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Should India Join NATO?

This article is based on “Why India must not say ‘no’ to NATO” which was published in The Indian Express on 06/04/2021. It...

06 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Multilateral Maritime Exercise La Perouse

Why in News Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura and INS Kiltan alongwith P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating, for the first time in...

06 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
World Cities Culture Forum

Why in News The Chief Minister of Delhi will represent Delhi and India at the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF). The date for this year’s...

03 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting

Why in News Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the 17th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and...

03 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India’s Maritime Doctrine

This article is based on “It is time to reimagine the Indian Ocean” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 30/03/2021. It talks...

02 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
ACT-Accelerator

Why in News Carl Bildt has been appointed as WHO Special Envoy for the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator). The...

02 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India’s Act East Policy

Why in News Recently, the Union Minister of State Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said that connectivity is an important element of Act...

18 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Kenya-Somalia Dispute

Why in News Kenya has declined to take part in proceedings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its maritime border dispute with...

16 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
QUAD: First Summit

This article is based on “The rationale and future of Quad” which was published in The Hindustan Times on 14/03/2021. It talks about...

15 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Significance of India-Bangladesh Transport Connectivity: World Bank

Why in News Recently, a World Bank report named “Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South...

11 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Amending the Relations

This article is based on Friend in deed which was published in the Indian Express on 08/03/2021. It talks about Bangladesh as a key partner to...

08 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India - Sweden Virtual Summit

Why in News Indian Prime Minister held a Virtual Summit with the Prime Minister of Sweden to discuss bilateral issues and other regional and...

06 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran

Why in News Recently, Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new export contracts with Iranian buyers due to caution about...

06 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India-Bangladesh Bilateral Meet

Why in News Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister visited Bangladesh for a bilateral meet. This meeting comes ahead of Indian Prime...

05 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Knowledge Diplomacy

This article is based on “Knowledge and diplomacy” which was published in The Indian Express on 03/03/2021. It talks about the...

04 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Restoration of JCPOA

This article is based on “The vital but delicate task of reviving the Iran deal” which was published in The Hindu on 02/03/2021. It...

02 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Switzerland’s Policy of Neutrality

Why in News Recently, Switzerland’s Ambassador said that its traditional foreign Policy of Neutrality (Swiss Neutrality) has become attractive...

01 Mar 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
FATF Retains Pakistan In Grey List

Why in News The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to retain Pakistan on the “greylist” till the next review of its...

26 Feb 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Elusive Two-State Solution

This article is based on “Dialogue not demonisation” which was published in The Indian Express on 24/02/2021. It talks about the...

24 Feb 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Boosting Cooperation in South Asia

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister suggested that neighbouring countries should consider creating a special visa scheme for doctors and...

