International Solar Alliance (ISA)

India launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the CoP21 Climate Conference with an announcement by Prime Minister of India, that the revolution in the field would bring power to all citizens, and create unlimited economic opportunity.

The new body, which has invited all countries located fully or partly between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to join, is to function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in India, Gurgaon. 

The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a secretariat for the Alliance, and also support it for five years, the Prime Minister said at an event that was co-chaired with him by French President Francois Hollande.

• In its launch resolution, the ISA says it seeks to share collective ambitions to reduce the cost of finance and technology that is needed to deploy solar power widely; generation and storage technologies would be adapted to the individual countries’ needs.
• Among the tasks that the Alliance would pursue are, cooperation in training, building institutions, regulatory issues, common standards, and investment including joint ventures.

ISA has been envisioned as a specialized platform and will contribute towards the common goal of increasing utilization and promotion of solar energy and solar applications in its member countries. 

The Paris declaration on International Solar Alliance states that the countries share the collective ambition to undertake innovative and concerted efforts for reducing the cost of finance and cost of technology for immediate deployment of competitive solar generation, financial instruments to mobilise more than 1000 Billion US Dollars of investments needed by 2030 for the massive deployment of affordable solar energy and to pave the way for future solar generation, storage and good technologies for countries’ individual needs. 

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia. 

• viz: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, SriLanka,Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal

History:-

• BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand - Economic Cooperation) was formed at a meeting in Jun 1997 in Bangkok. 
• Myanmar was admitted in Dec 1997 and the organization was renamed as BIMST-EC. 
• The grouping expanded when Nepal and Bhutan were admitted in Feb 2004. The grouping’s name was changed to BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) at 1st Summit Meeting held in Bangkok in Jul 2004.

The Framework Agreement on BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in February 2004.  

The Framework Agreement includes provision for negotiation of FTA on goods, services, investment and economic cooperation amongst the member countries. 

• The Member countries of BIMSTEC have constituted the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) to carry forward the negotiations in accordance with the Framework Agreement.

Act East Policy

India's Act East Policy focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. 

• The policy which was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. 
• India has upgraded its relations to strategic partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, Singapore and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forged close ties with all countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Further, apart from ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India has also been actively engaged in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). 

Act East Policy has placed emphasis on India-ASEAN cooperation in our domestic agenda on infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, urban renewal, smart cities, Make in India and other initiatives. 

• Connectivity projects, cooperation in space, S&T and people-to-people exchanges could become a springboard for regional integration and prosperity. 

Objective:-
The Objective of ''Act East Policy” is to 

promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels 
thereby providing enhanced connectivity to the States of North Eastern Region including Arunanchal Pradesh with other countries in our neighbourhood. 

• The North East of India has been a priority in our Act East Policy (AEP). AEP provides an interface between North East India including the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the ASEAN region.
• Various plans at bilateral and regional levels include steady efforts to develop and strengthen connectivity of Northeast with the ASEAN region through trade, culture, people-to-people contacts and physical infrastructure (road, airport, telecommunication, power, etc.). 
• Some of the major projects include Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project, the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project, Rhi-Tiddim Road Project, Border Haats, etc. 

The ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-20 has been adopted in August 2015 which identifies concrete initiatives and areas of cooperation along the three pillars of political-security, economic and socio-cultural. 

India continues with stepped up efforts to forge closer partnership with concerned regional and Multilateral organisation such as ASEAN, ARF, EAS, BIMSTEC, ACD, MCG and IORA. 

On the Civilizational front, Buddhist and Hindu links could be energized to develop new contacts and connectivity between people. 

On Connectivity, special efforts are being made to develop a coherent strategy, particularly for linking ASEAN with our North East. 

Measures, including building transport infrastructure, encouraging airlines to enhance connectivity in the region, contacts between academic and cultural institutions are underway. 

Our economic engagement with ASEAN has been stepped up – regional integration and implementation of projects are priorities. 

The ASEAN-India Agreement on Trade in Service and Investments has entered into force for India and seven ASEAN countries from 1 July 2015. 

• The ASEAN-India Trade Negotiating Committee has been tasked to undertake a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. 
• India has also invited ASEAN member states to participate in the International Solar Alliance which it has co-launched with France on 30 November 2015 at COP-21. 

