Prelims Current Affairs 

International Relationship

 

Index

 

1.South China Sea

2.First India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave

3.India and Mongolia agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space

4.Oslo Peace Accord

5.Kalapani Territory

6.Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

7.ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)

8.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

9.Indo-bangladesh joint river commission (jrc)

10.Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

11.ASEAN-India Free Trade Area

12.India is the top source of immigrants across the globe

13.PACE setter fund

14.QUAD

15.Operation Peace Spring

16.Red Sea

17.Interpol and notices

18.Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)

19.India-Japan Act East Forum

20.‘Order of Zayed’

21.Howdy, Modi’

22.Motihari-Amalekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline

23.Russian S-400 defense systems arrive in Turkey

24.Hormuz Strait

25.New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)

26.Operation Safed Sagar/ “Operation White Sea”

27.INTERMEDIATE-RANGE NUCLEAR FORCES (INF) TREATY

28.FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)

29.NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORISATION ACT (NDAA)

30.CONSULAR ACCESS

31.GOLDEN CRESCENT AND GOLDEN TRIANGLE

32.LOYA JIRGA

33.GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES

34.BRASILIA DECLARATION

35.Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

36.Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

37.South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

38.Biological Weapons Convention

39.Group of Seven (G7)

40.Group of Twenty (G20)

41.Eight Wonders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

42.East Asia Summit (EAS)

43.International Maritime Organization (IMO)

44.World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

45.Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

46.BIMSTEC

47.World Trade Organization (WTO)

48.Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

49.Arctic Council

50.Non Alignment Movement (NAM)

51.The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

52.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

53.International Atomic Energy Agency

54.WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION

55.UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHCR)

56.COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION (CTBTO)

57.Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

58.INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

59.Asian Development Bank

60.Global Terrorism Index (GTI)

61.Universal Postal Union (UPU)

 

 

 

1.South China Sea

Why in News?

• Recently, the Chinese fishing fleets have been seen raiding the rich waters of the South China Sea that are internationally recognised as exclusively Indonesia’s to fish.

Key Points:

• The Chinese steel trawlers scrape the bottom of the sea and destroy other marine life.
• Their illegal fishing near the Natuna islands carries global consequence, reminding regional governments of Beijing’s expanding claims to the South China Sea through which one-third of the world’s maritime trade flows.
• They want to claim the resources such as oil, natural gas, and fish in the South China Sea.
• The presence of Chinese fishers also helps to embody China’s maritime claims. The nine dash line (rejected by an international tribunal) asserted by China violates the principle of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

About South China Sea:

• It is an arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.
• It is south of China, east & south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo.
• Its bordering states & territories (clockwise from north): The People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.

 

• It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.
• It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. The Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal are the most important.
• This sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as it is the connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. (Strait of Malacca)

2.First India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave

Why in news?

• The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave held in Lucknow on February 06, coinciding with Def Expo-2020, and adopted the Lucknow Declaration.
• Defence Ministers and Heads of Delegation from African countries and the Defence Minister of the Republic of India held the first ever India Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave during the 11th edition of the biennial defence exhibition DEFEXPO INDIA 2020 at Lucknow.
• First ever Africa India Field Training Exercises AFINDEX was held in March 2019 and agrees that it will further strengthen cooperation in defence preparedness and security. 
• “Silence The Guns: Creating conducive conditions for African Development”is the African Union’s theme of the year. This vision is to achieve ‘a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars and humanitarian disasters.

• Luckow declaration endorses African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), Silence The Guns in Africa and Agenda 2063. 

African Peace and Security Architecture

• The African Peace and Security Architecture includes the three central instruments conflict prevention, conflict management and peace building of the African Union, founded in the year 2002.

Agenda 2063

• Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.

African Union

• The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
• The bloc was launched on 9 July 2002 in South Africa.
• The AU’s secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

3.India and Mongolia agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space

Why in news?

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for an Agreement between Government of the Republic of India and Government of Mongolia on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful and Civilian Purposes.

More about the news

• The agreement enables the countries to pursue research in planetary exploration, space system, and application of space technology.
• The plan is to set a Joint Working Group by drawing members from ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), DOS (Department of Space), Communications and Information Technology Authority (CITA) of Mongolia.
• The finances for the project are to be approved in stage-by-stage basis subject to the availability of funds.

India-Mongolia Relations

• India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955 as Mongolia declared India as a spiritual neighbour and strategic partner.
• The common Buddhist heritage and civilizations link two countries and peoples.
• Mongolia voted in favour of India’s proposal to Yoga’s inscription into the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Joint India-Mongolia exercises ‘Nomadic Elephant’ is held annually and India is a regular participant in the multilateral exercise ‘Khan Quest’ held in Mongolia.
• Mongolia has abundant deposits of minerals namely coal, gold, copper, molybdenum, tin, fluorspar, tungsten and tin. The country also holds huge Uranium deposits.

4.Oslo Peace Accord

Why in news?

• Palestinians threaten to quit Oslo peace accord.

More about the news

• Palestine officials threatened to withdraw from key provisions of the Oslo Accords, which define relations with Israel, if U.S. President Donald Trump announces his Middle East peace plan next week.

Oslo Peace Accord

• The Oslo Accords are a set of agreements between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
• The Oslo Accords marked the start of the Oslo process, a peace process aimed at achieving a peace treaty based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and at fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
• The Oslo I Accord, signed in Washington, D.C., in 1993 and the Oslo II Accord, signed in Taba, Egypt, in
• Oslo I is formally known as the Declaration of Principles (DOP).
• The pact established a timetable for the Middle East peace process.
• It planned for an interim Palestinian government in Gaza and Jericho in the West Bank.
• Oslo II, officially called the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza, expanded on Oslo I.
• It included provisions for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from six West Bank cities and about 450 towns.
• The pact set a timetable for elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Note: The interim pact was only supposed to last five years while a permanent agreement was finalised but it has tacitly been rolled over for more than two decades and the question of Jerusalem was left undecided.

5.Kalapani Territory

Why in news

• Nepal government has strongly objected to the inclusion of ‘Kalapani’ under the Indian Territory as per the newly released political map of India.

More about the news

• In the latest map, India included Kalapani into the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
• Nepal government says that Kalapani is an integral part of the country and that talks are still on between New Delhi and Kathmandu over this unresolved area.

Kalapani

• Kalapani is located at an altitude of 3600m on the Kailash Manasarovar route.
• It borders Uttarakhand in India and Sudurpashchim Pradesh in Nepal.
• Since the Indo-China war of 1962, Kalapani is controlled by India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
• Nepal claims that the river located towards the west of the territory is the main Kali River and thus it falls in its territory, India claims a ridgeline towards the east of the Kalapani territory and hence, includes it in the Indian Union.

History of the Dispute

• Under the Treaty of Sugauli signed between Nepal and the British East India Company in 1816, the Kali River was located as Nepal’s western boundary with India.

• It, however, made no mention of a ridgeline and subsequent maps of the areas drawn by British surveyors showed the source of the Kali River at different places.
• This discrepancy has led to the boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps including the territory in their own area to support their claims.
• The exact size of the Kalapani territory also varies in different sources.

6.Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Why in news?

• After reports of a cyber attack on the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, Indian authorities have apprised Russia that necessary steps have been taken to prevent similar incidents in future on the Indo Russian joint venture.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP)

• The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is located 650km south of Chennai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is being developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).
• Two 1,000MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) units based on Russian technology were erected in phase one of the project.
• In addition, NPCIL also has a 10 MW Wind Power Plant at Kudankulam site.
• An additional four units are scheduled to be added according to the agreement signed between India and Russia in December 2008.
• Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom, is the supplier of equipment and fuels for the nuclear power project.
• Kudankulam, or Koodankulam, is India’s first nuclear plant to use imported PWR technology.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited

• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
• It implements atomic power projects for generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
• NPCIL also has equity participation in BHAVINI, another PSU of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) which implements Fast Breeder Reactors programme in the country.

