July 2019 India and the World

Sakshi Education

India & China joint military drill in December
The next edition of India and China military drill will be held in December 2019.

The joint military exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' will be held in Umroi near Shillong, Meghalaya.

The last exercise, which was the seventh edition, was held in Chengdu in December 2018.

In Umroi, the two forces will focus on counter-terror operations, establishment of the joint command post and joint combat drill.
Palau signs ISA Framework agreement
Palau signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.

Palau became the 76th country to sign the ISA Framework Agreement, which till date has been ratified by a total of 54 of the 76 countries.

The ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on November 2015.
Inter-Ministerial Committee recommends ban on crypto-currencies in India
An Inter-Ministerial Committee has recommended ban on the crypto-currencies in India and imposing fines and penalties for carrying on any activities connected with it.

The committee was constituted by the government in November 2017 to study the issues related to virtual currencies and propose specific action to be taken in this matter.

The committee has also proposed that the Government keeps an open mind on official digital currency.

The committee’s report, along with a Draft Bill has been received by the Government.

It said, this report and Draft Bill will now be examined in consultation with all the concerned Departments and Regulatory Authorities, before the Government takes a final decision
Prime Minister to visit Bhutan in August
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day official visit to Bhutan in August 2019.

The visit will reflect the importance New Delhi attaches to its ties with Bhutan and would reiterate the government's emphasis on its Neighbourhood First policy.

The two countries share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterized by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding.
New India-UK bilateral scheme launched on Pilot basis
New India-UK bilateral scheme launched on Pilot

The UKEIRI Mobility Programme launched on a pilot basis to support Britain's universities to collaborate with Indian partners to facilitate the United Kingdom (UK) students to visit India during their studies.

UKERI stands for 'UK-India Education Research Initiative'.

It is an initiative of Universities UK International (UUKI) and British Council India. Objective: To fund students from UK to visit India.

Aim: To generate up to 200 opportunities for undergraduate students at UK universities to visit India by March 2021.

Study in India programme will support national as well as institutional-level objectives to increase levels of outward student mobility from the UK to 13% by 2020.

This target is set out in UUKi's Go International: Stand Out campaign.
BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting
India along with other BRICS nations called on all states to prevent the financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories during the meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers in Brazil on 27 July 2019.

India was represented by Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh.

BRICS consists of five nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
President Ram Nath Kovind departs on three-nation visit to Benin, the Gambia & Guinea
President Ram Nath Kovind has left on an official visit to three African countries -- Benin, The Gambia and Guinea.

The seven-day visit will be the first high-level tour of any Head of State from India to the three West African countries.

Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Member of Parliament Dilip Ghosh is accompanying the President.

Mr Kovind will hold talks with President Patrice Talon tomorrow.

Later, the President will address the National Assembly in Porto Novo.

Mr Kovind will also meet members of the Indian Community at a reception hosted in his honor in Cotonou.

During the visit to The Gambia, Mr Kovind will hold delegation-level talks with President Adama Barrow in the capital, Banjul, on 31 July, 2019.

As a special gesture, the National Assembly, which is currently in recess, will hold a special session for the address of President Kovind on the same day.

On the last leg of his visit, the President will arrive in Conakry, the capital of Guinea on 1st August.

Mr Kovind will hold delegation-level talks with his counterpart on 2nd August.
2nd round talks between India and Pakistan held
The 2nd round of talks between India-Pakistan on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was held at Wagah, in Pakistan on 14 July 2019.

The meeting discussed the modalities and draft agreement for facilitation of pilgrims on the corridor.

It was agreed to allow five thousand pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor everyday.
Enormous potential for growth in relations with India
The United States has enormous potential for growth in its relations with India and trade issues can be resolved due to friendly ties.

State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus was talking to reporters in Washington when she was asked whether the Trump administration was satisfied with the recent visit of two Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) officials to New Delhi for trade talks.

US delegation headed by Assistant USTR for India Christopher Wilson was in New Delhi for a meeting with Indian officials. After the talks, India said the engagement was constructive.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met US President Donald Trump in Osaka on the sidelines of G20 Summit last month (June, 2019).
UK-India JETCO meeting held in London
The UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was held in London on 15 July 2019.

India and the UK agreed to set up three new bilateral working groups to tackle barriers in specific sectors including food and drink, healthcare and data services.

The India – UK JETCO was established on 13th January 2005, to further develop a strategic economic relationship.
Agreement between India and USA approved
The Inter-Institutional Agreement between India and the USA in the areas of regenerative medicine and 3D bioprinting, and more has been approved.

The objective of the Agreement is to contribute towards the development of research and education of both the Institutions through academic collaboration.

The joint research projects, etc. will be open to all qualified scientists and technologists.
UK's programme to boost Indian start-ups
The UK government has expanded its Go Global initiative to India.

