India and UK Free Trade Agreement
Context: The India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may not be ready in time for its October-end deadline indicated both New Delhi and London, as India reacted sharply to British Home Secretary’s statement linking the FTA with migration issues and the U.K. government said “quality”, not “speed” would determine the FTA’s launch. Relevance: GS II- International […]
About International Solar Alliance
Focus: GS II- International Relations Why in News? Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy today unvieled the curtain raiser to the Fifth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance along with side events to be held in New Delhi from 17th – 20th October, 2022. India holds the office of the President of […]
What is OPEC+?
Context: The grouping of the world’s largest oil-producing countries, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, together known as OPEC+, decided to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. This is the largest cut since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was up 28 cents or […]
ICAO Joins International Solar Alliance
Focus: GS II: International Relations Why in News? Recently, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the 42nd session of ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. Cochin International Airport in India became the world’s first fully Solar powered airport in the world in 2015. ICAO Memorandum of Understanding with ISA: The MoU […]
Empowering India-Nepal Ties Through Hydropower
Context The National Hydro Electric Power Corporation of India (NHPC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) to develop 750 MW West Seti and 450 MW Seti River (SR6) hydroelectric projects in western Nepal (a total of 1,200 MW). The projects were awarded to India nearly four years after […]
India and UNSC
Context: Recently, External Affairs Minister said there is greater support for India to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council and also a broad global consensus over the need to reform the Council. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology, GS-II: International Relations Dimensions of the Article: United Nations Security Council Membership Functions and Powers […]
Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA)
Context: Edible oil trade associations from five palm oil importing countries in South Asia – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal – announced the setting up of Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA). Relevance: GS II: International Relations Dimensions of the Article: What is Palm oil? How important is palm oil to global supply chains? […]
About Quad Grouping
Context: Foreign Ministers of the Quad (India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan) met on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to sign a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) partnership into effect. Under the HADR, the member countries will coordinate their disaster response operations in the Indo-Pacific region with other National and International agencies, private non-governmental […]
Putin Mobilization on Ukraine Issue
Context Almost seven months after the conflict in Ukraine began, Russia’s President announced a partial military mobilisation and increased the nuclear threat. Separately, four Russia-backed breakaway regions in Ukraine are holding referendums on joining Russia (Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhya in the south). These decisions followed Russia’s first major battlefield […]
Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Conflict
Context: Nearly 100 people have been killed and scores injured in violent border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the last week. A ceasefire was brokered by Russia. Relevance: GS II: International Relations Dimensions of the Article: About Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan conflict What is happening now at the border? What led to the current flare-up? Significance of […]