IAS4Sure Institutions Notes For Prelims 2021

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National & International

Institutions
REVISION NOTES
For
Prelims 2021
Contains all important national & international institutions
Updated up to 31 August 2021
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Institutions Revision Notes
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Contents
International : Governance ................................................................................................................ 10

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea................................................................................................................10
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)...................................................................................................... 10
International Seabed Authority.......................................................................................................................... 11
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).............................................................................................. 11
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)......................................................................................................................11
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)....................................................................... 12
International Criminal Court (ICC).......................................................................................................................13
International Energy Agency (IEA)...................................................................................................................... 13
New Development Bank..................................................................................................................................... 14
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)....................................................................................................... 14
United Nations Peacekeeping.............................................................................................................................15
World Health Organization (WHO)..................................................................................................................... 15
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)................................................................................................................15
World Bank..........................................................................................................................................................16
Asian Development Bank (ADB)..........................................................................................................................16
International Monetary Fund............................................................................................................................. 17
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)...................................................................................................... 17
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development....................................................................................... 17
European Commission........................................................................................................................................ 18
European Investment Bank (EIB)........................................................................................................................ 18
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)..................................................................... 18
International Astronomical Union...................................................................................................................... 18
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)...................................................................... 19
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).................................................................19
International Development sociation (IDA)........................................................................................................ 19
UN Human Settlements Program or UN-Habitat................................................................................................19
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)............................................................... 20
World Customs Organization.............................................................................................................................. 21
World Food Programme..................................................................................................................................... 21
World Trade Organisation (WTO)....................................................................................................................... 21
International : Groups.......................................................................................................................... 22
OPEC....................................................................................................................................................................22
G7........................................................................................................................................................................ 23
ASEAN..................................................................................................................................................................23
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation................................................................................................................... 24
European Union (EU).......................................................................................................................................... 25
BRICS................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Arctic Council...................................................................................................................................................... 27
D10 Group of Countries...................................................................................................................................... 27
Council of European Union................................................................................................................................. 27
BIMSTEC.............................................................................................................................................................. 27
Council of Europe................................................................................................................................................28
BBIN.....................................................................................................................................................................28
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Quad Group.........................................................................................................................................................29
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)..........................................................................................................................29
ADMM-Plus......................................................................................................................................................... 30
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) or QUAD................................................................................................ 31
SAARC..................................................................................................................................................................31
OECD................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)......................................................................................................... 33
G20...................................................................................................................................................................... 33
APEC.................................................................................................................................................................... 34
East Asia Summit.................................................................................................................................................35
Pacific Pumas...................................................................................................................................................... 35
RCEP.................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Commonwealth of Nations................................................................................................................................. 36
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)................................................................................................................. 37
ASEM................................................................................................................................................................... 38
BASIC................................................................................................................................................................... 38
BCIM.................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)..........................................................................................................................39
G4........................................................................................................................................................................ 39
G77...................................................................................................................................................................... 40
IBSA..................................................................................................................................................................... 40
India-Africa Forum.............................................................................................................................................. 41
International Security Alliance............................................................................................................................41
IORA.....................................................................................................................................................................42
Islamic Military Alliance...................................................................................................................................... 43
Joint Cooperation Committee.............................................................................................................................43
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation...............................................................................................................................44
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)...........................................................................................................................44
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).................................................................................... 45
The Australia Group............................................................................................................................................ 45
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)................................................................................................45
The Wassenaar Arrangement............................................................................................................................. 46
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)........................................................................................................................... 46
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).....................................................................................47
International : Treaties and Agreements...................................................................................... 48
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)........................................................................................................48
International Chemical Weapons Convention....................................................................................................48
Non-Aligned Movement......................................................................................................................................49
Tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites....................................................................................................49
UNSECO World Heritage Sites.............................................................................................................................50
Refugee Convention 1951...................................................................................................................................52
TRIPS....................................................................................................................................................................52
Sendai Framework.............................................................................................................................................. 52
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty........................................................................................................53
Antarctica Treaty System.................................................................................................................................... 53
UNESCO World Heritage Cities Programme....................................................................................................... 53
Singapore Convention on Mediation.................................................................................................................. 54
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Antarctica Treaty.................................................................................................................................................54
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)..................................................................................................................................... 54
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works................................................................. 55
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)............................................................................... 55
Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage................................................................. 55
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.................................................................................. 55
Hague Code-of-Conduct......................................................................................................................................56
Hague Hijacking Convention............................................................................................................................... 56
International Grains Council............................................................................................................................... 57
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)..............................................................................................................57
Pelindaba Treaty................................................................................................................................................. 58
Trade Facilitation Agreement............................................................................................................................. 58
UN Convention on International Settlement Agreement (UNISA)..................................................................... 58
UN Global Counter Terrorism Coordination Compact........................................................................................59
UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons............................................................................................59
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations...................................................................................................... 59
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).............................................................................. 60
International : UN System...................................................................................................................60
Convention to Combat Desertification............................................................................................................... 60
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).........................................................................61
International Labour Organization (ILO).............................................................................................................61
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)...........................................................................................................61
International Maritime Organisation..................................................................................................................62
World Food Programme..................................................................................................................................... 62
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)........................................................................ 62
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).............................................................................................................. 63
United Nations Population Fund.........................................................................................................................63
UN Women..........................................................................................................................................................63
United Nations University...................................................................................................................................64
United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR)............................................................................ 64
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)...................................................................................................64
United Nations Sustainable Development Group...............................................................................................64
United Nations Office for Project Services......................................................................................................... 65
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)..................................................................................... 65
UN Capital Development Fund........................................................................................................................... 65
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)................................................................................................ 66
UNESCO-MAB(Man and Biosphere) Program.....................................................................................................66
UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)........................................................................ 66
UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network..................................................................................................................... 67
UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC)....................................................................................................................67
Commission on Narcotic Drugs........................................................................................................................... 67
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)...........................................................................................................67
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).................................................... 68
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)................................................................................... 68
International Court of Justice (ICJ)......................................................................................................................68
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.....................................................................................................69
United Nations.................................................................................................................................................... 69
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)............................................................................... 70

United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).........................................................................70
United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime..........................................................................................................70
Untied Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).................................................. 70
United Nations Security Council (UNSC).............................................................................................................71
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).....................................................................................71
UN Office of Counter Terrorism..........................................................................................................................72
United Nations TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) Convention.............................................................. 72
UN Road Safety Trust Fund................................................................................................................................. 73
UN Tax Trust Fund...............................................................................................................................................73
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea................................................................................................................74
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)........................................................ 74
International : Others............................................................................................................................74
Internet Governance Forum (IGF).......................................................................................................................74
Permanent Forum of People of African Descent................................................................................................ 74
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)................................................................................ 75
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).................................................................................................................. 75
Committee on World Food Security................................................................................................................... 75
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).............................................................................................................. 76
17+1 cooperation forum..................................................................................................................................... 76
Climate and Clean Air Coalition.......................................................................................................................... 76
INTERPOL.............................................................................................................................................................77
Network for Greening the Financial System(NGFS)............................................................................................77
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)..............................................77
Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC)............................................................................................................... 77
Blue Nature Alliance............................................................................................................................................78
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)......................................................... 78
Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA)....................................................................................................................... 78
BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement............................................................................................................ 79
Essential Digital Infrastructure and Services Network(EDISON) Alliance........................................................... 79
Global AI Action Alliance (GAIA)......................................................................................................................... 79
Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group.....................................................................................................................79
World Economic Forum (WEF)............................................................................................................................80
International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)......................................................................... 80
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation(GAVI)....................................................................................... 80
Partners in Population and Development(PPD)................................................................................................. 81
International Association of Insurance Supervisors........................................................................................... 81
World Organisation for Animal Health............................................................................................................... 81
United States Agency for International Development (USAID).......................................................................... 81
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)................................................................................................ 81
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative............................................................................................................ 82
Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development...................................................................................82
African Development Bank................................................................................................................................. 82
Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)..............................................................................83
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)............................................................................................................ 83
Belmont Forum................................................................................................................................................... 83
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)................................................................................... 83
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Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)......................................... 84

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)....................................................................................................................84
European Central Bank....................................................................................................................................... 84
European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)........................................................................................ 84
EU vs EEA.............................................................................................................................................................85
Global Centre for Cybersecurity..........................................................................................................................86
Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS).........................................................................................................86
Global Foreign Exchange Committee..................................................................................................................86
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)......................................................................................................................... 86
International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)............................. 87
International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)............................................................. 87
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)............................................................................ 87
International Energy Forum (IEF)........................................................................................................................87
International Organisation for Migration........................................................................................................... 88
International Road federation (IRF).................................................................................................................... 88
International Trade Centre (ITC)......................................................................................................................... 88
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).............................................................................................88
International Vaccine Institute (IVI)....................................................................................................................89
Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)............................................................................. 89
Permanent Indus Commission (PIC)....................................................................................................................89
UN Conference on Disarmament........................................................................................................................89
National : Autonomous Bodies..........................................................................................................90
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).................................................................................................. 90
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)...................................................................................90
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)................................................ 90
National Institute of Oceanography(NIO)...........................................................................................................91
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)...................................................................... 91
Central Water Commission (CWC)...................................................................................................................... 91
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)................................................................................................................... 91
National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT)........................................................................ 92
Sangeet Natak Akademi...................................................................................................................................... 92
National Centre for Polar and Oceean Research................................................................................................ 92
Wildlife Institute of India (WII)........................................................................................................................... 93
Quality Council of India.......................................................................................................................................93
National Medical Commission............................................................................................................................ 93
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).......................................................................................................................94
Botanical Survey of India (BSI)............................................................................................................................ 94
Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)...................................................................... 94
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.........................................................................................................................94
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)........................................................................................... 95
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).........................................................................................................95
Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)...................................................................................................... 95
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India......................................................................................................... 95
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT)......................................................96
Lalit Kala Akademi............................................................................................................................................... 96
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)............................................................................................................. 96
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).......................................................................................... 97
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National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language............................................................................................ 97

National Council of Senior Citizens..................................................................................................................... 97
National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).................................................................................................. 98
National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT)...................................................98
National Innovation Foundation......................................................................................................................... 99
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)............................................................................................ 99
National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO).....................................................................................99
National Regulatory Authority of India...............................................................................................................99
National Sample Survey Organisation.............................................................................................................. 100
National Testing Agency................................................................................................................................... 100
National Water Development Agency.............................................................................................................. 101
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)..............................................................................................................101
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-Dot)................................................................................................ 101
National : Constitutional.................................................................................................................... 101
National Commission for SC..............................................................................................................................101
CAG....................................................................................................................................................................102
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).............................................................................................................. 103
Election Commission of India............................................................................................................................103
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).........................................................................................104
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).......................................................................................... 104
National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC)............................................ 105
UPSC.................................................................................................................................................................. 105
National : Security Agencies............................................................................................................. 105
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)......................................................................................................................105
Indian Coast Guard (ICG)...................................................................................................................................105
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA)......................................................................................... 106
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)............................................................................................................... 106
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre(I4C).................................................................................................. 106
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).........................................................106
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)............................................................................................. 107
National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)...........................................................................................107
Special Frontier Force....................................................................................................................................... 107
NETRA (Network Traffic Analysis)..................................................................................................................... 107
NATGRID............................................................................................................................................................107
National Maritime Domain Awareness Centre (NMDA)...................................................................................108
National Investigation Agency (NIA)................................................................................................................. 109
Marine Commandos(MARCOS).........................................................................................................................109
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)........................................................................................................... 109
Assam Rifles...................................................................................................................................................... 110
Border Road Organisation (BRO)...................................................................................................................... 110
Border Security Force (BSF).............................................................................................................................. 110
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).............................................................................................................111
CRPF.................................................................................................................................................................. 111
Defense Acquisition Council............................................................................................................................. 111
Defence Space Agency (DSA)............................................................................................................................ 112
Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO)..........................................................................................................112
Enforcement Directorate (ED).......................................................................................................................... 112
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Indian Reserve Battalion................................................................................................................................... 112

Integrated Defence Staff...................................................................................................................................113
Intelligence Bureau (IB).....................................................................................................................................113
National Cyber Coordination Centre................................................................................................................ 113
National Security Council.................................................................................................................................. 114
National Security Guard.................................................................................................................................... 114
Nuclear Command Authority (NCA)..................................................................................................................115
Rapid Action Force (RAF).................................................................................................................................. 115
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).................................................................................................................. 115
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)................................................................................................................................ 115
Strategic Forces Command (SFC)...................................................................................................................... 116
National : Statutory Bodies................................................................................................................116
AICTE................................................................................................................................................................. 116
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).....................................................................................................................116
National Commission for Minorities (NCM)..................................................................................................... 116
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.....................................................................................117
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).............................................................................................. 117
Science and Engineering Board.........................................................................................................................117
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)..................................................................................................118
Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC).........................................................................................................118
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).................................................................................................... 118
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)...................................................................................................................... 119
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)....................................................................................................119
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).......................................................................... 119
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).................................................................................................. 119
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).................................................................................................120
National Green Tribunal (NGT)......................................................................................................................... 120
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).............................................................................................................121
Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC).................................................................................................................... 121
Central Information Commission (CIC)............................................................................................................. 122
Press Council of India........................................................................................................................................ 123
FSSAI..................................................................................................................................................................123
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)................................................................ 123
NHAI.................................................................................................................................................................. 123
Central Waqf Council........................................................................................................................................ 124
Technology Development Board (TDB).............................................................................................................124
Central Council of Indian Medicine...................................................................................................................124
National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC)................................................................................. 124
Competition Commission of India (CCI)............................................................................................................124
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)......................................125
Airports Authority of India (AAI)....................................................................................................................... 125
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India.............................................................................................125
Bar Council of India (BCI).................................................................................................................................. 126
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)........................................................................................................126
Central Electricity Authority..............................................................................................................................126
Central Pollution Control Board........................................................................................................................127
Central Silk Board..............................................................................................................................................127
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Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)........................................................................................................... 127

Food Corporation of India.................................................................................................................................127
Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)............................................................................................... 127
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority..........................................................................................127
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)............................................................................. 128
National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC)................................................................... 128
National Commission for Women.....................................................................................................................128
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)............................................................................................... 128
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)..........................................................................................129
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)........................................................................................................ 129
National Legal Service Authority (NALSA).........................................................................................................130
National Trust....................................................................................................................................................130
North Eastern Council....................................................................................................................................... 131
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)......................................................................131
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)...................................................................................131
Prasar Bharti......................................................................................................................................................132
Securities Appellate Tribunal............................................................................................................................ 132
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)........................................................................................ 132
SHRC.................................................................................................................................................................. 133
Tea Board of India............................................................................................................................................. 133
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).................................................................................................. 134
UIDAI................................................................................................................................................................. 134
University Grants Commission (UGC)............................................................................................................... 135
National : Others....................................................................................................................................135
Chief of Defence Staff....................................................................................................................................... 135
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED).........................................135
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)..............................................................................................136
International Financial Services Centres Authority.......................................................................................... 136
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)................................................................................................................136
GRIHA................................................................................................................................................................ 136
Indian Institute of Heritage(IIH)........................................................................................................................ 137
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)......................................................................................................137
National Mission for Clean Ganga.................................................................................................................... 137
National Remote Sensing Centre(NRSC)...........................................................................................................138
Ordnance Factory Board(OFB).......................................................................................................................... 138
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)....................................................................................................... 138
National Archives of India................................................................................................................................. 139
National Startup Advisory Council.................................................................................................................... 139
Directorate General of Foreign Trade(DGFT)....................................................................................................139
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID)........................................................... 139
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).................................................................... 140
Telecom Equipment Export Promotion Council(TEPC).....................................................................................140
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)......................................................................................................................... 140
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog................................................................................. 141
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region(NCR).................................................... 141
National Crisis Management Committee..........................................................................................................141
Law Commission of India.................................................................................................................................. 142
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Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)........................................................................................................142

Khanij Bidesh India Ltd......................................................................................................................................142
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD)...................................................................................... 143
Registrar General of India................................................................................................................................. 143
Government Film and Media Units...................................................................................................................144
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas........................................................... 145
District Mineral Foundation (DMF)...................................................................................................................145
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO).....................................................................................145
Controller General of Accounts........................................................................................................................ 146
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)........................................................................................................ 146
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)......................................................................................................................... 146
Narcotics Control Bureau..................................................................................................................................146
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).........................................................................................147
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)...................................................................................... 147
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)......................................................................................................... 147
Advertising Standards Council of India............................................................................................................. 147
Advisory Board for Banking Frauds (ABBF).......................................................................................................148
Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)............................................................................................................................ 148
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).......................................................................................................... 148
Banking ombudsman........................................................................................................................................ 149
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre...................................................................................................................... 149
Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS)...........................................................................................................149
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).......................................................................................................................... 149
Border Roads Organisation (BRO).....................................................................................................................150
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA)................................................................................................ 150
Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT).......................................................................... 150
Directorate General of Civil Aviation................................................................................................................ 151
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)..........................................................................................................151
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)........................................................................................... 151
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)...........................................................................................151
Geological Survey of India (GSI)........................................................................................................................ 152
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal......................................................................................................152
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)..................................................................................... 152
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).....................................................................................153
India Post...........................................................................................................................................................153
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)...........................................................................................................................153
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)......................................................................................................153
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).............................................................................................................154
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)..............................................................................................154
Institute of National Importance (INI).............................................................................................................. 154
NABARD.............................................................................................................................................................154
National Anti-Doping Agency............................................................................................................................155
National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)......................................................... 155
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)........................................................................ 155
National Housing Bank (NHB)........................................................................................................................... 156
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)..........................................................................................156
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)............................................................................................... 156
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National Productivity Council (NPC)................................................................................................................. 156

NTPC..................................................................................................................................................................157
Payments Council of India (PCI)........................................................................................................................ 157
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).................................................................................... 158
Sahitya Akademi................................................................................................................................................158
Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)......................................................................................................... 158
Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI)...............................................................................................................158
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).................................................................................................. 158
Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL)................................................................................................................ 159
International : Governance
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
 It is also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty
 It is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982.
 The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the
world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural
resources.
 India has ratified UNCLOS.
 It defines :
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
 It is an intergovernmental organisation.
_______________________________________________________________
 193 members
 Established in 1950
 It originated from International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
 WMO is the specialised agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and
related geophysical sciences
 HQ : Geneva, Switzerland
 India is a member of WMO
 Its mandate covers weather, climate and water resources.
 It is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on state and behaviour of Earth’s atmosphere, its
interaction with land and oceans, the weather and climate and distribution of water resources
 Reports: State of Climate report, Greenhouse Gas Bulletin report among others.
International Seabed Authority
 It is an intergovernmental body that organizes, regulates and control all mineral (non-living resources) related
activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
 HQ : Jamaica
 It is an organization established by the Law of the Sea Convention
 It functions under the aegis of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
 It has an observer status to UN
 Why in news? India extended contract with ISA to explore Polymetallic Nodules in Indian Ocean
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO):

 It is the global body for promotion and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).
 It is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations.
 Created in 1967
 Aims to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world
 India is a member of WIPO and party to several treaties administered by WIPO.
 It encourages and provides assistance to all its 188 member countries in formulating national IPR policy
however it does not dictate or prescribe any mandatory measures.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Financial Action Task Force(FATF)

 It is an inter‐governmental policy making body.
 It aims to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
 It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris (France) to combat the growing problem of money
laundering.
 It comprises over 39 countries.
 India is a member
 FATF Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the OECD in Paris.
 Initially it was only dealing with developing policies to combat money laundering. But in 2001 its purpose was
expanded to act against terrorism financing.
Objectives:
_______________________________________________________________
Set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating
money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial
system.
Listing by FATF:
 Grey List:
o Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put
in the grey list.
o This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
o The grey listing carries no legal sanctions. But it attracts economic sanctions and restricts a country’s
access to international loans
 Black List:
o Countries known as Non-Cooperative are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding
and money laundering activities.
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Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
 OPCW is an intergovernmental organization that promotes, administers and verifies the adherence to the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
 This convention outlaws production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors.
 193 member-states have signed and ratified this convention including India.
 Six states- Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar, North Korea and South Sudan are still outside the CWC.
 OPCW was established April 1997
 It is headquartered in Hague, Netherlands.
 It was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for overseeing global endeavour for permanent and verifiable
elimination of chemical weapons.
_______________________________________________________________
 Powers:
o The OPCW is authorized to perform inspections to verify that signatory states are complying with the
convention.
o It can also perform testing of sites and victims of suspected chemical weapons attacks.
 Relations with UN:
o OPCW is not a United Nations(UN) organization.
o However, by the 2001 Relationship Agreement between the OPCW and the UN, the OPCW reports
on its inspections and other activities to the UN through the office of the Secretary-General.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
 It is an intergovernmental organisation and international tribunal

 It sits in The Hague, The Netherlands
 The ICC is an independent judicial body which has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for
the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes
 It was created by the ‘Rome Statute’
 It began its functioning on 1 July 2002, the date that Rome Statute entered into force.
 The Rome Statute is multilateral treaty which serves as ICC’s foundational and governing document.
 It has 124 member countries, India is not one of them (neither are China and the USA)
 The ICC has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals and is independent of United Nations (UN).
 But it may receive case referrals from UN Security Council and can initiate prosecutions without UN action or
referral.
 The ICC is intended to complement existing national judicial systems and it may therefore only exercise its
jurisdiction when certain conditions are met, such as when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute
criminals or when the United Nations Security Council or individual states refer investigations to the Court
 So far, nine investigations have been opened, and 36 individuals have been indicted. All of the official
investigations have been in Africa, and hence the ICC has been accused of selective enforcement of western
imperialism towards African countries
 Why India is not a member of the ICC? The issue of State sovereignty and national interests versus the powers
of the ICC, the difficulty of collecting evidence, the problem of finding impartial prosecutors acceptable to the
entire international community and the definition of crimes that would come within the ICC’s jurisdiction
emerged are some of the challenges that India cites for not accepting ICC’s jurisdiction
International Energy Agency (IEA)
 Located in Paris
 Autonomous intergovernmental organization under OECD framework.
 Established in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
 The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as serving as
an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors.
 The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its member states, but also works with non-member countries,
especially China, India, and Russia
 Presently it has 30 member countries.
 India has become an associate member of IEA.
 Only OECD members can become its members.
 The Agency's mandate has broadened to focus on the "3Es" of effectual energy policy:
o energy security,
o economic development, and
o environmental protection
 The IEA has a broad role in promoting alternate energy sources (including renewable energy), rational energy
policies, and multinational energy technology co-operation
_______________________________________________________________
New Development Bank
 Also referred as BRICS Development Bank

 It is a multilateral development bank operated by BRICS states.
 The bank's primary focus of lending will be infrastructure projects
 The bank will have starting capital of $50 billion, with capital increased to $100 billion over time
 Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will initially contribute $10 billion each to bring the total to $50
billion
 Unlike the World Bank, which assigns votes based on capital shares, here each participant country will be
assigned one vote, and no country will have veto power
 Countries apart from the BRICS countries will also be members- the bank will have some countries from ‘the
south’ on a rotational basis, on the board of the bank, and they will be allowed to vote
 The bank will allow new members to join but the share of BRICS countries cannot drop below 55%
 HQ : Shanghai, China
 Formed in 2015
 The first regional office of the NDB will be opened in Johannesburg, South Africa
 K V Kamath is its President.
 In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the United Nations General Assembly, establishing a firm basis
for active and fruitful cooperation with the UN.
 What will NDB do?
o the Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and
other financial instruments.
o shall cooperate with international organizations and other financial entities, and provide technical
assistance for projects to be supported by the Bank
 Why in news?
o Recently, a 500-million dollar loan agreement was signed between the Union government, the Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Capital Region (NCR) Transport Corporation Limited and
the New Development Bank (NDB) for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System
(RRTS).
o 1 billion USD loan pact with NDB was signed to boost rural employment and infrastructure.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
 HQ : Vienna, Austria
 It seeks to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to prohibit its use for any military purpose, including
manufacturing of nuclear weapons
 It reports to the UNGA and the UNSC (although it is an independent body)
 IAEA :
o Promotes development of peaceful applications of nuclear technology,
o provide international safeguards against misuse of nuclear technology and nuclear materials, and
o promote nuclear safety (including radiation protection) and nuclear security standards and their
implementation
 Three main areas of work that underpin the IAEA's mission are:
o Safety and Security;
o Science and Technology; and
o Safeguards and Verification
 The IAEA executes this mission with three main functions:
o the inspection of existing nuclear facilities to ensure their peaceful use,
o providing information and developing standards to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities,
and
o as a hub for the various fields of science involved in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology
_______________________________________________________________
United Nations Peacekeeping
 United Nations Peacekeeping was created in 1948.

 They are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets
 Purpose: It provides security, political, and peacebuilding support to countries under conflicts. It helps
countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
 Principles: They are guided by three basic principles:
o Consent of the parties
o Impartiality
o Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.
 Authorised by: Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the UN Security Council.
 Peacekeeping forces: Member states contribute their manpower for Peacekeeping forces on a voluntary basis.
 Funding: The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN
Member States. Every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
 The UN Peacekeeping Force won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
India and the UN Peacekeeping forces:

 India is consistently among the top troop-contributing nations to the UN. At present, 5,424 personnel of India
are serving in eight countries. It is currently the fifth-largest contribution.
 India’s contribution to the regular budget is 0.83% and 0.16% of the peacekeeping budget.
Other Countries Contributions:

 The US has never contributed ground troops. But it contributes 27% of the U.N. peacekeeping budget.
 China currently contributes over 2,500 troops in various UN missions. It provides for 12% of the UN’s
regular general budget and 15% of the peacekeeping budget.
World Health Organization (WHO)
 WHO is a specialised agency of UN.

 It is concerned with international public health.
 It acts as coordinating authority on international public health.
 It succeeded the Health Organization, which was an agency of the League of Nations.
 India is a founder member of WHO.
 It is a member of UN Development Group (UNDP).
 WHO flag features the Rod of Asclepius as a symbol for healing.
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
 It is an international organisation
 HQ : The Hague, The Netherlands
 It is not a court and does not have permanent judges.
 It is not part of the UN system although it has observer status in UN General Assembly .
 The PCA is a permanent bureaucracy that assists temporary tribunals to resolve disputes among states (and
similar entities), intergovernmental organizations, or even private parties arising out of international agreements.
 The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights,
international investment, and international and regional trade.
 The decision of the arbitrators is binding in all cases on the parties.
 It has a three-part organizational structure consisting of:
o Administrative Council - to oversee its policies and budgets,
o Members of the Court - a panel of independent potential arbitrators, and
_______________________________________________________________
o International Bureau - its Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General.

 Funds: It has a Financial Assistance Fund which aims at helping developing countries meet part of the costs
involved in international arbitration or other means of dispute settlement offered by the PCA.
World Bank
 World Bank is one of five institutions created at Breton Woods Conference in 1944.
 The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital
programs.
 It comprises of five institutions:
o International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) : provides loans, credits and grants
o International Development Association (IDA) : provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income
countries.
o International Finance Corporation (IFC) : provides investment, advice, and asset management services
to companies and governments.
o Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) : insures lenders and investors against political risk
such as war.
o International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) : settles investment-disputes
between investors and countries.
 India is not a member of ICSID.
 Formation: July 1944.
 Headquarters: Washington DC, United States.
 Motto: Working for a World Free of Poverty.
 World Bank has released new Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for reference year 2017, under International
Comparison Program (ICP) that adjusts for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world.
 It has also developed the Logistics Performance Index.
 Reports Published by World Bank:
o Human Capital Index Report
o Global Economic Prospects
o Ease of Doing Business
o South Asia Economic Focus Report
o Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report
o World Development Report
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
 HQ : Manila, Philippines
 It is a multi-lateral lending agency
 It is modeled on the World Bank
 It has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed based on member's capital subscriptions.
 ADB borrows from international capital markets with its capital as guarantee
 Japan and USA are its major donors.
 There has been criticism that ADB's large scale projects cause social and environmental damage due to lack of
oversight
 India has about 6% voting rights (4th highest; Japan highest, USA 2nd highest)
 It is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region including India.
 It is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally
sustainable growth, and regional integration.
 It provides finance to both sovereign countries as well as to the private parties.
 It provides hard loans to middle-income countries and soft loans to poorer countries.
_______________________________________________________________
International Monetary Fund
 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries.

 It was established in 1945.
 The main goal of IMF is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system.
 It also seeks to facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and
reduce poverty around the world.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
 This is an international financial institution

 It aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region
 It is an initiative of government of China
 Started operation in 2016
 HQ : Beijing, China
 86 members (More are expected to join)
 The capital of the bank is $100 billion, equivalent to 2/3 of the capital of the Asian Development Bank and
about half that of the World Bank
 China will remain the biggest shareholder in the bank (India second largest), and the shares of non-Asian
countries will be restricted to 25% of the total
 China is the largest shareholder with 26.06% voting shares. India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5%
voting shares followed by Russia (5.93%) and Germany (4.5%)
 The purpose of the multilateral development bank is to provide finance to infrastructure projects in the Asia
Pacific region.
 AIIB is regarded by some as a rival for the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
which the AIIB says are dominated by developed countries like the United States and Japan
 AIIB will concentrate on infrastructure
 Critics (such as the US) warn that the China-led bank may fail to live up to the environmental, labour and
procurement standards that are essential to the mission of development lenders. China says the AIIB will adopt
international best practises. The UK, Germany, and France have now decided to join in as founding members,
drawing protests from the USA.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
 It is an international financial institution

 Founded in 1991
 As a multilateral developmental investment bank, the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market
economies.
 Initially focused on the countries of the former Eastern Bloc it expanded to support development in more than
30 countries from central Europe to central Asia.
 Besides Europe, member countries of the EBRD are from five continents (North America, Africa, Asia and
Australia), with the biggest shareholder being the United States, so the name is somewhat of a misnomer.
 Headquartered in London, the EBRD is owned by 65 countries and two EU institutions.
 Despite its public sector shareholders, it invests mainly in private enterprises, together with commercial partners.
 Govt has approved India's membership of EBRD. The shareholders of EBRD have given their nod to India’s
candidature to international financial institution.
 India has been inducted as 69th member of EBRD.
Significance for India (For Mains):

 The membership of EBRD will enhance India’s international profile and promote its economic interests.
 It will give India access to EBRD’s Countries of Operation and sector knowledge.
 Moreover, it will boost India’s investment opportunities and also improve investment climate in country.
_______________________________________________________________
 The membership of EBRD will help to increase scope of cooperation between India and EBRD through co-
financing opportunities in manufacturing, services, energy and Information Technology.
 It will also help India leverage technical assistance and sectorial knowledge of EBRD for benefit of
development of private sector.
 The membership of EBRD will also enhance competitive strength of Indian firms and provide enhanced access
to international markets in terms of business opportunities, procurement activities, consultancy assignments etc.
 It will open up new vistas for Indian professionals on one hand and give fillip to Indian exports on other.
 It will also have positive impact on employment generating potential due to increased economic activities.
 It will also enable Indian nationals to get employment opportunity in EBRD.
European Commission
 Founded on 1 January 1958.

 HQ : Brussels, Belgium
 Responsible for :
o implementing decisions,
o proposing legislation,
o upholding EU treaties and
o managing day-to-day business of European Union.
European Investment Bank (EIB)
 EIB is long-term lending institution of European Union owned by its member states.
 It is also engaged in multilateral financing and works closely with other EU institutions to implement EU
policy.
 More than 90% of its activity is in Europe but it is also big investor globally.
 EIB’s activities focus on four priority areas including innovation and skills, access to finance for infrastructure,
smaller businesses and climate & environment.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
ICANN is private (non-government) non-profit corporation with responsibility of supervising domain names on
internet. It plays major monopolistic role in IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name
system management, and root server system management functions. It was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Los
Angeles, California, United States.
ICANN is responsible for

 Coordination of global Internet’s systems of unique identifiers.
 Ensuring stable and secure operation of internet.
 Coordination of the Internet Protocol address spaces.
 Assignment of address blocks to regional Internet registries, for maintaining registries of Internet protocol
identifiers, and for management of top-level domain name space (DNS root zone), which includes operation of
root name servers.
 DNS policy development for internationalization of the DNS system.
 Introduction of new generic top-level domains (TLDs).
International Astronomical Union
 IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the PhD level and beyond, active in professional education
and research in astronomy.
 Founded: 1919
 HQ : Paris, France
_______________________________________________________________
 Objective:
o Promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation.
o It is an internationally recognized authority for assigning designations (names) to celestial bodies (stars,
planets, asteroids, etc.) and any surface features on them.
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
 It is an international financial institution that offers loans to middle-income developing countries.

 HQ in Washington DC
 It was established in 1944 with the mission of financing the reconstruction of European nations devastated by
World War II
 The IBRD and its concessional lending arm, the International Development Association, are collectively known
as the World Bank
 Following the reconstruction of Europe, the Bank's mandate expanded to advancing worldwide economic
development and eradicating poverty
 The IBRD provides commercial-grade or concessional financing to sovereign states to fund projects that seek
to
o improve transportation and infrastructure,
o education,
o domestic policy,
o environmental consciousness,
o energy investments,
o healthcare,
o access to food and potable water, and
o access to improved sanitation
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
 It is an international arbitration institution established in 1966.

 Parent organization: World Bank Group.
 It arbitrates for legal dispute resolution and conciliation between international investors.
 It is also available for state-state disputes under investment treaties and free trade agreements, and as an
administrative registry.
 ICSID provides for settlement of disputes by conciliation, arbitration or fact-finding.
International Development sociation (IDA)
 The International Development Association (IDA) is an international financial institution which offers
concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest developing countries.
 HQ in Washington DC
 Recent issue: India is no longer eligible for IDA fund because India per capita income is greater than $1260, so
it’s a debate whether India will be a beneficiary because India really needs support from it
UN Human Settlements Program or UN-Habitat
 It is a UN agency responsible for sustainable urban development and human settlements.

