Current Affairs May 2025 Topic - International Relations

IndiaAngola Relations and Overview of Angola

The Prime Minister of India recently hosted the Angolan President, João Lourenço, in New Delhi to conduct bilateral talks.
The discussions led to India offering a defence credit line of $200 million to Angola and propose the expansion of cooperation in infrastructure, defence, and space technology.
This visit marks the significant moment of the 40year diplomatic relationship between India and Angola.

Angola is located in the southwestern region of Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west.
The Capital city of Angola is Luanda, which is also one of the country's coastal ports.
Angola shares boundaries with the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Namibia and also has coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.
Angola also includes an exclave region, Cabinda, which is situated to the north of the main territory.

Angola is home to major plateaus such as the Bié Plateau, Huíla Plateau and the Malanje Highlands.
The country's peak point is Mount Moco, which lies near Huambo.
The major rivers in Angola include the Cuanza, Cunene and Cuango rivers.
The southwest region of Angola forms part of the Namib Desert.
The climate of Angola is tropical with distinct rainy and dry seasons due to the influence of the Benguela Current, which is a cold oceanic current.

Angola is an ethnically diverse country with several Bantuspeaking groups like the Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, and Bakongo.
Angola plays a significant economic role as one of Africa’s top oil producers, with abundant resources of diamonds, iron ore, copper, and gold.
The northeastern region of Angola is renowned for its electric diamond deposits found in river gravels.

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India and the UK have formalised their economic ties by signing the IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The agreement is marked as a substantial step between the 5th (India) and 6th (UK) largest economies in times of ongoing global trade volatility and tariff uncertainties.

The UK stands as India’s 4th largest export destination and reciprocally, India is the UK’s 11th largest trading partner.
The FTA is India’s 16th and the UK's most important bilateral trade deal postBrexit.
A significant stipulation of the FTA is that it grants zeroduty access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK.
Indian professionals, specifically in IT and healthcare, will enjoy enhanced labour mobility, with India obtaining 100 additional annual visas.
The deal features a Double Contribution Convention Agreement ensuring that professionals in either country are not required to pay national insurance or social security contributions in both countries.

An FTA reduces or eliminates customs duties and trade barriers on goods traded between two or more nations.
Unlike Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs), FTAs offer comprehensive tariff elimination on most goods, while PTAs only offer selective tariff concessions.

FTAs enable Indian exporters to access new markets on preferential terms, thus increasing trade volumes and competitiveness.
The consistent inflow of foreign direct investments is facilitated by FTAs, which foster investor confidence and regulatory certainty.
By diversifying sourcing channels and securing vital inputs for strategic sectors, FTAs help India maintain a resilient supply chain.
Through closer economic integration, FTAs enable India to collaborate on advanced technologies and futurefocused sectors.

While FTAs have been beneficial, they have also led to rising trade deficits, with import growth outpacing exports.
The FTA utilisation rate in India is significantly lower compared to developed nations.
Competition from partner countries in key industries due to innovation and cost advantages can pose a challenge for India.
Despite decreased tariffs, nontariff barriers such as standards and technical measures continue to inhibit India’s export access.
Complex certification procedures under FTAs raise compliance costs for exporters and stricter intellectual property regimes conflict with India's domestic policies.

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At the World Hydrogen Summit 2025, held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, India shared its plan to become a global hub for green hydrogen production.
This projection is a part of the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, aiming to place India as a leader in renewable energy sources.

Green hydrogen is a renewable form of energy derived by the process of water electrolysis powered by sources like solar energy or biomass gasification.
The breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen takes place, yielding hydrogen as the chief output.
Green hydrogen is utilised in various fields including fuel cells in electric vehicles, industrial sectors such as fertilizer and refineries, and in the transportation system covering roads and railways.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is the pivotal policy crafted by India seeking to enhance the scale of green hydrogen.
The mission proposes to establish an annual production capacity of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
There are two primary phases associated with this mission. Phase I will span from 202223 to 202526 and Phase II will follow from 202627 to 202930.
The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme (GHCI) ensures the credibility and transparency of India's green hydrogen market.
An exemption from mandatory Environmental Clearance for Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia plants allows faster project implementation.
Three major ports—Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin— are selected for development as Green Hydrogen hubs by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
India is also actively engaging with countries like Japan, Australia, and the UAE for technology transfers and investment opportunities in green hydrogen production.

Hydrogen, being the lightest and the most abundant element in the universe, makes it an essential potential energy source.
Hydrogenbased fuels could play a significant role in India's journey towards energy independence, decrease its dependence on fossil fuel imports, and provide a stable, local energy source from renewables.
The production of green hydrogen from waste biomass can also generate supplemental income for farmers and local communities, contributing towards a sustainable economy.

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