International

Axis of evil: Axis of evil, expression used to describe the bellicose tendencies of Iran, North Korea, and Iraq in the early 21st century. The phrase was coined by Canadian-born U.S. presidential speechwriter David Frum and presidential aide Michael Gerson for use by U.S. President George W. Bush in his 2002 State of the Union address. Golden crescent: The Golden Crescent is a mountainous area of Iran, Afghanistan … Read more

Main features: Panchsheel: Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty Non-aggression against each other. Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Equality and mutual benefit. Peaceful co-existence. Policy of Non alignment Policy of resisting colonialism, Imperialism and Racism Peaceful settlement of international disputes Support to UN, International law and just and equal world order … Read more

Agenda 21 is a non-binding and voluntary implementation plan of United Nations with regard to sustainable development. Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment. Agenda 21, … Read more

Iran’s Chabahar port is located on the Gulf of Oman and is the only oceanic port of the country. The port gives access to the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations’ southern coast. Iran formally handed over the port to India recently during a first meeting of the follow-up committee for the implementation of the Chabahar Agreement between Iran, … Read more

Know India Program – To help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, with developments and achievements made by the country and bringing them closer to the land of their ancestors. KIP provides a unique  forum for students and young professionals of Indian Origin to visit India, share their views, expectations … Read more

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions.  The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international … Read more

a) Corruption perception index: Released by berlin based non- government organisation Transparency International. India’s ranking slid to 81 among a group of 180 countries. b) Press freedom index: The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published byReporters without Borders based upon the organisation’s own assessment of thecountries’ press freedom records … Read more

BCIM is a sub-regional organisation of Asian nations aimed at greater integration of trade and investment between the four countries. The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh. The advantages are envisaged to accrue from greater market access for goods, services and energy, elimination … Read more

West Asia is an important region in terms of energy security, investment, maintenance of law order and overall economic development of sub continent. The complimentary value can be quantified as: West Asia absorb much of India`s cheap labor. Around 7 million Indian works in WestAsia. It provide with huge amount of remittance. India has highest … Read more

The Lisbon Treaty updated regulations for the European Union, establishing a more centralized leadership and foreign policy, a proper process for countries that wish to leave the Union, and a streamlined process for enacting new policies. The treaty was signed on December 13, 2007, in Lisbon, Portugal, and amends the two previous treaties that established … Read more

It is a regional grouping name Regional comprehensive  economic partnership. In August 2012, the 16 Economic Ministers endorsed the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The RCEP negotiations were launched by Leaders from 10 ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and … Read more

The Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean littoral nations that retain primary significance for India are Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam, all of which are of increasing strategic importance to India.As Myanmar is the only ASEAN country which India directly borders, the country is of critical importance to India’s security, especially given the serious insurgency-related problems that … Read more

Soft power is pursuation, diplomacy, and trade relation, cultural relations, religiou relations . There is no use of power. It is beneficial in long term relationship like goodwill, trade ties, mutual benefits, trade blocks. It helps in gaining advantage in favour of a country, helps in solving trade disputes, boundary disputes, like recently between India … Read more

The US H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ graduate level workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields for a certain period of time.  US congress has brought a bill which include the provision of recruiting more of Americans.  The bill seeks to increase the … Read more

The G4 nations comprising Brazil, Germany, India and Japan are four countries which support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.   The United Kingdom and France have backed the G4’s bid for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.   The G4 suggested that two African nations, in addition to … Read more

India shares her 15,200 long land frontier with Pakistan, in the west and north-west.   Afghanistan in the north-west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east. India’s longest border is with Bangladesh while the shortest border is with Afghanistan.       Some of the important international border point … Read more

CITES stands for convention on International Trade in Endangered species of wild flora and fauna. It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Conference aims to control or prevent international commercial trade in endangered species or … Read more

Pakistan has been accused by India, Afghanistan, the United States, the United Kingdom and many other countries of involvement in terrorism in Kashmir and Afghanistan. In July 2009, current President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari admitted that the Pakistani government had “created and nurtured” terrorist groups to achieve its short-term foreign policy goals. According to … Read more

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) known commonly as the Iran deal or Iran nuclear deal, is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany), … Read more

  India has a very wide array of interests in Central Asia covering security, energy, economic opportunities etc. Central Asia serves as a land bridge between Asia and Europe, making it geopolitically axial for India. Security, stability and prosperity of Central Asia is imperative for peace and economic development of India. The region is rich … Read more

Reasons: India’s geographical location has make India indispensable for USA. It lies closer to the arc of instability i.e Middle east, Afghan, Pak, neighbour of China. With rise of Asian economies stake in Indian ocean is on rise. India can be valuable partner. (70 percent of ship-borne oil and petroleum traffic transiting through its waters.) … Read more

HCOC is a voluntary and legally non-binding regime to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles which are capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).   It was established on 25 November 2002. The HCoC does not ban ballistic missiles but works to restrict their production, testing, and export. It is only multilateral transparency and confidence … Read more

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan signed on September 19, 1960. The treaty was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan. It was brokered by the World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development). According to treaty, all the water of eastern rivers( Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) … Read more

UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations formed in 1945. In these 75 years world underwent drastic change in the geopolitics and international relation. Hence the membership  and structure does not represent the true nature of the contemporary reality.  So there is the need of the reforms and the demand … Read more

Positive: Energy security: Saudi Arabia today is our 4th largest trade partner (after China, USA and Japan) and is a major source of energy as we import around 17 % of our crude oil requirement from the Kingdom. Investment:According to Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), there are 322 Indian companies as joint ventures/100% owned … Read more

