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Djibouti Code of Conduct

Why in News India joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC) as an observer as part of efforts aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indian...

17 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Israel, UAE and Bahrain Abraham Accord

Why in News The Abraham Accord between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is mediated by the USA. It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal...

16 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Indo-Pacific Trilateral Dialogue

Why in News Recently, India, Australia and France held a dialogue for the first time under a trilateral framework. The three sides have agreed to...

10 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
World Solar Technology Summit

Why in News Recently, the first-ever World Solar Technology Summit (WSTS) was organised by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Federation of...

09 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Indo-China Defence Ministerial Meet

Why in News The Indo-China Defence Minister level meet happened on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence...

05 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet

Why in News The 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held through a video conference under the Chairpersonship of Russian...

05 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
G-20 Foreign Ministers Meet

Why in News Recently, Saudi Arabia hosted the G-20 foreign ministers meeting with focus on cross-border movement amid the Covid-19...

04 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
UNSC Rejects to Designate Indians as Terrorists

Why in News The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has rejected all Pakistan’s requests to list four Indians as designated terrorists...

03 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Eighth East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting

Why in News Recently, the 8th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting (EAS-EMM) was held virtually and attended by 10 ASEAN members and...

02 Sep 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Proposal of Supply Chain Resilience Initiative

Why in News With Covid-19 and trade tensions between China and the United States are threatening supply chains, Japan has mooted the Supply Chain...

31 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultations

Why in News Recently, the 17th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations was held virtually, co-chaired by India and Vietnam. The meeting was...

31 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
BRICS 5G Innovation Base

Why in News China has proposed the creation of a BRICS innovation base in China to take forward 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation...

26 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks

Why in News Recently, India participated in the 6th roundtable meeting of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT). ASEAN stands for...

21 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
World Solar Technology Summit: ISA

Why in News The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will organise the First World Solar Technology Summit on 8th September, 2020 on a virtual...

18 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Anti-Drug Working Group BRICS

Why in News Recently, the 4th Session of the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group was held through a video conference. The session was chaired by Russia...

17 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
A Self Reliant Foreign Policy

This article is based on A self-reliant foreign policy which was published in The Hindu on 13/08/2020. This article discusses the present day...

13 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India-Nepal Talks

Why in News The ambassadors of India and Nepal are likely to meet in Kathmandu (Nepal) to review projects funded by the Indian government. The...

12 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Day 13

International and Bilateral Agreements Following issues regarding International and Bilateral Agreements have been in the news headlines, and UPSC...

01 Aug 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Day 12

Issues of National and Global Importance Following issues have been at the forefront of the news headlines, and as UPSC always attempts to test the...

31 Jul 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Dispute Panels Against India: WTO

Why in News Recently, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has set up two dispute settlement panels targeting...

