CURRENT AFFAIRS

FOR SSB

INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS- PROBLEM

AREAS
CHINAS REJECTION OF MACMOHAN LINE.
ASYLUM TO DALAI LAMA IN MAR 1959 AFTER TIBETAN
REVOLT PUT DOWN BRUTALLY BY CHINA
ISSUE OF SIKKIM. Part of India since 1975
CHINA CLAIMING WHOLE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
AS PART OF TIBET(90000 sq Kms)
BLOCKING FUNDS FOR DEVP OF AP FROM ADB
TRYING TO BLOCK EXEMPTION/WAIVER TO INDIA AT
MEETING OF NUCLEAR SUPPLIER GROUP.
DENYING VISA TO AP RESIDENTS ON GROUNDS OF
BEING CHINESE CITIZENS.
ISSUING VISA TO J & K PEOPLE AS STAPLE VISA & NOT
STAMPED ON REASONS OF DISPUTED TERRITORY

POSITIVE POINTS
INCREASING TRADE IN EXCESS OF $60 BILLION.
NO MAJOR CLASH BETWEEN ARMED FORCES.
JOINT MILITARY EXs CONDUCTED BY BOTH.
INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS, & GOODWILL VISIT BY SENIOR
DEFENCE OFFRS CHINA.
INDIAN TOURISTS VISITING CHINA.
INDIA A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF SERVICES IN BANKING,
INSURANCE & SOFTWARE ENGRS.
SHARING INFO ON MELTING OF GLACIERS IN TIBET

VISIT OF CHINESE PRESIDENT

17-19 Sep Xi Jinping, of China visited India & met PM Modi touted
as a breaking point in relationships.
At the end of the day, not much was achieved. $30 billion dollars
have been committed by the Chinese delegation. $20 billion of public
money would go to a fast train corridor and a new strategic road. $6.8
billion would further be spent on two industrial parks in Gujarat and
Maharashtra. 24 Chinese companies would buy products
(pharmaceuticals, farming) for $3.6 billion.
Unfortunately on the diplomatic field as well, on the border issue, no
progress at all was registered. Both leaders ended the talks on
separate communiqus A rather strong way to express to the world
their lack of agreement mainly due to the Chinese intrusion in
Eastern Ladakh of 1000 PLA troops.
. Therefore, while 1500 Indian soldiers were dispatched on the spot,
Modi asked Xi to get his troops away Xi acquiesced.

PM MODIS VISIT TO CHINA

List of agreements signed by India and China:
Protocol for establishment of consulates in Chengdu and Chennai
Cooperation in vocational education and skill development and setting
up of Mahatma Gandhi institute on skill development in India
Consultative mechanism on cooperation in trade negotiations
Cooperation between Foreign Ministry & Central Committee of
Communist Party of China (CCCPC)
Action plan between national railway admin of China & Indian Railways
MOU on education exchange programme
Cooperation in the fields of mining and minerals
Space cooperation outline
Safety regulations on importing Indian rapeseed meal
Broadcasting agreement between CCTV and Doordarshan
Agreement for cooperation in the field of tourism

MOU on establishing India-China think tanks forum

MOU between NITI Aayog and Development Research Centre
MOU on cooperation in earthquake science and engineering
MOU on cooperation in ocean sciences, climate change and cryosphere
MOU on cooperation in geo sciences
MOU on establishment states/provincial leaders' forum
Coop between states & municipalities -India-China state leaders forum
Agreement on the establishment of sister states Sichuan and Karnataka
Agreement on establishment of sister cities between Chennai &
Chongqing
Agreement on establishment of sister cities between Hyderabad &
Gingdao
Agreement on the establishment of sister cities Aurangabad and
Dunhuang
MOU between ICCR and Fudan University for establishment of centre for
Gandhian studies
MOU for the establishment of Yoga college in Kumning

INDO-PAK RELATIONS
PAK CREATED AS PART OF 2 NATION THEORY IN
1947. EXPECTING J & K TO MERGE WITH PAK WITH
65% MUSLIMS. SENT IN IRREGULARS FOR INVASION.
MAHARAJA HARI SINGH SIGNED INSTRUMENT OF
ACCESSION ON 26 OCT 1947. INDIAN ARMY
DESPATCHED & HALTED THE ADVANCE OF PAK.
KASHMIR ISSUE REFERRED TO SECURITY COUNCIL
WHICH PASSED FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IN 1949
Cease fire between Indian & Pak forces.
Withdrawal of Pak forces from occupied territory.
India to reduce forces in J & K - & conduct plebiscite

UN TPS POSITIONED TO MONITOR CEASEFIRE. NO WITHDRAWAL

BY PAK. NO PLEBISCITE.
APR 1965 PAK INTRUSION IN RANN OF KUTCH & ATTACK ON INDIA
IN SEP RESULTED IN 22 DAY WAR
USSR BROKERED CEASEFIRE. TASHKENT DECLARATION SIGNED
BETWEEN PM LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI & GEN YAHYA KHAN.
1971- DENIAL OF PRIME MINISTERSHIP TO SHEIKH MUJIBUR
REHMAN RESULTED IN UPRISING IN EAST PAK & CONSEQUENT
LIBERATION OF BANGLA DESH ON 16 DEC 1971 & 95000 PAK

PRISONERS OF WAR.
1972 SIMLA AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIRA GANDHI & ZULFIKAR
ALI BHUTTO. POINTS AS UNDER:ALL DISPUTES TO BE SOLVED BILATERALLY.
ALL PRISONERS OF WAR TO BE RETURNED.
POSITIONS TO BE MARKED & MAPS EXCHANGED SHOWING
LOCATION OF FORCES.

1984-LOC not marked beyond NJ9842. Indian forces

occupied Soltoro Ridge in Siachin. Pak objected.
Siachin highest battlefield on Earth. We dominate
Pak positions. Spend 4 crores/day. High physical
casualties(temp -30 to -50c).
Militancy in J & K since 1989 with large scale
infiltration of foreign fighters. Groups active are
JKLF, HM, HUM, LET, JeM.
1999- Kargil, Pak occupied Indian positions vacated
during winter resulting bin armed conflict.
13 Dec 2001- Parliament attack & consequent mob
of army- Op Parakaram. Operations s called off
due US pressure.
2002-elections in J & K, PDP+ Cong govt formed.
2003- CBMs, Lahore Bus, Samjhauta Exp, recall
staff at Embassies, restoration of Flts, Cease Fire

INDIAS APPROACH TO SOLVE KASHMIR ISSUE

Increase people to people contact, bus diplomacy,
rail, sports cultural exch.
Strengthen J & K economy.
Integration of Kashmiris with Indian culture.
Employment opportunities for youth in armed &
para military forces.
Strengthen political Institutions like Panchayat Raj.
3 pronged strategy by blocking Infiltration, reviewing
troop deployment, & Electronic surveillance.

BORDER CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

Hostilities started after PM Narendra Modi invited his Pakistani
PM Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration. But relations have
deteriorated since then. In August, India cancelled talks with
Pakistan after accusing it of interfering in its internal affairs. And
last month, PM Modi, in his first speech at the UN, said he
wanted peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an
"appropriate atmosphere".
Tensions have not been as high since 2013 when months of
clashes left more than 20 Indian and Pakistani soldiers dead.
Nearly as many civilians, most of them on the Pakistani side,
were also killed.
Reasons - effort by Pakistan to precipitate tension for both
domestic and international reasons", Pakistani fire was to
provide cover for Pakistan-based militants to cross into Indianheld territory prior to J & K elections.

