India to export fish meal and fishoil to China

        Highlights:

• Both the Indian and Chinese sides appreciated each other’s concerns and agreed to resolve the market access issues expeditiously to achieve the vision of the leaders of both the countries by promoting a more balanced trade.
• The signing of Protocol formalises the consensus reached by both sides on hygiene and inspection requirements of fish meal and fish oil to be exported from India to China, and will enable India to commence export of fish meal and fish oil to China.
• China imports fish oil to the tune of USD 143.29 million, and fish meal to the tune of USD 263.43 million, and signing of the protocol between the two countries paves the way for export of Indian fish oil and fish meal to China.

        Trade relationship With China:

• India is the largest trade partner of China. India China trade relations are the most important part of bilateral relations between India and China.
• From a temporary decline in the the influx of Chinese imports in the Indian markets, the scenario seems to have changed - India is enjoying a positive balance of trade with China.
• The India China trade relations are regulated by the India China JBC, which ensures a free exchange of products and services between the two nations.

        Indian Exports to China under the India China Trade Relations:

• The principal items of Indian exports to China are ores, slag and ash, iron and steel, plastics, organic chemicals, and cotton.
• In order to increase the extent of exporting Indian goods to China, however, there should be a special emphasis on investments and trade in services and knowledge-based sectors.
• The other potential items of trade between India and China are marine products, oil seeds, salt, inorganic chemicals, plastic, rubber, optical and medical equipment, and dairy products.
• Great potential also exists in areas like biotechnology, IT and ITES, health, education, tourism, and financial sector.

        Chinese Exports to India under the India China Trade Relations:

• The main items that comprise Chinese exports to India are electrical machinery and equipment, cement, organic chemicals, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, silk, mineral fuels, and oils.
• Value added items like electrical machinery dominates Chinese exports to India. This exhibits that Chinese exports to India are fairly diversified and includes resource-based products, manufactured items, and low and medium technology products.
• It is said that if India is to capture the markets of China and enjoy profits, then it would have to discover new merchandise and branch out its exports to China.

Exercise INDRA 2018

         Highlights of Exercise Indra:

• To develop common understanding of transnational terrorism, interoperability and conduct of joint tactical operations controlled by a Joint Command Post working under the aegis of United Nations.
• Classes were organised on cordon and search operations, raid on terrorist hideout, intelligence gathering and sharing, perception management, humanitarian laws and hostage rescue.
• Integrated live firing was carried out apart from specialised joint training which included road opening drills, clearance of built up areas and destruction of a rebel stronghold in an urban terrain setting. The participating contingents also carried out specialised joint training on hostage rescue by slithering from MI-17 helicopters.

         About exercise INDRA:

• INDRA is a joint, bi-annual military exercise conducted by India and Russia starting in 2003.
• The exercise is tasked with boosting cooperation and interoperability between the Russian and Indian navies. The word INDRA is a portmanteau of the participants' respective countries.
• The exercise involves live firing drills, as well as air defence and anti submarine operations. Additionally, counterpiracy, terrorism and drug smuggling operations are carried out.

Minister for Shipping addresses the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi

        Highlights and Goveernment initiatives:

• India endorses the growth of the Blue Economy in a sustainable, inclusive and people centred manner through the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• He said the Blue Economy remains a critical aspect of India’s economic development agenda, and more than 95% of our trade is being carried on by sea.
• Emphasizing the importance that India lays on developing its maritime resources Minister said that our National Vision in this regard is clearly articulated in the term “SAGAR”- Security and Growth for All in the Region.
• Government’s ambitious Sagarmala Programme and how it is poised to revolutionize maritime logistics and port led developments in India.
• Sagarmala programme has identified 600 plus projects entailing a huge investment of $120 billion (around Rs 8 lakh crore) by 2020.This in turn would save India $6 billion per annum in logistics costs besides creating 10 million new jobs and boosting port capacity by 800 Million Metric Tonne per Annum (MMTPA) to an overall 3500 MMTPA.
• Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) are being developed with a proposed investment of $ 150 Million per location under the programme. These will become a microcosm of the blue economy, with the growth of industries and townships that depend on the sea and contribute to global trade through sea connectivity. 

NCST to Visit A&N Islands to Investigate and Monitor of US National Feared Killed by Protected Tribes

About NCST:

the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is a constitutional body in the sense that it is directly established by Article 338-A of the Constitution.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

The functions of the Commission are:

(a) To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the STs and to evaluate their working;

(b) To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the STs;

(c) To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-    economicdevelopment of the STs and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union or a state;

(d) To present to the President, annually and at such other times as it may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

(e) To make recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or a state for the effective implementation of those safeguards an other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the STs;

(f) To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the STs as the President may specify.

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

In 2005, the President specified the following other functions of the Commission in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the STs:

(i) Measures to be taken over conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to STs living in forest areas.

(ii) Measures to be taken to safeguard rights of the tribal communities over mineral resources, water resources etc., as per law.

(iii) Measures to be taken for the development of tribals and to work for more viable livelihood strategies.

(iv) Measures to be taken to improve the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups displaced by development projects

(v) Measures to be taken to prevent alienation of tribal people from land and to effectively rehabilitate such people in whose case alienation has already taken place.

(vi) Measures to be taken to elicit maximum cooperation and involvement of tribal communities for protecting forests and undertaking social afforestation

(vii) Measures to be taken to ensure full implementation of the Provisions of

Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.

(viii) Measures to be taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the practice of

shifting cultivation by tribals that lead to their continuous disempowerment and degradation of land and the environment.