Hosted by the French Government as one of the flagship events of the G7 French Presidency, the Summit will convene Heads of State and government, international organizations, scientists, civil society, youth and local actors to advance global action on One Health.

The Summit will highlight the interdependence of human, animal, plant and ecosystem health, and the need for coordinated, science-based approaches to address shared health threats. It will showcase the Quadripartite partnership between, FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH, as well as the role of the WHO Academy and WHO’s work across country, regional and global levels.

Summit’s objectives:

Foster international and interdisciplinary dialogue about global issues by deploying, for instance, cooperation and research programmes.

• Reshape global institutional frameworks by creating a common “One Health” culture
• Engage all public and private stakeholders to invest in deploying concrete actions
• Develop solutions to strengthen health and surveillance systems in order to prevent health, food, and environmental risks that impact our populations
• Fundamental Principles
• The importance of science, research, and innovation
• The promotion of action-oriented multilateralism and international partnerships

The One Health Summit will focus on the main factors contributing to infectious and non-communicable diseases: 

• Zoonotic reservoirs and vectors
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Sustainable food systems
• Exposure to pollutions

What is “One Health”?

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Key Drivers of Disease Emergence:

According to the “Manhattan Principles” (2004), the majority of novel infectious diseases originate in animals. The main drivers include:

• Anthropogenic Activity: Deforestation and trade in wild animals.
• Land Use Changes: Urbanization and intensification of agriculture.
• Climate Change: Extreme weather events and ecosystem shifts.
• Global Connectivity: International travel and trade.

Global Frameworks:

• The Quadripartite Collaboration: Led by four major organizations:
  1. World Health Organization (WHO)
  2. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  4. World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
• One Health Joint Plan of Action: Launched in October 2022 to streamline international efforts.

National One Health Mission (India):

India has fast-tracked its own collaborative framework to address future health security.

Core Objectives:

• Integration: Breaking silos between human health, veterinary sciences, and environmental departments.
• Pandemic Preparedness: Building infrastructure for early warning and rapid response.
• Zoonotic Disease Control: Monitoring pathogens in livestock and wildlife before they jump to humans.
• Disease Surveillance: Integrating data from multiple sectors for a unified health picture.

State-Level Examples in India:

Key Findings & Statistics

• Top Performers: Brazil, China, and India stood among the top five globally for “Total Renewable Energy Supply by Technology.”
• Solar Dominance: Solar PV continues to lead the way, accounting for nearly 80% of the global increase in renewable capacity.
• Investment Gap: Despite the surge, current investment levels are still not enough to meet the COP28 target of tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
• Economic Turning Point: In more than 80% of countries, renewable power capacity is set to grow faster between 2025 and 2030 than in the previous five years.

Major Themes of the 2025 Report:

1. Demand-Side Focus: The report emphasizes that adding renewable “supply” (solar/wind) isn’t enough; we must transform energy demand in sectors like industry, transport, and heating.
2. Structural Barriers: It identifies high interest rates in emerging economies and unequal access to capital as major obstacles to an equitable global transition.
3. The “Global South” Vulnerability: While countries like India are adding massive renewable capacity, their fossil fuel import bills remain a major economic risk due to geopolitical tensions and price volatility.
4. Integration Challenges: Rising levels of curtailment (wasting excess renewable energy) and negative electricity prices signal that national grids need urgent investment and flexibility.

Why it Matters for India?

The report highlights India as a key driver of the global expansion, noting:

• Higher Auction Volumes: Increased government tenders for renewable projects.
• Rooftop Solar: New support and subsidies for residential and small-scale solar.
• Hydropower Permitting: Faster administrative processes to bring large-scale hydro projects online.

What is the FIMA Repo Facility?

The FIMA Repo Facility allows foreign central banks and international monetary authorities (FIMA account holders) to enter into repurchase agreements (repos) with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

• The Process: A foreign central bank temporarily exchanges its U.S. Treasury securities (held at the Fed) for U.S. Dollars.
• The Reversal: At a later date, the foreign bank returns the dollars (plus a small interest rate) and gets its Treasuries back.
• Timeline: * March 31, 2020: Established as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • July 28, 2021: Converted into a Standing Facility (permanent).

