VINBAX

Context: The 6th edition of the India–Vietnam Army Exercise VINBAX commenced in Hanoi, Vietnam.

About VINBAX

• Exercise VINBAX (Vietnam–India Bilateral Army Exercise) is a joint military training initiative between the Indian Army and the Vietnam People’s Army, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation and interoperability.
  • The first edition of the VINBAX was held in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in 2018.
• Venue : The 2025 edition is being held in Hanoi, Vietnam,
• Focus Area: The exercise emphasizes UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), with special attention to tactical drills, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations, reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to global peace and stability.
• Significance: VINBAX serves as a key element of India–Vietnam defence engagement, strengthening military-to-military cooperation, fostering regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, and reinforcing the Act East Policy of India.

Quality Control Orders (QCOs)

Context: Recently, NITI Aayog reported that Quality Control Orders (QCOs), intended to raise product standards are instead burdening MSMEs and weakening India’s export competitiveness.

What is a Quality Control Order (QCO)?

• QCO  are legal directives issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, mandating BIS certification for the manufacture, import, or sale of notified products.
• Purpose: Originally designed to ensure product quality and restrict low-grade imports, QCOs have expanded rapidly from 88 in 2019 to 765 by December 2024 covering key sectors like metals, machinery, and electronics.

Impact on Export

• Import Targeted :  Most QCOs cover raw materials and intermediate goods, not finished products, increasing input costs for downstream industries.
• Import Decline: Imports of intermediate goods fell by 16% in the first year, 17.5% in the next, and 30% long term, weakening domestic production.
• Standard Mismatch: QCO norms diverge from global benchmarks, leading to delays, higher testing expenses, and reduced export competitiveness.
• Sectoral Impact: Export-oriented sectors like footwear and electronics suffered from limited imported inputs and rising market concentration.
• Price Effect: Prices of polyester yarn and steel increased 15–30% above global levels, eroding India’s apparel export competitiveness.

Recommendations

• Rationalise QCO Coverage: Restrict QCOs to finished goods rather than intermediate products to prevent disruption of industrial supply chains.
• Align with Global Standards: Harmonise Indian standards with international benchmarks to ease compliance and boost export acceptance.
• Streamline Regulatory Processes: Revoke redundant systems like Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) and No Objection Certificate (NOC) for non-BIS grades, as monitoring can be effectively handled by DGFT.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in Mauritania and Senegal.

• WHO reported  over 404 cases and 42 deaths with a 10% fatality rate.

About Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

• Rift Valley Fever is a viral zoonotic disease first identified in Kenya’s Rift Valley in the 1930s which primarily affects livestock and humans, spreading rapidly after heavy rains and floods.
• Caused By: Phlebovirus of the Phenuiviridae family. 
• Transmission: The virus mainly infects sheep, goats, cattle, and camels, and is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites or contact with infected animal fluids.
  • Human-to-human transmission has not been documented.
• Symptoms: Nearly 90% of infections are mild, resembling flu-like illness with fever, muscle pain, and fatigue. 
  • Severe forms may cause ocular disease, meningoencephalitis, or haemorrhagic fever, with the latter having a fatality rate up to 50%.
• Treatment: There is no specific antiviral therapy for RVF. 
  • Treatment is supportive, focusing on hydration, organ monitoring, and managing bleeding. Diagnosis requires laboratory testing under high biosafety precautions.
• Prevention: Preventive strategies follow a One Health approach, combining animal surveillance, vector control, and public health education. 
  • Animal vaccines exist but are best used between outbreaks.
  • For humans there is no Vaccination Available, preventive measures include protective clothing, avoiding raw animal products, and mosquito control.
• India has not reported any RVF cases, but its One Health framework prioritises surveillance and preparedness due to favourable climatic and trade-related risk factors.

‘Amar Sonar Bangla’

Context: As India celebrates 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, controversy has arisen over ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ not being celebrated enough as it completes 120 years in 2025.

About ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’

• ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ is a patriotic song expressing deep love for the motherland, portraying Bengal as a nurturing and affectionate mother. 
  • It symbolises unity, devotion, and resilience against oppression.
• Composed By: The song was written and composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905, during the Swadeshi Movement, as a response to the Partition of Bengal announced by Lord Curzon.
• Historical Significance: Tagore’s composition carried forward Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s nationalist vision embodied in ‘Vande Mataram’. 
• Current Relevance: Adopted as Bangladesh’s national anthem in 1971, ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ remains a symbol of cultural and emotional kinship between India and Bangladesh.

‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ share a common imagination of the motherland filled with affection, sacrifice, and pride and therefore deserve equal respect and understanding.

Climate Investment Funds (CIF)

Context: At the COP30 of UNFCCC, Germany and Spain pledged $100 million to support a new climate adaptation program under the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds.

About Climate Investment Funds (CIF)

• The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) is a multilateral climate finance mechanism with over $12 billion pledged by contributor countries, which has successfully mobilized over $64 billion in additional co-financing.
• CIF Secretariat : Housed within the World Bank
• Launch year: 2008
• Purpose: To provide concessional finance to developing countries to support climate action, such as clean technology and climate resilience
• Climate Initiatives Funded by CIF: CIF finances adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building projects across sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart infrastructure.
  • It works with multilateral development banks to attract private investment and transform climate risks into economic opportunities.
• Funding Purpose: The $100 million contribution from Germany and Spain will bolster ARISE — Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies.

About ARISE — Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies

• The ARISE Initiative is a global program promoting resilient and sustainable infrastructure financing through public–private partnerships.
• Launch and Origin: ARISE was conceptualized after the 2009 UNFCCC Copenhagen Climate Conference
  • It was formally developed in 2010 by Dr. David Jhirad of Johns Hopkins University’s ERE Program with Rockefeller Foundation support.
• Purpose: To mobilize large-scale capital investment for ‘green’ and resilient infrastructure addressing climate change, energy poverty, and ecosystem degradation in both developed and developing nations.
• Partnership Framework: The initiative emphasizes collaboration among sovereign wealth funds, multilateral development banks, donor agencies, and private investors to finance sustainable infrastructure portfolios.
• Global Relevance Aligned with UN and World Bank resilience goals, ARISE supports urban and rural infrastructure projects  fostering inclusive, climate-resilient development.

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