The underlying issues of the fisheries dispute need to be addressed to harmonize relations between fishermen and the governments of India and Sri lanka.
Immediate actions should be taken to begin the phase out of trawling and identify other fishing practices and waters. The government of Tamil Nadu has been emphasizing deep sea fishing as part of an effort to diversify. It has announced the commencement of a smaller scheme to construct 171 tuna longliners.
Through incentives and persuasion, fishermen from the Palk Bay should be encouraged to switch over to deep sea fishing in the Indian exclusive economic zone and in international waters.
Q. The Palk Bay region has become a highly contested site between India and Sri Lanka in recent decades. Discuss the issues affecting internal and bilateral relations between the two countries.
SCO- Afghanistan Contact
[Also refer June Issue of CA magazine for detailed discussion on SCO]
In News
The meeting of SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group was held in Moscow on October 11, 2017.
This was the first meeting of the Group following the expansion of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in June 2017 with India becoming its full member.
Key Takeaways
During the meeting India shared its perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan, including security challenges posed by terrorism imposed from beyond its borders, the need to strengthen Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.
The emphasis has been given on the need for an Afghan led, Afghan owned and Afghan controlled national peace and reconciliation in an environment free of terror and violence.
It was mutually agreed that continued assistance for socio-economic development based on priorities of the people of Afghanistan and ensuring greater connectivity and regional integration for Afghanistan should be a high priority.
India conveyed its readiness to work closely with the SCO member States in efforts to bring peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan.
Q) In the light of India gaining membership of SCO, critically analyze the importance of this event and the challenges ahead India, especially in context of SCO-India.
The 8th IBSA trilateral ministerial commission meeting was organized at Durban.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the three countries signed an agreement to renew and ensure the continuity of their contributions to the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) which is managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
