BRIC and IBSA

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BRIC: Brazil, Russia, India and China: The probable world leading economies by 2050: A Theory discussed elsewhere on this blog.

Similarly, IBSA: India, Brazil and South Africa another economic group expected to influence the world economy.

These two non-European Economic groups (different from regional group) are being watched and pursued with great expectations. No doubt, our present government is also giving lot of significance to these economic group relations. BRIC has been included on this blog even for 2009. BRIC and IBSA remain important probable questions for 2010 Prelims as well as in Mains and even in ongoing interviews. It should be prepared with preparing small notes on each economic group (Good material is already available on Wikipedia), the core description of the state heads, the governments, the capitals of the countries and main economic ratios of these countries should be included. (Again take help of Wikipedia and CIA fact books: A better way than what you can buy from market. Most of them are merely recycling of what is given there expect for one or two publications.)

The hitched report is included which does not give much peep into the topic but discusses different angles. It is intently chosen because it is on one hand required higher understanding of the international relation to which Siddarth Varadaranjan refers to and on the hand given a glimpse of opinions of tricky international relations. A person who does not have taste for international relations and is an aspirant for Civil Services examinations, it can be a provocative introduction.

Apart from that I have included a link to a list of similar reports. However, take help of Wikipedia for main search option namely BRIC (already available on this blog) and IBSA.

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Hitched Links:
The Hindu : Front Page : From IBSA to CHIBSA? BRIC to BRICS? Not yet
Dump of related news Items

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Nepal: A neighbour in Trouble

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The new syllabus of GS has specifically pointed out the relations with the neighbouring countries as a major topic. Nepal is presently standing at a critical juncture of its history. It is drafting its new constitution and there are pressures from different sides which have strong ideological stands. There are trade and economic issues which matters to both the countries Nepal and India. Hence, Nepal may be an important question in GS October 2009 which has to be discretely tackled in writing as well as in the interview. Therefore, there is need to develop a good essay on it. Keep watching the editorials and opinions in TOI and Hindu which may come up in this fortnight. It is better to read the latest than to depend on the written essays as given in different books. Magazines may be concerned as they just follow the rule which I keep on stressing on this blog.

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Keep a record of this link:

India looks for a fresh start as Nepal PM comes calling - India - NEWS - The Times of India

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India and Asean sign trade deal (FTA)

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The following report needs a reading. India has signed a Free Trade Agreement with Asean Countries which is a bloc of 11 countries.

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Use the Reports:
BBC NEWS | Business | India and Asean sign trade deal
The Hindu Report

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Added on August 16, 2009:
For Additional Points on FTA with ASEAN use the report of The Hindu.

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Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai

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There is small report by Saibal Dasgupta on changed tone of China towards India. The relation with China requires good understanding for all the aspirants, one it being a neighbouring country and relations with neighbouring countries has been specifically emphasized in the Syllabus of General studies and second, China is a power to reckon with at international level.

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Consult the following Report to develop perspective on Indo-China relations:
Beijing does a U-turn, praises India-China bond - China - World - NEWS - The Times of India
Add to it The Hindu Report. Important to note that on border issue, the talks are stalked on the basis of legal and historic claims.

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Issues at Yekaterinburg summit of BRIC

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The following link of The Hindu, contains a report in which the major issues which can be discussed by BRIC are outlined. Though it is a report and the summit is yet to take place, however, BRIC activities deserves to be watched as they may bring one or two questions in October 2009 or May 2010.
Kindly check the following link:

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Discussions of BRIC states

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BTW How will you pronounce Yekaterinburg

Probably like Ya Ka terrain burch.

Am I right???

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Deep Sea Block 14 Dispute with Bangladesh

The following report has a detailed account of the oil exploration dispute with Bangladesh.

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Report to be used:
The Hindu News Update Service

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PTI New Item is at http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/F42C8ECEBA4FC01A6525752D002A4B62?OpenDocument

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Ninth Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh will go for Ninth Parliamentary election on December 29, 2008.

