NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - OCTOBER 2021

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NATIONAL

&

INTERNATIONAL

AFFAIRS OCTOBER 2021

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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

#PM MODI LAUNCHED SBM-U 2.0 & AMRUT 2.0 Recently, the Prime Minister launched the second phase of Swachh

Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U 2.0). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the

nodal ministry for the scheme.

About: SBM-U 2.0, announced in Budget 2021-22, is the

continuation of SBM-U first phase. The government is trying to

tap safe containment, transportation, disposal of faecal

sludge, and septage from toilets.

SBM-U first phase was launched on 2nd October 2014 aiming at

making urban India Open Defecation Free (ODF) and achieving 100% scientific management of

municipal solid waste. It lasted till October 2019.

It will be implemented over five years from 2021 to 2026 with an outlay of Rs.1.41 lakh crore

Aim: It focuses on source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic and air pollution,

by effectively managing waste from construction and demolition activities and bioremediation of

all legacy dump sites.

Under this mission, all wastewater will be treated properly before it is discharged into water bodies, and

the government is trying to make maximum reuse a priority.

Mission outcomes: All statutory towns will become ODF+ certified (focuses on toilets with water, maintenance and

hygiene)

All statutory towns with less than 1 lakh population will become ODF++ certified (focuses on toilets

with sludge and septage management).

50% of all statutory towns with less than 1 lakh population will become Water+ certified (aims to

sustain toilets by treating and reuse of water).

All statutory towns will be at least 3-star Garbage Free rated as per MoHUA’s Star Rating Protocol for

Garbage Free cities.

Bioremediation of all legacy dumpsites.

AMRUT MISSION 2.0 Recently, the Prime Minister also launched the second phase of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban

Transformation (AMRUT 2.0). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the nodal ministry for the scheme

It is the continuation of the AMRUT mission launched in June 2015 to ensure that every household has

access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection.

AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 ULBs

(Urban Local Bodies).



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It also seeks to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat through encouraging Startups and Entrepreneurs (Public

Private Partnership).

Objectives: It will build upon the progress of AMRUT to address water needs, rejuvenate water bodies, better

manage aquifers, reuse treated wastewater, thereby promoting a circular economy of water.

It will provide 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities.

Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater is expected to cater to 20% of total water needs of the cities

and 40% of industrial demand. Under the Mission, fresh water bodies will be protected from getting

polluted to make natural resources sustainable.

Pey Jal Survekshan will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of

wastewater and mapping of water bodies.

#PM MODI LAUNCHED PM GATI-SHAKTI MASTER PLAN Prime Minister Modi launched PM GatiShakti- National Master

Plan for multi-modal connectivity worth Rs. 100 lakh crores at

Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The plan of GatiShakti was announced by PM Modi during his

address on Independence Day 2021. As per PMO, PM GatiShakti will address the past issues through

institutionalizing the holistic planning for stakeholders for the

major infrastructure projects. Instead of planning and designing

separately, the projects will be designed and executed through

common vision.

About the Scheme Aim: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four

years, with focus on expediting works on the ground, saving costs and creating jobs.

The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that

was launched in 2019.

Besides cutting logistics costs, the scheme is also aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity and

reducing the turnaround time at ports to boost trade. It also aims to have 11 industrial corridors and two new defence corridors - one in Tamil Nadu and

other in Uttar Pradesh. Extending 4G connectivity to all villages is another aim. Adding 17,000 kms

to the gas pipeline network is being planned. It will help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for 2024-25, including expanding

the length of the national highway network to 2 lakh kms, creation of more than 200 new airports,

heliports and water aerodromes.

Integrated Approach: It intends to bring together 16 infrastructure related Ministries.



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This will help in removing long-standing issues such as disjointed planning, lack of standardisation,

problems with clearances, and timely creation and utilisation of infrastructure capacities.

Gati Shakti Digital Platform: It involves the creation of a common umbrella platform through which

infrastructure projects can be planned and implemented in an efficacious manner by way of coordination

between various ministries/departments on a real-time basis.

Expected Outcomes The scheme will help mapping the existing and proposed connectivity projects.

Also, there will be immense clarity on how different regions and industrial hubs in the country are

linked, particularly for last mile connectivity.

A holistic and integrated transport connectivity strategy will greatly support Make in India and

integrate different modes of transport.

It will help India become the business capital of the world.

Need for Integrated Infrastructure Development: There exists a wide gap between macro planning and micro implementation due to the lack of

coordination and advanced information sharing as departments think and work in silos.

According to a study, the logistical cost in India is about 13% of GDP, which is higher than developed

countries.

Due to this high logistical cost, the competitiveness of India’s exports is greatly reduced. It is globally accepted that the creation of quality infrastructure for Sustainable Development is a

proven way, which gives rise to many economic activities and creates employment on a large scale. The scheme is in synergy with the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP).

The NMP has been announced to provide a clear framework for monetisation and give potential

investors a ready list of assets to generate investment interest.

#PM MODI LAUNCHED INDIAN SPACE ASSOCIATION (ISpA) Recently, the Prime Minister has launched the Indian Space

Association (ISpA) via video conferencing. ISpA will act as a single-

window and independent agency on matters related to space

technology. The PM also remarked that the Government's approach to space

reforms is based on 4 pillars. ISpA aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space

industry.ISpA will be represented by leading domestic and

global corporations that have advanced capabilities in space and

satellite technologies.

ISpA will undertake Policy Advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain,

including the Government and its Agencies, to make India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a

leading player in the space arena.





ISpA will also work towards building global linkages for the Indian space industry to bring in critical

technology and investments into the country to create more high skill jobs.

Significance of ISpA: One of the main goals of the organisation is to supplement the government’s efforts towards making

India a global leader in commercial space-based excursions.

Of late, ISRO’s rockets have been carrying the payload and communication satellites of various countries;

now, private players will also look to touch on this space with the new organisation.

Several private sector companies have shown an interest in India’s space domain, with space-based

communication networks coming to the fore.

Other Related Organizations:

IN-SPACE: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was approved

in 2020 to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.

NSIL: In the 2019 Budget, the government had announced the setting up of a New Space India Limited

(NSIL), a public sector company that would serve as a marketing arm of ISRO (Indian Space Research

Organization).

Its main purpose is to market the technologies developed by ISRO and bring it more clients that need

space-based services.

That role, incidentally, was already being performed by Antrix Corporation, another public sector

undertaking working under the Department of Space, and which still exists.

#UNION CABINET APPROVED PM-POSHAN SCHEME Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister

POSHAN scheme or PM-POSHAN for providing one hot cooked

meal in Government and Government-aided schools. The scheme will replace the existing national programme for

mid-day meal in schools or Mid-day Meal Scheme.

It has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22

to 2025-26).

Mid-day Meal Scheme The Mid-day Meal Scheme (under the Ministry of Education) is a centrally sponsored scheme which

was launched in 1995.

It is considered as the world’s largest school meal programme aimed to attain the goal of

universalization of primary education.

Provides cooked meals to every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in classes I

to VIII who enrolls and attends the school.

If the Mid-Day Meal is not provided in school on any school day due to non-availability of food grains or

any other reason, the State Government shall pay food security allowance by 15th of the succeeding

month.



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PM POSHAN: Coverage: The scheme will cover 11.8 crore students enrolled in classes 1 to 8 in over 11.2 lakh schools

across the country.