 It is an intergovernmental body
 It was established in 1978
 HQ : In UN Office at Nairobi, Kenya.
 Promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter
for all.
 It is also a member of UNDP.
_______________________________________________________________
 UN-Habitat reports to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

 UN-Habitat works in more than 70 countries in five continents focusing on seven areas:
o Urban Legislation,
o Land and Governance;
o Urban Planning and Design;
o Urban Economy;
o Urban Basic Services;
o Housing and Slum Upgrading;
o Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation;
o Urban Research and Capacity Development.
 India has been unanimously elected as President of UN-Habitat
 The UN-Habitat derives its mandate from the Habitat Agenda.
 About UN Habitat Agenda
o It was adopted in 1996 by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in
Istanbul in Turkey.
o The Habitat Agenda has twin goals of :
 Adequate shelter for all.
 Development of sustainable human settlements in today’s urbanizing world.
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United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
 UNCITRAL was established by the UN General Assembly in 1966 to promote the progressive harmonisation
and unification of international trade law.
 It is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law.
 It also aims to modernize and harmonize rules on international business.
_______________________________________________________________
 The Commission comprises 60 member States elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a term of
six years. Membership is structured to ensure representation of the world’s various geographic regions and its
principal economic and legal systems.
 India is a founding member of UNCITRAL.
 India is only one of eight countries which have been a member of UNCITRAL since its inception. Last year, it
was re-elected for a term of six years (2016-2022).
World Customs Organization
 The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization

 HQ: Brussels, Belgium
 It has 182 member nations (including India) that manage more than 98% of world trade.
 Its aim is to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
 It was established in 1952 as Customs Co-operation Council (CCC).
 It is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and is considered as voice of
international Customs community.
 It plays leading role in discussion, development, promotion and implementation of modern customs systems
and procedures.
 The WCO maintains the international Harmonized System (HS) goods nomenclature, and administers the
technical aspects of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on Customs Valuation and Rules of
Origin.
World Food Programme
 The WFP is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.

 It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.
 It works to help people who cannot produce or obtain enough food for themselves and their families.
 It was established in 1961 after the 1960 Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Conference.
 Its headquarter is in Rome (Italy) and has more than 80 country offices around the world.
 It provides food assistance to an average of 80 million people in 75 countries each year.
 It is a member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) and part of its Executive Committee.
 UNWFP is prime partners of Agriculture Ministry to achieve collective target of Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG)-2: ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable
agriculture.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
 WTO is an inter-governmental organization for governments to negotiate global trade agreements and
progressively liberalizing trade.
 It operates system of trade rules that apply to all its members.
 It is also a place for Member governments to settle their trade disputes.
 Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
 It was established on 1 January 1995 and its official languages are English, French and Spanish.
_______________________________________________________________
International : Groups
OPEC
 OPEC stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

 Founded in 1960 in Bagdad
 HQ : Vienna
 13 members
1. Algeria,
2. Angola,
3. Congo
4. Equatorial Guinea,
5. Gabon,
6. Iran,
7. Iraq,
8. Kuwait,
9. Libya,
10. Nigeria,
11. Saudi Arabia (the de facto leader),
12. United Arab Emirates, and
13. Venezuela.
 OPEC sets production targets for its member nations and generally, when OPEC production targets are
reduced, oil prices increase
 OPEC decisions have come to play a prominent role in the global oil market and international relations
 The OPEC Statute distinguishes between the Founder Members and Full Members (those countries whose
applications for membership have been accepted by the Conference).
 The Statute stipulates that “any country with a substantial net export of crude petroleum, which has
fundamentally similar interests to those of Member Countries, may become a Full Member of the Organization,
if accepted by a majority of three-fourths of Full Members, including the concurring votes of all Founder
Members.”
 The Statute further provides for Associate Members which are those countries that do not qualify for full
membership, but are nevertheless admitted under such special conditions as may be prescribed by the
Conference.
 The non-OPEC countries which export crude oil are termed as OPEC plus countries.
 OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South
Sudan and Sudan.
 Map (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only):
_______________________________________________________________
G7
G7:
 The Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and
the United States.
 The European Union is also represented within the G7.
 These countries are the seven major advanced economies as reported by the International Monetary Fund.
 G7 countries represent more than 64% of the net global wealth
 Common denominator among members is the economy and long-term political motives.
 The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international
security and energy policy.
 The G-7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during
annual summits are non-binding.
 The G7 was known as the ‘G8’ for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997.
 The Group returned to being called G7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s
annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine
Latest Summit:
 France, August 2019
 2021 Summit in UK
ASEAN
 ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations

 It is a political and economic organisation of 10 SE Asian nations
 Formed in 1967
 Founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand i.e. all 10 current
members were not founding members
 Current members are:
1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
6. Brunei
7. Cambodia
8. Laos
9. Myanmar (Burma)
10. Vietnam
 Aims:
o Accelerating economic growth, social progress, and sociocultural evolution among its members,
o Protection of regional stability
o Providing a mechanism for member countries to resolve differences peacefully
 ‘The ASEAN Way’: Doctrine that the member countries will largely mind their own business when it comes to
internal matters of member countries
 ASEAN Plus Three: Was created to improve existing ties with the China, Japan and South Korea.
 ASEAN Plus Six : includes ASEAN + China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India
 If the ASEAN nations were a single country, their combined economy would rank the 7th largest in the world
 HQ : Jakarta, Indonesia
 India
_______________________________________________________________
o Has and FTA with ASEAN (operational since 2010)

o Shares border both land/marine
o Large number of Indian origin people living in these countries
Latest Summit:
 Virtual Meet (Vietnam Host), Nov 2020
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
 It is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation

 Founded in 2001 in Shanghai
 8 members:
o China,
o Kazakhstan,
o Kyrgyzstan,
o Russia,
o Tajikistan,
o Uzbekistan,
o India and
o Pakistan
 SCO evolved from Shanghai Five (All above minus Uzbekistan)
 On July 10, 2015, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members, and they joined as full
members in 2017.
 Main activities: cooperation on security, military activities, and economic and cultural cooperation.
 Member countries are rich in energy resources (both fossil fuels and uranium)
 Members represent over 40% of humanity and nearly 20% of the global GDP.
 The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese.
 The Republic of Tajikistan has assumed chairmanship of SCO for 2021-22.
 HQ : Beijing, China
_______________________________________________________________
Latest Summit:
 Virtually. Hosted by India.
European Union (EU)
 EU is an economic and political partnership

 It has 27 member countries.
 UK withdrew from EU in 2020.
 The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty. The treaty entered into force on November 1,1993.
 Law made in European Parliament is applicable and binding on all member states directly.
 Its member states are committed to same basic values: peace, democracy, rule of law and respect for human
rights.
 It is single market allowing the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within internal market.
 The union has its own currency, Euro established as monetary union in 1999 and being used by 19 member
countries. Note: Not all members.
 Moreover, within Schengen Area of EU, passport controls have been abolished.
 The capital of EU is located in Brussels, Belgium.
_______________________________________________________________
BRICS
 BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
 Originally it was BRIC (S. Africa included in 2010). Term coined in 2001.
 BRICS does not exist in the form of organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of
five nations.
 First formal summit was held in 2009 in Russia
 Formed in 2011
 It encourages commercial, political and cultural cooperation between the BRICS nations
 New Development Bank is an outcome of this platform.
 Chairmanship: The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the
acronym B-R-I-C-S.
 Map (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only) :
_______________________________________________________________
Latest Summit:
o 12th Summit was held virtually in 2020. Chaired by Russia. Theme: “Global Stability, Shared Security and
Innovative Growth”
o BRICS 2021: The chair of BRICS 2021 is in India. It will be the third time that India will be hosting the
BRICS Summit after 2012 and 2016.
o The theme of the Summit is, ‘BRICS @ 15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and
Consensus.’
Arctic Council
Arctic Council:
 The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental organisation formally established in 1996 by The Ottawa
Declaration.
 It aims to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction between the Arctic States.
 Members: a) Canada b) Denmark, c) Finland d) Iceland e) Norway f) Russia g) Sweden and h) United States.
 India: India has received the ‘Observer’ country status in the Arctic Council in 2013 and is one among the 13
countries across the world, including China, to have that position. The status was renewed in 2018.
India’s Engagement in the Arctic Region:

 India’s engagement with the Arctic dates back to 1920 with the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in Paris.
 Since July 2008, India has had a permanent research station in the Arctic called Himadri at NyAlesund,
Svalbard Area in Norway.
 India has also deployed a multi-sensor moored(anchored) observatory called IndARC in the Kongsfjorden fjord
since July 2014.
 The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research (NCPOR), Goa. The NCPOR falls under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
D10 Group of Countries
D10 Group of Countries:

 D10 is a proposal by the UK Prime Minister to turn the G7 into a forum for the world’s ten leading
democracies.
 The D10 would include G7 countries (UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and Canada) plus Australia,
South Korea, and India.
Council of European Union
Council of the European Union:

 Council of the European Union was established in 1967. It is one of the Institutions of the European
Union(EU) as listed in the Treaty on European Union.
 Functions: It is tasked with:
o Negotiating and adopting EU laws (in most cases together with the European Parliament)
o Coordinating EU member states’ policies
o Developing the EU’s common foreign and security policy,
o Concluding international agreements and
o Adopting the EU budget (together with the European Parliament).
BIMSTEC
 BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
 It is an international organisation involving a group of countries in South Asia and South East Asia.
_______________________________________________________________
 7 members :
o Bangladesh
o India
o Myanmar
o Sri Lanka
o Thailand
o Bhutan
o Nepal
 Established in 1997 in Bangkok
 Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand were founding members
 HQ : Dhaka, Bangladesh
 The main objective of BIMSTEC is technological and economic cooperation among south Asian and south
east Asian countries along the coast of the bay of Bengal . Commerce, investment, technology, tourism, human
resource development, agriculture, fisheries, transport and communication, textiles, leather etc. have been
included in it
 BIMSTEC uses the alphabetical order for the Chairmanship
 Bhutan has never been chairman (Skipped itself)
 Current chairmanship : Sri Lanka
Latest Summit:
o Third Summit was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in March 2014.
o Fourth Summit was held in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2018
Council of Europe
 It is European continent’s leading human rights organisation whose stated aim is to uphold human rights,
democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
 The organisation is separate from European Union (EU).
 It was established in 1949 with Headquarters in Strasbourg, France.
 Objective: to achieve a greater unity between its members countries for purpose of safeguarding and realising
ideals and principles which are their common heritage and also to facilitate their economic and social progress.
 Members: It includes 47 member states (including 27 members of European Union).
 The Council of Europe is the United Nations Observer.
BBIN
 BBIN stands for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal

 It is a sub-regional architecture of these 4 countries
_______________________________________________________________
 Aims to formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements across areas such as water resources
management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure
Motor Vehicle Agreement

 It was signed on 15th June 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan.
 It seeks to facilitate the unrestricted cross-border movement of cargo, passenger, and personal vehicles between
BBIN countries.
 As per the agreement, member countries would allow vehicles registered in the other countries to enter their
territory under certain terms and conditions. Customs and tariffs will be decided by the respective countries and
these would be finalised at bilateral and trilateral forums.
 Implementation of the MVA has been delayed as the countries work to clarify some of the provisions that are
supposed to be elaborated in protocols.
 Objective:
o To provide seamless people-to-people contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross
border movement of people and goods.
Quad Group
 It is the strategic dialogue between four countries viz. India, United States, Japan, and Australia.
 Origin:
o The grouping traces its genesis to 2004, when the four countries came together to coordinate relief
operations in the aftermath of the tsunami.
o However, the idea of Quad was initiated in 2007 by the Japanese Prime Minister. But it was dropped
with the withdrawal of Australia. It was later revived in the year 2017.
 Objective: It is viewed as a group of four democracies. They have a shared objective to ensure and support a
free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
 The foundation of Quad is also based on collective effort and shared commitment to counter-terrorism,
humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, maritime security cooperation, development finance, and
cybersecurity.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
 It is a regional intergovernmental group

 It deals with political and economic issues
 It includes all Arab states of Persian Gulf except Iraq
 Members :
o Bahrain
o Kuwait
o Oman
o Qatar
o Saudi Arabia
o UAE
 Established : 1981
 HQ : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 All members are monarchies, including three constitutional monarchies (Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain), two
absolute monarchies (Oman and Saudi Arabia) and one federal monarchy (UAE which is composed of seven
member states, each of which is absolute monarchy with its own emir).
 Map (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only)
_______________________________________________________________
ADMM-Plus
 ADMM stands for ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting

 ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners to strengthen security and defence co-
operation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
 Dialogue Partners are:
o Australia,
o China,
o India,
o Japan,
o New Zealand,
o South Korea,
o Russian Federation and
o United States,
 Its objective is to promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater
dialogue and transparency.
 The inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010.
 The ADMM-Plus currently focuses on seven areas of practical cooperation, namely maritime security, counter-
terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster management, peacekeeping operations, military medicine,
humanitarian mine action and cybersecurity.
 Objectives of the ADMM-Plus
 To promote mutual trust and confidence between defence establishments through greater dialogue and
transparency;
 To enhance regional peace and stability through cooperation in defence and security, in view of the
transnational security challenges the region faces;
_______________________________________________________________
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) or QUAD
 It is an informal strategic forum comprising :

o India,
o Japan,
o Australia
o United States of America
 The shared objective is to ensure and sustain an open, free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
 The idea behind the QUAD is to keep the strategic and significant sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any
influence.
 Established in 2007–2008. Discontinued. Restarted after negotiations since November 2017.
SAARC
 SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

 It is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia.
 Founded in Dhaka in 1985
 Secretariat : Kathmandu
 8 Members:
o Afghanistan (Joined in 2007)
o Bhutan
o Bangladesh
o India
o Pakistan
o Nepal
o Sri Lanka
o Maldives
 Myanmar and China are not its members
 Nepal is the current chair of SAARC
 Ten observer states: Australia, China, European Union, Japan, Iran, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, UK and
United States.
 SAARC compromises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 9.12% of the global
economy, as of 2015
 The organization promotes development economics and regional integration
 SAFTA : South Asia Free Trade Agreement was launched in 2006
 Map: (Dark : members; Light : Observer status) (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational
purpose only)
_______________________________________________________________
Latest Summit:
 Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014
 2016 Summit was supposed to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was cancelled.
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OECD
 OECD stands for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

 It is an international economic organisation
 Secretariat : Paris
 Members : 37
 Aims to stimulate economic progress and world trade
 Its members are committed to Democracy and Market Economy
 Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are
regarded as developed countries
 India is not a member of OECD
 Map: (Dark Blue : Founding members) (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only)
_______________________________________________________________
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
 The OIC is an international organization founded in 1969.

 Members: It consists of 57 member states including Iran and Pakistan.
 Administrative centre (headquarters): Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
 Objective:
o Raise the collective voice of the Muslim world.
o Collectively work to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting
international peace and harmony.
o OIC has permanent delegations to United Nations and the European Union.
 Issues with India: In this organisation, India is a blocked country, though it has about 12% of the world’s
Muslim population. India has been blocked by Pakistan from joining the OIC over Kashmir issue.
 OIC regard parts of Kashmir as “occupied by India”.
 It is second largest inter-governmental organization after UN.
G20
G20
 It is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
 Founded in 1999
 Its aim was to review policy decisions to enhance international financial stability
 It now deliberates on global economic issues and other important development challenges.
 First Head of State Summit was held in 2008 (Due to Economic Crisis)
 20 Members ( EU + 19 Countries) :
o Argentina,
o Australia,
o Brazil,
o Canada,
o China,
o France,
o Germany,
o India,
o Indonesia,
o Italy,
o Japan,
o South Korea,
o Mexico,
o Russia,
o Saudi Arabia,
o South Africa,
o Turkey,
o United Kingdom and
o United States
_______________________________________________________________
 G20 economies account for around 85% of the gross world product (GWP), 80% of world trade (or, if
excluding EU intra-trade, 75%), and two-thirds of the world population.
 Secretariat: It does not have any permanent secretariat staff and its chairmanship rotates annually between
nations divided into regional groupings.
 G20 replaced G8 as the main economic council of wealthy nations
 Map : (Blue : members, Pink : Guests) (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only)
Latest Summit:
 In 2020, held virtually. Hosted by Saudi Arabia
 Theme: “Realising the Opportunities of 21st Century for All”
APEC
 APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

 It is a regional economic forum of 21 Pacific Rim member economies
 APEC’s 21 members aim to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region
 APEC account for about half the world’s trade and almost 60 per cent of global GDP
 Why was it established?
o In response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional trade
blocs in other parts of the world;
o To fears that highly industrialized Japan (a member of G8) would come to dominate economic activity
in the Asia-Pacific region; and
o To establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Europe
 India is not a member. India has applied but membership was denied because it does not border Pacific Ocean
 India is an observer member in APEC
 HQ: Singapore
 Bogor Goals: These are a set of goals agreed by APEC members in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia with the aim of
free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by the year 2020.
_______________________________________________________________
Latest Summit:
 2020 summit held virtually hosted by Malaysian PM
East Asia Summit
 It is a forum of East Asian, South East Asian and South Asian nations.
 18 members :
o 10 ASEAN nations
o China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN + 3)
o Australia
o New Zealand
o India
o Russia
o USA
 Started in 2005 from Kuala Lumpur
 EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings. It is an ASEAN led initiative.
 There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS which are
1. Environment and Energy
2. Education
3. Finance
4. Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases
5. Natural Disaster Management and
6. ASEAN Connectivity.
 Significance: The members of the EAS together represent 54% of the world population and account for 58%
of the global GDP.
Latest Summit:
 Naypyidaw (Myanmar), Nov 2020
Pacific Pumas
 The Pacific Pumas are a political and economic grouping of countries along Latin America’s Pacific coast that
includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
 These countries share common trends of positive growth, stable macroeconomic foundations, improved
governance and an openness to global integration.
 The Pacific Pumas have been early adopters of managed currency floats, that means domestic currency
conversion rates are allowed to fluctuate based on market impulses.
RCEP
 RCEP stands for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

_______________________________________________________________
 It is a free trade agreement between countries of ASEAN(10 countries) and 5 other countries with which
ASEAN has existing FTAs (India opted out in 2019).
 10 ASEAN nations are :
1. Brunei,
2. Burma (Myanmar),
3. Cambodia,
4. Indonesia,
5. Laos,
6. Malaysia,
7. Philippines,
8. Singapore,
9. Thailand,
10. Vietnam
 5 Other Nations are :
1. Australia,
2. China,
3. Japan,
4. South Korea and
5. New Zealand
 RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia
 India opted out of RCEP negotiations in 2019
 RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which includes the United
States but excludes China
 It is expected to represent at least 30% of the global GDP and will emerge as the largest free trade agreement in
the world.
 The three largest economies in the pact – China, Japan and South Korea are part of a free trade agreement for
the first time.
Commonwealth of Nations
 Formerly called the British Commonwealth

 It is an intergovernmental organisation of 54 member states that were mostly territories of the former British
Empire
 HQ : London
 Mozambique and Rwanda are also its members, who were never colonies of Britain
 It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nation through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926
Imperial Conference, and formalized by the UK through the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
 The current body was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, which modernized the
community, and established the member states as “free and equal”.
_______________________________________________________________
 It is not a trade block. It aims to promote democracy, human rights, world peace etc.
 Member has no legal obligations to one another. Instead, they are united by language, history, culture and their
shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
 Commonwealth countries in theory do not consider each other ‘foreign’, and hence send ‘High Commissioners’
and not ‘Ambassadors’
 Several countries (such as Britain, Caribbean islands) grant the right to vote to any commonwealth country
citizen residing in their territory to vote in their elections
 In non-commonwealth countries, commonwealth countries can seek assistance at the British embassy, in case
their own country does not have consular services in that country
 On occasion, the commonwealth has suspended members for not maintaining democratic governments (such as
Nigeria from 1995-1999). Recently, there have been lots of protests demanding that Sri Lanka be dropped,
given the war crimes inflicted on Tamils during the civil war
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)
 APTA is an initiative under United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN
ESCAP) for trade expansion through exchange of tariff concessions among developing country members of
Asia Pacific Region.
 It is preferential trade agreement (PTA), under which basket of items as well as extent of tariff concessions are
enlarged during trade negotiating rounds which are launched from time to time.
 APTA was signed in 1975 and was formerly known as Bangkok agreement (renamed to present name in 2005).
 UNESCAP’s Trade and Investment Division in Bangkok, Thailand serves its secretariat.
 It is the first plurilateral and oldest preferential trade agreement among developing countries in Asia-Pacific .
 The six member countries of APTA are:
o Bangladesh,
o China,
o India,
o Laos,
o Korea and
o Sri Lanka.
 APTA aims to promote economic development through adoption of mutually beneficial trade liberalization
measures that will contribute to intra-regional trade expansion and provides for economic integration through
coverage of merchandise goods, services, investment and trade facilitation.
 Why in news? India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to Asia Pacific Trade
Agreement (APTA) members
_______________________________________________________________
ASEM
 ASEM stands for ASIA-Europe Meeting Summit

 It is an informal dialogue process
 It brings together 53 entities – including 51 countries (including India) from Asia and Europe and two regional
bodies European Union (EU) and the ASEAN
 Established in 1996 in Bangkok
 The dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues between the two regions
 It also seeks to strengthen the relationship between the two regions in a spirit of mutual respect and equal
partnership
 Meetings are held biennially i.e. every two years
Latest Summit:
 Brussels, Belgium in October 2018
 The theme of summit was ‘Global Partners for Global Challenges’.
BASIC
 It is a geopolitical alliance (bloc) of four advanced developing countries:

o Brazil,
o South Africa,
o India and
o China.
 It was established by agreement in 2009.
 These four countries collectively account for one-third of world’s geographical area and nearly 40% of world’s
population.
 BASIC countries broadly have common position on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and raising the massive
funds that are needed to fight climate change.
 Since 2009, they have cooperated in international climate negotiations, reflecting their aspiration to have a
larger say in global politics.
 Mandate: These four countries as single bloc are committed to act jointly at Copenhagen climate summit,
including possible united walk-out if their common minimum position was not met by the developed nations.
They are collectively working to define common position on emission reductions and climate aid money and
try to convince other countries to sign up to Copenhagen Accord.
BCIM
 BCIM stands for Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar

 It is a sub-regional organisation
 It aims at greater integration of trade and investment between the four countries
_______________________________________________________________
 BCIM economic corridor is an initiative conceptualised for significant gains through sub-regional economic
cooperation within the BCIM.
 The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar
and Bangladesh
 BCIM evolved from ‘Kunming Initiative’ (A platform in 1990s)
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
 It is an economic union of states located in Northern Eurasia

 HQ : Moscow
 5 members :
o Armenia
o Belarus
o Kazakhstan
o Kyrgyzstan
o Russia
 The EEU introduces the free movement of goods, capital, services and people and provides for common
transport, agriculture and energy policies
 In future, it can evolve with provisions for a single currency and greater integration
G4
 Members : India, Brazil, Germany and Japan

 All members support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council
 Formed in 2004
 Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the
UN's establishment.
 Their economic and political influence has grown significantly in the last decades, reaching a scope comparable
to the permanent members (P5)
 G4 campaigns for U.N. Reforms, including more representation for developing countries, both in the
permanent and non-permanent categories, in the UNSC
 France supports inclusion of G4 and an African representative as permanent member with no objection to the
veto power being extended to new permanent members. UK supports G4 as new members but without veto
power.
 G4’s bids are often opposed by Uniting for Consensus movement or Coffee Club (ground 12 countries
including Pakistan led by Italy) and particularly their economic competitors or political rivals.
_______________________________________________________________
G77
 G77 is a coalition of 134 developing nations (including China) at the United Nations.
 Traditionally G77 speaks with a single voice before the 193-member General Assembly and also at all UN
committee meetings and at international conferences.
 G77 was formed on 15 June 1964 by the “Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries” issued at
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
 The group was credited with a common stance against apartheid and for supporting global disarmament.
 India is a member of G77.
G77 and China

 The G77 grouping considers China as the member state. China is providing consistent political support to the
G77 and even makes financial contributions.
 But it doesn’t consider itself as the member of the group.
 Hence official statements of the G77 are delivered in the name of the Group of 77 and China.
Why in news?
 Palestine has taken over the chairmanship of G77 from Egypt.
 The chairmanship of the G77 is based on the system of geographical rotation.
 2019 was Asia’s turn and the Asian group had unanimously endorsed Palestine.
 Egypt was representing the African Group of countries.
IBSA
 IBSA stands for India-Brazil-South Africa

 Aims at galvanizing South-South cooperation
 All Developing Democracies
 The forum provides the three countries with a platform to engage in discussions for cooperation in the field of
agriculture, trade, culture, and defence among others.
 IBSA was formalised and launched through the adoption of the “Brasilia Declaration” in 2003
 Brasilia Declaration (2003) : Approved urgent need for reforms in the United Nations, especially the Security
Council.
_______________________________________________________________

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India-Africa Forum
India Africa Summit

 The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for the African-Indian relations.
 Started in 2008
 Intergovernmental attempt to give direction and thrust to bilateral synergy
 Summits: 2008 (New Delhi); 2011 (Addis Adaba) ; 2015 (New Delhi)
Summit 2015
 Delhi Declaration
 Infrastructure building - "Cairo to cape town, Marrakesh to Mombassa"
 Credit at concessional rates of $10 billion over 5 years (in addition to 4.7 billion that India had already
pledged since 2008)
 Grant assistance of $600 million (India-Africa dev fund , India-Africa Health fund)
International Security Alliance
 It is an international working group to confront organised, transnational and extremist crimes by joint security
cooperation projects and exchange of expertise on practices implemented across ISA member countries.
 It was launched in 2017 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
 Headquarters: Abu Dhabi.
 Members (9): ISA now comprises of nine countries viz.
1. Bahrain,
2. Morocco,
3. France,
_______________________________________________________________
4. Italy,
5. Spain,
6. Senegal,
7. Singapore,
8. Slovak Republic and
9. United Arab Emirates.
IORA
 IORA stands for Indian Ocean Rim Association

 It consists of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean
 The IORA is a regional forum which bring together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for
promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them
 21 member states : South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles,
Iran, Oman, UAE, Yemen, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia
and Somalia.
 Maldives, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar are not members
 Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.
 The organisation was first established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius on March 1995 and
formally launched in 1997 by the conclusion of a multilateral treaty known as the Charter of the Indian Ocean
Rim Association for Regional Co-operation
 Current chairmanship : Indonesia
 Map: (Somalia is not shown in this. Add that) (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational
purpose only)
_______________________________________________________________
Factual Information:
 The 2017 Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit (March 5-7, 2017) was the first IORA Summit.
Held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
 Theme was "Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean"
Islamic Military Alliance
 Its official name is Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism

 It is an intergovernmental counter terrorism alliance
 It is an alliance of Muslim countries which are united around military intervention against ISIL and other
counter-terrorist activities
 Created in 2015
 Joint Operations centre is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 Total members are 41
 Pakistan's former Army Chief, Raheel Sharif is named IMA's first commander in Chief
 Map (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational purpose only)
Joint Cooperation Committee
 It is a new economic and partnership group formed by The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
_______________________________________________________________
 The new committee is assigned to cooperate and coordinate between UAE and Saudi Arabia in all military,
political, economic, trade and cultural fields, as well as others in the interest of the two countries.
 This move that could undermine six-member GCC amid Saudi led Arab countries diplomatic crisis with Qatar
as half of countries members are boycotting Qatar, accusing it for supporting and funding terrorism.
Mekong-Ganga Cooperation
 It comprises six member :
 India,
 Thailand,
 Myanmar,
 Cambodia,
 Laos and
 Vietnam
 They emphasised four areas of cooperation:
 tourism,
 culture,
 education, and
 transportation
 The organization takes its name from the Ganga and the Mekong, two large rivers in the region
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by
controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and
by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials.
 NSG was set up in 1974 as a reaction to India’s nuclear tests to stop what it called the misuse of nuclear
material meant for peaceful purposes.
 Currently, it has 48 members.
 India is not a member yet.
 India sought membership of the NSG in 2008
 India's application has not been decided upon because signing the NPT or other nuclear moratoriums on
testing is a pre-requisite and India has not signed NPT.
 However, India has received a special waiver to conduct nuclear trade with all nuclear exporters.
 India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan are among the four UN member states which have not signed the NPT,
the international pact aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons
Benefits of being an NSG member:

 Gets timely information on nuclear matters.
 Contributes by way of information.
_______________________________________________________________
 Has confirmed credentials.

 Can act as an instrument of harmonization and coordination.
 Is part of a very transparent process.
South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)
 Founded in 2001
 Members:
o Bangladesh
o Bhutan
o India
o Maldives
o Myanmar
o Nepal
o Srilanka
 It aims to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member
countries, and strengthening regional economic cooperation.
 It is a project based partnership
 It is an initiative of Asian Development Bank (ADB)
 ADB is the secretariat and lead financier of the SASEC program.
 Why in news? Myanmar has become its 7th member
SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program (SRCIP)

 Supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB)
 It aims at upgradation of road infrastructure in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India (BBIN) in order to
improve the regional connectivity.
 SRCIP is a strategic initiative that aims to achieve regional integration among the members of the SASEC
group by improving road connectivity within the North Bengal-North Eastern Region in India.
The Australia Group
The Australia Group

 The Australia Group is an informal forum of countries that seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to
the development of chemical or biological weapons.
 Coordination among participant countries of Australia Group helps them to fulfil their obligations
under Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to the fullest extent
possible.
 It was established in 1985 and presently has 43 members.
 It was established after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984
 India has become 43rd member of this group.
 China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea are not its members.
 The name comes from Australia’s initiative to create the group. Australia manages the secretariat
Significance of India's membership:

 India is now part of three of the four key export control groups in world dealing with non-proliferation.
 The inclusion will help to raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation, though it is not signatory to
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
 It will help in acquiring critical technologies.
 India is first South Asian nation to become its full-time member of Australia Group.
 It is also expected to strengthen India’s bid to enter 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
_______________________________________________________________
About MTCR:
 35 nation (India is 35th member) grouping that controls export of missile technology, including drones and
UAVs.
 Setup in 1987 by the G7 countries
 Aims to limit the proliferation of missile and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical
or nuclear attacks.
 It is an informal and voluntary partnership between 35 countries which urge each other to restrict their missile
export and technologies capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload a minimum of 300 kilometres
 India has become 35th member of MTCR in June 2016
Benefits to India:
 Would help India in getting access to world-class technology
 It would have also allowed India to export its own technology to countries that comply with MTCR
 MTCR membership would improve India’s stature among world nations, especially because India is a non-
signatory of both NPT and CTBT that are necessary for membership
 India will get to play a role in decision making process of the global body; it would help India to address some
of our concerns especially with Pakistan’s nuclear program and promote our interest.
 India can also sell Thorium which is abundant in India
 It will be a big step in opening doors for India’s entry into other nuclear regimes it is eyeing for (NSG,
Australia Group and Wassenaar Group)
The Wassenaar Arrangement
 Wassenaar Arrangement was established to contribute to regional and international security and stability.
 It aims to promote transparency and greater responsibility in transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods
and technologies.
 It has 42 member states (India is 42nd member) and was established in 1996 as an extension of Coordination
committee for Multilateral export Controls (COCOM).
 The participating states ensure that transfer of materials do not contribute to the development or enhancement
of military capabilities.
 India is recently admitted as a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
 Every six months member countries of WA exchange information on deliveries of conventional arms to non-
WA members that fall under eight broad weapons categories. These categories include battle tanks, military
helicopters, armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), military aircraft, large-calibre artillery, warships, missiles or
missile systems, and small arms and light weapons.
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)
 TPP is a Trade Agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries

 It was signed on 4 February 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand
 It has not entered into force
 Goals:
o promote economic growth;
o support the creation and retention of jobs;
o enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness;
o raise living standards;
o reduce poverty in our countries;
o promote transparency, good governance,
o enhanced labor and environmental protections
 12 Signatories:
o USA, (USA has withdrawn from TPP in Jan 2017)
o Canada,
o Mexico,
_______________________________________________________________
o Chile,
o Peru,
o Japan,
o Australia,
o New Zealand,
o Malaysia,
o Brunei,
o Singapore,
o Vietnam
 The agreement covers 40% of the world’s economy
 India is not a part of this.
 It can not be ratified now as USA has withdrawn from it.
 Map: (Orange : members; Blue : Potential members) (Taken from Wikipedia. Not up to scale. For educational
purpose only)
TPP11
 11 Pacific Rim countries have formally entered into Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Pacific Partnership or CP TPP or TPP11 in Santiago, Chile.
 It is revised version of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) proposed by US, that was finalized after US withdrew
from it.
 TPP11 includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and
Vietnam.
 It will be world’s third largest trade bloc after European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA).
 It eliminates some requirements of original TPP demanded by US, including rules to ramp up intellectual
property protection of pharmaceuticals.
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
 It is a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States
 Aims to promote trade and multilateral economic growth
 Its main three broad areas are:
o market access;
o specific regulation; and
o broader rules and principles and modes of co-operation
 It is under negotiation
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International : Treaties and Agreements
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
 The NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty signed in April 1949.
 It consists of 30 independent member countries across North America and Europe.
 It is based on a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to
an attack by any external party.
 NATO’s headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium.
 Its headquarters of Allied Command Operations is near Mons.
 The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70% of the global defence spending.
 NATO membership is open to any other European state which can follow the principles of this Treaty and
contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.
International Chemical Weapons Convention
Chemical Weapons Convention:

 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their
destruction within a specified period of time.
 It entered into force on 1997.
 The full name of the treaty is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling
and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
 The convention prohibits the large-scale use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical
weapons and their precursors, except for very limited purposes (research, medical, pharmaceutical or protective).
 The CWC is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is
headquartered in The Hague.
 The OPCW receives states-parties’ declarations detailing chemical weapons-related activities or materials and
relevant industrial activities. After receiving declarations, the OPCW inspects and monitors states-parties’
facilities and activities that are relevant to the convention, to ensure compliance.
 The CWC is open to all nations and currently has 193 states-parties.
 India signed the treaty in 1993.
 Three states have neither signed nor ratified the convention are Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan.
 Challenge Inspection: A unique feature of the Convention is its incorporation of the ‘challenge inspection’.
Under this, any State Party in doubt about another State Party’s compliance can request a surprise inspection.
Steps taken by India against Chemical Weapons:

 India was the First State Party of the CWC to secure the distinction of chemical weapon-free state Party by
destroying all its stockpile of its chemical weapons amongst all State Parties of the Convention.
_______________________________________________________________
 India enacted the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000 to implement the CWC.
 Under the act, National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) has been established for
implementing the provisions of the Convention. NACWC is an office in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government
of India.
 NACWC also acts as the national focal point for effective liaison with the OPCW and other State Parties on
matters relating to the CWC.
Non-Aligned Movement
Background:
 It was formed during the Cold War (1945-1991) as an organisation of States that did not seek to formally
align themselves with either the USA (Capitalism) or the Soviet Union (Socialism) but sought to remain
independent or neutral.
 Foundation:
 Six years after the Bandung Conference in 1955, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was founded on a
wider geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was held in September 1961.
 It was held under the leadership of :
o Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia,
o Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt,
o Jawaharlal Nehru of India,
o Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and
o Sukarno of Indonesia.
 Purpose:
o The purpose of the organisation was enumerated in the Havana Declaration of 1979 to ensure "the
national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries" in their
struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign subjugation.
 Members and Observers:
o It had 120 members.
o There are 17 countries and 10 international organisations that are Observers at NAM.
 Headquarters:
o NAM does not have a formal constitution or permanent secretariat, and its administration is non-
hierarchical and rotational.
o Decisions are made by consensus, which requires substantial agreement, but not unanimity.
 Last Summit:
o In 2020, the meeting was convened at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev (present chairman until
2022) of Azerbaijan, in his capacity as chair of the Non Aligned Movement.
Tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites
What is the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites?

