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Recently, the world celebrated 8th edition of International Yoga day. Along with speeches about India’s ancient culture, the World Yoga Day inevitably invokes talk of India’s contemporary soft power.

In this article, we will analyse how Yoga is exemplifying India’s soft power.

“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great grandmother of tradition”

― Mark Twain.

What is Soft Power in diplomacy?

• In politics (and particularly in international politics), soft power is the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (contrast hard power).
• It is the capacity to attract and persuade others to do things they otherwise wouldn’t.
• It involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction.
• Soft power resources are the assets that produce attraction or centre of attraction in geopolitical arena.

Etymology of the word

• Joseph Nye, a US foreign policy veteran, coined the phrase soft power in 1990.
• He encourages readers of his book The Future of Power to think of soft power in terms of resources
• Power is derived from resources, and soft power is no different.
• Hard power rests on military resources like navy fleets, attack aircraft and a capacity to inflict harm.
• Soft power rests on three primary resources:

1. Culture,
2. Political values and
3. Foreign policy

How is Yoga a soft power?

India has a tremendous cultural power or civilizational shakti that has maintained a profound impact on the world for thousands of years.

• The very fact that the celebration as an international day at all is itself considered an example of India’s soft power.
• International Day of Yoga reflects yoga’s immense popularity worldwide, underscoring its richness as a soft power resource.
• Since 2006, yoga gurus were trying to lobby the UN to declare a world yoga day. Now these yog gurus have got their due recognition.
• After a vigorous diplomatic push from PM Modi in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly put the date in the calendar.
• By exposing and familiarising citizens of a globalised world with its own historic-cultural customs, India will gain geopolitical muscle to flex.
• Yoga is a highly secular physical activity. Though originated form a Vedas, it does not represent any political religion. Ex. OIC, Commonwealth of Nations
• Cultural power is perhaps the main diplomatic power in this era of global travel and the global economy. It must form an integral part of any realistic foreign policy.

Major declared objectives of Yoga

• Optimism: It involves building a positive self-concept in oneself. Having a positive outlook helps a person to value himself and life in all forms.
• Compassion: Being Compassionate means having empathetic qualities such as love, kindness, friendliness and doing no harm to others.
• Inner Peace: Inner Peace as a theme is concerned with resolution of one’s own psychological conflicts and problems and discovering peace of mind. It includes ways of understanding the self and the process of thought, controlling emotions such as anger, art of soothing the mind etc.
• Self-realization: The concept ‘Be your true self’ means the strength of the character to be honest and direct in expressing one’s needs, feelings and thoughts without letting others down. The skills in such behaviour are necessary for resolving conflicts and effective social interaction.
• Peaceful existence: People need to learn to work harmoniously in groups with others. The theme living together can accommodate such subtopics as sharing, mutual help, trust building, taking group responsibility, leading and following. Learning cooperation reduces egoistic competitive tendencies in human beings.
• Scientific temperament: Critical thinking on the part of the citizens is a necessary feature of a democratic society. It involves analysis, syntheses, looking at the other sides of an issue, searching for alternatives and logical thinking.
• Non-violent conflict resolution: It encompasses such skills necessary for conflict resolution as conflict analyses, negotiation, active listening, mediation, creative problem-solving and alternative solution seeking.
• Respect for human dignity: Respect for human dignity is based on the concepts of human rights, duties and justice. It attempts to develop a consciousness that recognizes and respects one’s own and others’ rights.
• Communal Harmony: Building peace in community means providing opportunities for its members to be open to social realities and understand people’s problems and work with them.
• Care for the planet: The health of the planet has direct and immediate influence on the destiny of mankind. Values like peace with nature, preservation of nature, appreciation and admiration of natural environment, reuse, repair, recycling natural resources, etc. are included in this theme

Limitations of soft power

• Soft power has been criticized as for being ineffective or less effective tool in diplomacy.
• Actors in international relations respond to only two types of incentives: Economic incentives and Forceful coercion.
• As a concept, it can be difficult to distinguish soft power from hard power.
• Rising powers such as China, are creating new approaches to soft power ex. Debt Traps, thus using it defensively.
• Soft power can backfire, leading to reputational damage or loss, or what has been termed ‘soft disempowerment’. Ex. India’s perception in Maldives.

