Report/Index
Out of 180 countries, India's rank on 2019 World Press Freedom index slips to 140: Reporters Without Borders
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Press Freedom (India)

What's the NEWS

• As compared to the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, India has slipped down two spots on the annual report compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

• India slips to 140 on 2019 World Press Freedom index: RSF India made its debut on this index in 2013 at 140 out of 180 countries

• India has slipped down two spots on the 2019 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). An annual report, the index is an indicator of how hatred of journalists has degenerated into violence in countries across the world.

Know! more about the report

• The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on April 18, 2019 released the World Press Freedom Index 2019, reflecting growing animosity towards journalists.

• India's rank in the World Press Freedom Index 2019 dropped down to 140th from 138th in 2018, two points below the previous year.

• India made its debut on this index in 2013 at 140 out of 180 countries. The rankings gradually improved, reaching 136 in 2017.

• As per the Index, one of the most striking features of the current state of press freedom in India is violence against journalists including police violence, attacks by Maoist fighters, criminal groups and corrupt politicians. At least six Indian journalists were killed on duty in 2018.

• The year 2018 witnessed a surge in attacks against journalists by supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to Indian General Elections 2019.

Top 10 countries in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index

1. Norway
2. Finland
3. Sweden
4. Netherlands

• At the bottom of the Index, Vietnam (176th) and China (177th) fell one place; Eritrea that moved up 1 place from last year ranked at 178th; North Korea fetched 179th position; and Turkmenistan moved two positions down to 180th rank.

• Only 24 percent of the 180 countries and territories were classified as "good" or "fairly good", as opposed to 26 percent last year. Americas (North and South) suffered the greatest deterioration, falling by 3.6 percent, in its regional score.

• The Middle East and North Africa region continues to be the most difficult and dangerous for journalists. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder in October 2018 shed a harsh light on the same. Syria (174th) continues to be extremely dangerous for media personnel and as does Yemen (168th).

• The Asia-Pacific region continues to rank third last. The number of murdered journalists was extremely high in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Disinformation is becoming a big problem in the region.

Know! about World Press Freedom Index

• Published annually by Reporters Without Borders since 2002, the World Press Freedom Index measures the level of media freedom in 180 countries.

• It is based on an evaluation of media freedom that measures pluralism, media independence, the quality of the legal framework and the safety of journalists in 180 countries. It also includes indicators of the level of media freedom violations in each region.

United Nations
150 Indian peacekeepers in S Sudan awarded medal of honour for dedicated service
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the peacekeeping forces + Mains ( GS II international organisations )

What's the NEWS

• The medals were given to the 150 Indian peacekeepers serving in UNMISS in Malakal during a ceremony

• A total of 150 Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have received medals of honour for their dedicated service and sacrifice. "A glimpse of The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on April 15, 2019 honoured 150 Indian peacekeepers, serving the mission, with Medals of Honour for their supreme dedication and sacrifices in Malakal, South Sudan.

India's contributions towards UN peacekeeping missions

• India has been one of the top contributors of troops to the UN peacekeeping missions.

• Presently, India is second largest contributor of troops, with more than 2,400 personnel deployed as peacekeepers under the UNMISS.

• In the past 70 years, over two lakh Indian military and police personnel have served under the UN flag, while 168 valiant soldiers have sacrificed their lives while at the UN service.

Defence
India and France to hold largest ever 'Varuna' naval exercise off Goa coast

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the exercise)

What's the NEWS

• With the objective of expanding their strategic partnership in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), India and France will conduct their largest ever naval exercise 'Varuna'.

Know! more about the exercise

• The exercise will be conducted early next month and will witness the participation of aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines and fighters. Sources have confirmed that India will deploy its aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya with its MiG-29K fighters. Similarly, the French Navy will send its aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle with its Rafale-M naval jets, and other warships for the "Varuna" exercise.

• It will be a top-level naval exercise, with intensive dual carrier task group operations and anti-submarine warfare manoeuvres.

• India and France are also working to implement their action-oriented joint strategic vision for cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which was finalised in March 2018."

• Notably, the reciprocal military logistics support agreement between the two nations is now operationalized with French anti-aircraft destroyer FNS Cassard docking at the Mumbai naval port.

• As per the agreement, Indian Navy can access French bases located in the India ocean region including the Reunion Islands near Madagascar and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, France also has a naval air station in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and a military base at Mayotte in the Comoros archipelago off the coast of south-east Africa which can be accessed by Indian defence forces.

• India has inked a similar agreement with the United States. The two countries have signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) that will enable both countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of defence supplies.

• India, with the help of this mutual logistical agreement, is planning to contain China who is aggressively expanding its strategic footprint in the IOR with tits debt-trap policy.

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