Current Affairs 27th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

UNSC Reforms: Multilateral Groups- G4, L69, C10

Context: The Group of Four (G4) countries have intensified their calls for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as the UN approaches its 80th anniversary in 2025.

About G-4

• It is a group of 4 countries: Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan.
• Objective: To support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the UNSC.
• Formation: The G4 was formed in
• Meetings: The G4 generally meets on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly session.
• Proposals: The G4 has proposed increasing the UNSC’s membership from 15 to 25, by adding 6 permanent and 4-5 non-permanent members.

L-69 Grouping

• It is a group of developing countries which advocate for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
• Membership: It includes countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
• Goals:
  • To make the UNSC more representative, accountable and effective.
  • Making the UNSC more representative
  • Expanding the UNSC with more permanent and non-permanent members
  • Achieving equitable geographical representation
• India is a member of the L-69 Group.

About C 10 Grouping

• Members (10): Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia.
• Goal: Push for better representation of Africa in UNSC, in line with the Common African Position outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
  • Ezulwini Consensus:
    • It was adopted in March 2005 in Addis Ababa.
    • The Ezulwini Consensus called for Africa to have at least 2 permanent seats and 5 non-permanent seats on the Security Council.
  • Sirte Declaration:
    • It was adopted in July 2005, It also reiterated the need for the same number of seats for African states as the Ezulwini Consensus.

Technology Development Fund

Context: DRDO is currently funding 5 high-value deep tech innovation projects, with each having been allotted a maximum of ₹50 crore to promote indigenisation of defence products having long-term positive impact on national security. They are getting funded under the Technology Development Fund.

About Technology Development Fund (TDF)

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence of India
• Executed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Objective:
  • To boost the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging innovation in defence technologies.
  • To promote self-reliance in defence technology.
• Funding: It provides grants-in-aid to the industry for the development of indigenous technology. The DRDO bears 90% of the cost of the project.
• Target industries: Encourages participation from public and private industries, especially MSMEs and startups.
• Intellectual property rights (IPR): The industry and DRDO jointly hold the IPR for the developed products.

Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)

Context: A new memorandum of agreement will soon be signed between the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments to implement a revised version of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP).

About ERCP

• It is a water supply project in Rajasthan that aims to increase irrigation and water availability for drinking and industrial purposes.
• Objectives:
  • Water Supply: To provide reliable drinking and industrial water to 13 districts in eastern Rajasthan, which face severe water shortages.
  • Irrigation: To enhance irrigation facilities across approximately 2.8 lakh hectares of agricultural land in both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• Key Features:
  • Intra-Basin Water Transfer: The ERCP focuses on transferring surplus monsoon water from rivers in southern Rajasthan, such as the Chambal, Kalisindh, Parvati to water-deficit sub-basins including Banas, Gambhiri, Banganga and Parbati.
  • Estimated Cost: Around ₹40,000 to ₹51,000 crore. There have been discussions about declaring it a national project to facilitate a cost-sharing ratio of 90:10 between the central government and the state.

GloBE Network

Context: India was elected to the 15-member GlobE Steering Committee during the plenary session held in Beijing recently after a multistage voting process. As a member of the Steering Committee, India will play a crucial role in shaping the global agenda against corruption and asset recovery

About GloBE Network

• It stands for Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities.
• It is a platform that helps law enforcement agencies from around the world work together to fight corruption:
• Launch: June 3, 2021, I is an Initiative of G-20.
• Goals:
  • Strengthening the global response to corruption
  • Enabling law enforcement to detect, investigate, and prosecute cross-border corruption.
• Members: All UN Member States and States parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
• Support: The United Nations Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports the GloBE Network by providing its secretariat.
• Structure: It is governed by its members, who are led by a Steering Committee that includes a Chair, Vice-Chair, and up to 15 country members.

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