MINISTERIAL MEET OF THE BIMSTEC 2021
Context: India’s External Affairs Minister expressed commitment about taking the Bay of Bengal community to “new heights” at the 17th ministerial meet of the BIMSTEC. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Foreign Policies and conferences affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: About BIMSTEC Highlights of India’s views at 17th ministerial meet of BIMSTEC […]
BIDEN ALLOWS H1-B VISA BAN TO EXPIRE
Context: The White House has allowed a 2020 ban on H1-B skilled worker and certain other temporary visas to expire on March 31. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies affecting India’s Interests, Indian diaspora) Dimensions of the Article: What is H-1B Visa? What is a Green Card? Why was the ban on certain H1-B visas […]
INDIA’S EAM TO ATTEND ‘HEART OF ASIA’ CONFERENCE
Context: Indian External Affairs Minister shared India’s perspectives on the peace process in the war-torn country in the 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) ministerial conference held at Tajikistan. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its neighborhood, Foreign Policies and conferences affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the Article: About the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) […]
PAKISTAN ALLOWS IMPORT OF COTTON, SUGAR FROM INDIA
Context: Partially reversing a 2018 decision to suspend all trade with India, Pakistan announced that it would allow the import of cotton and sugar from across the border. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its neighborhood, Foreign Policies and conferences affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the Article: Background to Pakistan’s Trade Ban India-Pakistan Trade Before […]
U.S. RIGHTS REPORT CURBS ON INDIAN MEDIA CURBS
Context: In its 2020 Human Rights Report, the U.S. State Department said the harassment and detention of journalists critical of the (Indian) government in their reporting and on social media, has continued, although the government generally respected the freedom of expression. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (International reports and policies affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the […]
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AFGHANISTAN U.S. WITHDRAWING TROOPS?
Context: Recently, the USA President has envisaged a New Peace Initiative (Plan) to decide on the roadmap for peace in Afghanistan under which the possibility that the USA troops, currently deployed in Afghanistan, to remain in deployment there has been kept open. The U.S. could abide by the promise made in the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed […]
CHINA & IRAN SIGN 25-YEAR ‘STRATEGIC PACT’
Context: China and Iran signed what was described as a 25-year “strategic cooperation pact”, during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s on-going six-nation tour to West Asia. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its neighbors, Foreign policies and treaties affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: Lead up to the deal between Iran and China Iran […]
JAPAN TO FUND A&N, METRO EXPANSION
Context: In the first-ever official development assistance (ODA) project in Andaman & Nicobar (A&N), Japan has approved grant aid to improve the power supply in the A&N islands along with loans for executing four projects, including Delhi Metro’s Phase 4 and Bengaluru Metro’s Phase 2. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (International Agreements and treaties of Importance […]
REMOVE THE WEDGES IN INDIA-BANGLADESH TIES
Context: March 2021 will mark the 50th year of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations and also of the Liberation War. Bangladesh became an independent nation in 1971 and India was the first country to recognize it as an independent and separate state. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India’s Neighbours, Bilateral Grouping/Agreement with India, International Policies and Treaties affecting […]
INDIA ABSTAINS IN UNHRC VOTE ON SRI LANKA
Context: India abstained from a crucial vote on Sri Lanka’s rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its Neighborhood, International Organizations, International Treaties, Policies and Agreements affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: Background to the Resolution About the UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka Results […]