PM MODI CALLS FOR COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND FOR SAARC
Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Science and Technology, Disaster Management, Prelims Why in news? The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should create a fund to fight the threat of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 15th March 2020 – Addressing the first ever video conference among the heads of governments of the […]
UN RIGHTS BODY TO MOVE SC ON CAA
Focus: GS-II Governance, International Relations, Prelims Why in news? In an unprecedented and rare move, the Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has announced that it plans to file an application in the Supreme Court, asking to be impleaded in petitions challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). And the Ministry of […]
RETURN TO CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN?
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? Recently, the U.S. signed a deal (at Qatar’s capital-Doha) with the Taliban that could pave the way towards a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan. Background of the Deal Inhuman violence by Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, and […]
INDIA MONITORING IMPACT OF U.S. – TALIBAN DEAL
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on 2nd March 2020 that India was “watching the space” closely to ensure that gains of the past two decades were not lost after U.S. signed a deal with Taliban. India’s Concerns Not Addressed While India has raised concerns over the future […]
A BIG, BAD DEAL
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? The deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha on 29th February 2020 sets the stage for America to wind down the longest war in its history. The Afghan war is estimated to have cost $2-trillion, with more than 3,500 American and coalition soldiers killed. Afghanistan lost hundreds […]
WITH FALLING ALLOCATION, NAVY LOOKS AT FLEET OPTIMISATION
Focus: GS-III Internal Security Why in news? Facing increasing budgetary constraints and with several bigticket acquisitions lined up, the Navy is looking at adopting unmanned platforms, both aerial and underwater, in a big way. It is firm on a third aircraft carrier and the next line of six advanced submarines under Project-75I. Details As part […]
EXPERTS RAISE CONCERNS FOR INDIA OVER U.S.-TALIBAN AGREEMENT
Focus: GS-II International Relations Why in news? After a closer look at the texts of the two agreements named the ‘Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognised by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban, and the United States of America’, […]
NO NSG WAIVER FOR INDIA, SAYS NEW ZEALAND DEPUTY PM
Focus: GS-II International relations Why in news? New Zealand wants defined norms for entry of non-NPT states into NSG said New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters during his visit to Delhi in the last week of February 2020. Details of the visit This visit was regarding bilateral trade and multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. […]
U.S. STRIKES A DEAL WITH TALIBAN TO END 18-YEAR-LONG AFGHAN WAR
Focus: GS-II International relations Why in news? The U.S. signed a deal with the Taliban on 29th February 2020 that could pave way for a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months. This represents a step towards ending the 18-year-war in the nation. Taliban leader calls it ‘day of victory’; […]