMIT nautical miles to be used for fishing and
beyond this would be common waters.
Why in news? • The treaty ends a conflict over whether the
US President Donald Trump and North Korea Caspian is a sea or a lake, granting it a special
leader Kim Jong Un recently met at the US-North legal status and clarifying the maritime
Korea summit held in Singapore. boundaries of each surrounding country.
Background o The major concern is if it is a sea, it would
become governed by United Nations
• North Korea has founded its regime’s stability Convention on the Law of the
on Byungjin policy, i.e. pursuing economic Sea (UNCLOS) and outside powers would
development and nuclear weapons have access to these waters.
programme simultaneously. • It allows each member nation to lay pipelines
• The recent thaw in relations had been aided with consent only from the neighbouring
by attempts by both North and South Korea states affected, rather than from all Caspian
to restore normalcy on the divided peninsula, Sea Nations.
beginning with cordiality during the Winter
• The development of seabed reserves will be
Olympics and then a meeting between the
regulated by separate deals between Caspian
two Korean leaders.
Nations, in line with international laws.
• North Korea had also announced to destroy
• It prevents the Caspian nations from opening
its Punggye-ri nuclear testing zone. their borders to third party aggressors such as
Outcomes the US and NATO or allowing any foreign
• US had committed to provide security military presence on Caspian waters.
guarantees to North Korea and end US-South
Korea Joint war games.
• Reaffirming the Panmunjom declaration for
Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the
Korean Peninsula (between North and South
Korea), Chairman Kim committed to work
towards complete denuclearisation of the
Korean Peninsula. This can reduce the
dangers of proliferation of nuclear weapons in
future.
8.4. CASPIAN SEA

BREAKTHROUGH TREATY
Why in News?
Recently, five Caspian Sea States – Azerbaijan,
Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan -
signed a breakthrough agreement on Caspian
Sea’s legal status. UNCLOS
Background • It is an international treaty which was adopted and
signed in 1982.
• The 5 nations have tried to define the Caspian • It replaced the four Geneva Conventions of April,
Sea’s legal status since the collapse of Soviet 1958, which respectively concerned the territorial
Union in order to divide up the waters and its sea and the contiguous zone, the continental shelf,
natural resources for new drillings and the high seas, fishing and conservation of living
pipelines. resources on the high seas.
• The treaty provides a graduated system of
• Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have
sovereignty in which countries can assert complete
contested the ownership of several oil and ownership of water within 12 nautical miles of
gas fields. their coastline.
30
• Each country can also claim an additional 200 treaty’s EIF. Because of this, India withdrew
nautical miles as an exclusive economic zone, its participation from the IMS.
which is an area where each coastal country can
regulate scientific research and the exploitation of Related information
marine resources. • Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
• The Convention has created three new institutions Weapons (NPT) 1968: Its objective is to prevent the
on the international scene: spread of nuclear weapons and weapons
o International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea technology, to promote cooperation in the
o International Seabed Authority peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the
o Commission on the Limits of the Continental goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general
Shelf and complete disarmament.
o India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and South
Sudan are not parties to this treaty.
8.5. COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR • Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
TEST BAN TREATY 2017: It is the first multilateral legally-binding
instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been
Why in news? negotiated in 20 years.
o India and other nuclear-armed nations ——
UN chief Antonio Guterres appealed to eight
the United States, Russia, Britain, China,
nations, including India and the US, to ratify the France, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel had
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). not participated in the negotiations.
What is CTBT? • Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ): It is a
regional approach to strengthen global nuclear
• It is a multilateral treaty banning all nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament norms and
explosions for both military and civilian consolidate international efforts towards peace
purposes. and security. Five such zones exist, with four of
• It was negotiated at the Conference on them spanning the entire southern hemisphere.
Disarmament in Geneva and adopted by the o Latin America (Treaty of Tlatelolco, 1967)
o South Pacific (Treaty of Rarotonga, 1985)
United Nations General Assembly. It was
o Southeast Asia (Treaty of Bangkok, 1995)
opened for signature on 24 September 1996.
o Africa (Treaty of Pelindaba, 1996)
• The CTBT with its 183 signatories and 163 o Central Asia (Treaty of Semipalatinsk, 2006)
ratifications is one of the most widely
supported arms-control treaties. 8.6. INTERMEDIATE-RANGE
• It can only enter into force after it is ratified
by eight countries with nuclear technology NUCLEAR FORCES (INF) TREATY
capacity, namely China, Egypt, India, Iran,
Why in news?
Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United
States. Recently, U.S.A (and then Russia) suspended its
• The Treaty establishes a CTBT Organization obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear
(CTBTO), located in Vienna, to ensure the Forces (INF) Treaty.
implementation of its provisions, including Background
provisions for international verification
measures. • The erstwhile President of USSR Mikhail
Gorbachev and American President Ronald
India’s Stand on CTBT Reagan signed a Comprehensive
• India did not support the Comprehensive intermediate-range missile elimination
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996 and still does agreement which culminated in the INF treaty
not due to following reasons: CTBT does not in 1987.
address complete disarmament (supported • Since 2013, however, both Russia and America
by India), discriminatory in nature with have accused each other of violating terms of
permanent UNSC members. the treaty.
• Another major concern was the entry-into- What is the INF treaty?
force (EIF) clause, which India considered a
violation of its right to voluntarily withhold • It is a cold war era arms control treaty
participation in an international treaty. The between the United States and Russia under
treaty initially made ratification by states that which both agreed not to develop, produce,
were to be a part of the CTBT’s International possess or deploy any ground-based ballistic
Monitoring System (IMS) mandatory for the and cruise missiles that have a range between
500 and 5,500 km. It however exempted the
31
air-launched and sea-based missile systems in governments and businesses more time
the same range. to prepare for long term changes.
• It mandated agreeing parties to destroy all o A "fair financial settlement" from the UK -
such existing weapons within three years of also known as the £39bn "divorce bill".
the signing of the treaty and also clarified that o A "backstop" arrangement to keep the
each of the parties could withdraw from the Irish border unmanned if trade talks don't
treaty with a six-month notice. come up with a way of avoiding that
• It laid out a comprehensive inspection happening.
protocol, whereby each of the parties could European Union
inspect and monitor each other’s’ elimination • It is an economic and political partnership involving
process. 28 European countries.
• Maastricht Treaty (or Treaty on European Union)
• However, it was a bilateral agreement
which entered into force in 1993, is responsible for
between US and USSR which left the other
the creation of EU.
nuclear weapon powers free to develop o It paved the way for the creation of a single
ground based intermediate range forces. European currency- Euro as well as European
Related information central bank.
• The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) o It granted EU citizenship to every person with
between the United States and Soviet Union in the citizenship of a member state.
late 1960s-1970s led to further weapons control • Institutional set-up –
agreements. o The EU's broad priorities are set by the
• The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties were European Council, which brings together
signed, as START I and START II, by the US and national and EU-level leaders.
Soviet Union, further restricting weapons. o Directly elected MEPs represent European
citizens in the European Parliament.
8.7. BREXIT o The interests of the EU as a whole are
promoted by the European Commission,
Why in news? whose members are appointed by national
governments.
After months of negotiation, the UK and EU
o Governments defend their own country's
agreed a Brexit deal at Brussels summit. national interests in the Council of the
What is Brexit? European Union.
• Brexit is the withdrawal of the United
Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU),
following a referendum held on 23 June 2016
in which 51.9 per cent of those voting
supported leaving the EU.
• The invocation of Article 50 of the Lisbon
Treaty set a two-year process which was due
to conclude with the UK's exit on 29 March
2019.
• On 21 March 2019 the European Council
agreed to the UK's request to extend the
deadline and extended it to 12 April 2019.
Terms of agreement of the deal
• A draft agreement on Britain's
withdrawal from the European Union is a India and EU
legally-binding text that sets out the terms of • The first India-EU Summit took place in Lisbon on
the UK's departure. It includes: 28 June 2000 and marked a watershed in the
o Commitments over citizens' rights after evolution of the relationship.
