UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  During the Summit, which was hosted in the historical city of Samarkand, in Uzbekistan, the Leaders decided to  establish a Strategic Partnership between the two regions , marking a new phase in relations. The new era of cooperation with the Central Asian countries will be articulated around topics such as transport, critical raw materials, energy, climate, and connectivity. The  Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor , which aims to connect both regions and to which the EU pledged €10 billion in 2024, will get a renewed impulse. President  von der Leyen  announced that  an Investors Forum will be organised in Uzbekistan this year  to further mobilise private investment for the corridor. At the same time, the leaders endorsed a  Joint Declaration of Intent on Critical Raw Materials  that will also attract private investment and generate true added value in the region. Further cooperation is also envisaged in the development of dams and clean ener...

  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today participated in the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit hosted by Thailand, the current chair. The theme of the Summit was - "BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient and Open”. It reflected the priorities of the leaders and the aspirations of the peoples of the BIMSTEC region, as well as the efforts of BIMSTEC in ensuring shared growth in times of global uncertainties. The Summit adopted the following: i. Summit Declaration ii. BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030 document, which lays out the road map for the collective prosperity of the region. iii. Signing of the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Agreement, which provides for – National Treatment and assistance to vessels, crew and cargo; mutual recognition of certificates/ documents; Joint Shipping Coordination Committee; and dispute settlement mechanism. ⅳ. Report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons Group constituted to make recommendations for future ...

The bilateral Naval Exercise   INDRA 2025   between   Indian and Russian navies   was held from   28 Mar to 02 Apr 2025 . This  14th edition  of the exercise included a wide range of activities and structured drills designed to enhance  interoperability  towards countering common  maritime threats . PIB

  During 03-04 April 2025, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India paid an Official Visit to Thailand and participated in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, on the invitation of H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Prime Minister Shinawatra at the Government House in Bangkok. Acknowledging the deep civilisational, cultural, religious and linguistic bonds and 78 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Thailand, both leaders held wide ranging discussions on various areas of bilateral cooperation including defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, science and technology, innovation, space, education, health, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Both leaders witnessed exchange of several MoUs covering various areas of cooper...

The conflict in Sudan that began in 2023 between rival elements of the security forces has fueled the world’s largest displacement crisis and largest hunger crisis. The war has pushed over 12 million people from their homes. More than half the population, over 25 million people, reportedly face acute food insecurity, and famine is spreading. The warring parties have been implicated in atrocity crimes and other gross human rights abuses. Fatality figures are not reliable, given access constraints, but by some estimates as many as 150,000 people may have died in the first year of the conflict alone.  The war that began as a fight for power between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF, the military) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has roots in how Sudan has been ruled, primarily by military regimes and central elites, since independence. Islamist military leader Omar al Bashir, who took power in a 1989 coup, faced multiple rebellions in the marginalized peripheries. He armed Sudane...

  Summary Seaweed is a nutrient-rich marine plant, packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It contains  54 trace elements and essential nutrients  that help fight diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart problems and high blood pressure. Seaweed is a sea plant that grows in the ocean and seas. Seaweed cultivation requires no land, freshwater, fertilizers or pesticides, making it sustainable. The  $5.6 billion seaweed industry  is booming, with India’s production increasing steadily. Under one of its components, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to boost seaweed production to  1.12 million tonnes  in five years. Introduction India, blessed with a 7,500 km-long coastline, stands at the edge of the ocean’s vast potential. The seashores hold untapped treasures beneath the waves, offering rich resources beyond traditional fisheries. Among these,  seaweed farming  is emerging as a booming livelihood option, unloc...

