1. India Partly Free says Freedom House
Tags: Popular National News
For the second time in a row India has been put in the “partly free” status by the government of United States funded non-governmental organisation Freedom House.
Freedom House, which studies political freedom around the world, had last year downgraded India’s status as a democracy and free society to ‘partly free’ from free.
The Freedom House has released its report “Freedom in the world 2022-The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule “. The 2022 edition covers developments in political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries and 15 territories from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
India was given a score of 66 out of 100. Last year India scored 67.
It ranked Syria and South Sudan as the most unfree country of the world and was ranked at bottom
Norway ,Sweden and Denmark were ranked as the most free countries in the world with a score of 100/100 points.
Freedom House
It is a non -governmental organisation funded by the United States government . It was set up in 1941 and its headquarters is in Washington D.C .
It conducts research in the field of democracy, freedom and human rights.
It releases an annual report “Freedom in the World”.
The organisation is seen by many critics as serving the interests of the United States government .
2. India abstain at the UN Vote on Russia again
Tags: Popular International News
India abstained during the voting at the United Nation General Assembly resolution titled “on Aggression against Ukraine”.This is the fifth time that India has abstained from voting on Ukraine related resolutions on the UN platform .
The UN resolution ,deplored in strongest terms the “Russian aggression against Ukraine”. It demanded that Russia immediately cease use of force in Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw its forces from internationally recognised borders of Ukraine.It also reaffirmed its commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity . It called all the parties to abide by the Minsk agreement in 2014 and 2015.
The resolution was supported by 141 members out of 193 countries and 34 countries including China abstained .
Only Russia, North Korea,Eritrea, Syria and Belarus voted against the resolutions.
The Indian permanent representative to the United Nation, T.S.Tirumurti presenting government of India policy called for a diplomatic solution to the problem .
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February as it is concerned that the Zelensky led Ukrainian government policy to join NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization ) military alliance led by the United States threatens the security of Russia .
India has very close ties with Russia which has consistently supported India on Kashmir, Bangladesh and China. India doesn't want to hurt Russia .
The General Assembly vote will not change anything on the ground and it is mainly symbolic in nature .
United Nation General Assembly
- The United Nation General Assembly was set up in 1945 under the charter of the United Nation.All the 193 member countries of the United Nation(UN) are members of the General Assembly .
- The General Assembly meets September to December each year (main part), and thereafter, from January to September
Function of the General Assembly
It can recommend policies or programmes to the member states but the member countries are not bound to legally follow it .
It has basically moral power in nature as it represents the voice of the world.
However the member countries have to follow the decision of the UN Security Council.
Some of the important functions of the General Assembly are as follows :
It can
take action in cases of a threat to the peace, breach of peace or act of aggression, when the Security Council has failed to act owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General
Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament
Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it
Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among countries
Decision making process in the General Assembly
Unlike the Security Council where five permanent members , Russia, China, US, France and UK can veto any resolution,in the General Assembly no country has any veto power in the General Assembly
Every country has one vote.
On certain Important issues like recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions, two third majority of the member states are required for other matters; a simple majority is required .
Facts important for Exam
- The President of the UN General Assembly is elected every year.
- The current Chairman is Abdulla Shahid of Maldives
- Vijay Lakshmi Pandit became the first Indian and a woman to be the President of the UN General Assembly in 1953,
- The Headquarters of the UN: New York,United States of America
- The Secretary General of the UN :António Guterres of Portugal
- For a detailed Understanding of the conflict in Ukraine kindly see our blog on Russian -Ukraine Conflict
3. IEA to release reserve oils to cool the oil price
Tags: Popular International News
The International Energy Agency has agreed to release 60 millions barrels of oil reserves in the world market to deal with the shortfall in the oil after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Importance of Russia in oil market
Russia is an important player in the world oil market.
It is the world’s third largest oil producer and the largest exporter.
Its exports of about 5 million barrels a day of crude oil represent roughly 12% of global trade – and its approximately 2.85 million barrels a day of petroleum products represent around 15% of global refined product trade.
Around 60% of Russia’s oil exports go to Europe and another 20% to China.
Source of Data (International Energy Agency )
Though the Western countries led by the United States have not yet imposed sanctions on the Russian oil industry, the buyers are avoiding Russian oils. The uncertainty of supply of oil has led to a sharp rise in the price of oil and it has crossed $100 per barrel . The continuous rise in oil prices has led to fear of high inflation around the world and it threatens the world economic recovery after the corona pandemic .
IEA stockpiles
IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. The proposed initial release of 60 million barrels, or 4% of those stockpiles, is equivalent to 2 million barrels a day for 30 days.
This is the fourth coordinated attempt by the IEA to release oil from the reserves . It released oil from reserves in 1991, 2005 and in 2011.
Half of the planned release will come from the United States. The United States maintains half the worlds’ oil strategic reserves .The other 30 IEA members are required to hold oil in emergency reserves equivalent to 90 days of net oil imports
Japan has one of the largest oil reserves after China and the United States.
However many experts believe that it will not be able to cool the price of oil in the market .
