Maldives is key partner for India and two countries aspire to turn their cooperation into modern partnership: EAM Dr Jaishankar

The highlights:

Strategic Partnership:

• India-Maldives Cooperation:The cooperation between India and the Maldives has evolved beyond traditional roles, with Maldives emerging as a significant partner in the Indian Ocean region.

Projects Inaugurated:

• Addu Reclamation Project: Aimed at enhancing tourism and economic development in the Addu region.
• Addu Shore Protection Project: Focuses on safeguarding the shoreline, crucial for environmental and infrastructural stability.

Investment and Objectives:

• Investment Amount: India has invested approximately 80 million USD in the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Projects.
• Economic Impact: The projects are designed to stimulate regional growth, create employment opportunities, foster entrepreneurship, and boost trade.

Overall Regional Development:

• Total Investment:India has invested around 220 million USD in Addu over recent years, reflecting the significant importance India places on regional development in the Maldives.

Strategic and Developmental Goals:

• Sustainability and Regional Hub: The aim is to develop Addu as a sustainable regional hub, integrating economic and tourism growth for long-term benefits.

The Major Points Related to India and Maldives Relations

Historical Ties: 

• The diplomatic and political relationship between India and the Maldives dates back to 1965 when the British relinquished control of the islands.
• Since the democratic transition in 2008, India has invested years in building deep relationships with various stakeholders in the Maldives, including political, military, business, and civil society figures.

Significance of Maldives for India:

• Trade Route: Situated along crucial maritime trade routes between the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca, the Maldives acts as a “toll gate” for nearly half of India’s external trade and 80% of its energy imports.
• Counterbalancing China: Maldives presents an opportunity for India to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, fostering regional balance of power.
• Economic partnership: India is one of the biggest investors and tourism markets for the Maldives, with significant trade and infrastructure projects underway.
• Defence and Security Cooperation: Since 1988, defence and security has been a major area of cooperation between India and Maldives. Estimates suggest that almost 70 per cent of Maldives’ defence training is done by India — either on the islands or in India’s elite military academies.

Significance of India for Maldives:

• Essential Commodities: India supplies Maldives with its everyday essentials: rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, poultry, medicines and life-saving drugs. 
• Education: Every year, Maldivian students come to Indian higher educational institutions. 
• Economic dependence: Of the Rs 50 crore total trade between India and Maldives in 2022, Rs 49 crore was India’s exports to Maldives. India emerged as Maldives’ second largest trade partner in 2022.
• Disaster Relief Assistance:

1. When a tsunami struck the islands in 2004, India was the first to send in help.
2. In 2014 Male had a drinking water crisis as the major desalination plant broke down, India overnight airlifted drinking water to the islands. 
3. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India sent essential medicines, masks, gloves, PPE kits and vaccines for the island country.

 Major Challenges Related to India Maldives Relations

• India-Out Campaign: In recent years, Maldivian politics has witnessed a campaign centered on an "India Out" platform, branding Indian presence as a threat to Maldivian sovereignty.
  • Key campaign points include the demand for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.
  • Current Maldives’ President has set a deadline of 15^thMarch, 2024, for the withdrawal of Indian troops.
• Tourism Strain: The tourism scenario in the Maldives has gained significant focus due to a diplomatic dispute arising from disparaging comments directed at the Indian Prime Minister after his promotional visit to the Lakshadweep islands.
  • Consequently, a boycott Maldives trend has been floating social media as a response to the controversy.
• China’s Rising Influence in Maldives:Chinese is becoming increasingly visible in the Maldives. The Maldives'' proximity to key shipping lanes and India makes it strategically important for China, potentially fueling its interest in deeper engagement.
  • It has caused unease in India and could lead to a regional geopolitical contest.

WCD Minister Annpurna Devi calls for Centre-State collaboration to enhance welfare programs

The highlights:

• Meeting: First national-level video conference with State Ministers and UT Administrators.
• Focus: Collaboration between Centre and States for women and child welfare.
• Flagship Programmes:
  • Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
  • Mission Vatsalya
  • Mission Shakti
• Participation: 21 out of 28 State Ministers.
• Objective: Review ongoing programmes and plan future strategies.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0

• Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme.
• It seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity. 

Objectives:

• To prepare a comprehensive strategy to address the challenge of malnutrition, the Supplementary Nutrition Programme under Anganwadi Services.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Poshan Abhiyaan have been aligned under Poshan 2.0 as an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme.
• The objectives of Poshan 2.0 are as follows:
  • To contribute to human capital development of the country.
  • Address challenges of malnutrition.
  • Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing.
  • Address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.
  • AYUSH systems shall be integrated under Poshan 2.0 for wellness and nourishment.

About Mission Vatsalya:

• Mission Vatsalya Scheme is a roadmap to achieve development and child protection priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It lays emphasis on child rights, advocacy and awareness along with strengthening of the juvenile justice care and protection system with the motto to ''leave no child behind''.

Objectives:

• To secure a healthy and happy childhood for each and every child in the country.
• To ensure opportunities to enable them to discover their full potential and assist them in flourishing in all respects, in a sustained manner, foster a sensitive, supportive and synchronized ecosystem for development of children, assist States and UTs in delivering the mandate of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It promotes family-based non-institutional care of children in difficult circumstances based on the principle of institutionalization of children as a measure of last resort.

Mission Shakti

• ''Mission Shakti'' was launched during the 15^th Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Mission Shakti is an integrated women empowerment programme is launched as an umbrella scheme for the safety, security and empowerment of women for implementation.

The Umbrella Scheme of Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes namely:

• "Sambal" for safety and security of women and "Samarthya" for empowerment of women.
• Under ''Samarthya'' sub- scheme, a new component i.e. Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW) has been included with the aim to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women at the Central, State/ UT and District levels for creating an environment in which women are able to realize their full potential.

Dr. Virendra Kumar to administer Mass Pledge on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan 

(Source:PIB)

• Current Status: Implemented in all districts of India from August 2023.
• Annual Event: Mass pledge-taking ceremony on 12th August 2024, marking the fifth year of NMBA.
• Theme for 2024: ‘Viksit Bharat ka Mantra, Bharat ho Nashe se Swatantra’.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

• The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in the year 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, has emerged as a pioneering initiative to combat the rampant issue of substance abuse in India.
• This transformative campaign, spearheaded by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, stands as a beacon of hope in the endeavor to create a society free from the clutches of addiction.
• Through a comprehensive approach that incorporates awareness programs, counseling services, and capacity building, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan strives to empower individuals to break free from the vicious cycle of substance dependency.

Features of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

• Awareness Generation Programs: The abhiyaan places great emphasis on conducting widespread awareness programs to educate individuals about the perils of substance abuse. These programs are designed to reach people of all age groups and social backgrounds.
• Targeting Educational Institutions: By engaging with schools and universities, the campaign aims to prevent the initiation of substance abuse among the youth. Educational institutions become crucial spaces for spreading awareness and fostering a culture of healthy living.
• Community-Based Approach: The NMBA focuses on identifying dependent populations within communities. This approach ensures that support reaches those who are most vulnerable to the grips of addiction.
• Counseling and Treatment Facilities: Providing accessible counseling and treatment facilities is a pivotal aspect of the initiative. Individuals seeking help can avail of professional guidance and rehabilitation services.

Institutions

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment supports organizations that work for preventive education & awareness generation on substance abuse, capacity building, treatment and rehabilitation. These organizations are:
• Integrated Rehabilitation Center For Addicts (IRCAs): are de-addiction centres with inpatient facilities of counselling and treatment for drug dependent persons.
• Community Peer Led Intervention (CPLI): work with the community supported by youth volunteers for early preventive education, especially for vulnerable adolescents and youth in the community.
• Outreach and Drop in Centres (ODIC): provide facilities of screening, assessment and counselling along with providing referral & linkage to treatment and rehabilitation services for drug dependents.
• GEO Location: Ministry supported institutions providing Drug addiction counselling, treatment and rehabilitation and other facilities have been Geo-tagged to make their services accessible and easier to locate.

India, Brazil to discuss defence, Agri at Joint Commission meet

Key highlights:

1. India-Brazil Joint Commission: Ninth meeting scheduled for 27 August in New Delhi.
2. Agenda: Focus on energy, defence, agriculture, climate change, critical minerals, biofuels, and oil.
3. Key Issues:
   • India: Seeks Brazilian expertise in energy, climate change, and critical minerals.
   • Brazil: Focuses on market access for its agricultural products and strengthening defence cooperation.
4. Previous Discussions: Security cooperation was a significant topic at the G20 Summit in September 2023.
5. Delegation: Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will meet with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
6. Agriculture: Technical cooperation and market access for Brazilian products like citrus fruits and Amazon products are expected topics.
7. Technical Work: Working groups on animal husbandry and agriculture have been preparing materials for the meeting.

