Professional Documents
Culture Documents
International Relations
International Relations
It is an idea proposed and supported by Asia�s Pacific powers who sought a term to
describe their common region. The Asia Pacific, therefore, has three major
constituents: north-east Asia, south-east Asia and Oceania (South Western Pacific).
Despite the nomenclature suggesting to the contrary, India is not a part of the
region. The Asia-Pacific is more of an economic conception, rather than a security
related notion. Since the late 1980s, it has been popular as a zone of emerging
markets that have been experiencing rapid economic growth. The only multilateral
institution that effectively represents the Asia Pacific, therefore, is the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), which does not include India.
The Indo-Pacific, on the other hand, is an integrated theatre that combines the
Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and the land masses that surround them. Even
though it is still an evolving concept, most analysts see it as an idea that
captures the shift in power and influence from the West to the East. Its
geographical expanse is still undefined but it is said to range from the coast of
East Africa, across the Indian Ocean, to the Western Pacific, including countries
like Japan and Australia. It is both a strategic as well as an economic domain
comprising important sea-lines of communication that connect the littorals of the
two oceans. Since it is primarily a maritime space, the Indo-Pacific is associated
with maritime security and cooperation.
The Israeli-occupied territories include the West Bank, 5,879 km2 (2,270 sq mi),
East Jerusalem, 70 km2 (27 sq mi) and the Golan Heights, 1,150 km2 (444 sq mi).[2]
Geographical features in these territories will be noted as such. Of these areas,
Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, an act not recognised by
the international community.
Southern Israel is dominated by the Negev desert, covering some 16,000 square
kilometres (6,178 sq mi), more than half of the country's total land area. The
north of the Negev contains the Judean Desert, which, at its border with Jordan,
contains the Dead Sea which, at -417 m (-1,368 ft) is the lowest point on Earth.
The inland area of central Israel is dominated by the Judean Hills of the West
Bank, whilst the central and northern coastline consists of the flat and fertile
Israeli coastal plain. Inland, the northern region contains the Mount Carmel
mountain range, which is followed inland by the fertile Jezreel Valley, and then
the hilly Galilee region. The Sea of Galilee is located beyond this, and is
bordered to the east by the Golan Heights, a plateau bordered to the north by the
Israeli-occupied part of the Mount Hermon massif, which includes the highest point
under Israel's control, a peak of 2,224 meters (7,297 ft). The highest point in
territory internationally recognized as Israeli is Mount Meron at 1,208 meters
(3,963 ft)
-> Connecitivty
1. Chabhar port and INSTC -> improved connectivity with Central Asia
2. BIMSTEC and BBIN to improve logistics and trade transport multi-modal in S
Asia and SE Asia for economic development
3. Asia-Africa Growth corridor -> India and japan -> multimodal trade corridor
(non governmental)
4. Nation TIR -> Transport Internationax Routiers
-> Multilateral
1. BRICS ->
-> S.Korea
1. CEPA -> Comprehensive economic partership agreement
2. Korea economic development cooperation fund
-> Russia
1. 70 years of relationship with india + St. peterburg Declaration( cooperation
in nuclear energy, SnT)
2. INDRA 2017 -> 1st ever all the 3 defence service exercise with Russia at
Vladivostok
3. Russia + India +China forum
4. ITEC + ICCR (culture)+ Track II diplomacy
-> Nigeria -> crude oil reserve -> 18% india oil import basket
Ghana -> 2 billion$ gold import
-> USA
1. Global entry programme
2. LEMOEA + DTTI + Major defence partner (2016)
3. Malabar exercise -> US + JAPAN + INDIA
4. Crude oil import from US
5. GES -> Hyderabad
-> Canada
1. CEPA -> Comprehensive economic partnership agreement
2. BIPPA -> Bilateral Investment promotion and protection scheme
3. PIO
-> UN
1. CCIT / UNSC reforms
2. Universal periodic review under UNHCR
3. UN ocean conference
4. High level political forum for on Sustainable development for ECOSOC ->
Voluntary national review (VNR)-> SDG submittion by India
5. India accepted Doha agreement under UNFCCC
6. Ahmedabad -> World Heritage city of UNESCO / Kumbha Mela -> Intangible
cultural heritage
7. ICJ
8. ITLOS/IMO
9. UN Habitat Governing council
-> cyber diplomacy ( other imp -> economic diplomacy division in MEA)
1. engaged with Asean Regional Forum + SCO + BRICS + UNGGE + WGEC + UNODC +
ICANN(Internet cooperation for assigned names and numbers)
2. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (different organisation)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# India china
8. The Order provided, inter alia, that the rights and obligations under all
international agreements to which India is a party immediately before the
appointed day will devolve upon the Dominion of India. Therefore, in terms of Order
of 1947, the government of India is bound by the said Convention of 1890.
