Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Prelims Facts
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
The issue in news
Re-eruption of territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno- Karabakh region
Main points
Reasons for Dispute:
- The region of Nagorno-Karabakh has 95% of ethnically Armenian people. However, internationally it is recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
- Armenia is Christian majority
- Azerbaijan is Muslim majority
- this issue has been fuelled by the leaders of both nations for their own political interests.
Impact:
- Destabilization of the Region
- Large Civilian Casualties and displacement of people
- Disruption of oil and gas supplies from the region leading to higher oil prices
- International Involvement of counties like Russia ( has close ties with Armenia), Turkey and USA (have close ties with Azerbaijan) and Iran (has large Azeri minority)
Effect on India
- The bilateral relations between Indian-Armenian has seen rapid growth in recent years .
- Armenia bought the India SWATHI military radar system in March 2020.India provides a counter balance for Armenia to the rival strategic axis between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and
- With regards to India-Azerbaijan, India is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Azerbaijan is also a dialogue partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO),
- However, Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue has been supported by Azerbaijan
- India, Japan navies match skills in northern Arabian Sea
The issue in news
JIMEX-20, the India and Japan naval exercise is underway in the north Arabian Sea.
It is being conducted in a “non-contact at-sea-only format”, in view of the COVID-19 restrictions.
The Indian Navy has deployed:
- INS Chennai – indigenous stealth destroyer
- INS Tarkash – stealth frigate
- Fleet Tanker Deepak
- Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has deployed Kaga, an Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer and Ikazuchi, a guided missile destroyer.
- The P8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, integral helicopters and fighter aircraft will also participate.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
- Tense LAC makes Ladakhi team call off election boycott
Context:
The call for a boycott of the elections to the district autonomous councils in Ladakh has been withdrawn in the wake of the lurking danger on the China border.
Details:
- Demands have been raised to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
- It is believed that the Sixth Schedule that protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through the creation of autonomous development councils that can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture and so on will help protect the tribal population in Ladakh.
6th Schedule
- The Sixth Schedule consists of provisions for the administration of tribal areas according to Article 244 of the Indian Constitution.
- The Schedule currently includes 10 autonomous district councils (ADCs) in four northeastern States — Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
- Along with ADCs, the Sixth Schedule also provides for separate Regional Councils for each area constituted as an autonomous region.
- GS 3
Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
- Punjab government appoints nodal officers to curb stubble burning
The issue in news
Steps taken to tackle stubble burning in this Kharif season.
Initiatives:
- The Chief Minister of Punjab has appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue because the practice could make the situation worse helping COVID-19 to spread, besides causing pollution.
- The Punjab Government has appointed 8,000 nodal officers in villages that grow paddy.
- Over 23,000 crop residue management machines are being given to farmers for on-site management of straw.
- Steps are being taken to sensitize the farmers to the problem.
- As part of the strategy, the state government is advancing crop residue management machines to farmers (individually or in groups or through cooperative societies) at a subsidy of 50%-80%.
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