India’s Foreign Relations
# Role of border states in India’s Foreign Policy
# Indian maritime challenges and its diplomatic dimensions
# Raja-Mandala diplomacy – Maritime India versus Continental Delhi, France, Middle East
# Different levels of Diplomacy | Track 1, Track 2, Track 3
# Demystifying The Concept Of Diplomatic Immunity
# India-Bangladesh – Radio Bangla, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), Border Haats, Sebi, Bangla regulator sign pact over co-operation, Teesta, The BCIM Corridor
# India-Myanmar – India and Myanmar bilateral ties, History of Ethnic insurgency in Myanmar, Imphal-Mandalay bus service, Kaladan Multi Modal Project in Myanmar, Myanmar operation: Hot pursuit, the Rohingya Conflict, the BCIM Corridor.
# India-China – Delhi-Nagpur high-speed rail, Ladakh, Stilwell Road, boundary negotiations, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Indian International Fleet Review, China’s Indian Ocean strategy: Implications for India(Colombo port project, String of Pearls, One belt One Road, Maritime Silk Road, Project Mausam), The Great Fall of China (Devaluation of Yuan and Stock Market Volatility, Special Drawing Rights(SDR)), China’s Silk Route & OBOR diplomacy, AIIB & The Changing World Order, The BCIM Corridor.
# India-Pakistan – Indus Treaty, MFN status, Balochistan, Pathankot probe, Kashmir dispute, UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), China-Pakistan Equation
# India – US – Defence ties [The Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), The Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA),Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI)], Visa, Free Trade and WTO [ Totalisation Agreement, H1B and L1 visas, NASSCOM], Latest developments [Yudh Abhyas, India, US and Japan major naval drill, Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD), WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)]
# India-Maldives – Maldives’ political crisis
# Nepal’s Constitution & Emerging Developments – Nepal adopts historic constitution, Blockade.
# India-Afghanistan – India-Afghanistan Motor Vehicles Agreement, extradition treaty, Heart of Asia conference, Taliban Conundrum.
# India-Africa – Operation Sankat Mochan, South Sudan civil war, India-Tanzania: Solar Mamas, India-Mozambique, Exim Bank’s African credit, Pelindaba Treaty, Seychelles.
# India-Iran – Chahbahar port, Iran oil policy change, International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Farzad-B gas field, Iran N-deal.
# India-Sri Lanka – Constitutional issues in Sri Lanka, 13th Amendment, 19th amendment
# India-Middle East – The Syrian civil war, Russian interest in Syria, Syria peace plan, anti-terror bloc, Latest developments (NIIF)
# India-Pacific Island Nations
#Ministry of External Affairs : Important Updates – Haj pilgrimage, Ashgabat Agreement, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Miscellaneous
International Issues
# Cross-Border Terrorism – Islamic State, J&K attack, surgical strikes, War on terror CCIT, Deradicalisation plan, Breaking The Terror Cycle, Islamic Military Alliance.
# Contention over South China Sea – Hague ruling, China-Russia joint naval exercise,2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties, N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, 2002 declaration on conduct.
# North Korean Fusion Bomb test in bid to change world power equation
# The refugee crisis: Understanding the refugee crisis and lessons for India, Europe’s Challenge, The Rohingya Conflict
# Vienna Conference to end Syrian Crisis
# Yemen Crisis – Operation Rahat, The Arab Spring.
International Institutions, Agencies, Groupings and Fora
# Economic integration and different types of trade agreements – FTA, PTA, CEPA, CECA
# India’s Bid To Join Export Control Regimes – Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), NSG, the Hague Code of Conduct.
# United Nations – World Health Organisation, World Bank Group
# IMF – International Monetary Fund and India [Extended Fund Facility (EFF), South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center(SARTTC)]
# World Trade Organization (WTO) – WTO and India [ Most Favoured Nation status, Doha Development Agenda, Global Value Chains, Recent India-US trade disputes – WTO, Peace Clause, Bali Package, TFA in Services, GATS, Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM)]
# India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS)
# ASEAN – ASEAN-India and East Asia Summit 2015, RCEP and its significance for India, India-ASEAN [Multinational Field Training Exercise (FTX)]
# BRICS
# G4 – Why G4 nations need a hardball diplomacy?
# G20 – The Antalya Summit 2015
# Mekong Ganga Cooperation and BIMSTEC
# SAARC – Comparing ASEAN with SAARC, South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and the complexities surrounding it, India-SAARC Nations [SAARC satellite, Mutua l Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between India and Maldives, BBIN Agreement, National Knowledge Network]
# Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
# International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – AERB to get Regulatory Independence
# Nuclear Security Summit (2010 – 2016)
# Important International NGOs which often recur in news – Amnesty International, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, CARE International, OXFAM, Greenpeace International