India and World Current Affairs March 2017

India and Kenya Signed MoU on Cooperation in Agriculture Sector

India and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) on Cooperation in the agriculture sector and allied sector and Line of Credit for $ 100 million for agricultural mechanisation on January 11, 2017.
Key sectors discussed during the meeting were maritime security and surveillance, counter-terrorism, disrupting terrorist networks, counter-narcotics and human trafficking, agriculture, health.
It supported Kenya’s development through Lines of Credit, digital and cash-less economy, e-Govemance, procurement of pulses, sports, renewable energy especially International Solar Alliance, blue economy, comprehensive convention on terrorism and reforms of international institutions including the United Nations.

Union Government. Imposed Anti-dumping Duty on Jute from Nepal and Bangladesh

The Union government imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of jute and jute products from Nepal and Bangladesh on January 5, 2017.
Anti-dumping duty ranging from $ 6.30 to $ 351.72 has been imposed on these products originating from Nepal and Bangladesh to protect the interests of the domestic manufacturers.
The anti-dumping duty shall be effective for five years beginning from the date of publication of this notification and the duty shall be paid in Indian currency.
The import restrictive levy has been imposed on jute yam/twine, Hessian fabric and jute sacking bags in ‘all forms and specifications’.

REPORT/INDEX

ORF Emerged Top Indian Think-Tank in Asia Category

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) emerged as the top ranked think-tank in India in the China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea category, according to the latest Global Go To Think-Tank Index Report, released globally on January 26, 2017.
In the Asia region, ORF finished 5th out of 90 think-tanks in this category, improving its position from 6th (out of 65) last year, while the first rank was retained by the Korea Development Institute, Republic of Korea in the Index.
It is prepared annually by the Lauder Institute, Pennsylvania University (USA). Japan Institute of International Affairs came second while Korea Institute for International Economic Policy came in third.

India Ranked 79th in the Corruption Perception Index 2016

India has been ranked 79th among 176 countries in the Corruption Perception Index 2016 released by the Transparency International organization on January 25, 2017.
Its score marginally improved from 38 in 2015 to 40 in 2016. India had a score of 36 in 2012.
The organisation has used the World Bank data, the world economic forum and other institutions to rank countries by perceived levels of corruption in public sector.
The score runs from zero to 100, from highly corrupt to 100. Belarus, Brazil, & China shared the same ranks as India.
The list was topped by New Zealand and Denmark with a score of 90 each. Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country with a score of 10.

India Ranked Low as Global Influencer while USA, UK, Japan Remain on Top

India ranked low among countries across the world in terms of being an ‘influencer’ in the global system, while legacy power players such as the USA, the UK and Japan continue to dominate in a report released on January 20, 2017
The Credit Suisse Research Institute published its report ‘Getting over Globalisation’, which outlines how the global economy is moving into a more multi-polar form.
India was given a lowly 2 on a scale of 5 as an influencer or pole based on five broad criteria — economic size, hard power, soft and diplomatic power, and governance quality and distinctiveness.