  India has vociferously advocated the need for a Collective Leadership for advancing the 2030 Climate Agenda at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held in Brasilia, Brazil, today. The Indian delegation was led by Sh. Amandeep Garg, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Session I: Advancing Environmental Cooperation amongst BRICS towards Sustainable Development and a Just Transition for All During the first session, India underscored BRICS' pivotal role in shaping global sustainability and Climate action. Highlighting that BRICS nations collectively account for 47% of the world’s population and contribute 36% of global GDP (PPP), India emphasized the group's responsibility in addressing climate change and sustainable development. India reaffirmed the significance of the New Delhi Statement from the 7th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting 2021, which advocates a holistic approach to climate action by integrating adaptatio...

 It ws approved by  the Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry of the ASEAN Member States plus People's Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea. It was approved  during the meeting held in October 2002 in Lao PDR. It was established as a project with financial support from the Japan and Thailand. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen food security in the ASEAN region. AFSIS

It was formed by IMF to  help its 191 member countries create more conducive macroeconomic and financial conditions for strong and durable economic growth driven by productivity enhancements. IMF News

The Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), UNICEF-India along with other esteemed national and international partners, convened a dissemination and stakeholder consultation today at the ICMR, New Delhi. This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among Indian adolescents by working in factors influencing their food environments. Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by ICMR-NIN, PHFI, and UNICEF, working in collaboration with national and international organizations to create healthier food environments for adolescents. It aims to advance evidence-based policies, empower youth through nutrition literacy, and advocate for regulatory frameworks that promote healthier food choices. The LFOF Consortium recognizes that bettering food environments for adolesce...

Projects are in the sectors of forest management, water supply, urban transport, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and investment promotion. The Government of India and the Government of Japan yesterday signed loan agreements worth JPY 191.736 billion for six projects under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India  in the sectors of forest management, water supply, urban transport, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and investment promotion . The six loan agreements were signed between the Government of India and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at New Delhi for: “Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Program (Phase 3) (TNIPP-III)” (JPY 36.114 billion) “Project for Capacity Enhancement for Effective Forest Management (JPY 8.280 billion) Project for Construction of Chennai Seawater Desalination Plant (II)” (JPY 52.556 billion) “Delhi Mass Rapid Transport System Project (Phase 4 Additional Corridors) (I)” (JPY 79.726 billion) “Assam State Aquaculture...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) Program has the objectives of improving India’s logistics infrastructure, reducing logistics costs, and increasing efficiency. It supports the implementation of the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan by strengthening multimodal logistics, standardizing warehousing, and promoting digitalization in trade logistics. The SMILE program aims to establish and operationalize a comprehensive policy framework to enhance logistics efficiency through (i) strengthening the institutional bases for multimodal logistics infrastructure development at the National, State, and City levels; (ii) standardizing warehousing and other logistics assets to strengthen supply chains and incentivize greater private sector investment; (iii) improving efficiencies in external trade logistics; and (iv) adopting smart systems for efficient and low-emission logistics. These would im...

The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), a joint program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), undertakes a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of a country’s financial sector. Since September 2010 the exercise has become mandatory for jurisdictions with systemically important financial sectors. Currently, it is mandatory for 32 jurisdictions including India, every five years, and for another 15 jurisdictions every ten years. Last FSAP for India was conducted in 2017 and the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) report was published by IMF on 21st December, 2017. Launched in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, the program brings together Bank and Fund expertise to help countries reduce the likelihood and severity of financial sector crises. Aim: 1. to gauge the  stability and soundness of a country’s financial sector   2. to assess the financial sector can contribute to growth and development. The IMF specializes in the sta...

  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Collaborative Forum (PSCF) 2025 will be held from 25 th  -27 th  March, 2025, in Mumbai. The forum is being hosted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, reaffirming India’s responsible leadership in global efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. India’s Leadership in AML/CFT Efforts India’s participation in FATF initiatives has been widely recognised. India is a member of steering group of FATF and also co-chairs a working group on Risks, Trends and Methodologies work group. In November 2024, India hosted the plenary of Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) in Indore. In June 2024, India’s FATF Mutual Evaluation Report was tabled at the FATF Plenary in Singapore and subsequently released in September 2024.  India achieved the best possible outcome by being placed in ‘regular follow-up...