> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.upscprep.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Previse 2025: Lesser known World Groupings - URL: https://www.upscprep.com/lesser-known-world-groupings-cairns-nb8-v20-chip4-alliance-ecowas-b9-c4-mineral-security-upsc/ - Published: 2024-06-03T07:21:13.000Z - Updated: 2025-05-01T05:44:04.000Z - Description: GS3 | International Groupings - Author: UPSCprep.com - Tags: Previse 2025, UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs, #show-toc The news landscape is often dominated by established players, but sometimes lesser-known groupings capture our attention. Whether political, social, or environmental, these groups can play a crucial role in shaping current events. This section explores some of the **lesser-known groupings** making headlines. ### **Cairns Group** ![The Cairns Group | UPSC](https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cairns-group.jpg) - The Cairns Group is an interest group involving **19 agriculture-exporting countries**. - Its objective is to abolish trade-distorting ("amber box") support for agricultural products and export subsidies. - It includes members like Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Vietnam. - The group claims that India’s public stockholding programme is highly subsidized and the farm support is “distorting” global food prices and food security. - It aims at **dismantling India’s MSP scheme** or reducing its scope. --- ### **NB8 Group** ![Nordic-Baltic Cooperation (NB8) | UPSC](https://vm.ee/sites/default/files/resize/2024-01/NB8%20Logo-200x283.png) ![Daily Current Affairs on India-NB8 Meet Sparks Global Tech & Green Talks for UPSC Civil Services Examination (General Studies) Preparation](https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Uploads/image/nordic-countries.jpg) - NB8 is a regional cooperation group with **five Nordic** and **three Baltic countries**. - It was called NB8 or **Nordic-Baltic Eight** in **2000**. - The members include Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. - Nordic-Baltic cooperation with India includes fields such as innovation, health, intellectual property rights, tourism, green transition, maritime, space cooperation, and artificial intelligence. --- ### **Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group** ![Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group | UPSC](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/4QC95LhfBhryBnnSZG8RsDOZpJOzrEw9l2nTqzql29I89BWFzJ2sV-hmJ2xnO2k6grkoY37-bNIpzSZxRXtnneontSVdW087KTseiChwK175o2ejOpg2BgeEuYxTZpLoDqV1DnC10tJ2S7mxTBlGReI) - V20 Group was established in **2015** in Lima, Peru, during the annual meetings of the **World Bank Group** and the **International Monetary Fund**. - Its formation originated from the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s Costa Rica Action Plan (2013-2015) to strengthen economic and financial responses to climate change. - It seeks to promote climate resilience and low-emission development to address economic and financial issues. - The members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Costa Rica, East Timor, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, the Maldives, Nepal, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/06/1.-UPSCprep-Banner-4.png) [Join Now](https://courses.upscprep.com/products?ref=upscprep.com) --- ### **Chip 4 or Fab 4 Alliance** ![ Chip 4 Alliance | UPSC](https://cdn.techwireasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shutterstock_2187411305-scaled.jpg) ![Will the Chip 4 Alliance | UPSC](https://techovedas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMI-Infographic-Better-Together-The-Chip-4-Alliance-67-scaled.webp) - The Chip 4 group includes the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, the **world's top semiconductor producers**. - This group represents more than **70%** of the global semiconductor industry by value. - The objective is to enhance the "security" and "resilience" of semiconductor supply chains and reduce reliance on chips made in China. - It also aims at supporting industry efforts to diversify their manufacturing base and protection of the Intellectual Property of companies. --- ### **ECOWAS** ![Nigeria, ECOWAS' largest donor, continually outsmarted by smaller West-African countries | UPSC](https://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/ecowas_logo_208503802.jpg) ![Ecowas: west African trade bloc | UPSC](https://images.theconversation.com/files/578259/original/file-20240227-22-ng0qz.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip) - ECOWAS, or the **Economic Community of West African States**, is a regional grouping that **promotes economic integration in the West African sub-region**. - It was formed in **1975** by **15 West African countries** in Lagos, Nigeria, and has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. - ECOWAS established its free trade area in 1990 and adopted a common external tariff in 2015. - The group developed a peacekeeping force for conflicts in the region, which was helpful during the civil war in Liberia in 1990 and the overthrow of a democratically elected government in Sierra Leone in 1997. --- ### **Bucharest Nine** ![bucharest nine B9 Grouping | UPSC](https://scontent.fblr21-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/277565023_1680994185610318_8618125351128711550_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=dQfX9JpPOEEQ7kNvgFnQwh_&_nc_ht=scontent.fblr21-1.fna&oh=00_AYDeKzlElgTEWO-uBUq37EhpG88RlXHYBi7fCiNhed9JyQ&oe=666327A0) ![Statement by the Leaders of the Bucharest Nine](https://www.america-times.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/B9-Bratislava.jpeg) ![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/oHsPXy4hCRKeu3dS6H3mExSsaMymDMDerzAzPTzbdjrIfsn3KEvWTjSndClvD-TZWC922csszFOFWI3E4QEDdRXZgHIGwv0Rrh0aA_p3jwAQKiLPEV5SK0xmIzc0tHVpp7YK1tM3SjvDLZO17bFE12o) - Bucharest Nine includes nine **Eastern European countries** that have also been part of NATO since the end of the Cold War. - Founded in **2015**, the group is also referred to as “countries on NATO’s eastern flank”. - The members in B9 include Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and all are part of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.. - Romania, Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria are former members of the Warsaw Pact while Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were part of the former USSR. --- ### **Cotton Four (C4)** ![Cotton Four or C4 Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and Mali | UPSC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/06/6TcdnoYPOLDmXAWHQLc-0cKz5CQ-gsai2nMFpj67inW1X4hBeXt4VKPe4T05OqMr2UH_ytWmJt23TUoNPFZTxapJ6lkqaawUMUwcn43h9_-FrCDzvmD2J147p-UomNa5tAJH7NadncBqUibdEm7NxgA.png) ![Which four countries are known as Cotton-4? | UPSC](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-ddfcb2f62c6b505e74b9b03078f4597b-pjlq) ![Cotton 4 + Togo - Portal Embrapa](https://www.embrapa.br/documents/10180/1368564/cotton+pq.jpg/cdfca5b6-1439-4161-9dd1-db3f538b41c4?t=1395923630668) - **Burkina** **Faso**, **Benin**, **Chad** and **Mali** are known as the Cotton Four or C4 group. - It was formed to discuss trade reforms needed to address cotton subsidies and high trade barriers. - These four countries are the African continent's leading cotton producers and exporters. - Togo recently joined the grouping for a new stage and is now called Cotton-4 Plus and Togo. --- ### **Minerals Security Partnership** ![Minerals Security Partnership is a US-led partnership | UPSC](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/aQTW7HU-oQ5UCYoog_rNJOKzyErW2d8lIjAnVFlKrBh-A0el3m696JvNF83iCJeiHpPYSfbR8DELAnj4z8341_bLPpFiCOh-e_5cLA4lACrIJx6xHQzhVnXus61kyKYL9W2ND_NYrwR0VTK8-sLDyD0) ![U.S. Builds Mineral Coalition to Displace China – The China-Global South Project](https://chinaglobalsouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/US-Mineral-Coalition.jpeg) - Minerals Security Partnership is a **US-led partnership** to protect supply chains of critical minerals and **reduce dependency on China**. - Critical minerals have high economic vulnerability and high global supply chain risk. - There are 14 members including the UK, Australia, France, India, Germany and the European Union. ## Sign up for UPSCprep.com Simplify your UPSC journey Subscribe Email sent! 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