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FOREIGN AFFAIRS ...... 4 1. POST-BREXIT DEAL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ...... 4 2. INDIA’S DRAFT ARCTIC POLICY ...... 4 3. STATUS OF RESIDENCE TO SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKERS IN JAPAN ...... 5 4. GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA ...... 6 5. THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS(OHCHR)...... 6 6. THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS FRAMEWORK ON UNSC REFORMS ...... 6 7. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ...... 7 8. WHITE SHIPPING INFORMATION: ...... 8 9. NIRAV MODI EXTRADITION: ...... 8 10. INDIA PAKISTAN CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT: ...... 8 11. GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GPAI): ...... 9 12. TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (TBT) WTO:...... 9 13. HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX 2021: ...... 10 14. SOLIDARITY AND STABILITY DEAL: ...... 10 15. PANGONG TSO AND ITS FINGERS: ...... 11 16. INDIA-MAURITIUS CECPA ...... 11 17. HIGH SPEED RAIL - CHINA NEAR ARUNACHAL BORDER ...... 12 18. UK TURING SCHEME ...... 12 19. VACCINE PASSPORTS ...... 12 20. DUSTLIK EXERCISE ...... 13 21. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) ...... 13 22. KALADAN MULTIMODAL TRANSIT TRANSPORT PROJECT (KMMTTP) ...... 13 23. TRILATERAL HIGHWAY PROJECT ...... 14 24. INDIA-PAKISTAN INDUS COMMISSIONERS MEETING...... 14 25. EU DECLARED AS LGBTIQ FREEDOM ZONE ...... 15 26. AFGHAN PEACE PLAN AND INDIA ...... 16 27. MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON AFGHAN PEACE ...... 16 28. REFUGEE ISSUE WITH MYANMAR ...... 17 29. MAITRI SETU ...... 17 30. INDO-KOREA FRIENDSHIP PARK ...... 17 31. HEART OF ASIA SUMMIT ...... 18 32. TAPI (TURKMENISTAN - AFGHANISTAN - PAKISTAN - INDIA) PIPELINE ...... 19 33. SHANTIR OGROSHENA EXERCISE ...... 19 34. WORLD CITIES CULTURAL FORUM ...... 19 35. E9 INITIATIVE ...... 20 36. 8888 UPRISING ...... 20 37. TIGRAYAN REFUGEES ...... 21 38. WORLD HEALTH DAY 2021 ...... 21 39. BAFTA AWARDS 2021 ...... 22 40. FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS (FONOP) ...... 22 1 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

41. NATANZ NUCLEAR FACILITY ...... 23 42. UN FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT 2021 ...... 23 43. UNFPA'S POPULATION REPORT ...... 24 44. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX, 2021...... 24 45. HAMBANTOTA PORT ...... 25 46. BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA (BFA) ...... 26 47. USCIRF REPORT, 2021 ...... 26 48. ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ...... 26 49. SAUDI GREEN INITIATIVE ...... 27 50. VACCINE MAITHRI ...... 27 51. POST -BREXIT TRADE DEAL ...... 28 52. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK, 2021 ...... 29 53. SPECIAL 301 REPORT ...... 30 54. LAG B'OMER FESTIVAL ...... 30 55. OPERATION SAMUDRA SETU- 2 ...... 31 56. ARCTIC SCIENCE MINISTERIAL ...... 32 57. AL-AQSA MOSQUE ...... 32 58. IRON DOME SYSTEM ...... 33 59. CHINA’S NEW KEY HIGHWAY IN TIBET ...... 34 60. CHINA’S 17+1 INITIATIVE ...... 34 61. DIGITAL BORDER BY UK ...... 35 62. UAE’S GOLDEN VISA ...... 35 63. CURRENCY SWAP BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND SRILANKA ...... 36 64. PERMANENT COMMISSION PROPOSED FOR ISRAEL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ...... 37 65. HERERO AND NAMA GENOCIDE ...... 38 66. ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) ...... 38 67. TULSA RACE MASSACRE ...... 39 68. EAGLE ACT, 2021 ...... 39 69. UN CEO’S WATER MANDATE ...... 40 70. INDIA JOINS UN ECOSOC ...... 41 71. QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2022 ...... 41 72. G7 SUMMIT, 2021 ...... 42 73. WHO HIGH-LEVEL COALITION ON HEALTH AND ENERGY PLATFORM OF ACTION ...... 43 74. ATLANTIC CHARTER ...... 43 75. GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX, 2021 ...... 44 76. NATO SUMMIT, 2021 ...... 45 77. SIPRI YEARBOOK, 2021 ...... 45 78. BRICS NETWORK UNIVERSITY ...... 46 79. BUSHEHR NUCLEAR PLANT ...... 46 80. M-YOGA APP ...... 47 81. TAX INSPECTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (TIWB) ...... 48 2 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

82. GREEN HYDROGEN SUMMIT ...... 48 83. INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE FOR INDIAN OCEAN REGION (IFC-IOR) ...... 49 84. POSON POYA FESTIVAL ...... 50 85. RUSSIA, UK SPAR OVER BLACK SEA ...... 50 86. PAKISTAN TO REMAIN ON FATF GREY LIST ...... 51 87. EU'S 'GREEN PASS' ...... 52 88. INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM ...... 53 89. CHILD SOLDIER RECRUITER LIST, 2021 ...... 54 90. ISTANBUL CONVENTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ...... 54 91. OPEC+ ...... 55 92. OECD-G20’S ‘INCLUSIVE FRAMEWORK’ TAX DEAL ...... 56 93. WHITE FLAG CAMPAIGN' IN MALAYSIA ...... 57 94. GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM (GERD) ...... 57 95. WHITE FLAG CAMPAIGN' IN MALAYSIA ...... 58 96. INDIA WARNS OIC AGAINST SUBVERSION ...... 59 97. INDIA-OUT CAMPAIGN IN MALDIVES ...... 60 98. HAITI PRESIDENT'S ASSASSINATION ...... 60 99. FIRST HONORARY CONSUL GENERAL OF VIETNAM IN INDIA ...... 61 100. BHIM UPI LAUNCHED IN BHUTAN ...... 62 101. BUILD BACK BETTER WORLD (B3W) INITIATIVE OF G7...... 63 102. CHINA-SOUTH ASIA GROUPING ...... 63 103. NORD STREAM 2 PIPELINE PROJECT...... 64 104. PRE-SUMMIT OF THE UN FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT, 2021 ...... 65

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

1. Post-BREXIT Deal and its consequences

In news- United Kingdom completed its separation from European Union(EU) on 31st December 2020.

What will change after the UK's exit from the EU? • On December 31, 2020, 11-month transition period during which the UK and the European Union were supposed to negotiate the nature of their post-Brexit economic relationship came to an end. • The new agreement which was unanimously approved by the EU nations came into effect from January 1. • With this, the UK will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union (under the customs union the UK could not negotiate with other member nations of the EU separately), all EU policies and international agreements. • The free movement of goods, people, services and capital will stop from January 1 onwards as the EU and UK will become two separate market spaces. • Now the UK will be able to set its own trade policy. • As part of the free trade agreement, UK and EU have agreed to a 100 percent tariff liberalisation, which means that there will be no tariffs or quotas on goods that move between the UK and EU. • For people travelling between the UK and EU, it means that while their entry will still be visa-free, they may be subject to screening and will no longer be able to use the biometric passports. • The UK will have sovereignty over its fishing waters. • Though the UK will leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy on December 31, the current rules will remain largely in place during the transition period that will last over five years. • The tax-free airport sales of electronics and clothing will stop, pet passports issued in Great Britain will not be valid in the EU and travellers from the UK will be subject to travel restrictions imposed on passengers coming from non-EU countries. • European Court of Justice can no longer play a role and the UK does not have to follow EU law. • Now there will be a new trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which means that the former will still be under the EU’s single market and will follow EU’s customs rules.

2. India’s Draft Arctic policy

• The draft policy lists a wide range of activities that India seeks to pursue in the Arctic including economic, diplomatic and scientific activities. • One aspect of the draft Arctic Policy centers around climate change and it highlights the intricate link between conditions in the Arctic and the monsoon and Himalayan systems. • Through the draft Arctic Policy India seeks to achieve the following goals: ○ To play a constructive role in the Arctic by leveraging its vast scientific pool and expertise in Himalayan and Polar research. ○ To contribute in ensuring that as the Arctic becomes more accessible, ○ The harnessing of its resources is done sustainably and in consonance with best practices formulated by bodies such as the Arctic Council.

India’s Arctic policy will rest on five pillars: • Science and research • Economic and human development cooperation

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• Transportation and connectivity • Governance and international cooperation • National capacity building

India and the Arctic- • The Arctic refers to the region above the Arctic Circle, north of latitude 66° 34’ N, which includes the Arctic Ocean with the North Pole at its centre. • Much of this Ocean falls within the jurisdiction of five Arctic littoral states- Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia and the USA (Alaska). • Three other Arctic nations – Finland, Sweden and Iceland – along with the five littorals form the Arctic Council. • The Arctic is home to almost four million inhabitants, of which approximately one-tenth are considered as indigenous people. • India became the observer of Arctic Council in 2013 and its membership as an observer was renewed in 2018 for another five years. • The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, is the nodal agency for India’s Polar research programme, which includes Arctic studies. • India’s Ministry of External Affairs provides the external interface to the Arctic Council.

3. Status of residence to Specified skilled workers in Japan

In news- Union Cabinet approved the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the Government of India and Government of Japan, on a Basic Framework for Partnership for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to "Specified Skilled Worker".

Key Highlights- • The present MoC would set an institutional mechanism for partnership and cooperation between India and Japan on sending and accepting skilled Indian workers, who have qualified the required skill and Japanese language test, to work in fourteen specified sectors in Japan. • These Indian workers would be granted a new status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" by the Government of Japan.

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4. Great Firewall of China

In news- A website dedicated to publishing first-hand accounts of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement has warned its users to prepare for large-scale internet blocks, filters, and censorship in future, in the first indication that China may be exporting its Great Firewall to the city.

What is the Great Firewall of China? • It is the combination of legislative actions and technologies enforced by the People's Republic of China to regulate the Internet domestically. • Its role in internet censorship in China is to block access to selected foreign websites and to slow down cross-border internet traffic • The effect includes limiting access to foreign information sources, blocking foreign internet tools (e.g. Google search, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, and others) and mobile apps and requiring foreign companies to adapt to domestic regulations. • Since 2013, the firewall is technically operated by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). • As mentioned in the "one country, two systems" principle, China's Special Administrative Regions (SARs) such as Hong Kong and Macau are not affected by the firewall, as SARs have their own governmental and legal systems and therefore enjoy a higher degree of autonomy.

5. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)

In news- Recently, OHCHR has asked the Government of India to release the activists who are in prison for the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, “at the very least on bail”.

A brief note on the Bhima Koregaon case- • The Bhima Koregaon case dates back to January 1, 2018, which marked the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon. • The event was organised to celebrate the victory of the British, which included a large number of Mahars, against Peshwa Baji Rao II’s army. • A person was killed and several others were injured during the 2018 event. • Several human rights activists, including Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao and Gautam Navlakha, were arrested during the course of the investigation. • The case is currently with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

About the OHCHR- • It is the leading UN entity on human rights. • It was established by the UN in December 1993 through its resolution 48/141 which also details its mandate, a few months after the World Conference on Human Rights adopted the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action. • It has been adopted by 171 States.

6. The Intergovernmental Negotiations framework on UNSC reforms

In news- Recently, the UNGA president stated that the Intergovernmental Negotiations framework on UNSC reforms slowed due to Covid-19.

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What is the Intergovernmental Negotiations framework (IGN)? • IGN is a group of nation-states working within the United Nations to further reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). • It is composed of several different international organizations, namely: 1. The African Union 2. The G4 nations - India is a member and the other three are Brazil, Japan and Germany. 3. The Uniting for Consensus Group (UfC), also known as the "Coffee Club" 4. The L.69 Group of Developing Countries 5. The Arab League/Group 6. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) 7. The S-5 Group • Each group represents a different set of positions vis-a-vis reforming the United Nations.

7. World Economic Forum

In news- World Economic Forum’s Davos Dialogue was held on 28th January, 2021 via video conferencing.

Key updates- • The Davos Dialogues agenda marks the launch of the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset Initiative in the post COVID world. • It is based on the assessment that the world economy is in deep trouble and the world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions. • Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. • In short, a ‘Great Reset’ of capitalism is needed.

About WEF: • The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. • The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. • It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. • It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.

Following are the reports released by WEF: • Global Risks Report • Fostering Effective Energy Transition report • Global Social Mobility Report • Global Gender Gap Report • Inclusive growth & Development Report • Environmental Performance Index • Global Competitive Index • Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report • Global Information Technology Report • Human Capital Report • Outlook on Global Agenda • Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report

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8. White Shipping Information:

In news - While addressing Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ Conclave the Defence Minister of India referred to White Shipping Information.

What is White Shipping Information? • White shipping information refers to exchange of relevant advance information on the identity and movement of commercial non-military merchant vessels. • White Shipping agreement is an information network protocol that allows the navies of two countries to exchange information about ships in their oceanic territories. • Ships would be classified into white (commercial ships), grey (military vessels), and black (illegal vessels) • It facilitates preventing any potential threat from sea from impinging an coastal and offshore security of the country

India’s White Shipping agreement- • In 2014, the Government had approved the proposal to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements for exchange of white shipping information with Navies, Coast Guards and agencies entrusted with maritime security of 26 countries and 3 multinational groups. • India has also signed white shipping agreements under IFC-IOR with many countries in the IOR and shares maritime information with all the partner countries. • India has signed White shipping agreement with US, France and Singapore recently

9. Nirav Modi Extradition:

In News- Recently, the Westminster Magistrates Court recommended the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi to India, after finding that there was a prima facie case for him to answer in the Indian courts.

Rules for provisional arrest and extradition- • India’s treaty partners, which include the UK have an obligation to consider requests for provisional arrest. • In the absence of a treaty, India can still make a request, which the other country will decide in accordance with its laws. • This may be followed by a detailed presentation requesting extradition. • The concerned law enforcement agency in India prepares the request, which is then forwarded to the concerned authority of the other country. • India currently has extradition treaties with 48 countries including - US, UAE, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and UK. • Notably, apart from Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel from the UK, only four fugitives have been extradited to India from various countries since 2014. • Significantly, during 2002-13, 54 terrorists and other fugitives were extradited to India from multiple countries.

10. India Pakistan ceasefire agreement:

In News- Both India and Pakistan have given credit for the ceasefire agreement to military commanders, yet several signs indicate that back channel diplomacy

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History India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement • In July 1949, India and Pakistan signed the Karachi agreement officially known as Agreement Between Military Representatives of India and Pakistan Regarding the Establishment of a Cease-Fire Line in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. • An 832 km long ceasefire line was established under the Karachi agreement which was to be supervised by military observers. • These military observers formed the core of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). • The situation along the ceasefire line became tense in 1965 when both the countries went to war after. • A resolution 211 was adopted by the UN Security Council in September 1965 demanding the two countries to restore ceasefire and withdraw armed forces and the ceasefire was accepted by both countries. • Following the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 also known as the Bangladesh Liberation war, the Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan. • Through the agreement, both the countries vowed to reduce the conflict and improve their mutual relations. • The agreement converted the ceasefire line to the Line of Control (LoC).

11. Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI):

In News- UNESCO has joined, as the only other international institution besides the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD), the Council and the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as an observer with the possibility of actively participating in the work of these bodies.

What is GPAI? • This is also a first initiative of its type. • GPAI is a multistakeholder initiative bringing together leading experts from science, industry, civil society, international organizations and government that share values to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities. • It will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by OECD in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal and Paris.

The GPAI initiative was conceived by Canada and France during their G7 presidencies and launched in June 2020. It counts 15 founding members, including 14 countries and one international organization: Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

12. Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) WTO:

In news- A new Handbook of WTO shed light on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement.

A brief note on new Handbook of WTO- • A new WTO publication, launched on 22 February 2021, provides an overview of the purpose and scope of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement), the types of measures it covers and its key principles. • Prepared by the WTO Secretariat, this new edition in the “WTO Agreements” series aims at enhancing understanding of the TBT Agreement.

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• The handbook sets out the key principles of the TBT Agreement and discusses how these have been addressed in recent disputes brought under this Agreement.

Objectives of TBT agreement- • Protection of human safety or health • Protection of animal and plant life or health • Protection of the environment • Prevention of deceptive practices

About Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement- • The TBT Agreement entered into force on 1 January 1995. • It is one of the various WTO agreements annexed to the WTO Agreement. • In fact, the TBT Agreement was built upon the provisions of a previous GATT agreement that had been in operation for 15 years by the time the WTO was created in 1995: the 1979 Tokyo Round Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (commonly known as the Standards Code). • Unlike the 1979 Standards Code, the TBT Agreement is binding on all, not just some, WTO members. • The TBT Agreement and all other multilateral agreements share the same fundamental principles, including non-discrimination, promoting predictability of access to markets, and technical assistance (TA) and special and differential (S&D) treatment for developing members. • The TBT Agreement is part of a broader category of WTO agreements dealing with non-tariff measures (NTMs).

13. Henley Passport Index 2021:

In News- India has been ranked 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2021.

About the Henley Passport Index- • The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. • It is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). • It was launched in 2006 and includes 199 different passports. • Japan continues to hold the number one position on the index, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free and Singapore is in second place. • Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be the countries with the worst passport. • India ranks 85th, with a visa-free score of 58.

14. Solidarity and Stability Deal:

In news- Recently, Gulf States signed a ‘solidarity and stability’ deal at the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.

Solidarity and Stability Deal- • It is an agreement on regional "solidarity and stability" aimed at resolving a three-year embargo against Qatar. • Members of the GCC signed a deal in AlUla, Saudi Arabia to remove all the sanctions over Qatar and re-open their land, sea and air borders to Qatar.

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• In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar and imposed a naval, air and land blockade on the country.

Gulf Cooperation Council- • Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries. • The member nations are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. • The GCC was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 1981. • The GCC promotes economic, security, cultural and social cooperation between the six states and holds a summit every year to discuss cooperation and regional affairs.

15. Pangong Tso and its fingers:

In news- China’s fortified deployments on Finger 5 proved to be the most contentious part of the negotiations to chart out a mutually acceptable troop withdrawal plan for Pangong Tso.

About Pangong Tso Lake- • Pangong Tso is a long narrow, deep, endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft in the Ladakh Himalayas. • It is formed from Tethys geosyncline. • It is a salt water lake. • The western end of Tso lies 54 km to the southeast of Leh. • The brackish water lake freezes over in winter and becomes ideal for ice skating and polo. • The legendary 19th century Dogra general Zorawar Singh is said to have trained his soldiers and horses on the frozen Pangong lake before invading Tibet.

Why dispute? • The Line of Actual Control (LAC) generally runs along the land except for the width of Pangong Tso, where it runs through water. • Both sides have marked their areas announcing which side belongs to which country. • India controls about 45 km stretch of the Pangong Tso and China the rest. • The current site of confrontation is spurs jutting out of Chang Chenmo, an eastern extension of the Karakoram Range. • These spurs are called fingers. • India claims that the LAC is coterminous with Finger 8, but it physically controls area only up to Finger 4. • Chinese border posts are at Finger 8, while it believes that the LAC passes through Finger 2. • Around six years ago, the Chinese had attempted a permanent construction at Finger 4 which was demolished after Indians strongly objected to it. • The Chinese have now stopped the Indian soldiers moving beyond Finger 2. This is an eyeball-to-eyeball situation which is still developing.

16. India-Mauritius CECPA

In news - The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius.

Salient features of India-Mauritius CECPA- • It will be the first trade Agreement to be signed by India with a country in Africa. 11 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural Persons, Telecom, Financial services, Customs Procedures and Cooperation in other Areas.

17. High Speed Rail - China near Arunachal Border

In news: Tibet's first high-speed train service between provincial capital Lhasa and Nyingchi near the border with Arunachal Pradesh will be operational by the end of June, 2021.

About the High Speed Rail • A 435-km rail link to the regional capital of Lhasa will run Fuxing high-speed trains powered by both internal combustion and electricity. • It is the first electrified railroad in Tibet and is slated to begin operations in June 2021. • The railway has a designed speed of 160 km per hour. • The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second railway into Tibet after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. • China has claimed that the railway will help "transport advanced equipment and technologies from the rest of China to Tibet and bring local products out”.

18. UK Turing scheme

In news: Having left the European Union’s flagship Erasmus scholarship programme after Brexit, the UK launched its own replacement called the Turing scheme to enable UK students to study abroad.

About UK Turing scheme- • The scheme will enable schools, colleges and universities in the UK to apply for government funding to allow students to study and work across the globe, including in India. • It is launched to support the government’s Global Britain objectives. • Funding is open to UK and British Overseas Territories organisations from across the education and training sector through higher education, further or vocational education and training, and schools projects.

19. Vaccine Passports

• A vaccine passport can broadly be defined as a piece of documentation proving someone has been inoculated against a virus – in this instance, SARS-CoV-2. • It could take the form of a signed and stamped certificate or a Quick Response (QR) code stored on a smartphone. • The documents could become required for a range of activities from international travel to gaining entry to theatres and restaurants. • Several associations and non-profits have been issuing their own versions for international travel. • The International Air Transport Association is developing an app called IATA Travel Pass that will provide airlines and other aviation industry stakeholders with a common platform to check for the proof of vaccination and its validity. • Non-profit Commons Project has been trying out an app called CommonPass, which contains a passenger’s vaccination record.

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20. Dustlik Exercise

• ‘DUSTLIK II’ which commenced on March 10, 2021, in Ranikhet (Uttarakhand) is the 2nd edition of the annual bilateral joint exercise of the armies of India and Uzbekistan. • The first edition of the exercise took place in Uzbekistan in November 2019. • The joint army exercise is mainly based on counter-terrorist operations and aims at enhancing the military cooperation between the two countries.

21. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

In news: Duarte Pacheco, President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Geneva, was present in Rajya Sabha recently to observe the proceedings of the House.

About Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)- • The organization was established in 1889 as the Inter-Parliamentary Congress. • Its founders were statesmen Frédéric Passy of France and William Randal Cremer of the United Kingdom. • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. • It is one of the oldest and largest international Parliamentary bodies consisting of more than 179 Members, while 13 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members. • It was instrumental in setting up the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 1899, foundations for the creation of the League of Nations in 1919 and the United Nations in 1945. • Its historic meeting was organized at the Grand Hotel in Paris on 31 October 1888. • Its primary purpose is to promote democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among its members. • India has been contributing to the deliberations and outcomes of IPU by being on various Standing Committees, Forums and Advisory Groups of IPU. • In the past, G.S. Dhilon, the then Speaker of Lok Sabha and Dr Najma Heptulla, the then Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha had served as the Presidents of IPU.

22. Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP)

In news: External Affairs Minister recently said that the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project was in the final stages despite delays due to various challenges.

About KMMTTP- • It is named after the Kaladan River that flows from the Chin state in Myanmar through India’s North Eastern state of Mizoram to merge into the Bay of Bengal. • This project would allow the North East region, tenuously connected to the mainland through a 21 km Chicken’s Neck corridor in the upper West Bengal and flanked by Nepal and Bhutan, to be easily accessible. • It would reduce the distance of transportation between Kolkata and Sittwe in Myanmar by shortening the route from 1,880 km via the Chicken’s Neck to 930 km. • The multimodal transportation includes cargo movement through three different modes viz. coastal shipping, inland waterway and road transport.

Kaladan River-  The Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India, and in Chin State and Rakhine State of western

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Myanmar.  The Kaladan River is called the Chhimtuipui River in India.  It forms the international border between India and Myanmar between 22° 47′ 10" N (where its tributary, the Tiau River, joins it) and 22° 11′ 06" N.  Kaladan is Mizoram's largest river and it flows through its southeastern region.

23. Trilateral Highway Project

In news: Bangladesh has expressed interest to join the ongoing India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project recently.

About the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway- • The trilateral highway is expected to help greatly in the transport connectivity which is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2021. • It links Moreh (India) - Bagan (Myanmar) - Mae Sot (Thailand). • India has agreed to help build two vital road sections Kalewa-Yagyi of 120 km, and 69 bridges on the Tamu- Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK). • The decision to extend the Trilateral Highway to Lao PDR and Cambodia to help deepen the India-ASEAN Relations was taken at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit 2012. • The proposed approx 3,200 km (2,000 mi) route from India to Vietnam is known as the East-West Economic Corridor (Thailand to Cambodia and Vietnam became operational in 2015). • This highway will also connect to the river ports being developed along the way at Kalay (also called Kalaymyo) and Monywa on Chindwin River. • The highway is the country's second prime international road project for India, the first being Bangladesh- Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) project. • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been appointed as the technical executing agency and project management consultant for the project.

24. India-Pakistan Indus Commissioners meeting

In news: Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan met in New Delhi.

Key updates: • It will be the 1st meeting of Indus Commissioners after a gap of two and a half years. • The previous meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission was held in Lahore, Pakistan from August 29-30, 2018. • As per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the Commission shall meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. • During the meeting, Pakistan’s objections on design of Indian hydropower projects on Chenab River were discussed.

Indus water treaty 1960: • It was signed between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank. • The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.

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• According to the treaty, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej (eastern rivers) are to be governed by India, while, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum (western rivers) are to be taken care by Pakistan. • As per the treaty, all the waters of the Eastern Rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use and the waters of Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) amounting to around 135 MAF annually largely to Pakistan. • The treaty has given India the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. • It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers. • The Treaty also provides an arbitration mechanism to solve disputes amicably. • A Permanent Indus Commission was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the Treaty. The Commission solves disputes arising over water sharing. • It also makes it mandatory for both countries to appoint water commissioners. India’s hydropower projects in Ladakh: India has cleared following hydropower projects in Ladakh: Durbuk Shyok (19 MW), Shankoo (18.5 MW), Nimu Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) for Leh, while Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) have been cleared for Kargil.

25. EU declared as LGBTIQ freedom zone

In news: Recently, the European Parliament has declared the entire 27-member bloc as an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”.

European Parliament’s resolution- • The resolution to declare the bloc as an ‘‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’’ was passed by 492 votes in favour, 141 against and 46 abstentions. • The EU Parliament’s move comes as a response against member state Poland’s controversial move to create more than 100 “LGBTIQ ideology-free zones” around the country since 2019. • The resolution declares that "LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution". • It adds that "authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons''.

A majority of countries in the EU (23/27) recognise same-sex unions, with 16 legally recognising same-sex marriage.

GBT rights in India- • In 2018, in the landmark decision of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised consensual homosexual intercourse by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and excluding consensual homosexual sex between adults from its ambit • Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), dating back to 1861, makes sexual activities "against the order of nature" punishable by law and carries a life sentence. • Transgender people in India are allowed to change their legal gender post-sex reassignment surgery under legislation passed in 2019, and have a constitutional right to register themselves under a third gender.

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26. Afghan peace plan and India

In news: Recently, Russia stated that India can eventually join Afghan peace plan.

What is Afghan peace plan/process? • The Afghan peace plan comprises proposals and negotiations in a bid to end the ongoing war in Afghanistan (between Taliban and the government). • Countries involved in the peace process are - Russia, China, US, India, Pakistan and Iran. • Prior to Russia, the USA had suggested to include India on the table. • USA’s draft peace Plan’s important elements include a Cease-fire, Peace government that would oversee the writing of a new constitution and elections held immediately afterward. • It also includes an independent judiciary that would have the ultimate authority, the High Council for Islamic Jurisprudence would have an advisory role. • Joe Biden’s peace plan has kept open the possibility that the 2500-odd US troops, currently deployed in Afghanistan, might stay on for a while. • The US is pressing the Taliban to accept an immediate agreement to reduce violence for 90 days that will provide the space for the peace initiative. • The US is asking Turkey to convene a meeting of the government in Kabul and the Taliban to finalise a peace settlement. • The US is asking the United Nations to convene a meeting of the foreign ministers from China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, India and the United States to develop a “unified approach” to peace in Afghanistan. • India was the only South Asian country to recognize the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in the 1980s. • Following the withdrawal of the Soviet armed forces from Afghanistan in 1989, India continued to support Najibullah’s government with humanitarian aid. • India’s refrain has been that it wants an Afghan-led, Afghan-controlled and Afghan-owned process.

27. Moscow Conference on Afghan Peace

• Representatives of the five countries, United States, Russia, China, and Pakistan had talks about Afghanistan at Moscow in the conference hall of Russia’s Kremlin palace. • The gathering in Moscow is the first of three planned international conferences ahead of a May 1, 2021 deadline for the final withdrawal of the U.S. and NATO, date fixed under a year-old agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban. • The Moscow conference is attended by U.S. peace envoy, head of Afghanistan’s National Reconciliation Council, and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. • Representatives of Pakistan, Iran, and China are also participating. • The Aim of Conference is an effort by regional powers to make peace between the Afghan government and the Taliban. • The group known as the “Troika,” including the U.S., Russia, and China, plus Pakistan, called “on the Taliban not to pursue a Spring offensive,” a major fighting campaign by the Taliban that happens in the spring season of each year. • In a joint statement that stressed that they “do not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate.” • Russia urged the US to comply with agreements to withdraw its troops from the country by May 1. • Taliban were firm on their demand for an Islamic government, without elaborating on what an Islamic government would look like.

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28. Refugee issue with Myanmar

• Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has urged PM Narendra Modi to intervene and allow political asylum to refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. • Myanmar shares a 1,643-km-long border with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. • After the coup in Myanmar, widespread civil disobedience movements(CDM) are taking place all over Myanmar. • The majority of these people entered India through the international borders in Mizoram and Manipur. • The Mizo people of Mizoram and the Kuki-Zomi communities in Manipur maintain close kinship with the people of Myanmar. • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued few directives to the State Governments and UTs mentioning that the state governments have no powers to grant ‘refugee’ status to any foreigner. • India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. • India at present, does not have any separate law to govern refugees and such matters at present dealt with on a case by case basis.

29. Maitri Setu

In news: Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated 'Maitri Setu' between India and Bangladesh.