The aim is to give the country's most innovative and cutting-edge start-ups the skills they need to grow their business, build links with the UK's digital sector.

It forms part of the UK-India Tech Partnership announced by outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in April 2018.
President Ram Nath Kovind to visit 3 African countries
President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a week-long visit to Benin, Guinea Conakry and Gambia, beginning 28 July 2019.

This will be the highest-level visit from India ever to the three West African countries.

Since the Modi government took office in 2014, there has been a rise in high-level visits to resource-rich Africa, especially since the third India Africa Summit in 2015.
Sri Lanka and IRCON International Ltd signed agreement to upgrade rail track
Sri Lanka and IRCON (Indian Railway Construction Company) International Limited, under the Ministry of Railways, signed $91.26 million agreement for the up gradation of 130 km rail track

The rail track is located between Colombo and Jaffna in Tamil majority northern province of Sri Lanka.

It was signed by Sunil Kumar Choudhury, Chairman & Managing Director, Ircon International Limited, and L.P Jayampathy, Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka in the presence of Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka.

It is under Indian concessional financing between Maho to Omanthai, Sri Lanka which is going to happen for the first time in 100 years.

It includes 12 crossing stations, 7 halt stations and 78 level crossings.

A new crossing station will be constructed between Medawachchiya to Vavuniya, Sri Lanka and 218 culverts and 90 bridges will be repaired or reconstructed as required.

It will double the speed potential of the railway track from the current 60 km to 120 km per hour.

India has committed Line of Credit (LoC) worth $1.3 billion for the development of the railway sector in Sri Lanka.

They upgraded around 300 km of railway track and provided modern signaling and telecommunication system for around 330 km in Sri Lanka.
France all set to mark their national day
The French are preparing to mark their national day known as July 14th in France and Bastille Day abroad, with European Union leaders joining the French president for the world's oldest military parade.

This year celebrates the 230th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris, a turning point in the French revolution that set the stage for the birth of the Republic.

Armed forces from France and allied countries will march, drive, ride and fly over the central Champs Elysee.

Leaders from key EU countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, have been invited to join President Emmanuel Macron as he addresses the troops.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he was creating a national military space force command that would eventually be part of his country's air force.
UAE Foreign Minister to hold bilateral talks with EAM S Jaishankar in New Delhi
Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi .

The visiting dignitary will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.

The UAE Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India.

The ties between India and the UAE have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The UAE is also home to 3.3 million-strong Indian community, largest in the Gulf region. The visit is aimed at not only strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership but also to explore new areas of cooperation between the two countries.

India and the UAE enjoy warm, close and multi-faceted relationship underpinned by historic cultural, religious and economic linkages. The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner and fourth largest energy supplier.
UAE Foreign Minister to call on PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 08 July, 2019

The visiting dignitary held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed relations in political, economic, investment, trade, energy and other sectors and aspects of developing and enhancing the existing ties in all fields.

Both sides stressed the importance of combating extremism and terrorism in all forms. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments and other issues of common interest, especially developments in Syria, Libya and Yemen.

The two leaders also expressed keenness to strengthen friendship and cooperation based on the strong bilateral and strategic relations.
India slams U.N. rights office report on J&K as continuation of ‘false narrative’
India and Pakistan had failed to improve the situation in Kashmir and not taken any concrete steps to address the numerous concerns raised in its earlier report.

Last year (2018), the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released its first-ever report on Kashmir, urging action by both countries to reduce tensions.

In Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 2018 to April 2019, the number of civilian casualties reported over the 12-month period may be the highest in over a decade.

In Kashmir, accountability for violations committed by members of the Indian security forces remains virtually non-existent.
BSF launches Operation ‘Sudarshan’ to fortify border with Pakistan
Border Security Force (BSF) has launched the operation ‘Sudarshan’ to fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu.

It was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire 1,000-kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border.

The Border Security Force is the primary force guarding this frontier as the ‘first line of defence’.
India hands over pre-fabricated houses to Myanmar for displaced returnees
India handed over 250 pre-fabricated houses to Myanmar in Maung Daw for use of displaced returnees.

India had taken up the project under its Rakhine State Development Programme under which 25 million dollars are allocated for a period of five years.

Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar handed over the documents related to the houses for use of displaced returnees from Bangladesh.

Myanmar's Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Dr. Win Myat Aye thanked the Indian government for its assistance and recalled the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.

India and Myanmar had signed an MoU in 2017 to contribute to the socio-economic development of the area. Another 22 proposals which include solar power related projects, construction-related projects, agriculture mechanization projects and capacity building projects are presently under consideration.
India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue to be held in New Delhi
The second India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue will be held in New Delhi. It will be held under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog Vice Chairman RajivKumar and Deputy Minister of the Economic Development of Russia, Timur Maksimov.

The meeting will focus on six core areas of cooperation, including developmentof transport infrastructure and technologies, agriculture and agro-processingsector and small and medium business support. The first Dialogue was held inSt. Petersburg in November 2018.
UNSC: India calls for focussed attention to address threats by D-Company, JeM & LeT
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, India has told the UN Security Council that Dawood Ibrahim's illegitimate activities from a safe haven pose a real danger, as New Delhi called for a focussed attention to address the threats by the D-Company, the JeM and the LeT.

That terrorist organisations are increasingly involved in lucrative criminal activities such as trading in natural resources and human trafficking to raise funds.

At the Security Council debate on 'Threats to International Peace and Security: Linkages between International Terrorism and Organised Crime'.

Criminal groups are joining hands with terrorists and are providing services such as counterfeiting, illicit financing, arms dealing, drug trafficking and smuggling terrorists across borders. He emphasised that the success of a collective action to denude the ISIS is a pointer that the Council must focus to yield results.
India to host 14th COP of UNCCD
India is set to host the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP) of United Nations Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD) from September 02 to 13.

The global conference will be hosted at India Expo Mart Limited in Greater Noida.

Ahead of COP-14, Minister also launched “Bonn Challange”, a maiden project to lay emphasis on India’s capacity for forest landscape restoration.
US-India bilateral trade could reach USD 238 billion by 2025
The bilateral trade between the two countries could reach 238 billion Dollars by 2025 from the current 143 billion Dollars given the present dynamics of the commercial engagement.

In a report released on the occasion of its second annual leadership summit, the US-based group USISPF said, this growth will occur if trade grows by 7.5 per cent each year, as has been the trend for the last seven years.
Majoritarian here, secular there: on foreign policy under Modi
Some argue that Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has brought dynamism to India’s foreign policy, evident by his frequent visits abroad.

However, no theory in foreign policy research suggests that the higher the frequency of head-of-government visits to foreign nations, the greater the success in foreign policy outcomes.

The most enduring foreign policy outcomes are accomplished by quiet diplomacy engineered by professional bodies.

That is why heads of government of China, France or even Israel, to name a few, are selective in their visits.

But Mr. Modi’s foreign visits and diaspora meetings have a spectacle of dynamism and generated an image of him as a world leader among his followers.

Compared to splendid foreign policy accomplishments of leaders such as former U.S. President Harry Truman, who laid down the institutional arrangement for the U.S. to operate as a global power, or Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s political wisdom that led to German unification, the foreign policy accomplishments of Mr. Modi remained modest during his first term.
VNL signs pact with Vietnam
Vihaan Networks Ltd (VNL) has inked a pact with Vietnam to develop digital villages.

Vihaan Networks Ltd will offer solutions for advancing rural connectivity by developing digital villages in Vietnam’s underserved areas through solar-based cellular and broadband solution.
India, EU hold high-level talks on migration, mobility
The 5th India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility was held in New Delhi.

The discussion was held in a highly friendly and constructive spirit.

It encompassed a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the context of migration and mobility along the India-EU corridor.

Both sides reaffirmed that migration and mobility are important dimensions of the strategic partnership between India and EU and exchanged views on further initiatives and steps aimed at realizing the full potential of further strengthening cooperation in this area.
India-US trade talks to be held in New Delhi today (12 July)
India and US will hold trade talks in New Delhi on 12 July, 2019 to discuss bilateral and economic issues.

The US delegation is being led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Christopher Wilson.

The Indian side is being led by Additional Secretary level officer from Commerce and Industries Ministry.

The visiting USTR delegation will also call on Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

This would be the first meeting on trade issues after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump in Japan on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
India, US agree to address mutual trade concerns
India and the United States have agreed to further grow their economic relationship and address mutual trade concerns.

A US delegation led by Assistant Trade Representative Christopher Wilson held bilateral talks with a team of Indian officials headed by Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Sanjay Chadha in New Delhi.

The two sides discussed the broad contours of bilateral trade and commercial ties and agreed to continue discussions for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

The meeting was aimed at providing a new impetus to bilateral trade and commercial ties.

It was in line with the mandate given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during their meeting at Osaka in Japan last month on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.
India and Pakistan to meet on 14 July on Kartarpur Corridor
The next meeting between India and Pakistan on the Kartarpur corridor will be held.

The meeting will take place at the Attari-Wagah border to discuss the modalities of the corridor and related technical issues.

India has high expectations from the upcoming meeting and hoped that issues like connectivity at the Zero point and visit of a large number of pilgrims on special occasions will be discussed.

India will also raise its concerns over the security aspect.

New Delhi had earlier conveyed its strong concerns to Pakistan over the presence of a leading Khalistani separatist in a committee appointed by Islamabad on the project.

The construction work at the site of passenger terminal complex at Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab for Kartarpur Sahib is on full swing.

The work has been planned to be completed by 31st October before the commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in November.

Construction work for the passenger terminal complex is also on full swing with more than 250 labourers and 30 engineers at the site working in three shifts.

The terminal is being built on around 15 acres of land with comprehensive facilities to cater for approximately 5000 passengers per day for smooth movement of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib in Pakistan with all public amenities.

The work on a four-lane highway on the Indian side is in full swing.

The highway connecting the Zero Point of the Kartarpur Corridor up to National Highway-354 is being constructed by the National Highways Authority of India.

India is constructing a bridge at the Zero Point and has urged Pakistan to build a similar bridge on its side that will provide safe and secure movement of the pilgrims and address concerns regarding flooding.
India, Russia meet on space cooperation
India and Russia have held high-level talks in New Delhi to elevate bilateral co-operation to the next level in the field of space, including assistance in India's maiden human space flight mission 'Gaganyaan'.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Dmitry Rogozin, Director General of Russia's space agency (ROSCOSMOS) led the two sides in the meeting held.

The possibilities for the production of space systems in India were an important part of the discussions.

Co-operation in futuristic technologies including new space systems, rocket engines, propellants and propulsion systems, spacecrafts and launch vehicle technology were also discussed.

There have been frequent contacts between the two space agencies to finalise the details of the Gaganyaan Mission, which will carry Indian astronaut to space in 2022, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Independence.
Donald Trump admin very focussed on further cementing Indo-US ties: Kushner
Batting for strong Indo-US ties, senior adviser to US President, Jared Kushner has said there are very few countries like India that posses the potential for growth and the administration was very focussed on further cementing the bilateral strategic ties. He was addressing the Second Leadership Summit of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum in Washington.

Listing out the various steps being taken by President Trump to make America more competitive globally, India is a fast-growing economy having an amazingly, educated population and a lot of people share similar values with US.

Whether it's trade and commerce, or national security, there are so many strategic elements of this relationship, a lot of people in the administration at the President's direction have been very focused on India-US ties.
India-Brunei Foreign Office Consultations held
The 7th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Brunei Darussalam was held on 24 June 2019 in New Delhi.

The Indian side was led by Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary(East).

The consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, trade and investment, defence, cultural and people to people contact.
India boycotts ‘Osaka Track’ at G20 summit
India, South Africa, and Indonesia have boycotted the “Osaka Track" on the “digital economy".

Countries boycotted the “Osaka Track"at the G20 leaders’ summit in Osaka.

It undermined “multilateral" principles of consensus-based decisions in global trade negotiations, and denied "policy space" for digital-industrialisation in developing countries.
US Senate gives India NATO ally-like status
The United States Senate has passed a legislative provision that brings India at par with America's NATO allies and countries like Israel and South Korea for increasing defence cooperation.

The amendment provides for increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean in areas of humanitarian assistance, counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security.
India asks Indonesia to take urgent steps to repatriate detained seafarers
India has asked Indonesia to urgently repatriate Indian seafarers, who have been detained on board commercial vessels in the archipelagic nation.

Eighty-seven Indian sailors were reportedly detained in February by the Indonesian authorities for illegal anchoring in its territorial water.

Indonesian officials have assured to accord the matter high priority in view of humanitarian aspect and excellent bilateral relations during the first India-Indonesia consular dialogue held in Yogyakarta.

The Indian delegation was led by Sanjiv Arora, Secretary of Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs

The Indonesian delegation was led by Dr Andri Hadi, Director General for Protocol and Consular Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dialogue also focussed on ensuring well being of Indian and Indonesian prisoners and facilitating mechanisms to ensure smooth and regular consular access.
MoU signed between India and Maldives
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between India and Maldives for the establishment of passenger and cargo services by sea.

Male and Kulhudhuffushi are good prospects for introduction of ferry service from Kochi for both tourists as well as cargo.

The proposed ferry service would contribute in a big way to promote people to people contact and to boost bilateral trade.
MoU approved between India and Morocco
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between India and Morocco.

It has been signed for developing, promoting and strengthening mutual cooperation between the judiciaries of the two countries.

The approval will promote cooperation between India and Morocco in judicial and other legal areas and enable exchange of knowledge in infrastructure and information technology.
India to train 1800 Bangladeshi Civil Servants at Mussoorie
Eighteen hundred Bangladeshi mid-career civil servants will be trained at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie between 2019-2025.

The first batch of 30 civil servants leaving for a two-week long training programme in Mussoorie paid a visit to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The Bangladeshi civil servants are being trained at the National Centre for Good Governance based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2019 in the Fifth meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC).

Welcoming the participants to the training programme, acting High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh announced such trainings provide an opportunity to share experiences of administration between civil servants of the two countries.

That civil servants of India and Bangladesh knowing each other would help foster deeper ties between the two countries.