BBIN stands for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal Motor Vehicle Act It is an Unprecedented step that aims at shared prosperity in South Asia. Meant to facilitate movement of commercial vehicles across the borders of B-B-I-N The main objective of the agreement is to provide seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross … Read more

It was set up after the fall of the Berlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe.   HQ – London.    EBRD is owned by 66 countries and two EU institutions i.e EU & EIB.   US is the biggest shareholder.   Besides Europe, member countries of the EBRD are also from other continents – … Read more

  Basis of diff ICJ ICC Year of estb. 1946 2002 Relationship with UN Official court of UN, Commonly known as world court Independent, not governed by UN. Prior sanction of UN is not mandatory for launching of prosecution. HQ Peace place, Hague Hague Jurisdiction UN member states, Can give advisory opinions to UN bodies … Read more

Qatar crisis is the manifestation of the diplomatic breakdown between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and its allies in the west Asian region that threatens to upset the stability of the region.Four Arab countries out of which three are also the members of Gulf Cooperation Council – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain along … Read more

The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has a political and strategic significance which belies its size. Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US Trump Administration did so unilaterally in March 2019.There are more than 30 Jewish settlements on the heights, with an … Read more

UN Convention on the Law of Sea is the international agreement that resulted from the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. It provides a regulatory framework for the use of the world’s seas and oceans, to ensure the conservation and equitable usage of resources and the marine environment and to ensure … Read more

OPERATION NISTAR:   It is a operation carried out by Indian Naval Ship Sunayna. The Indians were stranded in Scotra island after a cyclone hit the area and INS Sunayna had evacuated them in the operation.  The cyclone mekunu had badly hit various parts OPERATION RAHAT: ‘Operation Rahat’ was launched by Indian Armed Forces to evacuate … Read more

The Malabar exercises were first established in 1992 between India and the United States, but due to tensions arising from India’s nuclearization in 1998, it became an annual feature only in 2002.The bilateral exercises evolved from basic naval drills to include aircraft carriers in 2005 and added anti-piracy drills and search and rescue with a … Read more

NSG means Nuclear supplier group. It was brought in 1974 in response to the Indian nuclear test. It is a multilateral export control regime.  It is a Group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. Benefits of … Read more

Most of the countries are sovereign in nature, but their internal dynamics define the external relations with other country. And in this globalised word it is next to impossible to remain all aloof. The major reasons are: We are the part of the global world order and our commitment to global act and implementation on … Read more

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources. It replaced … Read more

Its aim is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information” It was established in 1946 and is based in Paris. It has 195 member states and ten associate members. Its five major programs are:  Education,  Natural sciences,  Social/human … Read more

It is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia.  Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are its members.   Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration.  SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an … Read more

The BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is a framework for providing protection against global liquidity pressures. This includes currency issues where members’ national currencies are being adversely affected by global financial pressures. It is found that emerging economies that experienced rapid economic liberalization went through increased economic volatility, bringing uncertain macroeconomic environment. The CRA is … Read more

2018 marked the 68th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement. Created as an institution to counter the bipolar world order and give voice to much of the third world, the Non-Aligned Movement today remains as relevant as it was when it was founded. Today, 120 countries are are part of NAM and each of these countries … Read more

The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, also known asthe Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC), was established on 25 November 2002 as anarrangement to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles. It is the result of international efforts to regulate access to ballistic missileswhich can potentially deliver weapons of mass destruction. The HCOC is … Read more

  Adverse balance to trade:  To enable more Bangladeshi exports to flow into India, duty free entry was granted in 2011 under SAFTA. An SEZ in BG for Indian manufacturing companies has been mooted and notified. To offset economic asymmetry, India has granted BG generous line of credit (LOCs) and grants, with commitments reaching $ … Read more

Australia PM has announced recently a three pillar strategy in INDIA -AUS relations. The focus of this report is on building a sustainable long-term India economic strategy. The report identifies 10 sectors and 10 states in an evolving Indian market where Australia has competitive advantages, and where it should focus its efforts. These are divided … Read more

: IORA is an international organisation consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean.  The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.  It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade … Read more

Importance of West asia for India cannot be defined. Its importance for our energy and economic security is a well known fact. But there are some concerns in terms of realising the true potential of the relationship. Major concerns are briefed here as under:   1) Geopolitical Concerns: Arab-Israel conflict which is considered as mother … Read more

Indian government believe in maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries. Bangladesh is one of its close neighbour. India had recognised Bangladesh as a separate and independent state, did so on 6 December 1971. India fought together with the Bangladeshis to liberate Bangladesh from West Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh and India share a common tradition. They … Read more

Assumption Island, a single coral island, belongs to the Outer Islands District of Seychelles.With only a small village on the sheltered western side and a 1,210-m concrete airfield running from there to the southeastern coast, the island’s few inhabitants, mostly farmers and fishermen, have to go to Victoria (the capital) for government services. The island’s … Read more

UNCITRAL was established by the UN General Assembly in 1966 to promote the progressive harmonisation and unification of international trade law. It is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. It also aims to modernize and harmonize rules on international business. The Commission comprises 60 member … Read more

Kim Jong Un is consolidating his grip on power through a combination of patronage and dread and is doubling down on his nuclear and missile programs, developing long-range missiles that may soon endanger the continental USA. Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington have a shared incentive to handle security risks in Northeast Asia, but a history … Read more

The Mission of WIPO is to promote innovation and creativity for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.  WIPO’s predecessor was The United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIPRI).  It administered two conventions such as Paris convention and Berne convention for the protection of … Read more