About Maitri Setu- • The bridge built over the Feni river spanning 1.9 kilometres joins Sabroom of Tripura in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh. • National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd has helmed the construction of the bridge at a project cost of Rs.133 crore. • With this inauguration, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom.

Feni river- • It is a trans-boundary river with an ongoing dispute about water rights. • It originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh.

Kaman Aman Setu- • Aman Setu was damaged by the October 8, 2005 earthquake when a mountain on the Pakistani side caved in. • The rebuilt Aman Setu bridge on the Line of Control (LoC) was inaugurated in 2006.

30. Indo-Korea Friendship Park

In news: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of National Defence of South Korea Suh Wook inaugurated the Indo-Korean Bilateral Friendship Park in Delhi cantonment, on 26 March 2021.

About Indo-Korea Friendship Park- • The park has been built to commemorate the contribution of Indian peacekeeping force during the Korean war of 1950-53. • Park includes an entrance gate made in Korean style, a jogging track, well landscaped garden and an amphitheatre. 17 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• Developed in joint consultation with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Indian Army, Delhi Cantonment Board, Embassy of Korea and Korean War Veterans Association of India. • One of the pillars in the park encompasses Rabindranath Tagore’s narration of Korea as “The Lamp of the East” which was published in Korean daily “Dong-A-ilbo” in 1929.

India’s Role In Korean war 1950-53- • India under Nehru was involved in negotiating peace in the Korean peninsula by engaging all the major stakeholders – US, USSR and China. • In late 1952, the Indian resolution on Korea was adopted at the UN with unanimous non-Soviet support. • But the resolution recognized without the Soviets support failed. • Despite the rough international political climate, India succeeded in building consensus which precipitated in the “Armistice Agreement”. • Follow-up actions to the Armistice Agreement were the establishment of a Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC). • UN Command led by an Englishman and a Custodian Force from India (headed by Lt.Gen Thimayya) was also deployed in the inter-Korean border. • NNRC’s tenure ended in early 1954, and the Indian forces were praised internationally for executing the tough stabilising operations successfully. • At the end of its work, the NNRC was left with over 80 prisoners of war who didn’t want to go to either of the Koreas. • As an interim arrangement, Nehru decided to grant them abode in India until the UN directive on their request was pronounced.

31. Heart of Asia summit

In news- Recently, Indian External Affairs Minister participated in the ninth Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) on Afghanistan.

Key updates- • The conference, being hosted in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is focused on strengthening a regional and international consensus for Afghan peace. • Calling for a “double peace” both inside Afghanistan and in the region, External Affairs Minister said India supports the Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN), in a rare direct reference to the Taliban. • He attended the meet along with foreign ministers of 15 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Central Asian states.

About Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process (HoA-IP)- • It was founded on November 2nd, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. • It is a regional initiative of Afghanistan and the Republic of Turkey, • Its motto is “Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable AfghanistaN”. • This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners. • It comprises 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations and India is also part of it. • HoA IP has two chairs, Permanent chair and a Co-chair. • Afghanistan is the permanent chair and each year one-member state volunteer to co-chair the process with Afghanistan.

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• The process has three main pillars- The political consultation, Confidence Building Measure (CBM) and Cooperation with Regional Organizations.

32. TAPI (Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India) Pipeline

In news- During the Heart of Asia conference, Afghanistan President lauded India’s air effort with respect to the TAPI pipeline.

About TAPI Pipeline- • Also known as Afghanistan Pipeline, it is a natural gas pipeline being developed by the Galkynysh – TAPI Pipeline Company Limited. • The TAPI Pipeline extends for about 1,600 kilometers from the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border to the Pakistan-India border. • The pipeline will transport 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan to respective buyers in Afghanistan (5%), Pakistan (47.5%) and India (47.5%) during the 30-year commercial operations period. • The Project comprises the procurement, installation and operation of the pipeline and related facilities within Afghanistan and Pakistan. • It is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is also acting as transaction adviser for the development. • The pipeline will start from the Mary region of Turkmenistan and cover a total distance of 214 km up to Afghanistan where it will run through Kandahar and Herat highway in Afghanistan, for a length of 774 km. • It will cover 826 km in Pakistan, across the cities of Quetta and Multan, finally terminating in Fazilka at the Indo-Pakistan border in Punjab region, India. • The pipeline will initially transport 27bcm of natural gas a year, which will be increased to 33bcm after one year of operation. • The project implementation is split into two phases.

33. Shantir Ogroshena Exercise

In news- Recently, Indian Army participated in the multinational military exercise Shantir Ogroshena 2021 (Front runner of the peace) held in Bangladesh.

About Shantir Ogroshena Exercise- • Theme of the exercise was ‘Robust Peacekeeping Operations’. • The multinational military exercise was organized to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark the glorious 50 years of liberation. • Indian Army contingent comprising of 30 personnel including officers, JCOs and jawans of a Battalion from the Dogra Regiment participated in the military exercise. • Military observers from the USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore also attended throughout the exercise.

34. World Cities Cultural Forum

In news- Chief Minister of Delhi represented Delhi and India at the World Cities Culture Forum.

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About World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)- • WCCF is convened by the BOP consulting, UK. • The forum provides a way for policy makers in 40 key cities to share research and intelligence, and explore the vital role of culture in their future prosperity. • This year’s theme is ‘The Future of Culture’. • The forum comprises 40 world cities all of which recognise the impact and importance of culture and creativity and seek to inculcate these values in public policy and city planning. • Hosted on a rotating basis by member cities, this unique gathering allows city leaders to share ideas and knowledge about the role of culture as an organising principle for the sustainable city of the future. • BOP conducts comparative research to measure the impact and importance of culture and creativity, and shares it with the forum so members can make evidence-based policy decisions. • The World Cities Culture report is published by the forum every three years, with data and details on innovative projects from cities across the world. • The last report was published in 2018.

35. E9 initiative

In news- Minister of State for Education attended a consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4.

About E9 initiative- • The UN is spearheading the global initiative on digital learning and skills for all. • The initiative aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid change in education systems in three of the 2020 Global Education Meeting priorities. • They are- Support to teachers, Investment in skills and Narrowing of the digital divide. • The 9 member countries are Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. • The consultation is the first of a three-phased process to co-create an initiative on digital learning and skills, targeting marginalised children and youth, especially girls. • It highlighted progress, shared lessons and explored opportunities for collaboration and scale-up to expand digital learning and skills. • The meeting featured the participation of the UN Deputy Secretary-General, UNESCO, UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, the Malala Fund, the World Bank and a number of stakeholder representatives including from the private sector partners of the Global Education Coalition.

More about E9- • It is a forum of nine countries, which was formed to achieve the goals of UNESCO's Education for All (EFA) initiative. • The nine countries represent over half of the world's population and 70% of the world's illiterate adults. • The initiative was launched in 1993 at the EFA Summit in New Delhi, India.

36. 8888 Uprising

• It was a series of nationwide protests, marches and civil unrest in Burma (Myanmar) that peaked in August 1988. • As events occurred on 8 August 1988, it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

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• Columns of demonstrators from all walks of life stood united under the emblem of the fighting peacock which would go on to become a powerful symbol of democracy in the country. • Two-fold objectives were to push for the transfer of power from the military to a civilian leadership and change in the political system from an authoritarian regime to a multi-party democracy. • Troops known as the Tatmadaw began opening fire on protestors. • In the weeks that followed, at least 3,000 demonstrators died as a result and thousands more were jailed. • The military then took firm control of the government and initiated further crackdowns. • The protests and the bloody crackdown gave rise to the National League for Democracy (NLD), a political party which paved the way for the current Myanmar State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi’s entry into politics. • The democratic transition in Myanmar meticulously designed by the military has the primary objective laid out in the country’s 2008 Constitution, which is to give the military a dominant role in politics. • Myanmar now practices ‘Burmese way to democracy’ as introduced by former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt in 2003 when he announced the military’s seven-step road map to a flourishing democracy.

37. Tigrayan refugees

In News- Tigrayan refugees in Sudan bear scars, wounds of 'ethnic cleansing' at the hands of Ethiopian government.

Why is there animosity between Tigray and Eritrea? • Conflict between Tigrayan and Ethiopian government escalated when Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia fired rockets across the border into Eritrea, claiming that the Ethiopian government was using an Eritrean airport to attack Tigray. • The animosity between Tigrayans and Eritrea goes back to the Ethiopian-Eritrean war(1998 - 2000). • Many veterans from the TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) who participated in the Ethiopian-Eritrean war are now part of the Tigray region’s paramilitary forces. • The animosity between these TPLF veterans and Eritrea continues till date. • In 2019, Abiy Ahmed, PM of Ethiopia, won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his efforts that resulted in peace with Eritrea’s leadership, but Ethiopia continues to remain hostile to Tigrayans and their leaders because of the war. • After the conflict started UNHCR reported that thousands of refugees had been crossing over the border and arriving in Sudan after fighting began. • With Ethiopia’s long-standing conflict with Egypt over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam over the Blue Nile, Sudan had already found itself forcefully involved in the spat. • The conflict has the potential to destabilise the Horn of Africa region as the US and China have several strategic military bases in that region, and Russia has approved the creation of a naval facility in Sudan that would be “capable of mooring nuclear-powered surface vessels.

38. World Health Day 2021

In news- World Health Day has been observed on 7th April 2021.

About World Health Day- • WHO had organised the first World Health Assembly which called for a "World Health Day" in 1948. • In 1950, the first World Health Day was celebrated on April 7 and since then, it is observed every year on the same day. • WHO usually launches advocacy campaigns on this occasion? • This year's theme is ‘Building a fairer, healthier world’. 21 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• The main aim of the day is to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the WHO. • In 2020 the theme was- ‘Supporting Nurses and Midwives’. • World Health Day is one of 11 official global health campaigns marked by WHO, along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Chagas Disease Day, World Patient Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and World Hepatitis Day.

39. BAFTA awards 2021

In news- Recently, the BAFTA award ceremony was held virtually in London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Winners of BAFTA 2021- The 74th edition of British Academy Film Awards or BAFTA was held virtually. Category Winners

Best Film Nomadland

Best Director Chloe Zhao, Nomadland

Best Leading Actress Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Best Leading Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Best Film not in the English Language Another Round

Best Documentary My Octopus Teacher

Best Animated Film Soul

BAFTA- • It is an annual award function organized by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. • It is believed that BAFTA awards are equivalent to the US Oscar Awards. • It has been held at the Royal Opera House in London since 2008. • It was founded by a group of directors Carol Reed, Roger Manvell, David Lean, Michael Powell, Laurence Olivier and other major directors of the British film industry.

40. Freedom of Navigation operations (FONOP)

In news-: Recently, the US Navy has announced that it has carried out a Freedom of Navigation Operation in India's Exclusive Economic Zone without New Delhi's prior consent to challenge India's "excessive" maritime claims.

About FONOPs- • It is linked to the concept of freedom of navigation, in particular to the enforcement of relevant international law and customs regarding freedom of navigation. • It is carried under the US policy of exercising and asserting its navigation and over flight rights and freedoms around the world”.

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• These “assertions communicate that the US does not acquiesce to the excessive maritime claims of other nations, and thus prevents those claims from becoming accepted in international law”. • FONOPs are a method of enforcing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). • It is exercised by sailing through all areas of the sea permitted under UNCLOS, and particularly those areas that states have attempted to close off to free navigation as defined under UNCLOS. • However, India has rejected the U.S.’s claim that its domestic maritime law was in violation of international law, the UNCLOS.

41. Natanz Nuclear Facility

In news- Recently, a huge explosion struck Iran’s nuclear centre at Natanz.

About Natanz Nuclear Facility- • Natanz is a hardened Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) covering 100,000 square meters that is built 8 meters underground and protected by a concrete wall 2.5 meters thick, itself protected by another concrete wall. • It is Iran’s one of the country’s most important nuclear facilities because that is where it has the largest number of the most modern centrifuges. • These centrifuges run at supersonic plus speed and are used to enrich uranium. • It is located in Natanz County, Isfahan Province. • The complex consists of two 25,000 square meter halls and a number of administrative buildings. • IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei visited the site on 21 February 2003 and reported that 160 centrifuges were complete and ready for operation. • According to the IAEA, in 2009 there were approximately 7,000 centrifuges installed at Natanz, of which 5,000 were producing low enriched uranium. • In July 2020, explosion damage to the facility was caused by an explosive device. • Iran has blamed Israel for the explosion at its key nuclear site, which came as Tehran was continuing talks with world powers in Vienna over restoring the 2015 nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). • In response to the attack, Iran has said that it will begin enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity, pushing its program to higher levels than ever before though still remaining short of weapons-grade.

42. UN Food Systems Summit 2021

In news- The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the first-ever UN Food Systems Summit to be held in September 2021 to strategize the actions for positive change in Agri-food systems.

About UN Food Systems Summit 2021- • UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres will convene the Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. • The Summit will launch bold new actions to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems. • The Summit is scheduled to take place at the margins of the General Assembly in 2021 and will be guided by five Action Tracks. ○ Action Track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all ○ Action Track 2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns ○ Action Track 3: Boost nature-positive production ○ Action Track 4: Advance equitable livelihoods

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○ Action Track 5: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress • The overall aim of the World Food Summit is to establish a platform for key policymakers, academia, business and civil society leaders to contribute to the sustainable and healthy transformation of our global food systems. • In this regard, a high-level interdepartmental group under a NITI Aayog member has been constituted to conduct national dialogues with stakeholders of agri-food systems for exploring national pathways towards creating sustainable and equitable food systems in India.

43. UNFPA's Population Report

In news- Recently, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of World Population Report 2021 titled ‘My Body is My Own’ launched.

About State of World Population Report- • It is UNFPA’s annual publication, published yearly since 1978. • UNFPA was created in 1969, the same year the United Nations General Assembly declared “parents have the exclusive right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.” • It is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. • It focuses on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development.

Key Findings of the 2021 Report- • About 80% of countries have laws supporting sexual health and well-being. • About 56% of countries have laws and policies supporting comprehensive sexuality education. • 55% of women are fully empowered to make choices over health care, contraception and the ability to say yes or no to sex. • 71% of countries guarantee access to overall maternity care. • 75% of countries legally ensure full, equal access to contraception. • In Indian scenario according to NFHS-4 (2015-2016), about 12% of currently married women independently make decisions about their own healthcare, while 63% decide in consultation with their spouse. • 23% women, it is the spouse that mainly makes decisions about healthcare. • 8% of currently married women take decisions on the use of contraception independently, while 83% decide jointly with their spouse. • Only 47% of women using a contraceptive were informed about the side effects of the method, and 54% of women were provided information about other contraceptives.

44. World Press Freedom index, 2021

In news- India retained 142 of 180 spots, remaining “one of the world’s most dangerous countries” for journalists in World Press Freedom index, 2021.

World Press Freedom index, 2021- • The latest index is topped by Norway followed by Finland and Denmark. • Eritrea is at the bottom. • India is ranked 142, same as last year, after it had consistently slid down from 133 in 2016. • China is ranked 177.

