International Relations ( United Nations)
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the first ever International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace)

What's the NEWS

• The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was officially proclaimed to be observed ever year on 24 April by the UN General Assembly on December 12, 2018 through a resolution.
• The first ever official ‘International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace' was observed by the United Nations (UN) on April 24, 2019.
• The UN General Assembly convened a one-day high-level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the day.

Know! more about the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace

• The Assembly proclaimed the day while considering that preserving the values of multilateralism and international cooperation is fundamental to promote and support the three pillars of the UN - Peace and Security, Development and Human Rights.
• The Day is a reaffirmation of the UN Charter and its principles of resolving disputes among countries through peaceful means.

Defence
Indian Coast Guard Vessel C-441 commissioned

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the vessel)

What's the NEWS

• The Indian Coast Guard Vessel C-441 was commissioned at Vizhinjam harbour, Thiruvananthapuram.

Know! more about ICGS C-441

• The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) C-441 is capable to undertake diverse tasks such as close coast surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to boats and crafts in distress at sea.
• It will enhance the search and rescue capacity of Kerala seas.
• The ship is commanded by Assistant Commandant Amit K Choudhary.
• It has 13 crew onboard with specialisation in various fields.

Space Awareness
UAE's Mars probe ‘Hope' 85 percent complete

What's the NEWS

• For the first time, a Mars exploration project will be able to take a global picture of the Martian atmosphere.
• The UAE Space Agency has announced 85 percent completion of the gulf nation's ‘Hope Probe' project. The probe is an ambitious dream project of the UAE to send a mission to Mars.
• The two space organizations confirmed in a joint statement that most of the main parts of the project have been completed and are currently undergoing intensive testing to ensure every aspect of the Probe is ready for activation a few months before the launch date.

Know! more about the objective of probe

• The probe is scheduled to be launched in July 2020. With its successful launch, UAE hopes to become the first Arabic and Islamic country to make the Mars Mission dream a reality.
• The key objective of UAE's Mars Mission will be to add to the global efforts to explore space and the surrounding planets.
• For the first time, a Mars exploration project will be able to take a global picture of the Martian atmosphere.
• An integrated picture of the atmosphere will be taken throughout the day and for a long period of time, capturing all relevant data about the planet during different seasons across the year.

Know! more about the Hope Probe

• The probe has entered an intensive testing phase to ensure its readiness before the launch date, with less than 500 days are remaining for the launch.
• The probe is planned to reach Mars by 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.
• The devices will be key to achieving the objectives of the scientific mission, which is a deeper and wider understanding of the Martian atmosphere.

China to build moon station in 'about 10 years'
What's the NEWS

• China plans to send a manned mission to the moon and to build a research station there within the next decade.

Know! more about China's project

• China aims to achieve space superpower status. The nation took a major step towards that goal when it became the first nation to land a rover on the far side of the moon in January 2019.
• Tiangong programme also known as ‘Heavenly Palace' is the space station program of the People's Republic of China. The key focus is to create a modular space station, comparable to Soviet Union's Mir.
• China launched its first space laboratory, Tiangong-1, on September 29, 2011. Following Tiangong-1, a more advanced space laboratory complete with cargo ship, Tiangong-2, was launched on September 15, 2016.
• The project will culminate with a large orbital station, which will consist of a 20-ton core module, 2 smaller research modules, and cargo transport craft. It is expected to support three astronauts for long-term habitation.
• The space station is scheduled to go into orbit by 2022. It is set to replace the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan, which is due to be retired in 2024.
• China's Long March-5B rocket will make its maiden flight in the first half of 2020, carrying the core parts of the planned space station.
• China would also be launching an asteroid exploration mission and has invited collaborators to place their experiments on the probe. The current Chang'e-4 moon lander had carried equipment from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Know! more about the space programme of China

• China has confirmed that its fourth lunar probe, the Chang'e-5, will be launched by the end of 2019.
• The launch of Chang'e-5, which was originally scheduled to collect moon samples in the second half of 2017, was delayed after its planned carrier, the powerful Long March 5 Y2 rocket, failed during a separate launch in July 2017.The nation also plans to launch a Mars probe by 2020.
• China spends more on its civil and military space programmes than Russia and Japan and is second only to the United States.

International Relations
Waivers for Iran oil imports end on May 2, won't impact Chabahar Port Project

What's the NEWS

• The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on April 23, 2019 announced that the sanction waivers that it had granted to some countries still buying oil from Iran will terminate on May 2, 2019.
• With this announcement, five countries namely, India, China, Japan, South Korea and Turkey will no longer be exempted from the US sanctions, if they continue to import Iranian oil after their waivers end on May 2. There will be no grace period for these five economies to comply with the decision.

