Syllabus subtopic: India and its neighbourhood-relations
News: Sri Lanka People’s Front party presidential election candidate and former wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is all set to become president of the island nation after his main rival conceded defeat on Sunday.
Prelims and Mains focus: India-Sri Lanka relations,
Context:
Way ahead:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
News: A report, analysing the benefits of India’s free trade agreements (FTA) with ASEAN has been released. The report has been prepared by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Prelims focus: Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement
Mains focus: India’s concerns and ways to address them
Context:
Key findings of the report:
What changed after the signing of these agreements?
India’s imports from Asean countries increased sharply in comparison to its exports to them after signing these agreements.
India’s experience with other FTAs:
India’s past experience with FTAs has not been encouraging.
India had recorded a trade deficit in all major trade agreements other than the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Need of the hour:
India needs to work on its manufacturing sector to benefit from any FTA.
India should not consider entering into FTAs without preparing the agriculture and manufacturing sectors adequately.
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
News: The latest ADMM-Plus meeting where Defence Ministers of ASEAN countries and eight other nations would gather and discuss the way forward for security cooperation, is being held in Bangkok.
Prelims and Mains focus: ADMM- Plus- composition, objectives and significance.
ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus):
Objectives:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
News: The German parliament has passed the Climate Protection Act in an attempt to reach its climate target by 2030. This will be Germany’s first climate action law.
Prelims and Mains focus: Key features and significance of the programme..
Key highlights of the bill:
Criticisms of the bill:
Source: Indian Express
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
News: The Centre has released the Water Quality Report. The report is in line with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) that was launched to provide clean and safe drinking water to all by 2024.
Prelims focus: Key highlights of the report, Jal Jeevan Mission
Mains focus: India’s water crisis and methods to address it
Context: In order to ensure that clean and safe drinking water is provided to all, Department of Consumer Affairs decided to undertake a study through the Bureau of India Standards (BIS) on the quality of piped drinking water being supplied in the country and also rank the States, Smart Cities and even Districts based on the quality of tap water.
Tests Conducted
Tests were conducted on various parameters such as Organoleptic and Physical Tests, Chemical test, Toxic substances and Bacteriological tests in the first stage.
Performance of cities:
Significance:
Way ahead:
The Union Government wants to make BIS Standards mandatory for Tap Water so as to ensure quality drinking water for all households.
Source: The Hindu
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