ARTICLE 370
This article specifies that except for Defence, Foreign Affairs,
Communications and ancillary matters (matters specified in the
instrument of accession) the Indian Parliament needs the State
Govts concurrence for applying all other laws. Thus the state's
residents lived under a separate set of laws, including those
related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental
rights, as compared to other Indians.
Similar protections exist in tribal areas of India in Himachal
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
and Nagaland. However, it is only for the state of Jammu and
Kashmir that the accession of the state to India is still a matter of
dispute between India and Pakistan still on the agenda of the UN
Security Council and where the Govt of India vide 1974 IndiraSheikh accord committed itself to keeping the relationship
between the Union and J & K within the ambit of this article.

ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT-1958

AFSPA in an area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an
officer of the armed forces has powers to : After giving due
warning, Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it
causes death, against the person who is acting against law
or order in the disturbed area for the maint of public order,
Destroy any arms dump, hide-outs, prepared or fortified
position or shelter or training camp from which armed
attacks are made by the armed volunteers or armed gangs
or absconders wanted for any offence. To arrest without a
warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offences or
is reasonably suspected of having done so and may use
force if needed for the arrest. To enter and search any
premise in order to make such arrests, or to recover any
person wrongfully restrained or any arms, ammunition or
explosive substances and seize it.

Stop and search any vehicle or vessel reasonably

suspected to be carrying such person or weapons.
Any person arrested and taken into custody under this Act
shall be made over to the officer in charge of the nearest
police station with the least possible delay, together with a
report of the circumstances the arrest.
Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. There
can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding
against anyone acting under that law. Nor is the
government's judgment on why an area is found to be
disturbed subject to judicial review.
Protection of persons acting in good faith under this Act
from prosecution, suit or other legal proceedings, except
with the sanction of the Central Govt, in exercise of the
powers conferred by this Act.

INDO BANGLA RELATIONS

Bangladesh shares 3500kms IB with India and is her
largest trading partner within SAARC (over $5bn. in 201213), & has a key strategic position for India's connectivity
to SE Asia, & China.
In the last five years, many treaties were signed to
encourage trade and economic cooperation, provide
easier connectivity, people-to-people contact, and most
importantly, addressed a number of security issues.
In September 2011, the two sides agreed to resolve the
enclave issue by swapping 162 enclaves, giving
residents a choice of nationality. India will receive 51
enclaves of 7,110 acres, while Bangladesh will get 111
enclaves of 17,149 acres. This has now been ratified by
parliament.

Teesta water treaty. An agreement on Teesta water was

ready to be signed during the Indian PM's visit to Dhaka in
Sep 2011, but the deal fell through when the chief minister
of West Bengal Govt, refused to agree.
Indo-BD trade increased from about $3b to over $5b in last
5 years. BD export to India has increased to bring the trade
balance from 1:10 down to 1:8.5 over the same period.
There is, a huge untapped market for Bangladeshi products
in India for our entrepreneurs . There can be greater Indian
investment in industrial and infrastructure development in
BD. Our coop in the energy sector needs to extend with our
stakes in hydel projects in Sikkim (Upper Teesta), Bhutan
and Nepal. We can revive Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas
pipeline project .

Increased trade and investment will need greater

connectivity. Govts of India and China are keen to develop
Kolkata-Kunming highway that will connect Bangladesh
and Myanmar with SE Asia. An economic boon for us.
Similarly, once Akhaura-Agartala railway line is completed,
Chittagong will have direct railway connection with the
whole of India's north-east. Kolkata-Dhaka steamer
service, as existed in pre-1947 can be restored.
Both Govts had agreed not to give space to insurgents and
terrorist outfits on their respective soils, work closely to
curb smuggling and human trafficking, Border killing; the
victims are often ordinary people living in border areas.We
need to increase investment in border areas to create more
jobs. Issuance of Special Border Pass for people living
within 10 km of the border to ensure safety, as well as deter
illegal crossing of the border.

INDO-SRILANKA RELATIONS
India abstained from a U.S.-sponsored resolution on
human rights in Sri Lanka at the United Nations. India
had supported similar resolutions in 2012 and 2013, but
abstained after the new resolution appeared much
tougher this time, calling for an independent international
investigation of alleged war crimes committed by Sri
Lankan forces in their war against LTTE.
Indias relationship with Sri Lanka has suffered, mostly
due to internal frictions between Tamil interests and
National interests . The decision to abstain on the vote is
an assertive move by New Delhi and has drawn criticism
from Tamil leaders who continue to push for a strong
Indian stance on Sri Lankas human rights abuses.

PM Manmohan Singh did not attend 2013 CHOGM

held in Colombo under pressure from Tamil Nadu CM.
Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid attended.
Mahinda Sirisena was declared the winner after
receiving 51.28% votes compared to Rajapaksa's
47.58%. The result was generally seen as shock. When
Rajapaksa called the election in Nov 2014 he had
looked certain to win. Rajapaksas had a close
relationship which China, which funded several major
infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, and a gradual
dismissal of western govts, who put pressure on the
administration to carry out formal investigations into
human rights abuses that took place in the final stages
of the conflict.

His successor has promised to rebalance relations

with India, Pakistan and China, and there are hopes
that the change of government will also help improve
relations with the western world and international
organisations. The new administration has said that a
special unit will be established to investigate large
scale corruption during the Rajapaksa regime

SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION(SAARC)

SAARC is an economic
and geopolitical org of 8 countries of
South Asia. The SAARC Secretariat is based in Kathmandu,
Nepal. Raised in 1980, the first summit was held in Dhaka on 8
Dec 1985, when the organisation was established by the Govts
of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, & Sri
Lanka. Since then Afghanistan, and several observer members
have been included.
SAARC aim to promote welfare economics, self-reliance among
the countries of South Asia, and promote sociocultural development in the region. It has developed external
relations & permanent diplomatic relations with the EU,
the UN (as observer), and other multilateral entities. The official
meetings of the leaders of each nation are held annually &
foreign ministers meet twice annually. The 18th SAARC Summit
was held in Kathmandu from 25-27 November 2014.

SAARC
A brief meeting between India's PM Narendra Modi and Navaz
Sharif resulted in all eight countries clinching a last-minute deal to
create a regional electricity grid.
Despite a free TRADE pact in force since 2006, high tariffs and
curbs on movement limit TRADE among South Asian nations to
just five percent of their total trade. The grouping's failure to foster
closer ties over the past three decades has left the way open for
China to step in, by helping to build ports and roads.
China has observer status & promised $30 billion for road building
in South Asia over five years, and suggested increasing trade to
$150 billion over the same period. Modi announced an easier
regime for business and medical visas and promised to lower
India's trade surplus.
Pakistan, which still refused to sign two other planned pacts to
boost cross border road and rail traffic, was increasingly sidelined
at the summit.

INDO-USA RELATIONS
Defence Framework Agreement Renewed for 10 yrs &
DefenceTech & Trade Initiative operationalized with focus on codevelopment & co-production in India for India & global market.
--The first 4 Raven mini UAVs, mobile hybrid power source,
Chem/Bio protection gear, roll on roll off Intelligence &
Surveillance modules for C-130J aircraft.
Nuclear Logjam Broken Signed in 2005,with NSG waiver in
2008, deal was stalled on Liability clause. Now it will be easier
for companies to invest in Nuclear power sector.
Clean Energy Boost $2-bn for renewable energy
investment & in $1 bn loans for small & medium businesses.
Message to China Convergence onissue of East Asia facing
strategy initiatives. US, India & other Asia-Pacific countries ton
work to streghthen regional ties, sending China a strong
message.

Funds Flow of $4 Bn for new initiatives to boost trade/investment

ties, jobs in India via Exim Bank .
Make Babudom Accountable Creation of a high level India strategic
& commercial dialogue to monitor progress on pacts & vision
statements. Will hold bureaucracy accountable on both sides.
Tracking Terror Both to increase coop. Similar to the Sept
statement, Pak based anti-India terror groups named in joint
statement. To share cyber threat info.
Tech Edge MOUs with state Govts to make Vizag, Allahabad &
Ajmer as smart cities
US assistance to create the next IIT in goa, recreating the success of
the kanpur IIT; a new national defence university in india, as well as
bringing 1000 US professors from the top 100 universities each year
to teach in indian universities.
On the business end, Boeing recently signed a deal in Bangalore to
build part of the mainframe of the chinook helicopters in india & some
components for C-17 aircraft. Sources said GE is opening a new
manufacture and skilling-integrated plant in Pune in Nov.

Enhance US FDI & FII into India through a dedicated IndoUS investment initiative.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene(WASH) alliance for 500 Indian
cities involving USAID as well as US business & civil
society(Gates foundation)
Tourist VISA on arrival & e-travel auth for US tourists in
India.
India to join Global Entry programme to facilitate easy
entry of Indians to US.
Stronger partnership against terror. Joint & concerted
efforts for dismantling safe havens & disrupting financial &
tactical support of D company, Haqqani network, JEM &
LET

NUCLEAR LIABILITY ACT

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 is a highly
debated and controversial Act was passed parliament to provide
a civil liability for nuclear damage and prompt compensation to
the victims of a nuclear incident through a no fault liability to the
operator, appointment of Claims Commissioner, establishment of
Nuclear Damage Claims Commission
This was required to activate the 2008 Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear
agreement as the US nuclear reactor mfg companies require
the liability bill to get insurance in their home state. After this Act
was passed, India became a member of the international
convention on liability in the civil nuclear arena.
Atomic Energy Act 1962 was amended allowing private
investment in the Indian nuclear power program. The issue is
sensitive in India, where a gas leak in a Union Carbide factory in
Bhopal city killed about 20,000 people . The Act came into force
from 11 November 2011.

VISIT OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

Signed billion dollar deals in nuclear power, oil and defence.
Russia to build 12 nuclear reactors, & signed a 10-year crude
supply deal with Essar Oil.
India agreed to assemble 400 Russian multi-role helicopters a
year. The Ka-226T twin-engined helicopter deal to upgrade a
military that relies on outdated Soviet equipment and build
India's defence production capacity. They decided to move
ahead with long-delayed projects to develop a joint 5 th
generation fighter jet and a multi-role transport aircraft, in
addition to the chopper deal.
Other strategic deals covered oil supply, infrastructure and an
increase in direct diamond sales to India by Russia.
Putin's visited as sliding oil price and an economy hit by
Western sanctions over its annexation of Crimea and support for
an uprising in eastern Ukraine.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAND ACQUISITION BILL

COMPENSATIONS UP TO 4 TIMES MARKET VALUE IN RURAL AREAS AND 2

TIMES MARKET VALUE IN URBAN AREAS.
- BILL APPLIES RETROSPECTIVELY TO CASES WHERE NO LAND
ACQUISITION AWARD HAS BEEN MADE.
- NO LAND CAN BE ACQUIRED IN SCHEDULED AREAS WITHOUT CONSENT
OF GRAM SABHAS.
-NO ONE SHALL BE DISPOSSESSED UNTIL AND UNLESS ALL PAYMENTS
ARE MADE & ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR RESETTLEMENT AND
REHABILITATION PREPARED.
-COMPENSATION TO THOSE WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON THE LAND BEING
ACQUIRED FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
-IN CASES WHERE PPP PROJECTS ARE INVOLVED OR ACQUISITION IS
FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES, THE BILL REQUIRES THE CONSENT OF NO
LESS THAN 70 PER CENT AND 80 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY (IN BOTH
CASES) OF THOSE WHOSE LAND IS TO BE ACQUIRED.

To safeguard food security and prevent arbitrary acquisition, Bill directs

States to limit the area under cultivation that can be acquired.
-In case land remains unutilised after acquisition, the new Bill empowers
states to return the land either to the owner or to the State Land Bank.
-No income tax shall be levied and no stamp duty shall be charged on any
amount that accrues to an individual as a result of the provisions of the new
law.
-If acquired land is sold to a 3rd party for a higher price than 40% of
appreciated land value (or profit) will be shared with the original owners.
-Land taken from SC or ST will be provided land equivalent to land acquired
or two and a half acres, whichever is lower (this is higher than in the case of
non-SC/ST affected families) -Where the affected families of SC & ST are
relocated outside the district then they shall be paid an additional 25%
rehabilitation and resettlement benefits in monetary terms along with a onetime entitlement of fifty thousand rupees.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CLAUSES OF THE NEW LAND

ACQUISITION AMENDMENT BILL:

Pros: -The existing Act kept 13 frequently used acts for

Central Govt Projects out of the purview, applicable for
national highways, metro rail, atomic energy projects,
electricity related projects, etc. The present amendments
bring all those exempted from the 13 acts under the purview of
this Act for the purpose of compensation, rehabilitation and
resettlement. Therefore, the amendment benefits farmers and
affected families.
Amended Act would allow a fast track process for def & def
production, rural infrastructure including elec affordable
housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure projects
including projects taken up under PPP mode where land
continues to be with the government.
Multi-crop irrigated land can also be acquired forpurposes like
national security, def, rural infrastructure including elec,
industrial corridors and building social infrastructure.

Cons:
- The original Act, 2013 had a consent clause for acquiring
land industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure,
affordable housing and defence. But after the central
government changed, it exempted these five categories from
the rule of acquiring land in the Bill tabled on February 24.
- Social assessment which was mandatory before acquiring
land has also been exempted in the Bill tabled in the Lok
Sabha.
- As per the existing law, land will be given back to the
farmer if it remains unused for five years. The proposed
amendment says the land will be returned only if the
specified project on the land fails to complete the deadline.
- Bureaucrats will be punished if guilty of violating any
clause of existing Land Act. However, the new clause makes
government sanction necessary to prosecute civil servants.

LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE)

Affected-20 states covering 200 districts & 2000 PS.
Genesis. Started in Naxalbari(Siliguri) in 1967. Led by
Charu Majumdar & Kanu Sanyal. Peasants, landless
workers & weaker sections of society against feudal
landlords & money lenders who committed gross
irregularities against them.
State govt crushed the movement with heavy hand &
killed/arrested the leaders.
Re emerged as PWG in AP & Orissa, MCC in Bihar & WB.
Naxal support base among landless, Harijans, Tribals &
agri labour & continues to rise.