Key Objectives:

The facility serves as a “safety net” for the global financial system:

• Liquidity Backstop: Provides an alternative source of dollars so foreign authorities don’t have to sell Treasuries in the open market, which could crash bond prices.
• Market Stability: Prevents global dollar shortages from spilling over into U.S. financial markets.
• Confidence Building: Knowing that a dollar source exists reduces panic-buying of dollars during international crises.

How it differs from Central Bank Liquidity Swaps?

Why it Matters for the Global Economy?

• Reduces Volatility: If a country like Brazil or India suddenly needs dollars, they can use the FIMA facility instead of dumping billions in U.S. Treasuries, which keeps the U.S. bond market stable.
• Global Reach: While Swap lines are limited to a few wealthy nations, the FIMA facility is accessible to a wide range of emerging and developing economies that hold U.S. debt.
• Institutional Security: It reinforces the U.S. Dollar’s status as the world’s primary reserve currency by making it easier for holders to manage their liquidity.

Key Terms to Remember:

• Repurchase Agreement (Repo): A short-term loan where securities are sold with a promise to buy them back later at a slightly higher price.
• Backstop Rate: An interest rate set higher than the market average so that banks only use the facility when they truly cannot find dollars elsewhere.
• Standing Facility: A permanent program that is always available, rather than one created just for a specific crisis.

The Strategic Value of Kharg Island:

• Kharg Island serves as the economic heart of Iran, handling roughly 90% of its oil exports.
• Since mid-February 2026, Iran has ramped up export volumes to 3 million barrels per day in anticipation of a potential U.S. strike. Additionally, the island stores a backup of 18 million barrels, making it an incredibly high-stakes target for economic warfare.

The Snake Island Comparison:

• The text draws a cautionary parallel to the Russian occupation of Snake Island during the Ukraine war. Just as Russia seized that strategic outcrop only to face a “humiliating retreat” due to its exposed nature and the difficulty of defending supply lines, experts warn that the U.S. would face similar tactical challenges holding a small, exposed island just 50 km off the Iranian coast.

Military and Logistical Obstacles:

• Experts are divided on the success of such a mission because seizing the island does not equate to controlling the oil. For the U.S. to “take the oil,” the supply must continue to flow from the Iranian mainland.
• If Iran shuts off the pipelines, the U.S. would essentially be occupying a vacant terminal while remaining under constant fire from mainland artillery.

Global Economic Impact:

• Beyond the immediate combat, a seizure would likely cause a massive spike in global oil prices. There is a high risk that the mission would fail to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is located further downstream, meaning the U.S. could endure significant military losses without achieving total maritime or economic control.

The MC14 is being held from March 26 to 29, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. As the WTO’s highest decision-making body, this conference is meeting at a time when the global multilateral trading system is facing an existential crisis due to rising unilateralism, geopolitical tensions (US-China), and the collapse of the dispute settlement mechanism.

Key Points of the Crisis

• Retreat of Multilateralism: Large economies, particularly the U.S., are moving toward unilateralism (imposing tariffs arbitrarily) and securitization of trade (using national security as a reason to block trade).

• US-China Rivalry: The U.S. believes the WTO has failed to “discipline” China’s state-led economic model. Consequently, the U.S. has paralyzed the Appellate Body (the WTO’s highest court) by blocking member appointments.

• Legislative Logjam: Since the WTO works on consensus, creating new rules is nearly impossible. Only two major agreements (Trade Facilitation and Fisheries Subsidies) have been reached in 30 years.

Understanding Core WTO Principles:

A. Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Rule

• The Concept: Under the WTO agreements, countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. If you grant someone a special favor (such as a lower customs duty rate for one of their products), you have to do the same for all other WTO members.

• Significance: It ensures non-discrimination and prevents powerful nations from playing favorites or using trade as a tool for political coercion.

B. Special and Differential Treatment (SDT):

• The Concept: It recognizes that developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are not on an equal footing with developed nations.

• Provisions: SDT allows developing countries longer timeframes to implement agreements, provides them with technical assistance, and grants them “special rights” to protect their infant industries.

• Current Conflict: The U.S. wants to exclude “large” developing economies like India, China, and Brazil from these benefits, arguing they are no longer “poor.”

C. Plurilateral Agreements vs. Multilateralism

• Multilateral: Involves all 166 members (requires consensus).