Primary (1-5) and upper primary (6-8) schoolchildren are currently entitled to 100 grams and 150

grams of food grains per working day each, to ensure a minimum of 700 calories.

The scheme will be extended to students studying in pre-primary or Balvatikas running in

government and government aided primary schools.

Balvatika is the pre-school that was started in government schools last year to include children aged

younger than six years in the formal education system.

#KRISIHI UDAN 2.0 BY CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY Recently, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation has released Krishi

UdeDesh Ka AamNaagrik (UDAN) 2.0 to facilitate movement of

agricultural produce by air. It lays out the vision of improving value realization through

better integration and optimization of agri-harvesting and

air transportation and contributing to agri-value chain

sustainability and resilience under different and dynamic

conditions.

Earlier, ahead of UDAN Day (21st October), the Ministry of Civil

Aviation flagged off 6 routes, expanding the aerial connectivity

of North-East India, under the UDAN Scheme.

About: Krishi UDAN was launched in August 2020, on international and national routes to assist farmers in

transporting agricultural products so that it improves their value realisation.

Krishi UDAN 2.0 will focus on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas,

northeastern states and tribal areas.

It will be implemented at 53 airports across the country mainly focusing on northeast and tribal

regions and is likely to benefit farmers, freight forwarders and airlines.

Opted airports not only provide access to regional domestic markets but also connect them to

international gateways of the country.

Expected Benefits: This scheme will open up new avenues of growth for the agriculture sector and help attain the goal

of doubling farmers' income by removing barriers in supply chain, logistics and transportation of farm

produce.

Decrease Food Wastes: It will help solve the problem of wastage of agricultural food wastes in the

country.





#PM MODI INAUGURATED KUSHINAGAR INT. AIRPORT PM Modi will inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport.

The event will be attended by the President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya

Rajapaksa and a 125-member delegation from Sri Lanka. On the day of the inauguration, the airport will witness the arrival

of its maiden international flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka with

the President and a 125-member delegation accompanying him

on board, including Buddhist monks and pilgrims.

Kushinagar International Airport: Key details Kushinagar airport will be the third international airport in Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow and

Varanasi.

The international airport at Kushinagar is spread over an area of 590 acres and boasts world-class

facilities. The eight-storied state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower which has been built at

the cost of Rs. 17.5 crores, has become fully operational at the airport.

The navigation system for safe landing and take-off flights at the airport has also passed the trial

successfully. Because of the better connectivity, six Buddhist sites in UP- Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Shravasti- as

well as the Buddhist sites in North Bihar will see a free and easy movement of tourists from countries

with large Buddhist populations in East Asia and South-East Asia.

Why Kushinagar International Airport is significant? Kushinagar International Airport will facilitate the inflow of international tourists as well as

outbound tourism in the coming years due to its strategic location near Buddhists sites in both

north Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, the entry point of the Buddhist tourists was Delhi, Kolkata, Gaya, and Varanasi, which are situated

far away from one another. Because of lack of connectivity, it was time taking and most of the tourists

were not able to complete the circuit in one go. However, with the opening of the International Airport at Kushinagar, foreign tourists will be able to

complete their pilgrimage in considerably less time. The airport is also expected to boost tourism in the

region and is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for thousands of people.

Historical significance of Kushinagar Kushinagar is a place where Gautam Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. It is a town in the

Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

Kushinagar is a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site, where the Buddhists believe that Gautam

Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana after his death.

As per the Buddhist text, Buddha made his journey to Kushinagar, died there, and this is where he

was cremated. It is believed that during his last day, he walked into the groves of trees near the





city and rejoiced at the blossoms of sala trees before laying himself to rest.

#PM MODI DEDICATED SEVEN NEW DEFENCE PSU’S The Prime Minister dedicated the seven defence Public Sector Undertakings created through the

restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), to the nation. India’s goal under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) is to

make the country, on its own, into a big military power.

About: Dissolution and Amalgamation: The Union government ordered

the dissolution of the four-decade-old Ordnance Factory Board

(OFB) and amalgamated 41 factories under seven new state-

owned companies to manufacture defence hardware ranging from

munitions to heavy weapons and vehicles.

These new companies are headquartered in five cities. OFB was an umbrella body for the ordnance factories and related institutions, and was a subordinate

office of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It was a conglomerate of 41 factories, 9 training Institutes, 3

regional marketing centres and 5 regional controllers of safety. It was headquartered at Kolkata.

All employees of the erstwhile OFB (Group A, B and C) belonging to production units will be

transferred to the corporate entities on deemed deputation for a period of two years without any change

in their service conditions as central government staff.

Seven New Companies: Munitions India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Advanced

Weapons and Equipment India Limited, Troop Comforts Limited, Yantra India Limited, India Optel

Limited, and Gliders India Limited.

Significance: The concerns have been raised regarding high costs, inconsistent quality and delay in supply of OFB

products by the armed forces. The new structure will help overcome these various shortcomings in the existing system of OFB

and encourage these companies to become competitive and explore new opportunities in the

market including exports.

Self-Reliance in Defence Sector: Corporatisation of OFB.

Revised FDI Limit: The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in defence manufacturing under

automatic route is raised from 49% to 74%.

Defence Industrial Corridor: The government has proposed to establish two Defence Industrial

Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu each.





Project Management Unit (PMU): The government is expected to begin time-bound defence

procurement and faster decision making by setting up a Project Management Unit (for contract

management purposes). The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 has been unveiled.

Reduction in Defence Import Bill: The government will notify a list of weapons/platforms banned for

imports and thus such items can only be purchased from the domestic market.

Separate budget provision for domestic capital procurement.

#WHAT IS GREEN DAY AHEAD MARKET? Union Power Minister RK Singh launched the Green-Day-Ahead Market in a bid to further strengthen

the electricity trade in India.

The launch of GDAM is a step towards opening doors for renewable energy wherein any renewable energy

generating company can set up and sell renewable energy on the exchange, said the Power Ministry.

GDAM is a step by the government to make business simpler and enable big industries to go green.

What is Green-Day-Ahead Market? Green Day Ahead market (GDAM) is a marketplace for trading renewable power on a day-ahead

basis. National Load Despatch Center (NLDC), Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO) as

the nodal agency has set up the requisite technologies and infrastructure for the launch of the GDAM. With GDAM, any renewable energy generating company can set up and sell renewable energy on the

exchange. The energy company now has the option of the market rather than suffering a loss of revenue in

case any electricity distribution company (Discom) refuses to buy their electricity.

Green-Day-Ahead Market: Significance Green-Day-Ahead Market has been termed as a unique product launch in the energy market in India. The

dynamics of the energy and power market are changing.

The world is witnessing a wave of energy transition. India is also committed to the energy transition

from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel sources. There is a significant shift in the buyer’s behavior from long-term contracts to short-term contracts, and





also towards the power market. GDAM aims to enable this energy transition for India. GDAM will enable the achieving India’s green targets and facilitate the integration and expansion of

green energy in an efficient, competitive, sustainable & transparent manner.

GDAM is expected to create a domino effect that will lead to a gradual shift from PPA-based contracts to

market-based models and enable India in achieving its ambitious target of 450 GW green capacity by

2030.

Benefits of Green-Day-Ahead Market The launch of GDAM will offer competitive price signals as well as an opportunity to the market

participants to trade in green energy in the most transparent, flexible, competitive, and efficient manner.

