Article Tags

You searched “Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests”. Your tag search matches the following results:

Boao Forum

Why in News The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 was recently held in Boao, south China's Hainan...

22 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
EU & Indo-Pacific

Why in News Recently, the European Union (EU) approved conclusions on a European Union strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The renewed...

20 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India-Cuba Relations

Why in News The retirement of Raul Castro as the first secretary of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party brings to an end the six-decade-long rule of...

20 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Reassessment of Regional Trading Agreements for India

Why in News Recently, Singapore’s Foreign Minister while addressing the 6th edition of the Raisina Dialogue suggested India to reassess its...

16 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
India & BIMSTEC

This article is based on “BIMSTEC needs to reinvent itself” which was published in The Hindu on 14/04/2021. It talks about the...

14 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Visit of Defence Minister of Kazakhstan

Why in News Recently, the Defence Minister of India held bilateral talks with the Defence Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New...

13 Apr 2021 Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests
Should India Join NATO?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warning (2): count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable [ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 100]

Code Context


<?php if(count($updates)>0){?>
  <div class="updates">

$viewFile = '/var/www/drishtiias.com/public_html/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp'
$dataForView = [
	'progress' => [],
	'bookmarks' => [],
	'notes' => [],
	'mynote' => [],
	'topdata' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'searchdata' => [],
	'amonth' => 'April',
	'ayear' => '2021',
	'articles' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {},
		(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'tags' => [
		(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {}
	],
	'title' => 'Article Tags'
]
$progress = []
$bookmarks = []
$notes = []
$mynote = []
$topdata = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/images/pdf/UPSC_Press%20Release_19042021%20Drishti%20IAS.pdf',
		'title' => 'UPSC Press Release April 2021',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[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]' => 'news'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'url' => 'https://www.drishtiias.com/estore/english-books/all-english-books/Indian-and-World-Geography',
		'title' => 'New book release: Indian and World Geography - Prelims Practice Series (PPS)',
		'type' => (int) 1,
		'date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {},
		'[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]' => 'news'
	
	}
]
$searchdata = []
$amonth = 'April'
$ayear = '2021'
$articles = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8206,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Boao Forum',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The opening ceremony of the <strong>Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021</strong> was recently held in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The BFA, this year, is celebrating its<strong> 20<sup>th</sup> Anniversary.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About BFA Annual Conference 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The forum witnessed <strong>more than 2500 participants coming from more than 60 countries.</strong> This year's <strong>theme</strong> is &lsquo;A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation&rsquo;.</li>
<li>The <strong>main agenda</strong> is to strengthen mutual understanding in the post-pandemic era, create additional incentives for overall socio-economic growth and effective global governance.</li>
<li>An <strong>annual report on Asian Economy</strong> was released on the occasion which highlighted the importance of Asian economies which have fared well despite the ongoing pandemic.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In terms of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-purchasing-power-parities-icp-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>purchasing power parity</strong></a>, Asia's share in the global economic aggregate in 2020 reached 47.3%, up 0.9 percentage points from 2019.</li>
<li>It showed that the economic integration of all Asian economies is accelerating.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Signing of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)</strong></a> has been injecting strong momentum into regional and global economic growth. <strong>India is not a part of RCEP.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Boao Forum:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Boao Forum for Asia (BFA)</strong> is an <strong>international not for profit organization</strong> which was <strong>jointly initiated by 26 member states in 2001,</strong> the<strong> members have now increased to 29.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India</strong> is also<strong> a member of the BFA.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its <strong>annual conference</strong> is held in <strong>Boao, Hainan province of China</strong> on a regular basis.</li>
<li>The establishment of BFA is modelled on the lines of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-gender-gap-index-2020-wef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></a> which bases its annual meeting in <strong>Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.</strong> Thus earning the name of<strong> &lsquo;Davos of the East&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The founding purpose of BFA was to<strong> promote economic integration in Asia.</strong> Its mission now is to <strong>pool positive energy for the development of Asia and the world.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The forum has not only played a unique role in <strong>pooling consensus and putting forward valuable "Boao proposals,"</strong> but also engaged countries in <strong>addressing global issues</strong> and promoting world development and prosperity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its<strong> five focal areas</strong> include <strong>technology innovation, health, education, culture and media</strong> in response to the new economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/a-few-countries-cannot-set-global-rules-says-chinese-president-xi-jinping/article34368804.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'boao-forum',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 1 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8192,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'EU & Indo-Pacific',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union#:~:text=EU%20%26%20India&amp;text=The%20EU%20is%20India's%20largest,and%20the%20USA%20(9.5%25)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union (EU)</strong></a> approved conclusions on a <strong>European Union strategy for cooperation in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The renewed EU commitment to the Indo-Pacific will have a <strong>long-term focus</strong> and will be <strong>based on upholding <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-492#:~:text=Introduction%3A%20Democracy%20is%20a%20form,fundamental%20rules%20like%20a%20constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener">democracy</a></strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-day-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>human rights</strong></a>, <strong>the rule of law and respect for international law.</strong></li>
<li>Indo-Pacific is a <strong>region spanning from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific island states.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618915762_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618915762_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Intense geopolitical competition</strong> adding to <strong>increasing tensions on trade and supply chains</strong> as well as in<strong> technological, political and security areas.</strong></li>
<li>Human rights are also being challenged. These developments increasingly threaten the <strong>stability and security of the region</strong> and beyond, <strong>directly impacting on the EU&rsquo;s interests.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>contribute to regional stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development</strong> at a time of rising challenges and tensions in the region.</li>
<li>Promoting <strong>rules-based multilateralism,</strong> giving centrality to <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean#:~:text=The%20Association%20of%20Southeast%20Asian,is%20observed%20as%20ASEAN%20Day." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations)</strong></a>, a point also stressed by India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Features of the Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The EU will work together in order to mitigate the economic and human effects of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>and work towards ensuring an inclusive and sustainable socio-economic recovery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Free and Fair Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The EU&rsquo;s approach and engagement will look to <strong>foster a &ldquo;rules-based international order,</strong> a level playing field, as well as an open and fair environment for trade and investment, reciprocity, the strengthening of resilience, tackling <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> and supporting connectivity with the EU.</li>
<li>On trade partnerships, the EU will aim to <strong>conclude free trade agreements with Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand</strong> and take further steps towards the <strong>Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China.</strong></li>
<li>It will also continue to explore <strong>deepening economic relations with India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security and Defence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will continue to <strong>develop partnerships in the areas of security and defence,</strong> including to address maritime security, malicious cyber activities, disinformation, emerging technologies, terrorism, and organised crime.</li>
<li>It has taken the decision to <strong>extend the geographic scope of its CRIMARIO (Critical Maritime Routes) II activities from the Indian Ocean into South and Southeast Asia</strong> with a view to contribute to safer sea lanes of communication with the EU.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>CRIMARIO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The EU<strong> Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO)</strong> project was <strong>launched in 2015</strong> to<strong> improve maritime security and safety</strong> in the Wider Indian Ocean, with a particular focus on selected countries and archipelagos in East Africa, it aims to support countries in the region to enhance their Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increasing competition, power rivalry, unilateral actions challenging the multilateral order and international laws are some of the <strong>common concerns shared by India and Europe.</strong></li>
<li>With an<strong> enhanced focus on their strategic relations and engagement with other like-minded regional players,</strong> India and EU can play a significant role in preserving an open, free, inclusive and rules based order in the Indo-pacific.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s recent engagement with European powers in Indo-Pacific:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>support for France&rsquo;s membership</strong> of the <a href="/printpdf/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).</strong></a></li>
<li>India&rsquo;s backing for a larger European role in the Indo-Pacific. <strong>India has welcomed the interest of Germany and Netherlands</strong> in building a new geopolitical architecture in the Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some of the <strong>crucial areas that India and EU can work together include</strong> joint efforts in capacity building against challenges like piracy, counter-terrorism etc and cooperation in enhancing interoperability and domain awareness, maritime technologies,<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> blue economy</strong></a> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There is a <strong>growing realisation of the need for a larger European role in the region,</strong> as the European strategic community has begun to acknowledge that strategic and economic interests of Europe are intrinsically linked to the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
<li>Increasing convergence of interests and shared values offer scope for <strong>deepening India-EU cooperation in the region</strong> to secure global commons, maintain stability and support economic prosperity in a cooperative manner and together shape a stable multipolar order.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/european-council-approves-conclusions-on-eus-indo-pacific-strategy/article34361992.ece#:~:text=The%20Council%20of%20the%20European,%2C%E2%80%9D%20at%20a%20time%20of%20%E2%80%9C" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'eu-indo-pacific',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8190,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Cuba Relations',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The retirement of Raul Castro as the first secretary of Cuba&rsquo;s ruling Communist Party brings to an <strong>end the six-decade-long rule of the &ldquo;historic generation&rdquo;</strong>, who, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, captured power in 1959 through an armed revolution.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in January 2021, the <strong>US</strong> State Department had <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/usa-redesignates-cuba-as-state-sponsor-of-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism</strong></a> for repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbour to terrorists.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618910032_image%203.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618910032_image 3.png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>History of Cuba:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>From the 15<sup>th</sup> century, it was a <strong>colony of Spain until the Spanish&ndash;American War of 1898</strong>, when Cuba was occupied by the United States and gained nominal independence as a de facto United States protectorate in 1902.</li>
<li>In 1940, Cuba attempted to strengthen its democratic system, but mounting political radicalization and social strife culminated in a <strong>coup and subsequent dictatorship under Fulgencio Batista in 1952.</strong></li>
<li>Open corruption and oppression under Batista's rule led to his ousting in January 1959 by the 26th of July Movement, which afterwards established <strong>communist rule under the leadership of Fidel Castro.</strong></li>
<li>Since 1965, the state has been governed by the <strong>Communist Party of Cuba.</strong></li>
<li><strong>The country was a point of contention during the Cold War</strong> between the Soviet Union and the United States, and a nuclear war nearly broke out during the <strong>Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.</strong></li>
<li>In 2019, a <strong>new Constitution was approved</strong> which officially recognizes the right to private property, while also reassuring the central government's authority over the regulation of production and land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-Cuba Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India was amongst the first countries to extend <strong>recognition to Cuba after the 1959 Revolution.</strong> Both countries have maintained close contacts with each other in various international fora, such as the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations (UN)</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-aligned-movement-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)</a></strong>,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-trade-organisation-1#:~:text=The%20WTO%20is%20the%20successor,led%20to%20the%20WTO's%20creation.&amp;text=The%20Agreement%20Establishing%20the%20WTO,in%20Marrakesh%2C%20Morocco%20in%201994." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Trade Organization (WTO)</strong></a>, etc.</li>
<li>India has been supporting Cuba against US supported resolutions at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-human-rights-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Human Rights Council</strong></a> and also consistently voted in favour of Cuban sponsored resolutions in the UN General Assembly calling for lifting of US sanctions against Cuba.</li>
<li>Cuba <strong>supports India's inclusion as a permanent member in the restructured <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Security Council</a>.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Cuba also <strong>voted in favour of India&rsquo;s candidature for Non-Permanent Seat in UNSC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Cuba has also joined the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-assembly-of-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a>, an India-France initiative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bilateral trade between India and Cuba stands at <strong>USD 38.81 Million</strong> (as of 2017).</li>
<li>India and Cuba agreed to collaborate in the areas of <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biotechnology-and-its-applications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biotechnology</a>, Homeopathy</strong> and the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-indian-system-of-medicine-bill-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> traditional system of medicine</strong></a> during the visit of the President of India to Cuba in 2019.</li>
<li>India provides development assistance to Cuba in various sectors, and <strong>in</strong> <strong>January 2019 made a donation of 60 tractors</strong> with accessories, medicines and medical equipment to the island.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In Cuba, Yoga and Vipassana meditation are practiced. Interest in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/renaissance-in-ayurveda" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ayurveda</strong></a> and Indian Naturopathy is increasing.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rabindranath-tagore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rabindranath Tagore</a>&rsquo;s</strong> birth anniversary is celebrated every year. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In May, 2007, a bust of Rabindranath Tagore donated by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/70-years-of-indian-council-for-cultural-relations#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Council%20for%20Cultural,other%20countries%20and%20their%20peoples." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)</strong></a> was unveiled in Old Havana.</li>
<li>There is a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and a statue of <a href="/blog/indian-nobel-laureates#:~:text=The%20'Blessed%20Teresa%20of%20Calcutta,1980%2C%20for%20her%20humanitarian%20work." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mother Teresa</strong> </a>in Havana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Cuba also celebrated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/international-day-of-yoga#:~:text=The%20International%20Day%20of%20Yoga,countries%20amid%20Covid%2D19%20pandemic." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Day of Yoga</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mahatma-gandhi-jayanti#:~:text=2nd%20October%202020%20was,of%20the%20Nation%20%2D%20Mahatma%20Gandhi.&amp;text=Gandhi%20was%20a%20social%20reformist,of%20nonviolent%20resistance%20called%20Satyagrah." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi&rsquo;s 150<sup>th</sup> birth anniversary</strong></a> and 550<sup>th</sup> anniversary of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/guru-nanak-dev-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Guru Nanak Dev.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Both Cuba and India have been united for many years and <strong>there is common ground in their struggles to achieve a multi-polar world.</strong> Both countries are great friends, however these <strong>magnificent political ties must be developed more in the economic and commercial field.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global-cuba-castro-fidel-raul-7277378/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'india-cuba-relations',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8162,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Reassessment of Regional Trading Agreements for India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Singapore&rsquo;s Foreign Minister while addressing the<strong> 6<sup>th</sup> edition</strong> of the<strong> Raisina Dialogue</strong> suggested India to reassess its stand on<strong> Regional Trading Agreements (RTA)</strong> such as <strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)</strong> and <strong>Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/raisina-dialogue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Raisina Dialogue</strong></a> is India&rsquo;s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. The conference is <strong>hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs,</strong> Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618562305_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618562305_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RCEP</strong></a> is the <strong>world's largest <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/a-note-on-free-trade-agreements-and-their-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Trade Agreement</a> (FTA)</strong> and was signed by all 10 <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization (ASEAN)</strong> </a>members and key partners including China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand at the <strong>4<sup>th</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-rcep-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RCEP leaders&rsquo; summit</a> in November 2020.</strong></li>
