47th ASEAN Summit

Context: The Indian Prime Minister will participate virtually in the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.

About ASEAN

• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.(10)
• Objective: Promote regional stability, economic growth, and cultural cooperation among Southeast Asian nations.
• Secretariat: Headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia

About ASEAN 2025 Summit

• The 47th ASEAN Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Theme: ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’
• Participation: Leaders from all member states and invited partners, including India, engage in policy dialogue and multilateral discussions.

India–ASEAN Partnership

• The India-ASEAN partnership began in 1992 when India became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner.
• It was upgraded to a full Dialogue Partner in 1995 and further to a Strategic Partnership in 2012.
• Strategic Ties: India and ASEAN share a comprehensive strategic partnership, emphasizing security, trade, and regional stability.
• Economic Cooperation: India is part of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), boosting trade and investment.
• Cultural & Connectivity Initiatives: India participates in ASEAN cultural, educational, and connectivity projects, including digital and infrastructure linkages.

Saranda Forest

Context: The Supreme Court has directed the Jharkhand government to designate Saranda Forest as a wildlife sanctuary to protect biodiversity including elephants and sloth bears.

About Saranda Forest

• Saranda, located in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, is famous for its dense Sal (Shorea robusta) forests.

Issues regarding the forest

• Biodiversity Threats: It faces habitat degradation, fragmentation, and declining wildlife populations due to illegal mining and anthropogenic pressures.
• Conflict Between Conservation and Mining: The area contains significant iron ore and manganese reserves (26% of India’s iron ore), leading to tensions between protecting biodiversity and sustaining mining revenue.
• Tribal Rights and Legal Compliance: Sanctuary notification raises concerns over the rights of Ho, Munda, and other Adivasi communities under the Forest Rights Act and Fifth Schedule.

About Sal (Shorea robusta) Tree

• Sal is a deciduous, hardwood tree native to India, Nepal, and surrounding regions, forming dense forests that support rich biodiversity.
• Economic Importance: Its timber is highly durable and used in construction, furniture, and railway sleepers; resin from Sal is used in varnishes and traditional medicines.
• Environmental Role: Sal forests prevent soil erosion, maintain watershed health, and provide habitat for wildlife such as elephants, deer, and various bird species.

New Sevilla Forum on Debt

Context: The Sevilla Forum on Debt was launched at the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva.

About United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

• The UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established in 1964 to promote inclusive and sustainable global trade and development, especially for developing countries.
• UNCTAD 16: Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 20–23, 2025.
• Theme: “Shaping the Future: Driving Economic Transformation for Equitable, Inclusive, and Sustainable Development.”

About the Sevilla Forum on Debt

• Initiative: Spanish-led, supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
• Objective: Provide an open and inclusive space for dialogue and action on sovereign debt reform.
• Participants: Developed and developing countries, creditors, international institutions, civil society, and academia.
• Functions: Track the implementation of agreements from the Sevilla Commitment adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), 2025.
  • This agreement sets out a roadmap to modernize global finance, strengthen the voice of borrower nations, as well as promote responsible lending and borrowing.
• Complementary Platforms: Forms part of the Sevilla Platform for Action, complementing initiatives like the Debt Pause Clause Alliance and Global Hub for Debt Swaps.

Global Debt

• Public debt reached $102 trillion in 2024, with developing countries accounting for $31 trillion and paying $921 billion in interest.
• 3.4 billion people live in countries where debt servicing exceeds spending on health or education, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

Significance

• The Forum represents a breakthrough for developing countries, fostering coordinated global action to reduce unsustainable debt burdens while linking financial reform to development priorities.

Specialty Fertilisers

Context: Recently, India is facing rising specialty fertiliser prices as China suspends exports of urea and specialty fertilisers, affecting global and domestic markets.

What are Specialty Fertilisers?

• Definition: Specialty fertilisers are nutrient sources applied under specific soil and plant conditions to achieve higher efficiency and optimum crop yield.
• Role: They gradually release nutrients, reduce losses, improve nitrogen use efficiency, and enhance plant growth, addressing food security, environmental concerns, and climate change.
• Examples: Technical Monoammonium Phosphate (TMAP) and emission-control solutions like AdBlue.

Status in India

• High Import Dependence: India imports approximately 95% of its specialty fertilisers, primarily from China, including TMAP and AdBlue.
• Consumption Pattern: India consumes around 250,000 tonnes annually, with 60–65% used during the rabi season (October–March). 
• Price hike risk: Current Chinese export curbs could increase prices by 10–15%, though supply for the ongoing season is secured through global traders.
  • Alternative sources like South Africa, Chile, and Croatia exist but cover only limited products.

Iran Ratifies UN Convention Against Terror Financing

Context: Iran has ratified a law to join the UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), aiming to improve access to global banking and ease sanctions pressure.

About the UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)

• Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1999, the CFT seeks to criminalize and prevent the financing of terrorism by state and non-state actors.
• Parties: Ratified by 188 countries, including India among the most universally accepted anti-terror treaties.
• Objective: Criminalize, prevent, and punish terror financing; enhance global cooperation against terror-linked financial networks.
• Scope: It  covers direct or indirect provision of funds for acts causing death or injury to civilians/non-combatants.

Iran’s Case

• Iran was blacklisted by FATF in 2020, alongside North Korea and Myanmar, for inadequate measures against terror financing.
• The move follows renewed UN sanctions (September 2025) and ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive the nuclear deal disrupted earlier in the year.

About FATF

• FATF (1989): The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sets international standards for Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT).
• The FATF develops policy recommendations that member countries, including India, must implement. 
• CFT, therefore, is a key component of the broader anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) framework overseen by the FATF.

Mullaperiyar Dam

Context: An early onset of the northeast monsoon in 2025 has led to simultaneous heavy rainfall in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, intensifying flood risks around the Mullaperiyar Dam.

About Mullaperiyar Dam

• Introduction: The Mullaperiyar Dam, built in 1895, is a gravity dam made of limestone and surkhi, designed to divert water from Kerala’s Periyar River to Tamil Nadu’s Vaigai basin.
• Location: Situated in the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats near Kumily, Idukki district (Kerala), it lies along the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border.
• Ecological and Economic Significance: The dam is vital for irrigation and drinking water supply to southern Tamil Nadu districts like Theni, Madurai, and Dindigul.
  • It also supports agriculture and regional livelihoods dependent on the Vaigai River system.
  • The Periyar Tiger Reserve lies around the Dam reservoir.
• Safety and Environmental Concerns: The dam lies in a seismically active zone and faces heightened risks from heavy rainfall, landslides, and potential structural vulnerabilities due to its age.
• Inter-State Water Dispute: Tamil Nadu wants the water level raised to 142 ft in accordance with the 2014 Supreme Court decision, whereas Kerala insists on maintaining it at 139 ft due to damage to dams and environmental concerns.

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