International

120 UN members including India have recently signed the Astana Declaration, which vows to strengthen primary healthcare and achieve universal health coverage by 2030.  The declaration marked 40 years of the historic Alma Ata Declaration, which declared health a human right for all. Though Alma-Ata was signed to ensure health for all, its progress was … Read more

It seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons and materials by the early detection of the misuse.  It was established as an autonomous organization which is not under direct control of the UN, but reports to both the UNGA and Security … Read more

It is an organisation of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. It operates by intergovernmental consensus of the member states, organised through the Commonwealth Secretariat and non-governmental organisations, organised through the Commonwealth Foundation. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth and the monarch of 16 members of … Read more

It aims to create multi modal international transport transit corridor. It has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. Kazakhstan has also joined this arrangement subsequently. Pakistan joined Ashgabat agreement in 2016. India has also become member of the agreement, which would enable India to utilize this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate … Read more

It was set up after the fall of the Berlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe.   HQ – London.    EBRD is owned by 66 countries and two EU institutions i.e EU & EIB.   US is the biggest shareholder.   Besides Europe, member countries of the EBRD are also from other continents – … Read more

It was set up with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region. The association comprises 22 Member States and 7 Dialogue Partners.  India, Australia, Iran, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Singapore, Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, UAE, Yemen, Seychelles, Somalia, Comoros and Oman are … Read more

It is a multilateral financial institution which brings countries together to address the daunting infrastructure needs across Asia. It is headquartered at Beijing.    The membership in AIIB is open to members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the Asian Development Bank.  It has authorized capital of US 100 billion dollars and subscribed … Read more

Assumption Island, a single coral island, belongs to the Outer Islands District of Seychelles.With only a small village on the sheltered western side and a 1,210-m concrete airfield running from there to the southeastern coast, the island’s few inhabitants, mostly farmers and fishermen, have to go to Victoria (the capital) for government services. The island’s … Read more

The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) was signed in 1975 as an initiative of UN- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).  It is previously named the Bangkok Agreement.  There are 6-member states to APTA – Bangladesh, China, India, South Korea, Laos and Sri Lanka.  Mongolia is soon to become the 7th member … Read more

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the UNCLOS to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS Convention. Its Base  is in Hamburg, Germany.  The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members, elected from among persons enjoying the highest reputation for fairness … Read more