• Plurilateral: Agreements between a smaller group of members (e.g., Investment Facilitation).

• The Debate: Some see plurilateral deals as a way to bypass the “consensus logjam.” India, however, fears this will lead to the fragmentation of the WTO and weaken the voice of the developing world.

Key Issues at MC14:

1. E-commerce Moratorium: Since 1998, members have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions (Netflix, software, e-books). Developed nations want this permanent; India and others worry about revenue loss.

2. Dispute Settlement Reform: The urgent need to revive the Appellate Body to ensure trade rules are legally enforceable.

3. Annex 4 Inclusion: Whether new plurilateral deals (like Investment Facilitation) can be added to the WTO rulebook without 100% consensus.

India’s Role & Way Forward:

• Normative Leadership: India needs to lead the Global South (the “Third World”) to ensure that the interests of LDCs and developing nations are not trampled by the U.S. and China.

• Innovative Solutions: India might need to consider new ideas, such as voting to appoint Appellate Body members (bypassing the U.S. block) or reconsidering its absolute opposition to plurilateral deals to keep the WTO relevant.

• Conclusion: If MC14 fails, it marks a victory for “might is right” (coercion) over “rule of law” (multilateralism), which would be highly detrimental to developing economies.

The concept of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is a cornerstone of international trade and development law, particularly within the framework of the WTO MC14 currently taking place in Cameroon.

What are Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?

LDCs are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They have low levels of human assets and are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks.

As of March 2026, there are 45 countries classified as LDCs by the United Nations. The list is reviewed every three years by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP).

Criteria for LDC Classification:

To be classified as an LDC, a country must meet three specific criteria:

1. Income Criterion: Based on a three-year average estimate of the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. (The threshold is typically under $1,088 for inclusion).

2. Human Assets Index (HAI): Measures health and education outcomes, including under-five mortality, maternal mortality, and secondary school enrollment.

3. Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI): Measures the instability of agricultural production, instability of exports, and victims of natural disasters.

 LDCs in the WTO (Special Rights):

Under the WTO’s Special and Differential Treatment (SDT), LDCs enjoy “most favored” status to help them integrate into the global economy:

• Duty-Free Quota-Free (DFQF) Access: Developed members (and some developing ones like India) allow LDCs to export products without paying customs duties or facing quantity limits.

• Extended Implementation Periods: LDCs are given much longer timeframes to comply with WTO agreements (e.g., Intellectual Property/TRIPS).

• Technical Assistance: Priority in receiving aid to build trade infrastructure (Aid for Trade).

• Exemption from Certain Disciplines: They are often exempt from reducing agricultural subsidies or industrial tariffs that other members must cut.

The “Graduation” Challenge:

When an LDC’s economy improves significantly, it “graduates” from the list (e.g., Bhutan recently graduated, and Bangladesh is in the transition process).

• The Crisis: Once a country graduates, it loses LDC-specific benefits (like DFQF access).

• MC14 Context: At the Yaoundé Ministerial, LDCs are pushing for a “Transition Period”—demanding that their trade preferences continue for several years after graduation to ensure their economies don’t collapse once the “crutches” of LDC status are removed.

The primary goal of this bill is to give the Government of India greater control over the assets (land, buildings, equipment) of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) whose licenses have been cancelled or have expired.

Key Provisions

State Takeover of “Orphaned” Assets (Section 14B):

• The Rule: If an NGO’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or not renewed on time, all assets created using foreign funds will now be taken over by the government.
• Designated Authority: The government will appoint a specific officer or authority to safeguard and manage these assets.
• Public Use: The government can use these buildings or equipment for public welfare projects or transfer them to other ministries/local departments.
• Sale Proceeds: If the authority decides to sell the assets, the money will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India.

Freezing Assets During Investigation (Section 13):

• The Rule: Even if an NGO is only under suspension (meaning a final decision hasn’t been made), it cannot sell, gift, or mortgage its assets.
• Permission: To deal with any asset during this phase, the organization must get explicit written approval from the Central Government.

New Grounds for Expiry:

• The bill clarifies that a registration automatically ceases if the certificate expires, if renewal is denied, or if the organization simply fails to apply for renewal in the prescribed format.

Reduction in Jail Term (Penal Provisions):

• The maximum jail term for violating FCRA rules (like illegally accepting or using foreign funds) is proposed to be reduced from 5 years to 1 year.
• The Logic: This shifts the focus from criminal prosecution of individuals to the financial and physical control of assets, making the law faster to implement.

What is FCRA?

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) is an Indian law that regulates the receipt and utilization of foreign funds by individuals, associations, and companies. It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

• Primary Objective: To ensure that foreign contributions do not adversely affect the sovereignty, integrity, and internal security of India. It prevents foreign interests from influencing India’s social, political, economic, or religious discourse.
• Historical Context: First enacted in 1976 (during the Emergency) to curb foreign influence in elections, it was replaced by a more comprehensive version in 2010 and heavily amended in 2020.

Key Provisions (The “Rules of the Game”):

To legally receive foreign money, an organization must follow these strict mandates:

• Mandatory Registration: Organizations must have a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social program. Registration is valid for 5 years.
• The SBI Account Rule: All foreign funds must be received in a designated “FCRA Account” at the State Bank of India (Main Branch), New Delhi.
• No Sub-Granting: A registered NGO cannot transfer foreign funds to any other NGO or person, even if that second NGO is also FCRA-registered.
• Administrative Cap: Only 20% of the foreign funds can be used for administrative expenses (salaries, rent, etc.). Previously, this limit was 50%.
• Aadhaar Requirement: Aadhaar is mandatory for all office bearers or directors of the NGO.

Who is Prohibited from Receiving Foreign Funds?

Under Section 3, the following are strictly barred from accepting any foreign contribution to prevent “foreign interference”:

1. Candidates contesting elections.
2. Members of any Legislature (MP/MLA).
3. Political parties or their office-bearers.
4. Public Servants, Judges, or Government employees.
5. Journalists, Columnists, Cartoonists, Editors, or Publishers of registered newspapers/media houses.

Recent Developments (2024-2026):

As we discussed regarding the new Bill, the government is now moving toward Asset Takeover.

• 2024 Amendment: New rules effective Jan 2025 allow NGOs to “carry forward” unspent administrative expenses to the next year (providing some flexibility).
• 2026 Proposed Bill: If an NGO’s license lapses or is cancelled, the government can now seize its assets (buildings, land) and put the sale proceeds into the Consolidated Fund of India.

Recently, the Global Terrorism Index, 2026 was published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

About Global Terrorism Index:

• It is  published by the Institute for Economics and Peace(IEP), a Sydney-based independent, non-profit think tank.
• It is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism for 163 countriescovering 99.7 per cent of the world’s population.
• Methodology
  • The GTI scores each country on a scale from 0 to 10;where 0 represents no impact from terrorism and 10 represents the highest measurable impact of terrorism.
  • This produces a composite score so as to provide an ordinal ranking of countries on the impact of terrorism.

Key Highlights of Global Terrorism Index 2026:

• Deaths from terrorism fell by 28 per cent and incidents decreased by 22 per cent
• Six of the ten countries most impactedby terrorism are in sub-Saharan Africa, maintaining its position as the epicenter.
• For the first time, Pakistan leads the Indexas the country most impacted by terrorism.
• India is placed 13thon the list.
• Deadliest terror outfits (2025):IS, Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and alShabaab.

Top 10 Countries: Global Leaders in Happiness:

The 2026 rankings continue to show the dominance of Northern European nations, with a notable entry from Central America.

• Finland: Ranks 1st for the ninth consecutive year.

• Iceland: 2nd

• Denmark: 3rd

• Costa Rica: 4th (Achieved its highest-ever ranking).

• Sweden: 5th

• Norway: 6th

• Netherlands: 7th

• Israel: 8th

• Luxembourg: 9th

• Switzerland: 10th

Note: For the second year in a row, no English-speaking nation (such as the US, UK, or Canada) appears in the Top 10. Notable rankings include New Zealand (11th), Ireland (13th), and Australia (15th).

Key Findings: The Social Media Crisis:

A primary focus of this year’s report is the “worrying decline” in well-being among individuals under 25, particularly in Western industrial nations.

• Heavy Usage Correlation: The report draws a direct link between high screen time and reduced life satisfaction.

• Demographic Vulnerability: Teenage girls and young adults are identified as the most significantly affected groups.

• Psychological Triggers: Factors such as social comparison, online pressure, and the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) contribute to rising stress levels.

• Geographic Trends: While youth happiness is dropping in the US, Canada, and Australia, it is rising in parts of Central and Eastern Europe (e.g., Serbia, Bulgaria, and Latvia).

India’s Standing and Regional Context:

India remains in the lower half of the global rankings, reflecting a gap between economic growth and subjective well-being.

• India’s Rank: 116th (Score: 4.536).

• Challenges identified: Limited social support, corruption perceptions, and restricted freedom in life choices.

Comparison with Neighboring Nations

The Science of Happiness: How it is Measured?

The rankings are not based on a single “mood” check but on a three-year average of life evaluations.

The report analyzes six key variables to explain the variation in happiness levels across countries:

• Economic Prosperity: Measured via GDP per capita.

• Health: Healthy life expectancy at birth.

• Social Support: Having someone to count on in times of trouble.

• Autonomy: The freedom to make key life choices.

• Altruism: Measured by recent donations or acts of generosity.

• Integrity: Perceptions of corruption within government and business.

Why Finland Remains Unbeatable?

Finland’s “happiness” is often described as a state of contentment and security rather than outward joy. This is sustained by:

• Institutional Trust: High levels of confidence in the police, healthcare, and government.

• Universal Services: Excellent education and healthcare systems accessible to all.

• Environmental Quality: Access to nature and a clean environment.

• Balanced Life: A cultural emphasis on work-life balance and social equality.

Why in News? United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) Report 2025 has identified India as a “key contributor” to the global and regional reduction of under-five and neonatal mortality. The report specifically praises India’s ability to scale up public health interventions in a populous and diverse environment, leading to one of the fastest reductions in child deaths globally.

Key Points from the Report:

1. Statistical Progress (Regional & National):

• South Asia’s Decline: The region saw a 76% decline in under-five deaths since 1990 and a 68% drop since 2000.
• Mortality Rates: Under-five mortality in the region fell from 92 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to approximately 32 in 2024.
• Neonatal & Early Childhood: Neonatal deaths (first 28 days) declined by nearly 60%, while mortality for children aged 1–59 months dropped by over 75% since 2000.

2. Strategic Interventions:

The report attributes this success to a “continuum-of-care” strategy and several flagship Indian schemes:

• Institutional Delivery: Programs like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) have incentivized hospital births and free care for newborns.
• Immunization: The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) has been scaled up to ensure broader coverage against preventable diseases.
• Infrastructure: Expansion of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) and the use of digital health innovations like Tele-SNCU.
• Clinical Management: Implementation of the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI).

3. Challenges & Leadership:

• Global Share: Despite the progress, South Asia still accounts for nearly 25% of global under-five deaths, highlighting the need for continued momentum.
• India’s Role: India is positioned as a leader among high-burden countries, proving that equity-driven and standards-led interventions can yield rapid results even in complex settings.

What is the E-transmission Moratorium?

Since 1998, WTO members have agreed not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions (e.g., software, e-books, music, movies, and even AI-generated products). This agreement has been renewed every two years, but it is now a massive point of contention at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon.

2. India’s Core Arguments for Opposition:

India is leading the charge to end this moratorium for several strategic reasons:

• Revenue Loss: Experts estimate that India loses approximately $1 billion in tax revenue annually by not being able to charge duties on digital imports.
• Protection of “Policy Space”: India wants the right to regulate its own digital economy. By ending the moratorium, India would have the freedom to impose duties to support domestic industrialization.
• Net Importer vs. Exporter: The benefits of the moratorium largely go to developed nations (who export digital tech), while the costs (lost taxes) are borne by developing nations like India, which are net importers of these digital products.
• The “Big Tech” Factor: India argues that the current rules favor global Big Tech companies, making it harder for local startups to compete.

3. The US Position (The Counter-Argument):

The US is pushing for a permanent moratorium, arguing that:

• Stability: It provides predictability for the global digital economy.
• Administrative Burden: The US claims that imposing duties would be technically difficult and would divert resources away from actually fixing the “digital divide.”
• Digital Growth: They believe free e-transmission is the reason digitally delivered services reached $5 trillion in 2023.

India vs. USA on E-Transmission: