CLAT GK Compendium - SEPT - PART I

The CLAT Cruise by Success Boat
CLAT GK COMPENDIUM
Copyright 2021 – Success Boat

TALIBAN CONTROLS KABUL
The TALIBAN has seized Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, raising questions over the US
and NATO (NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION) trained Afghan Forces.
This is the FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR OUSTER 20 YEARS AGO IN THE WAKE OF
THE 9/11 STRIKES THAT TALIBAN FIGHTERS HAVE ENTERED THE CITY — they
first seized the Capital in 1996.
Operated wars:
 1994 – 96 militia
 1996 – 2001 (1st government)
 2002 – 2021 (insurgency- armed rebellion against authorities, on Afghanistan side led by
former President Hamid Karzai and later by President Ashraf Ghani with the NATO
support.)
 2021 – present (2nd government)
Understanding the matter:

 Terrorist Attack
o On 11th September 2001, terrorist attacks in America killed nearly 3,000 people.
o So, a month after 9/11, the US launched airstrikes against
Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom).
 Transitional Government in Afghanistan

o After the attacks, the NATO coalition troops declared war on Afghanistan. The
US dislodged the Taliban regime and established a transitional government in
Afghanistan.
o The US had reached the conclusion long ago that the war was unwinnable and
approached for peace talks.
Peace Talks:
 Murree Talks
o In 2015 the US had sent a representative to the first-ever meeting between the
Taliban and the Afghan government that was hosted by Pakistan in Murree in
2015.
o However, the Murree talks did not progress.

 Doha Talks
o In 2020, before the Doha Talks started, the Taliban had maintained that they
would hold direct talks only with the US, and not with the Kabul government,
which they did not recognise. In the agreement, the US administration promised
that it would withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by 1st May, 2021.
(The deadline has been pushed to 11th September 2021.)
o This provided the Taliban a sense of victory and demoralised the Afghan troops.
o The Taliban promised to reduce violence, join intra-Afghan peace talks and
cut all ties with foreign terrorist groups.
CAUSE OF CAPITULATION:
 US’ UNCONDITIONAL EXIT – US WITHDREW ITS TROOPS WITHOUT SOME
STRONG POLITICAL SETTLEMENT AMONG TALIBAN AND AFGHANISTAN.
 AFGHAN’S PSYCHOLOGICAL DENIAL – TECHNICAL DEPENDENCE ON US
FOR AIR AND WEAPON SUPPORT SYSTEM.
 THE EXPECTED LEAVE OF USA FROM AFGHANISTAN.
 LACK OF PREPARATION – INSPITE OF REASONABLE APPREHENSION, THE
ARMY AND GOVERNMENT WERE NOT PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION.
An Indian Perspective:
 Challenges
o Issue for Indian Security – India has infrastructural projects in Afghanistan,
additionally it is matter of security to evacuate stranded Indians there.
o Spread of International Terrorism – Taliban and Pakistan may join hands and
work toward the international terrorism.
o Conflict due to religious ideology - Taliban is Islamic fundamentalist group,
there might be trouble balancing religious ideology.
o New geopolitical relations - China-Pakistan-Taliban may form a group, which
can hurt India’s interest.
 Options India has

o To engage in deeper diplomatic relations with Taliban.
o Need to look out for balancing opportunities in relation to Sino-Pak and Taliban
relations.
o To continue with the infrastructural projects in Afghanistan.


About Taliban:
 Founders
o Mohammed Omar
o Abdul Ghani Baradar

 The Taliban, or students in the Pashto language, emerged in the early 1990s in
northern Pakistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
 It is an Islamic fundamentalist political and military organisation operating in
Afghanistan.
 They have dominated Afghan polity for quite some time and feature regularly in
international affairs.
 The Taliban have been fighting against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul for
around 20 years. They seek to reimpose their strict version of Islam in Afghanistan.
Indian Projects in Afghanistan:

 Parliamentary building in Kabul
 Zaranj Delram Highway (Western Afghanistan with Chabahar port)
 Salma Dam (Afghan-India friendship Dam)
 Military Vehicles for Afghan National Army and Mi-25 and Mi-35 choppers for Air Force.
Afghanistan:
 Landlocked country (not have boundaries attached with oceans)
 It shares border with seven countries – Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China,
India, Pakistan.
 Emir – Hibatullah Akhundzada

 Prime Minister – Moha. Hassan Akhund

 Government – Unitary Deobandi Islamic Emirate under a caretaker government.
NATIONAL GENE BANK
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under the Ministry of AYUSH and the National Bureau
of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The purpose of this MoU is to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources
(MAPGRs) in the NATIONAL GENE BANK (NGB).
About:
 Establishment: The National Gene Bank was notified in 1996-97.
 Hosted By: National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi.
 Purpose: To conserve the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations in the
form of seeds, genomic resources, pollen etc.
Functioning:
 The NGB has four kinds of facilities, namely,
o Seed Genebank (- 18°C),
o Cryogenebank (-170°C to -196°C),
o In vitro Genebank (25°C), and
o Field Genebank
 To cater to long-term as well as medium-term conservation.
 It stores different crop groups such as cereals, millets, medicinal and aromatic plants and
narcotics, etc.
Other Boards:
 In order to promote the medicinal plants sector, the Government of India set up the
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) on 24th November 2000.
 National Bureau of Plant Introduction’ was renamed as ‘National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources’ (NBPGR) in January 1977.

Some facts:
 The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway houses the world’s largest collection of
seeds.
 India’s seed vault is at Chang La (Ladakh) in the Himalayas.
 National Animal Gene Bank, established at the National Bureau of Animal Genetic
Resources (NBAGR - Karnal, Haryana), has the objective of conserving the indigenous
livestock biodiversity.
 NBAGR is one of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes
 Germplasm is a live information source for all the genes present in the respective plant,
which can be conserved for long periods and regenerated whenever it is required in the
future.