Brexit - people will be able to work and • At the 5th India-EU Summit held at The Hague in
study where they currently live, and to be 2004, the relationship was upgraded to a ‘Strategic
joined by family members. Partnership’.
o A 21-month transition period after the • The two sides adopted a Joint Action Plan in 2005
UK's departure, to allow time for trade (which was reviewed in 2008).
talks. • India-EU relations received another boost with the
13th India-EU Summit at Brussels in March 2016
o The UK would continue to follow all EU
adopting the India-EU Agenda 2020, which lays
rules during this period in order to give
32
down a road map for cooperation on a wide range ✓ Enhance response to time-critical
of issues including nuclear cooperation, requirements.
investments, Internet Governance, climate change, ✓ Strengthen core elements of
5G communications etc. humanitarian response in
Related information
underfunded crises.
Eurozone
• It is a geographic and economic region that
consists of countries that have fully incorporated
the euro as their national currency.
• As of 2018, the eurozone consisted of 19 countries
in the EU: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and
Spain.
Schengen Area
• It is an area comprising 26 European states that
have officially abolished passport and all other
types of border control at their mutual borders
• The area is named after the Schengen Agreement
signed in June 1985 in the town of Schengen,
Luxembourg.
• 22 of 28 EU member states participate in the
Schengen Area.
• The four European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
member states- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,
and Switzerland- are not members of the EU but
have signed agreements in association with the
Schengen Agreement.
8.8. VENEZUELA CRISIS

Why in news?
8.9. PLACES OF CONFLICT AND
The United Nations announced health and
nutritional aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela
COMMUNITIES AFFECTED
through Central Emergency Response Fund Why in News?
(CERF). • The USA is planning to withdraw its troops
More on news from Afghanistan and Syria
• A UN mediated ceasefire has been reached
• Hyperinflation (extremely fast or out of between Houthi rebels in Yemen and
control inflation) is the biggest problem faced President Hadi’s forces in the port city of
by Venezuela. The economic crisis has also led Hodeida.
to food shortage and hit the public health Places of Communities Important
system, making medicine, equipment conflict affected associated cities
inaccessible to its people. Yemen Houthis belonging Sanaa (capital
• Central Emergency Response Fund: crisis to Zaidi tribes city)
o It is a humanitarian fund established by Syrian crisis Kurds who want In Syria - Aleppo,
the UN General Assembly in 2006 to Kurdistan – Palmyra, Raqqa
enable more timely and reliable comprising of In Iraq – Kirkuk,
humanitarian assistance to those affected border areas from Mosul
Turkey, Iraq, Syria,
by natural disasters and armed conflicts.
Iran and Armenia.
o It has 126 UN Member States and
Lebanon Hezbollah aim at Tripoli, Beirut
observers, and receives support from driving Israel from
regional Governments, corporate donors, Lebanon.
foundations and individuals. Afghanistan Pashtun Mazar-i-Sharif
o CERF objectives: community
✓ Promote early action and response to (Taliban insurgency
avoid loss of life. is mainly restricted
to this community)
33
9. ISSUES RELATED TO SECURITY
9.1. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR
ISLANDS
Why in news?
The Indian Navy has commissioned a new airbase,
INS Kohasa, 100 miles north of Port Blair in the
strategically located Andaman and Nicobar
islands.
More on News
• This will be India’s fourth air base and the
third naval air facility in the archipelago. The
Navy currently operates air strips at Port Blair
and INS Baaz at Campbell Bay, while the Air
Force has a base in Car Nicobar. The islands
also house India’s only tri-service (land, sea &
air) theatre command.
• With increased contestation in the region and
in an effort to keep an eye on movements,
India has considerably upgraded military 9.2. PERMANENT CHAIRMAN OF
infrastructure in the islands.
• In 2017, the Island Development Agency (IDA) THE CHIEFS OF STAFF
was established for the holistic development COMMITTEE
of the islands, focusing on community-based
tourism. It is chaired by Union Home Minister. Why in News?
o In the first phase, Smith, Ross, Aves, Long The three services have agreed on the
and Little Andaman in Andaman and appointment of a Permanent Chairman of the
Nicobar while Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Chiefs of Staff Committee (PCCoSC).
Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep About PCCoSC
have been selected for their holistic • It is proposed to be headed by a four-star
development. military officer, who will be equivalent to
Related News chiefs of army, airforce and navy.
