Are you Prelims ready?UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam 2024 will be conducted on June 16. For aspirants, revision of Current Affairs is one of the most important tasks in the coming days.Manas Srivastavatalks toDeepanshu Singh, our subject expert, as he provides a checklist of 30important topics from International Relationsthat every aspirant must revise for their Prelims exam.
About the Expert:Deepanshu Singhis an educator and a mentor for UPSC aspirants. He has guided many aspirants in the past with his expertise on subjects such as International relations, Polity, and more. He has authored books on International Relations for Civil Services Examination. Beyond academia, Singh serves as a public policy expert and shaped strategies for India’s G20 Presidency.
1. United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
— Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
— Formation: Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006.
— Overview: The UNHRC is the primary intergovernmental body within the United Nations dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
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Membership:
—Total Members: 47, including India.
— Selection: Membership is determined by equitable geographical distribution, with countries requiring a minimum of 97 votes from the UN General Assembly to be elected.
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—Term Length: Members serve a three-year term and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Institutional Structure:
— Bureau: Comprises the President and four Vice-Presidents, each representing one of the five regional groups.
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— Secretariat: Composed of staff from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
2. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
— Formation: Established in 1947 by the Economic and Social Council as the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). It was renamed to ESCAP in 1974.
—Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
— Overview: UNESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, dedicated to supporting inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Functions:
— Development Support: Provides action-oriented knowledge, technical assistance, and capacity-building services to support national development objectives and regional agreements.
Membership:
—Total Members: 53 member states, including India, and 9 associate members.
Key Reports:
—SDG Progress Assessment Report
— Asia-Pacific Disaster Report
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3. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
— Recent Report: The Trade and Development Report 2023 was released by UNCTAD.
Overview of UNCTAD:
— Formation: Established as a permanent intergovernmental body by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
— Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
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Functions:
— Equitable Participation: Assists developing countries in participating more equitably in the global economy.
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— Development Support: Aids developing countries in leveraging trade, investment, finance, and technology to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
Membership:
— Total Members: 195 member states, including India.
4. L.69 Grouping
— Recent Activity: The L.69 grouping, in a meeting hosted by India, called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
— Overview: The L.69 is a pro-reform coalition that includes developing countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific. These countries are united by a shared commitment to achieving comprehensive reform of the UNSC and to strengthening multilateralism.
— Leadership: India is a leading nation within the L.69 grouping.
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5. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
Recent News: India participated in the inaugural Foreign Ministers’ meeting of BIMSTEC, held in Bangkok, Thailand.
About BIMSTEC:
— Formation: Established in June 1997 through the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
— Initial Members: Originally formed as BIST-EC with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
— Expansion: Myanmar joined in December 1997, prompting the renaming to BIMST-EC. In 2004, Nepal and Bhutan joined, solidifying the current membership.
— Secretariat: Located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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— Purpose: BIMSTEC aims to create an enabling environment for rapid economic development and social progress, while also maintaining peace and stability in the Bay of Bengal region.
Current Members:
Bangladesh
India
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Myanmar
Nepal
Bhutan
6. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)
— Recent News: The third Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting was held in San Francisco, USA.
About IPEF:
— Formation: IPEF was launched in 2022, jointly initiated by the United States and other partner countries from the Indo-Pacific region in Tokyo.
— Purpose: To strengthen relationships and engage in critical economic and trade issues relevant to the Indo-Pacific region.
— Member Countries: 14
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United States, India, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Significance of IPEF:
— Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: Strengthening the stability and reliability of supply chains in the region.
— Promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Supporting the principles of freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific.
— Providing an Alternative to China: Offering a strategic economic partnership in the region as an alternative to China’s influence.
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— Facilitating India’s Integration into Global Value Chains: Encouraging deeper integration of India into the global economic system.
7. International Maritime Organization (IMO)
—Recent News: India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, securing the highest tally of votes in the elections held for the 2024–25 biennium.
About IMO:
— Formation: Established as a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1948.
— Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
— Purpose: The IMO aims to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient, and sustainable shipping through international cooperation.
Membership:
— Total Members: 176 member states and 3 associate members, including India.