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• In the South Asian neighbourhood Nepal is at 106, Sri Lanka at 127, Myanmar (before the coup) at 140, Pakistan at 145 and Bangladesh at 152. World Press Freedom Index- • Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), or Reporters Without Borders, has published it every year since 2002. • RSF is a non-governmental organisation based in Paris that has consultative status with the UN, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). • The Index ranks 180 countries and regions based on the amount of press freedom they have. • Pluralism, media freedom, media climate and self-censorship, legislative process, accountability, and the efficiency of the infrastructure supporting news and information production are among the criteria.

45. Hambantota Port

In news- Recently Sri Lanka requested a Chinese ship to leave the southern port of Hambantota after it was discovered to be carrying radioactive material.

About Hambantota Port- • Hambantota port is a deep-water port on Sri Lanka's southern coast. • It is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, linking the Middle East and East Asia. • Sri Lanka has agreed to sell a 70% stake in the strategic Hambantota deep-sea port to China for $1.1 billion. • China will spend up to $1.1 billion in port and marine-related operations over the course of the 99-year lease agreement. • The port is expected to play an important role in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which will link ports and roads between China and Europe. • This agreement is also thought to offer China an edge in the bunkering market, which provides fuel to ships. • India's disadvantages include fears that the port is part of a Chinese "String of Pearls" designed to encircle India and dock its military vessels.

String of Pearls- • It refers to a network of Chinese military and commercial facilities and relationships that stretches from the Chinese mainland to Port Sudan's sea lines of communication. • The Strait of Mandeb, the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, and the Lombok Strait, as well as other strategic maritime centres in Pakistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Somalia, are all crossed by these sea lines.

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46. Boao Forum for Asia (BFA)

In news- At the opening ceremony of the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater global economic integration and warned against a new "Cold War".

About Boao Forum for Asia- • In 2001, 25 Asian countries and Australia founded the Boao Forum for Asia (increased to 28 in 2006). • It is a nonprofit organization. • It has created a high-end forum for Asia and the world's political, industry, and academic leaders. • It is based on the World Economic Forum, which takes place every year in Davos, Switzerland. • The Forum is dedicated to fostering regional economic integration and moving Asian countries closer to achieving their development objectives. • It has made significant contributions to regional economic integration, shared prosperity, and the creation of a more prosperous and peaceful Asia. • Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 was four-day annual conference, held in Boao, a tropical resort in South China's Hainan Province. • Theme was "A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation”. • It was also the first international forum comprising mostly offline conferences this year, against the background of pandemic woes.

47. USCIRF report, 2021

• United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). • USCIRF uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally, and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. • USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and Congressional leaders of both political parties. • Their work is supported by a professional, nonpartisan staff. • USCIRF is separate from the State Department, although the Department’s Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom is a non-voting ex officio Commissioner.

COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN- Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam.

SPECIAL WATCH LIST COUNTRIES- Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Turkey, Uzbekistan

48. Armenian Genocide

In news- The Armenian Genocide, happened more than a century ago, is set to be officially acknowledged by US President Joe Biden.

About Armenian Genocide- • Armenian Genocide was a campaign of deportation and mass killing conducted against the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire by the Young Turk government during World War I (1914–18). 26 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• Armenians charge that the campaign was a deliberate attempt to destroy the Armenian people and, thus, an act of genocide. • While Turkey disagrees, the consensus among historians is that during the Armenian Genocide, between 1915 to 1922, thousands of Armenians perished due to killings, starvation and disease, when they were deported by Ottoman Turks from eastern Anatolia. • The International Association of Genocide Scholars estimates that more than 1 million Armenians may have died. • The acknowledgement by the US government would have little legal impact on Turkey and perhaps give other countries the impetus to also acknowledge the genocide. • India has not formally recognised the Armenian Genocide because of geo-political interests in the region. • According to the Armenian National Institute, an American non-profit organisation, 30 countries officially recognise the Armenian Genocide.

49. Saudi Green Initiative

In news- Recently, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Deputy Prime Minister, has unveiled two initiatives: the "Saudi Green Initiative" and the "Middle East Green Initiative."

What is the Saudi Green Initiative? • Its goals include increasing plant cover, lowering carbon emissions, combating pollution and land loss, and protecting marine life. • 10 billion trees will be planted in Saudi Arabia as part of the initiative. • Via a renewable energy initiative, it seeks to reduce carbon emissions by more than 4% of global contributions by 2030, generating 50% of Saudi Arabia's energy from renewables. • It aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the country to more than 30% of total land area, or approximately 6 lakh sq km, exceeding the global goal of 17%.

The Middle East Green Initiative- • Aims to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, increase the proportion of natural reserves and protected land, strengthen oil production regulation, speed up the transition to clean energy, and increase the amount of renewable energy generated. • Saudi Arabia will plant an additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region in collaboration with Gulf Cooperation Council countries and regional partners. • It accounts for 5% of the global goal of planting one trillion trees and reducing global carbon levels by 2.5 percent. • Saudi Arabia will host an annual summit called the Middle East Green Initiative, where government officials, scientists, and environmentalists will discuss implementation specifics. • Innovative approaches to irrigate from treated water, cloud seeding, and other purpose-driven solutions will be researched in collaboration with participating countries.

50. Vaccine Maithri

In News: India's vaccine diplomacy is known as the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative.

About Vaccine Maithri- • Vaccine Diplomacy is the use of vaccines to increase a country’s diplomatic relationship with other countries.

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• Under its Neighborhood First strategy, India pledged to supply Made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines to its neighbouring and main partner countries. • The vaccines were sent first to Bhutan and the Maldives, followed by Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and the Seychelles. • Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Mauritius and in total, around 72 countries received doses once regulatory approvals were received. • Medicines have been supplied to 150 nations, 82 of them as grants. • Pakistan has not been identified as a country that will receive the vaccine. • India has also provided neighbouring countries with capacity-building and training workshops. • From supplying hydroxychloroquine to more than 100 nations to providing 64 million doses of vaccines to more than 80 nations, India’s imprint on global health has been substantive. • However, India is unlikely to resume the initiative for the neighbourhood due to the sudden crunch in the availability of vaccines amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases.

PACT Programme- • It was created to aid in the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine in cooperating countries. • Under the auspices of DBT's National Biopharma Mission and Ind-CEPI Mission, the programme is being carried out by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA).

51. Post -Brexit Trade Deal

In news- European Parliament has approved the post-Brexit EU-UK trade deal.

More about the deal- The EU lawmakers backed the trade and cooperation agreement by 660 votes to five, with 32 abstentions. The deal, which was finalised on Christmas Eve, had already been ratified by the UK parliament and conditionally came into force pending the European Parliament’s approval, which marks the final legal hurdle. The UK had joined the bloc in 1973. • The agreement ensures that most goods traded between the EU and U.K. won’t face new tariffs or quotas and U.K. and EU goods will continue to receive tariff-free and quota-free treatment. • New rules require the U.K. to self-certify the origin of its exports to the EU. Certain products that contain a high threshold of inputs from outside the EU and U.K. may face new tariffs.

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• The EU will require U.K. agri-food exporters to provide health certificates and undergo sanitary and phytosanitary controls at border inspection posts. • The absence of a mutual recognition agreement means U.K. regulatory bodies won’t be able to certify products for sale in the EU, a potentially big barrier to trade. • The agreement only features standard provisions on financial services, meaning it doesn’t include commitments on market access. • Both sides will be prevented from giving an unlimited state guarantee to cover a company’s debts or liabilities. • The U.K. and the EU will have to disclose the subsidies they award. • Disputes on the deal must be negotiated between the EU and the U.K. with no role for the EU courts. • An arbitration panel may rule on some areas and can order one side to resolve the problem or offer compensation. • For a five-year transition period, the agreement grants EU fleets free access to fish in UK waters, including up to six miles off the coastline. • Both sides pledge to limit customs red tape, including through programs for trusted traders known as Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs have benefits including fewer controls). • The EU has stopped short of granting automatic recognition to British aerospace designs and products. • The deal includes a temporary solution to keep data flowing between the EU and U.K. until the bloc has adopted a data adequacy decision. • Personal data shipped to the U.K. during this interim period “shall not be considered as transfer to a third country” under EU law. • The U.K. won’t have access to the EU’s internal energy market. • The U.K.-EU agreement would be suspended if either side breaches their commitments to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate. • There will no longer be automatic mutual recognition of professional qualifications. • Short-term business visitors won’t need to hold work permits or undergo economic needs tests. • U.K. agri-food consignments will have to have health certificates and undergo sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls at Member States’ border inspection posts. • There will be cooperation between the U.K. and EU law-enforcement agencies, but the U.K. loses membership in Europol and Eurojust. • There will be similar cooperation on extraditions to that between the EU and Norway and Iceland, “but with appropriate further safeguards for individuals beyond those in the European Arrest Warrant.”

52. Asian Development Outlook, 2021

In news: Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released Asian Development Outlook report for 2021.

More about the recent report- • The Indian economy is projected to grow at 11% in the current financial year (which ends on March 31, 2022) amid the “strong” vaccine drive. • However, the recent surge in COVID cases may put the country’s economic recovery at “risk”. • India was one of the 45 economies across Asia and the Pacific that were assessed by the report. • The 45 economies that excluded Japan, Australia and New Zealand, were to grow 7.3 per cent this year, supported by a healthy global recovery and early progress on COVID-19 vaccines. • It noted that while growth was forecast to be the strongest in East and South Asia, central and Southeast Asia as well as the Pacific was to see more moderate growth.

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• Rising exports are boosting some economies in Developing Asia (46 members of ADB list on the basis of geographic group) amid strengthening global economic activity, including a rebound in manufacturing. • The GDP of South Asia is expected to rebound to 9.5% in 2021, following a contraction of 6% in 2020, before moderating to 6.6% in 2022. • Increasing geopolitical tensions, production bottlenecks, delay in vaccine rollouts or major new outbreaks, financial turmoil and long-term scarring like learning losses due to school closures are the main risk factors.

Asian Development Outlook: • It is an annual publication produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). • It offers economic analysis and forecasts, as well as an examination of social development issues, for most countries in Asia. • It is prepared by staff of ADB's regional departments, and field offices, under the coordination of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department with the goal of developing "consistent forecasts for the region".

53. Special 301 report

In news: The United States has placed India and eight other countries on the Priority Watch List for IP protection and enforcement.

More about the report- • Out of 100 trading partners being reviewed for this year’s “Special 301 Report” by USTR, eight have been placed on Priority Watch List and 23 on the Watch List. • Seven other countries on the Priority Watch list are Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela. • The 23 trading partners on the Watch List are Algeria, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. • According to the report, India has remained inconsistent in its progress on intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement. • Though India’s enforcement of IP in the online sphere has gradually improved, a lack of concrete benefits for innovators and creators persists, which continues to undermine their efforts. • The potential threat of patent revocations, lack of presumption of patent validity and the narrow patentability criteria under the India Patents Act burdens companies across different sectors.

54. Lag B'Omer Festival

In news: Many people died in a stampede as tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered in northern Israel to celebrate the annual Lag B’Omer festival.

About Lag B'Omer Festival- • Lag B’Omer is an annual Jewish festival observed during the Hebrew month of Iyar. • It is celebrated on the 33rd day of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot. • Lag B’Omer is the only day during the 49-day period when celebration is permitted. • Hence, it is common for Jews to schedule weddings on this day every year. • Young boys, who have reached the age of three, are also traditionally brought here for their first haircut.

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• To mark the occasion, tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish pilgrims make their way to the base of Mount Meron every year, to pay their respects to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second century sage and mystic, who is believed to have died on this day. • The Rabbi’s tomb is a much revered holy site in Israel.

was Rabbi Shimon? • Rabbi Shimon was said to have been a gifted Talmudic scholar and a disciple of Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest Jewish sages of all time. • According to some accounts, Rabbi Shimon authored the ‘Zohar’, which is the main work of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism. • Jews believe that on the day of his death, Rabbi Shimon told his disciples the many secrets of the Kabbalah, which some believe is how Lag B’Omer became a day of celebration. • Bonfires are often lit on the day to represent the knowledge and wisdom he shared with his followers. • Others believe that a deadly plague that killed 244,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s followers ended on this day.

55. Operation Samudra Setu- 2

In news: The Indian Navy has initiated Operation Samudra Setu-II to aid in the faster transportation of medical oxygen and other supplies from abroad due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

About the Operation- • Nine warships from all three Naval Commands (Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi) have been deployed to bring relief material from friendly foreign countries in Persian Gulf and South-east Asia. • These warships will undertake shipment of liquid oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment. • INS Kolkata and INS Talwar were the first batch of ships that were immediately diverted for the task and entered the port of Manama in Bahrain on April 30. • On the Eastern seaboard, INS Airavat is scheduled to enter Singapore for embarking Liquid oxygen tanks and INS Jalashwa is standing by in the region to embark medical stores at short notice. • The second batch of ships comprising Kochi, Trikand and Tabar missions deployed in Arabian Sea has also been diverted to join the national effort. • From the Southern Naval Command, the landing ship tank INS Shardul is being readied to join the Operation. • All these have been designed and developed in-house by the Indian Navy and are all made in India.

Operation Samudra Setu- 1 • Indian Navy launched Operation “Samudra Setu” – meaning “Sea Bridge”, as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020. • The operation progressed in close coordination with Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the Government of India and State governments. • It is part of Vande Bharat mission. • As part of Phase 1, Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa and Magar conducted evacuation operations from the port of Malè, Republic of Maldives. • INS Shardul took part in evacuation from Iran and on it, all the innovative products made by the Indian Navy to stop the spreading of the global pandemic were available. • Special provisions were made for the evacuation operation onboard all these ships and were fully equipped with medical supplies, doctors, hygienists and nutritionists.

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India and the Arctic: • The Arctic is commonly understood to refer to the region above the Arctic Circle, north of latitude 66° 34’ N, which includes the Arctic Ocean with the North Pole at its centre. • Much of this Ocean falls within the jurisdiction of five Arctic littoral states - Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia and the USA (Alaska). • Three other Arctic nations – Finland, Sweden and Iceland – along with the five littorals form the Arctic Council. • The Arctic is home to almost four million inhabitants, of which approximately one-tenth are considered as indigenous people. • India became the observer of Arctic Council in 2013 and its membership as an observer was renewed in 2018 for another five years. • It has also deployed a multi-sensor moored observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord since July 2014. • The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, is the nodal agency for India’s Polar research programme, which includes Arctic studies. • India’s Ministry of External Affairs provides the external interface to the Arctic Council.

56. Arctic science ministerial

In news: India participated in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3).

About the ASM- • India shared its plans to contribute observing systems in the Arctic, both in-situ and by remote sensing. • The country would deploy open ocean mooring in the Arctic for long-term monitoring of upper ocean variables and marine meteorological parameters. • ASM3, jointly organised by Iceland and Japan, is the first Ministerial meeting being held in Asia. • The meeting was designed to provide opportunities to various stakeholders, including academia, indigenous communities, governments and policymakers, to enhance collective understanding of the Arctic region, and engage in constant monitoring, and strengthen observations. • The theme for this year is ‘Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic’. • The first two meetings- ASM1 and ASM2, were held in the USA in 2016 and Germany in 2018, respectively.

57. Al-Aqsa mosque

In news: There was an outbreak of violence at Al-Aqsa mosque, as tensions were building between Jews and Palestinians across Israel.