<li>It could be some time before any country sees the benefits, because <strong>six ASEAN nations and three other nations have to ratify it before it takes effect.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ratification will likely be tricky in national parliaments, owing to both anti-trade and anti-China sentiments among the countries.</li>
<li>Recently, <strong>Singapore became the first RCEP participating country (RPC) to complete the official ratification process</strong> and deposit its ratification instrument.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Eliminate Tariffs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is expected to <strong>eliminate a range of tariffs</strong> on imports within 20 years and also includes provisions on intellectual property, telecommunications, financial services, e-commerce and professional services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Equality:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under RCEP, parts from any <strong>member nation would be treated equally,</strong> which might give companies in RCEP countries an<strong> incentive to look within the trade region for suppliers.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Businesses with global supply chains might face tariffs even within an FTA because their products contain components that are made elsewhere.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Global Income:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The deal could <strong>increase global national income by USD 186 billion annually by 2030</strong> and add 0.2% to the economy of its member states.</li>
<li>However, some analysts think the deal is likely to benefit China, Japan and South Korea more than other member states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India <strong>withdrew</strong> from the RCEP largely because of <strong>concerns it would open it up to Chinese goods amid an already wide trade imbalance with China,</strong> and the failure of the agreement to adequately open up to services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618562353_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618562353_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/30-05-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CPTPP</strong></a> is a<strong> Free Trade Agreement (FTA)</strong> between <strong>11 countries</strong> around the <strong>Pacific Rim</strong> which are :<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>After the US withdrew from negotiations of <strong>Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP),</strong> the remaining 11 participants scrambled to amend the text of the agreement, and the newly renamed <strong>CPTPP was signed in March 2018.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It came into <strong>force in December 2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Removes Tariffs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The CPTPP removes 99% of tariffs on goods and services, just like the original TPP did.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Broad Coverage:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The CPTPP covers a broad range of goods and services. These include financial services, telecommunications, and food safety standards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reduces Environmental Abuses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All <strong>countries agreed to cut down on wildlife trafficking.</strong> That helps elephants, rhinoceroses, and marine species the most.</li>
<li>It <strong>prevents environmental abuses,</strong> such as unsustainable logging and fishing. Countries that don't comply will face trade penalties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India did not join CPTPP as <strong>it seeks to place greater labor and environmental standards</strong> on its other partners and <strong>CPTPP draft includes narrowly detailed qualifications on standards for investment protection, provisions</strong> to protect the host state&rsquo;s right to regulate, and the imposition of detailed transparency requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for India to Reassess RCEP &amp; CPTPP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>To Boost its Manufacturing Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The RCEP &amp; CPTPP blocs represent a major portion of the world economy, which may present India the<strong> possibility of being a manufacturing hub and export platform</strong> for the Pacific region with access to duty-free, quota free trade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Strengthen Individual Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India <strong>already has steady trade relations</strong> or is negotiating new agreements with various RCEP &amp; CPTPP countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Chile.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To be a Major Player in Regional Development:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has a <strong>crucial role to play in helping the region</strong> build an inclusive architecture at a time of increasing global instability.</li>
<li>Besides, rising US-China tensions are &ldquo;deeply worrying&rdquo; for the region with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a> resulting in &ldquo;heightened tension&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>To Provide Indian Companies Better Platforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such trade pacts will also <strong>give Indian companies a platform to showcase their strengths</strong> across even larger markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Acknowledging India&rsquo;s economic heft and value as a market, the RCEP &amp; CPTPP members have <strong>left the door open for India.</strong> Given the global economic scenario in present times and the near future, <strong>it would be in India&rsquo;s interest to dispassionately review its position on RCEP &amp; CPTPP and carry out structural reforms</strong> that will help India to mitigate some of the repercussions arising from the RCEP &amp; CPTPP.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/we-hope-india-will-reassess-stand-on-trade-pacts-says-singapore-foreign-minister/article34316667.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'reassessment-of-regional-trading-agreements-for-india',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8149,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'India & BIMSTEC',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/bimstec-needs-to-reinvent-itself/article34313033.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;BIMSTEC needs to reinvent itself&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 14/04/2021. It talks about the obstacles that limit the BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in realizing its full potential.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the foreign ministers of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)</strong> </a>met in a virtual conference. This is the first ministerial since the globe has been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>BIMSTEC as a regional organization has achieved a lot in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and security, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and coastal security cooperation.</p>
<p>However, there are many obstacles that limit the regional body in realizing its full potential.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Highlights of the Meeting</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The foreign ministers cleared the draft for the BIMSTEC charter, recommending its early adoption.</li>
<li>They endorsed the rationalization of sectors and sub-sectors of activity, with each member-state serving as a lead for the assigned areas of special interest.</li>
<li>The ministers also conveyed their support for the Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, which will be adopted at the next summit in Sri Lanka.</li>
<li>Preparations have been completed for the signing of three agreements relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation between diplomatic academies, and the establishment of a technology transfer facility.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Evolution of BIMSTEC</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>BIMSTEC was established as a grouping of four nations &mdash; India, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka &mdash; through the<strong> Bangkok Declaration of 1997.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BIMSTEC was expanded later to include three more countries &mdash; Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Initially, BIMSTEC didn&rsquo;t hold much geopolitical weight. This can be reflected by only just three summits in the first 20 years of its formation.</li>
<li>However, BIMSTEC suddenly received special attention as India chose to treat it as a more practical instrument for regional cooperation, as SAARC continues to remain defunct.</li>
<li>The BIMSTEC Leaders&rsquo; Retreat, followed by their Outreach Summit with the BRICS leaders in Goa in October 2016, drew considerable international limelight to the low-profile regional grouping.</li>
<li>At the second swearing-in of the Indian Prime Minister in May 2019, the leaders of BIMSTEC, not SAARC, were invited as honored guests.</li>
<li>Soon thereafter, the External Affairs Minister observed that India saw a mix of &ldquo;energy, mindset and possibility&rdquo; in BIMSTEC.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Unfinished Economic Agenda:</strong> BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement, was signed in 2004, but over 20 rounds of negotiations it is still to be operationalized.</li>
<li><strong>Internal Tussle:</strong> A strong BIMSTEC presupposes cordial and tension-free bilateral relations among all its member-states. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This has not been the case, given the trajectory of India-Nepal, India-Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh-Myanmar ties in recent years.</li>
<li>Moreover, both Nepal and Sri Lanka want the SAARC summit revived. However, India maintains that terror and talks can&rsquo;t go hand in hand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Intrusion:</strong> China&rsquo;s decisive intrusion in the South-Southeast Asian space is causing a limiting effect on India&rsquo;s zone of influence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, a renowned Bangladeshi scholar argued at a recent conference that BIMSTEC would make progress if China is accepted as its principal interlocutor and partner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Myanmar Coup:</strong> The military coup in Myanmar, brutal crackdown of protesters, and continuation of popular resistance resulting in a protracted impasse have produced a new set of border management challenges for India.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BIMSTEC FTA:</strong> In 2018, a study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry had suggested that BIMSTEC urgently needed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement to be a real game-changer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It should cover trade in goods, services, and investment; promote regulatory harmonization; adopt policies that develop regional value chains, and eliminate non-tariff barriers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing Security &amp; Economy:</strong> India has led through constant focus and follow-up &mdash; to the extent that some member-states have complained about the &lsquo;over securitization of BIMSTEC. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hence, there is a need to ensure maintaining security and forging solid arrangements for economic cooperation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gujral Doctrine:</strong> India would have to counter the impression that BIMSTEC is an India-dominated bloc, in that context India can follow the Gujral doctrine that intends to chalk out the effect of transactional motive in bilateral relations.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As BIMSTEC readies itself to celebrate the silver jubilee of its formation next year, it faces a serious challenge: to effect &ldquo;a paradigm shift in raising the level of our cooperation and regional integration.&rdquo;</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f0f7fc;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>BIMSTEC needs a paradigm shift in raising the level of cooperation and regional integration. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'posturl' => 'india-bimstec-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8131,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Visit of Defence Minister of Kazakhstan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Defence Minister of India</strong> held bilateral talks with the Defence Minister of the Republic <strong>of Kazakhstan</strong> in<strong> New Delhi.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The two Ministers had last met in Moscow (Russia) in September 2020 on the sidelines of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-international-institutions-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</strong></a> Defence Ministers&rsquo; meeting.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights of the Talks:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agreed that both sides must look at the possibility of <strong>defence industrial collaboration</strong> of mutual interest.</li>
<li>Exchanged views<strong> to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation,</strong> including through training, defence exercises and capacity building.</li>
<li>Kazakhstan thanked India for the opportunity given to the Kazakh troops for deployment as part of the Indian battalion in the <strong>United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>UNIFIL</strong> was established by the UN Security Council in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Assessed the <strong>annual joint military exercise <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-kazind-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KAZIND</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indo-Kazakh Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is carried out under the framework of an agreement on<strong> &lsquo;Defence and Military Technical Cooperation&rsquo;</strong> signed in July 2015 during the visit of Indian Prime Minister to Kazakhstan.</li>
<li>The agreement includes conduct of joint training,<strong> exercises, military-technical cooperation, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-peacekeepers-in-south-sudan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN peacekeeping</a> and exchange of intelligence.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kazakh Armed Forces Unit underwent training on peacekeeping operations in India in April-May 2018 for deployment under the <strong>command of an Indian Battalion at UNIFIL, Lebanon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Kazakhstan to India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are<strong> three factors</strong> which make Kazakhstan important for India. First, its <strong>geo-strategic location;</strong> second, its <strong>economic potential,</strong> especially in terms of energy resources; and third, its<strong> multi-ethnic and secular structure. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Kazakhstan&rsquo;s geo-political existence between Russia and Asia,</strong> along with long borders with China, makes it a country of great strategic importance. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kazakhstan lies to the northeast of the Caspian Sea, bordered by the Russian Federation to the north, China to the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the south.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kazakhstan <strong>can also help India achieve a geostrategic rebalancing with China.</strong> India&rsquo;s foremost objective is countering the rapid economic inroads China is making in the region through the<strong> One Belt One Road (OBOR)</strong> initiative. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India seeks to achieve this with the competing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/push-for-chabahar-port-in-instc-corridor" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North-South Transport Corridor</strong></a> (NSTC).</li>
<li>NSTC is <strong>a multi-modal transportation</strong> established on <strong>12<sup>th</sup> September 2000</strong> in <strong>St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India</strong> for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States. It has been expanded to include eleven new members.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kazakhstan has become<strong> one of the key activists in the field of global nuclear security,</strong> and has achieved a number of results in peacekeeping policies and the resolution of conflicts around <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagorno-Karabakh</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Iran</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ukraine</strong></a> and <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-syria-crisis-us-backs-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Syria.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618300660_image5.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1618300660_image5.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>India - Kazakhstan Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Historical:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Relations between India and Kazakhstan are ancient and historical going back to more than 2000 years.</li>
<li>There has been a constant and regular flow of trade in goods and, more importantly, exchange of ideas and cultural influences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>flow of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddhism</a> from India to Central Asia and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/khwaja-monuddin-chishti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sufi ideas</a> from Central Asia to India</strong> are two such examples.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India was<strong> one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Kazakhstan. Diplomatic relations</strong> were established in<strong> February 1992.</strong></li>
<li>India and Kazakhstan have been <strong>strategic partners since 2009. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation at Multilateral Fora:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Kazakhstan actively cooperate under the aegis of Multilateral Fora including <strong>CICA, SCO and the UN organizations.</strong></li>
<li>India has been a consistent supporter of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s initiative on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saarc-and-cica-meetings" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA)</strong></a> and is actively participating in the process.</li>
<li>Kazakhstan supports India&rsquo;s permanent membership in an expanded <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-at-unsc-previous-contribution-current-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council (UNSC)</strong> </a>and has extended its support for India's non-permanent membership in 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Trade and Economy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC)</strong> established in 1993 is the <strong>apex bilateral institutional mechanism</strong> for developing trade, economic, scientific, technological, industrial and cultural cooperation between the two countries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on the Indian side and Ministry of Energy on the Kazakh side are the nodal ministries with respective Ministers as the Co-Chair of the Commission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Several<strong> Joint Working Groups (JWGs)</strong> have been established in the areas of Counter Terrorism, Trade &amp; Economic Cooperation, Defence &amp; Military Technical Cooperation, Information Technology, Hydrocarbons, Textiles, Tea Debt and Space Cooperation, Health and Transport, Connectivity &amp; Logistics to take forward bilateral relations in the respective spheres.</li>
<li>Kazakhstan is <strong>India&rsquo;s largest trade and investment partner in Central Asia. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Space Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/indian-space-research-organisation-isro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)</a> launched &ldquo;Al-Farabi-1&rdquo;,</strong> a 1.7 kg Technology Demonstrator Nano Satellite built by Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty along with 103 other satellites in 2017.</li>
<li>A delegation from ISRO attended<strong> Kazakh Defence Expo &lsquo;KADEX&rsquo;</strong> in May 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Civil Nuclear Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kazakhstan <strong>supported India in obtaining India-specific exemption</strong> to allow civil nuclear cooperation with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-nsg-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)</strong></a> countries in 2008.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India provides capacity building assistance to Kazakhstan in various specialized fields under <strong>ITEC program</strong> sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Consular:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India and Kazakhstan have<strong> an agreement on visa free entry for Diplomatic and Official Passport holders.</strong></li>
<li>Since February 2018, <strong>Indian has extended e-visa facility</strong> to Kazakh citizens.</li>
<li>Kazakhstan has also introduced <strong>electronic visa facilities for travelers from India</strong> with effect from 1<sup>st</sup> January 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Being part of central Asia, Kazakhstan is strategically important for India. India needs to use its instrument of economic leverages more efficiently to build closer ties with Central Asia.</li>
<li>At its core, the heightened India-Kazakhstan relationship allows New Delhi to bypass Pakistan and the highly unstable Afghanistan to reach a resource-rich Nur-Sultan, complementing India&rsquo;s developing economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1710618" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'visit-of-defence-minister-of-kazakhstan',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8091,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Should India Join NATO?',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-india-must-not-say-no-to-nato-7260435/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why India must not say &lsquo;no&rsquo; to NATO&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 06/04/2021. It talks about the pros and cons of India becoming a member of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).</a></strong></p>
</div>
<p>In the last few years, European countries have asserted to play a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region. India too knows that no single power can produce stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.</p>
<p>Moreover, China&rsquo;s meteoric rise has dramatically heightened India&rsquo;s need for closer security relationships with politically reliable, like-minded states. In order to tackle this geopolitical challenge, India will have to undertake more deliberate efforts to counter-balance the juggernaut of Chinese power.</p>
<p>One such arrangement, which has been recently floated by many western countries, is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>extending NATO&rsquo;s membership to India.</strong></a> Although NATO&rsquo;s membership in India will have positive implications, it will have serious ramifications too.</p>
<h3>Arguments for India Becoming NATO&rsquo;s Member</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>End of Cold War:</strong> During the Cold War, India&rsquo;s refusal to join any of the Military bloc (NATO or Warsaw pact led by the USSR) was premised on its non-alignment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>That argument had little justification once the Cold War ended during 1989-91. Since then, NATO has built partnerships with many neutral and non-aligned</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Creation of Deterrence:</strong> Article 5 of the NATO treaty held that an attack against a member nation of the NATO would be considered to be an attack against all the members of the alliance and would call for joint military action against the aggressor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would create deterrence for China and Pakistan to attack India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Military-Strategic Benefits:</strong> An India-NATO dialogue would simply mean having regular contact with a military alliance, most of whose members are well-established partners of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, India has military exchanges with many members of NATO &mdash; including the US, Britain, and France &mdash; in bilateral and multilateral formats.</li>
<li>Therefore, in the longer term, India would derive military-strategic benefits from a partnership with the world&rsquo;s most powerful alliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Era of Multi-Alignment</strong>: India might align with China and developing nations against the US in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Trade Organisation (WTO)</strong></a> but militarily oppose China while contemplating a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Quad&rdquo;</strong></a> with the USA, Japan, and Australia.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, Egypt and Israel are both NATO partners who maintain defense relationships with Russia.</li>
<li>Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and Austria are all NATO partners with long-standing neutralist traditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Convergence on Many Issues:</strong> A sustained dialogue between India and NATO could facilitate productive exchanges in a range of areas, including terrorism, changing geopolitics; the evolving nature of military conflict, the role of emerging military technologies, and new military doctrines.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Argument Against India Becoming NATO&rsquo;s Member</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Conflict Within NATO:</strong> NATO members have conflicting opinions on how to share the military burden and strike the right balance between NATO and the EU&rsquo;s quest for an independent military role.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, NATO members disagree on policy related to Russia, the Middle East, and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deteriorate Relations With Russia:</strong> By becoming a NATO member, India&rsquo;s long-standing and strong ties with Russia will get frayed. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia has shown displeasure on account of India&rsquo;s growing strategic convergence with the US.</li>
<li>Moreover, this could further strengthen the already deepening relation between China and Russia.</li>
<li>Considering that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/decline-in-india-s-arms-imports-sipri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India still is heavily dependent on the Russian military equipment</strong></a>, joining NATO seems like an eminently bad idea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Sovereignty:</strong> Another issue would be the establishment of NATO bases on India&rsquo;s territory. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This might invite widespread protests in the country and may even be considered an infringement of our sovereignty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dragging Down Into Various Conflicts:</strong> The downside of joining NATO is that India would get dragged into various conflicts around the globe.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would result in a lot of Indian soldiers dying in various conflicts in which we have no reason at all to be involved in.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The bureaucratization of the engagement between India and western countries has prevented India from taking full advantage of re-emerging geopolitics of the Atlantic. However, India&rsquo;s recent proactive approach has certainly sought to end this prolonged political neglect.</p>
<p>Given this, a pragmatic engagement with NATO countries must be an important part of India&rsquo;s foreign policy but it must refrain from becoming a formal member of NATO.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fbfffa;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>India&rsquo;s continued reluctance to engage a major institution like NATO will be a stunning case of strategic self-denial. Critically Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'posturl' => 'should-india-join-nato',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8087,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Multilateral Maritime Exercise La Perouse',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura</strong> and <strong>INS Kiltan</strong> alongwith <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-approves-sale-of-military-hardware" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft</strong></a> are participating,<strong> for the first time in multilateral maritime exercise La P&eacute;rouse,</strong> being conducted in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region from 5<sup>th</sup> to 7<sup>th</sup> April 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Post conduct of<strong> La Perouse,</strong> the <strong>Indo-French Naval</strong> exercise <strong>&ldquo;Varuna&ldquo;</strong> is scheduled in the <strong>Western Indian Ocean,</strong> wherein <strong>UAE</strong> too shall be participating.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The first edition of <strong>La P&eacute;rouse</strong> joint exercise, <strong>initiated by France in 2019</strong>, included ships from Australia, Japan and the US.</li>
<li>The exercise is <strong>named after the eighteenth century French Naval explorer.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India's participation in 2021 completed the QUAD force representation</strong> in the French led Naval Exercise. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>QUAD</strong> is a <strong>grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan</strong> which aims to safeguard the interests of democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region and address global challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will witness complex and advanced naval operations including <strong>surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions</strong> such as replenishment at sea.</li>
<li>It will provide an opportunity for these five like-minded, high-end naval forces to develop closer links, sharpen their skills, and promote maritime cooperation throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Naval Significance of Indo-Pacific:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Indo-Pacific is slowly but surely turning into a serious Naval Theatre for multi-national activities</strong> with a vision to establish a free, open, inclusive and a rule-based ordering of the Indo-Pacific to support the freedom of navigation and peaceful cooperative use of the seas.</li>
<li>The goal is to respect and adhere to the international laws like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones#:~:text=United%20Nations%20Convention%20on%20the,EEZ)%20and%20the%20High%20Seas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)</strong> </a>and peaceful resolution of territorial sea disputes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>role of the QUAD navies in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region)</strong> has been well illustrated by the effective cooperative engagement capabilities of the multi-national Naval powers through naval exercises like formation sailing, live fire drills, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations etc.</li>
<li>Navies of member countries of <strong>QUAD</strong> participated in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/australia-to-join-malabar-exercise" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Malabar wargaming exercise</strong></a> in November 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>On the other hand, <strong>China endeavours to establish a defensive perimeter around its seas (Yellow Sea, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/senkaku-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East China Sea</a> and part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>)</strong> by following a sea denial policy in these regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702901_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702901_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>QUAD+ France Pacific Ocean Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> region of Pacific Islands</strong> stretches from Hawaii in the north to Tonga in the south, and Easter Island in the east to New Caledonia in the west.</li>
<li><strong>US interest in the Indo-Pacific region</strong> has always been well illustrated with the fact that<strong> US Indo-Pacific Command</strong> established after World War II is the largest unified command.</li>
<li><strong>France</strong> has a direct<strong> strategic and economic stake in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.</strong> France is a member of the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).</li>
<li><strong>Japan</strong> although has trade ties with China but has always been<strong> suspicious of China&rsquo;s growth as a military power.</strong> China&rsquo;s assertiveness closer to Japanese waters and airspace have been a testing time for Japan.</li>
<li><strong>Indian Navy</strong> has always maintained a tactical advantage over the IOR to ensure compliance to the internationally established Rules of the Road (ROR) for the seas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has been respected by the world (like declaration of warships transiting IOR etc.), but Indian Navy has <strong>observed and reported multiple sightings of undeclared Chinese ships and submarines</strong> suspiciously lurking within the IOR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indo-French Joint Exercises</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-french-joint-exercise-desert-knight-21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Desert Knight-21</a> </strong>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/garuda-vi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Garuda</strong> </a>(Air exercise)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-18th-april-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Varuna</strong></a> (Naval exercise)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-french-joint-exercise-shakti-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Shakti</strong> </a>(Army exercise)</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702945_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617702945_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/quad-navies-participating-in-france-led-exercise-in-eastern-indian-ocean-region-from-april-5-7260225/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'multilateral-maritime-exercise-la-perouse',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8071,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Cities Culture Forum',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Chief Minister of Delhi will represent Delhi and India at the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>date for this year&rsquo;s annual summit is yet to be announced</strong> on the forum&rsquo;s website.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong> WCCF was<strong> established in London in 2012</strong> with eight cities.</li>
<li><strong>Member Cities:</strong> It has <strong>43 participating member cities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Participating member cities include London, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Lisbon, San Francisco, Shanghai, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Delhi</strong> is invited this year but <strong>it is not a part of member cities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role:</strong> It enables the policy makers of member cities to<strong> share research and intelligence,</strong> and<strong> explores the vital role of culture</strong> in their future prosperity.</li>
<li><strong>Managed By:</strong> The activities of the World Cities Culture Forum are <strong>organised and delivered by BOP Consulting,</strong> a specialist consulting firm, on behalf of the <strong>Greater London Authority,</strong> London&rsquo;s Municipal Government.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>BOP</strong> conducts comparative research to measure the impact and importance of culture and creativity, and shares it with the Forum so members can make evidence-based policy decisions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Cities Culture Summit:</strong> Forum members collaborate via a programme of events including themed symposia, regional summits and workshops. These events feed into the annual <strong>World Cities Culture Summit.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hosted on a rotating basis by member cities,<strong> this unique gathering</strong> allows city leaders to share ideas and knowledge about the role of culture as an organising principle for the sustainable city of the future.</li>
<li>It is <strong>attended by Deputy Mayors for Culture and Heads of Culture</strong> from the member cities.</li>
<li><strong>2021 Theme:</strong> The Future of Culture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Cities Culture Report:</strong> Delhi will also be part of the<strong> World Cities Culture Report -</strong> the most comprehensive <strong>global dataset on culture in cities.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>published by the forum every three years,</strong> with data and details on innovative projects from cities across the world. The last report was published in <strong>2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/cm-will-represent-delhi-at-world-cities-cultural-forum/article34227487.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'world-cities-culture-forum',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8066,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the <strong>17<sup>th</sup> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)</a> Ministerial Meeting.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The meeting, <strong>chaired by Sri Lanka,</strong> was held in virtual mode.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand at the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Commitment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To further<strong> build the momentum of regional cooperation</strong> under the <strong>BIMSTEC framework</strong> and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Highlighted progress</strong> achieved in sectors where India is the Lead Country viz Counter Terrorism &amp; Trans-national Crime, Transport &amp; Communication, Tourism, and Environmental &amp; Disaster management and other activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Robust <strong>connectivity is an essential prerequisite for economic integration</strong> of the region with smooth cross-border movement of people and goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outcome of the Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The meeting endorsed the BIMSTEC<strong> Master Plan for Transport Connectivity</strong> for adoption at the next BIMSTEC Summit, which will be held in Sri Lanka. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s northeastern states form a key part of the master plan,</strong> with several road and river links passing through the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Called for early<strong> adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter.</strong></li>
<li>The meeting also endorsed three MoUs/agreements relating to <strong>convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters, cooperation between diplomatic</strong> and <strong>training academies and establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo</strong> (Sri Lanka).</li>
<li>Took note that the <strong>BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate,</strong> being<strong> hosted in India,</strong> is fully functional with state of the art facilities to provide Disaster Early Warnings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cohesion among the members has been difficult to achieve mainly because of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rohingyas-at-isolated-bangladesh-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya refugee crisis</strong> </a>which created <strong>bitterness between Myanmar and Bangladesh.</strong></li>
<li>This affected the working of the organisation to some extent as it could not develop a common charter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>BIMSTEC</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a <strong>regional organization.</strong></li>
<li>It comprises<strong> seven countries.</strong> Five of these seven countries- <strong>India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh-</strong> are from South Asia while the remaining two, <strong>Thailand and Myanmar,</strong> are from Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>The group remained dormant for many years till it was revived a few years ago as an alternative to the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)</strong></a>, which despite having the potential, has not been able to move forward due to friction between India and Pakistan.</li>
<li>With a focus on intra-regional cooperation, the BIMSTEC has also<strong> formed a platform with the SAARC and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a> member countries.</strong></li>
<li>Currently, the BIMSTEC is<strong> involved in 15 sectors</strong> including trade, technology, agriculture, tourism, fisheries, energy and climate change among others, for sectoral cooperation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 1997, it started with just six sectors and later expanded to the remaining nine sectors in 2008.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Secretariat:</strong> Dhaka, Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Creating an<strong> enabling environment for the rapid economic development</strong> of the sub-region.</li>
<li>Encouraging the spirit of <strong>equality and partnership.</strong></li>
<li>Promoting active <strong>collaboration and mutual assistance</strong> in the areas of common interests of the member countries.</li>
<li>Accelerating <strong>support for each other</strong> in the fields of education, science, and technology, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617435202_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617435202_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/at-bimstec-jaishankar-calls-for-integration-7255083/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => '17th-bimstec-ministerial-meeting',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8064,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'India’s Maritime Doctrine',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/it-is-time-to-reimagine-the-indian-ocean-101617111891839.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;It is time to reimagine the Indian Ocean&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 30/03/2021. It talks about the challenges in India&rsquo;s Maritime Doctrine.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, soon after Joe Biden became the president of the US, the new US secretary of defense visited India. The interesting takeaway of this visit was the specific mention to pursue enhanced cooperation between the Indian armed forces and the US maritime forces.</p>
<p>This underlined the strategic importance of India in US foreign policy, especially Indo-Pacific engagements. Since Independence, India has enjoyed an advantageous position in the Indian Ocean, primarily accorded through its geography.</p>
<p>Moreover, the lack of direct competition after the end of the Cold War allowed India to continue with its limited maritime approach while retaining the role of a key Indian Ocean player. However, there are many challenges in India&rsquo;s maritime policy.</p>
<h3>Challenges in India&rsquo;s Maritime Doctrine</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Silos Approach in the Indian Ocean:</strong> India&rsquo;s political class has divided the Indian ocean into many sub-regions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Traditionally, India draws a line with Mauritius and Seychelles as its areas of strategic collaboration in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>In terms of sub-regions, the priority is in the northern (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal), and eastern Indian Ocean (the Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca).</li>
<li>Due to this, the western Indian Ocean and the eastern coast of Africa still continue to be in the maritime periphery in India&rsquo;s foreign policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lesser Hold on Strategic Chokepoint:</strong> China&rsquo;s first overseas military base was set up in the western Indian Ocean, in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Russia too recently acquired a base in Sudan, on the Red Sea coast, between the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb &mdash; a strategic chokepoint in the Indian Ocean.</li>
<li>However, beyond the anti-piracy mission, India&rsquo;s presence and maritime engagements with the African coast have been largely ad hoc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Chinese Assertiveness:</strong> Through the Maritime Silk Road, China engages with littorals and islands across the Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China has consistently aimed to improve its diplomatic, political, and military engagements in the region from Sri Lanka to Comoros, spanning the Indian Ocean in its entirety.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continental Bias:</strong> India&rsquo;s reorientation toward the maritime domain has not been easy, with generations of foreign and defense service officials focusing and training on continental issues. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Indian Navy is allotted approximately 14% of the defense budget speaks clearly to the defense establishment&rsquo;s priorities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Synchronizing Foreign &amp; Defense Policies:</strong> With the establishment of the Indian Ocean division in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in 2016, MEA appears to be undertaking a more active approach. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the defense establishment has to match foreign policy engagements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Holistic View of Indian Ocean:</strong> The Indian Ocean as China is emerging as the key competitor to India&rsquo;s interests in the Indian Ocean Region. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, there is a need to view the Indian Ocean as one continuous space and understand regional dynamics better.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaborating With Important Players:</strong> India should supplement its partnership with the US with a network of multilateral groups with other middle powers, such as the India-Australia-Japan forum and the trilateral dialogue with France and Australia.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>While this is not to discount India&rsquo;s continental troubles, seen in recent crises such as Doklam and Ladakh, there is a need to understand the importance of maritime geography and its link to India&rsquo;s strategic interests and growing competition in the region.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffffa;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the major challenges for India in framing a credible Maritime Doctrine.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'posturl' => 'india-s-maritime-doctrine',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8059,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'ACT-Accelerator',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Carl Bildt has been appointed as <strong>WHO Special Envoy </strong>for the <strong>Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-Accelerator).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is a groundbreaking <strong>global collaboration</strong> to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-vaccine-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> tests, treatments and vaccines.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was launched in the month of April, 2020 at an event co-hosted by the Director-General of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a>, the<strong> President of France,</strong> the <strong>President of the European Commission,</strong> and the <strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.</strong></li>
<li>It brings together <strong>governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, and philanthropists</strong> and <strong>global health organizations.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The participants include the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/goalkeepers-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fight-against-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CEPI</strong></a>, <strong>Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavi</a></strong>, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-fund-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Global Fund</a></strong>, <strong>Unitaid, Wellcome Trust (London), the WHO and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Bank</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It aims to<strong> end the pandemic, restore full societal and economic activity</strong> globally and <strong>facilitate high-level control of Covid-19 disease.</strong></li>
<li>The ACT-Accelerator is organized into<strong> four pillars of work:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Diagnostics, treatment, vaccines </strong>and<strong> health system strengthening.</strong></li>
<li>Each pillar is vital to the overall effort and involves innovation and collaboration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>COVAX:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>COVAX is one of four pillars of the ACT Accelerator.</li>
<li>It is an effort to ensure that <strong>people in all corners of the world will get access to Covid-19 vaccines,</strong> regardless of their wealth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The initial aim is to have <strong>2 billion doses available by the end of 2021,</strong> which should be enough to protect high risk and vulnerable people, as well as frontline healthcare workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is co-led by <strong>Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation (WHO),</strong> working in partnership with vaccine manufacturers of developed and developing countries.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Role:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has <strong>started shipping Covid-19 vaccines to Africa</strong> under the COVAX facility.</li>
<li>Earlier, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gavi-covax-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India (SII) had received funds</strong></a> from Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation <strong>to double its supply of Covid-19 vaccines</strong> (200 million doses) to India and other poorer countries as part of the <strong>Gavi COVAX facility. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of ACT-Accelerator:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is a crucial time for ACT-Accelerator when the world is rolling out vaccines against Covid-19, introducing new diagnostics and scaling up life-saving oxygen and <strong>corticosteroids</strong> for severe disease.</li>
<li>It will help in addressing the uneven distribution of vaccines globally and the emergence of new variants of concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Corticosteroids</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Corticosteroids are a class of drug that<strong> lowers inflammation in the body.</strong> They also reduce immune system activity.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids<strong> ease swelling, itching, redness, and allergic reactions,</strong> thus used in the treatment of diseases like asthma, arthritis, lupus, allergies etc.</li>
<li>Corticosteroids resemble cortisol, a <strong>hormone naturally produced by the body&rsquo;s adrenal glands.</strong> The body needs cortisol to stay healthy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cortisol is a major player in a wide range of processes in the body, including metabolism, immune response, and stress.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/covid-19-carl-bildt-appointed-who-special-envoy-for-act-accelerator-76241#:~:text=Tedros%20Adhanom%20Ghebreyesus%2C%20the%20director,Accelerator)%20March%2031%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'act-accelerator',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7961,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India’s Act East Policy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Union Minister of State <strong>Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)</strong> said that connectivity is an important element of <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Act East Policy</a>.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The &lsquo;Act East Policy&rsquo; announced in <strong>November, 2014</strong> is the upgrade of the <strong>&ldquo;Look East Policy&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It is a <strong>diplomatic initiative</strong> to <strong>promote economic, strategic and cultural relations</strong> with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels.</li>