31 Jul 2020 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

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		'title' => 'Djibouti Code of Conduct',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India</strong> joined the <strong>Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC)</strong> as <strong>an observer</strong> as part of efforts aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.</p>
<h3>Key Points<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331585_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331585_image2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Djibouti Code of Conduct:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> It is also known as the <strong>Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships </strong>in the <strong>Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was adopted on <strong>29<sup>th</sup> January 2009.</strong></li>
<li>It was established under the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Maritime Organization</a> (IMO).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong> Under the code, the signatories agreed to co-operate to the fullest possible extent in the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships.</li>
<li><strong>Jeddah Amendment:</strong> An amendment to DCOC was made in <strong>2017</strong> to cover other illicit maritime activities, including human trafficking and illegal, <strong>unreported and unregulated fishing</strong> and to build national and regional capacity to address <strong>wider maritime security issues,</strong> as a basis for <strong>sustainable development of the maritime sector.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Signatories:</strong> It has been signed by<strong> 20 countries</strong> including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The member states are<strong> located in areas adjoining the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Africa</strong> and include island nations in the Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Observers: India, Japan, Norway, the UK and the USA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331563_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331563_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of India Becoming an Observer</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Boosting its Indian Ocean Outreach:</strong> As India is strengthening its position in the Indian Ocean and nearby waters as part of its overall <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific policy</strong></a>, this move will help it in <strong>increasing its strategic footprints in Western and Eastern Indian Ocean besides Eastern African coastal states.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Blue Economy: <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blue economy</a></strong> is one of the key areas of the Jeddah Amendment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.</li>
<li>India has also focussed on the growth of the blue economy through its framework of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong></a> and DCOC may be another step in that direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-China:</strong> China&rsquo;s territorial claims in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/china-in-south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a>, its claim in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/senkaku-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East China Sea</strong> </a>and its rapid advance into the Indian Ocean through ambitious strategic and economic initiatives like the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/19-11-2019/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>String of pearls</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt-and-Road Initiative</strong> </a>may pose a threat to india. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, China is modernising its military base at Djibouti.</li>
<li>Given India&rsquo;s stakes in Indian ocean and rising <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-China conflicts</strong></a>, it is very significant for India to develop blue-water naval capabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>India in Indo-Pacific</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Shangrila Dialogue:</strong> India has internationally emphasized on including the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean in the concept of <strong>Indo-Pacific,</strong> like at Shangrila Dialogue in <strong>2018.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In accordance, it also set up an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-pacific-wing-in-mea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific division</strong></a> in the Ministry of External Affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quad: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/four%20corners:%20on%20the%20quad%E2%80%99s%20agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)</a></strong> refers to an ad hoc group including Australia, India, Japan, and the USA with a shared objective to ensure and support a &ldquo;free, open and prosperous&rdquo; Indo-Pacific region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has signed reciprocal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-logistics-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>military logistics support agreements with Australia, USA and Japan</strong></a> to increase interoperability with the navies of those countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ASEAN:</strong> India has emphasized the centrality of ASEAN in its Indo-Pacific framework and India&rsquo;s<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Act East policy</strong></a> provides strategic direction to increase its cooperation with ASEAN members.</li>
<li><strong>SAGAR:</strong> The Indian government introduced the concept of SAGAR <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Security And Growth for All in the Region)</strong></a> in 2015 as its strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen <strong>economic and security cooperation</strong> with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their <strong>maritime security capabilities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s other policies impacting the maritime domain include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-09th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Sagarmala</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Mausam</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>India has also begun to focus on its strategic partners in the <strong>Western Indian ocean.</strong> It has been accepted as an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>observer at Indian Ocean Commission.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331530_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600331530_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="750" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-joins-indian-ocean-grouping-against-piracy-as-observer/story-ki47pyuwxJeZhk4Wzbxr9O.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: HT</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6497,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Israel, UAE and Bahrain Abraham Accord',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Abraham Accord</strong> between<strong> Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain</strong> is mediated by the USA. It is the <strong>first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Previous Agreements:</strong> There were the <strong>only two peace deals</strong> between Israel and the Arab States in more than a quarter of a century.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Egypt was the first Arab State to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979.</li>
<li>Jordan signed a peace pact in 1994.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Agreement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain will establish:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Embassies and exchange ambassadors.</li>
<li>Working together with Israel across a range of sectors, including tourism, trade, healthcare and security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Abraham Accords also open the door for Muslims around the world to visit the historic sites in Israel and to peacefully pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the <strong>third holiest site in Islam.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the Islamic tradition,<strong> the Kaaba</strong> in <strong>Mecca</strong> is considered the holiest site, followed by <strong>the Prophet's Mosque</strong> in Medina, and <strong>Al-Aqsa Mosque</strong> in Jerusalem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason:</strong> Bringing Israel, the UAE and Bahrain together reflects their shared concern about <strong>Iran&rsquo;s rising influence</strong> in the region and development of ballistic missiles. Iran has been critical of both deals.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Arab-Israel Relation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since Israeli independence in 1948, it has fought several wars with Arab neighbouring countries.</li>
<li>The persecuted Jews saw Israel as their promised home while Arabs saw it as an occupation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the Accord:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agreement shows how the Arab countries are gradually <strong>decoupling themselves from the Palestine question.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Palestine was among former Ottoman territories placed under UK administration by the League of Nations in 1922. All of these territories eventually became fully independent States, except Palestine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Full diplomatic ties</strong> will be established between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain which will have a positive impact on the entire region.</li>
<li>The deal buys UAE a lot of <strong>goodwill in the US,</strong> where its image has been tarnished by its involvement in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ceasefire-in-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Yemen war.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>In South Asia, it will put Pakistan in a bind,</strong> whether to follow UAE&rsquo;s steps (will be seen as giving up Islamic cause of Palestine) or not to follow the UAE (since it is already in feud with the Saudis over not taking up the Kashmir case, Pakistan cannot afford another hostile Islamic Country).</li>
<li>In the upcoming presidential election in the USA, the accord could help shore up support among pro-Israel Christian evangelical voters, an important part of current President&rsquo;s political base.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Deals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Other gulf states in the region like Oman could follow suit and sign similar agreements with Israel</li>
<li>One of the biggest Gulf Arab powers, Saudi Arabia could follow the suit as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Palestinians have not embraced the USA&rsquo;s vision. 86% of Palestinians believe the normalization agreement with the UAE serves only Israel&rsquo;s interests and not their own.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is a possibility that the Palestine quest is further ignored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Shia-Sunni rifts in the region may get wide and violent.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (representing Shia) have a long history of enmity. For decades, one of the main sources of instability in West Asia has been the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.</li>
<li>The Sunni-Shiite schism may also provoke violence between Muslims in such places as Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600249390_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600249390_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="512" height="401" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Interest in West Asia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Geopolitical:</strong> West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to its geographical location and proximity to continents and countries South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.</li>
<li><strong>Energy:</strong> The region is strategically significant due to its enormous energy resources, trade route links to different parts of the world.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the world's largest oil-producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diaspora:</strong> Indian expatriates have constituted a substantial share of the regional labour market.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Remittances from the region</strong> constitute a major chunk of total remittances to India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opportunity for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Defence and Security:</strong> India should use this unexpected opportunity to give itself a <strong>bigger role</strong> in a region which is its strategic backyard. The first step should be to <strong>ramp up defence and security relations with UAE.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Israel is already a very close defence partner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While some work has already happened, India should <strong>leverage its economy for a bigger opening in this region.</strong> Importantly, India can use its good offices to ensure that any future deal on a regional security framework gives adequate space to Iran, which may be weak but not so weak that it cannot be a hugely disruptive power if it so chooses.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A balance between Shia and Sunni, between Persian and Arab, is key to any sustainable peace.</li>
<li>The US may be a pre-eminent power in the Middle East, but Russia has made a space for itself, spending a lot less money. In recent years, China has indicated its willingness to play a larger role in this region, and is close to both UAE and Israel and, increasingly, Saudi Arabia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should make its moves before this market and this extended neighbourhood come under the Chinese sphere of influence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A deal that could, if played right, open the doors for a changed geopolitical arrangement in the Middle East should have a stronger Indian footprint.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-uae-and-bahrain-sign-abraham-accord-trump-says-dawn-of-new-middle-east/article32616867.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6437,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Indo-Pacific Trilateral Dialogue',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India, Australia and France</strong> held a dialogue for the first time under a <strong>trilateral framework.</strong> The three sides have<strong> agreed to hold the dialogue on an annual basis.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Focus: Enhancing cooperation</strong> in the<strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importancehttps://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indo-Pacific Region.</a></strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>Australia,</strong> along with <strong>France,</strong> has emerged as a<strong> major strategic partner for India</strong> in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially in the maritime domain. For instance:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has <strong>logistics agreements</strong> with both countries. The logistics agreement provides for easier access to supplies of goods and services.</li>
<li>There is significant cooperation in information exchange for <strong>Maritime Domain Awareness.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>France was the first country to deploy a Liaison Officer at the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/information-fusion-centre-of-indian-navy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Navy&rsquo;s Information Fusion Centre (IFC-IOR)</strong></a> as part of efforts to improve Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India conducted its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-france-joint-patrolling" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first joint patrols</strong> </a>with France in Reunion Island (western Indian ocean) in February 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Factor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The trilateral cooperation will help to take on China's aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region. E.g in South China Sea.</li>
<li>This trilateral cooperation is an addition to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Quad</strong> </a>which comprises the USA, Japan, Australia and India.</li>
<li>It also adds diplomatic muscle to the global coalition that is shaping up to counter China's belligerence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues Discussed:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Possibility of <strong>enhancing maritime security cooperation</strong> between the three countries in the Indo-Pacific region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also includes areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime domain awareness, mutual logistics support and capacity-building of friendly countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,</strong> initiatives such as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong></a>, and the need for a <strong>reformed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-75-declaration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multilateralism.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Cooperation on marine global commons.</strong> It includes <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>blue economy</strong></a>, <strong>marine biodiversity</strong> and <strong>environmental challenges</strong> such as marine pollution.</li>
<li><strong>Practical cooperation</strong> at the<strong> trilateral and regional level,</strong> including through regional organisations such as <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Ocean Rim Association</a> (IORA)</strong> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Commission.</strong></a></li>
<li>The increased salience of<strong> resilient and reliable supply chains.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, Australia and Japan recently inked an initiative to build resilient supply chains, which is named as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).</strong></a> France may join this initiative too.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emerging challenges</strong> in the context of <strong>Covid-19 pandemic,</strong> including the financial impact of the pandemic on the Indian Ocean region countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Significance of the Indo-Pacific Region</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2018 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-maritime-affairs-dialogue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shangrila Dialogue</strong></a> India had clearly indicated the geographical reach of <strong>India&rsquo;s idea of the Indo-Pacific,</strong> which starts from <strong>Africa to the America,</strong> which covers both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, in tandem with that of Japan.</li>
