WBCS UPSC International Current Affairs. Oct 20 to Apr 21. Chronicles Vison IAS

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Singapore: First Country To Ratify ‘RCEP’

On April 9, 2021, Singapore became the first country among 15 participating countries to ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
RCEP is the world’s largest free trade agreement, led by China and comprising 10 ASEAN economies as well as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
To come into effect, the RCEP must first be ratified by at least six ASEAN and three non-ASEAN member states.
Once implemented, RCEP would be the world’s largest free trade agreement, covering around one third of the world’s population and about 30% of the world’s economy.

BIMSTEC Finalises Connectivity Master Plan

The virtual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping on 1 April 2021 finalised a major Connectivity master plan for the Bay of Bengal region.
The seven-member regional grouping namely India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar will take up the Master plan for transport connectivity for adoption in the next summit of the organisation to be hosted by Sri Lanka in a few months from now.
The meeting also endorsed three MoUs/agreements relating to convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters, cooperation between diplomatic and training academies and establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo

Heart Of Asia' Ministerial Conference

The 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) ministerial conference (which is a part of the Istanbul Process) was held at Dushanbe, capital city of Tajikistan on 30^th March 2021.
From India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in this event.
The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) is an initiative of the Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey, which was officially launched at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul on 2 November 2011.
Member Countries (15): Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia,Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
It is supported by 17 countries, and 12 regional and international organizations.

India Proposes Inclusion Of Chabahar Port In INSTC

At the 2nd Maritime India Summit 2021, Chabahar Day was observed on 4th March where India proposed to include Chabahar port in the 13-nation International North South Transport Corridor. It also proposed to include Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in INSTC as members.

Amid signs of a growing partnership between China and Iran, India wants to counter to the Belt-and-Road Initiative (BRI) of China.

About Maritime India Summit 2021

The Maritime India Summit 2021 was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on a virtual platform from March 2 to March 4 via video conferencing. Several countries participated in the event including the CEOs and Ambassadors to boost investment in the Maritime sector in India.
Denmark was the partner country for the three-day summit.

UNGA Adopts 2023 As ‘International Year Of Millets’

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on March 3, 2021, adopted India sponsored resolution to mark 2023 as ‘International Year of Millets’.
The resolution was initiated by India along with Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia & Senegal and was supported by over 70 nations.
The objective of declaring ‘International Year of Millets’ is to raise awareness about health benefits of the grain & suitability for cultivation under changing climatic conditions. Also, millet contributes towards food security, nutrition, poverty eradication, etc. It will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in regions which are drought prone or threatened by climate change.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations will implement the International Year of Millets in 2023.
India observed 2018 as the National Year of Millets.

India’s Humanitarian Assistance To Madagascar

India is sending a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and one lakh tablets of HCQ to Madagascar.
This is in response to the urgent appeal made by Madagascar for international solidarity and assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of Madagascar due to severe drought.
The humanitarian assistance is being delivered on-board INS Jalashwa, which will leave with the food and medical assistance on 3rd of March and is expected to reach the Port of Ehoala in Madagascar during 21st to 24th of March.
During this trip, INS Jalashwa will also have on-board an Indian Naval training team which is being deployed in Madagascar for capacity building and training of the Malagasy Special Forces for two weeks.
INS Jalashwa will also call at Port Anjoun in the Republic of Comoros where it will deliver a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Israel Receives First Ever UAE Ambassador

Israel's president formally received the first-ever ambassador from the United Arab Emirates, following last year's historic agreement between the countries to normalise ties.
UAE envoy Mohamed Al Khaja delivered his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at a ceremony in Jerusalem.
The UAE was the first country to agree to establish full diplomatic relations with the Jewish state under the Abraham Accords, a pact brokered by former US president Donald Trump.

US Department Of Defense To Create China Task Force

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has come out with details about a new China Task Force that would inform the Pentagon’s strategic approach towards that country.
It will provide a baseline assessment of department policies, programs and processes in regard to the challenge China poses.

IOR Defence Ministers’ Conclave

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ Conclave was held with a keynote address by defence Minister of India - Rajnath Singh - on 4th February on the sidelines of Aero India 2021 in Bengaluru.
He highlighted India’s approach and vision to tackle global challenges through Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dynamic five ‘S’ vision - Samman (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity).
Twenty six out of 28 countries from the IOR region attended the conclave either physically or in virtual mode.

