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China-India Agreed to Disengage

Why in News Recently, during the 12th round of discussions between the senior military commanders of India and China to resolve the standoff in...

03 Aug 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
India-Bangladesh Commercial Railway Link Restored

Why in News Recently, Bangladesh and India started regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route after...

03 Aug 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Provincial Status to Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan

Why in News Recently, it has been reported that, Pakistani authorities have finalised a law (26th Constitutional Amendment Bill), to award...

02 Aug 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
India's Options In Afghanistan

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28 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Joint Actions in Afghanistan: China-Pakistan

Why in News Recently, China and Pakistan have decided to launch Joint Actions in Afghanistan to stop the war-torn country from becoming a hotbed for...

28 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day

Why in News Recently, India in partnership with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrated Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day 2021 on 24th...

26 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
G7’s Build Back Better World Initiative

Why in News The G7 (Group of Seven) Countries proposed a ‘Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative’ at the recent 47th G7 summit to...

17 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan

Why in News The Union Minister of Finance of India along with her counterpart, the Finance Minister of Bhutan has jointly launched Bharat Interface...

14 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
US Withdrawal And Regional Dynamics

This article is based on Regional powers and the Afghanistan question which was published in The Indian Express on 13/07/2021. It talks about the...

13 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
India's Tibet Policy

Why in News Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India. The Dalai Lama and...

13 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA)

Why in News India and Nepal have signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) to the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004. It will allow all...

10 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Road Ahead for Afghanistan after US Exit

Why in News Recently, the US troops departed from the biggest airbase in Afghanistan after the 20-year-long war, effectively ending their military...

05 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
7th Edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Why in News Recently, the 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was hosted by the French Navy at Réunion island. It is a...

02 Jul 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Baihetan Dam: World’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam

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29 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
New Chinese Militia Units for High Altitudes

Why in News Recently, Chinese Military has raised new militia units comprising local Tibetan youth for high-altitude warfare. Key...

28 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
FATF Retains Pakistan on Grey List

Why in News The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to retain Pakistan on “increased monitoring list’. “Increased...

26 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Tax Inspectors Without Borders Programme

Why in News Recently, the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the...

25 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
India-US: PASSEX

Why in News Indian naval ships will join maritime patrol and other aircraft to participate in a Passage Exercise or PASSEX with the US Navy’s...

23 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
The Big Picture: Maritime Security Challenges

Why in News Recently, the Defence Minister of India addressed the 8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus. The ADMM-Plus is a platform...

22 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood
Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy

Why in News Recently, India has signed an agreement extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to Sri Lanka for projects in the Solar Energy...

