Expected Questions in International Organizations 2019-IAS⟋NET (Part-1) (Set-3)

Please find below the most important expected topics for the upcoming UPSC Prelims exam 2019. Subscribe@Examrace YouTube Channel to get the complete series of expected questions. For practice and solutions visit - doorsteptutor. com. You can download the pdf by clicking the option “Download PDF” .

International Day of Education - 24 January

First-ever International Day of Education was celebrated on 24th Jan. , 2019 as per resolution passed by UN General Assembly on 3rd Dec. , 2018 to celebrate role of education in development.

International Day of Education

  • International Day of Education demonstrates world՚s political will towards providing quality education to all & achieving sustainable development by 2030.
  • Celebration reiterates importance of education for world՚s social & economic development & will nudge member countries of UN to improve quality of education & protect rights of student community. This will aid in attainment of sustainable development goals by 2030.
  • International Day of Education is aimed at underscoring fact that a fundamental right & a necessity to achieve sustainable development.

Damper for India՚s entry into NSG

In backdrop of meeting of P5 (UK, US, France, Russia & People՚s Republic of China) to discuss issues related to nuclear disarmament, China has again reiterated its previous stand that India՚s accession to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is pre-requisite for its membership to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or else there should be a common guidelines for membership of non-NPT states.

India has refused to sign NPT citing discriminatory provisions which provide undue advantages to nuclear weapon designated states.

Reasons cited by China for opposing India՚s Bid

  • There should be no double standards in enforcing NPT.
  • NPT is cornerstone for international nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament & post-war international security system.
  • China has played imp. role in all 3 aspects & China is committed to all 3 imp. goals of treaty.
  • International community should stick to multilateralism & promote progress 3 pillars namely non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
  • Hence China opposes double standards in enforcing the treaty.

February 4: World Cancer Day

Every year World Cancer Day is observed on 4th Feb. ay is observed to save millions of preventable deaths each year thru education, raising awareness & by pressing governments & individuals across the world to take action against the deadly disease.

I Am & I Will

On World Cancer Day, Union for International Cancer Control launched a new 3-year campaign w⟋theme: “I Am & I Will” . Campaign is aimed to increase public-facing exposure & engagement to inspire change that is required to build a cancer-free future for world.

Burden of Cancer

  • Global burden of cancer is estimated to have increased to 18.1 million new cases & 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Approx. 1 in 5 men & 1 in 6 women worldwide develop cancer in their lifetime & 1 in 8 men & one in 11 women die from disease.
  • In India 2.25 million cases w⟋over 1 lakh new cases being registered every year. Disease led to nearly 7 lakh deaths in 2018. ICMR estimates that India is likely to register over 17 lakh new cases & report over 8 lakh deaths by 2020.
  • If some serious interventions are not made to alter course of disease, global burden is expected to rise to close to 30 million new cases by 2040.

Asia LPG Summit

  • 2nd edition of Asia LPG Summit was inaugurated by Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas.
  • Theme LPG - Energy for Life will deliberate over series of subjects including how India՚s successful Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana can become a viable model for other countries to replicate particularly those striving to provide clean cooking fuel to its people.
  • Summit is organized jointly by major Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) Indian Oil, HPCL & BPCL together w⟋World LPG Association (WLPGA) .

World LPG Association

WLPGA is authoritative voice of global LPG industry representing full LPG value chain. WLPGA was established in 1987 & granted Special Consultative Status w⟋UN Economic & Social Council in 1989.

Mission of WLPGA

  • Demonstrate benefits of LPG & inform, educate & influence all stakeholders.
  • Support development of LPG markets.
  • Promote compliance w⟋standards, good business & good safety practices.
  • Identify innovation & facilitate knowledge transfer.
  • WLPGA brings together over 250 private & public companies operating in more than 125 countries involved in one, several or all activities of industry.
  • Association aims to add value to sector by driving premium demand for LPG, while promoting compliance w⟋good business & safety practices.
  • WLPGA has developed long-standing partnerships w⟋other international bodies such as various departments of UN, WHO, Regional Development Banks & a number of well-respected international NGOs such as Partnership on Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) & E + Co.

International IP Index 2019: Key Facts

  • U. S. Chamber of Commerce՚s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) has released International IP Index 2019.
  • Aims to create a roadmap for countries that aspire to foster economic growth & global competitiveness thru stronger IP. Index benchmarks IP framework in 50 global economies.
  • Index evaluates IP infrastructure in each economy based on 45 unique indicators, which are critical to growth of effective IP systems.
  • Indicators encompass 8 categories of IP protection: patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, commercialization of IP assets, enforcement, systemic efficiency & membership & ratification of international treaties.

