GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Asean-India Business Summit
Context
4th ASEAN-India Business Summit is being held in Manila, Philippines.
About 4th ASEAN-India Business Summit
- The President of India addressed the India-Philippines Business Conclave and the 4th ASEAN-India Business Summit in Manila, Philippines.
- ASEAN-India trade relations are important for India to achieve its Act East Policy.
- The ASEAN-India trade increased by 19% in 2018 reaching 96.79 billion USD.
- The “Make in India” infrastructure program of India and “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure initiative of India have immense opportunities.
About ASEAN
- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
- The Founding Fathers of ASEAN was Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
- Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia joined the ASEAN in later years.
Aims and Purposes
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are-
- To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership.
- To strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
- To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
- To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
- To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
- To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
- To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
- To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.
Fundamental Principles
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976 contained the fundamental principles of ASEAN-
- Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
- The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
- Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
- Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
- Effective cooperation among themselves.
ASEAN-India Relations
- The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
- India’s focus on a strengthened and multi-faceted relationship with ASEAN is an outcome of the significant changes in the world’s political and economic scenario since the early 1990s and India’s own march towards economic liberalisation.
- India’s search for economic space resulted in the ‘Look East Policy’.
- The Look East Policy has today matured into a dynamic and action oriented ‘Act East Policy.
- India’s relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our foreign policy and the foundation of our Act East Policy.
- ASEAN is the second largest trading partner of India after China.
- India and ASEAN represent fast moving economies.
- India currently is working with ASEAN on multiple connectivity projects, through land, water, and air. Such as-
- India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway,
- Kaladan Multinational Transit Transport Project,
- Project Development Fund for CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam).
- ASEAN remains central to the economic integration of the Indo-Pacific region through Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Mission to ASEAN
- India has set up a separate Mission to ASEAN and the EAS in Jakarta in April 2015 with a dedicated Ambassador to strengthen engagement with ASEAN and ASEAN-centric processes.
GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
G20 Okayama Health Ministers’ Meeting
Context
G20 Okayama Health Ministers’ Meeting held under the Presidency of Japan in Okayama City, Japan.
About G20 Okayama Health Ministers’ Meeting
- The first G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, in May 2017.
- It was followed by the second meeting in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in October 2018.
- The third G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting will be held this year in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture.
- Building on previous discussions and commitments in G20, major issues of global health will be discussed. G20 Health Ministers’ Declaration will be finalized during the meeting.
Main Pillars to be discussed
- Health has been an important G20 agenda since 2017.
- The deliberations of the G 20 Health Ministers focused on four major global health issue.
- Achievement of Universal Health Coverage
- Response to population aging
- Management of health risks
- Health security management including Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and its containment.
G20 member countries
- The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the EU.
- The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US.
For Prelims-
“Most Eminent Senior Citizen Award”
Context
“Most Eminent Senior Citizen Award” is given to scholar, legal luminary and former Attorney General of India Shri K Parasaran.
Highlights
- He was honored with the award on the occasion of Elder’s Day celebration organized by Age Care India.
- K Parasaran was born in 1927.
- He was Advocate General of Tamil Nadu in 1976 and Attorney General of India under former PMs Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
- He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2003 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011.
Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti
Context
Union Minister of state for Culture & Tourism (IC) inaugurated CCRT e-portal and YouTube Channel at the event “ Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti”.
Highlights
- “Digital Bharat – Digital Sanskriti” program was organised by Rashtriya Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT).
- With an aim to take India to a newer digital pinnacle and to promote our culture Union Minister will inaugurate CCRT e-portal and YouTube Channel.
- In order to explore & understand the unknown aspects of India’s lesser known places and their rural & semi-urban culture, CCRT has started publishing books from the series “Untold Tales of India’s Cities”.
- The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) is one of the premier institutions working in the field of linking education with culture.
- CCRT was established in 1979, pioneered by Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan.
- It functions as an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