Relationship between India and Brazil

• Diplomatic relations were established in 1948, with both countries opening embassies in the same year. 
• Both share a very close and multifaceted relationship both at the bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, G-4, IBSA, International Solar Alliance, as well as in the larger multilateral bodies such as the UN, WTO, UNESCO, and WIPO.
• The momentum in India-Brazil relations was further created during President Bolsonaro ́s historic visit to India in January 2020 as the Chief Guest during the Republic Day celebrations.

Areas of cooperation between India and Brazil

Defence & Security Cooperation

• India and Brazil signed an agreement in 2003 for cooperation in defence. Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meetings are held as an institutionalized mechanism for defence cooperation. 
• India and Brazil established a strategic dialogue mechanism in 2006 to cover regional and global issues of mutual concern. This dialogue is led by NSA from the Indian side. 
• An MoU on cooperation in the area of Cyber Security between CERT-In and its counterpart agency was signed during the State Visit of President Bolsonaro in January 2020.

Trade and Investment

• Bilateral Trade: 
  • India became the 5th largest trading partner of Brazil in 2021. The bilateral trade exceeded US$ 11 billion, an increase of 63% compared to 2020. 
  • Major Indian exports to Brazil include agrochemicals, synthetic yarns, auto components and parts, and imports include crude oil, gold, vegetable oil, sugar, and bulk mineral and ores.
• Bilateral Investments: 
  • A plethora of sectors have witnessed investments between India and Brazil in sectors such as automobiles, IT, mining, energy, biofuels, and footwear sectors.
  • In 2018, the total Indian investment in Brazil was estimated at USD 6 billion, and the total Brazilian investment in India was estimated at USD 1 billion.
• India-MERCOSUR PTA: 
  • Brazil played a crucial role in the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) that improves India’s access to the large South American market.

Challenges in the bilateral relationship between India and Brazil

• Trade competition: Both India and Brazil are major exporters of agricultural products such as sugar and meat, which can create competition and trade friction between the two countries.
• Sugarcane subsidy: Brazil''s complaint to the World Trade Organization about India''s subsidies to sugarcane farmers. This has led to tensions between the two countries due to Brazil''s concerns over India''s agricultural policies that could negatively impact its economic interests. 
• Limited people-to-people contact: India and Brazil have a limited number of people-to-people contacts, including business, cultural, and educational exchanges.
• Role of China: Furthermore, there are concerns as China, which is Brazil''s largest trading partner, can have an impact on relations between India and Brazil.
• Differences in strategic priorities: India and Brazil are both emerging powers that seek to enhance their global influence, but their approaches to regional and global issues may differ.

Perseid meteor shower

The essential data about the Perseid meteor shower:

• Peak Activity: August 11-13.
• Visibility: Best between midnight and dawn, especially in the northern hemisphere.
• Comet Threat: Potential impact risk noted for 2126, but Earth is safe for at least 2,000 years.
• Meteor Shower Rate: Over 60 meteors per hour at peak.

Perseid Meteor Shower: 

• The name Perseid is believed to be derived from the Perseus constellation.
• It peaks during mid-August each year and is considered to be among the best meteor showers. Perseids, usually swift and bright, leave a trail of light and colour behind them as they traverse through the night sky.
• It is also one of the most plentiful showers with nearly 100 meteors seen per hour.
• The Perseids are special because they often generate fireballs.
• Fireballs are big bursts of light and colour that last longer than a regular shooting star.
• This happens because fireballs come from larger pieces of material from comets.

Meteor Showers

• Meteors are bits of rock and ice that are ejected from comets as they manoeuvre around their orbits around the sun.
• As meteors fall towards the Earth, the resistance makes the space rocks extremely hot and, as meteorites pass through the atmosphere, they leave behind streaks of glowing gas that are visible to the observers and not the rock itself.
• Meteor showers, on the other hand, are witnessed when Earth passes through the trail of debris left behind by a comet or an asteroid.
• When a meteor reaches the Earth, it is called a meteorite and a series of meteorites, when encountered at once, is termed as a meteor shower.