FAQ

United Kingdom(UK) cabinet minister and  COP26(Conference of Parties) President Alok Sharma, who was on a two day (21-22 July 2022)  visit to India met the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on 22 July 2022. 

He was in India to discuss with the Indian leaders involved in the implementation of India’s COP26 commitments, progress on smart grid upgrades, electric vehicles and affordable energy storage.

This is Alok Sharma’s third visit to the country as COP president, and comes against the backdrop of searing heat waves affecting parts of both India and the UK.

The visit is also aimed at strengthening and supporting delivery of the Glasgow Climate Pact in the run up to India’s G20 presidency next year.

 What is Conference of Parties (COP)?

• The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the 'Earth Summit', was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992. The conference focused on the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment. The countries assembled here agreed to work together to deal with issues of sustainable development and climate change.
• The Rio Earth summit agreed to create the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) where the member countries can discuss issues related to global warming and climate change and take steps to deal with these problems.
• It entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has been ratified by 197 countries and territories.
• The countries which has ratified the UNFCCC are called as Parties 
• Every year they meet to discuss climate change related issues. These meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).
• The first COP was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany.
• The 26th meeting was held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021, hence it is called COP 26.
• The next COP 27 will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in 2022.

India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 21 July 2022, on Mutual Recognition of Educational Qualifications including maritime education and a Framework agreement on the healthcare workforce.

• The agreement was signed by the Union Commerce secretary B. V. R. Subrahmanyam and Mr. James Bowler, Permanent Secretary, Department of International Trade, United Kingdom.
• These agreements aim to facilitate closer alignment on education between India and UK, enhance short-term bilateral mobility and ensure mutual recognition of qualifications.
• On a reciprocal basis, Indian Senior Secondary School/Pre-University Certificates will be considered suitable for entry into UK higher education institutions. 
• Similarly, the Bachelor degree, Master’s degree and Doctoral degree of India and the UK will also be considered equivalent to each other. Apart from encouraging student mobility, the mutual recognition of qualifications would also promote excellence in higher education through cooperation, academic and research exchanges.

What is the Difference between United Kingdom and Great Britain 

United Kingdom 

It is an empire consisting of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

 Great Britain :

 It includes England, Wales and Scotland.

The Queen of England is the Head of both United Kingdom / Britain

The capital of the United Kingdom/Great Britain is London.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Judicial Cooperation between India and Judicial Service Commission of the Republic of Maldives on 20 July 2022.  This is the eighth MoU signed between India and other countries in the field of Judicial Cooperation.

This MoU will provide a platform to tap the benefits of Information Technology for court digitization and can be a potential growth area for the IT companies and start-ups in both the countries.

 It will not only enable exchange of knowledge and technology in judicial and other legal areas between the two countries but will also further the objectives of “Neighbourhood First” policy of the government of India.

 Republic of Maldives 

Maldives is an archipelago consisting of around 1200 coral islands and atolls.

 It is part of South Asia and is situated in Indian Ocean 

The 8 degree channel separates Maldives from India.

Capital: Male

Currency: Rufiyaa

President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Zhang Ming has informed on 16 July 2022 that Iran will become the ninth member country of the SCO.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is all set to expand with Iran joining the group as its ninth member, while Belarus has applied for membership.

Important Facts:

• The decision to include Iran was made at last year's Dushanbe summit and Belarus has applied for its membership.

• Also Belarus has applied for membership of the SCO. Zhang said the decision to include Iran was taken at a conference held in Dushanbe last year.

• Belarus has applied to join the SCO.

• The SCO summit will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 15-16.

• Zhang said the SCO member states adopt a consensus mechanism to decide on the joining of a new member and that Belarus' application will be considered.

• This is the first expansion of the organization after India and Pakistan were included in the SCO in 2017.

• The SCO is headquartered in Beijing and is an eight-member security grouping comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. In which now Iran is going to join as the 9th member.

• The online SCO conference was organized in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• This is the first expansion of the SCO after India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017.

• The significance of this expansion is that it reflects the growing international influence of the SCO and also shows that the principles of the SCO Charter are being widely accepted.

• India will host the SCO summit next year, and Varanasi has been chosen as the first "tourism and cultural capital" of the SCO region.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):

• The SCO is a Eurasian economic, political and security-related organization of nine countries whose goal is to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.

• It was formed in the year 2001.

• The SCO Charter was signed in the year 2002 and came into force in the year 2003.

• It includes China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

• India and Pakistan had subscribed to it in 2017. SCO member states work to enhance mutual cooperation against terrorism and for regional peace.

• It is also the world's largest regional organization by population and the largest consumer market.

Origin of SCO:

• Before the formation of the SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.

• The Shanghai Five (1996) originated as a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks, conducted by the four former Soviet republics to ensure stability along the borders with China.

• The Shanghai Five were renamed the SCO after Uzbekistan joined the organization in 2001.

• On September 17, 2021, it was announced that Iran would accept full-time membership of the SCO.

Adani Port, led by Gautam Adani, has won the tender for the privatization of Haifa Port, one of Israel's largest ports. Haifa is a major trading center located in the Mediterranean.

• This historic decision was taken by the Government of Israel at a time when the I2U2 summit was in progress in Israel. Israel gave this port to an Indian Adani port, not to the company of America, China, Japan, France.

• Israel has three main ports: Haifa Ports, Asdod Ports and Eilat Ports.

• Adani Port had bid for 4.2 billion shekels ($1.18 billion) to privatize Haifa Port.

• Adani Port had made this bid in collaboration with its Israel partner company Gadot.

• Adani Port holds 70 per cent stake in this partnership, while Gadot holds 30 per cent. Gadot has an Israeli chemical and logistics company.

• It has strategic and historical importance for both the countries (India and Israel).

• Confirming the privatization, Haifa Port Chairman Eshel Armoni said the new group would operate the port until 2054.

• For the privatization of this port, the government of Israel had invited bids from companies from all over the world.

• Adani Port faced stiff competition from another port in Haifa, which was launched by Chinese company Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) only last year.

Ban on China's increasing interference in Israel's ports:

• In the year 2019, China gave a small port of Israel (New Haifa Ports) to China for just $290 million. In the present deal, the Chinese company also made a lot of additions, but Adani Port got success in this.

Advantages of this port:

• This port is expected to create such a trade triangle between India, UAE and Israel, which is expected to generate trade of 110 to 120 billion dollars between these countries by 2030.

• Also Adani Ports aims to become the world's largest port operator by 2030; Which now seems very close to the truth.

Importance of Haifa City for both India-Israel:

• The Israeli city of Haifa was liberated by Indian soldiers from the Ottoman Empire in the year 1918 during World War I.

• Most war historians describe the liberation of Haifa from the rule of the Ottoman Empire as the last great equestrian campaign.

Indian Army celebrates Haifa Day on 23 September: 

• The Indian Army observes Haifa Day every year on 23 September to pay tribute to its three brave cavalry regiments Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers.

The countries of the I2U2 (India, USA, Israel and UAE) group will work together to deal with the growing food security crisis in the world. Four-nation organization I2U2 organized a special discussion on this issue virtually on 14 July 2022.

• It also announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a chain of Integrated Food Parks across India.

• The group will also invest $330 million for the Hybrid Renewable Energy Project in Dwarka, Gujarat.

First meeting of I2U2:

• The I2U2 group during its first meeting focused on clean energy as well as the food security crisis and discussed innovative ways to ensure sustainable, more diverse food production and food delivery systems that better manage the global food crisis. can do.

• Emphasizing on food security initiatives, the i2U2 leaders said that the UAE is home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and will host COP28 in 2023.

• The agency will invest USD 2 billion to develop a chain of integrated food parks across India.

• It includes cutting-edge climate-smart technologies to prevent food spoilage, conserve fresh water and employ renewable energy sources.

• Israeli technology will be used in these food parks.

India's role in I2U2:

• India is playing an important role in the Indo-Pacific region. India is one of the largest, most important and strategically important countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes quads.

• India has had very good relations with the Gulf countries and Israel in West Asia for a very long time.

• India, America can help Israel to strengthen its ties in this region, in the same way India can play its role.

• More food grains can be produced by bringing India, Israel, UAE and America together. This will help in meeting the challenge of food security.

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the first meeting of the 'I2U2' group to be held digitally on July 14 2022. 

• Apart from the Indian Prime Minister, US President Joe Biden, Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will participate in the 'I2U2' group meeting.

• "The first meeting of the 'I2U2' group consisting of India, Israel, the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be held on July 14 through digital means," according to a statement from the ministry.

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, in this meeting the leaders of the group will discuss possible joint projects under the 'I2U2' framework and cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, including deepening economic ties in trade and investment in their region and beyond.

• The ministry said that these projects can serve as a 'model' for economic cooperation and will present opportunities for our businessmen and workers.

I2U2:

• According to the statement, the concept of the I2U2 group was presented at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries on October 18, 2021. Each of these countries have been holding regular Sherpa-level discussions on possible areas of cooperation.

• The I2U2 group aims to promote joint investment in six shared shared sectors such as water, energy, transport, space, health and food security.

  • Under this, emphasis has been laid on modernization of infrastructure, development of industries through low carbon, improving public health and promoting the development of important emerging sectors and green technology.

• In the context of the I2U2 meeting, the summit is expected to discuss the global food and energy crisis arising out of the Ukraine conflict.

The two day (7, 8 June 2022) G-20 foreign ministers meeting ended in Nusa Dua, Bali Indonesian on 8 July 2022, without issuing any final communique or a customary group photo.

The meeting failed to find a common ground on the issue of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how to deal with its global impacts. 

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in attendance despite objections from Western leaders. There was no meeting between him and the American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
• The division between the western countries highly critical of Russian invasion and Russia supported by China prevented the G-20 from tackling global problems as mentioned by the host Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi.
• She noted that poor and developing countries now face the brunt of fuel and grain shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine and said that the G-20 has a responsibility to step up and deal with the matter to ensure the rules-based global order remains relevant.
• The Foreign minister’s meeting was expected to prepare an agenda for the G-20 summit meeting to be held in Indonesia in October 2022.
• India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.  He met a number of foreign dignitaries on the sideline of the G20 foreign minister meeting.
• G-20 is a group of 19 countries and the European Union. The 19 member countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.
• India will be holding the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2022 and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023 for the first time.

The United Kingdom (UK) government has announced a special fully funded 75 scholarships for Indian students to study in the United Kingdom this year.

This special scholarship for Indian students has been announced to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.

The British government scholarship is being supported by companies like HSBC, Pearson India, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Sons and Duolingo. 

According to the British High Commission, this is the highest number of fully-funded scholarships given for the one-year master's programme to date.

United Kingdom 

It refers to a group of countries which is ruled by the monarch of England.

It includes England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Great Britain.  

Only difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain is that Northern Ireland is not included in Great Britain.

It means that Great Britain includes England, Wales, and Scotland.

The Head of the United Kingdom/Great Britain: Queen Elizabeth of England

Prime Minister of United Kingdom/Great Britain: Boris Johnson 

 Capital of United Kingdom/Great Britain: London 

T. Raja Kumar of Singapore has taken over the Presidency of the world’s top anti-money laundering organisation, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 1 July 2022.

Singapore has assumed the Presidency of the FATF for the next two years (July 2022-June 2024). 

T. Raja Kumar will be the FATF President for the next two years(July 2022-June 2024).

He succeeded Dr. Marcus Pleyer of Germany.

He has more than 35 years of leadership and operational experience in Singapore’s home ministry and police force.

FATF

The Financial Action Task Force was set up in 1988 on the recommendation of the Group of 7 Countries.

Function of FATF

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. 
• The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.
• The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets.
• India’s anti Money laundering law Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 is modelled on the standards of FATF.   
• Total member countries of FATF is at present 39.
• India became a member in 2010.

Headquarters: Paris, France 

 Important Full Form for Exam 

AML: Anti Money Laundering 

CFT: Combating Financing of Terrorism