22-Jul-2020: Shri Arun Kumar, DG/RPF nominated as the Vice-Chairman of the UIC (Union Internationale Des Chemins / International Union of Railways), Security Platform
Mr. François Davenne, The Director General of UIC has intimated Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board that under the 96th UIC General Assembly decision, Shri Arun Kumar, DG/RPF has been nominated as the Vice-Chairman of the Security platform from July 2020 to July 2022. DG/ RPF will then take over as Chairman of the Security Platform from July 2022 to July 2024.
UIC (Union Internationale Des Chemins) is a French word the meaning of which in English is International Union of Railways. It is headquartered in Paris
The UIC Security Platform is empowered to develop and formulate analysis and policy positions on behalf of the rail sector in matters relating to security of persons, property and installations. The security platform promotes the exchange of information and experience among the security agencies of UIC members and proposes common interest projects and activities in the field of railway security as dictated by requirement of members or external events. The COVID-19 Task Force setup by UIC security platform has proved to be very useful in exchange of ideas, precautions to be taken, restoration efforts and experience sharing during the current pandemic.
RPF, on behalf of Indian Railways, has always been an active member of the UIC security platform and contributed to discussions, deliberations, exchange of ideas and best practices since long. It has also organized UIC Security Conferences in 2006 and 2015 in New Delhi. RPF involves itself in working groups, forums and meetings and its contribution in working of UIC security platform has been appreciated by UIC leadership since long.
6-Mar-2020: India as an Observer at IOC
India has been accepted as an observer of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). India's joining of the IOC as an observer has strategic importance as the Commission is an important regional institution in the Western/African Indian Ocean.
It will facilitate collective engagement with the islands in the Western Indian Ocean that are becoming strategically significant. Given China’s growing presence in the region, India will be able to increase its naval presence and gain support for its maritime projects across the Indo-Pacific.
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is also a strategic location of the Indian Ocean linking the Southeastern coast of Africa to the wider Indian Ocean and beyond.
The IOC islands are situated around one of the key chokepoints in the Indian Ocean- the Mozambique Channel. The Mozambique Channel is an arm of the Indian Ocean located between the African countries of Madagascar and Mozambique. The Mozambique Channel lost its significance post the opening of the Suez Canal, but the recent hostilities near the Strait of Hormuz brought the channel back into focus as the original route for bigger commercial vessels (especially for oil tankers). Potential of natural gas reserves in the Mozambique Channel further increases the significance of the region.
It will also help to boost cooperation with France that has a strong presence in the western Indian ocean.
SAGAR Policy: It will help to extend India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) policy in the region. SAGAR is an articulation of India’s vision for the Indian Ocean which aims for enhancement of capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories & interests; deepening economic and security cooperation in the littoral; action to deal with natural disasters and maritime threats like piracy, terrorism.
2-Feb-2020: After over three years, Maldives rejoins Commonwealth
Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed’s controversial ouster in 2012 and the country’s lack of progress in resolving the political crisis during former President Abdulla Yameen’s presidency, whose authoritarian slant sparked concern domestically and internationally had seen the Commonwealth group warning Maldives. In 2016, the Maldives pulled out of the Commonwealth.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s victory in the 2018 presidential elections and efforts to restore democracy, followed by the letter to the Commonwealth, requesting to re-join the bloc have culminated in the Maldives rejoining the bloc.
The Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth, more than three years after the Indian Ocean island nation quit amid mounting criticism of its human rights. Maldives has been formally reinstated into the Commonwealth as its 54th member state.
The Government of India has welcomed the development. India has vowed to work closely with Maldives on shared Commonwealth goals like development, democracy and peace.