With the market-based competitive prices, the renewable generators will find an option to sell power as

well as boost the renewable capacity addition towards the government’s vision of building India as a

sustainable and efficient energy economy. Benefits of free ISTS (inter-State transmission system) will be available for renewable energy and open

access will be available within 15 days. The distribution utilities would also be able to sell surplus renewable power generated in their area.

The obligated entities (distribution licensee, open access consumers, and captive power consumers) would

also be able to meet the RPO target by directly buying green power from the power exchange(s).

The non-obligated entities will be able to buy power on a voluntary basis and help increase the share of

green power.

Other benefits of GDAM include reduction of curtailment of green power, assured instant payment to

Renewable Energy generators on the day of delivery itself, and tapping into the unlocked renewable energy

potential of India.

#FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ISA: OSOWOG Recently, the fourth general assembly of the International Solar

Alliance (ISA) was held. A total of 108 countries participated in the assembly, including 74

member countries, 34 observer and prospective countries, 23

partner organizations and 33 special invitee organizations.

About the International Solar Alliance (ISA): The ISA is an intergovernmental treaty-based

organisation with a global mandate to catalyse solar growth by

helping to reduce the cost of financing and technology.

ISA, co-founded by India and France during the 2015 climate change conference in Paris has

assumed centre-stage for India’ attempts at a global climate leadership role.

ISA is the nodal agency for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which seeks to

transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.



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India has allotted 5 acres of land to the ISA in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus,

Gurugram and has released a sum of Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and

meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22. NISE is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of New and Renewable (MNRE) and is the apex

National R&D institution in the field of Solar Energy.

Highlights of the Assembly: Solar Investments: A promise to achieve USD 1 trillion global investments in solar energy by 2030.

A Solar Investment Action Agenda and a Solar Investment Roadmap will be launched

at COP26 (United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference).

New ISA Programmes: New ISA programmes launched on management of solar PV panels & battery usage waste and solar

hydrogen programme.

The new Hydrogen initiative is aimed at enabling the use of solar electricity to produce hydrogen at a

more affordable rate than what is available currently (USD 5 per KG), by bringing it down to USD 2 per

KG.

Some Solar Energy Initiatives of India: National Solar Mission (a part of National Action Plan on Climate Change): To establish India as a

global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country as

quickly as possible. INDC’s target: It targets installing 100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022.

This is in line with India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) target to achieve

about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and

to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030.

International Solar Alliance (ISA) and One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): Government Schemes: Such as Solar Park Scheme, Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme,

and Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc. First Green Hydrogen Mobility project: National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)

Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Territory of

Ladakh to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen Mobility project. Green hydrogen is produced by

electrolysis of water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) and has a lower carbon footprint.

OSOWOG or the Green Grid: The vision behind the OSOWOG is ‘The Sun Never Sets’ and is a constant at some geographical location,

globally, at any given point of time.

This is by far one of the most ambitious schemes undertaken by any country (India) and is of global

significance in terms of sharing economic benefits.

It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of the World Bank.





The OSOWOG plan may also leverage the International Solar Alliance (ISA), co-founded by India that

has 80 countries as members.

With India in the middle, the solar spectrum can easily be divided into two broad zones, which are:

Far East including countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia etc.

Far West covering the Middle East and the Africa Region.

Significance of the Project: Help all the participating entities in attracting investments in renewable energy sources as well as

utilizing skills, technology and finances.

Lead to reduced project costs, higher efficiencies and increased asset utilization for all the participating

entities.

Resulting economic benefits would positively impact poverty alleviation and support in mitigating

water, sanitation, food and other socio-economic challenges.

This move, during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, gives India the opportunity to be seen as taking a

lead in evolving global strategies.

#INDIA-UK 1ST EVER TRI-SERVICES EXERCISE: KONKAN SHAKTI Recently, India and the UK started Konkan Shakti 2021, the first-

ever tri-services joint exercise. It started off the west coast of

India. Earlier, the Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army was awarded a

Gold medal in the Cambrian Patrol Exercise, which was held

in Wales (the UK).

Aim: To derive mutual benefits from each other’s experiences and

also showcase the continuing cooperation between the two countries.

It is also aimed at training troops in the conduct of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief

Operations by coalition forces in an opposed environment.

Other Joint Exercises between India and UK: Navy - Konkan: The Bilateral Konkan exercise is a naval exercise conducted between India and the

United Kingdom.

The Konkan series of exercises was started in 2004. Since then, the exercise is hosted in rotation by

both the Navies and has grown in complexity, scale, and intensity.

Air Force - Indradhanush: Ex Indradhanush provides a platform for the air forces of both the countries

to share and jointly validate strategies and tactics to counter terror threats to their installations.

Military - Ajeya WarriorThe aim of this exercise is to conduct army level joint training with emphasis

on counter terrorism operations

The exercise is conducted alternatively in the United Kingdom and India.



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#INDIA’S 1ST MANNED OCEAN MISSION: SAMUDRAYAAN Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh launched India’s first

manned ocean mission Samudrayaan at the National Institute of

Ocean Technology in Chennai.

With this launch of the Unique Ocean Mission, India joined the

elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, France, Japan, and

China to have niche technology and vehicles to carry out subsea

activities.

This will open up more growth avenues to explore ocean resources

for clean energy, drinking water, and blue economy.

About: It is India’s first unique manned ocean mission that aims to send men into the deep sea in a

submersible vehicle for deep-ocean exploration and mining of rare minerals.

It will send three persons in a manned submersible vehicle MATSYA 6000 to a depth of 6000 metres

into the sea for deep underwater studies.

Submarines go only about 200 metres. It is a part of the Rs 6000-crores Deep Ocean Mission.

Deep Ocean Mission It was approved in June 2021 by the (MoES). It aims to explore the deep ocean for resources, develop

deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources, and support the Blue Economy

Initiatives of the Indian Government.

The cost of the Mission has been estimated at Rs. 4,077 crore over a five-year period and will be

implemented in phases.

MATSYA 6000: It is an indigenously developed manned submersible vehicle. It will also facilitate the MoES in conducting deep ocean exploration of resources such as gas

hydrates, polymetallic manganese nodules, hydro-thermal sulfides, and cobalt crusts which are

located at an approximate depth between 1000 and 5500 metres. Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, are mineral concretions on the sea bottom

formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core.

Significance: This will open up more growth avenues to explore ocean resources for clean energy, drinking water,

and blue economy.

Developed countries have already carried out similar ocean missions. India is the 1st country among the

developing nations to carry out a deep ocean mission.



https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mission-to-explore-ocean-deeps

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https://www.drishtiias.com/printpdf/akula-class-attack-submarine

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/deep-ocean-mission

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-blue-economy-policy

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-blue-economy-policy

https://www.drishtiias.com/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-budget-2021-for-green-energy



INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

#INDIA, US, UAE & ISRAEL FORMED A NEW QUAD Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Israel Foreign

Minister Yair during a quadrilateral meeting with UAE Foriegn

Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and US

secretary of State Anthony Blinken on October 19, 2021 agreed to

establish a joint economic cooperation forum.

The four ministers had held talks on possibilities for joint

infrastructure projects in the fields of technology, transportation,

trade, maritime security and economics.

It was decided after the meeting that each minister will appoint senior-level professionals to a joint

working group that will form options for cooperation in the areas identified by the ministers.

The ministers aim to hold an in-person meeting in the coming months at Expo 2020 in Dubai.

What was the agenda? The Foreign Ministers and Secretary Blinken discussed expanding economic & political cooperation in

the Middle East and Asia through trade, combating climate change, energy cooperation, and

increasing maritime security.

The Ministers also discussed how to support global public health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic

and expand people to people ties in technology and science.

The four ministers also held a discussion on possibilities for joint infrastructure projects in the fields of

technology, transportation, maritime security, trade and economics and additional joint projects.

During the talks, Secretary Blinken reiterated the Biden Administration’s support for the Abraham

Accords and normalization agreements and discussed future opportunities for collaboration in the region

and globally.

The Abraham Accords was signed by Israel, UAE and the US in August 2020 to normalise ties

between Israel and the UAE. India had welcomed the agreement, saying it has always been a supporter

of peace and stability in our extended neighbourhood.

Trilateral cooperation India, Israel and the UAE have also stepped-up trilateral cooperation, especially in trade and investment,

after the US negotiated for Abraham Accords in August 2020 between two West Asian countries.

Under this partnership, an Israel-based company will produce a robotic solar cleaning technology in

India which will be used for a project in the UAE.

Abraham Accords: Abraham Accords are a joint statement between Israel, the US and the UAE. It was

signed on August 13, 2020.

The term was also used to refer to normalisation agreements between Israel & UAE and Israel &

Bahrain collectively.





It is the first public normalization of relations between any Arab country and Israel since 1994.

The accords have been named after Abraham, emphasizing the shared belief between Judaism and Islam.

Both of them are Abrahamic religions which strictly support monotheistic worship of the God of

Abraham. Background: Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently on a five-day visit to Israel at the

invitation of Israel's Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister YairLapid.

During the visit, he held productive talks with Foreign Affairs Minister YairLapid that covered a wide

range of regional and global issues.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ALLIANCES BETWEEN THE NATIONS

AUKUS PARTNERSHIP

The United States, Britain and Australia said they would

establish a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific that will

involve helping Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as

Chinese influence over the region grows.

Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian

Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared together virtually to

detail the new alliance, which will be called AUKUS (pronounced

AWK-us).

The three announced they would quickly turn their attention to developing nuclear-powered

submarines for Australia.

The new security alliance is likely to be seen as a provocative move by China, which has repeatedly

lashed out at Biden as he's sought to refocus US foreign policy on the Pacific in the early going of his

presidency.

Washington and its allies are looking for ways to push back against China's growing power and

influence, particularly its military buildup, pressure on Taiwan and deployments in the contested

South China Sea.

The announcement comes just over a week before Biden is to host a first in-person meeting of leaders of

the "Quad" group of countries - Australia, India, Japan and the United States - that Washington sees as

a key means to stand up to China.

What is AUKUS? AUKUS is a new enhanced security partnership between three major economies- Australia, United

Kingdom and the United States. Australian PM Scott Morrison said that AUKUS is a partnership where

our technology, our scientists, our industry, and defence force all working together to deliver a safer and

more secure region.

The enhanced trilateral security partnership will see Australia build a nuclear-powered fleet of

submarines in a joint endeavor with the US and UK with the main focus being on interoperability,

commonality and mutual benefit.





The joint statement on the formation of trilateral defence partnership between Australia, US and UK read

that the three nations are deeply committed to upholding their leadership on global non-proliferation.

AUKUS to counter China? The new trilateral security pact, AUKUS is perhaps another effort by the US and its allies to counter

China's growing power and influence in the South China Sea. There was though no mention of China

while announcing the partnership.

Background: France already has a substantial Indo-Pacific presence as a key partner & ally in

strengthening the security & prosperity of the region. US President Joe Biden said that the US looks

forward to working closely with France & other key countries as they go forward.

FIVE EYES ALLIANCE The Five Eyes alliance is an intelligence-sharing arrangement between five English-speaking

democracies: the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The alliance was created during the Cold War (1946-1991) that was fought between the United States

and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies.

The alliance was needed to share sensitive information regarding their adversaries on all possible fronts

available. It is often described as the world's most successful intelligence alliance.

QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE (QUAD) The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a strategic dialogue between Japan, India, the US, and

Australia.

The significant dialogue between the four nations was initiated in 2007 by the then Prime Minister of

Japan Shinzo Abe, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, US Vice President Dick Cheney, and the

Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh.

The dialogue was ceased after the withdrawal of Australia during Kevin Rudd’s tenure as the Prime

Minister.

However, it was revived again during the 2017 ASEAN Summits, when the four leaders Narendra Modi,

Shinzo Abe, Malcolm Turnbull, and Donald Trump agreed to revive the alliance.

Quad, the diplomatic and military engagement, was widely viewed as a response to China’s growing

economic and military power in the Indo-Pacific region.

ALLIANCE OF US, PAK, AFGHANISTAN & UZBEKISTAN

The United States, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to establish a new quadrilateral

diplomatic platform to enhance regional connectivity.

All four nations- the US, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan intend to cooperate to expand trade,

build transit links and strengthen business-to-business ties, recognising the historic opportunity to open

flourishing interregional trade routes.

The representatives from the four nations will be meeting in the coming months to determine the

modalities of the cooperation with mutual consensus.





The new diplomatic platform will work to expand trade, build transit links and strengthen business-

to-business ties.

Significance of the alliance Afghanistan is bordered by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan towards

the east and south, Iran to the west and China to the northeast.

The land-locked nation's location has for a long time been seen as a competitive advantage for the

country.

Afghanistan has since long been the crossroads of commerce between Asian countries by connecting

them to Europe and enhancing religious, cultural and commercial contacts. Afghanistan is located at the

heart of the historic Silk Road. Impact on China's BRI Initiative: The new quad group's formation is significant as it comes amid

China's efforts to extend its Belt Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan.

The Belt Road Initiative was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013.

The Belt Road Initiative aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe

with a network of land and sea routes.

Afghanistan due to its strategic location can provide China with a strategic base to spread its influence

across the world.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited Uzbekistan in the past week for an official two-day

visit during which he highlighted the benefits of regional connectivity and invited the nation to become

the party to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

#TURKEY PLACED IN FATF’S GREY LIST WITH PAKISTAN Recently, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) retained Pakistan in

the ‘greylist’ or 'increased monitoring list’. The FATF also announced the ‘greylisting’ of Jordan, Mali and

Turkey.

Botswana and Mauritius had been taken out of the grey list.

In a major blow to the two nations, the Financial Action Task

Force (FATF) placed Turkey on its grey list for failing to check

terror financing and retained Pakistan as well. Overall, three countries were added to the grey list this time-

Jordan, Mali and Turkey. The decision was announced at the conclusion of the FATF's three-day

plenary session that was held to discuss key issues in the fight against terror financing and money

laundering.

About: Pakistan is retained for failing to effectively implement the global FATF standards and over its lack

of progress on investigation and prosecution of senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated

terror groups.





Pakistan will remain on the grey list till it addresses all items on the original action plan agreed to in

June 2018 as well as all items on a parallel action plan handed out by the FATF’s regional partner -

the Asia Pacific Group (APG) - in 2019.

The Pakistan government has two concurrent action plans, with a total of 34 action plan items. It

has largely addressed 30 of the items. Pakistan has made significant progress and it has largely addressed 26 out of 27 items on the action

plan it first committed to in June 2018. The item on financial terrorism still needed to be addressed. The 2019 action plan largely focussed on money laundering deficiencies.

