UPSC 2019 Prelims Study Notes: Important International Organizations

Here we present the list of important international organizations which were recently in news and very important from the point of view of UPSC Civil Services Exam 2019. Comprehensive information is presented, and comparative study is suggested. This list is brought to you by Oliveboard, an online exam preparation platform for government, banking and MBA exams.

1. Shanghai Cooperation Agreement

• SCO is an economic political and military organisation.
•  Established in 2001 in Shanghai with 6 countries China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Earlier it was Shanghai Five Grouping formed in 1996 without Uzbekistan.
•  Head Quarters at Beijing, China.
•  India and Pakistan became full members at the 2017 summit held at Astana, Kazakhstan.
•   Now SCO represents 40 percent world population and 20 percent world GDP.
•   It has 4 members with observer status viz.Afghanistan Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.
•  The SCO membership offers a platform for India to engage Pakistan in a wider regional setting.
• RATS: India can deepen its defence cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) that specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.
• India's inclusion may even lower Beijing’s overarching influence over the SCO.
•  Next Summit is scheduled to be held in June 2018 at Qingdao, China .

2. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

• It was formed on June 6 1997 and on June 6 2017 it celebrated 20 years since its formation
•  The countries in the grouping are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
•  Permanent Secretariat is in Dhaka established in 2014. It consists of 22 percent of world population.
•  It is a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia and with SAARC’s falling prominence due to Pakistan’s cross border terrorism BIMSTEC gained lot of importance.
•  Indian Perspective: It helps in developing NORTHEASTERN India.
•  Like Motor Vehicle Agreement signed with BBIN India envisages same with BIMSTEC which can help movement of goods people and services.
• BIMSTEC region has huge natural water resources and also hydropower potential in the Himalayan region.
• It does not have written charter unlike SAARC and hence it is flexible.
•  The Free trade Agreement proposed in 1998 did not come into force and the region is posed with challenges like refugee issues and ethnic tension.

3. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• ASEAN started with the members - Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore
•  Established on 8^th August 1967 -Bangkok, Thailand.
•  Others who joined in order-Brunei, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, Cambodia.
•  ASEAN as a group is 6th largest economy with 4.4 million hectares and 3.3 percent in land.
• ASEAN Infrastructure Fund: For funding infrastructure from 2011 to 2020.
•  The ASEAN economic community blueprint 2025 overwrites its previous AEC and addresses in areas like non trade barriers and trade in services.

ASEAN Summit 2017

• 31st summit in Manila, Philippines.
• Theme-Parting for change engaging the future.
• 15th Indian ASEAN summit and RCEP took place during the Summit
•  Kaladana project in Myanmar-India promised to help building it.
• MODI gave 2 rice seed varieties to INTERNATIONAL GENE bank to International RICE research INSTI to reduce global hunger.

Importance:

• ASEAN has played a crucial role of contributing to political and economic stability in the region.
• India signed a FTA in goods in 2009 and an FTA in services and investments in 2014 with ASEAN.
•  India has a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with various countries of the ASEAN region which has resulted in concessional trade and a rise in investments.
•  Two decades of the Look East Policy, now renamed as Act East Policy by the government, have brought some positive results for India in making ASEAN an important regional partner.

Challenges:

·    ASEAN Countries see India as an alternative to the growing disturbances in South China Sea.

·    Members have failed to negotiate on Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea.

·    They have 10 different tax systems in place.

Venue of 2018 ASEAN Summit: Singapore

4. QUADRILATERAL Meeting

• Japan proposed a Quadrilateral and US endorsed plan to form the grouping along India and Australia to provide alternative debt financing for countries in the Indo-Pacific.
•  THEME: Free and Open Indo-Pacific
•  Promotes Peace, Prosperity and Stability
•   India highlighted its Act East Policy as the cornerstone of its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region
• Also Britain and France are proposed to enter the grouping.
• The grouping is seen as building a strategic partnership to deal with China’s rise and its implications, which could clearly not be countered with India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy.

Challenges:

•  Inclusion of global players in neighbourhood may come with opposition from neighbours including China.
•  India is a member of EAST ASSIAN Summit with other Quad members but not a part of APEC and can be a problem for its effective working in Indo Pacific.
•  Indian Ocean will now have presence of US if not China.

5. BRICS

• JIM'o'NIel in 2001 first used the word. It has Brazil,Russia,India China and South Africa as its members
• Headquarters at Shanghai, China
• 1^st meeting was held in Yekaterinburg Russia in 2006 between foreign ministers. In 2009 South Africa joined in 2011 Sanya, China in 3rd meeting
•  40 percent population 45 percent of world growth since 2009, 23 percent GDP of world.
•   New Development Bank (NDB) -treaty signed in 2014 and came into force in 2015.

       Headquarters-Shanghai , China
President- KV Kamath
It shall support public or private projects through loans guarantees equity participation and other financial instruments

• Recent summits:

2017 - in XIAMEN China in September.
Theme: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future
Declaration: BRICS action agenda on economic and trade cooperation supporting inter market linkages and financial integration.
Strategic framework of BRICS Customs Cooperation for sharing and assistance in Customs control.
Coordination Centre of BRICS Agriculture will be established in India.
Action Plan for 2017-2020 for enhancing research in ICT 5G, Nanotechnology and Internet of things.

2018 - 10th summit will be in Johannesburg South Africa.

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