Other Operating Units:

Tarapur Atomic Power Station Units	Maharashtra
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Units	Rajasthan
Madras Atomic Power Station Units	Tamilnadu
Narora Atomic Power Station Units	Uttar Pradeh
Kakrapar Atomic Station Units	Gujarat
Kaiga Generating Station Unit	Karnataka

 

7.ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)

Why in news?

• The ADMM-Plus meeting will be held tomorrow in Thailand’s capital Bangkok which Defence Ministers of 18 ADMM-Plus countries will take part.

Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)

• The ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action, adopted at the 10th ASEAN Summit, stipulates that ASEAN shall work towards the convening of an annual ADMM.
• The Inaugural meeting of the ADMM was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
• The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.
• The ADMM aims to promote mutual trust and confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges.

 ADMM-Plus:

• Consistent with the ADMM guiding principles of open and outward looking, the 2^nd ADMM in Singapore in 2007 adopted the Concept Paper to establish the ADMM-Plus.
• The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US) to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
• The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam in 2010.
• The Defence Ministers agreed on five areas of practical cooperation to pursue under this new mechanism; ie maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine.

8.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Why in news

• Pakistan rejected United States’ notion of Beijing being the sole benefactor of its China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

• The CPEC is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed at enhancing Beijing’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
• It was launched in 2015 and passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Baluchistan.
• CPEC eventually aims at linking the city of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan to China‘s North Western region Xinjiang (Not Tibet region) through a vast network of highways and railways.
• The 3,000 km-long China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) consists of highways, railways, and pipelines.
•  The CPEC, once completed is expected to cut short the trade route for China‘s oil imports by 6000 miles.

• It is expected to open up a brand-new strategic gateway for China to tap into African, West Asian and South Asian trade.
• India protests against the project as it pass through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, breaching its’ territorial integrity.
• The proposed project will be financed by heavily-subsidised loans that will be disbursed to the Government of Pakistan by Chinese banking giants such as Exim Bank of China, China Development Bank, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

• BRI consisting of the land-based belt, ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’, and ‘Maritime Silk Road’, aims to connect the East Asian economic region with the European economic circle and runs across the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.
• It is China’s ambitious project announced in 2013.

• It covers about 65% of the world population, 60% of the world GDP and over 70 countries in six economic corridors.

China is spending almost $1 trillion to revive and renew the overland and maritime trade links between China, Europe, West Asia, and East Africa through construction of modern ports linked to high-speed road and rail corridors

9.Indo-bangladesh joint river commission (jrc)

Why in news?

• Bangladesh has not sent a delegation for the joint river commission (jrc) meeting with India that was scheduled to be held in December.

More about the news

• The jrc was expected to draft the framework agreement of the interim sharing of the feni river’s waters with tripura.
• The feni river forms part of the india-bangladesh border. it originates in the south tripura district and meets the bay of bengal after it flows into bangladesh.
• bangladesh had agreed to let india withdraw 1.82 cusecs from the river to supply the border town of sabroom in the northeastern state.
• Meeting cancellation is also expected to delay the preparation of draft framework for the interim sharing agreements regarding the manu, muhuri, khowai, gomati, dharla and Dudhkumar Rivers.

india-bangladesh joint river commission

• it is a bilateral working group established by india and bangladesh in the indo-bangla treaty of friendship, cooperation and peace that was signed in
• as per the treaty, the two nations established the commission to work for the common interests and sharing of water resources, irrigation, floods and cyclones control.
• it was established to ensure the most effective joint efforts in maximizing the benefits of common river systems. india and bangladesh share 54 rivers.
• the jrc is headed by water resources ministers of both the countries.

10.Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

Why in news?

• The Iran crisis reflects the strains between the U.S. and Europe over the U.S. President’s maximalist political approaches.
• Earlier Iran has announced that it would reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• The European nations want to preserve the deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), even if they seem worried about a growing list of violations by Iran of the deal.

More about

• The Iran nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and the P5 (5 permanent members of the UNSC), plus Germany and the EU in 2015.
• The deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme. As per the deal Iran agreed:
• Most of Iran’s enriched uranium was shipped out of the country
• A heavy water facility was rendered inoperable
• Operational nuclear facilities were brought under international inspection
• In return, the deal involved lifting of international sanctions on Iran.

What happened now?

• The very idea for Iran agreeing to the deal was that it would help lift sanctions, providing relief to its economy.
• But U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the increasing pressure thereafter made implementation of the deal difficult.
• Iran has announced the suspension of some of the restrictions in the deal, and not of withdrawing from the deal.

Reasons given for Withdrawal by US

• JCPOA does not have binding restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile programme and it does nothing to prevent Iran from sponsoring terrorism in its region.
• Most restrictions have a sunset-clause, which means that over the years JCPOA’s provisions will become less strict and this will enable Iran to move towards nuclear-weapon capability.

 

11.ASEAN-India Free Trade Area

Why in news?

• Economic Ministers from ten ASEAN Member States and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India met on 10 September 2019 at Bangkok in Thailand for the sixteenth AEM-India Consultations.

Some Facts

• Based on preliminary ASEAN data, two-way merchandise trade between ASEAN and India grew by 9.8 per cent from USD 73.6 billion in 2017 to USD 80.8 billion in 2018.
• India is the sixth largest trading partner of ASEAN and sixth largest source of FDI among ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
• According to India’s preliminary data, FDI inflows into India from ASEAN in 2018 was USD 16.41 billion, approximately 98 per cent of total FDI flow into India.

 ASEAN-India Free Trade Area

• With the initiation of economic reforms in India from 1991 onwards, the then government initiated the ‘Look East Policy’ which was particularly focused on Southeast Asia and East Asia.
• From 2014 onwards there was an upgrade of the ‘Look East Policy’ to ‘Act East Policy’.
• With the enforcement of the ‘Look East Policy’ there were growing trade relations in goods and investments.
• After the India-ASEAN free trade agreement was created in 2003, trade relations boomed even further. 
• In 2009, the Free Trade Agreement in Goods was signed and enacted in 2010.
• The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA)has been completed with the entry into force of the ASEAN-India Agreements on Trade in Service and Investments on 1 July 2015.

 

12.India is the top source of immigrants across the globe

Why in news?

• A UN report reveals that one-third of all immigrants come from 10 countries.

From the Union Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs data 2019:

• India has emerged as the leading country of origin for immigrants across the world, with 17.5 million international migrants in 2019 coming from India, up from 15.9 million in 2015.
• One-third of all international migrants originated from 10 countries — after India, Mexico ranked second as the country of origin for 12 million migrants, followed by China (11 million), Russia (10 million) and Syria (8 million).

Sharp increase:

• The number of international migrants in the world had reached an estimated 272 million 2019 — 51 million more than in 2010.
• The percentage of international migrants of the total global population has increased to 3.5% from 2.8% in 2000.
• While India remained as the top source of international migrants, the number of migrants living in India saw a slight decline from 5.24 million in 2015 to an estimated 5.15 million in 2019 – both 0.4% of the total population of the country.
• Bangladesh was the leading country of origin for migrants in India.

 

13.PACE setter fund

Why in news?

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy awarded Grants to the awardees of the second round of PACE setter fund programme. 

PACE setter fund:

• The PACE setter fund was constituted by India and the USA in 2015 as a joint fund to provide early-stage grant funding to accelerate the commercialization of innovative off-grid clean energy products, systems, and business models.
• The Fund’s main purpose is to improve the viability of off-grid renewable energy businesses that sell small scale (under 1 megawatt) clean energy

systems to individuals and communities without access to grid connected power or with limited/intermittent access (less than 8 hours per day).

• Grant decisions are made by a Steering Committee composed of representatives from the Governments of India and the United States.
• The Steering Committee will be advised by an Executive Committee comprised of governmental and non- governmental experts from both countries.
• The bi-national Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), New Delhi, India is the Administrator of the Fund.
• The following priorities will receive strong consideration in grant-making decisions:

• Innovation: The PACE setter Fund prioritizes innovative technologies, business models, and programs.
• Early-stage funding: The PACE setter Fund is focused on accelerating the commercialization of innovative off-grid clean energy solutions by providing early-stage grant funding that allow for the development and testing of innovative solutions.

