UPSC Key | Takeaways of Quad Summit, Joint Commanders’ Conference, Climate Fund and more

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Front Page 

In a signal to China, Modi says ‘Quad not against anyone but here to stay’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Underlining that leaders of the Quad grouping — India, US, Japan, and Australia — were meeting amid global “tensions and conflicts”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that they “are not against anyone”, and all of them “support a rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of all issues”.

Prerequisites:

— What is Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)? How was it formed?

— What is Quad Cancer Moonshot?

— Map work: Quad member countries, South China Sea,  East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

— Read about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and AUKUS. 

Key takeaways: 

— Modi’s remarks during the sixth Quad leaders’ summit at President Joe Biden’s hometown of Delaware were a thinly veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

— The Quad declaration, adopted after the summit, focused on “militarisation” and “intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea”. It also addressed other key global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The declaration highlighted the “negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security”. 

— The declaration also “condemned the ongoing attacks perpetrated by the Houthis and their supporters against international and commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which are destabilising the region and impeding navigational rights and freedoms and trade flows, and jeopardise the safety of vessels and people on board including sailors”.

— The Quad leaders also announced the Quad Cancer Moonshot — a groundbreaking partnership that will focus initially on combating cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region while laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well.

For Your Information:

From “Deliverables from combating cancer to maritime security” (Govt & Politics Page)

— The Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific, said the Wilmington Declaration issued after the summit.

— The next Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be hosted by the US in 2025, and the Quad Leaders’ Summit will be hosted by India in 2025. In 2025, the Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference is also likely to be held in Mumbai.

—  India, through its $10 million commitment to the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health, will offer technical assistance to interested countries in the Indo-Pacific region for the adoption and deployment of its Digital Public Infrastructure that helps in cancer screening and care, it said.

—  The US Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety.

— A new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) was announced to enable partners in the region to “maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behaviour.” India will host the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025.

—  The launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project was also announced. 

From The Editorial Page “Quad’s light touch”

—  The smallness of the agenda does not mean that achievements of the Quad are inconsequential. In focusing on the provision of public goods in the Indo-Pacific, the Quad has avoided being branded as the “Asian Nato” and inviting the ire of the regional states that had no desire to see an American-led military alliance against China.

—  Over the last four years, the Quad has become more acceptable to the once sceptical ASEAN that now appreciates the Quad’s light touch on security. For India, which is the only “non-ally” of the US in the forum, the Quad has opened up an expansive agenda of regional cooperation with the US and its Asian allies.

— The Quad leaders insisted, once again, that the forum is not directed against China. That does not mean that deterring Chinese expansionism is not on the minds of the Quad partners. The US is developing more explicit military instruments such as the AUKUS, deeper trilateral security cooperation with South Korea and Japan, and lending military support for the Philippines that is at the receiving end of Chinese aggressiveness on the disputed frontiers.

— “India and the US have steadily increased the range and depth of their military cooperation in the last few years…. Finally, there is an entrenched Indian perception that the Quad and the bilateral strategic partnership with the US have complicated Delhi’s ties with Beijing. But the sophistication of the Quad’s approach, individual and collective, towards China, may be opening more diplomatic space for engagement with Beijing.”

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of Quad for India? 

— How are the Russia-Ukraine war, the continuing China’s threat, and other non-security issues major challenges for Quad?

— How Quad is different from the NATO? 

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(1) Consider the following countries:

1. Both countries are members of Commonwealth countries.

2. Both are members of QUAD, a regional grouping.

3. Both countries are members of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.

The above-mentioned statements refer to which group of countries?

(a) India-Japan

(b) India-United States

(c) India-South Africa

(d) India-Australia

Mains

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2020)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

India pledges $7.5mn to combat cervical cancer

Biden hosts Modi at home: ‘Ties closer, more dynamic than ever’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. 

What’s the ongoing story- The United States’ partnership with India is “stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history”, US President Joe Biden said Sunday after an hour-long bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Prerequisites:

— What is the history of bilateral relations between India and the US?

— What is India Semiconductor Mission?

— Read about the various defence agreements between the US and India.

