A. REGIONAL GROUPINGS

HITLIST 40 TOPICS

Current Affairs 1 SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION Why in news? • June , 2019 : 19th SCO with heads of States: Bishkek Declaration, Kyrgyzstan Current • . Affairs Prime Minister of 2019 : HEALTH 1. Healthcare cooperation 2. Economic cooperation 3. Alternate energy 4. Literature and culture 5. Terrorism-free society 6. Humanitarian cooperation Current Affairs • July 2020 : , Russia • November 2019 : Council of Heads of Government@ Tashkent, Uzbekistan • 2020 : India will host the 19th Council of Heads of Government of SCO • First such high level meeting of the eight-member Current grouping to be organised by New Delhi Affairs BASICS : • 26 April 1996 - Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions in Shanghai • Shanghai–5’ - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia & Tajikistan • 24 April 1997- Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Current Border Regions @ Moscow Affairs • 2001 : Uzbekistan joined;renamed as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) • 8 Members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan • India and Pakistan (June 2017 Astana summit ) • 4 Observes - Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia 6 Dialogue Partners - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Current Turkey and Sri Lanka. Affairs • Official working languages - Chinese and Russian. • SCO Secretariat in Beijing

Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent. • Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure ( RATS ) • Formed in June 2004 Tashkent summit • Headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan • Permanent organ of SCO • Against three evils of terrorism, separatism and Current Affairs extremism. • Head of RATS is elected for a three-year term. • March 2019 : 34th meeting of RATS council , Tashkent • “Sary-Arka-Anti terror 2019: First joint military exercise of SCO • Sary Arka region grasslands of Kazakhstan Significance : • 25% oil & 50 % natural gas Current • Affairs Kazakhstan - Uranium • Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan - Gold 2

Eurasian Economic Union

Current Affairs 2

Eurasian Economic Union

Current Affairs

Why in News? • Russia pushes India’s entry into Eurasian Economic Union • India and EAEU discussing the possibility of signing a FTA • 2025 : EAEU financial common market

Current Affairs EAEU signed free trade agreements with Serbia and Singapore

Current Affairs BASICS: • December 1991 • Belavezha Accords : Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus • Belavezha in Belarus • Treaty on Commonwealth of Independent States • Now 9 member states of CIS

Current • Armenia,Azerbaijan,Belarus,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Moldova, Affairs • Russia,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan • 1 associate state: Turkmenistan • 1996 : Treaty on Increased Integration in the Economic and Humanitarian Fields • first foundation for economic convergence • 2001 : Treaty on Eurasian Economic Community

Current Affairs • 2007 : Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia created a Customs Union • 2010 : Eurasian Customs Union to remove all customs borders between each other after July 2011. Current Affairs • 2012 : Eurasian Economic Space • Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia • 2012 : Eurasian Commission • Governing body of Eurasian Economic Space • HQ : Moscow

Current Affairs • 29 May 2014: Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union signed • Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia • Jan 1, 2015 came into force • Nursultan Nazarbayev’s idea(first President of Kazakhstan) • New Members : Armenia (2 January 2015) Current Kyrgyzstan (12 August 2015) Affairs 2020 April 1990 - March 2019 Total 5 members 1. Russia 2. Kazakhstan 3. Belarus 4. Armenia 5. Kyrgyzstan

Current Affairs 2020 • Armenia is the only country of the EAEU that has no common border with the other member states of the union.

Current Affairs 2020 Current Affairs 3

GREATER EURASIAN PARTNERSHIP

Current Affairs • Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) floated by Putin • Russia wants GEP to include India, Iran, South Korea, and ASEAN to dilute Beijing’s power

Current Affairs • . Current Affairs 4

COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION (CSTO)

Current Affairs Why in news ? • November 28, 2019 - a session of CSTO Collective Security Council was held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan

Current Affairs BASICS • 1992 : Six post-Soviet states belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States signed Tashkent / Treaty/CSTO • 1. Russia • 2. Armenia • 3. Kazakhstan Current • 4. Kyrgyzstan Affairs 2020 • 5. Tajikistan • 6. Uzbekistan

• 1993 : Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia joined CST • April 20, 1994 :CST came into force • 2002 : six agreed to create CSTO as a military alliance • Collective Security Treaty became CSTO • Collective defence of any member that faces external aggression Current • Eurasian counterpart of NATO ( 29 members) Affairs

Current Affairs 2020 Withdrawal: 1. Azerbaijan 1994 /1999 2. Georgia 1994/ 1999 3. Uzbekistan 1994 /1999 (first time) 2006/2012 (second time) Observers : Afghanistan and Serbia Current Affairs 5

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Current Affairs Why in news ? • 27 March 2020 : North Macedonia becomes new member • 3 December 2019 : Allied Heads of State and Government met in to commemorate the 70th Current anniversary of NATO Affairs BASICS: • 1947: Treaty of Dunkirk - Britain and • March 1948: Treaty of by Six • Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the against possible German or Soviet aggression after the end of World War II. Current Affairs • 4 April 1949 :12 founders • Brussels Six & US, , Portugal, ,Norway, Denmark and Iceland • Intergovernmental military alliance between three UNSC permanent members (US,UK & France) and • 27 other North American and European countries.

Current Affairs • Headquartered in Haren, Brussels, Belgium. • HQ of Allied Command Operations — Mons, Belgium • Article 10 : Provision for enlargement • 30 member states • 2017 : Montenegro joined Current • 27 March 2020 : North Macedonia joined Affairs Macedonia Entry • Republic of Macedonia changed its name to the “Republic of North Macedonia” to enter NATO and EU • Earlier accession to both organizations was vetoed by Greece.

Current Affairs • Why Greece Opposed? • Greece opposed the use of the name “Macedonia” without a geographical qualifier such as “Northern Macedonia” • Two official candidates : Bosnia and Herzegovina Current • Two aspiring members: Georgia and Ukraine. Affairs Current Affairs 2020 NATO ‘s Global partners: • Non NATO countries with whom NATO cooperates • Afghanistan, , Colombia, Iraq, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan

Current Affairs • 2018 : Colombia becomes NATO’s first global partner in Latin America. • Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty 1949 does not apply to Colombia as it is only a global partner and not full fledged member

Current Affairs • Article 5 declares that an attack on one member state is an attack on all of them • It applies only to the 30 fully-fledged members • NATO has only once invoked Article 5, on September 12, 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in US. • October 7, 2001: Operation Enduring Freedom Current Affairs• U.S. government for the Global War on Terrorism • August 2003 to December 2014:NATO led the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan • December 2001 : ISAF was established by UNSC Resolution 1386 as envisaged by Agreement.

Current Affairs 2020 • January 2015 : NATO launched Resolute Support Mission (RSM) to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces and institutions.

Current Affairs 2020 Current Affairs 2020 NATO ALLY-LIKE STATUS Why in news? • US Senate passed a binding legislation to accord India the same status as its other NATO allies — South Korea, Japan and Australia. • It will be part of National Defense Authorisation Act 2020.

Current Affairs • NDAA will ensure that US State Department treats India as a non-member NATO ally for the purposes of Arms Export Control Act. • 2001: Pakistan received the status of Major non-NATO Ally from the US • 2017 : US downgraded Pakistan’s status as an MNNA due to Current harbouring of Osama bin Laden and financing of terror Affairs • US suspended $1.66 bn worth of military aid

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Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia

Current Affairs Why in news? June 2019 : External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, attended the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Current Affairs Current Affairs • October 1992 : CICA was first proposed by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev • Inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation Current towards promoting peace, Affairs security and stability • 27 Member states including India,Pakistan,China ,Russia… • 8 Observer states including US,Japan

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Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Current Affairs • December 2015 : established • January 2016 : commenced operation • Headquartered in Beijing

Current Affairs • 57 founding members • India - founding member • 102 approved members • Membership open to all members of the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank • Regional and non-regional members

Current Affairs • Non-sovereign entities can become member assuming their home country is a member. • sovereign wealth funds or state-owned enterprises of member countries could potentially join

Current Affairs Shareholder 1. China (32% stake) 2. India (7.6%) 3. Russia 4. • Regional members hold 75% total voting power Current Affairs • AIIB has approved five projects in India. 1. Bangalore Metro Rail Project 2. Transmission System Strengthening Project 3. Gujarat Rural Roads (MMGSY) Project 4. India Infrastructure Fund 5. Andhra Pradesh 24×7 – Power For All project. • AIIB to invest USD200 million in National Infrastructure Current Affairs Investment Fund (NIIF). What is NIIF? • NIIF is an Indian-government backed entity established to provide long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure sector. • Budget 2015 proposed its creation • December 2016 - Set up as an alternative investment fund (AIF) • Corpus of ₹40,000 crore • Indian government has 49 per cent stake Current Affairs• Rest by foreign and domestic investors

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Current Affairs 2020 Why in news? 11th April 2020 : ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa assured USD 2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore) support to India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

Current Affairs • December 1966 • 31 founder members including India • Now 68 members—of which 49 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside • Admits members of U.N Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

Current Affairs • Headquartered in Mandaluyong city , Manila, Philippines • Official Observer of • Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline project is being funded by ADB.

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T A P I

Current Affairs Why in news? • Sep, 2019 : Pakistan assured Turkmenistan that rising tensions with India will have no effect on the mega project. • Tensions spiked due to abrogation of Article 370 • Pipeline is expected to commence operations in 2020.

Current Affairs Galkynysh gas field

Current Affairs • $10 billion • 1,814 km pipeline • 33 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas to South Asia for 30 years • India & Pakistan to purchase 42% total volume of gas produced • Afghanistan is expected to purchase 16% of the gas • Afghanistan to receive $400m a year as transit fee.

Current Affairs

• December 2010 : A Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement (GPFA) was signed by the petroleum ministries of four countries • May 2012: Bilateral gas sale agreement signed • February 2018 : Ceremony marking the beginning of construction of Afghanistan-Pakistan section of the pipeline was held

Current Affairs

• India has sought re-negotiation of the natural gas price • For a consumer, the price would be around USD 13 permillion British thermal unit after adding local taxes and transportation charges.

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BRICS

Current Affairs Why in news? • Nov 2019 : 11th BRICS Summit was held in Brasilia, Brazil • Theme : “Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.” • 12th - July 2020- Saint Petersburg , Russia

Current Affairs BASICS: • 2001 : Acronym by Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs • 2006 : Officially formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China • June 2009 :first formal summit in Yekaterinburg • 2010 - became the 5th member

Current Affairs Summits: • Since 2009, its summits are held annually • 6th summit - July 2014 Fortaleza , Brazil (NDB &CRA) • 11th - November 2019- Brasília, Brazil • India has hosted BRICS summits twice (2012 & 2016)

Current Affairs New Development Bank • fourth BRICS Summit held in New Delhi (2012) laid foundation for NDB to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS members. • July 2014 @ Fortaleza: (NDB) was established • Authorized capital of US$ 100 billion • Headquarter is located in Shanghai Current• K. V. Kamath is the first President ,NDB Affairs

• NDB yet to disperse loans to outside member countries • So far all the loans dispersed totaling $5.1 Billion are to its members only

Current Affairs Contingent Reserve Arrangement • short-term balance of payments pressures • July 2014 : Idea was first mooted in Fortaleza, Brazil • 2015 : Established in 7th BRICS summit at Ufa • October 2016 : operationalised

Current Affairs • CRA will be 100 billion dollars • China ($41 billion) • India ($18 billion) • Brazil ($18 billion) • Russia ($18 billion) • South Africa ($5 billion)

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Current Affairs • 2003 : Brasilia Declaration formally established IBSA • Galvanizing South-South cooperation

Current Affairs • IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger • Each member country contributes $1 Million • managed by United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation • 62.4 percent of the IBSA Fund devoted LDCs

Current Affairs IBSA SUMMITS • 2006 : 1st IBSA Summit Declaration, Brasilia • 2007 : 2nd IBSA Summit Declaration, Tshwane • 2008 : 3rd IBSA Summit Declaration, New Delhi • 2010 : 4th IBSA Summit Declaration, Brasilia • 2011 : 5th IBSA Summit Declaration, Tshwane • Foreign Ministers’ meeting : Current • June 2018 : second BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Pretoria Affairs • IBSA Declaration on South-South Cooperation issued 12 BIMSTEC

• Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation

Current Affairs Why in News? • November 2019 : First BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports, Vishakhapatnam organised • 4th summit 2018 : • Establishing a BIMSTEC Development Fund, with voluntary contributions from Member States. • Welcomed Thailand proposed new strategy of five pillars (viz. Current Affairs connectivity, trade and investment, • people-to-people contacts, security, and science and technology) • 1997 : Bangkok Declaration - ‘BIST-EC’ • (Bangladesh, India, Sri-Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) • 1997: inclusion of Myanmar, renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ • 2004 : admission of Nepal and Bhutan • Name changed to BIMSTEC • 7 members Current Affairs Current Affairs • Five are from South Asia 1. India 2. Bangladesh 3. Sri Lanka 4. Nepal 5. Bhutan • Two are from Southeast Asia Current 1. Myanmar Affairs 2. Thailand • Permanent secretariat in Dhaka Summits • 2004 : 1st Bangkok • 2008 : 2nd New Delhi • 2014 : 3rd Naypyidaw • 2018 : 4th Kathmandu • 2022 : 5th Colombo

Current Affairs • 2018 : 4th summit Kathmandu • Establishing a BIMSTEC Development Fund, with voluntary contributions from Member States. • Welcomed Thailand proposed new strategy of five pillars (viz. connectivity, trade and investment, people-to-people contacts, security, and sci & tech Current Affairs 13

Current Affairs Why in news? • Mongolia is set to become the 7th member • It is open to all developing member countries. • Only operational trade agreement linking China and India.

Current Affairs BASICS: • 1975 : Bangkok Agreement was signed in as an initiative of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. • Secretariat: UNESCAP’s Trade and Current Investment Division in Bangkok Affairs

• Oldest preferential trade agreement (PTA) among developing countries in Asia-Pacific • Six Participating States • 1. Bangladesh 2. China 3.India 4. Laos Current 5. South Korea 6. Sri Lanka Affairs Preferential Trade Agreement v/s Free Trade Agreement • PTA : duties are eliminated on a certain number of identified items. • FTA : countries cut or eliminate duties on most number of goods traded between them besides liberalising norms to promote services trade and investments. Current Affairs • India to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to APTA and special concessions on 48 tariff lines for LDCs(Bangladesh and Laos). • China to reduce or cut to zero tariffs on a total of 8,549 types of goods originating in India, Bangladesh, Laos, South Korea and Sri Lanka. • Current Market access in agricultural commodities and Affairs pharma products remain a challenge. 14

Caspian Sea legal status Breakthrough Treaty 2018

• Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Current Russia and Turkmenistan Affairs Current Affairs Caspian disputes: • Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan contested the ownership of several oil and gas fields. • Russia is reluctant to allow Turkmenistan to pursue its proposed 300 Km gas pipeline to Azerbaijan • 20 billion barrels of Oil and 240 trillion Cubic Feet of Current natural gas. Affairs

Significance of the Treaty • Treaty declares 15 Nautical Miles from the coastline as Sovereign waters and an Exclusive Economic Zone, with a further 10 nautical miles to be used for fishing and beyond this would be open, waters. • It allows each member nation to lay pipelines with consent only from the neighbouring states affected not from all Caspian Current Affairs Sea Nations. • It prevents the Caspian nations from opening their borders to third party aggressors such as the US and NATO or allowing any foreign military presence on Caspian waters.

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Ashgabat agreement

Current Affairs Current Affairs • Ashgabat capital city of Turkmenistan • April 25, 2011: signed by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran , Oman & Qatar. • Ashgabat agreement establishes a transport and transit corridor between countries in Persian Gulf Current and Central Asia. Affairs • 2013 : Qatar withdrew • 2015: Kazakhstan joined • 2016 : Agreement came into force • Turkmenistan is the depository state for the agreement. • 2016 : Pakistan joined Current • 2018 : India joined Affairs 16

INSTC

Current Affairs International North–South Transport Corridor • 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia Current Affairs Current Affairs • Trade connectivity between Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc • Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014 • first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas • second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali. Current• This will also synchronize with the Ashgabat agreement Affairs 17

Current Affairs Why in news? • November 2019 : IORA Council of Ministers meeting was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE . • Theme: Promoting a shared destiny and path to prosperity in Indian ocean • 2017-19 : Republic of South Africa held the chair Current • 2019-21 : UAE will hold the chair assisted by Affairs Bangladesh. Blue Economy: • September 2015 : First IORA Ministerial Blue Economy Conference (BEC) in Mauritius • Blue Economy Declaration was adopted. • May 2017 : Second Ministerial Blue Economy Conference on “Financing the Blue Economy” • Jakarta Declaration on the Blue Economy was adopted Current Affairs • Sep 5, 2019 - 3rd IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference, Dhaka • first ever IORA Ministerial level Conference to be organized by Bangladesh • Theme : “Promoting Sustainable Blue Economy -- making the best use of opportunities from Current the Indian Ocean Affairs Current Affairs BASICS: • 1995 : Vision for IORA originated visit of during President Nelson Mandela to India • 1997 : IOR –ARC established as an inter-governmental organisation • Secretariat : Ebène, Mauritius. • 22 member states Current Affairs• In 2018 -Maldives was accepted as 22nd Member (with India’s backing). Current Affairs • Myanmar membership not approved due to lack of consensus (mainly opposed by South Africa) • 10 dialogue partners (UK, US, China, Japan, Republic of Korea Turkey,, France, Germany, Italy )

Current Affairs • Six priority areas of IORA 1. Maritime security 2. Trade and investment facilitation 3. Fisheries management 4. Disaster risk reduction 5. Academic and scientific cooperation 6. Tourism promotion and cultural exchanges Current Affairs• India hosted the first Indian Ocean Dialogue in 2015. • It was held at Kochi and the Kochi Consensus was released. 18

The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)

Current Affairs The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)

Current Affairs The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)

Why in news?

Dec 2019: 6th IOD ,New Delhi

• IOD is a flagship initiative of IORA

• November 2013 : 13th Council of Ministers meeting, Perth, Australia. Current Affairs The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)

• 2014 : first IOD was held in Kochi (Kochi Consensus) • 2015 : 2nd Perth, Australia in and • 2016 : 3rd Padang, Indonesia • 2017 : 4th ,Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates • 2018 : 5th ,Durban, South Africa • Dec 2019: 6th ,New Delhi Current Affairs• Theme 'Indo-Pacific: Re-imagining the Indian Ocean through an Expanded Geography’. 19

Current Affairs 2020 Why in news • November 2019 : 31st Summit planned in ’s capital, Santiaogo got cancelled • Civil protests in response to a raise in the Santiago Metro’s subway fare, the increased cost of living, privatisation Current and inequality prevalent in Chile. Affairs 2020 Why in news • November 2020: • 32nd Summit @ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Current Affairs 2020 • 2018 : 30th Summit in Papua New Guinea. • For the first time APEC failed to release a joint communique due to lack of consensus among the members over trade and security issues. • All 20 countries except China agreed to the joint

Current statement. Affairs 2020 BASICS: • 1989 : APEC as an inter-governmental forum • Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke brain child • 21 Pacific Rim member economies. • November,1989 : First meeting @ Canberra • Secretariat: Singapore Current Affairs 2020 Current Affairs 2020 • 2011 : India was allowed as observer state. • India has been attempting to join APEC since 1993 • India was denied admission as it has no border with the paciifc

Current Affairs 2020 Bogor Goals : 1994 : Bogor summit, Indonesia APEC declared “free and open trade and investment in the Asia- Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.”

Current Affairs 2020 20

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Current Affairs 2020 Current Affairs 2020 Why in News? • Recent OECD proposal called “Unified Approach” proposes changes in the rules for taxing Internet giants such as Facebook, Apple, Google, Netflix, etc.

Current Affairs 2020 BASICS: • 1948 : Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) led by Robert Marjolin of France, to help administer the Marshall Plan (reconstruction of Europe after World War II)

• 1961: 18 European nations, US and Canada reformed OEEC into OECD Current Affairs 2020 • 36 member countries • World’s most advanced countries & emerging countries like Mexico, Chile and Turkey. • Headquarter : Paris, France

Current Affairs 2020 • 1 July 2016 : Latvia became a full member • 5 July 2018: Lithuania became a full member • May 2018 : Colombia signed the accession agreement • Argentina, Peru, Malaysia, Brazil and Croatia expressed interest to join Current• India is not a member Affairs 2020 Current Affairs 2020 21

Current Affairs 2020 Why in news? • June 2019 : 14th G-20 summit was held in Osaka, Japan.

Current Affairs Background • It is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the . • 1997-1998 : Financial Crisis • December 1999 : Ist G20 Summit @ Berlin hosted by Current Germany and Canada. Affairs • To discuss policies relating to financial stability.

2019: Osaka Track • It is an initiative launched by Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe that seeks the removal of prohibitions on data localisation • US and Europe have supported it. • India, South Africa, and Indonesia have boycotted the “Osaka Track” on the “digital economy”, as it overtly Current undermines “multilateralism” Affairs Summits : • 2008 : Agenda expanded including heads of governments / heads of states as well as finance ministers and foreign ministers. • November 2008 : 1st summit Washington, D.C • June 2019 :14th - Osaka ,Japan • November 2020: 15th – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia • 2021 : 16th- Italy Current • Affairs 2022 : 17th - New Delhi • first time, India will host the annual G-20 Summit in 2022.

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Current Affairs Why in news? • August 2019 : 45th G7 summit in Biarritz, France. • India was invited as a special guest

Current Affairs About G-7 • 1975 : intergovernmental organisation • global oil crisis. • US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan

Current Affairs • 1997: G7 was known as the ‘G8’ after joined by Russia • 2014: Russia was expelled due to annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. • G7 nations meet at annual Summits that are presided over by leaders of member countries on a rotational basis.

Current Affairs • G7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. • The decisions taken by leaders during annual Summits are non-binding. • India is not a member of the G7 group.

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Current Affairs Why in news? • August 2019: 10th Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand. • 2019 : “India-ASEAN Tourism Year” • 20th Anniversary of MGC in 2020.

Current Affairs BASICS: • 2000: India and five ASEAN • Cambodia,Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam • cooperation in tourism, culture, education, transport and communications. • Launched at Vientiane, Laos. Current Affairs Current Affairs Current Affairs • September 2012 : Sixth MGC meeting was held in New Delhi • Mekong is World’s 12th longest river, 7th longest in Asia • From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Current Affairs Current Affairs 24

Current Affairs Why in news? • April 2020 : 25th Anniversary

Current Affairs • April 5, 1995 • inter-governmental river basin organisation established by the riparian country • Headquarters Vientiane, Laos • Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

Current Affairs 25

Current Affairs • 23 March 2016: First LMC Leaders’ Meeting @ Sanya of China’s Hainan Province • LMC was seen as a rival to the long-standing Mekong River Commission Mekong • Mekong known as the Lancang after flowing out Current of Yunnan Affairs Current Affairs • Mekong River runs across Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam • China-led initiative for cooperation on the Lancang-Mekong River • All riparian countries - Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam are members Current Affairs • Secretariat : Beijing 26

INDIA- ASEAN: REVIEW OF FREE TRADE PACT

Current Affairs Why in news? • Recently, India and Association of South-East Asian nations (ASEAN) agreed to review the FreeTrade Agreement (signed in 2009)

Current Affairs Background • 1992: India became ASEAN’s sectoral dialogue partner • 1995 : Full Dialogue Partner • 1996 : ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) • 2003: Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement Current (CECA) was signed Affairs • 2009 : India-ASEAN FTA was signed in Bangkok. • 1 July 2015 : ASEAN-India Agreements on Trade in Service and Investments • 2017 : 25 years of dialogue partnership between India and ASEAN and five years of the strategic partnership. • Nov 2019 : PM attended the 16th ASEAN-India Summit Current Affairs held at Bangkok, Thailand Impact of FTA on India • bilateral trade increased • $73.6 billion (2017) to $ 80.8 billion (2018) • ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trading partner. • India’s trade deficit in goods has widened • from $13 billion in FY18 to $22 billion in FY19 Current Affairs About ASEAN • August 1967 • Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand • 10 member countries • Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

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ASEAN OUTLOOK ON THE INDO-PACIFIC

Current Affairs Current Affairs Why in news? • June 2019 -: ASEAN adopted the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific’. • It enumerates the four functional areas of collaboration: 1. Maritime cooperation 2. Connectivity Current 3. Sustainable development Affairs 4. Economic Cooperation. 28

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Current Affairs 2020 Why in news? • February 2020 : Chief of Indian Navy Admiral Karamvir Singh visit Myanmar • Myanmar is a member of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. • 2020 :7th symposiums to be in France Current Affairs • 2008 : Inaugural IONS Seminar was held by the Indian Navy • Subsequent seminars and meetings of the ‘Conclave of Chiefs’ held every two years( biennial meeting)

Current Affairs • April 2018 : 6th symposiums @ Iran • Nov 2018 - 10th anniversary celebration was held in Kochi, Kerela. • Theme “IONS as Catalyst for SAGAR’. SAGAR stands for ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

Current Affairs Current Affairs • Members : 24 members grouped into 4 sub regions 1. South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory) 2. West Asian Littorals: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates Current Affairs 3. East African Littorals: France (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania

4. South East Asian and Australian Littorals: Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Current Affairs 9 observers including China,Japan 29

REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

Current Affairs Current Affairs Why in News? • July 2019 - 26th round of negotiations for RCEP held in Melbourne, Australia. • February 2020 : 15 other countries excluding India decided to enter into the trade agreement . • Recently, India decided not to join RCEP

Current Affairs BASICS: • 10 ASEAN economies and six others (New Zealand, Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea) • Talks on seven of the sixteen chapters of the agreement are complete • But key areas of goods, services and investment are still being negotiated. Current Affairs • RCEP is likely to be signed by the middle of 2020. India’s Concerns • India’s trade deficits widened with nations after signing FTAs Example: India’s FTAs with the ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and Singapore • India’s merchandise trade deficit with RCEP = $105 billion in FY19 (60% of its total deficit). Current• Threat to domestic market Affairs • Dumping of Chinese goods • Competing interests in agriculture, horticulture and dairy with Australia and New Zealand. • ‘WTO-plus’: India rejected International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), a provision going beyond • . Current Affairs 30

Current Affairs Current Affairs Why in news? • July 2019 : 12th Summit of • 54/55 member states signed African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for goods and services • 27 countries ratified it.

Current Affairs • Eritrea is only country not signing the agreement. • Eritrea was administered by British Military Administration until 1952. • 1952 : UN General Assembly decision - Eritrea would govern itself with a local Eritrean parliament but for foreign affairs and defense it would enter into a federal status with Current Ethiopia for a period of 10 years. Affairs • 1962 : Ethiopian government annexed Eritrea • 1961 -1991 : Eritrea’s war of independence against Ethiopia • May 1998 :Eritrea invaded Badme region of Ethiopia • Ethiopia occupied disputed territory against Eritrea

Current Affairs • May 1998 to June 2000 : Eritrean–Ethiopian War, in the Horn of Africa • December 12, 2000 : Algiers Agreement signed in Algeria • 2018 Peace agreement • Eritrean can participate in the free trade agreement. Current Affairs Current Affairs • 7 July 2019 :Nigeria (Africa’s most populous country )was one of the last nations to sign the agreement • The unrecognized state of Somaliland was not a party to the discussions related to the creation of the agreement.

Current Affairs About AfCFTA • AfCFTA would be world’s largest FTA to create an African Common Market • 1.2 billion people and a GDP of over $3.4 billion • March 21, 2018 : Agreement brokered by African Union • Signed by 44 of its 55 member states in Kigali, Current Affairs • Members to remove tariffs on 90% of goods, allowing free access to services across Africa. • Free Trade zone should be operational from July 2020 • Intra Africa trade = 16% total trade of their goods and services • AfCFTA will lead to a 60% boost in intra-African trade by 2022 Current Affairs • Agreement to come into force 30 days after ratification by 22 signatory states. • April 2, 2019 : Gambia became 22nd state to ratify the agreement w • Came into force on May 30 ,2019 Current Affairs • Japan is the biggest ODA provider • Japan keen to expand and work with India both in private and public sector projects under the aegis of Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC).

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Asia Africa Growth Corridor

Current Affairs Current Affairs • November 2016: Joint declaration by P.M Modi and P.M Shinzo Abe • May 2017: India and Japan released a vision document on AAGC @ 52nd Annual Meeting of (AfDB) in Gandhinagar.

Current Affairs • AAGC portrayed as a response to BRI • China’s trade with Africa = $200 billion in 2018 • Africa and Japan = $17 billion • 2000 – 2017: China loans $143 billion to African governments

Current Affairs Four pillars of AAGC 1. Development and Cooperation Projects 2. Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity 3. Enhancing Capacities and Skills 4. People-to-People partnership Current Affairs African Union

Why in news? • February 2020 : 33rd summit in Addis

Current Ababa, Ethiopia Affairs BASICS: • May 1963 : Organisation of African Unity (OAU) by 32 Heads of independent African States in Addis Ababa • September 1999: Sirte Declaration calling for the establishment of the African Union. • July 2002 : African Union (AU) was officially launched in in Durban, South Africa Current • 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the Affairs African continent • Head quarters : Addis Ababa, Ethiopia • July 2019 : 12th Extraordinary Summit on AfCFTA @ Niamey , Niger • 31 January 2015 : 24th Ordinary Assembly of African Union in Addis Ababa- AGENDA 2063 adopted • AGENDA 2063 :Africa’s blueprint for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse Current Affairs 32

Arab League

Current Affairs Why news ? • September 2019 : Arab League condemned Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to annex the eastern portion of the occupied West Bank known as the Jordan Valley

Current Affairs Current Affairs • October 2019 : Arab League met in Cairo on to condemn the Turkish move to invade north-eastern Syria • April 2019 : 36 summit @ Tunis ,Tunisia

Current Affairs Current Affairs BASICS: • October 1944 : Alexandria Protocol by five Arab countries • Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan Lebanon agreeing to the formation of a joint Arab Organization

Current Affairs • 22 March 1945 : formed in Cairo by six members • Egypt, Iraq, Jordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. • May 1945 : Yemen joined • 22 members • 22 February 2011 : Libya was suspended due to Libyan Civil War Current • 16 November 2011 : Syria was suspended Affairs Current Affairs Palestine and Arab League • 1964 : Cairo Summit of the Arab League initiated the creation of Palestinian organization • 2 June 1964: Palestinian Liberation Organization was founded • Palestine is a full member of the Arab League. • 28 March 2002 : Beirut Summit adopted the Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi- inspired peace plan for the Arab–Israeli Current Affairs conflict. Current Affairs 33

Gulf Cooperation Council

Current Affairs Why in news? • December 2019 : 40th GCC summit in Riyadh

Current Affairs Basics: • intergovernmental political and economic union • All Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iraq • Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE • 25 May 1981 : GCC was formally established

Current Affairs • All current member states are monarchies • Three constitutional monarchies (Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain) • Two absolute monarchies (Saudi Arabia and Oman) • One federal monarchy (United Arab Emirates)

Current Affairs • Discussions going on regarding the future membership of Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen. • 2011 : Saudi Arabia proposed to transform GCC into a “Gulf Union” with tighter economic, political and military coordination to counterbalance the Iran Current Affairs • Iraq is the only Arab country bordering the Persian Gulf that is not a member of the GCC. • Jordan and Morocco are the only two Arab monarchies not currently in the council • Jordan borders Saudi Arabia • Jordon is economically connected to Persian Gulf States. Current • Affairs Morocco is not near the Persian Gulf Current Affairs Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) • 1976 : founded by the six GCC member states • 2009 : Yemen joined • Headquartered at Doha, Qatar

Current Affairs Rift with Qatar • Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict • Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood across the Middle East-North • Africa (MENA) region, Hamas and radical Islamists in Libya destabilising the region Current Affairs • 5 June 2017: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt had officially cut diplomatic ties with Qatar • June 2017: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain put a ban on Qataris and their businesses. • Khaleeji was a proposed name for the common currency of GCC Current Affairs 34 QUAD

Why in news? • Sep 27, 2019 : Four-way dialogue between the US, Japan, India and Australia - for a free and open Indo-Pacific - was held at the foreign ministers level for the first time on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly. Current • Quadrilateral has so far met at the level of Affairs Joint Secretary-rank officials only. About QUAD • , Japan, Australia and India. • Formed in the response to the 2004-2005 Asian Tsunami • The dialogue was initiated in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. • During 2017 ASEAN Summits 4 members re-joined in negotiations to revive QUAD Current Affairs 35 NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT

Why in news? • October 25-26, 2019 : Vice- President Venkaiah Naidu attended 18th NAM summit at

Current Baku in Azerbaijan. Affairs • Theme of 18th summit: ‘Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of contemporary world’. • This is the second time in a row that PM will skip the summit Current Affairs About NAM • The Movement has its origin in the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. • first conference (the Belgrade Conference) in 1961 under the leadership of India, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana, and Indonesia. Current • It has 120 members as of 2018 Affairs • Key principles of NAM: based on the five principles of Panchasheel. 1. mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty 2. non-interference in each other’s military and internal affairs Current 3. mutual non-aggression Affairs 4. equality and mutual benefit 5. peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation 36 Why in News? • Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has pitched for revival of SAARC • 2020 SAARC Summit will take place in Islamabad. Current Affairs Background • April 1947 : Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi • Countries from all four corners of Asia participated • May 1950: Baguio Conference in the Philippines • Australia, Ceylon, India, Pakistan and Thailand participated Current Affairs • April 1954 : Colombo Powers Conference held in Sri Lanka • Ceylon, Indonesia, Burma, India and Pakistan participated • 1985 : SAARC Charter in Dhaka signed by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal ,Bhutan • Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal • April 2007 : Afghanistan joined SAARC as its eighth Current member state Affairs Summits in India: • 2nd in 1986, Bengaluru • 8th in 1995, New Delhi • 14th in 2007 ,New Delhi

Current Affairs • November 2014 : The last SAARC summit (18th ) was held in Kathmandu • 19th Summit 2016 scheduled in Pakistan got cancelled due to Pathankot and Uri attacks • India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka boycotted Current • 2016 : South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) came into Affairs force • intra-regional trade at less than 5% of total trade 37 BBIN AGREEMENT

Why in news? • February 2020 : A meeting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) on the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) was held in New Current Delhi Affairs BBIN AGREEMENT

• The delegations discussed a draft enabling MOU (memorandum of understanding) among Bangladesh, India and Nepal for implementing the BBIN MVA, without obligation to Bhutan. Current Affairs About BBIN MVA • November 2014 : SAARC at its 18th Summit in Kathmandu failed to sign a SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement because of Pakistan. • So BBIN was conceived • June 2015 : Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal signed a sub-regional Motor Vehicle Agreement Current • India, Nepal and Bangladesh have ratified the Agreement Affairs while Bhutan failed to get its Parliament’s nod to ratify due to environmental concerns • Under South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme, Asian Development • Bank (ADB) has been providing technical, advisory, and financial support to this initiative. • On November 1, 2015, a cargo vehicle made the first successful trial run from Kolkata to Agartala via Current Bangladesh that reduced the distance by over a Affairs thousand kilometres. 38 • 2001: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal requested ADB assistance to promote economic cooperation in the subregion, leading to the creation of the SASEC Current Affairs • May 2014: Maldives and Sri Lanka were welcomed as new member countries • February 2017 : Myanmar became the seventh member • Secretariat : Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila (Philippines)

Current Affairs 39 BREXIT

Why in News? • January 2020 : United Kingdom has officially left the European Union (EU) after 47 years of membership.

Current Affairs Background • Article 50 of Lisbon Treaty provides for exit of member countries from European Union. • 1973 : United Kingdom joined • 2016 : referendum people decided that UK should leave EU.

Current Affairs • 2017: UK formally triggered Article 50 of Lisbon treaty and began the two-year countdown of BREXIT.

• On 31st January 2020 UK became the first state to leave the EU

• UK will vacate its position from all EU institutions including membership in EU & parliament.

Current Affairs European Union • 1951 : Paris Treaty between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) • 1957 Rome Treaty : Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany established the European Economic Community • 1991/1993 : Maastricht Treaty formally established European Union • 2007/2009 : Treaty of Lisbon brought constitutional amendment Current• EU is an economic and political union involving 27 European countries Affairs EU and India FTA • EU and India have been negotiating a FTA since 2007 • Broad-based Trade & Investment Agreement (BTIA) • BTIA talks stalled in 2013, only resuming in 2018. • EU is largest trading partner of India accounting for €92 billion worth of trade in goods in 2018 or 12.9 per cent of total Indian trade, ahead of China (10.9 per cent) and the Current Affairs US (10.1 per cent). 40

Why in News? • February 2020 : FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by June 2020.

Current Affairs • About FATF • FATF was established in July 1989 by a G-7 countries in a Summit held in Paris. • The initial motive of FATF was to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. • In October 2001, the FATF expanded its wings to incorporate efforts to combat terror financing, money laundering, and Current human trafficking. Affairs

• As of 2019, FATF consists of thirty-seven member jurisdictions. • India became an Observer at FATF in 2006. • On June 25, 2010 India was taken in as the 34th country member of FATF.

Current Affairs • FATF has 2 types of lists;

• 1. Black List:Countries that are supporting terror funding and money laundering activities are placed in the Black

• 2. Grey List: is a warning given to the country that it might come in Black list . Current Affairs Pakistan was included in the grey list for the first time in 2012 and remained in it till 2015. On 29 June, 2018 FATF Grey listed Pakistan for the second time.

Current Affairs Pakistan was asked to implement the FATF 27-point Action Plan fully by September 2019. Pakistan addressed only 14 of 27 action items given to it for controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e- Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. So it will remain on the grey list of Financial Action Task Current Force (FATF) till June 2020 Affairs