The FATF had advised that Pakistan should continue to work to address its six strategically

important deficiencies, which included enhancing international cooperation by amending the money-

laundering law and demonstrating that assistance was being sought from foreign countries in

implementing the UNSCR 1373 designations.

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.

Background: The FATF had issued the 27-point action plan after placing Pakistan on the ‘Grey List’ in June

2018. The action plan pertains to curbing money laundering and terror financing.

Pakistan was first put on the list in 2008, removed in 2009 and then again remained under increased

monitoring from 2012 to 2015.

Pakistan's inclusion in the grey list has adversely impacted that country's prospects of obtaining

financial assistance from world bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank,

and Asia Development Bank.

Why has Turkey been placed on the FATF grey list? As per FATF President, Turkey had a mutual evaluation, assessment in late 2019 and the report

highlighted several serious issues regarding the nation's effort to prevent and combat money

laundering and terrorist financing. While Turkey has made some progress across all areas of concern, some serious issues remain such as

supervision in particular high-risk sectors such as banks, precious stone dealers and real estate agents.

Turkey's placement in the FATF grey list is a heavy blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

as the nation's economy is already fragile and it will curtail its power to raise international investment.

Financial Action Task Force An inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris.

Assesses the strength of a country’s anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing frameworks,

however it does not go by individual cases. Objectives: 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.





Headquarters:Its Secretariat is located at the (OECD) headquarters in Paris.

Member Countries: The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organizations -

the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF.

Lists under FATF: Grey List:Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money

laundering are put in the FATF grey list.

This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the

blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.

The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.

Currently, Iran and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are under High-risk Jurisdiction

or black list.

Sessions: The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF. It meets three times per year.

How does ‘Grey Listing’ impact countries?

FATF grey list puts countries under the scanner for not implementing the objectives of the task force.

With the entry of a country into the grey list, it can face intense scrutiny from FATF and its members.

Besides denting the country's image, the greylisting can impact a nation's economy as it would make

it harder for foreign investors to do business in a country that is blamed for funding terror activities.

Grey listing of a nation lessens the investor's confidence in the country.

Being placed on the FATF grey list also makes borrowing from international debt markets harder

and costlier, as it reduces the nation's credibility.

#PM MODI TO ATTEND COP-26 & 16TH G20 SUMMIT Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Rome, Italy

from October 30-31, 2021 for the 16th G-20 Summit. He will also be

travelling to the United Kingdom from October 29 to November 2

for the COP-26 World Leaders' Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement

stating that the Prime Minister will be participating in the 16th G-20

Summit in Rome at the invitation of the Italian Prime Minister

Mario Draghi. This would be PM Narendra Modi's 8th G-20 Summit participation.

16th G20 Summit: Key Highlights The 16th G20 Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of all G-20 Member

Countries, the European Union and other international organizations and invited countries.

The theme of the G20 Summit will be ‘People, Planet, and Prosperity’ and it will focus on the

following areas:

Recovery from the Pandemic and Strengthening of Global Health Governance





Economic Recovery and Resilience

Climate Change and Energy Transition

Sustainable Development and Food Security

The G20 forum has emerged as a premier global forum for international economic cooperation.

PM Modi will be holding several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, including with the

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. India will be hosting the 2023 G-20 Summit for the first ever

time.

COP-26 World Leader's Summit PM Modi will be travelling to Glasgow to attend the COP-26 World Leader’s Summit at the invitation of the

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The 26th Conference of Parties (COP-26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC) will be held from October 31 to November 12, 2021 under UK's Presidency in

partnership with Italy.

The high-level segment of COP-26, titled World Leaders’ Summit (WLS), will be held on November. The World Leader's Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of over 120 countries. The

summit was originally supposed to be held in 2020, but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19

pandemic. The Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of COP-26 as well, including UK Prime

Minister Boris Johnson. Agenda:The participating parties in COP-26 are expected to work together to achieve the completion of

Paris Agreement implementation guidelines along with the mobilization of climate finance. The parties are expected to discuss actions to strengthen climate adaptation, technology development

and transfer and keeping in reach of the Paris Agreement goals to limit the rise in global temperatures.

Significance: PM Modi had last attended the COP-21 in Paris, France in 2015 when the Paris climate

agreement was concluded. The agreement is supposed to be implemented from this year.

#PM MODI ATTENDED 16TH G20 SUMMIT Prime Minister Modi had reached Italy to attend the 16th G20

Summit which was scheduled to be held in Rome on October

30-31, 2021. He paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his first

day of arrival in Rome and he also called on Pope Francis in

the Vatican during his two-day visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rome and the

Vatican City at the invitation of Prime Minister of Italy

Mario Draghi. As the G20 Summit 2021 concludes, Prime Minister has now

landed in Glasgow, United Kingdom, on November 1-2 for the COP26 meeting. He will be visiting the





country at the invitation of UK PM Boris Johnson.

PM Modi attends session of G20 Summit on climate change: Highlights Prime Minister Modi, along with other leaders of G20, have agreed that the WHO will be strengthened to

fast-track the process for emergency use authorization for COVID-19 Vaccines.

Adoption of Rome Declaration: The G20 leaders have also adopted the Rome Declaration giving a strong

message under the health section where the leaders agreed that COVID immunisation is a global public

good.

The G20 leaders, during the session, identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production

along with the provision of finance and technology as critical enablers of achieving the Climate Goals.

As clean energy and innovation will play a significant role in the years to come, the energy security and

energy markets have also been recognized by the G20 Leaders. G20 Leaders commit to Paris Agreement: The G20 Leaders said that they remain committed to the

Paris Agreement goal of keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius

and pursue the efforts of limiting it to 1.5 degreecelsius above pre-industrial levels. PM Modi participates in session on 'Global Economy and Global Health' of 16th G20 Summit 2021

PM Modi, during his session, conveyed that India is ready to produce 5 billion vaccine doses by the end

of next year. WHO's EUA for Covaxin will also facilitate this process of assisting other nations. Prime Minister has

invited the G20 Countries to make India their partner in the economic recovery and supply chain

diversification. Global energy crisis was also raised in the meeting, however, the first meeting of G20 was focused on

health issues.

Prime Minister Modi in Italy: Bilateral meets with various leaders Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on sidelines of G20

Rome. Extensive deliberations on India-Germany relations were held.

Prime Minister Modi meets the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez on the sidelines of G20

Summit in Italy. On his two-day visit to Italy, Prime Minister Modi met the President of France Emmanuel Macron on

the sidelines of G20 Summit 2021. The meeting between the two leaders revolved around enhancing

cooperation in diverse areas as well as boosting people-to-people relations. Prime Minister Modi had a very warm meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on October 30, 2021.

Prime Minister informed that he had the opportunity of discussing a wide range of issues with him. PM

Modi also invited Pope Francis to visit India which he accepted in return. The meeting between the two

lasted for an hour.

Prime Minister Modi receives Guard of Honour at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy

Prime Minister Modi, on his two-day visit to Italy to participate in G20 Summit, also met Prime

Minister Italy Mario Draghi.





16th G20 Summit 2021 Prime Minister Modi will attend the G20 Summit at the invitation of Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

The 16th G20 summit will be held on October 30-31, 2021.