 If a state considers a monument/site has cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and
therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List. Then the state prepares a list of such sites and
sends it to UNESCO. The UNESCO after preliminary inspection accepts/rejects the monument and form a
tentative list.
 A position on a country’s tentative list does not automatically tender that site with world heritage status.
 It is mandatory to put any monument/site on the Tentative List (TL) before it is considered for the final
nomination dossier.
 After a site is listed as a tentative site, country has to prepare a nomination document that will be considered by
the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for a World Heritage Site.
Why in News?
 UNESCO has accepted six of the nine sites submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for
inclusion in the tentative list which are:
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o Ganga ghats in Varanasi,UP

o Temples of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu.
o Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh,
o Maratha military architecture in Maharashtra
o Hire Bengal megalithic site in Karnataka and
o Bhedaghat-Lameta Ghat of Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh.
 The Maharashtra government has submitted a list of 14 fort sites to be included in the Tentative list of
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These sites are from the era of 17th century Maratha king Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj. UNESCO has accepted the nomination in Tentative Lists of its World Heritage Site. These
forts are:
o Raigad Fort: It was originally called Rairi. It is built on a large wedge of a hill in the Sahyadris
separated from the main range by a ravine. The fort was the capital of the Maratha Empire.
o Rajgad Fort: It was the capital of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji for almost 26 years
before the capital moved to the Raigad Fort.
o Shivneri Fort: It was Shivaji’s birthplace. It consists of 7 gates. Similarly, it is an example of Bahamani/
Nizamshahi architecture providing a backdrop to the narrative of guerrilla warfare.
o Torna Fort: It was captured by Shivaji in 1646 when he was 16. This fort marked the beginning of the
Maratha empire.
o Lohagad: It is one of the most picturesque valleys and is believed to have been built in the 14th century.
It is an example of Maratha hill fort architecture until the Peshwa period.
o Salher Fort: It is one of the highest forts in the Sahyadris located in Dolari range of Nashik.The fort
witnessed a key battle in 1672 between Marathas and Mughals.
o Mulher Fort: It is one of three forts situated on a hill flanked by Mora to the east and Hatgad to the
west. The surrender of Mulher ended the third Maratha War.
o Rangana Fort: It is the site that Aurangzeb tried to conquer along with Bhudargad and Samangad in his
Deccan campaign. But he did not succeed.
o Ankai Tankai Forts: Ankai and Tankai are separate forts on adjacent hills with a common fortification
wall.
o Kasa Fort: It is popularly known as Padmadurg. It is built on a rocky island off the coast of Murud and
provides a base for naval military operations.
o Sindhudurg Fort: It was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1668, This sea fort is considered a
masterpiece in military defense.
o Alibag Fort: It is popularly known as Kulaba Fort. It was chosen as one of the forts to be modelled as a
naval base by Chhatrapati Shivaji.
o Suvarnadurg: It was built on an island. It was repaired and strengthened by Shivaji Maharaj in 1660.
o Khanderi Fort: Khanderi was officially named Kanhoji Angre Island in 1998. It was built in 1679 and
was the site of many battles between Shivaji Maharaj’s forces and the navy of the Siddhis.
UNSECO World Heritage Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Site

 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance.
 The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the
General Assembly.
 Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and
UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
 The List of recorded sites on the World Heritage include natural or man-made area or a structure that
is of international importance and requires special protection.
 Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 50 sites.
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 India now has 38 world heritage sites, including 30 cultural heritage sites, 7 natural sites and 1 mixed
site.
 It makes India seventh ranked country in the list of world heritage properties.
List of World Heritage Sites of India:

 Agra Fort
 Ajanta Caves
 Ellora Caves
 Taj Mahal
 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
 Sun Temple, Konârak
 Kaziranga National Park
 Keoladeo National Park
 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
 Churches and Convents of Goa
 Fatehpur Sikri
 Group of Monuments at Hampi
 Khajuraho Group of Monuments
 Elephanta Caves
 Great Living Chola Temples 12
 Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
 Sundarbans National Park
 Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
 Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
 Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
 Mountain Railways of India
 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
 Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
 Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
 Red Fort Complex
 The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
 Western Ghats
 Hill Forts of Rajasthan
 Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
 Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
 Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar
 Khangchendzonga National Park
 The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *
 Historic City of Ahmadabad
 Victorian Gothic and Art Deco architectural styles in Mumbai
 Jaipur City
IAS4Sure Notes
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Refugee Convention 1951
 It is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals
who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum.
 The UN Refugee Convention (1951) grants certain rights to people fleeing persecution because of race,
religion, nationality, affiliation to a particular social group, or political opinion.
 India is not a member
 The Convention also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals. The Convention
also provides for some visa-free travel for holders of travel documents issued under the convention.
 The Convention builds on Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes
the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries. A refugee may enjoy rights and benefits
in a state in addition to those provided for in the Convention
 The 1967 Protocol included refugees from all countries as opposed to the 1951 Convention that only included
refugees from Europe.
 Today, the 1951 United Nations Convention and the 1967 Protocol together remain the foundation of
refugee protection, and their provisions are as relevant now as when they were drafted.
TRIPS
Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS):

 TRIPS is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which sets
down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property (IP) regulations as applied to the nationals
of other WTO Members.
 It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
in 1994.
 TRIPS deal with 8 kinds of property rights – Patents, Trademarks, trade dress, Copyrights, Industrial Designs,
Plant Varieties, Integrated Circuits and layouts, and Geographical Indication.
 The agreement also specifies enforcement procedures, remedies, and dispute resolution procedures.
Sendai Framework
Sendai Framework
 It is a 15 year agreement
 Voluntary
 Non-binding
 Approved by UN in 2015
_______________________________________________________________
 It recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared
with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.
 The new Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015:
Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
 It has framework for 15-year (2015 to 2030).
 The implementation of the Sendai Framework involves adopting integrated and inclusive institutional measures
so as to work towards preventing vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery and
strengthen resilience.
 Four specific priorities of Sendai Framework:
1. Understanding disaster risk
2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
 The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) is nuclear arms-control accord reached by the
United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 in which those two nations agreed to eliminate their stocks of
intermediate-range and shorter-range (or “medium-range”) land-based missiles (which could carry nuclear
warheads).
 It was the first arms-control treaty to abolish an entire category of weapon systems.
 In addition to this, two protocols to the treaty established unprecedented procedures for observers from both
nations to verify first hand the other nation’s destruction of its missiles.
 It is important to note that the INF Treaty defined intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and ground-
launched cruise missiles (GLCMs) as those having ranges of 1,000 to 5,500 km (620 to 3,400 miles).
 It also defined shorter-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) as those having ranges from 500 to 1,000 km.
 Why in News? USA has exited from this treaty.
Antarctica Treaty System
 Antarctic Treaty and related agreements are collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System.
 It regulates international relations with respect to Antarctica.
 Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
 Antarctic Treaty Secretariat Headquarters is in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 India officially acceded to the Antarctic Treaty System in August 1983.
 Antarctic treaty:
o Entered into force in 1961
o Currently has 53 parties
o Sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve
 Provisions:
o Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.
o Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end shall continue.
o Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available.
UNESCO World Heritage Cities Programme
 UNESCO World Heritage Cities Programme is one of six thematic programmes formally approved and
monitored by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
 Aim: To assist States Parties in the challenges of protecting and managing their urban heritage.
 Urban Landscape City Programme:
o It was adopted in 2011 at UNESCO’s General Conference.
o This programme approach to managing historic urban landscapes is holistic by integrating the goals of
urban heritage conservation and those of social and economic development.
 Indian Cities included in this:
_______________________________________________________________
o Jaipur
o Ahmadabad
o Gwalior
o Orcha
Singapore Convention on Mediation
Singapore Convention
 It is aimed to provide a more effective way of enforcing mediated settlements of corporate disputes involving
businesses in India and other countries that are signatories to the Convention.
 Also known as the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, this is
also the first UN treaty to be named after Singapore.
 With the Convention in force, businesses seeking enforcement of a mediated settlement agreement across
borders can do so by applying directly to the courts of countries that have signed and ratified the treaty.
 The harmonized and simplified enforcement framework under the Convention translates to savings in time and
legal costs.
Its signatories
 The Convention has 53 signatories, including India, China and the U.S.
 Singapore had worked with the UN Commission on International Trade Law, other UN member states and
non-governmental organisations for the Convention.
Significance of the convention

 The Convention would boost India’s ‘ease of doing business’ credentials by enabling swift mediated settlements
of corporate disputes.
 Businesses in India and around the world will now have greater certainty in resolving cross-border disputes
through mediation.
Antarctica Treaty
 The treaty is framed to ensure ‘in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used
exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.’
 To this end it prohibits military activity, except in support of science; prohibits nuclear explosions and the
disposal of nuclear waste; promotes scientific research and the exchange of data; and holds all territorial claims
in abeyance.
 Several related conventions, such as the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972) and the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), are appended to this treaty for protection.
 India has acceded to this treaty.
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
 It is an UN treaty aimed at regulating global arms trade.

 With aim of regulating international trade in conventional arms (from small arms to battle tanks, combat
aircraft and warships), it was entered into force in 2014.
 It establishes common standards for international trade of conventional weapons so as to reduce illegal arms
trade.
 The member nations are required to keep records of international trade of weapons and prohibit cross-border
shipments that can be used for human rights violations or attacks on civilians.
 It was originally signed by 130 countries but currently only 101 have ratified and joined it.
 India is not a signatory.
 Why in news? US President Donald Trump announced that USA will not abide by and will never ratify Arms
Trade Treaty (ATT).
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Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Berne Convention) is international
copyright agreement that mandates equal treatment of copyrighted works by signatories, known as Berne Union.
 It was adopted in 1886 in Berne, Switzerland.
 The convention requires signatory member countries to recognize copyrighted literary or artistic works in same
way that its national copyrights are recognized.
 Under it, all works (except cinematography and photography) are copyrighted for minimum 50 years term after
death of author, but longer terms may be provided to related parties.
 It also allows signatories to apply fair use of copyrighted works in other broadcasts or publications, as reflected
in WIPO Copyright Treaty, 1996.
 India has been member of Berne Convention since April 1928.
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)
 It is an international governance mechanism

 Aims to facilitate the discussion and coordination of actions among states and organizations to suppress
maritime piracy near Somali
 So far more than 60 countries and international organizations have become part of this forum to work
collectively for the prevention of piracy off the Somali coast.
Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
What is Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage?

 It sets parameters on a nuclear operator’s financial liability.
 It Seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for compensation to victims in the unlikely event of a nuclear
accident.
 It provides a uniform framework for channelling liability and providing speedy compensation after the nuclear
accident.
 It protects nuclear suppliers from liability for an acciden
 India ratified it.
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
 It seeks to better manage migration at local, national, regional and global levels, in order to reduce the risks and
vulnerabilities of migrants.
 It creates non-legally binding and co-operative framework that builds on commitments agreed upon by member
states in New York Declaration for refugees and migrants of December 2016.
 It lists four objectives. They are to
o Ease pressures on host countries
o Enhance refugee self-reliance
o Expand access to third country solutions
o Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity
 It sets out framework on how international cooperation on migration issues should work but does not oblige
states to take concrete action.
 It sets out 23 objectives to deal issues ranging from factors that compel people to move, legal channels for
migration, combating trafficking and smuggling, harness economic benefits of migration and return of the
migrants.
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 Its intent to protect human rights of migrants, address root causes of migration, and combat negative myths
surrounding migration.
 It acknowledges that migration is international issue that affects all member states and there is a need for more
effective migration governance.
Facts:
 According to UN, there were 258 million international migrants in the world in 2017, increasing almost 50%
since 2000.
 The number of migrants, representing 3.4% of world’s population, is increasing faster than global population,
driven by economic prosperity, inequality, violence, conflict and climate change.
 Migrants worldwide account for 3% of the world’s entire population, but contribute 10% of the global gross
domestic production (GDP).
 Migrants remittance is huge contributor to their home countries’ development.
 Around 80% of world’s migrants move between countries in safe and orderly fashion.
 But more than 60,000 people have died on the move since the year 2000.
 Besides in transit countries or the country of destination, racism, discrimination and human-rights violations are
continuously reported.
Hague Code-of-Conduct
What is Hague Code of Conduct?

 It is a voluntary
 It is legally non-binding
 It is a confidence building and transparency measure
 It seeks to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles that are capable of delivering weapons of mass
destruction (WMD).
 It does not ban ballistic missiles, but it calls for restraining their production, testing, and export.
 It is the only normative instrument to verify the spread of ballistic missiles.
 Austria is the administrative centre coordinating the information exchange under HCOC.
What is the difference between HCoC and MTCR?

MTCR is an informal and voluntary partnership to prevent the proliferation of missile and UAV technology.
Therefore, the aim of both HCoC and MTCR are same.
However, membership of HCoC is not restricted while the membership of MTCR is limited to only 34 export group
members.
Hague Hijacking Convention
Hague Hijacking Convention

 The Hague Hijacking Convention (formally the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of
Aircraft) is a multilateral treaty by which states agree to prohibit and punish aircraft hijacking.
 The convention does not apply to customs, law enforcement or military aircraft, thus it applies exclusively to
civilian aircraft.
 The convention only addresses situations in which an aircraft takes off or lands in a place different from its
country of registration.
Beijing Convention
 It is a 2010 treaty by which state parties agree to criminalize certain terrorist actions against civil aviation.
 Parties that ratify the Convention agree to criminalize using civil aircraft as a weapon and using dangerous
materials to attack aircraft or other targets on the ground.
 The illegal transport of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons is also criminalized under the Convention.
_______________________________________________________________
Penalties
 From a punishment perspective, the act prescribes the death penalty where the offence results in the death of a
hostage or security personnel, and life imprisonment in all other cases, there is no chance of remission.
 It also provides for capital punishment against conspirators and abductors of any of the acts of hijacking
 For the first time, the act provides for the confiscation of moveable and immoveable property of a person
convicted under its purview.
 Another notable inclusion relates to a designated court to provide a speedy trial for offences relating to
hijacking.
Shortcomings
 The term ‘aircraft’ is identified as any aircraft, whether or not it is registered in India. But it excludes an aircraft
that is used in customs or police service, which should have been included.
 It would have helped if there was also a provision to cover ‘hoax calls’ with proportionate punishment. Hoax
calls create panic, resulting in serious complications for passengers. They also cause a nightmare for security
agencies who end up wasting resources and time to verify the authenticity of the call.
 The act also does not protect ground staff and security personnel at the airport. In its current form, the act
defines the punishment for acts of violence connected with hijacking and covers only violence against
passengers or airline crew.
International Grains Council
International Grains Council
 India is a member of the IGC which was previously known as International Wheat Council.
 IGC is an intergovernmental forum of exporting and importing countries, for co-operation in wheat and coarse
grain matters. It administers the Grains Trade Convention 1995.
 The IGC Secretariat, based in London, also services the Food Aid Committee, established under the Food Aid
Convention.
 International Grains Agreement comprises of Grains Trade Convention (GTC) and Food Aid Convention
(FAC).
 India is a signatory to the International Grains Agreement (IGA), 1995 and its Grain Trade Convention
(GTC), 1995 which is effective from July 1, 1995.
 India has been included in the category of exporting members in July, 2003 and represented in the
meetings/session of the council held from time to time.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Treaty aims to:

 Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.
 Promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
 Nuclear disarmament.
 The three objectives viz. non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use of nuclear technology,
are sometimes called three pillars of NPT.
Parties
 The treaty entered into force in 1970 and in 1995 it was extended indefinitely. It has 191 parties.
 All the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are among its members.
 India, Pakistan & Israel have not signed the treaty.
 North Korea acceded to the NPT in 1985, then withdrew in 2003.
 The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the
nuclear-weapon States.
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Pelindaba Treaty
 It is also known as African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty

 It was signed in 1996 and came into force in 2009
 Treaty has been ratified by 40 countries.
 The treaty aims to prevent nuclear proliferation in Africa and also stops unchecked supply of Uranium to the
nuclear powers of the world.
 The Treaty prohibits the research, development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession,
control or stationing of nuclear explosive devices in the territory of parties to the Treaty and the dumping of
radioactive wastes in the African zone by Treaty parties
 The Treaty also prohibits any attack against nuclear installations in the zone by Treaty parties and requires
them to maintain the highest standards of physical protection of nuclear material, facilities and equipment,
which are to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes
 All African Union members are the signatories of the treaty
 It also requires all parties to apply full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards to all their
peaceful nuclear activities
 Why in news?
o Indian wants to import Uranium from African nations and thus wants relaxation in it.
o India Civil Nuclear Agreement with Namibia is in limbo because of this treaty.
o Namibia has not ratified the agreement due to this treaty
Trade Facilitation Agreement
Trade Facilitation Agreement:

 Under WTO.
 Negotiations for it completed at Bali summit, 2013
 It is for both developing and developed countries
 Aims to remove "Red Tape" at customs i.e. to make import/export hassle free and less cumbersome
 Also have provisions of technical assistance and capacity building
 Issue? India wants TFA for services too.
National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF)

 The NCTF is a mandatory requirement under the WTOs Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
 It is a national level body to facilitate domestic co-ordination and implementation of TFA provisions.
 It aims to develop the pan-India road map for trade facilitation.
 It will have three tier structure with main national committee for monitoring implementation of TFA
UN Convention on International Settlement Agreement (UNISA)
 It is also known as Singapore Convention on Mediation.

 It was adopted by UN General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2018.
 It provides uniform framework for enforcement of international settlement agreements resulting from
mediation.
 It defines two additional grounds upon which court may, on its own motion, refuse to grant relief.
 It ensures that settlement reached by parties becomes binding and enforceable in accordance with simplified and
streamlined procedure.
 It seeks to become essential instrument in facilitation of international trade and in promotion of mediation as
alternative and effective method of resolving trade disputes.
 It also seeks to contribute to strengthening access to justice, and to the rule of law.
 Why in news? Cabinet approved signing of UNISA by India.
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 Benefits of signing for India : It will boost the confidence of investors. It will also provide positive signal to
foreign investors about India’s commitment to adhere to international practice on Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR).
UN Global Counter Terrorism Coordination Compact
 To deal with the rising problem of Terrorism, United Nation chief along with 39 organizational entities,
Interpol and World custom organization signed a framework to deal with terrorism and promote peace and
sustainable growth.
 The agreement is non-binding in nature.
 The UN Global counter terrorism coordination compact is also termed as Global compact.
 The Global compact coordination committee will be chaired by Under-Secretary-General for counter terrorism.
 United Nations office of counter terrorism will serve as Secretariat of Global Compact.
What is the need of the Framework?

 The Global terrorism index released by Institute for Economic and Peace showed that there is a decrease in
deaths due to terrorism, but the impacts of terrorism are still spreading all over the world.
 United Nation is actively working to bring peace and cooperation among member states.
 To combat counter terrorism UN created UN counter-terrorism implementation task force in 2005.
 The task force consists of 38 international entities.
 The goal of Counter terrorism Implementation task force was to organize working groups and the project
related to counter terrorism.
Objectives of the agreement

 To bring the UN agencies together to combat terrorism with common approach and find the ways to improve
the strategies to support member states.
 To protect the people from violent extremist groups and hate speeches.
 To adopt the strategies that do not compromise the international human rights standards and rule of law.
 To monitor use of technology which is the main source of reaching people globally and manipulate them.
 To devise the policies that will protect communities and their religious belief.
Despite the previous approaches and initiatives by UN there is still some loopholes in the strategies. There is still threat
of terrorism persist. Many countries are high on risk. By these new framework, UN is now taking a step ahead to
remove terrorism from the roots.
UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
 It is the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20
years.
 The treaty was open for signature during the annual UN General Assembly in November 2017.
 As of September 20, 50 states had signed treaty, which bans use, development, testing or storing of nuclear
weapons under any circumstances.
 The treaty is not signed by and will not apply to any of the states that already have nuclear arms.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
 It is a treaty that came into force in 1964

 It lays out the rules and regulations for diplomatic relations between countries as well as the various privileges
that diplomats and diplomatic missions enjoy.
 One of these privileges is legal immunity for diplomats so that they don't have to face prosecution as per their
host country’s laws.
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International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

 The ICCPR is a multilateral treaty adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution in 1966, and in force from
1976.
 The covenant commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to
life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and
a fair trial.
 As of September 2019, the Covenant has 173 parties and six more signatories without ratification.
 It is monitored by the UN Human Rights Committee (a separate body to the UN Human Rights Council).
 India is a state party to this treaty.

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International : UN System
Convention to Combat Desertification
 It is a UN convention
 It is a convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries experiencing serious drought and/or
desertification, particularly in Africa
 Opened for sign in 1994 in Paris
 Became effective from 1996 (Canada withdrew. First to do so)
 HQ : Bonn, Germany
 It is the only convention which stem out from direct recommendations of Rio Agenda 21
 It is the only internationally legally binding framework set up to address the problem of desertification
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 It promotes good land stewardship and its end goal is to protect land from over-use and drought, so it can
continue to provide food, water and energy.
 The Convention addresses desertification and land issues specifically arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas,
known as drylands.
 India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal Ministry for this
Convention.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
 It is a United Nations’ specialized agency headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

 It was established on 17 November 1966.
 Its Parent organization is United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
 It is a member of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
 It promotes industrial development for reducing poverty, inclusive globalization as well as environmental
sustainability.
 Members States: 170.
 India is a member.
 UNIDO Mission: is described in Lima Declaration (2013) adopted at 15th session of UNIDO General
Conference. It is to promote and accelerate Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) in
Member States.
 Mandate: UNIDO’s mandate is completely recognized in SDG-9 (Sustainable Development Goal): Build
resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
International Labour Organization (ILO)
 Established in 1919 as an agency of the League of Nations.

 It is a UN agency
 It deals with labor issues, particularly international labor standards, social protection, and work opportunities
for all
 India is a founder member of ILO
 The ILO registers complaints against entities that are violating international rules; however, it does not impose
sanctions on governments
 The ILO has 187 member states: 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands are members of the
ILO.
 In 1969, the organisation received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving peace among classes, pursuing decent
work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.
 Reports :
o World Employment and Social Outlook
o Global Wage Report
o World Social Protection Report.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
 It is a UN body
 It leads international efforts to defeat hunger
 Established: 1945
 HQ: Rome, Italy
 In theory, acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy
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 FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition
modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security
for all.
 India is a member of FAO.
 Reports published by FAO:
o World State of Forest Report
o State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture(SOFIA).
o State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), etc
 Treaty: FAO is the depository body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture.
 Initiatives:
o Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS).
o Codex Alimentarius Commission or CAC
o Tree Cities of the World programme among others.
International Maritime Organisation
 It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.

 Established in 1948 (Came into force in 1959; First meeting)
 HQ : London, UK
 India was one of the earliest members of the IMO and had joined it as a member-state in 1959.
 The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping
and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime
security and the efficiency of shipping.
 IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected
from the assembly. IMO Council consists of 40 member countries who are elected by IMO Assembly. It plays
a crucial role in deciding various matters related to global shipping industry.
World Food Programme
World Food Programme(WFP):

 Both the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) founded
the WFP in 1961.
 Aim: To eradicate hunger and malnutrition with the ultimate goal of eliminating the need for food aid itself.
 Significance: It is a member of the United Nations Development Group and part of its Executive Committee.
 Members: The Executive Board of WFP consists of 36 states members. The board provides intergovernmental
support, policy direction and supervision of the activities of WFP.
 Funding: Voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors will entirely fund the
operations of WFP.
 Nobel Prize: WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for:
o WFP’s contribution in combating hunger.
o Work of WFP towards bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas.
o Its role as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.
 Headquarters: Rome, Italy
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ):

 Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice(CCPCJ) is a functional commission of the UN-
ECOSOC
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 Purpose: The commission serves as the primary organ that guides the activities of the United Nations.
Especially in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice.
 Members: CCPJ has 40 member states that are elected by ECOSOC.
 Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
UN ECOSOC:
 It is the ‘United Nations’ central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable
development.’
 EcoSoc is one of the six main UN organs which were established by the UN Charter in 1954.
 EcoSoc is the ‘principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on
economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of the internationally agreed
development goals.’
 It supervises ‘the subsidiary and expert bodies in the economic, social and environmental fields.’
 The ECOSOC has a total of 54 members.
 Headquarters: New York, United States.
Why in news?
 India has won its re-election to ECOSOC for another three-year term.
 India was one among the 18 nations to win election to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
 A country requires two-thirds of the total votes to become a member of ECOSOC.
United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Population Fund

 UNFPA stands for United Nations Fund for Population Activities.
 Its name was later changed to the United Nations Population Fund in 1987.
 It is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly.
 Year of formation: 1967
 HQ: New York
 It is the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency.
 Mission: To deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s
potential is fulfilled.
 Report: State of World Population Report.
UN Women
UN Women:
 UN Women is the United Nations entity, dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of
women.
 Headquarter: New York
 Established in: 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly to accelerate the progress on meeting women’s
needs worldwide.
 UN Women formed by merging the four previously distinct parts of the UN system which are:
o Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
o International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
o Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI)
o United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
 Objectives of UN Women:
o To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women in their
formulation of policies, global standards, and norms.
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o To help the Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical
and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil
society.
o Furthermore, to hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality. It
includes regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
 Headquarters: New York, United States
United Nations University
United Nations University(UNU):

 United Nations University(UNU) is the academic and research arm of the United Nations established in 1972.
 Purpose: Its mission is to help resolve global issues related to human development and welfare through
collaborative research and education.
 Significance: Since 2010, UNU has been authorized by the UNGA to grant degrees, offering several masters
and doctoral programs.
 Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR)

 United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United
Nations system. It was founded in 1963.
 Purpose: UNITAR provides training and learning services to individuals, organizations and institutions. The
services of UNITAR aims to enhance global decision-making and support country-level action for shaping a
better future.
 Governance: UNITAR is operated as an autonomous body within the United Nations system. It is headed by
an Executive Director and governed by a Board of Trustees. They are appointed by the United Nations
Secretary-General.
 Funding: UNITAR does not receive any funds from the United Nations budget. The institute is financed
entirely from voluntary contributions. It receives contributions mainly from the UN Member States, other UN
agencies, Intergovernmental organization, NGOs and the private sector.
 Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
 ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).
 Members: 193 countries + 800 private-sector entities and academic institutions.
 HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
 It was originally established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
 It is one of the oldest international organizations in operations.
 ITU is responsible for allocating global radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
 It also develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies to seamlessly interconnect.
 It also strives to improve access to ICTs among the underserved communities worldwide.
 India was elected as member of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council for another 4-year
term from 2019 to 2022.
United Nations Sustainable Development Group
United Nations Sustainable Development Group(UNSDG):

 The United Nations Sustainable Development Group(UNSDG) was established in 1997. It was previously
known as the United Nations Development Group (UNDG).
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 It is a consortium of 36 United Nations funds, programs, specialized agencies, departments and offices playing
a role in development.
 The UNSDG was created by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Furthermore, it is created with the
intent to improve the effectiveness of United Nations development activities at the country level.
 Headquarters: New York, United States
United Nations Office for Project Services
United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS):

 The United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS) was established in 1973 as part of the United
Nations Development Programme(UNDP). It became an independent, self-financing organization in 1995.
 Aim: It is dedicated to implementing projects for the United Nations System. Apart from that, UNOPS also
help in project implementation of international financial institutions, governments and other partners around
the world.
 Significance: UNOPS is a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group(UNSDG).
 The headquarters of the United Nations Office for Project Services is located in Copenhagen, Denmark.
 Why in news? The Ministry of Jal Shakti Ministry has entered a partnership with the United Nations Office
for Project Services(UNOPS) and the government of Denmark. The agreement aims to bring tap water
connections to 11 water-scarce districts in Uttar Pradesh under the Jal Jeevan mission.
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
 It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and
development issues.
 Aims to "maximize the trade, investment and development opportunities of developing countries.”
 It organizes: World Investment Forum
 It publishes reports like :
o Trade and Development Report
o World Investment Report
o The Least Developed Countries Report
o Information and Economy Report
o Technology and Innovation Report
o Commodities and Development Report
 UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in
1964.
 HQ - Geneva
UN Capital Development Fund
 It was established by the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) in 1966.

 Mandate: To provide microfinance access to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to unlock the full potential of
public and private finance in these countries.
 Funding: UNCDF is an autonomous, voluntarily funded UN organization affiliated with UNDP. Its funding
comes from UN member states, foundations, and the private sector.
 Headquarters: New York, United States.
 Financing Model: UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels:
 Financial Inclusion: It expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate
in the local economy. Moreover, it provides them with the tools to climb out of poverty and manage their
financial lives.
 Localised Investments: It shows how fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured
project finance can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable
development.
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United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
 It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system

 It is responsible for promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations
of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
 It was created by UNGA on 15 March 2006 by adopting resolution 60/251 to promote human rights globally.
 It had replaced former UN Commission on Human Rights.
 It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
 Members:
o UNHRC is made up of 47 UN member states which are elected by UN General Assembly (UNGA)
with specific number of seats allocated for each region of the globe.
o The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive
terms.
 Functions:
o Members of the council work to engage countries on improving human rights.
o They make decisions ranging from exposing violations to recommending that UN Security Council
make referral to International Criminal Court (ICC).
o UNJRC does not have authority to take action but can exert significant pressure on violating country.
o It can also set up special rapporteurs with mandate to investigate and report human-rights violations
and abuses.
o The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and engages
the United Nations’ special procedures.
o The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has
persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership.
o The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.
UNESCO-MAB(Man and Biosphere) Program
 It is an intergovernmental scientific programme launched in 1971 by UNESCO to establish a scientific basis

for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.
 Under the programme, UNESCO has established the World Network of Biosphere Reserves(WNBR).
 Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments.
 If selected by UNESCO, they are included in the WNBR.
 There are 12 biosphere reserves of India which have been recognized internationally under Man and
Biosphere(MAB) Reserve program.
 These are:
1. Nilgiri(First one to be included)
2. Gulf of Mannar
3. Sunderban
4. Nanda Devi
5. Nokrek
6. Pachmarhi
7. Similipal
8. Achanakmar – Amarkantak
9. Great Nicobar
10. Agasthyamala
11. Khangchendzonga (2018) and
12. Panna(2020).
UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)
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 It was established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO.

 It is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.
 It is leading a global effort to establish ocean-based tsunami warning systems as part of an overall multi-hazard
disaster reduction strategy.
 UNESCO-IOC approved the recognition of two communities of Odisha viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as
Tsunami Ready Communities.
Tsunami Ready Programme:

 It is a community performance-based programme initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission(IOC) of UNESCO.
 Aim: To promote tsunami preparedness through active collaboration of public, community leaders and national
and local emergency management agencies.
 Objectives:
o To improve coastal community’s preparedness for tsunami emergencies
o To minimize the loss of life and property and
o To ensure systematic approach in building community preparedness through implementing the best-
practice indicators set by the UNESCO-IOC.
UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network
 UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network was launched in 2004.

 It aims to foster international cooperation with and between cities committed to investing in creativity as a
driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.
 It includes cities within its seven creative fields (Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature,
Media Arts and Music).
 It strengthen cooperation with and among cities that have recognised creativity as strategic factor of sustainable
development in regards with the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects.
 There are five Indian cities in UCCN as follows:
o Hyderabad – Gastronomy (2019).
o Mumbai – Film (2019).
o Chennai - Creative city of Music (2017).
o Jaipur - Crafts and Folk Arts (2015).
o Varanasi - Creative city of Music (2015).
UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC)
 UNAOC was set up in the year 2005 as a political initiative of Kofi Annan with an aim to reduce and prevent
polarization between societies and cultures.
 The Alliance maintains a global network of partners including states, international and regional organizations,
civil society groups, foundations, and the private sector to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse
nations and communities.
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
 It is the UN agency mandated to decide on the scope of control of substances by placing them in the schedules
of global drug control conventions.
 It was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Vienna.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
 Formerly known as United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is special program of UN
devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children.
 It was created in 1946 to provide relief to children in countries devastated by World War II.
 It is headquartered in New York City.
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 After 1950, it directed its efforts toward general programs for improvement of children’s welfare, particularly in
less-developed countries and various emergency situations.
 Its broader mission was reflected in present name adopted in 1953.
 It was awarded Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965.
 Since 1996 UNICEF programs have been guided by Convention on Rights of the Child (1989), which affirms
right of all children to enjoyment of highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for treatment of
illness and rehabilitation of health.
 Much of UNICEF’s efforts are concentrated in areas in which relatively small expenditures, but have significant
impact on lives of the most disadvantaged children, such as the prevention and treatment of disease.
 Its activities are financed by both government and private contributions.
 It supports immunization programs for childhood diseases and programs to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS.
 It also provides funding for health services, educational facilities and other welfare services.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
 UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.

 Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through
educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and
human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
 It is the successor of the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
 UNESCO has 193 member states and ten associate members.
 In 2019, USA and Israel have formally quit UNESCO.
 UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social/human
sciences, culture and communication/information.
 Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programmes, international
science programmes, the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press, regional and cultural
history projects, the promotion of cultural diversity, translations of world literature, international cooperation
agreements on secure the world cultural and natural heritage (World Heritage Sites) and to preserve human
rights, and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide.
 It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.
 Why in news? India was re-elected as member of executive board of United Nations educational, scientific and
cultural organization (UNESCO). Executive board is UNESCO’s top decision-making body.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
 Set up in 1977
 It is 13th specialised agency of the United Nations.
 India is a founder member of IFAD and a key contributor among the member countries.
 IFAD works towards removing poverty and hunger in rural areas all over the world, especially in developing
countries.
 Its goal is to empower poor rural men and women in developing countries to achieve higher incomes and
improved food security.
 IFAD is managed by the two main governing bodies i.e. the Governing Council and the Executive Board. The
Governing Council is the highest decision-making body of IFAD.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
 It is the primary judicial branch of the United Nations

 It is seated in The Hague, The Netherlands
 Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of
America).
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 The court settles legal disputes submitted to it by states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions
submitted to it by duly authorized international branches, agencies, and the UN General Assembly
 Judge term : 9 years
 Number of Judges : 15
 ICJ only has jurisdiction over any dispute, if the both concerned parties (states) submit to the jurisdiction of
ICJ
This can be done in two ways –
o Voluntary Jurisdiction - Under this, a state accepts jurisdiction of ICJ for a particular case or class of cases.
o Compulsory Jurisdiction - Under this, the jurisdiction of ICJ is mandated by a treaty or a pre-existing
agreement
 India is a party to ICJ
 Its judgments have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned.
Why in news?
 ICJ judgement in Kulbhushan Jadhav Case.
How judges are elected?

