Narendra Kumar appointed as Chairman of Central Water Commission

Narendra Kumar appointed as Chairman of Central Water Commission Narendra Kumar was on 9 March 2017 appointed as the new chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC). He succeeded GS Jha, who retired on superannuation on the same day. Who is Narendra Kumar?
• He is a Central Water Engineering Service (CWES) officer of 1979 batch.
• He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from IIT-Roorkee.
• He also completed his M.Tech with structural engineering as a specialization from the IIT-Delhi.
• He worked in the Central Water Commission in various capacities such as an assistant director, deputy director and director.
• He also had served as the senior joint commissioner in the Union Ministry of Water Resources between 2002 and 2005.
• He worked as the commissioner, Brahmaputra and Barak wing of the ministry between 2011 and 2014. About Central Water Commission
• It is a premier technical organization of India in the field of water resources.
• At present, it is functioning as an attached office of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• The commission is headed by a chairman, with the status of Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India.
• The work of the commission is divided among 3 wings, namely, Designs and Research (D&R) Wing, River Management (RM) Wing and Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing.
• Each wing is placed under the charge of a full-time member with the status of Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India and comprising of a number of organizations responsible for the disposal of tasks and duties falling within their assigned scope of functions.

Arun Jaitley gets charge of defence ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigns

Arun Jaitley gets charge of defence ministry after Manohar Parrikar resigns Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of the defence ministry on 13 March 2017. He was given the charge after Manohar Parrikar resigned from the post to take on the role of Chief Minister of Goa. A Rashtrapati Bhawan communiqué said that “Shri Arun Jaitley shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios”. Jaitley was given the additional charge of the defence ministry in addition to his existing portfolios on the recommendation of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the second time that Jaitley is holding the additional portfolio of Defence Ministry during the present NDA government. Earlier, he was the in charge of the ministry from 26 May to 9 November 2014. Congress emerged as the largest party in 2017 Assembly Elections of Goa A different communiqué said that “President Mukherjee has accepted the resignation of Shri Manohar Parrikar from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect”.   Earlier, Parrikar submitted his resignation from the office of defence ministry after BJP staked claim to form an alliance government in Goa. As per reports, Parrikar will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Goa on 14 March 2017. As a chief minister, he will be heading the BJP-led ministry which has the support of regional outfits and Independents.

Union Government launches Mission Fingerling

Union Government launches Mission Fingerling to achieve Blue Revolution The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare on 11 March 2017 launched Mission Fingerling, a programme aimed at achieving the Blue Revolution by enabling holistic development and management of fisheries. The main motive behind this programme is to enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt by 2020-21. Key Highlights
• In order to recognize the potential and possibilities in the fisheries sector, the Union Government envisaged a program named Blue Revolution.
• The Blue Revolution focuses on creating an enabling environment for an integrated and holistic development and management of fisheries for the socio economic development of fish farmers.
• This program with a total expenditure of around Rs 52000 lakh will facilitate the establishment of hatcheries and Fingerling rearing pond to ensure the fish production of 426 crores fish fingerling, 25.50 crores Post Larvae of shrimp and crab in the country.
• This will converge in the production of 20 lakh tonnes of fish annually and will benefit about 4 million families.
• It lays greater emphasis on infrastructure with an equally strong focus on management and conservation of the resources through technology transfer.
• Productivity enhancement will also be targeted through integration of various production oriented activities such as production of quality fish seeds, cost effective feed and adoption of technology etc. Background
• Fish Fingerling production is the single most important critical input visualised to achieve fish production targets under the Blue Revolution.
• Use of high yielding verities of brooders is another significant aspect to be addressed on priority. • The Union Agricultural Ministry identified 20 States based on their potential and other relevant factors to strengthen the Fish Seed infrastructure in the country.
• The implementation of this programme will supplement the requirement of stocking material up to a large extent to achieve the enhanced fish production.

Sri Lanka seeks two-year extension from UNHRC

Sri Lanka seeks two-year extension from UNHRC to deliver war probe Sri Lanka has sought an extension of two more years from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to probe into the alleged war crimes that were committed during the three-decade long civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In October 2015, the UNHRC had given Sri Lanka 18 months to launch a proper probe into the crimes committed during the war with LTTE. The foreign ministry of Sri Lanka however, is seeking an extension in the timeline for the fulfilment of its commitment at the International body’s 34th session. Key Highlights
• According to the data collected by the United Nations, around 40000 civilians were killed by Sri Lankan security forces during former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime, which brought an end to the long conflict after defeating LTTE in 2009.
• Sri Lanka’s proposition for an extension follows UNHRC’s criticism of the country’s slow progress in addressing its wartime past.
• In fact, earlier this month, the international body repeated its call for a hybrid court of international and local judges to investigate the allegations of human rights violations during the civil conflict.
• The demand was rejected by Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe who called it impractical. South Korean President Park Geun-hye removed from office India, Belgium signed Protocol amending Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Protocol While Sri Lanka’s main party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has demanded for more time from the UN to meet all obligations, the party’s rival groups oppose the demand saying that the TNA has excluded the opinion of the majority of Tamils and even after one and half years, the government has not made any progress in its investigation.

Lok Sabha passed Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill,

Lok Sabha passed Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 The Lok Sabha on 10 March 2017 passed the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016. The Bill seeks to establish a legal framework to consolidate the existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, arrest of vessels and related issues. The intended legislation also repeals the following five obsolete British statues on admiralty jurisdiction in civil matters. i. The Admiralty Court Act, 1840 ii. The Admiralty Court Act, 1861 iii. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890 iv. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty (India) Act, 1891 v. The provisions of the Letters Patent, 1865 The repealing of five admiralty statutes is in line with the government's commitment to do away with archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance. Highlights of Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016
• The bill confers admiralty jurisdiction on High Courts located in coastal States of India and this jurisdiction extends up to territorial waters.
• The jurisdiction is extendable, by a Central Government notification, up to exclusive economic zone or any other maritime zone of India or islands constituting part of the territory of India.
• It applies to every vessel irrespective of place of residence or domicile of the owner.
• Inland vessels and vessels under construction are excluded from its application, but the Central Government is empowered to make it applicable to these vessels also by a notification if necessary.
• It does not apply to warships and naval auxiliary and vessels used for non-commercial purposes.
• The jurisdiction is for adjudicating on a set of maritime claims listed in the bill.
• In order to ensure security against a maritime claim, a vessel can be arrested in certain circumstances.
• The liability in respect of selected maritime claims on a vessel passes on to its new owners by way of maritime liens subject to a stipulated time limit.
• In respect of aspects on which provisions are not laid down in the bill, the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 is applicable.

Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail honoured with Saraswati Samman

Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail honoured with Saraswati Samman 2016 Prominent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail was on 9 March 2017 selected for the Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel Hawthan. The 74-year-old writer's novel, published in 2009, was shortlisted from 22 books written in as many languages. The selection for the award was made by a jury presided by the 29th Chief Justice of India (CJI) AS Anand. Who is Mahabaleshwar Sail?
• Mahabaleshwar Sail is Goa-based renowned bi-lingual writer. So far, he wrote 4 Marathi dramas and 7 Konkani novels.
• Sail also written 5 short stories and a novel in Marathi.
• The novel 'Hawthan' is a well-researched work of fiction. The book presents the cultural map of the traditional potter community of Goa. Mohan Bhagwat awarded honorary Doctor of Science degree About Saraswati Samman
• It is named after Goddess Saraswati, Indian goddess of learning. The award was instituted in 1991 by the KK Birla Foundation. • The award consists of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque.
• The inaugural award was given to Harivanshrai Bachchan for his four volume autobiography - Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, Needa Ka Nirman Phir, Basere Se Door and Dashdwar Se Sopan Tak.
• The Saraswati Samman for 2015 was given to Padma Sachdev for her autobiography titled Chitt-Chete, which was written in Dogri language.

Union Government launched Stage II of India’s HCFC Phase Out Management Plan

Union Government launched Stage II of India’s HCFC Phase Out Management Plan The Union Government launched the Stage II of India’s HCFC Phase Out Management Plan (HPMP) for the 2017-23 period. The plan was launched by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) Anil Madhav Dave in March 2017 in New Delhi. Features of HPMP II
• It seeks to phase out the use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and harmful ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
• It also promotes the usage of non-ozone depleting and low global warming potential technologies.
• Under the HPMP-II, India secured USD 44.1 million from the Multilateral Fund for Implementation of Montreal Protocol of the United Nations for phasing out 8,190 MT of HCFC consumption from 2017 to 2023.
• The plan will cover more than 400 enterprises, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the foam manufacturing sector.
• And, 6 large air-conditioning manufacturing enterprises will be supported for conversion to non-HCFC technologies from HCFCs.
• The plan will promote energy efficiency, adoption of green building norms and cold chain development with non-HCFC alternatives.
• The plan gives adequate attention to synergize the Refrigeration and Servicing (RAC) servicing sector trainings under the Skill India Mission. As per the plan, nearly 16,000 service technicians will be trained under HPMP-II.
• The plan is expected to result in net direct CO2-equivalent emission reductions of about 8.5 million metric tonnes annually from 2023. Background
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion including HCFCs.
• Under the Montreal Protocol, various initiatives to phase out Hydrochlorofluorcarbons (HCFCs) were taken up with an aim to complete phase out by 2030 of these chemicals.
• At present, HCFCs are used in various sectors like refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) and polyurethane foam manufacturing. • As a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, The HPMP Stage-I has been already implemented in the country, which has successfully met all the ODS phase-out targets

Lok Sabha passed Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016

Lok Sabha passed Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016 The Lok Sabha on 10 March 2017 passed the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016. The Bill seeks to establish a legal framework to consolidate the existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, arrest of vessels and related issues. The intended legislation also repeals the following five obsolete British statues on admiralty jurisdiction in civil matters. i. The Admiralty Court Act, 1840 ii. The Admiralty Court Act, 1861 iii. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890 iv. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty (India) Act, 1891 v. The provisions of the Letters Patent, 1865 The repealing of five admiralty statutes is in line with the government's commitment to do away with archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance. Highlights of Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016
• The bill confers admiralty jurisdiction on High Courts located in coastal States of India and this jurisdiction extends up to territorial waters.
• The jurisdiction is extendable, by a Central Government notification, up to exclusive economic zone or any other maritime zone of India or islands constituting part of the territory of India.
• It applies to every vessel irrespective of place of residence or domicile of the owner.
• Inland vessels and vessels under construction are excluded from its application, but the Central Government is empowered to make it applicable to these vessels also by a notification if necessary.
• It does not apply to warships and naval auxiliary and vessels used for non-commercial purposes.
• The jurisdiction is for adjudicating on a set of maritime claims listed in the bill.
• In order to ensure security against a maritime claim, a vessel can be arrested in certain circumstances.
• The liability in respect of selected maritime claims on a vessel passes on to its new owners by way of maritime liens subject to a stipulated time limit.
• In respect of aspects on which provisions are not laid down in the bill, the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 is applicable.

India successfully test-fired BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India successfully test-fired BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile India on 11 March 2017 successfully test-fired the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile. The purpose of the test was to validate the capabilities of the missile. Features of BrahMos Missile
• It is the first supersonic cruise missile system known to be in service.
• The missile is capable of carrying a conventional as well as nuclear warhead of 300 kilograms.
• The BrahMos is a multi-stage missile having a solid propellant in the first stage and the ramjet liquid propellant in the second stage.
• It can be launched from land, sea, sub-seas and air.
• It operates on ‘Fire and Forget Principle’ by adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
• It approaches the enemy target with a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk Cruise Missile System.
• The missile has been developed by the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
• It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). • The missile derives its name from the names of two rivers, namely the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.
• While the navy and army versions of the missile were inducted in 2005 and 2007 respectively, the air version is still in the testing stage.

Sashastra Seema Bal signed MoU with NSDC & NSDF for skill development

Sashastra Seema Bal signed MoU with NSDC & NSDF for skill development The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) for execution of skill development programmes. The MoU was signed on 10 March 2017 in the presence of Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi. During the event, Kiren Rijiju launched an an android based and in-house developed mobile application “MySSB”. Features of the MoU
• Under the MoU, the SSB will be able to provide gainful employment to the retiring and retired personnel of SSB.
• It will help the personnel in resettlement through the generation of second career option. • The MoU will establish a framework under which the dependents of SSB personnel as well as locals, school dropouts, victims and potential victims of human trafficking will also be benefited directly in the area or the region where SSB is deployed.
• Under the MoU, skill development training programmes will be organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Sectors like apparel, food processing, beauty and wellness, automotive, security and sports will be given emphasis for the said programme. Features of MySSB app
• The mobile application will cater to the general requirements and information of force personnel.
• It facilitates accessibility to details of salary and allowance, general provident fund (GPF) subscription, service particulars including posting profiles and annual performance assessment report (APAR). About Sashastra Seema Bal
• The Special Service Bureau (now Sashastra Seema Bal) was conceived in November 1962 and eventually created in March 1963.
• It was established with the sole objective of achieving ‘total security preparedness’ in the remote border areas for performing a ‘stay-behind’ role in the event of a war.
• Presently, SSB has been deployed with its mandate to guard 1751 kilometers of Indo-Nepal and 699 kilometers of Indo-Bhutan borders. • The force is also active in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for anti-Naxal operations (ANO) duties.

Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail honoured with Saraswati Samman

Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail honoured with Saraswati Samman 2016 Prominent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail was on 9 March 2017 selected for the Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel Hawthan. The 74-year-old writer's novel, published in 2009, was shortlisted from 22 books written in as many languages. The selection for the award was made by a jury presided by the 29th Chief Justice of India (CJI) AS Anand. Who is Mahabaleshwar Sail?
• Mahabaleshwar Sail is Goa-based renowned bi-lingual writer. So far, he wrote 4 Marathi dramas and 7 Konkani novels.
• Sail also written 5 short stories and a novel in Marathi.
• The novel 'Hawthan' is a well-researched work of fiction. The book presents the cultural map of the traditional potter community of Goa. Mohan Bhagwat awarded honorary Doctor of Science degree About Saraswati Samman
• It is named after Goddess Saraswati, Indian goddess of learning. The award was instituted in 1991 by the KK Birla Foundation. • The award consists of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque.
• The inaugural award was given to Harivanshrai Bachchan for his four volume autobiography - Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, Needa Ka Nirman Phir, Basere Se Door and Dashdwar Se Sopan Tak.
• The Saraswati Samman for 2015 was given to Padma Sachdev for her autobiography titled Chitt-Chete, which was written in Dogri language.

India successfully test-fired BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India successfully test-fired BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile India on 11 March 2017 successfully test-fired the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile. The purpose of the test was to validate the capabilities of the missile. Features of BrahMos Missile
• It is the first supersonic cruise missile system known to be in service.
• The missile is capable of carrying a conventional as well as nuclear warhead of 300 kilograms.
• The BrahMos is a multi-stage missile having a solid propellant in the first stage and the ramjet liquid propellant in the second stage.
• It can be launched from land, sea, sub-seas and air.
• It operates on ‘Fire and Forget Principle’ by adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
• It approaches the enemy target with a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk Cruise Missile System.
• The missile has been developed by the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.
• It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). • The missile derives its name from the names of two rivers, namely the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.
• While the navy and army versions of the missile were inducted in 2005 and 2007 respectively, the air version is still in the testing stage.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye removed from office South Korea’s Constitutional Court

South Korean President Park Geun-hye removed from office South Korea’s Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017 voted unanimously to remove the country’s President, Park Geun-hye, from office. With the impeachment, Park becomes the first South Korean President to be removed from office. As per the law of the country, Park’s successor must be elected within 60 days. At present, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn is serving as the acting President of the country. Reasons behind the impeachment
• Park was accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-il, who allegedly pressured companies to donate money in return for government favours.
• After the allegations, she was suspended from official duties in December 2016. However, both Park and her friend denied the accusations.
• By far the biggest corporate head on the block in the scandal is Samsung chief and heir to its USD 316 billion empire, Jay Y Lee.
• Up to USD 50 million from Samsung was allegedly paid into entities overseen by Choi in return for help cementing Lee’s control of Samsung.
• Lee has been in a jail since February 2017. About Park Geun-hye
• Born on 2 February 1952, Park Geun-hye served as the 11th President of South Korea. She was the first woman to be elected as President of the country. She is also the first president to be impeached.
• She was the first female president of a Northeast Asian nation and the first female elected as head of state in East Asia.
• Prior to her presidency, she served as the chairwoman of the conservative Grand National Party (now Saenuri Party) from 2004 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2012.
• In 2013 and 2014, she was ranked 11th on the Forbes list of the world's 100 most powerful women and the most powerful woman in East Asia.
• In 2014, she was ranked 46th on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful people.
• On 9 December 2016, she was impeached by the National Assembly on charges related to influence peddling by a top aide. The impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2017, ending her presidency and forcing her out of office.

Odisha Government launches 181 helpline for distressed women

Odisha Government launches 181 helpline for distressed women Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 8 March 2017 launched a helpline number 181 for women in distress on the occasion of International Women's Day 2017. This toll free helpline number will be available for 24 hours in all the 30 districts of the state.The helpline will extend prompt response to women affected by violence.  It will provide information about women-related government schemes and programmes and a range of other services. Women of Odisha
• Around 50 lakh women have been able to raise their socio-economic condition by becoming part of the women self help groups in Odisha. • More than 25 lakh women have also been benefited by about Rs 1100 crore by availing incentive through Mamata Yojana, a pregnancy related welfare scheme of the state government.
• Odisha government has instituted 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and government jobs to encourage their better participation.
• Odisha's Biju Kanya Ratna and Mission Shakti have also been instrumental for welfare of women and girls in the state. Background The Union Government launched the 181 helpline number in 2013 after the brutal gang-rape of Nirbhaya in December 2012 and asked all states to start the helpline. Besides, 1091 helpline number by the police and 10920 helpline number by the State Commission for Women were also launched.

INS Tillanchang commissioned at Karwar

INS Tillanchang commissioned at Karwar INS Tillanchang, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was commissioned into the Indian Navy, at Karwar on 9 March 2017. It was commissioned by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.    INS Tillanchang is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The ship has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft that the Indian Navy possesses. The first two ships of the class, INS Tihayu and INS Tarmugli, were commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam. During the speed trail, INS Tillanchang was able to achieve the fastest speeds among all WJFACs. INS Tillanchang
• INS Tillanchang is about 50m long.
• It is powered by three water jet propulsion system, which gives it speeds of over 35 knots.
• The ship is armed with 30-mm main gun and a number of light, medium and heavy machine guns to undertake operations at sea. World’s oldest serving aircraft carrier INS Viraat retires
• Manned by 50 personnel, at present, the ship is commanded by Commander Adit Patnaik.
• Tillanchang is an ideal platform for a number of missions like Coastal and Off-shore Surveillance, Law Enforcement, EEZ Control as well as non-military missions such as Humanitarian, Search and Rescue Assistance and Disaster Relief.
• INS Tillanchang will be based at Karwar under the operational control of the Flag Officer Commanding, Karnataka Naval Area.

Commonwealth trade meet begins in the UK

Commonwealth trade meet begins in the UK The inaugural commonwealth summit focused on stimulating trade within the group kicked off in London on 9 March 2017. The two-day summit, which was planned before last year’s Brexit referendum has gained new significance following the result, especially since Britain is pushing for trade deals beyond European Union borders.  Key Highlights • The event will involve a series of roundtable discussions between ministers from over 30 countries and chief executives. • It would be followed by a ministerial roundtable, which is hoped to kick start work towards strengthening trade within the commonwealth block before the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit, which is scheduled to be held in the UK in 2018. • The Commonwealth Heads of Government summit is expected to bring together leaders as well as over 2000 businesses from across the commonwealth nations.
• The leadership of the commonwealth nations is targeting to increase the intra-Commonwealth trade to $1 trillion by 2020, from the existing $750 billion. The organisers of the trade summit are hopeful that the event would result in a commonwealth agreement that would not only recognise the benefits of trade within the block but would also provide a framework for potential trade initiatives between the groupings that would be achievable in the next few years. India at the summit
• The Commerce Secretary, Rita A Teotia is the Indian representative at the event.
• She took part in the panel discussion held on 9 March on the ease of doing business and creating an export economy.
• India along with the UK is one of the few commonwealth nations that have established good trade relations with countries across the globe. Other commonwealth nations are mostly regionally focused.
• Hence, India is considered to be well placed when it comes to taking a lead role in driving forward the growth of the commonwealth bloc.
• The summit would also provide India with the opportunity to discuss trade with long-standing partners like Africa and also with smaller island states.

India-Israel Relationship: What Next?

India-Israel Relationship: What Next? The relationship between India and Israel has been steadily strengthening since the two countries established diplomatic relations in1992. Former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s foresight that laid the foundation of the Indo-Israeli partnership deserves tribute for this development. The back-channel security talks existed before the normalization of bilateral relations between India and Israel. Afterward, in recent years, India has been more willing to establish a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with Israel which includes liaising on countering the terrorism and deepening military ties. The Shift in Policy after 2014 Post 2014, with NDA government’s rise to power in 2014, Israel seems to have gained greater priority over other West Asian countries in India’s diplomatic agenda. This very clear that India and Israel have been deepening their ties in counterterrorism, defense, science and technology, space exploration, agriculture, and several other areas. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close ties with Israel which can be traced to the period when he was the chief minister of Gujarat when Israel emerged as a key player in helping Gujarat achieve impressive economic growth. On 29 January, India and Israel marked 25 years of diplomatic ties. By keeping this in view, the two countries have planned a series of events which include the exchange of prime ministerial visits before the close of the anniversary year in January 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be visiting Israel in June this year. It would be the first- ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. The first meeting between Modi and Netanyahu happened in September 2014 in the backdrop of the UN General Assembly session in New York. It turned out to be the first meeting between prime ministers of the two countries in a decade. President’s Visits Indian President Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015 which was the first visit by an Indian president to Israel. Normally, the Indian president’s foreign visits do not attract much attention. But Pranab Mukherjee’s visits of Palestine, Jordan, and Israel were seen as a precursor to the much-expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in June. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also made her visit to Israel in January 2016. Her visit was part of the continuation of the effort by New Delhi not only to strengthen India’s relationship with Israel, but also to make it more public. India’s Shift on Palestine Issue In past, important visits made by top Indian leaders to Israel were combined with Palestine in a single tour. The visits of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Union Home Minister L. K. Advani in 2000, and S. M. Krishna’s visit as an external affairs minister in 2012 were all described as regional visits because the ministers held meetings with both Israeli and Palestinian government during their tour. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Israel in November 2014 which was a landmark visit in the sense that it was confined to Israel only. Indian government’s omission of the Palestinian Authority from Home Minister’s visit was seen as an Indian government’s intent to shift the tradition of collaborating high-level official visits to Israel with visits to Jordan and Palestine. Now, at this time, the Indian government has decided to do away with the previous era’s tradition with Israel. Earlier, India always put restrictions on rapprochement with Israel, based on progress in the Israel-Palestine dispute. Evidence of India’s shift on Palestine issue can be found in the recent actions of the India government, one of them is India’s abstention during a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) vote criticizing Israel’s “alleged war crimes” in Gaza last year. The vote in UNHRC was on the basis of a report by the UNHRC, which concluded that both Israel and Palestinian armed forces may have committed war crimes during the 50-day Gaza war that killed about 1,500 people. India was among the five countries that abstained voting. The other countries who abstained were Macedonia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Paraguay. The US, Israel’s biggest ally, voted against the resolution. Deals between India and Israel At present, Israel is one of India’s top defence partners with India. India has been importing unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance, surface-to-air missile systems, and radars and anti-tank missiles from Israel between 1992 and 2016. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which analyses global defence sales, India has been the world’s biggest importer of major arms from 2012 through 2016. India’s arms imports account for 13% of the global total. The SIPRI data also shows that the last five years, defence trade between India and Israel has averaged more than $1billion annually. India is also seeking to buy a medium-range surface-to-air missile defence system from Israel. This deal would be worth of $2.5 billion. Apart from Defence, counter-terrorism constitutes the most high profile part of the India-Israel relationship. The relationship also constitutes food security, energy, water, agriculture and academia, education and health. Impacts
1. Indo-Israel strong relationship would directly impact the Indo-US relation which is seen as a new formed axis between India, Israel and the U.S.
2. It would also impact India’s long fought war against terrorism. It will help India to corner Pakistan in international State.
3. Strong bilateral relationship might boost India’s defence strategy.
4. India is also expecting to get a support from Israel in UNSE permanent membership.
5. It would also give India a special recognition in other international front like NATO, ASEAN, BRICS etc. 6. Farmers of India will benefit from Israeli expertise in drip irrigation. Many Start-ups in Hyderabad and Bangalore see Israeli agricultural firms as role models. Challenges India has historically supported the independence cause of Palestinian state. Some experts have argued that a solo visit could seriously jeopardize India’s traditional stance. Till now, India has managed to preserve a pragmatic balancing act between regional players in the West Asian region. It would be difficult for India to ignore its crucial energy ties with Iran and the Gulf states. And one could also wonder that whether Indian Prime Minister’s solo visit would be able to achieve new tangible results. Another challenge in front of India is New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council. India requires a firm endorsement of its candidature from the Arab countries. Those Arab countries form a large group in the UN General Assembly and they might not like to see India distancing itself from the Palestinian cause. Conclusion Israeli diplomats and politicians have been very candid about Israel’s close friendship with India. This favourable public reference to Israel makes present Indian government different from its predecessors in dealing with Israel. Positive signs appear with these developments between Israel and India. It is also visible in India’s discernible shift in Israel policy. Given this, it can be anticipated that India will succeed in delinking Indo-Israeli relations from domestic and international political concerns, and India’s relations with the Arab world.