The chief contenders are Khalida Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League.

Both the main party leaders have alternated as Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and given rise to the term “Battling Begums” in International relations and politics.

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Important Note: The Bangladesh Elections and party issues have remained the topic of questioning in earlier Prelims and Mains. Hence, include it in important category for 2009. Also keep watch on the election results.

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Sources to be used:
PREVIEW - Bangladesh poll brings hope with a dash of doubt Reuters

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Bhutan's fifth king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk

Indian spectacle at Bhutan king's coronation

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PM Manmohan Singh's Speech at the 63rd session of United Nations General Assembly

Dr Singh at the UN: His speech

At the above given link of Rediff News, the speech of Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of Republic of India can be accessed. The speech was delievered on September 26, 2008 at 63rd session of United Nations General Assembly in New York.

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The following are some of the extracts from the speech itself.

The composition of the Security Council needs to change to reflect contemporary realities of the twenty-first century.


Globalisation has contributed to ever widening circles of prosperity and we in India have benefited from it.


Ensuring inclusive growth within nations, and inclusive globalization across nations, is a central challenge that faces us.


The development gains that many countries have made are today threatened by a possible food crisis, a global energy crisis and most recently, unprecedented upheavals in international financial markets.


There is, therefore, a need for a new international initiative to bring structural reform in the world's financial system with more effective regulation and stronger systems of multilateral consultations and surveillance.


The world needs a Second Green Revolution to address the problem of food security. We need new technologies, new institutional responses and above all a global compact to ensure food and livelihood security.


It is feared that many of the conflicts of the 21st century will be over water.



Poverty, ignorance and disease still afflict millions of people.



Poverty alleviation and livelihood security are closely linked to energy security.


Climate change can be overcome successfully only through a collaborative and cooperative global effort.




India has unveiled an ambitious National Action Plan on Climate Change.


The growing assertion of separate identities and ethnic, cultural and religious intolerance threatens our developmental efforts and our peace and stability.


We should conclude expeditiously the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.


The United Nations is a living symbol of pluralism.

Relations with Nepal 2008: Dignitary visits India

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, the Prime Minister of Nepal came to India on Sunday, September 14, 2008 on a five day good will visit. He is the first Maoist Prime Minister of Nepal. He headed a 44-member delegation that includes four ministers, senior government officials, heads of business federations and journalists. The visit ended on September 18, 2008.


It was a good will visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India. He was counselled by his cabinet not to sign any treaty on the visit. The Indo-Nepal relations involve the following issue when he had visited India.


The Prime Minister of Nepal and India had to review the Peace and Friendship Treaty 1950. The Prime Minister of Nepal came with a draft of Peace and Friendship Treaty. There are forces in Nepal which want that the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 should be abolished.


The Kosi Treaty 1954, is another issue between Nepal and India. In recent days, 10,000 people had been effected in Nepal and 3 million in India. There is further need to discuss over the reconstruction and relief measures along with the details of the Kosi Treaty of 1954. There is a pressure from Nepal that India should look after the maintenance of the Kosi river.


Nepal also wants to review the Mahakali River Pact of 1996.


Nepal also wants to review the Gandak River Pact. Nepal’s communist groups feel that Gandak Treaty clauses are unfavourable to Nepal on irrigation rights.


On Trade front, Nepal demands numerous concessions. It demands tax schedule restructuring, quarantine rights and transit rights for its trade from Mumbai Port and Radhikapur Port which is in Bangladesh. The balance of trade is presently in favour of India.


The hydropower project participation is important issue between Nepal and India. India is planning a big dam on Kosi with irrigation facilities for India. Nepal demands that the Hydroproject on Kosi should fulfill the power needs of Nepal on favourable terms. It also demands increased role of India in Hydro projects being started with Nepal within Nepal.


It is pertinent to note that India had played a major role in peace settlement with Nepal when in 2006 the Maoist groups signed 12 programme with other political groups in Nepal.

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Source used: Prachanda begins goodwill visit to India: Economic Times.