The theme of the 16th G20 Summit 2021 is People, Planet, and Prosperity and it has come from the

2030 UN Agenda for sustainable development.

This will be Prime Minister’s eighth G20 Summit. In 2020, the summit was hosted virtually by Saudi

Arabia because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Modi had attended the last in-person summit in 2019 in Osaka.

G20 Summit 2021: Focus The 16th G20 Summit 2021 hosted by Italy will focus on the recovery from the pandemic, economic

recovery, and resilience, strengthening global health governance, energy transition and climate

change, food security, and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Modi, in Rome, will join other G20 leaders during the 16th G20 Summit.

There will be discussions on health recovery from the pandemic, global economy, climate change, and

sustainable development.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rome, Prime Minister will meet the leaders of the other partner

countries. He will review the progress made in India’s bilateral relations with them.

Prime Minister, while informing about his visit to Rome for G20 Summit, said that this will be the first in-

person Summit of the G20 since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic in 2020. It will allow us to take stock of the current global situation and exchange ideas on how the G20 can be an

engine for strengthening the economic resilience and for building back inclusively and sustainably from

the pandemic. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Pope will also be significant, as PM Modi will only be the

5th Indian Prime Minister to meet the Pope. The last PM to meet the Pope was Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The other three PMs to meet Pope include Indira Gandhi, I.K. Gujral, and Jawahar Lal Nehru.

5 Key facts about G20 Summit The Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum that comprises 19 nations and the European

Union. It was founded in 1999.

G20 group focuses on the issues related to the global economy, such as international financial

stability, sustainable development, and climate change.

G20 group collectively accounts for 90% of the Gross World Product (GWP), two-thirds of the world

population, 75-80% of the international trade, and roughly half the world’s land area.

Since 2008, the group convenes at least once a year, with the summits involving each member’s head of

government. At the 2009 summit, G20 declare itself the primary venue for international financial

and economic cooperation.





#18TH ASEAN-INDIA SUMMIT 2021 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the 18th India-

ASEAN Summit virtually at the invitation of the Sultan of Brunei.

The Heads of State and Government of the ASEAN Countries will

also attend the Summit. At the 18th ASEAN-India Summit, PM Modi

will review the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and

take cognizance of the COVID-19 pandemic, education and

culture, and trade and commerce.

Significant international and regional developments including post-

pandemic economic recovery will also be discussed.

PM Narendra Modi at 18th India-ASEAN Summit Due to the COVID19 pandemic, all of us had to face a lot of challenges. This challenging time also tested

the India-ASEAN partnership. Our mutual cooperation in the COVID era will keep strengthening our

relations in the future. It will make the base for goodwill between our people. In 2022, the India-ASEAN partnership will complete 30 years. India will also complete 75 years of its

independence. We will celebrate this significant milestone as ASEAN-India Friendship Year. The special role of ASEAN is deeply rooted in India’s Act East Policy and Security and Growth for All

in the Region (SAGAR) policy. India’s Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and ASEAN’s Outlook for the Indo-

Pacific are the frameworks for our shared vision and mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi also called for an early review of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods that

India has been seeking for Indian businesses to gain better access to markets in the ASEAN region. The

approval by ASEAN for reviewing FTA is significant for India to aid Indian businesses in matters related to

non-tariff barriers.

India-ASEAN Summit – Background PM Modi had attended the 17th ASEAN-India Summit virtually in November 2020. ASEAN-India

summits are held annually to provide an opportunity for India and ASEAN leaders to engage at the highest

level.

The ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership is based on shared historical, geographical, and civilizational

ties.

In 2022, the ASEAN-India relations will complete 30 years. India became a Sectoral Partner of ASEAN

in 1992, a Dialogue Partner in 1996, and a Summit level Partner in 2002.

ASEAN is central to India's Act East Policy and the wider vision of the Indo-Pacific region. India and

ASEAN partnership conducts various dialogue systems such as a Summit, Ministerial and Senior Officials

meetings.

In August 2021, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar attended the ASEAN-India Foreign

Ministers’ Meeting and EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting virtually. Minister of State for Commerce and

Industry Anupriya Patel attended the ASEAN Economic Ministers + India Consultations in September

2021 virtually.





When was the first India-ASEAN Summit held? The first India-ASEAN Summit was convened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2002.

Then-Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee had attended the First India-ASEAN Summit.

PM Modi attended 16th East Asia Summit PM Narendra Modi on October 27, 2021, also attended the 16th East Asia Summit virtually. PM Modi

reaffirmed India’s focus on a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the principle of ASEAN

Centrality in the region. The East Asia Summit is the premier Leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region. The East Asia Summit

includes India, Japan, China, Australia, the US, New Zealand, Russia, the Republic of Korea, and 10

ASEAN Member states. India is a founding member of the East Asia Summit.

#CHINA PASSED NEW LAND BORDER LAW Amid the military standoff with India in eastern Ladakh, China’s

national legislature on October 23, 2021, adopted a new Land Border

Law for the protection and exploitation of the land border areas.

The law states that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the

People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable. The Land Border

Law will come into effect from January 1, 2022. The Law reflects the

growing confidence of China in its capability to manage its 22,000-km

land border with 14 countries. The Land Border Law was approved October 23, 2021, by the members

of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee at the closing meeting of the 31st session of the

13th NPC Standing Committee. The meeting was presided over by the NPC Standing Committee’s Chairman Li Zhanshu. President Xi

Jinping signed orders to promulgate the law.

SignificanceThe Land Border Law reflects the growing confidence of China in its capability to manage its

22,000-km land border with 14 countries including Russia, North Korea, Mongolia, India, and Bhutan.

China has land border disputes with India (3,488-km along LAC) and Bhutan (400-km) while it has

resolved boundary disputes with 12 countries.

About the Law: Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: It stipulates that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the

People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable.

The state shall take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against

and combat any act that undermines territorial sovereignty and land boundaries.

Responsibilities: It designates the various responsibilities of the military, the State Council or Cabinet,

and provincial governments in managing the security and economic issues in border areas.





The People's Liberation Army (PLA) “shall carry out border duties” including “organising drills” and

“resolutely prevent, stop and combat invasion, encroachment, provocation and other acts”. The state shall take measures to strengthen border defence, support economic & social

development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such

areas, encourage and support people's life and work there.

The state shall, following the principle of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation, handle land

border-related affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve

disputes and longstanding border issues.

India-China border dispute India-China border disputes run 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). On June 15, 2020,

the India-China border witnessed the worst violence since 1967 that killed 20 Indian soldiers. The clash occurred in the Galwan Valley which is strategically located between Ladakh on the Indian

side of LAC and Aksai Chin on China’s side of the LAC. Following the clash in Galwan Valley, China claimed that the entire valley belongs to China while India

termed the claim as exaggerated.

As per experts and scholars, the LAC claims and territorial claims are different. The LAC claims refer to

the territory which is under the effective control of each country. India refers to China’s claim to the

entire Galwan Valley as unilaterally altering the LAC.

#FUMIO KISHIDA BECAME JAPAN’S NEW PM

Fumio Kishida has become the new Prime Minister of Japan

after he was elected as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic

Party. He succeeded outgoing party leaderPrime MinisterYoshihideSuga,

who had earlier announced his decision to step down from the

position after serving for just a year. Japan's Parliament on October 4, 2021, voted Fumio Kushida as

the next Prime Minister who is also expected to announce the new

cabinet including both holdovers and fresh faces.

Fumio Kishida is Japan's former foreign minister and has been elected as Japan's next Prime Minister

in the Parliament. He beat Taro Kono, the popular vaccinations minister, in a runoff vote to be elected

as the ruling party's leader.

Japan's Political Crisis Japan's incumbent Prime Minister YoshihideSuga had announced earlier this month that he will not

run for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in September 2021. Suga made his intentions to step down as Japan's Prime Minister very clear, after serving for only a year

since he took office in September 2020. Suga had succeeded Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister





Shinzo Abe, who had resigned unexpectedly in August 2020 citing ill health. Suga was expected to seek re-election in the ruling LDP's leadership election, however, he indicated that

he wants to focus on coronavirus response instead.

He explained that it requires immense energy to simultaneously tackle both COVID-19 responses and

prepare for the leadership race. Hence, he decided to focus only on one task and that was responding to

the COVID-19 situation in the country. Prime Minister YoshihideSuga's handling of the coronavirus pandemic received a lot of backlash

from the public, especially after his insistence on holding the Tokyo Olympics this past summer.

About Fumio Kishida Fumio Kishida is a soft-spoken centrist leader, who is generally known to keep a low-key presence. The

64-year-old had competed in the LDP's 2020 leadership elections as well but he had lost out to

YoshihideSuga.

Kishida has pledged to announce a new pandemic stimulus and vowed to tackle income inequality and

mark a departure from the neo-liberal economics that have dominated Japanese politics for the past two

decades.

He has previously served as LDP's policy chief and had served as Japan's foreign minister between 2012-

17. He has called abolishing nuclear weapons his life's work. In 2016, he had coordinated the historic

visit of the then US president Barack Obama to Hiroshima.

#SIGNIFICANCE OF IRAQ PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS Iraq Parliamentary elections were held on October 10, 2021

after several challenges with the hope of bringing in key reforms. The Iraq Parliamentary Elections, which were originally scheduled

for next year, were called in early due to massive anti-government

protests in Iraq's capital Baghdad in 2019 during which

thousands of people were injured and over 600 died. Though the authorities gave in and called the early elections, the

death toll and the heavy-handed security crackdown at that time

prompted many who took part in the protests to later call for a

boycott of the vote.

Why are the elections important? The Iraq Elections 2021 are the sixth parliamentary elections held since the fall of Saddam Hussein

after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. The officials feared that the voter turnout will be lower than in 2018, when just 44% of those eligible

voters had cast a ballot. Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi urged citizens to participate in the

election, saying, "Get out and vote, and change your reality for the sake of Iraq and your future."





Iraq Elections 2021: Top 7 Things you need to know! It was the first time Iraq used biometric cards for voters to ensure the integrity of the election. The

cards will be disabled for 72 hours after each person votes, to avoid double voting.

It is also the first time a vote was held because of demands by Iraqi protesters on the streets. More than

250,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure security during voting.

The election was held under a new election law that divides Iraq into smaller constituencies, which

allowed more independent candidates — another demand of the young protestors.

At least 167 parties and around 3,449 candidates are contesting for the 329 seats in Iraq's parliament. The

parties drawn from Iraq’s Shiite factions dominate the electoral landscape but they are divided.

Shiite cleric and populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, who was the biggest winner in the 2018 election, is

expected to make gains this time but not enough to dominate the Shia camp.

The Fateh Alliance led by paramilitary leader Hadi al-Ameri that came second in 2018, is expected

to retain its share of seats. The alliance is representing many Iran-backed Shia militias.

While the Fateh Alliance includes some of the most hard-line pro-Iran factions including AsaibAhl al-Haq

militia, Al-Sadr, who is also close to Iran publicly rejects its political influence.

UN's role in Iraq Elections The United Nations played a major role in Iraq's elections, as hundreds of UN staff was staff deployed

in every governorate across all of Iraq. This was the UN’s biggest electoral mission worldwide.

The UN Security Council had adopted a resolution earlier this year, authorizing an expanded team to

monitor the elections. There were around 600 international observers in place, including 150 from the

United Nations.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) along with Iraq's Independent High Electoral

Commission (IHEC) also reached out to Iraqi voters across the country to ensure that everyone has the

tools they need to cast their ballots on 10 October.

Regional implications of Iraq's Elections The Iraq Parliamentary Elections 2021 will be watched by all in the region, as the new leadership will

shape the direction of Iraq’s foreign policy for years to come. Current Iraq PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi has sought to portray Iraq as a mediator between regional rivals

Iran and Saudi Arabia by hosting several rounds of direct talks. The elections also come amid the gradual pullout of the United States from the Middle East.

It comes at a time when Iraq's economy is badly hit after years of conflict, corruption and the recent

COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of Iraqi people remain displaced after years of war against the Islamic

State group.

Background Tens of thousands of demonstrators, mostly youth, took part in mass protests in October 2019 to

express their anger against widespread corruption, unemployment and crumbling public services.

The security forces responded to the protests by firing live ammunition and tear gas. Over 600 people





were killed and thousands were injured within months of the protests. As per reports, there was also a

string of kidnapping incidents and targeted assassinations.

#INDIA RE-ELECTED TO UNHRC FOR 6TH TERM India was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2022-2024 term

with an overwhelming majority in the General Assembly.

India’s re-election for the record sixth term to the UN body has been described by New Delhi’s envoy as a

robust endorsement of the country’s strong roots in pluralism, democracy, and fundamental rights

enshrined in the Constitution. The elections were held by the United Nations

General Assembly on October 14 for 18 new

members of UNHRC who will serve for the

period of three years, starting in January 2022. India was re-elected to the UN Human

Rights Council with 184 votes in a 193-

member assembly, while the required

majority was 97.

India re-elected to UNHRC: Key

Highlights India’s current term at UNHRC was to end on

December 31. 2021.

For the election for the term 2021-24, there

were five vacant seats in the Asia-Pacific

States Category- India, Malaysia,

Kazakhstan, Qatar, and the United Arab

Emirates.

The 193-member UN General Assembly elected

by secret ballot Benin, Argentina, Cameroon,

Finland, Eritrea, Gambia, India, Honduras,

Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malaysia,

Paraguay, Montenegro, Qatar, UAE, Somalia,

and the USA for the 2022-2024 term on UN

Human Rights Council.

Membership of UN Human Rights Council: The members of the UN Human Rights Council will serve for a period of three years and will not be

eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms. As of January 2021, 119 of the 193 UN Member states will have served as a member of the Human

Rights Council. As per the United Nations, this broad membership not only reflects the UN’s diversity, but

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.The headquarters of the Council is in Geneva, Switzerland. The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in United Nations member states, and addresses thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association and assembly,freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion,women's rights,LGBT rights,and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities. The Council was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 to replace the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR), which had been strongly criticized for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members. The Council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations special procedures. The members of the United Nations General Assembly elect the members who occupy 47 seats of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms.





it gives the Council legitimacy when speaking out on Human Rights violations in all the countries.

The membership of UNHRC is based on equitable geographical distribution and the seats are

distributed among regional groups Group of African States (13), Group of Asia Pacific States (13),

Group of Eastern European States (6), Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (8) and

Group of Western European and other States (7).

US re-elected to UNHRC under Biden administration The United States in 2018, under the Donald Trump administration, had withdrawn from UN Human

Rights Council.

US Ambassador at UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the US’s re-election to UN Human Rights

Council has fulfilled US President Joe Biden’s campaign pledge to rejoin the council and that the US will

work to ensure this body lives up to these principles.

The initial efforts of the US in the Human Rights Council will be on what can be accomplished in situations

of dire needs, such as in Burma, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, China, Yemen, and Syria.

#100 COUNTRIES SIGNED KUNMING DECALRATION

Recently, the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries

at the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations

Convention on Biological Diversity in china. The adoption of the declaration will create momentum for a new

global biodiversity pact.

In a previous agreement, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-

2020, signed in Aichi, Japan, in 2010, governments agreed on 20

targets to try to slow biodiversity loss and protect habitats by

2020.

About It calls for urgent and integrated action to reflect biodiversity considerations in all sectors of the

global economy but crucial issues - like funding conservation in poorer countries and committing to

biodiversity-friendly supply chains have been left to discuss later.

It is not a binding international agreement.

It calls upon the parties to mainstream biodiversity protection in decision-making and recognise

the importance of conservation in protecting human health.

The theme of the declaration is Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth.

By adopting this, the nations have committed themselves to support the development, adoption

and implementation of an effective post-2020 implementation plan, a capacity building action plan for

the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety.

The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified

organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.





As per the declaration the signatory nations will ensure that the post-pandemic recovery policies,

programmes and plans contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, promoting

sustainable and inclusive development.

30 by 30 Target The declaration made a reference to the '30 by 30' target which is a key proposal being debated at the

COP15, that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.

Apart from this, the goal to halve the use of chemicals in agriculture and stop creating plastic waste is

also being debated.

Kunming Biodiversity Fund China has also pledged to inject USD 233 million into a new fund to protect biodiversity in developing

countries. The fund is being referred to by China as Kunming Biodiversity Fund.

It is the right step in this direction. However, some countries have reservations regarding this fund.

Some countries have called this fund as “a drop in the bucket” given that China is the world’s biggest

polluter. Further, some rich country donors say a new fund for conservation is unnecessary because the United

Nations’ Global Environment Facility already helps developing nations finance green projects.

#SANDRA MASON ELECTED AS 1ST EVER PRESIDENT OF BARBADOS Sandra Mason was elected as the first-ever President of

Barbados on October 20, 2021, with a two-thirds vote during a

joint session of the country's House of Assembly and Senate.

The 72-year-old Mason will replace Britain's Queen Elizabeth II

as head of state of Barbados, in a decisive step towards abolishing

the monarchy and bringing the nation out of its colonial past.

Who is Sandra Mason? Sandra Mason has been serving as the eighth governor-general

of Barbados since 2018. She is a former jurist and first-ever

woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals. She has formerly also served as a High Court judge in Saint Lucia. She was the first woman to be admitted

to the Bar in Barbados. She was also the first magistrate appointed as an Ambassador from Barbados. She has been referred to as one of the 10 most powerful women in Barbados.

Barbados Political History

Barbados is a small island country that is located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, in the Caribbean

region of the Americas. It is located towards the east of Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Initially, in the late 15th century, the Spanish had briefly claimed Barbados but it became an English

and later British colony from 1625.





Barbados gained its independence from the British. Barbados has since then maintained its historical

linkages with Britain by becoming a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The nation became a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy with Britain's Queen

Elizabeth II as its monarch. It is a member of the United Nations.

The nation is now planning to abolish its constitutional monarchy and become a republic.

#NAJLA BOUDEN ROMDHANE: 1ST WOMAN PM OF TUNISIA Tunisia’s President Kais Saied approved a new government by

decree that has been constituted by the newly-appointed Prime

Minister NajlaBoudenRomdhane.

63-years-old Bouden will be Tunisia’s first female prime

minister. The development came 11 weeks after Saied sacked

the last serving prime minister HichemMechichi, suspended

parliament, and granted himself judicial powers on July 25 which

the opponents termed as a coup while many Tunisians praised

the move.

Tunisia faces acute economic and political crises.

Tunisia’s PM Bouden’s government includes record number of women The North African nation’s newly-appointed Prime Minister NajlaBoudenRomdhane was named by Saied

on September 29, 2021. The new cabinet of PM Bouden comprises 24 ministers and a secretary of state of which 10 (a third

of them) are women, including Prime Minister Bouden. The Ennahda party has dominated the post-revolution politics of Tunisia.

Challenges for the newly appointed Tunisian government

NajlaBouden’s appointment as the Prime Minister of Tunisia comes at a critical moment.

She faces a lot of challenges as the Tunisia government is dealing with a severe economic and debt

crisis, rising inflation, widespread unemployment, coronavirus pandemic, and the stalled laws to

grant women equal inheritance rights.

As per the World Economic Forum’s Gender Equality Index in 2020, Tunisia’s rank has dropped from

90th to 124th between 2006 and 2020.

Who is NajlaBouden? NajlaBouden is a Tunisian geologist and university professor. Bouden has been appointed as the

Prime Minister of Tunisia by President Kais Saied.

She has become the first women Prime Minister of Tunisia as well as the Arab world. She will be the

4th Head of Government since President Saied took office in 2019.

Born in 1958 in Tunisia’s Kairouan province, 63-years-old Bouden is a geology professor at the National

Engineering School in Tunis.



https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/tunisia-president-announces-najla-bouden-romdhane-as-the-first-female-prime-minister-1632996517-1



Prior to her appointment as the PM, Bouden was currently serving at the Ministry of Higher Education and

Scientific Research working at implementing a $70 million programme to improve employment

opportunities for college graduates. Bouden has also served as director-general in charge of quality at the High Education Ministry since

2011. She has also been the Head of the Purpose Action Unit in the Education Ministry.

#COP26 TO BE HOSTED BY UK The COP 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be hosted by the UK from 31st october to

12th November. Earlier, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its assessment report on

Earth’s climate, highlighting heat waves, droughts, extreme rainfall and sea-level rise in the coming

decades.

COP 26 Goals: According to the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention

(UNFCCC),COP26 will work towards four goals:

Net Zero by 2050: To secure Global Net-Zero by Mid-Century and keep 1.5 Degrees within reach.

Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that

align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century.

To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to:

Accelerate the phase-out of coal

Curtail deforestation

Speed up the switch to electric vehicles

Encourage investment in renewables.

Adapt to Protect Communities and Natural Habitats: Countries will work together to ‘protect and

restore ecosystems and build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture

to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.’





Mobilise Finance:Developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least

USD100bn in climate finance per year.

About: The Conference of Parties comes under the UNFCCC which was formed in 1994. The UNFCCC was

established to work towards “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

COP is the apex decision-making authority of UNFCCC.

It laid out a list of responsibilities for the member states which included:

Formulating measures to mitigate climate change.

Cooperating in preparing for adaptation to the impact of climate change.

Promoting education, training and public awareness related to climate change.

Meetings: COP members have been meeting every year since 1995. The UNFCCC has 198 parties

including India, China and the USA.

Generally, it meets in Bonn, the seat of the secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the session.

Presidency: The office of the COP President normally rotates among the five United Nations regional

groups which are - Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and

Western Europe and Others.

The President is usually the environment minister of his or her home country. S/he is elected by

acclamation immediately after the opening of a COP session.





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