Geopolitical and Commercial significance of IOR

Indian Ocean is a shared asset and a lifeline to international trade and transport due to its control of major sea-lanes carrying half of the world’s container ships, one third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two thirds of the world’s oil shipments.

UK’s Post-Brexit Tilt Towards CPTPP

The U.K. government has announced that it is applying to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world's largest free-trade areas made up of 11 developed and emerging economies in the Pacific, under its post-Brexit plans.

5th Joint Meeting Of The India-Japan Act East Forum

India and Japan held the fifth joint meeting of the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF) on 28 January 2021 in New Delhi.

The AEF reviewed progress of ongoing projects in the North Eastern Region of India in various areas including connectivity, hydropower, sustainable development, harnessing of water resources, and skill development.
They discussed several new projects being undertaken under India-Japan bilateral cooperation and also exchanged views on cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, agro-industries and SMEs, bamboo value chain development, smart city, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Treaty On The Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons Enters Into Force

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on 22nd January 2021.

So far, a total of 86 countries have signed the treaty and ratified by more than 60 countries, which complements existing disarmament measures like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Now, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a part of international law.

About TPNW

The TPNW is a significant milestone in the long and global effort to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons.

India: India is neither a party nor supports the treaty. India did not participate in the negotiations on the TPNW and has consistently made it clear that it will not become a party to the treaty. India does not want be bound by any of the obligations that may arise from it. India believes that this treaty does not constitute or contribute to the development of customary international law; nor does it set any new standards or norms.

Global Risk Report 2021

The Global Risk Report 2021 has been released by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Zurich Insurance, Marsh McLennan and SK Holdings.

The report cautions the world against the next imminent dangers.
The risks were categorized as Economic, Environmental, Geopolitical, Societal and Technological.
Infectious diseases pose the biggest livelihood and economic threat as witnessed during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Global Risks Report, 2021 released virtually by WEF on January 19.

Top Ten Likely Global Risks in 2021, According to the WEF

Extreme Weather: For the past five years, extreme weather conditions have been listed as the top global risk. Severe weather conditions like cold fronts, fires, floods, heatwaves, windstorms, etc., have been the reason for mass destruction across the world, impacting lives and economies.
Climate Action Failure: Climate action failure ranks high in the global risks list, not just by likelihood but also by the impact. Climate action failure is defined by the failure by governments, corporations and businesses to take up active climate change mitigation measures and help protect ecosystems and livelihoods around the world.
Human Environmental Damage: The third-largest threat is environmental damage caused by human activities. As the world progresses and commercialization spreads across the globe, man-made disasters have been beginning to be a massive threat to humanity.
Infectious Diseases: As the world continues to battle the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has already claimed over 2 million lives, ‘infectious diseases’ continues to be a global risk. In fact, it ranks as the biggest risk by impact according to the WEF.
Biodiversity Loss: The loss of biodiversity is another big threat to humanity. The report defined biodiversity loss as “irreversible consequences for the environment, humankind, and economic activity, and a permanent destruction of natural capital, as a result of species extinction and/or reduction.”
Digital Power Concentration: It is the concentration of power with a restricted few in the world, especially when it comes to digital assets, which could lead to “unequal private or public access”.
Digital Inequality: As the world continues to rely heavily on digital and technological growth, unequal or fractured access to digital networks because of “unequal investment capabilities, lack of necessary skills in the workforce, insufficient purchase power, government restrictions and/or cultural differences” is another risk to the world.
Interstate Relations Fracture: The world in the future has to come together to face these risks, and thus, interstate relations fracture is another threat. Both interstate relations fracture and interstate conflict have been listed are the likely dangers.
Cybersecurity Failure: As dependency on digital increases, one of the biggest threats is cybersecurity failure. The world has already been witnessing a growing number of cyber attacks, as companies across the world reported massive breaches in 2020.
Livelihood Crisis: As markets and businesses continue to reel under the effects of the pandemic, unemployment, underemployment, lower wages, fragile contracts, erosion of worker rights were listed as the threats by the WEF.

