Webinar Notes (13 th December, 2016)

Transcription

1 Webinar Notes (13 th December, 2016) 1. U.S. lawmakers urge India to ease curbs on Christian charity Compassion International (CI) is a Colorado-based NGO that has worked in India since It is an American Christian charity NGO. Compassion International (CI) has often been accused of being engaged in religious conversions in India. It is important to note that the ForeignContribution Regulation Act (FCRA) is the law that regulates NGOs receipt of foreign funds into the country. It is believed that Government of India s action against Christian and climate change NGOs has been a thorn in India-U.S. relations for over six years. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had also voiced concerns over the treatment of Compassion International. 2. Three years after the Koushal judgment December 11, 2016 would mark a period of three years from the day on which the Supreme Court delivered an important judgement. Unfortunately, this judgement, Koushal v. Naz Foundation. is a widely criticised judgment. With the stroke of a pen, India s LGBT community was cast back into the shadows of illegality after a judgment of the Delhi High Court, reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, was reversed in appeal. Also, the Supreme Court observed that the LGBT community was a minuscule minority that did not deserve the court s time or protection. After the Koushal judgment: It is important to note that after the Koushal judgment, Indian lesbian and gay couples filed applications in different parts of the Commonwealth claiming refugee or protected status.

2 Across sections, The Koushal judgment was cited as an example of the contemptuous attitude towards the LGBT community in India. It is significant to note that in two cases in Britain, lesbian couples from India claimed that they should not be deported home, for they would suffer a risk of persecution or serious harm if they revealed their identities to their families or local communities. 3. Successfully Launches RESOURCESAT-2A Remote Sensing Satellite ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully launched the 1,235 kg RESOURCESAT-2A Satellite on the morning of December 07, 2016 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty seventh consecutively successful mission of PSLV. Like its predecessors RESOURCESAT-1 and 2, RESOURCESAT-2A has a unique 3-Tier imaging system with Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS), Linear Imaging Self Scanner-3 (LISS-3) and Linear Imaging Self Scanner-4 (LISS-4) cameras. It is important to note that with this launch, the PSLV has yet again demonstrated its reliability. The total number of satellites launched by India s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV including today s RESOURCESAT-2A has now reached 122, of which 43 are Indian and the remaining 79 are from abroad. 4. India International Science Festival (IISF-2016) inaugurated in New Delhi The India International Science Festival (IISF-2016) is the largest festival of science in India, with its focus on Science for the Masses. IISF-2016 is being held at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Campus, New Delhi during 7-11 December, The success of first IISF in 2015 gave the impetus to launch IISF-2016 with expanded scope, mandate and operation. It is important to note that India has achieved a pre-eminent position in the field of Science & Technology, Space, Atomic Energy, Information Technology and newly emerging technologies such as Nano Technology and Bio Technology. IISF-2016 aims to encourage and develop scientific temper and attitude, promote exchange of knowledge and ideas among young minds including showcasing of recent developments and contributions of India in science and technology involving all our scientific departments. 5. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Vietnam on Cooperation In the field of Information Technology (IT)

3 The Union Cabinet chaired by the PMModi has given its ex-post facto approval to the MoU between India and Vietnam on Cooperation in the field of IT. The MoU aims to develop a long-term and sustainable cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual interest in the areas of IT in line with each country s laws and regulations. Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the IT sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of IT and Human Resource Development. The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years and will be renewable by mutual written consent between India and Vietnam. It will be implemented by establishing a Joint Working Group on IT with representatives from both the countries. 6. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Thailand on Cooperation in controlling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Modi has given its approval to the MoU between India and Thailand. This MoU is focused on controlling narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and chemicals and drug abuse. The MoU will facilitate effective institutional interaction between India and Thailand. The MoU, once in force, would help in curbing transnational narcotics trafficking. 7. Vietnam invites India to explore energy in South China Sea Key Points: Vietnam has urged India to intensify economic engagement with Southeast Asia, thereby highlighting India s importance as a regional power. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of National Assembly of Vietnam, has recently extended an invitation to India to explore energy in the South China Sea and supported India s multilateral membership plans. She remarked, Vietnam supports Act East policy of India which is aimed at energising India s ties with Southeast Asia. In this context, Vietnam can serve as India s bridge to Southeast Asia. 8. Kolkata-Mizoram trade route to open via Myanmar A deep water port builtby India in Myanmar s Sittwe on the Bay of Bengal is ready to be commissioned. According to VikramMisri, the Indian envoy to Myanmar, an inauguration ceremony for this strategically important facility is expected to take place next month.

4 It is important to note that this Indian achievement, has taken place faster than the Chinese endeavour to create a deep-sea berthing infrastructure and an SEZ further down the Rakhine coast at Kyaukphyu. These two investments are inevitably being seen as attempts made by India and China, to expand their spheres of naval influence in the Indian ocean region as in the case of Gwadar in Pakistan and Chabahar in Iran being built by China and India, respectively. Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State in south-western Myanmar It is located at the mouth of the Kaladanriver, which flows into Mizoram in north-eastern India. Indian Context It is important to note that India has for years sought transit access through Bangladesh to ship goods to its landlocked north-eastern States. Unfortunately, at present, the only route to this region from the rest of India is through a narrow strip of Indian territory nicknamed the Chicken s Neck in West Bengal, sandwiched between Bhutan and Bangladesh. The strategic advantage of the deep water port built by India in Myanmar s Sittwe would be that it would significantly lower the cost and distance of movement from Kolkata to Mizoram and beyond. For example, once shipments arrive at Sittwe, they will be transferred to smaller freight carriers which would sail upstream into Mizoram. 9. Kounotori : Recently, Japan s space agency lauched Kounotori ( White Stork ). This space capsule will attempt to clean space debris orbiting around earth, using an unusual approach. What areorbital debris? Orbital debris, consist of man-made objects, usually the residue of inactive space vehicles. How does Kounotori work? The Kounotori uses a kind of electrodynamic tether forged from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium. It is expected to slow the speed of space junk and pull it into lower and lower orbits. 10. Major Defence Partner (MDP): The U.S. recently designated India as a Major Defence Partner (MDP).

5 With Major Defence Partner status, for India, licensing regulations to acquire sensitive military technologies, such as those that go into the F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, will be simplified. It is important to note that the designation institutionalises the cooperation achieved so far between the two countries. Further, this is a unique designation conferred on India, outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries and U.S. treaty allies such as Australia and Japan. 11. ISRO signs deal for first privately built satellite Indian Space Research Organisation, signed a contract on 9th Dec, 2016, by virtue of which, it has roped in a consortium of six companies to deliver India s first industrybuilt spacecraft by late The contract includes assembly, integration and testing (AIT) of two spare navigation satellites consecutively in around 18 months.