5th May 2021
India-UK Virtual Summit: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Recently, a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was adopted at the virtual summit held between India and United Kingdom.
- India and the UK enjoy long standing friendly ties and share a Strategic Partnershipunderpinned by mutual commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
- An ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ was adopted at the Summit to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
- The two leaders discussed the Covid19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines.
- The two Prime Ministers launched an 'Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP)' to unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world.
- Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience.
- Both Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and G7.
- India and the UK launched a comprehensive partnership on migration and mobilitythat will facilitate greater opportunities for the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.
- India lifted restrictions to enable British fruit producers to export their produce to the country and improved access to medical devices through the acceptance of the “UK Certificates of Free Sale”.
Significance of India-UK Virtual Summit
- The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health.
- As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains.
- The enhanced trade partnership between India and UK will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries.
- The UK is India's second largest partner in research and innovation collaborations.
- A new India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership’ was announced that aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa.
- The Enhanced Trade Partnership will see Britain open up its fisheries sector to more Indian players, facilitate more opportunities for nurses, recognise Indian seafarers’ certificates and enter into a joint dialogue on a social security agreement.
Opportunity under 2030 Vision
- Connecting our countries and people: It will enhance high level & ministerial contacts to further improve bilateral institutional mechanisms for an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral, regional and global issues with focus on the Commonwealth countries.
- It will promote and uphold a rules-based international system and work together to promote reformed multilateralism to make international organizations more effective in addressing current global challenges.
- It is important to promote Track 1.5 and Track 2 Dialogues between our think tanks and academic institutions on various aspects of our strategic relations.
- It will enhance India-UK engagement within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) framework as UK is a Dialogue Partner in IORA.
- Migration and mobility: The UK commits to a joint dialogue with India, including relevant stakeholder participation, for mutual exchanges and sharing of information concerning the possibility of signing a Social Security Agreement.
- Enhance cooperation under the bilateral Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties to facilitate speedy conclusion of extradition requests from both sides.
- Consular cooperation: Strengthen the India-UK Consular Dialogue to promote closer cooperation in consular matters and to resolve long-running or complex consular cases.
- Establish a working mechanism on cooperation in consular crises, including consular crises in third countries and on best practice for crisis preparedness and crisis management.
- Education, research and innovation and enterprise: Enhance development of direct linkages and partnerships between higher educational institutions of both the countries.
Ayush-64
Recently, the polyherbal drug AYUSH-64 which was originally developed in 1980 for treatment of malaria, has now been repurposed for Covid 19.
Ayush-64
- It is an Ayurvedic formulation, developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
- It was originally developed in 1980 for the management of Malaria.
- The in-silico study done on Ayush 64 showed that 35 out of 36 of its Phyto-constituents have high binding affinity against COVID 19 virus.
- Ayush 64 has been identified as a potential adjunct to standard care in the management of asymptomatic, mild and moderate COVID 19 to improve the clinical recovery and quality of life.
Effectiveness of Ayush 64
- Its efficacy was scientifically studied in asymptomatic, mild and moderate diseasewithout risk factors for poor outcome and those not requiring emergency interventions or hospitalization.
- The patients of mild to moderate COVID-19 cases showing initial symptoms like fever, malaise, body ache, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, headache, cough etc. and of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 can start taking Ayush 64 within 7 days of diagnosis.
- It can be taken as a standalone treatment in mild cases under the supervision of an Ayurvedic physician, provided there is availability of appropriate referral facilities.
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
- It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of AYUSH.
- It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine.
- The research activities of the Council include Medicinal Plant Research, Drug Standardization, Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation and Tribal Health Care Research Programme.
Asiatic Lion tested for COVID-19
In a first in the country, eight Asiatic lions in Hyderabad’s Nehru Zoological Park (NZP)have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Asiatic Lion
- There are only several hundred Asiatic lions in the wild, and they only live in the Gir Forest, India.
- Asian lions are slightly smaller than African lions.
- Unlike African lions, the males do not tend to live with the females of their pride unless they’re mating or have a large kill.
- Asian lions used to range from Turkey, across Asia, to eastern India, but the rise of firearms across the world meant that they were hunted to near-extinction for sport.
- The most distinguishing characteristic of the Asiatic lion is the longitudinal fold of skin that runs along its belly which is absent in African lions.
- It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- It is listed as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Biodegradable Yoga Mat to tackle Water Hyacinth Menace
Recently, a biodegradable and compostable yoga mat developed from water hyacinthby six young girls from the fishing community in Assam could turn this water plant from a nuisance to wealth.
Biodegradable Yoga Mat
- The mat called ‘Moorhen Yoga Mat’ will soon be introduced to the world market as a unique product.
- The innovation by the girls could contribute significantly towards the environmental conservation and sustainability of Deepor Beel and also ensure local livelihood.
- The intervention was triggered through an initiative by North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR).
- It involve the entire women community associated with a collective called ‘Simang’ meaning dream, led by the 6 girls to create wealth from water hyacinth plants.
- The mat is a hand-woven, 100% biodegradable and 100 % compostable mat to be used for doing Yoga was ideated as a means to provide multiple ecological and social benefits.
- The mat developed through fiber processing and technological interventions could improve the aquatic ecosystem of the wetland through removal of water hyacinth.
- The ‘Moorhen Yoga mat’ named after Kam Sorai (Purple moorhen, a resident bird of Deepor Beel Wildlife sanctuary).
Water Hyacinth
- Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a large aquatic plant native to the Amazon basin.
- Its thick, waxy, oval-shaped leaves are 4-8 inches across and branch out from the center of the plant on modified stems that may rise as much as 1 meter above the water surface.
- Water hyacinth produces thousands of seeds each year, which can remain viable for up to 30 years.
- Water hyacinth is able to grow in a wide variety of water bodies from lakes, streams, ponds, waterways, ditches, and backwater areas, although it prefers, and grows most prolifically, in nutrient-enriched waters.
Purple Moorhen
- The purple moorhen or purple swamphen (Porphyrio Porphiriyo) is an aquatic bird found in marshy lands and swamps throughout the country.
- In Assam, it is popularly known as ‘Kaamsorai’.
- Moorhen known to be a shy bird, immediately hides in bushes even at the slightest disturbance.
Deepor Beel
- It is a perennial freshwater lake located 10 km south-west of Guwahati (Assam).
- It is the only wetland in Assam designated as a site of importance for “conservation and sustainable use” under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
- It a riverine wetland in Kamrup district in the lower Brahmaputra valley.
- It is also a grooming site for bird enthusiasts as it sustains over 200 species of birds, including about 70 species of migratory birds.
Oath by Chief Minister
Recently, Mamata Banerjee takes oath as Bengal Chief Minister.
Appointments of Chief Minister
- The Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister.
- Article 164 only says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor.
- In accordance with the convections of the parliamentary system of government, the governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister.
- When no party has a clear majority in the assembly, then the governor may exercise his personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister.
- The governor usually appoints the leader of the largest party or coalition in the assembly as the Chief Minister and asks him to seek a vote of confidence in the House within a month.
- The Constitution does not require that a person must prove his majority in the legislative assembly before he is appointed as the Chief Minister.
- A person who is not a member of the state legislature can be appointed as Chief Minister for six months, within which time, he should be elected to the state legislature, failing which he ceases to be the Chief Minister.
Oath by Chief Minister
- Before the Chief Minister enters his office, the governor administers to him the oaths of office and secrecy.
- In his oath of office, the Chief Minister swears:
- to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India,
- to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India,
- to faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of his office, and
- to do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
Term of Chief Minister
- The term of the Chief Minister is not fixed and he holds office during the pleasure of the governor.
- It does not imply that the governor can dismiss him at any time.
- He cannot be dismissed by the governor as long as he enjoys the majority support in the legislative assembly.
Supreme Court quashes reservation law for Maratha community
Recently, the Supreme Court has quashed the Maharashtra law granting reservation to the Maratha community in admissions and government jobs in the state.
Arguments of Supreme Court
- It made it clear in its judgment that people from the Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backward community to bring them within the reserved category.
- The court refused to refer the 1992 Mandal judgment (Sawhney judgment), setting a 50 per cent cap on reservation, to a larger bench for reconsideration.
- The court ruled that the state government had not made any extraordinary circumstance to grant such reservation.
- The bench also upheld the 102nd constitutional amendment saying it does not violate the basic structure of the constitution.
Powers 102nd Amendment gives
- The amendment that gave powers to the President to notify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC).
- The 102nd amendment deals with the constitutional status of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
- The power of the Parliament to change the SEBC list was not to take away the powers of the state, but was fulfilling a long-held demand for constitutional status to the National Commission on Backward Classes (NCBC).
- It allows the commission to appropriately examine implementation of reservation given to OBCs in services and education.
Cinco de Mayo
Recently, with parties, parades and Mexican cuisine and music, Cinco de Mayo was celebrated on 5th May.
Cinco de Mayo
- It is a day that celebrates Mexican national pride, marking Mexico’s military victory on its soil over French forces in 1862.
- Mexico was then led by President Benito Juárez (1806-1872), a revered democratic reformer and opponent of foreign intervention in his country.
- In Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually with speeches, parades, and by reenacting episodes of the 1862 battle.
- The city today houses a museum dedicated to the battle, and the actual battlefield is maintained as a park.
- In the 1860s, Mexico had been severely weakened by lengthy wars over the previous two decades i.e. the Mexican-American War (1846-48) and the internal Reform War (1858-61).
- By April 1862, Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France decided to establish an empire in Mexican territories with the support of the local landowning classes.
Battle of Puebla
- In late 1861, a French fleet attacked the Mexican port of Veracruz on the country’s eastern coast and landed a large army that drove the Juárez government into retreat.
- The French encountered stiff resistance from Mexican forces as they moved from Veracruz to the capital Mexico City.
- At Puebla, over 100 km ahead of Mexico City, a poorly equipped and outnumbered Mexican force decisively defeated the advancing French troops on May 5, 1862.
- The event marked a significant political victory of Mexican republicans and President Juárez, and helped establish a sense of national unity in the country.
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