Context: Presidential elections are scheduled in Taiwan on 13th January in which Kinmen residents are preparing to vote.

About:

Governance: Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, comprises a cluster of islands under the jurisdiction of Taiwan.

Location in Relation to China:

• Geographical Position: Positioned on the southeastern coast of the People’s Republic of China.
• Separation: Separated from China by Xiamen Bay.
• Relative Location: Situated to the east of Xiamen.

Location in Relation to Taiwan:

• Geographical Position: Found to the west from the nearest shoreline of the island of Taiwan.
• Geographic Feature: Positioned across the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan.

Context: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has set up a task force to identify and resolve trade barriers being faced by foreign exporters.

News:

• Indian exports encounter significant barriers in certain products such as chillies, tea, basmati rice, milk, and poultry in the European Union, sesame seeds and apparel in Japan, and food, meat, fish, dairy, and industrial products in China.
• To tackle these challenges, the Commerce Ministry has established a task force.

Objectives:

Identify Trade Barriers:

• Scrutinize barriers and technical obstacles hindering exports.

Enhance Systems and Standards:

• Work towards improving existing systems and standards.

Negotiate Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs):

• Strengthen MRAs with various countries to ensure alignment with importing nations' requirements.
• The task force aims to align product standards with the importing countries' specifications to facilitate smoother trade. It addresses issues like delays in registration and various non-tariff barriers.

About Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs): NTMs constitute domestic regulations implemented to safeguard human, animal, or plant health and the environment. They can be categorized as technical or non-technical:

• Technical NTMs: Include regulations, standards, testing, certification, and pre-shipment inspection.
• Non-Technical NTMs: Encompass measures like quotas, import licensing, subsidies, and government procurement restrictions.
• While NTMs are essential for protection, they may become non-tariff barriers (NTBs) when arbitrary and lacking scientific justification, posing obstacles to trade.

Context: Prime Minister of India has inaugurated Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.

About:

• Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, conceptualised in 2003 under the visionary leadership of the then Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has today evolved as one of the most reputed global forums for business collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
• The Tenth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is being held from 10 to 12 January 2024 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Its theme is 'Gateway to the Future'. This Tenth Edition of the Summit will celebrate “20 Years of Vibrant Gujarat as the Summit of Success”.

Recent summit:

• There are 34 Partner countries and 16 Partner organisations for this year’s Summit.
• Further, the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region will utilise the Vibrant Gujarat platform to showcase investment opportunities in the North-Eastern regions.
• The Summit will host various events including seminars and conferences on globally relevant topics such as Industry 4.0, Technology and Innovation, Sustainable Manufacturing, Green Hydrogen, Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy and Transition towards Sustainability.
• In the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show, companies will display products made from world class state of the art technology. E-mobility, Start-ups, MSMEs, Blue Economy, Green Energy & Smart Infrastructure are some of the focus sectors of the Trade Show.

Context: Recently, after a record 1,111 NGOs got Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) nod in 2023, 30 get clearance in January. Situated in Delhi, a Buddhist monastic order originating from Taiwan has secured approval under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) of 2010, enabling them to access foreign funds.

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)

• The FCRA, established during the Emergency in 1976, was enacted to address concerns about foreign interference in India's internal affairs.
• Its primary objective is to oversee foreign donations to individuals and groups, ensuring their operations align with the principles of a sovereign democratic republic.
• Amendments in 2010 and 2020 tightened government control and scrutiny over foreign funds received by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

FCRA registration

• NGOs seeking foreign contributions must undergo an online application process with the required documentation.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conducts inquiries through the Intelligence Bureau to assess the applicant's background.
• FCRA requirements mandate registration under the Act, the establishment of a designated bank account in the State Bank of India, Delhi, and the utilization of funds solely for their intended purpose, as outlined in the Act.
• NGOs must submit annual returns and refrain from transferring funds to other organizations.

FCRA requirements:

• Recent changes to FCRA rules in 2022 expanded the number of compoundable offenses from 7 to 12.
• Additionally, exemptions were granted for contributions below Rs 10 lakh from relatives abroad, with an extended time limit for intimation of bank account openings.
• FCRA approvals, once granted, are valid for five years. NGOs must initiate the renewal process within six months of the registration's expiry to maintain eligibility for foreign funds.
•  Failure to renew results in the expiration of registration, barring the NGO from receiving or utilizing foreign funds without ministry permission.

Despite the regulatory framework, challenges persist, including administrative delays, stringent compliance requirements, potential political interference, ambiguity in the law, and a lack of clarity.

Context: Manipur Chief Minister has said that the state government may consider setting up a committee to discuss the Scheduled Tribe status of Kukis in the state.

Background:

• The Manipur conflict, initiated in early May, originated from a High Court directive suggesting the examination of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community.
• This proposal faced opposition from the Kuki-Zo tribe, who view it as a potential erosion of their privileges due to the Meiteis' political and numerical dominance in the state.
• The Chief Minister's proposal to reassess ST status has triggered strong reactions from Kuki-Zomi organizations, escalating the ongoing ethnic strife in the region.

Need for Review:

• The dispute arose when Maheshwar Thounaojam, a Meitei leader from the Republican Party of India (Athawale), submitted a representation to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, advocating for the exclusion of Kukis from Manipur's ST list.
• The Ministry forwarded the representation to the state government, emphasizing the necessity for the state's recommendation before any further action.

Government's Response:

• There is a possibility of forming a committee to deliberate on the ST status of Kukis in Manipur. However, this initiative has faced staunch opposition from Kuki-Zomi organizations, who accuse the state government of favoring Meiteis and exacerbating the existing ethnic conflict.

Kuki-Zo Tribe's Perspective:

• The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and Kuki Inpi, the apex body of Kuki tribes in Manipur, strongly condemned any effort to alter the ST status of the Kuki-Zo community.
•  The ITLF accused the government of colluding with Meitei groups, asserting that removing the community from the ST list violates constitutional safeguards and perpetuates injustice and discrimination.

Zomi Council Steering Committee's Opposition:

• The Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC) also expressed opposition, considering the move a clear attempt to rewrite history and widen existing divides.
• The ZCSC objected to the Chief Minister's request to remove the Free Movement Regime along the Myanmar border, viewing it as a diversion from addressing the root cause of ethnic violence – the Meitei community's desire for ancestral tribal lands and privileges.

Kuki-Zo Tribe:

• The Kuki Tribe is an ethnic community composed of various tribes originally residing in the North-Eastern states of India, such as Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam, as well as parts of Burma (now Myanmar) and the Sylhet district and Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh.
• The generic term "Kuki" was applied to these tribes during colonial rule.
• In Manipur, where the majority of Kuki tribes live in the hills, they currently constitute 30% of the state's total population.
• Although absent in Arunachal Pradesh, Kuki tribes are present in all other Northeast Indian states. Approximately fifty Kuki tribes in India are officially recognized as scheduled tribes.
• Marriage alliances typically occur within their own community, and historically, they followed animist beliefs, worshiping various deities and spirits. However, over the past 90 years, a majority of Kuki individuals have adopted Christianity as their religion.
• The Kuki community adheres to its own customary laws and village councils. The term "LAL" is used to refer to the village chief, who plays a crucial role in resolving social, religious, and marital disputes.
• These village chiefs, over time, have become integral figures in addressing various issues within the Kuki community.