Joint Logistic Node • He would look into joint issues of the services
• Government has decided to set a joint logistic like training of troops, acquisition of weapon
node at the India’s only tri-services command in systems and joint operations of the services.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. • He would also be in-charge of the tri-services
• It will provide logistical support to all three command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
defence services and will improve utilisation of
resources, manpower and remove duplication.
• Various committees such as the Kargil Review
• The joint logistics node comprises of three committee led by K Subramaniam and the
elements: Naresh Chandra committee of 2011
o Joint Logistics Command & Control Centre recommended a permanent chairman.
(JLC&CC), which is the overall command Current Structure in India
organisation, • The Chief of Staff Committee (CoSC) consists of
o Tri-services Detachment at Material Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs.
Organisation (TRIDAMO), which will meet • It is headed by the senior-most of the three chiefs
logistical needs of the armed forces and in rotation till he retires.
o Tri-services Advanced Detachment (TRISAD), • It is a platform where the three service chiefs
based on mainland and responsible for discuss important military issues.
sending troops and equipment to the nodes.
Renaming of 3 islands 9.3. STRATEGIC POLICY GROUP
• Prime Minister announced renaming of 3 islands of
Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a tribute to Why in news?
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Ross Island as Netaji
The Strategic Policy Group (SPG) has been
Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as
Shaheed Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj reconstituted with National Security Advisor
Dweep. (NSA) as its chief.
34
Strategic Policy Group (SPG) About BADP
• It was set up in 1999. • It is a Core of the core Centrally Sponsored
• It is the first tier of National Security Council Scheme (CSS) and is now part of the National
structure. Development Agenda.
• It is mandated to publish National Defense • Department of Border Management is
Review- a draft of short term and long-term implementing the scheme through the State
security threats and defense matters for Governments, in 111 border districts in 17
consideration of NSC. States.
• The SPG shall be the principal mechanism for • It has three primary objectives: (a) to create
inter-ministerial coordination and integration infrastructure (b) provide economic
of relevant inputs in the formulation of opportunities to the border people, and (c)
national security policies. to instil a sense of security among them.
• The Cabinet Secretary will coordinate the
implementation of SPG decisions by the Union 9.5. NEW INITIATIVES TO CURB
Ministries and departments and State LEFT WING EXTREMISM
governments.
Other recent reforms in National Security Architecture Why in news?
• Three deputy National Security Advisors have been Recently MHA has taken various measures to
appointed instead of just one, while the post of
tackle Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in India.
military advisor has been revived.
• A Defence Planning Committee, headed by the Various initiatives
NSA, has been set up to align National security
needs and defence resources into one decision • Black Panther combat force – A specialised
making box. anti-Naxal combat force for Chhattisgarh on
National Security Architecture of India the lines of Greyhounds unit. The Greyhounds
• Cabinet Committee on Security is the apex body are a special force that specialize in Jungle
for executive action on matters of national warfare and anti-insurgency operations
security. against Naxalites with jurisdiction limited to
• CCS is chaired by the PM and normally includes the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Home and • Bastariya Batallion - It is newly formed
Finance.
batallion of CRPF with more than 534 tribal
• Both National Security Council (NSC) and CCS have
a common membership which helps in easier
youth from four highly naxal infested districts
decision making and implementation. of Chhattisgarh. Another remarkable feature
• National Security Council, NSC and National of it is its adequate female representation
Security Advisor, NSA advises the Prime Minister’s which is in sync with the Government’s policy
Office on matters of National security. of 33% reservation for women making it the
• NTRO (National Technical Research Organization) first composite battalion in any of paramilitary
is a technical intelligence agency under NSA. forces.
National Security Council • Approval of Projects under USOF - Union
• It is the top executive body of India which advises cabinet has approved the Universal Service
the Prime Minister’s Office on matters of national
Obligation Fund (USOF) supported scheme to
security and strategic interests.
provide mobile services in 96 districts of LWE-
• It was established in 1998.
affected states.
• It has a three tier Organizational Structure
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
consisting of Strategic Policy Group (SPG),
• USOF was created under department of
National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and
telecommunications and given statutory status
National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
through Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003.
• The Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting
9.4. BORDER AREA the Universal Service Obligation.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME • Its objectives include:
o Economic: Network extension & stimulate
(BADP) uptake of the ICT services
o Social: Mainstreaming the underserved & un-
Why in news?
served areas/groups by bridging the Access
The Centre has increased its outlay under Border Gap
Area Development Programme for the all-round o Political: to enable citizens exercise their
development of villages located along the political rights in an informed way and
international border in 17 states. o Constitutional: Equitable distribution of the
35
fruits of the telecom/digital revolution and fair mandate. Its core operational capability is
allocation of national resource (pooled USO provided by Special Action Group (SAG)
levy) via targeted subsidies drawn from Indian Army.
• It derives its funding from Universal Service • The NSG personnel are commonly referred to
Levy (USL) charged from all the telecom operators
as Black Cats because of the black outfit and
on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) which are
then deposited into the Consolidated Fund of
black cat insignia worn on their uniform.
India.
9.8. DEFENCE MINISTRY ISSUES
9.6. CENTRAL ARMED POLICE NEW GUIDELINES FOR START-
FORCES UPS
Why in News? Why in news?
Recently, Standing Committee on Home Affairs Ministry of Defence has specified new rules for
submitted its report on Working Conditions in Indian start-ups to enable them to take part in
Central Armed Police Forces. military projects.
More on news More on news
• The report has identified various issues such • The startups registered with DIPP will qualify
as: bureaucratization of armed forces, poor for defence projects.
infrastructure, shortage of arms, high • Categories include: aeronautics,
vacancies etc. nanotechnology, virtual reality, green
Central Armed Police Forces under Administrative technology, internet of things etc.
Control of Ministry of Home Affairs • Armed services have identified multiple
Border Guarding Forces Non-Border Guarding projects under this in Make II category.
Assam Rifles: Guards the Central Industrial
Indo-Myanmar border. Security Force (CISF): As per Defence Procurement Procedure-2016, there are
Provides security for two sub-categories of ‘Make’ Procedure:
critical infrastructures. • Make-I (Government Funded): It will involve
Border Security Force Central Reserve Police Government funding of 90%, released in a phased
(BSF): Guards the Indo- Force (CRPF): Deployed manner.
Pakistan and Indo- for maintaining internal • Make-II (Industry Funded): Under this, private
Bangladesh borders. security. industry funds the research for the product on its
Indo-Tibetan Border Police National Security Guard own and develops a prototype. There will be no
(ITBP): Guards the Indo- (NSG): Deployed for anti- government funding for developing the prototype
China border. terrorist activities. but there is an assurance of orders on successful
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): development and trials of the prototype.
Guards the Indo-Bhutan Under the new policy, top priority to acquiring
and Indo-Nepal borders. weapons will be given to Buy (Indian — IDDM)
followed by Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian),
9.7. NSG COMMANDOS TO BE and Buy and Make (Global); the last priority will be
given to Buy (Global) category. IDDM stands for
DRAFTED IN J&K Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured
Why in news?
9.9. TERRORIST TRAVEL
The Centre has decided to deploy National
Security Guard (NSG) commandos in J&K to fortify INITIATIVE
counter terror operations.
Why in news?
About NSG
Recently Terrorist Travel Initiative, under
• It is an Indian special forces unit under the auspices of Global Counterterrorism Forum
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). (GCTF) was launched.
• It was established in 1984, following
Terrorist Travel Initiative
Operation Blue Star and the assassination of
Indira Gandhi for combating terrorist • It will bring together national and local
activities. governments, law enforcement and border
• It is not categorised under Central Armed screening practitioners, and international
Police Force (CAPF) but has a special forces organizations to share expertise on how to
36
develop and implement effective About Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF)
counterterrorism watch listing and screening
• It is an informal, apolitical, multilateral
tools.
counterterrorism (CT) platform, launched in
• The initiative will develop a set of good
2011.
practices which will reinforce countries and
• It develops good practices and tools for
organizations to use border security tools
policy-makers and practitioners to strengthen
prescribed in UNSC Resolution 2396 to stop
CT civilian capabilities, national strategies,
terrorist travel.
action plans and training modules.
• India is a founding member of GCTF.
37
10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1. GLOBAL COMPACT FOR • IOM X is IOM’s campaign to encourage safe
migration and public action to stop exploitation and
MIGRATION human trafficking.
UN member states (except the U.S. and Hungary)
have agreed on a Global Compact for Migration.
10.2. EXTRADITION
About Global Compact for Migration Recently, UK Court ordered the extradition of
• It is framed in accordance with target 10.7 of the fugitive Vijay Mallya to India to face fraud charges
SDG in which Member States committed to resulting from the collapse of his defunct Kingfisher
cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, Airlines.
orderly and regular migration.
What is Extradition?
• This Global Compact sets out a common
understanding, shared responsibilities and unity • Extradition is the delivery on the part of one
of purpose regarding migration, making it work State to another of those whom it is desired to
for all. deal with for crimes of which they have been
• The major objectives of the compact include: accused or convicted and are justifiable in the
o Minimize the adverse drivers and structural Courts of the other State.
factors that compel people to leave their • Extradition Act 1962 provides India’s legislative
country of origin. basis for extradition.
• Nodal authority for Extradition in India: Ministry
o Enhance availability and flexibility of
pathways for regular migration and of External Affairs, Government of India is the
reducing vulnerability in migration. Central/Nodal Authority that administers the
o Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and Extradition Act and it processes incoming and
safeguard conditions that ensure decent outgoing Extradition Requests.
work. Difference Between Extradition and other process
o Manage borders in an integrated, secure
• In deportation, a person is ordered to leave a
and coordinated manner.
country and is not allowed to return to that
o Use migration detention only as a measure
country.
of last resort and work towards alternatives.
• In exclusion, a person is prohibited from staying
o Empower migrants and societies to realize
in a particular part of a sovereign state.
full inclusion and social cohesion.
• Deportation and Exclusion are non-consensual
o Establish mechanisms for the portability of
orders that do not require a treaty obligation.
social security entitlements and earned
Deportation is governed by the Foreigners Act,
benefits.
1946.
• It is not legally binding. It does not dictate nor
Related News - Interpol Issued Red Corner notice against
impose and it fully respects the sovereignty of Mehul Choksi
States. • About Interpol (International Criminal Police
• It is the first-ever UN global agreement on a Organization)
common approach to international migration in • It is an international organization facilitating
all its dimensions. international police cooperation. It has 194 member
• The process of developing compact was started countries and has HQ at Lyon, France.
in early 2017 as implementation of decision by • Notices are international requests for cooperation or
alerts allowing police in member countries to share
UN member states as adopted New York
critical crime-related information.
Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in
• The CBI is the nodal authority that executes and
September 2016. handles the issuance of all Interpol Notices in India.
Related news: International Organisation for Migration There are liaison officers in every state police force as
Portugal's Antonio Vitorino was recently elected as head well.
of International Organisation for Migration (IOM). • Types of Interpol notices:
• Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter- o Red notice: To seek the location and arrest of
governmental organization in the field of migration wanted persons with a view to extradition or
and works closely with governmental, similar lawful action.
intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. o Blue notice: To collect additional information
• It is headquartered at Le Grand-Saconnex, about a person's identity, location or activities in
Switzerland. relation to a crime.
• It was founded in the wake of the World War II to o Green notice: to provide warnings and
resettle refugees from Europe. intelligence about persons who have committed
• In 2016 it became a related organization of the criminal offences and are likely to repeat these
United Nations. crimes in other countries.
38
o Yellow notice: to help locate missing persons, o Theme of PBD 2019 – role of Indian Diaspora in
often minors, or to help identify persons who are building new India.
unable to identify themselves. o Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojna: was launched
o Black notice: To seek information on at PBD 2019 and under this, Overseas Indians
unidentified bodies. in the age group 45-60 will be taken on
o Orange notice: to warn of an event, a person, an nationwide tour of religious places.
object or a process representing a serious and ✓ This will be sponsored by Center and the
imminent threat to public safety.
State Government.
o Purple notice: To seek or provide information on
✓ First preference to people from
modi operandi, objects, devices and
Girmitiya countries.
concealment methods used by criminals.
o The INTERPOL-United Nations Security Council ✓ Girmityas or Jahajis are descendants of
Special Notice: Issued for individuals and entities indentured Indian labourers brought to
that are subject to sanctions imposed by the Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, East Africa,
United Nations Security Council (UNSC). the Malay Peninsula, Caribbean and
South America (Trinidad and Tobago,
10.3. DRAFT EMIGRATION BILL Guyana and Suriname) to work on
sugarcane plantations by European
The Ministry of External Affairs has proposed for colonizers.
introduction of the Emigration Bill, 2019 in
Parliament that will replace the existing Emigration 10.4. MISSION RAKSHA GYAN SHAKTI
Act, 1983.
• The Department of Defence Production has
More on news instituted a new framework titled ‘Mission
• The extant legislative framework for all matters Raksha Gyan Shakti’ to inculcate Intellectual
related to emigration of Indian nationals is Property Right culture in Indian defence
prescribed by the Emigration Act 1983. The bill manufacturing ecosystem.
will replace this act. • The Directorate General of Quality Assurance
(DGQA) under Ministry of Defence is
Other government initiatives for the overseas Indians
coordinating and implementing the
• MADAD Portal: It is an online grievances monitoring
system launched by the Ministry of External Affairs programme.
(MEA) in 2015. The e-portal provides Indian citizens
living abroad an online platform in which they can file 10.5. RAISINA DIALOGUE 2019
consular grievances to the Indian government.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, 2017: It is a mandatory • The fourth edition of the Raisina Dialogue,
insurance scheme aimed at safeguarding the interests India’s flagship annual conference on geopolitics
of Indian emigrant workers falling under Emigration and geo-economics, themed ‘A World Reorder:
Check Required (ECR) category going for overseas New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Uncertain
employment to ECR countries. Outcomes’ was recently held in New Delhi.
• Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): It is aimed • The conference is hosted by the Observer
at assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of Research Foundation (independent think tank)
distress and emergency in the ‘most deserving cases’.
in collaboration with the Government of India,
• Indian Workers Resource Centre has been opened in
host countries to serve as a one stop service outlet Ministry of External Affairs.
for the information and assistance needs of • The United States Chamber of Commerce's
emigrants. Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) launched
• The Mahatma Gandhi Suraksha Pravasi Yojana a new innovation initiative titled "Fair Value for
(MGPSY), a voluntary scheme with the objective of Innovation" at the Raisina Dialogue. It will
protection and welfare of the emigrant workers and examine economic underpinnings that would
to address their social security issues in ECR countries. enable breakthrough innovation, and explore
• Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas: is organized every two how policymakers can harness innovation
years and provides platform for overseas Indian capital in India and around the globe through
Community to engage with the government. research, advocacy, partnerships, and programs.
o The day commemorates the return of
• In a diplomatic initiative to address the lingering
Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai
conflicts and mistrust in the Gulf region, Iran
on 9 January 1915. However, this year the
proposed a new platform “Persian Gulf
dates have been shifted to January 21 to 23 to
accommodate Republic Day, Kumbh Mela
Regional Dialogue Forum” for regional peace
celebrations. building.
o During PBD overseas Indians are also honored
with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 10.6. BEIRUT DECLARATION
for their contributions to various fields both in • At the conclusion of the Arab Economic and
India and abroad.
Social Development Summit, countries taking
39
part in the summit issued a joint statement 10.11. INSTEX SAS
called the Beirut Declaration.
• It called for establishment of an Arab free trade • France, Germany and the United Kingdom
zone and the international community to (E3), announced the creation of INSTEX SAS
support countries hosting refugees and (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges).
displaced people. • It is a Special Purpose Vehicle aimed at
facilitating legitimate trade between European
10.7. UIGHURS economic operators and Iran.
• It will function as a non- dollar, euro-
• Recently there have been reports that about
denominated clearing house or payments
one million Uighur Muslims are being detained
channel that avoids monetary transfers in
in the western Xinjiang region of China.
dollars between the EU and Iran with E3 as
• Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims living
shareholders.
primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
• It would be based in France with a German
Region of the People’s Republic of China and
banker heading it and UK will head the
are recognized as ethnic minorities in China.
supervisory board.
10.8. KERCH STRAIT • It will focus initially on sectors such as
pharmaceutical, medical devices and agri-food
• Recently an accident in the Kerch strait caused goods which are not the target of the US’s
death of 6 Indians. sanctions.
• The Kerch Strait is a strait connecting the Black
Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating the Kerch 10.12. GILETS JAUNES PROTESTS
Peninsula of Crimea in the west from the Taman
• Recently France has witnessed a mass
Peninsula of Russia's Krasnodar Krai in the east.
movement called Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests)
Protests which is also spreading to other
countries like Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany,
etc.
• A grassroots citizens’ protest movement began
in early November against a planned rise in the
tax on diesel and petrol, which French President
insisted would aid the country’s transition to
green energy.
• The movement was named “gilets jaunes”
because protesters wear the fluorescent yellow
high-vis jackets that all motorists must by law
carry in their cars.
10.9. FARZAD-B GAS BLOCK
10.13. SWEDEN’S FEMINIST FOREIGN
• India may get easier terms for Iran’s Farzard- B POLICY MANUAL
gas field as discussions continue.
• The gas field is located in Persian Gulf under the • Sweden recently launched feminist foreign
control of Iranian sovereignty and India is policy manual.
progressing on acquisition and exploration of • In December 2014, Sweden became the first
this. country to adopt a feminist foreign policy.
• Feminist Foreign Policy is a course of action
10.10. CATALONIA towards those outside national boundaries that
is guided by a commitment to gender equality.
• Spain’s prime minister has proposed a
referendum on whether Catalonia should be 10.14. MILITARY EXERCISES IN NEWS
given greater autonomy, in a bid to dampen
tensions between Madrid and Barcelona. Surya Kiran India & Nepal Army
Vijay Prahar Indian Army and Air Force
• Catalonia is an autonomous community in Spain
Malabar 2018 Trilateral Naval Exercise of India,
on the northeastern corner of the Iberian
Japan and USA.
Peninsula, designated as a nationality by its Ind-Indo CORPAT India and Indonesia Navy
Statute of Autonomy. Maitree Exercise 2018 India and Thailand Armed forces
• Catalonia consists of four provinces: Barcelona, Exercise Kazind 2018 India and Kazakhstan Military
Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Yudh Abhyas India and US Military
Exercise Slinex 2018 India and Sri Lanka navy
40
Nomadic Elephant India and Mongolia military Cutlass Express 2019 Maritime forces from East Africa,
BIMSTEC MILEX-18 BIMSTEC nations West Indian Ocean nations,
Exercise Aviaindra-18 India and Russia Airforce Europe, and the United States
IBSAMAR India, Brazil and South Africa Cobra Gold exercise Armies of Thailand, United States,
Navy Singapore, Japan, China, India,
JIMEX-18 India and Japan Navy Indonesia, Malaysia and South
SAHYOG HOP TAC- India and Vietnam Coast Guards Korea.
2018 Exercise Topchi Indian Army
Vajra Prahar India and US Army Exercise Rahat Joint exercise of Indian Army
KONKAN-18 India and UK Navy and NDMA for humanitarian
SHINYUU Maitri-18 India and Japan Airforce assistance and disaster relief
Exercise Sea Vigil Indian coast guards, Indian Army operations
and the Indian Air Force, Indian Operation Nistar Conducted to bring back Indians
Navy. stranded in Socotra island
Hand-in-Hand India and China Army (Yemen) after Cyclone Mekunu
Indra Navy 2018 India and Russia Navy hit the area.
IMBEX 2018-19 India and Myanmar Army Operation Samudra To assist the survivors of
India-Africa Field India and African Countries Army Maitri earthquake and consequent
Training Exercise Tsunami in Central Sulawesi
(IAFTX)-2019 province of Indonesia.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1.3. India-Bangladesh ___________________ 7 7. INTERNATIONAL

1.7. India-Afghanistan ______________ 9 7.5. ICJ on Decolonization of Mauritius 21

1.8. Indo-Pacific and Indian-Ocean Region _ 10 7.6. BRICS ___________________________ 22

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

Relevance of Chabahar Port in India-Afghanistan

5.2. E-VIDYABHARTI AND E-

7.8. ORGANIZATION OF THE

8.4. CASPIAN SEA

8.8. VENEZUELA CRISIS

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