TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15.10.2024

1. DEFENCE

TAKING STOCK OF GLOBAL NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

• This year’s UN General Assembly agenda includes a session on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), also known as the Ban Treaty, which is distinct from the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
• The Ban Treaty (TPNW)
• Key Provisions:
• Prohibitions: The TPNW, which came into force in 2021, prohibits signatories from developing, testing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, using, deploying, keeping, or threatening to use any nuclear explosive devices.
• Scope: It goes beyond the NPT, which primarily focuses on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons (non-proliferation) and only vaguely commits to disarmament without addressing nuclear use or deterrence.
• Origins and Adoption: Humanitarian Initiative: The TPNW emerged from a coalition of UN agencies and NGOs under the Humanitarian Initiative, which highlighted the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons on people, health, and the environment.
• UN Conference: The UN General Assembly mandated a conference in 2017 to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to the adoption of the TPNW. However, nuclear-armed states and their allies did not participate and opposed the treaty.
• Current Status and Support As of July 2024: States Parties: 70 states have ratified the TPNW.
• Signatories: An additional 27 states have signed but not yet ratified the treaty.
• Global Representation: This support from 97 states represents nearly 50% of the states and parties bound to the legal framework on weapons of mass destruction

2. BILATERAL

AUSTRALIA, INDIA PUSH FORWARD ON CECA TALKS

• India and Australia are advancing negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), building on the early harvest Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) that came into effect about 20 months ago.
• Key Points from the Meeting Trade Ministers’ Talks:
• Participants: The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Australia’s Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell.
• Objective: The primary focus was to strengthen trade ties and work towards achieving a shared goal of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
• Progress Since ECTA: Australian Exports: Since the ECTA, almost $30 billion worth of Australian exports have entered India with zero or lower tariffs compared to other competitors.
• Agriculture Exports: Australian agriculture exports to India have risen by 60%, reaching $1.6 billion.
• Consumer Benefits: For Australian consumers, the deal has resulted in savings worth around $225 million due to lower tariffs on Indian products.
• Strategic Implications Bilateral Trade Goals: $100 Billion Target: Both countries are committed to achieving $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, indicating a significant deepening of economic ties.
• Sectoral Focus:
• Agriculture: Agriculture remains a key focus area, with Australia looking to expand its agricultural exports to India.
• Consumer Goods: The reduction in tariffs has already benefited consumers in both countries, and further tariff cuts could enhance these benefits.

3. INTERNATIONAL

CHINA TESTS INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

• First in Decades: This is China’s first ICBM test launch in decades, marking a significant development in its military capabilities.
• Regional Reactions: Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have all expressed serious concerns about the launch and China’s military build-up.
• Future Projections: China’s nuclear arsenal is expected to grow significantly, with more than 1,000 warheads projected by 2030.

4. INTERNATIONAL

AT THE UN, ZELENKSYY URGES COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT HIS PEACE PLAN

• Nuclear Risks: The occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant poses significant risks, with potential global consequences.
• Peace Plan: Zelenskyy’s peace proposal calls for Russia’s complete withdrawal and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
• Zelenskyy’s Peace Proposal 10-Point Plan: 
• Components: The Ukrainian peace proposal includes Russia’s complete withdrawal from Ukraine, including Crimea, the restoration of pre-2014 borders, nuclear safety, food and energy security, and accountability for war crimes.
• Equality: Zelenskyy emphasized that his plan treats all parties as equals and does not allow any single country to control the process.
• Challenges: Russian Opposition: Russia opposes the peace proposal, as it would require significant concessions.
• UN’s Limitations: Zelenskyy criticized the UN’s inability to bring peace due to the Security Council’s veto power, which Russia holds.
• India’s Mediation: Information Sharing: Zelenskyy acknowledged India’s role in conveying information between Ukraine and Russia to facilitate peace talks.
• Bilateral Meeting: He had bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York, emphasizing the need for a “real, just peace.”
• Global Leadership: The effectiveness of global leadership in resolving the conflict is questioned, with some leaders potentially prioritizing personal recognition over genuine peace efforts.

5. BILATERAL

INDIA SHARING INFORMATION BETWEEN RUSSIA, UKRAINE

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated that the Indian government is actively engaging with both Russia and Ukraine to facilitate peace talks and end the ongoing conflict. This diplomatic effort underscores India’s role as a mediator in international conflicts.
• Key Points from Jaishankar’s Statement
• Diplomatic Engagement:
• Peace Efforts: Jaishankar emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine war is unlikely to be resolved on the battlefield and that diplomatic negotiations are essential.
• Communication: India is sharing conversations it has had with one party with the other, acting as a conduit for information and potentially fostering mutual understanding.
• Appreciation: Both Russia and Ukraine reportedly appreciate India’s efforts, highlighting India’s unique position to engage both sides.
• Recent Developments: High-Level Meetings: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has had conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden.
• National Security Adviser: Ajit Doval also met with Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in St. Petersburg, indicating high-level engagement from India.
• India’s Role in Neighboring Countries
• Financial Assistance:
• Sri Lanka: India provided around $4.5 billion in financial assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis in 2022 without imposing political conditionalities. This aid was aimed at preventing an economic meltdown in a neighboring country.
• Bangladesh: India has also engaged in joint projects with Bangladesh, benefiting both nations.
• Political Dynamics:
• Non-Interference: Jaishankar clarified that India’s financial assistance and projects in neighboring countries are not aimed at controlling their internal political dynamics.
• Respect for Sovereignty: India respects the political processes of its neighbors and does not seek to influence their political decisions to align with its own interests

ONE LINER

1. Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) for the 2024-2027 term
2. China launched the Smart Dragon – 3 carrier rocket from offshore near Haiyang, Shandong Province.