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Type: IOCR

  • India ‘one of the Worst Autocratisers’: V-Dem Democracy Report

    In the news

    • India, previously categorized as an “electoral autocracy” in 2018, has further declined to become one of the “worst autocratizers,” according to the ‘Democracy Report 2024’ by the Gothenburg-based V-Dem (or Varieties of Democracy) Institute.

    Key highlights on India

    • Deteriorating Status: India, previously downgraded to an electoral autocracy in 2018, has further declined to become “one of the worst autocratizers.”
    • Historical Comparison: India’s level of “liberal democracy” has regressed significantly, reaching levels last seen in 1975 during the state of emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.
    • Regime Classification: India falls into the category of electoral autocracy, characterized by multiparty elections alongside insufficient levels of freedom of expression and fair elections.
    • Erosion of Democratic Freedoms: The report highlights the gradual deterioration of freedom of expression, media independence, and attacks on civil society under the current government.

    About the V-Dem Democracy Report

    • Publication: The V-Dem Institute releases the Democracy Report annually, offering insights into the state of democracy worldwide, focusing on democratization and autocratization.
    • Regime Classification: Countries are categorized into four regime types based on their scores in the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI), encompassing a spectrum from liberal democracy to closed autocracy.

    What is Liberal Democratic Index (LDI)?

    • Comprehensive Assessment: The LDI evaluates both liberal (individual and minority rights) and electoral aspects (free and fair elections) of democracy.
    • Indicators: It comprises 71 indicators, encompassing the Liberal Component Index (LCI) and the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI), capturing various dimensions of democratic governance.
      1. LCI: Measures aspects like protection of individual liberties and legislative constraints on the executive.
      2. EDI: Considers indicators ensuring free and fair elections such as freedom of expression and association.
    • Components of the LDI include:
    1. Egalitarian Component Index: Assesses the extent of equality among different social groups within a democracy.
    2. Participatory Component Index: Evaluates the health of citizen groups and civil society organizations, indicating the degree of citizen engagement.
    3. Deliberative Component Index: Gauges whether political decisions are driven by public reasoning focused on the common good or influenced by emotional appeals, solidarity attachments, or coercion.
    4. Publication Schedule: The Democracy Report is typically published annually in March, presenting a comprehensive analysis of global democratic trends.

    Key Findings from the Democracy Report 2024:

    • Collaborative Effort: The report is a collaborative endeavour involving 4,200 scholars from 180 countries, leveraging 31 million datasets spanning from 1789 to 2023 to assess the democratic status of 202 countries.
    • Global Trends:
    1. Autocratization: In 2023, 42 countries, representing 35% of the world’s population, were undergoing autocratization.
    2. Population in Autocracies: Currently, 71% of the world’s population, amounting to 5.7 billion people, resides in autocracies, marking a significant increase from 48% a decade ago.
    3. Decline in Democracy: The level of democracy experienced by the average individual globally has regressed to 1985 levels, with Eastern Europe, South, and Central Asia experiencing the sharpest declines.

  • 11 African countries sign ‘Yaounde Declaration’

    In the news

    • Health ministers from 11 African nations grappling with the heaviest malaria burdens have recently signed the Yaounde Declaration.

    What is Yaounde Declaration?

    Details
    Signed at Yaoundé conference, hosted by WHO and the Government of Cameroon in Yaoundé, Cameroon (capital).
    Participants Ministers of Health, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organizations, and other malaria stakeholders.
    Signatory countries
    • Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
    • These countries collectively account for over 70% of the global malaria burden.
    Pledges
    • Effective tackling of malaria threat in Africa, leading better and investing more money in fighting malaria, using new technology for data, etc.
    • Investing more in health infrastructure, personnel, and programs, collaborating across sectors, forming partnerships for funding, research, and innovation.
    • Showing strong commitment to quickly reducing malaria deaths and holding each other and their countries accountable for the commitments.

  • India seizes Dual-Use Items bound for Pakistan from China

    In the news

    • Indian customs officials at Mumbai Port seized two advanced Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines manufactured by GKD, Italy, en route to the port of Karachi from China.
    • The CNC machines, critical for manufacturing parts utilized in Pakistan’s missile development program, were destined for Karachi.

    What are Dual-Use Items?

    • Definition: Dual-use items refer to commodities that possess the potential for application in both civilian and military contexts.
    • Regulatory Scrutiny: These items are subject to stringent regulation due to their capability to be initially designed for civilian purposes but later repurposed for military or even terrorist activities.
    • Examples: Examples of dual-use items include global positioning satellites, missiles, nuclear technology, chemical and biological weapons, night vision technology, drones, precision-engineered aluminium pipes, and specific types of ball bearings.

    Global Control Mechanisms for Dual-Use Items

    (1) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):

    • Established: In 1987 by G-7 countries.
    • Purpose: To limit the proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
    • Membership: Consists of 35 member countries.
    • Guidelines: Members coordinate national export controls to prevent missile proliferation.
    • India’s Membership: India became the 35th member in 2016.

    (2) Wassenaar Arrangement (WA):

    • Established: In 1996 with 42 participating states.
    • Purpose: Prevent destabilizing accumulations of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
    • Export Controls: Member countries apply controls on listed items to avoid enhancing military capabilities.
    • India not a member: It it has expressed interest in joining to strengthen its export controls and enhance its non-proliferation efforts.

    (3) Australia Group (AG):

    • Formation: Prompted by Iraq’s use of chemical weapons in 1985.
    • Focus: Initially on chemical weapons precursor chemicals, expanded to include biological weapons prevention.
    • Membership: Composed of 42 member countries. India is NOT a member.
    • Objective: Harmonization of international export controls on chemical and biological technologies.

    (4) Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG):

    • Established: In 1974 in response to India’s nuclear tests.
    • Purpose: Control nuclear and nuclear-related technology to prevent proliferation.
    • Membership: Consists of 48 participating governments.
    • Guidelines: Aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons through control measures.

    [Note: India is also party to key conventions such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BWC).]

    India’s in-house mechanisms against Dual-Use Items

    • Role of DGFT: The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in India oversees the regulation of dual-use items through the SCOMET list (Specialty Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies).
    • SCOMET List: SCOMET items encompass special chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment, and technologies with dual-use potential.
    • Regulatory Framework: Exporting SCOMET items is subject to strict regulations, either requiring a license or being prohibited altogether.
    • Alignment with International Controls: The SCOMET control list aligns with the control lists of various multilateral export control regimes and conventions.

  • EU Sanctions Indian Tech Firm over Dual-Use Items

    In the news

    • The EU has sanctioned Si2 Microsystems, an Indian tech company for its connections with Russia.
    • It has faced previous sanctions, including being banned by the US from transferring “dual-use” technology.

    What are Dual-Use Items?

    • Definition: Dual-use items refer to commodities that possess the potential for application in both civilian and military contexts.
    • Regulatory Scrutiny: These items are subject to stringent regulation due to their capability to be initially designed for civilian purposes but later repurposed for military or even terrorist activities.
    • Examples: Examples of dual-use items include global positioning satellites, missiles, nuclear technology, chemical and biological weapons, night vision technology, drones, precision-engineered aluminium pipes, and specific types of ball bearings.

    Global Control Mechanisms for Dual-Use Items

    (1) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):

    • Established: In 1987 by G-7 countries.
    • Purpose: To limit the proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
    • Membership: Consists of 35 member countries.
    • Guidelines: Members coordinate national export controls to prevent missile proliferation.
    • India’s Membership: India became the 35th member in 2016.

    (2) Wassenaar Arrangement (WA):

    • Established: In 1996 with 42 participating states.
    • Purpose: Prevent destabilizing accumulations of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
    • Export Controls: Member countries apply controls on listed items to avoid enhancing military capabilities.
    • India is not a member: It it has expressed interest in joining to strengthen its export controls and enhance its non-proliferation efforts.

    (3) Australia Group (AG):

    • Formation: Prompted by Iraq’s use of chemical weapons in 1985.
    • Focus: Initially on chemical weapons precursor chemicals, expanded to include biological weapons prevention.
    • Membership: Composed of 42 member countries. India is NOT a member.
    • Objective: Harmonization of international export controls on chemical and biological technologies.

    (4) Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG):

    • Established: In 1974 in response to India’s nuclear tests.
    • Purpose: Control nuclear and nuclear-related technology to prevent proliferation.
    • Membership: Consists of 48 participating governments.
    • Guidelines: Aim to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons through control measures.

    [Note: India is also party to key conventions such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BWC).]

    India’s in-house mechanisms against Dual-Use Items

    • Role of DGFT: The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in India oversees the regulation of dual-use items through the SCOMET list (Specialty Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies).
    • SCOMET List: SCOMET items encompass special chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment, and technologies with dual-use potential.
    • Regulatory Framework: Exporting SCOMET items is subject to strict regulations, either requiring a license or being prohibited altogether.
    • Alignment with International Controls: The SCOMET control list aligns with the control lists of various multilateral export control regimes and conventions.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2015:

    Q.Consider the following countries

    1. China
    2. France
    3. India
    4. Israel
    5. Pakistan

    Which among the countries given above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
    3. 2, 4 and 5 only
    4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”nyim5it425″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

  • Are INTERPOL Blue Corner Notices being Politically Exploited?

    interpol

    Why in the News?

    Concerns arise over the misuse of Interpol notices, especially blue corner notices, raising issues about balancing police cooperation and preventing abuse of power.

    About INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization)

    Details
    Overview
    • Established in Vienna, Austria (1923), it enables cross-border police cooperation and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.
    • An inter-governmental organization comprising 195 member countries,
    • Facilitates better coordination among police forces globally
    Functions
    • Enables member countries to share and access data on crimes and criminals
    • Offers technical and operational support to member countries
    • Manages 19 police databases containing information on crimes and criminals, accessible in real-time
    • Provides investigative support, including forensics, analysis, and assistance in locating fugitives worldwide.
    Working
    • Run by a Secretary General
    • Headquarters located in Lyon, France
    • Global complex for innovation based in Singapore
    • Several satellite offices in different regions.
    India’s Membership
    • Joined in June 1956.
    Functioning in Member Countries
    • Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB), serving as the central point of contact for the general secretariat and other NCBs worldwide
    • NCBs are typically managed by police officials and situated in the government ministry responsible for policing (e.g., MHA in India)
    • Interpol’s databases contain various information, from names and fingerprints to stolen passports, accessible in real-time to member countries
    • Provides investigative support to member countries, aiding in forensic analysis and locating fugitives globally.

     

    What are Blue Corner Notice?

    • Types of Notices: Interpol issues seven types of notices, including Blue Notice.
    • Purpose: Blue corner notice, also known as an “enquiry notice,” facilitates sharing critical crime-related information, including criminal records verification and locating individuals.
    • Example: In January 2020, Interpol issued a blue corner notice to locate fugitive Nithyananda, a self-styled godman.

    Distinguishing Blue from Red Corner Notice

    • Red Corner Notice: It is issued by a member state for the arrest of a wanted criminal, often following criminal convictions, allowing arrests in any member state.
    • Difference: Blue notices precede criminal charges, while red notices typically follow convictions. Red notices enable arrests and other consequences like bank account closures, while blue notices facilitate information exchange.

    Examples of Notice Issuance

    • Red Corner Notice: In 2018, a red corner notice was issued against Nirav Modi for the Punjab National Bank scam.
    • Interpol’s Decision: However, in October 2022, Interpol rejected India’s request for a red notice against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, citing insufficient information and political dimensions.

    Concerns of Misuse

    • Political Misuse: Despite Interpol’s prohibition on political activities, concerns persist regarding its enforcement.
    • Instances: Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and Tunisia face accusations of abusing Interpol notices for political purposes.
    • Criticism: While Interpol tightened oversight of red notices, vulnerabilities remain, especially with blue notices, which experts suggest are less scrutinized before publication.

    Debates on Notice Issuance

    • Turkey’s Argument: Countries like Turkey argue against excessive restraint in notice issuance, citing hampered police cooperation and sovereignty concerns.
    • Global Response: International human rights groups call for stricter enforcement of Interpol’s rules to prevent authoritarian exploitation.

  • India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit

    About the News:

    • The INDUS-X Summit will be held on February 20-21 in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between India and the US in defense innovation.

    What is INDUS-X?

    • The ‘INDUS-X’ summit is a joint initiative between India and the US, which signifies a pivotal milestone in bilateral defense cooperation, fostering strategic technology partnerships and industrial collaboration.
    • Inception: June 2023.
    • Aim: To bolster defense innovation and technology collaboration between the two nations.
    • Objectives:
      1. Advancing strategic co-operation: By expanding strategic technology partnerships and defense industrial cooperation.
      2. Bridging Innovation Gaps: Establish a defense innovation bridge encompassing joint challenges, academia engagement, industry-startup connect, and investment in defense projects.
    • Focus Areas:
      1. Fostering greater horizontal cooperation between governments, academia, and laboratories, as well as vertical partnerships between established defense primes and startups or Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
      2. Increasing the number of contact points between startups and prime contractors for critical defense assets such as jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles.
      3. Supporting India’s goal of achieving $5 billion in defense exports by 2025.
      4. Contributing to a more stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
    • Key Participants:
      • India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), U.S. Department of Defense, U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

    About Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX)

    • iDEX is a flagship initiative launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
    • Aim: Fostering innovation and technology development in the defense and aerospace sectors.
    • Objective: Creating an ecosystem to rapidly develop new, indigenized, and innovative technologies for the Indian defense and aerospace sector.
    • It’s Significance:
      • Funding: The program provides grants and funds to support research and development efforts and facilitate the creation of functional prototypes of products/technologies relevant to national security.
      • Inclusive Growth: The program creates a culture of engagement with innovative startups, encourages co-creation for defense and aerospace sectors, and empowers a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation within the defense and aerospace sectors.
      • Engagement with the Industrial sector: The program focuses on engaging industries, including MSMEs, startups, and individual innovators, to deliver technologically advanced solutions for modernizing the defense and aerospace sectors.
      • Collaboration: iDEX works through various programs such as the Defense India Startup Challenge (DISC), which involves problem statements from the Armed Forces, DPSUs, and OFB.
    • Implementation of Program:
      • The iDEX framework is implemented by the Defense Innovation Organization (DIO) a not-for-profit company formed under the Companies Act 2013, which acts as a bridge between the requirements of the Armed Forces and the solution providers.
      • Therefore, the program focuses on making India self-reliant and self-sufficient in defense matters by fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development in the defense and aerospace sector.

  • India Rejected Demand for Data Exclusivity in Drug Development in EFTA

    Introduction

    • India has firmly rejected the demand from four European nations in the EFTA bloc for the inclusion of a ‘data exclusivity’ provision in proposed free trade agreements, citing its commitment to protecting the interests of the domestic generic drugs industry.

    About the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Bloc

    Description
    Member Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
    Formation Established in 1960 by seven European countries as an alternative trade bloc to the EU
    Trade Relations Free trade agreements among themselves and with other regions
    Activities Participate in European Single Market through the EEA Agreement
    Institutions EFTA Court, EFTA Surveillance Authority, EFTA Secretariat
    Relationship with EU Not part of the EU,

    But have close economic ties and trade agreements with EU countries

    Debate over Data Exclusivity

    • Pharmaceutical Sector Implications: Data exclusivity provides innovator companies with exclusive rights over the technical data generated through expensive global clinical trials, preventing competitors from obtaining marketing licenses for low-cost versions during the exclusivity period.
    • Influence of Swiss Pharma Firms: Switzerland, home to major pharmaceutical firms like Novartis and Roche, has been advocating for data exclusivity, but India remains steadfast in its stance against it.

    Protection of Generic Industry

    • Significance of Generic Industry: Barthwal highlighted the significant contribution of the generic drug industry to India’s exports and emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting its interests.
    • Export Growth: India emphasized that the generic drug industry’s growth aligns with its objective of promoting exports, showcasing its importance to the national economy.

    Negotiations and Progress

    • Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA): India and EFTA have been negotiating the TEPA since January 2008 to enhance economic ties, with talks covering various chapters, including intellectual property rights.
    • Advanced Stage of Talks: Negotiations are at an advanced stage, with both parties discussing trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property rights, and other key areas.

    Conclusion

    • India’s firm stance against the inclusion of data exclusivity provisions in FTAs reflects its commitment to safeguarding the interests of its generic drug industry.
    • As negotiations with EFTA progress, India remains focused on promoting fair and equitable trade relations while upholding its principles of protecting domestic industries.

  • Schengen Area: A Milestone in European Integration

    Schengen Area

    Introduction

    • Kosovo recently achieved visa-free access to the Schengen zone in Europe, marking a significant milestone in its integration with the European Union (EU) and the broader international community.

    What is Schengen Area?

    • Definition: A zone comprising 27 European countries where internal borders have been abolished for the free movement of people.
    • Membership: Includes 23 of the 27 EU member states and all members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
    • Key Features:
      1. No internal border checks except in specific threat situations.
      2. Harmonized controls at external borders based on defined criteria.

    About Eurozone

    • A geographic and economic region consisting of European Union countries that have adopted the euro as their national currency.
    • As of January 2023, consists of 20 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
    • Key Features:
      1. Coordination of economic policy-making to support EU economic aims.
      2. Replacement of national currencies with the euro.

    Requirements for Joining the Eurozone

    EU nations must meet specific criteria, including four macroeconomic indicators:

    1. Price Stability: Maintain sustainable price performance with average inflation no more than 1.5 percent above the rate of the three best-performing member states.
    2. Public Finances: Maintain a budget deficit no greater than 3% of GDP and public debt no greater than 60% of GDP.
    3. Durability of Convergence: Assessed through long-term interest rates, which cannot exceed 2 percent above the rate in the three most price-stable member states.
    4. Exchange Rate Stability: Demonstrate stability by participating in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) II for at least two years without severe tensions or devaluation against the euro.

  • Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) COP14 begins in Uzbekistan

    Introduction

    • The Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) will be hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan, in Samarkand from 12-17 February 2024
    • CMS COP is a Triennial Event.

    About Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS)

    Information
    About
    • Intergovernmental treaty under UNEP, known as the Bonn Convention
    • Signed in 1979, in force since 1983
    • 133 Parties as of March 2022, including India since 1983
    Aim
    • Conserve terrestrial, marine, and avian migratory species
    • Lay legal foundation for global conservation measures
    Legal Instruments under CMS Range from legally binding Agreements to less formal MoUs
    Appendices
    1. Appendix I: Threatened Migratory Species
    2. Appendix II: Migratory Species requiring international cooperation
    India and the CMS
    • Signed non-legally binding MoUs with CMS for various species conservation (Siberian Cranes, Marine Turtles, Dugongs, Raptors)
    • Hosts several migratory species
    • India hosted the last COP 13 of CMS in February 2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
    Migratory Species Wild animals whose populations cyclically and predictably cross national boundaries
    Efforts made by India  
    • National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Birds (2018-2023)
    • Marine Turtle Policy and Marine Stranding Management Policy
    • Project Snow Leopard
    • Dugong Conservation Reserve

  • 7th Edition of Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)

    Indian Ocean Conference

    Introduction

    • The 7th Edition of Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) is being held in Perth, Australia.

    About Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)

    • IOC started in 2016, serving as the premier consultative forum for countries in the Indian Ocean region on regional affairs.
    • The first edition of the Conference was held in Singapore in 2016.
    • It is organised by India Foundation in partnership with other organizations in the region.
    • It aims to bring together critical states and maritime partners to discuss regional cooperation under the concept of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

    What is SAGAR?

    • SAGAR stands for ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and was initiated by PM Narendra Modi in 2015 at Mauritius.
    • It aims to leverage the blue economy and maintain strategic partnerships with littoral states in Asia and Africa.
    • It seeks to provide leadership in capacity building and capability enhancement programs transparently, aligning with other maritime initiatives like Act East Policy, Project Mausam, and Blue Economy.

    Key Statements by Dignitaries this Year

    • Challenges to International Rule of Law: EAM S. Jaishankar highlighted challenges to international rule of law from the Red Sea to the Indo-Pacific, implicitly targeting China’s actions.
    • Call for Conflict Reduction: Australian Foreign Minister emphasized the necessity of reducing conflict in the region amid growing tensions.
    • Veiled References to China’s Actions: Jaishankar made indirect references to China’s troop buildup at the Line of Actual Control and actions in the South China Sea, stressing the importance of adhering to internationally negotiated regimes.