Key takeaways: 

— The remarks summed up the broad sweep of what the two countries are currently working on — from the first semiconductor fabrication plant for national security to joint research by NASA and ISRO onboard the International Space Station, progress in India procuring 31 remotely piloted aircraft, and work on a pact for critical minerals supply chains and emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa.

Key takeaways from the Modi-Biden meeting, according to a fact sheet: 

— An arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications. 

— The fab, which will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force. (To read more on it check:  India, US ink pact to set up semiconductor fab for national security, next-gen telecom)

— Creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing. 

—  Progress in “first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025”.

— Progress in India procuring 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely piloted aircraft and their equipment, which will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of armed forces.

— Signing of Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding at the forthcoming US-India Commercial Dialogue, and hastening collaboration to secure resilient critical minerals supply chains.

— Formal launch of the new US-India Global Digital Development Partnership to bring together private sector companies, technology and resources for emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa.

— The two sides also “welcomed India’s signature and ratification of various agreements under the overarching Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)”. 

— They signed the new US-India Drug Policy Framework for the 21st Century, which will deepen collaboration to disrupt the illicit production and international trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, the fact sheet said.

For Your Information:

— The two sides also acknowledged the July 2024 signing of a bilateral Cultural Property Agreement that will facilitate implementation of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. In this context, the leaders welcomed the repatriation of 297 Indian antiquities from the US in 2024. (To read more about it check : US hands back 297 antiquities smuggled out of India)

From “Push for ties in new areas: Sharing threat info, vulnerability mitigation in energy” ( Govt & Politics Page )

— India and the United States will work together to advance cooperation in new domains…, a fact sheet issued by both countries on Saturday said.

— The statement said that both sides looked forward to the November 2024 bilateral cyber engagement to enhance the US-India cyber cooperation framework..

— Both the leaders spoke about the progress made under the US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including the collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems. 

— The leaders also welcomed the conclusion of the memorandum of agreement regarding the deployment of liaison officers and the commencement of the deployment of the first liaison officer from India in the US Special Operations Command last month.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US?

— What is the US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation 2023?

— What are the challenges to India-US bilateral ties?

Post Read Question:

(2) With reference to the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), consider the following statements:

1. It is signed between India and Ukraine.

2. It is a binding agreement.

3. The arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources to meet national security needs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

‘Stronger, closer, more dynamic’: Biden on US-India relationship after meeting with Modi

India to establish first national security semiconductor plant in partnership with US

Two-new US-India agreements: a short history of growing defence ties

 

The Editorial Page

In our defence

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

What’s the ongoing story- C. Uday Bhaskar writes— “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh should be commended for instituting a Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) that brings together all the top commanders of the Indian military for extended deliberations on matters pertaining to national security.”

Prerequisites:

— What is a Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC)?

— Read about the Combined Commanders’ Conference.

— Know about the Chief of Defence Staff. 

— What is Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and iDEX Prime?

Key takeaways: 

— “Presiding over the maiden conference in Lucknow on September 5, Rajnath Singh highlighted the fact that “India is a peace-loving nation and the Armed Forces need to be prepared for war in order to preserve peace.” This exhortation is par for the course and underlines the raison d’etre of the military — to prepare for war.”

— “The JCC is chaired by the Defence Minister and will complement the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) that is presided over by the Prime Minister.”

— “Until recently, the CCC was an annual event and the Defence Minister addressed the commanders only for one session. The primary focus was on higher-level global, regional and strategic matters dealt with by the Prime Minister. Since PM Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, the CCC has been transformed with a visible degree of political overhang.”

— “Thus, the JCC is a welcome forum for the political leadership, in this case, the Defence Minister, to meet with the military commanders and review professional matters in an informed and unhurried manner.”

— “The theme of the inaugural JCC ‘Transforming the Armed Forces’ has been a Modi priority since 2014. Various major policy initiatives have been launched to this effect — the appointment of a CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) being one of them.”

— “PM Modi has highlighted the indigenisation imperative under the “aatmanirbharata” banner and the restructuring of defence PSUs, encouraging the private sector with an emphasis on MSMEs and enabling academia to undertake research projects are all commendable steps. However, their gestation period is long, progress is often uneven and the results will not be apparent in the near future..”

— “The material state of the military remains opaque and the thumbnail summary is that all three armed forces are in dire need of modernisation and acquisition to make up for large gaps in the inventory. 

— “The last comprehensive review of the military was done in 2018 when the Standing Committee on Defence cautioned that a modern armed force should have one-third of its equipment in the vintage category,…The Committee found that adequate attention has been lacking with respect to both policy and budget for modernising the ageing arsenal.”

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the issues and challenge faced by the Indian defence sector?

— What is the significance of Indigenisation of Defence?

— What initiatives have been taken by the government to boost the modernisation of defence forces?

Post Read Question:

(3) Consider the following statements:

1. The Joint Commanders’ Conference is chaired by the Defence Minister.

2. The Combined Commanders’ Conference is presided over by the Minister of Home Affairs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Atmanirbhar in defence

 

The Ideas Page

A grand GST bargain 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, GovernmentBudgeting.

What’s the ongoing story- Aditi Nayar writes— “During the first five years of GST, there was a provision to compensate states for a loss of revenue, if any, measured against a 14 per cent growth over their “protected” revenues in 2015-16. The source of this compensation given to states was a cess that the Centre levied and collected on the sale of specific goods.”

Prerequisites:

— Read about the Goods and Services Tax (GST)

— What is the difference between cess and surcharge?

— What is compensation cess?

Key takeaways: 

— “This compensation cess was initially levied for a five year period. Subsequently, its levy was extended till March 2026, to service the loans raised during the Covid years for providing GST compensation to the states.”

— “In the 54th GST Council meeting held in September, the government announced its decision to repay the entire GST compensation loan, amounting to Rs 2.7 trillion, by January 2026, two months prior to the cessation of the compensation period in March.” 

— “In its September meeting, the GST Council recommended the formation of a Group of Ministers to study the future of the compensation cess beyond March 31, 2026,.. If the council decides to continue the levy the compensation cess on specified items beyond March 2026, the purpose for that would need to be identified and a constitutional amendment may also be needed.”

— “The discontinuation of the compensation cess (without replacement by another tax/cess) would imply that the effective tax rates on demerit, sin and luxury goods (such as cigarettes, SUVs, pan masala, and tobacco items) would decline significantly…”

— “One option is for the compensation cess to be revamped into a new cess, for example, a green cess. The proceeds of this can be used to finance green infra projects and the energy transition requirements given that the government’s contribution and interventions will be critical for transition in key sectors in order to achieve India’s climate goals by 2030.”

— “The council would need to consider the proportion in which such a cess would be shared between the Centre and the state governments to help them meet their transition commitments…”

— “So far, petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) products remain outside the GST net. One rationale for bringing them within the ambit of GST is to enable businesses to claim input tax credit on the same, which would help reduce costs and make them more competitive.”

— “To convince the states to bring POL products under the GST regime, a grand bargain would be needed. Perhaps, the cess proceeds could be used for compensating the state governments for losses, if any, due to this transition.”

For Your Information:

— Cess, as defined in the Constitution of India, can be imposed only for a specific purpose and is outside the divisible pool of resources between the Centre and the states. 

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of GST compensation cess?

— What are the benefits of GST?

— What are the challenges associated with the GST?

Post Read Question:

(4) Consider the following items: (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. Cereal grains hulled

2. Chicken eggs cooked

3. Fish processed and canned

4. Newspapers containing advertising material

Which of the above items is/are exempted under GST (Good and Services Tax)?

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Explained: The issues in GST compensation

 

Explained 

Why Azerbaijan’s new climate fund may not be enough to plug finance gap

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance and environment

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, important international institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story- Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s climate change conference, COP29, has proposed to launch a new climate fund for developing countries. The fund can be financed through “voluntary” contributions from fossil-fuel producing countries and companies, according to Azerbaijan.

Prerequisites:

— What is a Conference of Parties?

— What is climate finance?

— Read about the Paris Agreement. 

Key takeaways: 

— Azerbaijan’s proposal comes at a time when negotiation on a climate finance agreement is struggling to make progress. Finalising this finance agreement is the main agenda before COP29, which is scheduled to run from November 11 to 22 in Baku.

— The rich and industrialised countries are currently under an obligation to mobilise at least $100 billion annually for developing countries. The Paris Agreement, however, mandates that this amount must be increased after 2025 and every five years thereafter.

— The new fund proposed by Azerbaijan, though well-intentioned, is unlikely to make a substantial difference to the availability of climate finance for developing countries.

— Currently, there are strong differences over even definitions of climate finance. 

— Developing countries often complain of double-counting and innovative accounting, and say that the actual amount of money flowing in for climate action is significantly lower than the claims made by developed countries.

— The other complaint relates to the neglect of adaptation activities. Most of the climate finance flows are directed at mitigation projects, the ones that lead to emissions reductions. This is because mitigation brings global dividends. Any emission reduction anywhere in the world benefits the entire planet.

— On the other hand, adaptation has local benefits. Donor countries are less inclined to invest in projects that only benefit the recipients. Developing countries have been demanding that adaptation should receive at least 50% of climate finance, much more than the less than 20% that has gone into it so far

— Developed countries are demanding the expansion of donor base.For instance, China, today the world’s second-largest economy, South Korea, and the oil-rich Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not have any financing obligations under the UNFCCC.

— Azerbaijan’s proposed fund is supposed to be financed by oil and gas producing countries, and corporations, but in a voluntary manner. This has raised questions over the amount of money it can attract as even funds to which countries are obligated to contribute have remained undercapitalised.

— Azerbaijan’s fund, even if created, would not have the same status. It has not come through negotiations but at the initiative of a host country. Primarily, it is an effort towards making the COP outcomes more meaty, and leaving a legacy, much like similar initiatives by previous COP presidencies in the past.

For Your Information:

— Climate finance refers to the investments that are needed to tackle climate change by way of either preventive steps to reduce emissions, known as mitigation or preparatory steps to tackle its impacts, known as adaptation. 

Points to Ponder: 

— Why are developing nations demanding climate finance?

— What are the challenges of climate financing?

Post Read Question:

(5) With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2016)

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.

2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What is climate finance — and why developing countries need it

 

Economy

India signs IPEF’s clean, fair economy agreements

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance; Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests and economic development. 

What’s the ongoing story- India on Sunday signed the US-led 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) bloc’s agreements on a clean and fair economy.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)?

—What are the objectives of IPEF?

Key takeaways: 

—  The agreements signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US are aimed at facilitating the development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies. They also aim to strengthen anti-corruption measures and promote tax transparency within member countries.

— The Commerce and Industry Ministry said that the agreement on clean economy intends to accelerate efforts of IPEF partners towards energy security, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions mitigation, developing innovative ways of reducing dependence on fossil fuel energy and promoting technical cooperation.

— The agreement on a fair economy intends to create a more transparent and predictable business environment, which can spur greater trade and investment in the markets of member countries, the ministry said, adding that the agreements focus on enhancing information sharing among partners, facilitating asset recovery, and strengthening cross-border investigations and prosecutions.

For Your Information:

— The IPEF, a strategic partnership involving 14 member countries, focuses on building economic cooperation through its four key pillars — trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair economy (focusing on tax and anti-corruption).

— India’s engagement in IPEF, alongside the US, Japan, Australia, and other Indo-Pacific nations, highlights its commitment to a regional partnership that represents 40 per cent of the global economy and 28 per cent of world trade.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the clean and fair economy agreements under the IPEF?

— What are the implications of India’s involvement in the IPEF?

Post Read Question:

How does India’s participation in IPEF affect its relations with China and other regional stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific?

UPSC Ethics and Essay Snippet

‘Wordly Wise’ from The Editorial Page

“Part of diplomacy is to open different definitions of self-interest.”

— Hillary Clinton 

(Thought Process: What is your understanding of the term “diplomacy”? How does diplomacy help balance a nation’s self-interest with global cooperation? Can you provide examples of India’s diplomatic efforts where it redefined its self-interest to engage with other nations? How can diplomacy help address global challenges while accommodating varying national self-interests?)