 In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies (UNSC and
UNGA).
 Judges will be elected from among persons of high moral character, who possess the qualifications required in
their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial offices, or are jurisconsults of recognised
competence in international law.
 Judges are chosen on the basis of their qualifications, not their nationality, but no two judges can be from the
same nationality. Effort is also taken to ensure that the principal legal systems of the world are reflected in the
composition of the court.
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
 It is an intergovernmental organisation
 Established in 1996 under UNCLOS
 UNCLOS was signed in 1982 (Came in force in 1994)
 It established an international framework for law over "all ocean space, its uses and resources"
 The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members who are elected from among persons enjoying the
highest reputation for fairness and integrity and of recognised competence in the field of the law of the sea.
 The Tribunal has the power to settle disputes between party states.
 Currently, there are 161 parties
 Based in Hamburg, Germany
 Why in news? India's law expert Neeru Chadha has been appointed as a judge at the tribunal.
United Nations
 UN is successor of ineffective League of Nations and was established in 1945 after World War II in order to
prevent another such conflict.
 Now, it has become world’s only truly universal global organization and is foremost forum to address issues
that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.
 Its prime role is to maintain world peace, human rights, promote social and economic development and provide
aid around the world in cases of famine, natural disaster and armed conflict.
 The main organs of UN are:
o General Assembly (UNGA),
o Security Council (UNSC),
o Economic and Social Council (UNESOC),
o International Court of Justice (ICJ),
o UN Secretariat,
o Trusteeship Council.
_______________________________________________________________
League of Nations (LoN)

LoN was founded in January, 1920 as a result of Paris Peace Conference that ended World War I. LoN was first
international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. But onset of World War II,
demonstrated that LoN failed in its primary purpose of preventing another world war.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
 The UNHCR, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is a UN programme mandated to protect and
support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local
integration or resettlement to a third country.
 Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is a member of the United Nations Development
Group.
 The UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes (in 1954 and again in 1981).
 The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of
Refugees, provide the mandate to UNHCR.
United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
 It is a part of UN System
 Founded in 1974
 Established by UN General Assembly.
 Established with an objective to promote, coordinate and support South-South and triangular cooperation
across the world
 UNOSSC receives policy directives and guidance from the General Assembly and through its subsidiary body,
the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation.
 UNOSSC submits its strategic planning frameworks to the UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS Executive Board for
approval and funding.
United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
 United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) established in 1997 is a global leader in the fight
against illicit drugs and international crime.
 UNDOC came into being with the merger of United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for
International Crime Prevention.
 It relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90% of its budget.
 UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism.
Untied Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
 UNRWA is relief and human development agency of UN which supports more than 5 million registered
Palestinian refugees, and their descendants.
 It is only UN agency dedicated to helping refugees from specific region or conflict and is separate from
UNHCR.
 Establishment: It was established December 1949 following 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict by UN General
Assembly Resolution 302 (IV).
 Mandate:
o UNRWA has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine
refugees , who had fled or were expelled from their homes during 1948 Palestine war as well during
and following 1967 Six Day war.
o Originally, it was intended to provide jobs on public works projects and direct relief, but now it
provides services like education, health care, and social services to population it supports.
_______________________________________________________________
o It also allows refugee status to be inherited by descendants.

 Region of operation:
o It provides aid in five areas of operation: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and West Bank,
including East Jerusalem; and aid for Palestinian refugees outside these five areas is provided by
UNHCR.
o It serves about 5.3 million refugees scattered around Middle East.
 Funding:
o It is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states.
o It also receives some funding from regular budget of UN, which is used mostly for international
staffing costs.
 Why in news? India has raised its annual contributions from $1.25 million per year to $5 million for the next
three years.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
 UNSC is one of six principal organs of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).
 Its mandate is to maintain international peace and security.
 UNSC has 15 members, including five permanent viz. China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United
States.
 Each of the five permanent members has veto power.
 10 non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms each.
 Non-permanent members are:
o Belgium
o Côte d’Ivoire
o Dominican Republic
o Equatorial Guinea
o Germany
o Indonesia
o Kuwait
o Peru
o Poland
o South Africa
 Its powers include establishment of peacekeeping operations, imposing international sanctions, and
authorization of collective military action through resolutions.
 It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
 General Assembly elects each year five non-permanent members of the Security Council.
 Non-permanent members of the Council should be elected according to the following pattern:
a. Five from African and Asian States;
b. One from Eastern European States;
c. Two from Latin American States;
d. Two from Western European and other States.
United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
 UNWTO is United Nations agency responsible for promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally
accessible tourism.
 It is leading international organization in field of tourism.
 It promotes tourism as driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability.
 It offers leadership and support to sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
 It is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
 It was founded in 1975
 Its membership includes 158 countries, 6 territories and over 500 affiliate members.
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UN Office of Counter Terrorism
 It is a new office approved by UNGA.

 UN will transfer the relevant functions out of the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) into the new
body.
 The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office (CTITF) and the UN Counter-Terrorism
Centre (UNCCT) currently under the DPA will be transferred to the new office together with existing staff
and associated budgetary resources.
Functions:
The new office will have the following five main functions:
 To provide leadership on the counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to it across the United Nations system.
 To enhance coordination and coherence across the 38 Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force entities
for ensuring balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
 To strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to the Member
States.
 To improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and
 To ensure that priority is given to counter terrorism across the United Nations system.
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United Nations TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) Convention
 Also called Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets, 1975
(TIR Convention)
 It is an international customs transit system under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) with the widest geographical coverage.
 It is more than a transport convention.
 At present, there are 70 parties to the convention including the European Union.
_______________________________________________________________
 India is going to be 71st country.

 The TIR is managed and developed by International Road Transport Union (IRU) which is the world road
transport organisation.
 The TIR procedure facilitates movement of goods under customs control across international borders without
the payment of the duties and taxes.
 It provides a robust guarantee mechanism facilitating the higher growth of Intra-regional trade.
UN Road Safety Trust Fund
 United Nations has launched UN Road Safety Trust Fund to improve road safety worldwide to save lives and
prevent the loss of opportunity associated with road accidents.
 UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is secretariat for the trust fund.
 The fund has potential to galvanise global efforts to address road safety situation, building on progress made
and experience gained over Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.
 The fund aims to accelerate progress in improving global road safety by bridging gaps in mobilization of
resources for effective action at all levels.
 It will mobilize resources from governments, intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
private sector, philanthropic organizations and individuals.
 It will support efforts along five pillars of Global Plan for Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-20), which
include
o improved safety of road infrastructure and broader transport networks;
o strengthened road safety management capacities;
o enhanced safety of vehicles;
o improved behaviour of road users and
o improved post-crash care.
 The fund will serve as catalyst for much-needed progress towards road safety targets of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
 SDG targets 3.6 and 11.2 aim to halve number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents and
provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems as well as improve road safety for
all.
UN Tax Trust Fund
 The fund is aimed at helping the developing countries to actively participate in the discussion of tax issues via
participation UN Tax Committee meetings.
 The UN Tax Committee is a subsidiary body of the UN Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC).
 The UN Tax Committee offers guidance on current issues such as double taxation treaties, transfer
pricing, taxation of the extractive industries and taxation of services.
 It also strives to promote international tax cooperation among national tax authorities.
 It also makes recommendations on capacity-building and the provision of technical assistance to developing
countries and countries with economies in transition.
Why in news?
India is the first country to make a voluntary contribution to the UN tax fund.
What is Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA)?

 Addis Ababa Action Agenda provides a global framework for effective mobilisation of resources at the national
and international level for sustainable development.
 Implementation of this agenda also supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
_______________________________________________________________
 It forms an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was unanimously adopted in
2015.
 India has made voluntary contribution in UN Tax Fund following AAAA.
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
 It is also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty
 It is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982
 The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the
world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural
resources.
 Several initiatives were taken after the establishment of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) which are mentioned below:
1. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS): Established by the UNCLOS,
the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body that adjudicates
disputes arising out of the convention. ITLOS was signed on December 10, 1982, and entered into
force on November 16, 1994.
2. International Seabed Authority: It was formed in 1994 under the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (1982) for regulating the exploration and exploitation of marine non-living resources of
oceans in international waters.
3. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS): Established under United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea, CLCS is responsible for facilitating the implementation of
UNCLOS with respect to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200
nautical miles.
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
 It is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.
 It has 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members from Asia-Pacific Region including India.
 HQ : Bangkok
International : Others
Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Internet Governance Forum (IGF):

 IGF is a multi-stakeholder governance group for policy dialogue on issues of Internet governance.
 Purpose: It brings together all stakeholders in the Internet governance debate, whether they represent
governments, the private sector or civil society through an open and inclusive process.
 Origin: The establishment of the IGF was formally announced by the United Nations Secretary-General in
2006. Its first meeting was first convened in 2006 and has held an annual meeting since then.
 Secretariat: UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland
 Funding: IGF is financed through the extra-budgetary Trust Fund Account managed by the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs(UNDESA).
Permanent Forum of People of African Descent
Permanent Forum of People of African Descent:

 United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution establishing a Permanent Forum of People of
African Descent.
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 The Permanent Forum of People of African Descent will serve as a platform for improving the safety and
quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent and their full inclusion in the societies where they
live.
 Mandate:
o To advance the full political, economic and social inclusion of people of African descent in the
societies in which they live.
o To provide expert advice and recommendations to the Human Rights Council, the Assembly’s main
committees, and the various UN entities working on issues related to racial discrimination.
 Composition of the Forum:
o The forum will consist of 10 members: five elected by the General Assembly from all regions and five
appointed by the Human Rights Council following consultations with regional groups and
organizations of people of African descent.
 The Forum’s first session will take place in 2022.
Significance of the Establishment of this Forum:

 The forum’s establishment comes during the International Decade for People of African Descent established by
the General Assembly which began on January 1, 2015, and will end on December 31, 2024. It is focusing on
the themes of recognition, justice and development.
 Moreover, the new body’s creation comes ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 2001 UN World Conference
Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. This conference was dominated by clashes over the Middle East and
the legacy of slavery.
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
 ICOMOS is global monument conservation body (non-government organisation) dedicated to promoting the
application of theory, methodology and scientific techniques for conservation of architectural and
archaeological heritage across the world.
 It is also advisory body to UNESCO for cultural heritage, in particular for implementation of World Heritage
Convention.
 It was founded in 1965 in Warsaw (Poland) as a result of the Venice Charter of 1964.
 It is headquartered in Paris, France.
 Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, use, and enhancement of monuments, building
complexes, and sites.
 Partner Organization: ICOMOS is a partner and founding member of the Blue Shield, which works to protect
the world’s cultural heritage threatened by wars and natural disasters.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
World Wide Fund for Nature:

 It is international non-governmental organization working in the field of the wilderness preservation and
reduction of human impact on the environment.
 It was formerly named World Wildlife Fund.
 It is world’s largest conservation organization with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more
than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects.
 It was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
 WWF aims to stop degradation of planet’s natural environment and build future in which humans live in
harmony with nature.
 Currently, its work is organized around these six areas: food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans.
 It publishes Living Planet Report every two years since 1998 and it is based on Living Planet Index and
ecological footprint calculation.
Committee on World Food Security
Committee on World Food Security(CFS):

_______________________________________________________________
 CFS was established in 1974.

 It is an international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work to ensure food security and
nutrition for all.
 Reports to: The Committee reports to the UN General Assembly through the Economic and Social
Council(ECOSOC) and to the FAO Conference.
 Secretariat: It has a permanent Secretariat. It is located in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations(FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy,
 Funding: It receives its core funding equally from The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), The
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and The World Food Programme (WFP).
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
 The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states launched by India in February 2008.
 It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the
Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant
maritime issues.
 It endeavours to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common
understanding and possibly cooperative solutions on the way ahead. These states are represented by the heads
of their navies.
 Under the IONS charter of business adopted in 2014, the forum has working groups on Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Information Security and Interoperability (IS&I) and maritime
security (anti-piracy).
 Members to IONS: There are 24 members which have been geographically grouped into the following four
sub-regions:
o South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United
Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory)
o West Asian Littorals: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
o East African Littorals: France (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania.
o South East Asian and Australian Littorals: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
Thailand and Timor-Leste.
17+1 cooperation forum
17+1 cooperation forum:

 The 17+1 cooperation forum is a China-led initiative founded in the year 2012.
 Aim:
o To expand cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European(CEE) member countries.
o This is done through investments and trade for the development of the CEE region.
o The initiative focuses on infrastructure projects such as bridges, motorways, railway lines and the
modernisation of ports in the member states.
 Significance: The initiative is largely seen as an extension of China’s flagship Belt and Road initiative (BRI).
 Why in news? Lithuania pulled out of this forum.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Climate and Clean Air Coalition(CCAC)

 Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations,
businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations.
 Aim: The coalition aims to protect the climate and improve air quality through actions to reduce short-lived
climate pollutants.
 India is a member of the coalition.
_______________________________________________________________
INTERPOL
 Interpol is global police co-operation agency and a non-governmental organization (NGO).

 It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1923.
 Its headquartered is located at Lyon, France.
 It is the world’s largest international police organization, with 194 member countries (including India).
 It is second-largest international organization after United Nations in terms of international representation.
 Its work focuses on public safety and battling terrorism, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes,
environmental crime etc.
 It seeks to facilitate international police cooperation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between
particular countries.
 It ensures that police around world have access to tools and services necessary to do their jobs effectively.
 It also provides targeted training, expert investigative support, relevant data and secure communications
channels.
Network for Greening the Financial System(NGFS)
Network for Greening the Financial System(NGFS):

 NGFS was launched at the Paris One Planet Summit in December 2017.
 Purpose: It is a group of Central banks and financial supervisors. The NGFS aims to accelerate the scaling up
of green finance and develop recommendations for central banks’ role in climate change.
 Headquarters: It is located at the Bank of France headquartered in Paris.
 Members: As of April 2021, the NGFS consists of 90 members and 13 observers.
 Significance for RBI: As Green Finance has assumed significance in the context of climate change. So the RBI
expects to benefit from the membership of NGFS by learning and contributing to global efforts on Green
Finance.
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
MARPOL:
 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) aims at the prevention of
pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
 The Convention was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) on 2nd November 1973.
 India is a signatory to the MARPOL Convention.
 Annexes: The convention currently includes six technical Annexes:
o Annex I: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil
o Annex II: Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk
o Annex III: Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form
o Annex IV: Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships
o Annex V: Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships
o Annex VI: Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships.
Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC)
 Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC) was established in 1963.

 It is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) and
the World Health Organisation (WHO).
 It was established within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme.
 Purpose:
o To establish international food standards to protect the health of consumers
o To ensure fair practices in the food trade. Especially while promoting coordination of food standards
work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organisations.
 Membership: Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO
and WHO. The countries interested in international food standards can become a member of CAC.
_______________________________________________________________
 Funding: The programme of work of the Commission is funded through the regular budgets of WHO and
FAO. All works are subjected to the approval of the two governing bodies of the parent organisation.
 Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
Blue Nature Alliance
Blue Nature Alliance:

 Blue Nature Alliance is a global partnership.
 It was founded and led by Conservation International, Pew Charitable Trusts, Global Environment
Facility(GEF), Minderoo Foundation and Rob & Melani Walton Foundation.
 Aim: To safeguard global ocean biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, promote human well-being and
enhance ecosystem connectivity.
 Targets:
o Conserve 18 million square kilometres of ocean in five years.
o Protect 5% of the world’s ocean in five years.
o Help the world achieve 30% ocean conservation by 2030.
 Target Oceans: The Alliance has started by targeting seven ocean locations. This includes Antarctica, Fiji,
Canada, Seychelles, Palau, the Western Indian Ocean and Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic
Ocean.
 The alliance will begin work by working with local communities and national leaders. It aims to establish new
marine protected areas (MPAs) and improve the management of existing ones.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
 USCIRF is a bipartisan, independent federal government commission in the US.

 It was created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.
 USCIRF’s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom
internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
 It gives and annual report of its findings.
 It recommends :
o Countries of particular concern (CPCs) : for engaging in or tolerating “systematic, ongoing, egregious
violations.”
o Entities of particular concern (EPCs) : non-state actors cited for similarly severe violations.
 Why in news? US has designated India as country of particular concern for violation of religious freedom.
Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA)
 BTCA is a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerates the
transition from cash to responsible digital payments to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
 Foundation: It was launched by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United States Agency for
International Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citigroup, the Ford Foundation, the
Omidyar Network, and Visa Inc.
 It is based at the United Nations.
 It was created in 2012.
 Members: The Alliance has 75 members which are committed to digitizing payments in order to boost
efficiency, transparency, women’s economic participation and financial inclusion, helping build economies that
are digital and inclusive.
 Members do not want to abolish physical cash but rather want to provide responsible digital payment options
that are “better than cash”.
 India became a member of the Better Than Cash Alliance in 2015 to digitize payments to achieve financial
inclusion and to share success stories from Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the world's largest financial
inclusion program.
_______________________________________________________________
BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement
BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)?

 CRA was established in 2015 during 7th BRICS summit as a part of the Fortaleza Declaration.
 Aim: It aims to provide short-term liquidity support to the members through currency swaps. It will help to
mitigate the Balance of Payment(BOP) crisis situations in case such a situation arises.
 Other objectives:
o It will help member countries to forestall short-term liquidity pressures,
o Moreover, it will provide mutual support and further strengthen financial stability.
o It would also contribute to strengthening the global financial safety net and complement existing
international arrangements (from IMF) as an additional line of defence.
Essential Digital Infrastructure and Services Network(EDISON) Alliance
Essential Digital Infrastructure and Services Network(EDISON) Alliance:

 Launched by World Economic Forum.
 Aim: To work towards ensuring global and equitable access to the digital economy.
 How will it ensure equitable access to the digital economy? The alliance will work with governments and
industries. It will accelerate digital inclusion and will ensure cross-sectoral collaboration between the technology
industry and other critical sectors of the economy.
 Advisory Board: An expert group of Champions Leaders board will advise and support the Alliance. The board
will be chaired by Verizon’s Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg.
 Secretariat: The World Economic Forum (WEF) will serve as the secretariat and platform for the Alliance.
What was the need of the alliance?

 Access to digital technologies has enabled many to work, learn and live during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 However, the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing digital gaps and inequalities in the global
population.
 Some 3.6 billion people remain offline and broadband services are too expensive for 50% of the population in
developed countries. This hampers access to health, education, and economic inclusion.
Global AI Action Alliance (GAIA)
 Global AI Action Alliance (GAIA) is a multi-stakeholder collaboration platform launched by World Economic
Forum (WEF).
 It has been designed to accelerate the adoption of inclusive, transparent, and trusted artificial intelligence tools
globally and in industry sectors.
 Members: The alliance is consisting of over 100 leading companies, governments, international organizations,
non-profits, and academics. They all are committed to maximizing AI’s societal benefits while minimizing its
risks.
 Committee: A steering committee will guide the alliance. It is consisting of top global leaders from industry,
government, academia, and civil society.
 Significance: The alliance will provide a platform for members to;
o engage in real-time learning,
o frame new approaches to ethical AI,
o increase adoption of best practices and
o undertake collective action to ensure that AI’s benefits are shared by all.
Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group
 Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group is an informal club that developed at the UN in the 1990s.
_______________________________________________________________
 The group developed in opposition to the possible expansion of permanent seats in the United Nations
Security Council.
 Under the leadership of Italy, it aims to counter the bids for permanent seats proposed by G4 nations (Brazil,
Germany, India, and Japan) and is calling for a consensus before any decision is reached on the form and size of
the Security Council.
 The thesis of the Uniting for Consensus group is that any increase in permanent seats would further accentuate
the disparity between the member countries.
 Italy along with Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, in 1995 founded the “Coffee Club“.
 They were soon joined by other countries, including Spain, Argentina, Turkey, Canada, and South Korea, and
in a short time, the group came to include about 50 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
World Economic Forum (WEF)
 WEF is Swiss non profit foundation, based in Geneva.

 Founded in 1971.
 It works to improve the state of the world through public-private cooperation.
 It serves as independent not-for-profit organization that works closely with other international organizations.
 WEF is best known for its annual winter meeting for five days in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in
eastern Alps region of Switzerland.
 The meeting brings together some international political leaders, 2,500 top business leaders, selected
intellectuals, and journalists to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world.
 The organization acts as a think tank publishing wide range of reports. Some of the most significant reports
published by the forum includes
o Global Competitiveness Report
o Global Gender Gap Report
o Global Risks Report
o Global Travel and Tourism Report
 These reports are published annually.
 More than 1000 companies contribute to the funds of the forum.
International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
 The IOSCO is the international organization that brings together the world's securities regulators, covering
more than 95% of the world’s securities markets, and is the global standard setter for the securities sector.
 IOSCO works closely with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in setting up the standards for
strengthening the securities markets.
 The IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation have been endorsed by FSB as one of the key
standards for sound financial systems.
 It was founded in 1983 and is Headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
 Why in news? The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate
Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
 Benefits of membership of IOSCO:
o The membership of IOSCO would provide IFSCA the platform to exchange information at the global
level and regional level on areas of common interests.
o Further, the IOSCO platform would enable IFSCA to learn from the experiences and best practices of
the regulators of other well established financial centres.
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation(GAVI)
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What is GAVI?
 Gavi is an international organisation – a global Vaccine Alliance created in 2000.
 It brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused
vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
 GAVI has observer status at the World Health Assembly.
 As part of its mission to save lives, reduce poverty and protect the world against the threat of epidemics, GAVI
has helped vaccinate more than 822 million children in the world’s poorest countries preventing more than 14
million future deaths.
GAVI Board:
 The board is responsible for strategic direction and policy-making, oversees the operations of the Vaccine
Alliance and monitors programme implementation.
 With membership drawn from a range of partner organisations, as well as experts from the private sector, the
Board provides a forum for balanced strategic decision making, innovation and partner collaboration.
Partners in Population and Development(PPD)
 Partners in Population and Development(PPD) is an Intergovernmental alliance formed during the

International Conference on Population and Development(ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994.
 Aim: To expand and strengthen South-South collaboration among the developing countries in the field of
reproductive health, population and development.
 Members: Currently, PPD has the membership of 26 developing countries, representing more than 59% of the
world’s population.
 Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 India is a member.
International Association of Insurance Supervisors
 It was established in 1994 as a voluntary membership organization of insurance supervisors from over 190
jurisdictions constituting 97% of the world’s insurance premiums.
 Purpose: It is the international standard-setting body responsible for developing and assisting in the
implementation of principles, standards, and other supporting material for the supervision of the insurance
sector.
 Significance: Indian Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) is among the leading members
of IAIS.
 Hosted by: Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
 Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland.
World Organisation for Animal Health
 It is an intergovernmental organisation created in 1924 for improving animal health worldwide.

 It is also recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization(WTO).
 Headquarters: Paris, France.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
 It is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for
administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.
 USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen
democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance.
 Founded in 1961
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
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 It was established in 1999 as dedicated secretariat to facilitate implementation of International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (ISDR).
 It is an organisational unit of UN Secretariat and is led by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-
General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG).
 It is mandated by United Nations General Assembly resolution (56/195) to serve as focal point in United
Nations system for coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among disaster reduction
activities of United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio‐economic and
humanitarian fields.
 It has a vision to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses for a sustainable future with the mandate to act as
the custodian of the Sendai Framework to which India is a signatory.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
 It is an independent, non-partisan & non profit international NGO which works towards the practical
realization of human rights in the countries of the Commonwealth.
 It was founded in 1987 and is headquartered at New Delhi.
 CHRI’s objectives are to promote awareness and adherence to the Commonwealth’s Harare Declaration, to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to other internationally recognised human rights instruments.
 The organisation specializes in transparency and accountability issues, with a focus on access to justice and
access to information.
 The organisation mainly works in South Asia, East Africa, and Ghana region.
Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development
 The Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development was inaugurated by the Italian Prime Minister
Giuseppe Conte at Rome.
 The centre has been opened by the Italian government in association with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
About the Centre

The important aspects of the Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development are:
 The centre’s origin can be traced to a declaration endorsed by the G7 meeting of the Environment Ministers in
2017.
 The centre would facilitate coordination among the G7 and African countries on common initiatives in Africa
to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
 The Centre would contribute towards addressing the needs of Africa by providing a platform for G7 countries
to steer their cooperation to contrast environmental degradation and promote sustainable economic growth in
the region.
 The centre will provide a fast-track, demand-driven mechanism for African countries to access grant resources
that support policies, initiatives, and best practices on climate change, food security, access to water, clean
energy, and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
The centre would be hosted by UNDP which would utilise its extensive country office network and
programmatic hubs, and global expertise and knowledge, to enable the African countries to access the resources
available through it.
Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals

Africa referred to as Dark Continent still has up to 330 million of its population living in poverty and up to 60% of
unemployed Africans are young people. The centre will help to speed up progress and quickly resource national
development priorities in the African countries to address these challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals.
African Development Bank
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 The African Development Bank (AfDB) was established in 1964 with a view to promote the Economic
Development and social progress of its regional members.
 India became member of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1983.
 The Union Finance Minister and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance are
the Governor and Alternate Governor of the Bank respectively.
Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)
 AIDB is regional inter-governmental organisation serving countries of United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in field of electronic media development.
 It was established in 1977 under auspices of UNESCO.
 It is hosted by Government of Malaysia and its secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur.
 AIBD is mandated to achieve vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in Asia-Pacific region through
policy and resource development.
 Currently it has broadcasters from 26 full member countries, represented by 34 organisations and 67 Affiliate
Members (organisations) and over 50 partners in Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, Arab States and North America.
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
 BIS is an international financial organisation owned by 60 member central banks, representing countries from
around the world including India.
 It fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks.
 It carries out its work through its meetings, programmes and through the Basel Process – hosting international
groups pursuing global financial stability and facilitating their interaction.
 Its headquarter is in Basel, Switzerland.
Belmont Forum
 It is a high level group of the world’s major and emerging funders of global environmental change research and
international science councils.
 It aims to accelerate delivery of the environmental research needed to remove critical barriers to sustainability by
aligning and mobilizing international resources.
 India is a member
 Members: India, Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Netherland, South
Africa, UK and US etc.
 India is represented by the Union Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) since 2012.
 Secretariat: It is hosted by one of the Belmont forum member on rotational basis. ANR, France is hosting the
Secretariat from January, 2015 to December, 2017.
 Expenditure for hosting the Secretariat is borne by Belmont Forum member countries in kind or cash
contribution.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
What is CEPI?
 CEPI is a public-private alliance to finance and coordinate the development of new vaccines to prevent and
contain infectious disease epidemics.
 CEPI’s plan includes preparations for possible outbreaks of Marburg fever, Lassa fever, MERS, SARS, Nipah
virus, Rift Valley fever, chikungunya, and others.
 It is being funded by the Wellcome Trust, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Economic Forum
(WEF), Governments of Norway, Japan, India (Department of Biotechnology) and Germany.
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Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
 The CCAMLR was established by international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic
marine life.
 It is part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
 It was signed by 14 states and has been ratified by 35 states (including India) and the European Community
 Headquarters: Tasmania, Australia.
 Goal: Preserve marine life and environmental integrity in and near Antarctica
 The CCAMLR was established in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a
keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the
Southern Ocean.
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
 CAS is an international quasi-judicial body

 It is established to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration.
 Its Headquarter is located in Lausanne (Switzerland).
 Its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne.
 According to rule 61 of the Olympic Charter, all disputes in connection with the Olympic Games can only be
submitted to CAS.
 Since 2016, an anti-doping division of CAS was given full authority to judge doping cases at the Olympic
Games. It had replaced earlier mechanism of the IOC disciplinary commission.
European Central Bank
 It was established on 1 June 1998 with Headquarters in Ostend district, Frankfurt, Germany.
 It is the central bank of 19 European Union (EU) countries which have adopted Euro.
 It is EU’s one truly federal institution which is responsible for administering of Euro and Monetary policy of
Eurozone.
 It is one of the largest monetary areas in world.
 After U.S. Federal Reserve, ECB is most influential central bank in world.
 Mandate: To maintain price stability in Euro area and so preserve purchasing power of single currency.
European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)
 CERN is world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory.

 It is situated in North West suburbs of Geneva on France-Swiss Border.
 Members: It has 22 member states, four associate member states (including India and Pakistan) and three
International Organisations have observer status.
 Functions:
o The laboratory helps scientists and engineers probing fundamental structure of Universe using the most
sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems
o Provide the necessary infrastructure needed for high-energy physics research including particle
accelerators.
 Achievements:
o CERN operates the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is the world’s largest and most powerful
particle accelerator.
o It is associated with the discovery of the Higgs Boson which is popularly known as the God particle.
o Indian scientists has been active in construction of the LHC in the areas of design, development and
supply of hardware accelerator components, software development and deployment in the machine.
o They also had played significant role in the CMS (Compact Muon Experiment), one of the two large
experiments that led to discovery of God particle.
 Why in news? India has become an associate member.
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 How this membership helps India?

o As an Associate Member of CERN, India will be a part of the huge scientific and technological
endeavour.
o The India-CERN association as a whole is interdisciplinary in nature and the involvement of physicists,
electronics hardware and software engineers will pave the path for overall knowledge development in
the best possible way.
o Becoming Associate Member of CERN will enhance participation of young scientists and engineers in
various CERN projects and bring back knowledge for deployment in the domestic programmes.
o It will also open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in the CERN project.
o Through the Teachers programme, teachers teaching in the higher secondary schools would also be able
to participate in the programme and pass on the knowledge and quest for high-end science to their
students, thereby encouraging large number of students to pursue their career in science.
EU vs EEA
 The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 countries. It operates an internal (or single)
market which allows free movement of goods, capital, services and people between member states
 The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK
 The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It allows them to be part of
the EU’s single market
 Switzerland is neither an EU nor EEA member
 What is EEA?
o EEA provides for the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the internal
market of the European Union (EU).
o The EEA was established on 1 January 1994 upon entry into force of the EEA Agreement
 Why in news? After Brexit, UK has an option to be part of EEA
 Map:
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Global Centre for Cybersecurity
Global Centre for Cybersecurity

 The Global Centre for Cybersecurity will function as an autonomous organization under WEF.
 It will help to build a safe and secure global cyberspace.
 Its aim is to establish first global platform for governments, businesses, experts and law enforcement agencies to
collaborate on cybersecurity challenges.
 It will draw on WEF’s government and industry support to work towards more secure cyberspace through its
established multi stakeholder approach.
Mandate of Global Centre for Cybersecurity

 Consolidate existing cybersecurity initiatives of WEF.
 Establish independent library of cyber best practices.
 Help partners to enhance knowledge on cybersecurity.
 Work towards an appropriate and agile regulatory framework on cybersecurity.
 Serve as laboratory and early-warning think tank for future cybersecurity scenarios.
Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS)
 GCCS is one of world’s largest conferences on cyber space.

 It is for first time organized in New Delhi, India.
 It is prestigious global event where international leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks, cyber
wizards etc gather to deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally using cyber space.
 It was launched to establish internationally agreed rules of road for behaviour in cyberspace and create more
focused and inclusive dialogue between all those with stake in internet (governments, civil society and industry).
Global Foreign Exchange Committee
 It is a newly-constituted forum of central bankers and experts working towards promotion of a robust and
transparent foreign exchange (Forex) market.
 The committee has been set up under guidance of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), an international
financial organisation.
 It was established in London in May 2017
 The newly expanded and formalised GFXC, replaces a similar but more informal organisation of eight FXCs
from Australia, Euro area, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, UK and US.
 It will now also include representatives from existing, or soon to be established FXCs or similar structures in
China, India, Brazil, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland.
 Objectives GFXC:
1. Promote collaboration and communication among the local FXCs and non-GFXC jurisdictions with
significant FX markets
2. Exchange views on trends and developments in global FX markets, including on the structure and
functioning of those markets, drawing on information gathered at the various FXCs;
3. Promote, maintain and update on a regular basis the FX Global Code (the Code) and consider good
practices regarding effective mechanisms to support adherence.
 India has joined GFEC.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
 IPU is global inter-parliamentary institution.

 It was established in 1889 and was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.
 Its initial objective was arbitration of conflicts.
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 It played important role in setting up Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

 Over time, its mission has evolved towards promotion of democracy and inter-parliamentary dialogue.
 It connects national parliaments in order to promote greater accountability, transparency and participation at
global level.
 It has worked for establishment of institutions at inter-governmental level, including UN.
 Initially, IPU was for individual parliamentarians, but has since transformed into international organization of
parliaments of sovereign states.
 The national parliaments of 178 countries are its members and 12 regional parliamentary assemblies are its
associate members.
 The IPU has permanent observer status at UNGA.
International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities
(IALA)
 The IALA is an inter-governmental organization for collecting and providing nautical expertise and advice.
 It was established in 1957 under French law and has headquarters at St. Germainen Laye (France).
 It is governed by a General Assembly having 83 National members, with its Council as the executive body.
 The IALA council consists of 24 National Members including India which is represented through Directorate
General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping.
 DGLL establishes and maintains Aids to Navigation in general waters along coast of India including
Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar group of islands, as per Lighthouse Act 1927.
International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT)
 IAWRT is global organization of women in broadcasting industry.