<li>It involves <strong>intensive and continuous engagement</strong> with <strong>Southeast Asian countries</strong> in the field of <strong>connectivity, trade, culture, defence and people-to-people-contact</strong> at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and developing a strategic relationship</strong> with countries in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-pacific region</strong> </a>with a proactive and pragmatic approach and thereby <strong>improving the economic development of the North Eastern Region (NER)</strong> which is a gateway to the South East Asia Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Look East Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to recover from the <strong>loss of the strategic partner -USSR</strong> (end of the Cold war 1991), India sought to build up a relationship with the USA and allies of the USA in Southeast Asia.</li>
<li>In this pursuit, former Prime minister of India P V Narasimha Rao <strong>launched Look East policy in 1992, to give a strategic push to India&rsquo;s engagement with the South-East Asia region</strong>, to bolster its standing as a regional power and a <strong>counterweight to the strategic influence of the People&rsquo;s Republic of China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Difference Between Look East and Act East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Look East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Look East policy focused on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/17th-asean-india-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)</strong></a> countries + Economic Integration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India became a <strong>dialogue partner of ASEAN</strong> in 1996 and summit level partner in 2002.</li>
<li>In 2012 the relationship got <strong>up-graded into a Strategic Partnership.</strong></li>
<li>The time when India launched the Look East Policy in 1992, India's trade with ASEAN was USD 2 billion. After signing the Free Trade Agreement in 2010 with ASEAN, the<strong> trade has grown to USD 72 billion (2017-18).</strong></li>
<li>India is also an active participant in several regional forums like the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/east-asia-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) etc.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Act East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Act East Policy focused on ASEAN countries + Economic Integration + <strong>East Asian countries + Security cooperation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Prime minister of India highlighted <strong>4C's of Act East Policy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Culture</li>
<li>Commerce</li>
<li>Connectivity</li>
<li>Capacity building</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Security is an important dimension of India's Act East Policy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the context of growing Chinese assertiveness in the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a> and the Indian Ocean, <strong>securing freedom of navigation and India's own role in the Indian Ocean</strong> is a key feature of Act East Policy.</li>
<li>In pursuance of this, India has been engaged under the narrative of Indo-pacific and informal grouping called <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/quad-and-g-4-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quad</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives to Enhance Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agartala-akhaura-rail-link#:~:text=The%20rail%20line%20between%20Agartala,Nischintapur%20to%20Agartala%20railway%20station." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link</strong></a> between India and Bangladesh.</li>
<li>Intermodal transport linkages and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-connects-bangladesh-and-bhutan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways through Bangladesh.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/presidents-visit-to-myanmar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project</strong> </a>and the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-myanmar-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trilateral Highway Project</strong></a> connecting the North East with Myanmar and Thailand.</li>
<li>Under <strong>India-Japan Act East Forum</strong>, projects such as <strong>Road and Bridges</strong> and modernization of <strong>Hydro-electric power</strong> <strong>projects</strong> have been undertaken. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India-Japan Act East Forum</strong> was established in 2017 which aims to provide a platform for India-Japan collaboration under the rubric of India&rsquo;s <strong>"Act East Policy&rdquo;</strong> and Japan&rsquo;s <strong>"Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The Forum will <strong>identify specific projects for economic modernization of India&rsquo;s North-East region</strong> including those pertaining to connectivity, developmental infrastructure, industrial linkages as well as people-to-people contacts through tourism, culture and sports-related activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Assistance extended in the form of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>medicines/medical supplies to ASEAN countries during the pandemic.</strong></a></li>
<li>Scholarships with offers of 1000 PhD fellowships have been offered at IITs for ASEAN countries participants.</li>
<li>India is also implementing <strong>Quick Impact Projects</strong> in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to provide development assistance to grass-root level communities in the fields of education, water resources, health etc. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)</strong> are small-scale, low cost projects that are planned and implemented within a short timeframe.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616063799_image11.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616063799_image11.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="700" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID%3D1705487&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1616067341533000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07sZ-YPiIN-8FXiJ2_zx0W" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source:PIB</a></strong></p>',
		'posturl' => 'india-s-act-east-policy-1',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7945,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Kenya-Somalia Dispute',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>Kenya</strong> has declined to take part in proceedings of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/international-court-of-justice-icj" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Court of Justice (ICJ)</strong></a> over its maritime border dispute with <strong>neighbouring Somalia.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Point</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Direction of Maritime Boundary:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615895437_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615895437_image 0.jpg" style="float: right;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main point of disagreement between the two neighbours is the <strong>direction</strong> in which their <strong>maritime boundary</strong> in the Indian Ocean should extend.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Somalia&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sea border should be an <strong>extension of the same direction</strong> in which their land border runs as it approaches the Indian Ocean, i.e. <strong>towards the southeast.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Kenya&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The maritime border should<strong> run parallel to the equator.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Disputed Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The triangular area thus created by the dispute is around 1.6 lakh sq. km. large, and <strong>boasts of rich marine reserves.</strong></li>
<li>It is also believed to have oil and gas deposits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>International Court of Justice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICJ was established in <strong>1945</strong> by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> <strong>charter</strong> and started working in April 1946.</li>
<li>It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, <strong>situated at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>settles legal disputes</strong> between States and gives advisory opinions in accordance with international law, on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.</li>
<li>Its <strong>rulings are binding,</strong> though the court has no<strong> enforcement powers</strong> and countries have been known to ignore its verdicts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-indian-ocean-border-dispute-between-kenya-and-somalia-7229569/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'kenya-somalia-dispute',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7938,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'QUAD: First Summit',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-rationale-and-future-of-quad-101615738967822.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The rationale and future of Quad&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindustan Times on 14/03/2021. It talks about the significance of the recently concluded Quad Summit.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the leaders of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> four nations of Quad grouping</strong></a> met digitally for the first-ever virtual summit-level meeting. The outcomes announced by leaders of Quad countries include a vaccine initiative and joint working groups to cooperate on critical technology as well as climate change.</p>
<p>Apart from it, the joint statement of the meeting called for &ldquo;The Spirit of the Quad&rdquo; and commitment to an open Indo-Pacific &ldquo;free from coercion&rdquo;.</p>
<p>In widening the forum&rsquo;s focus away from military security and towards the provision of public goods in the vast Indo-Pacific littoral, the first summit of the Quad has improved its own long-term political prospects.</p>
<p>Therefore, countering any perception that the Quad is merely a &ldquo;talk-shop&rdquo;, the summit contained both broad substance and deep symbolism.</p>
<h3>Significance of Quad Summit</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>America is Back Policy:</strong> For the US, the early push for the Quad engagement is part of Joe Biden&rsquo;s promise that &ldquo;America is back&rdquo; in terms of global leadership, reaffirming regional alliances, and taking on the growing challenge from China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, Biden at the Munich Security Conference tried to win back European allies such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, by proposing a transatlantic alliance to counter China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maritime Concerns of Japan &amp; Australia:</strong> Due to maritime tensions with China, trade, and telecommunication issues, Australia and Japan are keen on taking the Quad partnership to deeper levels of cooperation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Quad partners such as Japan and Australia were unhappy over India&rsquo;s decision to stay out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.</li>
<li>If Quad emerges as an economic powerhouse, it will be beneficial to the entire region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Broadening India&rsquo;s Geopolitical Horizons:</strong> For India, the new terms of the Quad will mean more strategic support after a tense year at the LAC with China.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will also provide a boost for India&rsquo;s pharmaceutical prowess, opportunities for technology partnerships, and more avenues for regional cooperation on development projects and financing infrastructure.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s insistence on an inclusive approach was in keeping with the sentiments of many smaller countries in the region, which may not take an explicit anti-China position.</li>
<li>This could also pave the way for India to become the manufacturing destination for Quad countries, thus reducing dependence on China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Narrative for the Quad:</strong> Quad member countries took the decision to pool their resources (American technology, Japanese finance, Indian production capacity, and Australia&rsquo;s logistics capability) to produce a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine for distribution in the Indo-Pacific.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the Quad countries agreed to ensure emissions reduction based on the Paris accord as well as cooperate on technology supply chains, 5G networks, and biotechnology.</li>
<li>This would help the four countries develop a new narrative for the Quad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Issues With the Quad</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>RECP Operationalization:</strong> For Japan and Australia, China remains the biggest trading partner, a relationship that will only grow once the 15-nation RCEP gets operationalized.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it would be difficult for Quad members countries like Japan and Australia to strategically align with the US and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Reservations:</strong> India, given its own ties with China, sensitivities over ongoing LAC disengagement talks, and its other multilateral commitments at the BRICS and SCO groupings, also displayed caution in the Quad engagement.</li>
<li><strong>Anti-China Rhetoric:</strong> Since the first steps towards the Quad&rsquo;s construction in 2007, China has sought to define the regional discourse by describing the forum as the &ldquo;Asian NATO&rdquo; and the harbinger of a &ldquo;new Cold War&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The conflation of the Quad with the annual Malabar naval exercises added to the image of the Quad as a military formation and generated much unease across the Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need For Clear Vision:</strong> The Quad nations need to better explain the Indo-Pacific Vision in an overarching framework with the objective of advancing everyone&rsquo;s economic and security interests.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will reassure the littoral States that the Quad will be a factor for the regional benefit, and a far cry from Chinese allegations that it is some sort of a military alliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Expanding Quad:</strong> India has many other partners in the Indo-Pacific, therefore India should pitch for countries like Indonesia, Singapore to be invited to join in the future.</li>
<li><strong>Need for a Maritime Doctrine:</strong> India should develop a comprehensive vision on the Indo-Pacific which would ideate on the current and future maritime challenges, consolidate its military and non-military tools, engage its strategic partners.</li>
<li><strong>Recalibration Needed From China:</strong> As the Quad summit has done well to shed the image of Anti-China bais, it is up to China now to rethink its current aggressive policies and seek cooperative relations with its Asian neighbors and the US.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The challenges posed by the pandemic presented a perfect setting for the Quad nations to demonstrate their commitment to the broader agenda that is in tune with the urgent requirements of the region.</p>
<p>In this context, the repurposing of the Quad to deal with shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific ensures the forum&rsquo;s political sustainability over the longer term.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Development, deterrence, and diplomacy should be the way forward for Quad. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'posturl' => 'quad-first-summit',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7899,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Significance of India-Bangladesh Transport Connectivity: World Bank',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-bank-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bank</strong> </a>report named <strong>&ldquo;Connecting to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport Integration in Eastern South Asia&rdquo;</strong> stated that seamless <strong>transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh</strong> has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report analyzes the <strong>Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615446337_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615446337_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="484" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Trade:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bilateral trade accounts for only about <strong>10%</strong> of Bangladesh&rsquo;s trade and a mere <strong>1%</strong> of India&rsquo;s trade. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <strong>East Asian and Sub-Saharan African economies,</strong> intraregional trade accounts for <strong>50% and 22%</strong> of total trade, respectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High tariffs, para-tariffs, and nontariff barriers</strong> also serve as major trade barriers. Simple average tariffs in Bangladesh and India are more than twice the world average.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Difficulty in Crossing Border:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Weak transport integration makes the border between Bangladesh and India thick. Crossing the India&ndash;Bangladesh border at <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Petrapole&ndash;Benapole</strong></a>, the most important border post between the two countries, takes several days.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In contrast, the time to cross borders handling similar volumes of traffic in other regions of the world, including <strong>East Africa, is less than six hours.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Isolated North-East:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Indian trucks are not allowed to transit through Bangladesh. As a result, the northeast of India is particularly isolated with the rest of the country and connected only through the <strong>27-km-wide Siliguri corridor,</strong> also called the <strong>&ldquo;chicken&rsquo;s neck&rdquo;.</strong> This leads to <strong>long and costly routes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of Better Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased Real Income:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All districts in <strong>Bangladesh</strong> would benefit from integration, with the <strong>eastern districts enjoying larger gains</strong> in real income.</li>
<li>States bordering Bangladesh such as <strong>Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura in the northeast, and West Bengal</strong> on the west, and states further away from Bangladesh such as<strong> Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra</strong> would also <strong>gain huge economic benefits</strong> from seamless connectivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Will yield a<strong> 297%</strong> increase in Bangladesh&rsquo;s exports to India and a<strong> 172%</strong> increase in India&rsquo;s exports to Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strategic Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Geographically, Bangladesh&rsquo;s location makes it a <strong>strategic gateway to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and other East Asian countries.</strong> Bangladesh can also become an <strong>economic powerhouse</strong> by improving regional trade, transit and logistics networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Strengthen the MVA:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Harmonizing <strong>driver&rsquo;s licensing and visa regimes.</strong></li>
<li>Establishing an <strong>efficient regional transit</strong> regime.</li>
<li>Rationalizing and <strong>digitizing trade and transport</strong> documents.</li>
<li><strong>Liberalizing</strong> the selection of <strong>trade routes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improving Regional Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Expand the effective capacity</strong> of core transport and logistics infrastructure along regional corridors.</li>
<li>Ensure <strong>competition in transport service</strong> markets.</li>
<li>Deploy<strong> modern information technology infrastructure</strong> at land ports and seaports.</li>
<li>Develop<strong> off-border custom clearance facilities</strong> in Bangladesh and India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integration of Local Communities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Connecting local markets to regional corridors.</li>
<li><strong>Removing logistics bottlenecks</strong> in export-oriented value chains.</li>
<li>Improving <strong>women&rsquo;s participation in export-oriented agricultural value chains</strong> at the macro, community, and household levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>BBIN:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN)</strong> <strong>Initiative</strong> is a sub-regional architecture of countries in<strong> Eastern South Asia,</strong> a sub-region of South Asia.</li>
<li>The group meets through the official representation of member states to <strong>formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements</strong> across areas such as <strong>water resources management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>MVA</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was signed on <strong>15<sup>th</sup> June 2015</strong> in Thimphu, Bhutan.</li>
<li>It seeks to facilitate the unrestricted cross-border movement of cargo, passenger, and personal vehicles between BBIN countries.</li>
<li>As per the agreement, <strong>member countries would allow vehicles registered in the other countries to enter their territory under certain terms and conditions.</strong> Customs and tariffs will be decided by the respective countries and these would be finalised at bilateral and trilateral forums.</li>
<li><strong>Implementation of the MVA has been delayed</strong> as the countries work to clarify some of the provisions that are supposed to be elaborated in protocols.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To provide <strong>seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross border movement</strong> of people and goods.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/trust-deficit-hampering-seamless-movement-of-goods-between-india-bangladesh-world-bank-7221737/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'significance-of-india-bangladesh-transport-connectivity-world-bank',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7877,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Amending the Relations',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/india-bangladesh-s-jaishankar-narendra-modi-7218606/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Friend in deed</strong></a> which was published in the Indian Express on 08/03/2021. It talks about Bangladesh as a key partner to India in various fields and the recent areas of conflicts and cooperations between them.</p>
</div>
<p>For India, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bangladesh</strong> </a>holds importance as a key partner in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South Asian region</strong></a> and in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indo-pacific-trilateral-dialogue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>. It is also an important part of <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India's Act East Policy</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First' policy.</strong></a></p>
<p>Despite the strategic significance and several areas of cooperation, a lot of conflicts persist between India and Bangladesh..</p>
<p>Maintaining ties with a country of such great importance becomes even more crucial when China is already asserting its dominance and intervening in India&rsquo;s relations with its neighbouring countries.</p>
<h3>Recent Areas of Cooperation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bilateral Ties:</strong> The year 2021 marks the<strong> 50<sup>th</sup> year</strong> of the establishment of bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India will also be visiting the country for the<strong> centenary celebrations of Father of the Nation,</strong> Mujibur Rehman.</li>
<li>The Bangladesh Army contingent had also participated in the Republic Day 2021.</li>
<li>Moreover, India's commitment to remove non-tariff barriers has reset the positive course of bilateral ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Swarnim Vijay Varsh:</strong> As part of the 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' (50<sup>th</sup> year of independence), Indian Naval Ships are scheduled to make their first visit to the Mongla port in Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The indigenously developed <strong>Sumedha</strong> (Offshore Patrol vessel) and<strong> Kulish</strong> (guided missile corvette) will be heading to the port to commemorate the day.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Major Progress:</strong> A trial run of container cargo has been conducted through Bangladesh&rsquo;s Chattogram (Chittagong) port to Agartala<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Two new protocol routes to inland waterways have been added connecting Tripura with the national waterways through Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Maitri Setu:</strong> The PM of India will inaugurate &lsquo;Maitri Setu&rsquo; bridge built over the Feni river which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The name &lsquo;Maitri Setu&rsquo; symbolizes growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Train and Bus Routes:</strong> In December 2020, rail connectivity between <strong>Haldibari</strong> in West Bengal and <strong>Chilahati</strong> in Bangladesh was resumed after almost 55 years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two countries are now working out the modalities to open up a bus route between <strong>Dhaka</strong> and <strong>Siliguri</strong> (WB).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Obstacles in the Relation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CAA and NRC:</strong> An enormous reserve of goodwill for India exists in Bangladesh for historical, linguistic as well as cultural links. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, a few recent courses of action such as the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> in Assam and <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship Amendment Act</strong></a> have casted shadow on the ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Disputes:</strong> The issues shared resources of the two countries such as the waters of the river <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/trans-boundary-water-conflicts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Teesta</strong> </a>are taking too long to get resolved. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sharing these waters with Bangladesh has been a long-pending promise by Delhi to Dhaka.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The China Aspect:</strong> Currently, Bangladesh is an active partner of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/obor-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a> that India has not signed up to.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a<strong> major recipient of Chinese military inventory,</strong> including submarines.</li>
<li>Moreover in 2020, China has promised to enhance support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s infrastructure projects as a "development partner".</li>
<li>Bangladesh had also sought a loan of about USD 1 billion from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China to develop the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Killing of Bangladeshi Nationals:</strong> There have been increased incidents of killings of Bangladesh nationals in 2020. These incidents of killings were the highest within a decade.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Criminal activities are responsible for the killings along the India-Bangladesh border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Strengthening Ties with the Developing Bangladesh:</strong> Bangladesh is now basking in a new self-confidence because of its spectacular economic performance even during the pandemic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Deepening relationship with Bangladesh has become a necessity in the face of shifting geo-economics. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The country, with its growing economic success provides a vital partnership in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Moreover, India and Bangladesh share the fifth-longest land boundary in the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is important for India to maintain a positive working relationship with Bangladesh to bolster security and border management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Resolving the Water Issues:</strong> The two countries share 54 transboundary rivers, and water management is the key to prosperity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Teesta project is important and urgent from India&rsquo;s point of view, so it is crucial to solve it as soon as possible.</li>
<li>India must implement all its assurances in a time-bound manner otherwise the latent anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh could threaten the friendly ties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimising Chinese Influence:</strong> With the ongoing India-China conflict, both of them seek to expand their influence in Bangladesh, but so far China has offered the best card to Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh is in need of more foreign funds and assistance which it will accept either from India or China, it is India who must come forward and act first in order to counter China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Possible Cooperations:</strong> The area where the two countries can collaborate is the north east in the agricultural and agro-products sector. .<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agriculture has game-changing potential in terms of relations of the two countries.</li>
<li>Bilateral cooperation in this sector can pave the way to overcome the current economic challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has a stake in Bangladesh not only for the security of its eastern borders but also for other strategic advantages. Therefore, it cannot afford to let go of the recently achieved opportunity to break away from the past trajectory and establish new contours of engagement with Bangladesh. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government needs to be constantly mindful of the significance of a good relationship with Bangladesh. Else, it may be all too easy to lose the moment and pave the way for China&rsquo;s inroads in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Bangladesh is a &ldquo;key partner&rdquo; to India not only in South Asia but also in Indo-Pacific region. Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
		'posturl' => 'amending-the-relations',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7867,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India - Sweden Virtual Summit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Indian Prime Minister held a <strong>Virtual Summit</strong> with the Prime Minister of Sweden to discuss bilateral issues and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Summit provided an opportunity to discuss the international situation and response to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19#:~:text=Covid%2D19%20pandemic%20is%20a,crises%20in%20recent%20human%20history." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> as well as regional and global issues of mutual importance including climate action, sustainable development, gender equality, counter-terrorism and disaster resilient infrastructure, among others.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615035039_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615035039_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights of the Summit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Economic Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the <strong>launch of a second joint industrial R&amp;D call on Smart and Sustainable Cities</strong>, Transport Systems, Clean Technologies and Digitalization and Internet of Things under <strong>India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research &amp; Development Programme.</strong></li>
<li>Confirmed the ambition to scale up bilateral research and innovation on <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-australia-circular-economy-hackathon#:~:text=Meaning%3A%20It%20is%20an%20economy,as%20a%20source%20of%20energy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Circular Economy</strong></a> including the themes of Health and Life Sciences and Waste to Wealth during 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Other Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the creation of a <strong>Sweden-India Health Hub at AIIMS-Jodhpur.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Noted advances in hydrogen research and their possible applications</strong>, i.e. in the Energy and other key industries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation at Multilateral Forums:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed Sweden&rsquo;s decision to join the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Sweden <strong>congratulated India on its eighth term as an elected member of the UN Security Council for 2021-2022.</strong></li>
<li>Reaffirmed the <strong>importance of the urgent reform of the UN Security</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, including its expansion not only to sustain credibility of multilateralism but also to deliver on the several serious common challenges facing humanity.</li>
<li>India <strong>thanked Sweden for its support to India&rsquo;s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.</strong></li>
<li>India <strong>congratulated Sweden on assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the USA re-entry into the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris agreement</strong></a> which gives new momentum to global climate action ahead of <strong>COP 26</strong> to be held in <strong>Glasgow, UK.</strong></li>
<li>Agreed to continue their outreach to expand the membership of the<strong> Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT).</strong></li>
<li>Agreed further to intensify their collaboration within the framework of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Arctic Council</strong> </a>to address global environmental protection and combating climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Welcomed the finalization of the <strong>General Security Agreement in 2019</strong> on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, enabling a comprehensive partnership in all defence sectors.</li>
<li>Indian Prime Minister <strong>invited Swedish defence firms to participate in the "Make in India programme&rdquo;, especially in the two Defence Production Corridors</strong> in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India - Sweden Relations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Political Relations:</strong> The first <strong>India-Nordic Summit</strong> took place in the year 2018.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The King and Queen of Sweden gave a Royal Visit to India in December, 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic and Commercial relations:</strong> The bilateral trade between two countries presently stands around USD 2 billion. After China and Japan, India is Sweden's third largest trade partner in Asia.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The main items of <strong>Indian exports to Sweden</strong> are articles of apparel, clothing accessories; textiles yarn, fabrics, made-ups; manufactures of metals; road vehicles; general industrial machinery and equipment.</li>
<li>The main items of <strong>Indian imports from Sweden</strong> are pulp and waste paper; road vehicles; paper and paper board, general industrial machinery and equipment etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Being a member of <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union</strong></a>, Sweden can play an important role in India&rsquo;s partnership with the European Union and EU countries.</li>
<li>The close relations will <strong>further the values of democracy</strong>, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>First India-Nordic Summit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was held in April, 2018.</li>
<li><strong>India</strong> and five Nordic countries - <strong>Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark</strong> held the summit to deepen cooperation.</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Nordic for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Discussion of key issues of <strong>security, economic growth and climate change.</strong></li>
<li>India can imitate the <strong>Nordic approach</strong> to innovation systems, characterised by a strong collaboration between public sector, private sector and academia.</li>
<li>In areas like <strong>clean technologies, maritime solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, life-sciences and agriculture</strong>, Nordic solutions can be useful.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Leadership Group on Industry Transition</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) gathers countries and companies that are committed to action to achieve the <strong>Paris Agreement</strong>.</li>
<li>It was launched by the <strong>governments of Sweden and India at the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/un-climate-action-summit-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Climate Action Summit</a></strong> in September 2019 and is supported by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/davos-dialogue-world-economic-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum.</strong></a></li>
<li>LeadIT members subscribe to the notion that energy-intensive industry can and must progress on low-carbon pathways, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1702753" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'india-sweden-virtual-summit',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7865,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Indian merchants have almost entirely stopped signing new <strong>export contracts</strong> with Iranian buyers due to caution about<strong> Iran&rsquo;s falling rupee reserves</strong> with Indian banks.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier in 2020, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India is no longer involved in the Farzad-B gas field project of Iran.</strong></a> The reasons included <strong>policy changes by the Iranian government, Iran&rsquo;s uncertain finances, </strong>and<strong> the USA sanctions situation.</strong></li>
<li>In 2020, Iran also passed a bill allowing the government to slash four zeros from the Rial and authorizing its replacement with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/currency-change-in-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>another basic unit of currency called the toman (redenomination).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615029906_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615029906_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Falling Reserves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran&rsquo;s rupee reserves in India&rsquo;s <strong>UCO and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rediscovering-development-banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IDBI Bank</a>,</strong> the two lenders <strong>authorised to facilitate rupee trade,</strong> have depleted significantly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-reimposes-sanctions-on-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>USA sanctions</strong></a>, <strong>Iran is unable to use US dollars</strong> to transact oil sales.</li>
<li>Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, but <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iran-oil-import-waiver-lifted" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India stopped buying Tehran&rsquo;s oil in May 2019 after a US sanctions waiver expired.</strong></a></li>
<li>Iran <strong>continued using its rupees to buy goods</strong> from India, but <strong>after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran&rsquo;s rupee reserves have fallen.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Iran&rsquo;s reserves have reduced significantly and will be over soon probably because trade has stopped.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Apprehension of Exporters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exporters are<strong> not sure whether they would be paid on time</strong> for new shipments and they are avoiding dealing with Iran since payments are getting delayed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Falling Indian Exports:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India's overall exports to Iran <strong>fell 42% in 2020</strong> from a year ago to USD 2.2 billion, the <strong>lowest in over a decade.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> fall is continuing in 2021</strong> and in January this year exports more than halved from a year ago to <strong>USD 100.20 million.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Growing Influence of China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently signed deals between Iran and China will<strong> vastly expand Chinese presence</strong> in banking, telecommunications, ports, railways and dozens of other projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Saving India's Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>China Iran strategic partnership</strong> fructifying USD 400 billion deal may be an impediment for Indian entry routes into Afghanistan through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chabahar</strong></a> and further connectivity to<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-central-asia-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC)</strong></a>, although Iran has not given any signals of disruption of these projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Role in the Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maintaining ties with Iran even as it forges a new relationship with Saudi Arabia and Israel is critical for<strong> its balancing policy in West Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Avoiding Sectarian Tension:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since <strong>India is home to sizable populations of both Shia and Sunni Muslims</strong> and seeks to isolate itself from any <strong>sectarian tensions</strong> in the region, India should do well to neither completely break off ties with Iran nor go against the United States outright.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Energy security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has stopped purchasing Iranian oil, which accounts for around <strong>90% of its imports from the Islamic nation.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India was Iran's<strong> leading oil client</strong> after China until <strong>mid-2018.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Peaceful Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India, having made significant investments in Afghanistan, will always hope for an Afghan elected, Afghan led, Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process and a popular democratic government in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>However, India has to be watchful of<strong> Iran - Pakistan- China axis</strong> developing in the neighbourhood of Afghanistan, with tentacles in the form of terror groups inside it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan's Influence:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan is very active in the Middle-east. Using the platform of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)</strong></a> and making connections with the particular Arab countries, Pakistan is trying to get support on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-provincial-status-to-gilgit-baltistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kashmir issue.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2019, New Delhi seems to have weighed in favor of Indo-USA ties by deciding to halt oil imports from Iran. However, it will have to find a way, either by persuading Washington to grant an exemption or by circumventing USA sanctions like it did in 2012-13, to continue its relationship with Iran in order to <strong>secure its energy supply</strong> and its regional foreign policy objectives.</li>
<li>India is very <strong>reliant upon Middle East oil and gas</strong> and must maintain cordial relations with most of the major suppliers, including <strong>Iran,</strong> UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Iraq.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/as-irans-rupee-reserves-drop-traders-almost-halt-exports/article33991532.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'falling-rupee-reserves-of-iran',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	},
	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7851,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Bangladesh Bilateral Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister visited Bangladesh for a bilateral meet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This meeting comes ahead of <strong>Indian Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Bangladesh</strong> scheduled in March 2021.</li>
<li>Earlier a 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces has participated in the 72<sup>nd</sup> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/republic-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Republic Day</strong></a> parade, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/50-years-of-india-bangladesh-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>commemorating 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614936692_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614936692_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bangladesh&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Resolution of Problems:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Problems between neighbouring countries should be resolved <strong>through discussions and negotiations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prioritising Each Others Benefit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Need to focus on possible ways to materialise commitments and accommodate each other&rsquo;s priorities in a mutually beneficial manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation During Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh <strong>acknowledged</strong> the collaborative initiative of the two countries in implementing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-vaccine-diplomacy#:~:text=The%20vaccination%20drive%20in%20India,India%20who%20cannot%20afford%20it." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>vaccination programme</strong></a> against the ongoing pandemic.</li>
<li>Bangladesh purchased the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid</strong></a> vaccine from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covishield-and-covaxin-approved-for-restricted-use" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Serum Institute of India.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh is the<strong> largest recipient of 9 million doses</strong> of Made in India vaccine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Multidimensional Relationship:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both countries are committed to expand their relationship in all dimensions, ranging from <strong>security, trade, transport and connectivity, culture, people-to-people ties, energy,</strong> joint development of our <strong>shared resources and defence.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Congratulated Bangladesh :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On its graduation from the <strong>Least Developed Country (LDC)</strong> status.</li>
<li>Bangladesh has been on the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> </strong>(UN) Least Developed Countries list since 1975.</li>
<li>Bangladesh fulfilled all the criteria necessary for its elevation to a developing country in 2018.</li>
<li>Therefore the <strong>UN</strong> has recommended <strong>graduation of Bangladesh from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC).</strong></li>
<li>Once it receives the final recommendation, <strong>Bangladesh will formally graduate to the developing nation bracket in 2026.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More than Strategic Partners:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India-Bangladesh relations transcend strategic partnership, and <strong>bonding of both the countries is central</strong> to the realisation of a dream of a <strong>peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Continued Interaction During Covid:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Despite the Covid<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> pandemic</strong></a>, interactions and consultations continued unabated such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India and Bangladesh had a Virtual Summit in December 2020.</strong></a></li>
<li>A Joint Consultative Commission between the two Foreign Ministers in September 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Teesta Issue:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India and Bangladesh would have a meeting of Water Resources secretaries to discuss the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-involvement-in-teesta-river#:~:text=India%2DBangladesh%20Teesta%20Dispute%3A,Barrage%20near%20their%20mutual%20border." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Teesta</strong> </a>issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development of Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is keen to <strong>focus on the development of connectivity</strong> with Bangladesh and beyond for next 20 years to change the <strong>region's geo-economic scenario.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh Central to India&rsquo;s Policies:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh was central to India's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Neighbourhood First' policy</strong> </a>and increasingly relevant to the country's <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-act-east-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Act East Policy</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Bangladesh as a <strong>key neighbour and a valued partner</strong> not only in South Asia but also in the broader <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Progress on Ground Situation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Practical progress has been made on the ground. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Conducting a <strong>trial run of container cargo</strong> through<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chattogram port</strong></a> to Agartala.</li>
<li>Adding two new protocol routes to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sonamura-daudkandi-inland-waterway-route#:~:text=Key%20Points,Waterways%20of%20India%20through%20Bangladesh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>inland waterways connecting Tripura to the national waterways.</strong></a></li>
<li>Handing over <strong>10 broad gauge locomotives.</strong></li>
<li>Forming a <strong>Joint venture in the energy sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A year after the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-national-register-of-citizens-nrc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019-National Register of Citizens (NRC)</strong></a> issue strained the robust ties between the two countries,<strong> quiet diplomacy appears to have worked.</strong> India must keep up the partnership that allows for <strong>economic growth and improved developmental parameters</strong> for both countries.</li>
<li>Deepening <strong>relationship with Bangladesh</strong> has become a<strong> necessity in the face of shifting geo-economics.</strong> Bangladesh, with its growing economic success provides a vital partnership in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The two countries share <strong>54 transboundary rivers,</strong> and water management is the key to prosperity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh-India relations have reached a stage of maturity.</strong> There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on <strong>cooperation, coordination and consolidation.</strong></li>
<li>It is important to address specific issues like Teesta and to respond to Dhaka&rsquo;s call for help on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rohingyas-at-isolated-bangladesh-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rohingya</strong> </a>issue.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-reaches-out-to-dhaka-for-ties-beyond-strategic-partnership-7214715/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'india-bangladesh-bilateral-meet',
		'publishon' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenTime) {},
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'[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]' => 'articles'
	
	}
]
$tags = [
	(int) 0 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'id' => (int) 339,
		'tag' => 'Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests',
		'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

Achievers Corner

Prelims

Mains & Interview

Current Affairs

Drishti Specials

Free Downloads

Test Series

Videos

Tag Search Results

You searched “Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests”. Your tag search matches the following results: