CHINA, RUSSIA: NEW REGIONAL SECURITY DIALOGUE PLATFORM
Context: China and Russia have proposed setting up a new “regional security dialogue platform” to address security concerns of countries in the region, as their foreign ministers hit out at the United States for “forming small circles to seek bloc confrontation”. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its Neighborhood, International Treaties, Policies and Agreements affecting […]
INDUS WATER PANEL HOLDS MEETING
Context: After a gap of more than two and half years Indian and Pakistani delegations began the 116th Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission. The positive backdrop of the talks between the two delegation has indicated that the interaction is likely supported by the reported back channel talks that are taking place between India and […]
MITRA SHAKTI
The seventh edition of the joint training exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, Exercise Mitra Shakti concluded on 14 December at Aundh Military Station, Pune. joint training exercise concluded with a 48 hour long culmination exercise which was witnessed by Senior Military & Defence officials of the Indian Army as well […]
ISRAEL AND BHUTAN ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC TIES
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Recently, Bhutan and Israel established formal ties with a formal ceremony in New Delhi where the Ambassadors of these countries to India exchanged agreements. Recently, in deals brokered by the United States, Israel has established full relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in […]
NITI AAYOG REPORT ON NUTRITION TARGETS
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? The National Nutrition Mission or the Poshan Abhiyaan — the world’s largest nutrition programme for children and mothers — must be stepped up in order to meet the targets set by the Centre to reduce stunting, wasting, and anaemia by 2022, warns a report by NITI Aayog with […]
PERMANENT COMMISSION: WOMEN ARMY OFFICERS MOVE SC
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Women Army officers moved the Supreme Court to debunk the defence establishment’s announcement that 422 of 615 women officers screened have been found “fit” for a permanent commission. Details Women Army Officers said the announcement regarding “fitness” for permanent commission was more optics than substance. The said that […]
SENTINEL-6 SATELLITE
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Recently, Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite was launched from the Vandenberg Air Force base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Details Sentinel-6-Satellite is a part of the mission dedicated to measuring changes in the global sea level. The mission is called the Jason Continuity of Service […]
CHINA’S NEGATIVE YIELD BONDS EXPLAINED
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Recently, China sold negative-yield debt for the first time, and this saw a high demand from investors across Europe. China sold negative-yield debt for the first time, and this saw a high demand from investors across Europe. What are negative-yield bonds? These are debt instruments that offer to […]
U.S. TROOPS WITHDRAWAL: WHAT’S NEXT FOR AFGHANISTAN?
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? With the U.S. prepared to reduce its troop presence in Afghanistan – Afghanistan is bracing for an uncertain future. The Taliban, who were ousted from power in 2001 after the U.S. invasion and have since been fighting both foreign troops and the Afghan government in Kabul, now control […]
GILGIT-BALTISTAN TO BE A FULL PROVINCE: PAKISTAN PM
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Prime Minister Imran Khan has angered India after declaring that part of the contested Kashmir region will provisionally become a full province of Pakistan. Any change in status would require a constitutional amendment. If finalised, it would make Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan’s fifth province. Pakistan has administered the area now […]