Initiatives by India showcasing its soft power

• Principle of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’
• Non-Alignment Movement
• ‘Neighborhood First’ Policy
• Vaccine diplomacy
• Aid to Sri Lanka
• Developmental aids in Afghanistan
• Humanitarian assistance for disaster relief (HADR) in neighborhood
• Political sensitization of leaders e. Late foreign minister responding to Tweets

Major achievements

• India has moral high ground at the world forum especially due to the non-violent manner in which we had achieved our independence.
• International support for tough decisions like abrogation of article 370, and maintaining neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine War. 
• It keeps India distant from world conflicts like recently in Syria, Sudan, Israel-Palestine issue. So India earns goodwill from all over the world.

Threats to India’s soft power

• India’s older regimes and academia did little to encourage, protect or to benefit from Yoga.
• Perhaps no other country in recent times has so ignored the potential value of its soft power.
• There is a cultural battle occurring in the media and academia, in which India’s civilizational views are poorly represented.
• India’s cultural diplomacy is often labeled by the left liberals as a Hindutva Politics.

Way forward

• India should move beyond asanas and analysis and take action.
• Having the Indian story merely out there, jostling with a hundred other stories, isn’t necessarily winning the war of narrative.
• Our cultural outreach must be well-oiled, well-funded, and primed to produce geopolitical clout.
• Our moves — whether they be hard-to-power thrusts or soft power maneuvers — must emanate from consistent strategy.
• In the age of the internet, India must amplify its strengths and work rapidly to right the wrongs.

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Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1        Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

GS-2        Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

GS-3        Indigenization of technology, applications of S&T in everyday life

GS-4        Public/Civil Services values and ethics in public administration:  Status and problems;  accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

Question 1)

 

Q.1 Providing an account of distribution of rainforests across the world, mention their key characteristics. Also highlight the threats that are being faced by tropical rainforests. (15 Marks)

 

Question 2)

Q.2 The UAE today is India’s closest partner in the Arab world and also an important partner for India’s strategic and geopolitical interests. Comment. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 Optical fibre is the backbone of the digital infrastructure required for the 5G technology. Where does India stand in the optical fibre manufacturing industry? Examine the challenges it faces and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 In spite of the existence of a Code of Conduct for public servants, its implementation has been tardy and of limited success. Discuss. Further, suggest steps which could be taken to improve the efficacy of the Code of Conduct. What role can Code of Ethics play in reinforcing the Code of Conduct in public life? (10 Marks)

 

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1        Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

GS-2        Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

GS-3        Government Budgeting

GS-4        Public/Civil Services values and ethics in public administration:  Status and problems;  accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

Question 1)

 

Q.1 Give an account of the distribution of petroleum reserves in the world. (10 Marks)

 

Question 2)

Q.2 Why does G7 matter for India? What is the significance of India’s participation in G7as an observer? (15 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 How does freebie culture harm the financial health of the states? Analyse the effectiveness of the FRBM Act in dealing with the freebie culture and suggest a way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 The right to information (RTI) and the right to privacy (RTP) complement each other in holding the government accountable to the people, however, in cases of conflict, they can be reconciled keeping public interest in mind. Discuss. (10 Marks)

 

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1          Salient features of world’s physical geography

GS-2        Constitution of India- —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

GS-3        Applications of S&T in everyday life

GS-4        Public/Civil Services values and ethics in public administration:  Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; 

Question 1)

 

Q.1 Highlight the various factors affecting salinity of the oceans. Also, elaborate upon horizontal and vertical distribution of ocean salinity. (15 Marks)

 

Question 2)

Q.2 Political instabilities in various states due to defections is a testament to the loopholes in the anti-defection law. In the context of this, examine the shortcomings and suggest a way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 The proliferation of a wide range of e-commerce platforms has created convenience and increased consumer choice. But their dominance has created several issues. Examine those issues and suggest solutions. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 In context of the relationship between political executive and civil servants in India, highlight the significance of neutrality in the civil service. (10 Marks)

 

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Topics for Today’s questions:

GS-1          Salient features of world’s physical geography

GS-2        Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

GS-3        Indian Economy

GS-4        Public/Civil Services values and ethics in public administration

Question 1)

 

Q.1 Explain the process of sea floor spreading. Also, discuss the various evidences that support it. (10 Marks)

 

Question 2)

Q.2 Convergences between New Delhi and Hanoi have naturally found expression in bilateral relations and the two countries are poised to develop their partnership further in the coming years. Comment. (10 Marks)

Question 3)

Q.3 What are the regulatory governance challenges facing the RBI today? Suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

Question 4)  

Q.4 “People’s indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow”. Comment. (10 Marks)

 

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

Context

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, PM Modi is attending the 14th BRICS Summit hosted by China in virtual format.

Discussions during the summit are expected to cover intra-BRICS cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, trade, health, traditional medicine, environment, IT and innovation, agriculture, technical and vocational training, and MSMEs.

Why in news?

• China is keen for the grouping to explore expansion and include new developing country members.
• Under the “BRICS Plus” format, the forthcoming summit is also expected to be attended by leaders of invited emerging countries.

What is BRICS?

• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is convened annually. It does not exist in form of organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of five nations.

Its inception

• On November 30, 2001, Jim O’Neill, a British economist who was then chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, coined the term ‘BRIC’ to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• He made a case for BRIC on the basis of econometric analyses projecting that the four economies would individually and collectively occupy far greater economic space and become among the world’s largest economies in the next 50 years or so.

How it has formed?

• The grouping was formalized during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of the UNGA in New York in September 2006.
• The first BRIC Summit took place in 2009 in the Russian Federation and focused on issues such as reform of the global financial architecture.

Who are the members?

• South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS. South Africa subsequently attended the Third BRICS Summit in Sanya, China, in March 2011.
• The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
• The importance of BRICS is self-evident: It represents 42% of the world’s population, 30% of the land area, 24% of global GDP and 16% of international trade.
• The five BRICS countries are also members of G-20.

Salient features of BRICS

(1) New front against western dominance

• The BRICS is group of countries having total population of approximately 3.6 billion which makes 40% of world population.
• Also, the cumulative economy of the group members aggregate to around 17 trillion in nominal term which is 22% of world economy in current context.

(2) Future power centres of the world

• India and China are today the fastest growing economies and they are considered as future super power of world.
• The group also has Russia the former USSR as a member which was one of the two super power until 1991 when it was disintegrated for various political and economic reason but still retain the hegemony of western, US led military dominance.

(3) New global order

• In subsequent summits since its inception the group has taken various initiatives which have changed the world economic order.
• The group pledged a corpus of $75 billion to IMF on precondition of voting rights reform in June, 2012 which is not only the end of US hegemony in institution but also a start of more democratic world order.

(4) New Development Bank

• During its fifth summit at Durban, South Africa in 2013, the member countries agreed to create a new global financial institution which finally came into existence as New Development Bank in 2015.
• The bank is today considered as rival of World Bank and the bank’s primary focus is to lend for various development projects in member and other developing countries.

(5) Contingent Reserve Agreement

• To save members from immediate economic shocks the group has also agreed to Contingent Reserve Agreement.
• The agreement provide protection to member countries against global liquidity pressure as all the members are developing economies.
• They are prone to increased economical volatility in current globalized scenario and is considered as rival of International Monetary Fund.

(6) A bridge between North and South

• The grouping has gone through a reasonably productive journey. It strove to serve as a bridge between the Global North and Global South.

(7) Sustainable and inclusive growth and development

• Structural imbalances caused by the global financial crisis of 2008 and new threats to the global economy posed by trade war and unilateral economic sanctions are yet to be resolved.
• The growing contribution of the BRICS to the world economy and the rising importance of the economic relations between the BRICS and other Emerging Market and Developing Countries (EMDCs) create an opportunity for new initiatives.

Importance of BRICS for India

(1) Geo-Politics

• Global geopolitics today represents the case of a tug of war and India finds itself in the middle of it.
• This has made difficult for India to carve a middle path for balancing its strategic interests between the U.S and the Russia-China axis.
• Therefore, BRICS platform provides an opportunity for India to balance Russia-China axis.