17 Jun 2021 India and its Neighbourhood

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		'article_id' => (int) 9074,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'China-India Agreed to Disengage',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, during the <strong>12<sup>th</sup> round of discussions between the senior military commanders</strong> of India and China to resolve the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>standoff in eastern Ladakh</strong></a>, both have <strong>agreed in principle to disengage at a key patrol point</strong> in eastern Ladakh.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-not-leaving-hot-springs-gogra-post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>11<sup>th</sup> Corps Commander-level talks were</strong></a> held in April 2021, when the<strong> two sides could not even agree on a joint statement.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627985796_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627985796_pasted image 0 (1).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>Current Disengagement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The agreement on <strong>Patrolling Point (PP)17A (Gogra post)</strong> was reached but <strong>China is not inclined to move back from PP15 (Hot Springs area);</strong> it continues to insist that it is holding its own side of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Line of Actual Control (LAC)</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The disengagement at PP17A is likely to follow the process that was adopted for PP14 in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Galwan Valley</strong></a> and <strong>Pangong Tso</strong> where a time-frame was set for withdrawal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both sides<strong> agreed to resolve these remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols</strong> and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations.</li>
<li>They also agreed that in the interim they will continue their<strong> effective efforts in ensuring stability along the LAC in the Western sector</strong> and jointly maintain peace and tranquility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Patrolling Point 15 and 17A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Along the LAC between India and China,<strong> Indian Army has been given certain locations that its troops have access to patrol</strong> the area under its control.</li>
<li>These points are <strong>known as patrolling points, or PPs</strong>, and are decided by the <strong>China Study Group (CSG).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CSG was <strong>set-up in 1976</strong>, when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, and is the apex decision-making body on China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Barring certain areas, like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depsang-plains" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Depsang Plains</strong></a>, these patrolling points are on the LAC, and troops access these points to assert their control over the territory.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is an important exercise since the <strong>boundary between India and China is not yet officially demarcated.</strong></li>
<li><strong>LAC</strong> is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PP15 and PP17A are two of the 65 patrolling points in Ladakh along the LAC.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both these points are in an area where India and China largely agree on the alignment of the LAC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>PP15 is located in an area known as the <strong>Hot Springs</strong>, while PP17A is near an area called the <strong>Gogra post.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Location of Hot Springs and Gogra Post:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hot Springs is just north of the Chang Chenmo river</strong> and <strong>Gogra Post is east of the point</strong> where the river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.</li>
<li>The <strong>area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains</strong>, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and south east of Galwan Valley.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Hot Springs and Gogra Post :</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The area lies close to <strong>Kongka Pass</strong>, one of the main passes, which, according to China, marks the boundary between India and China.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s claim of the international boundary lies significantly east, as it includes the entire <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/aksai-chin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aksai Chin</strong></a> area as well.</li>
<li>Hot Springs and Gogra Post are <strong>close to the boundary between two of the most historically disturbed provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet) of China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Friction Points:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from PP15 and PP17A, PP14 in Galwan Valley, and<strong> Finger 4 on the north bank of Pangong Tso</strong> and <strong>Rezang La and Rechin La on the south bank of Chang Chenmo river</strong>, were identified as friction points.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Pangong Tso lake</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pangong Lake is located in the <strong>Union Territory of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/importance-of-ladakh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ladakh</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It is situated at a <strong>height of almost 4,350m</strong> and is the<strong> world&rsquo;s highest saltwater lake.</strong></li>
<li>Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Galwan Valley</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The valley refers to the land that sits between steep mountains that buffet the <strong>Galwan River.</strong></li>
<li>The river has its <strong>source in Aksai Chin</strong>, on China&rsquo;s side of the LAC, and it flows from the east to Ladakh, where it <strong>meets the Shyok river on India&rsquo;s side of the LAC.</strong></li>
<li>The valley is <strong>strategically located between Ladakh in the west and Aksai Chin in the east</strong>, which is currently controlled by China as part of its Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Chang Chenmo River</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Chang Chenmo River or Changchenmo River<strong> is a tributary of the Shyok River, part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-indus-water-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indus River system</a></strong>.</li>
<li>It is at the southern edge of the disputed Aksai Chin region and north of the Pangong Lake basin.</li>
<li>The <strong>source of Chang Chenmo is near the Lanak Pass.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Kongka Pass</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Kongka Pass or Kongka La is a <strong>low mountain pass over a hill that intrudes into the Chang Chenmo Valley.</strong> It is in the disputed India-China border area in Ladakh.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Karakoram Range</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also <strong>known as Krishnagiri</strong> which is <strong>situated in the northernmost range of the Trans-Himalayan ranges.</strong> It forms India's frontiers with Afghanistan and China.</li>
<li>It <strong>extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 km</strong>. It is a range with lofty peaks [elevation 5,500 m and above].</li>
<li>Some of the peaks are more than 8,000 metre above sea level. <strong>K2 (8,611 m)[Godwin Austen or Qogir] is the second highest peak in the world</strong> and the highest peak in the Indian Union.</li>
<li>The <strong>Ladakh Plateau lies to the north-east of the Karakoram Range</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-not-leaving-hot-springs-gogra-post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9057,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Bangladesh Commercial Railway Link Restored',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Bangladesh and India started <strong>regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route after over 50 years,</strong> which will strengthen railway connectivity and bilateral trade between the two countries.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route that was operational till 1965.</li>
<li>Another rail link, between<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agartala-akhaura-rail-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Agartala-Akhaura</strong></a>, is scheduled to open by the end of 2021.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627973525_image9.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627973525_image9.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>After the Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational</strong> between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) <strong>until 1965.</strong></li>
<li>Presently, there are <strong>Five rail links</strong> between Bangladesh and India that are<strong> operational.</strong></li>
<li>They are Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India)-Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India)-Birol (Bangladesh), Haldibari (India)-Chilahati (Bangladesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Haldibari-Chilahati route is <strong>expected to enhance the connectivity to Assam and West Bengal from Bangladesh.</strong></li>
<li>It will enhance rail network access to the main ports and dry ports to<strong> support the growth in regional trade</strong> to encourage economic and social development of the region.</li>
<li>Common people and businessmen of both countries will be able to reap the benefit of both goods and passenger traffic, once passenger trains are planned in this route.</li>
<li>Economic activities (including tourist activities) of these South Asian countries will also be benefitted from this new rail link.</li>
<li>The 75-kilometre long track <strong>will also help better integrate the rest of the country with the Siliguri corridor,</strong> also known as the<strong> 'Chicken's Neck.'</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The corridor connects India with the North-eastern states, which has witnessed growing aggressiveness from another neighbouring country of China in recent times.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Indo-Bangladesh Ties</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Historical Ties:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fifty years ago, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/bangladesh-liberation-war-1971" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bangladesh Liberation War</strong></a> in 1971 had added the colours of victory for India as it led the charge towards the formation of the new nation of Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Defence Cooperation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Joint exercises:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sampriti-ix" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAMPRITI</strong> </a>(Army).</li>
<li><strong>TABLE TOP</strong> (Air).</li>
<li><strong>IN-BN CORPAT</strong> (Navy).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-bongosagar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Exercise Bongosagar</strong></a> (Navy).</li>
<li><strong>SAMVEDNA</strong> (Multinational Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and UAE)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Border Management:</strong> India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Relations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Bangladesh is India&rsquo;s largest trading partner in the sub-continent</strong> with the total bilateral trade between the two nations <strong>standing at $9.5 billion (2019-20), down compared to the previous fiscal (2018-19),</strong> having crossed $10 billion.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s exports</strong> to Bangladesh account for <strong>more than 85%</strong> of the total bilateral trade.</li>
<li>In December 2020, to further boost the bilateral trade cooperation, an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh-virtual-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Bangladesh CEO&rsquo;s Forum</strong> </a>was launched.</li>
<li>Bangladesh has appreciated the Duty-Free and Quota Free access given to Bangladeshi exports to India under <strong>South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)</strong> since 2011.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cooperation in Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In March 2021, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bharat-bangla-maitri-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maitri Setu&ndash;a 1.9 km bridge</strong></a> built over Feni river joining Sabroom in India and Ramgarh in Bangladesh was inaugurated.</li>
<li>Protocol on<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protocol-on-inland-water-transit-and-trade#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Protocol%20on,transit%20and%20inter%20country%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Inland Water Transit and Trade</strong> </a>(PIWTT).</li>
<li><strong>Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement</strong> is in pipeline.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Partnership on Multilateral forums:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation</a></strong> (SAARC).</li>
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation</strong></a> (BIMSTEC).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association</strong></a> (IORA).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Developments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Line of Credit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LOC) to Bangladesh in the last 8 years <strong>amounting to $8 billion for development of infrastructure</strong> in sectors including roads, railways, shipping and ports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bangladesh is the biggest recipient of<strong> Made-in-India <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> vaccine doses,</strong> accounting for <strong>16% of the total supplies.</strong></li>
<li>India also offered collaboration in therapeutics and partnership in vaccine production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emerging Disputes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bangladesh has already raised concerns over roll out of 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, an exercise carried out to identify genuine Indian citizens living in Assam and weed out illegal Bangladeshis.</li>
<li>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 Delhi has not signed up to.</li>
<li>In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a major recipient of Chinese military inventory, including submarines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There should be efforts to resolve pending issues concerning sharing of waters, resolving continental shelf issues in the Bay of Bengal, bringing down border incidents to zero, and managing the media.</li>
<li>Regular exchanges between younger entrepreneurs and civil society based on areas such as culture, music, sports, films, and sharing of best practices in sustainable development, human capital development, gender equitable growth, amongst others, needs to be pursued.</li>
<li>Increasing tourist footfall at select border locations from both sides and facilitating a mechanism of exchange through the creation of a common entertainment zone at the border can help strengthen the camaraderie.</li>
<li>There is a need to jointly work towards a new paradigm of security at the shared borders. A paradigm that enables borders to be not merely thick lines which demarcate national boundaries but act as &ldquo;connector zones&rdquo; for inclusive growth and prosperity.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/commercial-services-restored-on-railway-link-between-india-and-bangladesh-7433513/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9052,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Provincial Status to Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, it has been reported that, Pakistani authorities have finalised a law <strong>(26<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Bill),</strong> to award <strong>provisional provincial status to strategically located Gilgit-Baltistan.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627899909_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627899909_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Gilgit-Baltistan:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/disputed-territories-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>disputed territories</strong></a> of India.</li>
<li>It is a chunk of<strong> high-altitude territory</strong> located on the<strong> north western corner of the Union Territory of Ladakh.</strong></li>
<li>It is located strategically as it <strong>borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background of Gilgit-Baltistan Dispute:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The region is<strong> claimed by India as part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu &amp; Kashmir</strong> as it existed in 1947 at its accession to India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Maharaja Hari Singh,</strong> the last Dogra ruler of J&amp;K, had signed the Instrument of Accession with India on 26<sup>th</sup> October 1947.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, it has been under <strong>Pakistan&rsquo;s control since 4<sup>th</sup> November, 1947,</strong> following the <strong>invasion of Kashmir by tribal militias</strong> and the Pakistan army.</li>
<li>Following this invasion, India moved to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-security-council-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Security Council</strong></a> to raise the issue of Pakistan&rsquo;s invasion, on 1<sup>st</sup> January 1948.</li>
<li>The UN Security Council passed a resolution:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Calling for <strong>Pakistan to withdraw from all of Jammu and Kashmir</strong> and then <strong>India had to reduce its forces to the minimum level</strong> following which a <strong>plebiscite</strong> would be held to ascertain people&rsquo;s wishes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, <strong>no withdrawal</strong> was ever carried out and it remains a point of contention between two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Status:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gilgit-Baltistan is an <strong>autonomous region</strong> now and after the bill is passed, it will become the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> province of the country.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Currently, Pakistan has four provinces namely Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Presently, it has been ruled mostly by<strong> executive orders.</strong></li>
<li>Until 2009, the region was simply called <strong>Northern Areas.</strong></li>
<li>It got its present name only with the <strong>Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009,</strong> which replaced the Northern Areas Legislative Council with the Legislative Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Making Gilgit-Baltistan a Province:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost territory administered by Pakistan. It is<strong> Pakistan&rsquo;s only territorial frontier, and thus a land route, with China.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Gilgit-Baltistan region is at the centre of the USD 65 billion<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec#:~:text=22%20members%20currently.-,China%20Pakistan%20Economic%20Corridor,and%20other%20infrastructure%20development%20projects." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> China Pakistan Economic Corridor</strong></a> (CPEC) Infrastructure development plan.</li>
