AIR SPOTLIGHT: India-Australia Virtual Summit and beyond

 

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison held the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit during which they reviewed the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and global developments.

 

Highlights:

• PM Modi expressed delight over setting up a mechanism for the annual summit between India and Australia- mechanism will help prepare a structural system for regular review of relations.
• PM thanked his Australian counterpart for the initiative to return the ancient Indian artefacts-29 antiquities, primarily sculptures and paintings executed in a variety of materials, have been repatriated to India. The artefacts belong to six broad categories on the themes of ‘Shiva and his disciples’, ‘Worshipping Shakti’, ‘Lord Vishnu and his forms’, Jain tradition, portraits and decorative objects.
• PM Morrison talked about the threat of increasing change in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
• In an apparent reference to China's aggressive posture in the region, the Australian Prime Minister said the call by Quad leaders to discuss “Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine” also gave the opportunity to discuss the “implications and consequences of that terrible event for our own region” in the Indo-Pacific and the “coercion and the issues that we face here.”
• Prime Minister Modi, however, didn't refer to the Russian invasion and focussed his remarks on the shared values and “remarkable progress” made by the two countries in various sectors.
• PM Modi stressed the importance of an early conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
• PM Modi expressed his satisfaction at the enhanced scope of the relationship which now covers diverse areas such as trade and investments, defence and security, education and innovation, science and technology, critical minerals, water management, new and renewable energy technology, Covid-19 related research, etc.
• Prime Minister Morrison welcomed India's 2023 G20 Presidency and reiterated Australia's commitment to work closely with us on economic issues of global interest and concern.
• Prime Ministers exchanged views on how COVID-19 had impacted across the globe, and our respective responses and cooperation in critical areas
• In a reiteration of commitment to a progressive Indo Pacific region, both leaders discussed calibrating and cooperating with each other on support to Pacific Island countries for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; in combating climate change.
• The leaders exchanged perspectives about regional and multilateral matters and global issues of mutual interest, including shared concerns such as terrorism.
• The leaders welcomed the extension of the Australia India Strategic Research Fund.
• The Prime Ministers expressed commitment to build on the success of the 2021 India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon.
• Australia would be the third country with which India will have an institutionalized annual summit. 
• As part of other outcomes of the virtual summit, both leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU on cooperation in the critical mining sector.
• There was also a letter of intent signed between India and Australia to work towards including a Migration and Mobility Partnership agreement on facilitating migration, mobility between the two countries.
• And the signing of an MoU between Prasar Bharati and the Special Broadcasting Service of Australia, would basically allow for exchange programs, expertise in the sector, and would facilitate daily slots on television channels in Australia for Doordarshan India - Doordarshan News and DD Sahyadri. 
• The two Prime Ministers also agreed that they would be increasing cooperation between India's National Investment and Infrastructure fund, the NIIF and Australia's Pension and Sovereign Fund, which is called the Future Fund
• Prime Minister Modi also proposed the early integration of digital payments platform of both countries
• Both sides announced the setting up of the General Bipin Rawat Young Defense Officers Exchange Program.

 

Virtual Bilateral Summit 2020:

• First ever virtual bilateral summit was held between India and Autralia.
• Elevated the bilateral Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Elevated the “2+2” engagement to the level of Foreign and Defence Ministers where strategic discussions will be taking place every two years. India already has such mechanism with USA and Japan.
• Mutual Logistics Support Agreement was signed.
• Joint declaration on a shared vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo- Pacific region.

 

Background:

• The India-Australia bilateral relationship has undergone evolution in recent years, developing along a positive track, into a strategic partnership.
• The two nations have much in common, underpinned by shared values of a pluralistic, Westminster-style democracies, Commonwealth traditions, expanding economic engagement and increasing high level interaction.
• The long-standing people-to-people ties, ever increasing Indian students coming to Australia for higher education, growing tourism and sporting links have played a significant role in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
• The historical ties between India and Australia started immediately following European settlement in Australia from 1788.
• All trade to and fro from the penal colony of New South Wales was controlled by the British East India Company through Kolkata.
• India and Australia established diplomatic relations in the pre-Independence period, with the establishment of India Trade Office in Sydney in 1941.
• The end of the Cold War and simultaneously India’s decision to launch major economic reforms in 1991 provided the first positive move towards development of closer ties between the two nations.
• With the changing global scenario, Australia has come to look at India as an important partner in promoting regional security and stability. This led to upgradation of bilateral relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership’, including a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation in 2009.

 

Political relations:

• Over the years an array of institutional mechanism has been put in place to promote bilateral co-operation.
• Bilateral mechanisms include high level visits, Annual Meetings of Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue, Joint Trade & Commerce Ministerial Commission, India-Australia '2+2' Foreign Secretaries and Defence Secretaries Dialogue, Defence Policy Talks, Australia-India Education Council, Defence Services Staff Talks, Energy Security Dialogue, JWGs on different issues etc.
• Australia's White Paper on Foreign Policy released in November 2017 sees India in the front rank of Australia’s international partnerships.
• During the 2018 Indian President visit, Australian Prime Minister announced support to its India Economic Strategy's priority recommendations, including to take measures to increase Australian investment in India from A$10 billion to 100 billion by 2035.
• Trilateral dialogues: India-Australia-Japan, Indonesia-Australia-India
• India and Australia co-operate in various multilateral fora. Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council. Both India and Australia are members of the Commonwealth, IORA, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, and have participated in the East Asia Summits. Both countries have also been cooperating as members of the Five Interested Parties (FIP) in the WTO context. Australia is an important player in APEC and supports India's membership of the organisation. In 2008, Australia became an Observer in SAARC.

 

Economic And Trade Relationship:

• India Economic Strategy, prepared by Australian Think Tank, to define a pathway for Australia to unlock opportunities offered by Indian Economic growth aims for a clear exposition of the kind of relationship Australia should aspire to have with India out to 2035. The Paper identifies ten key sectors (Education as flagship sector; Agribusiness, Resources and Tourism as lead sectors; Energy, Health, Financial Services, Infrastructure, Sports, Science & Innovation as Promising Sectors) and ten states in India (Andhra Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, UP and West Bengal) where Australia should focus efforts
• India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was established in 1989 to enable interaction at a Government and business level on a range of trade and investment related issues.
• India is the 5th largest trade partner of Australia with trade in goods and services at A$ 29 billion representing 3.6% share of the total Australian trade in 2017-18, with export at A$ 8 billion and import at A$ 21 billion.
• The two countries are also discussing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
• India-Australia CEO Forum is a mechanism for business from both nations to engage directly on ways to build the bilateral trade and investment relationship

 

Civil Nuclear Co-Operation:

• A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in September 2014
• The Australian Parliament passed the “Civil Nuclear Transfer to India Bill 2016” in 2016 which ensures that Uranium mining companies in Australia may fulfil contracts to supply Australian uranium to India for civil use with confidence that exports would not be hindered by domestic legal action challenging the consistency of the safeguards applied by the IAEA in India and Australia’s international non-proliferation obligations.

 

Defence Co-Operation:

• Defence Policy Talks and Service to Service Staff talks are also held regularly.
• The first-ever Bilateral Maritime Exercise, AUSINDEX 15, was conducted in Visakhapatnam in 2015.
• 4th edition of AUSTRAHIND (Special Forces of Army Exercise) was held in 2019.

 

Agriculture, Science And Technology:

• An Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), which was established in 2006, supports scientists in India and Australia to collaborate on leading-edge research.

 

Resources And Energy Security:

• A Joint Working Group on Energy and Minerals was established in 1999 to expand bilateral relationship in the energy and resources sector.

 

Education, Sports, Art And Culture:

• The Joint Working Group on Education between the two countries has identified several key areas for co-operation, including collaborative research in education policy, student exchange programmes, capacity building in vocational education and distance learning in higher education.
• The number of Indian students currently enrolled for studying in Australia is around 90,000.
• Under the New Colombo Plan of Australian government, Australian undergraduates have studied and completed internships in India.
• Australia has also agreed to help in establishing a world class Sports University in India.

 

Consular Cooperation:

• The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and the Extradition Treaty between India and Australia, which were signed in 2008, have been ratified by both the Governments, and have entered into force

 

Indian Community In Australia:

• The Indian community in Australia continues to grow in size and importance, with the population of nearly half seven lakhs.
• India is one of the top sources of skilled immigrants to Australia.
• India is now the third largest source of immigrants to Australia, after UK and New Zealand and the largest source of skilled professionals for Australia.

 

Roadblocks:

• Australian concerns have to do with China’s increased activities in the Pacific; while India is concerned about China’s greater presence and influence in the Indian Ocean
• Australia has long been an American ally, while India remains uncomfortable about alliances
• Deficit of military capabilities, especially on the Indian side: India’s reluctance to involve Australia in the Malabar trilateral naval exercise alongside the other three Quad nations.
• Although Australia has developed its uranium export industry in recent years, there are still considerable reservations among many in Australia about its sale
• India and Australia are too far from concluding the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in the near term.
• Australia’s investment in India is not improving due to compromises, an interfering bureaucracy, corruption etc.
• India opted out from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. India and Australia could not agree regarding market access over agriculture and dairy products.

 

Way Forward:

• India and Australia should find more innovative ways to work together to shape a stable Asian strategic order
• The convergence of strategic interests in ensuring an Indo-Pacific order is a glue that will bind India and Australia further in the coming years.
• The several commonalities and closely aligned values in principles of democracy, liberty, the rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech, free press and multiculturalism serve as a foundation for a closer co-operation, multifaceted interaction and enhancement of bilateral relationship.

 

 

https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Unclassified-Bilateral_Brief-Australia-Feb_2020.pdf

 

https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/35004/Prime+Minister+Shri+Narendra+Modi+and+Prime+Minister+of+Australia+HE+Mr+Scott+Morrison+hold+2nd+India+Australia+Virtual+Summit

 

https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/35003/Special+Briefing+by+Foreign+Secretary+on+2nd+IndiaAustralia+Virtual+Summit+21+March+2022

 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indiaaustralia-virtual-summit-modi-underlines-remarkable-growth-in-relations-101647846797032.html

NEWS IN BRIEF: PRELIMS SPECIAL

 

Padma Awards

• The President confers Padma awards to 54 distinguished personalities
• The Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, are one of the highest civilian honors of India, announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
• The Awards are given in three categories:
  • ‘Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
  • ‘Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order.
  • 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field.
• The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.
• All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
• The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire.
• The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

 

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=President-Kovind-presents-Padma-Awards-at-Rashtrapati-Bhavan&id=437544

 

Central University Entrance Test

• Mandatory Common Entrance Test for admission to undergraduate programmes in all the 45 Central universities.
• The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a computerized exam and will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Admission to undergraduate courses in Central universities will be solely based on the CUET score, and Class 12 Board marks will not carry any weightage. This effectively means that performance in the Class 12 Board examination will no longer be a factor in admissions across Central universities.
• The reservation policies and ordinances of the universities will remain unchanged.
• CUET will carry multiple choice questions based on NCERT textbooks and students will be marked negatively for incorrect answers.
• The CUET 2022 will be offered in 13 languages, namely Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Assamese, Bengali, Punjabi, Odia and English.
• The exam will be conducted in two shifts.
  • In the first shift, candidates will appear for Section I (languages), two chosen domain subjects and the general test.
  • In the second shift, they will appear for the other four domain subjects and an additional language test, if opted for.
• International students are exempted from CUET; their admissions will be carried out on the existing supernumerary basis.

https://newsonair.com/2022/03/23/know-all-about-cuet-the-one-nation-one-entrance-test/

 

NAV BHARAT LITERACY PROGRAMME

• The Government has approved “New India Literacy Programme (NILP)” with the aim to support the States and Union Territories in promoting literacy among non-literates in the age group of 15 and above, across the country covering 5 crore non-literates during the implementation period from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
• The scheme has been approved with a financial outlay of Rs.1037.90 crore including Central share of Rs.700.00 crore and State share of Rs.337.90 crore.
• The scheme has five components namely;
  • Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
  • Critical Life Skills
  • Vocational Skills Development
  • Basic Education
  • Continuing Education

 

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=CCEA-approves-extension-of-applicability-of-NIP-2012-for-three-units-of-Hindustan-Urvarak-and-Rasayan-Limited&id=437660

 

World Water Day

• World Water Day 2022 theme: ‘Groundwater: Making The Invisible Visible’ is the theme of World Water Day 2022, proposed by IGRAC.
• HISTORY: Officially the idea of World Water Day was a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly conference on Environmental and Development in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. It was then that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution stating that every year, March 22 will be marked as World Water Day starting 1993.
• It is an annual event to increase community awareness about understanding the importance of water conservation.

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=World-Water-Day%3A-V.Prez-Naidu-calls-upon-everyone-to-resolve-use-of-water-judiciously&id=437606

PM2.5 Pollution                                     

• No country in 2021 met the updated air quality guidelines defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), a new report found.
• In September 2021, the WHO tightened the global air quality norms and lowered the annual concentration of PM2.5 to five microgram (μg) from 10μg.
• IQ Air is a Swiss air quality technology company specialising in protection against airborne pollutants, and developing air quality monitoring and air cleaning products.
• Concentration of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) was found to be within WHO standards in only 222 out of 6,475 cities.
• The concentration in 93 per cent of the cities was 10 times the new guidelines. This was the case in 48 per cent of India’s cities.
• Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman) followed Delhi in the list of polluted capital cities.
• India specific:
  • India was among the top five countries with the highest concentration of PM2.5
  • Delhi is the most polluted capital in the world. The city recorded an increase of over 14 per cent in the concentration of PM2.5 in 2021 compared to 2020.
  • Of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021, 12 were in India.

 

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Bangladesh-most-polluted-country-of-the-World&id=437671

 

Shaheed Diwas

• March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day in India. The day commemorates the hanging of India’s three freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru.
• Bhagat Singh together with his companions Rajguru, Sukhdev, Azad, and Gopal, Singh fought against the British.
• The group was deeply affected by the assassination of Lala Lajpat Rai as Rai led a non-violent protest against the Simon Commission when it visited Lahore on October 30, 1928.
• The British Raj police reverted with lethal force, carrying out a lathi-charge. It was during this lathi charge that Singh witnessed a brutal attack on Rai, who suffered serious injuries in the police assault and eventually died on November 17, 1928.
• In 1928, Bhagat Singh and his associates planned to kill the police chief responsible for the death of Rai, during a silent march opposing the Simon Commission.
• However, they failed to identify their target and junior officer J.P. Saunders was killed.
• The group’s actual target was James Scott (Saunders’ superior), who had ordered a lathi-charge on protesters earlier, which had led to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
• Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev fled to Lahore.
• In 1929, he and an associate threw a bomb at the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi to protest the implementation of the Defence of India Act by cheering the slogan of “Inquillab Zindabad (long live the revolution).
• Trial proceedings commenced in May where Bhagat Singh sought to defend himself, while Batukeshwar Dutt was represented by Afsar Ali.
• The court ruled in favour of a life sentence citing malicious and unlawful intent of the explosions.
• Soon after the sentencing, the police raided the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) bomb factories in Lahore and arrested several prominent revolutionaries.
• Three individuals, Hans Raj Vohra, Jai Gopal and Phanindra Nath Ghosh turned approver for the Government which led to a total of 21 arrests including those of Sukhdev Thapar, Jatindra Nath Das and Shivaram Rajguru.
• Bhagat Singh was re-arrested for the Lahore Conspiracy case, murder of Assistant Superintendent Saunders and bomb manufacturing.
• In the end, it was thus the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial which led to Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom.
• On March 23, 1831, Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged in Hussainwala, Punjab – an area which is now in Pakistan.

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Azadi-Ka-Amrit-Mahotsav%3A-Nehru-Yuva-Kendra-Sangathan-observes-Shaheed-Diwas-across-the-country&id=437690

World Meteorological Day

• World Meteorological Day 2022 observed on 23 March 2022
• It celebrates the formation of World Meteorological Organization. This day is celebrated on 23 March each year.
• It helps people to understand and realise their role in protecting the atmosphere of the Earth. It makes people more aware of their surroundings.
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) came into existence on 23 March, in the year 1950.
• This intergovernmental organization has the membership of 193 UN member states.
• The WMO looks after four aspects that include weather, climate, water, and environment.
• The headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The International Meteorological Organization (IMO) form the roots of the WMO. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was inspected by Vienna International Meteorological Congress 1873.
• The WMO finally came into motion in the year 1950, by the sanction of the WMO convention.
• This organization became a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) after a year of its establishment.
• World Meteorological Day 2022 has the theme "Early Warning and Early Action".

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=World-Meteorological-Day-being-observed-today&id=437737

 

World TB Day

• World Tuberculosis Day is being observed on 24th March, 2022 to raise public awareness about Tuberculosis (TB).
• On this day in the year 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacteria that causes TB. It paved the way for diagnosis and cure of this deadly disease.
• The ‘Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ bacteria that cause TB are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, India has the world's largest tuberculosis epidemic.

 

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=World-Tuberculosis-Day%3A-Prez-Ram-Nath-Kovind-calls-upon-everyone-to-work-together-to-achieve-Tuberculosis-free-India-by-2025&id=437782