<li>It is a very<strong> rich region in terms of natural resources</strong> (fisheries, oil, gas) as well as mineral resources.</li>
<li><strong>Trade of some of the major economies</strong> like China, Japan, Korea or the west coast of the United States goes through this region.</li>
<li>About 50% of <strong>India&rsquo;s trade</strong> is conducted through the South China Sea. India has been one of the major players in the region. <strong>India conducts many naval exercises</strong> with the United States, countries of ASEAN, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.</li>
<li>The international community including India wants freedom of navigation, freedom of over flights in the region.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599733774_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599733774_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>France and Australia are India&rsquo;s key partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting provided a unique opportunity to build upon the progress that the three countries have achieved bilaterally in recent years.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indo-pacific-cooperation-maritime-security-in-focus-at-trilateral-dialogue-6589741/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6431,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Solar Technology Summit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> first-ever <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Solar Technology Summit</a></strong> (WSTS) was organised by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a> (ISA) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-asean-expo-and-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry</strong></a> (FICCI).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To showcase to member countries the state of the art and next-generation solar technologies worldwide.</li>
<li>To give an opportunity to decision-makers and stakeholders to meet, and discuss their own priorities and strategic agenda towards a larger integration.</li>
<li>To discuss the recent highlights of solar technologies, cost-wise, technology-wise, technology transfers, challenges and concerns in the field.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In spite of having<strong> one of the lowest per-capita carbon emissions</strong> in the world, India has pressed ahead with the deployment of renewable energy at a fast pace for lowering carbon footprints.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>enhanced its installed renewable capacity by 2.5 times </strong>and<strong> increased the solar installed capacity by more than 13 times.</strong></li>
<li>Globally, India <strong>ranks 4<sup>th</sup> in terms of renewable power.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has <strong>scaled non-fossil fuel-based power generations to 134GW,</strong> which is about 35% of the total power generation and it is <strong>expected to increase it to 220 GW by 2022.</strong></li>
<li>India is <strong>providing capacity-building support to ISA member countries</strong> through its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vice-president-s-visit-to-comoros-and-sierra-leone#:~:text=The%20ITEC%20programme%20provides%20for,and%20feasibility%20studies%2Fconsultancy%20services." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Project Preparation Facility</strong> has been set up to <strong>develop bankable Solar Energy</strong> projects in ISA member countries with the help of<strong> Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>In 2018, India announced about <strong>USD 1.4 billion worth of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/line-of-credit-to-pacific-island-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lines of credit</a></strong> (LOCs) for covering 27 solar projects across 15 countries. These projects are in various stages of implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solar Energy related Schemes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Solar energy</strong></a> has taken a central place in India's <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change</strong> </a>with the <strong>National Solar Mission</strong> as one of the key Missions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11<sup>th</sup> January 2010 and is in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Intended Nationally Determined Contributions</strong></a> (INDCs).</li>
<li>Its objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong> India&rsquo;s ambitious cross-border power grid plan which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-website-of-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KUSUM Scheme:</strong></a> It aims to replace the use of diesel in the farm sector with solar energy with the target of solarisation of 2.8 million irrigation pumps.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-charkha-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Solar Charkha Mission:</strong></a> It is an enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of &lsquo;Solar Charkha Clusters&rsquo; which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries. These solar charkhas are operated using solar power, keeping the environment clean and generating sustainable employment for the artisans.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rewa-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>750 megawatt (MW) solar project</strong> </a>which has been inaugurated in <strong>Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation</strong> which was jointly launched by <strong>India and France on 30<sup>th</sup> November 2015</strong> during the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21<sup>st</sup> session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties</strong></a> (COP-21) in Paris, France.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To lower the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in member countries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the <strong>universal energy access</strong> goal <strong>(SDG 7).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarter:</strong> Gurugram in Haryana, India.</li>
<li>As of June 2020, the ISA Framework Agreement has been <strong>signed by 86 countries, </strong>with <strong>68 having also deposited instruments of ratification.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1652436" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6400,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Indo-China Defence Ministerial Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Indo-China Defence Minister level meet</strong> happened <strong>on the sidelines of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-sco-summit-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</a> (SCO)</strong> Defence Ministers&rsquo; meeting in Moscow (Russia) on 4<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;September 2020.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the Meet:</strong> The <strong>first high-level political face-to-face meeting</strong> between India and China <strong>since the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener">border row erupted along the Line of Actual Control</a> (LAC) in eastern Ladakh</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India pushed for the restoration of status quo ante at all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and called for disengagement of troops in an expeditious way.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in the standoff at <strong>Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie</strong> in eastern Ladakh.</li>
<li>The <strong>actions on the northern bank of Pangong Tso</strong> are not just for territorial gains on land, but enhanced domination of the <strong>resource-rich lake</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Pangong Tso</strong> is overlooked by the <strong>Finger Area</strong> - a set of eight cliffs extending out of the Sirijap range (on the northern bank of Lake).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>stand-off at Ladakh&rsquo;s Galwan Valley</strong> has escalated in recent weeks due to the infrastructure projects that India has undertaken in the recent years. India is building a strategic road, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/darbuk-shyok-daulat-beg-oldie-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road</strong></a>, through the Galwan Valley - close to China - connecting the region to an airstrip.</li>
<li><strong>China is opposed to any Indian construction</strong> in the area. A stand-off in the Galwan area was one of the biggest flashpoints of the <strong>1962 war</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The LAC is the <strong>demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory</strong>. India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around <strong>2,000 km</strong>.</li>
<li>It is divided into <strong>three sectors</strong>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The eastern sector which spans <strong>Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim</strong>.</li>
<li>The middle sector in <strong>Uttarakhand</strong> and <strong>Himachal Pradesh</strong>.</li>
<li>The western sector in <strong>Ladakh</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The India-China LAC in Ladakh is an outcome of the territory illegally retained by China after the 1962 conflict. The <strong>Chinese occupation of parts of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aksai Chin</a></strong> is not supported by historical or legal documents.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599307318_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599307318_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="636" height="357" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Statement at SCO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Peace and Prosperity:</strong> India stressed upon a peaceful, stable and secure region of SCO member states.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prosperity and stability in the region demand a climate of trust and cooperation, non-aggression, respect for international rules, sensitivity to each other&rsquo;s interest and peaceful resolution of differences.</li>
<li>India is committed to the evolution of a <strong>global security architecture</strong> which will be open, transparent, inclusive, rules-based and anchored in international laws.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On the Regional Situation:</strong> India expressed concern at<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The security situation in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-great-game-is-not-a-zero-sum-deal-on-handling-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Afghanistan</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>SCO contact group on Afghanistan</strong> is useful for arriving at a formal agreement among SCO member States.</li>
<li>It was conceived In 2005 and was brought into action in 2017 <strong>at the level of deputy foreign ministers</strong>.</li>
<li>The Group envisages joint actions to enhance cooperation in security, trade, the economy as well as cultural and humanitarian ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gulf Region:</strong> India called upon the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/persian-gulf-region#:~:text=India's%20Relation%20with%20Persian%20Gulf%20Region&amp;text=The%20governments%20of%20the%20GCC,workforce%20of%20over%20nine%20million." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf countries</strong></a> to resolve differences between them by &ldquo;dialogue based on mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of each other".</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terrorism:</strong> India unequivocally <strong>condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations,</strong> and condemns its proponents and asserted the <strong>need to build institutional capacity</strong> to deal with both traditional and non-traditional threats &mdash; above all, terrorism, drug-trafficking and transnational crime.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was formed in the year 2001 and headquartered at Beijing, China.</li>
<li><strong>Geographic Extent:</strong> SCO is a significant organization that has a vast geographic expanse and is important for <strong>Central Asia, South-Asia and Asia-Pacific</strong> region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a <strong>major Eurasian organization</strong> that represents half of the world&rsquo;s population.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>permanent intergovernmental international organisation</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Member-states:</strong> The SCO has <strong>eight members</strong> namely India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and <strong>four observer states</strong> - Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India joined SCO in 2017</strong> at the insistence of Russia, and China balanced India&rsquo;s entry with the entry of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Permanent Bodies:</strong> The organisation has two permanent bodies &mdash; the <strong>SCO Secretariat</strong> based in <strong>Beijing</strong> (China) and the <strong>Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)</strong> based in <strong>Tashkent</strong> (Uzbekistan).</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> It has the capacity to counterbalance the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong> SCO has an evolving mandate which started off by being an <strong>economic, political, cultural and regional security</strong> organization.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In April 2020, <strong>India and China completed their 70 years of diplomatic relations</strong>. Both sides should acknowledge that the situation is precarious, and that the recent days in particular have undone decades of painstakingly negotiated confidence-building mechanisms.</li>
<li>For India, the first priority has to be to restore the status quo ante at the border as it existed in April 2020. This will require both a display of military strength at the border by standing up to Chinese aggression, and <strong>diplomatic work</strong> by making it clear to China that its intervention will lead to heavy costs across all spheres of the relationship.</li>
<li>Through the <strong>platform of SCO</strong>, India has a clear opportunity to highlight the real values of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/phases-of-indian-foreign-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Foreign Policy</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajnath-singh-meets-chinese-counterpart-wei-fenghe-in-moscow/article32522652.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6393,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>5<sup>th</sup> BRICS Culture Ministers&rsquo; Meeting</strong> was held through a video conference under the<strong> Chairpersonship of Russian Federation.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The delegates from Culture Ministries of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong> </a><strong>nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -</strong> participated in the meeting.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Discussions Held:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> situation on the cultural sphere in the BRICS countries.</li>
<li>Review of the <strong>possible implementation of joint cultural online-projects</strong> within BRICS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions Given by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Digitisation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exploring possibilities of hosting a <strong>Digital Online Exhibition</strong> on a shared theme towards the end of 2021 under the auspices of <strong>BRICS Alliance of Museums.</strong></li>
<li>Extending full cooperation and<strong> content sharing for the website envisaged</strong> under the BRICS Alliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>BRICS Corner: Opening the BRICS Corner under the auspices of<strong> BRICS Alliance of Libraries</strong> proposed <strong>to be inaugurated during India's BRICS Presidency in 2021.</strong> The Corner will disseminate information related to the history and culture of BRICS countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Joint Exhibition to be Organised by India:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/naimisha-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Gallery of Modern Arts, New Delhi</strong></a> will host the <strong>BRICS Joint Exhibition</strong> titled<strong> &lsquo;Bonding Regions &amp; Imagining Cultural Synergies&rsquo;</strong> under the auspices of the <strong>BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries</strong> in<strong> 2021.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Cultural Cooperation among BRICS Nations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>2018,</strong> the BRICS nations endorsed <strong>institution-to-institution collaborations</strong> in the form of BRICS Alliance of Museums, BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries.</li>
<li>In <strong>2017,</strong> the <strong>agreement on cooperation in the field of culture (2017-21)</strong> between the governments of BRICS nations was signed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BRICS</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BRICS is an <strong>acronym</strong> for the grouping of the world&rsquo;s leading emerging economies, namely <strong>Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2001, the British Economist<strong> Jim O&rsquo;Neill coined the term BRIC</strong> to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.</li>
<li>The grouping was<strong> formalised</strong> during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers&rsquo; in <strong>2006.</strong></li>
<li><strong>South Africa</strong> was invited to join BRIC in December <strong>2010,</strong> after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members,</strong> in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.</li>
<li>During the <strong>Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza</strong> (Brazil) in <strong>2014,</strong> the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the <strong>New Development Bank</strong> (NDB - Shanghai, China). They also signed the<strong> BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement</strong> to provide short-term liquidity support to the members.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599307403_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599307403_image6.png" width="478" height="353" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Culture is a particularly <strong>opportune area</strong> because most BRICS countries have historical or even ancient ties with one another. For instance, India, China and Russia were all connected by the <strong>ancient Silk Route,</strong> which was a corridor not only for trade, but also for religions and philosophies. Cultural cooperation can<strong> reduce conflicts</strong> and lead to<strong> peace</strong> among the BRICS nations.</li>
