TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
2. Mahatma Phule
3. SVANidhi se Samriddhi

1. India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

Syllabus: GS II, Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests 

Prelims: Facts related to India-US relationship, Indian Ocean Region

Mains: Significance of 2+2 dialogue in securing India’s strategic and security concerns. 

Context: The fourth US-India 2+2 ministerial dialogue was held in Washington DC. 

The 2+2 Dialogue: Significance

• This diplomatic procedure involves a format of a meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of India and its allies on the strategic and security fronts. 
• The dialogue (2+2) facilitates a better understanding of the concerns and the sensitivities along with the political factors, between the strategic partners in a rapidly evolving global environment. 

Countries with which India exchanged 2+2 dialogues:

• India has four key 2+2 dialogue partners such as the US, Japan, Australia and Russia. 
• Apart from Russia, the other three dialogue partners (Japan, US and Australia) are partners of India in the QUAD. 
• The US is India’s oldest and most important partner for 2+2 talks. 
• The first engagement at the 2+2 level between India and the US was held in 2018. 

Important elements of the 2+2 engagement:

• Several discussions were held regarding the strategic and defence agreements between the dialogue partners to produce tangible and far-reaching results for India. 
• The approach to deal with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis had been touched upon. The US has conveyed that it is yet to consider the sanctions under the CAATSA law associated with Russia, North Korea and Iran. 
• During the meeting, the situation in the Indian Ocean Region has been assessed.

Read about IORA by following the link.

• A troika of “foundational pacts” for deep military cooperation was signed between US-India which will be strengthened in the upcoming days.
• The existing agreements include:
  • The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was signed in 2016.
  • Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) was signed for exchange of information pertaining to exercises, training and operations. 
  • BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) was signed in 2020. 

What can be interpreted?

• This dialogue exemplifies the expansion of India-US Defence Cooperation and Strategic engagements.
• Increased collaboration in the mutual areas of interest would contribute to the maintenance of peace and security in the region. 

Read more about the India-US relationship in the linked article.

2. Mahatma Phule

Syllabus: GS I, Personalities

Prelims: Facts about Mahatma Phule

Mains: Role of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in the social reform movement of India. 

Context: The Prime Minister offered homage to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and commemorated his legacy on his birth anniversary.

About Mahatma Jyotiba Phule:

• As a social reformer, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule worked relentlessly for the rights of women and paved the way for their development and empowerment.
• This iconic personality is remembered as an epitome of social justice and a source of hope for the downtrodden of the country. 

Watch the following video for more about Mahatma Phule:

3. SVANidhi se Samriddhi

Syllabus: GS II, 

Prelims: About SVANidhi se Samriddhi

Mains: Government interventions to protect the interests of the informal sectors. 

Context: In order to provide social security benefits to the street vendors under the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the SVANidhi se Samriddhi programme has been launched in additional 126 cities across the country. 

About the programme:

• SVANidhi se Samriddhi is an extension of the PMSVANidhi scheme which was launched to support the street vendors and their families in the wake of the pandemic. 
• It is a central sector scheme.
• It aims at holistic development and socio-economic upliftment of the street vendors and their families by offering social security benefits and insurance benefits like PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and pension benefits under PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana. 
• The scheme also intends to provide working capital loans to street vendors and has been successful in reaching out to a number of beneficiaries. 

Read more about the PM SVANidhi scheme in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

April 12th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here