UN Human Rights Council’s First-Ever Presidential Vote

The UN Human Rights Council elected Fiji's ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan as its president in 2021after a diplomatic stand-off blocked the usual consensus decision.
The council's presidency rotates each year between the regions and the candidate is typically agreed upon by consensus within each regional group.
This year, though, the Asia-Pacific group due to take the helm failed to agree on a candidate -- or even on holding a vote within their group.
That meant the council, which for the first time in its 15-year history began the year with no president, was forced to hold unprecedented vote among all 47 members.

Russia Withdraws From Open Skies Treaty

Russia has announced to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty citing "lack of progress" on maintaining the functioning of the treaty after the United States withdrew from it last year.

About OST

It is a post-Cold War defense accord signed soon after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992 and came into force in 2002.
It allowed its nearly three dozen signatories to carry out short-notice flights over one another's territory to monitor potential military operations.
The pact allows its members to request copies of images taken during surveillance flights carried out by other members.
The country under surveillance is given 72-hours' warning ahead of a flight and 24-hours' notice of the flight path, to which it can suggest modifications.

India To Chair 3 UNSC Committees

After India joined the Security Council as a non-permanent member for 2021-22, it has been asked to chair three important subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Security Council – the Taliban Sanctions Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Libya Sanctions Committee.

1.Taliban Sanctions Committee

Also called the 1988 sanctions committee as it was formed through resolution number 1988 in 2011 by splitting the 1267 sanctions regime on al-Qaeda – amid growing concern worldwide at alarming levels of violence in Afghanistan that has been blamed on the Taliban.

2.Counter-Terrorism Committee

It will be chaired by India in 2022. The panel was formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and that India had led it during its last stint as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011-12. The chairing of this committee has special resonance of India, which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but has also been one of its biggest victims.

3.Libya Sanctions Committee

Also known as the 1970 Sanctions Committee, it is a “very important subsidiary body” of the Security Council that implements a sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo, assets freeze, travel ban and measures to prevent illicit export of petroleum. India will chair this committee at a “critical juncture, when there is international focus on Libya and on the peace process” in that country.

Advantage of the Chair

India’s chairing the Taliban Sanctions Committee will make a difference as it will have the ability to set the agenda.
The Chair sets the agenda whereas member states can only make representations.
The chair can also take up unsolicited issues. That’s the single-most important aspect of being the chair – the members may disagree but the chair can make a point by bringing an issue to the table.

41st GCC Summit Ends ‘Qatar Diplomatic Crisis’

The 41^st summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was held in Saudi Arabia's Al Ula town.

At the summit, in a breakthrough, members of the Arab quartet agreed to establish diplomatic ties with Qatar after three years and a half for funding terrorism.

About GCC

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), headquartered at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - except Iraq.

About Qatar Diplomatic Crisis

The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic incident that began on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar citing its alleged support for terrorism.

6th Indo-Japan SAMVAD Conference

The sixth edition of the India-Japan SAMVAD conference was held on December 21, 2020, virtually.
The Prime Minister of India proposed to create a library of traditional Buddhist literature and scriptures in India. The library will collect digital copies of all such Buddhist literature from different countries.It will aim to translate the literature and make them freely available for all monks and scholars of Buddhism.
The library's research mandate will include examining how Buddha's message can guide our modern world against contemporary challenges such as poverty, racism, extremism, gender discrimination, climate change and many others.
The purpose of Samvad Conference is to encourage dialogue and debate on the need to build the future of Asia; to highlight our shared values of democracy, humanism, Ahimsa, freedom and tolerance in Asia; and to carry forward our ancient tradition of spiritual and scholarly exchanges.

US Imposes CAATSA Sanctions On Turkey: India Apprehensive

On 14^th December 2020, the United States has imposed sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems.
With India set to get the consignment of the S-400 air defence system early next year, New Delhi is watching Washington’s moves closely.
While it has got a waiver from the outgoing Trump administration, Delhi hopes that the incoming Biden administration would not work towards reversing the decision.

S-400 Air Defence Missile System

The S-400 Triumf, (NATO calls it SA-21 Growler), is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.
It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).

CAATSA

Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), enacted on August 2, 2017, to counter Iran, Russia and North Korea through punitive measures.
Title II of the Act primarily deals with sanctions on Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry, defence and security sector, and financial institutions.
Section 231 of the Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions — enumerated in Section 235 of the Act — on persons engaged in a “significant transaction” with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.

