current affairs

The last hurdle in the operationalisation of the 123 Agreement
• Three steps that need to be concluded.
• One is an assurance from India on non-proliferation in the form of a letter.
• The second is the conclusion of the reprocessing agreement between the two countries.
• The third step is a civil liability law.
• Before Mr Singh’s departure for the US the Cabinet on Thursday had cleared the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill, which will allow India to join the international convention on civilian liability in case of nuclear damage.


PM leaves for Port of Spain
• Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, where he will attend the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) beginning on Friday.
• India and the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on counter-terrorism and five other agreements during the visit.
• Dr. Singh held talks with Mr. Obama on the entire gamut of bilateral ties, the situation in the region and global challenges such as terrorism, climate change and the economic crisis. “I am satisfied with the visit,” Dr. Singh said hours before wrapping up the trip. Describing his tour as very productive, he said, “I am confident that we cannot only continue but also strengthen the momentum of our relations built up in the last few years.”

On the Brahmaputra dam issue
• The UN International Convention of 1997 on Non-Navigational Uses of International Water Courses mentions that the lower-reparian country should be consulted and its cooperation should be sought. India abstained in the vote in the UN and China had opposed this Convention of 1997.
• Because of this, India and China will have to enter into a political dialogue and negotiations on the issue of construction of a dam on Brahmaputra from the Tibetan side.

Wildlife Protection Act to be amended to curb tiger poaching
• To prevent incidents of poaching and poisoning and to save the remaining population of tigers, the Ministry of Environment and Forests proposes to bring in amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) (Coimbatore)here, forest and environment minister said that of the 37 tiger reserves, nine were in good condition, 12 satisfactory and 16 in a precarious condition. As on date, the country had 1,200 to 1,400 tigers.
• To control poaching, a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, with field offices, had been set up.

India, Finland sign three agreements
• India and Finland on Thursday signed three agreements to boost cooperation in science and technology. Both the countries also decided to set up a Joint Business Council and address climate change.
• The agreements were signed during the India-Finland Technology Partnership Forum meeting
Coordination problems in revamped coastal security
• After 26/11, the country suddenly realised it has the sea on two sides.
• The concept of coastal security was defined with the Navy being asked to assume overall responsibility. While the Navy is essentially meant to guard the territorial waters, in the new scenario it has an additional job of drawing and implementing a plan to secure the 7,500-km long coastline against ingress.
• At present there are some 13 agencies, controlled by different Ministries, engaged coastal security activity. The Navy’s suggestion to have a Maritime Security Advisor remains unfulfilled.
• The Navy has to seek a response from the Coast Guard that is responsible for protection of up to 200 nautical miles from the shoreline, known as the Exclusive Economic Zone, while the coastal police have to manage the areas in and around the coast.

Ottawa Treaty

The Ottawa Treaty is also called as Mine Ban Treaty and It was previously known as Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

This treaty bans completely all anti-personnel landmines or AP-mines). In May 2009 there were 156 States Parties to this treaty. In 2009, Rwanda became the first nation to be landmine free. Please note that there are 37 countries which are not party to the Convention. India is also one among them. The prominent countries not a party to this convention are People's Republic of China, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, India, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Syria and the United States.