On strategic issues, we have increasing convergence on security interests with key partners both in bilateral and multilateral format. 
Closer cooperation in combating terrorism, collaborating for peace and stability in the region and promotion of maritime security based on international norms and laws are being pursued. 

India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway

India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, a 3,200-km highway that will connect India with the ASEAN. 

• The highway is going to link Moreh in Manipur (India) via Mandalay city (Myanmar) to Mae Sot in Thailand. 

The highway is considered an important land route that connects India with Southeast Asia and beyond. 

The 3,200 km-long road begins at the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh (in Manipur) and passes through several Myanmarese towns including, Tamu, Kalewa, Yargyi, Monya, Mandalay, Meiktila, Myawaddy and finally reaches Mae Sot in Thailand. 

• The four-lane highway is part of the proposed ASEAN East-West Corridor. 
• There is also a plan to link this road with the Trans Asian Highway-1 that runs from Japan (via ferry) to Turkey, where it connects the European highway after traversing through the Asian continent.

Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project

The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by the India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the North-Eastern part of India through Myanmar. 

• The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a project that will connect the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Myanmar by sea; 
• it will then link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Myanmar via Kaladan river boat route 
• and then from Paletwa on to Mizoram by road transport.

This project, which will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border, is expected to contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products. 
It also provides a strategic link to the North-East, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor. 

• In the absence of an alternate route, the development of this project not only serves the economic, commercial and strategic interests of India, but also contributes to the development of Myanmar, and its economic integration with India. 
• Since the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India's grant assistance to Myanmar. 

Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) & India

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of the following 10 (ten) countries

• Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, 
• Singapore, Philippines, Brunei, 
• Cambodia, Lao PDR, 
• Myanmar and Vietnam

Post 1990, due to liberalization of the Indian Economy, India started to look for avenues required for its increasing economic space which resulted in her "Look East Policy".

• Look East Policy was launched in 1991. 
• India's Look East policy represents its efforts to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia in order to bolster its standing as a regional power.
• India has developed multilateral organisations such as the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), forging extensive cooperation on environmental, economic development, security and strategic affairs, permitting the growth of influence beyond South Asia.

The Look East Policy has today matured into a dynamic and action oriented ‘Act East Policy. 

• PM at the 12th ASEAN India Summit and the 9th East Asia Summit held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, in November, 2014, formally enunciated the Act East Policy.
• The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian regions. 
• Membership expanded to 18 countries including the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011. 
• EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005.

ASEAN and India:-

There has been steady progress in the ASEAN-India partnership since the Look East Policy was launched in 1991. 

• India became sectoral dialogue partners in 1992 and full dialogue partners in 1996. 
• Since 2002, India has annual Summits with ASEAN along with China, Japan and Republic of Korea which is known as ASEAN-India Summit.

Investment flows are also substantial both ways, with ASEAN accounting for approximately 12.5% of investment flows into India since 2000. 

• FDI inflows into India from ASEAN between April 2007-March 2015 was about US$ 32.44 billion. 
• Whereas FDI outflows from India to ASEAN countries, from April 2007 to March 2015, as per data maintained by DEA, was about US$ 38.672 billion.

The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed with the entering into force of the ASEAN-India Agreements on Trade in Service and Investments on 1 July 2015.

ASEAN and India have been also working on enhancing private sector engagement. ASEAN India-Business Council (AIBC) was set up in March 2003 in Kuala Lumpur as a forum to bring key private sector players from India and the ASEAN countries on a single platform for business networking and sharing of ideas.

Connectivity:-

While India has made considerable progress in implementing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project, issues related to increasing the maritime and air connectivity between ASEAN and India and transforming the corridors of connectivity into economic corridors are under discussion. 

• A possible extension to India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam is also under consideration.

Delhi Dialogue: India has an annual Track 1.5 event Delhi Dialogue, for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India.

Based on the ASEAN-India Vision Statement adopted by the Commemorative Summit in November 2012, ASEAN and India launched the ASEAN-India Centre located in Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) in New Delhi to promote, among others, trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. 

• ASEAN and India are currently discussing the modalities of the Centre.

National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy

India for the first time prepared this comprehensive, all encompassing IPR policy. Till now, separate isolated policies were there but no single policy which integrated all of it.

The National IPR Policy is a vision document that aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), concerned statutes and agencies. 

It sets in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review. 

It aims to incorporate and adapt global best practices to the Indian scenario. 

The Policy recognizes that India has a well-established TRIPS-compliant legislative, administrative and judicial framework to safeguard IPRs, which meets its international obligations while utilizing the flexibilities provided in the international regime to address its developmental concerns.  

• It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS agreement.

This policy shall weave in the strengths of the Government, research and development organizations, educational institutions, corporate entities including MSMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders in the creation of an innovation-conducive environment, which stimulates creativity and innovation across sectors, as also facilitates a stable, transparent and service-oriented IPR administration in the country.

Vision Statement: 

• An India where creativity and innovation are stimulated by Intellectual Property for the benefit of all; 
• An India where intellectual property promotes advancement in science and technology, arts and culture, traditional knowledge and biodiversity resources; 
• An India where knowledge is the main driver of development, and knowledge owned is transformed into knowledge shared

Mission Statement:

Stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced intellectual property rights system in India to:

o foster creativity and innovation and thereby, promote entrepreneurship and enhance socio-economic and cultural development, and

o   focus on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection, among other sectors of vital social, economic and technological importance.

Objectives:

The Policy lays down the following seven objectives:

1. IPR Awareness: Outreach and Promotion - To create public awareness about the economic, social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society.
2. Generation of IPRs - To stimulate the generation of IPRs.
3. Legal and Legislative Framework - To have strong and effective IPR laws, which balance the interests of rights owners with larger public interest.
4. Administration and Management - To modernize and strengthen service-oriented IPR administration. 
5. Commercialization of IPRs - Get value for IPRs through commercialization.
6. Enforcement and Adjudication - To strengthen the enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating IPR infringements.
7. Human Capital Development - To strengthen and expand human resources, institutions and capacities for teaching, training, research and skill building in IPRs.

These objectives are sought to be achieved through detailed action points. 

The action by different Ministries/ Departments shall be monitored by DIPP which shall be the nodal department to coordinate, guide and oversee implementation and future development of IPRs in India.

The National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy will endeavor for a

“Creative India; Innovative India: रचनात्मकभारत; अभिनव भारत”

Monroe Doctrine

US President James Monroe’s 1823 annual message to Congress contained the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. 

The Monroe Doctrine was a policy of the United States introduced on December 2, 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention.

In 1962, the Monroe Doctrine was invoked symbolically when the Soviet Union began to build missile-launching sites in Cuba. With the support of the Organization of American States, President John F. Kennedy threw a naval and air quarantine around the island. 

After several tense days, the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw the missiles and dismantle the sites. Subsequently, the United States dismantled several of its obsolete air and missile bases in Turkey.

source:

1. wikipedia

2. http://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?page=&doc=23&title=Monroe+Doctrine+%281823%29

Shanghai Co-operation Organization

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization composed of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan founded in Shanghai in 2001. 

• Originally formed as a confidence-building forum to demilitarize borders, the organization's goals and agenda have since broadened to include increased military and counterterrism cooperation and intelligence sharing. 
•  The SCO has also intensified its focus on regional economic initiatives like the recently announced integration of the China-led Silk Road Economic Belt and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.
• Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation.

Structure:-  

• The SCO has two permanent headquarters, the Secretariat in Beijing and the "Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)" in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. 
• One of the organization's primary objectives is promoting cooperation on security-related issues, namely to combat the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism. 
• The organization adopts decisions made by consensus, and all member states must uphold the core principle of non-aggression and non-interference in internal affairs.

• It was initially focused on Central Asia.
• It has Afghanistan and Iran with observer status. 
• India & Pakistan has got full membership in 2015 with formalities pending. 
• Turkey and Belarus as dialogue partners.
• It has collaborated through MoUs with Eurasian Countries.
• SCO is an important organization for Afghanistan Issue (to find solution)

Aims :-

1. Economic Development 
2. Close Political Co-operation

(Central Asia is landlocked and has no access to the world's market)

In last conference , SCO opened itself for membership and laid down guidelines.

# Last year India announced its central Asia policy named as Connect Central Asia.