<li>The CPEC has made the region vital for both countries. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China&rsquo;'s ambitious multi-billion-dollar <strong>Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Some experts on India-Pakistan relations also assert that Pakistan&rsquo;s decision might have come from India&rsquo;s reassertion of its claims after the 5<sup>th</sup> August, 2019 <a href="/blog/implications-of-j&amp;k-reorganisation-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reorganisation of Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Stand:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India maintains the Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it.</li>
<li>India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.</li>
<li>India has protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-finalises-bill-to-grant-new-status-to-gilgit-baltistan-report/article35670084.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 9007,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'India's Options In Afghanistan',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/evaluating-indias-options-in-afghanistan/article35549295.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Evaluating India's options in Afghanistan</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 27/07/2021. It talks about the US&rsquo;s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the option available for India in order to tackle the challenges emerging after that.</p>
</div>
<p>It is not a coincidence that the United States of America (US) is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-withdrawal-and-regional-dynamics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>exiting Afghanistan</strong></a> at the same time that the focus of its foreign policy is shifting to East Asia.</p>
<p>There is growing consensus that the USA, instead of staying engaged in the lost wars should now urgently prepare itself for the unfolding geopolitical contest with China.</p>
<p>Defeating the Taliban and nation-building were part of the <strong>neoconservative ideology</strong> (promotion of democracy and interventionism in international affairs) of the US, which has evidently failed.</p>
<p>However, the US can abandon the Afghan government and exit the theatre, but India cannot. It has to protect its investments, prevent Afghanistan from becoming another safe haven for anti-India terrorist groups, and also check Pakistan deepening its influence in Kabul.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>US&rsquo;s Changed Priority </strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Changing Priorities From Middle East to Indo-Pacific:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The USA may have retreated from Afghanistan as part of <strong>a grand strategy to take on China in maritime Asia,</strong> in which it needs India&rsquo;s involvement, and India might find it tempting to join the ranks, especially after China&rsquo;s aggression on the Line of Actual Control.</li>
<li>America&rsquo;s strategic response to China&rsquo;s rise is its <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific strategy</strong></a>, which is aimed at containing China&rsquo;s rise and challenging its high-functioning single party dictatorship.</li>
<li>The US wants India to play a key role in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-leaders-summit-quad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quad bloc</a>.</strong> But there is one problem. <strong>India,</strong> unlike the other members, is the only <strong>continental Asian power</strong> in the Quad, which shares a contested land border with China and is vulnerable to the geopolitical changes in the Eurasian landmass.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ending Endless Wars:</strong> After the costly and prolonged military interventions in Afghanistan, the US has begun to see no more interest in resolving the conflict there.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Presence In Afghanistan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Barring a brief pause in the 1990s, India has historically enjoyed<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-afghan-policy-and-taliban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> good ties with Afghanistan</strong></a>, which go back to the <strong>1950 Treaty of Friendship.</strong></li>
<li>Indian interests and influence suffered when the Taliban, backed by Pakistan, captured Kabul in 1996.</li>
<li>But India was back in action as soon as the Taliban were ousted from power after the US invasion in 2001.</li>
<li>India has made huge investments and commitments ever since, which run into over USD 3 billion, and cultivated strong economic and defence ties with the Afghan government.</li>
<li>Now, it is again staring at uncertainty with the US pullback having effectively changed the balance of power in Afghanistan and the Taliban making rapid territorial gains.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627469991_image%200.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627469991_image 0.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Options In Afghanistan</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Talking with the Taliban:</strong> Talking to Taliban would allow India to seek security guarantees from the insurgents in return for continued development assistance or other pledges as well as explore the possibility of the Taliban&rsquo;s autonomy from Pakistan.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>At this point, <strong>talking to the Taliban looks inevitable.</strong> But India should not overlook the deep ties between Pakistan&rsquo;s security establishment and the Haqqani Network, a major faction within the Taliban.</li>
<li>The USA overlooked it while fighting the Taliban along with Pakistan, and it paid a heavy price for it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Taking Afghan Government in Confidence:</strong> There is no guarantee that India&rsquo;s quest for engagement with the Taliban would produce a desirable outcome. So India should broad-base its options. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While talking to the Taliban to protect its interests, India should also enhance aid to Afghanistan&rsquo;s legitimate government and security forces and work with other regional powers for long-term stability in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Support Afghan Military Forces:</strong> The Afghan military has some 200,000 battle-hardened soldiers, including the highly trained special forces. The only force that is standing up to the Taliban is the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India should urgently step up training Afghan forces and provide military hardware, intelligence and logistical and financial support so that Afghan military can continue to defend the cities.</li>
<li>India should also coordinate with other regional powers to support the Afghan government because if the government forces crumble before the Taliban, the prospects for a political settlement would be narrowed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Regional solution:</strong> There is a convergence of interests between India and three key regional players &mdash; China, Russia and Iran &mdash; in seeing a political settlement in Afghanistan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>None of these countries would like to see the Taliban taking over Afghan militarily, which means there would be an isolated Sunni Islamist regime in a country with fractured ethnic equations.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a need for cooperation from like minded countries on this front.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Short Term and Long Term Goal:</strong> India&rsquo;s<strong> immediate goal should be the safety and security of its personnel</strong> and investments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The long-term goal should be finding a <strong>political solution to the crisis.</strong> None of this can be achieved unless it works together with the regional powers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russian Support:</strong> Russia has cultivated links with the Taliban in recent years. India would need Russia&rsquo;s support in any form of direct engagement with the Taliban.</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Iran:</strong> Iran shares a long border with Afghanistan and has close resemblance of ethnic minorities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The original objective of India&rsquo;s <strong>Chabahar project</strong> in Iran was to create a direct access to Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.</li>
<li>This direct access is critical for India in all different scenarios &mdash; move supplies to Afghanistan in larger quantities, retain its presence in the event of a civil war or carry out covert operations if the Taliban take power by force.</li>
<li>However, the US's pressure on India is a roadblock in good relations between the two countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bonhomie With China:</strong> India should talk with China, with the objective of finding a political settlement and lasting stability in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>India, as would be impacted by the consequences of American withdrawal, has to work with Eurasian powers to protect its interests and stabilise Afghanistan. If India remains active and patient too, many opportunities could open up in the new Afghan phase.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f0fff1;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>After withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, India has to work with regional powers to protect its interests and stabilise Afghanistan. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8997,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Joint Actions in Afghanistan: China-Pakistan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently,<strong> China and Pakistan have decided to launch Joint Actions in Afghanistan</strong> to stop the war-torn country from becoming a hotbed for terrorism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The recent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-withdrawal-and-regional-dynamics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan</strong></a> has been matched by the swift <strong>advance of the Taliban across the nation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627460089_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627460089_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Joint Action:</strong> It has been outlined in <strong>five areas:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To <strong>avoid the expansion of war</strong> and prevent Afghanistan from falling into a full-scale civil war.</li>
<li>To <strong>promote the intra-Afghan negotiations between the government and the Taliban</strong> and establish &ldquo;a broad and inclusive political structure&rdquo;.</li>
<li>To resolutely <strong>combat terrorist forces</strong> and push all major forces in Afghanistan to draw a clear line against terrorism.</li>
<li>To<strong> promote cooperation among Afghanistan&rsquo;s neighbours</strong> and to explore the construction of a platform for cooperation among them.</li>
<li>To<strong> closely work on international fora</strong> on the Afghan issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Terrorism in Pakistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan is concerned over the <strong>Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),</strong> which has been waging an insurgency against the country for several years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rise in Uyghur Militants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is worried over the regrouping of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uighur-muslims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uyghur</strong></a> militants from Xinjiang, China who operate under the aegis of <strong>East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM),</strong> which Beijing alleges has links with Al-Qaeda.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The recently released 12<sup>th</sup> report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nation</strong></a> has <strong>confirmed the presence of the ETIM militants in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If the situation in Afghanistan further deteriorates, Pakistan as well as the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/obor-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</strong> </a>will be in danger. Also many other Chinese projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan will be in danger.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There was a recent<strong> bomb attack on a shuttle bus carrying Chinese engineers</strong> at Dasu area of Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan where a<strong> Chinese company is building a 4320-mw dam on the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-indus-water-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indus river</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India has opposed</strong> the CPEC, which <strong>passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),</strong> although China has pushed ahead with projects and stepped up its investments in PoK.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background of Situation in Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On <strong>11<sup>th</sup> September 2001, terrorist attacks (9/11) in America</strong> killed nearly 3,000 people.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Osama Bin Laden,</strong> the head of Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the man responsible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Taliban, radical Islamists who ran Afghanistan at that time, protected Bin Laden, and refused to hand him over. So, a month after 9/11, the <strong>US launched airstrikes against Afghanistan</strong> (Operation Enduring Freedom).</li>
<li>After the attacks, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)</strong></a> coalition troops declared war on Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The <strong>US</strong> dislodged the Taliban regime and<strong> established a transitional government in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>In July 2021, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/road-ahead-for-afghanistan-after-us-exit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>US troops departed</strong></a> from the biggest airbase in Afghanistan after the 20-year-long war, effectively ending their military operations in the country.</li>
<li>The US withdrawal has <strong>turned the balance of power in the battleground in favour of the Taliban.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Investments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Protecting its <strong>investments,</strong> which run into billions of rupees, in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Taliban:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Preventing</strong> a future<strong> Taliban regime</strong> from being a pawn of Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan's Terror Base:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Making sure that the <strong>Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups do not get support from the Taliban.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-afghan-policy-and-taliban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Afghan policy</strong></a> is at a major crossroads; to <strong>safeguard its assets there as well as to stay relevant</strong> in the unfolding &lsquo;great game&rsquo; in and around Afghanistan, <strong>India must fundamentally reset its Afghanistan policy.</strong></li>
<li>India needs to <strong>re-evaluate its decisions and be more omnidirectional in its approach</strong> to deal with all forces that are central to the future of Afghanistan.</li>
<li>India must, in its own national interest, <strong>begin &lsquo;open talks&rsquo; with the Taliban</strong> before it is too late. The time for hesitant, half-embarrassed backchannel parleys is over.</li>
<li>The <strong>changing political and security situation requires India to be more open</strong> to adapting its maximalist position and starting a dialogue with the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/china-pak-agree-to-launch-joint-actions-in-afghanistan-to-drive-out-terrorist-forces-chinese-fm-7423741/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8981,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India in partnership with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vesak-celebration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Buddhist Confederation (IBC)</strong></a> celebrated <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dharma-chakra-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day</a> 2021</strong> on 24<sup>th</sup> July 2021.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The day is also observed as <strong>Guru Poornima</strong> by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to their Gurus.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Guru Purnima</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the Hindu calendar, Guru Purnima generally <strong>falls on a full-moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadh.</strong></li>
<li>It is dedicated to Maharshi Veda Vyasa, the sage <strong>who is believed to have edited the sacred Hindu text, the Vedas and created the 18 Puranas, Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavatam.</strong></li>
<li>For Buddhists, <strong>the festival marks the first sermon of Lord Buddha,</strong> which is said to have been delivered at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, on this very day.</li>
<li>It is also believed to <strong>mark the onset of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monsoons.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>commemorates Buddha's first sermon</strong> to his <strong>first five ascetic disciples.</strong> He gave his first knowledge to the world after attaining enlightenment.</li>
<li>The day marks the establishment of <strong>the Sangha, on a full-moon day of the month of Asadha,</strong> in the Indian Sun calendar at the <strong>&lsquo;Deer Park',</strong> Ṛṣipatana in the current day <strong>Sarnath, near Varanasi, India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is also known as<strong> Esala Poya in Sri Lanka</strong> and Asanha Bucha in Thailand.</li>
<li>It is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/buddha-purnima" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Buddha Poornima or Vesak.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This teaching of <strong>Dhamma Chakka- PavattanaSutta (Pali)</strong> or Dharma chakra Pravartana Sutra (Sanskrit) is also known as the <strong>First Turning of Wheels of Dharma</strong> and comprises the <strong>Four Noble Truths</strong> and <strong>Noble Eightfold Path.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Four Noble Truths:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Suffering <strong>(dukkha)</strong> is the essence of the world.</li>
<li>Every suffering has a cause &ndash; <strong>Samudya.</strong></li>
<li>Suffering could be extinguished &ndash; <strong>Nirodha.</strong></li>
