TOPIC : GS 2 Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Staging a comeback, re-energizing India’s Africa policy
What is the news?
- Africa is considered a foreign policy priority by India.
- The government designed a forwardlooking strategy to deepen relations with African countries.
- Its implementation was managed quite well, with much political will invested in expanding the multifaceted
- Even as the COVID19 era began in March 2020, New Delhi took new initiatives to assist Africa through prompt despatch of medicines and later vaccines.
Major Economics
- India’s top five markets today are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and Togo.
- The countries from which India imports the most are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Angola and Guinea.
Essential Trading
India’s top three exports to Africa are mineral fuels and oils processed petroleum products, pharmaceutical products and vehicles. Mineral fuels and oils, essentially crude oil and pearls, precious or semiprecious stones are the top two imports accounting for over 77% of our imports from Africa
India’s role
- For mutual benefit, Africa and India should remain optimally engaged.
- It was perhaps this motivation that shaped the substantive intervention made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in the UN Security Council’s open debate on conflict and postpandemic recovery in Africa.
- Touching on politico diplomatic dimensions, he regretted that “the voice of Africa is not given its proper due” in the Security Council
- Highlighted India’s role in peacekeeping in Africa, in lending support to African counterterrorism operations, and contributing to African institutions through training and capacity enhancing assistance.
- India’s aid for economic development in the African continent is set to continue.
- Recent External Affairs Minister visit to Kenya has helped to reestablish communication with Africa at a political level.
- It is time to seize the opportunity and restore Africa to its primary position in India’s diplomacy and economic
- The third India Africa Forum Summit was held in 2015. pending since last year, should be held as soon as possible, even if in a virtual format.
- Fresh financial resources for grants and concessional loans to Africa must be allocated, as previous allocations stand almost fully exhausted.
- Without new commitments, India’s Africa policy would be like a car running on a nearempty fuel tank.
Areas with promise
- The promotion of economic relations demands a higher priority.
- Industry representatives should be consulted about their grievances and challenges in the COVID19 era.
- It is essential “to impart a 21st century complexion to the partnership with Africa”, as the above mentioned study argues.
- Means developing and deepening collaborations in health, space and digital technologies.
Way Forward
- To overcome the China challenge in Africa increased cooperation between India and its international allies, rates priority.
- The recent IndiaEU Summit has identified Africa as a region where a partnership based approach will be followed .
- Quad powers is held in Washington, a robust partnership plan for Africa should be announced. For it to be ready in time, work by Quad planners needs to begin now.
Mains Question
New Delhi needs to make new commitments, developing and deepening links in health, space and digital technologies
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Bhutan’s Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programme
Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched its programme in Bhutan . India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme.
This programme is expected to be of about 24 months’ duration through which India in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors, and through sharing of best audit practices. The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.
Sources : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1729822
- Electrocoagulation (EC)
It is a technique used for wastewater treatment, wash water treatment, industrially processed water, and medical treatment. Electrocoagulation has become a rapidly growing area of wastewater treatment due to its ability to remove contaminants that are generally more difficult to remove by filtration or chemical treatment systems, such as emulsified oil, total petroleum hydrocarbons, refractory organics, suspended solids, and heavy metals.
There are many brands of electrocoagulation devices available and they can range in complexity from a simple anode and cathode to much more complex devices with control over electrode potentials, passivation, anode consumption, cell REDOX potentials as well as the introduction of ultrasonic sound, ultraviolet light and a range of gases and reactants to achieve so-called Advanced Oxidation Processes for refractory or recalcitrant organic substances.
Sources : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128192276000012
Coast Guard inducted Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk III. The state-of-the-art helicopters are indigenously designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru.
Advanced Light Helicopter Mk III is an indigenously-built multirole helicopter with Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Mk III version of the ALH has an all-glass cockpit with HAL’s Integrated Architecture Display System (IADS) and will be used for search and rescue special operations and coastal surveillance. The customized Mk-III is powered by “Shakti” engines.
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
- Consider the following statement regarding to Tax Inspectors Without Borders
- It is a joint initiative of the UNDP and OECD
- The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer: C
Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched its programme in Bhutan . India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme.
This programme is expected to be of about 24 months’ duration through which India in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors, and through sharing of best audit practices. The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.
- Consider the following statement regarding to ALH Mk-III
- Indigenously designed and manufactured by DRDO
- The customized Mk-III is powered by “DHRUV” engines.
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only (b) 2 only
(c).Both (d). None of above
Answer: D
Coast Guard inducted Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk III. The state-of-the-art helicopters are indigenously designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru.
Advanced Light Helicopter Mk III is an indigenously-built multirole helicopter with Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Mk III version of the ALH has an all-glass cockpit with HAL’s Integrated Architecture Display System (IADS) and will be used for search and rescue special operations and coastal surveillance. The customized Mk-III is powered by “Shakti” engines.