<li>The <strong>New Development Bank has a definite role here.</strong> Numerous tourist destinations need investment in infrastructure&mdash;roads to drive, facilities like hotels and motels, and rail and aviation infrastructure linking the multiple BRICS centers.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1651354" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6384,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'G-20 Foreign Ministers Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Saudi Arabia hosted the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-meeting-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G-20</strong> </a>foreign ministers meeting with focus on cross-border movement amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Currently, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saudi-arabia-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-head-g20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saudi Arabia holds the presidency</strong></a> of G-20. It is the <strong>first Arab nation</strong> to take over the G20 Presidency.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The foreign ministers <strong>acknowledged the importance of opening borders,</strong> and<strong> promoting measures to allow the economy to thrive</strong> in light of the protective measures for the<strong> Covid-19 pandemic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many health safety protocols were brought in to minimize the risk of spread of the Covid-19, like closed borders.</li>
<li>However, they have now become a <strong>huge obstacle</strong> in running trade and businesses worldwide resulting in a crisis of life and livelihood for many.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India apprised the G-20 foreign ministers about steps taken by India including <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vande-bharat-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vande Bharat Mission</strong></a> and creation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/travel-bubble" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>travel bubbles</strong></a> for the welfare and protection of foreign citizens stranded in India as well as its own citizens abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Initiatives Taken by G-20:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, in the 3<sup>rd</sup> G-20 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-g20-fmcbg-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG)</strong></a> meeting held in july 2020, G-20 came up with the <strong>G20 Action Plan</strong> to deal with the pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Action Plan includes a list of collective commitments under the pillars of Health Response, Economic Response, Strong and Sustainable Recovery and International Financial Coordination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G-20 also organised a virtual meeting of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/g20-digital-economy-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G-20 Digital Economy Ministers</strong></a> to highlight the digital initiatives taken by the countries to deal with Covid-19.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Proposal:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Development of <strong>voluntary &lsquo;G-20 Principles</strong> on <strong>Coordinated Cross-Border Movement of People&rsquo;</strong> with three elements: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Standardisation of testing procedures</strong> and universal acceptability of test results.</li>
<li>Standardisation of <strong>Quarantine procedures.</strong></li>
<li>Standardisation of <strong>&lsquo;movement and transit&rsquo; protocols.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Governments around the world need to ensure that <strong>interests of foreign students are protected</strong> and <strong>movement of stranded seafarers</strong> back to their home country is facilitated.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The education institutes around the globe have been shut for months due to pandemic. With borders closed now, foreign students who had returned to their home countries are now finding it difficult to rejoin their respective institutions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G-20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The G20 is an<strong> informal group of 19 countries</strong> and the <strong>European Union,</strong> with representatives of the <strong>International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.</strong></li>
<li>The G20 membership comprises a<strong> mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies,</strong> representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
<li>The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.</li>
<li>It does not have <strong>any permanent secretariat</strong> or headquarters.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-proposes-g-20-principles-on-cross-border-movement-6582278/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6370,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'UNSC Rejects to Designate Indians as Terrorists',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></a> (UNSC) has rejected all Pakistan&rsquo;s requests to list four Indians as designated terrorists under its <strong>1267 Committee for Counterterrorism Sanctions.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The USA, UK, France, Germany and Belgium blocked Pakistan's requests due to<strong> lack of evidence.</strong></li>
<li>While the USA, UK and France are permanent members of the UNSC, Germany and Belgium are non-permanent members.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>UNSC Resolution 1267 Sanctions Committee</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This committee oversees the implementation of sanctions pursuant to UNSC resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015).</li>
<li>It was adopted unanimously on 15<sup>th</sup> October 1999.</li>
<li>It is one of the most important and active <strong>UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to combat terrorism,</strong> particularly in relation to Al Qaeda, Taliban and the Islamic State group. It prepares a consolidated list of people associated with these organizations.</li>
<li>It discusses UN efforts to <strong>limit the movement of terrorists, especially those related to travel bans, the freezing of assets and arms embargoes for terrorism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In September 2019, Pakistan had alleged that four Indians working in Afghanistan, formed an Afghanistan-based &ldquo;Indian terror syndicate&rdquo; that was organising the banned terror groups <strong>Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-Ul-Ahrar (JuA)</strong> to carry out attacks in Pakistan.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan and China</strong> also moved the joint proposal to declare one of these four, as a <strong>sanctioned terrorist</strong> with links to TTP and JuA.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This proposal received a<strong> veto from the USA</strong> in UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pakistan later claimed it had made a statement at an Open Debate of the Security Council on the <strong>Report of the Secretary-General on the Threats to International Peace and Security</strong> posed by Terrorism Actions, accusing India of terrorism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the UNSC President had refused to take cognisance of the statement, as <strong>Pakistan is not a member of the UNSC.</strong></li>
<li>India formally protested against this calling this a <strong>false claim.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In July 2020, Pakistan moved the <strong>1267 Resolution Sanctions Committee</strong> to designate the four Indians as<strong> global terrorists.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Pakistan&rsquo;s Actions :</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The tension between India and Pakistan has escalated after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-370-and-35-a-revoked" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370</strong></a> in August 2019, which was heavily objected by Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-new-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan released a new political map</strong></a> that included all of Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek and Junagadh on the completion of one year of abrogation of Article 370.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After repeated attempts (in 2009, 2016 and 2017) to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief as &ldquo;global terrorist&rdquo;, India finally <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/masood-azhar-listed-as-a-global-terrorist" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>succeeded in getting him listed</strong></a> in 2019. This move was not received well by Pakistan as it tainted its international image as a terrorism-supporter.</li>
<li>Pakistan also received another <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icrg-recommends-continuation-of-pakistan-in-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extension on the greylist of the Financial Action Task Force</strong> </a>(FATF) until October 2020.</li>
<li>It also faced setbacks on other fronts like the United States slamming its record on terrorism, including its failure to act against groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-pak-tension-amidst-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pakistan also opposed India&rsquo;s leadership</strong></a> in dealing with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> crisis in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC</strong></a> region which was criticized by India.</li>
<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s requests to get Indians listed in the 1267 sanctions are also being seen as attempts to <strong>target India ahead of January 2021,</strong> when <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-campaign-brochure-for-unsc-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India will join as a non-permanent member</strong></a> for a two year term at the UNSC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>While India&rsquo;s role in combating terrorism has been internationally acclaimed, Pakistan is constantly facing rebuke on not doing enough to deal with terrorism on its soil. Rejection of Pakistan&rsquo;s attempts to list Indians as terrorists will only taint Pakistan&rsquo;s image in the global community.</li>
<li>In light of recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>conflict between India and China</strong></a> and closeness of China with Pakistan, India needs to be concerned for its security. International support is crucial for India amidst rising tension with its neighbourhood.</li>
<li>The recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan are just another proof of lack of seriousness on its behalf in engaging peacefully with India. Although, India must not give up on establishing better diplomatic ties with Pakistan, until Pakistan takes a strong step towards elimination of state-backed terrorism, the likelihood of peace between India and Pakistan will remain low.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/five-unsc-members-to-block-pakistan-move-to-list-two-indians-as-global-terrorists-6580808/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6364,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Eighth East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>8<sup>th</sup> <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Asia Summit</a> Economic Ministers&rsquo; Meeting</strong> (EAS-EMM) was held<strong> virtually</strong> and attended by <strong>10<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ASEAN</a> members and eight other nations,</strong> including India, the USA, and China.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting<strong> highlighted the importance of strengthening regional supply chains to make them resilient</strong> in times of heightened challenges posed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>and to <strong>spur economic growth.</strong></li>
<li>Recently, Japan has mooted the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong></a> as a trilateral approach to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Features of the Joint Statement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any <strong>trade-restrictive emergency measures</strong> put in place to address the impact of Covid-19 must be <strong>targeted, proportionate, transparent, temporary, consistent with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-of-supply-chain-resilience-initiative#:~:text=Supply%20Chain%20Resilience%20Initiative%20(SCRI)%3A,lead%20to%20the%20supply%20chain." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Trade Organisation</a> (WTO) rules and do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption of global and regional supply chains.</strong></li>
<li>Support for the <strong>necessary reforms in the WTO</strong> and pledge to continue to work together to <strong>realise a free, fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, predictable, and stable trade environment.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Facilitating the essential movement of people across borders,</strong> without undermining each country&rsquo;s efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and to stabilise the trade and investment.</li>
<li><strong>Commitment to facilitate supply chain connectivity,</strong> including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, including vaccines, food, commodities and other essential supplies and services in the region.</li>
<li><strong>Harness the opportunities of the digital economy</strong> to overcome the challenges posed by restricted movement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India highlighted its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong> </a>which is about <strong>upscaling the growth of Indian industry,</strong> its<strong> skills and capabilities to make them resilient and less vulnerable to shocks </strong>and<strong> integrating Indian industries with the global supply chains.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting comes at a <strong>critical juncture</strong> when the pandemic has not just <strong>posed an unprecedented health crisis</strong> but also caused a <strong>sharp contraction in economic activities,</strong> disrupting trade and investments.</li>
<li>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund</strong></a> (IMF) has predicted a 4.9% contraction for the 2020 global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-decreases-to-11-year-low#:~:text=Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)%3A,output%20from%20the%20consumers'%20side." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Domestic Product</strong></a> (GDP), warning that the Covid-19 outbreak has plunged the global economy into its worst recession since the <strong>Great Depression in the 1930s.</strong></li>
<li>In April, the WTO also warned that <strong>global trade volume growth could crash</strong> by 13-32% in 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>East Asia Summit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>2005,</strong> it is a<strong> forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation</strong> on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concept of an East Asia Grouping was<strong> first promoted in 1991 by the then Malaysian Prime Minister,</strong> Mahathir bin Mohamad.</li>
<li><strong>India is one of the founding members</strong> of the East Asia Summit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Membership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It comprises the<strong> ten member states of the ASEAN</strong> which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, <strong>along with 8 other countries namely</strong> Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.</li>
<li>It is an <strong>ASEAN-centred forum</strong> so it can <strong>only be chaired by an ASEAN member.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1599042187_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/ensure-covid-related-trade-curbs-are-temporary/article32476185.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6346,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Proposal of Supply Chain Resilience Initiative',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>With <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> and <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade tensions between China and the United States</strong></a> are threatening supply chains, Japan has mooted the <strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)</strong> as a <strong>trilateral approach</strong> to trade, with India and Australia as the key-partners.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supply Chain Resilience:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the context of international trade, supply chain resilience is an approach that helps a country to ensure that it has <strong>diversified its supply risk across a clutch of supplying nations instead of being dependent on just one</strong> or a few.</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong> In unanticipated events -whether natural, such as volcanic eruptions, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tsunami-ready-programme-unesco-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tsunamis</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/earthquake-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>earthquakes</strong></a> or even a pandemic; or manmade, such as an armed conflict in a region &mdash; that disrupt supplies from a particular country or even intentional halts to trade, could adversely impact economic activity in the destination country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The initiative aims to <strong>reduce the dependency on a single nation (at present China).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SCRI is a direct response to individual companies and economies concerned about Chinese political behaviour and the disruption that could lead to the supply chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The initiative, first proposed by <strong>Japan</strong> with India and Australia as partners, potentially see other Asian and Pacific Rim nations later.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To attract foreign direct investment to turn the Indo-Pacific into an &ldquo;economic powerhouse&rdquo;.</li>
<li>To build a mutually complementary relationship among partner countries.</li>
<li>To work out a plan to build on the existential supply chain network. Japan and India, for example, have an India-Japan competitiveness partnership dealing with locating the Japanese companies in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for the Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-19 Realization:</strong> With spread of Covid-19 globally, it has been realized that dependence over a single nation is not good for both global economy and national economies:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Assembly lines are heavily dependent on supplies from one country.</li>
<li>The impact on importing nations could be crippling if the source stops production for involuntary reasons, or even as a conscious measure of economic coercion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>USA-China Trade Tensions:</strong> The tensions began when the United States and China both applied tariff sanctions on eachother.</li>
<li><strong>India as an Emerging Supply Hub:</strong> The businesses have started seeing<strong> India as a &ldquo;hub for supply chains&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Chinese Import to India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As per the Confederation of Indian Industry, China&rsquo;s share of imports into India in 2018 (considering the top 20 items supplied by China) stood at <strong>14.5%.</strong></li>
