Today November 2018 | 16th

November, 2018

9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue between India and China held in Beijing


The 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue between India and China held in Beijing. It held between the two defence delegations headed by defence secretary Sanjay Mitra and China’s deputy chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. Mitra was accompanied by senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
The defence dialogue was also held ahead of 21st round of border talks between the special representatives of the two countries in Chinese city of Dujiangyan on November 23-24, 2018. National security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi are designated special representatives for the border talks.
Background
The 9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue was held after one-year gap due to Doklam standoff. It had not taken place last year following the 73-day tense standoff between two Indian and Chinese militaries at Doklam, The standoff was triggered by Chinese PLA’s plan to build road close strategically narrow ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor (or Siliguri corridor) connecting India’s northeastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan besides China. It ended after Chinese troops stopped road construction after which both countries stepped up efforts to normalise relations leading to the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April 2018.
Outcomes of 9th Dialogue
Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon
They also reiterated importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas, implementing (Wuhan) consensus reached between PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and specific additional confidence-building measures at the operational level.
They underlined importance of this dialogue as important mechanism between two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. They emphasised need to further strengthen military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries.
Both sides also had an exchange of views on regional and global issues. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue at mutually convenient time in India in 2019.
Month: Categories: India Current Affairs 2018


NITI Aayog constitutes Himalayan State Regional Council for development of Himalayan region


NITI Aayog has constituted Himalayan State Regional Council to ensure sustainable development of Indian Himalayan region. It will be chaired by Dr VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and will consist of Chief Secretaries of Himalayan States as well as Secretaries of key Central Ministries, senior officers of NITI Aayog as well as special invitees.
Key Facts
The Council has been constituted to review and implement identified action points based on Reports of five Working Groups, which were established along thematic areas to prepare a roadmap for action. It will be nodal agency for Sustainable development in Himalayan Region which consists of 12 States namely Jammu &Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur,  Mizoram, Tripura, two districts of Assam namely Dima Hasao and KarbiAnglong and Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal.
Terms of reference of Council
It will monitor implementation of action points for Central Ministries, Institutions and 12 Himalayan State Governments in Indian Himalayan Region which include regional cooperation and river basin development, spring mapping and revival across Himalayas in phased manner for water security. It will develop, implement and monitor tourism sector standards as well as bring policy coherence, strengthen skill and entrepreneurship with focus on identified priority sectors, among other action points.
Background
Earlier in June 2017, NITI Aayog had set up 5 Working Groups to prepare a roadmap for actions in 5 thematic areas that are quite significant for the Himalayas. These areas were Inventory and Revival of Springs in Himalayas for Water Security; Sustainable Tourism in Indian Himalayan Region; Transformative Approach to Shifting Cultivation; Strengthening Skill & Entrepreneurship Landscape in Himalayas; Data/Information for Informed Decision Making.  These working groups were constituted after NITI Aayog recognised that mountains require specific solutions for resilience building that address socio-economic and environmental challenges in the mountain setting.

Month:Current Affairs – November, 2018 Categories: India Current Affairs 2018