(2) Global Economic Order

• BRICS countries shared a common objective of reforming the international financial and monetary system, with a strong desire to build a more just, and balanced international order.
• To this end, BRICS community plays an important role in the G20, in shaping global economic policies and promoting financial stability.

(3) Voice of Developing Nations

• As the western countries are raising challenges on issues ranging from World Trade Organization to climate change, the developing countries are crippling under the onslaught of these policies.
• In recent period, BRICS has emerged as the voice of developing countries, or the global south and playing a significant role in protecting the rights of developing countries.

(4) Multilateral reforms

• India is actively pursuing its membership for United Nation Security Council (UNSC) and Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG).
• China forms the major roadblock in pursuing such goals.
• Therefore, BRICS provides an opportunity to actively engage with China and resolve the mutual disputes. It also helps in garnering support of other partner countries.

What are the challenges with the BRICS?

(1) Heterogeneity

• It is claimed by critics that heterogeneity (variable/diverse nature of countries) of the BRICS nations with its diverse interests possess a threat to the viability of the grouping.

(2) China Centric nature of the group

• All the countries in BRICS grouping trade with China more than each other, therefore it is blamed that as a platform to promote China’s interest.
• Balancing trade deficit with China is huge challenge for other partner nations.

(4) Regional model

• Amidst, global slowdown, trade war and protectionism, the critical challenge for the BRICS consists in the development of a new global model of governance which should not be unipolar but inclusive and constructive.
• The goal should be to avoid a negative scenario of unfolding globalization and to start a complicated merging of the global growing economies without distorting or breaking the single financial and economic continuum of the world.

(5) In-effective

• The five-power combine has succeeded, albeit up to a point.
• However, China’s economic rise has created a serious imbalance within BRICS.
• Also the group has not done enough to assist the Global South to win their optimal support for their agenda.

(6) Hostile members

• The future of the group seems little gloomy as the two biggest economy India and China of the group are having various contentious issues between them.
• The two countries are often seen as rival on various global forums which degenerate the confidence between each other.

(7) Sanctions on Russia

• In recent times the global slowdown, sanction on Russia since it annexed Crimea and political instability in Brazil has also added burden on BRICS economy.
• Russian participation has been seen through lens of its recent invasion of Ukraine aslo.

Priorities/Immediate goals of BRICS

(1) Reform of multilateral institutions

• The first is to pursue reform of multilateral institutions ranging from the United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the World Trade Organization and now even the World Health Organization.
• This is not a new goal. BRICS has had very little success so far, although strengthening multilateralism serves as a strong bond as well as a beacon.

(2) Resolve to combat terrorism

• Terrorism is an international phenomenon affecting Europe, Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.
• Tragic developments concerning Afghanistan have helped to focus attention sharply on this overarching theme, stressing the need to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action.
• China, for example, feels little hesitation in supporting clear-cut denunciations of terrorist groups, even as its backing of Pakistan, which is heavily enmeshed with a host of international terrorist groups, remains steadfast.

(3) Promoting technological and digital solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals

• Digital tools have helped a world adversely hit by the pandemic, and India has been at the forefront of using new technological tools to improve governance.

(4) Expanding people-to-people cooperation

• However, enhancing people-to-people cooperation will have to wait for international travel to revive.
• Interactions through digital means are a poor substitute.

Way Forward

• The BRICS needs to expand its agenda for increasing its relevance in the global order.
• A close examination of India’s record in BRICS reveals that New Delhi has used its membership to make a substantial contribution to the global financial architecture.
• India is not a free-rider in a system of global governance dominated by the West, and continues to provide a vision of global governance.
• For BRICS to remain relevant over the next decade, each of its members must make a realistic assessment of the initiative’s opportunities and inherent limitations.
• BRICS should promote comprehensive development of all states — both big and small — and enhanced mutually beneficial cooperation among them on the basis of shared interests.
• Democratization of international issues i.e agreements on global agendas should be reached with the widest and equal participation of all stakeholders and be based on universally recognized legal norms.
• The principle of respect for cultural and civilization diversity of the world should be a top priority.
• BRICS nations should strive for peaceful and politico-diplomatic settlement of crisis and conflict in various regions of the world.

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