International Energy Agency
It was set up by the developed countries in 1974 after the 1973 oil crisis .
It was initially set up to protect oil supplies .Now its field has been expanded to include issues like electricity security to investments, climate change, air pollution, energy access and efficiency, etc.
Total Member 31 countries . All are developed countries .(from Asia only Japan and South Korea are its member )
India, China are not members of the IEA . They are an associate state of the IEA .
Headquarters of IEA : Paris, France
Important reports released by EIA :
World Energy Report
Global Energy Review
Oil Market Report
Important for EXAM
One barrel of Oil is equivalent to: 158.987 liters of oil
: 42 gallons (US)
4. India step up its effort to bring back Indians home from Ukraine
Tags: International Relations
In a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government of India has announced a number of steps to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine safely to home.
The Government will send its four cabinet ministers as special envoy to the four neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the relief measures.
Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will travel to Romania and Moldova,
Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju to Slovakia,
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri to Hungary and.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen. V. K. Singh (retd.) to Poland.
The Ministry of External Affairs has been running helplines, and officials are posted at border checkpoints in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. But the rush at these checkpoints, especially on the Poland-Ukraine border, has led to clashes and evacuees have had to wait for two or three days in freezing temperatures before making a crossing.
The ministers at the ground will help in the paperwork and expedite the process.
The Prime Minister also said that any citizens of neighbouring countries and developing countries who want to leave Ukraine will be helped by India in leaving Ukraine.
The Government of India will send the first consignment of relief materials including medicine on Ukrainian borders on the request of the Ukrainian ambassador to India, Igor Polikha.
According to the government of India, around 8000 Indians had left Ukraine before the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. There are still 12,000 Indians in Ukraine. They are mainly medical students who went to Ukraine to study medicine.
The Prime Minister also called and thanked the Prime Minister of Slovakia Mr. Eduard Heger and Mr. Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, Prime Minister of Romania.
5. World's largest Aircraft destroyed by Russians
Tags: International News
The largest plane in the world, Ukraine's Antonov-225 cargo plane was destroyed by Russian strikes outside Kyiv on the fourth day of the Russian invasion on 27 February 2022.
- The aircraft was stationed at the Hostomel (also known as Gostomel) airport near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
The aircraft was unique to the world, at 84 metres long (276 feet) it could transport up to 250 tonnes of cargo at a speed of up to 850 kilometres per hour . It made its first flight in 1988.
- It was named "Mriya", which means "dream" in Ukrainian.
6. Operation Ganga launched by the Government of India
Tags: National News
The Ministry of External Affairs has launched “Operation Ganga “ to evacuate the Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine .
The air space of Ukraine was closed after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia .
- There are around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and they are being told to reach the bordering countries of Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
- From these countries they are being evacuated through air by special operations of Air India and Indigo Airlines .
- The Indians are being flown back from these countries through special flights of Air India and Indigo .
- The entire cost of evacuation is being borne by the government of India .
Similar operations in past
The Government of India has undertaken similar evacuation of Indians from conflict zones in the past
Evacuation from Kuwait in 1990
When Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government invaded Kuwait in 1990 ,a massive operation was launched by the government of India to rescue the Indians from Kuwait . It involved a massive rescue operation by Air India, Indian Airlines and Indian Air Force. It brought back 1,70,000 Indians from Kuwait .
The effort of Air India was later recognized by the Guinness World Records as the being the largest evacuation by a civil airliner.
There was no code name for the operation.
Operation Sukoon 2006
It was launched by the Indian Navy to rescue Indian, Nepalese, Sri Lankan from Lebanon after Israel invaded Lebanon to punish radical islamic group Hezbollah
Operation Safe coming 2011
It was launched by the Indian Navy and Air India to evacuate Indians fleeing from the Libyan Civil war .
Operation Rahat 2015
It was launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Air India to rescue Indians and foreigners from Yemen after Saudi Arabian led coalition forces intervened in the Yemen Civil war .
Operation Dev Shakti 2021
It was launched by the Indian Airforce and Air India to bring back Indians from Afghanistan after the Taliban captured the Afghanistan capital Kabul on 15 August 2021.
7. MSME Technology conclave Center to be set up in Sindhudurg
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri Narayan Rane announced the establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs. 200 Crore, in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra on 25 February 2022.
The MSME-Technology Centre will provide the best of technology, incubation as well as advisory support to the industry, especially MSMEs, to enhance their competitiveness and provide skilling services for the employed and unemployed youth of the area to enhance their employability.
The minister also launched the Union MSME RuPay Credit Card of Union Bank of India in Sindhudurg at the two day MSME Conclave being held in the district from 25-26 February 2022.
The card is being offered by Union Bank of India in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
MSME borrowers will be able to enjoy an interest-free credit period of up to 50 days on their business spends. The card also offers the EMI (Equated Monthly Installments )facility to the customers on their business-related purchases.
The two-day MSME Conclave (25 and 26 February) was organized in Sindhudurg by the Ministry of MSME. The Conclave aims to promote entrepreneurship and trade opportunities for MSMEs in the Konkan region by hand holding them in use of technology, product development and skilling.
Concept Clearing
MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises)
MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises )
The MSME has been defined by the ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 as amended in 2020.
The enterprises which are which are either in the business of Manufacturing or providing service has been defined as Micro, Small , Medium enterprises on the basis of Investment in plant and machinery needed for production of good (for manufacturing sector ) or services and Turnover (sales)
Micro Enterprises : where the investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment does not exceed one crore rupees and turnover does not exceed five crore rupees;
Small Enterprise: where the investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment does not exceed ten crore rupees and turnover does not exceed fifty crore rupees;
Medium enterprise, where the investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment does not exceed fifty crore rupees and turnover does not exceed two hundred and fifty crore rupees.
8. Prime Minister addresses a webinar on Agriculture and Union Budget 2022-23
Tags: National News
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed a webinar on the positive impact of the Union Budget 2022 in the Agriculture sector on 24 February 2022.
The Webinar was focused on ‘Smart Agriculture’- Strategies for implementation.
Main highlights of his speech
To make Agriculture Modern and Smart
The Prime Minister elaborated on the seven ways in which the Budget proposes to make agriculture modern and smart.
Firstly, The target is to undertake natural farming on mission mode within 5 kms on both the banks of the Ganges.
Secondly, Modern technology in agriculture and horticulture will be made available to the farmers.
Thirdly, Emphasis has been laid on strengthening Mission Oil Palm to reduce the import of edible oil.
Fourthly, new logistics arrangements will be made through the PM Gati-Shakti plan for the transportation of agricultural products.
Fifth solution in the Budget is better organization of agri-waste management and increasing farmers’ income through waste to energy solutions.
Sixthly, more than 1.5 lakh post offices will provide services like regular banking so that farmers are not troubled.
Seventh, Agri research and education syllabus will be changed as per demands of modern times with regard to skill development and human resource development.
Benefit of PM KISAN yojana
As on 22nd February, 2022, benefits under PM KISAN(Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme have been provided to about 11.78 Crore farmers and funds amounting to Rs1.82 lakh crore in various installments have been released to the eligible beneficiaries of this scheme across India.
The PM KISAN scheme was launched on 24 February ,2019 at Gorakhpur,Uttar Pradesh , by Narendra Modi . It provides Rs 6000/year to eligible farmers in three installments of Rs 2000 each.
Budgetary Allocation for PM -KISAN
The Centre has allocated Rs 68,000 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in the Union Budget 2022-23, which is just 4.6 per cent higher than the Budget Estimates of Rs 65,000 crore for 2021-22 and only 0.74 per cent higher than the revised estimates of Rs 67,500 crore for the current financial year
He said that Agriculture budget allocation has increased manifold .
The Agriculture Ministry has been allocated Rs 1,32,514 crore in 2022-23, a 4.5% increase over the revised estimates of 2021-22.
Allocation to the Ministry accounts for 3.4% of the government’s budget. 55% of the allocation to the Ministry in 2022-23 is for the PM-KISAN scheme (Rs 68,000 crore).
He said that the government has increased the agriculture loans for farmers by two and half times in the last 7 years”
The target for banks for lending to the agricultural sector in 2022-23 is Rs 18 Lakh Crores. In 2021-22 it was 16.50 lakh crore .”
9. Government of India extends National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship for the next five years
Tags: National News
The government of India has extended the central sector scheme “National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS)” till 2025-26.
The government has allocated Rs. 1827.00 crore for the scheme for the next five year duration 2021- 26.
The government of India has also increased the income limit ceiling to Rs 3.5 lakh per annum . It was earlier Rs 1.5 Lakh per annum. It means that students whose parents annual income is upto Rs 3.5 lakh per annum are eligible for scholarship.
National cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)
The National Cum Merit Scholarship scheme was launched by the Government of India in 2008-2009 .
The objective of the scheme is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop-out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at secondary stage.
Under this scheme government of India provides one lakh fresh scholarships of Rs.12,000/- per annum (Rs.1000/- per month) per student to selected students of class IX every year and their continuation/renewal in classes X to XII for study in State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme.
Students are selected for the award of scholarships through an examination conducted by the State/ UT Governments. The scheme is registered on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Scholarships are disbursed directly into the bank accounts of students by electronic transfer.
100% funds under the scheme are provided by the Central Government.
10. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visit to Germany and France
Tags: International News
Foreign Minister S. Jaishanker was on a week-long trip to Germany and France from 18 to 23 February 2022.
Visit to Germany
He visited Germany to participate in the 58th Munich Security Conference 2022.
The Munich Security conference was held in Munich city of Germany from 18-20 February 2022.
“Turning the Tide. Unlearning Helplessness” is the conference motto.
Visit to France
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was on a visit to France from 20-23 February 2022.
He held bilateral talks with the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs., Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian.
India and France foreign ministers adopted the “ India-France Roadmap on the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance” declaration which aims to enhance partnership in the field of blue economy, by way of institutional, economic ,infrastructural and scientific cooperation .
Munich Security Conference
The Munich Security Conference has been held in the German city of Munich since 1963. It is held in the month of February and discusses matters of International security and world politics.
