Tag: India’s Foreign Policy

India’s Foreign Policy Joint venture in T.N. defence corridor Indian firm Merlinhawk Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. Signed a joint venture agreement with Italy’s Vega Composites S.r.l. to establish a manufacturing and design facility in the Tamil Nadu defence corridor for advanced composite material - based products. The new entity will be called Merlinhawk Composites and Engineering Private Limited. The joint venture is the first such agreement signed between an Italian and Indian company. Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Urban Affairs Ministry starts data portal on cities The Amplifi 2.0 (Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive and Future - ready urban India) portal was recently launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The portal contains the data about Indian cities on a single platform which would help the academics, researchers, and stakeholders in better policy making. By 2030, India is projected to have 60 crore (40%) of the population living in urban areas. The 2011 Census shows that urban India contributed 63% to the country’s GDP which is projected to increase to 75% by 2030. Public Awareness & General Administration Phased introduction of biogas blending India will start blending compressed biogas with natural gas to boost domestic demand and cut reliance on natural gas imports. The mandatory phased introduction will start at 1% for use in automobiles and households from April 2025. The government also aims to have 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in air craft turbine fuel by 2027, doubling to 2% in 2028. The steps are aimed at helping India achieve net zero emissions targets by 2070.  

India’s Foreign Policy Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi shuts down The Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi has permanently closed down, effective from November 23. The embassy blamed both the Taliban rulers in Kabul as well as the Government of India for pressuring it to stop operations in the country permanently Welfare Schemes CITIIS Project The City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) project, which was launched in 28 schools in Chennai, will likely be extended to 15 more schools. The CITIIS envisages a complete transformation of selected schools, such as infrastructure, teaching pedagogy, teacher training, sports, etc. It is a multi-dimensional project with niche features. The project is funded by French Development Agency (AFD) along with the TN State Government.

India’s Foreign Policy India – Bhutan Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Bhutan's fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s and made important decisions. Important Decisions 58 km cross border rail link between Gelephu and Kokrajhar in Assam to be built by India. A second rail link for about 18 km between Samtse in Bhutan and Banarhat in West Bengal. Establishment of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Dadgiri (Assam) Establishment of a smart city at Gelephu on the border between Bhutan and Assam. Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Odd-even vehicle rotation scheme to return in Delhi New Delhi government announced that it would implement an odd even vehicle rotation scheme in the city from November 13 to 20 to reduce air pollution. The air pollution in Delhi touched about 18 times the limit set by the World Health Organization. Air pollution in Delhi continued to be in the “severe” category according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The scheme was first implemented in 2016.  

India’s Foreign Policy Bilateral Rail Connectivity between India and Bangladesh Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated Bilateral rail connectivity between Agartala and Akhaura from New Delhi and Dhaka respectively. Agartala-Akhaura railway line is 12.24 km long. Of this, Tripura has got 5.46 km on the Indian side and 6.78 km lies in Akhaura of Bangladesh's Bahmanbaria district. The project was crucial for connectivity in the North East region and it would make Tripura the gateway for tourism. The project was initially signed in 2013. Note Tripura shares 856 km-long international border with Bangladesh. It is the second longest border between these two countries of any Indian state after West Bengal. India – US to hold ‘2+2’ dialogue India and US will be holding an ‘2+2’ dialogue in New Delhi. ‘2+2’ dialogue will be held between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. India also held 2+2 dialogue with Japan Australia Russia UK

India’s Foreign Policy Sri Lanka offers free visas to Indians to revive tourism Sri Lanka waived visa fee to issue free tourist visas to tourists from China, India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan until March 31, 2024. The move aims to boost tourist arrivals and help rebuild the nation’s battered economy following financial crash in 2023. In 2023 over 2 lakh Indian tourists constituting 20 % of the total tourist arrivals  have visited Sri Lanka until September 2023. Note Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is struggling to bounce back after three major setbacks in the last few years The Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019 The corona virus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 The unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. Until now, Indian tourists were charged $20 as visa fee. About Sri Lanka Capitals - Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Currency - Sri Lankan Rupee President - Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime minister - Dinesh Gunawarden

India’s foreign policy Meeting of 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission in Hanoi External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting of the 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission in Hanoi with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son. The discussions covered cooperation in Political, defense and maritime security Judicial Trade and investment Energy development Education and training Science and technology Cultural domain On July 22, 2023 India handed over INS Kirpan to Vietnam at Cam Ranh. About Vietnam Capital – Hanoi Currency - Vietnamese dong President - Vo Van Thuong Prime Minister - Pham Minh Chinh India, UK hold '2+2' Dialogue The first “2+2” Foreign and Defence Dialogue was held between India and UK in New Delhi. It is held between the Foreign and Defence Ministeries of the two countries. Topics discussed: Situation in the Indo-Pacific region Trade and investment Defence Critical and emerging technologies Civil aviation Health Energy Culture and strengthening peoples connect. About United Kingdom Capital – London Monarch - Charles III Prime Minister - Rishi Sunak India also held 2+2 dialogue with Japan Australia Russia United Sates

India’s Foreign Policy India –Argentina sign social security agreement India and Argentina signed Social Security Agreement to ensure legal rights of professionals in each other’s domain that will assist in risk free international mobility. The agreement is aimed at ensuring rights of the growing number of Indian nationals employed in various Indian and international concerns in Argentina as well as for Argentine nationals seeking employment in India. The agreement has a legal framework which will enable professionals on both sides to claim old age and survivor’s pensions. About Argentina Capital - Buenos Aires Currency - Argentine Peso President - Alberto Fernández Vice President - Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

India’s Foreign Policy India-Greece India and Greece agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to the level of strategic partnership. Both countries decided to expand their cooperation in the fields of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, new and emerging technology, and skill development. PM Modi was conferred with “The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour”. India and Greece plan to double their bilateral trade by 2030. Note The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece was Indira Gandhi in 1983. About Greece Capital – Athens President - Katerina Sakellaropoulou Prime Minister - Kyriakos Mitsotakis

India’s Foreign Policy India-ASEAN Meet The 20th ASEAN India Economic Ministers’ meeting was held in Indonesia. During the meeting, India and the ASEAN countries reached an agreement to review their free trade pact for goods and decided to conclude the review by 2025.  The Free Trade pact – ASEAN - India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) was signed in 2009.  About ASEAN  Formation - 8 August 1967.  Headquarters - Jakarta, Indonesia. Members – 10 countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Green Fellowship programme Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a two year Chief Minister’s Green Fellowship Programme (CMGFP) at the Secretariat. The scheme was announced in the Assembly as part of the 2021­22 Budget.  Nodal Agency – Department of Environment &Climate Change.   Knowledge partner for implementation - Institute for Energy Studies (IES), Anna University, Chennai.  A total of 40 Green Fellows (38 at District level and two at the State level) will be selected under CMGFP. Primary role of fellows will be to Support the District Administration in the implementation of the three Mission mode projects of the Government of Tamil Nadu viz., Green Tamil Nadu Mission  Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission  Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission  Note  Green Tamil Nadu Mission (September 24, 2022) – Increasing the green cover in the state from 23.7% to 33% in 10 years.  Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission - To expand collective human action to respond to climate change and to reduce Green House Gas Emissions.  Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission - Identify and map 100 wetlands in 5 years.

India’s Foreign Policy Defence Minister Rajnath bilateral ties with Malaysia Mr. Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on a three-day official visit to Malaysia.  This is the first bilateral visit after the establishment of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, which was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Malaysia in 2015. Recognising defence exports as a key pillar of sustainable growth of the Indian defence industry, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Regional Office of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Kuala Lumpur. This Regional Office will facilitate close defence industrial collaboration between India and Malaysia. It will also serve as a hub for the HAL’s engagement with the wider South-East Asian region and act as a window for other Indian Defense PSUs, the defence ministry said in New Delhi. Incidentally, Malaysia has evinced interest in procuring Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) indigenously designed and manufactured by the HAL. About Malaysia Prime Minister - Anwar Ibrahim Capital - Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Currency - Malaysian Ringgit Latest Court Verdicts SC asks ED chief to quit, but upholds amendments. The Supreme Court asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra to quit four months before his third extension ends in November even as it upheld statutory amendments that facilitate the tentures of Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED to be stretched “piecemeal”. CBI and ED chiefs have fixed tenures of two years. However, amendments introduced in 2021 to the Central Vigilance Commission Act, the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act and the Fundamental Rules allow them three annual extensions. About Enforcement Directorate Executive Director - Sanjay Kumar Mishra HQ – New Delhi Ministry – Finance (Revenue Department) Founded - 1 May 1956 Validity of Places of Worship Act The Supreme Court gave the Centre ‘sufficient time’ till October 31…