GS PAPER II NEWS
9th meeting of the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force
Why in News
Mr. Sheikh Hameed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, hosted the India-UAE High Level Joint Task Force on Investment in Dubai ( Co-chaired the 9th meeting of Joint Task Force.
Key point
- The meeting was attended by senior officials representing the respective government authorities of both countries and various investment bodies.
- In this ninth meeting of the Joint Task Force, both sides noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global trade and investment and reiterated the importance of strengthening deep economic ties between the two countries.
- The meeting reviewed the positive results achieved so far through the work of the Joint Task Force and both sides agreed to continue exploring ways to facilitate investment in areas of mutual interest with potential for economic growth.
- The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing discussions for the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which will be a significant and far-reaching step in promoting trade and investment between the two countries.
- In this regard, both sides appreciated the efforts made to expedite discussions towards a balanced agreement that would further deepen bilateral economic ties and benefit the economies of both countries.
- The participants also considered the UAE and India’s ongoing efforts to amend the long-standing Bilateral Investment Treaty and noted the importance of expediting the negotiation process.
- During the meeting, discussions were also held on exploring mutually beneficial methods and incentives to facilitate further investments from UAE sovereign investment bodies in key priority areas in India.
- The importance of active participation from the UAE Special Desk within Invest India, India’s national investment promotion agency, was discussed in prompt resolution of both heritage issues and difficulties experienced by UAE companies and banks in India. The Indian side also underlined some of the long standing issues faced by Indian investors in the UAE. Both sides agreed to continue coordination and cooperation at the highest official level for early resolution of these issues.
UAE Point of view
- Commenting on the 9th meeting of the Joint Task Force, Sheikh Hameed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Co-Chair of the Joint Task Force and Member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, said:
- ‘India and the UAE share a broad and deep strategic partnership and this has helped keep bilateral economic ties strong despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This joint task force presents an important platform for dialogue between our two countries, while opening up new opportunities for trade and investment, and removing barriers to cooperation. Looking to the future, India and the UAE share the ambitious goal of expanding trade and investment activities between our countries and the joint task force will continue to play an important role in achieving these objectives. ‘
India Point of view
- Shri Piyush Goyal, Co-Chairman of the Joint Task Force and Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, said,
- ‘India and the UAE have a long-standing relationship that has been strengthened in recent times and our continued engagement during the pandemic reflects the priority of this partnership for both our countries. Our leadership places a special place on our relations with the UAE and our bilateral forums such as the Joint Task Force provide an effective mechanism for our long-standing friendship. Given the strong growth prospects of the Indian economy, we expect increased investments from the UAE in diverse sectors of India. We are confident that the world will continue to witness more achievements in the India-UAE partnership in the future.
Background
- The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 as a premier forum to promote economic ties between the UAE and India, which was signed in January 2017 by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and the Crown of Abu Dhabi, on the Comprehensive Strategic Agreement between the two countries. It was further strengthened by the signing of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
GS PAPER III
‘Wetlands of India’ portal
Why in News
- Announcing the prestigious week (October 4-10, 2021) of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched a web portal ‘Wetlands of India Portal’. ‘ (http://indianwetlands.in/) has been launched in which complete information about the country’s wetlands has been given.
About ‘Wetlands of India’ Portal
- All information related to wetlands is available on this portal.
- The portal is a dynamic system for processing information and making this information available to the stakeholders in an efficient and accessible manner.
- The portal also provides capacity building material, data repository, videos and information for the students.
- It is also important that a dashboard has also been developed for each state and union territory to access this portal and to upload the information of wetlands located in their administration.
- This portal will be used by various states and union territories and additional features will be added to it in the coming months.
- Login ID cards have also been made available for knowledge partners. There will also be participation of citizens on this portal.
- Presently citizens can register themselves and also upload pictures related to wetlands on various subjects. It is also important that the registered citizens can also choose to take a pledge to become Wetlands Mitra and indicate their State/UT and their areas of interest. This information will also help the States and UTs to approach interested persons for various programs and initiatives.
- The portal has been developed in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zussamenerbeit (GIZ) GmbH as part of the Technical Cooperation Project of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, ‘Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Conservation’ (Wetlands Project).
- The project has been undertaken by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Security (BMU) under the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Ramsar Treaty
- Ramsar sites are those wetlands which have international importance.
- An international treaty was signed in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran, under the leadership of UNESCO, for the sustainable use and protection of the world’s wetlands.
- This treaty came into existence from 1975. It is also known as Ramsar treaty. The world’s major wetlands have been included in its list.
Wetland
- The area with moisture or marshy land is called wetland or wetland.
- These are the areas where there is plenty of moisture. It has many benefits. It makes the water pollution free. These are the areas which are partially or completely filled with water throughout the year.
- Wetlands in India extend from the cold and dry regions to the tropical monsoon regions of central India and the humid regions of the south.
GS PAPER III
‘Cop 26’
Why in News
- Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, representing India in a virtual manner at the ‘COP 26’ meeting held in Milan, Italy from 30 September to 2 October 2021, assured that India would be constructively involved in COP 26 and will assess mutually related proposals to streamline the Paris rulebook that can be made by meeting the climate finance commitments of developed countries.
Key point
- He highlighted that India embraces the imperative of concerted climate action this decade, to ensure that the world remains within the Paris Agreement’s temperature targets as well as adapting itself to its effects. Take the shield, and bring the damage it does to the minimum level.
- Therefore, the COP 26 findings should emphasize the need to bridge the gap in ambition by providing the means for implementation, so that developing countries can scale up their climate action.
- He said that India firmly believes that the only way to achieve climate targets, especially on mitigation, is through concrete steps for quick, assured and sustainable finance.
- Climate change is embedded in India’s development strategy and India has been at the forefront of taking ambitious climate action.
- However, India’s vast population may be at risk from adverse effects of climate change. Hence adaptation is one of the top priorities of our country.
- Highlighting the imperative of climate finance, he said that India firmly believes that the process of setting new collective long-term climate finance targets must be initiated after the year 2020 in ‘COP 26’.
- ‘Cop 26’ pre-meeting
- The ‘COP 26’ pre-meeting was hosted by the Italian government in Milan, Italy from 30 September to 2 October 2021 before the COP 26 event.
- The purpose of this meeting was to set the path or agenda of COP 26 and to provide a forum for relevant parties to share specific insights or insights on their expectations from this conference.
- This conference is scheduled to be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021.
GS PAPER III
Mitra Shakti 21
Why in News
- The 8th edition of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral joint exercise Mitra Shakti will be held from October 4 to 15, 2021 at the Combat Training School, Ampara, Sri Lanka.
Key point
- An Armed Forces contingent of 120 Indian Army personnel along with a battalion of the Sri Lankan Army will participate in the exercise.
- The objective of this exercise is to promote closer ties between the armies of the two countries and enhance interoperability as well as sharing of best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations.
- The exercise will include strategic level operations at the sub-unit level in an international insurgency and counter-terrorism environment. This exercise will go a long way in further strengthening the ties between the two South Asian countries.
- It will also act as a catalyst for bringing about coordination and cooperation between the two armies at the grassroots level.
- The 7th edition of the maneuver Mitra Shakti was held in the year 2019 at Foreign Training Node (FTN), Pune, Maharashtra (India).
GS PAPER III
Armed Forces (Privileges) Act
Why in News
- The central government recently declared three districts of Arunachal Pradesh and two police station areas of another district as ‘disturbed’ for the next six months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act after reviewing the extremist activities and law and order.
Key point
- The Union Home Ministry on October 01 declared three districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam as ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). This decision has been taken after reviewing the militant activities and law and order here.
- The notification issued in this regard by the Union Home Ministry will be effective from 01 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. This decision has been taken in view of the improvement in the security situation.
Section-3 of the Armed Forces Act, 1958
- In exercise of the powers vested in Section-3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the Central Government, in a notification dated April 1, 2021, in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and four police station areas- two in Namsai district and One police station area each in Lower Dibang and Lohit districts, which are adjacent to the Assam border, were declared as ‘disturbed’ areas.
- about notification
- The notification said that Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Namsai and Mahadevapur police station areas of Namsai district shall be exercised with effect from October 1, 2021 in exercise of the powers vested in Section-3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. Declared ‘disturbed area’ till the order is withdrawn on or before 31st March 2022.
AFSPA
- AFSPA is implemented in areas where armed forces are needed to assist the civil administration.
- Under AFSPA, the central government, on the basis of the report of the governor, declares a state or area as disturbed and deploys central security forces there.
- The state or central government declares any area as disturbed due to differences or disputes between different religious, racial, language, regional groups, castes, communities.
- Under this law, the soldiers of the army also have the right to shoot at the person who breaks the law.
- Armed forces can arrest any person without any warrant.
- They can use any kind of power during the arrest. When a vehicle is stopped and suspected of carrying a weapon illegally, it can be searched.