BATTLEGROUND VITALS
AFFECTED
AREAS

NAXAL
INFLUENCE

2014

76

106

2012

95

141

2009

112

195

2007

115

194

2005

69

165

DISTRICTS TARGETED FOR EXPANSION IN

2005 - 34

REASONS FOR GROWING OF THE

MOVEMENT
Lack of development. Failure to provide basic
necessities-elec, water, roads, schools etc
Poor economic policies of govt.
Non implementation of land reforms.
Loosing faith in the Judiciary.
Poor governance.
Non implementation & monitoring of social
reforms.
Lack of coord between centre & states.

WHY NAXALS HAVE HOLD IN FOREST AREAS

Reds work on combining fear with build-up that the fight is for land
Want enforcement of Constitution 5th & 9th schedules. As per 5th
schedule, Governors must form advisory councils of tribals to run
reserve forest areas. No such council formed in any state.
9th schedule provides for land ceiling so that land can be
redistributed to landless peasants. Land reforms not implemented
in any state.
Lack of knowledge of security forces about terrain & language.
SF not keeping up with Red tactics.

STEPS TAKEN TO CHECK GROWTH

Developing neglected areas.
Providing job opportunities to the youth.
Withdrawing encroachment cases against tribals.
Opening channels for discussion.
Deploying 92000 troops from CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB
& Naga Armed Police against approx 10-15000
Naxals. Approx 50000 troops in Chhattisgarh.
Recruiting retired officers as advisors for training
in CI Ops.
Sharing Int & launching joint operations.
Providing latest wpns, eqpt & comn systems.

NEW STRATEGY COUNTER RED THREAT

Enhanced deployment of central forces in counter Left
Wing areas. Newly raise battalions to be stationed in
Maoist strongholds, particularly Bastar.
Stepped up coord among states. Persuasive talks with
states where leadership has divergent views on tackling
Naxals, particularly Bihar & Jharkhand.
Creation of block level social sector services hubs
comprising schools, hospitals & vocational training
centres in 23 worst hit districts.
Fortification of 250 additional police stations in affected
areas over & above the 400 police stations now covered
under the scheme.

INDIAS MARS ORBITOR MISSION

MOM took 322 days to go from Earth to Mars after its launch on 05
Nov 2013 through ISROs PSLV C25 from Sriharikota & put in Earth
orbit. Six orbit raising maneuvers performed in next 11 days.
Trans-Mars injection took the craft beyond Earths orbit. On 22 Sep
2014 it entered Mars gravitational sphere, liquid epogee motor fired for
24 minutes to slow down MOM & put into Martian orbit at 7.27 am.
MISSION SUCCESSFUL.
ACHIEVEMENTS
India first Asian country & 4th space power after USA, Europe & Russia
to send craft to Mars. First time an agency succeeded with its first
Mars mission. Only 21 out of 51 missions have succeeded.
It is the cheapest Mars mission to date costing only $74 million ro
ughly 10% of NASAs Mars mission Maven that entered orbit on
Sunday.
MOM carries 5 instruments, including colour camera & methane sensor
to study the Martian surface & atmosphere to determine whether life
ever existed the Earth like planet

2014 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was shared, in two
equal parts, between Kailash Satyarthi and Malala
Yousafzai] "for their struggle against the suppression
of children and young people and for the right of all
children to education"]Satyarthi is from India, the
seventh person from his country to win
a Nobel\Prize and the second to win the Peace
Prize after Mother Teresa, while Yousafzai is a Muslim
from Pakistan, the second Nobel Prize winner from
her country after Abdus Salam, the forty-seventh
woman to win the Nobel Prize, and at the age of 17
years, the youngest winner of a Nobel Prize in any
field.

LOKPAL & LOKAYUKAT

Lokpal to investigate cases of corruption against the Central Govt
employees. Lokayukat to probe cases against state Govt
employees. Every state to have its own Lokayukat within 365
days of passing bill on Lokpal by parliament. Defence forces
exempted as they are covered by their own laws. Judges of
Supreme Court & High Courts have also been exempted.
Composition of Lokpal 9 members as under:Chairman may be Chief Justice of India.
4 members with Judicial background- retired Judges of High Court
or supreme court.
4 members from non judicial background having 25 years of
experience in their own field.
Members will not be affiliated to any political party. 50% members
to be from SC/ST/Minorities & women
Lokpal will probe cases upto 7 years old.

CAUSES OF CORRUPTION
Lack of transparency in Governance. Govt is the biggest
buyer & seller but only a few people, the Mafia control all the
tender system etc
Nexus between politicians & business houses.
Watchdog to check corruption have no teeth, only
investigates & recommends action, no power to prosecute.
Delays in the judicial system.
Procedural delays to prosecute ministers & bureaucrats.
Widening gap between rich & poor.
Increase in materialistic demands of people.
Increasing gap in pay/perks of Govt servants & MNC emps.
Discretionary quota system with MPs & senior bureaucrats.

STEPS TO CURB CORRUPTION

Election Reforms- Requirement of funding.
Taxation System - Streamline structure & make it
transparent & enforceable.
Liberal & contemporary laws.
Reduce role of state in peoples life.
Roll back discretionary powers of ministers &
bureaucrats.
Public Sector to be run in a professional manner.
Police reforms.
Blacklist corrupt businessmen.
Transparency in Govt.
Strict & swift punishment.

MONEY LAUNDERING(ML)
Refers to the conversion of illegally obtained money to make it appear
to originatefrom a legitimate source.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA
I.

Has led to undermining of the financial system, criminalisation of

society, & loss of revenue leading to lesser funds for development.

II. Comes from smuggling , drug trafficking , fraud, fake currency,

trans-national crime, tax evasion, & misappropriation of Govt funds.
III. Volume of ML annually is estimated between 2-3% of GDP.
STEPS TO CONTROL
Anti ML programme required to prevent, detect & report ML activities.
Empower regulators, police, sharing info with other countries, report
suspicious activities.
GOI has promulgated a ML Act 2002 & establishment of Financial
Intelligence Unit.
Addl steps include tax reforms, new regulation for NGOs/NPOs,
prioritising coop with international agencies & proper enforcement.

GLOBAL WARMING
Temp of Earth increasing due to burning of fossil
fuels(coal,oil & gases). Gases produced are called
Greenhouse gases. Heat from Sunrays coming from the
sun is partially absorbed & rest of it is reflected back. This
reflected energy is blocked by the greenhouse gases
resulting in heating of the earth.
Effects of Global Warming
Faster melting of glaciers resulting in reducing water in
rivers during summers & rising of sea levels affecting
many countries.
Due to intense heat more frequent rains & floods.
Effect on agriculture sector & food scarcity.
Increase in diseases like malaria etc.
Bio diversity will be effected.

STEPS TAKEN BY INDIA TO CHECK GLOBAL WARMING

Introduction of CNG fuel. Metro trains in major cities.

Increased dependence on Nuclear Energy. Signing of IndoUS Nuclear deal. Orders placed for 4 nuclear plants.
Afforestation & protection of trees & jungles.
Replacing normal bulbs by CFL & LED lighting systems.
Oil from Jatropha plants mixed with petrol & diesel at
refineries to reduce pollution.
Kyoto Protocal
Attended by 180 countries in Japan. Commits 38 developed
countries to cut emissions by 5.2% at 1990 level between 20082012. EU to cut 8%, USA 7%, Japan 6%. India & China
exempted due to development of economy. India has ratified & is
taking measures to reduce emissions.

DRDO PROJECTS & TIMELINE

530 ongoing projects worth over Rs48000 crores making everything

from mosquito repellent to Nuclear missiles & fighters. Rs1.74 lakh
crores worth products given to armed forces in 5 decades.

Annual budget Rs15283 cr, 52 Labs & 7800 scientists. Many crucial
projects suffer from huge cost & time overruns. At 5-7% of defence
budget, much less than China 20% & USA 12%.
No enhancement of manpower since 2001 & ever increasing brain
drain.
Missiles Inducted- Prithvi(150-350Km), Agni-1(700Km), Agni-2(2000Km),
Agni-3(3000Kms) ballistic missiles, Brahmos(290Km) supersonic cruise
missile, Akash SAM(25Km).
Being Tested Agni-5(over 5000Km), Nirbhay cruise missile(1000Km),
K15 SLBM(750Km), Nag ATGM(4Km), 70 Km SAM Joint project with
Israel

DELAYED PROJECTS
TEJAS LCA, sanctioned 1983, original cost Rs560cr, revised
development cost Rs17269cr, total cost over Rs55000cr if IAF inducts
120 fighters, & Navy 50(each Tejas Rs220cr). Final operational clearance
only by Dec 2015, Tejas mark 2 only after 2021-22.
ARJUN MBT Sanctioned 1974, Army reluctantly inducted 124 Arjun Mk1, but Mk 2 with 89 upgrades still being tested.
MEDIUM RANGE SAM FOR IAF Sanctioned in Feb 2009 for Rs10076cr,
delayed till Aug 2016.
LONG RANGE SAM FOR NAVY Sanctioned in Dec 2005, for Rs2606cr,
delayed till Dec 2015.
FUTURE PROJECTS: Advance Medium 5th gen combat aircraft.
Futuristic Main Battle Tank. Airborne Warning & Control
Systems(AWACS). Stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
Medium Altitude long endurance UAV. Quick reaction SAM systems.
Active electronically scanned array RADARS.

CYBER WARFARE
Refers to attacks on national info systems by state or non state actors to disrupt functions in the
economic, governance,security, & social spheres.
Makes India vulnerable to:Disruption of critical communication infrastructure.
Disruption of services. Crippling of financial systems.
Disabling websites & networks. Malicious software & Trojans for future exploitation
Espionage & terrorist activities.
Indias State of preparedness
CERT-in(Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) was established in 2002-03 to create
awareness on cyber threats, devise counter measures & coord crises mgt efforts. It is now under
NTRO.
NTRO- National Technical Research Org responsible for protecting critical info infrastructure.
Cyber cell set up at the National Security Council Secretariat.
Comprehensive cyber security policy unveiled by the Department of Electronics & Info
Tech(DEITY) in Jul 2013. It has set up a National Critical Infrastructure Protection Centre(NCIPC)
as a nodal agency under the NTRO.

malware, trojans

INDIAS PREPAREDNESS
Existing Strength of security experts in all Govt Depts 556
Strength of experts in other countries - China
1.25 lac
USA
- 91080
Russia 7300
According to 2013 CERT-IN data 2500 Indian Websites are
defaced or hacked every month. An overwhelming percentage
of all attacks occur in the .in domain whose servers are in
India.
Govt department are using pirated software. Dongles are
made by Chinese mfrs suspected of spying in the past. There
is no cyber security culture in India. India needs to have stand
alone Networks for official comn. We should also build our
own software rather than using foreign ones.

NTRO
The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO),
originally known as the National Technical Facilities
Organisation (NTFO), is a highly specialised technical
intelligence gathering agency. While the agency does not
affect the working of technical wings of various intelligence
agencies, including those of the Indian Armed Forces, it acts
as a super-feeder agency for providing technical intelligence
to other agencies on internal and external security. The
agency is under the control of India's external intelligence
agency, Research & Analysis Wing.
The agency develops technology capabilities in aviation and
remote sensing, data gathering and processing, cyber
security, cryptology systems, strategic hardware and
software development and strategic monitoring

DROP IN WORLD OIL PRICES

GLOBAL OIL PRICES AT 6 YEAR LOW OF $45 FROM
$111 PER BARREL IN JUN 2014 & MAY EVEN DROP TO
$40 A BARREL BEFORE RISING AGAIN.
REASON- SAUDI ARABIA INITIATED PRICE WAR TO
RETAIN MARKET SHARE AGAINST USA & RUSSIA.
DOUBLING OF USAS DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
WEAKENING OF CHINA & EUROPEAN ECONOMIES.
ADVANTAGE FOR INDIA AS IMPORT BILL WILL COME
DOWN, & SUBSIDY BILL WILL BE SMALLER. WILL
HELP LOWER INFLATION. THIS SHOULD BENEFIT
CONSUMERS ALSO.
NEGATIVE IMPACT WILL BE DUE TO GLOBAL
ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN & WILL IMPACT DEMAND FOR
INDIAN EXPORTS.

UKRAINE CRISES
Was part of erstwhile USSR. Got Indep in 1991.
Russian Black Sea naval base at Savastopol in Crimea on
lease to Russia till 2010 & further extended to 2042 in
return for cheap gas.
Elections in 2004 & 2010 rigged in favour of pro Russian
Victor Yanukovich. He arrested PM Yulia Tymoshenko for
abuse of power & pro west leanings & jailed him in Oct
2011.
President then abandoned an agreement for closer ties
with Europe & adopted a resolution for closer ties with
Russia resulting in large scale protests & occupation of
Govt buildings .People demanded integration with EU.

As protests spread, Yanukovich fled to Russia in Feb

2014.This angered the Russians in Ukraine.
On 20 Feb 2014, people killed during firing by Govt
troops & sparked major demonstrations across Ukraine.
Majority Russian Crimea(60%) saw counter protests.
Crimean parliament approved a resolution to join Russia
& asked for a referendum on 16 Mar. Elections were
held & Crimea became a Russian State.
Russia tried to pacify protestors by offering to reduce
gas prices by 1/3 & buying debts of Ukraine.
USA & NATO declared the referendum illegal & slapped
sanctions on Russia. They also expelled Russia from
G8.

This resulted in protests in other parts of Ukraine but

also led Pro-Russian armed groups to take over parts of
Eastern Ukraine in April 2014. Ukrainian Govt launched
anti-terrorist operations after two provinces of Donetsk &
Lugansk declared themselves indep on 07 Apr.
On 25 May Petro Poroshenko won presidential election.
On 14 Jun seperatists shot down a Ukrainian transport
plane killing 49 people. On 26 Jun Poroshenko signed
an accord with EU pulling Ukraine out of Russias sphere
of influence.
Fighting is going on between Western backed Ukraine &
Russian backed rebels. Russia recently said it wants
$1.95 billion as part payment for gas supplied by Russia.

. On 17 Jul a Malaysian Airlines Flt was shot down in Eastern Ukraine killing
all 283pax+15 crew on board. Donetsk rebels may have shot down the
plane resulting in EU & US increasing sanctions on Russia.
On 07 Aug Russia retaliated banning food imports from the west. Then on
22 Aug Ukraine alleges direct invasion after Russia sent aid convoys to
Luhansk. Poroshenko met President Putin in Minsk, then on 03 Sep Putin
proposed a 7 point peace plan & finally on 05 Sep separatists signed a
ceasefire deal with Ukraine in Minsk in Belarus.
The deal struck on 12 February in Minsk by the leaders of Germany,
France, Ukraine and Russia is similar to the old one, but tries to tackle
some of its shortcomings.
Cost of Conflict:- 5700+ killed, over one million forced to flee their
homes, $ 6 million spent per day & $ 8 billion required to rebuild
Eastern Ukraine.The ceasefire was not completely implemented &
fighting continues
In early Mar 2015 the International Monetary Fund has signed off on a
$17.5bn (11.8bn) four-year aid programme for Ukraine, the second attempt
in less than a year to help the country avoid bankruptcy.
The programme includes an immediate payment of $5bn for general budget
support to help stabilise Ukraines listing economy.

ARAB ISRAELI PROBLEM

Israel has been locked in conflict with the Palestinians and its
Arab neighbours over ownership of land considered holy by
Jews, Christians and Muslims since its creation in 1948.
The division of the former British Mandate of Palestine and
the creation of the State of Israel in the years after the end of
World War II was the culmination of the Zionist movement,
whose aim was a homeland for Jews hitherto scattered all
over the world.
After the Nazi Holocaust, pressure grew for the international
recognition of a Jewish state, and in 1948 Israel declared its
independence following a UN vote to partition Palestine.

POST WORLD WAR II

Much of the history of the area since that time has been one
of conflict between Israel on one side and Palestinians represented by the Palestine Liberation Organisation - and
Israel's Arab neighbours, on the other. Hundreds of
thousands of Palestinian Arabs were displaced in the
fighting in 1948, during which Israel's Arab neighbours came
to the aid of the Arab Higher Committee in Palestine. Israel
lost one percent of its population in the fighting, which
ended in a series of uneasy armistices.
Israel has developed from an agrarian state run along
collectivist lines into a hi-tech economy in the past 60 years.
It has absorbed Jewish immigrants from Europe, the rest of
the Middle East, North America and, most recently, the
former Soviet Union and Ethiopia along the way.

Its political life has nonetheless been dominated by

the conflict with its Arab neighbours, including fullscale regional wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973, and
many smaller-scale conflicts including the 1956
invasion of Egypt and the Lebanon wars of 1982
and 2006.
Relations with the Palestinians have been the key
factor in foreign and security policy. The
Palestinians in the West Bank and eastern
Jerusalem have lived under Israeli occupation since
1967. The settlements that Israel has built in the
West Bank are home to nearly 500,000 people and
are deemed to be illegal under international law,
although Israel disputes this.

Gaza conflict
In 1979 Egypt and Israel signed a peace agreement, but it
wasn't until the early 1990s, after years of an uprising known
as the intifada, that a peace process began with the
Palestinians. Despite the handover of Gaza and parts of the
West Bank to Palestinian control, a final agreement has yet
to be reached.
Israel evacuated its settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and
withdrew its forces, ending almost four decades of military
occupation. However, after the militant Islamic group Hamas
seized control of Gaza in June 2007, Israel intensified its
economic blockade of the Strip. In 2008 and in 2014 it
launched major military assaults on Gaza to halt crossborder rocket attacks.
The main stumbling blocks include the status of Jerusalem
and the fate of Palestinian refugees and Jewish settlements.

GAZA STRIP
Gaza has an annual population growth rate of
2.91% (2014 est.), the 13th highest in the world,
and is over crowded. There is a limited capability
to construct new homes and facilities for this
growth. The territory is 41 kms (25 mi) long, and
from 6 to 12 kms (3.7 to 7.5 mi) wide, with a total
area of 365 square kms (141 sq mi). As of
2014, Palestinians of the Gaza Strip numbered
around 1.82 million people. The large Palestinian
refugee population makes it among the most
densely populated parts of the world. Sunni
Muslims make up the predominant part of the
Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

DAVID VS GOLIATH
From-To

Place

Palestinians

Israelis

2000-2008

All

4834

482

Dec 2008- Jan 2009

Gaza Attack 1

1397

Nov 2012

Gaza Attack 2

171

Jan 2009-Jul 14

Between Attacks

594

41

Jul-Aug 2014

Gaza attack 3

1777

68

Total Deaths

2000-Jul 2014

8800

600+

UNREST IN NORTH AFRICA & ASIA

Arab Spring- term for revolutionary wave of demos, protests,
riots, civil wars in Arab world since 18 Dec 2010 due to
oppressive policies of leaders since long.
By Dec 2013 rulers forced out from power in Tunisia, Egypt(2
times), Libya, & Yemen. Uprisings in Bahrain & Syria. Maj
protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco & Sudan.
Importance of West Asia: Oldest civilisations developed. Jews, Muslims & Christians.
In 1948 Israel was born out of Palestine leading to serious
wars with its neighbours.
Suez canal joining 3 continents. Important lifeline for Egypt
sea lanes connecting Europe & Asia.

CAUSES OF UNREST
Rulers in seat for long durations 30 years
Opposition parties not allowed to have their say
as freedom of speech curtailed.
Induction of sons & relatives in running Govt.
Very high rate of unemployment.
Corruption & poverty added to miseries.
People looking for alternatives to US & Western
policies.
Brutal police forces.
Women have little freedom & say in politics.

EFFECTS OF THE UNREST

Region has 65% of world oil.
Wars between Arabs & Israelis backed by
USA.
Iraq a big casualty of US intervention.
High oil prices hindering economic
recovery.
Other states are on tenterhooks due to
increasing turmoil.

SYRIAN CRISES
Arab Spring reached Syria in Mar 2011 resulting in civil war.
President Assad belongs to Alawaite sect of Shia Muslim. 74%
of Syria is Sunni but have no say in Governance.
Use of Chemical weapons by regime in Mar 2013, prompted
strong reaction in terms of military intervention but opposed by
Russia & China. Russia made a deal with Syria to allow global
inspectors to destroy its chemical weapons.
As per UN estimates death toll of 191000 in Aug 2014
including 30000 combatants. Another 30000 are believed
missing presumably kidnapped. UN estimates approx 2.9
million have fled the country & million others are living in poor
conditions. Reports of human rights violations. There are 10.8
million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance.

SYRIAN CRISES
UN investigators said there was an estimated 10,000
to 15,000 foreign fighters with various groups battling
Syrian President Bashar al-Assads troops.
More and more Syrian rebels are defecting to join the
ultra-hardline Islamic State insurgency, said UN human
rights investigators yesterday, in what they described
as a Syrian-isation of the al-Qaeda offshoot.
Brazilian chief investigator Paulo Pinheiro said the
Islamic State - formerly known as the Islamic State in
Iraq and the Levant, ISIL or Isis - was undergoing a
Syrianisation.