UPHEAVAL IN MEGHALAYA
Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, a former militant of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council

(HNLC), was killed in a police encounter that has led to a crisis in Meghalaya.
Cherishterfield Thangkhiew:
 Thangkhiew was the founding General Secretary of the separatist Hynniewtrep
National Liberation Council (HNLC).
 Thangkhiew had entered militancy in 1987 and was the co-founder of the first
prominent separatist militant tribal organization Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council
(HALC) in Meghalaya.
 The encounter was reportedly carried out by the police team of East Khasi Hills and East
Jaintia Hills.
Background of the Story:

 Meghalaya shares a border with Bangladesh and has seen decades of migration from the
neighbouring country as well as from other parts of India - Bengal, Punjab and Bihar.
 This has sparked anxieties of indigenous communities who feared becoming a "minority
in their own homeland" because of the influx of "outsiders".

Militant Group:
 It was a culmination of "anti-outsider sentiments" that led to the formation of
Meghalaya's first militant group, the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALP),
in 1992.
 Hynniewtrep represented the Khasi and Jaintia communities and Achik represented
the Garo community.
 HALC was later divided and HNLC came into being that represented the Khasi and
Jaintia communities and the Achik Matgrik Liberation Army that represented the Garo
community.
 The Achik Matgrik Liberation Army was later replaced by the Achik National
Volunteers Council (ANVC).
 HNLC claimed to represent only the interest of Khasi Communities, whereas, the
Achik Matgrik Liberation Army demanded a separate state for the Garo community.
Insurgencies in other North East states:

 Nagaland: Naga Insurgency

 Mizoram: Mizo Movement.
 Assam Insurgency: United Liberation Front of Assam (U.L.F.A.) was formed in 1979
for the deportation of illegal migrants. Bodoland Statehood Movement.
 Manipur: United National Liberation Front formed in 1964, with an objective of ending
the discrimination against Manipur.
 Arunachal Pradesh: The only case of indigenous insurgency movement in Arunachal
Pradesh was the rise of the Arunachal Dragon Force (ADF), which was rechristened
as East India Liberation Front (EALF) in 2001
Present Status of militancy in Meghalaya:

 The ANVC since 2004 has been under an extended ceasefire agreement with the
government while the HNLC has been trying to talk peace with the government but on a
conditional basis.
 Over the last several years, militancy in Meghalaya was seen as declining.
 In 2018, the Centre withdrew the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from
Meghalaya after almost 27 years of witnessing a decline by 80% in insurgency-related
incidents.
Measures of Counter Insurgencies:

 Operations and special acts: In the Assam 1990s, two military operations, Operation
Rhino and Bajrang, were launched against U.L.F.A. militants.
 Special powers under AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) were bestowed on
armed forces to deal with emergency conditions. It is there in the whole of Assam,
Nagaland, most of Manipur, and some areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
 Peace Talks: Today, almost all the major insurgent groups in the region, except the
Meitei insurgents, have entered into a ceasefire or Suspension of Operation
(SoO) agreements with the Union and/or state governments.
 Inner Line Permit (ILP): Restrictions are imposed on the entry of outsiders to
maintain the original identity of indigenous people of Mizoram, Nagaland and
Arunachal Pradesh entry of outsiders are not allowed without ILP.
 Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): It is responsible for the
matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and
projects in the North Eastern Region, to accelerate the pace of socio-economic
development of the region.
Some Facts:

Meghalaya’s Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on August 15, 2021, resigned and called for a
judicial probe to uncover the truth behind the killing of Thangkhiew of the HNLC during a police
operation

INDIA DECIDED TO RATIFY KIGALI AMENDMENT
Union Government approved the ratification of the Kigali Amendment TO THE Montreal
Protocol ON PHASING DOWN CLIMATE-DAMAGING REFRIGERANT
HYDROFLUOROCARBONS(HFCS).
THE SIMILAR DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY USA AND CHINA (THE WORLD’S
LARGEST PRODUCER AND CONSUMER OF HFCS.)
KIGALI AMENDMENT:
 The Kigali Amendment is projected to reduce future global average warming in
2100 due to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from a baseline of 0.3–0.5°C to less than
0.1°C.
 There has been an unexpected increase in global total emissions of CFC-11.
 The Antarctic ozone hole is expected to gradually close, returning to 1980 levels in the
2060s.
The Montreal Protocol:

 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is the landmark
multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of
nearly 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS).
 When released to the atmosphere, those chemicals damage the stratospheric ozone
layer, Earth’s protective shield that protects humans and the environment from harmful
levels of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
 Adopted on 15 September 1987, the Protocol is to date the only UN treaty ever that has
been ratified every country on Earth - all 198 UN Member States.
Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol:

 On October 15, 2016, with the United States’ leadership, 197 countries adopted an
amendment to phase down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.
 The Kigali Amendment aims for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by
cutting their production and consumption.
 The goal is to achieve over 80% reduction in HFC consumption by 2047.
 Given their zero impact on the depletion of the ozone layer, HFCs are currently used as
replacements of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in

air conditioning, refrigeration and foam insulation, however they are powerful
greenhouse gases.
 The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and will come into
force from January 1, 2019.
Under the amendment :

 Developed countries will reduce HFC consumption beginning in 2019.
 Most developing countries will freeze consumption in 2024,

 Some developing countries including India with unique circumstances will freeze
consumption in 2028.
 The plan also provides financing to certain countries, to help them transition to climate-
friendly alternatives.
 With the Kigali Amendment, the Montreal Protocol has become an even more
powerful instrument against global warming.
SOME FACTS:
 INDIA BECAME PARTY TO MONTREAL PROTOCOL IN JUNE 1992 AND
SUCCESSFULLY MET ALL PHASED OUT TARGETS OF OZONE DEPLETING
SUBSTANCES.
 IT HAS BEEN AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO LAUNCH COOLING ACTION
PLAN – INDIA COOLING ACTION PLAN 2019. IT PROVIDES FOR A 20-YEAR
PERSPECTIVE and outlines actions needed to provide access to sustainable cooling.

G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0).
The RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI) has announced that it will CONDUCT AN open
market purchase OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OF RS 25,000 CRORE UNDER THE
G-SEC ACQUISITION PROGRAMME (G-SAP 2.0).
Earlier, under G-SAP 1.0, the first purchase of government securities for an aggregate amount of
Rs. 25,000 crore was made.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ACQUISITION PROGRAMME (G-SAP):
 ABOUT: The G-Sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) is basically AN

UNCONDITIONAL AND A STRUCTURED OPEN MARKET OPERATION
(OMO), of a much larger scale and size.
 RBI has called the G-SAP as an OMO with a ‘DISTINCT CHARACTER’.
 The word ‘unconditional’ here connotes that RBI will buy G-Secs irrespective of the
market sentiment.
OBJECTIVE:
 To achieve A STABLE AND ORDERLY EVOLUTION OF THE YIELD
CURVE ALONG WITH MANAGEMENT OF LIQUIDITY in the economy.
 SIGNIFICANCE: The government will mainly benefit from the G-SAP.
 By purchasing G-secs, the RBI INFUSES MONEY SUPPLY INTO THE
ECONOMY which inturn keeps the YIELD DOWN AND LOWER THE
BORROWING COST OF THE GOVERNMENT.
ISSUES:
 Critics of the G-SAP say that the RUPEE MIGHT GET ADVERSELY
AFFECTED.
 They are of the view that the G-SAP announcement has already led
to DEPRECIATION OF THE RUPEE (a fall in the value of currency).
 So, critics are pointing to the fact that there is a TRADE-OFF BETWEEN A
TUMBLING RUPEE AND LOWER BORROWING COSTS/LOW YIELDS.
 Further, too much liquidity will DRIVE UP inflation.
OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS:

 Open Market Operations (OMO) is one of the QUANTITATIVE (TO REGULATE

OR CONTROL THE TOTAL VOLUME OF MONEY) MONETARY POLICY
TOOLS
 OMOs are conducted by the RBI by way of SALE OR PURCHASE OF
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES (g-secs) to adjust money supply conditions.
 The central bank SELLS G-SECS TO REMOVE LIQUIDITY FROM THE
SYSTEM AND BUYS BACK G-SECS TO INFUSE LIQUIDITY INTO THE
SYSTEM.
 RBI carries out the OMO THROUGH COMMERCIAL BANKS and does not
directly deal with the public.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES:
 A G-Sec is a TRADABLE INSTRUMENT issued by the Central Government or the
State Governments.
 It acknowledges the GOVERNMENT’S DEBT OBLIGATION.
 Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with
original MATURITIES OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR or LONG TERM
(USUALLY CALLED GOVERNMENT BONDS or dated securities with original
maturity of one year or more).
 G-Secs CARRY PRACTICALLY NO RISK OF DEFAULT and, hence, are
called RISK-FREE GILT-EDGED INSTRUMENTS.
 Gilt-edged securities are HIGH-GRADE INVESTMENT BONDS offered by
governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.
 Government Securities consists of two categories:
o 1- Treasury Bills (T-Bills): These are short term instruments issued in three
tenors in 91 days, 182 days, and 364 days. These are zero-coupon securities
that pay no interest.
o 2- Dated Securities: These are long term instruments with an original
maturity of one year or more.
 In India, the Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated
securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities,
which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).
Static:
 Establishment: 1 April 1935
 Under the Ministry: Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India

 Governor: Shaktikanta Das

UTTARAKHAND’S NARAYAN KOTI TEMPLE ADOPTS A HERITAGE

PROJECT
Narayankoti Temple in Uttarakhand has been included in the list of Adopt a Heritage Project. Due
to its inclusion, it will receive a facelift. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed
between Ministry of Tourism, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, the Director General,
Culture, Uttarakhand and Social Legal Research & Education Foundation (SLREF).
 SLRF has acted as monument mitra for the site.
o These are private and public sector companies and individuals for the development of
specific sites.
o There is no financial bid involved but corporate sector has been expected to use
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the upkeep of the site.
Narayankoti Temple:
 The temple is a group of ancient temples, about 2 km from Guptkashi on the Rudraprayag-
Gaurikund highway.
 This is the only place in the country which has nine planetary temples in a group that are
a “symbol of nine planets”.
 It is devoted to Lakshmi Narayana who is associated with Pandavas.
 It is believed that these temples were constructed in the 9th century.
Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan:

 It was launched on World Tourism Day (27th September 2017)
 It is a collaborative project of Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI), with the governments of states and union territories.
 Other schemes to promote tourism
o PRASHAD
o Swadesh Darshan
o DekhoApnaDesh
o Iconic Tourist Sites
Other important places in Uttarakhand:

 Chardham – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath (Chardham connectivity to be

improved under Chardham Pariyojana)
 Hemkund Sahib – Dedicated to 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji in Chamoli District.
 Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi – UNESCO World Heritage Site
 Jim Corbett National Park – Oldest national Park in the country
EXERCISE KONKAN 2021
Exercise Konkan 2021 was held between INS Tabar and HMS Westminster on 16 Aug 21 in the
English Channel. It was an Indo-UK Naval bilateral (between two countries) exercise. It has
started in 2004 and since then hosted by both the countries alternatively. The exercise included the
participation of integral helicopters of the two ships and the Falcon Electronic Warfare aircraft.
These along with the diverse professional engagements held earlier in harbour, have enabled
Exercise Konkan 2021 consolidate interoperability and helped cement the strong bonds of
friendship the between the two navies.
Why to conduct exercises?

 It is based on the long-term strategic relationship between them.
 This exercise provides a platform for the Navies to periodically conduct exercise at sea and in
harbour in order to build interoperability and share best practices.
Other exercises between Indian and United Kingdom:

 Indradhanush (Air Force)
 Ajeya Warrior (Joint Military Exercise)
INS Tabar:
 It is the third Talwar-class frigate in the Indian Navy, which was commissioned in 2004 in
Kaliningrad, Russia.
 This warship can handle air or surface or subsurface missions and defend herself.
 The Talwar class of frigates of the Indian Navy have been built in Russia under an Indo-
Russian joint production.
English Channel:

 The English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from
northern France.
 It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end.
 It is the busiest shipping area in the world.
 It is about 560 km long and varies in width from 240 km at its widest to 34 km in the Strait of
Dover.
 It is the smallest of the shallow seas around the continental shelf of Europe.
HMS Westminister:
It is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, which was launched on February 4,1992. It has been
named after Dukedom of Westminster.
Static:
 Chief of Naval Staff – Admiral Karambhir Singh
 Chief of Defence Staff – General Bipin Rawat
 Air Chief Marshal – Rakesh Kumar Singh Bahaduria
 Chief of Army Staff – General Manoj Mukund Naravane

CHINA'S NEW MAITIME REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN SHIPS
Warranting vessels are to report their information when passing through what China's “Territorial
Waters”, according to China's New maritime rules under “Nine Dash Line”which are disputed
by several other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Operators of submersibles, nuclear vessels, ships carrying radioactive materials and ships carrying
bulk oil, chemicals, liquefied gas are required to report their detailed information upon their
visits to Chinese territorial waters.
China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign
territory.
China’s sees the US’ incursion into the region is of assertive nature that can be the biggest
destroyer of peace and stability in the region.
Implications:
 Impact on Navigation and Trade: Peace and stability in the region is of great significance
to India. India undertakes various activities, including cooperation in the oil and gas sector,
with the Littoral States of South China Sea and 55% of India’s trade passes through its
waters and the Malacca Straits.
 Inconsistent with International Law: Inconsistent with the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states that ships of all countries “enjoy the
right of innocent passage through the territorial sea”.

 Regional Turbulence: Increase tensions thus challenging Beijing’s claims to assert the
freedom of navigation.
Nine Dash Line :
Covering the strategic Paracel and Spratly island chains, Stretching hundreds of kilometers
south and east of China’s southerly Hainan Island . most countries deem it inconsistent with
the UNCLOS.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:
 The ‘Law of the Sea Treaty’, formally known as the UNCLOS was adopted in 1982 to
establish jurisdictional limits over the ocean areas.
 The convention defines distance of 12 nautical miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea
limit and a distance of 200 nautical miles distance as Exclusive Economic Zone limit.
 India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982.
South China Sea:
 An arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.

 It is south of China, east & south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island
of Borneo.
 Bordering states & territories (clockwise from north): the People’s Republic of China,
the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore
and Vietnam.
 It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the
Philippine Sea.
 It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. The Paracel Islands, the Spratly
Islands and the Scarborough Shoal are the most important.
Strait of Malacca:
 Connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
 It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West)
Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east

 Has an area of about 25,000 square miles.

 The strait derived its name from the trading port of Melaka (formerly Malacca)—which
was of importance in the 16th and 17th centuries—on the Malay coast.
Must Read Articles:

 https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-chinas-new-maritime-law-
might-spike-tensions-in-south-china-sea-7481343/
 https://thewire.in/south-asia/explained-what-lies-behind-beijings-new-maritime-rules-
in-south-china-sea
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6x8wJ-onG0

CHINA'S ECONOMIC INTEREST IN AFGHANISTAN
 Reserves of Lithium: Afghanistan is probably home to the world’s largest reserves of

lithium. Lithium is used in electric vehicles and the renewable energy industry and China
dominates Lithium-Ion Battery Production worldwide so it may seek long-term a contract
with the Taliban
 Mineral Deposits: Afghanistan has mineral deposits estimated to be worth up to $3
trillion. Afghanistan is rich in several resources such as gold, oil, bauxite, rare earths,
chromium, copper, natural gas, uranium, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, gemstones, talc, sulphur,
travertine, gypsum and marble .
 China’s Belt and Road Initiative: China’s strategic Belt-and-Road Initiative (BRI) could
get more reach if it is able to extend the initiative from Pakistan to Afghanistan, with
a Peshawar-to-Kabul motorway , thus making a much shorter land route for faster and
convenient access to markets in the Middle East for Chinese goods.
China’s Security Interest in Afghanistan:

 The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) had roots in Afghanistan as it received
support from the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the 2000s. ETIM is an Uyghur Islamic extremist
organisation founded in Western China with the aim to establish an independent state
called East Turkestan in the place of Xinjiang.
 China is worried that Afghanistan could become a potential haven for the Uyghur
extremist group, which could retaliate against the widespread repression of Uyghurs.
Impact of China-Taliban Engagement on India:

 A new route of BRI through Kabul would render India’s reluctance to join BRI less
consequential.
 China’s stronghold in Afghanistan will also hamper connectivity projects to Central Asia via
Afghanistan. For example, Chabahar Port, International North South Transport
Corridor (INSTC), TAPI Pipeline.
Chabahar Port:
 Located on the Gulf of Oman and is only 72 km away from the Gwadar
port in Pakistan which has been developed by China.
 The port serves as the only oceanic port of Iran and consists of two separate ports named
Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.]
 Significance of Chabahar Port for India:

o Trade: Considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade to Central Asian

countries
o Security: The port can also act as a counter to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is
being developed with Chinese investment.
o Connectivity: In future, the Chabahar project and the International North South
Transport Corridor (INSTC) will complement each other by optimising Indian
connectivity with Russia and Eurasia.
Tapi Pipeline:
 Also called Peace pipeline, is a 1,814km natural gas pipeline that originates from
Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India.
 It aims to monetise Turkmenistan’s gas reserves and supply them to neighbouring countries
to promote the use of natural gas and improve energy security.
 The project is being developed by TAPI Pipeline Company (TPCL), a consortium
established by four individual state-owned gas companies Turkmengaz (Turkmenistan),
Afghan Gas (Afghanistan), Interstate Gas Service (Pakistan), and Gas Authority of India
and Indian Oil (India).
 The four countries signed an Inter Government Agreement (IGA) and Gas Pipeline
Framework Agreements (GPFA) in December 2010 for the development of the pipeline.

Afghanistan:
 Capital and Largest City: Kabul

 Official Language: Dari and Pasto
 Currency: Afghan Afghani
 Afghanistan is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is
bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to
the north, and Tajikistan and China to the northeast.
China:
 Capital: Beijing
 Official Language: Mandarin
 Currency: Renminbi
 President: Xi Jimping
 China has a total number of 14 neighbouring countries namely Mongolia, Kazakhstan,
North Korea, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal,
Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
Must Read Articles:

 https://ecfr.eu/article/after-the-withdrawal-chinas-interests-in-afghanistan/
 https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/afghanistan-crisis-taliban-takeover-
china-7472999/
 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/08/18/how-will-china-seek-
to-profit-from-the-talibans-takeover-in-afghanistan/

SECURITY THREATS EMANATING FROM AFGHANISTAN
After the restoration of Taliban rule in Afghanistan , India engaged with the heads of
the government of Russia and Germany. Russia showed interest in working with India
bilaterally, multilaterally at the UNSC, and at other fora like SCO and BRICS, despite the
differences between India and China on the Afghanistan issue, and on the role of Pakistan in
facilitating the Taliban.
Taliban Rule in Afghanistan: In 2020, the US signed a deal (at Qatar's capital-Doha) with
the Taliban that envisaged a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan excluding the
Afghan government.
Taliban do not see the democratic government as legitimate ruler and they don’t believe in the
Constitution, rule of law, or democracy, therefore after the US troops withdrawal, Taliban
seized major cities including capital Kabul in Afghanistan. This raised various concerns
regarding cross-border terrorism, humanitarian crisis, and new geopolitical order.
Threats for India Emanating from Afghanistan:

 Cross-Border Terrorism: Groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-
Mohammed which have close affinity with Taliban and enjoy Pakistan’s support can
threaten regional peace and security.
 Religious Fundamentalism: Taliban will have trouble balancing its religious ideology with
the imperatives of state interests thus challenging India to deradicalise the region for long
lasting peace and stability.
 New Regional Geopolitical Developments: formation of new regional geopolitical axis
between China-Pakistan-Taliban, which may go against the interests of India.
 Economic Losses: Taliban will jeopardise India’s investment in Afghanistan thus
hampering connectivity projects to Central Asia via Afghanistan.
India - Afghanistan Diplomatic Engagement :
 India’s National Security Advisor , Ajit Doval chaired a meeting of the NSAs of
the BRICS countries (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) which recommended the
BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan for consideration by the BRICS Summit. The Action
Plan aims to further strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation in areas such as:
o Financing and combating terrorism,
o Misuse of the Internet by terrorists,
o Curbing travel of terrorists,
o Border controls,
o Capacity building,
o Regional and international cooperation.
 At the 31st special session of the UN Human Rights Council, India raised various concerns
over the serious human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

 SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
 Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security
and stability in the region.
 Created in 2001.
 The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
 It is a statutory document which outlines the organisation's goals and principles, as well as
its structure and core activities.
 SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese.
 Membership: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India,
Pakistan
 Observer states: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia
 Dialogue Partner: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, Sri Lanka
BRICS:
 BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies,
namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
 In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four
emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
 The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers’ in 2006.
 South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted
the acronym BRICS.
 India has assumed the BRICS Presidency from January 2021
 The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance
with the acronym B-R-I-C-S
UN Human Rights Council:
 It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for

strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
 It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General
Assembly (UNGA).
 The Council's Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are
distributed as follows:
o African States: 13 seats

o Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats

o Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
o Western European and other States: 7 seats
o Eastern European States: 6 seats
 Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for
immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Must read articles:

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/main-concern-is-curbing-terror-threat-from-
afghanistan-india/article36256827.ece
 https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/pakistan-combining-with-taliban-in-terms-
of-terrorism-major-threat-to-india-101629217596837.html
 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-russia-express-concern-at-afghan-security-
situation-safety-of-minorities/articleshow/86037931.cms
 https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/the-strategic-disconnect-between-india-and-us-has-
been-revealed-by-afghanistan-4179290.html

DELISTING TALIBAN FROM SANCTIONS: UN
The United Nations (UN) officials refuted reports that the next meeting of the Taliban
Sanctions Committee also known as the resolution 1988 committee, due in September 2021,
would lift restrictions on designated terrorists like Sirajuddin Haqqani and Mullah
Baradar.
Resolution 1988 Committee Meeting:

 India’s Permanent Representative to the UN (UNPR) , T.S. Tirumurti is
the Chairman of the committee until December 2021, and is key to deciding the date of
the meetings, and scrutinising requests to delist the Taliban leaders.
 The meeting is expected to happen ahead of an important meeting to discuss the
renewal of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which
expires in September 2021.
Significance of the Meeting:

 First time the Committees would meet after the Taliban takeover of Kabul, and after
the deadline for the US troops to pull-out.
 The stand taken by the UNSC members, particularly the P-5 — US, Russia, China,
France and UK — would indicate how they intend to approach a future Taliban-led
regime in Afghanistan.
 The UN would have to decide on continuing the accreditation with Ambassador
Ghulam Isaczai who was appointed by the ‘Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’.
Importance of Sanctions for India:

The reports concerning Sirajuddin Haqqani are significant for India as he and the Haqqani
group, are wanted for the Indian Embassy bombings in Kabul in 2008 and 2009.
Resolution 1988 Committee/Taliban Sanctions Committee:

 In 1999, the UNSC Committee was established pursuant to Resolution 1267, which imposed
a limited air embargo and asset freeze on the Taliban.
 In June 2011, after the adoption of resolution 1988 (2011), the Committee split into two:
o The 1267 Committee was henceforth known as the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee
o A separate Committee was established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) to oversee
implementation of the measures against individuals and entities associated with the
Taliban.

 The Committee comprises all 15 members of the Security Council and makes its decision
by consensus. The current Chair of the Committee, for the period ending 31 st December
2021, is India.
 The work of the Committee is supported by the Analytical Support and Sanctions
Monitoring Team pursuant to resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL
(Da'esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities.
Mandate:
 Oversee the implementation of the sanctions measures.
 Designate individuals and entities who meet the listing criteria as contained in the
relevant resolutions.
 Consider and decide upon notifications and requests for exemptions from the sanctions
measures.
 Consider and decide upon requests to remove a name from the 1988 Sanctions List.
 Conduct periodic and specialised reviews of the entries on the 1988 Sanctions List.
 Examine the reports presented by the Monitoring Team.
 Report periodically to the Security Council on the implementation of the sanction
measures.
Articles to read:
 https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/indialed-un-sanctions-committee-to-decide-
travel-exemptions-for-taliban-leaders-101630516202974.html
 https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/print/delisting-of-taliban-leaders-from-un-
on-a-case-by-case-basis/

MERGER OF THREE SUPER MASSIVE BLACKHOLES
Indian scientists have discovered the merger of three supermassive black holes from as many
galaxies to form a triple Active Galactic Nucleus, says Department of Science and
Technology.
AGN (Active Galactic Nuclei ) while studying two massive barred spiral
galaxies NGC7733 and NGC7734 detected unusual emissions from the centre of the latter
and a curious movement of a large bright clump within it, having a different velocity than
that of NGC7733. As the third one was a separate galaxy, the scientists named it NGC7733N.
All three merging black holes were part of galaxies in the Toucan constellation (located
in the southern hemisphere of the sky and ranks it 48th in size among the 88
constellations in the night sky).The nearest galactic neighbour of earth is the Andromeda
galaxy which is 2.5 million light years away.
Active Galactic Nuclei:

There are supermassive blackholes, which are several million solar masses in size, at the
centres of galaxies, and these are known as AGN. AGN is formed when the gravitational energy
of these materials, being pulled towards the black hole, is converted into light.
Collision of Galaxies:
 If two galaxies collide, their black hole will also come closer by transferring the kinetic
energy to the surrounding gas.
 The distance between the blackholes decreases with time until the separation is around a
parsec (3.26 light-years).
 The two black holes are then unable to lose any further kinetic energy to get even closer
and merge. This is known as the final parsec problem.
Significance of the Finding:

The presence of a third black hole can solve the final parsec problem.
Black Hole:
 It refers to a point in space where the matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field
from which even light cannot escape.
 The concept was theorized by Albert Einstein in 1915 and the term ‘black hole’ was coined
by American physicist John Archibald Wheeler.
 Usually, the black holes belong to two categories:

o One category ranges between a few solar masses and tens of solar masses. These are
thought to form when massive stars die.
o The other category is of supermassive black holes. These range from hundreds of
thousands to billions of times that of the sun from the Solar system to which Earth
belongs.
 In April 2019, the scientists at the Event Horizon Telescope Project released the first-ever
image of a Black Hole (more precisely, of its shadow).
 Gravitational waves are created when two black holes orbit each other and merge.
Department of Science and Technology:
 The foundation of DST was laid on 3rd May 1971 along the model of National Science
Foundation (NSF), USA.
 It provides funding and also makes policies and co-ordinates scientific work with other
countries.
Articles to read:
 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1749437
 https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/indian-researchers-discover-merger-of-three-
supermassive-black-holes-1845942-2021-08-27


GREATER MALES CONNECTIVITY PROJECT: MALDIVES
An Indian company named Afcons has signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure
project in Maldives which is the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) as a result of
bilateral consultation between India and the Maldives
 Greater Male Connectivity Project will consist of a 6.74 km-long bridge and causeway
link between Male and nearby islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi by
using renewable energy.
 Grant of USD 100 million and a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 400 million from India.
 The biggest infrastructure project in the Maldives overall by India.
 Greater Male Connectivity Project is considered as the economic lifeline for the Maldives
 Greater Male Connectivity Project will provide a major boost to connectivity between the
four islands
 Greater Male Connectivity Project will add dynamism to the Maldivian transport and
economic activities.
India-Maldives-China:
 The GMCP project would be bigger than the Sinamale Bridge built with Chinese
assistance that connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule and was completed in 2018.
 The India-Maldives relationship suffered a setback when Maldives entered into a Free-
Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2017. However with the election of a new pro-
India government in Maldives, the relationships have improved and Maldives is also
considering pulling out of the FTA with China.
 At present, India-assisted projects in the region include water and sewerage projects on
34 islands, reclamation projects for the Addl island, a port on Gulhifalhu, airport
redevelopment at Hanimaadhoo, and a hospital and a cricket stadium in Hulhumale.
Developments:
 Security Cooperation: Earlier in August 2021, in the Deputy National Security Adviser-
level meeting hosted by Sri Lanka, India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives had agreed to work
on “four pillars” of security cooperation.
 UNGA President: In June 2021, India welcomed the election of Maldives’ Foreign
Minister as the President of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General
Assembly (GA) for 2021-22.
 Mou’s: In November 2020, India and the Maldives signed four Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) related to High Impact Community Development Projects and on
Cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs.

 Relief Package: In August 2020, India had committed to Maldives a five-pronged

package including air, sea, intra-island and telecommunications to help it deal with the
economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Bilateral Bubble: Maldives is the first South Asian country with which India started a
bilateral air bubble during Covid-19 pandemic.
 Bilateral Visits: Since September 2018, India and Maldives have seen a number of
bilateral visits.
o India’s Prime Minister visited Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of
President Solih.
o Maldives President also visited India in December 2018.
o The Home Minister of Maldives met the Indian Home Minister in February,
2020.
 Maldives and India are members of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation
(SASEC).
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):

 It comprises of eight member States: Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Bhutan , India , Maldives ,
Nepal , Pakistan , Sri Lanka
 There are currently nine Observers to SAARC, namely: (i) Australia; (ii) China; (iii) the
European Union; (iv) Iran; (v) Japan; (vi) the Republic of Korea; (vii) Mauritius; (viii)
Myanmar; and (ix) the United States of America.
The Objectives of the SAARC:
 Promote the welfare of the people

 Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region
 Promote and strengthen collective self-reliance of countries
 Contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems
 Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural,
technical and scientific fields
 Strengthen cooperation with other developing countries
 Strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums
 Cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation:
 The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, set up in

2001, brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in
a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border

connectivity, boosting trade among member countries, and strengthening regional economic
cooperation.
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) serves as Secretariat to the SASEC Program.
United Nations General Assembly:
 All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the
only UN body with universal representation.
 Each year, in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall
in New York for the annual General Assembly session, and general debate, which many
heads of state attend and address.
 Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new
members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
 The President of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-
year term of office.
 6 Main Committees : (1) First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), (2)
Second Committee (Economic and Financial), (3) Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian,
and Cultural), (4) Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), (5) Fifth
Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), (6)Sixth Committee (Legal).
FTAs (Free Trade Agreements):
FTAs are arrangements between two or more countries or trading blocs that primarily agree to
reduce or eliminate customs tariff and non tariff barriers on substantial trade between them.
FTAs, normally cover trade in goods (such as agricultural or industrial products) or trade in
services (such as banking, construction, trading etc.). FTAs can also cover other areas such as
intellectual property rights (IPRs), investment, government procurement and competition policy
etc.
Articles to read:
 https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-maldives-greater-male-connectivity-project-
7471603/
 https://www.thehindu.com/business/afcons-bags-530-mn-greater-male-connectivity-project-
in-maldives/article36127814.ece
 https://theprint.in/world/india-maldives-to-sign-agreement-on-greater-male-connectivity-
project/722360/

FORUM FOR DECARBONISATION OF TRANSPORT SECTOR
The NITI Aayog and World Resources Institute (WRI), India jointly launched the Forum for
Decarbonizing Transport.
The forum is a part of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)-Transport Initiative
for Asia (NDC-TIA) project, which focuses on developing a coherent strategy of effective
policies and the formation of a multi-stakeholder platform for decarbonising transport in the
region.
 NDC-TIA is a joint programme of seven organisations that will engage China, India,
and Vietnam in promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonising transport in
their respective countries. The project is part of the International Climate Initiative
(IKI).
 The IKI is a key element of Germany’s climate financing and the funding
commitments in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
 It will help in adopting an integrated approach for greening the transport sector in
India.
Aim:
To Bring down the peak level of GreenHouse Gas emissions
Advantages:
 Help in the development of innovative business models.
 Provide a platform to initiate dialogues for the development of uniform policies and
help achieve specific results in reducing emissions from the transport sector.
Why is there a need ?

 India is the third most CO2 emitting sector (contributes to more than 90% of the total
CO2 emissions) because of its large transport sector
 With increasing urbanisation, total number of vehicles will be doubled by 2030 as
the number of sales of vehicles is increasing rapidly.
 Thus , the transition to a decarbonisation path for the transport sector in India is essential
to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement for 2050.
Other Initiatives :
 FAME India Scheme Phase II

o Emphasis on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared
transport.

o To encourage advanced technologies, the benefits of incentives will be extended

to only those vehicles which are fitted with advanced batteries like a Lithium Ion
battery and other new technology batteries.
o The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure i.e one charging
station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.
PLI Scheme:
 Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme aims to give companies incentives on

incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units.
 Aims to encourage local companies to set up or expand existing manufacturing units by
inviting foreign companies to set units in India .
 Help in Pushing to Digital Economy as projects such as Smart City and Digital India are
expected to increase the demand for electronic products.
 Increase Exports
 Secure Telecom Infrastructure
 Doubling Farmers’ Income as the growth of the processed food industry leads to better
price for farmers and reduces high levels of wastage.
Renewable Automotive Industry:
 India aims to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturing and supplying
hub so Battery electric vehicle and fuel-cell vehicle technologies are all set to
overtake fossil-run vehicles in the country by 2050.
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India):

 Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI AAYYOG on January 1, 2015
with emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance,
Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.
o Chairperson: Prime Minister
o Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime-Minister
o Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union
Territories.
o Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers
and Lt. Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his nominee.
o Adhoc Membership: 2 member in ex-officio capacity from leading Research
institutions on rotational basis.
o Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from Union council of ministers to be
nominated by Prime minister.
o Chief Executive Officer: Appointed by Prime-minister for a fixed tenure, in rank
of Secretary to Government of India.
o Special Invitees: Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by Prime-
minister.

Objectives:
 Foster cooperative federalism
 Develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level
 Ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are
incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
 Pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting
adequately from economic progress
 Provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and
international like-minded Think Tanks
 Create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative

community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners
 Offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to

accelerate the implementation of the development agenda
 Maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre
World Resources Institute:
 WRI is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries and focuses on six
critical issues at the intersection of environment and development: climate, energy, food,
forests, water, and cities and transport.
 It was established in 1982. Headquartered in Washington, US.
World Resources Institute, India (WRI):
 WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust.
 It provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and
socially equitable development.
 Its work focuses on building sustainable and liveable cities and working towards a low
carbon economy.
 Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build
transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-
being.
 It is inspired by and associated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global
research organisation with more than 400 experts and other staff around the world.

 World Resources Institute began in Washington, DC, in 1982 to provide cutting edge
analysis to address global environment and development challenges.
 WRI is a global nonprofit organization that works with leaders in government, business
and civil society to research, design, and carry out practical solutions that simultaneously
improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive
 Mission of WRI global: To move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s
environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future
generations.
 It focuses on 7 urgent challenges: Food, Forests, Water, Ocean, Cities, Energy and Climate.
NDC–TIA:
 It is a regional initiative that aims to promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonize
transport in India, Vietnam, and China.
 In each of the partner countries, the NDC-TIA supports in making their sectoral
contributions to the achievement of the NDCs of the Paris Agreement.
 The NDC-TIA programme has a duration of 4 years.
 It is a joint programme, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the
German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
 The NDC–TIA India Component will focus on:
o Strengthening Green House Gas (GHG) and transport modelling capacities.
o Providing technical support on GHG emission reduction measures.
o Financing climate actions in transport.
o Offering policy recommendations on electric vehicle (EV) demand and supply
policies etc
o The programme will help to promote electric mobility in India.
o It will also support the development of policies and regulations to promote electric
vehicle charging infrastructure.
International Energy Agency:
 The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an autonomous organisation which works to

ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy.
 It was established in the wake of 1973 (set up in 1974) oil crisis after the OPEC cartel had
shocked the world with a steep increase in oil prices.
 It is headquartered in Paris, France.
 World Enegry Outlook report is released by IEA annually.
 India became an associate member of the International Energy Agency in 2017.
 Mexico officially became the International Energy Agency’s 30th member country in
February 2018, and its first member in Latin America.

Articles to read:
 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/niti-aayog-wri-launch-forum-for-
decarbonisation-of-transport-sector-101629863546468.html

HAMPI
⮚ The remains of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th century CE) could be found in
the capital city called Hampi.
⮚ located in the Tungabhadra basin in Bellary District, Central Karnataka with an area of
4187, 24 hectares .
⮚ It is surrounded by river Tungabhadra, craggy hill ranges and open plains .
⮚ One of the unique features of temples at Hampi is the wide chariot streets flanked by
the row of pillared mandapas.
⮚ The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of sultanates; its capital was
conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565 (Battle of Talikota), after
which Hampi remained in ruins.
Vijaynagar Empire:
⮚ Vijayanagara or “city of victory” was the name of both a city and an empire.
⮚ The empire was founded in the fourteenth century (1336 AD) by Harihara and
Bukka of Sangama dynasty. They made Hampi as the capital city.
⮚ It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the
peninsula.
⮚ Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by four important dynasties namely : Sangama ,
Saluva , Tuluva , Aravidu
⮚ Krishnadevaraya (ruled 1509-29) of the Tuluva dynasty was the most famous ruler
of Vijayanagar. He is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive
gopurams to many important south Indian temples.
⮚ He composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada.
India-Philippine Maritime Exercise :

 Indian Navy carried out a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Philippine Navy in
the West Philippine Sea.

 It will strengthen bilateral collaboration in the maritime domain towards a collective

aim of ensuring a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
 India is conducting with littoral nations that share their maritime boundaries with
China as part of its deployment.
 Indian naval ships INS Ranvijay and INS Kora are currently deployed to the
Western Pacific carried out a maritime partnership exercise with BRP Antonio Luna of
the Philippine Navy with an aim to strengthen maritime security collaboration with
partner nations.
Articles to read:
 https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-conducts-maritime-exercise-with-philippine-
navy-7467671/


CLAT GK Compendium - SEPT - PART I

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The CLAT Cruise by Success Boat

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TALIBAN CONTROLS KABUL

Understanding the matter:

 Transitional Government in Afghanistan

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 Options India has

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Indian Projects in Afghanistan:

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 Prime Minister – Moha. Hassan Akhund

NATIONAL GENE BANK

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Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, a former militant of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council

Background of the Story:

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Insurgencies in other North East states:

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 Nagaland: Naga Insurgency

Present Status of militancy in Meghalaya:

Measures of Counter Insurgencies:

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INDIA DECIDED TO RATIFY KIGALI AMENDMENT

The Montreal Protocol:

Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol:

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Under the amendment :

 Most developing countries will freeze consumption in 2024,

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G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 2.0).

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ACQUISITION PROGRAMME (G-SAP):

 ABOUT: The G-Sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) is basically AN

OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS:

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 Open Market Operations (OMO) is one of the QUANTITATIVE (TO REGULATE

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 Governor: Shaktikanta Das

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UTTARAKHAND’S NARAYAN KOTI TEMPLE ADOPTS A HERITAGE

Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan:

Other important places in Uttarakhand:

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 Chardham – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath (Chardham connectivity to be

EXERCISE KONKAN 2021

Why to conduct exercises?

Other exercises between Indian and United Kingdom:

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CHINA'S NEW MAITIME REGULATIONS FOR FOREIGN SHIPS

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Nine Dash Line :

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:

South China Sea:

 An arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.

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 Has an area of about 25,000 square miles.

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