<li>Chinese supplies dominate segments of the Indian economy. Sectors that have been impacted by supply chain issues arising out of the pandemic include <strong>pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, electronics, shipping, chemicals and textiles.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In areas such as <strong>Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients</strong> for medicines such as paracetamol, India is fully dependent on China.</li>
<li><strong>In electronics,</strong> China accounts for 45% of India&rsquo;s imports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Japan Trade Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-japan-beginning-of-a-new-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Japan is the fourth-largest investor in India</strong> </a>with cumulative foreign direct investments touching <strong>USD 33.5 billion</strong> in the 2000-2020 period accounting for 7.2% of inflows in that period, according to quasi government agency India Invest.</li>
<li><strong>Imports</strong> from Japan into India more than<strong> doubled</strong> over 12 years to <strong>USD 12.8 billion</strong> in FY19.</li>
<li><strong>Exports</strong> from India to Japan stood at <strong>USD 4.9 billion for FY19.</strong></li>
<li>Also, India is carrying forward the sentiments of self-reliance focussing on less dependence on China which is one of the reasons behind SCRI.</li>
<li>Japan has included India under the SCRI initiative despite India having pulled out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.</li>
<li>Further, India and Japan are a part of <strong>QUAD</strong> (also includes the USA and Australia) and <strong>malabar</strong> (naval) exercise (also includes the USA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions for India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to enhance <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/decoupling-india-s-manufacturing-with-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-reliance against China</strong></a>, so that it could build resilience into the economy&rsquo;s supply networks. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-by-india-against-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economic measures</strong> </a>are of real value in this regard.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Ease of Doing Business:</strong> While India appears an attractive option for potential investors both as a market and as a manufacturing base, it needs to accelerate progress in ease of doing business and in skill building.</li>
<li><strong>Tax incentives:</strong> These will help in attracting investments from China and other attractive locations like Vietnam and the Philippines.</li>
<li><strong>Boost Domestic Manufacturing:</strong> India&rsquo;s strategy should be to boost manufacturing competitiveness and increase its share in world trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Infrastructure Boost:</strong> In this pursuit, there is a need to create an infrastructure that raises the competitiveness of India&rsquo;s exports.</li>
<li><strong>Removing Structural Bottlenecks:</strong> There is a need to push through long-pending legislation that aims to address the structural bottlenecks (in <strong>4Ls: Land, Labour, Law, Liquidity</strong>) that continue to plague and hinder domestic competitiveness.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Leveraging Service Sector:</strong> In spite of banning Chinese imports, India should tackle trade by trade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India can lobby for a more liberalized service sector (India&rsquo;s comparative advantage) in China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/what-is-the-new-idea-on-supply-chains/article32476160.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6343,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultations',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 17<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/16th-india-asean-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN-India</strong> </a>Economic Ministers Consultations was held virtually, co-chaired by India and Vietnam.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting was attended by the Trade Ministers of all the 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)</strong></a> countries viz. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1598863845_image2.jpg" 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>Related to Covid-19:</strong> The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to take<strong> collective actions in mitigating the economic impact of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> pandemic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They also resolved to<strong> ensure macroeconomic and financial stability</strong> and <strong>resilient supply chain connectivity,</strong> particularly the unimpeded flow of essential goods and medicines in the region, in compliance with the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> WTO</strong></a> rules.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AIBC&rsquo;s Report:</strong> The report of the <strong>ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was placed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has recommended that the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) be reviewed</strong> for mutual benefit.</li>
<li>The review will make the Agreement <strong>modern with contemporary trade facilitative practices, </strong>and<strong> streamline customs and regulatory procedures.</strong></li>
<li><strong>ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC)</strong> was set up in March 2003 as a forum to bring key <strong>private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform</strong> for business networking and sharing of ideas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>AITIGA:</strong> Discussions on review of the <strong>ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)</strong> took place.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AITIGA is a<a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> </a>among the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India which came into force in January, 2010.</li>
<li>India emphasized on review on AITIGA at the earliest and the need to<strong> strengthen the Rules of Origin</strong> provisions, work towards<strong> removal of non-tariff barriers</strong> and provide <strong>better market access.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Rules of Origins provisions of AITIGA specify that the preferential treatment under the agreement will be applicable <strong>only to goods which have wholly or partially originated</strong> in the exporting country.</li>
<li><strong>India </strong>wants strict <strong>rules of origin </strong>to<strong> prevent Chinese goods from flooding the country through ASEAN member countries</strong> that may have lower or no duty levels.</li>
<li>A <strong>nontariff barrier</strong> is a way to restrict <strong>trade</strong> using<strong> trade barriers</strong> in a form other than a <strong>tariff. Nontariff barriers</strong> include quotas, embargoes, sanctions, and levies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has concerns regarding the FTA, given that its FTA with ASEAN is <strong>leading to increased trade deficits</strong> with several ASEAN partners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s trade deficit with the ASEAN rose from around 5 billion USD in 2011 to 21.8 USD billion in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2003, India and ASEAN signed a<strong> Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation</strong> to establish an ASEAN-India Regional Trade and Investment Area, which would provide a basis for subsequent FTAs covering goods, services and investment.</li>
<li>India dropped out of the <strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong> in November 2019 at<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> ASEAN+3</strong></a> summit, because of increasing trade deficits with partner nations and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> increasing China-India tensions.</strong></a></li>
<li>Recently, India participated in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-india-network-of-think-tanks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 6<sup>th</sup> roundtable meeting of the ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT).</strong> </a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India <strong>highlighted the difficulties</strong> that were hindering strong response to deal with the <strong>Covid-19 pandemic.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An immediate review of the agreement and the effective utilisation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement will contribute to the realisation of the<strong> 2020 trade target of 200 billion USD set by India and ASEAN.</strong></li>
<li>Over dependence of India and other countries on China can be decreased by developing a common forum/platform with ASEAN countries. Moreover, better collaboration and partnership with ASEAN is in line with <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></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1649703" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6300,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'BRICS 5G Innovation Base',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>China has proposed the creation of a <strong>BRICS innovation base in China</strong> to take forward <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/5g-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>5G</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-partnership-on-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Artificial Intelligence</strong></a> (AI) cooperation among the five countries of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a> i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China urged fellow nations, including India, to boost cooperation in areas including 5G and Artificial Intelligence.</li>
<li>This move could pose a conundrum before <strong>India</strong> who is having <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>issues with China</strong></a> in recent times but other countries seem to willing to allow China&rsquo;s participation in their 5G networks.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is unlikely to allow Chinese participation in the roll-out of its national 5G network, particularly in the wake of recent moves to tighten investment from China and to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-measures-by-india-against-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ban 59 Chinese apps</strong></a>, citing national security concerns.</li>
<li>A high-level committee on 5G is <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-the-5g-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>opposed to including Chinese vendors</strong></a> including Huawei in the 5G trials.</li>
<li>Indian intelligence assessments have also expressed concerns on the possible <strong>direct or indirect links of several Chinese companies, including<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/huawei-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Huawei</a>, with the Chinese military.</strong></li>
<li>India has made clear that a return to normalcy cannot be possible while tensions along the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-chinese-transgression" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong> </a>remain unresolved.</li>
<li>It needs to be noted that India has recently joined the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-partnership-on-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)'</strong> </a>as a founding member to support the <strong>responsible and human-centric development</strong> and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia</strong> has agreed to work with China on 5G and with Chinese telecommunications firm <strong>Huawei,</strong> which has been largely banned by the United States.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Huawei has been at the centre of rising USA-China tensions over technology and security.</li>
<li>The USA has restricted China&rsquo;s access to chip making tools. Huawei may face shortages in supply of processor chips for which it relies on the USA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>South Africa,</strong> Huawei is providing services to three of its telecom operators in the roll-out of their 5G networks.</li>
<li><strong>Brazil</strong> has allowed participation of Huawein in 5G trials. More than a third of Brazil&rsquo;s 4G network operators use Huawei equipment. Brazil maintains that Huawei has capacity above its international competitors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>China announced in 2017 its ambition to become the world leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by 2030 with its<strong> Artificial Intelligence Development Plan.</strong> Alongside the USA, it is already a world leader in terms of AI research. Though India has started taking steps in this direction like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-in-the-ai-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence</strong></a>, it is yet to acknowledge that superiority in critical technologies like AI, cyber and space will decide the future superpowers.</li>
<li>India cannot afford to sever all its economic links with the world&rsquo;s second-largest economy, even in the digital space. However, through initiatives like <strong>Make in India</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>, India can try to replace chinese technology with domestic ones. Further, it needs to <strong>boost up its economic relations</strong> with other countries.</li>
<li>The ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/global-trade-war-the-apology-of-protectionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>trade war between China and the USA</strong></a> has also created a dilemma for India. India is a party to many trade and diplomatic engagements with China like <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RCEP</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/russia-india-china-grouping-ric" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia-India-China Grouping</a></strong>, BRICS etc. It also cannot afford to cut off the trade relations with the USA. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In such a scenario, it is imperative for India to seek a middle path for balancing its strategic interests between the USA and the Russia-China axis, maintaining its historical <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned</strong></a> position.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/china-floats-brics-5g-base-as-india-mulls-ban/article32443035.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6247,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India participated in the <strong>6<sup>th</sup> roundtable meeting of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/16th-india-asean-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ASEAN-India</a> Network of Think Tanks (AINTT). </strong>ASEAN stands for <strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>AINTT was established <strong>to provide policy inputs</strong> to India and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong> </a>countries on future directions of their cooperation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Raised by India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India<strong> highlighted the difficulties</strong> that were hindering strong response to deal with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>. It said that <strong>individual behaviour of many states and old-styled multilateral organisations</strong> prevented a collective response to global pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India indirectly referred to the failure of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1#:~:text=Its%20primary%20responsibility%20is%20to,China%20and%20the%20United%20Kingdom." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></a> (UNSC) to issue a statement on the pandemic due <strong>to sharp differences</strong> between permanent UNSC members China and the USA.</li>
<li>The reference also included the <strong>USA pulling out</strong> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organisation (WHO)</strong></a> after accusing it of acting on the behest of China &ndash; by declaring Covid-19 a pandemic late.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>According to India the <strong>big issue that confronts the world</strong> after Covid-19 pandemic is not simply the state of the economy, but also <strong>includes the damage to societies or the challenges to governance.</strong></li>
<li>The pandemic has also thrown a debate on the <strong>future directions of global affairs and world order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions made by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It called upon the ASEAN countries to look beyond current practice in trade, politics and security to find solutions to the challenges posed by pandemic.</li>
<li>India urged for <strong>greater cooperation to counter challenges of pandemic</strong> and called for <strong>collective solutions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As part of that, India asked the countries to adopt the idea of <strong>strategic autonomy</strong> to be used in the context of global supply chains.</li>
<li>The reference was to countries looking to move production facilities out of China or at least reduce their dependence on them after the pandemic exposed the weaknesses of overdependence on China.</li>
<li><strong>Strategic autonomy</strong> can be defined as &lsquo;the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/multilateralism-did-not-rise-to-occasion-when-it-was-most-in-demand-jaishankar/article32403992.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sources: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6212,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Solar Technology Summit: ISA',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> will organise the<strong> First World Solar Technology</strong> Summit on<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> September, 2020</strong> on a virtual platform.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>objective</strong> of the event is to bring the spotlight on <strong>state-of-the-art technologies</strong> as well as <strong>next-generation technologies</strong> which will provide impetus to the efforts towards harnessing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/solar-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>solar energy</strong></a> more efficiently.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Participants:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Prime Minister of India</strong> will deliver the inaugural address of the First World Solar Technology Summit, to be graced by <strong>Ministers from member countries from across all ISA regions.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham</strong> who was awarded the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prizes-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nobel Prize</a> in Chemistry</strong> (jointly with <strong>John B Goodenough &amp; Akira Yoshino</strong>) in <strong>2019</strong> for the revolutionizing discovery of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increasing-imports-of-li-ion-batteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lithium ion batteries.</a> </strong></li>
