Context:
US House passes bill titled ‘Strengthening the Quad Act’
Strengthening the Quad Act:
- Directs the US State Department to enact a strategy for increasing engagement and cooperation with the Quad.
- Seeks to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate cooperation between members
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad):
- Quad – An informal forum of like-minded countries comprising the USA, India, Australia and Japan.
- Origin – Traced back to Quad collaboration in 2004 Tsunami rescue operations in the Indian Ocean region.
- Evolved from – Shinzo Abe’s concept of “Democratic Security Diamond” involving Australia, India, Japan and the US
- 1st Quad Leaders’ Summit – 2021.
- Objective – To support an open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific
- Functioning –
- Quad is a loose grouping rather than a formal alliance.
- It does not have a decision-making body or a secretariat
- It does not have a formal structure like NATO or the United Nations.
QUAD Initiatives:
- QUAD fellowship – For pursuing a doctorate in STEM courses.
- Quad Vaccine Partnership – To boost vaccine partnership.
- Covid-19 Global Action Plan to enhance coordination in recovery efforts during the Covid pandemic.
- Quad Vaccine Experts Group – For cooperation in vaccine strategy.
- Quad Senior Cyber Group – For adoption and implementation of shared cyber standards.
- Quad Climate Working group – For adaptation to climate change and to build capacity in other Indo-Pacific.
Source: Hindustan Times
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements about G-20:
1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss international economic and financial issues.
2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India’s G-20 priorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
