India Russia Summit 2021
On December 6, 2021, Russia President Vladimir Putin visited India. He held the 21st India – Russia summit with his counter part Narendra Modi. During his visit, India and Russia signed 28 agreements. Some of them were semi – confidential. Thus, the Ministry of External Affairs did not release all of its details.
Important Points
- The countries agreed to extend the military technical cooperation by another ten years. Currently, the indigenous production under this cooperation include T – 90 tanks, MiG 29K aircraft, Su – 30 MKI, upgrade of MiG and suuply of Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher Smerch. Both India and Russia are currently developing fifth generation Fighter Aircraft and Multi – Role Transport Aircraft.
- Reserve Bank of India and Bank of Russia signed pact to respond to cyberattacks.
- The leaders agreed that both the countries share common perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan. They agreed to implement a bilateral roadmap created to act upon Afghanistan.
- The Inter – Governmental Commission on Military and Military – Technical Cooperation was held. This commission was established in2000.
Outcome
- The leaders discussed on International North – South Transport Corridor and also about the Chennai – Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor (which is under proposal).
- Russia welcomed the “Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan”.
- India congratulated Russia on joining as an observer in NAM. And Russia congratulated India for its membership at the United Nations Security Council.
Significance
- The “Special and Previleged Strategic Partnership” between the countries is getting stronger.
- The visit of Russian President is a reflection of the country’s commitment to its ties with India. This is in need of the moment. Because, the ties between India and Russia were buffeted by New Delhi’s ties with the US. Also, Russia was getting closer with China on the back of US sanctions, CAATSA and its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
- Also, ahead of Putin’s visit, India and Russia held the 2+2 dialogue. It was held between the external affairs minister and defence ministers of the countries. During the dialogue, the countries signed several military agreements. Under the agreement, India and Russia agreed to manufacture the Russian AK-203 in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Around 6 lakh rifles are to be manufactured. Through this, India will move ahead in its self – reliant path.
US boycott Olympics
The US Government recently announced the boycott of Olympics 2022. The Olympics 2022 is to be held in Beijing. The US cited that “China’s human rights ATTROCITIES” is the main reason for its boycott. The US has named the boycott as “Diplomatic Boycott”.
Diplomatic Boycott
It means that the US is not sending any official or diplomatic representation to the participate in the Olympics. However, US is allowing the American athletes to participate in the Olympics.
Reason
The US is boycotting for the following human rights atrocities of China:
- Situations in Taiwan and Tibet
- The crackdown in Hong Kong
- Abuse of minority Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang
Background
Previously, the US boycotted the Olympics completely in 1980. Then the boycott was to protest against the Soviet Union military presence in Afghanistan. In December 1979, the Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan supporting the Afghan communist government. The soviet then remained in Afghanistan till 1989. In 1980, around 60 countries refused to compete in Olympics along with the US. This included China, Japan, Canada, Israel and West Germany.
China’s Boycott
The Chinese Government boycotted the Olympics in 1972. According to China, in 1972, the International Olympics Committee failed to recognize its team.
Issue
China is hosting both Summer and Winter Olympics. This is the first time in the Olympics history that a country is hosting both Summer and Winter Olympics. The Summer and Winter Olympics are held once in four years. The Summer Olympics is generally referred to as Olympics with more number of countries participating. On the other hand, the Winter Olympics is relatively smaller event. The summer Olympics are held once in four years, mainly during the leap years. The winter Olympics are held two years after the leap year. The Summer Olympics were held in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, etc. And the Winter Olympics were held in 2002, 2006, 2010, etc. China hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008 and is now to host the Winter Olympics in 2022.
Yutu 2
Yutu – 2 is a Chinese lunar rover that was launched to the moon in Chang’e 4 mission. It was launched in 2018 and it landed on the moon in 2019. Recently, the rover spotted a cube – shaped mystery hut on the far side of the moon.
Recent findings
The Yutu – 2 rover found a cube shaped object in the far side of the moon. A likely explanation for the object is that it can be a larger boulder that was excavated by an impact event.
Chang’e 4 mission
As the name suggests, Change’e 4 was the fourth lunar mission of China. The Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2 missions were orbiters. The Chang’e 3 landed on the near side of the moon with Yutu – 1. Chang’e 5 mission brought moon sample to the earth.
Yutu – 2
- It is solar powered and propelled by six wheels.
- The Yutu – 2 landed in Von Karman crater.
Lunar Ejecta Sequence
In 2020, scientists reported high resolution image of Lunar Ejecta Sequence for the first time. The geology of the moon is called Selenology. The moon lacks true atmosphere. It does not hold any known actions of plate tectonics. It has a lower gravity. It cooled faster. Its surface was formed by volcanism and cratering.
Yutu – 2 Heater Unit
The Yutu – 2 is equipped with a radioisotope heater unit. The unit is used to heat the subsystems in the rover during long lunar nights. It set record of traversing for a greater number of lunar days. It continuously traversed the lunar surface for 11 days. Earlier, the record was held by Lunokhod – 1 rover of Russia. This was possible because of the heater unit. It takes 29 earth days for the moon to complete one lunar day or to complete one rotation around its axis. This means that the nights in moon are longer. Thus, the heater unit is mandatory to increase the functioning of the rover.
Far side of moon
The rotation and revolution period of the moon are equal. That is, the time taken by the moon to make one complete revolution around the earth and the time taken by the moon to make one complete rotation along its axis is the same. This is why, the earth is constantly seeing only one side of the moon. The earth has never seen the other side. This other side is called far side of the moon.
