India and RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)

Recently, an Indian delegation headed by Commerce Secretary attended the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meet in Beijing. This marks the change in India’s stance from being stuck in a deadlock to listing out its demands individually to the partner countries of the RCEP in the bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. Advantages of…

NSG, NPT, MTCR, IAEA etc

What is NSG? Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. The NSG aims to prevent nuclear exports for commercial and peaceful purposes from being…

India eyes uranium from Africa

Context India wants Africa to relax Pelindaba Treaty so that India can access Uranium from Africa for its nuclear power projects.   Analysis India had already signed an MoU with Namibia aiming at the cooperation in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2009. But since Namibia became a member of Pelibanda treaty,…

India joins The Hague Code of Conduct

India has joined The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC). India’s joining the Code signals its readiness to further strengthen the global non-proliferation regimes. The government has also made it clear that this joining will not have any impact on the national security as well as country’s missile programmes. About HCoC: HCoC…

India signs agreement with IBRD

The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a US$ 9.2 million grant agreement under the World Bank-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Program for the Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of bus services in select Indian cities. Key facts: The project will demonstrate low cost high…

Renewables are not enough

Article Link Summary: World leaders, on April 22, ratified the global climate agreement reached in Paris last December. The agreement requires 195 countries to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with the goal of not exceeding 1.5°C. The countries have also committed to “intended nationally determined contributions” (INDCs) to limit or…

Economic integration and different types of trade agreements

What is economic integration & why go for it? Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state. The objective of this integration is to increase the combined economic productivity of the countries – easier access…

Making Paris Agreement work

The recently concluded 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) and its outcome agreement have evoked mixed responses across the world. India is happy about the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words such as ‘equity’, ‘climate justice’, ‘sustainable lifestyle’ and ‘reducing consumption’ have been kept intact in the agreement. However, it must be…

What do you understand by the Doha Development Agenda (DDA)? What is India’s stand vis a vis DDA? Examine.

Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is the name given to the various issues that have to be negotiated among the World Trade Organization (WTO) members. It includes discussions on the following subjects: 1)Agriculture-to reduce trade distorting domestic subsidies and reducing export subsidies 2)Services-to strengthen the service sector with each government deciding how much it wants to…

Paris Triumph – Climate Deal

The Paris Agreement on climate change marks a milestone in preserving the earth’s environment and provides a floor on which to build ambition and action. It is the outcome of a long struggle by millions of citizens around the world, aided by the weight of scientific evidence linking severe, more frequent weather events such as…