Know! more about the recent developments

• The United States had in November 2018 granted waivers to eight economies including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece while imposing sanctions on exports of Iranian oil.
• Following this, Italy, Greece and Taiwan had stopped importing oil from Iran. However, the other five continued to import.
• The US re-imposed sanctions on exports of Iranian oil in November 2018 after it withdrew from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The United States has been pressuring Iran to curtail its nuclear program and stop backing militant outfits across the Middle East.

Know! more about Chabahar Port

• Chabahar Port is a seaport in south-eastern Iran. It can be easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan and is located close to Afghanistan and other central Asian countries including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
• Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chahbahar in southeastern Iran.Its location lies in the Gulf of Oman.
• It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean.
• Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and others, the port has also been called as the Golden Gate to these land-locked countries.
• The port was partially built by India in the 1990s to provide access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan under the Ashgabat Agreement.
• The port will provide an alternative access to trade with Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan.
• Reduced transportation costs will allow India to import crude oil, urea and dry fruits at lower prices.
• Besides, land-locked country Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan for sea-access will be significantly reduced. It will ultimately lower Pakistan's strategic hold on Afghanistan.
• It will provide India access to the Middle East and Gulf countries increasing trade and ties.
• It is the nearest port to India on the Iranian coast. It will provide India access to the resources and markets of Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Bilateral Relations
29th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair begins; India attends as Guest of Honour
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ADIBF )

What's the NEWS

• The 29th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) began on April 24, 2019.
• India is attending the fair as the "Guest of Honour" country, reflecting the strong relations between the leadership and the people of the UAE and India.

Know! more about the fair

• It will involve over 1000 participants from more than 50 countries, who will showcase 5,00,000 books. The fair aims to highlight the UAE's rich heritage, and showcase its authenticity, cultural and literary output.
• 30 publishing houses from India are taking part in the fair. A three-member team from the Publications Division is participating in the Fair.

Economic Developments
RBI sells entire stake in NHB, NABARD to Government
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NABARD and NHB + disinvestment ) + Mains ( GS III economic development)

What's the NEWS

• The Reserve Bank of India has sold its entire stake in the National Housing Bank (NHB) and the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) to the Union Government for Rs 1,450 crore and Rs 20 crore, respectively. The move would now make these organisations fully government-owned.
• In a statement, the central bank revealed that it had sold its stakes in NABARD and in the National Housing Bank on February 26 and March 19 respectively. With this divestment, the government now holds 100 percent stake in both these financial institutions.

Know! more about the move

• The move is a part of ending the cross-holding in regulatory institutions. It follows the recommendation of the second Narasimham committee report of October 2001 and the RBI's own discussion paper on the same entitled 'Harmonizing the role and operations of development financial institutions and banks.'
• The second Narasimham committee report had stated that RBI could not own entities that are regulated by it.
• Based on the committee's recommendations, the central bank had proposed to transfer its ownership in SBI, NHB and Nabard to the government in October 2001.
• Accordingly, on June 29, the government had bought out RBI's entire 59.7 percent stake in SBI.
• The disinvestment of RBI's shareholding in NABARD was done in two phases. The central bank held 72.5 percent equity in Nabard worth Rs 1,450 crore, of which 71.5 percent amounting to Rs 1,430 crore were divested way back in October 2010 and the residual shareholding was divested on February 26, 2019.
• In case of NHB, the RBI held 100 percent shareholding in the financial institution, which was divested on March 19, 2019.
• The current change in the capital structure of both these financial institutions was brought in by the government through amendments to the Nabard Act of 1981 and the NHB Act of 1987 which were notified on January 19, 2018 and March 29, 2018, respectively.

Know! more about NABARD and NHB

• The National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development was established on July 12, 1982 by transferring the agricultural credit functions of RBI and refinance functions of the then Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation.
• Set up with an initial capital of Rs 100 crore, the finance institution's paid up capital stood at Rs 10,580 crore as of March 2018.
• On the other hand, the decision to establish the National Housing Bank was announced in the 1987-88 budget, following which, the NHB Bill, providing a legislative framework for the NHB, was passed by parliament in the Winter session of 1987 and it became an Act on December 23, 1987.
• The National Housing Policy of 1988 envisaged setting up of NHB as the apex level institution for promoting the housing sector.

Prelims Practise Questions

Consider the following statement
1. The United States earlier granted waivers to eight economies including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece while imposing sanctions on exports of Iranian oil.
2. Chabahar Port is a seaport in south-eastern Iran. It can be easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan and is located close to Afghanistan and other central Asian countries including Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
3. Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chahbahar in southeastern Iran. Its location lies in the Gulf of Oman.
4. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. None
d. All

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