CRISES IN IRAQ
The problems with Iraq started with the ill conceived
invasion in 2003 by US and British forces. As soon as US took
control of Iraq, the first things they did was to disband the Sunni
elements of Saddam Hussains army & removed all Sunni govt
employees. They disbanded the Baath Party which mainly
consisted of Sunnis.
Iraq is a Sunni majority country, mainly in the North and NE of
the country. The discriminatory action by the US of removing
Sunni soldiers gave a fully trained group of men to the rebel force.
They readily formed themselves into an opposition army.
On 12 Feb 2011 coinciding with the Arab Spring, Iraq saw its first
protests & hundreds died with large amount of property destroyed.
Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki was weakened and promised not to
stand for elections in 2014. Sunni rebels of Syria and Iraq joined
hands and formed into ISIS or ISIL( Islamic State of Iraq &
Syria/Levant).

ISIS effectively used out-of-work Sunni bureaucrats to form

an effective governing org & with discharged soldiers
created a ruthless army
They quickly monetized their force using brutal methods.
Money was squeezed out of people by extortion, abduction
and murder. Syrian oil wells were taken over and the oil was
sold back to Syria at prices fixed by ISIS. US arms and
uniforms were snatched from the Iraqi Army.
Fully prepared, the ISIS started a well planned advance in
early June and took over the oil town of Mosul. The Iraqi
Army over which US had spent millions of dollars just
evaporated. The soldiers removed their uniforms and
disappeared making it easy for rebels to advance towards
other areas.
As a result 12 lac Iraqis have got displaced & another 10 lac
living in refugee camps.

Eventually ISIS aims to expand their reach to the Mediterranean

on the one side and the Persian Gulf on the other. Kurdistan may
consolidate its territories which were part of Syria and Iraq.
India has extensive interests in this area. 70% of our oil comes
from here. Bulk of our trade goes through adjoining Suez Canal.
Nearly 10 lakhs Indians live and work in these countries sending
back crores of rupees. Indias role is two-fold. Indians in the war
zone should be protected & evacuated if need be. But it may not
be wise for all Indians to come back home. Jobs have to be
guarded and we ought to have a stake in a new dispensation.
India would have to come out the winner in the end.
Reports of impending massacre of Yazidis in Iraq prompted US
air strikes against ISIS & it is likely to increase its involvement as
the situation worsens in Iraq & Syria. Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia,Jordan & UAE have joined forces with USA in the fight
against ISIS in Syria & Iraq.

Foreign fighters are continuing to pour into Syria and Iraq at the rate
of 1,000 a month in a global movement of jihadists that exceeds
even that into Afghanistan in the 1980s, new assessments from the
United Nations and US intelligence have shown.
As the Islamic State continues to make advances in Syria and Iraq
despite more than 600 coalition air strikes, the total number of
foreign fighters is now thought to have topped 15,000, according to
a UN Security Council estimate.
It has been estimated that that strikes in Syria alone have killed
about 460 members of the Islamic State, but the organisation
continues to grow, its finances swelled by a reported $1m a day in
oil smuggling revenues alone. Bolstering Isiss treasury is up to
$45m in money from kidnapping for ransom, the UN report finds.
Isis now controls a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria that is home
to between five and six million people, a population the size of
Finlands.

INDIA_-IRAN RELATIONS
During cold war period, relations between INDIA and
the erstwhile Imperial Sate of Iran suffered due to
different political interestsnon-aligned India fostered
strong military links with the Soviet Union while Iran
enjoyed close ties with the United States.
Following the 1979 revolution, relations between Iran
and India strengthened momentarily. However, Iran's
continued support for Pakistan and India's close
relations with Iraq during the Iran -Iraq War impeded
further development of IndoIranian ties. Relations
between the two countries warmed in the 1990s when
India collaborated with Iran to support the
Afghan Northern Alliance against the Taliban.

Although we share some common strategic interests we

differ significantly on key foreign policy issues. India has
expressed strong opposition against Iran's nuclear
programme and whilst both the nations continue to oppose
the Taliban, India supports the presence of NATO forces in
Afghanistan unlike Iran.
Iran is the second largest supplier of crude oil to India,
supplying more than 425,000 barrels of oil per day, and
consequently India is one of the largest foreign investors in
Iran's oil and gas industry.
In 2011, the US$12 billion annual oil trade between India
and Iran was halted due to economic sanctions against
Iran, forcing the Indian oil ministry to pay off the debt
through a banking system through Turkey.

Major world powers struck an interim deal

with Iran on November 24 giving Tehran an
estimated $7 billion in sanctions relief in return for
steps to restrain Iranian nuclear activities. The
deal called for negotiation of a full agreement
within a year.
Easing of sanctions began in late January.
Despite the decline in strategic and military links,
the two nations continue to maintain strong
cultural and economic ties. Lucknow in Uttar
Pradesh, India, continues to be a major centre
of Shia culture and Persian study in South Asia

IRANS NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

Iran reached an agreement with the 5Ps
+Germany to cut down its Nuclear activities in
return for $7Billion relief in sanctions.
Signed between Iran, USA, Russia, China, UK
France & Germany at Geneva.
Deal is for 6 months till final agreement is reached.
Iran has agreed to stop enrichment of Uranium to
the level of 5% required for weapon production &
allowed UN Inspectors to visit Nuclear plants.

AFGHANISTAN

India has strong strategic interest in Afghanistan, much

more than Pakistans who has been busy destroying the
cohesion of the Afghan society.
India faces many security challenges. Since the USSR
invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, USA promoted, protected
and aided Pakistan to raise and support several militant
groups such as LET, HUM, Harkat-ul-Ansar, etc, which also
target India. Attacks on India by Taliban increased after the
fall of the Soviets in 1989. India does not want Afghanistan to
fall in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists again and
become a safe haven for terrorists.
India's interest in Afghanistan is to be able to protect its
interests well beyond South Asia. India understands its
strategic interest and is silently and diplomatically working
to safeguard it. Afghanistan is now part of SAARC.

The opening of 215-km Delaram-Zaranj highway is

Indias greatest contribution to Afghan economy.
& opens up a link between a deep sea port at
Chabahar in Iran to Afghanistan's main ring road
highway system which connects Kabul, Kandhar,
Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz. Now goods from
Afghanistan's main cities can be brought overland
to the border with Iran. .
Mineral rich, virtually undeveloped, except for
natural gas. Has rich deposits of coal, copper,
chromites, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore,
salt, emeralds. The iron ore deposits near Bamiyan
are one of the largest in the world with an estimated
1.8 to 2 billion tonnes of high-grade ore, enough for
steel plant of 10MT per annum for a century.

India wants to retain Afghanistan as a friendly country

because from there it can monitor the activities of Pakistan.
Developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan greatly influence
not only Indias national security, particularly internal, but
also its social fabric.
Its is a gateway to Central Asia. It is a conduit for transfer
of gas and oil from Iran and Central Asia. Our presence in is
necessary to keep a diplomatic physical presence close to
Iran and importantly to gather intelligence. Indian presence
in Afghanistan is important to check the Chinese influence
increasing in Afghanistan
Ending months of vote related tension, on 21Sep Ashraf
Ghani, a Pashtun was named president & his rival Abdullah
Abdullah CEO with equal share in Security, economic &
Indep Institutions & in the National Security Council. This
could lead to greater stability & unity in Afghanistan.

