India and Mauritius on Agalega Islands
Context: Recently, there was a report on the construction of an airstrip and two jetties to house an Indian military base on Agalega, located about 1,000 km north of the archipelago’s main island. Mauritius has denied a report that it has allowed India to build a military base on the remote island of Agalega, with […]
MHA says steep decline in cross-border firing in J&K
Context: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), there was a steep decline in cross-border firing by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir till June 2021 compared to the number of ceasefire violations reported in 2020. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India’s Neighbors, Foreign Policies and Agreements affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: About MHA’s […]
Pakistan finalises Bill on Gilgit-Baltistan
Context: Pakistani authorities have finalised a law to award provisional provincial status to strategically located Gilgit-Baltistan. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian Economy, Fiscal Policy, Taxation) Dimensions of the Article: Gilgit-Baltistan Developments in status of Gilgit Baltistan Why does Pakistan want to make Gilgit-Baltistan a Province? Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the […]
India takes over UNSC presidency for August
Context: India assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August 2021. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Institutions and Groupings, Foreign Policies affecting India’s Interests), Prelims Dimensions of the Article: United Nations Security Council Functions and Powers of UNSC About India’s Membership and Presidency in 2021 India’s Case […]
BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan finalized
Context: BRICS has unveiled a counter-terrorism strategy to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the member countries for effectively combating the threat. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Foreign policies and agreements affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the Article: What is BRICS? About BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy What is BRICS? BRICS is the international grouping […]
Return to Troubles: Good Friday Agreement on Brexit
Context: The British government’s demand to renegotiate parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit agreement with the EU has set the stage for another round of clashes between London and Brussels. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies and Agreements affecting India’s Interests, Important Political developments). GS-I: World History Dimensions of the Article: Understanding […]
Russia to boost Tajik Army with weapons
Context: Russia will bolster Central Asian ally Tajikistan’s military with weapons, equipment and training amid a “deteriorating” situation in neighbouring Afghanistan. Relevance: Prelims, GS-II: International Relations (Important Foreign Policies and Political developments), GS-I: Geography (Maps) Dimensions of the Article: Cooperation between Russia, Tajikistan and neighboring countries Significance of the Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan etc., region for India […]
India: G20 nations should pledge GHG reductions by 2030
Context: India urged the G20 nations to pledge for reductions by 2030 at the 2021 G20 climate meet. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Foreign Policies, Agreements and treaties affecting India’s Interests), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Conservation of Environment and Ecology) Dimensions of the Article: About G20 Structure and functioning […]
Recent developments UNESCO World Heritage listing
Context: The English city of Liverpool has been removed from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Turkey rejected UNESCO’s voicing of “grave concern” for the World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia in Istanbul after it was changed from a museum to a mosque. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Art and Culture, GS-II: International Relations Dimensions of the Article: […]
India and 26 bilateral pacts to fight drug trafficking
Context: According to a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reply in the Lok Sabha – India has signed 26 bilateral pacts, 15 memoranda of understanding and two agreements on security cooperation with different countries for combating the drug trafficking problem. Relevance: GS-III: Internal Security Challenges (Organized Crime and Terrorism), GS-II: International Relations (Important International Agreements […]