International Relations Current Affairs UPSC Exam 2021 Set-1

Table of Contents

Topics To Discuss

India- Bangladesh Relations
India- Nepal Relations

Q) With reference to India Bangladesh relation, consider the following statements:
1) Bangladesh is India’s second largest trading partner in South Asia (First)
2) India in collaboration with USA is constructing country’s first nuclear power plant in rooppur.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2.
D) Neither 1 nor 2

WHY IN NEWS

India- Bangladesh Relation

A Virtual Summit was recently held between India’s Prime Minister and Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Outcomes of the Summit

Signing of Bilateral Documents and Inauguration of Projects: in varied fields such as Hydrocarbon Sector, Trans-boundary Elephant Conservation, High Impact Community Development Projects.
Cooperation in Health Sector: India assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India
Cultural Cooperation: A commemorative postal stamp was issued by the Government of India on the occasion of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Border Management and Security Cooperation: Both sides agreed to work towards finalizing the delineation of the fixed boundaries along Icchamati, Kalindi, Raimongol, Hariabhanga and the Kuhsiyara Rivers.
Trade Partnership: Both countries directed the officials to expedite the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Connectivity: Inauguration of the newly restored railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh), which was defunct since the India-Pakistan war of 1965.

Background of India- Bangladesh Relations

India was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh and establish diplomatic relations immediately after its independence in December 1971.
The Indian Army fought side by side with the Bangladeshi freedom fighters in 1971 during the Liberation War.

Significance of Bangladesh for India

Enhancing Connectivity: Bangladesh, due to its strategic geopolitical location, acts as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
It is a central component to various regional connectivity projects such as the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India Nepal (BBIN) initiative.
Important Trade Partner: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and is an important destination for Indian exports. India’s exports to Bangladesh in FY 2018-19 stood at around US$ 9.21 bn.

Significance of Bangladesh for India

Security and border management: India shares an extensive and porous boundary with Bangladesh.
Development of North- Easter Region (NER): Transit and transshipment to NER through Bangladesh helps increase connectivity with the NER and ensure peace, stability and economic development of the region.

Contention between India- Bangladesh

River water disputes: Bangladesh lies downstream in majority of the river streams. This has given rise to concerns in Bangladesh over sharing of river waters, interlinking of the rivers and building of dams in India.
Trade imbalance: Bangladesh has often complained that the bilateral trade tilts towards India.
Issues in Border Management: Loss of civilian lives at the border and smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency has been a matter of concern.

Contention between India- Bangladesh

China factor: The Chinese influence on Bangladesh has been increasing in the past few years through measures like enhancing the list of products for duty-free access into its markets and providing massive loans for development projects.
Concerns related to Citizenship Amendment Act: The new citizenship law granting Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh indirectly implied the poor treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh and brought negative publicity for Dhaka

Tit Bits Related to India- Bangladesh

Overall, India and Bangladesh have 54 trans-boundary rivers between them, part of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin
India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, inaugurated in 2018, for supply of diesel from Siliguri in India to Parbatipur in Bangladesh
2021 will be a historic year for India-Bangladesh bilateral relations as both countries will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh

With reference to India Nepal relation, consider the following statements:

1) India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed in 2015.
2) India is the largest trading partner of Nepal.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2.
D) Neither 1 nor 2

WHY IN NEWS

India- Nepal Ties

Recently, Foreign Secretary visited Nepal to improve bilateral ties between two countries.

Background of India- Nepal

India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.
Nepalese citizens avail facilities and opportunities on par with Indian citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
Nearly 8 million Nepalese citizens live and work in India.

Changing nature of India-Nepal Ties

Boundary disputes: Despite India’s objection, Nepal issued a new political map that included disputed areas including the Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani (Parts of Uttarakhand).
Changing nature of traditional business ties: For many small and medium Nepali businesses, it is now easier to trade with China as rules have made it harder to do business with India.
Ideological basis- The communist parties in Nepal have favored China and consistently protested against India. This time around the Nepali Congress also favored them

Tit Bits Related to India- Nepal

India is the largest trading partner of Nepal
Currently, about 32,000 Nepalese Gorkhas are serving in the Indian Army
India provides around 3000 scholarships/seats annually to Nepalese nationals for various courses at the Ph.D/Masters, Bachelors and plus–two levels in India and in Nepal.