 It was established in 1949 by professional women working in electronic and allied media.
 Its mission is to strengthen initiatives towards ensuring women’s views and values are integral part of
programming and advance impact of women in media.
 It is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
 It also organizes conferences, implements projects and undertakes activities, collaborates with and media
organizations.
 It is managed by international board, which oversees funding initiatives for a number of local chapters and
member activities.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
 ICAN is a global civil society coalition of 468 partner organizations from 101 countries working to promote
adherence to and full implementation of Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
 It is a leading civil society actor which has taken efforts to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.
 Originally it was founded in Australia in 2007.
 Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
 ICAN’s mission is to shift disarmament debate to focus on humanitarian threat posed by nuclear weapons,
draw attention to their unique destructive capacity, their catastrophic health and environmental consequences,
debilitating impact of detonation on medical infrastructure and relief measures and long-lasting effects of
radiation on surrounding area.
International Energy Forum (IEF)
 The IEF is an inter-governmental arrangement set up in 1991 and based (Secretariat) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
 It serves as neutral facilitator of informal, open, informed and continuing global energy dialogue among its
member countries.
 There are 72 member countries of IEF (comprising of energy producing and energy consuming states,
including transit countries) including India, covering all six continents.
 Its membership accounts for 90% of global supply and demand for oil and gas.
_______________________________________________________________
 IEF’s Executive Board (EB) was set up in 2002 and comprises of 31 designated representatives of Ministers of
the member states. It meets twice a year.
 International Energy Agency (IEA) and Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are non-
voting members of the Executive Board.
 The EB is chaired by the Host State of the next biennial Ministerial Meeting. Indian is currently Chair of IEF’s
Executive Board.
 The IEF Ministerial Meetings are held biennially and is world’s largest gathering of Energy Ministers who
engage in dialogue on global energy issues.
International Organisation for Migration
 IOM is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to
governments and migrants, including refugees, internally displaced persons and migrant workers.
 IOM was established in 1951 as Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help
resettle people displaced by World War II.
 It was granted Permanent Observer status to UN General Assembly in 1992.
 Cooperation agreement between IOM and the UN was signed in 1996.
 IOM works in four broad areas of migration management:
1. Migration and development,
2. Facilitating migration,
3. Regulating migration and
4. Forced migration.
 It has 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries.
 India is a member of IOM.
International Road federation (IRF)
 The IRF is global non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation with mission to encourage and promote
development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads and road networks.
 It was founded in 1948.
 Its motto is Better Roads. Better World.
 It is headquartered in Washington, DC, United States.
 IRF seeks to promote social and economic benefits of sustainable and environmentally sound road transport
infrastructure at all levels of society.
 It helps to put in place technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum economic and
social returns from national road investments.
 It provides a wide base of expertise for planning road development strategy and policy for governments and
financial institutions in all aspects of road policy and development.
International Trade Centre (ITC)
 International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United
Nations.
 It is the only development agency that is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)

 The IUGS is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field
of geology.
 It was founded in 1961.
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 Currently geologists from 121 countries (and regions) are represented in IUGS through 121 adhering
organizations.
 It is joint partner with UNESCO for International Geoscience Programme (IGCP).
International Geological Congress (IGC)

 The IGC is prestigious conclave of geoscientists from around world.
 It is considered as an Olympic of the International Geosciences fraternity.
 It aims to bring together the geo-scientific community across the continents and oceans.
 It is held once every four years (quadrennially) under aegis of IUGS through process of global bidding.
 The first session of IGC was held in 1878 in France with an aim to provide global geological community with
opportunity to create an organizational frame work for meeting at regular intervals.
International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
 IVI is an international non-profit organization devoted to developing and introducing new and improved
vaccines to protect the people, especially children, against deadly infectious diseases.
 It was established in 1997 on the initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
 Its work is exclusively on vaccine development and introduction specifically for people in developing countries,
with a focus on neglected diseases affecting these regions.
 Currently, IVI has 40 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) as signatories to its
Establishment Agreement.
 India has become full-time member of IVI.
Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
 Located in Gurugram.
 It is the single point center linking all the coastal radar chains to generate a seamless real-time picture of the
nearly 7,500-km coastline.
 It has been established with the vision of strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond by building
a common coherent maritime situation picture and acting as a maritime information hub for the region.
 The IFC will share White Shipping Information with the countries.
 White shipping refers to commercial shipping information about the movement of cargo ships.
 All Countries that have signed the white shipping information agreement with India are IFC partners.
Significance of IFC-IOR:
 The Information on commercial shipping will improve maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean region.
 It will strengthen the mutual collaboration and understanding of the threats prevalent in the region.
 It will also help to counter the rise in maritime piracy in the Indian Ocean region.
Permanent Indus Commission (PIC)
 The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed in 1960.

 It covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers of Indus river system viz, Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus,
Chenab and Jhelum.
 The treaty specifies that waters from three western rivers viz. Indus, Jhelum and Chenab are reserved for
Pakistan, while waters from eastern rivers viz. Ravi, Sutlej and Beas are for reserved for India.
 The PIC is established mechanism under IWT.
 Its mandate is to establish and maintain cooperative arrangements for implementation of water distribution pact
and promote cooperation in development of Indus water systems between India and Pakistan.
 The meeting of PIC is held alternately in India and Pakistan at least once every year as mandated by treaty.
UN Conference on Disarmament
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 UN Conference on Disarmament (CD) is not a formal United Nations (UN) organization.

 It is linked to UN through personal representative of UN Secretary-General.
 It is multilateral forum established in 1979 by international community to negotiate multilateral arms control
and disarmament agreements.
 It is headquartered in Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
 The conference has 65 members represent all areas of the world, including all known nuclear-weapon states
(including India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea)
 Resolutions adopted by UN General Assembly often request conference to consider specific disarmament
matters.
 In turn, conference annually reports its activities to UNGA.
 In the 1990s, the Conference had held intensive efforts to draft CTBT text and its two annexes, but it did not
succeed in reaching consensus on the adoption of the text.
 Currently UNCD conducts discussion on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), a pact to prevent an arms
race in outer space, nuclear disarmament and negative security assurances (NSA).
National : Autonomous Bodies
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
 ICAR is an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India.
 It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
 It reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education under the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
 The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president.
 HQ : New Delhi
 Earlier known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered
society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on
Agriculture.
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)
 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency(IREDA) is a Mini Ratna Enterprise of the Government of
India. It was founded in 1987.
 Purpose: IREDA promotes, develops, and extends financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new
and renewable sources of energy.
 Nodal Ministry: It comes under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE).
 Registered under: IREDA has been notified as a Public Financial Institution under Companies Act,1956. It is
registered as Non-Banking Financial Company(NFBC) with Reserve Bank of India(RBI).
 Motto: IREDA’s Motto is “Energy for Ever.”
 Significance: It is the only dedicated institution for financing Renewable Energy (RE) & Energy Efficiency (EE)
projects in India.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)
 NAFED is apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.

 Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
 It was founded in October 1958 to promote trade of agricultural produce and forest resources across the nation.
 It functions under Ministry of Agriculture.
 NAFED is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in
India.
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 In 2008, it had established, National Spot Exchange, a Commodities exchange as a joint venture of Financial
Technologies (India) Ltd. (FTIL).
National Institute of Oceanography(NIO)
National Institute of Oceanography(NIO):

 NIO is an autonomous research organization established in 1966.It is one of the 37 constituent laboratories of
the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.
 Focus: The principal focus of research has been on observing and understanding special oceanographic
characteristics of the Indian Ocean.
 Headquarters: Goa
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
 INCOIS is an autonomous organization of the Union Government.

 It comes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
 HQ : Hyderabad
 Its mandated is to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to government agencies,
society, industry and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant
improvements through systematic and focussed research.
 INCOIS is a permanent member of the Indian delegation to IOC of UNESCO and a founding member of the
Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS) and the Partnership for Observing the Oceans
(POGO).
Central Water Commission (CWC)
 CWC is apex Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources.

 It is presently functioning as an attached office of Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation.
 It is charged with the general responsibilities of initiating and coordinating schemes of control, utilization and
conservation of water resources throughout the country.
 These schemes are meant for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and
Water Power Development.
 It also undertakes the investigations, construction and execution of any such schemes as required.
 The work of the Commission is divided among 3 wings namely :
1. River Management Wing (RM),
2. Designs and Research Wing (D&R) and
3. Water Planning and Projects Wing (WP&P).
 It monitors and prepares monthly reports on the state of glacial lakes and waterbodies measuring 10 hectares
and above via satellite.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
 The ASI is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of
the country.
 The prime objection of ASI is to maintain the archaeological sites, ancient monuments and remains of national
importance.
 Headquarters: New Delhi.
 Established: 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
 It regulates all archaeological activities as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
 It functions under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture.
 It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
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National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT)
 It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education (MoE) which is responsible for:
 Ensuring qualitative improvement in school education by undertaking and promoting research in areas related
to school education.
 Prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material.
 Develop and disseminate innovative educational techniques and practices.
 Act as a nodal agency for achieving the goals of Universalization of Elementary Education.
Sangeet Natak Akademi
 It is India's national academy for music, dance and drama.

 It was created by a resolution of the Ministry of Education (formerly the Ministry of Human Resource
Development), Government of India, in 1952 with Dr P V Rajamannar as its first Chairman.
 It is presently an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture and is fully funded by the Government for
implementation of its schemes and programmes.
 The Akademi establishes and looks after institutions and projects of national importance in the field of the
performing arts. Few important ones are:
o National School of Drama, New Delhi (set up in 1959).
o Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal (set up in 1954).
o Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance), New Delhi (set up in 1964).
o National Projects of Support to Kutiyattam (Sanskrit theatre of Kerala), Chhau dances of eastern
India, Sattriya traditions of Assam, etc.
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National Centre for Polar and Oceean Research
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National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research

 National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) was established as an autonomous research and
development institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 1998.
 It is located in Goa.
 It is responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms.
 It is the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and
southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.
 Its major responsibilities include:
o Management and upkeep of the Indian Antarctic Research Bases “Maitri” and “Bharati”, and the
Indian Arctic base “Himadri”.
o Himadri: India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 2007 and opened a
research base named “Himadri” at the Svalbard, Norway in July 2008 for carrying out studies in
disciplines like Glaciology, Atmospheric sciences & Biological sciences.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
 WII is an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
 It is based in Chandrabani, Dehradun.
 Established in 1982.
 It offers training programs, academic courses, and advisory in wildlife research and management.
Quality Council of India
 Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 as an autonomous body

 It was setup jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry represented by the three premier
industry associations i.e.
o Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM),
o Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and
o Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
 It aims to establish and operate national accreditation structure and promote quality through National Quality
Campaign.
 The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is the nodal ministry
for QCI.
 Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on recommendation of the industry to the government.
National Medical Commission
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has replaced the Medical Council of India (BoG-MCI), as per information
released by the Health Ministry.
National Medical Commission
 National Medical Commission (NMC) is an Indian regulatory body of 33 members which regulates medical
education and medical professionals.
 It replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) on 25 September 2020.
 The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants
registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice and assess the medical infrastructure in
India.
 The NMC will have four separate autonomous boards: under-graduate medical education, post-graduate
medical education, medical assessment and rating and ethics and medical registration.
It’s legal backing

 The NITI Aayog had recommended the replacement of MCI with NMC.
 The decision was approved by most states and after its approval by the Prime Minister and NMC bill was
passed by parliament and approved by President on 8 August 2019.
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 National Medical Commission ordinance was brought in to replace Medical Council of India in early 2019
through an ordinance issued in January 2019 by the President of India.
 The Supreme Court had allowed the Central Government to replace the medical council and with the help of
five specialized doctors monitor the medical education system in India, from July 2017.
 The government dissolved the MCI in 2018 and Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) stands
repealed.
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
 AEC is the governing body of the DAE which is under the direct charge of Prime Minister.
 It was established in 1948 to look after atomic energy activities in the country.
 Its functions are to organise research in atomic science in India, train atomic scientists in the country, promote
nuclear research in commission’s own laboratories and undertake prospecting of atomic minerals and extract
such minerals for use on industrial scale.
Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

 BSI is the apex research organization under Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFCC) for carrying out
taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of country.
 It was established in 1890 with objective to explore plant resources of country and to identify plants species
with economic virtues.
 It has nine regional circles situated at different regions of the country.
Primary functions of BSI

 Exploration, inventorying and documentation of phytodiversity in general and protected areas, hotspots and
fragile ecosystems in particular
 Publication of National, State and District Floras.
 Identification of threatened and red list species and species rich areas needing conservation.
 Ex-situ conservation of critically threatened species in botanical gardens.
 Survey and documentation of traditional knowledge (ethno-botany) associated with plants.
 Develop National database of Indian plants, including herbarium and live specimens, botanical paintings and
illustrations, etc.
Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)
 BMTPC is an autonomous body under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

 It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is primary task is the mainstreaming of new
construction technologies.
 It is responsible to undertake research, development and large scale application of new building material
technologies.
 Why in news? It will manage newly formed National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF)
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security
 The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was initially set up as a Cell in the DGCA in January 1978 on
the recommendation of the Pande Committee.
 The BCAS was reorganized into an independent department under the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 1st April,
1987 following the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182.
 The main responsibilities of BCAS include laying down standards and measures with respect to security of civil
flights at international and domestic airports in India.
a. Laying down Aviation Security Standards in accordance with Annex 17 to Chicago Convention of
ICAO for airport operators, airlines operators, and their security agencies responsible for implementing
Aviation Security measures
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b. Ensure that the persons implementing security controls are appropriately trained and possess all
competencies required to perform their duties.
c. Surprise/Dummy checks to test professional efficiency and alertness of security staff.
d. Mock exercise to test efficacy of Contingency Plans and operational preparedness of the various
agencies.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Established
26th September, 1942
Chairperson
Prime Minister of India
HQ : New Delhi
About:
 It is an autonomous body and the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India – running 37
laboratories and 39 field stations or extension centres.
 Although it is mainly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it operates as an autonomous body
registered under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860.
 The research and development activities of CSIR includes aerospace engineering, Structural engineering, ocean
sciences, Life sciences, metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environment.
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)
 FTII is premier institute in country that provides training for acting, film making, video editing, direction and
production.
 It is autonomous body under Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
 It was established in 1960 and is registered under Societies’ Registration Act of 1860.
 FTII is situated in Pune (Maharashtra) on premises of erstwhile Prabhat Film Company.
 Since its inception, FTII has become India’s premier film and television institute.
 Its alumni have become technicians, actors and directors in the film and television industry.
Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)
 ICHR is an autonomous body of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

 It was established by an Administrative Order of the then Union Ministry of Education and Social Welfare.
 It is based in New Delhi with regional centers in Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Gowahati (Assam).
 ICHR disburses funds for carrying out research to Indian as well as foreign scholars on their applications for
fellowships, grants, and symposia made to ICHR or through HRD Ministry.
 It has provided financial assistance to the historians and direction to the research scholars in their multifarious
topics of historical research.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
 IBBI has been tasked to regulate functioning of insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and
information utilities under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016.
 The Code was notified by the Union Government in May 2016 replacing existing bankruptcy laws.
 It seeks to consolidate and amend laws relating to reorganisation as well as insolvency resolution of corporate
persons, individuals and partnership firms in a time-bound manner.
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 Under this new law, employees, creditors and shareholders will have powers to initiate winding up process at
first sign of financial stress such as serious default in repayment of bank loan
 It is a 4 member board under Ministry of Corporate Affairs
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT)
 ICRISAT is a non-profit agricultural research organization.

 HQ : Hyderabad, Telangana.
 It was founded in 1972 by a consortium of organizations convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller
Foundations.
 Its charter was signed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).
 It has several regional centres around globe- Niamey (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya) and research stations Bamako
(Mali), Bulawayo (Zimbabwe).
 Since its inception, India has granted special status to ICRISAT as a UN Organization operating in the Indian
Territory making it eligible for special immunities and tax privileges.
Lalit Kala Akademi
 It is India’s national academy to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, in and outside the country.
 It is also called as National Academy of Art.
 It is autonomous organisation funded by Ministry of Culture.
 It provides scholarships and fellow program and sponsors and organises exhibitions in India and overseas.
 It publishes bilingual journal.
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to
companies in India.
Established
1st June, 2016 (Companies Act, 2013)
Composition
President (Justice M.M. Kumar) and judicial and technical members, as necessary.
Structure
The NCLT has eleven benches, two at New Delhi (one being the principal bench) and one each at Ahmedabad,
Allahabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Powers of the National Company Law Tribunal
The NCLT has been given wide powers under the Companies Act, 2013 to adjudicate:
 Cases initiated before the Company Law Board under the previous act (Companies Act, 1956)
 All proceedings pending before any District court or High Court under the Old Act
 Cases pending before the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), including those pending
under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985
 Appeals or any other proceedings pending before the Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial
Reconstruction (AAIFR)
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 Fresh proceedings pertaining to claims of oppression and mismanagement of a company, winding up of

companies and all other powers prescribed under the Companies Act.
 In addition, the recently enacted Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Bankruptcy Code), also provides
wide powers to the NCLT to adjudicate upon the 'insolvency resolution process' and liquidation of corporate
debtors.
Benefits of NCLT and NCLAT

 The formation of the NCLT and the NCLAT is a significant step towards attaining fast and efficient
resolution of disputes relating to affairs of the Indian corporates.
 It is expected that once all relevant provisions under the Companies Act and the Bankruptcy Code are made
effective, these tribunals would provide holistic solutions to issues being faced by companies, including those of
winding up, oppression/mismanagement and insolvency.
 Being the sole forum dealing with company related disputes, these tribunals would also eliminate any scope for
overlapping or conflicting rulings and minimise delays in resolution of disputes, thus, proving to be a boon for
litigants.
Note
 All appeals against any order of the NCLT may be filed by the aggrieved parties with the National Company
Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). However, any appeal against the orders of the CLB before the constitution
of the NCLT would continue to lie before the relevant High Court and not the NCLAT.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)
 National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was established under Section 410 of the Companies
Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
 NCLAT is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT under the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
 NCLAT hears appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.
 NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision
made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) – as per the amendment brought to
Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 by the Finance Act, 2017.
National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language
National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language:

 The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) is an autonomous body under the Ministry
of Human Resource Development (HRD).
 It was set up in 1996 to promote, develop and propagate the Urdu language.
 The chairman of the council is the Union minister of HRD.
Objectives
 To promote, develop and propagate Urdu language.
 To take action for making available in Urdu language the knowledge of scientific and technological
development as well as knowledge of ideas evolved in the modern context.
 To advise the Government of India on issues connected with Urdu language and having bearing on education
as may be referred to it.
 To undertake other projects for the promotion of Urdu language as may be deemed fit by the Council.
National Council of Senior Citizens
 The council is chaired by the Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment.

 The Council is mandated to meet at least twice a year.
 The council was originally known as National Council for Older Persons (NPOP). It was renamed in 2012.
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 The mandate of the National Council of Senior Citizens is to advise the Central and State Governments on the
entire gamut of issues related to the welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life, with
special reference to the following:-
o Policies, programmes and legislative measures.
o Promotion of physical and financial security, health and independent and productive living.
o Awareness generation and community mobilization.
National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)
About NFRA:
 NFRA will be an independent regulator under Companies Act, 2013.
 Its mandate is for establishment and enforcement of accounting and auditing standards and oversight of work
of auditors.
 It will ensure quality of audits to strengthen independence of audit firms and therefore, enhance investor and
public confidence in financial disclosures of companies.
Composition: NFRA will be 15 members body, consisting of Chairperson, three full-time Members and one Secretary.
Functions:
 It will be an overarching watchdog for auditing profession.
 It can debar an erring auditor or auditing firm for up to 10 years besides it can also slap heavy penalties.
 Even powers of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to act against erring chartered accountants
will be vested with NFRA.
Jurisdiction:
 It extends investigation of Chartered Accountants and their firms to all listed companies as well as large
unlisted public companies.
 Government will prescribe thresholds in the rules.
 Government can also refer other entities for investigation where public interest is involved.
 However, inherent regulatory role of existing ICAI will continue in respect of its members and specifically to
audits pertaining to private limited companies and public unlisted companies below threshold limit notified in
rules.
 Further, ICAI will continue to play its advisory role with respect to accounting and auditing standards and
policies by making its recommendations to NFRA.
Impact: Establishment of NFRA will improve foreign/domestic investments, enhance of economic growth, support
globalisation of business by meeting international practices and assist in further development of audit profession.
NFRA and Quality Review Board (QRB): QRB will continue its quality audit in respect of private limited companies,
public unlisted companies below prescribed threshold and also with respect to audit of companies delegated by NFRA.
National Industrial Corridor Development & Implementation Trust (NICDIT)
NICDIT will be the apex body to oversee integrated development of all industrial corridors across the country. It will
implement all the five proposed industrial corridors, together covering 15 States.
About NICDIT:
 NICDIT will function under the administrative control of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
(DIPP) i.e. Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
 It will also coordinate all efforts of Union Government for the development of industrial corridor projects and
will monitor their implementation.
 It will help in bringing in holistic planning and development approach and sharing the learning from
development of industrial corridors.
_______________________________________________________________
 It has been given permission to utilise financial assistance already sanctioned and an additional sanctioned
amount of Rs 1,584 crore within the extended period up to 31 March, 2022.
 Besides, an Apex Monitoring Authority will be constituted under the chairpersonship of the Finance Minister
to periodically review the activities of NICDIT and progress of the projects.
 It will consist of Minister of Commerce & Industry, Minister of Railways, Minister of Road Transport &
Highways, Minister of Shipping, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers of states concerned as
members.
National Innovation Foundation
 NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Union Ministry of Science and
Technology.
 It was set up in February 2000 to provide institutional support for scouting, sustaining, spawning and scaling
up the grassroots innovations across the country.
 Since then, it has been actively engaged in promoting creativity and innovation in society.
 It has taken major initiatives to serve knowledge-rich but economically poor people of the country.
 It is committed to making India innovative by documenting, adding value, protecting IPR of contemporary
unaided technological innovators as well as of outstanding traditional knowledge-holders and disseminating
their innovations on non-commercial and commercial basis.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
 NPPA is an independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers.
 Set up in 1997
 Its functions are to:
o fix/revise the controlled bulk drugs prices and formulations,
o enforce prices and availability of the medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995/2013,
o recover amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers
o monitor the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
 NPPA fixes ceiling price of essential medicines that are listed in Schedule I of DPCO, 2013.
 The calculation of prices cap for essential drugs is based on simple average of all medicines in particular
therapeutic segment with sales of more than 1%.
 Medicines that are not under price control, manufacturers are allowed to increase the maximum retail price by
10% annually.
 DPCO is an order issued by government under ‘Essential Commodities Act’ which enables it to fix prices of
some essential bulk drugs as well as their formulations.
National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO)
 It is autonomous self-regulatory body under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

 It was established in 1998 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
 It serves as apex national body for real estate industry and provides single platform for Government, industry
and public to discuss various problems and opportunities face to face for speedy resolution of issues.
 Its mandate also includes to induce transparency and ethics in real estate business and transform unorganized
Indian real estate sector into matured and globally competitive business sector.
National Regulatory Authority of India
 It is India's vaccine regulatory body.

 NRAI comprises the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), State Drug Regulatory
Authorities, Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) and Pharmaco-vigilance Programme of India
(PvPI) structures at the Central and States levels.
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 Significance of these ratings : India is one of the main players in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide and
often is referred as pharmacy of the world. India, as a large vaccine producing country, is currently supplying
several vaccines to the United Nations agencies (UNICEF, WHO and PAHO). A fully functional NRAI is a
pre-requisite for WHO prequalification of vaccines. One of the requirements to become eligible and retain
prequalification status is to get assessed.
National Sample Survey Organisation
 The body was established as National Sample Survey Directorate in 1950 under the Ministry of Finance.
 It is the focal agency of the government for collection of statistical data in diverse fields on All India Basis.
 It conducts large-scale sample surveys on various socioeconomic subjects.
 It is headed by a Director General and currently under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation

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National Testing Agency
About NTA:
 It is an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for
higher educational institutions.
 It will be society registered under Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.
What will NTA do?

 The NTA will initially conduct entrance examinations currently being conducted by CBSE.
 Other examinations will be taken up gradually after NTA is fully geared up.
 These examinations will be conducted in online mode at least twice a year to give adequate opportunity to
candidates to bring out their best.
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 In order to serve requirements of the rural students, it will locate centres at sub-district and district level and as
far as possible it will undertake hands-on training to the students.
Why is it needed?
 NTA will benefit about 4 million students appearing in various entrance examinations.
 It will relieve AICTE, CBSE, and other agencies from responsibility of conducting these entrance examinations.
 It will bring in high reliability, standardized difficulty level for assessing intelligence, aptitude and problem
solving abilities of students.
Composition:
 NTA will be chaired by eminent educationist appointed by Ministry of Human Resource Development.
 Its CEO will be Director General (DG) appointed by Government. Besides, it has Board of Governors
comprising members from user institutions.
National Water Development Agency
 NWDA is the agency of the Union Ministry of Water Resources.

 It was set up in July, 1982 as autonomous society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
 It was established to carry out the water balance and other studies on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum
utilisation of Water Resources of the Peninsular rivers system.
 Besides it was tasked to prepare feasibility reports and give concrete shape to Peninsular Rivers Development
Component of National Perspective.
 In 1990, it was also entrusted with the task of Himalayan Rivers Development Component of National
Perspectives.
 Recently, the functions of NWDA have been further modified and the work of preparation of detailed Project
Reports (DPR) of various link proposals and Pre-feasibility Reports.
 It has been also entrusted to prepare feasibility reports of intra-State links as proposed by the States.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
 Nehru Yuva Kendras were established in the year 1972 with the objective of providing rural youth avenues to
take part in the process of nation building as well providing opportunities for the development of their
personality and skills.
 In the year 1987-88, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS) was set up as an autonomous organization under
the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to oversee working of these Kendras.
 NYKS is the largest grassroots level youth organization; one of its kind in the world. It channelizes the power
of youth on the principles of voluntarism, self-help and community participation.
 The basic objective for creation of youth clubs is to render community support through developmental
initiatives involving activities with particular focus on youth empowerment.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-Dot)
 C-DOT was established in 1984 as an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of DoT, Government of India.
 It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
 It is a registered ‘public funded research institution’ with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
(DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology.
National : Constitutional
National Commission for SC
NCSC:
 NCSC is a constitutional body that works to safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes (SC) in India.
_______________________________________________________________
 Article 338 of the constitution of India deals with this commission:

 It provides for a National Commission for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with duties to
investigate and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for them, to inquire into specific complaints
and to participate and advise on the planning process of their socio-economic development etc.
History and Origin:

 Special Officer:
o Initially, the constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer under Article 338.
o The special officer was designated as the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
 65th Amendment, 1990:
o It replaced the one-member system with a multi-member National Commission for Scheduled Castes
(SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
o The Constitution (65th Amendment) Act 1990, amended Article 338 of the Constitution.
 89th Amendment, 2003:
o By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for SC and ST was replaced by two separate
Commissions from the year 2004 which were: National Commission for Scheduled Castes
(NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)- under Article 338-A.
Structure:
It consists of:
 Chairperson.
 Vice-chairperson.
 Three other members.
They are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
Functions:
 Monitoring and investigating all issues concerning the safeguards provided for the SCs under the constitution.
 Enquiring into complaints relating to the deprivation of the rights and safeguards of the SCs.
 Taking part in and advising the central or state governments with respect to the planning of socio-economic
development of the SCs.
 Regular reporting to the President of the country on the implementation of these safeguards.
 Recommending steps to be taken to further the socio-economic development and other welfare activities of the
SCs.
 Any other function with respect to the welfare, protection, development and advancement of the SC
community.
 The Commission is also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian Community as
it does with respect to the SCs.
 Till 2018, the commission was also required to discharge similar functions with regard to the other backward
classes (OBCs). It was relieved from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment Act of 2018.
CAG
 The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority, established by the Constitution of India
under article 148.
 CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those
of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government.
 The CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of
government companies, i.e., any non-banking/ non-insurance company in which the state and Union
governments have an equity share of at least 51% or subsidiary companies of existing government companies.
 The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and
Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are special committees in the Parliament of India and
the state legislatures.
 The CAG enjoys the same status as a judge of Supreme Court of India in Indian order of precedence.
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 Appointment: CAG is appointed by the President of India following a recommendation by the Prime Minister.
On appointment, he/she has to make an oath or affirmation before the President of India.
 Removal: The CAG can be removed only on an address from both house of parliament on the ground of
proved misbehaviour or incapacity.The CAG vacates the office on attaining the age of 65 years age even
without completing the 6 years term.
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
Basic Facts:
 CAT was established under Article 323A of the Constitution (inserted by the 42nd Constitutional
Amendment, 1976).
 It is a multi-member body consisting of Chairman and members.
 It was established in 1985 under Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.
 The Principal seat of Central Administrative Tribunal is at New Delhi and it has 16 Outlying Benches
scattered all over the Country.
 The Tribunal is headed by the Chairman and 65 Members, 33 from Judicial (including Chairman) and 33
from the Administrative stream.
 The Chairman is normally a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
Functions of the tribunal:

 The tribunal adjudicates disputes and complaints with respect to Recruitment and Conditions of Service of the
persons appointed to the Public Services and Posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or any State or
of any other Local Authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.
 Apart from above the Tribunal also has the jurisdiction on the employees of 208 Public Sector Undertakings/
Organizations notified by the Government.
Election Commission of India
 Election Commission of India is a permanent body entrusted for the conduct of free and fair elections.
 An independent Election Commission has been provided for in Article 324 of the Constitution of India.
 Currently has three members including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
 They all are appointed by the President for a term which is fixed by the President.
 Tenure: The service conditions and tenure of office of CEC and Election Commissioners are determined by
Act of parliament titled The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Conditions of
Service) Act, 1991. This act has fixed their term for 6 years or till age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
 Power/salary: The CEC and election commissioners have equal power and receive equal salary, allowances and
other perquisites, which are similar to
judge of Supreme Court. In case of difference of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and Election
Commissioner, the matter is decided by the Commission by majority.
 One of the most important functions of the election commission is to prepare an up-to-date list of all the
persons who are entitled to vote at the elections.
 Election Commission is entrusted with :
o Election of President;
o Election of Vice-President;
o Election of Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha;
o Elections to State Legislatures as well as Legislative Councils;
o Reservation of Seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures;
o Qualifications of the MPs and MLAs;
o Determination of population for purposes of the election.
 Appointment:
o The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall, subject
to the provisions of any law made in that behalf by Parliament be made by the President.
o The President appoints the Election Commissioner based on the recommendations of the cabinet
under the Transaction of Business Rules of 1961.
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National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
 National Commission for Backward Classes is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 It was constituted pursuant to the provisions of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
 Constitutional status: 123rd constitutional amendment bill 2018 and 102nd amendment act provided it a
constitutional status under the provisions of Article 338B of Indian Constitution.
 Indra Sawhney & Ors. Vs. Union of India: The commission was the outcome of Indra Sawhney & Ors. Vs.
Union of India. The Supreme Court of India in its Judgement–directed the Government of India, State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations to constitute a permanent body in the nature of a
Commission or Tribunal for entertaining, examining and recommending upon requests for inclusion and
complaints of over-inclusion and under-inclusion in the list of OBCs. The Supreme Court held that the
Constitution recognised only social and educational — and not economic — backwardness.
 Composition:
 The Act provides that the Commission shall consist of five Members:
o a Chairperson who is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court;
o a social scientist;
o two persons who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes; and
o a Member-Secretary, who is or has been an officer of the Central Government in the rank of a
Secretary to the Government of India.
o Their term is of Three years.
 Functions:
o The commission considers inclusions in and exclusions from the lists of communities notified
as backward for the purpose of job reservations and tenders the needful advice to the Central
Government
o National Commission for Backward Classes has not yet been empowered to look into the
grievances of persons of Other Backward Classes.
Report of Commission
 NCBC presents annual report to Central Government containing full account of its activities during previous
year.
 The report is placed before each House of Parliament by Central Government, along with memorandum
explaining action taken on advice tendered by Commission.
 The memorandum also contains reasons for non-acceptance of any such advice.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
 NCST is constitutional body set up under Article 338A added through Constitution (89th Amendment) Act,
2003.
 It was bifurcated from erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
 The First commission was constituted on 2004 with Kunwar singh as the chairperson.
 Composition:
o Chairperson,
o A Vice-Chairperson and
o Three full-time Members (including one lady Member).
 All of them have tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge.
 Functions:
o Investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the STs under the
Constitution or under any other law or under any order of the Government and evaluate the working
of such safeguards.
o Inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of STs.
o Participate and advise in planning process of socio-economic development of the STs and to evaluate
the progress of their development under the Centre and any State;
o Present before President, annually reports upon the working of those safeguards.
_______________________________________________________________
o It has to recommend measures to be taken by Governments for effective implementation of those

safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development STs.
National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC)
 It will replace National Commission for Backward Class.

 In this regard, constitutional amendment bill for amending Constitution mainly by insertion of Article 338B
will be soon introduced in the Parliament.
What has been approved?

 Creation of a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC) under new
Article 338 B.
 Composition of the new NSEBC will include Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and three other Members.
 Insertion of provision after Article 341 and 342 by inserting Article 342 A to provide for Parliament’s
approval for every inclusion into and exclusion from the Central List of Other Backward Class (OBCs).
 Insertion of a new Clause (26C) under Article 366 of the Constitution to define Socially and Educationally
Backward Classes;
 Repealing of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 and Rules framed under it.
 Dissolution of the Commission constituted under the Act of 1993
UPSC
 UPSC is a constitutional body that conducts the prestigious civil services examination.
 It has been established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India and consists of a Chairman and ten
Members, who are appointed and removed by President.
 The chairman and members of the Commission hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of
65 years, whichever is earlier.
 Article 316 of Constitution deals with appointment and term of office of members.
National : Security Agencies
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
 The ITBP is one of five Central Armed Police Forces of India.

 It was raised on 24 October 1962, under CRPF Act, in wake of 1962 Sino-Indian War.
 It was provided full autonomy after Parliament enacted the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992.
 It works under command of Union Home Ministry.
 Its motto is Shaurya – Dridhata – Karm Nishtha (English: Valour – Steadfastness and Commitment).
 At present, ITBP is strong Central Armed Police Force of 90000 personnel.
 It primarily guards the 3,488 km long Indo-China border along Tibet Autonomous Region from Karakoram
Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
 ITBP force is also engaged in a variety of internal security tasks including disaster management, civil Medical
Camp, nuclear, biological and chemical disasters and UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
 The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law
 It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic
zone.
 The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the
Parliament of India as an independent Armed force of India.
_______________________________________________________________
 The blueprint for the formation of the Indian Coast Guard was conceived by the Rustamji Committee.
 It is responsible for marine environment protection in maritime zones of India and is coordinating authority for
response to oil spills in Indian waters.
 It operates under the Ministry of Defence
 HQ : New Delhi
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA)
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA)

 COBRA is a special operation unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of India proficient in guerrilla
tactics and jungle warfare.
o It’s one of the few Indian Special Forces, that’s exclusively trained in guerrilla warfare.
 Originally established to counter the Naxalite problem, COBRA is deployed to address insurgent groups
engaging in asymmetrical warfare.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
 CBI is the foremost investigative police agency in India.

