Eyes on the World: Current Affairs Perspectives

Free Movement Regime
Context :

• Manipur Chief Minister recently  said that his government has  urged the Union Home Ministry to
cancel the free movement regime along the India-Myanmar border and complete its fencing.

About Free Movement Regime:

Under the FMR, all the hill tribes, whether they are citizens of  India or Myanmar, can travel within 16 km on either side of the  Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB).

Historical background of the India-Myanmar relations

• India and Myanmar have a long history of cultural, religious, and trade links that date back to ancient times.
• As the land of Lord Buddha, India is a country of pilgrimage for the people of Myanmar.
• British era: Both India and Myanmar were part of British India during colonial rule until 1935.
• After independence, India and Myanmar established diplomatic relations and maintained close ties. India and Myanmar signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1951.
• The visit of the Prime Minister in 1987 laid the foundations for a stronger relationship between India and Myanmar.
• In 2002, the Indian Consulate in Mandalay was reopened, and the Consulate of Myanmar was set up in Kolkata.

• In 2014, Myanmar became part of India’s “Neighborhood First” policy and its “Act East” policy.

Importance of Myanmar for India

Strategic location:

• India and Myanmar share a long  1,643 km geographical land border and maritime boundary in the Bay of
Bengal. Also, Myanmar is India’s gateway to South-East Asia.

Countering China:

• As part of India’s SAGAR Vision, India developed the Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to counter the Chinese-fronted Kyaukpyu port.

• Internal security: Myanmar shares a border with some of India's northeastern states, which are affected by insurgent activities. India considers Myanmar an important partner in its efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.

Economic cooperation: 

India and Myanmar have a long-standing economic relationship, and India is one of Myanmar's largest trading partners. India has invested in various sectors in Myanmar, including energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Cultural ties:

India and Myanmar have historical and cultural ties dating back to ancient times. Buddhism, which originated in India, is a major religion in Myanmar, and the two countries share many cultural similarities.

Issues and challenges in India-Myanmar relations

• Coup by Military Junta: 

A recent coup by the military junta in Myanmar made it difficult for India to balance its strategic and economic interests with its commitment to democratic values and human rights.

• Weak trade relations:

 With a total bilateral trade of $2 billion, India’s economic engagement with Myanmar lags behind China. India’s withdrawal from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership can further increase this trade gap.

• Rohingya issue:

The migration of Rohingyas in India is causing issues of internal security and exploitation of national resources in India.

CAA - Citizenship Amendment Act 2019
About :    

The CAA, which aims to give citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, was notified on 12th December 2019 and came into force on 10thJanuary 2020.

Associated Concerns with CAA

• Targeting a Particular Community: There are apprehensions that the CAA, followed by a country-wide compilation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), will benefit non-Muslims excluded from the proposed citizens’ register, while excluded Muslims will have to prove their citizenship.

• Issues in the North-East: It contradicts the Assam Accord of 1985, which states that illegal migrants, irrespective of religion, heading in from Bangladesh after 25th March 1971, would be deported.

• There are an estimated 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam and they have inalienably altered the demography of the state, besides putting a severe strain on the state’s resources and economy.

• Against Fundamental Rights: Critics argue that it is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution (which guarantees the right to equality and applies to both citizens and foreigners) and the principle of secularism enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution.

MHA Clarification

• Not Applicable to Indian Citizens: The CAA does not apply to Indian citizens. Therefore, it does not in any way take away or abridge the rights of any Indian citizen.

• Legal Process of Acquiring Indian Citizenship Remain Unchanged: Further, the present legal process of acquiring Indian citizenship by any foreigner of any category as provided in the Citizenship Act,1955 is very much operational and the CAA does not amend or alter this legal position in any manner whatsoever.

• Hence, legal migrants of any religion from any country will continue to get Indian citizenship once they fulfill the eligibility conditions already provided in the law for registration or naturalization.

Coal
 

About:

• It is a type of fossil fuel found in the form of sedimentary rocks and is often known as 'Black Gold’.

• It is a conventional source of energy and is widely available. It is used as a domestic fuel, in industries such as iron and steel, steam engines and to generate electricity. Electricity from coal is called thermal power.

• The leading coal producers of the world include China, the US, Australia, Indonesia, and India.

Classification:

• Anthracite (80 - 95% carbon content, found in small quantities in J&K).

• Bituminous (60 - 80% carbon content and is found in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh).

• Lignite (40 to 55% carbon content, high moisture content, and is found in Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam) and Tamil Nadu).

• Peat (less than 40% carbon content and it is in the first stage of transformation from organic matter (wood) to coal).

 

Recently, the Union Cabinet granted ex-post factoapproval to the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy.

Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy:

About: 

• The agreement is set to strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration while bolstering people-to-people ties between India and Italy.
• It facilitates mobility for various segments, including students, skilled workers, business persons, and young professionals, fostering exchange and collaboration.

Implementation:

• The agreement will remain in force for 5 years, with automatic renewal unless terminated.

• A Joint Working Group (JWG) will oversee its implementation, convening periodically to evaluate progress and propose supportive measures for effective execution.

Key Facts About Italy

• Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula that juts out of southern Europe into the Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and other water.

Historical Ties:

• India and Italy are ancient civilizations but young states. Italian port cities were important trading posts on the spice route.

• The Venetian merchant Marco Polo, during his travels to the East, also traveled to India in the 13th century and wrote about his experiences.

Political:

• Political relations between India and Italy were established in 1947.

• In March 2023, India and Italy elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

Economic:

• The bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at USD 14.25 billion in 2022-23.

• Italy is among India's top 5 trading partners in the European Union.

• Main items of Indian exports to Italy are ready-made garments, leather, iron ore, motor vehicles, textiles, chemicals, gems & jewelry.

• The main items of import from Italy are general and special purpose machinery, machine tools, metallurgical products, and engineering items.

• Security:

The India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) is a forum established to boost defense cooperation between both countries

• Recently, the Defence Minister of India, inaugurated Samvid Gurukulam Girls Sainik School in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. This significant step reflects the government's commitment to providing equal opportunities for girls in the field of defense.

• The school is strategically positioned to play a pivotal role in furthering the government's initiative to establish 100 new Sainik Schools across all states and union territories, aligning with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy 2020.

• The initiative aims to provide quality education, and better career opportunities, and encourage girls to join the Armed Forces.

 

• Significance: Gender is not a Hindrance: As long as an applicant is qualified for a position, one’s gender is arbitrary. In the modern high-technology battlefield, technical expertise and decision-making skills are increasingly more valuable than simple brute strength.

• Military Readiness: Allowing a mixed-gender force keeps the military strong. The armed forces are severely troubled by falling retention and recruitment rates. This can be addressed by allowing women in the combat role.

• Effectiveness: The blanket restriction for women limits the ability of commanders in theater to pick the most capable person for the job.

 

Context: The inaugural edition of the joint military exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ involving India and the UAE is set to occur in Rajasthan from January 2 to January 15.

More about the news:

• Desert Cyclone 2024: A Joint Military Exercise Between India and UAE

• Counter Terrorism Operations: The Joint Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone 2024’ would focus on counter-terrorism operations wherein the participants will engage in missions ranging from joint planning, operations, and joint tactical drills.

• Significance: It will enhance interoperability by learning and sharing best practices in urban operations.

• It will enhance the skills of armed forces in diverse areas of war-fighting by operating with the armed forces of various nations.

• Defence Cooperation between India and UAE: The collaboration in defense includes-

• Port Calls

• Defence training Supply of defence inventory

• Implementation of regular exchange programs.

• India-UAE Joint Air Forces exercise

• Biennial International Defence Exhibition (IDEX)

• Potential areas of bilateral cooperation: Production and development of defense equipment; joint exercises of armed forces, sharing of information on strategy and doctrines; technical cooperation in respect of Intermediate Jet Trainer, etc.

India and the UAE Relations in Brief

• Diplomatic relations: Established between India and the UAE in 1972.

• UAE opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1972 and India opened its Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1973.

• Bilateral Exchanges: There have been regular high-level & functional level exchanges.