14.QUAD

Why in news?

• Quad – Foreign Ministers of India, US, Japan and Australia are scheduled to meet on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

QUAD:

• QUAD is a regional coalition (Quadrilateral Formation) of four major democracies ie. USA, India, Japan and Australia.
• It is based on their converging vision and values for promotion of peace and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected region that they share with each other and with other partners.
• The Quadrilateral mechanism will work on agreeing to increase the possibilities of trade and connectivity.
• The quadrilateral is seen to counter China’s aggressive maritime expansion under its Belt and Road initiative.

Aim:

• Promote free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• Addressing common challenges of terrorism and proliferation linkages impacting the region.
• Enhance connectivity.
• Promote free trade and defence cooperation across a stretch of ocean from the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and all the way to Africa.

A counter to China:

• The concept of quadrilateral cooperation among India, Japan, Australia and the US is inextricably linked to China’s emergence as a great power.

The fear of China’s growing unilateralism drives major nations to strive to reduce the regional imbalance by banding together

 

15.Operation Peace Spring

Why in news

• Thousands flee, hundreds reported dead in Turkish attack on U.S.-allied Kurds in Syria.

Operation Peace Spring

• It is Turkey led military operation against Kurdish-led forces in north-eastern Syria.

Who are the Kurds?

• The Kurdish population is spread across four countries – Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria.
• Kurds make up between 7% and 10% of Syria’s population.
• For decades, they were suppressed and denied basic rights by President Bashar al-Assad and, before him, his father Hafez.
• In 2011 they started uprising against the government.
• In 2012 Kurdish militias took control over the area.
• During 2014 IS attack, US-led multinational coalition against IS intervened and Kurds became the coalition’s most critical partner on the ground in Syria.
• The biggest Kurdish militia, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), formed an alliance with local Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2015.
• With the help of coalition airpower, weaponry and advisers, SDF fighters drove IS out of a quarter of Syria and captured its last pocket of territory in the country in March 2019.
• They also set up an autonomous administration to govern the region.

Reason behind the operation

• Turkey has long threatened to launch a military operation in SDF-held territory to create a 32km deep “safe zone” running for 480km along the Syrian side of the border.

• Turkey hopes to resettle at least 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it is currently hosting in the zone.
• It wants to push back members of the YPG, which it views as an extension of a Kurdish rebel group that has been fighting in Turkey for decades and is designated a terrorist organisation.
• And turkey together with the Syrian National Army launched Operation Peace Spring in the area.

 

16.Red Sea

Why in news?

• Oil prices rise after reports of Iranian tanker attack in Red Sea.

 Red Sea:

• The Red Sea (Erythraean Sea) is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia.
• The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
• To the north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal).
• The sea is underlain by the Red Sea Rift which is part of the Great Rift Valley.

The six countries bordering the Red Sea are:

• Saudi Arabia
• Yemen
• Egypt
• Sudan
• Eritrea
• Djibouti

 

17.Interpol and notices

Why in news?

• Red Notices against Nirav Modi’s brothers vanish from Interpol site.

Interpol:

• INTERPOL is global police co-operation agency and a non-governmental Organization (NGO).
• Its work focuses on public safety and battling terrorism, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, environmental crime etc.
• It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC)
• Its headquarters is located at Lyon, France.
• It is the 2nd-largest international organization after the United Nations in terms of international representation with 190 member countries

Notices issued by Interpol:

Notice	Purpose
·         Red Notice	·         To seek the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view of extradition or similar lawful action.
·         Yellow Notice	·         To help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help identify persons who are unable to identify themselves.
·         Orange Notice	·         To warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
·         Green Notice	·         To provide warnings and intelligence about persons who have committed criminal offences and are likely to repeat these crimes in other countries.
·         Blue Notice	·         To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.
·         Purple Notice	·         To seek or provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals.
·         Black Notice	·         To seek information on unidentified bodies.
·        Interpol-UN security Council Special Notice	·         Issued for groups and individuals who are the targets of UN Security Council Sanctions committee.

 

18.Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)

A.Why in news?

• External Affairs Minister of India said he was “reasonably convinced” of persuading the U.S. to accept India’s decision on the purchase of the Russian S400 missile defence system, U.S. officials warned that any such purchase might risk sanctions.

More about:

• India agreed to purchase the surface to air missile system from Russia in 2018 for about $5.2 billion, risking sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
• Sanctions could kick in when the first payment for the equipment is made, unless the U.S. President grants a waiver.

What is CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act)?

• On 2017 August, the President of USA signed into law the “Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act” imposes sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea.  

• It mandates US administration to impose sanctions on any country/persons carrying out significant defence and energy trade with sanctioned entities in North Korea, Iran and Russia.
• Although US Congress has made amendments in Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for a Presidential waiver but US officials had clarified that there was no blanket sanction waiver for any country.
• The act targets Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry, defence and security sector, and financial institutions, in the backdrop of its military intervention in Ukraine and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US Presidential elections.

What happened till now?

• President of United States of America has announced that US would not sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a major NATO ally after they purchased S-400 missile defence system from sanctions-hit Russia.

 

1. LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA 

Why in news?

• These defense agreements are in news regarding Indo – U. S relation.

More about

• Foundational agreements are those agreements through which US enters into alliance with its partner countries.
• The three main foundation agreements are
• Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
• Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA)
• Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geospatial Intelligence
• General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was an initial agreement which was signed by India in the year 2002.
• GSOMIA facilitated opportunities for greater intelligence sharing between India and the United States.

LEMOA 

• LEMOA will give the militaries of both countries access to each other’s facilities for supplies and repairs.
• LEMOA does not make logistical support automatic or obligatory for either party.

COMCASA 

• COMCASA is one of three foundational agreements that guide US high technology cooperation in defense sector with other countries.
• It was earlier called Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA).
• The COMCASA will facilitate transfer of encrypted communications systems.
• Signed by India in 2018.

BECA 

• BECA agreement would enable exchange of geospatial information between India and United States for both military and civilian use.
• The agreement makes sure all kinds of information whether intelligence reports or satellite data inputs are shared unconditionally between the 2 military forces.
• India has not signed BECA yet.

EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V

• Indian Air Force is participating in a Bilateral Joint exercise with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO), named EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V at Air Force Base Masirah.
• The last exercise, EX EASTERN BRIDGE-IV was held in 2017 at Jamnagar. For the first time, MiG-29 fighter aircraft will be participating in an International Exercise outside India.

C.The ninth India-US Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative (DTTI)

• DTTI is not a treaty or law; it is a flexible mechanism to make sure that senior leaders from both countries are engaged consistently to strengthen the opportunities in the field of defence.
• Aim – Its central aims include strengthening India’s defence industrial base, exploring new areas of technological development and expanding U.S.-India business ties.
• DTTI initiative is led by: Undersecretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment from US and Secretary for Defence Protection from India.

 

19.India-Japan Act East Forum

Why in news?

• Japanese Ambassador Mr Kenji Hiramatsu calls on MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed projects for J&K, Ladakh and North East region.

India-Japan Act East Forum:

• It is an important mechanism for synergising India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”.

• Act East Forum has brought all the relevant stakeholders together, and synergised towards implementation of ongoing and new projects in the North-East region.
• Under the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), 12 candidates from Jammu have been selected in Japanese companies.
• The Minister proposed that in future, 100 students can be taken under TITP programme from Ladakh as well, with 50 each from Leh and Kargil respectively.

Other efforts of India-Japan Act East Forum:

• Cooperation in Myanmar, to facilitate development efforts in the Rakhine State.
• Cooperation in Bangladesh, for improving connectivity on the Ramgarh to Baraiyarhat stretch and constructing the Jamuna Railway Bridge over the Januma River.  

Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy:

• Japan promote infrastructure development, trade and investment, and enhance business environment and human development, strengthening connectivity in ASEAN region.
• Japan will expand ASEAN’s success to other regions such as the Middle East and Africa,
• Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy consists of three pillars:
• Promotion and establishment of rule of law, freedom of navigation and free trade, etc. (Cooperation among Japan, US, India, Australia, ASEAN, European and Middle Eastern countries, etc.)
• Pursuit of economic prosperity (improving connectivity, etc.)
• Commitment for peace and stability (capacity building on maritime law enforcement, HA/DR cooperation, etc.)

TechSagar

• An online portal of India’s technological capability, which lists every technology-based business and research entities starting from the IT Industry, startups, Academia to even Individual Researchers.
• TechSagar will facilitate new opportunities for businesses and academia to collaborate, connect and innovate in future.

 

20.‘Order of Zayed’

Why in News ?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the ‘Order of Zayed’, the UAE’s highest civilian award

More Information 

• The award in the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE
• It acquires special significance as it was awarded to Prime Minister Modi in the year of the birth centenary of Sheikh Zayed
• It has been awarded as a mark of appreciation for his efforts to boost bilateral ties between the two nations.
• It underlines the new good will, trust and personal intimacy between PM Modi and the UAE leadership.
• The award has earlier been bestowed on several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Queen Elizabeth II and Chinese President Xi Jinping

 

21.Howdy, Modi’

Why in News?

• It was a mega diaspora event.
• The summit, with the tagline of ‘Shared Dreams, Bright Futures’ highlighted the contributions of Indian Americans to enrich the American life as well as the key role played in strengthening relations between the two nations.
• The event included cultural program and an address by PM Modi.
• A 90-minute cultural program titled, ‘Woven: The Indian-American Story’ celebrated the contributions of Indian-Americans to the cultural, and social landscape of the United States.
• Modi has previously addressed similar gatherings at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Silicon Valley in California but this was the biggest ever gathering by a global political leader.

Why Houston?

• Beyond New York, the larger San Francisco area (including Silicon Valley) and Chicago, Houston, along with Dallas, has among the largest communities of Indian Americans.
• Modi has already held rallies in New York and San Francisco. Houston or Chicago were the logical next sites.

What is the political significance of the event?

• The White House had issued a statement saying, “It will be a great opportunity to emphasise the strong ties between the people of the US and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship.”
• The Mega event saw the participation of a large number of elected officials, including senators, congressmen, governors, judges, and business leaders.

 

22.Motihari-Amalekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli “switched on” the MotihariAmalekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline from their offices in New Delhi and Kathmandu.

Background

• The Motihari-Amalekhgunj pipeline project was first proposed in 1996, but progress was slow.
• Things began to move after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kathmandu in 2014.
• In 2017, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) signed a petroleum trade agreement to supply about 1.3 million tonnes of fuel annually to Nepal with a promise to double the volume by 2020.
• In July 2019, the two countries successfully concluded a “testing transfer” through the oil pipeline.

Details

• The pipeline will transport fuel from Barauni refinery in Bihar’s Begusarai district to Amalekhgunj in south eastern Nepal, situated across the border from Raxaul in East Champaran district.
• The Amalekhgunj fuel depot will have the capacity to store up to 16,000 kilolitres of petroleum products.

Significance

• The 69-km pipeline will drastically reduce the cost of transporting fuel to landlocked Nepal from India.
• The Motihari-Amalekhgunj pipeline will help in tackling the oil storage problem in Nepal and doing away with transportation of petroleum products through tankers

 

23.Russian S-400 defense systems arrive in Turkey

Why in news?

• Turkey’s Defense Ministry says the first shipment of a Russian missile defense system has arrived in Turkey

Why Turkey requires them?

• Turkey says the system is a strategic defence requirement, particularly to secure its southern borders with Syria and Iraq.
• It says that when it made the deal with Russia for the S-400s, the U.S. and Europe had not presented a viable alternative.

How does the S-400 work?

• Long-range surveillance radar tracks objects and relays information to command vehicle, which assesses potential targets
• Target is identified and command vehicle orders missile launch
• Launch data are sent to the best placed launch vehicle and it releases surface-to-air missiles
• Engagement radar helps guide missiles towards target

Background

• In November 2015, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian fighter jet over the Syrian border, ratcheting up tensions between Moscow and Ankara.
• There were speculations that Russian President Vladimir Putin would retaliate. But Mr. Putin didn’t take any military action against Turkey. Instead, he stayed focussed on his strategic goal of defeating the anti-regime rebels and jihadists and bolstering Syria’s existing state institutions.
• Putin’s strategy was not to attack Turkey, but to win over it. He exploited the cracks in the Atlantic alliance, especially in U.S.-Turkey relations. Evolving regional equations also favoured his bet

Why Turkey is important Geo Politics?

• Turkey is a NATO member and also hosts a U.S. airbase in Incirlik.
• Turkey’s strategic location, in the intersection of southern Europe, Central Asia and West Asia, makes it a pricey catch in geopolitical games.
• During the Cold War, Turkey was a key buffer for the Atlantic powers against the Soviet Union.
• Even after the Soviet Union disintegrated, the U.S. continued to maintain a close alliance with Ankara. But now a high-tech Russian missile system protects a NATO nation’s airspace.

24.Hormuz Strait

Why in news?

• There is a growing dangerous contest between the United States and Iran for influence in the Middle East escalated dramatically as two tankers were targeted in suspected attacks near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.

About the news

• The blasts appeared to be a coordinated attack, damaging the hull of a Japanese-owned tanker and striking a Norwegian-owned vessel
• The blast on the Japanese ship appeared timed to undermine diplomatic efforts by Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who was wrapping up a highstakes visit to Tehran.

Concerns

• Crude prices climbed 4% after the attacks

25.New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)

Why in News?

• Russian president accuses US of shunning talks on extending the nuclear arms reduction treaty, which expires in 2021

More information

• It was signed in 2010 in Prague by Russia and the United States and entered into in 2011
• The treaty was signed by US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev
• New START replaced the 1991 START I treaty, which expired December 2009, and superseded the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), which terminated when New START entered into force.
• The accord, which expires in 2021, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.

26.Operation Safed Sagar/ “Operation White Sea”

Why in News?

• On May 28, 1999, Sqn Ldr R Pundir, Flt Lt Muhilan, Sergeant RK Sahu and Sergeant PVNR Prasad laid down their lives in service of the nation while flying a mission during Ops Safed Sagar
• It was the code name assigned to the Indian Air Force’s role in acting jointly with Ground troops during the Kargil war that was aimed at flushing out Regular and Irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control
  • It was the first large scale use of Airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

27.INTERMEDIATE-RANGE NUCLEAR FORCES (INF) TREATY

Why in news?

• S. formally withdraws from INF arms treaty.

 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty:

• The Treaty is signed between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on December 1987.
• A crucial Cold War-era treaty banning the development, testing and possession of short and medium range ground-launched nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5,000 km.
• The INF Treaty limited the Cold War powers medium-range missiles, both conventional and nuclear.
• The treaty, signed in 1987, was central to ending the arms race between the two superpowers, and protected America’s NATO allies in Europe from Soviet missile attacks.

 Reasons of US withdrawal

• US President Trump has alleged that Russia has violated treaty and has been violating it for many years.
• This violation comes after Russia’s alleged development and deployment of Novator 9M729 missile (also known as SSC-8), that could strike Europe at short notice.

28.FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)

Basic

• The FATF is an inter-governmental body that works 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.
• A country is put on the grey list when it fails to curb terrorism financing and money laundering.
• Putting a country on the blacklist means shutting all doors to international finance for that country.
• Head office- Paris, France

The Grey List

• Grey list is a classification used by Financial Action Task Force for its effectiveness to deal with terrorist and its facilitators.
• These countries will be subjected to direct monitoring and intense scrutiny by the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) on terror financing.
• It will squeeze listed country’s economy and make it harder to meet its mounting foreign financing needs, including potential future borrowings from International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• It will lead to downgrading of country’s debt ratings by international banking and credit rating agencies, making it more difficult to tap funds from international bond markets.
• It will also suspend international funds and aid to listed countries.

