India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders Summit | South Africa G20 Summit Concluded | Assam Accord (1985) | Auramine in Indian food | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders Summit

Syllabus: GS2/International

Context

• The Prime Minister of India, at the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Summit, emphasized that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms are no longer a matter of choice but a global imperative.

India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders Summit 2025

• Note – It coincided with the first G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, Africa.

IBSA Dialogue Forum

• It was established in 2003 via the Brasilia Declaration, as a collective voice for the Global South.
• It comprises India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA troika), and they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, democratic values, and inclusive development.
• It can act as a bridge between Asia, Africa, and South America.
• Key Initiatives- It include IBSA Trust Fund (operationalised in 2006) to enhance South-South cooperation and IBSAMAR multinational maritime exercise.

Additional information – UNSC

• It is one of the principal organs of the UN, responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
• It was established in 1945 as part of the UN Charter.
• It is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members (P5) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
• It is headquartered in New York City.

South Africa G20 Summit Concluded

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

In News

• The 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa is the first-ever G20 summit held on African soil under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”

Key Highlights of the Summit

• Adoption of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration – It reaffirms commitments to climate action (focusing on adaptation finance and renewable energy).
• Emphasis on institutional reforms including UN Security Council reform.
• Strong focus on empowerment of women and girls and condemning terrorism.
• African Union’s permanent membership in the G20.

India’s Stand/Initiatives

• Proposed the Global Traditional Knowledge Repository to harness collective human wisdom.
• Launched the G20-Africa Skills Multiplier to create one million certified trainers to skill African youth.
• Advocated for a Global Healthcare Response Team for rapid health crisis intervention.
• Initiated the Open Satellite Data Partnership for agriculture, fisheries, and disaster management data sharing.
• Pitched the Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative promoting recycling and sustainable supply chains.
• Launched the ACITI trilateral framework with Australia and Canada for cooperation in critical technologies, AI, supply chains, and clean energy.

Assam Accord (1985)

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy & Intervention

Context

• Recently, the Assam government has announced that a broad consensus has been reached on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, 1985.

Assam Accord (1985)

• It was signed on August 15, 1985, between the Government of India, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).
• It marked the end of a six-year-long anti-foreigner agitation in Assam (1979–1985), which happened because of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. It impacted the state’s demography, culture, and economy.
• Clause 6 of the Assam Accord: It promised ‘constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards’ to protect the ‘cultural, social, and linguistic identity’ of the Assamese people.
• Border Security: The Accord called for the sealing and fencing of the India-Bangladesh border to prevent further illegal immigration.

Auramine in Indian food

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• India continues to face recurring episodes of chemical adulteration in food, particularly through the use of non-permitted synthetic dyes like auramine O.

Auramine O

• It is a synthetic, odorless yellow dye extensively used in industry, including textile and leather processing, printing inks and paper manufacturing.
• Auramine O is not approved for use as a food colour in India, the European Union, the United States, or most other regulatory jurisdictions.
• Other dyes such as metanil yellow, rhodamine B, and malachite green appear in certain samples of sweets that are also not approved.
• It has a range of health risks, including liver and kidney damage, enlargement of the spleen, mutagenic effects that can alter genetic material, and potential carcinogenic outcomes.

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has introduced new technical and procedural safeguards to prevent impersonation and misuse of its summons and notices.

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)

• Established under – Companies Act, 2013,
• Functions under – Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Mandate – It is a specialized body for white-collar crime investigations rather than routine company law violations.
• Significance – It brings together experts from accountancy, forensic audit, banking, law, IT, capital markets, taxation and company law to handle serious and complex corporate frauds.

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has released a revised draft of Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP 2.O).

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

• Launched in – October 2023
• Objective – It provides safety ratings for vehicles based on crash testing and evaluation criteria.
• It laid down the detailed procedure for vehicle manufacturers or importers to get their vehicles tested as per Automotive Industry Standard.
• Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) in Pune is the designated agency for issuing the Bharat NCAP ratings.