India – Maldives

Context:

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Muizzu in New Delhi, India decided to extend support in the form of INR 30 billion and USD 400 million as part of a bilateral currency swap agreement, instrumental in tackling the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Maldives.

Background on India-Maldives relations:

Political Relations: India and Maldives share a history of close ties, with India often acting as a first responder during crises, such as the water crisis in Malé (2014) and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic Cooperation: India has provided significant financial aid to Maldives, including budgetary support and currency swap agreements, to help stabilize the Maldivian economy.

Security Partnership: Defense and maritime cooperation have been key areas, with joint efforts to counter terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region.

Historic Ties: Diplomatic relations date back to 1965, with strong people-to-people and cultural connections that have been built over decades.

Recent agreements:

Financial support: India extended a $400 million currency swap agreement and INR 30 billion to aid Maldives’ economic challenges.

Free trade agreement: Discussions initiated to boost trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Defense cooperation: Agreements on defense infrastructure upgrades, provision of radar systems, and enhancing MNDF’s surveillance and maritime capabilities.

Development projects: Support for social housing, the Greater Malé Connectivity Project, and the development of ports and airports.

Significance of the pact:

Strengthening bilateral ties: The agreements cement India’s role as a strategic partner in Maldives’ development and security.

Maritime security: Enhances India’s influence in the Indian Ocean, contributing to regional stability and security.

Economic stability: Financial aid and economic agreements aim to stabilize Maldives’ economy and boost bilateral trade.

Defence collaboration: Upgrading defense capabilities in Maldives bolsters regional defense against common threats like terrorism and piracy.

Challenges:

Political instability: The recent anti-India sentiment in Maldives and fluctuating political alliances could affect bilateral relations.

China’s influence: Growing Chinese investments in Maldives could counterbalance India’s strategic interests in the region.

Debt dependency: Maldives’ heavy reliance on external financial aid poses risks of economic instability and dependency.

Environmental concerns: Rising sea levels and environmental issues could hinder long-term developmental projects in Maldives.

Way Ahead:

Enhanced diplomatic engagement: Continued high-level political exchanges to address challenges and strengthen relations.

Diversified investments: Focus on sustainable projects in renewable energy, tourism, and blue economy to reduce Maldives’ economic vulnerabilities.

Maritime security framework: Collaborate on initiatives like the One Sun One World One Grid for energy security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Public diplomacy: Strengthen people-to-people ties through cultural, educational, and medical cooperation to build goodwill.

India – Canada

Context:

Relations between India and Canada are at a nadir, amidst the row regarding India’s alleged involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Background of Bilateral Relations:

Diplomatic Relations: Established in 1947, upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2015.

Trade: India was Canada’s 10th largest trading partner in 2022-23, with bilateral trade worth US$ 8.15 billion. CEPA/EPTA trade negotiations are on hold.

Nuclear cooperation: Began in 1956, paused after India’s 1974 nuclear test, resumed in 2010.

Diaspora: 1.6 million Indian diaspora members in Canada, with 22 Indian-origin MPs in its House of Commons.

Current issues:

Khalistani extremism: Canada’s perceived support for Khalistani groups has strained ties.

Nijjar killing: Relations worsened after the June 2023 killing of Nijjar. PM Trudeau accused Indian agents, which India denied.

Diplomatic expulsions: Both countries expelled diplomats, further escalating tensions.

Diplomatic Principles:

Diplomatic Immunity:

Defined under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), ensuring diplomats are not subjected to local jurisdiction.

Termination of Relations:

The Vienna Convention also outlines procedures for ending diplomatic relations and withdrawing diplomats

Western double standards: India pointed out the hypocrisy of Western democracies, including Canada, when security concerns outweigh their commitment to freedoms.

Impacts:

Diplomatic fallout: Reduced diplomatic engagement, withdrawal of senior diplomats.

Economic impact: Paused trade talks could hurt bilateral trade and market access.

Diaspora concerns: Rising tensions may affect Indian diaspora in Canada specially students abroad.

Canada hosts 1.6 million Indian-origin people, making up over 3% of its population.

Indian students make up 40% of all international students in Canada, contributing significantly to remittances.

Strategic cooperation: Strain on cooperation in nuclear energy, education, and technology.

Way ahead:

Diplomatic engagement: Both nations must initiate high-level dialogue to ease tensions.

Security concerns: Canada should address anti-India elements, while India should cooperate transparently.

Focus on trade: Resume trade talks to rebuild economic ties.

People-to-People ties: Strengthen diaspora ties and encourage cultural exchanges.

Conclusion:

The diplomatic row between India and Canada poses a significant challenge to bilateral relations, yet both countries stand to benefit from restoring trust and cooperation. By addressing core issues related to extremism and diplomacy, they can work towards stabilizing ties for mutual benefit.

India-China Patrolling Arrangement

Context:

India and China recently announced an agreement on “patrolling arrangements” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), aimed at resolving lingering border disputes.

Key Points on the India-China Patrolling Agreement:

Restoration of patrolling rights: Indian and Chinese troops will regain patrolling rights in areas of longstanding contention, such as the Depsang Plains and Demchok, restoring pre-2020 conditions.

Three-phase process: The agreement outlines a phased approach — Disengagement, De-escalation, and De-induction of troops — aimed at reducing troop presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) over time.

Resumption of grazing rights: Traditional grazing activities will resume in certain areas, reflecting an effort to return to a status quo that predates recent border tensions.

Monitoring and verification: Both countries agree on close monitoring to prevent the reoccurrence of confrontations, such as the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.

Limited areas of engagement: Current disengagement covers the Depsang and Demchok regions, with previous stand-off points, including Pangong Tso and Galwan, remaining unchanged.

Challenges in the de-escalation process:

Trust deficit: India remains cautious due to past incidents where China did not uphold previous border agreements fully, emphasizing the need for a “trust, but verify” approach.

Diverging interpretations: Differences in Indian and Chinese statements indicate varying perspectives, with China emphasizing general progress, while India highlights specific de-escalation steps.

Sequence of de-escalation: India’s focus is on disengagement first, while China’s position on the sequence is less clear, possibly complicating the pace and sequence of military withdrawal.

Political sensitivities: India’s stance links border peace with broader bilateral relations, whereas China views the border issue as separate from overall ties, adding diplomatic tension.

Way ahead:

Close monitoring: Maintain stringent checks on patrolling activities to ensure compliance and avoid provocations.

Strategic engagement: Continue dialogues at various diplomatic levels to address boundary issues transparently.

Strengthened surveillance: Enhance infrastructure and surveillance along the LAC to swiftly detect and address potential violations.

Promote confidence-building measures: Initiate regular communication channels and confidence-building measures to rebuild trust.

Conclusion:

The recent agreement represents a cautious yet hopeful step in India-China relations. Sustained efforts toward disengagement and de-escalation, guided by mutual respect and trust, are essential for restoring long-term stability along the LAC. As India emphasizes, maintaining peaceful borders is key to resuming “business as usual” with China.

Neuromorphic computing

Context:

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have made a significant breakthrough in neuromorphic computing, which mimics the human brain’s structure and functioning.

They’ve developed an analogue computing platform that can process and store data using 16,500 conductance states, a major advancement over traditional computers limited to two states.

This platform improves efficiency and reduces energy consumption for complex AI tasks, such as training models like ChatGPT.

The team also demonstrated the system’s capabilities by recreating NASA’s “Pillars of Creation” image with much less energy.

This innovation promises to revolutionize computing, impacting industries like AI, finance, and tech by enabling faster data processing and more efficient machine learning systems.

Zorawar

Context:

The DRDO has successfully completed the first phase of developmental field trials for the Zorawar Light Tank, designed for high-altitude deployment, particularly in areas like Ladakh.

Conducted in desert terrain, the trials tested the tank’s firing accuracy, with the tank meeting all performance goals.

Developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Zorawar is a testament to India’s growing indigenous manufacturing capabilities, involving contributions from numerous Indian industries, including MSMEs.

Weighing 25 tonnes, the tank is highly mobile and versatile, capable of being transported by C-17 aircraft. It integrates technologies like unmanned systems and loitering munition, lessons drawn from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material

Context: 

The article explore Supreme Court recently delivered landmark judgment clarifying the penal consequences for the possession, storage, and consumption of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM), overturning a controversial Madras High Court ruling.

Judgment overview:

The Supreme Court clarified that storing, watching, or possessing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) is a crime under the POCSO Act, overturning a prior Madras High Court decision that had quashed charges against a man for merely possessing such material.

The Court emphasized that “child pornography” is a misnomer and coined the term “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” (CSEAM) to reflect the seriousness of the crime.

It held that possession, storage, and even viewing of CSEAM falls under criminal liability, whether for personal use or commercial purposes.

Significance of the judgment:

Broadened interpretation of CSEAM Laws: Criminalizes mere possession, closing legal loopholes previously exploited in court rulings.

Strengthens child protection laws: Reinforces the POCSO Act as a tool to combat online child exploitation, ensuring stricter penalties.

Victim-centric approach: Emphasizes victim protection, aiming for quicker content takedowns and advocating for the psychological well-being of child victims.

Tech companies’ role: The ruling calls for tech platforms to report CSEAM cases, enhancing collaboration between law enforcement and online service providers

Turkey’s bid to join BRICS

Context:

Turkey’s bid to join BRICS could be a political move to gain leverage in its stalled EU accession process or signal frustration with the EU.

Benefits:

Increases Turkey’s global influence.

Provides economic cooperation with emerging markets.

Strengthens Turkey’s political leverage in EU negotiations.

Concerns:

Strains relations with the EU and NATO.

Undermines Turkey’s credibility within Western alliances.

Risks diplomatic isolation from Western powers.

India’s stance on expansion:

India welcomed the consensus-based expansion of the BRICS grouping during the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

The move strengthens BRICS as a representative of developing countries

India has proposed creating a BRICS space consortium, investing in skill mapping, technology, and education, and emphasising cooperation for conservation efforts.

The expansion is aimed at making BRICS future-ready by enhancing cooperation, digital solutions, and development initiatives.

Significance for India:

The addition of new members to BRICS holds significance for India in terms of expanding partnerships and geopolitical influence, while also raising concerns about potential

Philadelphi (Salaheddin) Corridor

In News

A narrow stretch of land along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt has emerged as the main stumbling block in negotiations.

About the Corridor

It is a 14-km stretch along Gaza’s border with Egypt, and is central to ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

It was built by the Israeli military when Gaza was under its direct occupation between 1967 and 2005.

The U.S.-brokered 1979 agreement was the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on permanent Israeli control of the corridor to prevent Hamas from rearming.

Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the corridor.

A 2005 agreement between Israel and Egypt established the corridor as a buffer zone to manage Gaza’s movement and smuggling.

After Israel’s 2005 withdrawal, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority managed the area, but Hamas took control in 2007.

The corridor has been used for smuggling, including arms and goods, through numerous tunnels.

Egypt has destroyed many tunnels and views Israeli control as a violation of agreements.

Axis of Resistance

Context

The Axis of Resistance was in the news after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Axis of Resistance

It is a coalition of Iranian-backed groups describing themselves as the “Axis of Resistance” to Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis are some of the major groups in  the alliance.

How was the coalition formed?

The roots of the ‘axis of resistance’ go back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which paved the way for radical Shia Muslim clerics to come to power.

To expand its political and military influence in a region where most powers (such as US-ally Saudi Arabia) are Sunni-majority nations, Iran’s new regime began to support non-state actors.

Another reason for this was to deter threats from Israel and the US as Iran has seen Israel’s creation in 1948 as a means for the US (and the West) to influence the region for its strategic interests.