Context:
The joint statement titled, ‘A Partnership for Global Good’, issued by India and the U.S. following the bilateral discussions between Indian Prime Minister and U.S. President.
Details:
The two countries have expressed their intentions to further deepen their ‘Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership’ in domains such as regional groupings, defence manufacturing, and climate action.
The two countries would work with regional groups like ASEAN and with Quad members to promote shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
The U.S. reaffirmed the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India and the unwavering commitment to India as a Major Defense Partner through close defense engagements in information sharing, sharing of logistics and military-to-military interactions, strengthening cooperation in advanced military technologies, and expanding engagements in a multilateral framework including with regional partners. The Leaders welcomed the deepening of advanced industrial cooperation under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, and encouraged more such joint efforts.
The two countries would work towards galvanizing global efforts to scale up climate action.
The U.S. expressed support for India’s target to achieve a domestic goal of installing 450 GW of renewable power by 2030 and acknowledged the importance of mobilizing finance for investments in renewables, storage, and grid infrastructure that will guarantee clean, reliable power for millions of Indian households.
Through the two main tracks of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) under the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership, the United States and India will accelerate clean energy development and deployment of critical technologies to advance a clean energy transition.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to fight terror and also denounced the use of “terrorist proxies” in a veiled reference to the use of terrorism as a state policy by Pakistan.
The two countries would develop a trade and investment partnership that would help increase prosperity for working families in both countries. Notably, the joint statement did not announce any major deliverables on trade.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
Context:
Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden, along with Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson of Australia and the U.K. respectively, announced the formation of a new trilateral security partnership called AUKUS (Australia-U.K.-U.S.).
For detailed information on the provisions of the security partnership refer to the following article:
Impact of the development:
The AUKUS alliance will have a profound impact on the various stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific region and will also result in the reshaping of relations in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
For detailed information on this topic refer to the following article:
Concerns/Challenges:
The article expresses doubts over the actual effectiveness of the AUKUS. It argues that the newly announced trilateral security arrangement is unlikely to be a game changer in the Indo-Pacific region as envisaged by the member countries.
Given the formidable military presence of U.S. the Indo-Pacific region and its collaboration with like-minded countries via platforms such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), Five Eyes– an intelligence-sharing alliance, it is unclear what AUKUS will help achieve for the U.S.
There are doubts over whether the AUKUS will be effective in deterring China’s strategic calculus across the region, particularly relating to its maritime ambitions and territorial expansionism. In fact AUKUS has the potential to cause a recalibration of China’s plans with respect to nuclear-powered submarines. It could heighten Beijing’s anxiety over its nuclear-powered submarine fleet and push it towards building more such platforms giving rise to an arms race in the region.
It is very likely that it would be well over a decade before the submarine construction plans come to fruition and Australia operationalises a nuclear-powered fleet. This large time frame could as well witness drastic changes in the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s perspective:
India has distanced itself from the AUKUS grouping. The Foreign Secretary of India has stated that the new partnership is neither relevant to the Quad, nor will it have any impact on its functioning.
Despite the professed indifference towards AUKUS, India may derive secondary benefits from the AUKUS arrangement having three advanced nations with arguably the most sophisticated military know-how in the world coming together to support a free and open Indo-Pacific in the light of the increasingly assertive attitude of China in the region. This could provide some degree of deterrence to China.
Also India’s concerns regarding ‘encirclement’ by China may be partially mitigated by AUKUS.
China has made massive inroads in India’s neighbourhood in terms of infrastructure development projects and presence.
F. Prelims Facts
Cyclonic storm Gulab:
Following the formation of the deep depression over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal and its westward movement, the Odisha state government has issued a warning for the cyclonic storm Gulab (pronounced as Gul-Aab), which is expected to cross the Indian coast between its southern districts and north Andhra Pradesh.
The associated heavy rain is likely to cause landslips and floods.
Cham dance form:
The cham dance is a masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist festivals.
The Cham traces its origins to the Yogachara School of Buddhism founded in Kashmir in the 4th century by Asanga and Vasubandhu. Yogachara School developed into the Vajrayana form of Buddhism, which incorporated the Cham dance.
Cham is a unique and important cultural tradition. The Lamas celebrate the victory of good over evil with two days of the monastic dance..
The costumes and masks are an integral part of the dance.
All sounds in the Cham are sacred mantras.
Once a great tradition that was practised in Ladakh, Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Tibet, southern China, and Mongolia, today Cham has been kept alive at annual celebrations in parts of Ladakh and Spiti.
Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya:
Deendayal Upadhyaya was an Indian politician and thinker.
Deendayal Upadhyay is best remembered for his principle of “integral humanism” which is defined as “a classless, casteless and conflict-free social order”. It talks about the integration of indigenous “Indian culture” with the social, political and economic idea of human welfare.
