Current Affairs Webinar

25/09/18 to 09/10/18

1. Ease of Living index

Context:

Ease of Living index has been released by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs. Andhra Pradesh has topped Ease of Living Index rankings under AMRUT (Atal Mission for

Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation). It is followed by Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.

About the Ease of Living index:

The index has been developed to allow city managers to get a grip on the city’s baseline and compare its performance across key indicators.

The first edition of index released in January 2018 had ranked 111 Indian cities and was topped by Pune.

The index covers 116 cities that are smart city contenders, capital cities, and cities with population of 1 million plus.

The index captures the quality of life based on the data collected from the urban local bodies on four parameters, which were further broken down into 15 categories.

The four parameters include - institutional (governance), social (identity, education, health, security), economic (economy, employment) and physical factors (waste water and solid waste management, pollution, housing/ inclusiveness, mixed land use, power and water supply, transport, public open spaces).

Institutional and social parameters carry 25 points each, physical factors have a weightage of 45 points and economic factors five points totalling to a 100 mark scale on which cities were evaluated.

About AMRUT:

AMRUT is the new avatar of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It was launched in 2015.

It adopts a project approach to ensure basic infrastructure services relating to water supply, sewerage, storm-water drains, transportation and development of green spaces and parks with special provision for meeting the needs of children.

Under this mission, 10% of the budget allocation will be given to states and union territories

as incentive based on the achievement of reforms during the previous year. AMRUT will be implemented in 500 locations with a population of one lakh and above. It

would cover some cities situated on stems of main rivers, a few state capitals and important cities located in hilly areas, islands and tourist areas.

Under this mission, states get the flexibility of designing schemes based on the needs of identified cities and in their execution and monitoring. States will only submit state annual action plans to the centre for broad concurrence based on which funds will be released. But, in a significant departure from JNNURM, the central government will not appraise individual projects.

Central assistance will be to the extent of 50% of project cost for cities and towns with a population of up to 10 lakhs and one-third of the project cost for those with a population of above 10 lakhs.

Under the mission, states will transfer funds to urban local bodies within 7 days of transfer by central government and no diversion of funds to be made failing which penal interest would be charged besides taking other adverse action by the centre.

2. Financial Inclusion Index Context: Financial Inclusion Index has been launched by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance. About the Financial Inclusion Index:

The single composite index gives a snap shot of the level of financial inclusion that would guide Macro Policy perspective.

The index will be a measure of access and usage of a basket of formal financial products and services that includes savings, remittances, credit, insurance and pension products.

The index will have three measurement dimensions: 1. Access to financial services. 2. Usage of financial services. 3. Quality.

Utility of the Index:

The various components of the index will help to measure financial services for use of internal policy making.

Financial Inclusion Index can be used directly as a composite measure in development indicators.

It enables fulfilment of G20 Financial Inclusion Indicators requirements. It will also facilitate researchers to study the impact of financial inclusion and other macro-

economic variables.

3. National Digital Communications Policy-2018 Context:

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Digital Communications Policy-2018 (NDCP-2018) and re-designation of the Telecom Commission as the “Digital Communications Commission”.

As the present world has entered the era of modern technological advancements in the Telecom Sector such as 5G, loT, M2M etc., a need was being felt to introduce a ‘customer focused’ and ‘application driven’ policy for the Indian Telecom Sector, which can form the main pillar of Digital India by addressing emerging opportunities for expanding not only the availability of telecom services but also telecom based services.

Accordingly, the new National Digital Communications Policy – 2018 has been formulated, in place of the existing National Telecom Policy-2012, to cater to the modern needs of the digital communications sector of India.

Impact: The NDCP-2018 envisions supporting India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and

society by fulfilling the information and communications needs of citizens and enterprises by establishment of a ubiquitous, resilient and affordable digital communications infrastructure and services.

The ‘Customer focused’ and ‘application driven’ NDCP-2018 shall lead to new ideas and innovations, after the launch of advanced technology such as 5G, IOT, M2M, etc. which shall govern the telecom sector of India.

The key objectives of the policy are: Broadband for all. Creating four million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector. Enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India’s GDP from

6% in 2017. Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017. Enhancing India’s contribution to Global Value Chains. Ensuring Digital Sovereignty. These objectives are to be achieved by 2022.