Structure:
— Assembly: The supreme governing body of the IMO.
— Council: Acts as the executive organ of the IMO.
Main Committees:
Five main committees along with various sub-committees. The main committees include:
—Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)
— Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
— Legal Committee
— Technical Cooperation Committee
— Facilitation Committee
8. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Recent News: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs recommended providing legal assistance to Indian nationals imprisoned in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
About GCC:
— Formation: Established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1981.
— Headquarters: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
— Overview: The GCC is a political and economic alliance of countries in the Gulf region.
Members: 6 countries
— Saudi Arabia
— United Arab Emirates (UAE)
— Qatar
— Kuwait
— Oman
— Bahrain
Non-Members: Iran and Iraq are not members.
Official Language: Arabic.
India and GCC:
— Trade Relations: The GCC is currently India’s largest trading partner bloc.
— Recent Developments: The GCC has proposed to restart Free Trade Agreement talks with India
9. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
— Recent News: Finland and Sweden recently joined NATO, becoming its 31st and 32nd members, respectively.
Article 5: This article stipulates that an attack against one ally is considered an attack against all allies. It has been invoked only once, in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
About NATO:
— Formation: Established in 1949 by the Washington Treaty.
— Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
— Purpose: Formed as a military alliance to counter the USSR’s influence in the European region.
— Members: 32 countries
— Composition: 30 European nations, the United States, and Canada.
— Non-NATO EU Members: Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta.
Other Key Information:
— Authority: NATO derives its authority from Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognises the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence.
10. Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB)
— Recent News: TIWB launched a programme in Saint Lucia, with India chosen as the Partner Administration. India will provide tax experts for this program.
About the TIWB Programme:
Genesis
— TIWB is a joint initiative by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
— Purpose: The programme aims to facilitate the transfer of tax audit knowledge and skills to tax administrations in developing countries, employing a practical “learning by doing” approach.
11. Katchatheevu
Context: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister reignited the debate over Katchatheevu by restating the demand for its retrieval from Sri Lanka.
About Katchatheevu:
— Location: Katchatheevu is an uninhabited island located between India and Sri Lanka in the Palk Strait.
— Geographical Position: It lies northeast of Rameswaram (India) and southwest of Jaffna (Sri Lanka).
— Importance: The island holds significance for the fisherfolk of both countries, who have traditionally utilized it for fishing purposes
Historical Background:
—Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement (1974): In 1974, as part of the agreement, India ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka
12. South China Sea
Context: The Philippines removed a floating barrier installed by China at the Scarborough Shoal, which had been preventing Filipino fishing boats from entering the contested area.
Geography:
— Location: The South China Sea lies south of Mainland China.
Littoral States: The countries bordering the South China Sea include:
— Brunei
— Indonesia
— Malaysia
— Philippines
— Taiwan
— Vietnam
Key Facts
— China’s Claims: China asserts claims to about 90% of the South China Sea as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) based on the Nine-Dash Line, a demarcation introduced in 1947.
— Historical Claims: The Nine-Dash Line originally was the Eleven-Dash Line until 1952, when Communist China relinquished its claim to the Gulf of Tonkin.
— Disputed Areas: The historical claims involve significant contested territories, including the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
13. Chabahar Port
Context: The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar Port took place in Mumbai.
Key Facts:
— Agreement: In 2016, India signed a tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan to develop the Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port. (Latest in 2024 Agreement)
Strategic Importance:
— Gateway to Central Asia: Chabahar Port is seen as a crucial gateway for India to bypass Pakistan, providing access to Afghanistan and, eventually, Central Asia.
— Regional Connectivity: The port enhances regional connectivity and trade, offering a strategic alternative route for Indian goods heading to Central Asia.
14. International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
Recent News: India and Iran are venturing into a long-term collaborative framework for the INSTC.
About INSTC:
— Genesis: The INSTC is a 7,200 km multi-modal transportation network first envisaged in 2000 by Russia, India, and Iran to promote transportation cooperation among member states.
— Route: The corridor connects the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and from there it connects to Saint Petersburg and Northern Europe via Russia.
— Members: Currently, INSTC has 13 member countries:
India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Ukraine, Syria
Significance of INSTC for India:
— Cost Efficiency: Reduces transportation costs of goods by nearly 30%.
— Time Efficiency: Cuts down transportation time by almost half compared to the Suez Canal, bringing transit time to less than 25 days compared to 40 days.
— Access to Central Asia: Facilitates smooth access to Central Asia and beyond.
— Diversified Trade Routes: Reduces dependence on current trading partners and existing routes.
— Strategic Response: Seen as India’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
— Energy Corridor: Acts as India’s corridor to energy-rich regions including Central Asia, the Arctic, Nordic, and Baltic regions.
15. Paris Club
— It is an informal group of creditor nations focused on resolving debtor nations’ payment issues.
— It consists of 22 permanent members, including Western European, Scandinavian nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
— India and China are not its members.
16. Israel Palestine Issue- Major Agreements
— The Sykes-Picot Agreement was signed (a secret agreement between Great Britain and France), which led to the division of the old Ottoman Turkish Empire.
— Balfour Declaration (1917): The British agreed to the establishment of a Jewish homeland.
— Oslo Accords 1993: American-mediated effort to broker a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians.
17. United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
— Established in 1949 with headquarters in Amman, Jordan, and Gaza, Palestinian Authority.
— UNRWA serves nearly six million Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
(Policy of De-hyphenation: It means dealing with two countries, having adversarial relationship between them, in an independent
manner.)
18. OPEC Plus
— It includes Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
— Angola has decided to leave OPEC.
19. C+C5 countries
— It includes China and the five Central Asian countries, namely Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
20. African Union
— It is the second regional organization to become a permanent member of the G20 (after EU).
— Global Biofuel Alliance- It was launched by India along with the leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy,USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius and UAE.
21. SCO
— Iran joined as the new permanent member(9th member ) of the grouping.
— ‘Kashi’(Varanasi) has been declared the first tourism and cultural capital of SCO.
— Members- Iran, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
— It includes 3 observer states (Belarus, Mongolia and Afghanistan ) and 6 dialogue partners (Armenia, Turkiye, Azaerbaijan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia).
22. African Countries in News
• Sudan: Ongoing civil conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to significant violence and humanitarian crises.
• Ethiopia: The Tigray conflict has caused widespread displacement, famine, and human rights abuses. A ceasefire was declared, but tensions remain high.
• Somalia: Persistent conflict with Al-Shabaab insurgents continues to destabilize the country, exacerbating famine conditions.
• Mali: A series of military coups and ongoing insurgent violence in the northern and central regions have created instability and displacement.
• Burkina Faso: Frequent coup attempts and terrorist attacks by Islamist militant groups have caused widespread insecurity and displacement.
• Nigeria: The conflict with Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the northeast has led to significant human rights abuses and a humanitarian crisis.
• Central African Republic: Ongoing civil war between the government and various rebel groups continues to cause displacement and violence.
• South Sudan: Civil conflict and inter-communal violence have led to severe food insecurity and displacement issues.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Ongoing conflict involving various armed groups in the eastern regions, causing significant displacement and humanitarian crises.
• Mozambique: Insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province led by Islamist militant groups has caused displacement and insecurity.
• Chad: Instability due to conflicts with rebel groups and the aftermath of the death of President Idriss Déby, which led to a transitional military government.
• Niger: Frequent attacks by Islamist militants and the broader Sahel conflict have destabilized the region.
23. Sahel Region
— It is a semi-arid region of western and north-central
— Africa that stretches from Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea along Sahara desert’s southern rim.
— Countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.
— It forms a transitional zone between Sahara desert to the north and savannas to the south.
24. Bletchley Park Declaration
— Global Agreement: The Bletchley Park Declaration aims to establish a shared understanding of the risks and opportunities posed by “frontier AI.”
— Partners: The summit led to a groundbreaking agreement signed by 28 major countries, including India, the US, China, and the European Union.
25. Stockholm Agreement
— Under the Stockholm Agreement, numerous Yemeni war prisoners were reunited with their families. It refers to a peace agreement reached in 2018 between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels.
26. Ben Gurion Canal Project
— It was envisaged in the 1960s to create an alternative route to the Suez Canal.
— The idea is to cut a canal through the Israeli controlled Negev Desert from the tip of the
— Gulf of Aqaba — the eastern arm of the Red Sea that juts into Israel’s southern tip and south-western Jordan — to the Eastern Mediterranean coast.
27. Mineral Security Partnership (MSP)
— India has joined the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to promote investment in global critical mineral supply chains, both public and private.
— A global initiative, announced by the US and key partner nations, aims to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
— The initiative primarily targets critical mineral supply chains, including cobalt, nickel, lithium, and 17 “rare earth” minerals.
28. Notices by Interpol
— Red Notice (Wanted Persons): A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person
pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
— Yellow: Missing persons
— Blue: Additional information
— Black Notice: Unidentified bodies
— Green Notice: Warnings and intelligence
— Orange notice: Imminent threat
— Purple Notice: Modus operandi
29. Operations and Evacuations
| Operations | Evacuation Reason |
| Operation Ajay 2023 | Israel- Hamas Conflict |
| Operation Kaveri 2023 | Sudan Conflict |
| Operation Dost 2023 | Turkey-Syria Earthquake |
| Operations Karuna 2023 | Cyclone hit Myanmar |
30.G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration
The G20 adopted a consensus declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Day 1 of the two-day summit, signalling that negotiators had resolved their differences over the wording on the war in Ukraine. Here is what it says on key areas.
— ON UKRAINE WAR
ALL STATESmust act in a manner consistent with purposes and principles of UN charter in its entirety.
THEY MUST REFRAINfrom threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state; also from use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.
PEACEFUL RESOLUTIONof conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical.
“THERE WEREdifferent views and assessments of the situation.”
“TODAY’S ERAmust not be of war.”
— ON GRAIN/FOOD/ENERGY SECURITY
CALLS ONRussia andUkraineto ensure immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from Russia and Ukraine.
EMPHASISINGimportance of sustaining food and energy security, called for cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure.
POTENTIAL FORhigh levels of volatility in food and energy markets remains.
— ON ECONOMIES & FINANCIAL MARKETS
“WILL PROTECTthe vulnerable, through equitable growth and enhancing macroeconomic and financial stability.”
REAFFIRMApril 2021 exchange rate commitment made by G20 finance ministers and central bank governors.
ENDORSEfinancial stability board’s high-level recommendations for regulation, supervision and oversight of crypto-assets, activities.
FINANCE MINISTERSand central bank governors will discuss taking forward the cryptocurrency roadmap at their meeting in October.
RENEWour commitment to ensure a level-playing field and fair competition by discouraging protectionism, market distorting practices.
—ON CLIMATE CHANGE
NEED TO ACCELERATEefforts to phase down unabated coal power, in line with national circ*mstances.
WILL WORKtowards facilitating low-cost financing for developing countries to support their transition to low carbon.
WILL PURSUEand encourage efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally through existing targets and policies, in line with national circ*mstances by 2030.
REITERATEour commitment to take action to scale up sustainable finance.
REITERATEuse of carbon pricing and non-pricing mechanisms and incentives toward carbon neutrality and net zero.
RECOGNISEneed for increased global investments to meet our climate goals of the Paris agreement.
NOTE NEED OF$5.8-5.9 trillion in pre-2030 period required for developing countries, in particular for their needs to implement their emission targets.
CALLS ONparties to set an ambitious, transparent, and trackable New Collective Quantified Goal of climate finance in 2024, from a floor of $100 billion a year.
—ON GLOBAL DEBT VULNERABILITIES
COMMIT TOpromoting resilient growth by urgently and effectively addressing debt vulnerabilities in developing countries.
CALL FORswift conclusion of the debt treatment for Ethiopia.
—ON HEALTH
REMAIN COMMITTEDto strengthening global health architecture.
WILL ENHANCEresilience of health systems and support development of climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems in collaboration with multilateral banks.
(The African Union (AU) was admitted as a new member of the G20 on Saturday (September 9), barely three months after India floated the idea of including the organisation. The development took place at the ongoing 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi.)
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