About the mosque- • Originally built as a small prayer house, the mosque was reconstructed by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik in 705 CE. • It underwent renovations under various dynasties, including the Ottoman empire, the Supreme Muslim Council, and Jordan. • In Arabic, “aqsa” translates as farthest, and is a reference to Islamic scripture and its account of the Prophet Muhammad traveling from Mecca to the mosque in one night to pray and then ascending to heaven. • The mosque sits inside a 35-acre site known by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount. • The site is part of the Old City of Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. 32 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• Though Jerusalem’s Old City is under Israeli control, the mosque has remained under the administration of the Jordanian and Palestinian-led Islamic Waqf since 1967. • The Waqf is a religious trust that manages Islamic historical sites around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. • Jews and Christians are allowed to visit, but unlike Muslims, are prohibited from praying on the grounds under the status quo arrangement. • For Jews, the Temple Mount, known in Hebrew as Har Habayit, is the holiest place because it was the site of two ancient temples. • UNESCO has classified the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls as a World Heritage Site.

58. Iron dome system

In news- In the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, rockets fired from Gaza were being intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system.

More about Iron dome- • It is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. • It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. • The system can equally intercept unwanted helicopters, aircraft, or UAVs that enter the airspace without permission.

• Its genesis goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. • The Iron Dome was developed by Rafale Advanced Defence Systems jointly with Israel Aerospace Industries and deployed in 2011. • The Iron Dome has three main systems that work together to provide a shield over the area where it is deployed. • It has detection and tracking radar to spot any incoming threats, a battle management and weapon control system (BMC), and a missile firing unit. • It is capable of being used in all weather conditions, including during the day and night.

Similar systems with other countries- • S-400 air defence systems of Russia. 33 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• Sky Hunter is the US version of the Iron Dome system which has been developed jointly by Raytheon and Rafael. • India has Akash short-range surface-to-air missiles, and Russian systems including Pechora which are being gradually replaced with more modern systems. • India is buying two National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II from the US.

59. China’s new key highway in Tibet

In news: China has built a key highway through Brahmaputra Gorge in Tibet near Arunachal.

More about the tunnel- • The strategic highway including a 2km mountain tunnel is through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon (Brahmaputra Canyon), known as the world's deepest gorge. • The 67.22-km road connects Pad Township in the city of Nyingchi and Medog County, cutting travel time by eight hours. • Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. • Its likely terminus is Baibung County (known as Drepung in Tibetan), close to the Indian village of Bishing in Arunachal Pradesh. • The village of Bishing is located in Arunachal’s Gelling circle, which touches the McMahon Line, the de-facto Sino-India border in the region. • It is the second significant passageway to Medog, following the first one connecting the county and Zhamog Township, Bomi County. • The highway project was started in 2014, with an estimated investment of about USD 310 million. • China has cleared a plan to build a mega-dam over the Canyon by the country's Parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC). • Engineers have expressed concern about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam. • Across the border, India is also building a 150-km-long Yingkiong-Bushing national highway in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

60. China’s 17+1 initiative

In news- Lithuania recently announced that it is quitting the China-led “17+1” grouping by blaming the platform ‘divisive’ from the European Union’s perspective.

About 17+1 initiative- • It is an initiative by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs founded in 2012 in Budapest. • Its aim is to expand cooperation between Beijing and the 16 Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) member countries, with investments and trade for the development of European countries that are less developed as compared to the Western European states. • The framework focuses on infrastructure projects such as bridges, motorways, railway lines and modernisation of ports in the member states. • The initiative includes China, 12 EU member states and 5 Balkan states - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. • Its secretariat is in Beijing, with 17 "national coordinators" in each of the partner CEE countries. • The 17+1 meets annually with the recent summit held in Dubrovnik (2019).

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61. Digital border by UK

In news- The UK Home Office has launched a scheme to create a digital border as part of its plans for immigration reform.

About the scheme- • The UK’s ‘New plan for immigration: legal migration and border control’ sets out how it aims to achieve a “fully digital end-to-end experience” in all aspects of immigration and border crossings. • It includes the way people apply online, how they prove their identity, how they provide evidence that they meet the relevant criteria, to how they receive and use proof of their status to cross the border and demonstrate any entitlements in the UK. • Hence it includes delivering a digital system allowing for online evidence of immigration status. • This system has already been put in place for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals to apply for the right to remain in the UK post-Brexit. • The Home Office originally launched an e-Borders programme in 2003, aiming to improve the use of information to track people across borders but failed to deliver. • It then launched a replacement programme, Digital Services at the Border (DSAB), in 2014. • The original aim was for DSAB to be completed by March 2019, delivering three main systems: Advance Border Control, Border Crossing, and Advanced Freight Targeting Capability. • By March 2019, only one of the three systems was in live operation, Border Crossing. • By 2021 end, the border crossing capability will be extended to the e-gates. • The government will also put in place an electronic travel authorisation system, similar to the US’s ESTA system, which means everyone wishing to travel to the UK (except British and Irish citizens), will need to seek permission in advance of travel. • The fully digital border will provide the ability to count people in and count people out of the country which helps to tackle the broken asylum system.

European Economic Area (EEA)- • It consists of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and three countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; excluding Switzerland) (in total 30 members). • The Agreement on the EEA entered into force on 1 January 1994. • It seeks to strengthen trade and economic relations and is principally concerned with the four fundamental pillars of the internal market- free movement of goods, people, services and capital.

62. UAE’s Golden visa

In news- Recently Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt received his golden visa from the UAE government.

About the visa- • The Golden Visa system was implemented in 2019. • It essentially offers long-term residency (5 and 10 years) to people belonging to the following groups: investors, entrepreneurs, individuals with outstanding talents, researchers, medical professionals and those within the scientific and knowledge fields, and remarkable students. • The main benefit of the visa is that it enables foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor and with 100 per cent ownership of their business. • The 2019 amendment was brought about in a bid to attract new foreign residents, particularly to the emirate of Dubai, following the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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• Interested individuals, who would like to apply for the Golden Visa, may do so through the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship — ICA (the eChannel for residency and citizenship), or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) which works under the ministry. • For the 10-year visa, investors having no less than AED 10 million worth of public investment, either in the form of an investment fund or a company, can apply. • However, at least 60 per cent of the total investment must not be in the form of real estate and the invested amount must not be loaned, or in case of assets, investors must assume full ownership. • The investor must be able to retain the investment for a minimum of three years as well. • This 10-year long visa may be extended to include business partners, providing that each partner contributes AED 10 million. • The long-term visa can also include the holder’s spouse and children, as well as one executive director and one advisor. • For the 5-year visa the amount of investment required is set at AED 5 million. • Exceptional high school and university students are eligible for a 5-year residency visa in the UAE. • The foreign nationals who are looking to set up their business in the UAE may also apply for permanent residency (5 years) through the Golden Business Visa scheme. • The UAE has also approved an amendment to its residency laws allowing foreign university students to bring their families with them to the UAE, as long as they can afford suitable accommodation and have the financial means to support them.

63. Currency swap between Bangladesh and Srilanka

In news- Bangladesh’s central bank recently approved a $200 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka.

More about the arrangement- • Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, has in principle approved a $200 million currency swap agreement with Sri Lanka to help Colombo tide over its foreign exchange crisis. • Sri Lanka, staring at an external debt repayment schedule of $4.05 million in 2021 is in urgent need of foreign exchange. • Its own foreign exchange reserves in March year stood at $4 million. • The two sides have to formalise an agreement to operationalise the facility approved by Bangladesh Bank. • A currency swap is effectively a loan that Bangladesh will give to Sri Lanka in dollars, with an agreement that the debt will be repaid with interest in Sri Lankan rupees. • For Sri Lanka, this is cheaper than borrowing from the market, and a lifeline as it struggles to maintain adequate forex reserves even as repayment of its external debts looms. • The period of the currency swap will be specified in the agreement. • This may be the first time that Bangladesh is extending a helping hand to another country. • It is also the first time that Sri Lanka is borrowing from a SAARC country other than India. • In July 2020, the Reserve Bank of India had extended a $400 million credit swap facility to Sri Lanka, which the Central Bank of Sri Lanka settled in February, 2021.

Is a currency swap? • A currency swap between two countries is an agreement or contract to exchange currencies (of the two countries or any hard currency) with predetermined terms and conditions. • Often the popular form of currency swap is between two central banks.

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• Here, the main purpose of currency swap by a central bank like the RBI is to get the foreign currency from the issuing foreign central bank at the predetermined conditions (like exchange rate and the volume of currency) for the swap. • The purpose of currency swap is to avoid turbulence and other risks in the foreign exchange market and exchange rate. • Currency swap agreement can be bilateral or multilateral. • RBI has a framework under which it can offer credit swap facilities to SAARC countries within an overall corpus of $2 billion. • The SAARC currency swap facility came into operation in November 2012. • Usually, currency swap agreements are of five types depending upon the nature and the status of the currencies swapped — o Exchange cash for cash vs. cash for securities; o Exchange conditional vs. unconditional swaps; o Exchange reserve currencies on both sides; o Exchange reserve currency for non-reserve currency; o Exchange non-reserve currencies on both sides.

64. Permanent Commission proposed for Israel human rights violations

In news- Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have called on the U.N. Human Rights Council to set up a permanent commission to report on human rights violations in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

About the proposed Commission- • A special session of the council was held to address the grave human rights situation in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem. • The meeting was sought by Pakistan, as the OIC’s coordinator. • A vote on the draft resolution was held which was largely virtual. • The draft resolution calls on the council to urgently establish an ongoing independent, international commission of inquiry appointed by the council president to investigate violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Israel and Palestinian areas. • The commission would also investigate all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict including discrimination and repression. • A commission of inquiry (COI) is the highest level of scrutiny that the council can authorize. • The special session is the 30th at the council, and the ninth on the issue of the Occupied Palestinian Territories alone, the last was in May 2018. • The council’s most recent special session on Myanmar was held in February, 2021.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)- • It is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. • The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. • It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. • The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco in September 1969 following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

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• In 1970, the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general. • The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. • The Charter laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. • The present Charter of the OIC was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008. • The Ten-Year Program of Action (2016-2025) has been launched by OIC to face the challenges of the 21st century and focuses on 18 priority areas with 107 goals. • Key bodies of OIC include - the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the General Secretariat. • Specialized organs are the Islamic Development Bank and The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other subsidiaries/ affiliate organs.

65. Herero and Nama genocide

In news- Germany has officially has recognized genocide against the Herero and Nama people in present-day Namibia during its colonial rule over a century ago

A brief note on the Herero (pastoral community) and Nama genocide- • It was the first genocide of the 20th century waged by the German Empire against the Herero (Ovaherero), the Nama, and the San in German South West Africa (now Namibia). • It occurred between 1904 and 1908. • In 1904, Herero people and Nama people rebelled against German colonial rule. • In the same year, January 12, they massacred more than 100 German men in the area of Okahandja, though they spared women and children. • In August, Germany defeated the Ovaherero in the Battle of Waterberg and drove them into the desert of Omaheke, where most of them died of dehydration. • In October, the Nama people also rebelled against the Germans, only to suffer a similar fate. • The Germans continued to rule the region till 1915, following which it fell under South Africa’s control for 75 years. • Namibia finally gained independence in 1990. • In 1985, the United Nations' Whitaker Report classified the aftermath as an attempt to exterminate the Herero and Nama peoples of South West Africa. • In 2004, the German government recognised and apologised for the events, but ruled out financial compensation for the victims' descendants. • In July 2015, the German government and the speaker of the Bundestag officially called the events a "genocide". • Now Germany has promised financial support of over a billion euros to Namibia.

66. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

In news- Recently, the West African leaders in a recent regional summit suspended Mali from ECOWAS bodies after a second coup by the Malian military.

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About ECOWAS- • The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of 15 member countries that are located in the Western African region. • Established on May 28, 1975 via the Treaty of Lagos, it is a regional group with a mandate of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries. • The Vision of ECOWAS is the creation of a borderless region where the population has access to its abundant resources and is able to exploit the same through the creation of opportunities under a sustainable environment. • Members of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo. • As a trading union, it is also meant to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation. • The Institutions of ECOWAS comprise: The Authority of Heads of States and Government, The Commission, The Community Parliament, The Community Court of Justice, Council of Ministers, Specialised Technical Committees and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).

67. Tulsa Race Massacre

In news- Recently, the U.S. President Joe Biden became the first sitting American head of state to officially recognise the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

About Tulsa race massacre- • On May 31 and June 1, 1921, it was the affluent, predominantly African American neighbourhood of Greenwood, Tulsa, founded by descendants of slaves and having earned a reputation as the “Black Wall Street” of the U.S was attacked by white American mob. • Alternatively known as the Black Wall Street massacre, the event is among the single worst incident[s] of racial violence in American history. • Tulsa was especially known for being an unofficial sanctuary city for African Americans suffering the consequences of harsh segregation or Jim Crow laws in pre-civil rights America. • The widespread killings in Tulsa targeted relatively well-to-do African Americans, and caused extensive damage to their property. • For years, the massacre was barely mentioned in government circles, and in newspapers and textbooks. • It was only in 2000 that it finally made an appearance in the Oklahoma public schools’ curriculum.

68. EAGLE Act, 2021

In news- A legislation that aims to remove the country cap for permanent residency visas was recently introduced in the US House of Representatives. It would have to be passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate, and then signed by the President of the United States for it to become a law.

About the Act- • The Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2021 allows American employers to focus on hiring immigrants based on their merit, not their birthplace. • The new law helps Indians who are not able to get green cards due to the country caps and the lottery system in the US. • The act seeks to remove the seven percent cap for each country for employment-based immigrant visas. • The seven per cent limit which was introduced in the mid-20th century, has led countries with relatively small populations to be allocated the same number of visas as a relatively large-population country. 39 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• The per-country limit on family-sponsored visas will also be raised from 7 percent to 15 percent. • The act aims for the limitations to be removed in a phased manner over the next 9 years. • However, the act won’t allow domination by Chinese and Indian visa applicants as it would put in reserve visas for a period of nine years for 'Lower Admission States'. • It will ensure that "no country may receive more than 25 percent of reserved visas and 85 percent of unreserved visas" in the nine fiscal years. • A similar Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (HR1044) was passed by the House of Representatives in July 2019. Another version of the bill - S386 was passed by the Senate in the 116th session of the Congress.

69. UN CEO’s Water mandate

In news- Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) joined UN’s CEO Water mandate to step up work on water conservation with reduce, reuse and recycle.

About the CEO Water Mandate- • It is a UN Global Compact initiative to demonstrate commitment and efforts of companies to better their water and sanitation agendas as part of long term Sustainable Development Goals. • It is designed to assist companies in the development, implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies and policies. • It also provides a platform for companies to partner with like-minded businesses, UN agencies, public authorities, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders. • The mandate is a commitment platform for business leaders and learners to advance water stewardship. • Endorsing companies commit to action across six key elements and report annually on progress. • In implementing water stewardship, endorsing companies also identify and reduce critical water risks to their businesses, seize water-related opportunities, and contribute to water security and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Six Commitment areas 1. Direct Operations 2. Supply Chain and Watershed Management 3. Collective Action 4. Public Policy 5. Community Engagement 6. Transparency

UN Global Compact initiative- • It is a non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. • It is a principle-based framework for businesses, stating ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. • Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labor groups and civil society. • Cities can join the Global Compact through the Cities Programme. • The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, with more than 12,000 corporate participants and stakeholders from more than 140 countries.

About NTPC- • NTPC Ltd. is a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.

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• It is India’s largest energy conglomerate with roots planted way back in 1975 to accelerate power development in India. • Aim is to provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner, driven by innovation and agility. • It became a Maharatna company in May 2010. • It is located in New Delhi.

70. India joins UN ECOSOC

In news- India has been elected to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the six main organs of the United Nations, for the 2022-24 terms. It was elected in the Asia-Pacific States category alongside Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Oman.

More information- • The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations. • It is headquartered in New York, United States. • The Council consists of 54 Member States, which are elected yearly by the General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. • Seats on the Council are allocated ensuring equitable geographic rotation among the UN regional groups. • 14 seats are being allocated to the African Group, 11 to the Asia-Pacific Group, 6 to the Eastern European Group, 10 to the Latin American and Caribbean Group and 13 to the Western European and Others Group. • It advances the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental. • It serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system. • The president of the Council is elected for a one-year term and chosen from the small or medium sized states represented on the Council at the beginning of each new session. • The presidency rotates among the United Nations Regional Groups to ensure equal representation. • Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan was elected as the seventy-sixth President on 23 July 2020.

71. QS World University Rankings 2022

In news- QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education analysts, has released the 18th edition of the world’s International University rankings.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings- • The Massachusetts Institute of Technology achieved a record-extending 10th consecutive year as world number-one. • The University of Oxford has risen to second for the first time since 2006, while Stanford University and the University of Cambridge share third spot. • This year, rankings listed the world's top 1,300 universities - 145 more than in the last year's edition, which can be found in 97 locations.

QS uses six indicators to compile the ranking: 1. Academic reputation (AR). 2. Employer reputation (ER). 3. Citations per faculty (CPF). 4. Faculty/student ratio. 41 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

5. International faculty ratio. 6. International student ratio.

Rankings of Indian Universities- • Three Indian Universities have achieved top-200 positions in QS World University Rankings 2022. • IISc Bengaluru ranked number 1 in the world for research. It has got a perfect score of 100 out of 100 for the citations per faculty (CPF) metric in the analysis. • IIT Bombay secured 177th position, IIT Delhi secured 185th rank and IISc Bengaluru secured 186th position in universities rankings. • IIT, Madras, has risen 20 places and now ranks joint-255th, which is its highest position since 2017. • IIT-Kharagpur is ranked at 280, while IIT, Guwahati, in the joint-395th rank has entered the global top-400 for the first time.

72. G7 summit, 2021

In news- Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Outreach Sessions of the G7 Summit in virtual format.

Agenda of G-7 summit, 2021- • The UK currently holds the presidency of the G7 and invited India, along with Australia, Republic of Korea and South Africa, as guest countries for the Summit. • The meetings were held in hybrid mode. • The theme for the summit was ‘Build Back Better’. • The four priority areas outlined for the UK's presidency are- ○ Leading the global recovery from coronavirus while strengthening resilience against future pandemics; ○ Promoting future prosperity by championing free and fair trade; ○ Tackling climate change and preserving the planet’s biodiversity; ○ Championing shared values and open societies; • Since 2014, this is the second time PM Modi participated in a G7 meeting. • India had been invited by the G7 French Presidency in 2019 to the Biarritz Summit as a “Goodwill Partner” and the Prime Minister participated in the Sessions on ‘Climate, Biodiversity and Oceans’ and ‘Digital Transformation’.

About G7- • G7 stands for “Group of Seven” industrialized nations. • It used to be known as the G8 (Group of Eight) until 2014 when Russia was excluded because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. • France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany formed the Group of Six in 1975 so that the noncommunist powers could come together to discuss important economic issues, global security etc… • Canada joined the group in 1976. • Russia joined in 1998 and signaled a cooperation between East and West after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. • At present, the group includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, France and Italy. • The G7 is an informal bloc and takes no mandatory decisions, so the leaders’ declarations at the end of the summit are not binding.

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• The European Union has been involved in G7 work since 1977, and is represented at the summit by the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council. • The member country holding the G7 presidency is responsible for organizing and hosting the year’s summit and generally every member country hosts the summit once every 7 years.

73. WHO High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy Platform of Action

In news- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally addressed the first meeting of the World Health Organization High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA).

About WHO High-Level Coalition on Health and Energy Platform of Action- • The High Level Coalition on Health and Energy, convened by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, is composed of leaders from governments supporting HEPA as well as leaders from selected international organizations. • The objective of the High Level Coalition is to strengthen high-level cooperation between health and energy sectors, increase political momentum, spur investments, mobilize public support and drive practical solutions. • In 2019, WHO with UNDP, UN DESA and World Bank, International Renewable Energy Agency, and other key stakeholders established the HEPA. • This Platform aims to build the political and financial commitment and as well as strengthen the capacity of the health and energy sectors to work together to ensure universal access to clean and sustainable energy to protect health. • The long-term vision of the Global Platform is to improve the health and livelihoods of the poorest populations through the adoption of clean and sustainable energy. • The Platform aims to catalyse the scale of results required to achieve SDG 3 on health, SDG 7 on energy and others on gender (SDG 5) and climate (SDG 13).

India’s initiatives in this regard- • The National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health was constituted by the Union government with the multiple objectives of creating awareness amongst the general population, health-care providers and policy makers regarding impact of climate change on human health. • This expert body submitted its report recently in April 2021 with inclusion of Subject Specific Health Action Plans on identified Climate Sensitive Diseases and ‘One Health’. • In the context of “Green and Climate Resilient Healthcare Facilities”, India became signatory to the Malé Declaration in 2017 and agreed to promote climate-resilient healthcare facilities to be able to withstand any climatic event.

74. Atlantic charter

In news- US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met for the first time and inspected documents of the ‘New Atlantic Charter’.

Key updates- • It is cited as a cornerstone of the trans-Atlantic “special relationship.” • At their meeting, the two leaders signed the new Atlantic Charter, pledging to “defend the principles, values, and institutions of democracy and open societies.”

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• The new Charter outlines modern-day threats including illicit finance, violent conflict and extremism, climate change, and global health crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.

About the Atlantic charter- • It was a declaration signed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1941. • It set out common goals for the world after the Second World War that included freer trade, disarmament and the right to self-determination of all people. • The Charter made it clear that the United States supported Britain in the war. • A fundamental aim was to focus on the peace that would follow, not specific American involvement and war strategy. • The charter's adherents signed the Declaration by the United Nations on 1 January 1942, which was the basis for the modern United Nations. • The dismantling of the British Empire, the formation of NATO, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) all were derived from the Atlantic Charter.

The eight principal clauses of the charter were- • No territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom. • Territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned. • All people had a right to self-determination. • Trade barriers were to be lowered. • There was to be global economic co-operation and advancement of social welfare. • The participants would work for a world free of want and fear. • The participants would work for freedom of the seas. • There was to be disarmament of aggressor nations and a common disarmament after the war.

75. Global liveability index, 2021

In news- Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published the Global Liveability Index 2021 recently.

Key highlights of the index- • This year, Auckland in New Zealand rose to the top of the index owing to its successful approach in containing the covid-19 pandemic • Japanese cities of Osaka and Tokyo grabbed second and fourth place on the index. • Six of the top 10 cities are in New Zealand and Australia. • The overall global average liveability fell by seven points as compared with the pre-pandemic score. • Honolulu was the biggest mover up the ranking in the past six months, moving 46 places to get the 14th rank on the liveability index. • It noted a decline in liveability in many European cities as they battled the second Covid-19 wave by closing schools and restaurants, and restructuring cultural and sporting events. • Living conditions remained worst in the Syrian capital Damascus. • Other cities scraping along the bottom of the rankings are Lagos, Port Moresby, and Dhaka. • The Pakistani city of Karachi also featured in the 10 least liveable cities in the world.

About the Global Liveability Index- • It is an annual assessment published by the London–based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

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• The Liveability Index examines 140 cities worldwide to quantify the challenges presented to an individual’s lifestyle in the past year, for the first time taking into account this disrupting global event. • Each city is assigned a liveability score for more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five categories: Stability, Healthcare, Culture and environment, Education and Infrastructure.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)- • It was created in 1946. • It is the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, the sister company to The Economist newspaper. • It has over 70 years’ experience in helping businesses, financial firms and governments to understand how the world is changing and how that creates opportunities to be seized and risks to be managed.

76. NATO summit, 2021

In news- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its 31st summit in Brussels on June 14th.

About NATO- • NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries. • The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. • NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. • POLITICAL – NATO promotes democratic values. • MILITARY – NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. • NATO’s Headquarters are located in Evere, Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium. • The most recent member state to be added to NATO was North Macedonia on 27 March 2020. • All decisions of NATO are taken by consensus. • NATO summits are not regular meetings like the more frequent NATO ministerial meetings, but rather are important junctures in the alliance's decision-making process on the highest level. • Previously, the summit was held in Watford (U.K) in December 2019.

77. SIPRI yearbook, 2021

In news- The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launched the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2021.

About the yearbook, 2021- • It assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. • A key finding is that despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2020, more have been deployed with operational forces. • The nine nuclear-armed states are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). • These states together possessed an estimated 13,080 nuclear weapons at the start of 2021. • This marked a decrease from the 13,400 that SIPRI estimated these states possessed at the beginning of 2020.

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• However, the estimated number of nuclear weapons currently deployed with operational forces increased to 3825, from 3720 last year. • Russia and the USA together possess over 90 percent of global nuclear weapons. • Russia increased its overall military nuclear stockpile by around 180 warheads, mainly due to deployment of more multi-warhead land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and sea-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). • Both countries’ deployed strategic nuclear forces remained within the limits set by the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START treaty), although the treaty does not limit total nuclear warhead inventories. • All the other seven nuclear-armed states are also either developing or deploying new weapon systems. • The UK’s 'Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy' (published in early 2021), reversed a policy of reducing the country’s nuclear arsenal and raised its planned ceiling for nuclear weapons from 180 to 260. • North Korea continues to enhance its military nuclear programme as a central element of its national security strategy. • While it conducted no nuclear test explosions or long-range ballistic missile tests during 2020, it continued production of fissile material and development of short- and long-range ballistic missiles.

78. BRICS network university

In news- A three-day virtual conference of BRICS Network Universities on the theme of electric mobility was conducted virtually at IIT Bombay.

Key updates- • The conference is part of the engagements that India is hosting under the education stream as chair of the 13th BRICS Summit this year. • Experts from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa talked about various aspects of electric mobility like traffic management, hydrogen technology, hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and linkage between e- mobility and livelihoods.

About BRICS Network University- • BRICS Network University (BRICS NU) is a union of higher education institutions of the five BRICS member countries, formed with the objective of enhancing educational cooperation in general, and especially in the realm of research and innovation. • IIT Bombay is the leading institution of India for the BRICS NU. • The main activities of the BRICS NU are: ○ Offering in conformity with own laws Masters and PhD. programmes; ○ Short-term training and modular courses; ○ Development and implementation of joint research projects, innovative activity within the frames of educational programmes; ○ Organization of the academic mobility of students, the university faculty and staff of the BRICS NU participants.

79. Bushehr nuclear plant

In news- Iran’s sole nuclear power plant underwent a temporary emergency shutdown.

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About the nuclear plant- • This is the first time the plant has been shut down. • It went online in 2011 with help from Russia. • Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia and is monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). • It is the first civilian nuclear power plant built in the Middle East. • Several research reactors had been built earlier in the Middle East: two in Iraq, two in Israel, one in Syria and three in Iran. • Russia transferred the operational control of the Bushehr nuclear power plant to Iran on 23 September 2013. • The plant is located near the boundary of two tectonic plates, the Arabian plate and the Eurasian plate. • The plant is designed to withstand without serious damage a magnitude 8 earthquake, and survive up to magnitude 9. • Iran is with Israel one of the two countries in the world with significant nuclear activities not to ratify the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety, a system of peer review and mutual oversight.

80. m-Yoga app

In news- The Prime Minister of India launched the mYoga fitness app on the occasion of International Yoga Day.

Background: The Ministry of AYUSH and the World Health Organization (WHO) had jointly undertaken a project in mid 2019, focussing on mobile-Yoga. It envisaged the concept of the ‘Be Healthy, Be Mobile’ (BHBM) under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030. BHBM initiative supports the scale up of mobile health (m-Health) technology within the scope of the National Health system to combat non- communicable diseases (NCDs).

The m-Yoga project focused on four areas: • Common Yoga Protocol for generalwellness. • Yoga for mental health and resilience. • Yoga for Adolescents; and • Yoga for pre - Diabetics.

About m-Yoga app- • The mYoga app aims to bring assisted yoga training to everyone with a smartphone for free without needing any signing in. • WHO mYoga is an app for the general public to use regularly, providing Yoga learning and practice sessions of varying durations. • It is mainly divided into two sections, a learning tab and a practice tab. • The learning tab is meant for those users who are completely new to Yoga. • It features a sequential set of videos that help watchers learn the various yoga asanas with proper technique. • The practice session is aimed at users who have learned the asanas and are practising. • Both modes offer different time durations like 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 45 minutes. • Asanas covered in the learning modules include basic neck movements, trunk twisting, Tadasana, Ardha Chakrasana, Bhujangasana and more.

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• The app is safe and secure, collecting no data from users at all, and can be used as a daily yoga companion for persons aged 12-65 years. • It is available in English and in Hindi, with other UN languages. • The app comprises a collection of videos and audio practice sessions that users can do in the comfort of their own home, as and when they wish.

81. Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB)

In news- Bhutan’s Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) programme has been launched in partnership with India.

Key updates- • TIWB, a joint initiative of the UNDP and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched its programme in Bhutan. • India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme. • This programme is expected to be of about 24 months’ duration. • India in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors, and through sharing of best audit practices. • The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.

About Tax Inspectors without Borders- • It was jointly launched by UNDP and OECD in 2015. • It is intended to support developing countries to strengthen national tax administrations through building audit capacity and to share this knowledge with other countries. • The TIWB Programme aims to strengthen tax administrations of developing countries by transferring technical know-how and skills to their tax auditors, and through the sharing of general audit practices and dissemination of knowledge products with them. • The objective of the TIWB Initiative is to enable sharing of tax audit knowledge and skills with tax administrations in developing countries through a targeted, real time "learning by doing" approach. • TIWB facilitates expert audit assistance in areas such as transfer pricing; thin capitalisation; advance pricing agreements; anti-avoidance rules; consumption taxes ; high net-worth individuals; pre-audit risk assessment and case selection; audit investigatory techniques; and industry-specific or sector-specific issues. • TIWB does not cover assistance relating to customs matters nor is concerned with providing policy support, advice on legislative changes, issues related to (re)negotiations, international tax treaties, or litigation. • TIWB Secretariat acts as a clearing house and interface for requests to participate in the TIWB Programme by proposing Experts to Host Administrations (responsible for Expert selection).

82. Green Hydrogen summit

In news- Recently, NTPC anchored a two days BRICS Green Hydrogen Summit.

Key highlights of the Green Hydrogen Summit- • NTPC Ltd, India’s largest energy integrated company under the Ministry of Power, anchored a two day workshop on Green Hydrogen. • Green Hydrogen is one of the most popular and demanding fields in the current times and considered to be the next carrier of energy. • The online event saw leading experts from the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) countries. 48 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

What is Green Hydrogen? • Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint. • It has the potential to provide clean power for manufacturing, transportation, and more and it's only byproduct is water. • As the world rapidly moves to decarbonise the entire energy system, hydrogen is poised to play a vital role and build on the rapid scale-up of renewable resources across the world.. • Applications of Green Hydrogen- • Green Chemicals like ammonia and methanol can directly be utilized in existing applications like fertilizers, mobility, power, chemicals, shipping etc. • Green Hydrogen blending up to 10% may be adopted in CGD (city gas distribution) networks to gain widespread acceptance. • Further scaling up with greening of hard to abate sectors (like steel and cement) through hydrogen is to be explored.

National Hydrogen Mission- India has launched an ambitious National Hydrogen Mission to introduce hydrogen purchase obligations for fertilizers, refineries involving the private sector in a transparent and competitive manner to produce green hydrogen.

83. Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)

In news- The United Kingdom has officially joined the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

Key updates- • UK's Lieutenant Commander Stephen Smith will be deputed full time at the centre for two years. • The development is part of the 2030 roadmap announced by Indian PM Narendra Modi and British PM Boris Johnson after their virtual summit in May, 2021. • The UK is the fifth country to send its officers after the US, Japan, France and Australia. • The move comes as even the UK has announced its "Indo-Pacific tilt".

The UK already has a presence in the Western Indian Ocean Region. It has seven permanent bases in Kenya, Singapore, Brunei, Nepal, Bahrain, Oman, and British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), and seven ships deployed at any one time to provide security in the Western region of the Indo-Pacific.

About Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)- • IFC-IOR was inaugurated in 2018, with a focus on India and like-minded countries sharing real-time developments in the maritime domain. • It has been also recognised by the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO). • It keeps an eye on the Indian Ocean with a key focus on the early mobilisation of resources in case of any crisis. • It has been established at Gurugram, India and is collocated with the Information Management and Analysis Centre which is jointly administered by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. • IFC-IOR is established with the vision of strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond, by building a common coherent maritime situation picture and acting as a maritime information hub for the region.

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• The information Exchange initially is undertaken by virtual means, using telephone calls, faxes, emails and video conferencing over the internet. • Subsequently, to enable better interconnection, quicker analysis of information and provide timely inputs, the IFC-IOR hosts Liaison Officers from partner countries. • Additionally, towards enhancing capability building, the it would undertake conduct of exercises and training capsules in maritime information collection and sharing.

84. Poson Poya festival

In news- Sri Lanka recently released 93 prisoners, including 16 LTTE terror suspects held without charges, on the presidential pardon on the occasion of Poson Poya.

About the festival- • Poson poya annual festival celebrates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. • Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates the occasion over 2,000 years ago when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism. • The main center of celebration is Mihintale, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monk Mahinda perched the first sermon to the ruling king. • Anuradhapura, is the ancient capital, to which a large crowd of pilgrims converge. • Mihinthalaya is called the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. • For Buddhists, this hallowed day of Poson is second only to Vesak in terms of importance.

85. Russia, UK spar over Black Sea

In news- Russia has accused Britain of spreading lies over a warship confrontation in the Black Sea.

Key updates- • Russia has warned the UK of further provocative actions by the British Navy off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea. • Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around its coast to be Russian waters. • However, Western countries deem the Crimea to be part of Ukraine and reject Russia’s claim to the seas around it. • Hence Britain has said that HMS Defender, the Royal Navy ship, was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters. • Under international law of the sea, innocent passage permits a vessel to pass through another state’s territorial waters so long as this does not affect its security.

About Black Sea- • The Black Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia. • It lies east of the Balkans (Southeast Europe), south of the East European Plain in Eastern Europe, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia in Western Asia. • It is supplied by major rivers, principally the Danube, Dnieper, Don, Dniester and Kuban. • Basin countries are Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine. • Important cities along the coast include Istanbul, Odessa, Varna, Samsun, Sochi, Sevastopol, Constanța, Trabzon, Novorossiysk, Burgas, and Batumi.

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• Denser, more saline water from the Aegean flows into the Black Sea underneath the less dense, fresher outflowing water from the Black Sea. • This creates a significant and permanent layer of deep water that does not drain or mix and is therefore anoxic and is responsible for the preservation of ancient shipwrecks which have been found in the Black Sea. • The Black Sea ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea, via the Turkish Straits and the Aegean Sea. • The Bosporus Strait connects it to the small Sea of Marmara which in turn is connected to the Aegean Sea via the Strait of the Dardanelles. • To the north, the Black Sea is connected to the Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait.

86. Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list

In news- Recently, FATF has refused to take Pakistan out of the ‘Grey List’ yet again.

Background- The FATF had placed Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018, urging Islamabad to implement a 27-point action plan to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019. According to FATF, Pakistan had failed to take appropriate action against UN-designated terrorists such as 26/11 accused Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Saeed, Operational commander of LeT Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and JeM chief Masood Azhar. The Pakistan government has failed to check the risk of money laundering, leading to corruption and terror financing. Pakistan has now completed 26 of the 27 action items given to it in 2018.

Consequences of including a country in grey list- • Economic sanctions from international institutions (IMF, World Bank, ADB etc.) and countries. • The problem in getting loans from international institutions (IMF, World Bank, ADB etc.) and countries. • Overall reduction in its international trade. • International boycott.

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About the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)- • FATF was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. • In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering. • The current mandate of the FATF (2012-2020) was adopted at a Ministerial meeting in April 2012. • There are currently 39 members of the FATF -- 37 jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations (the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Commission). • India is also a member. • 30 countries and international organisations are observer organisations which include the IMF, the UN with six expert groups and the World Bank. • The objectives of the FATF are 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. • It is headquartered in Paris.

Various lists of FATF- Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories / The FATF blacklist: • It has been issued by the FATF since 2000. • It lists countries which it judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, calling them “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs). • As of 2020, North Korea and Iran are on the FATF blacklist.

Grey list /Watch list: • “Increased monitoring list” is another name for the Grey List. • Those countries which are considered as the safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering; included in this list. • Greylist is a warning given to the country that it might come in Blacklist.

87. EU's 'Green pass'

In news- Those vaccinated with Covishield, the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured in India by SII, are not eligible for the EU Digital Covid certificate or “green pass”.

About EU’s Green Pass(EU Digital Covid Certificate)- • It is an immunity document to ease travel within and to the 27-member bloc. • It will be in place by July 1. • It is digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or recovered from Covid-19. • The certificate is both in digital and paper format, comes with a QR code is free of charge, is in the national language and English, is safe and secure and valid in all EU countries • The EU Digital Covid Certificate contains necessary key information such as name, date of birth, date of issuance, relevant information about vaccine/ test/recovery and a unique identifier. • This data remains on the certificate and is not stored or retained when a certificate is verified in another member state. • The EU Digital Covid Certificate will also prove the results of testing, which is often required under applicable public health restrictions.

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• National authorities are in charge of issuing the certificate, for example, it could be issued by test centres or health authorities or directly via an eHealth portal. • While the “green pass” is expected to make the experience of travel hassle-free for people by doing away with restrictions, it is not absolutely compulsory. • The EMA list only includes four vaccines now -- Vaxzevria (Oxford-AstraZeneca), Comirnaty (Pfizer- BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna) and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). • None of the three vaccines which have been approved for use in India till date —Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V feature on the list.

How does it work as a pass? • This Certificate will be accepted in all member states of the EU and will help ensure that restrictions currently in place can be lifted in a coordinated manner. • The EU Digital Covid Certificate holder should in principle be exempted from free movement restrictions when travelling and member states should refrain from imposing additional travel restrictions on them. • They can stop the holder from travelling if it is necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health.

Verification process of the certificate- • The EU Digital Covid Certificate contains a QR code with a digital signature to protect it against falsification. • When the certificate is checked, the QR code is scanned and the signature verified. Each issuing body (e.g. a hospital, a test centre, a health authority) has its own digital signature key, stored in a secure database in each country. • The European Commission has built a gateway through which all certificate signatures can be verified across the EU. • The personal data of the certificate holder does not pass through the gateway, as this is not necessary to verify the digital signature.

88. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

In news- The 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a biennial event, was hosted by the French Navy at La Réunion. The Symposium held panel discussions themed on the three IONS working Groups viz., HADR, Maritime Security and Information Sharing & Interoperability.

About Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)- • IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. • The IONS initiative was launched by India in February 2008. • It seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among Navies of the littoral states of the IOR by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. • The chairmanship and location of the Symposium rotates between the various member states. • The chairmanship of IONS has been held by India (2008-10), UAE (2010-12), South Africa (2012-14), Australia (2014-16), Bangladesh (2016-18) and Islamic Republic of Iran (2018-21). • France assumed the Chairmanship on 29 Jun 21 for a two-year tenure. • Taiwan will assume the Chairmanship in 2022. • IONS Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) is the decision-making body at the level of Chiefs of Navies, which meets biennially. • 6th IONS and CoC was conducted by the Iran Navy in April 2018 at Tehran.

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• IONS includes 24 nations that permanently hold territory that lies within the Indian Ocean, and 8 observer nations: (South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory))) • Observers are China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Russia and Spain.

89. Child Soldier recruiter list, 2021

In news- US has put Pakistan, Turkey on the Child Soldier Recruiter List.

About Child Soldier Recruiter List- • The US Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) requires the publication in the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report a list of foreign governments that have recruited or used child soldiers during the previous year. • The countries which have been added to the annual TIP list of the US State Department this year are: Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. • This designation could result in restrictions on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment. • The United States Congress adopted the CSPA in 2008, as an amendment to the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008. • The CSPA, which went into effect in 2009, prohibits the US government from providing military assistance to countries identified as having government or government-supported forces that recruit and use child soldiers. • The following types of security assistance are prohibited for countries that are in the list- 1. Licenses for direct commercial sales of military equipment 2. Foreign military financing for the purchase of defense articles and services, as well as design and construction services 3. International military education and training 4. Excess defense articles 5. Peacekeeping operations • The recruitment or use of children below the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited by both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions. • The CRC was adopted on November 20, 1989 and entered into force on September 2, 1990. • Currently, 193 countries have ratified the CRC. • The CRC requires state parties to “take all feasible measures” to ensure that children under 18 are not engaged in direct hostilities.

90. Istanbul Convention on violence against women

In news- Turkey has exit from Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women.

About the convention- • The Council of Europe established the Istanbul Convention. • It is a human rights treaty that aims to prevent and prosecute all forms of violence against women, promote gender equality and ensure protection and rehabilitation of women who are victims of violence. • It is the first legally-binding instrument which "creates a comprehensive legal framework and approach to combat violence against women". • It was opened for ratification in May 2011 and became effective from 1 August 2014. 54 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• On November 24, 2011, Turkey became the first country to ratify the Istanbul convention and, on March 8, 2012, it incorporated the Istanbul Convention into domestic law. • As of March 2019, it has been signed by 45 countries and the European Union and ratified by 34 counties. • In July 2021, Turkey became the first and only country to withdraw from the convention, after denouncing it on 20 March 2021. • The convention contains 81 articles separated into 12 chapters. • States which ratify the Convention must criminalize several offences, including psychological violence, stalking, physical violence, sexual violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion and forced sterilisation. • The convention also includes an article targeting crimes committed in the name of "honour". • India is not a signatory to the convention.

91. OPEC+

In news- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are in a spat over oil prices.

Key updates- • Saudi Arabia has led a push in OPEC to raise output by some 2 million barrels per day from August to December 2021 but extend remaining cuts to the end of 2022. • But the UAE has said that a cut in output beyond the initial deadline of April 2022 would be “unfair to the UAE”. • The OPEC+ group of countries had, in April 2020, entered into a two-year agreement (Output Pact), which entailed steep cuts in crude production to deal with a sharp fall in the price of oil as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. • Though OPEC’s sharp output cuts have kept prices from collapsing even further, pumping too much too soon could undermine the rebound in energy prices. • Under a proposed OPEC Plus deal, the UAE would proportionally cut its oil production by 18 percent, while Saudi Arabia would cut its output by 5 percent. • Meetings between the 13 members of OPEC proper and between the 23 members of OPEC Plus, have failed to reach a deal on oil output.

OPEC- • The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference held in Iraq in 1960. • The founding members are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. • It initially had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland which was then moved to Vienna, Austria in 1965. • The objective is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers , the efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry. • Currently, the Organization has a total of 13 Member Countries– Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. • The year 2020 marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of OPEC.

Functions of OPEC- • Review the status of the international oil market and the forecasts for the future in order to agree upon appropriate actions which will promote price stability in the oil market. • Decisions about matching oil production to expected demand are taken at the meeting of the OPEC

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conference. • Provides research and administrative support to the secretariat body that disseminates news and information to the world at large.

OPEC+ • In September 2016, Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cooperate in managing the price of oil, creating an informal alliance of OPEC and non-OPEC producers that was dubbed “OPEC+.” • Non-OPEC countries which are major oil producers are: Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, South Sudan, Brazil and Bolivia.

92. OECD-G20’s ‘Inclusive Framework’ tax deal

In news- Recently, India joined the OECD-G20’s ‘Inclusive Framework’ tax deal.

About inclusive framework- • Majority of the members OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting(including India) recently adopted a high-level statement containing an outline of a consensus solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. • More than hundred countries agreed to an overhaul of global tax norms to ensure multinationals pay taxes wherever they operate and at a minimum 15% rate. • The proposed solution consists of two components-

Pillar One • It is about reallocation of additional share of profit to the market jurisdictions. • It ensures that large multinational enterprises, including digital companies, pay tax where they operate and earn profits. • Most such companies have so far been paying low taxes by shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.

Pillar Two • It consists of minimum tax and is subject to tax rules. • It seeks to put a floor under competition among countries through a global minimum corporate tax rate, currently proposed at 15%, which is expected to generate an additional $150 billion in tax revenues. • If implemented, so-called tax havens such as Bahamas or British Virgin Islands, could lose their sheen.

India is in favour of a consensus solution which is simple to implement and simple to comply with. India will have to roll back the equalisation levy that it imposes on companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook when the global tax regime is implemented.

Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) & OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework- • BEPS refers to tax planning strategies used by multinational enterprises that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to avoid paying tax. • Developing countries’ higher reliance on corporate income tax means they suffer from BEPS disproportionately. • OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS brings together over 135 countries and jurisdictions to collaborate on the implementation of the BEPS Package.

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93. White flag campaign' in Malaysia

In news- Recently, Malaysians in the Covid lockdown waved white flags to ask for help.

About white flag campaign- • Residents of low-income families of Malaysia have started waving white flags as part of the so-called “White Flag Campaign”, or the #benderaputi (white flag) movement. • The residents are doing this to convey distress about the financial crunch they have had to deal with amid the lockdowns due to Covid-19. • As part of the movement, families that are facing hunger or need any other kind of assistance are encouraged to wave a white flag or put a piece of white cloth outside their homes to signal that they need help. • The idea is that by spotting the white flag, neighbours and good samaritans can reach them. • The world over, white flags are used as a symbol of surrender or truce.

Sambal app- • Sambal SOS app, was initially called the Bendera Putih app • On this app people can see the map of Malaysia where active food banks are marked. • This is to help people easily track down food banks.

Black flag movement- • In order to express dissatisfaction with the Malaysian government, Black flag movement has been launched. • Specifically, this movement is demanding that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resign. • A group called Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) urged the public to raise black flags as a sign of protest against the government’s management of the pandemic.

Red flag movement- • The red flag campaign or #benderamerah, that works in the same way as the white flag movement, but the difference is that the former is targeted at Malaysian citizens only and was started by the Malaysian Animal Association as many families were abandoning pets they couldn’t afford to feed.

94. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

In news- Recently, Saudi Arabia supported Egypt, Sudan ‘water rights’ in the GERD dam dispute with Ethiopia.

About Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)- • It is a massive hydropower dam built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, the Nile River’s main tributary. • The name that the Blue Nile river takes in Ethiopia ("Abay") is derived from the Ge'ez word for 'great' to imply its being 'the river of rivers’. • It has been under construction since 2011. • It is formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam. • The dam is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 45 km east of the border with Sudan. • The primary purpose of the dam is electricity production to relieve Ethiopia’s acute energy shortage and for electricity export to neighboring countries. • With a planned installed capacity of 6.45 gigawatts, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the seventh largest in the world.

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• GERD is the source of an almost decade-long diplomatic standoff between Ethiopia and downstream nations Egypt and Sudan. • The issue came up as Tunisia had submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council, calling on Ethiopia to cease filling the GERD’s reservoir. • The resolution calls on Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resume negotiations at the joint invitation of the Chairperson of the African Union and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to finalise, within a period of six months. • The dispute centres on the speed at which a planned reservoir is filled behind the dam, the method of its annual replenishment and how much water Ethiopia will release downstream if a multiyear drought occurs. • Another point of difference is how the three countries would settle any future disputes.

95. White flag campaign' in Malaysia

In news- Recently, Malaysians in the Covid lockdown waved white flags to ask for help.

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96. India warns OIC against subversion

In news- Recently, India called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to not allow its platform to be subverted by “vested interests like Pakistan to interfere in India’s internal affairs or to carry out propaganda against the country.

More information- • Pakistan has repeatedly sought to raise the Kashmir issue at the OIC against the backdrop of India’s dramatically improved relations with several key players in West Asia and in the Islamic organisation. • Pakistan has also been finding fewer takers among OIC member states for resolutions aimed against India but continues to rake up matters such as Kashmir at the grouping.

About Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)- • Established in 1969, the OIC was conceptualised as a congregation of Muslim countries. • It was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969 following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. • It is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. • In 1970 the first-ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary-general. • The organization is “the collective voice of the Muslim world” and works to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony” • It has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union. • The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French. • It has 57 members, 56 of which are also member states of the United Nations, the exception being Palestine. • Some members, especially in West Africa and South America, are though with large Muslim populations not necessarily Muslim majority countries. • A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States.

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• India is not a member of the OIC, but was invited as a ‘Guest of Honour’ at its plenary in 2019, which was attended by then Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

97. India-out campaign in Maldives

In news- The India out campaign was launched by the opposition coalition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) both on the street as well as on social media demanding the expulsion of Indian military personnel present in the country.

More about the campaign- • The aim of the India out campaign is to garner people’s support to its demand for the release of President Yameen by putting the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and India in a bad light. • The 'India Out' campaign started in 2020 on-ground protests in the Maldives, and later widely spread across social media platforms using the phrase with a related hashtag. • In January 2021, another protest with the “India Out” slogan was organised in front of the residence of the Indian High Commissioner, demanding the removal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. • Since then the opposition coalition has been organising protest demonstrations every Friday. • The most active person in the #India Out campaign in social media Ahmed Azaan is the co-founder of Dhiyares and its sister newspaper The Maldives Journal (TMJ), which carry news and reports since December 2020. • The organizers of the campaign claim to have access to several classified agreements signed by India and the Maldives which are allegedly harmful to the Maldives including the agreement on the hydrographic survey, and the agreement on setting up of Coast Guard dockyard at Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) funded by India. • The agreement on the hydrographic survey was criticised arguing that the agreement allows India to access underwater information and sell the information to others. • A letter written by the Indian High Commission in the Maldives has stated the Preamble of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and has claimed that these “attacks are motivated, malicious and increasingly personal”.

98. Haiti President's assassination

In news- Haiti’s interim government has asked the US to deploy troops to protect key infrastructure in the aftermath of President Jovenel Moise’s assassination.

About Haiti- • Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea. • It lies to the east of Cuba and Jamaica and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. • It is the third largest country in the Caribbean by area, and the most populous country in the Caribbean. • The island was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno people, who originated in South America. • The first Europeans arrived on 5 December 1492 during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, who initially believed he had found India or China. • He subsequently founded the first European settlement in the Americas, La Navidad, on what is now the northeastern coast of Haiti. • The island was claimed by Spain and named La Espanola, forming part of the Spanish Empire until the early 17th century.

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• The western portion of the island was ceded to France in 1697, which was subsequently named Saint- Domingue. • French colonists established lucrative sugarcane plantations, worked by vast numbers of slaves brought from Africa.

• In the midst of the French Revolution (1789–99), slaves and free people of color launched the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), led by a former slave and the first black general of the French Army, Toussaint Louverture. • After 12 years of conflict, Napoleon Bonaparte's forces were defeated by Louverture's successor, Jean- Jacques Dessalines (later Emperor Jacques I), who declared Haiti's sovereignty on 1 January 1804. • It became the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean, the second republic in the Americas, the first country to abolish slavery, and the only state in history established by a successful slave revolt. • Haiti is a founding member of the United Nations, Organization of American States (OAS) and Association of Caribbean States, and the International Francophonie Organisation. • In addition to CARICOM, it is a member of the International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. • The government of Haiti is a semi-presidential republic, a multiparty system wherein the president of Haiti is head of state elected directly by popular elections held every five years. • Executive power is exercised by the president and prime minister who together constitute the government. • The current structure of Haiti's political system was set forth in the Constitution of Haiti on 29 March 1987.

99. First honorary Consul general of Vietnam in India

In news- Srinivasa Murthy based in Bengaluru has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam for Karnataka.

More information- • He is the first honorary consul general of Vietnam from India and the 19th across the world. • He is the third Consul General to be appointed globally this year. • The appointment is for a period of three years. • The honorable consul is tasked with expanding the outreach of Vietnam’s embassy to the state of Karnataka and its capital city of Bengaluru, protecting the interest of Vietnamese nationals and companies, and promoting trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational, and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State. • The Vietnam government is looking for honorary Consul generals for five states and this was the first one approved. 61 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• The Vietnam Envoy said that they want to have a direct flight between Bangalore and Vietnam and also want to make Bangalore the hub for technology for Vietnam. • India is now the 8th largest trading partner of Vietnam. • Relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’ during the visit of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to India in July 2007. • In 2016, during the Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam, bilateral relations were further elevated to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) ”, a status that Vietnam shares with only two other countries – Russia and China. • The year 2021 marks the fifth anniversary of CSP and in 2022 the two countries celebrate 50 years of creation of diplomatic ties.

100. BHIM UPI launched in Bhutan

In news- BHIM UPI has been launched in Bhutan via a virtual ceremony by the Finance Minister of India & Finance Minister of Bhutan.

Key updates- • Bhutan becomes the first country, in India’s immediate neighbourhood, to use the BHIM app for mobile- based payments. • It is also the first country to adopt UPI standards for its QR deployment. • According to NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Bhutan is also the second country after Singapore to have BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations. • National Payment Corporation of India’s arm, NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) has partnered with the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan for implementing BHIM UPI in Bhutan. • With the launching of the BHIM app, Bhutan will become the only country to both issue and accept RuPay cards as well as accept BHIM-UPI. • The payment infrastructures of the two countries are seamlessly connected and will benefit a large number of tourists and businessmen from India who travel to Bhutan each year.

About Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)- • BHIM is a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payment interface which allows real time fund transfer using a single identity like your mobile number or name. • It is a payment method to transfer money between 2 parties and is similar to NEFT or RTGS transfers in that way. • One can make direct bank payments to anyone on UPI using their UPI ID or scanning their QR with the BHIM app. • It was developed by NPCI.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)- • It is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. • It is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks' Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment and Settlement Infrastructure in India. • It has been incorporated as a "Not for Profit Company” under the provisions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956, with an intention to provide infrastructure to the entire banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.

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101. Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative of G7

In news- Recently, G7 countries launched the B3W initiative in the 47th summit of G7 to counter the Belt and Road initiative of China.

About Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative- • It was launched by a group of seven countries (G7) in June 2021. • Aim is to address the infrastructure investment deficit in developing and lower income countries, the space which has been increasingly captured by China through its BRI projects. • The initiative also aims to catalyze funding for quality infrastructure from the private sector and will encourage private-sector investments that support climate, health and health security, digital technology, and gender equity and equality. • Led by the United States, the G7 countries will work to address the $40 trillion worth of infrastructure needed by developing countries by 2035. • The B3W efforts are in line with the standards and principles of the Blue Dot Network, relating to the environment and climate, labor and social safeguards, financing, construction, anti corruption, and other areas. • Through B3W, the G7 and other like-minded partners will coordinate in mobilizing private-sector capital in four areas of focus -- climate, health and health security, digital technology, and gender equity and equality with catalytic investments from our respective development finance institutions.

The guiding principles of B3W are: • Values-Driven. • Good Governance and Strong Standards. • Climate-Friendly. • Strong Strategic Partnerships. • Mobilize Private Capital Through Development Finance. • Enhancing the Impact of Multilateral Public Finance.

Blue Dot Network- • Led by the US’s International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Blue Dot network was jointly launched by the US, Japan (Japanese Bank for International Cooperation) and Australia (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in November 2019 on the sidelines of the 35th ASEAN Summit in Thailand. • It is meant to be a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to bring governments, the private sector and civil society together to promote “high quality, trusted standards for global infrastructure development”. • On 25 February 2020, the Blue Dot Network was incorporated in the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership Joint Statement.

102. China-South Asia grouping

In news- Recently, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister said that the six-nation grouping launched recently was not meant to exclude India.

About China-South Asia grouping- • The grouping is called China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, and a Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre. • The grouping evolved as the outcome of a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in April 2021. 63 www.journalsofindia.com January to July 2021

• After Bangladesh requested vaccines from China, Foreign Minister of China decided to convene the six- nation China-South Asia meeting. • It aims to pool strength, integrate resources, and exchange wisdom to support and help the South Asian countries' economic development and livelihood improvement, jointly promoting the cause of poverty reduction. • The centre would deal with economic issues arising in South Asia due to COVID. • It is an e-commerce economic cooperation forum and an emergency storage facility for vaccines. • It is being established in the Southern Chinese city of Chongqing. This centre is being seen as an alternative to the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which has been inactive since 2014 when leaders of the India-led grouping met in Kathmandu for their summit. China-South Asia Emergency Supply Reserve- • China has set up this Reserve at Chengdu International Railway Port at Chengdu in July 2021. • The reserve is a joint stockpile of emergency supplies as part of efforts to tackle the covid-19 pandemic and other crises. • The centre is part of efforts to foster longer-term cooperation under China’s multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative. • Its establishment is also part of a meeting among the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hosted by Chinese foreign minister in April. • India is the only country of all eight SAARC nations that has not requested or accepted Chinese COVID vaccines so far.

103. Nord Stream 2 Pipeline project

In news- Recently, the US and Germany reached a deal on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.

About the deal- • With this deal, the US, which had previously imposed sanctions to prevent the completion of the pipeline between Russia and Germany, has now signalled its approval for the project. • The agreement on one hand wants access to Russia’s hydrocarbons, but on the other distrusts President Vladimir Putin, who it holds responsible for a series of affronts, such as the Crimean conflict of 2014 and the alleged interference in the US elections of 2016 and 2020. • The deal lays out that if Russia attempts to use energy as a weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine, Germany will take steps on its own and push for actions at the EU, including sanctions. • The agreement also requires Germany to “utilise all available leverage” to extend by 10 years the current Russia-Ukraine gas transit agreement, which expires in 2024, and a contribution of at least $175 million to a new $1 billion “Green Fund for Ukraine” that aims at improving the country’s energy independence.

About Nord Stream 2 Pipeline (NS2P) project- • The Nord Stream 2 project is implemented by the Nord Stream 2 AG project company. • In 2015, Gazprom and 5 other European energy firms decided to build Nord Stream 2, valued at around $11 billion. • The 1,200-km pipeline will run from Ust-Luga in Russia(Leningrad Region) to Greifswald in Germany through the Baltic Sea. • The total capacity of two strings of Nord Stream 2 is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. • The under-construction pipeline will run along the already-completed Nord Stream 1 system, making the aggregate design capacity of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2, 110 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

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The project had received criticism from the US, which believed that the project would increase Europe’s dependence on Russia for natural gas. Ukraine, whose ties with Russia have seriously deteriorated in the aftermath of the Crimean conflict in 2014, also opposes it. As the pipeline passes through Ukraine, it feels that once Nord Storm 2 is completed, Russia could bypass the Ukrainian pipeline, and deprive the country of lucrative transit fees.

104. Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit, 2021

In news- The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare virtually delivered the Ministerial Statement in the Pre-Summit of United Nations Food System Summit 2021 recently.

About the Pre-Summit- • The three-day UN Food Systems Pre-Summit 2021 was organized by the United Nations and the Government of Italy. • It took place in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome from 26-28 July. • The event aims to deliver the latest evidence-based and scientific approaches to food systems transformation from around the world, launch a set of new commitments through coalitions of action and mobilize new financing and partnerships. • It sets the stage for the culminating global event of the UN Food Systems Summit to be held in New York, in September 2021. • Participants: Youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, nutrition and finance. • It brings together diverse actors from around the world to leverage the power of food systems to deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About UN Food Systems Summit 2021- • The UN Food Systems Summit proposes to launch bold new actions to transform the way the world produces and consumes food, as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. • The term “food system” refers to the constellation of activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and consuming food. • The Summit will focus on levers and pathways to shape food systems nationally and globally to accelerate progress in the SDGs. • The Summit will be guided by five Action Tracks that plan to bring together key players and draw on the expertise of actors from across the world’s food systems: a. Action Track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all b. Action Track 2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns c. Action Track 3: Boost nature-positive production d. Action Track 4: Advance equitable livelihoods e. Action Track 5: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress • The overall aim of the Summit is to establish a platform for key policymakers, academia, business and civil society leaders to contribute to the sustainable and healthy transformation of our global food systems.

India’s first National level dialogue on the UN Food Systems Summit was conducted on 12 April, 2021. The National Dialogue was facilitated by the Inter departmental Group constituted by Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare and the representatives from UN Agencies in Delhi.

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