<li><strong>CEOs of top global corporations</strong> will share their vision on how scientific breakthroughs and innovations can be commercially made available to all parts of the world for wider consumption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Four Sessions:</strong> The event will hold four technical sessions that would be available to the participants in different languages namely <strong>English, Spanish, French &amp; Arabic.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Session -1: Vision 2030 &amp; Beyond:</strong> The overall context of Photovoltaic (PV) technology development and its future, on its way towards becoming the first source of energy worldwide, with PV technologies supplying 70% of the world&rsquo;s electricity generation.</li>
<li><strong>Session -2: Towards a Decarbonised Grid:</strong> The most recent advances (conversion efficiency improvements and declining costs) regarding key components such as PV modules and storage technologies.</li>
<li><strong>Session -3: Disruptive Solar Technologies:</strong> On-grid applications, whether ground-mounted, floating, or integrated in residential and commercial rooftops.</li>
<li><strong>Session -4: Solar Beyond the Power Sector:</strong> Innovative applications where PV is used to move, heat, cool, and drive eco-friendly industrial processes and produce fuels as well as off-grid applications, to provide universal access to energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>I JOSE:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>ISA would also launch the <strong>ISA Journal on Solar Energy (I JOSE)</strong> that would help authors from across the globe to publish their articles on solar energy, during the event.</li>
<li>The articles in this journal would be reviewed by global experts and will reach the Member countries through ISA&rsquo;s vast network of <strong>NFPs (National Focal points) </strong>and <strong>STAR (Solar Technology and Application Resource centers)</strong> centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Solar Energy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar energy has taken a central place in India's<a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Action Plan on Climate Change</strong> </a>with the <strong>National Solar Mission </strong>as <strong>one of the key Missions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11<sup>th</sup> January, 2010.</li>
<li>Its objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country as quickly as possible.</li>
<li>It targets installing <strong>100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022. </strong>This is <strong>in line with India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)</a> target</strong> to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to achieve the above target, the Government of India has launched various <strong>schemes</strong> to encourage generation of solar power in the country like <strong>Solar Park Scheme,</strong> Canal bank &amp; Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme,<strong> Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar power capacity has increased by more than 11 times in the last five years</strong> from 2.6 GW in March, 2014 to 30 GW in July, 2019.</li>
<li>Recently, a<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rewa-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 750 megawatt (MW) solar project</strong> </a>has been inaugurated in<strong> Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>India has an ambitious cross-border power grid plan&mdash;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;One Sun One World One Grid&rsquo;</strong></a>&mdash; that seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>launch</strong> of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the <strong>Prime Minister of India</strong> (Narendra Modi) and former<strong> President of France</strong> (Francois Hollande) on <strong>30<sup>th</sup> November 2015,</strong> at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21<sup>st</sup> session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a> in Paris, France. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>67 countries</strong> have signed and ratified the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>The <strong>Assembly of the ISA is the apex decision-making body</strong> which comprises representatives from each Member Country.</li>
<li>It<strong> aims</strong> at lowering the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in Member countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Solar is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the<strong> universal energy access goal (SDG 7).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Government of India has allotted 5 acres of land to the ISA in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/solar-thermal-energy-technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)</strong></a> campus,<strong> Gurugram</strong> and has released a sum of Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1646492" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6199,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Anti-Drug Working Group BRICS',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 4<sup>th</sup> Session of the <strong>BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group</strong> was held through a video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The session was <strong>chaired by Russia</strong> this year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues Raised by India:</strong> India raised the misuse of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/dark-net" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>darknet</strong></a> and modern technology used for <strong>drug trafficking by the international criminals</strong> in the meeting.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also called for nodal points to enable<strong> real-time information sharing</strong> among BRICS nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trends of Drug Trafficking:</strong> The BRICS grouping discussed<strong> international and regional trends of illegal trafficking</strong> in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances among others. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also discussed <strong>steps to curb</strong> increased instances of drug trafficking through the maritime route.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>A Global Menace:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/illicit-drug-supply-and-covid-19-unodc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>report</strong> </a>released in May 2020 by the <strong>United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Report (UNODC), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a></strong> induced <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/21-days-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>lockdowns</strong> </a>and movement restrictions may lead to an initial statistical reduction in drug seizures, but is <strong>unlikely to have any effect on illicit drug supply.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India and Illicit Drug Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Major Hub of Illicit Drug Trade:</strong> According to <strong>UNODC,</strong> India is one of the major hubs of illicit drug trade ranging from age-old <strong>cannabis</strong> to newer prescription drugs like tramadol, and designer drugs like methamphetamine.</li>
<li><strong>Drug Trafficking Routes:</strong> India is in the <strong>middle of two major illicit opium production</strong> regions in the world, the <strong>Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan)</strong> in the west and the <strong>Golden Triangle (South-East Asia)</strong> in the east.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Anti-Drug Action Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has also launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anti-drug-action-plan-for-2020-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anti-Drug Action Plan for 2020-21</strong></a> which includes:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>De-addiction Facilities,</li>
<li>Drop-in-Centres for Addicts,</li>
<li>Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs),</li>
<li>Drug-Free India Campaign.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Darknet:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It refers to the<strong> hidden internet platform</strong> used for <strong>narcotics sale, exchange of pornographic content and other illegal activities</strong> by using the secret alleys of the <strong>onion router</strong> (ToR- a free and open-source software for enabling anonymous communication) to stay away from the surveillance of law enforcement agencies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is<strong> tough to crack</strong> because of its end-to-end encryption.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>dark net is part of the deep web,</strong> which encompasses all unindexed sites that don't pop up when an Internet search is done.</li>
<li>However, <strong>not all activities associated with the deep web are nefarious like darknet.</strong> In most cases, these pages are not searchable because they are <strong>password-protected</strong> and require authorization in order to access them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Personal email, online banking,</strong> and other similar sites are included under the umbrella of the deep web.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The internet we see today is the only tip of the iceberg, the majority is deep web only.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BRICS</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BRICS is an <strong>acronym</strong> for the grouping of the world&rsquo;s leading emerging economies, namely<strong> Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2001, the British Economist Jim O&rsquo;Neill coined the term<strong> BRIC</strong> to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.</li>
<li>The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in 2006.</li>
<li><strong>South Africa</strong> was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> chairmanship</strong> of the forum is <strong>rotated annually</strong> among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.</li>
<li>During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the <strong>New Development Bank (NDB).</strong> They also signed the <strong>BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Golden Triangle</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It represents the region coinciding with the rural mountains of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.</li>
<li>It is Southeast Asia&rsquo;s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics supply routes to Europe and North America.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Golden Crescent</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This region of South Asia is a principal global site for opium production and distribution.</li>
<li>It comprises Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1646245" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6184,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'A Self Reliant Foreign Policy',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-self-reliant-foreign-policy/article32339890.ece?utm_source=udmprecommendation_Economy&amp;utm_medium=sticky_footer&amp;transactionId=b96ceff039594781a821698502dbbb73" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A self-reliant foreign policy</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 13/08/2020. This article discusses the present day status of strategic autonomy of India and ways to make it better.</p>
</div>
<p>Self-reliance is the theme of India&rsquo;s 74<sup>th</sup> Independence Day. This concept is commonly associated with the economy and production of key goods and services within the country. But it also has a parallel dimension in the domain of <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/phases-of-indian-foreign-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foreign policy</a></strong>.</p>
<p>It is important to note that, even in the geopolitical circumstances that compelled India to enter into alliance-like cooperation with major powers, it did not become any less autonomous or entered into alliance with any great power.</p>
<p>Rather, India secured its freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity by balancing the great power equations with diplomacy. However, present geo-political scenarios present a challenge to strategic autonomy.</p>
<p>Therefore, as the economic goal is to reduce dependence on imports for critical commodities, the aim of foreign policy should be to maintain strategic autonomy.</p>
<h3>Indian and Changing World Order</h3>
<p>India has historically prided itself as an independent developing country which did not succumb to pressure from great powers. This can be reflected in the different phases of world order:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bipolar</strong> (1947 to 1991) in which the majority of global economic, military and cultural influence was held between U.S. and USSR.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>During this phase India adhered to the principle of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement#:~:text=The%20Non%2DAligned%20Movement%20was,to%20remain%20independent%20or%20neutral." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Alignment</strong></a> to resist dilution of its sovereignty, rebuild its economy and consolidate its integrity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Unipolar</strong> (1991 to 2008) when the U.S. entered a long cycle of economic crises and China caught up with it in overall power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is the period where India reached out to engage with US, Israel and ASEAN countries more intensively. The quest for strategic autonomy now was particularly focused on securing its nuclear weapon option (Pokhran II 1998).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multipolar</strong> (present times) where distribution of power is in more than two countries having nearly equal amounts of military, cultural, and economic influence.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this phase of transitional geopolitics, India's policy of Non-Alignment has turned into Multi Alignment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Flexibility in Strategic Autonomy</h3>
<p>Adherence to strategic autonomy has been the key pillar of India&rsquo;s Foreign policy. However, it has often been adjusted as per the changing geopolitical situations in history . In moments of crisis, India has reinterpreted freedom and shown flexibility for survival at many instances. For Example:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India-China War (1962):</strong> Initially,in pursuance of maintaining strategic autonomy, India established the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) (1961). It marked the peak of Third World solidarity.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However during the India -China war 1962, India had to appeal to the U.S. for emergency military aid to stave off the Chinese from taking over the whole of Eastern India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indo Pakistan War (1971):</strong> In the build-up to the 1971 war with Pakistan, India had to enter a <a href="/gs-special/gs-foreign-policy-corner/india-russia-bilateral-relations-longstanding-time-tested-partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation</strong></a> with the Soviet Union to ward off both China and the U.S.</li>
<li><strong>Kargil War (1999):</strong> India welcomed a direct intervention by the U.S. to force Pakistan to back down.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Present Day Scenario of Strategic Autonomy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Risk From China:</strong> Today, although there are less prospects of a direct war with China in the wake of its incursions across the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control</strong></a>, India is at a turning point with regard to strategic autonomy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Aggressive foreign policy of China may require India to bandwagon (cooperating with like minded countries) to balance China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Cold War like situation:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Cold War</strong></a> scenario has created a threat environment in which China and the U.S. are now beginning to confront many areas like <a href="/gs-special/gs-foreign-policy-corner/india-russia-bilateral-relations-longstanding-time-tested-partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trade war</strong></a> and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China sea</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India can promote new multilateralism under the aegis of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- which relies on restructuring both the economic order and societal behaviour for equitable sustainable development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fear of losing strategic autonomy to the U.S.:</strong> Fears in some quarters that proximity to the U.S. will lead to loss of India&rsquo;s strategic autonomy. However, it seems overblown because independent India has never been subordinated to a foreign hegemony.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward to Self-Reliance</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Revival of Non Alignment: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Alignment 2.0</a></strong> with China and the U.S. is the solution as they slide into a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New Cold War</strong></a>, risking India&rsquo;s security and sovereignty.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The New Cold War can be reflected in Trade War, Quad initiative, Indo-pacific narrative, emergence of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, naval presence in the Indian ocean, etc. Thus NAM2.0 can insulate India from active engagements in conflicts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intensified Cooperation:</strong> India should aim to stay as an independent power centre by means of intensified cooperation with middle powers in Asia and around the world.</li>
<li><strong>Indegenous defence modernisation:</strong> India is dependent on many foriegn players (like U.S, Russia etc.) for its defence requirement, this may not pave well in national interest.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, it is imperative to speed up indigenous defence modernisation.</li>
<li>Further, defense indigenisation assumes more significance, especially in the context of counterbalancing China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Diversification in strategic partners:</strong> The present-day geopolitical and geostrategic circumstances present a multifaceted challenge to India&rsquo;s foreign policy.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, India's cold war narrative of strategic neutrality is being gradually replaced by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-embrace-of-strategic-hedging#:~:text=Strategic%20hedging%20means%20a%20state,state%20i.e.%20balancing%20and%20engagement." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strategic hedging</strong></a>.</li>
<li>In a multipolar world India should not limit its engagements with Russia, the US and China but expand its relationship with other countries of the EU, Asean etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the past, India has been successfully deploying &lsquo;multi-vector&rsquo; foreign policy. In this context, Indian foriegn policy should not envisage complete isolation or entering into alliance with one great power but a variable combination with several like-minded partners.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597322557_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597322557_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="434" height="307" /></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: #effce3;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Indian foriegn policy should not envisage complete isolation or entering into alliance with one great power but a variable combination with several like-minded partners&rdquo; Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mE4v2Et6A1Y" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/environmental-impact-assessment-forests-climate-change-ease-of-doing-business-investment-6550753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Green and red&rdquo;</strong></a> published in Indian Express on August 12<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Watch this on our Youtube channel now.</p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6166,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Nepal Talks',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The ambassadors of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-nepal-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Nepal</strong></a> are likely to meet in Kathmandu (Nepal) to review projects funded by the Indian government.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting is likely to take place via videoconference in view of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19</strong> </a>pandemic situation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This meeting will be a part of<strong> India- Nepal Joint Oversight Mechanism.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mechanism was established in<strong> 2016</strong> to review ongoing bilateral economic and development projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The government of <strong>India</strong> has allocated <strong>Rs. 800 crore</strong> in <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/03-02-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>budget 2020-21</strong></a> for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/integrated-check-post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>projects</strong></a> in Nepal.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597219650_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1597219650_image1.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These projects include building <strong>roads in the Terai region,</strong> helping Nepal in its <strong>post-earthquake (2015) reconstruction work,</strong> building railway lines, a police training academy, a polytechnic college, an oil pipeline and border check posts.</li>
<li>Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal for the<strong> construction of a sanitation facility at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-assistance-for-pashupatinath-temple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pashupatinath Temple</a>,</strong> Kathmandu.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This meeting is important in light of recent <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/downturn-in-indo-nepal-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tensions between India and Nepal</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2017, Nepal signed up to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a>, which sought to create highways, airports and other infrastructure in the country. <strong>BRI was rejected by India</strong> and this move of Nepal was seen as an inclination towards China.</li>
<li>In 2019, a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/indo-nepal-territorial-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new political map of India</strong></a>, made after the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) into the Union Territories of J&amp;K and Ladakh, showed Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura as part of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand state.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India and Nepal have border disputes over Kalapani - Limpiyadhura - Lipulekh trijunction between India-Nepal and China and Susta area (West Champaran district, Bihar).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-on-kailash-mansarovar-link-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nepal objected</strong> </a>strongly against this map and opinionated that the issue should be resolved through negotiations.</li>
<li>Further, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-road-to-kailash-mansarovar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inauguration of a road up to Lipulekh Pass</strong></a> (for <strong>Kailash Mansarovar Yatra</strong>) by the Indian government on the border with China sparked more protests from Nepal.</li>
<li>In retaliation, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nepal released a new map</strong></a> that includes all the disputed territories claimed by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India and Nepal should together strive towards clearing the tensions between the two countries which have historically shared close ties. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nepal&rsquo;s growing affinity with China</strong></a> can also pose a security concern for India amidst the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-China conflicts</strong></a>.</li>
<li>As India has adopted <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a Neighbourhood First</strong></a> Policy, it must work more proactively with Nepal in terms of people to people engagement, bureaucratic engagement as well as political interactions.</li>
<li>In this context, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/gujral-doctrine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gujral Doctrine</strong></a> which helped in resolving India-Bangladesh dispute can be of much help.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/first-thaw-in-freeze-india-and-nepal-will-meet-next-week-6551023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6059,
		'category_id' => (int) 71,
		'title' => 'Day 13',
		'description' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">International and Bilateral Agreements</h2>
<p>Following issues regarding International and Bilateral Agreements have been in the news headlines, and UPSC most of the times asks important agreements to test awareness of aspirants. Some of these topics are important for this year's prelims. According to the trend observed, the agreements, the facts, the provisions, basic background information can be asked by the UPSC from these topics.</p>
<h2>International And Regional Bodies</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unicef-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNICEF</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-labour-organization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Labour Organization (ILO)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G-7</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council</strong></a></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/traffic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>TRAFFIC</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/national-aeronautics-and-space-administration-nasa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</a> </strong></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asian-infrastructure-investment-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)</strong></a></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations (UN)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNFCCC</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-criminal-court-icc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Criminal Court (ICC)</strong></a></li>
<li><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></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union (EU)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-monetary-fund-imf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank Group</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/brics-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BRICS</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G20</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>East Asia Summit (EAS)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institutions-international-world-intellectual-property-organisation-wipo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on International And Regional Bodies</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following countries: (2018)</p>
<ol>
<li>Australia</li>
<li>Canada</li>
<li>China</li>
<li>India</li>
<li>Japan</li>
<li>USA</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above are among the &lsquo;free-trade partners&rsquo; of ASEAN?</p>
<p>(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5</p>
<p>(b) 3, 4, 5 and 6</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 1, 3, 4 and 5</strong> </span></p>
<p>(d) 2, 3, 4 and 6</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)</p>
<ol>
<li>New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.</li>
<li>The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(b) 2 only</span> </strong></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants? (2015)</p>
<ol>
<li>Bangladesh</li>
<li>Cambodia</li>
<li>China</li>
<li>Myanmar</li>
<li>Thailand</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2, 3 and 4</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(c) 1 and 3</span> </strong></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 5</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to a grouping of countries known as BRICS, consider the following statements: (2014)</p>
<ol>
<li>The First Summit of BRICS was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.</li>
<li>South Africa was the last to join the BRICS grouping.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 2 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of (2009)</p>
<p>(a) 1 year</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008000;">(b) 2 years</span> </strong></p>
<p>(c) 3 years</p>
<p>(d) 5 years</p>
<h2>India and Great Powers</h2>
<h3>India-US relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-us-relations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-US Relations</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-us-relationship" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-US Relationship</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/infographics/info-paper2/india-us-agreements" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-US Agreements</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/printpdf/usa-presidents-visit-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA President's Visit to India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-US Trade</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-us-2-plus-2-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-US '2+2' Talks</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Russia relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/recalibration-of-india-russia-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Recalibration of India-Russia Ties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-russia-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India - Russia</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/gs-special/gs-foreign-policy-corner/india-russia-bilateral-relations-longstanding-time-tested-partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-Russia Bilateral Relations: Longstanding, Time-tested Partners</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-and-russia-ties-in-transition" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Russia: Ties in Transition</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/russia-an-all-weather-defence-partner" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Russia: An all-weather defence partner</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>India-European Union Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-eu-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India-EU Virtual Summit</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union (EU)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/trade-and-economic-relation-between-india-and-european-and-oceania-countries" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trade and Economic Relation between India and European and Oceania Countries. Trade and Economic Relation between India and European and Oceania Countries.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/significance-of-15th-india-european-union-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Significance of 15<sup>th</sup> India-European Union Summit</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agreement-on-scientific-cooperation-between-india-and-eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agreement on Scientific Cooperation Between India and EU </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/impact-of-brexit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Impact of Brexit</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>India-Japan relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Japan</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-japan-beginning-of-a-new-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Japan: Beginning of a &ldquo;New Era&rdquo;</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-japan-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Big Picture: India - Japan 2+2</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-japan-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Japan Summit</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/dynamism-must-drive-indo-japan-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dynamism Must Drive Indo-Japan Ties</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/japan-s-cooperation-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Japan's Cooperation to India</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Q. Recently, the USA has decided to support India&rsquo;s membership in multilateral export control regimes called the &ldquo;Australia Group&rdquo; and the &ldquo;Wassenaar Arrangement&rdquo;. What is the difference between them? (2011)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives. Science &amp; Technology Drishti Publications 383</li>
<li>The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American Continents.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Recently, India signed a deal known as &lsquo;Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field&rsquo; with which of the following countries?</p>
<p>(a) Japan</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) Russia</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) The United Kingdom</p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. A present group of nations known as G-8 started first as G-7. Which one among the following was not one of them? (2009)</p>
<p>(a) Canada</p>
<p>(b) Italy</p>
<p>(c) Japan</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Russia</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. What is &ldquo;Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)&rdquo;, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)</p>
<p>(a) An Israeli radar system</p>
<p>(b) India&rsquo;s indigenous anti-missile programme</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) An American anti-missile system</strong> </span></p>
<p>(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea.</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as &lsquo;General Data Protection Regulation&rsquo; in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25<sup>th</sup> May, 2018?</p>
<p>(a) Australia</p>
<p>(b) Canada</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) The European Union</strong> </span></p>
<p>(d) The United States of America</p>
<h2>Indian Foriegn Policy</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-aligned-movement-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revival-of-non-alignment-movement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Revival of Non-Alignment Movement</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/18th-non-aligned-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>18<sup>th</sup> Non-Aligned Summit</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-nam-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virtual NAM Summit</a> </strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sagar-vision" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAGAR Vision</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-sagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission Sagar</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy#:~:text=Act%20East%20Policy%20seeks%20economic,witnessed%20major%20reforms%20since%201991)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Q. With reference to &ldquo;Look East Policy&rdquo; of India, consider the following statements: (2011)</p>
<ol>
<li>India wants to establish itself as an important regional player in East Asian affairs.</li>
<li>India wants to plug the vacuum created by the termination of the Cold War.</li>
<li>India wants to restore the historical and cultural ties with its neighbours in Southeast and East Asia.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 1 and 3 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<h2>International Treaties</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-seed-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Seed Treaty</strong> </a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/united-nations-convention-on-international-settlement-agreements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extradition-treaty-between-india-and-belgium" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Extradition Treaty between India and Belgium</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/50-years-of-nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty-npt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50 Years of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-to-join-un-arms-trade-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China to Join UN Arms Trade Treaty</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/open-skies-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Open Skies Treaty</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/model-bilateral-investment-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Model Bilateral Investment Treaty</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/convention-on-global-cybercrime" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Global Cybercrime</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-start-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>New START Treaty </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-to-join-un-arms-trade-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China to Join UN Arms Trade Treaty</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Q. With reference to the &lsquo;Trans-Pacific Partnership&rsquo;, consider the following statements: (2016)</p>
<ol>
<li>It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.</li>
<li>It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the statements given above is/are correct?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 only</p>
<p>(c) Both 1 and 2</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) Neither 1 nor 2</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Consider the following countries: (2015)</p>
<ol>
<li>China</li>
<li>France</li>
<li>India</li>
<li>Israel</li>
<li>Pakistan</li>
</ol>
<p>Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only</p>
<p>(c) 2, 4 and 5 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5</p>
<h2>Indian Diaspora</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-diaspora" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Diaspora</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-diaspora" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Diaspora</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-diaspora-largest-in-the-world-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Diaspora Largest in the World: UN Report</strong> </a></li>
</ul>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6044,
		'category_id' => (int) 71,
		'title' => 'Day 12',
		'description' => '<h2 style="text-align: center;">Issues of National and Global Importance</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following issues have been at the forefront of the news headlines, and as UPSC always attempts to test the basics, a basic awareness is required. Some of these topics can point towards an important area of the static part of syllabus, and some topics would largely be covered in the Current Affairs. According to the trend observed, the facts, their contexts, basic background information can be asked by the UPSC from these topics. </span></p>
<h2>Human Rights Issues</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-human-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Human Rights Day</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/giving-more-tooth-to-human-rights-commissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Giving More Tooth To Human Rights Commissions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-on-public-s-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NHRC on Public's Rights</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-news-editorials/the-relevance-of-unhrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The relevance of UNHRC</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protection-of-human-right-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Protection of Human Right (Amendment) Bill, 2019</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Human Rights Issues:</span></h3>
<p>Q. Consider the following: (2011)</p>
<ol>
<li>Right to education</li>
<li>Right to equal access to public service</li>
<li>Right to food.</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under &ldquo;Universal Declaration of Human Rights&rdquo;?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 2 only</p>
<p>(c) 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, consider the following: (2010)</p>
<ol>
<li>The Right to Development</li>
<li>The Right to Expression</li>
<li>The Right to Recreation</li>
</ol>
<p>Which of the above is/are the Rights of the child?</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 1 and 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(d) 1, 2 and 3</strong></span></p>
<hr />
<p>Q. Amnesty International is (2015)</p>
<p>(a) an agency of the United Nations to help refugees of civil wars</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) a global Human Rights Movement</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) a non-governmental voluntary organization to help very poor people</p>
<p>(d) an inter-governmental agency to cater to medical emergencies in war-ravaged regions</p>
<h2>Terrorism</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-brics-focus-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Big Picture - BRICS: Focus on Terrorism</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/terror-financing-and-fake-indian-currency" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Terror Financing and Fake Indian Currency</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/printpdf/gujarat-anti-terror-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gujarat Anti-Terror Bill</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>At UNGA, India Calls for Early Adoption of CCIT</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-financial-action-task-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Financial Action Task Force</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fatf-s-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FATF's Grey List</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icrg-recommends-continuation-of-pakistan-in-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ICRG Recommends Continuation of Pakistan in Grey List</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Covid-19</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-indian-federalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and Indian Federalism</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Action Plan For Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and Globalization</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msmes-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MSMEs and Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/push-for-probe-into-covid-19-origin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Push for Probe into Covid-19 Origin</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/a3i-unique-trait-in-covid-19-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>A3i: Unique Trait in Covid-19 in India</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-medical-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>COVID-19 and Medical Solutions</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/globalisation-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Globalisation &amp; Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coronavirus Disease Named Covid-19</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and Lockdown</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/possibility-of-covid-19-being-syndemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Possibility of Covid-19 being Syndemic</strong> </a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-u-s-to-collaborate-on-covid-19-vaccine-trials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India, US to Collaborate on Covid-19 Vaccine Trials</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/education-in-post-covid-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Education In Post-Covid Era</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fight Against Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/comparison-of-measures-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comparison of Measures Against Covid-19</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mathematical-and-simulation-aspects-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mathematical and Simulation Aspects of Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/animals-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Animals and Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-and-economic-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid 19 and Economic Challenges Ahead</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenge-covid-19-competition-c3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Challenge Covid-19 Competition (C3)</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/social-recession-due-to-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Social Recession due to Covid-19</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-in-states-with-high-swine-flu-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 in States with High Swine Flu Rates</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Protectionism/Anti-globalization</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/global-trade-war-the-apology-of-protectionism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Global Trade War: The Apology of Protectionism</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/boosting-economic-growth-in-a-protectionist-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Boosting Economic Growth in a Protectionist World</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/trade-war-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trade War</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/is-globalization-dying" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Is Globalization Dying?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-globalization" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and Globalization</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-localising-globalisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Big Picture: Localising Globalisation</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-global-economic-disruption" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 and Global Economic Disruption</strong> </a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Climate Change Agreement by India</h2>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change and Development in India</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-in-climate-change-negotiations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Challenges In Climate Change Negotiations</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assessment-of-climate-change-over-the-indian-region-moes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region: MoES</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Year End Review 2019: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong> </a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Big Picture - Climate Change: Act Now</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3><span style="color: #000080;">Previous Year Questions on Climate Change Agreement</span></h3>
<p>Q. Which of the following best describes/describe the aim of &lsquo;Green India Mission&rsquo; of the Government of India? (2016)</p>
<ol>
<li>Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the &lsquo;green accounting&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future.</li>
<li>Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below.</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p>(b) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) 3 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2&deg;C above pre industrial level. If the global temperature increases beyond 3&deg;C above the pre-industrial level, what can be its possible impact/impacts on the world? (2014)</p>
<ol>
<li>Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source.</li>
<li>Widespread coral mortality will occur.</li>
<li>All the global wetlands will permanently disappear.</li>
<li>Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world.</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p>(a) 1 only</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) 1 and 2 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) 2, 3 and 4 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. &ldquo;Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now&rdquo; is an initiative launched by (2018)</p>
<p>(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</p>
<p>(b) The UNEP Secretariat</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat</strong> </span></p>
<p>(d) The World Meteorological Organisation</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. With reference to &lsquo;Global Climate Change Alliance&rsquo;, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2017)</p>
<ol>
<li>It is an initiative of the European Union.</li>
<li>It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.</li>
<li>It is coordinated by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).</li>
</ol>
<p>Select the correct answer using the code given below:</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(a) 1 and 2 only</strong> </span></p>
<p>(b) 3 only</p>
<p>(c) 2 and 3 only</p>
<p>(d) 1, 2 and 3</p>
<hr />
<p>Q. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at: (2018)</p>
<p>(a) The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg.</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong>(b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro.</strong> </span></p>
<p>(c) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris.</p>
<p>(d) The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi.</p>',
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		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Dispute Panels Against India: WTO',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/issues-in-wtos-dispute-resolution-mechanism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dispute Settlement Body</strong></a> (DSB) of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation</strong></a> (WTO) has set up <strong>two dispute settlement panels</strong> targeting import duties imposed by India on a number of<strong> Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products</strong> including mobile phones.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was done on the <strong>request of Japan and Taiwan,</strong> taking up the number of panels constituted to examine the same tariff-related issue to three.</li>
<li>In <strong>June 2020</strong>, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a></strong> (EU) had a panel established against India on the same issue.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The panels would determine whether <strong>India&rsquo;s customs duties on imports of certain ICT products infringe the WTO&rsquo;s norms or not.</strong></li>
<li>The panels have been set up to decide on <strong>20% customs duty levied by India</strong> on mobile phones and some other ICT products.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India decided to levy <strong>10% customs duty</strong> on these products for the first time in July 2017 which was <strong>increased to 15% in the same year.</strong></li>
<li>These custom duties were <strong>further increased to 20%</strong> despite opposition from a number of WTO members.</li>
<li>The EU, USA, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, Japan and Thailand initiated consultations with India on the matter claiming that the move substantially affects them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>goods covered in the complaint</strong> include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; base stations; machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Complainants&rsquo; Arguments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Japan and Taiwan said that their <strong>failed consultations with India prompted</strong> them to submit the requests for panels.</li>
<li>Japan, Taiwan and the EU have argued that<strong> these products fall within the scope of the relevant tariff lines</strong> for which India has set the<strong> bound rate of 0% for its WTO schedule of commitments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bound Rates</strong> are the <strong>legally bound commitments on customs duty rates,</strong> which <strong>act as ceilings</strong> on the tariffs that member governments can set.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Once a rate of duty is bound, it may not be raised without compensating</strong> the affected parties</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They held that India is applying tariffs on ITC goods falling under five <strong>tariff lines</strong> in excess of the 0% bound rate and that for some products, the applied tariff rate was <strong>as high as 20% some times.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Tariff Line</strong> refers to the classification codes of goods, applied by individual countries, that are longer than the 6-digit level of the <strong>Harmonized System</strong> (HS).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>HS is a <strong>system of code numbers for identifying products.</strong> The codes are <strong>standard up to six digits.</strong> Beyond that countries can introduce national distinctions for tariffs and many other purposes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India managed to<strong> block Japan&rsquo;s first request</strong> for a panel on the grounds that the complaint <strong>undermined India&rsquo;s sovereignty.</strong></li>
<li>India also<strong> rejected the EU&rsquo;s suggestion of agreeing to one consolidated panel</strong> combining complaints from all three of them and saving time and resources.</li>
<li>India argued that all <strong>three complainants are seeking to get the country to take on commitments under the Information Technology Agreement-II (ITA-II) which it never agreed to.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Information Technology Agreement</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a<strong> plurilateral agreement</strong> enforced by the WTO and concluded by<strong> 29 participants </strong>in the<strong> Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products at Singapore in 1996.</strong></li>
<li>It entered into force on <strong>1<sup>st</sup> July 1997.</strong></li>
<li>It seeks to<strong> accelerate and deepen the reduction of trade barriers</strong> for the critically important ICT industry.</li>
<li>Currently, the number of participants has grown to 82, representing about 97% of world trade in IT products.</li>
<li><strong>India is a signatory.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Information Technology Agreement-II</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Few developed countries <strong>proposed to broaden the scope and coverage of the ITA.</strong></li>
<li>At the <strong>Nairobi Ministerial Conference in December 2015,</strong> over 50 members concluded the<strong> expansion of the Agreement,</strong> which now covers an additional 201 products valued at over USD 1.3 trillion per year.</li>
<li>Its<strong> aim</strong> was to<strong> increase the coverage of IT products</strong> on which customs duty would be bound at zero, <strong>addressing non-tariff measures and expanding the number of signatory countries</strong> to include countries such as Argentina, Brazil and South Africa.</li>
<li><strong>India has decided not to participate</strong> in this for the time being because India&rsquo;s experience with the ITA-I has been most discouraging, which almost wiped out the IT industry from India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>real gainer</strong> from that agreement has been <strong>China which raised its global market share from 2% to 14% between 2000-2011.</strong> China is a <strong>significant exporter of ICT goods.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/wto-sets-up-dispute-panels-against-indias-tech-tariffs-on-japan-taiwans-request/article32221738.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BL</strong></a></p>',
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		'colorcode' => 'FFFFFF',
		'posturl' => 'groupings-&-agreements-involving-india-and-or-affecting-india's-Interests',
		'status' => (int) 1,
		'sort_order' => (int) 5,
		'type' => (int) 0,
		'relivant' => (float) 1,
		'metatitle' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'metakeyword' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'metadescription' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'addedby' => (int) 9,
		'updatedby' => (int) 9,
		'added' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'modified' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'[new]' => false,
		'[accessible]' => [
			[maximum depth reached]
		],
		'[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]],
		'[repository]' => 'tags'
	
	}
]
$title = 'Article Tags'
$lastyear = (int) 2018
$year = '2021'
$i = (int) 2017
$selected = ''
$m = (int) 13
$month = 'December'

include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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