Why it is a concern for India?

Most of India’s weapons are of Soviet/Russian origin – nuclear submarine INS Chakra, the Kilo-class conventional submarine, the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile, the MiG 21/27/29 and Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-76/78 transport planes, T-72 and T-90 tanks, Mi-series of helicopters, and Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, etc.
So, if India is sanctioned under such law, it may hinder sourcing spares, maintenance of all such defence machinery/equipment.

Why US Exempted/may exempt India Further

US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: The US is projecting India as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, with the US National Security Strategy 2017 explicitly supporting New Delhi’s vital role in this regard.
Arms Trade: The US sees this as a strategic opportunity to trade in arms with India. In addition, US defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing, are also strong contenders for a number of high-profile arms deals, including the recently floated tender notices for 110 fighter planes for the Indian Air Force, 57 Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters for the Indian Navy, and 234 naval utility and multi-role helicopters.
Quad: The concept of four nation alliance - USA, Australia, Japan and India - to contain China’sunilateral claim on the Nine-Dash Line in the South China Sea; rapid warship building its first overseas base in Djibouti; and its surface and subsurface activities in Indian Ocean beyond the Malacca Straits.

India’s Recent Arms Deals with US

In recent years, the US has bagged more than $15 billion in arms deals including for the C-17 Globemaster and C-130J transport planes, P-8 (I) maritime reconnaissance aircraft, M777 light-weight howitzer, Harpoon missiles, and Apache and Chinook helicopters.
The US is also likely to accept an Indian request for Sea Guardian drones.

Israel And Morocco To Normalise Relations

Israel and Morocco agreed on 10^th December 2020 to normalise relations in a deal brokered by the United States.
Morocco is the fourth Arab country since August 2020 to strike a deal aimed at normalising relations with Israel after the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan.
The disputed territory of Western Sahara was central to a deal establishing diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel.
As part of the agreement, the United States agreed to recognise Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, where there has been a decades-old territorial dispute with Morocco pitted against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, a breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state (Sahrawi) in the territory.

Read local area for world geography questions.

10th Anniversary Of ADMM-Plus

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually attended the 10th anniversary of the founding of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (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 United States (collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”), to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.

UN Removes Cannabis From ‘Most Dangerous Drug’

The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, decades after they were first placed on the list.
At its ongoing 63rd session, the 53-member CND has chosen to affirm a World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation from 2019 to remove cannabis from its ‘most dangerous’ category, with 27 Member States voting in favour, 25 against, and one abstention.
India was part of the voting majority, along with the US and most European nations. China, Pakistan and Russia were among those who voted against, and Ukraine abstained.
Currently in India, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, illegalises any mixture with or without any neutral material, of any of the two forms of cannabis – charas and ganja — or any drink prepared from it.

2020 Afghanistan Conference & Indian Initiative

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, joined the two-day event, 2020 Afghanistan Conference, organized in Geneva, via video link.
The conference was co-hosted by the UN, the Afghanistan government, and the government of Finland.
India has signed an agreement with Afghanistan for the construction of the Shahtoot Dam, which will provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city.
Shahtoot Dam is a proposed dam in the Kabul river basin, one of the five river basins in Afghanistan.
India will also undertake more than 100 projects worth $80 million in Afghanistan.

Major Projects already Executed by India in Afghanistan

Delaram-Zaranj Road: It is a 218-km road between Delaram and Zaranj (on the Iranian border), which provides an alternative connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran.
Salma Dam: India–Afghanistan friendship dam (also known as the Salma dam).
Parliament Building: The Afghan Parliament building which was inaugurated in 2015.

India has undertaken more than 400 projects in all 34 provinces of the country and more than 65,000 Afghan students have come to study in India over the years.

Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement

Japan and Australia agreed on a breakthrough defence pact on 17^th November 2020 allowing reciprocal visits for training and operations, and voiced concern over the disputed South China Sea, where China is extending its military influence.
It is Japan’s first agreement covering foreign military presence on its soil since a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in 1960 that allowed the United States to base warships, jets and troops in Japan as part of an alliance that Washington describes as the bedrock of regional security.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement strengthens defence ties between the two U.S. allies at a time when China is asserting its role in the region and the United States is going through a messy leadership transition.
The pact allows Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other’s countries and conduct training and joint operations.
The two sides also agreed on the need for a framework to allow Japanese military to protect Australian forces if needed.

Generalized System Of Preferences (GSP) Trade Privilege

India is likely to press Biden Administration for early restoration of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade privilege for India.
The privilege was withdrawn by outgoing President Donald Trump’s administration in Washington DC in June, 2019.

Reason for Withdrawal

India has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States’ commerce.Despite intensive engagement, India has failed to take the necessary steps to meet the GSP criterion.
The United States launched an eligibility review of India’s compliance with the GSP market access criterion in April 2018.
India’s termination from GSP follows its failure to provide the United States with assurances that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

GSP is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry of products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
GSP was instituted on January 1, 1976, by the Trade Act of 1974.
Under this, certain products can enter the United States duty-free if beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by its Congress.
GSP had expired on July 31, 2013, and was reauthorized on June 29, 2015 by the former President Obama.

Objective

To give development support to poor countries by promoting exports from them into the developed countries.

Criteria for GSP

The GSP criteria include, among others, respecting arbitral awards in favour of US citizens or corporations, combating child labour, respecting internationally recognised worker rights, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection and providing the US with equitable and reasonable market access.
Countries can also be graduated from the GSP programme, depending on factors related to economic development.

Products Covered Under GSP

It includes agricultural products including animal husbandry, meat and fisheries and handicraft products. These products are generally the specialised products of the developing countries.

Difference between GSP and Trade Arrangement under WTO

Under the normal trade laws, the WTO members must give equal preferences to trade partners. There should not be any discrimination between countries.
This trade rule under the WTO is called the Most Favored Nation (MFN) clause. The MFN instructs non-discrimination that any favorable treatment to a particular country.
At the same time, the WTO allows members to give special and differential treatment to from developing countries (like zero tariff imports). This is an exemption for MFN. The MSP given by developed countries including the US is an exception to MFN.

Significance

GSP promotes sustainable development in beneficiary countries by helping these countries to increase and diversify their trade with the United States.
The GSP program provides additional benefits for products from least developed countries.

New Peace Deal Between Armenia And Azerbaijan

Russia brokered a new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 10, to the two countries that have been in a military conflict for over six weeks over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.

The deal was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Finer Points of the Deal

No military Adventure: All military operations are suspended.
Status quo: Both sides will now maintain positions in the areas that they currently hold, which will mean a significant gain for Azerbaijan as it has reclaimed over 15-20 per cent of its lost territory during the recent conflict.
Russian Peacekeepers: Russian peacekeepers will be deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor that connects the region to Armenia. These Russian peacekeepers with a force of roughly 2,000 will be deployed in the area for a period of five years.
Refugees/Prisoners/Internally Displaced People: Refugees and internally displaced persons will return to the region and the adjacent territories and the two sides will also exchange prisoners of wars and bodies.
New Corridor: A new corridor will be opened from Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan, which will be under Russian control.

UNGA Adopts Two India Sponsored Resolutions On Nuclear Disarmament

The First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted two India-sponsored resolutions on nuclear disarmament which aim to reduce risk of nuclear accidents and call for a prohibition on the use of nuclear weapons.

The two resolutions adopted include:

(i)Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons

The resolution on Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons was backed by a majority of UN Members and was tabled by India since 1982.
It calls for Conference on Disarmament to start negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
The aim is that a universal and legally binding agreement would generate the necessary global political will that can lead to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

(ii)‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’ under the ‘Nuclear weapons’ cluster.

The resolution on Reducing Nuclear Danger which was tabled since 1998 puts focus on unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons and underscore the need for a review of nuclear doctrines.
The resolution asks for concrete steps to reduce such risks, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons.

About UNGA First Committee

The UNGA First Committee deals with the issue of disarmament and works in close cooperation with the United Nations Disarmament Commission and the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, the other two bodies to deal with the nuclear issue.

Six Main Committees of Unga & their Mandate

First Committee (Disarmament & International Security)
Second Committee (Economic & Financial)
Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural)
Fourth Committee (Special Political & Decolonization)
Fifth Committee (Administrative & Budgetary)
Sixth Committee (Legal)

‘Mission Sagar-II’

As part of ‘Mission Sagar-II’, Indian Naval Ship Airavat is engaged to supply food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
It follows the first ‘Mission Sagar’ undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines.
Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles along with La Réunion are part of Indian Ocean Commission. India has recently become an observer to the Commission.
India is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her maritime neighbours and further strengthens the existing bond.

India Assumes Chairmanship Of The Governing Body Of ILO

After 35 years, India has assumed the Chairmanship of the Governing Body of International Labour Organization, marking a new chapter in the 100 years of productive relationship between India and ILO.
Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary (Labour and Employment) has been elected as the Chairperson of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the period October 2020- June 2021.
The Governing Body (GB) is the apex executive body of the ILO which decides policies, programmes, agenda, budget and elects the Director-General.
At present ILO has 187 members.
Shri Apurva Chnadra will be presiding over the upcoming meeting of the Governing Body to be held in November 2020.

Confronting Carbon Inequality

According to a new report titled- Confronting Carbon Inequality, by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the extreme carbon inequality in recent decades that has driven the world to the climate brink.

Major Findings

The Era of Extreme Carbon Inequality

The 25 years from 1990 to 2015 saw a rapid escalation of the climate crisis, as global annual carbon emissions grew by around 60%.
Around half the emissions of the richest 10% (24.5% of global emissions) are today associated with the consumption of citizens of North America and the EU, and around a fifth (9.2% of global emissions) with citizens of China and India.
The richest 10% of humanity accounted for 52% of the cumulative emissions, depleting the global carbon budget for 1.5C by nearly a third (31%).
The poorest 50%accounted for just 7% of cumulative emissions, and a mere 4% of the budget.

Carbon Inequality is driving the World to the Climate Brink

The world's poorest 3.5 billion people contribute little to carbon emissions but are most affected by climate impacts like floods, storms, and droughts.
Extreme carbon inequality is the result of political choices made over the past 20-30 years.
It is a direct consequence of our governments’decades long pursuit of unequal and carbon intensive economic growth.

Unequal Growth and Climate Justice

Unequal economic growth slows poverty reduction rates.
Unequal growth has another implication: it means that the global carbon budget is being rapidly depleted, not for the purpose of lifting all of humanity to a decent standard of living, but to a large extent to expand the consumption of a minority of the world's very richest people.
Women also often experience the impacts of climate change differently from men:whether walking further to collect water, being last to eat during droughts, or assuming most of the household caring responsibilities in the wake of extreme weather.

Tackling Carbon Inequality

To limit global heating to 1.5C, global average per capita emissions should be approximately 2.1t/year by 2030.

Recommendations for Economic Recovery from COVID-19

The right public policy measures, enacted now, can both cut the emissions and create healthier, more cohesive and resilient societies.
In addition to essential measures to rapidly shift energy supply to sustainable renewable sources, governments should consider:

Wealth taxes, luxury carbon taxes and wider progressive carbon pricing to fund the expansion of universal social services
Ending the tax-free status of aircraft fuel and tax breaks for company cars
Public investment to create decent job guarantees
Changing corporate governance to curtail company’s short-termism
Setting science- and equity-based national targets to reduce carbon emission
Developing a wider set of gender-transformative indicators of economic progress beyond GDP, such as New Zealand's Wellbeing Budget
Incorporating principles of social dialogue at all levels to ensure the wellbeing of workers in affected industries, women, low-income and marginalized groups.

Referendum On Independence In New Caledonia

The French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia voted on 4th October in a referendum on independence.
The referendum is part of a carefully negotiated de-colonisation plan agreed in 1998, known as the Noumea Accord, designed to put an end to a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population, and the descendants of European settlers known as "Caldoches".
It was the second time the tropical archipelago went to the polls to decide on its fate in two years, after a first referendum in 2018 resulted in the maintenance of the status quo with 56.7 per cent of the vote.
If independence is rejected, there is the option of another referendum by 2022 so long as the poll is requested by at least a third of the local legislature.
New Caledonia, situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called "The Pebble”.It has been French since 1853.
If New Caledonia votes for independence, France would, after a transition period, hand over control.
The last former colonies to be given independence by France were Djibouti in 1977 and Vanuatu in 1980.