CRISES IN YEMEN
Houthis are Rebels who follow Shia Islam sect of ZAIDISM. Zaidis are
1/3 of population. They ruled North Yemen till 1962. Houthis take their
name from HUSSEIN BADR AL DIN AL HOUTHI who led the groups
first 2004 revolt for autonomy & ro protect Zaidism from Sunnis
Yemeni army killed Houthi. By 2009 Saudis joined Yemeni army to
attack Saada.
In 2011 Houthis joined revolts to topple then Prez Saleh also a Zaidi.
They also opposed Mansour Hadis 2014 plans for Yemen to be a
federation of 6 regions. Saleh battled Houthis while president, but he
allied with them in comeback bid. Saleh men in key military services
helped Houthis fight Haidi.
In Sep 2014 Houthis seized capital Sanaa. Prez Mansour Ali resigned,
fled to Aden, declared it de facto capital & sought Saudi help in
March.

Conflict is between Houthis & Yemeni Govt backed by Saudi

led USA supported coalition of 10 states called Operation
Decisive Storm. Coalition comprises 5 Gulf Arab States,
Jordan Egypt, Morocco & Sudan.
Iran backs but does not control Houthis & it is accused of
backing Houthis by Gulf Arab States financially & militarily.
WHY UNSTABLE YEMEN WORRIES
Yemen sits on the Bab Al Mandab strait a waterway linking
Red Sea with gulf of Aden, through which most of world oil
shipments pass.
Yemen is home to Al Qaida.
Conflict seen as struggle between Shia Iran & Sunni Saudi
Arabia.
USA & Al Qaida find themselves on the same side as Houthis.

OPERATION RAHAT
Operation Rahat, the name given to the evacuation process in Yemen,
was orchestrated from the tiny African nation of Djibouti, which lies on
the other side of the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, and houses foreign
militaries taking part in anti-piracy operations off the African coast.
As Indian Navy, IAF and Air India pooled in resources to begin
evacuation, Indian diplomats in the capital Sana'a led by Ambassador
Amrit Lugun and back in New Delhi managed to negotiate a window
where Saudi-led bombings ceased so as to allow Indian aircraft to land
and take off. All this, happened while it was not even clear whether the
airport was under the Yemeni govt, its military or the Houthi rebels.
Nonetheless, India's High Commission in Sana'a, which was still fully
functional, managed to organise the reportedly-damaged Sana'a airport
to accept Air India Airbus A321 and the Air Force's C-17 Globemaster
planes to operate in and out for nearly four days, ferrying Indians and
foreigners alike to Djibouti. In the end, more than 4,640 people have
been evacuated, including 960 foreigners from 41 other countries.

While the air evacuation took place, Indian Navy's vessels INS
Sumitra, INS Mumbai and others docked near the southern city of Aden,
which was under attack. Other Yemeni cities such as Al Hudaydah
provided alternatives to Aden, where at times Indian Navy ships found
hard to dock due to heavy bombardment. According to some accounts
from the ground, the Houthi rebels were in general giving safe passage to
Indians who were looking to leave the country.
India's Minister of State for External Affairs, General V K Singh, a former
Indian Army chief himself travelled to both Djibouti and Sana'a to oversee
the operations. Never has an Indian minister of Singh's political rank gone
into an active war zone to conduct such a diplomatic and military
manoeuvre.

WEST AFRICA EBOLA VIRUS OUTBREAK

The first human outbreaks occurred in 1976, one in northern
Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Central Africa:
and the other, in southern Sudan (now South Sudan). The virus
is named after the Ebola River, where the virus was first
recognized.
Ebola virus disease(EVD) re-emerged in Guinea in Dec 2013,
leading to an epidemic in West Africa. The outbreak was not
detected until March 2014, after which it spread to Liberia, Sierra
Leone, Nigeria & Mali. The outbreak is caused by the ZAIRE
EBOLA VIRUS, KNOWN SIMPLY AS THE EBOLA VIRUS (EBOV).
Symptoms start 2 days-3 weeks after contracting the virus, with
a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches.
Typically, vomiting, diarrhoea and rash follow, along with
decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. Affected people
may begin to bleed both within the body and externally.

EBOLA VIRUS
Fruit bats are believed to carry and spread the virus without
being affected. The virus may be acquired upon contact
with blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal. Spreading
through the air has not been documented in the natural
environment. Once human infection occurs, the disease
may spread between people, as well. Male survivors may be
able to transmit the disease via semen for nearly two
months.
On 8 August, WHO formally designated the outbreak as
a public health emergency of international concern.
Latest figures reported by World Health Organization (WHO)
states a total 22500+ cases and 10000+ deaths .

WHAT IS BOKO HARAM

Boko Haram is a militant Islamic group that has existed for
more than a decade in Nigeria, but it has become
increasingly violent since an internal leadership change in
2009.
The group's targets have expanded and its violent attacks
have become more frequent, Govt officials, police and
military forces are among its most regular targets, it has
also attacked aUN buildings as well as multiple religious and
public institutions.
The disturbing trend of killing or kidnapping civilians -including young school children -- has happened frequently
since 2011 and the practice came under international
scrutiny when there were reports in mid-April 2014 that the
group kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls and threatened
to marry them off to jihadis or sell them as sex slaves.
The group has stated that it believes the government is
corrupt and feels that the country, which has large Christian
and Muslim populations, should be ruled under strictIslamic
law.

In early Jan 2015 there was a battle between Nigerian Security Forces
and Boko Haram in the NE town of Baga, where the estimated death toll
varies widely, from as few as 150 to as many as 2,000. The dangers of the
fighting have kept reporters and international aid groups away, with the
United Nations collecting its data from interviews with refugees after
they flee to neighbouring countries. Campbell said that Boko Haram has
also targeted cell phone towers in the region, to cut off the
communication grid.
"If reports that the town was largely razed to the ground and that
hundreds or even as many as 2,000 civilians were killed are true, this
marks a disturbing and bloody escalation of Boko Haram's on going
onslaught against the civilian population,"
Boko Haram is not known to have any formal connections to Al Qaeda
and, more specifically, its Yemen-based affiliate AQAP, which claimed
responsibility for the latest attacks in Paris however Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau congratulated AQAP's work in the Paris attacks in a
video posted online.
Boko Haram has been responsible for at least 5,778 deaths since April
2014 as per estimates.

PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG

Hong Kong was a British colony, but was later given to China in 1997. In
being given back, they made an agreement that Hong Kong would
function mostly independently, but follow certain rules. Because of its
history, Hong Kong people generally do not consider themselves "the
same" as mainland China: they have different culture, people, language,
and government.
HK's judicial and political systems would be governed by the Hong Kong
People for 50 years (Until 2047) HK will use the same currency as before
(HK$), and their citizens will continue to carry HK passports. Beijing will
protect their borders, etc. It hasn't even been 20 years and they are seeing
the autonomy of the political system already compromised. Right now,
students are protesting due to Beijing recently declaring only 'preapproved' candidates are eligible for Hong Kong's next election. They are
basically getting loud, and protesting to show they will fight to maintain
the freedoms they still have.
They're angered that China has restricted growth of democracy, and they
desire a continued true democracy, not a masked communist system.

THANK
YOU