 It is non constitutional and non-statutory body.
 It derives power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
 It was established in 1941 as the Special Police Establishment.
 It was renamed to present nomenclature in 1963.
 Motto: Industry, Impartiality, Integrity.
 It is headed by Director, an IPS officer of DGP rank.
 He is selected as per the provisions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, 2003
 The CBI Director is selected by a collegium comprising Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Leader of
Opposition or leader of the largest party in opposition in Lok Sabha
 CBI investigates cases related to economic crimes, special crimes, cases of corruption and other high-profile
cases.
 CBI comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
 CBI is exempted from Right to Information (RTI) Act similar to the National Investigating Agency (NIA),
National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid), etc.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre(I4C)
 Nodal Ministry: It was established in 2018 under the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA).
 Purpose: I4C act as a nodal point at the National level in the fight against cybercrime.
 Components: I4C has seven key components. They are,
o National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit(TAU)
o National Cybercrime Reporting
o Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team
o National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory(NCFL) Ecosystem
o National Cybercrime Training Centre(NCTC)
o Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit
o National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre.
 Location: New Delhi
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)
 National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is an organisation of the

Government of India created under Sec 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended 2008),
through a gazette notification on 16th Jan 2014.
 Based in New Delhi.
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 It is designated as the National Nodal Agency in respect of Critical Information Infrastructure Protection.
 Aims to facilitate safe, secure and resilient Information Infrastructure for Critical Sectors of the Nation.
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
 CERT-In stands for Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)

 CERT-In is nodal government agency that deals with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing in India.
 It comes under the aegis of Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
 Headquarters: New Delhi
 Objective:
o Protect Indian cyberspace and software infrastructure against destructive and hacking activities.
o Strengthen security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain. Issue guidelines, vulnerability notes,
advisories, and whitepapers regarding to information security practices, prevention, procedures,
response and reporting of cyber security incidents.
National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)
 The NTRO was created after the 1999 Kargil conflict as a dedicated technical intelligence agency.
 It reports directly to PMO and National Security Advisor(NSA).
 It has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications externally
 It has been brought under The Intelligence Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985
 The Act prevents employees of a notified agency from forming unions/associations, puts restrictions on the
employee’s freedom of speech, bars any communication with the press, or publishing a book or other document
without the permission of the head of the intelligence organisation.
Special Frontier Force
Facts:
 Special Frontier Force(SFF):
o It was raised in the immediate aftermath of the 1962 Sino-India war.
o It was a covert outfit which recruited Tibetans (now it has a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas) and
initially went by the name of Establishment 22.
 Nodal Ministry:
o STF falls under the purview of the Cabinet Secretariat where it is headed by an Inspector General who
is an Army officer of the rank of Major General.
o The units that comprise the SFF are known as Vikas battalions.
 Are SFF units part of the Army?
o Strictly speaking, the SFF units are not part of the Army but they function under operational control of
the Army.
o The units have their own rank structures which have equivalent status with Army ranks.
 Major Operations by SFF:
o There are several operations in which SFF units have taken part over the years.
o They took part in operations in the 1971 war, Operation Blue Star in Golden Temple Amritsar, Kargil
conflict and in counter-insurgency operations in the country.
NETRA (Network Traffic Analysis)
 NETRA (Network Traffic Analysis) is a software network developed by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence
and Robotics, a DRDO laboratory.
 It is used by the Intelligence Bureau, and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), to intercept and analyse
internet traffic using pre-defined filters.
NATGRID
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About NATGRID:
 NATGRID is an ambitious counter terrorism programme.
 It is a robust intelligence gathering mechanism related to banking, immigration, individual tax payers, air and
train travels.
 It will utilise technologies like Big Data and analytics to study and analyse the huge amounts of data from
various intelligence and enforcement agencies to help track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks.
 It will connect, in different phases, data providing organisations and users besides developing a legal structure
through which information can be accessed by the law enforcement agencies.
 NATGRID will have data related to all immigration entry and exit, air flyers, credit card purchases, banking
and financial transactions, individual tax payers, telecom, and train travellers among others to generate
intelligence inputs.
 The data recovery centre of the NATGRID has been constructed in Bengaluru, Karnataka and its headquarters
is nearing completion in Delhi.
Why was it needed?

 NATGRID is a post Mumbai 26/11 attack measure.
 It aims to mitigate a vital deficiency — lack of real time information, which was considered to be one of the
major hurdles in detecting US terror suspect David Headley’s movement across the country during his multiple
visits between 2006 and 2009.
 In the wake of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the lack of real time data and information was considered to be
one of the major hurdles in detecting U.S. terror suspect David Headley’s movement across India during his
multiple visits between 2006 and 2009. He was main individual who had provided key information and videos
of terror targets to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out attacks that claimed 166 lives. Thereby
on 8 April 2010, the Cabinet Committee on Security had given approval to NATGRID project.
Objective:
 NATGRID will become a secure centralised database to stream sensitive information from 21 sets of data
sources such as banks, credit cards, visa, immigration and train and air travel details, as well as from various
intelligence agencies.
 The database would be accessible to authorised persons from 11 agencies on a case-to-case basis, and only for
professional investigations into suspected cases of terrorism.
Phase I: In 1st phase, 10 user agencies and 21 service providers will be connected with NATGRID. In later stages 950
organisations and then another 1,000 organisations will be connected with it.
10 agencies which will be able to access NATGRID data on real time basis are:
 Intelligence Bureau (IB)
 Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW)
 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
 Enforcement Directorate (ED)
 Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
 Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
 Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
 Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)
 Directorate General of Central Excise and Intelligence (DGCEI)
 Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Initially, no state agencies will be given direct access to NATGRID data but in case any relevant information is required,
they can approach NATGRID through any of 10 user agencies. NATGRID can also have readily available data on
banking transactions and immigration as both sectors are equipped with real time mechanism.
National Maritime Domain Awareness Centre (NMDA)
 National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) centre will be a multi-agency centre.
_______________________________________________________________
 Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) is being converted into NMDA
 Information Management and Analysis Centre(IMAC): It was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in
2012 and it became operational in 2014.
 Purpose: IMAC tracks vessels on the high seas and gets data from the coastal radars, white shipping agreements,
Automatic Identification Systems(AIS) transponders fitted on merchant ships, air and traffic management
systems and global shipping databases.
 IMAC is the nodal agency for maritime data fusion set up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
 Nodal Centre: It is also the nodal centre of the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence
System(NC3I).
 NC3I was established to link the operational Centres and lower echelons of the Navy and the Coast Guard
spread across the country’s coastline including island territories.
 Location: Gurugram, Haryana.
 White Shipping agreements: It refers to exchange of relevant advance information on the identity and
movement of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
 Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean region(IFC-IOR): It was set up in 2018 within the premises of the
IMAC to coordinate with regional countries on maritime safety and security and act as a regional repository of
maritime data.
Coastal Radar Network:

 Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have been integrated into the country’s coastal radar chain network.
 India is in talks with Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh to set up coastal radar stations as part of efforts to
further expand the coastal radar chain network meant to enable real-time monitoring of the high seas for threats.
National Investigation Agency (NIA)
 National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central counter-terrorism agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
 The Agency came into survival with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the
Parliament of India.
 The organization deals with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states.
 The agency investigates terror offences, waging war against the country, offences on nuclear facilities, etc.
 It is a statutory body.
Marine Commandos(MARCOS)
 MARCOS also known as the Marine Commando Force(MCF) is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy
founded in 1987 responsible for conducting special operations.
 Role: They are trained to conduct amphibious warfare, counter terrorism, special reconnaissance, hostage rescue
and asymmetric warfare operations.
 Why in news? Indian Navy has deployed them in the Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh amid India-China
standoff.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
 NCRB is nodal agency under Union Home Ministry for authentic source of data on crime on various
parameters including accidents, suicides from across all the states of the country and prisons for policy matters
and research.
 It was established in 1986 as the central police organisation.
 It is headquartered in New Delhi.
 It is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 It is responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special
and Local Laws (SLL).
 It is implementing and monitoring agency of Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), a
Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan of Government.
_______________________________________________________________
 It also imparts training in Information Technology (IT) and Finger Print Science for Indian Police Officers as
well Foreign Police officers.
 NCRB publishes 4 annual publications on Crime, Prison Statistics, Accidental Deaths & Suicides and Finger
Prints. These publications serve as principal reference points on crime statistics.
Assam Rifles
 Assam Rifles which is also referred to as the Sentinels of North East is the oldest paramilitary force of India.
 The administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with the Home Ministry, while the operational control is with
the Defence Ministry.
 The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force that was formed under the British in 1835
called Cachar Levy.
Dual Control Issue:

 The plea filed by the All India Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association alleges the dual control as the
violation of the rights of the troopers of Assam Rifles.
 The plea challenges the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 saying that it places Assam
Rifles under the head ‘Police’, which is arbitrary, unreasonable and violates the rights of Assam Rifles ex-
servicemen guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
 The petition argues since the objective and functions of Assam Rifles were that of military and paramilitary
force and its categorisation as a police force was arbitrary, unreasonable and in violation of the rights of its
personnel.
 The petition seeks a grant of pay, allowances, pension (including arrears) and ex-servicemen facilities to Assam
Rifles personnel at par with the Indian Army.
 Acting on the earlier order which had asked the Home and Defence Ministries to hold a meeting to resolve the
matter and place before it the decision taken in an affidavit, the Home Ministry had stated that a note had been
sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security on the issue.
 Therefore the Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Cabinet Committee on Security to explain what
decision it has taken on the note forwarded to it by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Border Road Organisation (BRO)
 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and
friendly neighbouring countries.
 It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and army personnel on extra regimental
employment.
 Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force
(GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation.
 Currently, the organisation maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands),
and neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
 The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometres of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent
bridges in the country.
 The Border Roads Organisation works under the Ministry of Defence.
Border Security Force (BSF)
 BSF is primary border guarding organisation of India and termed as First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
 It is the sentinels of Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
 It came into existence on 1st December, 1965.
_______________________________________________________________
 It was created by merging various State Armed Police Battalions for achieving a better coordinated synergy
between the border guarding functions in peace time and fighting the war during the eventuality on both
Western and Eastern fronts.
 BSF is deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control
(LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.
 Since its inception, BSF has proven its credentials during various counter insurgency and anti-militancy
operations, internal security duties, natural calamities etc.
 BSF is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of Union of India under the administrative control of
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 It is mandated with guarding India’s land border during peacetime and preventing transnational crime.
 BSF currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
 The CISF is a central armed police force under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs.
 It was initially established in 1969 under CISF Act, 1968 to protect major PSUs.
 However, it was converted to armed force with a larger ambit under an amendment to the Act in 1983.
 CISF is tasked with providing security to various government installations including country’s airports, metros
etc.
 Now, CISF provides security to industrial ventures and establishments, VIPs and engages in disaster
management amongst others.
 It also has Fire Wing to response to fire emergencies/accidents.
 With force larger than 1,65,000 it is the largest security force in the world.
CRPF
 CRPF is the largest central armed police force or paramilitary force in India.
 It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 Its primary role is to assist States/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and contain
insurgency.
 It was established in 1939, under Crown Representative’s Police but after independence it was made statutory
CRPF after enactment of the CRPF Act, 1949.
 At present, CRPF is the world’s largest paramilitary force with 228 battalions and over three lakh personnel.
 The CRPF has been the lead force in dealing with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, fighting the Left-Wing
Extremism and insurgency in the Northeast.
Note: There are seven CAPF in India. They are

 Assam Rifles(AR),
 Border Security Force (BSF)
 Central Industrial Security Force(CISF)
 Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)
 Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
 National Security Guard(NSG)
 Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Defense Acquisition Council
 The DAC is Defence Ministry’s highest decision making body for capital acquisition proposals forwarded by
the Indian armed forces.
 It was set up in 2001 as part of the post-Kargil reforms in defence sector
 It approves the long-term integrated perspective plan for the forces, accords acceptance of necessity (AON) to
begin acquisition proposals, and grant’s its approval to all major deals through all their important phases.
_______________________________________________________________
 It also has the power to approve any deviations in an acquisition, and recommends all big capital defence
purchases for approval of the Cabinet committee on security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister.
Defence Space Agency (DSA)
 It is being set up in Bengaluru under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer and will gradually take over the space-
related capabilities of the three armed forces.
 DSA has been created to help India fight wars in the space.
 Government established DSA to command the space assets of tri services, including military’s anti-satellite
capability.
 It is responsible for formulating strategy to protect India’s interests in space, including addressing space-based
threats.
Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO)
 The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) of the Central Government of India headed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has cleared setting up of new agency called Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO).
 The DSRO has been entrusted with task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies.
 Agency has already started taking shape under a Joint Secretary-level scientist.
 The Defence Space Research Agency would be provided with a team of scientists who would be working in
close coordination with tri-services (Indian Army, Navy and Air Force) Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) officers.
 DSRA would be providing research and development (R&D) support to Defence Space Agency (DSA) which
again comprises of members of tri-services.
 It is also charged with finding and implementing defense related applications for India’s entire spectrum of
space technologies.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
 It is economic intelligence and law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting
economic crime in India.
 It functions under aegis of Department of Revenue, Union Ministry of Finance.
 Its prime objective is enforcement of two key Acts of Government of India namely:
o Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) and
o Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA)
to check money laundering by curb black money and hawala trade cases.
 It is composed of officers from the Indian Revenue Service, Indian Police Service and the Indian Administrative
Service.
 It was established in 1956 as ‘Enforcement Unit’ in Department of Economic Affairs.
Indian Reserve Battalion
 The Indian Reserve Battalion is an elite unit trained to deal with a specific situation
 It is a type of Armed Police Force that has been sanctioned to States and Union Territories
 The Home Ministry has planned to raise an all-woman India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jammu and Kashmir.
 The decision has been taken in the wake of girl students throwing stones at security forces in Srinagar a few
days ago
 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) is raised to provide employment opportunities to the local youths with 60% of
vacancies reserved for candidates from the border districts.
 Though IRB personnel are usually deployed in their respective states, they can also be deployed elsewhere if
necessary.
_______________________________________________________________
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Integrated Defence Staff
 Integrated Defence Staff was created in 2001 following the recommendation of GoM which was set up after
the Kargil war to review India’s defence management.
 IDS was established to ensure a high degree of synergy between the Armed forces.
 IDS works towards integration of policies, war fighting and procurement by employing best management
practices.
 The IDS comprises of Service Officers, Civilian Officers and Scientists who perform roles and functions
allocated to them based on responsibilities of Integrated Defence Staff.
 It is headed by Chief of Integrated Staff as Chairman (who enjoys status equivalent to that of Vice Chief of
Service.)
 It has representation from all three services, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and Department of Defence (DoD) and Def (Finance).
Intelligence Bureau (IB)
 It is India’s internal intelligence agency. It functions under the aegis of Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
 It was established in 1887 by British India Government and later recasted as the Central Intelligence Bureau in
1947.
National Cyber Coordination Centre
 NCCC is a multi-stakeholder cyber-security and e-surveillance agency implemented by Indian Computer

Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
 NCCC has been set up to scan the country’s web traffic to detect cyber security threats.
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 It scans the cyberspace in the country for cyber security threats at metadata level to generate situational
awareness.
 It derives its powers as per provisions of section 69B of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Rules
notified thereunder.
 It will be India’s first layer for cyber threat monitoring and all communication with government and private
service providers will be monitored by it.
 Its mandate is to scan internet traffic and communication metadata coming into the country to detect real-time
cyber threat and alert various organisations as well as internet service providers (ISPs) for timely action.
 NCCC also will coordinate between intelligence agencies, specifically during network intrusions and cyber-
attacks.
 It will have virtual contact with the control room of all ISPs to scan traffic within the country, flowing at the
point of entry and exit, including international gateway.
 Apart from monitoring the Internet, the NCCC will also look into various threats posed by cyber-attacks.
 It will have top experts from the cyber security field and will run like similar organisation in other countries
such as the US, the UK, France, Germany, etc.
National Security Council

 It is the apex agency looking into – external and internal security, military affairs, conventional and non-
conventional defense, space and high technology, counter insurgency, counter terrorism, economy and
environment.
 It is headed by the Prime Minister, with the National Security Adviser as its Secretary. The military has no
representation in this tier.
 It has a three tiered structure comprising the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and
a Secretariat represented by the Joint Intelligence Committee.
National Security Advisor
 The NSA is the chief executive of National Security Council (NSC) and primary advisor to Prime Minister on
national and international security and oversees strategic issues.
 It is the NSA to whom intelligence agencies such as RAW and Intelligence Bureau report, rather than directly
to Prime Minister.
 Due to such vested powers, NSA is prominent and powerful office in the bureaucracy.
 NSA is assisted by a Deputy NSA.
National Security Guard
 It was established in 1984, to protect states against internal disturbances and terrorism.
 It is under administrative control of Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 It is Federal Contingency World Class Zero Error Force.
 It deals with anti-terrorist activities in all its forms.
 It is not categorized under Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and has Special Forces mandate.
 Its core operational capability is provided by Special Action Group (SAG) which is drawn from Indian Army.
 The post of NSG DG is occupied by an IPS officer.
 Functions
o It is trained to conduct counter terrorist operations including bomb disposal, counter hijacking tasks
on land/sea/air as well as Post Blast Investigation (PBI) and Hostage Rescue missions.
o It is intended for use only in exceptional situations and do not take over functions of other Para
Military Forces or State Police Forces.
o Its police component Special Rangers Group (SRG) is mandated to handle VIP security and is
composed of personnel on deputation from other CAPF.
 NSG personnel are also called Black Cats due to their black dress and black cat insignia worn by them on their
uniform.
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Nuclear Command Authority (NCA)
 NCA is India’s nodal authority responsible for command, control and operational decisions regarding India’s
nuclear weapons programme.
 It has Executive Council and Political Council.
 The NCA’s directives are executed by the Strategic Forces Command
 The Executive Council is chaired by the National Security Adviser (NSA).
 It gives inputs to the Political Council, which authorises a nuclear attack if need be.
 The Political Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and is advised by the Executive Council.
 This separation of power mechanism is meant to ensure that the nuclear weapons are under civilian control
(elected government). Besides it act as a Command and Control (C2) mechanism prevents their accidental or
unauthorised use.
Rapid Action Force (RAF)
 RAF is a specially trained and equipped wing of Central Reserve Police Force, the country’s largest paramilitary
force or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with over 3 lakh personnel.
 It was formed in 1992 to deal to deal with riots, riot like situations, crowd control, rescue and relief operations
and related unrest.
 Its motto is “Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing”
 RAF battalions are based in various parts of the country in order to cut down response time and rush the teams
in shortest possible time to counter an incident.
 The 10 old RAF battalions are based in Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Aligarh, Delhi,
Coimbatore, Jamshedpur, Bhopal and Meerut.
 Single RAF battalion has strength of just over 1,000 personnel and it is equipped with gadgets and non-lethal
weapons like, tear smoke grenade launchers, pump action guns and others to enforce security and law and order
in case of protests or riot-like situations.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
 RAW is the primary foreign intelligence agency of India.

 It was established in 1968 following the intelligence failures of the Sino-Indian and Indo-Pakistani wars.
 Motto: : (English: The law protects when it is protected)
 It is under the direct command of Prime Minister and reports on an administrative basis to the Cabinet
Secretary of India, who reports to the Prime Minister.
 Its primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, engaging in counter-terrorism, advising Indian
policymakers, promoting counter-proliferation and advancing India’s foreign strategic interests.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
 SSB is one of India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

 It is entrusted with guarding the country’s border with Nepal and Bhutan.
 It was established in 1963 following Sino-Indian War.
 It was formerly known as Special Service Bureau.
 It is under administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 Its headquarters are in New Delhi and motto is “Service, Security and Brotherhood”.
 It has specialist jurisdictions for national border patrol, security, and integrity.
How SSB was formed?

After the Chinese incursion of 1962, it was felt that the borders of the country could not be protected with the force of
rifles alone. The government felt the backing and resolute will of a committed border population together with an in-
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depth understanding and familiarity of the terrain as well as the culture and ethos of the border population was required
to defend the borders effectively.
As a result, a unique, unconventional yet specialized organization, which would function in the far, flung, vulnerable,
strategic, remote, climatically and topographically difficult border areas and motivate the border population across
several states towards the cause of protecting India’s national sovereignty was conceived as Special Service Bureau in
1962 and eventually created in March 1963. The SSB was renamed as the Sashastra Seema Bal in January 2001. SSB is
part of the para-military force of India.
Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
 The SFC is a tri-Service command that forms part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
 It was created on January 4, 2003 by an executive order of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by
then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
 Function: It is responsible for the management and administration of the country’s tactical and strategic nuclear
weapons stockpile.
 It is headed by a Commander-in-Chief of the rank of Air Marshal.
National : Statutory Bodies
AICTE
 AICTE is statutory body established in November 1945.

 It comes under aegis of Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development.
 It is national-level council for technical education responsible for planning and coordination of technical
education and management of education system in the country.
 It accredits graduate and post graduate programs at Indian institutions.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
 Bureau of Energy Efficiency is a statutory body set up under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
 The Bureau of Energy Efficiency assists the government in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on
self-regulation and market principles with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian
economy within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
 It functions under Ministry of Power.
National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
 It is a statutory body set up in 1993 under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
 The commission is made up of:
o a Chairperson,
o a Vice Chairperson and
o five members.
 All are to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability, and integrity.
 Tenure: Each Member holds office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office.
 Unlike other bodies like NCSC and NCST, NCM has no constitutional backing or status.
 It works under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and before the formation of this ministry it came under the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
 Section 2 of the NCM Act stipulates that ‘Minority’ for the purposes of the Act means a community notified
as such by the Central Government.
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 Initially, five religious communities namely Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians(Parsis)
were notified as minority communities. In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.
 Some state viz. Andhra Pradesh, Assam , Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi , Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have also set
up State Minorities Commissions.
 There’s no prescribed selection process for making appointments with the Cabinet Appointments Committee
arbitrarily picking up names from a list suggested by the “nodal” ministry.
Who are minorities?

 Constitution of India has not defined word ‘Minority’ and only refers to ‘Minorities’.
 It speaks of minorities ‘based on religion or language’ and rights of minorities have been spelt out in
Constitution in detail.
 Six religious communities, viz. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been
notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by Union Government all over India.
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation
DICGC:
 Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation(DICGC) is a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of
India(RBI).
 It was established in 1978 as a statutory body under Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation
Act,1961.
 The act provides for the establishment of a Corporation for the purpose of insurance of deposits and
guaranteeing of credit facilities and for other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
 The Deputy Governor of RBI acts as its Chairman of DICGC.It is headquartered in Mumbai.
 Coverage of DICGC:
o Deposits in public and private sector banks, local area banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks,
cooperative banks, Indian branches of foreign banks and payments banks are all insured by the DICGC.
o In the event of a bank going distressed in India, a depositor can claim a maximum of Rs 5 lakh per
account as insurance cover, even if the deposit in their account far exceeds Rs 5 lakh.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
 KVIC is a statutory body formed under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956.
 It is an apex organization under the aegis of Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs).
 Functions of KVIC
o It plans, promotes, organizes and implements programmes for development of Khadi and village
industries in rural areas.
o It creates and manages reserves of raw materials and supplying them to producers, creating common
service facilities for processing of raw material and semi-finished goods.
o It promotes sales and marketing of Khadi Products.
o It also encourages and promotes research in production techniques and equipment in Khadi Industries.
Science and Engineering Board
Science and Engineering Board(SERB):

 Nodal Ministry: SERB is a statutory body established in 2009. It functions under the Department of Science
and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
 Chaired by: It is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and
Technology. Further, it has other senior government officials and eminent scientists as members.
 Mandate: It was set up for promoting basic research in science and engineering. The SERB also provides
financial assistance to scientists, academic institutions, Research and Development laboratories, industrial
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concerns, and other agencies for such research. Implementation of “National Cyclone Risk Mitigation
Project(NCRMP)”.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
 SEBI is the statutory regulator for the securities market in India.

 It was established in 1988 and given statutory powers through the SEBI Act, 1992.
 HQ: Mumbai
 Purpose: Protect the interests of investors in securities, promote the development of securities market and to
regulate the securities market.
 SEBI is responsive to needs of three groups, which constitute the market i.e.
o issuers of securities,
o investors and
o market intermediaries.
 It has three functions:
o quasi-legislative (drafts regulations in its legislative capacity),
o quasi-judicial (passes rulings and orders in its judicial capacity) and
o quasi-executive (conducts investigation and enforcement action in its executive function)
Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)
Central Warehousing Corporation:

 CWC is a Schedule ‘A’-Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
 It is a statutory body which was established under ‘The Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962’.
 Its aim is to provide reliable, cost-effective, value-added, integrated warehousing and logistics solution in a
socially responsible and environment friendly manner.
 Warehousing activities of CWC includes food grain warehouses, industrial warehousing, custom bonded
warehouses, container freight stations, inland clearance depots and air cargo complexes.
 Apart from storage and handling, CWC also provides services in the area of clearing & forwarding, handling &
transportation, disinfestation, fumigation etc.
 CWC also offers consultancy services/ training to different agencies for construction of warehousing
infrastructure.
Merger of CWC and CRWC:

 Cabinet has approved the merger of CWC with Central Railside Warehouse Company Ltd (CRWC).
 The merger aims to improve efficiency, capacity utilization, and financial savings.
 Benefits of the Merger:
o It will lead to the transfer of all assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations of CRWC to CWC.
o It will unify similar functions of both companies such as warehousing, handling, and transportation
under a single administration.
o It will promote efficiency, capacity utilization, transparency, accountability, and ensure financial savings.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
 IWAI is the statutory body in charge of the waterways in India.

 Its headquarters is located in Noida, UP.
 It was constituted in 1986 for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
 Its main function is to build the necessary infrastructure in the inland waterways, surveying the economic
feasibility of new projects and also carrying out administration and regulation.
 It undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through
grant received from Ministry of Shipping.
NOTE:
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 India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which comprises rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks among
others.
 About 55 million tonnes of cargo are being moved annually by Inland Water Transport (IWT), in a fuel-
efficient and environment-friendly mode.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
 BIS is established under BIS Act, 1986 and declared National Standard Body of India by BIS Act 2016.
 It is mandated for harmonious development of activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of
goods and for matters connected.
 It is headquartered at New Delhi.
 It was established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 which came into effect in December 1986.
 It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
 NHRC is apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country, i.e. the rights related to life, liberty, equality
and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international convents.
 It was established in 1993 as per the statutory provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
 This act defines Human Rights as “Rights Relating To Life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual
guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.
 It is multimember body consisting of Chairman and four members (excluding the ex-officio members).
 President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered
committee headed by the Prime Minister.
 In addition, the Chairpersons of National Commissions serve as ex officio members.
 Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
 NHRC can either take suo motu cognisance of cases through media reports or complaint filed by victim or any
other person on his or her behalf or on basis of reports received from the police department.
 Functions of NHRC:
o Investigate violations of human rights committed by the government.
o Intervene in legal proceedings related to human rights.
o Recommend to provide relief to the victims and their families.
o Review protection provided by Constitution.
o Study international treaties related to human rights, etc. and recommend for effective implementation
on its basis.
o Promote research in the field of human rights.
o Spread human rights education in different sections of the society.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
 NCPCR is a statutory body set up in 2007 under Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
 Its objective is to protect, promote and defend child rights in India including rights adopted in the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, 1989, ratified by India in 1992. (This convention defines child
as a human being below 18 years of age).
 It falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development
 The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
 It inquires into complaints relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under the Right to
Education Act, 2009.
 It monitors the implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
 CARA is statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development
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 It is established under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

 It is a nodal body for adoption of Indian children.
 It is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.
 It deals in orphan, abandoned or surrendered children.
 It deals with inter-country adoptions according to Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993 ratified
by India in 2003.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
 NTCA is a statutory body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.
 It was provided statutory status by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 which had amended
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
 It addresses the administrative as well as ecological concerns for conserving tigers, by providing a statutory basis
for protection of tiger reserves.
 It also provides strengthened institutional mechanisms for the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and
endangered species.
 It ensures enforcing of guidelines for tiger conservation and monitoring compliance of the same.
 It also places motivated and trained officers having good track record as Field Directors of tiger reserves.
National Green Tribunal (NGT)
National Green Tribunal:

 The NGT was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, passed by the Central
Government.
 The stated objective of the Central Government was to provide a specialized forum for effective and speedy
disposal of cases pertaining to environment protection, conservation of forests and for seeking compensation
for damages caused to people or property due to violation of environmental laws or conditions specified while
granting permissions.
 It draws inspiration from Article 21 of Constitution of India, which assures the citizens of India the right to a
healthy environment.
Structure:
 The Principal Bench of the NGT has been established in the National Capital – New Delhi, with regional
benches in :
o Pune (Western Zone Bench),
o Bhopal (Central Zone Bench),
o Chennai (Southern Bench) and
o Kolkata (Eastern Bench).
 Each Bench has a specified geographical jurisdiction covering several States in a region. There is also a
mechanism for circuit benches.
 The Chairperson of the NGT is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, Head Quartered in Delhi. Other
Judicial members are retired Judges of High Courts.
 Each bench of the NGT will comprise of at least one Judicial Member and one Expert Member.
 Expert members should have a professional qualification and a minimum of 15 years' experience in the field of
environment/forest conservation and related subjects.
Legal jurisdiction of NGT:

The NGT has the power to hear all civil cases relating to environmental issues and questions that are linked to the
implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act. These include the following:
1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;

2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977; (yes, cess act)
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3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;

4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; (aka EPA)
6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; (good option to confuse)
7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
NOTE: The NGT has not been vested with powers to hear any matter relating to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and various laws enacted by States relating to forests, tree preservation etc. Therefore,
specific and substantial issues related to these laws cannot be raised before the NGT.
Principles of Justice adopted by NGT:

 The NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be
guided by principles of natural justice.
 NGT is also not bound by the rules of evidence as enshrined in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Thus, it will be
relatively easier for conservation groups to present facts and issues before the NGT, including pointing out
technical flaws in a project, or proposing alternatives that could minimize environmental damage but which
have not been considered.
 While passing Orders/decisions/awards, the NGT will apply the principles of sustainable development, the
precautionary principle and the polluter pays principles.
 It is mandated to make an endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
Review and Appeal:

Orders can be appealed to the Supreme Court within 90 days.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
Basics:
 It is a multi-disciplinary body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
 It was established in June 2007 by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972, a special Act to
protect the wildlife and fauna in the country.
 HQ : New Delhi
 Regional offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Jabalpur; three sub-regional offices at Amritsar,
Guwahati, and Cochin; and five border.
Functions:
 Under Section 38 (Z) of WLPA, 1972, it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized
wildlife crime and disseminate it to state and other enforcement agencies for immediate action.
 It assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal
action for wildlife crime control.
 It is tasked with capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific and professional
investigation into wildlife crimes and assist states to ensure success in wildlife crimes prosecutions.
 It advises Union Government on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international
ramifications, relevant policy and laws.
 It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the
provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC)
 It is the apex vigilance institution.

 It was created via executive resolution (based on the recommendations of Santhanam committee) in 1964 but
was conferred with statutory status in 2003.
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 It has status of statutory autonomous body and free of control from any executive authority as per the
provisions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, 2003.
 Presently, the body consists of central vigilance commissioner along with 2 vigilance commissioners.
 They are appointed by the President of India on the recommendations of a committee consisting of Prime
Minister, Union Home Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (if there is no LoP then the
leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha).
 Their term is 4 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.
 It submits its report to the President of India.
 The Central Vigilance Commissioner or any Vigilance Commissioner can be removed from his office only by
order of the President on the ground of proved mis behavior or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a
reference made to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported that the Central Vigilance Commissioner or any
Vigilance Commissioner, as the case may be, ought to be removed.
 CVC is advisory body.
 Functions:
o It monitors all vigilance activity under Union Government and advises various authorities in Union
Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
o Union Government has authorized CVC as “Designated Agency” to receive written complaints for
disclosure on any allegation of corruption or misuse of office and recommend appropriate action.
o The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and to recommend appropriate action.
Following institutions, bodies, or a person can approach to CVC:
 Central government
 Lokpal
 Whistle blowers
o It is not an investigating agency. The CVC either gets the investigation done through the Central
Bureau of Investigation or through Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO) in government offices.
Central Information Commission (CIC)
 CIC was established in 2005 by Central Government under provisions of Right to Information (RTI) Act
(2005).
 The Chief Information Commissioner heads the Central Information Commission.
 The general superintendence, direction and management of affairs of Commission are vested in Chief
Information Commissioner who is assisted by Information Commissioners (upto 10)
 Appointment: They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of
o the Prime Minister as Chairperson,
o the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and
o a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
 Tenure:
o The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner shall hold office for such a
term as prescribed by the Central Government or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is
earlier.
o They are not eligible for reappointment.
 CIC hears appeals from information-seekers who have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also
addresses major issues concerning the RTI Act.
 CIC submits annual report to Union government on the implementation of the provisions of RTI Act.
 The central government in turn places this report before each house of Parliament.
 Functions and Powers of CIC
o It can order inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds.
o It can secure compliance of its decisions from the public authority.
o It can recommend steps to be taken for promoting such conformity, if public authority does not
conform to provisions of RTI Act.
o It receives and inquire into a complaint from
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o It examines any record which is under control of the public authority and which may be withheld from
it on any grounds during the enquiry.
Press Council of India
 The Press Council of India is a statutory body in India that governs the conduct of the print media.
 Presently, the Council functions under the Press Council Act 1978 which arose from the recommendations of
the Second Press Commission of India (1978).
 The Press Council is a quasi-judicial body which acts as a watchdog of the press.
 It adjudicates the complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for violation of the freedom of
the press respectively.
 Composition :
o It consist of Chairman (who has by convention, been a retired judge of Supreme Court) and 28 other
members of whom 20 represent press, five are nominated from two Houses of Parliament and three
represent cultural, literary and legal fields.
 Functions :
o It is statutory, quasi-judicial body acting as watchdog of press.
o It adjudicates complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for violation of the
freedom of the press respectively.
FSSAI
 FSSAI is a nodal statutory agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health in India through the
regulation and supervision of food safety.
 FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and operates under aegis of Union
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
 It consist of a Chairperson and twenty-two members out of which one-third shall be women.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
IRDAI:
 IRDA is an apex statutory body that regulates and develops insurance industry in India.
 It was constituted as per provisions of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
 Its headquarter is in Hyderabad.
Functions of IRDA
 Protect the rights of insurance policy holders.
 Provide registration certification to life insurance companies
 Renew, modify, cancel or suspend this registration certificate as and when appropriate; promote efficiency in
conduct of insurance business
 Promote and regulate professional organisations connected with insurance and reinsurance business; regulate
investment of funds by insurance companies
 Adjudication of disputes between insurers and intermediaries or insurance intermediaries.
NHAI
 NHAI is an autonomous agency of the Union Government, responsible for management of a network of over
70,000 km of national highways in India.
 It was established through National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988.
 In February 1995, it was formally made an autonomous body.
 It is a nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
 It is responsible for the development, management, operation and maintenance of National Highways.
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Central Waqf Council
 Central Waqf Council is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority
Affairs set up in 1964 as per the provision given in the Waqf Act, 1954.
 It is an advisory body to the Central Government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards and
the due administration of Auqaf.
 Auqaf (also spelled awkaf,) is an Arabic word meaning assets.
 The Council consists of Chairperson, who is the Union Minister In charge of Waqf, such other members, not
exceeding 20 in number, as may be appointed by the Government of India.
 Each state has a Waqf Board headed by a chairperson, one or two nominees from the state government, Muslim
legislators and parliamentarians, Muslim members of the state Bar Council, recognised scholars of Islamic
theology and mutawalis.
Technology Development Board (TDB)
 TDB is a statutory body established under Technology Development Board Act, 1995.
 Comes under Ministry of S&T.
 Its mandate is to promote development and commercialisation of indigenous technology and adaptation of
imported technology for wider application.
 It consists of 11 Board members.
 The board plays a pro-active role by encouraging enterprises to take up technology oriented products.
 The Union Government had reconstituted the board in March 2000.
 It is the first organization of its kind within the government framework with the sole objective of
commercializing the fruit of indigenous research.
 It provides financial assistance to research and development institutions and equity capital or loans to industrial
concerns.
NOTE: TDB can be used in answers related to Make in India, Innovation etc.
Central Council of Indian Medicine
 Central Council of Indian Medicine is a statutory body under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act.
 It regulates the Indian medical systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Unani Medicine.
National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC)
About NCDC
 The NCDC is a statutory Corporation set up under an Act of Parliament on 13 March 1963.
 It comes under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
 The objectives of NCDC are:
o planning and promoting programmes for production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import
of agricultural produce, foodstuffs, industrial goods, livestock and certain other notified commodities
and services on cooperative principles.
o NCDC Act has been further amended which will broad-base the area of operation of the Corporation
to assist different types of cooperatives and to expand its financial base.
o NCDC will now be able to finance projects in the rural industrial cooperative sectors and for certain
notified services in rural areas like water conservation, irrigation and micro-irrigation, agri-insurance,
agro-credit, rural sanitation, animal health, etc.
Competition Commission of India (CCI)
 Competition Commission of India is a body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The
Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in
India.
_______________________________________________________________
 It was established on 14 October 2003.

 It became fully functional in May 2009.
 CCI is quasi-judicial statutory body established under The Competition Act, 2002.
 The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
 CCI earlier consisted of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. Government has
now approved reduction of members from 6 to 3.
 The duty of the Commission is to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and
sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.
 The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory
authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart
training on competition issues.
 The Competition Act, 2002 prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises
and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and acquisition), which causes or
likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
To achieve its objectives, the Competition Commission of India endeavours to do the following:
 Make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers
 Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for faster and inclusive growth and
development of economy.
 Implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient utilization of economic resources.
 Develop and nurture effective relations and interactions with sectoral regulators to ensure smooth alignment of
sectoral regulatory laws in tandem with the competition law.
 Effectively carry out competition advocacy and spread the information on benefits of competition among all
stakeholders to establish and nurture competition culture in Indian economy.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
 The APEDA is an apex statutory export promotion organisation under the Union Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
 It was established under APEDA Act, 1985.
 It is mandated with responsibility of promotion and development of the export of its scheduled products which
includes all agricultural products.
Airports Authority of India (AAI)
 It is a statutory body under the aegis of Ministry of Civil Aviation.

 It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
 It was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
 It also provides Air traffic management (ATM) services over Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas.
 It manages around 125 airports in India, which include 18 International Airport, 07 Customs Airports, 78
Domestic Airports and 26 Civil Enclaves at Defense airfields.
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India
 AERA is a regulator that has powers to set tariffs charged at airports.

 It was established by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
 It is an independent economic regulator for protection of interests of airports, airlines and passengers.
 Function:
o It regulates tariffs and other charges for aeronautical services provided at civilian airports with annual
traffic above 15 lakh passengers.
o It also monitors performance standard of services across these airports.
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Bar Council of India (BCI)
 It is a statutory body established by Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961.

 It is mandated to regulate and represent Indian bar.
 It performs regulatory function by prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette and by exercising
disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar.
 It sets standards for legal education in the country and grants recognition to Universities whose degree in law
will serve as qualification for enrolment as advocate.
 It also performs representative functions by protecting rights, interests and privileges of advocates as well as
provides financial assistance for organising welfare schemes for advocates.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
 The CBFC also known as “Censor Board” is a statutory body under Union Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting.
 It grants certificate to regulate the public exhibition of films in India under the provisions of the
Cinematograph Act 1952.
 The mandate of CBFC is to promote recreation, education, good and healthy entertainment to public according
to the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
 Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they are certified by the CBFC.
 The CBFC board is headed by central government appointed chairperson and 12-45 non-official members.
 The members are eminent persons from social science, education, law, arts or films background appointed.
 Its headquarters are in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
 Films are certified under 4 categories.
o “U” (unrestricted public exhibition)
o “A” (restricted to adult audiences]
o “U/A” (unrestricted public exhibition subject to parental guidance for children below the age of twelve)
and
o “S” (restricted to specialized audiences such as doctors or scientists).
 In addition to these certifications the board may also refuse to certify.
Central Electricity Authority
Central Electricity Authority
 The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is a statutory organization constituted under Section 3 (1) of the
repealed Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and continued under Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
 It was established as a part time body in 1951 and made a full time body in the year 1975. As per Section 70
(3) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the authority shall consist of not more than 14 members, including its
chairperson of whom not more than eight shall be full time members to be appointed by the Central
Government.
 The CEA is headed by a chairperson who, as the Chief Executive of the authority, oversees largely the
development of power sector in the country.
 It advises the government on matters relating to the National Electricity Policy (NEP) and formulates short-
term and perspective plans for the development of electricity systems.
 It is the designated authority for cross border trade of electricity.
 It also prescribes the standards on matters such as construction of electrical plants, electric lines and
connectivity to the grid, safety and grid standards and installation and operation of meters.
 It is also responsible for concurrence of hydro power development schemes of central, state and private sectors
for efficient development of river and its tributaries for power generation.
 It works under the Ministry of Power and is located in New Delhi.
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Central Pollution Control Board
 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
 It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974.
 CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981.
 It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests
under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
 It Co-ordinates the activities of the State Pollution Control Boards by providing technical assistance and
guidance and also resolves disputes among them.
Central Silk Board
 CSB is a statutory body established under the Central Silk Board Act, 1948.
 It functions under the aegis of Union Ministry of Textile.
 It is a national organization for overall development of silk sector in India.
Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)
 DTAB is highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in the country .
 It is constituted as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
 It is part of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.
Food Corporation of India
 It is a statutory non-profit organization founded and run by Government of India and state Governments.
 It was created in 1965 under Food Corporations Act 1964, to implement objectives of National Food Policy.
 Initially headquartered at Chennai it was later shifted to New Delhi.
 As it is a state-owned enterprise, it has presence in every state in India.
 FCI Objectives :
o Safeguarding farmers interests by providing them remunerative prices.
o Making food grains available at reasonable prices throughout the country (for public distribution
system), particularly for vulnerable section of society.
o Intervening in market for price stabilization.
o Maintaining buffer stocks as a measure of Food Security.
Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
 ICSI is the only statutory professional body in India.

 It has objective of promoting, regulating and developing the profession of Company Secretaries in India.
 Its headquarters is located at New Delhi
 Four Regional Offices at New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and 69 Chapters across India.
 Originally it was set up as not-for-profit organisation on 4th October, 1968, but later in 1980 the institute was
converted into statutory professional body under an Act of Parliament, ‘The Company Secretaries Act 1980’.
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority
 Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) was established by the central government under Section 125
of Companies Act 2013.
 It is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
 The Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is the Chairperson of IEPF.
_______________________________________________________________
 The authority aims to administer the Investor Education and Protection Fund with the objective of promoting
Investor’s Education, Awareness and Protection.
 It is empowered to undertake various initiatives to fulfil its objectives through Investor Awareness Programmes
and various other mediums like print, Electronic, Social Media and Community Radio.
 Further to enhance its reach, the IEPF Authority is also in the process of commissioning an online facility to
collect primary information directly from retail investors about the deposits which have matured and are still
pending with various entities for repayment or payment of interest.
Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
 MPEDA is a nodal coordinating state owned agency engaged in fishery production and allied activities.
 It was established in 1972 under Marine Products Export Development Authority Act (MPEDA), 1972.
 It functions under Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 It is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
 Its mandate is to increase exports of sea food including fisheries of all kinds, specifying standards, marketing,
processing, extension and training in various aspects.
 It acts as coordinating agency with different Central and State Government establishments engaged in fishery
production and allied activities.
National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC)
 NACWC set up as an office of Cabinet Secretariat to fulfil obligations under Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC).
 It was first established in 1997.
 It was established again under Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000 in 2005.
 It acts as national focal point for effective bond with Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) and other State Parties on matters relating to CWC meant for prohibition of development,
production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction.
 It comprises a Chairperson and three Directors.
 The Directors comprise Joint Secretary in NACWC, Director General (DG) of Directorate of Revenue and
Intelligence (DRI) and Joint Secretary of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
National Commission for Women
 It is a statutory body established under National Commission for Women Act, 1990
 It is apex national level organization of India with the mandate of protecting and promoting the interests of
women.
 It has wide responsibility covering almost all aspects of women development.
 It also reviews constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
 It recommends remedial legislative measures, advise Government on all policy matters affecting women and
facilitate redressal of grievances related to women.
 It regularly publishes monthly newsletter, Rashtra Mahila, in both Hindi and English.
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
 It is statutory body of Central Government set up under NCTE Act, 1993

 Set up in 1995
 It was set up to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in Indian education system.
 NCTE plans and co-ordinates the development of teacher education system throughout the country (for both
central as well as state governments).
 It also ensures the maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system.
 Its headquarter is in New Delhi.
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National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
 The NDMA is apex statutory body for disaster management in India

 It is under control of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 Its provisions are envisaged in Disaster Management Act, 2005
 It is headed by the Prime Minister of India.
 Mandate: Its primary purpose is to coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-
building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. It is also apex body to lay down policies, plans and guidelines
for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters..
 Functions and Responsibilities of NDMA
o Approve the National Disaster Plan.
o Lay down policies on disaster management.
o Approve plans prepared by Ministries or Departments of Central Government in accordance with
National Plan.
o Lay down guidelines to be followed by State Authorities in drawing up State Plan.
o Lay down guidelines to be followed by different Ministries or Departments of Central Government for
purpose of integrating measures for disaster prevention or mitigation of its effects in their development
plans and projects.
o Coordinate enforcement and implementation of disaster management policy and plan.
o Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation.
o Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as determined by Central
Government;
o Take such other measures for prevention of disaster or mitigation or preparedness and capacity
building for dealing with threatening disaster situation or disaster as it may consider necessary.
o Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of National Institute of Disaster
Management.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Facts:
 NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force
 It comes under Ministry of Home Affairs
 It is the only dedicated disaster response force in the world
 HQ: New Delhi
 It works under National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) which lays down policies, plans and
guidelines for disaster management.
 At present there are 12 battalions in NDRF which are deployed strategically across country to provide
immediate response.
 4 new battalions are sanctioned by Union Cabinet.
Background:
 The Disaster Management Act, 2005 has made the statutory provisions for constitution of National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
 Two national calamities in quick succession in the form of Orissa Super Cyclone (1999) and Gujarat
Earthquake (2001) brought about the realization of the need of having a specialist response mechanism at
National Level to effectively respond to disasters. This realization led to the enactment of the DM Act on 26
Dec 2005.
Role and Mandate of NDRF:

 Specialized response during disasters.
 Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations.
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 Acquire and continually upgrade its own training and skills.

 Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills.
 Impart basic and operational level training to State Response Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards).
 Community Capacity Building Programme.
 Organize Public Awareness Campaigns.
Why it is said to be UNIQUE?

 It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.
 The only agency with comprehensive response capabilities having multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled, high-tech,
standalone nature.
 Experienced paramilitary personnel specially trained and equipped for disaster response.
 Capabilities for undertaking disaster response, prevention, mitigation and capacity building.
National Legal Service Authority (NALSA)
 NALSA provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society.
 It has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Hence, it is a statutory body.
 Its aim is to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reasons of economic
or other disabilities.
 NALSA also identifies specific categories of marginalised and excluded groups and formulates various schemes
for implementation of legal service programmes.
 It provides services of free legal aid in civil and criminal matters for the poor and marginalised people who
cannot afford the services of a lawyer in any court or tribunal.
 It also organises Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
 It works in close coordination with various State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities
and other agencies
 In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of
the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. The State Legal
Services Authority is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-
Chief of the State Legal Services Authority.
 In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services
Programmes in the District. The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in
every District and chaired by the District Judge of the respective district.
National Trust
 It is a statutory body under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry
of Social Justice & Empowerment.
 Its mandate is to discharge two basic duties – legal and welfare.
 It fundamental purpose, is to create enabling environment, i.e. provide opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities (PwD) through comprehensive support systems which will lead towards development of an
inclusive society.
 Objectives of National Trust
o Enable and empower PWD to live as independently and fully as possible within and close to their
community as possible.
o Facilitate realisation of equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation of persons with
disability.
o Extend support to its registered organisations to provide need based services.
o Evolve procedures for appointments of guardians and trustees for persons with disabilities.
 The Union Cabinet has decided to fix three-year term of chairperson and the members of the board of the
National Trust. At present, Section 4 (1) of NTA, 1999 provides that chairperson or member of board of
National Trust will continue in office beyond prescribed term of 3 years until his successor is appointed by
government. In case of resignation of chairperson, section 5(1) of act provides for him to continue in office
until his successor is appointed by government.
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North Eastern Council
Headquarter : Shillong
Ministry : Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
Constituted : By an Act of Parliament in 1971 i.e. it is an statutory body. The NEC act has been amended in 2002 to
add Sikkim and restructure it as the regional planning body for the North Eastern Region.
Consists of : Eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The chief ministers and governors represent them.
What it does?
 The North Eastern Council is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern
Region.
 It is an apex level body for securing balanced and coordinated development and facilitating coordination with
states.
 The Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which the north-eastern states have a common
interest and advise the Central Government as to the action to be taken on any such matter.
 The funding of council mainly lies with the central government with small portions contributed by the state
governments as well.
Recent Changes:
 The Union Cabinet has approved proposal of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)
for nomination of Union Home Minister as ex-officio Chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC).
 It also approved that Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of DoNER will serve as Vice Chairman
of NEC.
 New arrangement with Home Minister as Chairman and Minister of DoNER as Vice Chairman will provide
forum for discussing inter-state matters more comprehensively and also consider common approaches to be
taken in future.
 NEC now can perform tasks undertaken by various Zonal Councils to discuss such inter-State issues as
smuggling of arms and ammunition, drug trafficking, boundary disputes etc.
 NEC will also have such powers as may be delegated to it by the Central Government.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
 The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a pension regulatory authority which
was established in 2003.
 It is a statutory body established under PFRDA Act, 2003 enacted by Parliament.
 It is authorized by Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services.
 HQ : New Delhi
 It promotes old age income security by establishing, developing and regulating pension funds and protects the
interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and related matters.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
 PNGRB was established in 2006 under Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
 Its mandate is to regulate refining, transport and marketing of petroleum products.
 It also ensures enough supply across country, foster fair trade, protect consumer interest and authorise
companies that will build and operate fuel pipelines.
 The PNGRB consists of Chairperson, a Member (Legal) and three other members.
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 It also has power of civil court and bench comprising member (legal) and one or more members nominated by
chairperson which decides on disputes arising among downstream companies or with outsiders.
Prasar Bharti
 Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body

 It is established under the Prasar Bharati Act
 It is the Public Service Broadcaster of the country.
 The objectives of public service broadcasting are achieved in terms of Prasar Bharati Act through All India
Radio and Doordarshan.
Securities Appellate Tribunal
 Securities Appellate Tribunal is a statutory body established under the provisions of Section 15K of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992
 Its task is to hear and dispose of appeals against orders passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or
by an adjudicating officer under the Act
 It also exercise jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on the Tribunal by or under this Act or any other
law for the time being in force.
 It covers the whole of India.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
 SIDBI is the principal development financial institution for promotion, financing and development of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India.
 It was established on April 2, 1990 through an Act of Parliament (thus, it is statutory body).
 It is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
 SIDBI aims to facilitate and strengthen credit flow to MSMEs and address both financial and developmental
gaps in MSME eco-system across the country.
 It co-ordinates functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.
 Currently, the shares of SIDBI are held by Central Government and 29 other institutions including public
sector banks (PSBs), insurance companies owned and controlled by Central Government.
IAS4Sure Notes
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SHRC
Issue:
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Delhi cannot have a State Human Rights Commission as it is a Union
Territory and not a State. It says, “Delhi has to continue without an SHRC until Parliament amends the law."
Basics:
The Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993 provides for the creation of not only the National Human Rights
Commission but also a State Human Rights Commission at the state level.
Jurisdiction:
A State Human Rights Commission can inquire into violation of human rights only in respect of subjects mentioned in
the State List (List-II) and the Concurrent List (List-III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, if any
such case is already being inquired into by the National Human Rights Commission or any other Statutory
Commission, then the State Human Rights Commission does not inquire into that case.
Composition:
 The State Human Rights Commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairperson and two members.
 The chairperson should be a retired Chief Justice of a High Court and members should be a serving or retired
judge of a High Court or a District Judge in the state with a minimum of seven years of experience as District
Judge and a person having knowledge or practical experience with respect to human rights.
 The chairperson and members are appointed by the Governor on the recommendations of a committee
consisting of the chief minister as its head, the speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the state home minister and
the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly.
 In the case of a state having Legislative Council, the chairman of the Council and the leader of the opposition
in the Council would also be the members of the committee.
 A sitting judge of a High Court or a sitting District Judge can be appointed only after consultation with the
Chief Justice of the High Court of the concerned state.
Term:
 The chairperson and members hold office for a term of five years or until they attain the age of 70 years,
whichever is earlier.
 After their tenure, the chairperson and members are not eligible for further employment under a state
government or the Central government.
Appointment and Removal:

 Although the chairperson and members of a State Human Rights Commission are appointed by the governor,
they can be removed only by the President (and not by the governor).
 The President can remove them on the same grounds and in the same manner as he can remove the chairperson
or a member of the National Human Rights Commission.
Tea Board of India
Tea Board:
 The origin of the Tea Board can be traced to 1903 when the Indian Tea Cess Bill was passed to provide for
levying a cess on tea exports. The proceeds
of the cess were to be used for the promotion of Indian tea both within and outside India.
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The Tea Board is set up under the Tea Act 1953. It has succeeded the Central Tea Board and the Indian Tea
Licencing Committee which functioned respectively under the Central Tea Board Act, 1949 and the Indian Tea
Control Act, 1938 which were repealed.
 The Tea Board is functioning as a statutory body of the Central Government under the Ministry of Commerce.
 The Board is constituted of 31 members (including Chairman) drawn from Members of Parliament, tea
producers, tea traders, tea brokers, consumers, and representatives of Governments from the principal tea
producing states, and trade unions .
 The Board is reconstituted every three years.
Functions:
 The Tea Board India is responsible for the assignment of certification numbers to exports of certain tea
merchants. This certification is intended to ensure the teas’ origin, which in turn would reduce the amount of
fraudulent labelling on rare teas.
 The Tea Board India’s tasks include endorsement of the diverse production and productivity of tea, financial
support of research organisations and the monitoring of advances in tea packaging as it relates to health
beneficial aspects.
 It coordinates research institutes, the tea trade and government bodies, ensuring the technical support of the tea
trade in the global industry.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
 Established by an Act of Parliament, called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
 TRAI is an independent regulator of Telecom Business in India.
 Aims to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier
vested in the Central Government.
 Its mission is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in India to enable country to
have leading role in emerging global information society.
 It also provides fair and transparent environment that promotes level playing field and facilitates fair
competition in the market.
 It also regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, quality of service,
interconnections, Direct To Home (DTH) services and mobile number portability.
 TRAI also fixes or revises the tariffs for telecom services in India.
Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)

 The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a
Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and
disputes functions from TRAI.
 TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two or more service
providers, between a service provider and a group of consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any
direction, decision or order of TRAI.
UIDAI
 UIDAI is nodal statutory organization behind the Aadhaar, a 12 digit unique number.
 It was granted statutory status by Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and
Services) Act, 2016.
 It comes under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
 Prior to its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the then
Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog)
 UIDAI was created with the objective to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as "Aadhaar", to
all residents of India that is
a. robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and
b. can be verified and authenticated in an easy, cost-effective way.
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Facts:
 The first UID number was issued on 29 September 2010 to a resident of Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
 UIDAI has announced facial recognition for authentication apart from finger prints and eye scans.
University Grants Commission (UGC)
 Statutory body
 Set up in 1956
 It is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.
 It provides recognition to universities in India, and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges.
 Previously, UGC was formed in 1946 to oversee the work of the three Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras
and, Delhi. In 1947, the Committee was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with all the then existing
Universities.
 After independence, the University Education Commission was set up in 1948 under the Chairmanship of S.
Radhakrishnan and it recommended that the UGC be reconstituted on the general model of the University
Grants Commission of the United Kingdom.
 The UGC was however, formally established in November 1956, by an Act of Parliament as a statutory body
of the Government of India.
National : Others
Chief of Defence Staff
 The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) is a high military office that oversees and coordinates the working of the
three Services.
 The role of the CDS becomes critical in times of conflict.
 He offers seamless tri-service views and single-point advice to the Prime Minister on long-term defence
planning and management including manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all joint Manship in
operations.
 Currently, India has had a feeble equivalent known as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee(CoSC) but this
is a toothless office given the manner in which it is structured.
 The senior-most among the three Service Chiefs is appointed to head the CoSC. But it is an additional role and
the tenures have been very short.
 The proposal for a CDS has been there for two decades. It was first made by K. Subrahmanyam committee
appointed after the Kargil conflict of 1999 to recommend higher military reforms. However,lack of consensus
and apprehensions among services meant it never moved forward.
 In 2012,the Naresh Chandra committee recommended the appointment of a Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of
Staff Committee (COSC) as a midway to allay apprehensions over the CDS.
 The CDS was also one of the 99 recommendations made by the Lt General D.B. Shekatkar (retd) Committee
which submitted its report in December 2016 which had 34 recommendations pertaining to the tri-services.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)
 TRIFED is a national-level apex organization functioning under administrative control of Ministry of Tribal
Affairs.
 It was established in August 1987 by then Ministry of Welfare under Multi State Cooperative Societies Act
1984 (which has now been replaced by Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002).
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 Its core objective is to institutionalize trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Surplus Agriculture Produce
(SAP) collected or cultivated by tribals as they are heavily dependent on these natural products for their
livelihood.
 TRIFED also works as an agency to the FCI for procurement of Wheat and Rice.
 It also organizes exhibitions like National Tribal Craft Expo called “Aadi Mahotsav” etc. to promote and
market tribal products.
 It also facilitates participation of tribal artisans to enable them to interact directly with art lovers to assess
market needs.
 Tribes India e-market place: It is a TRIFED initiative that aims to showcase the produce and handicrafts of
tribal enterprises from across the country and helps them market their produce/ products directly.
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
 NSDC is Public Private Partnership (PPP) under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
 It was founded in 2009 as not-for-profit company by Ministry of Finance to address need for providing skilled
manpower across various industry sectors.
 Government of India (GoI) through MSDE holds 49% of share capital of NSDC, while private sector has
balance 51% of the share capital.
 NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalysing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational
institutions.
 Its objective is to create training capacity in the country; fund vocational training initiatives and create market
ecosystem for skill development.
 Its mandate is to train 150 million people by 2022.
 It is also involved in re-skilling and also in catering to skilled manpower requirement of overseas markets, most
notably that of Japan (under TITP) and UAE.
International Financial Services Centres Authority
 It has been established in 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
 It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
 Purpose: It is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services
and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
 Why in news? IFSCA has obtained membership of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors
(IAIS).
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC):

 IGBC is a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII). It was formed in the year 2001.
 The vision of the council is to enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the
global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025.
 Why in news? Kandla Special Economic Zone(KASEZ) has become the first Green SEZ after it received the
IGBC Green Cities Platinum Rating for Existing Cities.
GRIHA
GRIHA:
 GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment
 GRIHA is an independent, not-for-profit society jointly setup by The Energy and Resources Institute(TERI)
and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
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 Purpose: It evaluates the environmental performance of a building holistically over its entire life cycle, based on
quantitative and qualitative criteria, thereby providing a definitive standard for green buildings and sustainable
habitats.
Related Notes:
 Building Fitness Indicator(BFI):
o It is a self-assessment online tool launched by GRIHA Council to assess safety and hygiene standards
for workplaces in India.
 Global Housing Technology Challenge India(GHTC-India):
o It was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019 with an aim to identify and
mainstream best available and proven construction technologies that are sustainable, green and disaster-
resilient to enable a paradigm shift in housing construction.
Indian Institute of Heritage(IIH)
Indian Institute of Heritage(IIH):

 Indian Institute of Heritage is a proposed institute to be set up by the Ministry of Culture in NOIDA, Uttar
Pradesh.
 The institute would be a world-class university that would focus on the conservation and research in India’s
rich tangible heritage.
 It would also offer research, development, and knowledge associated with a heritage that contributes to the
cultural, scientific, and economic life of India.
 The institute will have the status of a ‘deemed university’. Certificate and diploma courses currently run by
various institutions like IGNCA and National Archives of India and others are to be brought under IIH.
Significance of this Institute:

 The institute would be a standalone Institution of its type in the country.
 It would have a major impact on higher education and research in the field related to rich Indian heritage and
its conservation, leading to Masters and Ph.D courses in these fields.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Indian Council for Cultural Relations:

 It was founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who was independent India’s 1st Education Minister.
 It is an autonomous body under the administrative control of Ministry of External Affairs.
 ICCR Objectives:
o To actively participate in formulation and implementation of programmes and policies relating to
India’s external cultural relations.
o To foster and strengthen mutual understanding and cultural relations between India and other
countries.
o To promote cultural exchanges and develop relations with other countries and people, national and
international organization in field of Culture.
National Mission for Clean Ganga
 NMCG is a river cleaning project.

 NMCG is the implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of
River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council).
 It was established in 2011 as a registered society under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
 It has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee.
 Both of them are headed by Director General (DG), NMCG.
 Executive Committee is authorized to approve projects under mission up to Rs.1000 crore.
 Similar to structure at national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing
arm of State Ganga Committees.
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 This structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards the task
of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.
 The Union Cabinet has approved changes allowing the National Mission for Clean Ganga to fine those
responsible for polluting the river. Earlier this power was vested solely with the Central Pollution Control
Board. The power to fine the polluters is derived from the Environment Protection Act.
 The NMCG now has the status of an Authority and its key focus would be maintaining required ecological
flows in the Ganga, abate pollution through planning, financing and execution of programmes including that of
–
o Augmentation of Sewerage Infrastructure
o Catchment Area Treatment
o Protection of Floodplains
o Creating Public Awareness
Note:
 In October 2016, National Ganga Council has replaced National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA)
which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986.
 The World Bank has approved a five-year loan to the Namami Gange project worth ₹3,000 crore ($400
million) to develop and improve infrastructure projects to abate pollution in the river basin.
National Remote Sensing Centre(NRSC)
 NRSC is one of the primary centres of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space
(DOS).
 Mandate: NRSC has the mandate for:
o establishment of ground stations for receiving satellite data,
o generation of data products
o development of techniques for remote sensing applications, including disaster management support.
o Geospatial services for good governance and
o capacity building for professionals, faculty, and students.
Ordnance Factory Board(OFB)
Ordnance Factory Board(OFB):

 Ordnance Factory Board(OFB) is an umbrella body of 41 Ordnance Factories.
 Origin: In 1775, British authorities accepted the establishment of the Board of Ordnance in Fort William,
Kolkata. This marked the official beginning of the Army Ordnance in India.
 Nodal Ministry: It is currently a subordinate office of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
 Mandate: It provides a major chunk of the weapon, ammunition, and supplies for Indian armed forces,
paramilitary forces, and police forces.
 Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
 TERI is a non-profit research institution that conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and
sustainable development.
 Established in 1974 as Tata Energy Research Institute and was renamed The Energy and Resources Institute in
2003.
 It aims to focus on formulating local and national level strategies for shaping global solutions to critical issues.
 It conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development.
 Its key focus lies in promoting clean energy, water management, pollution management, sustainable agriculture
and climate resilience.
 Location: New Delhi.
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National Archives of India
 It is a custodian of the non-current records of enduring value of the Government of India. It holds them in
trust for the use of administrators and scholars.
 It is an Attached Office under Union Ministry of Culture.
 It was established as ‘Imperial Record Department’ on 11 March 1891 at Kolkata (then Calcutta).
 Following the transfer of capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the present building of National Archives of
India was constructed in 1926.
 The New Delhi’s building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
 All records stored were completely transferred from Calcutta to New Delhi in 1937.
 The genesis of National Archives of India can be traced to the report of Sandeman, the Civil Auditor who had
stressed the need of relieving the offices of congestion by the destruction of the papers of routine nature and
transfer of all valuable records to a ‘Grand Central Archive’.
 This led to the establishment of Imperial Records Department (IRD) on 11 March 1891 in the Imperial
Secretariat Building at Calcutta (Kolkata).
 In 1911 the IRD was shifted to Delhi. After the Independence, the government of India rechristened IRD as
the National Archives of India with Director of Archives as its head and in the year 1990 the office of the
Director of Archives was re-designated as Director General of Archives.
 It has a Regional Office at Bhopal and three Records Centres at Jaipur, Puducherry and Bhubaneswar.
National Startup Advisory Council
National Startup Advisory Council:

 It was constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
 Objective: This is to advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong startup ecosystem.
 Composition:
o Chairman: Minister for Commerce & Industry.
o Convener of the Council: Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
o Ex-officio Members: Nominees of the concerned Ministries/Departments/Organizations not below
the rank of Joint Secretary.
o Non-official members to be nominated by the Government from various categories like
 Founders of successful startups
 Veterans who have grown and scaled companies in India
 Persons capable of representing the interests of investors into startups, etc.
 The term of the non-official members will be for a period of two years or until further orders, whichever is
earlier.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade(DGFT)
Directorate General of Foreign Trade(DGFT).

 Directorate General of Foreign Trade(DGFT) established in 1991. It is an attached office of the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
 Functions: It is responsible for formulating and implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective
of promoting India’s exports.
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID)
National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID):

 The Union Cabinet approved a bill to set up a Development Finance Institution(DFI).
 Owned by: Initially, the Government of India will own it with a 100% stake. They will gradually bring it down
to 26% in a few years.
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 Purpose: It will provide finance for social and economic infrastructure projects identified under the National
Infrastructure Pipeline(NIP).
 Managed by: A professional board with at least 50 percent of the members as non-official directors.
 Capital Infusion: The capital infusion by the Government will be Rs 20,000 crore with an initial grant of Rs
5,000 crore. It is later expected to raise around Rs 3 lakh crore in the next few years by Market funds.
 Tax Exemption: The government will provide a 10-year tax exemption to funds invested in the DFI. It will
attract long-term players such as insurance and pension funds.
What is a Development Finance Institution(DFI)?

 DFI is an agency that finances infrastructure projects of national importance.
 In most cases, these agencies are government-owned. Their borrowings enjoy the government guarantees which
help bring down the cost of funding.
 DFI in India: The first DFI in India was the Industrial Financial Corporation of India(IFC). It got launched in
1948. The IDBI, UTI, NABARD, EXIM Bank, SIDBI, NHB were the other major DFIs. Most later converted
into banks.
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)
 FICCI is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation established in 1927.

 It is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India whose history is closely interwoven with India's
struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global
economies.
Telecom Equipment Export Promotion Council(TEPC)
Setup by: Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Communications
Aim: To promote and develop Export of Telecom Equipment and Services.
Functions: The council undertakes several activities aimed at exports promotion such as;
 Commissioning of Studies to find potential markets
 Recommending to the Government for making necessary changes in various policies and procedures for
promotion of Exports and Services.
 Holding of National/International Seminars
 Facilitating the participation of exporters in various overseas exhibitions
 Dissemination of trade-related data to its members.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
NSIL:
 It is ISRO's new Commercial Arm.
 Capital: NSIL is provided an authorised share capital worth Rs.100 crore and initial paid up capital of Rs.10
crore.
 Objective: NSIL’s main objective is to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes.
 It is a completely Govt. owned Undertaking / CPSE.
 It is under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS).
NSIL Roles and Responsibility:

 Owning satellites for Earth Observation and Communication applications and providing space-based services
 Building satellites and launching them as per demand
 Providing Launch Services for satellite belonging to the customer
 Building launch vehicles through Indian Industry and launch as per satellite customer requirement
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 Space based Services related to Earth Observation and Communication satellites on a commercial basis
 Satellite building through Indian Industry
 Technology Transfer to Indian Industry
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog
 NITI Aayog was formed on January 1, 2015.

 It is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body.
 NITI Aayog is created via an executive resolution of the Union Cabinet.
 It is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Union Government, providing both directional and policy inputs.
 It had replaced the 65-year old Planning Commission established in 1950.
 Prime Minister is ex-officio Chairperson of the Aayog.
 NITI Aayog plays important role in designing strategic and long term policies and programmes for the
Government.
 It also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States.
 It also acts as the quintessential platform of Union Government to bring States to act together in national
interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative Federalism.
 It aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and to enhance cooperative federalism by fostering the
involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up
approach.
NITI Aayog’s Governing Council:

 The governing council presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues.
 Chairperson: Prime Minister.
 Full-Time Members: The full-time members to the council are Chief ministers of all states and of the Union
Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry
 Special Invitees: The Lieutenant Governors of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and the administrators
of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep are the special invitees of the
governing council.
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region(NCR)
 Formation: President of India has promulgated an ordinance to constitute a Commission for Air Quality
Management in National Capital Region(NCR) and adjoining areas.
 Purpose: To tackle air pollution and to monitor and improve air quality in the National Capital Region(NCR)
and adjoining areas.
 Composition: It will consist of a Chairperson, a representative from the Ministry of Environment, members
from the state of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, technical experts from Central
Pollution Control Board and Indian Space Research Organization among others.
 Functions and Powers:
o To work towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding
the Air Quality Index in the NCR and adjoining areas.
o It has the powers to take all such measures, issue directions and entertain complaints in order to protect
and improve the quality of air in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
o It will also lay down the parameters for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various
sources.
 Headquarters: Delhi.
National Crisis Management Committee
 Government of India had set up a Standing National Crisis Management Committee for effective
implementation of relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.
 The committee is headed by Cabinet Secretary.
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 It also includes Secretaries of Ministries / Departments and agencies with specific Disaster management
responsibilities.
 The key functions of the committee include :
o oversee the Command, Control and Coordination of the disaster response and
o give direction to the Crisis Management Group(CMG) as deemed necessary.
Law Commission of India
Law Commission:
 The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to
time.
 The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years.
 The commission is established for a fixed tenure.
 It works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice.
 The recommendations of the commission are not binding on the government. They are recommendations only.
The government or concerned department may accept or reject these recommendations.
Functions:
 Review existing laws.
 Suggest reforms in justice delivery system.
 Recommend for the repeal of obsolete laws.
 Suggest enactment of new legislations.
 It suggests suitable measures for quick redressal of citizens’ grievances in the field of law.
Establishment of Law Commission

 The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834. It was established by the Charter
Act of 1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay.
 In 1955, the first Law Commission of independent India was established for a three-year term. Since then,
twenty-one more Commissions have been established.
 In 2015, The 21st Law Commission of India was established. Its tenure was up to 31st August 2018. In 2020,
the Union Cabinet approved the creation of the 22nd Law Commission.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
 It is national meteorological service of the country and chief government agency dealing in everything related to
meteorology, seismology and associated subjects.
 It was formed in 1875.
 It functions under Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Mandate
 Undertake meteorological observations and provide current information and forecasting information for most
favorable operation of weather-dependent activities such as irrigation, agriculture, aviation, shipping etc.
 Offer warning against severe weather phenomenon such as tropical cyclones, norwesters, dust storms, heat
waves, cold waves, heavy rains, heavy snow, etc.
 Provide met-related statistics needed for agriculture, industries, water resources management, oil exploration,
and any other strategically important activities for the country.
 Engage in research in meteorology and allied subjects.
 Detect and locate earthquakes and evaluate of seismicity in various parts of the country for developmental
projects.
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd
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 Khanij Bidesh India Ltd is a new company incorporated in August, 2019 by three state-owned companies,
NALCO, Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration Ltd, with a specific mandate to acquire strategic mineral
assets such as lithium and cobalt abroad
 It inked a pact with an Argentine firm mid-last year to jointly prospect lithium in Argentina that has the third
largest reserves of lithium.
 It is also learnt to be exploring options in Chile and Bolivia, two other top lithium-producing countries.
 Lithium, the silver-white alkali metal is a crucial building block of the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that
power electric vehicles (EVs), laptops and mobile phones.
 Currently, India is heavily dependent on import of these cells and the move to ink sourcing pacts for lithium is
seen as another salvo in the front against China, a key source of both the raw material and cells.
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD)
 It was established in 1970 with the objective of modernisation of police forces. It functions under the aegis of
Union Home Ministry
 BPR&D replaced Police Research and Advisory Council formed in 1966.
 Purpose: It is a nodal national police organisation to study, research and develop on subjects and issues related
to policing.
 In 2008, the Government further decided to create the National Police Mission (NPM) under the
administrative control of BPR&D
Registrar General of India
 The Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census till the 1951 Census.
 The Government of India, in 1949 established an organisation in the Ministry of Home Affairs
under Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, India to develop systematic collection of
statistics on the size of population, its growth, etc.
 Later, this office was also entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Registration of Births and
Deaths Act, 1969 in the country.
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 It arranges, conducts and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including Census of India and
Linguistic Survey of India.
 The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.
 Civil Registration System (CRS) in India is the unified process of continuous, permanent, compulsory and
universal recording of the vital events (births, deaths, stillbirths) and characteristics thereof. The data generated
through a complete and up-to-date CRS is essential for socio-economic planning.
Census of India:
 It provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the
country’s population.
 The decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011.
 While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first
complete census was taken in 1881.
 Post-1949, it has been conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the
Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Linguistic Survey of India:

 The primary objective of the present Linguistic Survey of India is to present an updated linguistic scenario.
 It is conducted along with the decennial Census exercise.
 It also provides necessary inputs to the social/educational planners in respective States for their planning to
attain the envisaged goals.
 First linguistic survey of India was published by George Abraham Grierson in 1928.
Government Film and Media Units
Merger:
 Cabinet has approved the merger of four government-run film and media units :
o Films Division,
o Directorate of Film Festivals,
o National Film Archives of India and
o Autonomous body Children’s Film Society with the National Film Development Corporation(NFDC).
 Significance of Merger:
o The merger of Film Media Units under one corporation will lead to convergence of activities and
resources and better coordination, thereby ensuring synergy and efficiency in achieving the mandate of
each media unit.
o It will also lead to reduction in duplication of activities and direct savings to the exchequer
Related Facts:
 Films Division: It was established in 1948 and is the oldest of the four units created primarily to produce
documentaries and news magazines as publicity for government programmes and to keep a cinematic record of
Indian history.
 National Film Archives of India: It was established in 1964 with the primary objective of acquiring and
preserving Indian cinematic heritage.
 Directorate of Film Festivals: It was set up in 1973 to promote Indian films and cultural exchange.
 Children’s Film Society: It is an autonomous body founded in 1955 with the specific objective of providing
children and young people value-based entertainment through the medium of films.
 National Film Development Corporation of India(NFDC):
o It was established in 1975 to encourage high quality Indian cinema.
o It functions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
o The primary goal of the NFDC is to plan, promote and organise an integrated and efficient
development of the Indian Film Industry and foster excellence in cinema.
o Headquarters: Mumbai
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Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas
 The commission is a statutory authority setup to tackle air pollution and to monitor and improve air quality in
the National Capital Region(NCR) and adjoining areas.
 Composition:
o Chairperson:
 The Commission is headed by a full-time chairperson who has been a Secretary to the
Government of India or a Chief Secretary to a State government.
 The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
o Members:
 It has members from several Ministries as well as representatives from the stakeholder States.
 It will also have experts from the CPCB, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and
Civil Society.
 Powers:
o The Commission has been conferred with the power to lay down air quality parameters, discharge of
environmental pollutants parameters, to inspect premises violating the law, order closure of non-
abiding industries or plants among others.
o The commission can supersede all existing bodies such as the CPCB and even the state governments of
Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It will have the powers to issue directions to the states.
o Orders of the Commission shall prevail in case there is a conflict between the Central Pollution
Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards.
o It will have powers to restrict the setting up of industries in vulnerable areas and will be able to conduct
site inspections of industrial units.
 Penalties and Offences
o Non-compliance of orders of Commission: The commission can impose a penalty of imprisonment for
terms that may extend to 5 years or fine extending upto INR 1 Crore or with both for non-compliance.
o Offence committed by Company- For offence committed by any Company, every person who at the
time of offence was directly in charge for or responsible for the conduct of the business of the company,
will be held guilty for offence.
o Appeal: Any appeal from the Order of the Commission would lie before the National Green Tribunal
(NGT).
District Mineral Foundation (DMF)
 Statutory Provision: As per the Mine and Minerals Development Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2015, in every
district affected by mining-related operations, the state government shall, by notification, establish a trust as a
non-profit body to be called the District Mineral Foundation.
 DMFT Funds: Mining companies contribute 10-30% on the royalty amount that they pay to the government
to DMF Trust in the district they are operating in.
 Objective: The idea behind the contribution is that local mining-affected communities, mostly tribal and
among the poorest in the country, also have the right to benefit from natural resources extracted from where
they live.
 Status: DMFs have been set-up in 572 districts of the country, with a cumulative accrual of more than Rs.
40,000 crore so far as per Ministry of Mines (MoM) data.
 Linked with PMKKKY: The functioning of the DMF trusts and the fund use governed by states’ DMF Rules
incorporate the mandates of a central guideline, Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana
(PMKKKY) that specifies high priority areas of investments.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO)
 CDSCO comes under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
 It is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India for Drugs.
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 The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state
regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
 Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials.
 Further CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for grant of licenses of certain specialized
categories of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine etc.
Controller General of Accounts
 CGA is Principal Accounting Adviser to Government of India.

 It functions under Department of Expenditure, Union Ministry of Finance.
 CGA heads the organization and is responsible for administering this system.
 It is responsible for establishing and maintaining a technically sound Management Accounting System.
 CGA office prepares monthly as well as annual analysis of expenditure, revenues, borrowings and various fiscal
indicators for Union Government.
 It prepares Annual Appropriation Accounts (Civil) and Union Finance Accounts which are submitted to
Parliament under Article 150 of Constitution.
 It is neither a constitutional nor statutory body.
 The Allocation of Business Rules 1961 defines the duties and responsibilities of the CGA.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is an Indian intelligence agency.

 It was constituted in 1957 to function as an apex intelligence agency of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes &
Customs to counter the menace of smuggling.
 It is India’s apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency.
 It is tasked with detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking and illicit
international trade in wildlife and environmentally sensitive items.
 It also works for combating commercial frauds related to international trade and evasion of customs duty.
 The DRI has also been designated as the lead agency for Anti-Smuggling National Coordination Centre
(SCord).
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
 It is India’s apex organization on animal taxonomy.

 Its objective is to promote survey, exploration, research and documentation on various aspects of animal
taxonomy in Indian subcontinent.
 It also seeks advancement of knowledge on animal taxonomy.
 It was established in 1916 and headquartered in Kolkata.
 It has been declared as designated repository for National Zoological Collection as per section 39 of the
National Biodiversity Act, 2002.
Narcotics Control Bureau
 NCB is the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India responsible for fighting drug
trafficking and the abuse of illegal substances.
 It functions under Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
 It is Headquartered in New Delhi.
 It was established in March 1986 to enable full implementation of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act, 1985 and fight its violation through Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
 Its mandate is to fight drug trafficking on an all-India level.
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 It works in close cooperation with Customs and Central Excise, State Police Department, Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) and other Indian intelligence and law
enforcement agencies both at the national and states level.
 It also provides resources and training to personnel of India’s law enforcement agencies in fighting drug
trafficking.
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)
 The NCSK was established in 1994 as a statutory body to deal with the grievances of persons engaged in
manual scavenging.
 It has a sanctioned strength of four members and a chairperson.
 The act “The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993” lapsed in February 2004.
 It is now acting as a non-statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment whose tenure is
extended from time to time through Government Resolutions.
 It aims to promote and safeguard the interests and rights of Safai Karamcharis.
 Its mandate is to study, evaluate and monitor the implementation of various schemes for Safai Karamcharis as
an autonomous organisation.
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
 CACP is an expert body which recommend minimum support prices (MSPs) to Government by taking into
account cost of production, trends in domestic and international prices.
 It is a panel under the Ministry of Agriculture
 It makes the recommendations for MSPs for 22 kharif and rabi crops.
 It came into existence in January 1965.
 Currently, CCEA comprises Chairman, Member Secretary, one Member (Official) and two Members (Non-
Official).
 The non-official members are representatives from farming community and usually have active association with
farming community.
 Its suggestions are not binding on the government.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
 Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) was founded in 2009.

 Comes under the administration of Ministry of Power.
 It is working towards mainstreaming energy efficiency.
 It is a joint venture of four national Public-Sector Undertakings
o NTPC Limited,
o Power Finance Corporation Limited,
o Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and
o POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited.
 EESL is leading the market-related activities of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
(NMEEE), one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
 It is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio in the country.
 EESL aims to create market access for efficient and future-ready transformative solutions that create a win-win
situation for every stakeholder.
Advertising Standards Council of India
 ASCI is a self regulatory, voluntary, non-governmental body of the advertising industry founded in 1985.
 The aim of ASCI is to enhance the public’s confidence in advertising and ensure that all advertising material is
truthful, legal, honest, decent and not objectify women and fair.
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Advisory Board for Banking Frauds (ABBF)
 It has been established by CVC in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) based on consultation
(recommendation) of YM Malegam Expert committee on Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and frauds
constituted by RBI.
 Composition:
o Former Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin will be Chairman of this four member body.
o The tenure of Chairman and members will be for period of two years from August 21, 2019.
 Functions:
o It will conduct first level of examination in all major fraud cases before recommendations or references
are made to investigative agencies such as Central Board of Investigation (CBI) by the respective public
sector banks (PSBs).
o Individual PSBs will refer all large fraud cases above Rs, 50 crore to ABBF and on receipt of
recommendation from it, the concerned bank will take further action.
o It will also periodically carry out frauds analysis in financial system and give inputs for policy
formulation related to the fraud to the RBI.
 Jurisdiction: It will be confined to cases involving officers of General Manager cadre and above in respect of
allegation of fraud in lending case.
 HQ and Services: It will be headquartered in Delhi. RBI will provide required secretarial services, analytical and
logistic support along with the necessary funding to the board.
Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)
 It is a military tribunal in India that was established under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
 The Act gives the AFT power for adjudication/trial of disputes and complaints with respect to enrolments,
appointments, commission, and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to:
o Army Act (1950),
o The Navy Act (1957) and
o Air Force Act (1950).
 It can further provide for appeals arising out of the orders of courts martial held under the above-mentioned
Acts.
 The AFT has the Principal Bench in New Delhi.
 Composition:
o The Composition of Armed Forces Tribunal consists of Judicial Members who are retired High Court
Judges.
o The Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the rank of
Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more.
 Proceedings:
o The Proceedings of AFT are conducted as per the Armed Forces Tribunal (Procedure) rules,2008.The
Tribunal normally follows the procedure as practiced by High Courts of India.
o However,the Paramilitary forces including the Assam Rifles and Coast Guard are outside the tribunal’s
purview.
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
 It was established in November 1983 to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions in the fields of nuclear
and radiation safety on a countrywide basis.
 It was constituted by President of India by exercising powers conferred by Section 27 of Atomic Energy Act,
1962 to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions under the Act.
 The regulatory authority of AERB is derived from rules and notifications promulgated under Atomic Energy
Act, 1962 and Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
 It is headquartered is in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
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 Its mission is to ensure that use of ionising radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to
health and environment.
 Currently, it consists of full-time Chairman, an ex officio Member, three part-time Members and Secretary.
Banking ombudsman
 Banking ombudsman is a quasi judicial authority

 It is created to resolve customer complaints against banks relating to certain services provided by them.
 The Ombudsman is a senior official, who has been appointed by the Reserve Bank of India to address
grievances and complaints from customers, pertaining deficiencies in banking services.
 It covers all kinds of banks including public sector banks, Private banks, Rural banks as well as co-operative
banks.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
 The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India’s premier nuclear research facility headquartered
in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
 The Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) was established by the government of India in 1954 to
consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors and technology under the AEET.
 As a result, all the scientists and engineers engaged in the fields of reactor design and development,
instrumentation, metallurgy and material science etc. were transferred with their respective programmes from
the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to AEET, with TIFR retaining its original focus for
fundamental research in the sciences.
 After the demise of Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha in 1966, AEET was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC).
 Over the years, BARC has emerged as the multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for
advanced research and development.
 Its R&D covers the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas.
 BARC’s core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation.
Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS)
 BNHS is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity
research.
 It was founded on 15 September 1883 and headquartered at Hornbill House, Mumbai.
 It supports many research efforts through grants and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History
Society.
 Department of Science and Technology has designated it as a ‘Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’.
 Why in news? It will start operating its first regional centre or avifauna observatory on the campus of Wetland
Research and Training Centre near Chilika Lake.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
 BSE is the oldest stock exchange in Asia formed by eight native stock brokers association in 1875 located at
Dala street, Mumbai.
 It had received temporary approval from Bombay government in 1927 and permanent approval by Indian
Government on 31 Aug 1957.
 Today it is 10th largest stock market in the world by market capitalization at $1.7 trillion and has more than
5,000 companies listed in it.
 Its iconic building named Phiroze Jeejeebhoy Towers, Dalal Street in Mumbai, Maharashtra has received image
trademark under Trade Marks Act, 1999.
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Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and
friendly neighbouring countries.
 It functions under Defence Ministry.
 It was established on 7 May 1960 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
 It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and army personnel on extra regimental
employment.
 Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force
(GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation.
 Currently, the organisation maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands),
and neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
 The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometres of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent
bridges in the country.
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA)
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA) has been created as per the Cauvery Management Scheme earlier framed
by Centre and approved by Supreme Court.
Composition and Powers of CMA

 The authority will comprise a chairman, a secretary and eight members. Out of the eight members, two will be
full time, while two will be part time members from centre’s side.
 Rest four will be part time members from states. The main mandate of the CMA will be to secure
implementation and compliance of the Supreme Court’s order in relation to “storage, apportionment,
regulation and control of Cauvery waters”.
 CMA will also advise the states to take suitable measures to improve water use efficiency. It will do so by
promoting use of micro-irrigation, change in cropping patterns, improved farm practices and development of
command areas.
 The CMA will also prepare an annual report covering its activities during the preceding year.
Role of Central Government

The central government will provide help in implementation of the modified award in case of any of the state /UT
parties (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry) do not cooperate in implementing the decision or direction of
the tribunal. Initially, centre will contribute Rs. 2 crore for the functioning of the authority.
Cauvery Water Regulation Committee

Along with CMA, the government has also established Cauvery Water Regulation Committee that shall give effect to
the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Supreme Court order. This committee will
meet every 10 days during months of June and October when the south-west and north-east monsoon set in and again
after the monsoon has set in
Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)
CSTT:
 CSTT was established in December 1960 by Government of India resolution under provision Article 344(4)
of Constitution
 Its objective is of evolving and defining scientific and technical terms in Hindi and all Indian languages.
 It also coordinates with all states to ensure uniformity of scientific terminology in Hindi and other Indian
languages.
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Functions of CSTT
 Preparation and Publication of bilingual and trilingual glossaries involving English and Hindi and other Indian
Languages.
 Identification of pan Indian terms. Preparation and publication of national terminology.
 Identification and publication of School Level Terminology and Departmental Glossaries. Preparation of
Definitional Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias.
 Preparation of University level textbooks, monographs and journals. Grant-in-Aid to grant academies, textbook
boards and university cells for University level books in regional languages.
 Propagation, expansion and critical review of terms coined and defined through training and orientation
programmes, workshops, seminars etc.
 Providing necessary terminology to National Translation Mission.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
 It is a regulatory body in field of Civil Aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
 Headquarters : New Delhi
 It is an attached office of Union Ministry of Civil Aviation which is responsible for regulation of air transport
services to or from or within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness
standards.
 It is also responsible for coordinating all regulatory functions with International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO).
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
 DCGI under gamut of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is responsible for approval of
licenses of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, vaccines, IV fluids and sera in India.
 DCGI lays down standards and quality of manufacturing, selling, import and distribution of drugs in India.
 It acts as appellate authority in case of any dispute regarding quality of drugs.
 It prepares and maintains national reference standard.
 It brings about uniformity in enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
 It trains Drug Analysts deputed by State Drug Control Laboratories and other Institutions.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
 It is defence PSU and one of India’s leading state-owned shipyards, located in Kolkata, West Bengal.
 It builds and repairs commercial and naval vessels. It also has started building export ships.
 It was founded in 1884 as small privately owned company on eastern bank of Hooghly River.
 It was renamed as Garden Reach Workshop in 1916.
 It was nationalised by Government in 1960.
 It has Miniratna status.
 It is first Indian shipyard to build 100 warships. It is currently handling major project to make three Stealth
Frigates for Indian Navy under P17A Project.
 100 warships built by GRSE so far range from advanced frigates to anti-submarine warfare corvettes to fleet
tankers, fast attack crafts, etc.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
 GEAC is apex body under Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for regulating manufacturing,
use, import, export and storage of hazardous micro-organisms or genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) and
cells in the country.
 It is also responsible for giving technical approval of proposals relating to release of GMOs and products
including experimental field trials.
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 However, Environment Minister gives final approval for GMOs.

Geological Survey of India (GSI)
 The GSI is a government organisation in India, attached to the Ministry of Mines for conducting geological
surveys and studies.
 It is one of the premier organisations of earth science survey and research in the world.
 The GSI was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest of such organisations in the world and the second
oldest survey institution in the country.
 It is the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government, industry and the general public.
 Its main function is related to creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource
assessment.
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal
National Bench of Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal

The features of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) are:
 The National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal will be situated in New Delhi.
 The National Bench of GSTAT would consist of President and comprise of one technical member from the
centre and one technical member from the state.
 The National Bench of GSTAT will serve as a forum for the second appeal in GST laws and the first common
forum for dispute resolution between Centre and States.
 The first appeal against the decisions of the Appellate Authorities under the Central and State GST Acts lie
before the National Bench.
 National Bench of GSTAT will ensure uniformity in redressal of disputes arising under GST, and therefore, in
the implementation of GST across the country.
Provisions for the National Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal
 Chapter XVIII of the CGST Act provides for the Appeal and Review Mechanism for dispute resolution under
the GST.
 Section 109 of Chapter XVIII Chapter of CGST Act empowers the Central Government to constitute an
Appellate Tribunal known as the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing on the
recommendation of Council, by notification, with effect from such date as may be specified therein on the
recommendation of GST Council.
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)
 It was set up in 2006 to provide long term debt for infrastructure projects.
 It provides financial assistance to commercially viable projects, which includes projects implemented by public
sector company, private sector company; or private sector company selected under Public Private Partnership
(PPP) initiative.
 IIFCL raises funds from domestic as well as external markets on strength of government guarantees.
Following sectors projects are eligible for financing from IIFCL:

 Power;
 Warehouses;
 Gas pipelines;
 Cold storage chains;
 Fertilizer Manufacturing Industry
 Infrastructure projects in Special Economic Zones;
 International convention centres and other tourism infrastructure projects;
 Road and bridges, seaports, railways, airports, inland waterways and other transportation projects.
 Urban transport, water supply, sewage, solid waste management and other physical infrastructure in urban areas.
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Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)
 IFFCO is large scale fertiliser cooperative federation in India which is registered as Multistate Cooperative
Society.
 It is one of India’s biggest cooperative society which is wholly owned by Indian Cooperatives.
 It was founded in 1967 with just 57 cooperatives and at present it has amalgamation of over 36,000 Indian
Cooperatives with diversified business interests ranging from General Insurance to Rural Telecom apart from
its core business of manufacturing and selling fertilisers.
India Post
 India Post is central postal system of India

 It was founded on 1st April 1854.
 It works under the Ministry of Communication of the Government of India.
 The postal system of India is one of the widely distributed networks in the world.
 India is divided into 23 postal circles headed by Chief Postmaster.
 Indian Post provides its services in Philately, Army Postal Service, Electronic Indian Postal Order, Postal Life
Insurance, Postal Savings, Banking, Data collection, e-commerce, and Railways.
Postal Stamps
Stamps are used for postage and for services. There are variety of stamps produced in India with different themes. The
first stamp in Asia were issued in India in July 1852 by Bartle Frere.
PIN codes
Postal Index Number is a 6-digit code of post office introduced on 15th August 1972. Out of total 9 PIN regions, eight
are PIN denoted geographical regions and one is reserved for Army Postal Service.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
 IBM was set up by Central Government in March, 1948 under Ministry of Works, Mines and Power (now
Ministry of Mines).
 It is multi-disciplinary government organisation engaged in promotion of conservation, scientific development
of mineral resources and protection of environment in mines other than coal, atomic minerals, petroleum &
natural gas and minor minerals.
 It is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
 It is primarily advisory body to help in formulation of policy and legal framework for mining sector and
advising Central and State Governments on development and utilization of mineral resources.
 It helps states in preparation of auction blocks, publishing of average sale price, assisting in post auction
monitoring and approval process.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
 ICMR is India’s apex scientific body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
 It was established in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) making it one of oldest and largest
medical research bodies in the world.
 The ICMR functions under Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
 Its Governing Body is presided over by Health Minister.
 It is assisted in scientific and technical matters by Scientific Advisory Board comprising eminent experts in
different biomedical disciplines.
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 ICMR’s research priorities coincide with national health priorities such as control and management of
communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, research on
major non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health research and
drug research (including traditional remedies) and developing alternative strategies for health care delivery.
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
 It was established in 1943 by group of Indian intellectuals as think tank.

 It was established as non-official, non-political and non-profit organisation under Registration of Societies Act
1860.
 It was declared institution of national importance by Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Act, 2001
enacted by Parliament.
 ICWA is devoted exclusively for the study of international relations and foreign affairs.
 Vice President of India is its ex-officio President.
 It had conducted historic international conferences like Asian Relations Conference in 1947 under leadership
Sarojini Naidu and United Nations and New World Order in 1994.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
 IBBI is the regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings of service providers like Insolvency Professional
Agencies (IPA), Insolvency Professionals (IP) and Information Utilities (IU) in India.
 It was given statutory powers through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
 It functions under Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
 It regulates and counters various bad loan cases reported by various creditors, which especially involved banks
in India.
 The Code provides for a market-determined and time-bound resolution of insolvency proceedings.
 It became operational in December 2016.
 It covers Individuals, Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Partnership firms.
 It attempts to simplify the process of insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings and speed up the resolution
process for stressed assets in the country.
Institute of National Importance (INI)
 Institute of National Importance is a status conferred to a premier public higher education institution in India
by an Act of Parliament.
 It is conferred on an institution which "serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within
the specified region of the country/state".
 These institutes receive special recognition and funding.
 All IITs, NITs, AIIMS’, School of Planning and Architecture and Indian Institutes of Science Education and
Research are considered Institutes of National Importance.
NABARD
 NABARD is an apex development bank in India.

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) used to held the majority stake in it. RBI has divested its stake based on
second Narasimham Committee. Now GoI held 100% stake in NABARD
 Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
 Established: 1982 on the recommendations of Shivaraman Committee to implement the National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981.
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 It has been entrusted with matters concerning policy, planning and operations in the field of credit for
agriculture and other economic activities in rural areas in India.
 It is active in developing financial inclusion policy and is a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.
 Mandate:
1. Facilitate credit flow for promotion and development of agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and
village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts.
2. Support all other allied economic activities in rural areas, promote integrated and sustainable rural
development and secure prosperity of rural areas.
Recent Amendments:
 Amendments in Act to increase authorized capital of NABARD from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 30,000 crore and
further increase it beyond Rs. 30,000 crore in consultation with RBI, as deemed necessary from time to time.
 It also includes certain other amendments including changes in long title and certain sections to bring
Handlooms and Medium Enterprises in NABARD’s mandate.
 Transfer of 0.4% equity of RBI in NABARD amounting to Rs. 20 crores, to the Union Government.
Why these amendments?

 Increase in authorized capital will enable NABARD to respond to the its commitments undertaken, in respect
of Long Term Irrigation Fund (LIF) and Government’s decision regarding on-lending to cooperative banks.
 It will enable NABARD to augment its business and enhance its activities, thus facilitating promotion of
integrated rural development and securing prosperity of rural areas by generating of more employment.
 The transfer of entire shareholding of RBI held in NABARD to the Union Government will remove the
conflict in RBI’s role as banking regulator and shareholder in NABARD.
National Anti-Doping Agency
 It was set up as registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1890 in 2005
 It has a mandate for ensuring Dope free sports in India.
 It is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring doping control program in sports in all its forms.
 Comes under Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
 Primary objectives: To implement anti-doping rules as per World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code,
promote education and research, regulate dope control programme and create awareness about doping as well as
its ill effects.
National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)
 NASSCOM is global non-profit trade association (organisation) of Indian Information Technology (IT) and
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
 It facilitates business and trade in software and services and encourages the advancement of research in software
technology.
 It is registered under the Indian Societies Act, 1860.
 Its headquarters are in New Delhi.
 It has regional offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and
Thiruvananthapuram.
 The global trade body has over 2000 members, of which over 250 are companies from the China, EU, Japan,
US and UK.
 NASSCOM’s member companies are in the business of software development, software services, software
products, IT-enabled/BPO services and e-commerce.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)
 NCDRC is quasi-judicial commission set up under Consumer Protection Act of 1986.

 It addresses grievances of aggrieved consumer for goods and services having value over Rs. 1 crore.
 It was established in 1988 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
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 The commission is headed by sitting or retired judge of Supreme Court of India.

 Statutory Provisions:
o Section 21 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 posits that NCDRC shall have jurisdiction to entertain
complaint valued more than Rs. 1 crore and also have appellate and revisional jurisdiction from orders
of state commissions or district fora as case may be.
o Section 23 of Act provides that any person aggrieved by order of NCDRC, may appeal against such
order to Supreme Court within period of 30 days.
National Housing Bank (NHB)
 NHB was set up on 9 July 1988 under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987
 NHB is an apex financial institution for housing.
 NHB has been established with an objective to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance
institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental to such
institutions and for matters connected therewith.
 NHB registers, regulates and supervises Housing Finance Company (HFCs), keeps surveillance through On-site
& Off-site Mechanisms and co-ordinates with other Regulators.
 GoI now holds 100% stake in NHB after RBI has divested its entire stake based on second Narasimham
Committee.
NHB Residex:
 It is a set of benchmarks that aims to track housing price indicators across Indian cities.
 It is designed by a technical advisory committee comprising Government representatives, lenders and property
market player.
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
 NHPC is enterprise of Central Government incorporated with an objective to plan, promote and organise an
integrated and efficient development of hydroelectric power in all aspects.
 Established: 1975 Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana.
 Besides, hydroelectric power the company has expanded its objects to include other sources of energy like Solar,
Geothermal, Tidal, Wind etc.
 At present, NHPC is a Mini Ratna Category-I Enterprise of the Central Government with an authorised share
capital of Rs. 1,50,000 Million.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organization for all retail payments system in
India.
 It was set up with the guidance and support of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association
(IBA).
 It was incorporated as a Section 25 company under Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Companies Act
2013) and is aimed to operate for the benefit of all the member banks and their customers.
 Founded in 2008
 It has successfully played pioneering role in development of a domestic card payment network called RuPay,
reducing the dependency on international card schemes.
National Productivity Council (NPC)
 NPC is a national level autonomous organization under Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion,
Ministry of Commerce & Industry to promote productivity culture in India.
 It was established as a registered society on 12th February 1958 by the Government with aim to stimulate and
promote productivity and quality consciousness across all sectors in the country.
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 It is a tri-partite non-profit organization (NGO) with equal representation from government, employers and
workers’ organizations.
 It also has representatives from technical and professional institutions including members from local
productivity councils and chamber of commerce on its Governing Body.
 It also implements the productivity promotion schemes of Government and carry out programmes of Tokyo
based Asian Productivity Organization (APO), an inter-governmental body of which India is founder member.
NTPC
 NTPC is India’s largest power utility.

 It was incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 and is promoted by the Government of India.
 The headquarters of the company is situated in New Delhi.

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Payments Council of India (PCI)
 PCI is an apex non-governmental body representing companies in payments and settlement system.
 It was formed in 2013 under aegis of IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India) to cater needs of
digital payment industry in India.
 It was formed for representing various regulated non-banking payment industry players and to help resolve
various industry level issues and barriers in payments and settlement system.
 It works with all its members to promote payments industry growth and support goal of ‘Cash to Less Cash
Society’ and ‘Growth of Financial Inclusion’ which is also vision shared by Government of India and Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
_______________________________________________________________
 PCI works closely with regulators i.e. RBI, Finance Ministry and any similar government, departments, bodies
or institutions to make ‘India a less cash society’.
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)
 PESO is the apex department to control and administer manufacture, storage, transport and handling of
explosives, petroleum, compressed gases and other hazardous substances in India.
 It functions under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
 It is headed by Chief Controller of Explosives
 It is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Sahitya Akademi
 It is India’s National Academy of Letters.

 It is an organisation dedicated to promotion of literature in Indian languages of India.
 It was founded in March 1954.
 It is headquartered in Rabindra Bhavan in Delhi.
 It is the central institution for literary dialogue, publication and promotion in the country.
 It is only institution that undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages, including English.
 It organises national and regional workshops and seminars; provides research and travel grants to authors;
publishes books and journals, including the Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature.
 It also gives 24 awards annually to literary works in the languages it has recognized.
Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
 The SFIO is a fraud investigating agency in India, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
 The SFIO is involved in major fraud probes and is the co-ordinating agency with the Income Tax Department
and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
 It was established in January 2003 based on the recommendation of Naresh Chandra Committee on corporate
governance and in backdrop of stock market scams due to failure of non-banking companies resulting in huge
financial loss to the public.
 SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organization having experts from financial sector, accountancy, capital market,
taxation, forensic audit, law, information technology, company law, customs and investigation.
 These experts have been taken from various organizations like banks, Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI), Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and concerned organizations and departments of
Government.
Solar Energy Corporation India (SECI)
 SECI is a not-for-profit company established in 2011 under Section-25 of the Companies Act 1956
 It comes under the direction of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
 It is a facilitation and implementation institution dedicated to Solar Energy sector
 Nodal agency for implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
 Only Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) dedicated to solar energy sector.
 Recently, Delhi Police signed MoU with SECI to set up Rooftop Solar Energy Systems in more than 200 of
its buildings across the city.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
 Established by an Act of Parliament, called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
_______________________________________________________________
 Aims to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier
vested in the Central Government.
 The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a
Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and
disputes functions from TRAI.
 TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two or more service
providers, between a service provider and a group of consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any
direction, decision or order of TRAI.
Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL)
 UCIL is a centrally owned Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), under the Department of Atomic Energy for
uranium mining and uranium processing.
 It was founded in 1967
 It is responsible for the mining and milling of uranium ore in India.
 At present, the UCIL has uranium mining projects are in Jadugora, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih and
Banduhurang in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

IAS4Sure Institutions Notes For Prelims 2021

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IAS4Sure Institutions Notes For Prelims 2021

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National & International

Updated up to 31 August 2021

Published by: www.ias4sure.com

International : Governance ................................................................................................................ 10

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)............................................................................... 70

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)......................................... 84

National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language............................................................................................ 97

Indian Reserve Battalion................................................................................................................................... 112

Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)........................................................................................................... 127

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)........................................................................................................142

National Productivity Council (NPC)................................................................................................................. 156

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

International Seabed Authority

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO):

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

Financial Action Task Force(FATF)

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

International Criminal Court (ICC)

 It is an intergovernmental organisation and international tribunal

International Energy Agency (IEA)

New Development Bank

 Also referred as BRICS Development Bank

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

United Nations Peacekeeping

 United Nations Peacekeeping was created in 1948.

India and the UN Peacekeeping forces:

Other Countries Contributions:

 WHO is a specialised agency of UN.

o International Bureau - its Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

International Monetary Fund

 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries.

 This is an international financial institution

 It is an international financial institution

Significance for India (For Mains):

 Founded on 1 January 1958.

European Investment Bank (EIB)

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

ICANN is responsible for

International Astronomical Union

 It is an international financial institution that offers loans to middle-income developing countries.

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

 It is an international arbitration institution established in 1966.

International Development sociation (IDA)

 It is a UN agency responsible for sustainable urban development and human settlements.

 UN-Habitat reports to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

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United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

World Customs Organization

 The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization

 The WFP is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.

 OPEC stands for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

 ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations

o Has and FTA with ASEAN (operational since 2010)

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

 It is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation

European Union (EU)

 EU is an economic and political partnership

India’s Engagement in the Arctic Region:

D10 Group of Countries