Q. ‘Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)’, recently seen in news relates to:

(a) USA

(b) European Union

(c) SAARC

(d) ASEAN

Answer: (a) USA

Notes:
  • India and the US have signed Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA).
  • The main purpose of COMCASA is to facilitate military relations, communications and the exchange of valuable technologies.
  • COMCASA is meant to provide a legal framework for the transfer of communication security equipment from the US to India that would facilitate “interoperability” between their forces – and potentially with other militaries that use US-origin systems for secured data links.

Highlights of COMCASA agreement:

  • COMCASA is an India specific agreement.
  • The agreement is for 10 years and it comes into effect immediately.
  • India will have full access to relevant US equipment.
  • There will be no disruption in supply.
  • Indian Navy will have access to real-time classified information from US Navy.

Q. With reference to ‘BIMSTEC’, consider the following:

  1. It is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity.
  2. It constitutes seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Indonesia.
  3. Sri Lanka to host 5th BIMSTEC Summit.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) All of the above

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

Notes:
  • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of 7 member states which are in the littoral and adjacent areas of Bay of Bengal, thus constituting a contiguous regional unity.
  • Formation: Formed in 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
  • It was initially formed with 4 member states (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand). Myanmar became a member in 1997, followed by Nepal and Bhutan in 2004.
  • Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 30 Mar’22, attends the 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit hosted in virtual mode by Sri Lanka.
    • The theme of the summit was “Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy People”.
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Read more: BIMSTEC

Q. With reference to ‘Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. India is not a full member of FATF but it has partial membership status of this organization.
  2. All permanent members of the Security Council except China are members of FATF.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d) Neither 1 nor 2

Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
  • FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
  • Objective: To establish international standards, and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
  • It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris to develop policies against money laundering.
  • In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such.
  • India became a member of FATF in 2010.

Read more: Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Q. Exercise Khanjar is a joint military exercise between 

a) India-Kyrgyzstan

b) India-Kazakhstan

c) India-Uzbekistan

d) India-Turkmenistan

Answer: a) India-Kyrgyzstan

Notes:
  • Khanjar is the annual military training exercise that is held between India and Kyrgyzstan.
  • The exercises are conducted to enhance better strategic understanding, combat capabilities, and interoperability between the two countries.
  • The Khanjar exercises aim to enhance the bilateral relations between India and Kyrgyzstan in various fields.
  • It contributes to the capability development of both countries’ military forces by improving their ability to operate together in various combat environments.

Read more: Military Exercises of India with Other Countries

Q. Consider the following statements about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:

  1. It is an intergovernmental organization to promote cooperation in trade, politics, and culture.
  2. The Anti-Terrorist structure of SCO is located in Beijing.

Which of the above statement is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Notes:
  • SCO stands for “Shanghai Cooperation Organization“. It is an intergovernmental political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The first summit was held in Shanghai, China, in 2001.
  • The SCO aims to promote cooperation and mutual support in areas such as trade, investment, energy, transportation, and security. 
  • The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.
  • It has a permanent secretariat in Beijing, China.
  • The main objectives of SCO are:
    • Strengthen relations among member states.
    • Promote cooperation in political affairs, economics, and trade, scientific-technical, cultural, and educational spheres as well as in energy, transportation, tourism, and environmental protection.
    • Safeguard regional peace, security, and stability.
    • Create a democratic, equitable international political and economic order.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation encompasses approximately 60% of the Eurasian area and 40% of the global population.
  • The combined GDP of its member states accounts for around 20% of the world’s GDP.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has a number of affiliated organizations, including the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) and the SCO Business Council.
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has 9 members, including China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
  • The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation tasked with coordinating counterterrorism efforts across member countries and advancing cooperation on SCO initiatives to mitigate the “Three Evils” – terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.
  • The organization is meant to lay the groundwork for a future enforcement capability within the SCO, which aspires to develop its own transnational police and military forces.
  • RATS was headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, until 2022, when the organisation voted to move its headquarters to Moscow, Russia.
  • RATS’ official languages are Chinese, Russian and English.