Field Training Exercise 2023 (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Indian Army Contingent consisting of 32 personnel from a Battalion affiliated to the Rajputana Rifles departed for ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023.
- It is scheduled to be conducted from 25th to 30th September 2023 in Russia.
FTX:
- It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar.
- It was preceded by Table Top Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.
ADMM Plus:
- Since 2017, the ADMM Plus meets annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among 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.
- The exercise will comprise of a number of counter terrorism drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a fortified area.
- The main objective of the exercise is strengthening and promoting regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
Way Forward:
- ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-terrorism 2023 will provide Indian Army with a platform to share their expertise and best practices in counter-terrorism operations besides increasing cooperation between other 12 participating countries.
I2U2 Group announces joint space venture
(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
Why in news?
- The I2U2 group of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have announced a new joint space venture which aims to create a ‘unique space-based tool’ for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs.
- They announced a new joint space venture on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Artemis Accords:
- Primarily using the space-based observation data and capabilities of the four I2U2 partner countries, this project aims to create a unique space-based tool for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs, enabling their work on environmental and climate change challenges and furthering our cooperation in the applications of space data for the greater good of humanity.
- Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), the Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century.
- It is an American-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.
I2U2 Private Enterprise Partnership:
- On September 21, US signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US-UAE Business Council, the UAE-India Business Council, and the UAE-Israel Business Council to create the I2U2 Private Enterprise Partnership.
- The new public-private partnership will ‘work to increase awareness of the I2U2 initiative in business communities and support projects and other efforts that further the goals of the initiative’.
Website:
- They also launched its website to enhance cooperation between the member countries and partnerships across the globe.
About I2U2:
- I2U2 initiative is a new grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE.
- In the grouping’s name, ‘I2’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and the UAE.
- This is a great achievement which tells the geopolitical changes that happen in the region.
- This will not only revitalize and re-energize the system of alliances and partnerships around the world, but also stitch together partnerships that did not exist previously or were not utilized to their full extent.
Panel calls for revising rules of construction around protected ASI monuments
(GS Paper 1, Culture)
Why in news?
- A parliamentary panel has observed that the provision of 100-metre prohibited area and 300-metre regulated area around all monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has pitted the local community against these heritage structures in many places as they find it difficult to carry out necessary repair work of their residential spaces.
Key recommendations:
- It has recommended rationalising the application of such rules based on the historical significance of the monuments.
- In some cases, the entire village is within a radius of 300 metres, which makes it difficult for the entire village to carry out repair work of their residential houses. Such a situation in many places creates a hostile scenario, pitching the local community against the monuments.
- It also recommended that the list of all 3,691 ASI-protected monuments be rationalised and categorised based on their national significance, unique architectural value and specific heritage content.
Provision under AMASR Act:
- The prohibited and restricted area provision was introduced in 2010 through an amendment to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
- It prohibits and regulates all activities like mining and construction around 100 metres and 300 metres. The Central government has already said that it was in the process of amending the Act.
- The committee went on to say that at present, the same set of rules apply to both significant and insignificant monuments.
Way Forward:
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport Tourism and Culture has asked the government to revise the rules to make them realistic.
