India Central Asia meet of NSAs calls for action to deal with terrorism (GS Paper 3, Internal Security)
Why in news?
- Recently, the first India-Central Asia meeting of the National Security Advisers was held in New Delhi.
- The NSAs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended the conclave while Turkmenistan is being represented by its ambassador to India.
Key Highlights:
- They called for collective action to combat challenges like terror financing, radicalisation and use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, while asserting that Afghanistan must not become a safe haven for terrorist activities.
- The meeting emphasised the need for respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and urged non-interference in its internal affairs.
- A joint communique agreed that the expansion of terrorist propaganda, recruitment and fund-raising efforts have serious security implications for the region, and therefore, a collective and coordinated response is essential.
- The mentioning of cross-border terrorism is seen as a reference to Pakistan's support to various terror groups which have been targeting India.
- The meeting also strongly called for an early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to effectively deal with the menace.
- It also reiterated that greater connectivity could be a force multiplier for enhancing trade and commerce as well as for ensuring closer interactions between India and Central Asian countries.
Background:
- The conclave with a focus on evolving a common framework to deal with challenges of terrorism in the region including Afghanistan and ways to bolster overall security cooperation in sync with a decision taken at the first India-Central Asia summit in January.
Former Minister and economist Y.K. Alagh passes away at 83
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Former Union Minister and agricultural economist Yoginder K. Alagh, passed away recently.
- He is remembered for being a “democrat” and for his “inclusive approach to development”.
Facts about Y.K. Alagh:
- He had been the Chairperson of the Institute of Rural Management Anand from 2006 to 2012, succeeding Verghese Kurien.
- He was the Chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, and Vice-Chairman, Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research, Ahmedabad.
- He was appointed a Union Minister based on his lifetime achievements in academia and public policy and headed the Ministries of Power, Science and Technology and Planning and Programme Implementation.
- Alagh headed a task force in 1979 which devised the first ever poverty estimates based on calorie requirements.
- Between 1992 and 1996, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where he raised non-government funding from zero to 25%, recruited 23 scholars from the finest universities around the world and as a member of the International Rectors’ Group sponsored by New York University, pushed the university towards globalisation.
- As the Chairman of the Agricultural Prices Commission during 1982-83, he reorganised Indian planning on an agro-climactic basis. From 1980 to 1982, he was the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Narmada Planning Group.
- He also chaired the Expert Group on the Cauvery dispute.
Indonesia approves ban on sex outside marriage
(GS Paper 2, Social Justice)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Indonesia’s parliament approved a law that would outlaw sex outside marriage in a move critics said was a huge setback to rights in the world’s most populous Muslim country.
Key Highlights:
- Some of the most controversial articles criminalise extra-marital sex, as well as the cohabitation of unmarried couples.
- The sex outside marriage will be punished with one year in prison while unmarried people living together could face six months in jail.
- The new rules could also be used to criminalise the LGBTQ community in Indonesia, as the country does not acknowledge same-sex marriage.
Criticism:
- Rights groups protested against the amendments, denouncing them as a crackdown on civil liberties and political freedoms as well as a shift towards fundamentalism in Muslim-majority Indonesia.
- The article criminalising sex outside marriage has been criticised by Indonesian business organisations as detrimental to tourism, though authorities insist foreigners travelling to Bali would not be affected.
What’s next?
- The new code, which still needs to be approved by President Joko Widodo, will come into force after three years.