<li>It can be achieved by following the <strong>Atthanga Magga (Eightfold Path).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Eightfold Path:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627297326_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627297326_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa)</strong> for the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day<strong> lasting for three lunar months from July to October,</strong> during which they remain in a single place, generally in their <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mauryan-architecture-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>temples (Viharas/Chaityas)</strong></a> dedicated to intensive meditation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gautam Buddha:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He is believed to be the <strong>eighth of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu</strong> (Dashavatar).</li>
<li>He was born as <strong>Siddhartha Gautama in circa 563 BCE,</strong> in Lumbini and belonged to the<strong> Sakya clan.</strong></li>
<li>Gautam attained <strong>Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya, Bihar.</strong></li>
<li>Buddha gave his first sermon in the<strong> village of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.</strong></li>
<li>He died at the age of <strong>80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh.</strong> The event is known as <strong>Mahaparinibban or Mahaparinirvana.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The concept of <strong>ahimsa was its chief contribution.</strong> Later, it became one of the cherished values of our nation.</li>
<li>Its contribution to the<strong> art and architecture of India was notable.</strong> The stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut, and Gaya are wonderful pieces of architecture.</li>
<li>It <strong>promoted education through residential universities</strong> like those at <strong>Taxila, Nalanda, and Vikramasila.</strong></li>
<li>The language of Pali and other local languages developed through the teachings of <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Buddhism.</strong></a></li>
<li>It had also promoted the spread of Indian culture to other parts of Asia.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Buddhism&rsquo;s Relevance in Covid-19:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Buddha&rsquo;s teaching is relevant today when humanity faces the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong> </a>as the biggest challenge before it.<strong> Buddha's principles bind countries together,</strong> strengthening humanity.</li>
<li>Today, the nations of the world are also <strong>holding each other's hands and helping each other in the times of pandemic,</strong> following the <strong>path of service to humanity as shown by Buddha.</strong></li>
<li>Buddha&rsquo;s <strong>four noble truths and eightfold path can help understand the doctrine of Karma</strong> and can help in healing the world and make it a better place.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO&rsquo;s</a> Heritage Sites Related to Buddhism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar</li>
<li>Buddhist Monuments at <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/mauryan-art-and-architecture-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sanchi</strong></a>, MP</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maha-bodhi-temple-complex" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maha Bodhi Temple</strong></a> Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar</li>
<li><a href="/printpdf/ajanta-and-ellora-caves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ajanta Caves</strong></a> Aurangabad, Maharashtra.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-buddha-ashadha-purnima-address-7420041/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8896,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'G7’s Build Back Better World Initiative',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> G7 (Group of Seven)</strong> Countries proposed a <strong>&lsquo;Build Back Better World (B3W)</strong> initiative&rsquo; at the recent<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-g7-summit-1#:~:text=Group%20of%20Seven%20(G7),international%20security%20and%20energy%20policy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 47<sup>th</sup> G7 summit</strong> </a>to <strong>counter China&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Group of Seven</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an<strong> intergovernmental organisation</strong> that was formed <strong>in 1975.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>bloc meets annually</strong> to discuss<strong> issues of common interest</strong> like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.</li>
<li>The G7 countries are <strong>the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All the <strong>G7 countries and India</strong> are a part of <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">G20</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The G7 does <strong>not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.</strong> The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It <strong>aims to address the infrastructure investment deficit in developing and lower income countries -</strong> the<strong> space which has been increasingly captured by China</strong> through 2,600 BRI projects with trillions of dollars of investment. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>BRI projects are perceived as corrosive tactics or debt traps</strong> laid by China for its strategic dominance in trade, foreign policy and geopolitics in the world.</li>
<li>The<strong> overall focus is on developing transportation, logistics and communications, which would reduce trade and transaction cost for China&rsquo;s trade,</strong> give more market access to Chinese markets and ensure stable supply of energy and other resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This infrastructure plan is <strong>being led by the United States.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>B3W initiative will <strong>provide a transparent infrastructure partnership to help narrow about $40 trillion</strong> needed by developing nations by 2035.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It calls for spending<strong> hundreds of billions of dollars</strong> in collaboration with<strong> the private sector</strong> while<strong> adhering to climate standards and labour practices.</strong></li>
<li>However, the <strong>announcement is yet to be made about how exactly the plan would work or how much capital it would ultimately allocate.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s BRI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was <strong>launched in 2013.</strong> It involves <strong>development and investment initiatives</strong> that would<strong> stretch from Asia to Europe and beyond.</strong></li>
<li>More than 100 countries<strong> have signed agreements with China</strong> to cooperate in BRI projects like <strong>railways, ports, highways and other infrastructure.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Investment through BRI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since its inception, <strong>outward investment has been aggressive</strong> as China&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fdi-inflow-touches-82-bn-in-fy21" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)</strong></a> outflow to inflow ratio increased to 1 from around 0.34 during 2001-10.</li>
<li>In volume terms, the <strong>FDI outflow increased to an average of $140 billion in 2016-19 from an annual average $25 billion</strong> during 2001-10.</li>
<li>China is<strong> investing in Africa</strong> to lay a comprehensive transportation network. China has <strong>also signed various contacts with the East Asian region,</strong> mostly focusing on transportation, railways, roadways and waterways, for better integration between China and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN countries.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Important Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Bangladesh-China, the Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) and the Colombo Port City Project in Sri Lanka, amongst others, are important BRI projects.</li>
<li>China has a plan to complete 4,000 km of railways and 10,000 km of highways within the Central Asian region as part of BRI.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has expressed concerns about the <strong>China-Pakistan Economic Corridor</strong> (CPEC), as it traverses through <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-s-provincial-status-to-gilgit-baltistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)</a>.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The massive infrastructure project <strong>connects China&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uighur-muslims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Xinjiang province</a> with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/viability-of-bri-and-cpec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gwadar port</a></strong> in Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India <strong>refused to join the Chinese initiative in the past</strong> and raised its voice against the BRI.</li>
<li>India <strong>also sees an adverse trade impact on its products&rsquo; competitiveness,</strong> market access, resource extraction etc. due to Chinese competition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of B3W:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>re-emergence of China as a leading global power</strong> is considered to be one of the most significant geo-political events of recent times, alongside the <strong>1991 fall of the Soviet Union</strong> that ended the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cold-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cold War.</strong></a></li>
<li>China in 1979 had an<strong> economy that was smaller than Italy's,</strong> but after opening to foreign investment and introducing market reforms, it has <strong>become the world's second-largest economy</strong> and is a global leader in a range of new technologies.</li>
<li>However, the <strong>West had failed to offer a positive alternative</strong> to the "lack of transparency, poor environmental and labour standards, and coercive approach" of the Chinese government that had left many countries worse off.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The counter proposal of B3W is certainly a welcome step to contain the adverse implications of a Chinese mega plan. However, B3W lacks coherent thoughts and proper planning at this stage. Nevertheless, it is better late than never.</li>
<li>Moreover, it remains to be seen what role India will play in B3W since it has been a strong opponent of China&rsquo;s BRI.</li>
<li>The counter-strategy is necessary to bring down Chinese leverage. A macro view of BRI projects across geography &mdash; quantum and pattern of investment &mdash; clearly reflects the motive of China-centric international economic integration, production networks, hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region and, eventually, the global economy.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/chinas-influence-g-7-leaders-belt-road-initiative-7408524/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1626515384834000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2s2EDId818ims7iqcLx-yU" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8868,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Union Minister of Finance of India</strong> along with her counterpart, the<strong> Finance Minister of Bhutan</strong> has jointly launched <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/digital-transactions-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bharat Interface for Money</a> - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/upi-20-launched-by-npci" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI) </a></strong>in<strong> Bhutan.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The payment system was launched by <strong>NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL),</strong> the international arm of <strong>National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI),</strong> in partnership with the <strong>Royal Monetary Authority (RMA)</strong> of Bhutan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626256178_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626256178_image7.png" 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>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bhutan is the<strong> first country</strong> to adopt <strong>UPI standards</strong> for its Quick Response (QR) code, and the first country in our immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile based payments through the BHIM App.</li>
<li>It is also the<strong> second country after Singapore</strong> to have <strong>BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations.</strong></li>
<li>Bhutan will also become the<strong> only country to both issue and accept RuPay cards as well as accept BHIM-UPI.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>BHIM is developed by the <strong>National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).</strong></li>
<li>It is an initiative to enable fast, secure, reliable cashless payments through the mobile phone.</li>
<li>BHIM is based on <strong>Unified Payment Interface (UPI)</strong> to facilitate e-payments directly through banks.</li>
<li>It is interoperable with other Unified Payment Interface (UPI) applications, and bank accounts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Unified Payments Interface (UPI)</strong> is an instant real-time payment system, allowing users to transfer money on a real-time basis, across multiple bank accounts without disclosing details of one&rsquo;s bank account to the other party.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Advantages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The simple, safe, cost-effective mobile-based payments system has become one of the most prominent forms of digital payments.</li>
<li>The payment infrastructures of the two countries are seamlessly connected and<strong> will benefit a large number of tourists and businessmen from India who travel to Bhutan each year.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will enhance the ease of living and ease of travelling through cashless transactions at the touch of a button.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In 2020, UPI enabled commerce worth USD 457 billion, which is equivalent to approximately 15% of India&rsquo;s GDP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>RuPay Card Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>RuPay is the first-of-its-kind <strong>domestic Debit and Credit Card payment</strong> network of India.</li>
<li>The name, derived from the words &lsquo;Rupee and &lsquo;Payment&rsquo;, emphasises that it is India&rsquo;s very own initiative for Debit and Credit Card payments.</li>
<li>The card can also be used for transactions in Singapore, <strong>Bhutan,</strong> UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of<strong> Reserve Bank of India (RBI)</strong> and <strong>Indian Banks&rsquo; Association (IBA)</strong> under the provisions of the <strong>Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It is a<strong> &ldquo;Not for Profit&rdquo; Company</strong> under the provisions of <strong>Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act 2013),</strong> with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/npci-arm-to-extend-bhim-upi-payments-system-to-bhutan/article35310936.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8860,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'US Withdrawal And Regional Dynamics ',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/us-troops-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-pakistan-taliban-7401581/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Regional powers and the Afghanistan question</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 13/07/2021. It talks about the scenarios emerging in Afghanistan and the region after withdrawal of American troops.</p>
</div>
<p>The speedy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/american-exit-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>withdrawal of US troops</strong></a> from Afghanistan has been matched by the swift advance of the Taliban across the nation. While the US has confirmed that 90% of the withdrawal is done, the Taliban has claimed that it is in control of 85% of Afghanistan territory.</p>
<p>These developments have moved <strong>Afghanistan into the court of regional powers</strong> that now have the burden of managing the military vacuum created by the US retreat.</p>
<p>The idea of a regional solution to Afghanistan has always had much political appeal. But <strong>divergent regional strategic perspectives</strong> limit the prospects for a sustainable consensus on Afghanistan.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted%20image 0 (10).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626174258_pasted image 0 (10).png" width="300" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>US Withdrawal and Regional Powers</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Taliban:</strong> Taliban itself remains a major variable. If the Taliban does not accommodate the interests of all Afghans, it simply sets the stage for the next round of the civil war in Afghanistan. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Taliban is also signalling that it will not be a proxy for anyone else and that it will pursue independent policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China:</strong> The US withdrawal from Afghanistan today reinforces the strongly held conviction in China that the US is in terminal decline.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The withdrawal, at a time when China is offering an alternative to the Western model of international governance, is seen in China as a great ideological victory.</li>
<li>However, for China, potential Taliban support to the Xinjiang separatist groups is a major concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India:</strong> India will have three critical areas in dealing with the Taliban.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protecting its investments, which run into billions of rupees, in Afghanistan;</li>
<li>Preventing a future Taliban regime from being a pawn of Pakistan;</li>
<li>Making sure that the <strong>Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups do not get support</strong> from the Taliban.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other:</strong> None of the regional countries want to see Afghanistan becoming the nursery of international terror again under the Taliban. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Iran can&rsquo;t ignore the Sunni extremism of the Taliban and its oppressive record in dealing with the Shia, and Persian-speaking minorities.</li>
<li>Pakistan worries about the danger of the conflict spilling over to the east of the <a href="/printpdf/withdrawal-of-us-troops-from-afghanistan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Durand Line</strong></a>, and hostile groups like the <strong>Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)</strong> gaining sanctuaries in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>India&rsquo;s Approach</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The era of prolonged peace in Afghanistan secured by the US military presence has come to its end. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This would mean new constraints on India&rsquo;s ability to operate inside Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three structural conditions</strong> will continue to shape India&rsquo;s Afghan policy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is India&rsquo;s <strong>lack of direct physical access to Afghanistan.</strong> This underlines the importance of India having effective regional partners.</li>
<li><strong>Pakistan</strong> has the <strong>capability to destabilise any government</strong> in Afghanistan. But it does not have the power to construct a stable and legitimate order in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>The contradiction between the interests of Afghanistan and Pakistan is an enduring one. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan likes to turn Afghanistan into a protectorate, but Afghans deeply value their independence. All Afghan sovereigns, including the Taliban, will look for partners to balance Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India should focus on <strong>intensifying its engagement with various Afghan groups</strong>, including the Taliban and <strong>finding effective regional partners</strong> to secure its interests in a changing Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Use of Multilateral Organisations:</strong> Such as <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>should be used in dealing with the Afghan questions and achieve stability. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geography, membership and capabilities make the SCO an important forum to address the post-American challenges in Afghanistan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>An <strong>independent, sovereign, democratic, pluralistic and inclusive Afghanistan</strong> is crucial for peace and stability in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to ensure the same, the Afghan peace process, as stated by India&rsquo;s Afghan policy, should be <strong>Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, there is a need for the global community to <strong>fight against the global concern of terrorism.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, it high time to adopt the <a href="/printpdf/at-unga-india-call-for-early-adoption-of-ccit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism</strong></a> (proposed by India at UN in 1996).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Admin and Military Reforms:</strong> More militancy is witnessed in the region where the state fails to deliver. Thus, Administrative and military reforms within Afghanistan are the need of the hour to tackle the menace of emerging Taliban 2.0.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The US's exit from Afghanistan has triggered Taliban emergence, geopolitical flux and thus, instability in the region.</li>
<li>As these factors will increasingly push India into a geopolitical tough spot in the region, smart statecraft, therefore, is required to deal with changing dynamics in Afghanistan.</li>
<li>If India remains active and patient too, many opportunities could open up in the new Afghan phase.</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: #fcfcf0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has led to emergence of new challenges for the regional powers. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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		'article_id' => (int) 8851,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India's Tibet Policy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Dalai Lama and Tibet is one of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-china-disengagement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major irritants between India and China relations</a>.</strong></li>
<li>China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist, who has great influence over Tibetans. India seeks to use Tibetan card in order to counter China&rsquo;s continuing aggression at the Line of Actual Control.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted%20image 0 (4).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626156812_pasted image 0 (4).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background of India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For centuries, <strong>Tibet was India&rsquo;s actual neighbour</strong>, as most of India&rsquo;s boundaries and the 3500km LAC is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and not the rest of China.</li>
<li>In 1914, it was Tibetan representatives, along with the Chinese that <strong>signed the Simla convention with British India that delineated boundaries.</strong></li>
<li>However, after <strong>China&rsquo;s full accession of Tibet in 1950, </strong>that<strong> China repudiated the convention and the McMahon line</strong> that divided the two countries.</li>
<li>Further, <strong>in 1954, India signed an agreement with China</strong>, agreeing to<strong> recognize Tibet as &ldquo;Tibet region of China&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>In 1959, following the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/60-years-of-1959-tibetan-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tibetan uprising</strong></a>, the Dalai Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many of his followers fled to India.</li>
<li><strong>Former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru</strong> gave him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and<strong> helped in setting up the Tibetan government in exile.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> official Indian policy</strong> is that the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader, and the Tibetan community in India, with more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed to undertake any political activity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the event of increasing tensions between India and China, there has been a shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet Policy. This shift in the policy, earmarks the Indian government actively managing with the Dalai Lama in public forums. For Example, <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2014, Prime Minister of India (PM) had invited the head of the Tibetan government in exile in India, Lobsang Sangay, to his swearing in ceremony.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, he did not invite him in 2019 after being re-elected for a second five-year term, to ensure a smooth passage for a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-2nd-informal-summit-mamallapuram-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>second informal summit</strong></a> between him and Chinese president Xi Jinping.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Recently, the Prime Minister of India (PM) wished the Dalai Lama in the first such public acknowledgement since 2013, the first time as PM.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The shift in India&rsquo;s Tibet policy is <strong>majorly focused on symbolic aspects</strong>, but there are <strong>many challenges</strong> pertaining to India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges Associated with India&rsquo;s Approach to Tibet Policy:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Changes in Tibetan Demography:</strong> Over the past few decades, China is promoting people from mainland China to migrate into Tibet.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China is increasing suppression of the Tibetan populations&rsquo; links to the Dalai Lama and pouring in investment, infrastructure projects in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tibetans Against Each Other:</strong> As India-China tensions grow and turn violent after the Galwan valley clash, China has begun to raise Tibetan Militia groups.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the Indian Army trains the Tibetan Special Frontier Force, which could lead to Tibetans fighting each other in the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue of Tibetan Citizenship:</strong> The Indian government doesn&rsquo;t give citizenship to Tibetans born in India after the cut-off year of 1987.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This has created a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the youth of the Tibetan community.</li>
<li>Further, in the past few years, the US has also increased its role, by accepting more Tibetan refugees. This will impact India&rsquo;s role as a sole entity arguing about the future of Tibetian refugee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Question of Dalai Lama&rsquo;s Succession:</strong> The 86 years old Dalai Lama is not only the spiritual leader, but the political leader of the community worldwide. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Dalai Lama asserts that his successor could be a living incarnation, in a specific area in India or even in another country like Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India currently has an executive policy (not a law) on Tibetans in India.</li>
<li>While the current policy was a significant development for Tibetans' welfare in India, it is devoid of legal backing on core issues of Tibet. For example, destructive Tibetans' demand for freedom in Tibet.</li>
<li>Therefore, it is high time now that India should also adopt a more assertive stand on the Tibet issue in dealing with China.</li>
<li>Further, India should avoid a situation where it has a young and restive Tibetan population that resides in India, but looks outside of India for its leadership and command structure after the Dalai Lama has passed.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/worldview-with-suhasini-haidar-indias-tibet-policy/article35237198.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8831,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA)',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>India and Nepal have signed a <strong>Letter of Exchange (LoE)</strong> to the <strong>India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It will <strong>allow all authorized cargo train operators to utilize the Indian railway network to carry Nepal's container and other freight -</strong> both bilateral between Indian and Nepal or third country from Indian ports to Nepal.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The authorized cargo train operators <strong>include public and private container trains Operators,</strong> automobile freight train operators, special freight train operators or any other operator authorized by Indian Railways.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Rail Services Agreement (RSA), 2004:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Rail Services Agreement was executed in 2004 between the <strong>Ministry of Railways, Government of India</strong> and the <strong>Ministry of Commerce,</strong> the <strong>Govt. of Nepal</strong> for introduction of<strong> freight train services</strong> between these two countries to and from<strong> Birgunj (Nepal) via Raxaul (India).</strong></li>
<li>The agreement<strong> guides movement between India and Nepal by rail.</strong></li>
<li>The Agreement shall be <strong>reviewed every five years </strong>and <strong>may be modified (through Letters of Exchange)</strong> by the Contracting Parties by mutual consent.</li>
<li>In the past, there have been<strong> amendments to RSA through LoE on three occasions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First such amendment was in 2004.</li>
<li>Second LoE was signed in 2008 at the time of introduction of bilateral cargo between the two countries which required introduction of new customs procedures.</li>
<li>Third LoE was signed in 2016 enabling rail transit traffic to/from Visakhapatnam Port in addition to existing provision of rail transportation through Kolkata/Haldia Port.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of the Latest Agreement: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Allow Market Forces to Operate:</strong> This liberalization will <strong>allow market forces (such as consumers and buyers) to come up in the rail freight segment in Nepal,</strong> and is likely to increase efficiency and cost- competitiveness, eventually benefiting the Nepalese consumer.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce Transportation Cost:</strong> The liberalisation will particularly reduce transportation costs <strong>for automobiles and certain other products</strong> whose carriage takes place in special wagons and will boost rail cargo movement between the two countries.</li>
<li><strong>Enhance Regional Connectivity:</strong> Wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company will also be authorized to carry Nepal-bound freight (inbound and outbound on <strong>Kolkata/Haldia to Biratnagar/Birganj routes)</strong> over the Indian Railways network as per <strong>IR standards and procedures.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The signing of this LoE marks another milestone in India&rsquo;s efforts to enhance regional connectivity under the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/what-is-indias-neighbourhood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Neighbourhood First&rdquo; policy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Connectivity Project: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nepal being a landlocked country,</strong> it is surrounded by India from three sides and one side is open towards Tibet which has very limited vehicular access.</li>
<li>India-Nepal has undertaken various connectivity programs to enhance people-to-people linkages and promote economic growth and development.</li>
<li>MoUs have been signed between both the governments for<strong> laying an electric rail track</strong> linking <strong>Kathmandu with Raxaul</strong> in India.</li>
<li>India is looking to develop the <strong>inland waterways</strong> for the movement of cargo, within the framework of trade and transit arrangements, providing additional access to sea for Nepal calling it linking <strong>Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) with Sagar (Indian Ocean).</strong></li>
<li>In 2019, India and Nepal have jointly inaugurated a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/motihari-amlekhgunj-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cross-border petroleum products pipeline.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pipeline carries petroleum products from Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal.</li>
<li>This is South Asia&rsquo;s first cross-border petroleum products pipeline.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Neighbourhood First Policy</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is part of India&rsquo;s foreign policy that actively focuses on improving ties with India's immediate neighbours which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy in the media.</li>
<li>It was started well by inviting all heads of state/heads of government of<strong> South Asian countries</strong> in the inauguration of PM Narendra Modi first term and later held bilateral talks with all of them individually which was dubbed as a mini<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> SAARC summit.</strong></a></li>
<li>In the second swearing-in ceremony in 2019, India had invited the heads of<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> BIMSTEC countries.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Indo-Nepal Relations</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Neighbour:</strong> Nepal is an important neighbour of India and occupies special significance in its foreign policy because of the geographic, historical, cultural and economic linkages/ties that span centuries.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/india-nepal-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950</strong></a> forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cultural Ties:</strong> India and Nepal share similar ties in terms of Hinduism and <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Buddhism</strong></a> with Buddha&rsquo;s birthplace Lumbini located in present day Nepal.</li>
<li><strong>Open Border:</strong> The two countries not only share an open border and unhindered movement of people, but they also have close bonds through marriages and familial ties, popularly known as <strong>Roti-Beti ka Rishta.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Common Multilateral Forums:</strong> India and Nepal share multiple multilateral forums such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/significance-of-india-bangladesh-transport-connectivity-world-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal)</strong></a>, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/drishti-specials-important-international-bimstec" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-aligned-movement-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non Aligned Movement</strong></a>, and <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/south-asian-association-for-regional-cooperation-saarc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)</strong></a> etc.</li>
<li><strong>Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2017, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-joint-commission-meet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nepal</strong> </a>signed up to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)</strong></a>, which sought to create highways, airports and other infrastructure in the country. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>BRI was rejected by India and this move of Nepal was seen as an inclination towards China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, India and Nepal have border disputes over <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-nepal-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kalapani - Limpiyadhura - Lipulekh trijunction</strong> </a>between India-Nepal and China and Susta area (West Champaran district, Bihar).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625908589_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625908589_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1734254" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8784,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Road Ahead for Afghanistan after US Exit',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>US troops departed from the biggest airbase in Afghanistan</strong> after the 20-year-long war, effectively ending their military operations in the country.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>On<strong> 11<sup>th</sup> September 2001, terrorist attacks in America</strong> killed nearly 3,000 people. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Osama Bin Laden,</strong> the head of Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the man responsible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Taliban,</strong> radical Islamists who ran Afghanistan at that time, <strong>protected Bin Laden,</strong> and refused to hand him over. So, a month after 9/11, the <strong>US launched airstrikes against Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).</strong></li>
<li>After the attacks, the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NATO</a> coalition troops declared war on Afghanistan.</strong></li>
<li>The US <strong>dislodged the Taliban regime and established a transitional government in Afghanistan.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for US Pull Back:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The US had reached the conclusion long ago that the <strong>war was unwinnable.</strong> </li>
<li>The US administration <strong>had sent a representative to the first-ever meeting between the Taliban and the Afghan government</strong> that was hosted by Pakistan in Murree in 2015. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the <strong>Murree talks did not progress.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/us-taliban-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Doha Talk</strong></a>: The US appointed a special envoy for Afghanistan with a mandate to directly negotiate with the Taliban. They held talks with Taliban representatives in Doha that<strong> led to the February 2020 agreement between the US and the insurgents.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Before the Doha talks started, the <strong>Taliban had maintained that they would hold direct talks only with the US, and not with the Kabul government,</strong> which they did not recognise. </li>
<li>The US effectively accepted this demand when <strong>they cut the Afghan government off the process</strong> and entered direct talks with the insurgents. </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Terms of Agreement between the US and the Taliban:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It dealt with four aspects of the conflict &mdash; <strong>violence, foreign troops, intra-Afghan peace talks and the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups</strong> such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (the IS has an Afghan unit).</li>
<li>In the agreement, the US administration promised that it would withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by 1<sup>st</sup> May, 2021.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The deadline has been<strong> pushed to 11<sup>th</sup> September 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Taliban promised to reduce violence, join intra-Afghan peace talks and cut all ties with foreign terrorist groups.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><strong>India&rsquo;s reach out to the Taliban:</strong></strong>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625486214_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625486214_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="395" height="297" /></a></h3>
<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-in-afghan-peace-process" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India</strong></a> made contacts with the Taliban in Doha.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This signals a late but realist acknowledgement from the Indian side that the Taliban would play a critical role in Afghanistan in the coming years. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India has <strong>three critical areas</strong> in dealing with the Taliban. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Protecting its investments, which run into billions of rupees, in Afghanistan; </li>
<li>Preventing a future Taliban regime from being a pawn of Pakistan; </li>
<li>Making sure that the Pakistan-backed anti-India terrorist groups do not get support from the Taliban. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the past, India chose not to engage the Taliban (New Delhi had backed the <strong>Northern Alliance</strong>) and the costs were dear when the Taliban was in power.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In November 2001, the Northern Alliance took control of the Afghanistan capital Kabul. The Northern Alliance fought a defensive war against the Taliban government and were being helped by the US and other countries that agreed with it, including the UK.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Possible Scenarios for Afghanistan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The American withdrawal <strong>has turned the balance of power in the battleground in favour of the Taliban.</strong></li>
<li>They are already making rapid advances, and could launch a major offensive targeting the city centres and provincial capitals once the Americans are out.</li>
<li>There could be<strong> three scenarios:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There could be <strong>a political settlement in which the Taliban and the government agree to some power-sharing mechanism</strong> and jointly shape the future of Afghanistan. As of now, this looks like a remote possibility. </li>
<li><strong>An all-out civil war may be possible,</strong> in which the government, economically backed and militarily trained by the West, holds on to its positions in key cities and the Taliban expand its reach in the countryside, while other ethnic militias fight for their fiefs. This is already unfolding. </li>
<li>The <strong>Taliban taking over the country.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>After the agreement was signed, the US put pressure on the Afghan government to release thousands of Taliban prisoners. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A key Taliban precondition for starting intra-Afghan talks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Talks between Taliban representatives and the Afghan government</strong> began in Doha in September 2020 but <strong>did not reach any breakthrough.</strong> At present, <strong>the peace process is frozen.</strong> </li>
<li>The Taliban reduced hostilities against foreign troops but continued to attack Afghan forces even after the agreement was signed. </li>
<li>Kabul maintains that the<strong> Pakistan support for the Taliban</strong> is allowing the insurgents to overcome military pressure and carry forward with their agenda.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/what-lies-ahead-for-afghanistan-after-us-exit/article35125897.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8759,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '7th Edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the 7<sup>th</sup> edition of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-27th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)</strong></a> was hosted by the French Navy at R&eacute;union island.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>biennial event</strong> which was <strong>conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625211941_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625211941_pasted image 0 (1).png" width="350" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></h3>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative that <strong>brings together navies of Indian Ocean Region littoral</strong> states to increase <strong>maritime co-operation and enhance regional security.</strong></li>
<li>It also serves to develop an <strong>effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)</strong> against <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/what-is-a-national-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural disasters</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The chairmanship of IONS has been held by India (2008-10), UAE (2010-12), South Africa (2012-14), Australia (2014-16), Bangladesh (2016-18) and Islamic Republic of Iran (2018-21). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>France</strong> assumed the <strong>Chairmanship in June 2021</strong> for a two-year tenure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IONS includes <strong>24 member nations</strong> that touch or lie within the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-maritime-security-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Region (IOR)</strong></a>, and <strong>8 observer nations.</strong></li>
<li>The members have been geographically grouped into the following <strong>four sub-regions:</strong></li>
<li><strong>South Asian Littorals:</strong> Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory)</li>
<li><strong>West Asian Littorals:</strong> Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates</li>
<li><strong>East African Littorals:</strong> France (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania.</li>
<li><strong>South East Asian and Australian Littorals:</strong> Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance For India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>IONS fits into <strong>India&rsquo;s three-fold ambitions</strong> in the region: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Strengthening and deepening the relations</strong> with the Indian Ocean littoral states;</li>
<li>Establishing its leadership potential and aspirations of being a <strong>net-security provider;</strong> and</li>
<li>Fulfilling <strong>India&rsquo;s vision of a rules-based and stable maritime</strong> order in the IOR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will help India <strong>to consolidate its sphere of influence from the Straits of Malacca to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strait-of-hormuz-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hormuz</a>.</strong></li>
<li>IONS can be used to counter-balance the increasing presence of China in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Important Groupings/Initiatives Associated with IOR:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/19th-iora-council-of-ministers-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)</strong></a> was established in 1997.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Commission:</strong> Recently, India has been approved as an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-as-an-observer-at-ioc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>observer of the Indian Ocean Commission</strong></a>, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.</li>
<li><strong>Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR):</strong> It was launched in 2015.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor:</strong> The idea of <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/07-01-2019#:~:text=The%20AAGC%20will%20bring%20out,people%20in%20Asia%20and%20Africa." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC)</strong></a> emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The AAGC is raised on four pillars of Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing Capacities and Skills and People-to-People partnership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1732031" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8731,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Baihetan Dam: World’s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>China</strong> has put into operation the <strong>Baihetan Dam, world&rsquo;s Second Biggest Hydropower Dam.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Three Gorges Dam </strong>is the<strong> largest hydropower dam in the world </strong>and is also along <strong>China&rsquo;s Yangtze River.</strong> It began operations in 2003.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624963722_image10.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624963722_image10.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Dam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is on the <strong>Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze (the longest river in Asia).</strong></li>
<li>It has been built with a<strong> total installed capacity of 16,000 megawatts.</strong></li>
<li>It will eventually be able to <strong>generate enough electricity each day</strong> once to meet the <strong>power needs of 5,00,000 people</strong> for an entire year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance for China:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is part of Chinese efforts to<strong> curb surging fossil fuel demand</strong> by building more hydropower capacity. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This comes at a time when dams have fallen out of favor in other countries due to environmental complaints (such as flooding farmland and disruption of the ecology of rivers, threatening fish and other species).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s pledge in 2020</strong> to reach <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>carbon neutrality</strong> </a><strong>by 2060</strong> had also added urgency to the construction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Other Upcoming Projects:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China's planned <strong>mega-dam in Tibet's Medog County,</strong> which is set to surpass the <strong>Three Gorges Dam in size,</strong> has been described by analysts as a threat to Tibetan cultural heritage and a way for Beijing to effectively control a substantial portion of India's water supply.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The plan is to build <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-new-dam-on-brahmaputra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>a dam on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River.</strong></a></li>
<li>The <strong>Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo in China)</strong> is one of the longest rivers in the world.</li>
<li>Starting in the Himalayas in Tibet, it enters India in <strong>Arunachal Pradesh, then passes through Assam, Bangladesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> impact of dams on China's portion of the Mekong</strong> has also raised fears that irreversible damage is being inflicted upon a waterway which feeds 60 million people downstream as it winds through to the Vietnamese Delta.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Agriculture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A huge dam <strong>(like on Brahmaputra)</strong> could hold back the massive amount of silt carried by the river (Silty soil is more fertile than other types of soil and it is good for growing crops.)</li>
<li>This could <strong>aﬀect farming in the areas downstream.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water Resources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is also worried about the <strong>release of water during the monsoons,</strong> when north-eastern states such as Assam experience ﬂoods.</li>
<li><strong>Change in the ﬂow rate during times of standoﬀ between the countries</strong> is also a cause of concern.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>During the<strong> 2017 Doklam border standoﬀ</strong> between India and China, China stopped communication of water ﬂow levels from its dams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ecosystem in the <strong>Himalayan region is already on the decline. Several species of ﬂora and fauna </strong>are<strong> endemic</strong> to this part of the world and some of them are <strong>critically endangered.</strong> It could have disastrous consequences in this <strong>ecologically sensitive zone.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> massive engineering projects</strong> have also <strong>displaced</strong> hundreds of thousands of <strong>local communities</strong> and prompted concern in <strong>neighbouring countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activity in upstream areas. Meanwhile, India is considering building a 10 gigawatts (GW) hydropower project in the Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh, to mitigate the adverse impact of the Chinese dam.</li>
<li>However, the larger point is that too much <strong>hydro-power development is not a great idea in a fragile mountainscape.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/china-operationalises-world-s-second-biggest-hydropower-dam-11624879295781.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: Livemint</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8714,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Chinese Militia Units for High Altitudes',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Chinese Military has raised <strong>new militia units</strong> comprising local Tibetan youth for <strong>high-altitude warfare.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624864993_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624864993_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new units named <strong>Mimang Cheton</strong> are presently undergoing training, and are to be <strong>deployed mostly in upper Himalayan ranges</strong>, both in the <strong>eastern and western sectors of the India-China border.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are being <strong>trained for a variety of tasks</strong>, including using <strong>high-tech equipment</strong> such as <strong>drones</strong> on the one hand, as well as <strong>mules and horses</strong> to reach regions in the Himalayan range that can&rsquo;t be accessed by modern means.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They have been<strong> raised near Eastern Ladakh</strong>, the site of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recent border tensions</strong></a> along the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict#:~:text=Demarcation%20Line%3A%20The%20Line%20of,UN)%20after%20the%20Kashmir%20War." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Line of Actual Control (LAC)</strong></a>, as well as near its borders with <strong>Sikkim and Bhutan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> LAC</strong> is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Trained units have already been deployed along various locations in the Chumbi valley and at Rutog in Tibet, near the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/face-off-between-india-and-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pangong Tso (lake)</strong></a> in eastern Ladakh.</li>
<li>The deployment of the new Mimang Cheton units mirrors India&rsquo;s elite and decades-old <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/special-frontier-force-vikas-battalion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Special Frontier Force (SFF)</a>.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Just like the SFF which relies on the knowledge of Tibetans, the Mimang Cheton also <strong>relies on the local knowledge of Tibetans as well as locals' resistance to High Altitude Sickness, a problem in alpine warfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>High Altitude WarFare:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The new units will be used for <strong>high-altitude warfare as well for surveillance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Socio Cultural Aspect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A new feature of the units is that upon completion of training, they are <strong>being blessed by Buddhist monks in Tibet</strong>, which is being interpreted as a sign of greater socio-cultural outreach from the PLA to ethnic Tibetans.</li>
<li>This is possibly a new strategy of the PLA to <strong>get some mileage in the Tibet region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Chinese Developments along the Border:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Railway Line:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>China has started the first bullet train line in Tibet, linking <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinas-railway-near-arunachal-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lhasa to Nyingchi</strong></a> near the border with Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>It is the second major rail link to Tibet after the <strong>Qinghai-Tibet railway that opened in 2006.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Highway:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2021, China completed construction of a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-new-strategic-highway" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>strategically significant highway</strong></a> enabling greater access to remote areas <strong>along the disputed border with Arunachal Pradesh in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Villages:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>In January 2021</strong>, there were reports of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-s-new-villages-in-arunachal-pradesh#:~:text=Key%20Points,of%20Actual%20Control%20(LAC)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinese construction of three villages</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh 5 kilometres from the Bum La pass.</li>
<li>In 2020, satellite images emerged showing a new village called Pangda built 2-3 km into what Bhutan sees as its land.</li>
<li>In 2017, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government launched a plan to build moderately well-off villages in border areas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under this plan <strong>628 first line and second line villages</strong>&mdash;referring to those right on the border and others in remote areas slightly further within&mdash;would be <strong>developed along China&rsquo;s borders with India, Bhutan and Nepal.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns for India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Strategic Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such development in view of the strategic location of Chumbi Valley creates a concern for India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Chumbi Valley</strong> is a 100-km protrusion of Chinese territory located between Bhutan in the east and Sikkim in the west.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>valley&rsquo;s location has long resulted in concerns</strong> that it could be <strong>used to launch operations</strong> to snap strategic communications links in the Siliguri Corridor.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Siliguri Corridor</strong> is a narrow stretch of land located around the city of Siliguri in West Bengal. <strong>It connects northeastern states with the rest of the country</strong>, and is also known as <strong>chicken's neck.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Strengthening Position:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These developments have come against the backdrop of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/galwan-valley-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> border standoff</strong></a> that began in May 2020 and a <strong>rapid build-up of infrastructure on the Chinese side</strong> along the LAC, including airports, helipads, missile facilities and air sites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken by India to Strengthen its Border:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has its own <strong>High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS)</strong> in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.</li>
<li>India will spend <strong>10% funds</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/boosting-infrastructure-along-china-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Area Development Programme (BADP)</strong></a> only<strong> to improve the infrastructure along the China border.</strong></li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bro-opens-rohtang-pass" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Border Roads Organisation (BRO)</strong> </a>constructed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depopulation-in-border-areas-of-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Daporijo bridge</strong></a> over Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It links roads leading upto the LAC between India and China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>tunnel at Nechiphu in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh</strong> will shorten travel time for troops till the LAC through Tawang, which China claims to be its territory.</li>
<li>A<strong> tunnel</strong> is being constructed under the <strong>Se La pass in Arunachal Pradesh</strong> which connects Tawang to the rest of Arunachal and Guwahati.</li>
<li>The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has advocated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/depopulation-in-border-areas-of-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>selection of 10 census towns</strong> </a><strong>along the India-China border</strong> as pilot projects for infrastructure development in order <strong>to stop people living along its international borders</strong>, <strong>specifically with China, from migrating to faraway</strong> urban centres in the State.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sisseri-river-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sisseri River Bridge</strong></a>, located at lower Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, connects Dibang Valley and Siang.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Air Force inaugurated resurfaced runway at India&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-eastern-most-village" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>easternmost Village-Vijaynagar (Changlang district)</strong></a> in Arunachal Pradesh.</li>
<li>In 2019, the Indian Army conducted<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-himvijay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> exercise &lsquo;HimVijay&rsquo;</strong> </a>in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with its newly created Integrated Battle Groups (IBG).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bogibeel-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bogibeel bridge</strong></a>, which is <strong>India&rsquo;s longest road-rail bridge</strong> connecting Dibrugarh in Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh was inaugurated in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Special Frontier Force</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was established in <strong>November 1962</strong> in the immediate aftermath of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1962 Sino-India war</a>.</strong></li>
<li>It falls u<strong>nder the purview of the Cabinet Secretariat</strong> where it is headed by an Inspector General who is an Army officer of the rank of Major General.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The units that comprise the SFF are known as <strong>Vikas battalions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>They are <strong>highly trained special forces personnel</strong> who can undertake a variety of tasks which would normally be performed by any special forces unit.</li>
<li>The recruits initially consisted of Tibetan refugees hailing from the Khampa community <strong>(now it has a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Women soldiers, too, form a part of SFF</strong> units and perform specialised tasks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SFF units are not part of the Army but they <strong>function under operational control of the Army</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Operations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Operation Eagle</strong> (1971 war with Pakistan), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/36th-anniversary-of-operation-blue-star" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Bluestar</strong></a> (clearing Amritsar&rsquo;s Golden Temple in 1984), Operation Meghdoot (securing the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/36th-anniversary-of-operation-blue-star" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Siachen glacier</strong></a> in 1984) and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kargil-vijay-diwas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Vijay</strong></a> (war with Pakistan at Kargil in 1999) and many counter-insurgency operations in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India <strong>needs to be vigilant enough for any new development in China near its border</strong> to protect its interests efficiently. Further, <strong>it needs to build robust Infrastructure in difficult border areas in its territory</strong> to ensure movement of personnel and other logistical supplies in an efficient manner.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-raising-new-militia-near-borders-with-india/article34936171.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8711,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'FATF Retains Pakistan on Grey List',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Financial Action Task Force (FATF)</strong> decided to retain Pakistan on<strong> &ldquo;increased monitoring list&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>&ldquo;Increased monitoring list&rdquo; is another name for the <strong>Grey List.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>FATF had issued the 27-point action plan after placing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fatf-s-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan on the &lsquo;Grey List&rsquo; in June 2018</a>.</strong> The action plan pertains to <strong>curbing <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/money-laundering-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">money laundering</a> and terror financing.</strong></li>
<li>During the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pakistan-on-fatf-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> October-2020 Plenary</strong></a>, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan was given an extension for full compliance with the 27-point action plan till February 2021.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It had then not fully complied with 6 of the 27 directives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fatf-retains-pakistan-in-grey-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>In February 2021</strong></a>, FATF acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s significant progress in combating terrorism, however it was still to fully comply with<strong> three of the 27-point action plan.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The three points pertained to effective steps in terms of financial sanctions and penalties against the terror funding infrastructure and the entities involved.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The FATF said <strong>Pakistan had failed to take appropriate action against UN-designated terrorists</strong> such as 26/11 accused Hafiz Saeed and JeM chief Masood Azhar. However, <strong>Pakistan has completed 26 of the 27 action items.</strong></li>
<li>The FATF <strong>encourages Pakistan to continue to make progress to address as soon as possible the one remaining Countering Finance of Terrorism (CFT)-related item</strong> by demonstrating that Terror Financing investigations and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups.</li>
<li>In addition, the<strong> FATF has handed down another 6-point list of tasks mainly on money laundering</strong> actions to be completed as well.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan is expected to amend its Money-Laundering Act, crackdown on Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) like real estate agencies and gemstone traders, confiscate and freeze assets of money laundering entities and monitor businesses for proliferation financing, with sanctions for non-compliance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Pakistan's case, the <strong>FATF has taken cognisance of the inaction against several banned organisations</strong> involved in raising funds for terror activities and those linked to global terrorists like Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba&rsquo;s Hafiz Saeed and its operations chief Zaki-Ur Rahman Lakhvi.</li>
<li>On several occasions, India has also raised the involvement of elements within Pakistan in a number of terror cases,<strong> including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pulwama attacks.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Perpetual containment of Pakistan on the grey list</strong> of FATF<strong> would further pressurise Pakistan to take adequate measures</strong> to prevent such terrorist attacks on India from its soil.</li>
<li>Unlike the next level &ldquo;blacklist&rdquo;, <strong>greylisting carries no legal sanctions, but it attracts economic strictures and restricts a country&rsquo;s access to international loans.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister had estimated <strong>a loss of $10 billion annually to the Pakistani economy</strong> for every year Pakistan has been on the greylist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Financial Action Task Force</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7 Summit</strong> </a>in Paris.</li>
<li>The FATF assesses the strength of a country&rsquo;s anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing frameworks, however it does not go by individual cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its Secretariat is located at the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development</a> (OECD)</strong> headquarters in Paris.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Member Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations &mdash; the European Commission and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gcc-backs-un-arms-embargo-on-iran#:~:text=set%20to%20expire.-,Gulf%20Cooperation%20Council,United%20Arab%20Emirates%20(UAE)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gulf Cooperation Council.</strong> </a>India is a member of the FATF.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lists under FATF:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Grey List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.</li>
<li>This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Black List:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist.</li>
<li>These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.</li>
<li>The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sessions:</strong> The <strong>FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF.</strong> It meets three times per year.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/fatf-pakistan-grey-list-terror-financing-7375835/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8694,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Tax Inspectors Without Borders Programme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-development-index-undp" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)</strong></a>, launched its programme in Bhutan.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction</strong> and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This programme is expected to be of about 24 months&rsquo; duration.</li>
<li>It <strong>aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration</strong> by transferring technical <strong>know-how and skills to its tax auditors</strong>, and through sharing of best audit practices. The focus of the programme will be in the area of <strong>International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Transfer price, also known as transfer cost, is the price at which related parties transact with each other, such as during the trade of supplies or labor between departments. <a href="/mains/model-essays/multinational-corporations-savior-or-saboteur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Multinational companies</strong></a> can manipulate transfer prices in order to shift profits to low tax regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This programme is another <strong>milestone in the continued cooperation</strong> between India and Bhutan and India&rsquo;s continued and active support for <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-africa-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South-South cooperation</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tax Inspectors Without Borders:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TIWB is <strong>a capacity-building programme.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>a joint OECD/UNDP initiative</strong> launched <strong>in July 2015</strong> to strengthen developing countries' auditing capacity and multinationals' compliance worldwide.</li>
<li>It deploys qualified <strong>experts in developing countries across</strong> Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to help build tax capacity in the areas of audit, criminal tax investigations and the effective use of automatically exchanged information.</li>
<li>TIWB assistance has led to increased domestic resource mobilisation in some of the least developed countries in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1729822" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8676,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India-US: PASSEX',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Indian naval ships will join maritime patrol and other aircraft to participate in a <strong>Passage Exercise or PASSEX</strong> with the <strong>US Navy&rsquo;s Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group</strong> during its transit through<strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indian-ocean-islands-diplomacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indian Ocean Region</a> (IOR).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A passage exercise is <strong>normally undertaken whenever an opportunity arises,</strong> in contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.</li>
<li>Earlier, the Indian Navy had <strong>also conducted similar PASSEXs with the Japanese Navy and the French Navy.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian Naval Ships<strong> Kochi</strong> and <strong>Teg</strong> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/p-8i-patrol-aircraft" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>P8I</strong></a> (maritime patrol aircraft) and (Indian ship based) <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-defence-weapons-approved" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MiG 29K</strong> </a>aircraft are participating in the PASSEX.</li>
<li>The Indian Naval warships along with <strong>aircraft from <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navy-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Navy</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-air-force-day#:~:text=Motto%20of%20the%20IAF%20is,command%20of%20the%20air%20force." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Air Force (IAF)</a></strong> will be engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the US Carrier Strike Group.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The exercise is in the IAF&rsquo;s Southern Air Command&rsquo;s area of responsibility and the IAF forces will include <strong>Jaguars, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sukhoi-30-mki-equipped-with-the-brahmos-missile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sukhoi-30 MKI </a></strong>fighters<strong>, Air-to-Air Refueller aircraft, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defence-acquisition-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS)</a></strong> and<strong> Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&amp;C).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>High tempo operations during the exercise include<strong> advanced air defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and anti-submarine exercises.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Previous PASSEX with US:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian Navy conducted as PASSEX with the <strong>USS Ronald Reagan in October 2020.</strong></li>
<li>Indian naval ships conducted another PASSEX with the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/passex-with-the-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USS Nimitz in July 2020</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Establish Rule Based Order:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It underscores the <strong>shared values as partner navies, in ensuring commitment to an open, inclusive and a rule-based international order.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Interoperability:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will <strong>enhance aspects of interoperability,</strong> nuances of international integrated maritime search and rescue operations and exchange of <strong>best practices in the maritime airpower domain.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Counter China&rsquo;s Expansionism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The exercise comes a week after the Indian defence minister called for an open and inclusive order in the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-india-s-vision-for-indo-pacific" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific region</strong></a>, including the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a> at the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-admm-plus-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>8<sup>th</sup> ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Meeting.</strong></a></li>
<li>The Indian Navy is carrying out<strong> round-the-clock surveillance in the IOR,</strong> which, it believes, <strong>China will inevitably try to enter in its quest to become a global power,</strong> just as it has laid claim to large portions of the disputed South China Sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India-US Joint Exercises:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-vajra-prahar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vajra Prahar</strong></a> (Army).</li>
<li><strong>Yudh Abhyas</strong> (Army).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-triumph" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cope India</strong></a> (Air Force).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/us-cancels-red-flag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Red Flag</strong></a> (USA&rsquo;s multilateral air exercise).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/exercise-malabar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malabar Exercise</strong></a> (trilateral naval exercise of India, USA and Japan).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/iaf-navy-to-conduct-exercise-with-us-carrier-group-from-today-7371285/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8669,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Maritime Security Challenges',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OeaLH6eOdbY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Defence Minister of India addressed the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-admm-plus-meetinghttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/8th-admm-plus-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>8<sup>th</sup> ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/asean-defence-ministers-meeting-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ADMM-Plus</strong></a> is a platform for <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ASEAN</strong></a> and its eight Dialogue Partners.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has <strong>raised concerns over maritime security</strong> and has called for rule-based order in <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-indo-pacific-strategic-importance" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indo-Pacific.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has also raised the issue of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s regressive behaviour</strong> in the critical sea lanes in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/south-china-sea-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>South China Sea</strong></a> is the centre of the entire maritime security challenge.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The sea lanes of communication are critical for peace, stability, prosperity and development of the Indo-Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Terrorism has been referred to as the<strong> gravest threat to global peace.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>ASEAN, India and China</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Call for Free and Open Indo-Pacific:</strong> India has called for a<strong> free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific,</strong> based upon<strong> respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity</strong> of nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international rules and laws.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India supports <strong>freedom of navigation, over flight, and unimpeded commerce</strong> in the international waterways.</li>
<li>India also<strong> supports utilisation of ASEAN-led mechanisms</strong> as important platforms for implementation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China and ASEAN:</strong> China has lost this case in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unclos-maritime-zones" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNCLOS</strong></a>, it has filed another case and there are code of conduct negotiations going on between the five other countries and China.</li>
<li><strong>China and India:</strong> China is not very concerned about India&rsquo;s opinion on the South China Sea issue due to its ongoing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-china-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>conflict with India</strong></a> at the Ladakh border, it is expected for India to put pressure on China on the maritime issues.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Moreover, <strong>India has not yet expanded its trade in the South China Sea,</strong> hence, it is<strong> not as greater a threat</strong> as the USA, Japan or Australia.</li>
<li>However, China is interested in India and its coordination with the other powers such as the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/quad-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> QUAD nations</strong></a> as there are talks among these countries regarding introducing inclusive policies for the Indo Pacific region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s Nuclear Policies:</strong> China&rsquo;s nuclear policy laid out by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-among-top-military-spenders-sipri" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SIPRI</strong></a> says that China will have around 8-10 nuclear submarines which can fire missiles that can go 10,000 km long.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>China is also developing a system called &ldquo;Fire on Warning&rdquo; for striking back in case of an attack.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of South China Sea:</strong> The sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as it is the connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-investment-report-unctad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNCTAD</strong></a>, one-third of the global shipping passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant geopolitical water body.</li>
<li>The sea is also<strong> rich in minerals, hydrocarbons, oil and gas.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Chinese Strategies:</strong> China <strong>does not recognise <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/new-indo-pacific-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indo-Pacific</a> as one</strong> but it does consider both the Oceans as key areas of its interests. China has two different strategies for the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the western Pacific, the core interest of China, it has a full spectrum dominance strategy.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the region where China prefers to force grayzone operations using terms like incremental takeover of territory.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>However, for the Indian Ocean, China uses the term stakeholdership for the same purposes; for gradually increasing their presence and leverage in the region.</li>
<li>China is increasing its influence not just with military force but through the<a href="/printpdf/italy-joins-belt-road-initiative#:~:text=Belt%20%26%20Road%20Initiative%20(BRI)%20is%20an%20ambitious%20project%20that,150%20countries%20(China's%20Claim)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> belt and road initiative</strong> </a>too.</li>
<li>China is, however, keeping itself out of those regions sensitive to India, as it does not want to give any chance to India to raise any objections and even if it happens, China wants the onus of aggression to be on India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Global Response towards China</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>NATO:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nato-ally-status-to-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NATO</strong></a> countries are not happy with China breaching the international code of conduct established for the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/global-commons-at-threat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Global Commons.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The recently held NATO summit for the first time has <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/china-as-a-security-risk-nato" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>explicitly described China as a security risk.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>QUAD:</strong> China is a big trading partner of Australia and Japan. A number of Japanese industries have their manufacturing bases in China. A lot of US industries are also linked to Chinese raw materials and also supply chains.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Notwithstanding, the QUAD members Australia and Japan issued a joint statement saying China is a threat to them; it has threatened Australia with the missile strike.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Australia is now trying to remove China from the Darwin base in the country&rsquo;s northern part.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The EU and UK:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European nations</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-uk-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Kingdom</strong></a>, despite having friendly relations with the country in the immediate past, have considered China as a threat to global peace and security.</li>
<li><strong>G7 Countries:</strong> There are two aspects to the problem that <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/g-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>G7 nations</strong></a> are facing:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Chinese military aggression</strong> in the South China Sea and with regard to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chinese-incursions-in-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Taiwan</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There have been a number of aircraft and Chinese fighter jets incursions in Taiwanese air space. China is exerting pressure on its reunification or forcible capture of Taiwan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> issue of global recovery.</strong> There isn&rsquo;t much focus on the conflicts due to the global <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/technical-recession-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>recession</strong> </a>from which only China has rebounded.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The big nations are trying to compete with China. The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-g7-summit-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Build Back Better</strong></a> initiative of the G7 was aimed squarely at competing with China&rsquo;s trillion-dollar <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/belt-and-road-initiative-perspectives-from-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia</strong> is also concerned with China&rsquo;s rapidly increasing influence in Central Asia as it will impact Russia&rsquo;s strong influence in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of Developed Democratic Nations:</strong> Countries like the US or Russia have to outpace China from world order, which is Authoritarian country.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Issues in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uighur-muslims" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Xinjiang</strong></a>, Taiwan, Tibet, and the South China Sea are a great threat to the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India to Adopt Multi Pronged Approach:</strong> For India, only a robust military strategy to counter China is not enough, it will have to be a multipronged approach including infrastructure component, the technology related aspect.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the Indian Ocean, India must maintain its preeminence and assertiveness, deter China from operating in regions that are significant to India.</li>
<li>India must cooperate and improve ties with its partners to gain an influence over the Pacific region because it is where China is highly unstable and sensitive.</li>
<li>India&rsquo;s maritime policies have to be mated against China.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Matching China&rsquo;s Levels of Infrastructure Projects:</strong> China is planning to build a port in Israel, antagonizing the USA.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has ports in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/djibouti-code-of-conduct" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Djibouti</strong></a> in Africa and also in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/chabahar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gwadar</strong></a> in Pakistan near Iran and its Belt and Road Initiative has its reach in Europe.</li>
<li>Indian strategy will have to match the Chinese level of the effort which it is making in the African countries by building infrastructures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collectively Countering Terrorism:</strong> The networking amongst terrorists is now reaching alarming proportions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Only through collective cooperation could the terror organisations and their networks be fully disrupted, the perpetrators identified and held accountable.</li>
<li>Strong measures should be undertaken against those who encourage, support and finance terrorism and provide sanctuary to terrorists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Updating the Technology:</strong> Issues of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyber threats</strong></a> like ransomware, <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/ransomware-wannacry" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wannacry</strong></a> attacks and cryptocurrency thefts call for a multi-stakeholder approach, guided by democratic values, with a governance structure that is open and inclusive that would drive the future of cyberspace.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The multitude of challenges of today&rsquo;s dynamic and interdependent world cannot be addressed with outdated systems that were designed to deal with trials of the past.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Maritime Security Challenges in Indo-Pacific and South China Sea are the key areas where India and Other like minded countries have to work in a Coordinated manner.</li>
<li>The South China Sea remains a critical aspect of the larger discussion. However, a lot of countries including India are still not so keen to confront China directly.</li>
</ul>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8625,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Loan to Sri Lanka for Solar Energy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India has signed an agreement <strong>extending a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-sri-lanka-6#:~:text=India%27s%20Support%20against%20Terrorism%3A%20During,developmental%20assistance%20to%20Sri%20Lanka." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sri Lanka</a></strong> for projects in the Solar Energy Sector. The LOC is for a period of 20 years, with an interest of 1.75%.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The agreement was signed between the <strong>Government of Sri Lanka</strong> and the <strong>Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.</strong></li>
<li>EXIM Bank is a <strong>specialized financial institution,</strong> wholly owned by the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623923707_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Line of Credit</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>credit facility</strong> extended by a bank or any other financial institution to a government, business or an individual customer, that enables the customer to draw the maximum loan amount.</li>
<li>The borrower can<strong> access funds</strong> from the line of credit at <strong>any time</strong> as long as they do not exceed the <strong>maximum amount</strong> (or credit limit) set in the agreement and meet any other requirements such as making timely minimum payments.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Significance of the LOC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will help <strong>finance various projects</strong> in the solar energy sector in Sri Lanka, such as <strong>rooftop solar photo-voltaic systems</strong> for households and government buildings.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of these projects were announced during the <strong>Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong> held in March 2018 in Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Global Cooperation Solar Energy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Solar Alliance</a> (ISA):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ISA was <strong>launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015</strong> on the side-lines of the United Nations Climate Change <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Conference of the Parties (COP-21)</strong></a>, with 121 <strong>solar resource rich countries</strong> lying fully or partially between the <strong>tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn</strong> as prospective members.</li>
<li><strong>89 countries</strong> have signed the ISA framework agreement.</li>
<li>ISA&rsquo; vision is to enable <strong>One World, One Sun, One Grid (OSOWOG).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Sun, One World, One Grid</a> (OSOWOG):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Schemes for Promoting Solar Energy in India:</strong> Recently, India achieved<strong> 5<sup>th</sup> global position in solar power deployment</strong> by surpassing Italy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Solar Mission</strong> </a>(a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): The aim is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its deployment across the country.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rooftop-solar-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rooftop Solar Scheme:</strong></a> To generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roof of the houses, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/phase-ii-of-grid-connected-rooftop-solar-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II)</strong></a>.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/expansion-of-production-linked-incentive-scheme#:~:text=This%20scheme%20will%20give%20cash,chemistry%20and%20solar%20PV%20manufacturing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme</strong></a> to promote manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India.</li>
<li><strong>Scheme for Development of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks:</strong> It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing Solar Park Scheme.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/pm-kusum#:~:text=PM%2DKUSUM%20consists%20of%20three,standalone%20solar%2Dpowered%20agriculture%20pumps." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</a> (PM-KUSUM):</strong> The scheme covers grid-connected Renewable Energy power plants (0.5 &ndash; 2 MW)/Solar water pumps/grid connected agriculture pumps.</li>
<li><strong>National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018:</strong> its main objective is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected wind-solar PV hybrid systems for optimal and efficient utilization of wind and solar resources, transmission infrastructure and land.</li>
<li><strong>Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY):</strong> It was launched in September 2016 for the installation <strong>of solar street lighting (SSL) systems</strong> in states with less than 50% households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011).</li>
<li><strong>Suryamitra Skill Development Programme:</strong> To provide skill training to rural youth in handling solar installations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-extends-100-mn-loan-to-sri-lanka/article34834128.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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