GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
2nd India-China Informal Summit
Context
The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the People’s Republic of China Mr Xi Jinping held their Second Informal Summit in Chennai, India.
About the Second Informal Summit
- The two leaders met at Mamallapuram for day two of the India-China informal summit
- At Wuhan summit 2018, both sides agreed that such informal meetings will be held regularly to propel the future direction of India-China relations.
- These informal meetings are aimed at ensuring higher levels of strategic communicationsbetween India and China.
Key highlights of Mamallapuram Summit
- The year 2020 will be designated as Year of India-China Cultural and People to People Exchanges.
- As many as 70 activities including a conference on a ship voyage that will trace the historical connect between the two civilisations, will be planned.
- Sister-state relationship will be established between Tamil Nadu and Fujian Province.
- Possibility for establishing an academy to study links between Mamallapuram and Fujian province will also be explored.
Importance of Mamallapuram
- India has chosen Mamallapuram as a symbol of India’s ‘soft power’.
- In the Wuhan summit, Wuhan was picked by President Xi Jinping as the venue in 2018 to demonstrate China’s economic might.
- The Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, who was an icon in China, was the third prince of a Pallava king who travelled to China from Kancheepuram via Mamallapuram in 527AD.
- Bodhidharma went on to become the 28th patriarch of Buddhism succeeding Prajnatara.
- Mamallapuram is an important town of the erstwhile Pallava dynasty that ruled in parts of South India from 275 CE to 897 CE.
- Mamallapuram and the Pallava dynasty are also historically associated with China.
- The earliest recorded security pacts between China and India in the early 8th century are present.
- Chinese sought help from a Pallava king Rajasimhan or Narasimha Varma II to counter Tibet.
- Mamallapuram is renowned for its architecture, widely admired across the world.
Significance of these informal summits
Informal summits have been used as trust-building exercises.
The Wuhan spirit has given Indo-China relations new momentum and trust. It sought to reset ties between India and China.
Wuhan Spirit is in line with the five principles of peaceful coexistence (Panchsheel) jointly advocated by China and India in the 1950s.
Essence of Wuhan Spirt
- In Wuhan summit, both countries agreed that they form the“backbone” of economic globalisation, and should jointly make positive contributions to global peace and development.
- The two nations have agreed to cooperate on a joint project in Afghanistan.
- Though Wuhan summit was started with enthusiasm, however,little has changed as far as India-China relations are concerned.
- The disputed border between the two countries remains an issue of concern.
- In spite of cooperation in Afghanistan, the China-Pakistan axis has sought to sideline India from Afghanistan peace process.
Changing dynamics
- India’s relations with the U.S. have attained a new high.
- Due to Trade war, relations between China and the U.S. have sharply deteriorated
- The Quad (the U.S., India, Japan and Australia) has gained a new lease of life.
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has also come under increasing attack, due to debt trap diplomacy (China taking the lease of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port for 99 years).
- A new triangular relationship of Russia, India and Japan, appears to be altering equations in the East Asian region.
- India’s relations with Russia have acquired a fresh dimension, incorporating economics alongside a longstanding military relationship.
- India’s line of credit to develop Russia’s Far East has fundamentally changed the nature of India-Russia relations.
- While in 2018, the China-Russia axis appeared to be a new strategic alignment, which has been reset to some extent by India.
Way Forward
- The Mamallapuram Summit is likely to help Mamallapuram become a must visit place for Chinese tourists, who mostly visit Bodhgaya.
- Doklam and the disputed border between the two countries remains an issue of concern. The Informal meetings will be useful in trust building.
- Both the countries need to focus their energies more on domestic socio-economic development rather than frittering it away militarily.
- India is going to conduct “all arms integrated” exercise ‘codenamed Changthang Prahar (assault)’in a “super high altitude” in Ladakh.
- The reopening of the Advanced Landing Ground at Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh for the use of military aircraft.
- Therefore, India needs to proceed with the utmost caution that ‘Wuhan spirit’ doesn’t get undermined.
GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Context
26th foundation day celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was celebrated.
About the NHRC
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October, 1993.
- The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
- It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991,
- It is endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 December, 1993.
- The NHRC is an embodiment of India’s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Human Rights Council
- The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body created by the United Nations General Assembly resolution on 15 March 2006.
- It has replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
- It is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
- It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year.
- It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
- The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.
Composition of NHRC
- The National Human Rights Commission includes a chairperson and seven other members.
- Out of the seven members, three are ex-officio members and four others are selected by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
- The Chairperson and the members of the NHRC have tenure of five years or the age of 70 years before the completion of his tenure.
- The Chairperson or any other member of this commission can be removed by the President even before the expiry of their full term.
- They can be removed only on the charge of proved misbehaviour or incapacity or both, if it is proved by an inquiry conducted by a judge of the Supreme Court.
Members of NHRC–
- A Chairperson- retired Chief Justice of India.
- One Member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- One Member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.
- Two Members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.
- Additionally, the Chairpersons of four National Commissions,(1.Minorities 2.SC and ST 3.Women), to serve as ex officio members.
Functions of National Human Rights Commission
Comprehensive powers and functions have been given to the Commission under section12 of the Act.
- To investigate grievances regarding the violation of human rights either suo moto or after receiving a petition.
- To scrutinize the failure of duties on the part of any public official in preventing the violation of human rights.
- To interfere in any judicial proceedings involving any allegation of violation of human rights.
- To visit any jail or any other institution under the control of the State Government to see the living conditions of the inmates and to make recommendations thereon.
- To review the safeguards provided under the constitution or any law for the protection of the human rights and to recommend appropriate remedial measures.
- To study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and to make recommendations for their effective implementation.
- To undertake and promote research in the field of human rights.
- To encourage the efforts of the non-governmental organisations working in the field of human rights.
- To spread human rights literacy among various sections of society and to promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other means.
- To review all facts related to the activities of the terrorists which obstruct the way of the protection of human rights and to make recommendations for their effective implementation.
For Prelims-
Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN – 2019
Context
Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN-219 between India and Japan will be conducted at counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram.
Highlights
- Joint Military Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN-219 between India and Japan will be conducted at counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram.
- Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018.
- Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN with Japan is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of global terrorism.
- The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on counter terrorism operations in jungle and urban scenario.
- The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF).
- Which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.
India International Cooperatives Trade Fair (IICTF)
Context
35 countries participated in the first ever India International Cooperatives Trade Fair (IICTF) in Delhi.
Highlights
- The Fair is jointly organised by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in association with the Bangkok based international organization Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives (NEDAC).
- India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’ (IICTF) is unique initiative that provides single platform to farmers, artisans & other members of cooperatives directly to global trade arena.
- It is conceived as a major platform to promote exports of Indian cooperative produce and is packed with exhibitions, Business to Business meetings, conferences, cultural programmes etc.
- IICTF is aimed at the vision and goal of doubling farmers’ income by promoting cooperative-to-cooperative trade within India & abroad.
- To promote exports of key agriculture commodities and products leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
- National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has formulated Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme 2019 which was also launched at the fair.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav
Context
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav under the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat initiative will be celebrated from 14th to 21st October 2019.
Highlights
- 10th edition of ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ under the Ministry of Culture to be inaugurated in Jabalpur.
- the Ministry of Culture decided to organize it with an intent to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Country in all its rich and varied dimensions, viz Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, Sculpture and Performing Arts-Folk, Tribal, Classical and Contemporary- all in one place.
- The Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 31st October, 2016.
- It was aimed to promote engagement amongst the people of different States/UTs so as to enhance mutual understanding and bonding between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing stronger unity and integrity of India.
