India has been admitted as the 42nd member of Wassenaar Arrangement.
Members are admitted based on the consensus of the existing members.
A country must also meet certain criteria such as compliance to a range of global non-proliferation treaties including NPT to get admitted to the arrangement.
U.S backed the admission of India in the aftermath of signing of civil nuclear cooperation in 2005.
Barring China, all permanent members of UNSC are signatories.
Upon becoming the member, India will get access to high technology which will help address the demands of Indian Space and defence sectors.
It will also boost India’s chances of joining Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Earlier this year, India had updated its export control lists to bring them in line with international standards, including those required by the Wassenaar Arrangement.
Global Compact for Migration
It is the first intergovernmental negotiated agreement under the auspices of UN to cover all dimensions of migration.
The agreement was signed in the UNGA by adopting a non-binding political declaration “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants” in 2016.
The declaration pledged to uphold the rights of refugees, help them resettle and ensure they have access to education.
All the 193 member countries of UNGA became the part global pact for migration.
It is framed consistent with target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Under the agenda, member States committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration.
United States has recently withdrawn from this pact, saying that the declaration is inconsistent with its policies.
Trachoma
It is a chronic infective disease of the eye and a leading cause of corneal blindness in India, affecting young children.
It is caused by poor environmental and personal hygiene and inadequate access to water and sanitation.
According to the National Trachoma Survey Report (2014-17), India has become free from Trachoma with an overall prevalence found to be only 0.7%, much below the criteria set by WHO.
According to WHO, active trachoma is considered eliminated if the prevalence of active infection among children below 10 years is less than 5%.
Trachoma is no longer a public health problem in India.
The disease is found to be affecting the population in certain pockets of north Indian states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the Nicobar Islands.
World’s largest free-trade Agreement
The European Union and Japan concluded negotiations on a free-trade deal to create the world's largest open economic area.
It will remove EU tariffs of 10 per cent tariffs on Japanese cars and the 3 per cent rate typically applied to car parts.
Bodhi Parva
It is a BIMSTEC Festival of Buddhist Heritage held recently in New Delhi.
It is celebrated as a part of 20th anniversary of BIMSTEC.
It involves exhibition of international and Indian Buddhist art and architecture, discourses by eminent scholars of Buddhism, screening of film on Buddhism, dance and music performances etc.
It will help in building an awareness of BIMSTEC's rich and common heritage.
