Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023

Recently, the Indian Army Contingent departed for the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023.

About Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023:-

It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar. (Exercise IBSAMAR)

It was preceded by the Table Top Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.

Historical Background:-

Since 2017, the ADMM Plus has met annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Plus countries.

The inaugural ADMM Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam on 12th October 2010.

This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group will be participating in the exercise.

Objective of the exercise: strengthening and promoting regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.

The exercise will comprise a number of counter-terrorism drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a fortified area.

ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-terrorism 2023 will provide the Indian Army with a platform to share their expertise and best practices in counter-terrorism operations.

It will increase the cooperation between the other 12 participating countries. (Military Exercises)

The Indian Army looks forward to an enriching professional experience from the exercise.

Spike in global crude oil prices

The recent spike in global crude oil prices above the $80-per-barrel mark has contributed to petrol and diesel prices hitting all-time highs in India.

Background:-

Since hitting a low of $16 per barrel on 22 April 2022, the price of Brent crude oil has been rising steadily.

Since the beginning of the year (2023), it has risen nearly 58% from about $51.8 per barrel to about $81 in September.

The rise has been sharp over the last six weeks, from $65 per barrel on 20 August 2023.

According to analysts, prices are nearing their intermediate top level of $86 per barrel, around which some cooling off is expected even though the broader trend remains rising. ( Oil Price Rise)

Reasons for price rise:-

Crude Oil prices have risen sharply in 2021 on the back of a recovery in global demand as the world economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supply restrictions maintained by the OPEC+ grouping, have kept international oil prices high.

These oil-producing economies have signaled slow production increases, which has led to a rise in gas prices as well.

A shortage of gas in Europe and Asia has further boosted the demand for oil for power generation.

Impact on India:-

The rise in crude prices has contributed to petrol and diesel prices hitting all-time highs in India.

Prices of petrol and diesel in India are pegged to a 15-day rolling average of the international prices of these fuels.

High taxes by the central and state governments have contributed to retail prices being far higher.

Analysts point out that increasing oil prices reflect growing demand in the economy, and equities often deliver more than the expected inflation that the oil surge may lead to.

In line with oil, prices of other commodities including coal have been rising

Impact stocks and bonds:-

The BSE Basic Materials Index has risen more than three times from a low of 1,761 on April 3, 2020, to 5,725 at Wednesday’s close.

This reflects the general view that economic recovery will strengthen going forward.

For bonds: central bank policies will play a far greater role than the direct impact of rising oil prices.

For equity investors: they can increase their exposure to upstream oil companies, which benefit from rising prices.

In sectors where oil is a major cost component, a negative reaction on returns can be expected.

Impact currency and the economy:-

Rising crude prices tend to depress the rupee, as India being a major importer of oil needs more dollars to buy the same amount of crude.

Mewar-style painting

Recently, a Mewar-style Mahabharata painted by a Muslim was discovered in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Background:-

A trunk in a dingy room in Udaipur’s City Palace had been sheltering thousands of miniature paintings of the Mahabharata, painted by Allah Baksh between 1680 and 1698.

In The Mahabharata by Baksh, they highlight how literature undergoes constant reinterpretation through centuries and millennia.

A 300-year-old text, in this Baksh’s illustrations is not a Sanskrit Mahabharata but a Rajasthani one.

It is not painted by a Muslim but by a proponent of the Mewari school of thought, in such a manner that when one sees the paintings, and visualizes Mewari culture in its entirety.

About Mewar-style painting:-

Timeline: 17th and 18th centuries.

Mewar painting is one of the most important schools of Indian miniature painting.

It is a school in the Rajasthani style.

It developed in the Hindu principality of Mewar (Udaipur).

Salient features:-

It is characterized by simple bright colour and direct emotional appeal.

The earliest dated manuscript associated with the Mewar school of Rajput painting is the Chawand Ragamala series (1605), painted by the artist Nasiruddin.

Most of the paintings of this series are in the collection of Shri Gopi Krishna Kanoria.

The expressive and vigorous style continued with some variations through 1680 in the region, after which time Mughal influence became more apparent.

An increasing number of paintings were concerned with portraiture and the life of the ruler though religious themes were popular.

The Mewar school of miniature painting, is renowned for vibrant colors and intricate narratives within a single frame.

These paintings provide historical insights, including details like sword storage, turban styles, and the occasions celebrated during the depicted times. (Mural Art)

Famous artists of Mewari school of painting:-

Allah Baksh: Allah Baksh, a notable Mewari painter during Maharana Jai Singh’s reign (1653-98), is renowned for creating comprehensive depictions of the entire Mahabharata and including every shloka of the Gita.

Sahibdin: In the later half of the seventeenth century, during the reigns of Raj Singh and Jai Singh, portraiture gained prominence in Mewar.

India Post Payments Bank Limited

India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB) has released admit cards for the IPPB Executive Exam 2023 recently.

About India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB):-

Launched: 2018.

Governed by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

It was launched with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.

It is a payments bank of the Indian postal department.

It works through a network of post offices and nearly 4 lakh postmen.

Objective: to build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India.

Focus group: While its services are available to all citizens, the IPPB is primarily focusing on serving social sector beneficiaries, migrant laborers, un-organized sector, Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Panchayats, low-income households, in rural areas and the unbanked and under-banked segments in both the rural and urban areas.

IPPB offers services through a mix of physical and digital platforms.

Functions of IPPB:-

It accepts deposits and offers remittance services, mobile banking, and third-party fund transfers.

It offers 3 types of saving accounts:

Regular Account – Safal,

Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) – Sugam and

BSBDA Small – Saral

The maximum limit on deposits for current and savings accounts is Rs 1 lakh.

The bank offers a 4% interest rate on savings accounts.

They can issue debit cards and ATM cards.

It cannot issue credit cards.

It cannot loan money.

It provides social security payments like MNREGA wages, and direct benefit transfer and gives access to third-party services insurance, and mutual funds.

IPPB account holders will be issued a QR code-based biometric card with a unique QR code.

Significance:-

IPPB is committed to providing a fillip to a less cash economy and contributing to the vision of Digital India.

Role of Sports in the Soft Power Race

The day before the opening of 19th Asian Games, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his visit to China as a mark of protest to the last-minute denial of entry to three Indian Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh.

The three athletes — Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu — were given the accreditation needed to travel along with the rest of the Indian team for the Games.

About soft power:

Joseph Nye Jr., a political scientist coined the term soft power in 1980s.

Unlike in case of military hard power, it is the power of attraction through culture, political ideas, and policies rather than coercion.

Over the years, India has been wielding its soft power in the form of Yoga, Bollywood, Sufi music and the shared heritage in art, cuisine, architecture and even democratic values.

In the recent years, countries, including India, have been investing more in elite sports as success in international sporting events is boosting their soft power.

Significance of sports in the soft power race:

The survey of French citizens’ perception of Chinese performance in the Olympics, by Professor Dongfeng Liu, showed that the country’s sporting achievements had a positive effect on Chinese soft power in 2020.

Despite this, countries like China, Russia and North Korea aren’t able to garner a completely positive perception as a consequence of their human rights record.

Hence, brand building is a very difficult task for such countries.

Large sports events generate massive viewership, providing a platform for the countries to showcase their tradition, culture and values.

For instance, the Tokyo Olympic Games was watched by more than 3.05 billion people– a 74% increase in digital viewers compared to Rio Games 2016.

This shows that there is a great opportunity in using such events as a platform to boost soft power.

Sports as brand for soft power: A strong nation brand and positive soft power perceptions allow a nation to promote itself as a place for people to visit, invest in, and build a reputation for their quality of goods and services.

Scope for domestic sector: The soft power can encourage domestic tourism, consumption of domestic goods and services (rather than imports).

China’s soft power through sports:

China uses its superiority in elite sports to build “people-to-people” relations with other countries.

For example, athletes from African countries such as Madagascar are trained in swimming, badminton, table tennis, etc. in China, which helps Beijing create a positive impact on a wider population and results in better formal relations as well.

China’s memorandum of understanding with countries such as Kenya so that Chinese runners can train with Kenyan athletes, as they are among the best in the world when it comes to long-distance running.

Government Initiatives for the development sports in the country:

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched by the Ministry of Sports in 2014.

It seeks to improve Indian athletes’ performance at the Olympic and Paralympics Games.

NITI Aayog recommendations: The Government should work on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure at the district level so that talent can be captured at an early stage.

Way Forward:

The soft power is a means to an end, not the end itself. It would help cement India’s standing in the global arena. It is always important to remember that sports are primarily intended to be a universal language of communication, uniting continents, and different peoples of the world. This means that it is necessary to realize the powerful potential of “sports diplomacy”. The Government should work on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure at the district level to capture young talents at an early stage.