 The Black list

• FATF, in 2000, issued a list of “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs), commonly called the FATF Blacklist.
• It lists countries which it judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Why in news?

• Pakistan has been placed on the lowest rung, or “blacklist”, of the Financial Action Task Force.

 About the news:

• Pakistan has been placed on the lowest rung, or “blacklist”, of the Financial Action Task Force’s Asia Pacific Group (APG) for non-compliance and non-enforcement of safeguards against terror financing and money laundering.
• APG placed Pakistan on ‘Enhanced Expedited Follow-Up List’ (blacklist) for failing to meet the requirements.
• The placing of Pakistan on the lowest rung does not bring any new punitive measures but the country will have to send quarterly report on safeguards against terror financing

What happens in the APG met?

• The APG, one of nine regional affiliates of the FATF, met in Canberra from August 18 to 23, 2019 to discuss a five-year review of the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) for Pakistan, and decided to place it among countries requiring “enhanced, expedited follow-up”.
• According to the APG’s final report, Pakistan failed in 32 of 40 ‘compliance’ parameters for its legal and financial systems, and
• Failed 10 of 11 ‘effectiveness’ parameters for enforcing safeguards against terror-financing and money-laundering by UN-sanctioned entities and other non-government outfits.
• After pressure from the US, France, Germany, UK, Pakistan was earlier grey-listed by the FATF

Objectives

• Set standards and take measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
• Monitor the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures.
• Reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures.
• In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.

Members

• As of 2018 FATF consists of thirty-six member jurisdictions, including India and two regional organisations, the European Commission and the Gulf Co-operation Council.

FORTY PLUS NINE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE GREY LIST AND THE BLACK LIST

 Forty plus Nine recommendations

• The FATF’s primary policies issued are the Forty Recommendations on money laundering from 1990 and the Nine Special Recommendations (SR) on Terrorism Financing (TF).
• These together are called 40+9 recommendations.

 Impact of being blacklisted

• Pakistan’s $6 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be threatened.
• Pakistan faces an estimated annual loss of $10 billion if it stays in the greylist; if blacklisted, its already fragile economy will dealt with a powerful blow.

India’s Role

• India is a voting member of the FATF and APG, and co-chair of the Joint Group.
• India was not part of the group that moved the resolution to greylist Pakistan in 2018 in Paris. The movers were the US, UK, France, and Germany and China did not oppose.
• As of now, India is pushing for Pakistan to be blacklisted.
• There is also an opinion that by keeping Pakistan in the grey list one can continue to pressure the country as well as scrutinise its actions.

Asia Pacific Group

• The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is an inter-governmental organisation, consisting of 41 member jurisdictions, focused on ensuring that its members effectively implement the international standards against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing related to weapons of mass destruction.

UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373

• The UNSC resolution 1267 was adopted unanimously on October 15, 1999. It is a consolidated list of people and entities that UN has determined as being associated with Al Qaeda or the Taliban, and laws which must be passed within each member nation to implement the sanctions.
• The UNSC Resolution 1373 was adopted on 28th September, 2001. It declares international terrorism a threat to international peace and security and imposes binding obligations on all UN member states.

29.NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORISATION ACT (NDAA)

Why in news?

• The U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020 that brings India at par with America’s NATO allies and countries like Israel and South Korea for increasing defence cooperation.

 About the news

• The amendment provides for increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean in the areas of humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security.

 About NDAA

• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the name for each of a series of United States federal laws specifying the annual budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense.
• The first NDAA was passed in 1961.
• The U.S. Congress oversees the defense budget primarily through two yearly bills
• The National Defense Authorization Act
• Defense appropriations bills

The authorization bill determines the agencies responsible for defense, establishes funding levels, and sets the policies under which money will be spent.

30.CONSULAR ACCESS

Why in news?

• Recently, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has directed Pakistan to grant consular or diplomatic access to Kulbhushan Jadhav “without further delay” in accordance with the Vienna Convention.

 What is consular access? 

• Article 36 of the Vienna Convention states on Consular Relations of 1963 states that foreign nationals who are arrested or detained be given notice without delay of their right to have their embassy or consulate notified of that arrest.
• If the detained foreign national so requests, the police must fax that notice to the embassy or consulate, which can then check up on the person.
• The notice to the consulate can be as simple as a fax, giving the person’s name, the place of arrest, and if possible, something about the reason for the arrest or detention.
• This is an international treaty that defines consular relations between independent states.
• A consul, who is not a diplomat, is a representative of a foreign state in a country and works for the interests of his countrymen in the host country.
• The appointed officer usually protects the interests of his countrymen while operating in a foreign location.
• He is also instrumental in strengthening the relations between his home country and the host country.
• In layman terms, this implies the ability of the citizens of a country to have communication with the diplomats and officers of their country while held in a foreign location

31.GOLDEN CRESCENT AND GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Why in news?

• Chief Ministers of the northern States, including those of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, joined by top officials from Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh, agreed on a series of measures to eradicate the drugs scourge from the region.

About the news

• India’s vicinity to the golden triangle and golden crescent paves way for the country’s drug menace

About the triangles

• Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle are Asia’s two main Opium producing centers.
• Almost 90% of the world´s illicitly produced opiates originate in these two main production areas.
• The Golden Crescent overlaps Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan.
• Golden Triangle comprises of areas of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. (Sometimes Vietnam also counted in Golden Triangle.)
• Due to the presence of Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle in the region, part of South West and South East Asia are more vulnerable for drug trafficking and its abuse.
• Due to India’s close proximity with major opium growing areas of the region, India is also facing the serious menace of drug trafficking and as a spillover effect.

 About UNODC

• It is a UN office established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
• UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) and was renamed the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2002.
• UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90 per cent of its budget.
• The World Drug Report is a yearly publication of UNODC that presents a comprehensive assessment of the international drug problem, with detailed information on the illicit drug situation.
• It is headquartered at Vienna, Austria.

 

32.LOYA JIRGA

Why in news?

• Afghan grand council, Loya Jirga sets recommendations for Taliban talks.

 About Loya Jirga

• Loya jirga is a special type of jirga that is mainly organized for choosing a new head of state in case of sudden death, adopting a new constitution, or to settle national or regional issue such as war.
• A Jirga is a traditional assembly of leaders that make decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of Pashtunwali.
• It is part of code of laws of the Pashtun peoples living in areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• It is a council of more than 3,200 participants which include politicians, tribal elders, many prominent figures and others.
• The gathering is consultative and its recommendations are not binding.

33.GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES

Why in news?

• United States plan to end preferential duty-free imports of up to $5.6 billion from India could raise costs for American consumers.

 About Generalised System of Preferences

• The Generalized System of Preferences is the largest and oldest United States trade preference programme
• It is a tariff scheme that facilitates duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.
• It was established by the Trade Act of 1974.

 More about GSP

• The U.S. intended it to promote economic development by eliminating duties on some products it imports from the 120 countries designated as beneficiaries.
• GSP helps spur sustainable development in beneficiary countries by helping them increase and diversify their trade with the U.S.
• GSP boosts American competitiveness by reducing the costs of imported inputs used by U.S. companies to manufacture goods in the United States.
• The objective of GSP was to give development support to poor countries by promoting exports from them into the developed countries.
• India has been the largest beneficiary of the scheme.
• It provides a formal system of exemption from the more general rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• It is a system of exemptions from the most favored nation principle (MFN).
• It exempts WTO member countries from MFN for the purpose of lowering tariffs for the least developed countries, without also lowering tariffs for rich countries

Benefits

• Increased Indian exports as well as profit for Indian exporters
• Indian products became more competitive in the American market
• It helped new exporters to establish in the American market

 What withdrawal means to India?

• The Indian export industry may not feel the pinch of the GSP removal for India by the U.S.
• The loss for the industry amounts to about $190 million on exports of $5.6 billion falling under the GSP category.
• But specific sectors, such as gem and jewellery, leather and processed foods will lose the benefits of the programme.
• India enjoyed duty exemptions on exports worth of 5.6 billion dollars. Hence, it will eat into India’s market share in the US as well as profits of Indian exporters.
• The US is a major export destination for India. Hence, the move will effect in the trade balance in US favour.