19 Feb 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

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		'title' => 'Should India Join NATO?',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-india-must-not-say-no-to-nato-7260435/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why India must not say &lsquo;no&rsquo; to NATO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 06/04/2021. It talks about the pros and cons of India becoming a member of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).</a></strong></p>
</div>
<p>In the last few years, European countries have asserted to play a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region. India too knows that no single power can produce stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.</p>
<p>Moreover, China&rsquo;s meteoric rise has dramatically heightened India&rsquo;s need for closer security relationships with politically reliable, like-minded states. In order to tackle this geopolitical challenge, India will have to undertake more deliberate efforts to counter-balance the juggernaut of Chinese power.</p>
<p>One such arrangement, which has been recently floated by many western countries, is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extending NATO&rsquo;s membership to India.</strong></a> Although NATO&rsquo;s membership in India will have positive implications, it will have serious ramifications too.</p>
<h3>Arguments for India Becoming NATO&rsquo;s Member</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>End of Cold War:</strong> During the Cold War, India&rsquo;s refusal to join any of the Military bloc (NATO or Warsaw pact led by the USSR) was premised on its non-alignment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>That argument had little justification once the Cold War ended during 1989-91. Since then, NATO has built partnerships with many neutral and non-aligned</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creation of Deterrence:</strong> Article 5 of the NATO treaty held that an attack against a member nation of the NATO would be considered to be an attack against all the members of the alliance and would call for joint military action against the aggressor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would create deterrence for China and Pakistan to attack India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military-Strategic Benefits:</strong> An India-NATO dialogue would simply mean having regular contact with a military alliance, most of whose members are well-established partners of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, India has military exchanges with many members of NATO &mdash; including the US, Britain, and France &mdash; in bilateral and multilateral formats.</li>
<li>Therefore, in the longer term, India would derive military-strategic benefits from a partnership with the world&rsquo;s most powerful alliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Era of Multi-Alignment</strong>: India might align with China and developing nations against the US in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation (WTO)</strong></a> but militarily oppose China while contemplating a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Quad&rdquo;</strong></a> with the USA, Japan, and Australia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, Egypt and Israel are both NATO partners who maintain defense relationships with Russia.</li>
<li>Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and Austria are all NATO partners with long-standing neutralist traditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convergence on Many Issues:</strong> A sustained dialogue between India and NATO could facilitate productive exchanges in a range of areas, including terrorism, changing geopolitics; the evolving nature of military conflict, the role of emerging military technologies, and new military doctrines.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Argument Against India Becoming NATO&rsquo;s Member</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Conflict Within NATO:</strong> NATO members have conflicting opinions on how to share the military burden and strike the right balance between NATO and the EU&rsquo;s quest for an independent military role.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, NATO members disagree on policy related to Russia, the Middle East, and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deteriorate Relations With Russia:</strong> By becoming a NATO member, India&rsquo;s long-standing and strong ties with Russia will get frayed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia has shown displeasure on account of India&rsquo;s growing strategic convergence with the US.</li>
<li>Moreover, this could further strengthen the already deepening relation between China and Russia.</li>
<li>Considering that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-india-s-arms-imports-sipri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India still is heavily dependent on the Russian military equipment</strong></a>, joining NATO seems like an eminently bad idea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Sovereignty:</strong> Another issue would be the establishment of NATO bases on India&rsquo;s territory. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This might invite widespread protests in the country and may even be considered an infringement of our sovereignty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dragging Down Into Various Conflicts:</strong> The downside of joining NATO is that India would get dragged into various conflicts around the globe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would result in a lot of Indian soldiers dying in various conflicts in which we have no reason at all to be involved in.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The bureaucratization of the engagement between India and western countries has prevented India from taking full advantage of re-emerging geopolitics of the Atlantic. However, India&rsquo;s recent proactive approach has certainly sought to end this prolonged political neglect.</p>
<p>Given this, a pragmatic engagement with NATO countries must be an important part of India&rsquo;s foreign policy but it must refrain from becoming a formal member of NATO.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fbfffa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s continued reluctance to engage a major institution like NATO will be a stunning case of strategic self-denial. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 8087,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Multilateral Maritime Exercise La Perouse',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura</strong> and <strong>INS Kiltan</strong> alongwith <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-approves-sale-of-military-hardware" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft</strong></a> are participating,<strong> for the first time in multilateral maritime exercise La P&eacute;rouse,</strong> being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region from 5<sup>th</sup> to 7<sup>th</sup> April 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Post conduct of<strong> La Perouse,</strong> the <strong>Indo-French Naval</strong> exercise <strong>&ldquo;Varuna&ldquo;</strong> is scheduled in the <strong>Western Indian Ocean,</strong> wherein <strong>UAE</strong> too shall be participating.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first edition of <strong>La P&eacute;rouse</strong> joint exercise, <strong>initiated by France in 2019</strong>, included ships from Australia, Japan and the US.</li>
<li>The exercise is <strong>named after the eighteenth century French Naval explorer.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India's participation in 2021 completed the QUAD force representation</strong> in the French led Naval Exercise. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>QUAD</strong> is a <strong>grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan</strong> which aims to safeguard the interests of democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region and address global challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will witness complex and advanced naval operations including <strong>surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions</strong> such as replenishment at sea.</li>
<li>It will provide an opportunity for these five like-minded, high-end naval forces to develop closer links, sharpen their skills, and promote maritime cooperation throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Naval Significance of Indo-Pacific:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Indo-Pacific is slowly but surely turning into a serious Naval Theatre for multi-national activities</strong> with a vision to establish a free, open, inclusive and a rule-based ordering of the Indo-Pacific to support the freedom of navigation and peaceful cooperative use of the seas.</li>
<li>The goal is to respect and adhere to the international laws like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones#:~:text=United%20Nations%20Convention%20on%20the,EEZ)%20and%20the%20High%20Seas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)</strong> </a>and peaceful resolution of territorial sea disputes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>role of the QUAD navies in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region)</strong> has been well illustrated by the effective cooperative engagement capabilities of the multi-national Naval powers through naval exercises like formation sailing, live fire drills, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations etc.</li>
<li>Navies of member countries of <strong>QUAD</strong> participated in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Malabar wargaming exercise</strong></a> in November 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the other hand, <strong>China endeavours to establish a defensive perimeter around its seas (Yellow Sea, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/senkaku-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East China Sea</a> and part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>)</strong> by following a sea denial policy in these regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702901_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702901_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QUAD+ France Pacific Ocean Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> region of Pacific Islands</strong> stretches from Hawaii in the north to Tonga in the south, and Easter Island in the east to New Caledonia in the west.</li>
<li><strong>US interest in the Indo-Pacific region</strong> has always been well illustrated with the fact that<strong> US Indo-Pacific Command</strong> established after World War II is the largest unified command.</li>
<li><strong>France</strong> has a direct<strong> strategic and economic stake in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.</strong> France is a member of the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).</li>
<li><strong>Japan</strong> although has trade ties with China but has always been<strong> suspicious of China&rsquo;s growth as a military power.</strong> China&rsquo;s assertiveness closer to Japanese waters and airspace have been a testing time for Japan.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy</strong> has always maintained a tactical advantage over the IOR to ensure compliance to the internationally established Rules of the Road (ROR) for the seas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has been respected by the world (like declaration of warships transiting IOR etc.), but Indian Navy has <strong>observed and reported multiple sightings of undeclared Chinese ships and submarines</strong> suspiciously lurking within the IOR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indo-French Joint Exercises</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-french-joint-exercise-desert-knight-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Desert Knight-21</a> </strong>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garuda-vi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garuda</strong> </a>(Air exercise)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Varuna</strong></a> (Naval exercise)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-french-joint-exercise-shakti-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shakti</strong> </a>(Army exercise)</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702945_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702945_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/quad-navies-participating-in-france-led-exercise-in-eastern-indian-ocean-region-from-april-5-7260225/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8071,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Cities Culture Forum',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Chief Minister of Delhi will represent Delhi and India at the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>date for this year&rsquo;s annual summit is yet to be announced</strong> on the forum&rsquo;s website.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong> WCCF was<strong> established in London in 2012</strong> with eight cities.</li>
<li><strong>Member Cities:</strong> It has <strong>43 participating member cities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participating member cities include London, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Lisbon, San Francisco, Shanghai, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Delhi</strong> is invited this year but <strong>it is not a part of member cities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role:</strong> It enables the policy makers of member cities to<strong> share research and intelligence,</strong> and<strong> explores the vital role of culture</strong> in their future prosperity.</li>
<li><strong>Managed By:</strong> The activities of the World Cities Culture Forum are <strong>organised and delivered by BOP Consulting,</strong> a specialist consulting firm, on behalf of the <strong>Greater London Authority,</strong> London&rsquo;s Municipal Government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>BOP</strong> conducts comparative research to measure the impact and importance of culture and creativity, and shares it with the Forum so members can make evidence-based policy decisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Cities Culture Summit:</strong> Forum members collaborate via a programme of events including themed symposia, regional summits and workshops. These events feed into the annual <strong>World Cities Culture Summit.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hosted on a rotating basis by member cities,<strong> this unique gathering</strong> allows city leaders to share ideas and knowledge about the role of culture as an organising principle for the sustainable city of the future.</li>
<li>It is <strong>attended by Deputy Mayors for Culture and Heads of Culture</strong> from the member cities.</li>
<li><strong>2021 Theme:</strong> The Future of Culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Cities Culture Report:</strong> Delhi will also be part of the<strong> World Cities Culture Report -</strong> the most comprehensive <strong>global dataset on culture in cities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>published by the forum every three years,</strong> with data and details on innovative projects from cities across the world. The last report was published in <strong>2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/cm-will-represent-delhi-at-world-cities-cultural-forum/article34227487.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => '17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting',
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<p>Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)</a> Ministerial Meeting.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting, <strong>chaired by Sri Lanka,</strong> was held in virtual mode.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand at the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To further<strong> build the momentum of regional cooperation</strong> under the <strong>BIMSTEC framework</strong> and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Highlighted progress</strong> achieved in sectors where India is the Lead Country viz Counter Terrorism &amp; Trans-national Crime, Transport &amp; Communication, Tourism, and Environmental &amp; Disaster management and other activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Robust <strong>connectivity is an essential prerequisite for economic integration</strong> of the region with smooth cross-border movement of people and goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outcome of the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting endorsed the BIMSTEC<strong> Master Plan for Transport Connectivity</strong> for adoption at the next BIMSTEC Summit, which will be held in Sri Lanka. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s northeastern states form a key part of the master plan,</strong> with several road and river links passing through the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Called for early<strong> adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter.</strong></li>
<li>The meeting also endorsed three MoUs/agreements relating to <strong>convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters, cooperation between diplomatic</strong> and <strong>training academies and establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo</strong> (Sri Lanka).</li>
<li>Took note that the <strong>BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate,</strong> being<strong> hosted in India,</strong> is fully functional with state of the art facilities to provide Disaster Early Warnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cohesion among the members has been difficult to achieve mainly because of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rohingyas-at-isolated-bangladesh-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya refugee crisis</strong> </a>which created <strong>bitterness between Myanmar and Bangladesh.</strong></li>
<li>This affected the working of the organisation to some extent as it could not develop a common charter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a <strong>regional organization.</strong></li>
<li>It comprises<strong> seven countries.</strong> Five of these seven countries- <strong>India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh-</strong> are from South Asia while the remaining two, <strong>Thailand and Myanmar,</strong> are from Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>The group remained dormant for many years till it was revived a few years ago as an alternative to the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</strong></a>, which despite having the potential, has not been able to move forward due to friction between India and Pakistan.</li>
<li>With a focus on intra-regional cooperation, the BIMSTEC has also<strong> formed a platform with the SAARC and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a> member countries.</strong></li>
<li>Currently, the BIMSTEC is<strong> involved in 15 sectors</strong> including trade, technology, agriculture, tourism, fisheries, energy and climate change among others, for sectoral cooperation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 1997, it started with just six sectors and later expanded to the remaining nine sectors in 2008.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Secretariat:</strong> Dhaka, Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creating an<strong> enabling environment for the rapid economic development</strong> of the sub-region.</li>
<li>Encouraging the spirit of <strong>equality and partnership.</strong></li>
<li>Promoting active <strong>collaboration and mutual assistance</strong> in the areas of common interests of the member countries.</li>
<li>Accelerating <strong>support for each other</strong> in the fields of education, science, and technology, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617435202_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617435202_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/at-bimstec-jaishankar-calls-for-integration-7255083/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8064,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'India’s Maritime Doctrine',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/it-is-time-to-reimagine-the-indian-ocean-101617111891839.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;It is time to reimagine the Indian Ocean&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 30/03/2021. It talks about the challenges in India&rsquo;s Maritime Doctrine.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, soon after Joe Biden became the president of the US, the new US secretary of defense visited India. The interesting takeaway of this visit was the specific mention to pursue enhanced cooperation between the Indian armed forces and the US maritime forces.</p>
<p>This underlined the strategic importance of India in US foreign policy, especially Indo-Pacific engagements. Since Independence, India has enjoyed an advantageous position in the Indian Ocean, primarily accorded through its geography.</p>
<p>Moreover, the lack of direct competition after the end of the Cold War allowed India to continue with its limited maritime approach while retaining the role of a key Indian Ocean player. However, there are many challenges in India&rsquo;s maritime policy.</p>
<h3>Challenges in India&rsquo;s Maritime Doctrine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Silos Approach in the Indian Ocean:</strong> India&rsquo;s political class has divided the Indian ocean into many sub-regions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Traditionally, India draws a line with Mauritius and Seychelles as its areas of strategic collaboration in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>In terms of sub-regions, the priority is in the northern (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal), and eastern Indian Ocean (the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca).</li>
<li>Due to this, the western Indian Ocean and the eastern coast of Africa still continue to be in the maritime periphery in India&rsquo;s foreign policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lesser Hold on Strategic Chokepoint:</strong> China&rsquo;s first overseas military base was set up in the western Indian Ocean, in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia too recently acquired a base in Sudan, on the Red Sea coast, between the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb &mdash; a strategic chokepoint in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>However, beyond the anti-piracy mission, India&rsquo;s presence and maritime engagements with the African coast have been largely ad hoc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Chinese Assertiveness:</strong> Through the Maritime Silk Road, China engages with littorals and islands across the Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has consistently aimed to improve its diplomatic, political, and military engagements in the region from Sri Lanka to Comoros, spanning the Indian Ocean in its entirety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continental Bias:</strong> India&rsquo;s reorientation toward the maritime domain has not been easy, with generations of foreign and defense service officials focusing and training on continental issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Indian Navy is allotted approximately 14% of the defense budget speaks clearly to the defense establishment&rsquo;s priorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Synchronizing Foreign &amp; Defense Policies:</strong> With the establishment of the Indian Ocean division in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in 2016, MEA appears to be undertaking a more active approach. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the defense establishment has to match foreign policy engagements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Holistic View of Indian Ocean:</strong> The Indian Ocean as China is emerging as the key competitor to India&rsquo;s interests in the Indian Ocean Region. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, there is a need to view the Indian Ocean as one continuous space and understand regional dynamics better.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaborating With Important Players:</strong> India should supplement its partnership with the US with a network of multilateral groups with other middle powers, such as the India-Australia-Japan forum and the trilateral dialogue with France and Australia.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While this is not to discount India&rsquo;s continental troubles, seen in recent crises such as Doklam and Ladakh, there is a need to understand the importance of maritime geography and its link to India&rsquo;s strategic interests and growing competition in the region.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffffa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the major challenges for India in framing a credible Maritime Doctrine.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8059,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'ACT-Accelerator',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Carl Bildt has been appointed as <strong>WHO Special Envoy </strong>for the <strong>Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is a groundbreaking <strong>global collaboration</strong> to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> tests, treatments and vaccines.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was launched in the month of April, 2020 at an event co-hosted by the Director-General of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a>, the<strong> President of France,</strong> the <strong>President of the European Commission,</strong> and the <strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</strong></li>
<li>It brings together <strong>governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, and philanthropists</strong> and <strong>global health organizations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The participants include the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/goalkeepers-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI</strong></a>, <strong>Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavi</a></strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Global Fund</a></strong>, <strong>Unitaid, Wellcome Trust (London), the WHO and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to<strong> end the pandemic, restore full societal and economic activity</strong> globally and <strong>facilitate high-level control of Covid-19 disease.</strong></li>
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is organized into<strong> four pillars of work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Diagnostics, treatment, vaccines </strong>and<strong> health system strengthening.</strong></li>
<li>Each pillar is vital to the overall effort and involves innovation and collaboration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVAX:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVAX is one of four pillars of the ACT Accelerator.</li>
<li>It is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines,</strong> regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The initial aim is to have <strong>2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is co-led by <strong>Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with vaccine manufacturers of developed and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Role:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>started shipping Covid-19 vaccines to Africa</strong> under the COVAX facility.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII) had received funds</strong></a> from Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation <strong>to double its supply of Covid-19 vaccines</strong> (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a crucial time for ACT-Accelerator when the world is rolling out vaccines against Covid-19, introducing new diagnostics and scaling up life-saving oxygen and <strong>corticosteroids</strong> for severe disease.</li>
<li>It will help in addressing the uneven distribution of vaccines globally and the emergence of new variants of concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Corticosteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Corticosteroids are a class of drug that<strong> lowers inflammation in the body.</strong> They also reduce immune system activity.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids<strong> ease swelling, itching, redness, and allergic reactions,</strong> thus used in the treatment of diseases like asthma, arthritis, lupus, allergies etc.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids resemble cortisol, a <strong>hormone naturally produced by the body&rsquo;s adrenal glands.</strong> The body needs cortisol to stay healthy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cortisol is a major player in a wide range of processes in the body, including metabolism, immune response, and stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/covid-19-carl-bildt-appointed-who-special-envoy-for-act-accelerator-76241#:~:text=Tedros%20Adhanom%20Ghebreyesus%2C%20the%20director,Accelerator)%20March%2031%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7961,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India’s Act East Policy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister of State <strong>Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)</strong> said that connectivity is an important element of <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Act East Policy</a>.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;Act East Policy&rsquo; announced in <strong>November, 2014</strong> is the upgrade of the <strong>&ldquo;Look East Policy&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>diplomatic initiative</strong> to <strong>promote economic, strategic and cultural relations</strong> with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels.</li>
<li>It involves <strong>intensive and continuous engagement</strong> with <strong>Southeast Asian countries</strong> in the field of <strong>connectivity, trade, culture, defence and people-to-people-contact</strong> at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and developing a strategic relationship</strong> with countries in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-pacific region</strong> </a>with a proactive and pragmatic approach and thereby <strong>improving the economic development of the North Eastern Region (NER)</strong> which is a gateway to the South East Asia Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Look East Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to recover from the <strong>loss of the strategic partner -USSR</strong> (end of the Cold war 1991), India sought to build up a relationship with the USA and allies of the USA in Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>In this pursuit, former Prime minister of India P V Narasimha Rao <strong>launched Look East policy in 1992, to give a strategic push to India&rsquo;s engagement with the South-East Asia region</strong>, to bolster its standing as a regional power and a <strong>counterweight to the strategic influence of the People&rsquo;s Republic of China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Difference Between Look East and Act East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Look East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Look East policy focused on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/17th-asean-india-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong></a> countries + Economic Integration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India became a <strong>dialogue partner of ASEAN</strong> in 1996 and summit level partner in 2002.</li>
<li>In 2012 the relationship got <strong>up-graded into a Strategic Partnership.</strong></li>
<li>The time when India launched the Look East Policy in 1992, India's trade with ASEAN was USD 2 billion. After signing the Free Trade Agreement in 2010 with ASEAN, the<strong> trade has grown to USD 72 billion (2017-18).</strong></li>
<li>India is also an active participant in several regional forums like the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) etc.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Act East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Act East Policy focused on ASEAN countries + Economic Integration + <strong>East Asian countries + Security cooperation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Prime minister of India highlighted <strong>4C's of Act East Policy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Culture</li>
<li>Commerce</li>
<li>Connectivity</li>
<li>Capacity building</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Security is an important dimension of India's Act East Policy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the context of growing Chinese assertiveness in the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a> and the Indian Ocean, <strong>securing freedom of navigation and India's own role in the Indian Ocean</strong> is a key feature of Act East Policy.</li>
<li>In pursuance of this, India has been engaged under the narrative of Indo-pacific and informal grouping called <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quad</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives to Enhance Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agartala-akhaura-rail-link#:~:text=The%20rail%20line%20between%20Agartala,Nischintapur%20to%20Agartala%20railway%20station." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link</strong></a> between India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li>Intermodal transport linkages and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-connects-bangladesh-and-bhutan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways through Bangladesh.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project</strong> </a>and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trilateral Highway Project</strong></a> connecting the North East with Myanmar and Thailand.</li>
<li>Under <strong>India-Japan Act East Forum</strong>, projects such as <strong>Road and Bridges</strong> and modernization of <strong>Hydro-electric power</strong> <strong>projects</strong> have been undertaken. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India-Japan Act East Forum</strong> was established in 2017 which aims to provide a platform for India-Japan collaboration under the rubric of India&rsquo;s <strong>"Act East Policy&rdquo;</strong> and Japan&rsquo;s <strong>"Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Forum will <strong>identify specific projects for economic modernization of India&rsquo;s North-East region</strong> including those pertaining to connectivity, developmental infrastructure, industrial linkages as well as people-to-people contacts through tourism, culture and sports-related activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assistance extended in the form of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>medicines/medical supplies to ASEAN countries during the pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>Scholarships with offers of 1000 PhD fellowships have been offered at IITs for ASEAN countries participants.</li>