The policy aims to: Provide universal broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen. Provide 1 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022. Ensure connectivity to all uncovered areas. Attract investments of USD 100 billion in the Digital Communications Sector. Train one million manpower for building New Age Skill. Expand IoT ecosystem to 5 billion connected devices. Establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards

the privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals.

Facilitate India’s effective participation in the global digital economy. Enforce accountability through appropriate institutional mechanisms to assure citizens of safe. Secure digital communications infrastructure and services.

The policy advocates: Establishment of a National Digital Grid by creating a National Fibre Authority. Establishing Common Service Ducts and utility corridors in all new city and highway road

projects. Creating a collaborative institutional mechanism between Centre, States and Local Bodies for

Common Rights of Way, standardization of costs and timelines. Removal of barriers to approvals. Facilitating development of Open Access Next Generation Networks.

4. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

Context: In the series of meetings of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Working Group (IWG) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the 3rd meeting is being held at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Vishakhapatnam.

About IONS: IONS, the 21st century’s first significant international maritime security initiative launched in

February 2008 by India, provides a forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promotes friendly relationships among member nations. It presently has 24 members and eight observer navies.

It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues and, in the process, endeavours to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and possibly agreements on the way ahead.

Under the charter of business adopted in 2014, the grouping has working groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Information Security and Interoperability (IS&I) and anti-piracy now renamed as maritime security.

5. Aadhaar verdict Context:

The Supreme Court has upheld the Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid. The court also upheld the passage of the Aadhaar Act as a Money Bill.

The court ruled that the Aadhaar programme served the “larger public interest” in ensuring that the poor have access to resources. It found that the programme eliminated any chance of duplication and that enrolment was fool proof.

However, the apex court’s five-judge constitution bench also struck down several provisions in the Aadhaar Act.

Where Aadhaar is not needed? Children cannot be denied any benefit due to not having Aadhaar. Hence, Aadhaar is not

needed for school admissions. Compulsory linking of mobile phone numbers to Aadhaar. Aadhaar is not needed for opening a bank account and banking services. CBSE, NEET, UGC cannot make Aadhaar mandatory to appear in entrance examinations. No private entity can avail Aadhaar data which includes telecom companies and mobile

wallets.

Where Aadhaar is mandatory? Linking of PAN with Aadhaar. Mandatory for filing of IT returns and allotment of Permanent Account Number. Aadhaar must for availing facilities of welfare schemes and government subsidies.

Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act struck down: Section 57 was used by the government to compel private companies to demand Aadhaar

verification for services. The Court accepted the argument that no rationale exists for this power and declared it

invalid. Consequently, the Court has struck downlinking of Aadhaar with mobiles and bank accounts.

It has further directed that the data collected shall be deleted within six months.

What was the contention against Aadhaar before the Supreme Court? Is the Aadhaar Act, 2016, constitutionally valid given that it was passed in Parliament as a

Money Bill? Why does every citizen need one identity proof — a unique identification number — to

acquire government benefits? Can’t this be done using other documents, like ration card or passport?

Does Aadhaar take away our right to privacy — upheld as a fundamental right by a nine-judge Constitution bench of the court in August last year.

What happens if Aadhaar data becomes a tool for mass surveillance by the state, as the movement and activities of users can be tracked by collecting metadata?

What did the government argue in favour of Aadhaar? During the hearing, the government argued that Aadhaar would help weed out ghost beneficiaries of welfare schemes. The government argued that is using Aadhaar as an enabler of various facets of the right to life of teeming millions of Indian residents including their right to food, the right to livelihood, the right to receive pensions and other social assistance benefits like scholarships etc. by the genuine beneficiaries.”

The Supreme Court’s Right to Privacy verdict: On August 24, 2017, a nine-judge Bench ruled that the right to privacy is a fundamental right, a shot in the arm for the petitioners. However, the court had also ruled that “besides national security, the State may have justifiable reasons for the collection and storage of data. In a social welfare state, the government embarks upon programmes which provide benefits to impoverished and marginalised sections of society. There is a vital State interest in ensuring that scarce public resources are not dissipated by the diversion of resources to persons who do not qualify as recipients.”

Justice B N Srikrishna report: The Justice B N Srikrishna panel was appointed to recommend a data protection framework to the government. It submitted its recommendations in July this year. The Srikrishna data protection report highlighted individuals’ constitutional rights over their data and said efforts need to be made to protect data at any cost. It recommended steps for protection of personal information, defining obligations of data processors as also rights of individuals, and mooting penalties for violation.

Way ahead: Stating that Aadhaar empowers the marginalised sections of society and gave them an identity, the SC asked the Central government to introduce a robust data protection law as soon as possible. Aadhaar will undoubtedly be a game changer for the poor and the country as a whole. Every technology has some risks. A mature society must take measures to mitigate risks and not abandon the technology.

6. Sabarimala temple opens to women of all ages

Context: Condemning the prohibition as hegemonic patriarchy, the Supreme Court has lifted the centuries-old practice of prohibiting women to enter the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala.

What’s the issue? The legend has it that the temple deity Ayyappa followed celibacy all through his life. Therefore, women devotees of menstruating age are considered “impure” by supporters of the ban and are prohibited from entering the temple, on the pretext that they would disturb the celibacy of the deity.

Views of the court: On one side we pray to goddesses; on the other, women of a certain age are considered

‘impure’. This dualistic approach is nothing but patriarchy practised in religion. Exclusion on grounds of biological and physiological features like menstruation was therefore

unconstitutional as it is violative of the right to equality and dignity of women. Hence, Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act of

1965, which mandates the prohibition in Sabarimala temple, ultra vires the Constitution. The Rule violated the fundamental right of a Hindu woman to offer worship at a place of her choice. Right to worship is equally available to men and women.

Dissenting views: Justice Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge on the Constitution Bench, dissented from the

majority opinion. She held that the determination of what constituted an essential practice in a religion should not be decided by judges on the basis of their personal viewpoints.

She held that essentiality of a religious practice or custom had to be decided within the religion. It was a matter of personal faith. Constitutional morality in a pluralistic society gave freedom to practice even irrational or illogical customs and usages.

Harmonization of fundamental rights with religion included providing freedom for diverse sects to practise their customs and beliefs. Therefore, the Judge held that there were strong, plausible reasons to show that Ayyappa devotees had attributes of a religious denomination.

They have distinct names, properties. Besides, the Sabarimala temple was not funded out of the Consolidated Fund.

Significance of the verdict: The Supreme Court’s ruling establishes the legal principle that individual freedom prevails

over purported group rights, even in matters of religion. Devotees of Lord Ayyappa do not constitute a separate religious denomination and that the prohibition on women is not an essential part of Hindu religion.

Beyond the legality of the practice, the court has also sought to grapple with the stigmatisation of women devotees based on a medieval view of menstruation as symbolising impurity and pollution.

The decision reaffirms the Constitution’s transformative character and derives strength from the centrality it accords to fundamental rights.

Way ahead: Devotion cannot be subjected to the stereotypes of gender. Stigma built around traditional

notions of impurity has no place in the constitutional order, and exclusion based on the notion of impurity is a form of untouchability.

Any rule based on segregation of women pertaining to biological characteristics is indefensible and unconstitutional.

7. ‘Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism’ (CCIT)

Context: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated India’s demand for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN General Assembly recently.

Background:

As a country affected by terrorism, long before the more powerful countries of the developed world began to take cognisance of the threat it poses to international peace and security.

India has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; stressed that tackling such behaviour required a holistic approach and collective action; and recommended that the scope of legal instruments must be expanded to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice.

India, therefore, has a vital stake in the formulation of counter-terrorist measures at the international level, including a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

It is in this context that India had proposed a draft of a CCIT as far back as 1996.

About CCIT: The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty which

intends to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms, and safe havens.

It is a draft proposed by India in 1996 that is yet to be adopted by the UNGA.

What does it call for? Universal definition of terrorism: no good terrorist or bad terrorist. Ban on all groups regardless of country of operation, cut off access to funds and safe havens. Prosecution of all groups including cross border groups. Amending domestic laws to make cross-border terror an extraditable offence. It also addresses, among other things, the issue of Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border

terrorism in south Asia.

Concerns expressed by various countries: US + allies: concerns over definition of terrorism, including acts by US soldiers in international

interventions without UN mandate. Latin American countries: concerns over international humanitarian laws being ignored. There are also concerns that convention will be used to target Pakistan and restrict rights of

self-determination groups in Palestine, Kashmir etc.

8. GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative

Context:

United States and Morocco have launched GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative under auspices of Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF).

It was launched on sidelines of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.

GCTF Terrorist Travel Initiative: The initiative brings together stakeholders to share expertise on developing and implementing

effective counterterrorism watch listing and screening tools. The new initiative will strengthen UNSC Resolution 2396 aiming to stop terrorist travel

altogether. It will improve capabilities for detecting and interdicting terrorist travel through enhanced

terrorist screening and information sharing. It will bring together national and local governments, law enforcement and border screening

practitioners and international organizations to share expertise to develop and implement effective counterterrorism watch listing and screening tools.

Under this initiative, series of four regional workshops in 2018 and 2019 will be convened to develop set of good practices that will be endorsed at 2019 GCTF Ministerial.

The resulting document will reinforce countries and organizations to use border security tools prescribed in UNSC Resolution 2396 to stop terrorist travel.

Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF):

GCTF is an international apolitical, multilateral counter-terrorism (CT) platform of 29 countries and European Union (EU) with overarching mission of reducing vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by preventing, combating, and prosecuting terrorist acts and countering incitement and recruitment to terrorism.

It was launched officially in New York on 22 September 2011. GCTF’s goal is to strengthen capabilities to develop strategic, long-term approach to

counter terrorism and prevent violent extremist ideologies that underpin it. Its mission is to diminish terrorist recruitment and increase countries’ civilian capabilities

for dealing with terrorist threats within their borders and regions.

9. UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018: Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded with the UN’s highest environmental honour - Champions of the Earth Award, bestowed upon five other individuals and organisations.

French President Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Modi have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

Cochin International Airport has also been honoured this year with the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy.

Champions of the Earth Award: The Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental recognition, was founded

in 2005 by the UNEP. The award celebrates exceptional figures from the public and private sectors and from civil

society, whose actions have had a transformative positive impact on the environment. The award also recognises the efforts for promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on

environmental action.

Global Pact for the Environment

The Global Pact for the Environment was launched in 2017 as an initiative to conclude a

legally binding international instrument under the United Nations that synthesizes the

principles outlined in the Stockholm Declaration, the World Charter for Nature, the Rio

Declaration, the IUCN World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law, and other

instruments to solidify the environmental rule of law around the world and to achieve

the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A Global Pact for the Environment will greatly expand the rights of those suffering from

environmental harms, allow states and civil society to better hold polluters accountable,

and lay the foundation for the incorporation of environmental concerns in all international

governance, as is done for other human rights.

10. UNESCO Global Geopark Network

Context:

Geological Survey of India has chosen heritage locations in Maharashtra and Karnataka for UNESCO Global Geopark Network status.

The Geopark tag is akin to that of a ‘World Heritage Site’ for historical monuments that can bring India’s famed geological features to the global stage.

The sites chosen are - Lonar Lake in Maharashtra and St. Mary’s Island and Malpe beach in coastal Karnataka are the GSI’s candidates for UNESCO Global Geopark Network status.

Global Geopark: UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of

international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.

Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. At present, there are 140 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 38 countries.

An aspiring Global Geopark must have a dedicated website, a corporate identity, comprehensive management plan, protection plans, finance, and partnerships for it to be accepted.

Review & Renewal criteria

No, a UNESCO Global Geopark is given this designation for a period of four years after which the functioning and quality of each UNESCO Global Geopark is thoroughly re-examined during a revalidation process.

As part of the revalidation process, the UNESCO Global Geopark under review has to prepare a progress report and a field mission will be undertaken by two evaluators to revalidate the quality of the UNESCO Global Geopark. If, on the basis of the field evaluation report, the UNESCO Global Geopark continues to fulfil the criteria the area will continue as a UNESCO Global Geopark for a further four-year period (so-called “green card”).

If the area no longer fulfils the criteria, the management body will be informed to take appropriate steps within a two-year period (so-called “yellow card”). Should the UNESCO Global Geopark not fulfil the criteria within two years after receiving a “yellow card”, the area will lose its status as a UNESCO Global Geopark (so-called “red card”).

What is the Global Geoparks Network? The Global Geoparks Network (GGN), of which membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks, is a legally constituted not-for-profit organisation with an annual membership fee. The GGN was founded in 2004 and is a dynamic network where members are committed to work together and exchange ideas of best practise and join in common projects to raise the quality standards of all products and practises of a UNESCO Global Geopark. While the GGN as a whole comes together every two years, it functions through the operation of regional networks, such as the European Geoparks Network that meets twice a year to develop and promote joint activities.

Difference between UNESCO Global Geoparks, Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites:

UNESCO Global Geoparks, together with the other two UNESCO site designations Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites, give a complete picture of celebrating our heritage while at the same time conserving the world’s cultural, biological and geological diversity, and promoting sustainable economic development.

While Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonised management of biological and cultural diversity and World Heritage Sites promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value, UNESCO Global Geoparks give international recognition for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the Earth’s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local communities.

In case an aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark includes a World Heritage Site or Biosphere Reserve, a clear justification and evidence has to be provided on how UNESCO Global Geopark status will add value by being both independently branded and in synergy with the other designations.

Key points: Lonar Lake is an ancient circular lake created by a meteorite strike in Maharashtra. It is the

only known meteorite crater in basaltic rock. Lonar crater became a geo-heritage site in 1979. It is relatively young geologically, at just 50,000 years old.

Mary’s Island, declared a national geo-heritage site in 1975, is estimated to be an 88-million-year-old formation that goes back to a time when Greater India broke away from Madagascar.

11. IBSAMAR VI:

The sixth edition of IBSAMAR, a joint Multi – National Maritime Exercise between the Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies, is being held at Simons Town, South Africa.

IBSAMAR are a series of naval exercises between the navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa. The aim of the exercise is to undertake collective training for participating navies, building

interoperability and mutual understanding as well as sharing of best practices. The first exercise took place in 2008.

12. Operation Samudra Maitri:

India has launched massive humanitarian operation Samudra Maitri to provide assistance to earthquake and tsunami victims in Palu, Indonesia.

Under this operation, India has dispatched two aircraft C-130J and C-17 and three naval ships carrying relief material and personnel to the country.

13. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Camp

Context:

A Distribution camp for free of cost distribution of Aids and Assistive Living devices under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), a scheme of Social Justice & Empowerment Department for Senior Citizen under BPL category.

IT was recently organized in Delhi by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a PSU working under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

About Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: The Scheme aims at providing Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from

any of the age related disability/infirmity such as - Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability, with such assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested.

This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund“.

Under the scheme, free of cost distribution of the devices, commensurate with the extent of disability/infirmity that is manifested among the eligible senior citizens will take place.

In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.

Beneficiaries in each district will be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.

As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.

Background: As per the Census figures of 2011, the population of senior citizens in India is 10.38 crore. More than 70% of the population of senior citizens live in rural areas of the country. A sizeable percentage (5.2%) of the senior citizens suffers from some sort of disabilities related to old age. Projections indicate that the number of elderly population will increase to around 173 million by 2026.

14. IORA- Delhi declaration Context: 21 countries in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) recently adopted the Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region. The declaration was the outcome of the 2nd IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting.

The Delhi declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region: It calls for collaboration among IORA member states in meeting the growing demand for

renewable energy in the Indian Ocean littorals, development of a common renewable energy agenda for the Indian Ocean region and promote regional capacity building.

The declaration also calls for promotion of technology development and transfer, strengthening of public private partnerships in renewable energy and collaboration among IORA member states and the member nations of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

IORA member countries resolved to collaborate with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

As per the declaration adopted, IORA member nations will also collaborate with the ISA member nations to exchange knowledge and share views and potential interests in the renewable energy sector.

Additionally, IORA member nations and IRENA will undertake the expansion of the Global Renewable Energy Atlas, the world’s largest-ever joint renewable resource data project, coordinated by IRENA, thereby creating the Indian Ocean region’s first and most comprehensive map and database which can then be used to tap the sizable renewable energy potential of the region.

About IORA: The Indian Ocean Rim Association was set up with the objective of strengthening regional

cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region with 21 Member States and 7 Dialogue Partners.

The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.

It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

India, Australia, Iran, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, Madagascar, UAE, Yemen, Seychelles, Somalia, Comoros and Oman are members of IORA.

The organisation was first established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius in 1995 and formally launched in 1997 with India, South Africa and Mauritius as founding members.

It was formerly known as IOR-ARC. The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.