01 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 11th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting
2. 46th Raising day of Indian Coast Guard

1. 11th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting

Syllabus: GS II, Bilateral groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Mains: Significance of the bilateral defence cooperation between India and Oman

Context: 11th India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting was held in New Delhi to enhance bilateral defence collaboration.

About the Meeting: 

• Discussions were made to expand the military cooperation between the bilateral defence partners, examining new areas of mutual interest for joint ventures.
• Conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercises involving three services and scopes to extend the joint exercise were part of the discussion.
• Both the countries decided to work together to resolve the issue of drug trafficking existing in the North Arabian Sea. 

About JMCC: 

• The Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) acts as the apex body between the ministries of India and Oman. 
• This committee reviews the India-Oman relationship through meetings held annually.
• This body reviews and guides all areas of bilateral defence cooperation. 
• The JMCC has agreed to initiate a series of high-level defence engagements between the two countries. 
• The 11th meeting of JMCC was co-chaired by the Defence Secretary of India and the Secretary-General of Defence, Oman. 

India-Oman Defence Cooperation: 

• This defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries. 
• Oman is India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region.
• Naseem al Bahr is a biennial maritime exercise between the two countries involving the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman. 
• The naval forces of both countries signed an MoU on the exchange of white shipping information. This will enable information exchange on merchant shipping traffic through an Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram along with the dissemination of data with partner countries maintaining the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Region. 
• The defence exchanges between India and Oman are guided by a framework MoU which was renewed in 2021. 
• Besides, the port of Duqm in Oman has offered facilities to the Indian Navy through two critical MoUs ensuring maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean Region. 
• Oman is the only country in the Gulf region with which the three services of the Indian armed forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks. 
• Oman provides critical operational support to Indian naval deployments in the Arabian sea for anti-piracy missions. 
• The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium is actively attended by Oman. 

Read more about India-Oman Relations in the linked article.

2. 46th Raising day of Indian Coast Guard

Syllabus: GS III, Security, Various security forces and agencies

Prelims: Coast Guard Component, Exclusive Economic Zone

Mains: India’s maritime security

Context: The Coast Guard Component, on the occasion of 46th raising day, has been congratulated by the Commander-in-chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) for its relentless service towards safeguarding India’s oceanic space. The year 2022 marks the 46th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard which was founded on the 1st of February, 1978. 

Read more about the Indian Coast Guard in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

February 1st, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here