India-Israel sign cultural agreement

What is the news ?

India and Israel signed a cultural agreement that outlines a three-year programme of cooperation to further strengthen their strategic bilateral relations by promoting greater people-to-people exchanges.

About the Agreement

• The major areas are promote cultural ties include the exchange of culture and art experts performing arts festivals, plastic arts, photography and design, architecture, museums and exhibitions, music, dance, dance and theatre.
• encouraging cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage and archaeology with the help of Israel Antiquities Authority (IIA) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Organising literary fests and book fairs while promoting the translation of famous works in each other’s languages.
• Student exchanges through scholarships, encouraging the participation of films and film-makers in each other’s international film festivals.
• Besides agreed to translation of various scripture, literary work and poetry.
• Encourage direct contacts between book publishers and national libraries.

India and Israel Relations

• India Israel becomes more close during the period of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao
• In 2000 Indo-Israel Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism set up in 2000.
• Israel has becomes India’s largest arm supplier after Russia. Thereby Israel also emerged as arm exporter in the world.
• 2007 India (ISRO) and Israel (IAI) Joined to develop new generation surface-to-air missile.
• India is Israel’s tenth largest trade partner.
• India voted to recognise Israel in 1950 when most of the nations not interested in alienating Arab world for oil.
• Indian Diaspora
  • Approximatley there are seventy thousand Jews of Indian origin in Israel.
  • There are Indian citizens includes diamond traders, IT Professionals, students, unskilled workers.

Benefits from ties with Israel

India needs technology, innovation, defence equipment, cooperation in counter-terrorism, training in intelligence gathering etc. from Israel for a secure and stable future. Till date 30 countries do not recognise Israel, hence being accepted through a recognised relation like India, world’s largest democracy is an added advantage for Israel. Besides huge market in India for technology is also considered as a benefits.

Source – The Hindu

Topic 

GS : International relation

Ramesh Chand Task-Force on sugarcane price

What is the news ?

A Niti Aayog task force recommended linking sugarcane prices to sugar rates to keep the industry in sound financial health.

Significance and Recommendations

• It has also pitched for a one time increase in minimum sugar price to Rs 33 per kilo to help sugar mills cover the cost of production.
• Also recommended shifting of some areas under sugarcane cultivation to less water-intensive crops by providing suitable incentive to farmers a compensation of Rs 6,000 per hectare.
• In order reduce the burden of sugarcane cultivation it must be liked with sugar prices otherwise it negatively impacted the cultivation.
• Sugarcane is the second largest agro-based industry after cotton.
• Also the domestic consumption estimate of sugar is 2.6 crore tonnes against a production of 3 crore tonnes.

Sugarcane Industry in India

• Second largest after the cotton textile industry.
• The population related for sugar industry constitute 7 percent of and it employs more than 3.5 lakh people. 
• Uttar Pradesh accounts for nearly half of the total cane area followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu (12%), Karnataka (9%) and Andhra Pradesh (6%).
• Cultivation requirement 
  • Temperatures between 50 degree C and 20 degree C required. The crop does best in the tropical regions receiving a rainfall of 750-1200 mm. For ripening, it needs a cool, dry season. Heavy rainfall reduces the quality of the juice tends.
  • It grows best on medium heavy soils. 
  • Planting of sugarcane is done in three seasons
    • suru- January-February,
    • adsali – July-August
    • pre seasonal- October-November for planting generally ridge
  • The required amount of water varies from 2000 to 2500 mm based on climate, soil and duration
  • Harvested once the farmers got order from mills mainly in November. 

Source : Economic Times

Topic

Prelims : Sugarcane Industry

GS III : Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers

Pakistan-Saudi drifting apart

Why in News?

Long-time allies appear to be drifting apart, with Saudi Arabia preferring to build ties with India.

Pak-Saudi Relation

• The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan was at peak during 1971 war between India and Pakistan. They were opposing the creation of Bangladesh.
• Since 1970 Pakistan forces stationed in Saudi and during the Iraq-Iran war more than 20,000 soldiers stationed in Saudi for support.
• Pakistani import a larger number of arms from Saudi Arabia.
• Besides they supported Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan War in 1980’s against Soviet Union.
• Saudi is the largest source of petroleum for Pakistan and established oil refinery at Gwadar with 5 lakh barrel capacity per day in 2018. Support of Saudis with oil

Reason and Signs of Saudi India ties

• After the revoking Article 370 no harsh statements declared by Saudi or any Organisation of Islamic Conference(OIC) even Pakistan pressurise OIC.
• Saudi Arabia invited Indian PM investment forum in Riyadh and Both countries have developed closer economic and security ties to India in recent years.
• Just days after India’s Kashmir decision, a $15bn energy deal was announced.
• Saudi also supported India by pressurising Pakistan for releasing Abinandan, after the Pulwama terror attack.
• Pakistan increasing ties with Turkey who is trying to position himself as the new leader of Muslim world, Saudi seen it as a challenge.
• Pakistan is now seeking eonomic support from China that Pakistan earlier get it from Saudi.
• In 2015, Pakistan’s Parliament decided not to support the Saudi military effort to restore an internationally recognised government in Yemen.

Benefit for Saudi from ties with India

• Saudi economy is diversifying from oil sector to other sectors India will be a good market.
• Saudi is the fourth largest trade partner of India.
• India imports around 18% of its crude oil requirement and a major source for LPG.
• The oil import may increase in future as India-US ties increasing. US sanction for Iran may force India to stop import of crude from Iran.

Benefits for India

Saudi may not allow to thwart regional instability by raising issues in Kashmir. Besides India can get support from Ara world through diplomatic ties with Saudi. It will be good for India if Pakistan-China-Saudi triangle is not formed.

Source : Indian Express

Topic

GS III : Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora