Indonesia’s Palm Oil Crisis, and its Implications for India
Context The world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Indonesia, is facing domestic shortages, leading to price controls and export curbs. Relevance GS-II: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. Dimensions of the Article What is the Issue? What is Palm Oil? Plausible Factors Impact on […]
Nepal PM Visits India
Context: The Prime Minister of Nepal visited India and held a summit meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. Relevance: GS II- International Relations (India and its neighbourhood) Dimensions of this Article: Highlights of the Visit India-Nepal Ties Connectivity and Development Partnership between India and Nepal Highlights of the Visit: Border Issue: The Prime Minister of Nepal […]
The India-Australia Trade Agreement
Context: On April 2, India and Australia signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). The landmark bilateral trade pact is the second trade agreement India has signed this year after inking a similar deal with the United Arab Emirates. Relevance: GS II- International Relations Dimensions of the Article: India-Australia ECTA Main features Dispute settlement […]
Emergency in Sri Lanka
Context: Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared an Emergency on April 1 as thousands of people came out on the streets to protest the crippling power cuts and shortages of essential commodities caused by the country’s economic meltdown. This is the second time within a year that Rajapaksa has resorted to this measure — he declared an Emergency on […]
BIMSTEC after the Colombo Summit
Context Fifth Summit of the BIMSTEC was held in Colombo which advanced the regional cooperation and integration. Relevance GS-II: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Dimensions of the Article Colombo Package Trade Pillars and Support needed Leaders and Commitments What more is needed? Way Forward Colombo Package BIMSTEC […]
BRICS Media Forum
Context: Recently, the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) launched a three-month-long training programme for journalists. The programme was an initiative of the BRICS Media Forum. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: What is BRICS Media Forum? What is BRICS? What is BRICS Media Forum? The Forum was founded […]
India seeks closer BIMSTEC partnership
Focus – GS-II, International Relations Context Addressing the ministerial of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi–Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), EAM S. Jaishankar urged closer cooperation and connectivity among the members. What is BIMSTEC? The BIMSTEC formed in 1997 is an international organisation of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 […]
A Ukraine Peace Plan That Needs a U Thant
Context Russia Ukraine crisis has unfolded for long now. However, no concrete attempts have been made by the office of the UN for restoring peace raising questions on its importance. It’s perhaps time that Antonio Gueterres does a U Thant. Relevance GS-II: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate. Dimensions of the Article Insufficient […]
Sri Lanka’s Aggravating Economic Crisis
Context: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is aggravating rapidly, putting citizens through enormous hardship. Over the weekend, at least two senior citizens died while waiting in long queues to buy fuel; the price of cooking gas spiked to LKR 4,199 (roughly ₹1,150), the price of the widely used milk powder shot up by LKR 600 a […]
Who Is a War Criminal?
Context: Recently, President Joe Biden flatly called Russia’s Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” for the unfolding onslaught in Ukraine, where hospitals and maternity wards have been bombed. But declaring someone a war criminal is not as simple as just saying the words. Relevance: GS II- International Relations Dimensions of the Article: Who is a war criminal? […]