However, India�s affirmation of the Convention of 1890 was limited to the alignment
of the India-China border in Sikkim, based on watershed, and not with
respect to any other aspects.
9. Passes
Important passes along India-China border (from west to east)
J & K - Aghil Pass, Chang La
Himachal Pradesh - Shipki La
Uttarakhand � Thaga La, Niti Pass, Lipu Lekh
Sikkim � Nathu La, Jelep La
Arunachal Pradesh � Bum La, Diphu Pass ( other passes bomdila)
-> India-China clash -> Pangong lake (Ladakh) -> salty lake -> part of theyts sea
1. Location -> Pangon lake or Pangong Tso, a 135-km long lake, located ->
Himalayas at height of 4,350 m, stretches out from India to China.
2. 1990s -> Indian side laid claims over the area -> Chinese army built a
metal-top road contending that it was part of the Aksai Chin, which is
another disputed border area between the two.
3. Aksai Chin area falls under Chinese control and is governed as part of Hotan
County.
However, India also claims it to be a part of the Ladakh region of J & K.
# India US
# India Myanmmar
-> Kaladan Project ( initiated -> 2003 and framework for implementation -> 2008)
1. Haora( WB) -> sea route -> Kaladan port -> kaladon river ->Paletwa ->
Highway -> Kaletwa
2. Award for construction-> Paletwa river terminal to Zorinpui in Mizoram borde
3. Kaladan multimodal transport projects was the 1st major project taken up by
India in Myanmar.
4. Kaladan project connects Sittwe Port-> India-Myanmar border.
5. project was jointly initiated by India and Myanmar -> a multi-modal platform
for cargo shipments from the eastern ports to Myanmar and to the NE parts
of India through Myanmar.
6. It is expected to open up sea routes and promote economic development in the
NE states.
7. This project will reduce distance from Kolkata to Sittwe by approximately
1328 km and will reduce the need to transport good through the narrow
Siliguri corridor, also known as Chicken�s Neck.
-> Pagodas:
1. tiered tower with multiple diminishing roofs rise above the other, built in
traditions originating as stupa in S. Asia and further developed
in E. Asia.
2. It is commonly found into Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam,
Myanmar, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia.
3. They became prominent as Buddhist monuments and are used for enshrining
sacred relics.
4. In India, it is mostly found in Mandi, Kullu, Shimla hills and Kinnaur
regions of Himachal Pradesh.
-> Bagan:
1. Bagan in central Burma is one of the world�s greatest archaeological sites.
2. The Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River drifts past its northern and western sides.
3. 9-13th centuries, city -> capital of the Pagan Kingdom, 1st kingdom that
unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar.
4. During the kingdom�s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000
Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan
plains alone.
# India � Afghanistan
# India � Bangladesh
# India-Japan
-> India Japan Act East Forum (12th Indo-Japan annual summit)
1. MoU to set up India Japan Act East Forum -> Act East Policy (India) +Free
and Open Asia- Pacific strategy(Abe' policy)
2. The forum will enhance connectivity and promote developmental projects in
India�s NE region in an efficient and effective manner.
3. Japan�s investments in the NE:
Japan has cooperated with a variety of development projects in the NE,
ranging from connectivity infrastructure such as roads and
electricity, water supply and sewage, to forest resource management and
biodiversity.
4. Recently, India and Japan signed a document on Japanese loan and aid for
highway development in the Northeast.
5. Japan will extend a loan of Rs 2,239 crore to India for �North East Road
Network Connectivity Improvement Project� to improve the National
Highway 40 (NH-40) and construct a bypass on NH-54 in the Northeast.
6. Japan has a historic connection to the Northeast and is among the few
countries that India has allowed a presence in the region.
# India-Pakistan
-> Indus Waters Treaty ( IJC to pakistan and hence issue about JC only; while RBS
to India)
1. WB -> India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power plants on the Jhelum
and Chenab Rivers after secretary-level discussions between India and
Pakistan on the technical issues over IWT
2. India and Pakistan disagree about the construction of the Kishenganga (330
megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power
plants being built by India (the World Bank is not financing either
project).
3. The two countries disagree over whether the technical design features of the
two hydroelectric plants contravene the Treaty.
4. The plants are on respectively a tributary of the Jhelum and the Chenab
Rivers.
5. The Treaty designates these two rivers as well as the Indus as the �Western
Rivers� to which Pakistan has unrestricted use.
India is permitted to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these
rivers subject to constraints specified in Annexures to the Treaty.
# India � Iran
-> Chabahar Port (gulf of oman and only oceanic port of Iran-> ocated on the Makran
coast, Chabahar in southeastern Iran)
1. India Ports Global, a port project investment arm of the shipping ministry
and a joint venture between the JNPT and the Kandla port,
will invest $85 million in developing 2 container berths and 3 multi-cargo
berths.
2. Chabahar port(strategic importance):
India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.
It is located 76 nautical miles (less than 150km) west of the Pakistani
port of Gwadar, being developed by China. This makes it ideal for
keeping track of Chinese or Pakistani military activity based out of
Gwadar.
3. Chabahar port acts as link with (INSTC) to which India is one of the initial
signatories.
4. The port will cut transport costs/time for Indian goods by a third.
5. The Zaranj-Delaram road constructed by India in 2009 can give access to
Afghanistan�s Garland Highway, setting up road access to four
major cities in Afghanistan � Herat, Kandahar, Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
# India � Nepal
# India � Brazil
1. MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle
Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (2016)
2. MoU would promote and facilitate scientific cooperation and setting up of
genomic selection programme in Zebu Cattle through:
Application of genomic in Zebu Cattle and their crosses and buffaloes
Application of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in cattle and
buffaloes
3. Capacity building in genomic and assisted reproductive technology.
4. Related R & D in Genomics and ART in accordance with the respective laws and
regulations of the two countries and is covered.
5. Zebu cattle:
1. Zebu -> indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or subspecies of
domestic cattle originating in the Indian subcontinent.
Zebu are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, a large
dewlap, and sometimes drooping ears.
2. They are well adapted to withstanding high temperatures, and are farmed
throughout the tropical countries.
3. Zebu are used as draught oxen, dairy cattle, and beef cattle, as well as
for byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure.
# India � Israel
-> Hambantota:
1. Hambantota is the main town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri
Lanka.
2. This underdeveloped area was hit hard by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and
is underwent a number of major development projects including the
construction of a new sea port and international airport
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
# International Convention
-> India has ratified ILO conventions on child labour concerning the elimination of
child labour ( India member -> 1919)
1. Minimum Age Convention (15 years -> standard; 13-14 years -> if do not
jeopardise health and school; 18 years -> in dangerous occupations)
2. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
country commits itself to taking immediate action to prohibit and eliminate
the worst forms of child labour
-> Social Security Agreement (reduce doubly contribution for social security in two
country)
1. amendment of the bilateral SSA between India and the Netherlands by
incorporating the �Country of Residence� Principle.
2. The circumstances where the �country of residence� principle will apply to a
few instances of Indian nationals include:
1. An Indian worker who dies in the Netherlands and has his/her spouse and
children living in India.
2. An Indian worker who gets disabled while working in the Netherlands and
returns to India
-> Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (2017 -> UN; in effect on
ratification of 50 countries( imp after NPT 1968)) ->Japan avoided
1. The treaty was adopted by a vote of 122 in favour with one country � NATO
member
The Netherlands voting against �while Singapore abstained.
2. The treaty prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon related activities, such
as undertaking to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess
or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, as well as the use
or threat of use of these weapons.
3. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons � the US, Russia,
Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, N Korea and Israel
� took part in the negotiations or the vote.
4. Even Japan � the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945 �
boycotted the talks as did most NATO countries.
5. 50 nations ink UN nuclear ban treaty:
50 countries recently signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, a pact that
the world�s nuclear powers spurned but supporters hailed as a
historic agreement nonetheless.
-> Indian Community Welfare Fund (2009 -> to support OCI in distress and emergency
on deserving basis)
1. guidelines would cover three key areas namely Assisting Overseas Indian
nationals in distress situations, Community Welfare activities and
Improvement in Consular services.
2. They are expected to provide Indian Missions and Posts abroad greater
flexibility in swiftly addressing to requests for assistance by OCI
3. ICWF would be funded through budgetary support, funds raised by the Indian
Missions by levying a nominal service charge on consular services and
through Voluntary contributions from the Indian community.
-> Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1983->
appicable to under 16 age)
1. multilateral treaty developed by the Hague Conference on Private
International Law (HCCH) that provides an expeditious method to return a
child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another.
2. The primary intention of the Convention is to preserve whatever status quo
child custody arrangement existed immediately before an alleged wrongful
removal or retention thereby deterring a parent from crossing international
boundaries in search of a more sympathetic court.
3. In 2016, Philippines and Pakistan acceded to the convention.
4. Inter-country parental child abduction
Inter-country parental child abduction is a situation that is attained when
one parent takes a child or children to a foreign country to
prevent the other parent from seeking custody of the child.
-> Wassenaar Arrangement (42nd member -> on Export Controls for Conventional Arms
and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies)
1. The participating nations make sure that the export of ammunition does not
contribute to the development or enhancement of military
capabilities undermining regional security.
2. In order to achieve the aim of stable defence deals, the participatory
nations apply export controls to all items listed in the List of Dual-Use
Goods and Technologies and the Munitions List.
-> Australia Group (43rd member->informal bloc of countries for tight control over
exports of substances used in the making of chemical weapons)
1. works to counter the spread of materials, equipment and technologies that
could contribute to the development or acquisition of
chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups.
2. It was established in 1985.
3. China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea are not its members.
-> Strategic Framework for Education in Emergencies in the Arab Region -> UNESCO
2018-21
1. It aims to respond to the Education crisis in the region through supporting
Member States in meeting their educational needs, and helping them
meet the commitments set out in SDG4 which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all by 2030.
2. Why Arab region?
Education has been deeply affected by the scale of crisis in the Arab
Region, with over 13 million children and youth not going to school due to
conflict.
3. Goals:
The Strategic Framework consists of four strategic goals anchored in the
three pillars of education: Access, Quality and System Strengthening.
-> UN Convention against Torture ( Torture -> criminal offence ->1997 -> signed but
not ratified)
1. The Convention requires states to take effective measures to prevent torture
in any territory under their jurisdiction and forbids states to
transport people to any country where there is reason to believe they will be
tortured.
-> Budapest Convention ( India non member -> cybercrime related 1st international
treaty to address internet and computer crime)
-> Council of europe -> france
1. India rethinking about its membership because of the surge in cybercrime,
especially after a push for digital India.
2. MHA has flagged the need for international cooperation to check cyber crime,
radicalization and boost data security
3. The move is being opposed by the IB -> sharing data with foreign law
enforcement agencies infringes on national sovereignty and may
jeopardize the rights of individuals
4. Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention, is the
first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crime
by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing
cooperation among nations.
5. It was drawn up by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, with the
active participation of the Council of Europe�s observer states
Canada, Japan, South Africa and the United States.
6. The Convention has 56 members, including the US and the UK.
7. The Budapest Convention provides for the criminalisation of conduct, ranging
from illegal access, data and systems interference to computer related
fraud and child pornography, procedural law tools to make investigation of
cybercrime and securing of e-evidence in relation to any
crime more effective, and international police and judicial cooperation on
cybercrime and e-evidence.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# International Organisations / Groupings
-> BRICS 2017 -> China Xiamen (Joint summit with Emerging Markets and Developing
Countries Dialogue (EMDCD))
-> BRICS Leaders� Xiamen Declaration (BRICS local currency bond markets -> Future
networks -> ARP in india)
1. BRICS countries will strive towards broad partnerships with emerging markets
and developing countries
2. To promote the development of BRICS local currency bond markets and to
jointly establish a BRICS local currency bond fund and also to
facilitate financial market integration.
3. Explorations toward the establishment of the BRICS Institute of Future
Networks.
4. To strengthen BRICS cooperation on energy and work to foster open, flexible
and transparent markets for energy commodities and
technologies.
5. BRICS Agriculture Research Platform is proposed to be established in India.
6. To establish a genuinely broad counterterrorism coalition and support the
UN�s central coordinating role in this regard.
7. Importance of people-to-people exchanges in promoting development and
enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation.
8. To work together to promote most effective use of fossil fuels and wider use
of gas, hydro and nuclear power.
-> BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation-> BBINS-MT-> 1997 Bangkok declaration)
1. regional organization which comprises of 7 member states which lie near the
Bay of Bengal.
2. BIMSTEC headquarters are situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3. BIMSTEC is technological and economical cooperation among S Asian and SE
Asiancountries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
4. BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitute around
22% of the global population.
5. The region has a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.7 trillion.
-> Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) -1996 and 2001 as SCO ( Uzbekistan
joined it) CRTKKU
1. SCO is a Eurasian economic, political and security organisation
headquartered in Beijing, China.
2. full members of the organization are China,Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan.
3. Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have observer status at present.
4. China had founded this grouping in 1996 and then it was called as Shanghai 5
comprising of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
5. In 2001, Uzbekistan was invited to join it and SCO was officially born.
6. objective is military cooperation between members.
It is primarily centred on Central Asian security-related concerns.
7. SCO has established relations with the UN, where it is an observer in the
UNGa, EU, ASEAN, CIS and OIC
8. 17th SCO summit concluded in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan in June 2017.
India and Pakistan were inducted as full members of the SCO at the summit.
The next summit of the organization would take place in 2018 in China.
-> SASEC (2001) -> BBINS- Myanmar Maldives ( BIMSTEC -> BBINS MT)
1. project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-
border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries and
strengthening regional economic cooperation.
2. ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program, which has
supported around 46 projects worth $9.17 billion in
transport, trade facilitation, energy and information and communications
technology (ICT).
3. The SASEC OP (Operational Plan), endorsed in June 2016 by the SASEC member
countries, is SASEC�s first comprehensive long-term plan to
promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries in the
areas of transport, trade facilitation, energy, and economic
corridor development.
4. Bringing regional cooperation to a higher level, the SASEC OP plans to
extend physical linkages not only within SASEC but also with East and
SE Asia by the next decade.
-> G20 Summit (Hamburg -> Germany)-> theme for 2017 G20 Summit: �Shaping an Inter-
connected World�.
1.The leaders of the G20 countries agreed for taking concrete steps to stop
funding of the terror activities.
2. The leaders proposed the Hamburg Action Plan to address major global
challenges, including climate change, harnessing digitalisation, and to
contribute to prosperity and well-being.
3. The �Group of Twenty� is made up of 19 countries and the European Union.
4. The countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France,
Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US.
5. It was started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank
Governors in the aftermath of the South-east Asian financial crisis.
7. The G20, with its ministerial-level beginnings in 1999, first met for a
summit in 2008 in Washington to discuss ways to achieve balanced and
sustainable world economic growth
-> Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) -> 1969 and India and ethiopia not
members
1. India had strongly rejected the resolutions of the OIC that had expressed
concern about the attacks on people by cow-vigilante groups.
2. India has termed the resolutions adopted at the OIC�s foreign ministers�
meeting as �factually incorrect�.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization
founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states.
3. A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and
Thailand, are Observer States, while others, such
as India and Ethiopia, are not members.
4. The organisation states that it 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�.
5. The OIC has permanent delegations to the UN and the EU
6. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French.
-> Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ->1967 Bangkok declaration;
IMPTS-CLMV Brunie; Jarkata Secretariat)
1. It is a regional organisation that aims to promote intergovernmental
cooperation and facilitates economic integration amongst its members.
2. Its Motto is �One Vision, One Identity, One Community�.
3. Founder countries of ASEAN are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines
and Thailand.
4. ASEAN is an official United Nations observer, as well as an active global
partner.
-> International Organization for Migration (IOM) 1951 -> 2016 (UN related) ->
geneva HQ -> India member
1. IOM as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help
resettle people displaced by World War II.
2. IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration
and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and
nongovernmental partners.
3. With 169 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and
offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and
orderly migration for the benefit of all.
4. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
5. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to
promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in
the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide
humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and
internally displaced people.
-> International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) -> Nobel Prize winner
1. Ican has been chosen for its �groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treaty
prohibition� on nuclear weapons.
2. Ican, a coalition of hundreds of NGOs is 10 years old and is based in
Geneva, Switzerland.
3. Ican set about an alternative approach � to raise popular awareness of the
issue and to pressure governments to open up a new treaty for
signature in 2017 that would seek an outright ban on nuclear weapons.
4. In July 2017, after pressure from Ican, 122 nations backed a UN treaty
designed to ban and eventually eliminate all nuclear weapons.
But none of the nine known nuclear powers in the world � including the UK
and the US � endorsed it.
-> IALA:
1. The IALA, having headquarters at St. Germainen Laye (France) was established
in 1957 under French law.
2. It is governed by a General Assembly having 83 National members, with its
Council as the executive body.
3. The IALA council consists of 24 National Members and India is one of the
council members represented through the Directorate General of
Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping.
4. DGLL establishes and maintains Aids to Navigation in general waters along
coast of India including A&N and Lakshadweep group of islands,
as per Lighthouse Act 1927.
-> South Asia Economic Summit (10th Kathmandu)-> 2008 similary like WEF Davos
1. The theme of the summit is �Deepening Economic Integration for Inclusive and
Sustainable Development in South Asia�.
2. It is a regional platform for discussing and analyzing economic and
development issues and challenges faced by South Asian countries and
advancing the cause of regional integration and cooperation.
3. It brings together stakeholders from the government, private sector,
research, academics and civil society to generate innovative and
actionable ideas for consideration by the region�s policymakers and SAARC.
-> Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (Apcert) -> 15th and 1st in S Asia
New delhi
1. It was organised by Indian CERT-In (MEITY).
2. theme of conference was �Building Trust in the Digital Economy�.
3. APCERT is a coalition of CSIRTs (Computer Security Incident Response Teams),
from 13 economies across the Asia Pacific region.
4. APCERT organizes an annual meeting called APSIRC conference, and the first
conference was held in March 2002, Tokyo, Japan.
Membership: Any CSIRT from Asia Pacific Region, who is interested to furthering
the objectives of APCERT, will be allowed to join as APCERT
members after meeting all member accreditation requirements.
APCERT membership model has 2 levels:
Full members: Full Members are CSIRTs/CERTs in the Asia Pacific region, who
have the right to vote on APCERT issues, as well as to stand for election
to the APCERT Steering Committee. All Founding Members are Full Members.
General Members:
Any CSIRTs/CERTs in the Asia Pacific region with an interest in incident
response and IT security, can join APCERT as a General Member.
General Members are not eligible to vote or to stand for election to the APCERT
Steering Committee.
General Membership is a pre-requisite to become a Full Member
-> 7th Asian Energy Ministers� Round Table organised by International Energy Forum
(IEF) -> current chair India
1. It was hosted by Thailand and co-Hosted by the UAE
2. Importance of a flexible, transparent and non-discriminatory global LNG
trading regime which would expedite ushering in the golden age
of gas.
3. Need to move to a gas based economy and the avenues for FDI in building
infrastructure for gas including LNG terminals, pipelines, CGD etc.
-> South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC)
1. IMF South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC)
was held recently in national capital to assess the Center�s
activities since its inauguration in February 2017 and to review the Fiscal
Year 2018 Work Plan.
2. Officials from all 6 Member countries attended the meeting, together with
the Development Partner representatives (the European Union, the United
Kingdom, Australia, and USAID), and IMF staff.
? SARTTAC, the newest addition to the IMF�s global network of fourteen
regional centres, is a new kind of capacity development institution, fully
integrating customized hands-on training with targeted technical advice in a
range of macroeconomic and financial areas, and generating synergies
between the two. It was inaugurated at Delhi in February 2017.
? SARTTAC is financed mainly by its six member countries � Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka � with additional support from
Australia, the Republic of Korea, the European Union and the United
Kingdom.
? SARTTAC�s strategic goal is to help its member countries strengthen their
institutional and human capacity to design and implement macroeconomic
and financial policies that promote growth and reduce poverty.
? SARTTAC will allow the IMF to meet more of the high demand for technical
assistance and training from the region. Through its team of international
resident experts, SARTTAC is expected to become the focal point for the
delivery of IMF capacity development services to South Asia.
43. International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM)
? The 42nd World Congress of the International Committee of Military
Medicine (ICMM) was recently organised by the Armed Forces Medical
Services (AFMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
? The event was organised for the first time in India, and was the largest
medical conference ever organised by the AFMS.
? The theme of this 42nd World Congress is �Military Medicine in Transition:
Looking Ahead.�
? The ICMM is an international inter-governmental organisation created in
1921 with its secretariat at Brussels in Belgium and currently has 112 nations
as members.
? The ICMM was established after World War I had revealed the lack of care
provided to victims and the need to strengthen cooperation between the
Insights PT 2018 Exclusive (International Relations)
www.insightsonindia.com Page 49 www.insightsias.com
health services of the armed forces worldwide. NOTES
? The main objective of the ICMM is to ensure that our medical services
personnel have the means to work together, using similar practices, in
operations involving international cooperation.
? This is a long-term goal, and the ICMM can work towards achieving this in a
number of ways:
o by encouraging activities at which scientific and technical experience is
shared,
o by developing contacts with the scientific community,
o by promoting regional events.
? This will enable us to pool our resources and work experience of military
medicine, both in the theatre of operations and in a support role in the case of
crisis situations.
-> Raisina Dialogue 3rd edition of the geo-political conference � Raisina Dialogue
(New delhi)
1. inaugurated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
2. The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and
Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
3. The theme of the conference- �Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas,
Institutions and Idioms�.
4. The name of conference comes from Raisina Hill which is the elevation in New
Delhi where Rashtrapati Bhavan is located.
5. It is organized on the lines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore.
6. The first edition of the conference was held in March 2016 with the theme
�Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity�.
7. It is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectorial conclave, involving
policy and decision makers, including cabinet ministers from various
Governments, high-level Government officials and policy practitioners,
leading personalities from business and industry etc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# International relations
-> India the Extradition Act, 1962 regulates the surrender of a person to another
country or the request for arrest of a person in a foreign land.
1. The act specifies that any conduct of a person in India or in a foreign
state that is mentioned in the list of extradition offence and is
punishable with minimum one year of imprisonment qualifies for extradition request.
The process has to be initiated by the central government.
2. In the case of countries with which India does not have such a treaty, the
central government can by notified order treat any convention to which
India and the foreign country is a party as the extradition treaty providing for
extradition with respect to the offences specified in that convention.
3. If the extradition request has come from two or more countries then the
government has the rights to decide which of them is the fittest for the
request.
-> NPT:
1. It is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of
nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the
peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear
disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The Treaty entered
into force in 1970.
2. Four UN member states have never joined the NPT: India, Israel, Pakistan
and South Sudan. North Korea, which acceded to the NPT in 1985 but never
came into compliance, announced its withdrawal in 2003.
3. Recognized nuclear-weapon states: The treaty recognizes five states as
nuclear-weapon states: the United States, Russia, the United
Kingdom, France, and China.
4. The NPT is interpreted as a three-pillar system, with an implicit balance
among them:
the three pillars are: 1) Non-proliferation 2) Disarmament 3) The right to
peacefully use nuclear technology.
The 1951 Refugee Convention is the key legal document that forms the basis of our
work. Ratified? by 145 State parties, it defines the term �refugee� and outlines
the rights of the displaced, as well as the legal obligations of States to protect
them.
The core principle is non-refoulement, which asserts that a refugee should not be
returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.
This is now considered a rule of customary international law.
UNHCR serves as the �guardian� of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
According to the legislation, States are expected to cooperate with us in ensuring
that the rights of refugees are respected and protected.
-> NIIF
1. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority investing in NIIF
-> IBSA trust fund agreement (IBSA dialogue forum 2003; formalizied by Brazilia
declaration 2003)
1. measure of south-south cooperation among democracies
2. contribution of 1million $ for poverty eradication in south developing
countries through UNDP
-> FATF
# Geographical dispute #
-> ASEAN
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the seeking
of an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea at the ASEAN
Summit in New Delhi
-> FMR (free movement regime -> with Myanmar 16 KM)
# UN #
-> UNESCO:
1. UNESCO is a United Nations organization that helps preserve historical and
cultural sites worldwide.
2. It is a special multi-country agency, formed in 1945 and based in France,
that promotes sex education and literacy as well as improving gender
equality in countries around the world.
3. It is also known for its work to preserve cultural and heritage sites such
as ancient villages, ruins and temples, and historic sites such as the
Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, which at one point came under threat of being
destroyed by the Islamic State
# Multilateral forums #
-> EBRD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
India and Bangladesh and china
->
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# Dec, 2017
-> International organisation for migration (1951, geneva/ related to UN in 2016)
It is an intergovernmental organization in the field of migration to promote
humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.
India became a member state in 2008
International Conventions governing Migration
1. The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol
(Refugee Convention) establish a framework of surrogate protection
for refugees.
2. Palermo Protocol to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
(UNCTOC) dealing with Trafficking and Smuggling.
3. Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members
of Their Families (ICRMW), 1990.
-> Wassenaar Agreement (1996, 42 members (except CHINA all UNSC members, Successor
of Cold war CoCom vinnea)
1. Multilateral export control regime in transfer of conventional arms and dual
use goods and technology
2. India declared list SCOMET Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials,
Equipment and Technologies
3. open doors for india for importing and exporting dual use technology ->
military and civilian
-> Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence (Britain, Denmark, Malta not member)
European Union adopted the decision to establish a European Union defence pact
About the Pact
1. Intergovernmental, binding, permanent framework and a structured process to
gradually deepen defence cooperation within EU framework
2. Aim is to jointly develop defence capabilities and make them available for EU
military operations
3. Member states can also make the military capabilities available under PESCO
for United Nations and NATO as well
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# Nov, 2017
-> SL-INDIA
Mattala Airport -> india developed airport in reaction to Chinese increasing
influence
Tricomalee Port -> Oil tank farm developed by india
Hambantota airport and colombo port project given to India in order to balance
Chinese influence and debt trap
-> International of Justice (1945, part of UN, 15 judges for 9 years, nominated for
PCA, no two judges from same nationality;UNSC and UNGA select)
1st time in the 70-year history of the United Nations that the U.K. no
representation among the panel of judges ICJ
1st time that one of the five permanent members of the UNSC lost out to an
ordinary member in a race
loss in ICJ is being read as confirmation of the U.K.�s diminishing role in
global affairs
1st time that one sitting member of the ICJ lost to another sitting member.
Bhandari is the fourth Indian judge to be elected to the ICJ after B.N. Rau,
Nagendra Singh and R.S. Pathak.
-> India Singapore Bilateral agreement on naval cooperation (Changi for refueling)
Straits of Malacca -> Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia (India blocked
this choke point against China)
-> GCCS 2017 ( 1st -> London -> Budapest ->Seoul -> Hague ->Delhi) all are OECD
countries bienially -> growth/ digital inclusion/ security/ diplo)
It was launched with a view to establish internationally agreed �rules of the
road� for behavior in cyberspace, and create a more focused and inclusive
dialogue between all those with a stake in the internet (governments, civil society
and industry) on how to implement them.
It has set up an institutional mechanism � Global Forum on Cyber Expertise � to
enhance capacity building, share best practices and expertise on cyber
capacity
Theme of GCCS 2017 is �Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for
Sustainable Development�. However it could further be divided into following
four sections:
1) Cyber4Growth � share ideas and insights to foster growth and development
with growing importance of the cyber space to individuals, small
businesses, large companies etc.
2) Cyber4DigitalInclusion �draw road map for inclusive society by sharing best
practices for digital identity, idea of open and free Internet for all,
digital technologies for enabling differently abled etc.
3) Cyber4Security �framework for comprehensive cyber security protocols for
organisations and nations.
4) Cyber4Diplomacy �explore various facets of cyber security such as interstate
cooperation for preventing Cyber Warfare and Cyber Diplomacy for Global
Order
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# Oct
-> UNESCO
1) Its aim is "to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of
poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through
education, the sciences, culture, communication and information"
2) It was established in 1946 and is based in Paris.
3) It has 195 member states and ten associate members.
4) Its five major programs are:
1) Education 2) Natural sciences 3) Social/human sciences 4) Culture 5)
Communication/information
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
# Sept 2017
-> BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is a framework for the provision of
support through liquidity and precautionary instruments in response to
actual or potential short-term balance of payments pressures. It was established in
2015 by the BRICS countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
-> India China joint WTO proposal to squash total 'Aggregate Measurement of
Support' (AMS) or 'Amber Box' subsidy.
Read WTO peace clause; Nairobi and bali WTO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
# Aug 2017
-> RCEP
1) The RCEP is billed as an FTA between the 10-member ASEAN bloc and its six FTA
partners � India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New
Zealand
2) When inked, it would become the world�s biggest free trade pact. This is
because the 16 nations account for a total GDP (Purchasing Power
Parity, or PPP basis) of about $50 trillion (or about 40% of the global GDP) and
house close to 3.5 billion people (about half the world�s
population).
3) The RCEP �guiding principles and objectives� state that the �negotiations on
trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other areas will
be conducted in parallel to ensure a comprehensive and balanced outcome.�
4) The proposed FTA, aims to boost goods trade by eliminating most tariff and
non-tariff barriers � a move that is expected to provide the region�s
consumers greater choice of quality products at affordable rates. It also seeks to
liberalise investment norms and do away with services trade
restrictions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------
# March april
1. IWT 1960
3. CHOGM -> Commonwealth Head of govt meets -> prosperity + security + sustainblity
+ fairness
Blue charter of ocean governance + Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade
and Investment
Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, Commonwealth Innovation Fund and Commonwealth
Innovation Index were also announced
It is a group of 53 states, all of which (except for two i.e. Rwanda and
Mozambique) were formerly part of the British Empire. Further
Myanmar and Aden (now part of Yemen) are the only former British colonies who
elected not to join the Commonwealth
4. Cloud Act
6. Asian premium -> OPEC -> India + China-> It is the extra charge being collected
by OPEC countries from Asian countries when selling oil.
The Asian premium has its roots in the establishment of market oriented crude
pricing in 1986.
There are 3 important benchmarks in global market, representing the cost of oil
produced in respective geographies.
Brent: Light sweet oil representative of European market
West Texas Intermediate(WTI): US market
Dubai/Oman
8. ITLOS -> UNCLOS -> 1982 -> 1994 -> ISA -> judges for 9 years
9. UN road safety Trust fund -> by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
10. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ->1947 by ECOSOC, (United Nation
Economic and Social Council) a regional commission
UNECE includes 56-member States in Europe, North America and Asia.
India is not a member country to it.
Its major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration.
11. SOUTH ASIA COOPERATIVE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (SACEP) -> 1992 -> BBINS MAP
15. UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is an Office of the United Nations
Secretariat established in January 1998 as the Department for Disarmament
Affairs
Its goal is to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and the
strengthening of the disarmament regimes in respect to other
weapons of mass destruction, chemical and biological weapons.
It also promotes disarmament efforts in the area of conventional weapons,
especially landmines and small arms, which are often the weapons of
choice in contemporary conflicts.
16. UN Security Council Resolution 1540 -> 2004 under UN Charter and affirms that
the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means
of delivery constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
17. IMF -> WEO -> project higher growth rates for india
18. UN BROADBAND COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT -> 2010 -> UNESCO -> ITU
19. GSP is a preferential treatment that US government gives when products are
imported from one of 120 designated developing and developed countries. ->
Generalized System of Preferences -> India + Indonesia + Kazastan -> UNSTR
21. Studya in india program -> MHRD -> foreign meritorious students to fee wavier
study in india