04 Sep 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

September 4th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet
2. Defence Minister in Moscow
3. Indra Navy – 20
4. Major Ports to use only Indian built tug boats now onwards

1. 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet

Context:

Union Culture and Tourism Minister virtually attends the 5^th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet.

Details:

• The current edition of the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet is chaired by Russia.
• The following propositions were made by India:
  • To explore possibilities of hosting a Digital Online Exhibition on a shared theme towards the end of 2021 under the auspices of the BRICS Alliance of Museums.
  • Opening the BRICS Corner under the auspices of the BRICS Alliance of Libraries proposed to be inaugurated during India’s BRICS Presidency in 2021.
    • The Corner will disseminate information related to the history and culture of BRICS
    • The corner will display books, periodicals and other e-resources gifted by the BRICS countries.
  • The National Gallery of Modern Arts, New Delhi will host the BRICS Joint Exhibition titled ‘Bonding Regions & Imagining Cultural Synergies’ under the auspices of the BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries, proposed to be held in 2021 hosted by India.

2. Defence Minister in Moscow

Context:

Defence Minister Mr Rajnath Singh addressed the Combined Meeting of Defence Ministers of SCO, CSTO & CIS Member States.

Details:

• The Minister talked about the situation in Afghanistan and also reaffirmed India’s commitment to the evolution of a global security architecture which will be open, transparent, inclusive, rules-based and anchored in international laws.

Read more on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the linked article.

About the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO):

• The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a Russia-led military alliance of seven former Soviet states that was created in 2002.
• Often called the Eurasian counterpart of NATO, the CSTO’s purpose is to ensure the collective defence of any member that faces external aggression.
• The organization supports arms sales and manufacturing as well as military training and exercises, making the CSTO the most important multilateral defence organization in the former Soviet Union.
• Members of CSTO:
  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russian Federation
  • Tajikistan
• Afghanistan and Serbia hold observer status. Uzbekistan was a member from 2006 to 2012.
• Its presidency rotates among its members annually.
• Beyond mutual defence, the CSTO also coordinates efforts in fighting the illegal circulation of weapons among member states and has developed law enforcement training for its members in pursuit of these aims.
• Members also use the organization to counter cyber warfare, narcotics trafficking, the illegal circulation of weapons, transnational crime, and terrorism.
• The CSTO has its origins in the Collective Security Treaty, which took effect in 1994 and included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• The CSTO is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.

Read more about the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the linked article.

3. Indra Navy – 20

Context:

The 11^th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY held between 4^th and 5^th September in the Bay of Bengal.

Details:

• Indra Navy is a biennial bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Navy.
• Initiated in 2003, the exercise epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two Navies.
• The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-20 is to further consolidate inter-operability built up by the two Navies over the years and also to enhance understanding and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations.
• The scope of this edition includes wide-ranging and diverse activities across the spectrum of maritime operations.
• Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, INDRA NAVY-20 would be undertaken in a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ format.
• The exercise would involve surface and anti-aircraft drills, firing exercises, helicopter operations, seamanship evolutions, etc.

4. Major Ports to use only Indian built tug boats now onwards

Context:

The Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports to procure or charter tug boats which are only made in India.  All procurements being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised ‘Make in India’ Order.

Details:

• The Ministry of Shipping is aiming to promote the Indian shipbuilding industry.

Also read: Make in India Scheme.

Read previous PIB here.

September 4th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here