34.BRASILIA DECLARATION

Why in news?

• According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Road accidents are the leading cause of death among people in the 5-29 age-group worldwide.

 About Brasilia Declaration

• The Brasilia Declaration lays down recommendations on strengthening existing legislations, adopting sustainable transport and strengthening post-crash response.
• It was adopted at the second global high-level conference on road safety held in Brazil in 2015 at the mid-point of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.
• It is developed through an intergovernmental process involving consultation with other stakeholders.
• India is a signatory to this declaration.

Goal

• Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety agreed upon ways to halve road traffic deaths by the end of this decade. (by 2020)
• It is a key milestone within the new 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.6.

 Objectives

• It highlights strategies to ensure the safety of all road users by
• Improving laws and enforcement
• Making roads safer through infrastructural modifications o Ensuring that vehicles are equipped with life-saving technologies
• Enhancing emergency trauma care systems
• It encourages WHO and partners to facilitate the development of targets to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities, and support the definition and use of indicators linked to the SDG targets related to road safety.
• The declaration promotes sustainable commuting ways and prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists and motorists citing importance for traffic safety.
• The declaration further urges states to adapt road safety policies for the benefit of the vulnerable road users, children, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities

 

 

1. International Organisation

35.Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Why in News?

• The OPCW has recently said that the Syrian air force carried out three chemical attacks on a village in Syria’s western Hama region in 2017.
• It concluded that the Syrian air force helicopter dropped bombs containing poisonous chlorine and sarin nerve gas

About Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

• It is an international organization established by the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1997 to implement and enforce the terms of the non-proliferation treaty, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, or transfer of chemical weapons by signatory states.
• It is authorized to perform inspections to verify that signatory states are complying with the convention.
• It includes a commitment to grant inspectors full access to chemical weapons sites.
• It also performs testing of sites and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks.
• It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013. Its headquarters are located in The Hague, Netherlands.
• It established OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) in 2018 to identify the perpetrators of illegal attacks.
• By the 2001 Relationship Agreement between the OPCW and the United Nations, the OPCW reports on its inspections and other activities to the UN through the office of the Secretary General.

About Sarin Gas:

• It is a chemical warfare agent classified as a Nerve Agent.
• They are similar to certain kinds of insecticides (insect killers) called organophosphates in terms of how they work and what kind of harmful effects they cause.
• It was originally developed in 1938 in Germany as a pesticide.
• It is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in its pure form. However, it can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and spread into the environment. It is also known as GB.
• Chlorine gas: Chlorine is a choking agent. Its greenish-yellow clouds of gas cause shortness of breath, wheezing, respiratory failure, irritation in the eyes, vomiting, and sometimes Death.

36.Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Why in news?

• Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is attempting to punish Russia, the world’s second-largest producer, for balking at production cuts proposed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC):

• OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental Organization, that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries.
• Created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
• The five Founding Members were later joined by ten other Members.

Headquarters:

• OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence.
• This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965.

OPEC’s objective:

• To co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

Member Countries:

• Founding Members – Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
• The countries joined : Qatar (1961), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018).
• Qatar terminated its membership on 1 January 2019.

Note – Ecuador leaves the 14-nation bloc from January 1 2020 due to fiscal problems.

 

37.South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Why in news?

• Applications for the post of President of the South Asian University, the flagship educational centre of the South Asian Association for Re­gional Cooperation (SAARC), have caused dis­quiet among the university’s academics.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):

• It was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December
• SAARC comprises of eight Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• The Secretariat of SAARC – Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The organization was started to promote economic and cultural ties amongst its member states.
• SAARC comprises of 21% of world population and 8% of world economy.
• Afghanistan became the 8^th member of SAARC.
• States with observer status in SAARC: Australia, China, the European Union, Iran,Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea and the United States.

SAARC Development Fund (SDF):

• SDF which was established by the heads of the eight SAARC Member States in April 2010 with the aim to:
• Promote the welfare of the people of SAARC region.
• Improve their quality of life.
• Accelerate economic growth, social progress and poverty alleviation in the region

 

38.Biological Weapons Convention

Why in News?

• Recently, March 26 marked the 45^thanniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention.

About Biological Weapons Convention:

• It is a convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction is usually referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) or Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).
• It is a legally binding treaty that outlaws biological arms.
• It is the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
• It opened for signature in 1972, and entered into force in 1975.
• It currently has 183 states-parties, including Palestine, and four signatories. Ten states have neither signed nor ratified the BWC.

It bans the development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of:

• 1.Biological agents and toxins “of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;”
• 2.Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles “designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”
• 3.The transfer of or assistance with acquiring the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles described above.
• It does not ban the use of biological and toxin weapons but reaffirms the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits such use. It also does not ban biodefense programs.
• India has ratified the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and pledges to abide by its obligations.

39.Group of Seven (G7) 

Why in news?

• The economic performance across G7 nations and leading emerging markets is expected to be muted.

G7

• The Group of Seven (G7) comprises seven leading industrialised nations: the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany.
• In addition, the European Union sends representatives to all the meetings.
• The G7 Summit 2019 in France and in 2020 USA.
• The G7 countries represent over 46% of the gross domestic product globally based on nominal values.
• These countries represent over 32% of the GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
• The countries in this group have more than 62% of the global net wealth.

Goals of the G7:

• The G7 sees itself as a community of values that stands for peace,security and a self-determined life all around the world.
• Freedom and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as prosperity and sustainable development are key principles of the G7.

Background:

• In 1975 the then French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and the then German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt invited other countries to join them for the first World Economic Summit, which later evolved into the G7 and then the G8.
• The other founding members of this Group of Six (G6) were the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan and the United States of America.
• When Canada joined in 1976, it became the Group of Seven (G7). Russia became the eighth member at the 1998 Summit in Birmingham, UK, turning the G7 into the G8.

Russia and G7:

• In March 2014 the G7 decided that, in view of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, meaningful discussions within the context of the G8 are currently not possible. Since then the meetings have continued in the G7 format.

40.Group of Twenty (G20)

Why in news?

• At G20 meet, FM pitches for new international tax system to handle disputes efficiently.

About G20:

• The Group of Twenty (G20) is a leading forum of the world’s major economies that seeks to develop global policies to address most pressing challenges.
• The G20 works in coordination with international organizations such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, OECD and ILO.
• The G20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.

About the summit:

• The G20 summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”.
• 2019 summit- Japan and 2020 – Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Arabia is the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency.
• The 1st summit was held in United States in 2008.

Members of G 20:

• The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union.
• The 19 countries are – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The EU is represented by the European Commission and by the European Central Bank.

Note – G20 represents about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 75 per cent of global trade

41.Eight Wonders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

Why in news?

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has included the Statue of Unity among the ‘Eight Wonders of the SCO.
• The 182-meter tall Statue of Unity in Gujarat has been included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s‘8 Wonders of SCO’ list.

• For the first time, India will host the annual meeting of council ofheads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Eight Wonders of the SCO are:

• India — the Statue of Unity
• Kazakhstan — the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly
• China — The Daming imperial palace complex
• Kyrgyzstan — Lake Issyk-Kul
• Pakistan — The Great Mughals’ heritage at Lahore
• Russia — The Golden Ring cities
• Tajikistan — The Palace of Nowruz
• Uzbekistan — the Poi Kalon complex

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

• About SCO we already covered all info in previous month Magazine

 

42.East Asia Summit (EAS)

Why in news

• East Asia Summit vows to step up anti-terror cooperation.

East Asia Summit (EAS):

• The East Asia Summit is the premier forum in the Asia-Pacific region to deal with issues relating security and defence.
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a meeting of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
• Apart from the 10 ASEAN member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia.
• The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in
• 14th (in 2019) summit held in
• The EAS membership represents around 54 per cent of the world’s population and accounts for 58 per cent of global GDP.
• The EAS is an ASEAN-centred forum and can only be chaired by an ASEAN member.

43.International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Why in news?

• India is committed to global best practices and standards of ship recycling say Shri Mansukh Mandaviya.

From the news:

• IMO adopted the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in 2009.
• This is aimed at ensuring that ships being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety and the environment.

International Maritime Organization:

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nationsresponsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
• Established in the year 1948.
• It is headquartered in London.
• Indiawas one of the earliest members of the IMO and had joined it as a member-state in 1959.
• The IMO’s primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping.
• IMO’s work supports the UN SDGs.

44.World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Why in news?

• World Anti-Doping Agency imposes 4-year ban on Russia.

About the Ban of Russia:

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA):                            

• WADA is a foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

• It was established in 1999 as an international independent agency.
• It was founded with the aim of bringing consistency to anti-doping policies and regulations within sport organizations and government’s right across the world.
• It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
• Its key activities include:
• Scientific research, education, development of anti-doping capacities, and
• Monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) – the document harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries.

More Information :

About National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA):

• It is the national organisation responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms in India.
• It was formed by the Union Government under the societies Registration Act.
• NADA adopts and implements anti-doping rules and policies which conform to the World Anti-Doping agency (WADA).
• NADA includes scientists and representatives from the Indian Olympic Association.

• UPU and its commitment as expected of a member country of the Union.
• It will also enable the Department of Posts to bring out any administrative orders to implement the provisions of the UPU Convention in India.

 

45.Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

Why in News?

• At the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment, and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
• NSG is a transnational body comprised of nuclear supplier countries that aims to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons by curbing the export of nuclear weapons development materials and related technology.
• It ensures that the materials and technologies transferred to any nation are not diverted to developing nuclear weapons.
• NSG consists of 48 members which include the five nuclear-weapon states US, UK, France, China, and Russia.
• The guidelines of NSG are not binding.
• Decisions, including on membership, are made unanimously by consensus.
• It is said to have been created as a sequel to India’s first nuclear test conducted in 1974.

Why is India not a part of NSG?

• The NSG controls most of the world’s nuclear trade.
• While the U.S. and other countries support India’s entry into the NSG, China has opposed it saying India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• However, it is important to note that membership of NPT is not a condition for becoming a member of NSG. It is only a guiding principle to which consideration needs to be given.
• Many other countries have also opposed India’s entry into NSG but New Delhi has been making constant efforts to blow away the resistance.
• The opponents argue that granting it membership would further undermine efforts to prevent proliferation and it would also infuriate India’s rival Pakistan.

Why does India want to Join NSG?

• India seeks to significantly expand its nuclear power generation and also enter the export market in the coming years.
• Joining the NSG will give India better access to low cost, clean nuclear energy important for its economic growth.
• Following intense debates, that considered India’s Nuclear activities and appreciated its commitment to non-proliferation, India got an NSG waiver in 2008.
• Although the 2008 NSG waiver to India does provide significant possibilities for India to engage in civilian nuclear trade with other countries (and indeed, India has entered into such agreements with several countries like Russia, France, UK, USA, Kazakhstan, Australia, and others), membership of the NSG will provide greater certainty and a legal foundation for India’s nuclear regime and thus greater confidence for those countries investing billions of dollars to set up ambitious nuclear power projects in India.
• As India’s international political, economic, military and strategic profile and clout increases, India would like to move into the category of international rule creating nations rather than stay in the ranks of rule adhering nations

 

46.BIMSTEC

Why in news?

• Raksha Mantri mentions the India’s engagement with its neighbours in sub-regional groupings like Bay of Bengal initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in ‘Seoul Defence Dialogue 2019’.

Bay of Bengal initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC):

What is BIMSTEC?

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation.
• Its members lie in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constitutes a regional unity.

Member countries:

• Five are from South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
• Two are from Southeast Asia – Myanmar and Thailand

Objective:

• It mainly aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development and social progress;
• To promote collaboration on matters of common interest in the region.

History:

• A sub-regional organization came into being in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
• Initially, it was formed with four Member States with the acronym ‘BIST-EC’(Bangladesh, India, Sri-Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
• It became renamed ‘BIMST-EC’in 1997, following the inclusion of Myanmar.
• With the admission of Nepal and Bhutan in 2004, the name of the grouping was changed to ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC).

 

47.World Trade Organization (WTO)

Why in news?

• In a welcome judgment for India, a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel in June accepted its claim in a dispute concerning U.S. regulations on domestic content requirement in the production of renewable energy. 

World Trade Organization (WTO):

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
• Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. 
• Currently, WTO has 164 members.
• The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 124 nations ,replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which commenced in 1948.
• WTO currently functions as per the consensus principle under which multilateral trade negotiations are conducted called as the Single Undertaking framework.
• The Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Objectives of WTO:

WTO wishes to achieve the following objectives through the multilateral trading system:

• Raise living standards
• Ensure full employment
• Ensure a large and steadily growing volume of real income and effective demand
• Expand the production of and trade in, goods and services, while allowing for the optimal use of the world’s resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development.

 

 

 

48.Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Why in news?

• All 16 nations set for final RCEP deal.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP):

• RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) or comprehensive regional economic integration agreement between the 10-ASEAN countries and its six FTA partners.
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has free trade agreements with six partners namely People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Japan, India as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Members:

• 10-ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan and Korea).

Why RCEP?

• In order to broaden and deepen the engagement among parties and to enhance parties’ participation in economic development of the region, the leaders of 16 participating countries established RCEP.
• The RCEP was built upon the existing ASEAN+1 FTAs with the spirit:
• to strengthen economic linkages,
• to enhance trade and investment related activities,
• to contribute to minimising development gap among the part

Objective:

• It is to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s FTA partners.

The RCEP negotiation includes:

• Trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement, e-commerce, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other issues.

More on RCEP:

• RCEP has the potential to deliver significant opportunities for businesses in the East Asia region.
• The 16 RCEP participating countries account for almost half of the world’s population; contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP and over a quarter of world exports.
• RCEP will provide a framework aimed at lowering trade barriers and securing improved market access for goods and services for businesses in the region.

 

49.Arctic Council

Why in news?

• The polar researcher from Kerala will be the only Indian aboard the multidisciplinary drifting observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition.

Arctic Council:

• The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and people living in the Arctic region.
• It was established by Ottawa Declaration in 1996.
• Member countries – Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Russia and US.
• India holds an Observer status in Arctic Council since 2013.
• Arctic Council has no programming budget, all projects or initiatives are sponsored by one or more Arctic States.
• The Arctic Council’s mandate, as articulated in the Ottawa Declaration, explicitly excludes military security.
• The Arctic Council cannot implement or enforce its guidelines, assessments or recommendations on its own, that responsibility belongs to each individual Arctic State.
• Chairmanship of the Council rotates every two years among the eight national members.
• Decisions of the Arctic Council are taken by consensus among the eight Arctic Council States, with full consultation and involvement of the Permanent Participants.
• The secretariat became operational in 2013 in Tromso, Norway.

More info

• Arctic Ocean bordering countries: the United States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Russia, and Greenland.

 

50.Non Alignment Movement (NAM)

Why in news

• Narendra Modi skips NAM summit again.

More about the news

• Summit Conferences are held every three (03) years.
• The 18^th Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) will be hosted by Republic of Azerbaijan.

NAM

• The Movement has its origin in the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955.
• Founded in 1961 in Belgrade.
• It was created by the heads of Yugoslavia, India, Egypt, Ghana and Indonesi
• The Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War as an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral.

• The movement represented the interests and priorities of developing countries.
• The policy of non-alignment was based on the five principles of Panchasheel, which directed international conduct.
• Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
• Non-interference in each other’s military and internal affairs.
• Mutual non-aggression.
• Equality and mutual benefit.
• Peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation.

 

51.The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Why in news?

• Indian Ocean Rim to get boost with UAE, Bangladesh at helm.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is a dynamic inter-governmental organisation established in 1997.
• IORA aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region through its 22 Member States and 9 Dialogue Partners.
• The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.
• It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

Member States:

• India, Australia, Iran, Indonesia Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, Madagascar, UAE, Yemen, Seychelles, Somalia, Comoros, Maldives and Oman are members of IORA.

Eligibility:

• All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the Association.
• To become members, States must adhere to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the Association.

The Delhi declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region:

• It calls for collaboration among IORA member states in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy in the Indian Ocean littorals, development of a common renewable energy agenda for the Indian Ocean region and promote regional capacity building.

• The declaration also calls for promotion of technology development and transfer, strengthening of public private partnerships in renewable energy and collaboration among IORA member states and the member nations of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• IORA member countries resolved to collaborate with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
• As per the declaration adopted, IORA member nations will also collaborate with the ISA member nations to exchange knowledge and share views and potential interests in the renewable energy sector.

 

52.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Why in news

• The second assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to be hosted by India.

More about the news:

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is hosting the second Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi. 
• 81 countries of the 121 prospective member countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA.
• Of these, 59 have ratified the agreement.

International Solar Alliance (ISA):

• The ISA was launched at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Summit (COP21) and the Framework Agreement entered into force on 6 December 2017.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a coalition of solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn to specifically address energy needs by harnessing solar energy.
• The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization.
• It is a major global initiative for contributing to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.
• The First Assembly of the ISA was held in New Delhi in 2018.
• The ISA Headquarters – Gurgaon, India.

Who can join the International Solar Alliance?

• Membership of the body is open to all countries that want to join the grouping, with no restrictions on duration of sunlight or geographical location.

Objectives of ISA:

• Collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA member countries. 
• It also aims to undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance and the cost of technology,

• Mobilize investments needed for massive deployment of solar energy.
• Pave the way for future technologies adapted to the needs.

ISA’s ongoing programmes:

• Scaling Solar Mini Grids.
• Affordable Finance at Scale.
• Scaling Solar Applications for Agricultural Use.

In addition to the existing 3 programmes, ISA has initiated plans to launch two more programmes:

• Scaling Solar Rooftops.
• Scaling Solar E-mobility and Storage.

 

53.International Atomic Energy Agency

Why in news

• Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina has been elected as the new Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

International Atomic Energy Agency:

• Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organization within the United Nations family.
• It was established in 1957.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field.
• The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
• It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
• The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

 Members:

• 171 (as of 5 February 2019)
• India is a member since 1957.

 

54.WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION

Why in news?

• Walled City of Jaipur makes it to the World Heritage List of UNESCO during the 43rd Session of the World Heritage Committee held at Baku, Azerbaijan.

 About the news

• Jaipur became the second city of the country after Ahmedabad to get the recognition.
• With Jaipur’s inclusion, the number of heritage sites across India that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, has grown to 38.

 About the city

• The historic walled city of Jaipur in Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amber, Sawai Jai Singh II. The city was established on the plains and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture.
• It serves as the capital city of the culturally-rich state of Rajasthan.
• ICOMOS (The International Council on Monuments and Sites) had inspected the city in 2018, post its nomination.
• It took into account the architecture of streets with colonnades, which intersect the centre, creating large public squares called chaupar.

 About World Heritage Conventions

• The Convention is an international agreement meant to protect world cultural and natural sites.
• It was adopted in 1972 by the Member States of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The aim of the Convention is to ensure the proper identification, protection, conservation and presentation of cultural and natural heritage with ‘outstanding universal value to all mankind’.
• The full title of the World Heritage Convention is the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

 

55.UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHCR)

Why in news?

• UNHRC said India and Pakistan failed to improve the condition in Kashmir

 About UNHRC

• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
• The Human Rights Council replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).
• It was established by the UN General Assembly on March 15, 2006 to replace the UNCHR.
• The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.
• The UNHRC works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the UN’s special procedures.
• The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, Switzerland.
• On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows:
• African States, 13 seats
• Asia Pacific States, 13 seats
• Eastern European States, 6 seats
• Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats
• Western European and other States, 7 seats

Mandate

• The UNHRC investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states.
• It addresses important thematic human rights issues such as:Freedom of association and assembly, Freedom of expression, Freedom of belief and religion, Women’s rights, LGBT rights, The rights of racial and ethnic minorities.

 

56.COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION (CTBTO)

Why in news?

• The executive secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has invited India to be an observer in the CTBT.

 What is the CTBTO?

• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is an international organization.
• It will be established upon the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a Convention that outlaws nuclear test explosions.
• Its seat will be Vienna, Austria.
• The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO, and its Provisional Technical Secretariat, were established in 1997 and are headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

 What they do?

• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and underground.
• The organization will be tasked with verifying the ban on nuclear tests and will operate therefore a worldwide monitoring system and may conduct onsite inspections.

Why it is not ratified yet?

• Eight ratifications missing for entry of treaty into force and to become law.
• The CTBT was negotiated in Geneva between 1994 and 1996.
• 184 countries have signed the Treaty, of which 168 have also ratified it, including three of the nuclear weapon States: France, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom.
• But 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries must sign and ratify before the CTBT can enter force.
• Of these, eight are still missing: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the USA.
• India, North Korea and Pakistan have yet to sign the CTBT.
• The last Annex 2 State to ratify the Treaty was Indonesia on 6 February 2012.

 More details

• Since the Treaty is not yet in force, the organization is called the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
• It was founded in 1996 and is based in Vienna.
• It is headed by the Executive Secretary.
• The CTBTO’s main tasks are the promotion of the Treaty and the build-up of the verification regime so that it is operational when the Treaty enters into force.

57.Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

Why in news?

• Russia hopeful of India’s free trade pact with EAEU.

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

• The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration.
• It has international legal personality and is established by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.
• The Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union are :
• Republic of Armenia
• Republic of Belarus
• Republic of Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyz Republic
• Russian Federation.
• The EAEU provides for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, pursues coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the sectors determined by the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.
• The Union is being created to comprehensively upgrade, raise the competitiveness of and cooperation between the national economies, and to promote stable development in order to raise the living standards of the nations of the Member-States.

58.INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Why in news?

• International Court of Justice to deliver verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav case on July 17.

 About International Court of Justice

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
• It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations.
• The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
• Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York.
• The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
• It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ.
• Its official languages are English and French.
• The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
• Please note: Do not confuse ICJ with International Criminal Court and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. All three are different entities set up for different purposes.

59.Asian Development Bank

Why in news?

• ADB, India sign $190 million loan for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan.

Asian Development Bank (ABD)

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
• It assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.

More on ABD:

• Established in 1966
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
• ADB is a UN observer.
• As of 31 December 2018, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).

Members:

• ADB is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region and 19 outside.

India and ADB:

• India is one of the founding members of the ADB.
• ADB’s support to India aims to accelerate economic transformation by building industrial competitiveness, creating jobs, accelerating growth of low-income states, and addressing environmental and climate change challenges.

 

60.Global Terrorism Index (GTI)

Why in News?

• Global Terrorism Index is released by Australian Think Tank Institute for Economics and peace.

More Information

• The GTI report issued by the IEP is based primarily on the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) collated by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, besides other sources.
• India has moved to the seventh position from the previous year’s eighth in the annual Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2019.
• The countries ahead of it are Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia.

About GTI

• GTI scores are directly used in the Global Peace Index, the Global Slavery Report published by the Walk Free Foundation, and indirectly used in computing country scores in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness and Global Competitiveness Indices and compilation of Safe Cities Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

 

61.Universal Postal Union (UPU)

• It is a specialized agency of United Nations, established in
• It is second oldest international organization worldwide after International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (etsd. 1865).
• Headquarters – Berne, Switzerland
• India joined the UPU on July 1876.

 

Their functions include:

• Ensure truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
• Set rules for international mail exchanges
• Make recommendations for growth in mail, financial and parcel services volumes and to improve quality of service for customers.

Who can be the Member countries?

• Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU.
• Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU member provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
• The UPU has now 192 member countries