<li>India is also implementing <strong>Quick Impact Projects</strong> in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to provide development assistance to grass-root level communities in the fields of education, water resources, health etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)</strong> are small-scale, low cost projects that are planned and implemented within a short timeframe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616063799_image11.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616063799_image11.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID%3D1705487&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1616067341533000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07sZ-YPiIN-8FXiJ2_zx0W" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:PIB</a></strong></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7945,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Kenya-Somalia Dispute',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Kenya</strong> has declined to take part in proceedings of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice (ICJ)</strong></a> over its maritime border dispute with <strong>neighbouring Somalia.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Point</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direction of Maritime Boundary:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615895437_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615895437_image 0.jpg" style="float: right;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main point of disagreement between the two neighbours is the <strong>direction</strong> in which their <strong>maritime boundary</strong> in the Indian Ocean should extend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Somalia&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sea border should be an <strong>extension of the same direction</strong> in which their land border runs as it approaches the Indian Ocean, i.e. <strong>towards the southeast.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kenya&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The maritime border should<strong> run parallel to the equator.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Disputed Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The triangular area thus created by the dispute is around 1.6 lakh sq. km. large, and <strong>boasts of rich marine reserves.</strong></li>
<li>It is also believed to have oil and gas deposits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICJ was established in <strong>1945</strong> by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>charter</strong> and started working in April 1946.</li>
<li>It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, <strong>situated at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>settles legal disputes</strong> between States and gives advisory opinions in accordance with international law, on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.</li>
<li>Its <strong>rulings are binding,</strong> though the court has no<strong> enforcement powers</strong> and countries have been known to ignore its verdicts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-indian-ocean-border-dispute-between-kenya-and-somalia-7229569/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7938,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'QUAD: First Summit',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-rationale-and-future-of-quad-101615738967822.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The rationale and future of Quad&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 14/03/2021. It talks about the significance of the recently concluded Quad Summit.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the leaders of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four nations of Quad grouping</strong></a> met digitally for the first-ever virtual summit-level meeting. The outcomes announced by leaders of Quad countries include a vaccine initiative and joint working groups to cooperate on critical technology as well as climate change.</p>
<p>Apart from it, the joint statement of the meeting called for &ldquo;The Spirit of the Quad&rdquo; and commitment to an open Indo-Pacific &ldquo;free from coercion&rdquo;.</p>
<p>In widening the forum&rsquo;s focus away from military security and towards the provision of public goods in the vast Indo-Pacific littoral, the first summit of the Quad has improved its own long-term political prospects.</p>
<p>Therefore, countering any perception that the Quad is merely a &ldquo;talk-shop&rdquo;, the summit contained both broad substance and deep symbolism.</p>
<h3>Significance of Quad Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>America is Back Policy:</strong> For the US, the early push for the Quad engagement is part of Joe Biden&rsquo;s promise that &ldquo;America is back&rdquo; in terms of global leadership, reaffirming regional alliances, and taking on the growing challenge from China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, Biden at the Munich Security Conference tried to win back European allies such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, by proposing a transatlantic alliance to counter China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Concerns of Japan &amp; Australia:</strong> Due to maritime tensions with China, trade, and telecommunication issues, Australia and Japan are keen on taking the Quad partnership to deeper levels of cooperation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Quad partners such as Japan and Australia were unhappy over India&rsquo;s decision to stay out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.</li>
<li>If Quad emerges as an economic powerhouse, it will be beneficial to the entire region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Broadening India&rsquo;s Geopolitical Horizons:</strong> For India, the new terms of the Quad will mean more strategic support after a tense year at the LAC with China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also provide a boost for India&rsquo;s pharmaceutical prowess, opportunities for technology partnerships, and more avenues for regional cooperation on development projects and financing infrastructure.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s insistence on an inclusive approach was in keeping with the sentiments of many smaller countries in the region, which may not take an explicit anti-China position.</li>
<li>This could also pave the way for India to become the manufacturing destination for Quad countries, thus reducing dependence on China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Narrative for the Quad:</strong> Quad member countries took the decision to pool their resources (American technology, Japanese finance, Indian production capacity, and Australia&rsquo;s logistics capability) to produce a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine for distribution in the Indo-Pacific.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Quad countries agreed to ensure emissions reduction based on the Paris accord as well as cooperate on technology supply chains, 5G networks, and biotechnology.</li>
<li>This would help the four countries develop a new narrative for the Quad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues With the Quad</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RECP Operationalization:</strong> For Japan and Australia, China remains the biggest trading partner, a relationship that will only grow once the 15-nation RCEP gets operationalized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it would be difficult for Quad members countries like Japan and Australia to strategically align with the US and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Reservations:</strong> India, given its own ties with China, sensitivities over ongoing LAC disengagement talks, and its other multilateral commitments at the BRICS and SCO groupings, also displayed caution in the Quad engagement.</li>
<li><strong>Anti-China Rhetoric:</strong> Since the first steps towards the Quad&rsquo;s construction in 2007, China has sought to define the regional discourse by describing the forum as the &ldquo;Asian NATO&rdquo; and the harbinger of a &ldquo;new Cold War&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The conflation of the Quad with the annual Malabar naval exercises added to the image of the Quad as a military formation and generated much unease across the Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need For Clear Vision:</strong> The Quad nations need to better explain the Indo-Pacific Vision in an overarching framework with the objective of advancing everyone&rsquo;s economic and security interests.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will reassure the littoral States that the Quad will be a factor for the regional benefit, and a far cry from Chinese allegations that it is some sort of a military alliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expanding Quad:</strong> India has many other partners in the Indo-Pacific, therefore India should pitch for countries like Indonesia, Singapore to be invited to join in the future.</li>
<li><strong>Need for a Maritime Doctrine:</strong> India should develop a comprehensive vision on the Indo-Pacific which would ideate on the current and future maritime challenges, consolidate its military and non-military tools, engage its strategic partners.</li>
<li><strong>Recalibration Needed From China:</strong> As the Quad summit has done well to shed the image of Anti-China bais, it is up to China now to rethink its current aggressive policies and seek cooperative relations with its Asian neighbors and the US.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The challenges posed by the pandemic presented a perfect setting for the Quad nations to demonstrate their commitment to the broader agenda that is in tune with the urgent requirements of the region.</p>
<p>In this context, the repurposing of the Quad to deal with shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific ensures the forum&rsquo;s political sustainability over the longer term.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Development, deterrence, and diplomacy should be the way forward for Quad. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7899,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Significance of India-Bangladesh Transport Connectivity: World Bank',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong> </a>report named <strong>&ldquo;Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South Asia&rdquo;</strong> stated that seamless <strong>transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh</strong> has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report analyzes the <strong>Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615446337_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615446337_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="484" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bilateral trade accounts for only about <strong>10%</strong> of Bangladesh&rsquo;s trade and a mere <strong>1%</strong> of India&rsquo;s trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>East Asian and Sub-Saharan African economies,</strong> intraregional trade accounts for <strong>50% and 22%</strong> of total trade, respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High tariffs, para-tariffs, and nontariff barriers</strong> also serve as major trade barriers. Simple average tariffs in Bangladesh and India are more than twice the world average.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Difficulty in Crossing Border:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Weak transport integration makes the border between Bangladesh and India thick. Crossing the India&ndash;Bangladesh border at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Petrapole&ndash;Benapole</strong></a>, the most important border post between the two countries, takes several days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In contrast, the time to cross borders handling similar volumes of traffic in other regions of the world, including <strong>East Africa, is less than six hours.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Isolated North-East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian trucks are not allowed to transit through Bangladesh. As a result, the northeast of India is particularly isolated with the rest of the country and connected only through the <strong>27-km-wide Siliguri corridor,</strong> also called the <strong>&ldquo;chicken&rsquo;s neck&rdquo;.</strong> This leads to <strong>long and costly routes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Better Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased Real Income:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All districts in <strong>Bangladesh</strong> would benefit from integration, with the <strong>eastern districts enjoying larger gains</strong> in real income.</li>
<li>States bordering Bangladesh such as <strong>Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura in the northeast, and West Bengal</strong> on the west, and states further away from Bangladesh such as<strong> Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra</strong> would also <strong>gain huge economic benefits</strong> from seamless connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Will yield a<strong> 297%</strong> increase in Bangladesh&rsquo;s exports to India and a<strong> 172%</strong> increase in India&rsquo;s exports to Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geographically, Bangladesh&rsquo;s location makes it a <strong>strategic gateway to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and other East Asian countries.</strong> Bangladesh can also become an <strong>economic powerhouse</strong> by improving regional trade, transit and logistics networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Strengthen the MVA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Harmonizing <strong>driver&rsquo;s licensing and visa regimes.</strong></li>
<li>Establishing an <strong>efficient regional transit</strong> regime.</li>
<li>Rationalizing and <strong>digitizing trade and transport</strong> documents.</li>
<li><strong>Liberalizing</strong> the selection of <strong>trade routes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improving Regional Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Expand the effective capacity</strong> of core transport and logistics infrastructure along regional corridors.</li>
<li>Ensure <strong>competition in transport service</strong> markets.</li>
<li>Deploy<strong> modern information technology infrastructure</strong> at land ports and seaports.</li>
<li>Develop<strong> off-border custom clearance facilities</strong> in Bangladesh and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integration of Local Communities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Connecting local markets to regional corridors.</li>
<li><strong>Removing logistics bottlenecks</strong> in export-oriented value chains.</li>
<li>Improving <strong>women&rsquo;s participation in export-oriented agricultural value chains</strong> at the macro, community, and household levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BBIN:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN)</strong> <strong>Initiative</strong> is a sub-regional architecture of countries in<strong> Eastern South Asia,</strong> a sub-region of South Asia.</li>
<li>The group meets through the official representation of member states to <strong>formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements</strong> across areas such as <strong>water resources management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MVA</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was signed on <strong>15<sup>th</sup> June 2015</strong> in Thimphu, Bhutan.</li>
<li>It seeks to facilitate the unrestricted cross-border movement of cargo, passenger, and personal vehicles between BBIN countries.</li>
<li>As per the agreement, <strong>member countries would allow vehicles registered in the other countries to enter their territory under certain terms and conditions.</strong> Customs and tariffs will be decided by the respective countries and these would be finalised at bilateral and trilateral forums.</li>
<li><strong>Implementation of the MVA has been delayed</strong> as the countries work to clarify some of the provisions that are supposed to be elaborated in protocols.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To provide <strong>seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross border movement</strong> of people and goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/trust-deficit-hampering-seamless-movement-of-goods-between-india-bangladesh-world-bank-7221737/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7877,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Amending the Relations',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-bangladesh-s-jaishankar-narendra-modi-7218606/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Friend in deed</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on 08/03/2021. It talks about Bangladesh as a key partner to India in various fields and the recent areas of conflicts and cooperations between them.</p>
</div>
<p>For India, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bangladesh</strong> </a>holds importance as a key partner in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asian region</strong></a> and in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-pacific-trilateral-dialogue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>. It is also an important part of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East Policy</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First' policy.</strong></a></p>
<p>Despite the strategic significance and several areas of cooperation, a lot of conflicts persist between India and Bangladesh..</p>
<p>Maintaining ties with a country of such great importance becomes even more crucial when China is already asserting its dominance and intervening in India&rsquo;s relations with its neighbouring countries.</p>
<h3>Recent Areas of Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bilateral Ties:</strong> The year 2021 marks the<strong> 50<sup>th</sup> year</strong> of the establishment of bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India will also be visiting the country for the<strong> centenary celebrations of Father of the Nation,</strong> Mujibur Rehman.</li>
<li>The Bangladesh Army contingent had also participated in the Republic Day 2021.</li>
<li>Moreover, India's commitment to remove non-tariff barriers has reset the positive course of bilateral ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swarnim Vijay Varsh:</strong> As part of the 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' (50<sup>th</sup> year of independence), Indian Naval Ships are scheduled to make their first visit to the Mongla port in Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The indigenously developed <strong>Sumedha</strong> (Offshore Patrol vessel) and<strong> Kulish</strong> (guided missile corvette) will be heading to the port to commemorate the day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Major Progress:</strong> A trial run of container cargo has been conducted through Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chattogram (Chittagong) port to Agartala<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two new protocol routes to inland waterways have been added connecting Tripura with the national waterways through Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Maitri Setu:</strong> The PM of India will inaugurate &lsquo;Maitri Setu&rsquo; bridge built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The name &lsquo;Maitri Setu&rsquo; symbolizes growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Train and Bus Routes:</strong> In December 2020, rail connectivity between <strong>Haldibari</strong> in West Bengal and <strong>Chilahati</strong> in Bangladesh was resumed after almost 55 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two countries are now working out the modalities to open up a bus route between <strong>Dhaka</strong> and <strong>Siliguri</strong> (WB).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Obstacles in the Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CAA and NRC:</strong> An enormous reserve of goodwill for India exists in Bangladesh for historical, linguistic as well as cultural links. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a few recent courses of action such as the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> in Assam and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a> have casted shadow on the ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Disputes:</strong> The issues shared resources of the two countries such as the waters of the river <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Teesta</strong> </a>are taking too long to get resolved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sharing these waters with Bangladesh has been a long-pending promise by Delhi to Dhaka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The China Aspect:</strong> Currently, Bangladesh is an active partner of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/obor-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a> that India has not signed up to.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a<strong> major recipient of Chinese military inventory,</strong> including submarines.</li>
<li>Moreover in 2020, China has promised to enhance support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s infrastructure projects as a "development partner".</li>
<li>Bangladesh had also sought a loan of about USD 1 billion from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China to develop the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Killing of Bangladeshi Nationals:</strong> There have been increased incidents of killings of Bangladesh nationals in 2020. These incidents of killings were the highest within a decade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Criminal activities are responsible for the killings along the India-Bangladesh border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strengthening Ties with the Developing Bangladesh:</strong> Bangladesh is now basking in a new self-confidence because of its spectacular economic performance even during the pandemic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deepening relationship with Bangladesh has become a necessity in the face of shifting geo-economics. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The country, with its growing economic success provides a vital partnership in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, India and Bangladesh share the fifth-longest land boundary in the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is important for India to maintain a positive working relationship with Bangladesh to bolster security and border management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolving the Water Issues:</strong> The two countries share 54 transboundary rivers, and water management is the key to prosperity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Teesta project is important and urgent from India&rsquo;s point of view, so it is crucial to solve it as soon as possible.</li>
<li>India must implement all its assurances in a time-bound manner otherwise the latent anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh could threaten the friendly ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimising Chinese Influence:</strong> With the ongoing India-China conflict, both of them seek to expand their influence in Bangladesh, but so far China has offered the best card to Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh is in need of more foreign funds and assistance which it will accept either from India or China, it is India who must come forward and act first in order to counter China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Possible Cooperations:</strong> The area where the two countries can collaborate is the north east in the agricultural and agro-products sector. .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agriculture has game-changing potential in terms of relations of the two countries.</li>
<li>Bilateral cooperation in this sector can pave the way to overcome the current economic challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a stake in Bangladesh not only for the security of its eastern borders but also for other strategic advantages. Therefore, it cannot afford to let go of the recently achieved opportunity to break away from the past trajectory and establish new contours of engagement with Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government needs to be constantly mindful of the significance of a good relationship with Bangladesh. Else, it may be all too easy to lose the moment and pave the way for China&rsquo;s inroads in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Bangladesh is a &ldquo;key partner&rdquo; to India not only in South Asia but also in Indo-Pacific region. Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7867,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India - Sweden Virtual Summit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Indian Prime Minister held a <strong>Virtual Summit</strong> with the Prime Minister of Sweden to discuss bilateral issues and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Summit provided an opportunity to discuss the international situation and response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19#:~:text=Covid%2D19%20pandemic%20is%20a,crises%20in%20recent%20human%20history." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> as well as regional and global issues of mutual importance including climate action, sustainable development, gender equality, counter-terrorism and disaster resilient infrastructure, among others.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615035039_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615035039_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights of the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the <strong>launch of a second joint industrial R&amp;D call on Smart and Sustainable Cities</strong>, Transport Systems, Clean Technologies and Digitalization and Internet of Things under <strong>India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research &amp; Development Programme.</strong></li>
<li>Confirmed the ambition to scale up bilateral research and innovation on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon#:~:text=Meaning%3A%20It%20is%20an%20economy,as%20a%20source%20of%20energy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Circular Economy</strong></a> including the themes of Health and Life Sciences and Waste to Wealth during 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Other Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the creation of a <strong>Sweden-India Health Hub at AIIMS-Jodhpur.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Noted advances in hydrogen research and their possible applications</strong>, i.e. in the Energy and other key industries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation at Multilateral Forums:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed Sweden&rsquo;s decision to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Sweden <strong>congratulated India on its eighth term as an elected member of the UN Security Council for 2021-2022.</strong></li>
<li>Reaffirmed the <strong>importance of the urgent reform of the UN Security</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, including its expansion not only to sustain credibility of multilateralism but also to deliver on the several serious common challenges facing humanity.</li>
<li>India <strong>thanked Sweden for its support to India&rsquo;s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>congratulated Sweden on assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the USA re-entry into the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris agreement</strong></a> which gives new momentum to global climate action ahead of <strong>COP 26</strong> to be held in <strong>Glasgow, UK.</strong></li>
<li>Agreed to continue their outreach to expand the membership of the<strong> Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT).</strong></li>
<li>Agreed further to intensify their collaboration within the framework of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council</strong> </a>to address global environmental protection and combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the finalization of the <strong>General Security Agreement in 2019</strong> on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, enabling a comprehensive partnership in all defence sectors.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister <strong>invited Swedish defence firms to participate in the "Make in India programme&rdquo;, especially in the two Defence Production Corridors</strong> in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India - Sweden Relations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong> The first <strong>India-Nordic Summit</strong> took place in the year 2018.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The King and Queen of Sweden gave a Royal Visit to India in December, 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic and Commercial relations:</strong> The bilateral trade between two countries presently stands around USD 2 billion. After China and Japan, India is Sweden's third largest trade partner in Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main items of <strong>Indian exports to Sweden</strong> are articles of apparel, clothing accessories; textiles yarn, fabrics, made-ups; manufactures of metals; road vehicles; general industrial machinery and equipment.</li>
<li>The main items of <strong>Indian imports from Sweden</strong> are pulp and waste paper; road vehicles; paper and paper board, general industrial machinery and equipment etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Being a member of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a>, Sweden can play an important role in India&rsquo;s partnership with the European Union and EU countries.</li>
<li>The close relations will <strong>further the values of democracy</strong>, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>First India-Nordic Summit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in April, 2018.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> and five Nordic countries - <strong>Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark</strong> held the summit to deepen cooperation.</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Nordic for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Discussion of key issues of <strong>security, economic growth and climate change.</strong></li>
<li>India can imitate the <strong>Nordic approach</strong> to innovation systems, characterised by a strong collaboration between public sector, private sector and academia.</li>
<li>In areas like <strong>clean technologies, maritime solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, life-sciences and agriculture</strong>, Nordic solutions can be useful.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Leadership Group on Industry Transition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) gathers countries and companies that are committed to action to achieve the <strong>Paris Agreement</strong>.</li>
<li>It was launched by the <strong>governments of Sweden and India at the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/un-climate-action-summit-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Climate Action Summit</a></strong> in September 2019 and is supported by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/davos-dialogue-world-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum.</strong></a></li>
<li>LeadIT members subscribe to the notion that energy-intensive industry can and must progress on low-carbon pathways, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1702753" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7865,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new <strong>export contracts</strong> with Iranian buyers due to caution about<strong> Iran&rsquo;s falling rupee reserves</strong> with Indian banks.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in 2020, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is no longer involved in the Farzad-B gas field project of Iran.</strong></a> The reasons included <strong>policy changes by the Iranian government, Iran&rsquo;s uncertain finances, </strong>and<strong> the USA sanctions situation.</strong></li>
<li>In 2020, Iran also passed a bill allowing the government to slash four zeros from the Rial and authorizing its replacement with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/currency-change-in-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>another basic unit of currency called the toman (redenomination).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615029906_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615029906_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Falling Reserves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran&rsquo;s rupee reserves in India&rsquo;s <strong>UCO and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rediscovering-development-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IDBI Bank</a>,</strong> the two lenders <strong>authorised to facilitate rupee trade,</strong> have depleted significantly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-reimposes-sanctions-on-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA sanctions</strong></a>, <strong>Iran is unable to use US dollars</strong> to transact oil sales.</li>
<li>Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-oil-import-waiver-lifted" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India stopped buying Tehran&rsquo;s oil in May 2019 after a US sanctions waiver expired.</strong></a></li>
<li>Iran <strong>continued using its rupees to buy goods</strong> from India, but <strong>after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran&rsquo;s rupee reserves have fallen.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Iran&rsquo;s reserves have reduced significantly and will be over soon probably because trade has stopped.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Apprehension of Exporters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exporters are<strong> not sure whether they would be paid on time</strong> for new shipments and they are avoiding dealing with Iran since payments are getting delayed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Falling Indian Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's overall exports to Iran <strong>fell 42% in 2020</strong> from a year ago to USD 2.2 billion, the <strong>lowest in over a decade.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> fall is continuing in 2021</strong> and in January this year exports more than halved from a year ago to <strong>USD 100.20 million.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Growing Influence of China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently signed deals between Iran and China will<strong> vastly expand Chinese presence</strong> in banking, telecommunications, ports, railways and dozens of other projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Saving India's Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>China Iran strategic partnership</strong> fructifying USD 400 billion deal may be an impediment for Indian entry routes into Afghanistan through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar</strong></a> and further connectivity to<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC)</strong></a>, although Iran has not given any signals of disruption of these projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Role in the Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maintaining ties with Iran even as it forges a new relationship with Saudi Arabia and Israel is critical for<strong> its balancing policy in West Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Avoiding Sectarian Tension:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since <strong>India is home to sizable populations of both Shia and Sunni Muslims</strong> and seeks to isolate itself from any <strong>sectarian tensions</strong> in the region, India should do well to neither completely break off ties with Iran nor go against the United States outright.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Energy security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has stopped purchasing Iranian oil, which accounts for around <strong>90% of its imports from the Islamic nation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India was Iran's<strong> leading oil client</strong> after China until <strong>mid-2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Peaceful Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, having made significant investments in Afghanistan, will always hope for an Afghan elected, Afghan led, Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process and a popular democratic government in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>However, India has to be watchful of<strong> Iran - Pakistan- China axis</strong> developing in the neighbourhood of Afghanistan, with tentacles in the form of terror groups inside it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan's Influence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan is very active in the Middle-east. Using the platform of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a> and making connections with the particular Arab countries, Pakistan is trying to get support on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-provincial-status-to-gilgit-baltistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kashmir issue.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2019, New Delhi seems to have weighed in favor of Indo-USA ties by deciding to halt oil imports from Iran. However, it will have to find a way, either by persuading Washington to grant an exemption or by circumventing USA sanctions like it did in 2012-13, to continue its relationship with Iran in order to <strong>secure its energy supply</strong> and its regional foreign policy objectives.</li>
<li>India is very <strong>reliant upon Middle East oil and gas</strong> and must maintain cordial relations with most of the major suppliers, including <strong>Iran,</strong> UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Iraq.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/as-irans-rupee-reserves-drop-traders-almost-halt-exports/article33991532.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7851,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Bangladesh Bilateral Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister visited Bangladesh for a bilateral meet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This meeting comes ahead of <strong>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Bangladesh</strong> scheduled in March 2021.</li>
<li>Earlier a 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces has participated in the 72<sup>nd</sup> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/republic-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Republic Day</strong></a> parade, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commemorating 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614936692_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614936692_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bangladesh&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Resolution of Problems:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Problems between neighbouring countries should be resolved <strong>through discussions and negotiations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prioritising Each Others Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Need to focus on possible ways to materialise commitments and accommodate each other&rsquo;s priorities in a mutually beneficial manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation During Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh <strong>acknowledged</strong> the collaborative initiative of the two countries in implementing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy#:~:text=The%20vaccination%20drive%20in%20India,India%20who%20cannot%20afford%20it." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccination programme</strong></a> against the ongoing pandemic.</li>
<li>Bangladesh purchased the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> vaccine from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh is the<strong> largest recipient of 9 million doses</strong> of Made in India vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multidimensional Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both countries are committed to expand their relationship in all dimensions, ranging from <strong>security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people-to-people ties, energy,</strong> joint development of our <strong>shared resources and defence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Congratulated Bangladesh :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On its graduation from the <strong>Least Developed Country (LDC)</strong> status.</li>
<li>Bangladesh has been on the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> </strong>(UN) Least Developed Countries list since 1975.</li>
<li>Bangladesh fulfilled all the criteria necessary for its elevation to a developing country in 2018.</li>
<li>Therefore the <strong>UN</strong> has recommended <strong>graduation of Bangladesh from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC).</strong></li>
<li>Once it receives the final recommendation, <strong>Bangladesh will formally graduate to the developing nation bracket in 2026.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More than Strategic Partners:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India-Bangladesh relations transcend strategic partnership, and <strong>bonding of both the countries is central</strong> to the realisation of a dream of a <strong>peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continued Interaction During Covid:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Despite the Covid<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong></a>, interactions and consultations continued unabated such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh had a Virtual Summit in December 2020.</strong></a></li>
<li>A Joint Consultative Commission between the two Foreign Ministers in September 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Teesta Issue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India and Bangladesh would have a meeting of Water Resources secretaries to discuss the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river#:~:text=India%2DBangladesh%20Teesta%20Dispute%3A,Barrage%20near%20their%20mutual%20border." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Teesta</strong> </a>issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is keen to <strong>focus on the development of connectivity</strong> with Bangladesh and beyond for next 20 years to change the <strong>region's geo-economic scenario.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh Central to India&rsquo;s Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh was central to India's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First' policy</strong> </a>and increasingly relevant to the country's <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Bangladesh as a <strong>key neighbour and a valued partner</strong> not only in South Asia but also in the broader <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress on Ground Situation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Practical progress has been made on the ground. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Conducting a <strong>trial run of container cargo</strong> through<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chattogram port</strong></a> to Agartala.</li>
<li>Adding two new protocol routes to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route#:~:text=Key%20Points,Waterways%20of%20India%20through%20Bangladesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways connecting Tripura to the national waterways.</strong></a></li>
<li>Handing over <strong>10 broad gauge locomotives.</strong></li>
<li>Forming a <strong>Joint venture in the energy sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A year after the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019-National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> issue strained the robust ties between the two countries,<strong> quiet diplomacy appears to have worked.</strong> India must keep up the partnership that allows for <strong>economic growth and improved developmental parameters</strong> for both countries.</li>
<li>Deepening <strong>relationship with Bangladesh</strong> has become a<strong> necessity in the face of shifting geo-economics.</strong> Bangladesh, with its growing economic success provides a vital partnership in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two countries share <strong>54 transboundary rivers,</strong> and water management is the key to prosperity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh-India relations have reached a stage of maturity.</strong> There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on <strong>cooperation, coordination and consolidation.</strong></li>
<li>It is important to address specific issues like Teesta and to respond to Dhaka&rsquo;s call for help on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rohingyas-at-isolated-bangladesh-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya</strong> </a>issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-reaches-out-to-dhaka-for-ties-beyond-strategic-partnership-7214715/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7847,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Knowledge Diplomacy',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-atmanirbharta-space-pharmaceuticals-isro-brazil-satellite-launch-covid-vaccine-export-211595/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Knowledge and diplomacy&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 03/03/2021. It talks about the declining role of India in knowledge diplomacy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the launch of Brazil&rsquo;s Amazonia-1 satellite by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the export of the Covid-19 vaccine to Brazil, as part of its &ldquo;Vaccine Maitri&rdquo; diplomacy, reflects how India&rsquo;s knowledge economy can contribute to the diplomatic capital of the country.</p>
<p>Space and pharma sector&rsquo;s global success points to the knowledge industry&rsquo;s diplomatic potential and to India&rsquo;s &ldquo;soft power.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In the past, India&rsquo;s knowledge sector has helped the country to become a role model for other developing nations to develop into the knowledge economy.</p>
<p>However, in recent times India lost this leadership in the knowledge economy, barring sectors like space, pharma, and information technology.</p>
<h3>What is the Knowledge Economy?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The knowledge economy is an economic system in which goods and services are based principally on knowledge-intensive activities that contribute to a rapid pace of advancement in technical and scientific innovation.</li>
<li>The key element of value is the greater dependence on human capital and intellectual property for the source of innovative ideas, information and practices.</li>
<li>Knowledge economy features a highly skilled workforce within the microeconomic and macroeconomic environment; institutions and industries create jobs that demand specialized skills to meet global market needs.</li>
<li>In principle, one's primary individual capital is knowledge and the ability to perform to create economic value. Knowledge is viewed as an additional input to labour and capital.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What is Knowledge Diplomacy?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Knowledge diplomacy refers to international higher education, research and innovation, in building and strengthening relations between and among countries.</li>
<li>It presents a new approach to international relations where education, science, technology, and innovation, play an important role in global developmental politics.</li>
<li>Knowledge diplomacy recognizes that many domestic issues are now global issues; and conversely, many global challenges are now domestic challenges.</li>
<li>Knowledge diplomacy recognizes that as the world becomes increasingly globalized, the interconnected and interdependent world presents new issues, threats, and opportunities that one nation cannot address alone.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Examples of India&rsquo;s Knowledge Diplomacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s knowledge diplomacy history goes back as early as the 1950s, when many developing countries looked to India to access development-oriented knowledge.</li>
<li>Students from across Asia and Africa sought admission to Indian universities for postgraduate courses.</li>
<li>Indian expertise was sought by global organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).</li>
<li>South Korea&rsquo;s government even sent its economists to the Indian Planning Commission till the early 1960s to be trained in long-term planning. By the 1970s, Korea was beginning to overtake India as a modern industrial economy.</li>
<li>Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which was also established by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974, acquired a global profile with business in Africa and Asia.</li>
<li>The development of India&rsquo;s dairy and livestock economy also attracted global interest.</li>
<li>Today, due to self-sufficiency in space and the pharma sector, India can place satellites of several countries into space at globally competitive rates and can supply drugs and vaccines at affordable prices to developing countries.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges to Leadership in Knowledge Diplomacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Brain Drain:</strong> In India, the flight of Indian talent began in the 1970s and has since accelerated. Due to the better career prospects, this has sharply increased in recent years.</li>
<li><strong>Competition From China:</strong> China has emerged as a major competitor offering equally good, if not better quality, S&amp;T products and services at a lower cost.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While India has maintained its lead in IT software, China has developed competitive capabilities in space, pharma, railways and several other knowledge-based industries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Racing South-East Asian Countries:</strong> The Indian familiarity with the English language and the still good quality of teaching in mathematics and statistics have enabled Indian firms to remain competitive in data processing, business process outsourcing, and software services.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the competitive edge is beginning to blunt due to the competition from south-east Asian countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deteriorating Education Standards:</strong> The biggest setback in India&rsquo;s knowledge economy&rsquo;s global appeal has been in higher education.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overseas students were drawn to Indian universities and institutions because they offered good quality education at a fraction of developed country institutions&rsquo; cost.</li>
<li>The appeal of education in India for overseas students has waned.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deteriorating Social Environment:</strong> Further, Indian institutions attract fewer foreign students not just because the quality of education offered in most institutions is below par, but due to the growing assertion of narrow-minded ideologies, the social environment offered here is no longer as cosmopolitan as it used to be.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Replicating Space and Pharma Success Story:</strong> If ISRO&rsquo;s global competitiveness is a tribute to public policy and government support, the pharma sector&rsquo;s global success is a tribute to private enterprise and middle-class talent in pharmacology and biotechnology.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s current global diplomacy in the fields of space and pharmaceuticals, engaging several countries around the world, is the fruit of 50 years of sustained state support for &ldquo;atmanirbharta&rdquo; in both fields.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a need for replicating the success story of Space and Pharma in other knowledge sectors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Brain Drain:</strong> The government and private sector needs to create better career prospects for Indian talent. This can help create a &ldquo;brain bank&rdquo; on which India can draw for its own development.</li>
<li><strong>Raising Education Standards:</strong> India&rsquo;s education sector is in a dire need of education reforms if India wants to make its human resource compete with the global talent.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is not only imperative for leveraging knowledge diplomacy but fulfilling the aspiration of a billion-plus country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Today, space and pharma are at the apex of a narrow pyramid of India&rsquo;s knowledge diplomacy. However, much more is needed to be done to leverage the full potential of knowledge diplomacy.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fefff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Indian &lsquo;atmanirbharta&rsquo; in space and pharmaceuticals is an exception. It must be the norm. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d25zFfi92r4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/reviving-the-iran-deal-on-biden-attempt-to-revive-jcpoa/article33974350.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reviving the Iran deal: On Biden attempt to revive JCPOA&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 26<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7825,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Restoration of JCPOA',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-vital-but-delicate-task-of-reviving-the-iran-deal/article33965883.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The vital but delicate task of reviving the Iran deal&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 02/03/2021. It talks about the nuclear deal between the US and Iran.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, Joe Biden has been sworn as the 46th president of the United States. On the foreign policy front, Biden has promised to move quickly to rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran which is also known as the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-01-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).</strong></a></p>
<p>JCPOA was signed in 2015, but former US President Trump has withdrawn from it (in 2018) and embarked on a policy of &lsquo;maximum pressure&rsquo; to coerce Iran back to the negotiating table.</p>
<p>The maximum pressure campaign devastated Iran&rsquo;s economy but failed to push Iran back to the negotiating table or to curtail its involvement in Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon.</p>
<p>Joe Biden has reiterated a return to the JCPOA provided Iran returns to full compliance. The return of the US to JCPOA may be a positive step towards regional peace. However, there are many challenges for the US and Iran to return to the negotiating table.</p>
<h3>JCPOA: Timeline &amp; Background</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The JCPOA was the result of prolonged negotiations from 2013 and 2015 between Iran and P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, or the EU).</li>
<li>It happened, thanks to the backchannel talks between the U.S.(U.S. President Barack Obama) and Iran, quietly brokered by Oman, in an attempt to repair the accumulated mistrust since the 1979 Islamic revolution.</li>
<li>The JCPOA obliged Iran to accept constraints on its enrichment program verified by an intrusive inspection regime in return for a partial lifting of economic sanctions.</li>
<li>However, faced with a hostile Republican Senate, President Obama was unable to get the nuclear deal ratified but implemented it on the basis of periodic Executive Orders to keep sanction waivers going.</li>
<li>When Donald Trump became president, he withdrew from the deal and called it a &ldquo;horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The U.S. decision was criticized by all other parties to the JCPOA (including the European allies) because Iran was in compliance with its obligations, as certified by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/63rd-general-conference-of-iaea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).</strong></a></li>
<li>Tensions rose as the U.S. pushed ahead with its unilateral sanctions, widening its scope to cover nearly all Iranian banks connected to the global financial system, industries related to metallurgy, energy, and shipping, individuals related to the defense, intelligence, and nuclear establishments.</li>
<li>For the first year after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran&rsquo;s response was muted as the E-3 (France, Germany, the U.K.) and the EU promised to find ways to mitigate the U.S. decision.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The E-3&rsquo;s promised relief Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), created in 2019 to facilitate limited trade with Iran.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, by May 2019, Iran&rsquo;s strategic patience ran out as the anticipated economic relief from the E-3/EU failed to materialize. As the sanctions began to hurt, Tehran shifted to a strategy of &lsquo;maximum resistance&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Iran&rsquo;s Policy of &lsquo;Maximum Resistance&rsquo;.</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Beginning in May 2019, Iran began to move away from JCPOA&rsquo;s constraints incrementally: exceeding the ceilings of 300kg on low-enriched uranium and 130 MT on heavy-water; raising enrichment levels from 3.67% to 4.5%; stepping up research and development on advanced centrifuges; resuming enrichment at Fordow, and violating limits on the number of centrifuges in use.</li>
<li>In January 2020, following the drone strike on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Gen. Qasem Soleiman, Iran announced that it would no longer observe the JCPOA&rsquo;s restraints.</li>
<li>The collapse of the JCPOA drags Iran towards nuclear brinkmanship, like North Korea, which has created major geopolitical instability in the region and beyond.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Roadblocks in Restoration of Deal</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regional Cold War Between Iran &amp; Saudi Arabia:</strong> Saudi Arabia is the cornerstone of US&rsquo; Middle East policy. The US has strengthened its relationship with Saudi-Arabia, to act as a counterweight against Iran.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, traditional Shia vs Sunni conflict precipitated into a regional cold war between Iran &amp; Suadi Arabia.</li>
<li>Thus, a major challenge for the US to restore the nuclear deal is to maintain peace between the two regional rivals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Iran Gone too Far:</strong> The challenge in resuming the agreement in its present form is that Iran is currently in violation of several of its important commitments, such as the limits on stockpiles of enriched uranium.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The International Atomic Energy Agency noted that Iran now had more than 2,440 kilograms, which is more than eight times the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal.</li>
<li>Further, Iran says it wants the US to pay for the billions of dollars in economic losses it incurred when it pulled the United States out of the Iran deal in 2018 and reinstituted sanctions that it had lifted.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impacts on India For Restoration of JCPOA</h3>
<p>Restoration of JCPOA may ease many restrictions over the Iranian regime, which may directly or indirectly help India. This can be reflected in the following examples:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Boost to Regional Connectivity:</strong> Removing sanctions may revive India&rsquo;s interest in the Chabahar option, Bandar Abbas port, and other plans for regional connectivity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would further help India to neutralize the Chinese presence in Gwadar port, Pakistan.</li>
<li>Apart from Chabahar, India&rsquo;s interest in the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC), which runs through Iran, which will improve connectivity with five Central Asian republics, may also get a boost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy Security:</strong> Due to the pressure linked to the US&rsquo; Countering America&rsquo;s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), India has to bring down oil imports to zero.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Restoration of ties between the US and Iran will help India to procure cheap Iranian oil and aid in energy security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The Iran nuclear deal is a joint effort by several countries. While Trump&rsquo;s decision to withdraw did not kill the deal, it seriously wounded it. Like Trump, Biden would like the deal to be a key part of his administration&rsquo;s vision in the Middle East &ndash; but this might be tougher than it is anticipated.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Give a brief account of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and also discuss its implications for India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eg79JI20cuc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/throw-bathwater-rbi-not-the-baby/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Throw bathwater, RBI, not the baby&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Economic Times on February 28<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7809,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Switzerland’s Policy of Neutrality',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Switzerland&rsquo;s Ambassador said that its traditional foreign <strong>Policy of Neutrality (Swiss Neutrality)</strong> has become <strong>attractive again because of the changing political reality</strong> in the world.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614589926_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614589926_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Policy of Neutrality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a foreign policy position wherein a <strong>state intends to remain neutral in future wars.</strong> A sovereign state that reserves the right to become belligerent if attacked by a party to the war is in<strong> a condition of armed neutrality.</strong></li>
<li>A permanently neutral power is a sovereign state which is bound by international treaty, or by its own declaration, to be <strong>neutral towards the belligerents of all future wars.</strong> An example of a permanently neutral power is Switzerland. Other being Ireland, Austria, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The concept of neutrality in war is <strong>narrowly defined and puts specific constraints on the neutral party</strong> in return for the internationally recognized right to remain neutral.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Day of Neutrality</strong> is a <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-75-years-of-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> recognized day held on <strong>12<sup>th</sup> December</strong> each year to raise public awareness of the value of neutrality in international relations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National policies of neutrality are aimed at promoting the <strong>use of preventive diplomacy,</strong> which is a core function of the<strong> United Nations.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The term "Preventive diplomacy"</strong> refers to diplomatic action taken to prevent disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of conflicts when they occur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swiss Neutrality and its Evolution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Switzerland is renowned for its neutrality, but this should not be confused with pacifism. The country <strong>maintains an army,</strong> including obligatory conscription for men, and did so throughout both World Wars.</li>
<li>The last time Switzerland (Swiss) fought a military battle was <strong>500 years ago,</strong> against the<strong> French</strong> (the Swiss lost).</li>
<li>In 1783, Switzerland was <strong>acknowledged as a neutral state</strong> in the<strong> Treaty of Paris.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris by Great Britain and the United States of America and Canada on 3rd September, 1783, and it officially ended the <strong>American Revolutionary War.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Switzerland maintained its impartial stance through <strong>World War I (1914-18),</strong> when it mobilized its army and accepted refugees but also refused to take sides militarily.</li>
<li>In 1920, meanwhile, the newly formed <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1#:~:text=The%20forerunner%20of%20the%20United,to%20achieve%20peace%20and%20security.%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>League of Nations</strong></a> officially recognized Swiss neutrality and established its headquarters in Geneva.</li>
<li>A more significant challenge to Swiss neutrality came during <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-war-ii" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World War II</strong></a>, when the country found itself encircled by the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Axis powers</strong></a>. However even then Switzerland maintained its independence by promising retaliation in the event of an invasion.</li>
<li>Since World War II, Switzerland has taken a more active role in international affairs by aiding humanitarian initiatives, but it remains fiercely neutral with regard to military affairs. It has never joined the<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)</a></strong> or the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a>, and only joined the <strong>United Nations</strong> in 2002.</li>
<li>In the 21<sup>st</sup> century, Switzerland is again becoming a destination for dialogue on difficult issues.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Discussions on Syria, Libya and Yemen were held in Geneva.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s policy of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-aligned-movement-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-alignment</strong> </a>and <strong>Switzerland&rsquo;s traditional policy of neutrality</strong> have led to a close understanding between the two countries.</li>
<li>In 1948, a <strong>Treaty of Friendship</strong> was concluded between both the countries. Both believe in the spirit of <strong>democracy and pluralism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Non-Aligned Movement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a forum of 120 developing world states</strong> that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Origin:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The group was <strong>started in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961.</strong></li>
<li>It was created by Yugoslavia&rsquo;s President, Josip Broz Tito, <strong>India&rsquo;s first PM, Jawaharlal Nehru,</strong> Egypt&rsquo;s second President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ghana&rsquo;s first president Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesia&rsquo;s first President, Sukarno.</li>
<li>The most important antecedent to the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement was the <strong>Bandung Conference of 1955.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has sought to <strong>"create an independent path in world politics that would not result in member States becoming pawns in the struggles between the major powers."</strong></li>
<li>It identifies the right of independent judgment, the <strong>struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism,</strong> and the use of moderation in relations with all big powers as the three basic elements that have influenced its approach.</li>
<li>At present, an additional goal is facilitating a <strong>restructuring of the international economic order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Principles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Respect for<strong> fundamental human rights</strong> and of the objectives and principles of the Charter of the <strong>United Nations.</strong></li>
<li>Respect for the<strong> sovereignty and territorial integrity</strong> of all countries.</li>
<li>Recognition of<strong> equality among all races</strong> and of <strong>equality among all nations,</strong> both large and small.</li>
<li><strong>Non-interference or non-intervention</strong> into the internal affairs of another country.</li>
<li>Respect the <strong>right of every nation</strong> to defend itself, either individually or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.</li>
<li><strong>Non-use of collective defence pacts</strong> to benefit the specific interests of any of the great powers.</li>
<li>Refraining from acts or threats of aggression and use of force against the territorial integrity or <strong>political independence</strong> of any nation.</li>
<li>Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means.</li>
<li>Promotion of <strong>mutual interest and cooperation.</strong></li>
<li>Respect for justice and international obligations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/swiss-neutrality-in-world-affairs-again-attractive-envoy/article33955471.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7785,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'FATF Retains Pakistan In Grey List',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> has decided to retain Pakistan on the &ldquo;greylist&rdquo; till the next review of its performance on its recommendations during the June Plenary session.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-on-fatf-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>October-2020 Plenary</strong></a>, <strong>due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan was given an extension</strong> for full compliance with the 27-point action plan till February 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It had then not fully complied with 6 of the 27 directives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> FATF had issued the 27-point action plan</strong> after placing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fatf-s-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan on the &lsquo;Grey List&rsquo; in June 2018</strong></a>. The action plan pertains to curbing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/money-laundering-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>money laundering</strong></a> and terror financing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FATF <strong>acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s significant progress in combating terrorism,</strong> however it was <strong>still to fully comply with three of the 27-point action plan.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> three points</strong> pertain to<strong> effective steps in terms of financial sanctions and penalties</strong> against the terror funding infrastructure and the entities involved.</li>
<li>After assessing the measures taken during the June 2021 session, the FATF would verify the implementation and test the sustainability of reforms undertaken by Pakistan, to review its inclusion or exclusion on the grey list.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Pakistan's case, the<strong> FATF has taken cognisance of the inaction against several banned organisations</strong> involved in raising funds for terror activities and those linked to global terrorists like Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and <strong>Lashkar-e-Taiba&rsquo;s</strong> Hafiz Saeed and its operations chief Zaki-Ur Rahman Lakhvi.</li>
<li>On several occasions, India has also raised the involvement of elements within Pakistan in a number of terror cases, including the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ten-years-after-the-mumbai-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 26/11 Mumbai</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unsc-condemns-pulwama-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pulwama attacks.</strong></a></li>
<li>Perpetual containment of Pakistan on the grey list of FATF would further pressurise Pakistan to take adequate measures to prevent such terrorist attacks on India from its soil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Financial Action Task Force</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> G7 Summit</strong></a> in Paris.</li>
<li>The FATF assesses the strength of a country&rsquo;s anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing frameworks, however it does not go by individual cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its Secretariat is located at the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development</a> (OECD)</strong> headquarters in<strong> Paris.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Member Countries:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The FATF currently has <strong>39 members</strong> including two regional organisations &mdash; the European Commission and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gcc-backs-un-arms-embargo-on-iran#:~:text=set%20to%20expire.-,Gulf%20Cooperation%20Council,United%20Arab%20Emirates%20(UAE)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gulf Cooperation Council</a>. India</strong> is a member of the FATF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lists under FATF:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Grey List:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries that are considered<strong> safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering</strong> are put in the FATF grey list.</li>
<li>This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Black List: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries known as <strong>Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist.</strong></li>
<li>These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.</li>
<li>The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sessions:</strong> The<strong> FATF Plenary</strong> is the decision making body of the FATF. It meets<strong> three times per year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-to-remain-on-fatf-greylist/article33935983.ece#:~:text=The%20Financial%20Action%20Task%20Force,during%20the%20June%20Plenary%20session.&amp;text=He%20urged%20Pakistan%20to%20make%20fast%20progress%20on%20the%20remaining%20obligations." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7771,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Elusive Two-State Solution',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/anti-israel-propaganda-palestinian-terrorism-icc-7201723/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Dialogue not demonisation&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 24/02/2021. It talks about the prospects of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a decision regarding the scope of its territorial jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/israel-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</strong></a> According to this, ICC has agreed to look into the human right violations that occurred during the Israel-Palestine issue.</p>
<p>Palestinian Authority has welcomed this decision. On the other hand, Israel has criticized the ICC action as an unwarranted intervention that undermines its sovereignty and threatened that the move may eventually eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution.</p>
<p>Presently, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is marked by a relatively low-intensity conflict, with recurring spikes in violence, and the continual erosion of political options. This dangerous status quo could directly impact sustainable peace and drag the region into instability.</p>
<h3>What is a Two-State Solution?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two-state solution has for decades been the primary focus of efforts to achieve peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</li>
<li>The solution would establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel &mdash; two states for two peoples.</li>
<li>In theory, this would win Israel&rsquo;s security and allow it to retain a Jewish demographic majority while granting the Palestinians a state.</li>
<li>The 1947 UN Partition Plan led to decades of military action and violence between Israel and Palestine. It is was only after the mediation of the US, in the 1991 Madrid Peace conference a two-state solution was agreed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</li>
<li>According to the United Nations, only a two-state solution that realizes the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis can lead to sustainable peace.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Risk to Two-State Solution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Iranian Angle:</strong> Tensions and risk factors persist along Israel&rsquo;s northern fronts, particularly after the Israeli strikes in Syria against Iranian and Hezbollah targets (associated with Palestine) and more recently the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani by the U.S.</li>
<li><strong>Regional Cold War:</strong> Middle East region is witnessing a regional cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This has led to the emergence of smaller but lethal military groups.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For Example, Houthi rebels in Yemen. These groups can acquire greater capabilities which can cause further instability in the region.</li>
<li>All of these factors exacerbate instability and the prospect of a single or even a multi-front war.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Third Intifada:</strong> Finally, these conditions could result in the outbreak of a third intifada, and peaceful resistance can turn into extreme violence and gross human rights violations.</li>
<li><strong>Divided Political Leadership In Palestine:</strong> The Palestinian leadership is divided - a two-state solution is supported by Palestinian nationalists in West Bank but the leadership in Gaza does not even recognize Israel.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Intifada</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Intifada is the two popular uprisings of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip aimed at ending Israel&rsquo;s occupation of those territories and creating an independent Palestinian state.</li>
<li>The first intifada began in December 1987 and ended in September 1993 with the signing of the first Oslo Accords, which provided a framework for peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.</li>
<li>The second intifada, sometimes called the Al-Aqṣā intifada, began in September 2000.</li>
<li>The two uprisings resulted in the death of more than 5,000 Palestinians and some 1,400 Israelis.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of India:</strong> Historically, India has urged the leadership of both sides to engage in direct negotiations to advance the goal of a two-state solution.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Palestine, India&rsquo;s efforts are focused on nation-building and strengthening institutions through the India-Palestine development partnership covering various sectors of the Palestinian economy.</li>
<li>With Israel, India shares a special relationship in the domains of defense, Science &amp; Tech, etc.</li>
<li>In this context, India can leverage its soft power to propel these two countries towards lasting peace.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abraham Accords, a Positive Step:</strong> The recent normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, known as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/uae-israel-peace-treaty-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Abraham Accords</strong></a>, are further proof that the only way to achieve genuine peace is through direct negotiations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All regional powers should envisage peace between the two countries on line of Abraham Accords.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The world at large needs to come together for a peaceful solution but the reluctance of the Israeli government and other involved parties has aggravated the issue more. Thus a balanced approach towards the Israel-Palestine issue would help to maintain favorable relations with Arab countries as well as Israel.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614170726_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614170726_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the prospects of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and its impact.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wAGrFrzxlhA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/by-diligence-not-lockdowns/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1614174351459000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3EB5w5-yje62sVoTGCeFsH" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;By diligence, not lockdowns&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Economic Times on February 22nd, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7729,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Boosting Cooperation in South Asia',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister <strong>suggested that neighbouring countries should consider creating a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses,</strong> so that they could travel quickly within the region during health emergencies, on the request of the receiving country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This suggestion was made during a workshop on <strong>&lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid19</a> Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward&rsquo;</strong> hosted by India with <strong>nine neighbouring nations, including Pakistan.</strong></li>
<li>The eight members of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</strong></a> and <strong>Mauritius and Seychelles</strong> participated in the workshop.</li>
<li><strong>SAARC</strong> comprises the following <strong>member States:</strong> Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Measures Proposed by India in the Workshop:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creating a <strong>special visa scheme</strong> for doctors and nurses.</li>
<li>The <strong>civil aviation ministries</strong> should coordinate on a <strong>regional air ambulance agreement</strong> for medical contingencies.</li>
<li>Creating<strong> a regional platform</strong> for collating, compiling and studying data about the <strong>effectiveness of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 vaccines</a></strong> among populations.</li>
<li>A <strong>regional network</strong> for promoting technology assisted epidemiology<strong> for preventing future pandemics.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sharing of successful public health policies</strong> and schemes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>From India, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fall-in-treatment-under-ayushman-bharat-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayushman Bharat</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jan Arogya schemes</strong></a> may be useful case-studies for the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Highlights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Barring Pakistan, which hasn&rsquo;t requested vaccines from India, the other participating <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy#:~:text=Meaning%3A%20Vaccine%20diplomacy%20is%20the,strengthen%20ties%20with%20other%20nations." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>countries thanked India for supplies of vaccines</strong></a>, medicines and equipment amid the pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>South Asia was among the first regions</strong> to come together in recognising the threat (Covid-19) and committing to fight it together.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The countries in the region created a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/video-conference-of-saarc-leaders-on-covid-19#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20Emergency%20Fund%3A,a%20contribution%20to%20the%20fund." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 emergency response fund</strong></a> and shared resources, equipment and knowledge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The region shares many<strong> common challenges &ndash;</strong> climate change, natural disasters, poverty, illiteracy, and social and gender imbalances, and also <strong>share the power of centuries-old cultural and people-to-people linkages. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The participation of all the SAARC members including Pakistan has opened <strong>an opportunity to resolve the issues among its members</strong> and restart the regional development cooperation initiatives such as South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SAARC Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lack of Unanimity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Consensus building continues to be a challenge on major decisions. For e.g. During the 18<sup>th</sup> SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 2014, the signing of the <strong>SAARC motor vehicle agreement (MVA)</strong> had to be stalled as Pakistan declined to it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tussle Between Countries:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of the smaller states and external players believe that the<strong> India-Pakistan conflict</strong> has undermined SAARC.</li>
<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s use of terror as an instrument of foreign policy has made normal business impossible. Therefore, India pulled out of the summit that was to be held in Pakistan in 2016 in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack.</li>
<li><strong>Dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the Durand line,</strong> is also a reason for tussle within SAARC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Domination by India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s economic position vis-a vis other SAARC countries, has often been the subject of criticism that India acts as a big brother rather than a strategic partner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Marginalisation by Other Organisations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SAARC has become almost marginal to the regions' collective consciousness and other organisations such as the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)</strong></a> came into the forefront.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India should enhance cooperation like recently, it contributed USD 10 million to SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>supplied vaccines</strong></a> for countries in the SAARC region (Eg. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/operation-sanjeevani" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Sanjeevani</strong> </a>for Maldives).</li>
<li>SAARC revival by promoting <strong>confidence building measures (CDM)</strong> among its members will facilitate India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>neighbourhood first policy</strong></a> in meeting the challenge of regional strategic encroachment by China through its<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/obor-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Belt and Road Initiative.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/to-neighbours-pm-moots-special-visa-scheme-for-medical-staff/article33871660.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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