Pandit Upadhyay is one of those thinkers in India who exercised on ‘Swaraj of ideas’– means decolonisation of ideas, i.e. decolonisation of Indian minds.
Context:
105th birth anniversary of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya.
G. Tidbits
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body that was established in 1972 under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry for promotion of export of marine products from India.
The main focus is on Market Promotion, Capture Fisheries, Culture Fisheries, Processing Infrastructure & Value addition, Quality Control, Research and Development.
MPEDA seeks to regulate exports of marine products and take all measures required for ensuring sustained, quality seafood exports from the country.
Context:
MPEDA as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is conducting a nationwide event on Responsible Fishing for Sustainable Future in association with state Fisheries departments.
This event aims to create awareness among fishers on the need to practice responsible fishing to protect the marine ecosystem for future generations.
The Election Commission has recently notified the updated list of registered political parties.
Currently there are eight national recognised parties and 54 recognised State parties.
There are 2,796 registered unrecognised parties, and the panel has sought the power to deregister inactive parties over fears of such entities misusing income tax exemption law.
Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 deals with tax provisions relating to political parties. Section 13A has given 100% exemption to political parties on its income from house property, income from other sources, capital gains and voluntary contributions received from any person however, subject to certain conditions. This provision is liable to misuse for activities like money laundering.
India had expressed deep concerns over the move of the United Kingdom to mandate discriminatory regulations for Indians travelling to the U.K by mandating stricter quarantine rules despite being vaccinated.
This could damage the otherwise fledgling bilateral relationship between India and the U.K.
India and the U.K. are in the process of talks on upgrading ties, including their strategic partnership, negotiating a trade agreement, and discussing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to COVAX:
It is a global science initiative established in 2008 that provides open-access to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO.
COVAX is one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
COVAX is one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which was launched in response to the COVID pandemic.
ACT accelerator aims at bringing together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, scientists, private sector, civil society and philanthropy, with the aim of providing innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) aims to accelerate the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, and guarantee fair and equitable access for every country.
COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi and WHO, with UNICEF as a key delivery partner.
GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source established in 2008 that provides open-access to genomic data of influenza viruses and the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q2. This region is an evergreen low-land forest located between the branches of River Periyar. It was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali.
The Bird Sanctuary being talked about is:
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Pathiramanal Bird Sanctuary
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala.
Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologists, described this sanctuary as the richest bird habitat on peninsular India.
Thattekkad literally means flat forest, and the region is an evergreen low-land forest located between the branches of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala.
Q3. Which of the given pairs is/are correctly matched?
Helicopter Procured from
Chinook United States of America
AH 64 Apache Russia
KA-226T Utility Helicopters Israel
Options:
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
Answer: A
Explanation:
AH 64 Apache is being procured from the U.S., while KA-226T Utility Helicopters is being procured from Russia.
Apache is the most advanced multi-role heavy attack helicopter in the world. Alongside the capability to shoot fire and forget anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles, rockets and other ammunitions, it also has modern Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities to provide versatility to helicopters in a network-centric aerial warfare.
In 2015, India and Russia concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for around 200 Ka-226T twin engine utility helicopters, with 60 helicopters to be directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally. The helicopters would be manufactured by India Russia Helicopters Limited (IRHL) — a joint venture between HAL and Russian Helicopters with Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia. The Ka-226T is meant to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet of the Army and Air Force.
Q4. Hamboting La, recently seen in News is located in:
Sikkim
Arunachal Pradesh
Ladakh
Himachal Pradesh
Answer: C
Explanation:
Hamboting La is a high mountain pass located in Ladakh region.
Q5. Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news? (UPSC-2017)
It is a procedure for considering ecological costs of developmental schemes formulated by the Government.
It is a scheme of RBI for reworking the financial structure of big corporate entities facing genuine difficulties.
It is a disinvestment plan of the Government regarding Central Public Sector Undertakings.
It is an important provision in ‘The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code’ recently implemented by the Government
Answer: B
Explanation:
Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets also known as S4A Scheme was launched in 2016 by the Reserve Bank of India as an initiative to address and resolve the debt issues of the corporate sector along with strengthening the ability of the lender to deal with stressed assets.
As per the S4A scheme, the debt of a company is bifurcated into two parts namely sustainable and unsustainable debt based on the cash flows of the company’s project. The sustainable debt of a company should not be less than 50% of the existing debt and the unsustainable debt can be converted into optionally convertible debentures.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
Examine the possible reasons for rise of fuel prices in India and discuss why it is not under the ambit of GST. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-3, Economy]
Is it possible to end China’s control of the global supply chain? Critically Analyse. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, International Relations]
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