UPSC PT Pointers

Argentina formally rejects BRICS membership recently. BRICS made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa announced it was admitting 6 new members in a bid to counter the Western-led global order. The membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates was due to take effect from January 1, 2024.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

AARDO

The African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) is an intergovernmental organization that aims to improve rural areas in Asian and African countries. It is an autonomous organization established in 1962, headquartered in New Delhi. It's one of the earliest examples of South-South cooperation in rural development.

ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF)

The 4th edition of the annual ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) for 2023 took place in Langkawi, Malaysia recently. The AIGIF is an annual program that focuses on strengthening the relationship between India and ASEAN Member States (AMS) in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation. 2 grassroots innovators and 1 student innovator from India won prizes in the grassroots innovation and student innovation competition respectively.

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

India joins Executive Committee of Codex Alimentarius Commission during its 46th meeting being held at Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters at Rome. CAC is an international body that sets food standards established in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The CAC's goals are to protect consumer health and ensure fair food trade practices. It has 189 members. The CAC is part of the joint FAO/WHO Food S

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

India, re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council recently. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a United Nations agency that regulates shipping. HQ- London, England. The IMO was established in 1948 at a UN conference in Geneva. It currently has 174 Member States. The IMO was prompted to take action on marine pollution prevention and response by major oil pollution incidents.

UNITAMS

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has voted to end its political mission dedicated to ending the civil war in Sudan. The liquidation of UNITAMS will begin on March 1, 2024. The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) was established in June 2020. The mission’s mandate was extended in 2021 and 2022. UNITAMS supports the promotion and protection of human rights.

International Sugar Organization (ISO)

India becomes Chair of International Sugar Organization (ISO) for 2024 to lead global sugar sector. ISO is an intergovernmental organization with 90 member countries, based in London, which was established by the International Sugar Agreement of 1968, as the body responsible for administering the Agreement. ISO represents (based on data for 2022) - 87% of world sugar production, 64% of world sugar consumption, 34% of world imports, 92% of world exports. India is the largest

I2U2

I2U2is a strategic partnership between four countries: India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The group's goal is to work together on global challenges and economic opportunities.

33rd Conference of WOAH Regional Commission

India recently hosts the 33rd Conference of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific at New Delhi. WOAH is an intergovernmental Organization working across borders to improve the health of animals. WHOA is headquartered in Paris and has 182 Members including India. WHOA has adopted its Seventh Strategic Plan for 2021 - 2025.