PIB Summary- 22th May, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Prime Minister’s visit to Japan

Context

The Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Tokyo, Japan for a two-day official visit.

Details:

• The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with the Japanese Prime Minister and also the business community in Japan.
• The Indian Prime Minister would also participate in the second in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit. The Summit proposes to review the progress of Quad initiatives and exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest.
• The Indian Prime Minister will also hold separate bilateral meetings with the U.S. President Joseph Biden and newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. These meetings will help further consolidate the multifaceted cooperation between India and these countries

India-Japan bilateral relationship:

• The friendship between India and Japan has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilization ties dating back to the visit of Indian monk Bodhisena in 752 AD.
• Presently, India and Japan share a Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
• Both countries hold annual summits to keep the momentum of the relationship intact and recently the 14th such summit was held. Apart from the Annual Summits, the annual Foreign Minister level Strategic Dialogue, Defence Ministers Meeting, NSA-level Dialogue, Ministerial level 2+2 and other bilateral dialogue mechanisms ensure regular high level and functional engagements
• Apart from the interactions at the bilateral level, the two countries are also involved in multilateral interactions in groupings such as the Quad, G20 etc.
• Economic cooperation is an important aspect of the bilateral relationship. Japan has been a major source of finance and investment into India and the strengthening economic linkages between the two economies and businesses adds further dynamism to the bilateral relationship. The bilateral trade has only increased over the years.
• Japan has been extending bilateral loan and grant assistance to India since 1958 and is the largest bilateral donor for India. Japanese ODA supports India’s efforts for accelerated economic development particularly in priority areas like power, transportation, environmental projects, and projects related to basic human needs.
• India-Japan Defence and Security partnership has evolved over the years and today forms an integral pillar of the bilateral ties.
• Japan is home to nearly 40,000 members of the Indian diaspora.

Navies of Bangladesh and India to Undertake Coordinated Patrol

Context
The fourth edition of the Indian Navy-Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) began in the Northern Bay of Bengal region.

Details:

• As part of this exercise, Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy units will undertake joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Two indigenously built Ships – Kora, a guided-missile corvette and Sumedha, an offshore patrol vessel of India would be participating in the exercise along with Bangladesh Navy Ships.
• The CORPAT exercises help strengthen mutual understanding and enhance interoperability between both the navies in countering transnational maritime threats at sea.

Union Minister for Environment address on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity

Context:

• Address by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav during the inauguration of a special exhibition on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity.
• The International Day for Biological Diversity is an annual event that celebrates the importance of biodiversity. It is held on May 22nd each year. The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need to protect it.
• The Minister also conferred the India Biodiversity Awards-2021.

Details:

• The Minister stressing on the importance of people participation in environmental conservation appealed to the people to take a pledge to work towards conserving biodiversity and sensitising the youth on the issues of conservation.  He noted that the convergence of people, culture, and rich tradition of the state of Tamil Nadu had played an important role in preservation of the unique biodiversity of the region. The Minister highlighted the co-ordination between the government and civil society organizations in the restoration of Lake Sembakkam.
• Lake Sembakkam is an important marshland located in Chennai.
• The Minister highlighted the unique 3-tier model of participatory biodiversity resource governance at the national, state, and local-body levels in India.
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 envisages a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources. This includes the National Biodiversity Authority, the State Biodiversity Boards, and the Biodiversity Management Committees at the local level.
• The Minister also highlighted India’s progress in the attainment of the biodiversity targets.

Theme of International Day for Biological Diversity, 2022:
“Building a shared future for all life” is the theme of International Day for Biological Diversity for 2022. The theme was chosen to continue developing momentum and support the post-2020 global biodiversity framework at the forthcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

India Biodiversity Awards-2021 winners:

• N.M., also known as the ‘Tuber Man’ of Kerala, was awarded the India Biodiversity Award 2021 in the category of conservation of domesticated species.
• Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan (KRAPAVIS) won the India Biodiversity Awards 2021 under the Sustainable Use of Biological Resources category to restore water and harvesting structures in Orans—a sacred community-conserved area in Rajasthan.
• Khonoma Nature Conservation & Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS) also won the India Biodiversity Awards 2021 under Sustainable Use of Biological Resources category for maintaining biodiversity in the Khonoma area in Nagaland—home to several endemic species of flora and fauna.
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve of Bihar was awarded under the Conservation of Wild life species category.