Insights Daily Current Events, 23 November 2015
Paper 2 Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
ASEAN to ease travel, mobility of labour
By signing the Kuala Lumpur declaration on the establishment of the AEC, ASEAN leaders have declared the establishment of an EU-style regional economic bloc, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
About the AEC:
- The AEC envisages a single market with a free flow of goods, capital and skilled labour across borders in the highly competitive economic region.
- It will integrate Southeast Asia’s diverse economies. South Asia is a region with 620 million people and a combined gross domestic product of USD 2.4 trillion.
- The move is also expected to boost political and diplomatic cooperation between members of the grouping.
- This community could give India greater access to a market with a combined GDP of $2.57 trillion. The grouping is also seen as a huge middle-class market that Indian industries and services can take advantage of.
ASEAN 2025:
- The ASEAN leaders have also adopted the declaration on “ASEAN 2025, forging ahead together”.
- The ASEAN 2025 document charts the path for the AEC building over the next ten years.
- It is a forward looking roadmap that articulates ASEAN goals and aspirations to realise further consolidation.
- ASEAN 2025 means a community committed to working with external partners to strengthen cooperation in combating non-traditional security challenges like terrorism, drug related crimes, human trafficking and maritime issues through various initiatives and projects.
About ASEAN:
- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
- At present there are 10 members namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
sources: the hindu, asean.
Paper 3 Topic: indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Upgraded interceptor missile successfully hits virtual target
India recently test-fired it’s indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
About the missile:
- The interceptor, known as Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile.
- It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It is a 7.5-meter long single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with a navigation system, a hi—tech computer and an electro—mechanical activator.
- The missile also has its own mobile launcher.
sources: the hindu.
Paper 3 Topic: conservation.
Uttar Pradesh in Guinness Book of World Records for Plantation Drive
Uttar Pradesh has earned itself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the state government’s green drive.
About the green drive:
- Under this drive 10 lakh saplings were planted in one day within a span of eight hours.
- As part of the campaign, the programme was executed through coordinated efforts of forest, irrigation departments, Noida and Greater Noida authority.
- Under the drive plants such as sheesham, kanji, pakar, neem, arjun, aonla, chilbil, imli, bargad and peepal were being planted by women, teachers, students, armymen, villagers and others, at pre-decided spots.
- To ensure survival of plants, arrangement of internal departmental audit has also been made
sources: et.
