April 2021 India and the World

Sakshi Education

Cabinet approves India-UK deal on information sharing, Customs cooperation
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a deal between India and the United Kingdom on information sharing and preventing Customs offences.

The agreement is also expected to facilitate trade and ensure clearance of goods traded between the countries, an official statement said.

The agreement will provide a legal framework for sharing of information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of India and the UK and help in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

The draft text of the proposed agreement has been finalised with the concurrence of the two Customs administrations.

“The Agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value, tariff classification and origin of the goods traded between the two countries,” the statement said.
India, Russia to establish a '2+2 ministerial dialogue' between foreign and defence Ministers
India, Russia to establish a '2+2 ministerial dialogue' between foreign and defence ministers to add further momentum to the bilateral strategic partnership.

In a statement following a telephonic conversation between Modi and Putin, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the Russian president expressed solidarity with the people and Government of India and conveyed that Russia would extend all possible support in their fight against the pandemic.

Russia now has become part of a small group of countries with whom India has 2+2 dialogue of foreign and defence ministers. India has such mechanism with the US, Japan and Australia.

Modi said they reviewed diverse bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of space exploration and renewable energy sector, including in hydrogen economy.
India, US to coordinate efforts for stability in Afghanistan
India and US will coordinate their efforts for stability in Afghanistan. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his US counterpart Anthony Blinken have agreed that the two nations will coordinate on efforts to promote stability in Afghanistan.

Washington and NATO have announced to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan. Price said, Mr Blinken spoke to Dr Jaishankar to reaffirm the importance of the US-India relationship and cooperation on regional security issues.

State Department spokesperson said, the two leaders agreed on close and frequent coordination in support of a lasting peace and development for the people of Afghanistan.

Other issues discussed between the two leaders include the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, Covid-19 and climate change, for which President Joe Biden is convening a global summit.

Dr Jaishankar said that their conversation covered recent developments in India's immediate and extended neighbourhood, health cooperation and UNSC agenda.
India-EU Leaders’ Meeting to be held in virtual format on May 8th
The India-EU Leaders’ Meeting will be held in a virtual format on 8th of next month. In response to media queries, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, in view of the COVID-19 situation, it has been decided to hold the meeting virtually in consultation with the EU and Portuguese leadership.

He said, the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting in the EU27 format, the first time that such a meeting is being held, reflects the shared ambition of both sides to further deepen the Strategic Partnership.
India’s demographic advantage to overtake China’s by 2035: China’s central bank report
China’s demographic transition owing particularly to its stricter birth policies has grappled it with the problem of ageing population and dwindling work-force.

A report released by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), China’s central bank, said that China should immediately liberalise its birth policies to tackle the problems of an ageing population and plan to compete economically with a demographically young India and an immigration-friendly US.

In a detailed section on India, the report said the gap between the two countries is narrowing. As two big countries in Asia, China’s economic growth has been faster than India’s for a long time but in recent years, China’s demographic dividend fading, India’s economic growth has tended to approach China’s, the report said. In a rare frank assessment, it added that China’s ageing population and the declining birth rate will become more serious in 10 years while India’s demographic structure will be further optimised.

The report pointed out that India’s labour force will exceed China’s by hundreds of millions in the years ahead. “By 2050, this advantage will continue to grow. Not only will India have a much narrower elderly population at the top and a much wider workforce in the middle, but it will also have a wider workforce at the bottom, indicating a more abundant workforce and greater growth potential beyond 2050,” the report added.

The report continued saying that since India’s demographic advantage is expected to grow for at least the next three decades, the gap between China and India will narrow, provided that appropriate political and economic measures are taken.

About the US, the report noted how the US benefits from immigration even as China’s population ages. Advocating to reverse the trend, the report said, China should realise that education and technological progress cannot compensate for the decline in population.

Meanwhile, Chinese media reports quoting a well-known Chinese economist have cautioned, China will experience a negative growth after 2025, which will result in shortage of consumer demand.

Cai Fang, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People’s Bank of China said the number of Chinese of working age had been in decline since 2010, which had mainly affected the supply side of the economy.

He said that would be bad news for the economy as the government has sought in recent years to drive growth through domestic consumption.
PM Narendra Modi to participate in Leaders’ Summit on Climate today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Leaders’ Summit on Climate today (22nd April, 2021). The two-day summit will be held virtually and Mr Modi will make his remarks in the session which has the theme - Our Collective Sprint to 2030.

The Prime Minister was invited by US President Joe Biden to participate in this summit.

Nearly 40 other world leaders are participating in the Summit. They will represent countries which are members of the Major Economies Forum and those vulnerable to climate change, among others.

The leaders will exchange views on climate change, enhancing climate actions, mobilising finance towards climate mitigation and adaptation, nature-based solutions, climate security as well as technological innovations for clean energy.

They will also deliberate on how the world can align climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development, while respecting national circumstances and sustainable development priorities.

The summit is a part of a series of global meetings focusing on climate issues, being held in the run up to COP26 in November 2021.
India elected to 3 bodies of U.N. Economic and Social Council
India has been elected by acclamation to three bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council.

India was elected by acclamation to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2022.

Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Ghana, Libya, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand, Togo and the U.S. were also elected by acclamation while Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Chile, Cuba were elected by secret ballot.

India was elected by acclamation to the Executive Board of the U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (U.N. Women) for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.

Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gambia, Guyana, Kenya, Monaco, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Ukraine were also elected by acclamation to the U.N. body.

India was elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, along with France, Ghana, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Sweden by acclamation for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.
PM Modi announces India-US partnership on clean energy and climate change
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a US-India partnership on clean energy and climate change. Addressing Leaders' Climate Summit, Mr Modi announced launch of India-US climate and clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership, which can be a template of green collaborations to help developing countries access to affordable green finance and clean technologies.

Mr Modi said, together, we will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies, and enable green collaborations. Underlining that the concrete action is needed for humanity to combat Climate Change, he said, we need such action at a high speed, on a large scale, and with a global scope.

Prime Minister said, India's ambitious renewable energy target of 450 Gigawatts by 2030 shows our commitment. Mr Modi said, despite our development challenges, we have taken many bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and bio-diversity.

At the Summit called by US President Joe Biden, several countries including the US, Japan and Canada announced their enhanced climate action plans to substantially cut their carbon footprints by 2030.

Aim of the leaders' summit is to galvanise efforts by the major economies to reduce greenhouse gas emission and meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to keep temperature rise to well below 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.
India finalises air-bubble agreement with Sri Lanka
Ministry of Civil Aviation has finalized an air bubble agreement with Sri Lanka.

All eligible passengers will be able to travel between the two countries in the near future. Sri Lanka has become sixth country in the SAARC region to enter such agreement with India.

With this, India now has such pacts with 28 countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, the Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, UAE, UK and US.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
US, Australia, India & Japan agree to deliver one billion doses of COVID vaccine
The leaders of the US, Australia, India and Japan have agreed to deliver one billion doses of coronavirus vaccine to much of Asia by the end of 2022.

The joint commitment was made following the first leaders' meeting of the Quad countries held yesterday. The vaccines are expected to be the single-dose Johnson & Johnson product which will be manufactured in India.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, with Indian manufacturing, US technology, Japanese and American financing and Australian logistics quad countries are committed to deliver up to one billion doses. He said the vaccines would go to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the Pacific and beyond.

The Indian company Biological Ltd will manufacture the extra doses of the Johnson & Johnson jab, which received initial World Health Organization (WHO) approval yesterday.
Indus Commissioners of India, Pakistan to meet on March 23-24
Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan are set to meet on March 23-24 in New Delhi.

Indians are committed towards full utilisation of India’s rights under the treaty and believe in amicable solution of issues through discussion.

This will be the first meeting of Indus Commissioners after a gap of two and a half years.

The last meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held in Lahore, Pakistan from August 29-30, 2018.

Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the Commission shall meet “regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan”.

This regular annual meeting shall be held in November or in such other months as may be agreed upon between the Commissioners, states one of the provisions of the treaty.

The Commission was scheduled to meet in March last year but it had to cancel the meeting in view of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Later, India proposed to hold the meeting virtually but the Pakistan side insisted on holding the talks at the Attari check post.

However, the Indian side conveyed to them that it was not conducive to hold the meeting at the Attari Joint Check Post in view of the pandemic.

During the meeting, Pakistan’s objections on design of Indian hydropower projects on Chenab River will be discussed.

According to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, all the waters of the Eastern Rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use and the waters of Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) amounting to around 135 MAF annually largely to Pakistan.

Under the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.

It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers.

The meeting of the Indus Commission will be the first after the abrogation of the special provisions under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Spices Board India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab sign MoU
Spices Board India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a MoU with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance transparency in supply chain and trade.

Blockchain is a decentralized process of recording transactions on an open and shared electronic ledger. This allows for ease and transparency in data management across a complex network, including, farmers, brokers, distributors, processors, retailers, regulators, and consumers, thus simplifying the supply chain. It will allow farmers just as all other members of the supply chain to access the information which further makes the entire supply chain more efficient and equitable.

UNDP and Spices Board India are working towards integrating the Blockchain Traceability Interface with the e-Spice Bazaar portal developed by Spices Board India for connecting spices farmers with markets. Design of the Blockchain interface is expected to be completed by next month.
MoU between India and Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Dept of Space, Government of India and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange on November 4, 2020 and November 11, 2020 at respective institutes and exchanged by post.

This MoU shall enable NARL and RISH to continue their cooperation in areas of atmospheric science and technology, collaborative scientific experiments/campaigns and related modelling studies utilising the research facilities of RISH and NARL, exchange of scientific materials, publications and information, joint research meetings and workshops, exchange of faculty members, students and researchers.

This MoU would lead to mutual utilization of facilities such as the Middle and Upper atmosphere (MU) radar in Shigaraki, Japan, the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) in Kototabang, Indonesia and complementary instruments available from RISH, and the Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar and complementary instruments available at NARL.
PM Modi & Seychelles President jointly inaugurate several Indian projects in Seychelles
India and Seychelles share a strong and vital partnership in the Indian ocean neighborhood. He said, Seychelles is central to India’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ - ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

India was able to supply essential medicines and 50 thousand doses of Made in India vaccines to Seychelles.

Seychelles was the First African country to receive the Made in India COVID-19 vaccines.
India, Maldives condemns all forms of terrorism
India and Maldives have condemned all forms of terrorism including cross-border terrorism.

Both the countries have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in counter terrorism.

The first India-Maldives Counter Terrorism Dialogue was held in New Delhi.

Both sides underlined the need for all the countries to take verifiable and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks on others.
India, Netherlands announces launch of strategic partnership in water sector
India and the Netherlands have announced the launch of the strategic partnership in water sector to further intensify ongoing cooperation and better coherence in the area.

They also discussed to broaden bilateral cooperation in new areas of water including water budgeting, cost effective decentralise treatment technology, converting waste water to energy and river hazard management.

Both sides have announced the setting up of fast track mechanism to facilitate bilateral trade and to resolve issues of Dutch and Indian companies.
India, US agree to work towards resolving key bilateral trade issues
India and the United States have agreed to work constructively to resolve key outstanding bilateral trade issues and to take a comprehensive look at ways to expand the trade relationship, the Biden administration has said.

United States Trade Representative discussed the important trade and investment relationship between the two countries during her maiden phone call with her Indian counterpart Commerce and Industry Minister.

They committed to strengthening cooperation on shared objectives and to revitalise engagement through the US-India Trade Policy Forum.

They also agreed to work constructively to resolve key outstanding bilateral trade issues and to take a comprehensive look at ways to expand the trade relationship.

US stressed the critical importance of cooperation on a broad set of issues, including digital trade, intellectual property, agriculture, labour, and climate and environment.

US and India agreed to hold the next Ministerial-level meeting of the Trade Policy Forum during 2021.
Rajnath Singh, South Korean minister inaugurate Indo-Korean friendship park in Delhi
The Minister of Defense of India and the Minister of Defense of South Korea jointly opened the India-South Korea Friendship Park in Delhi State Park.

The significance of the park is not only that it symbolizes the strong friendship between India and South Korea, but also serves as a monument to India's contribution to a part of the country that participated in the Korean War (1950-53) in the 21st century with the support of the United Nations.

The park was developed after joint consultation with the Ministry of National Defense, the Government of India, the Indian Army, the Delhi Cantonment Board, the Korean Embassy and the Indian North Korean Veterans Association.
India and US agree to revamp India-US Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP)
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm have agreed to revamp India-US Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP). Mr. Pradhan today held an introductory meeting virtually with him and reviewed the SEP. The two leaders agreed to revamp the India-US SEP to reflect the new priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden with focus on promoting clean energy with low-carbon pathways and accelerating green energy cooperation.

During the meeting, they also agreed to prioritise greater collaboration in cleaner energy sector and joint R&D through Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research among other initiatives.

Besides, both sides agreed to convene the third meeting of a revamped India-US SEP at an early date. They decided to intensify the efforts to take advantage of the complementarities of both the countries -advanced US technologies and rapidly growing India’s energy market, for a win-win situation through a cleaner energy route with low carbon pathways.
All about Indo-US naval exercise PASSEX in Bay of Bengal
India and the US kicked off a two-day naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, reflecting the growing congruence in their defence and military partnership. The exercise, which began yesterday, will conclude today.

Indian Navy deployed its warship Shivalik and long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I in the 'PASSEX' exercise while the US Navy was represented by the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.

A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates and other ships. In a first, enhancing jointmanship, Indian Air Force fighters have also been included in the exercise affording the IAF an opportunity to practice air interception and air defence with the US Navy.

The exercise came over a week after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin flew into India as part of his three-nation first overseas tour that signalled the Joe Biden administration's strong commitment to its relations with its close allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the visit, both sides resolved to further consolidate their robust defence cooperation through deeper military-to-military engagement with Austin describing the partnership as a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

A defence spokesperson said the exercise is aimed at consolidating the synergy and interoperability achieved during the Malabar exercise that took place in November last. esides the Indian Navy, US, Australian and Japanese navies participated in the Malabar naval exercise.
Japan gives India 225 bn Yen loan to fund metro expansion, water supply, crop diversification projects
Japan has finalised loans and a grant totalling around 233 billion yen for several key infrastructure projects in India, including for a project in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

A grant of 4.01 billion yen for a project for the improvement of power supply in strategically located Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The grant would be used to procure 15MWh batteries as well as power system stabilisers to allow better utilisation of solar power generated in South Andaman.

This grant is Japan's first ever Official Development Assistance (ODA) to a project in the A&N islands.

India has been the top recipient of the Japanese government's financial aid under the ODA.

Aid For Delhi Metro’s fourth phase.

For Metro lines under Namma Metro’s second phase in Bengaluru.

For crop diversification in Himachal Pradesh.

For mitigating fluorosis in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu and Barmer districts.
Indo-US join special forces exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2021'conducted at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh
The 11th edition of the joint special forces military exercise 'Vajra Prahar ' between India and the United States was conducted at Special Forces Training School, at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

'Vajra Prahar' is a Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and the US to share the best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations, according to an official release.

Bilateral military exercises and defence exchanges are an important facet of deepening bilateral defence cooperation between friendly countries.

During such events, the armies of participating nations jointly train, plan and execute a series of operations for neutralisation of threats of varied nature with a common aim of countering threats of international terrorism through mutual training and jointness, the release said.
India, Japan signs 4 pacts to support Healthcare projects under GGP scheme
India and Japan on Tuesday signed four agreements under which Tokyo is to support health care projects funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme in India.

Since 1989, the scheme has been supporting relatively small-scale projects implemented by non-profit organizations through Japanese diplomatic missions in developing countries.

“The total amount to be disbursed for the four projects is around 29.30 million Yen ($ 265,000)," a statement from the Japanese embassy in New Delhi said. The beneficiaries of Japanese grants for which agreements were signed on Tuesday include three medical facilities in Uttar Pradesh and one in Manipur.

The “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP)" supports development projects “designed to meet the diverse basic human needs of the people in developing countries," a statement from the Japanese embassy in New Delhi said.

India is also one of the largest recipients of Japanese Official Development Assistance or ODA besides Bangladesh and Vietnam in Asia. Most the Japanese ODA is channeled as loans for infrastructure projects. The loans typically feature long grace periods and low-interest rates.
Indian Army to participate in Multinational Military Exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena -2021’ in Bangladesh
Indian Army will participate in Multinational Military Exercise namely SHANTIR OGROSHENA -2021 in Bangladesh.

The nine days exercise will start on the 4th of this month to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark glorious 50 years of liberation.