Imp. features of International IP Index 2019 are:

  • U. S. , UK & EU economies remain atop global IP rankings though U. S. S lead narrowed due to systemic challenges to U. S patent system.
  • Japan & Singapore appear among Index՚s top 10.
  • India, for 1st time, broke free of bottom 10% of economies measured.
  • Majority of economies benchmarked are building more effective foundations for IP policy.
  • Govt. introduced reforms in Argentina to streamline patenting process, increase international cooperation on IP & bolster transparency & stakeholder engagement has resulted in increasing of its overall score by 15% & its rankings from 46thin 2018 to 40th in 2019.
  • Report concludes that starting from a low global IP standard, progress is slow & inconsistent. Yet there are obvious green shoots, seen most clearly in adoption of broader measures to improve systemic efficiency of IP rights administration & ability of IP owners to leverage their rights to finance innovative & creative activities.
  • Notwithstanding continued political threats to undermine IP rights for populist purposes, there is evidence that world is becoming an IP believer, inspired by possibility of a better tomorrow.

ILO Centenary Celebrations Launched

  • ILO Centenary Celebrations in India were inaugurated by Union Minister of State (I⟋C) for Labour & Employment at V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida.
  • India has ratified 47 out of 189 ILO conventions during century which includes all 8 core conventions.
  • International Labour Organisation
  • ILO is a tripartite organisation where representatives from govt. , employers & employees openly debate & create labour standards.
  • ILO is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019. As part of 100th Anniversary, ILO is implementing 7 centenary initiatives, which are:
    • The future of work initiative
    • The end to poverty initiative
    • The women at work initiative
    • The green initiative
    • The standards initiative
    • The enterprises initiative
    • The governance initiative

Exercise Cutlass Express 2019

  • Annual multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express was held from 27 Jan to 06 Feb 19.
  • Exercise is aimed to improve law enforcement capacity, promote regional security & progress inter-operability b⟋w armed forces of participating nations for purpose of interdicting illegal maritime activity in Western Indian Ocean.
  • Exercise is sponsored by U. S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) & conducted by Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) .
  • This is 8th iteration of annual multinational maritime exercise & was held in vicinity of Djibouti, Mozambique & Seychelles.
  • Participating nations in exercise were Canada, Comoros, Djibouti, France, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Portugal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Netherlands & US.
  • Indian Navy was represented in exercise thru INS Trikand.
  • During exercise, Naval, Coast Guard & Marine Police personnel from a number of East African countries were jointly trained by mentors from USA, India & Netherlands w⟋support of international organisations like International Maritime Organisation (IMO) , Combined Maritime Force (CMF) & European Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) .

US considers withdrawing Generalised System of Preferences from India

  • US is reportedly considering withdrawal of benefits to India under its Generalised System of Preferences amid a widening dispute over its trade & investment policies.
  • US Trade Representative (USTR) is in process of completing review of India՚s status as GSP beneficiary & announcement was expected over next 2 weeks.
  • System could be strongest punitive action since President Donald Trump took office in 2017 vowing to reduce US deficit w⟋large economies. Trump administration has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs.

Generalised System of Preferences

System instituted in 1976 under Trade Act of 1974 is U. S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in developing world by providing preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries & territories.

Impact on Trade with India

System would result in elimination of duty-free access for about 2,000 Indian product lines. This will hurt small businesses such as jewellery. After withdrawal of Generalised System of Preferences number of goods qualifying for preferential treatment could be reduced, or whole programme could be withdrawn.

India Inks Security Protection Agreement with Sweden

India & Sweden signed a security protection agreement that will enable 2 countries to share classified information w⟋each other.

Salient features of agreement:

  • Agreement will regulate how sensitive information is to be handled, processed & protected.
  • Pact will provide a framework for greater cooperation on high end & cutting edge technology & manufacturing.
  • Indian has proposed dialogue to enable a greater understanding of successful model of collaboration b⟋w govt. , industry & academia in building technologically advance ecosystem.
  • India thanked Swedish PM for his support to India՚s bid for permanent seat in United Nation Security Council (UNSC) & multilateral export control regime-Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) .

India Sweden Ties

  • Sweden is a Scandinavian country w⟋capital at Stockholm & currency Swedish krona.
  • In April 2018, PM had visited Stockholm & had held a meeting w⟋his Swedish counterpart. Both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in field of defence, cyber-security & innovation. PM w⟋his delegation had participated in Make in India programme in 2016.

Examrace Team at Aug 31, 2021