National Conference on Good Governance Practices 

 

Introduction and Background

  • The National Conference on Good Governance Practices was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The event was a joint venture between the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Odisha government. 
  • The conference aimed to shine a spotlight on governance innovation and evaluate its impact at the grassroots level.

 

Theme and Major Highlights 

  • The conference theme was "Good Governance Practices" which entailed discussions around award-winning initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.
  • Innovative digital tools like the Centralised Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) and Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) were introduced and discussed having become representative models for innovative governance around the world.

 

CPGRAMS

  • CPGRAMS, launched by the DARPG under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, is an online platform for lodging grievances related to public service delivery which operates 24x7.
  • It extends its services to all central ministries and state departments, providing an option to appeal if the resolver doesn't find resolution satisfactory.
  • CPGRAMS, however, does not deal with Right to Information queries, court or sub-judice matters, religious issues, and service-related grievances of government employees. 

 

Jeevan Pramaan

  • Jeevan Pramaan is a biometric-enabled digital service launched in 2014, aimed to simplify life certificate submission for pensioners.
  • This service allows pensioners to digitally verify their identity, eliminating the need for physical presence. 
  • The utilisation of this service ensures constant pension disbursement and mitigates the risk of fraud.
  • It is accessible to Central, State, and other government pensioners. 
  • As an indicator of its broad acceptance, over 10.31 crore digital life certificates have been presented through Jeevan Pramaan since its launch.

 

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2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave Hosted by India

 

Overview and Significance

  • India recently hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam with the aim of strengthening maritime connectivity and promoting sustainable development in the region.
  • The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Ports Conclave 2025's theme was "Navigating the Future: Blue Economy, Innovation and Sustainable Partnerships."
  • This event aligns with India's Sagarmala goals of port-led growth and enhanced connectivity. It bolsters India's leadership potential in Bay of Bengal maritime cooperation and boosts its Indo-Pacific role due to stronger BIMSTEC ties.

 

Key Outcomes of 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

  • Member countries were advised to ratify and implement the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), a pact that was signed during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok in 2025.
  • The AMTC is designed to stimulate growth in ports, enhance maritime trade and tourism and leverage skill development across BIMSTEC nations.
  • The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), a critical corridor linking India’s Northeast with the Bay of Bengal, was acknowledged during the conclave. This project, developed collectively by India and Myanmar, aids efficient cargo manoeuvres from India’s eastern ports to the Northeast via Myanmar.
  • The conclave proposed a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre to be established in Mumbai under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT), focusing on policy harmonisation, environment-friendly transition, and digital innovation in the maritime sector.
  • The conclave also emphasised the potential for Cruise Tourism, proposing eco-sensitive cruise routes along with Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) led cruise terminals. The intention is to position the Bay of Bengal as a sustainable tourism corridor.

 

About BIMSTEC

  • BIMSTEC is a regional organisation founded on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration, aiming to facilitate economic and technical cooperation among Bay of Bengal nations.
  • The cooperation group originated as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation), then it was called BIMST-EC after Myanmar joined in 1997. It was eventually renamed BIMSTEC in 2004 after Nepal and Bhutan joined.
  • In 2014, the BIMSTEC Secretariat was established in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Initially, the sectors of cooperation included trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, and fisheries. In 2008, these sectors were expanded to comprise agriculture, public health, counter-terrorism, environment, and climate change. These sectors were reorganised in 2021, with each member nation leading in specific areas.
  • India leads the Security pillar in BIMSTEC, which includes counter-terrorism, transnational crime, disaster management, and energy.

 

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Chemical Weapons Convention in India

 

Introduction to the Chemical Weapons Convention

  • The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a treaty formed to ban the usage of chemical weapons.
  • Under the convention, all chemical weapons must be destroyed within a certain timeframe.
  • Since 1997, the CWC has been enforced and observed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), of which there are 193 member states.
  • Chemical weapons are defined within the convention as any toxic chemical or device that is intended to cause intentional harm or death, this includes munitions and equipment for delivery.
  • The CWC also mandates the destruction of old and forgotten chemical weapons and requires its members to declare riot-control agents such as tear gas.

 

India's Role in the Chemical Weapons Convention

  • India, being one of the original signees of the CWC, exercises the convention via the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC).
  • The NACWC was founded under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000.
  • The Indian Chemical Council (ICC), as India’s oldest chemical industry association, was awarded the OPCW-The Hague Award 2024.
  • This is a great honour as the ICC became the first industry body worldwide to receive such a prestigious award.

 

The 23rd Regional Meeting of the CWC

  • Recently, India served as the host for the 23rd Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia under the CWC.
  • This highlights India's pivotal role in ensuring the enforcement of the Chemical Weapons Convention in Asia.

 

The Global Impact of the OPCW and the CWC

  • The OPCW is globally recognised for its efforts to eradicate chemical weapons, earning it the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
  • The CWC, in addition to the OPCW, plays a significant role in promoting global peace and security by working towards the complete eradication of chemical weapons.

 

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Overview of the 17th BRICS Summit and the Group's Global Significance

 

Summary of the 17th BRICS Summit and Key Outcomes

  • India's Prime Minister attended the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The theme was "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."
  • During the Summit, the signing of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration took place. 
  • Notable newcomers included Indonesia joining BRICS, with Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan welcomed as BRICS partner countries. 
  • India is set to assume the chairship of BRICS and host the 18th summit in 2026. 
  • Key outcomes included BRICS advocating for UN Security Council expansion, the adoption of the Leaders’ Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, and advancements in talks on a Cross-Border Payments Initiative. 

 

Understanding BRICS and Its Role in Global Governance

  • BRIC was originally coined by British economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 to represent the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa added in 2010.
  • Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Ethiopia joined the group in 2024 while Indonesia joined in 2025. 
  • The group accounts for 45% of the world’s population and 37.3% of global GDP. 
  • BRICS provides a collective forum for members to advocate for global institutional reforms and acts as a counterbalance to the G7. 

 

Key Challenges in BRICS' Functionality and Potentials

  • The absence of a permanent seat or a dedicated secretariat, global alliances, and economic instabilities among members, tend to undermine its institutional framework.
  • Despite accounting for over 18% of global trade, intra-BRICS trade is relatively low. Additionally, attempts to create a common BRICS+ currency have been slow. 

 

Strategies for Enhancing BRICS' Institutional Capacity and Leadership

  • Institutional reforms such as the establishment of a permanent secretariat and financial integrations like alternative SWIFT systems can enhance its effectiveness.
  • Greater geopolitical cooperation, joint R&D in AI and green tech, and cultural exchange programmes can increase BRICS' global influence. 

 

Concluding Remarks on the Future of BRICS

  • With institutional reforms and financial integration, BRICS can serve as a significant platform for Global South representation and challenge predominant Western systems.
  • India's BRICS chairmanship in 2026 is an opportunity to advance these objectives.

 

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The Sevilla Commitment for Financing Sustainable Development

 

Understanding the Sevilla Commitment

  • The Sevilla Commitment is a comprehensive framework incorporated at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) held in Sevilla, Spain.
  • Aiming to close the USD 4 trillion annual SDG financing gap, the commitment particularly targets developing countries.
  • The key focus includes strengthening domestic resource mobilisation, expanding digital economies and climate resilience while empowering women.
  • The Sevilla Commitment targets to align financial flows and policies with economic, social and environmental goals while ensuring debt sustainability.

 

Evolution of the Financing for Development Process

  • The Financing for Development Process has evolved over a series of conferences beginning in 1997 with the UN General Assembly's Agenda for Development.
  • This timeline includes the Monterrey Consensus (2002), the Doha Declaration (2008), and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (2015), each providing a milestone in global cooperation for sustainable development finance.

 

Key Sevilla Platform for Action Initiatives 

  • Numerous initiatives have been launched for debt management, including the Debt Swaps for Development Hub, Debt-for-Development Swap Programme, and the Pause Clause Alliance.
  • Initiatives also include investment strategies such as Coalition for Global Solidarity Levies and the SCALED platform.

 

Sovereign Debt Challenges in Developing Countries

  • Developing countries face massive debt burdens, with many having debt servicing exceeding public spending on crucial sectors such as health and education.
  • The overlapping fiscal demands also hinder their overall development.
  • High interest rates and limited access to finance increase the problem, particularly for countries most vulnerable to climate change.

 

Proposed Reforms for Global Financing System

  • Several measures should be implemented to ensure an equitable and inclusive global financing system.
  • Key proposals include a shift from loans to grants for climate-vulnerable countries, gender-responsive budgeting, and the creation of a sovereign debt workout mechanism.
  • The reform of credit rating systems is also crucial to ensure they are transparent, accountable and incorporate climate resilience indicators.
  • Priority should be given to investments that support gender equity and social inclusion goals. 

 

This comprehensive approach taken by the Sevilla Commitment seeks to address the challenges of sustainable development finance present globally, particularly in developing and climate-vulnerable nations. Its initiatives and measures illustrate the evolving and increasingly sophisticated strategies required to ensure economic stability, equality and resilience for all.

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