Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- First Quad summit and its significance
The first-ever Quad summit is an important milestone in the geopolitics of the region. The article highlights its significance.
Significance of the first Quad summit
- The maiden Quadrilateral Security Dialogue summit of the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. on March 12 was a defining moment in Asian geopolitics.
- That it was a meeting at the highest political level, occasioned a productive dialogue, and concluded with a substantive joint statement is indicative of its immediate significance.
- If it leads to tangible action and visible cooperation, it will impact the whole region.
Brief background of the Quad
- The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 triggered cooperation among the navies and governments of the Quad powers.
- They sought to forge diplomatic cooperation on regional issues in 2006-08.
- But gave up mainly because China objected to it and the hostility to China was not yet a potent enough glue.
- This began to change in 2017 when Beijing’s behaviour turned hostile, climaxing in multiple challenges in 2020.
- This time, U.S. President Joe Biden moved swiftly to host a virtual summit, drawing immediate response from the other three leaders.
5 highlights of the summit
- A more sophisticated approach is being invented, with enhanced emphasis by the U.S. on carrying its allies and strategic partners together.
- The summit’s outcome, therefore, merits close attention for at least five reasons.
1) Compromise over vision of Indo-Pacific
- Past debates over diverse, even differing, visions of the Indo-Pacific are over.
- The joint statement struck a neat compromise:
- To please the U.S. and Japan, it refers to a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, but in the very next sentence it offers an elaboration – “free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion” – that amply satisfy India and Australia.
2) Alignment of approach towards China
- The summit leaders have secured an adequate alignment of their approaches towards China.
- Senior officials gave sufficient hints on this score, reinforced by phrases such as “security challenges” and “the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas” in the joint statement.
- Instead of unidimensional antagonism, the Quad members have preferred a smart blend of competition, cooperation and confrontation.
3) Quad’s commitment development and well being of the region
- The Quad has placed a premium on winning the battle for the hearts and minds of people in the Indo-Pacific region.
- This explains the special initiative to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for every person in need in the region from the western Pacific to eastern Africa.
4) Working groups
- The establishment of three working groups on vaccine partnership; climate change; and critical and emerging technologies and their new standards, innovation and supply chains is a welcome step.
- All this should get the four national establishments into serious policy coordination and action mode, creating new capacities.
- The careful choice of themes reflects a deep understanding of the long-term challenge posed by China and has global implications.
5) Quad working together in future
- The March 12 summit will not be a one-off.
- The leaders have agreed to meet in-person later this year, possibly at an international event within the region.
- Foreign ministers will gather at least once a year; other relevant officials, more often.
- Thus, will grow the habits of the Quad working together for a common vision and with agreed modalities for cooperation.
How ASEAN and China will react
- The summit has been watched closely by the ASEAN capitals. A few of them may express cautious welcome.
- Beijing seems rattled but resigned to the Quad’s new momentum.
- The Chinese see it in negative terms, targeting New Delhi in particular.
Consider the question “With the first-ever summit, the Quad is moving towards a strong coalition. In light of this, examine the challenges India faces as it deepes its engagement in the grouping.”
Conclusion
The summit and ‘The Spirit of the Quad’ – the inspired title of the joint statement – represented a giant leap forward. Now is the time to back political commitment with a strong mix of resolve, energy, stamina and the fresh ideas of stakeholders and experts outside of government to fulfil the promise of the Quad.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Special Status for New Delhi
Mains level: Delhi- LG issue
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) moved the NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to the Lok Sabha where it proposed that “government” in Delhi means the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
What is the news?
- The Bill gives discretionary powers to the L-G of Delhi even in matters where the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is empowered to make laws.
- The Delhi state govt has criticized the bill saying that it seeks to drastically curtail powers of the elected government”, which is “against” the Supreme Court judgment of 2018.
NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021
- Among the major proposed amendments, one makes it explicitly clear that the term “government” in any law made by the Legislative Assembly shall mean the L-G.
- This, essentially, gives effect to the former L-G 2015 assertion that “Government means the Lieutenant Governor of the NCT of Delhi appointed by the President under Article 239 and designated as such under Article 239 AA of the Constitution”.
- The Bill adds that the L-G’s opinion shall be obtained before the government takes any executive action based on decisions taken by the Cabinet or any individual minister.
What purpose does the 1991 Act serve?
- Delhi’s current status as a UT with a Legislative Assembly is an outcome of the 69th Amendment Act through which Articles 239AA and 239BB were introduced in the Constitution.
- The Act was passed simultaneously to supplement the constitutional provisions relating to the Assembly and the Council of Ministers in the national capital.
- For all practical purposes, it outlined the powers of the Assembly, the discretionary powers enjoyed by the L-G, and the duties of the CM with respect to the need to furnish information to the L-G.
What is the 2018 Supreme Court Verdict?
- In its 2018 verdict, the five-judge Bench had held that the LG’s concurrence is not required on issues other than police, public order and land.
- It had added that decisions of the Council of Ministers will, however, have to be communicated to the LG.
- The L-G was bound by the aid and advice if the council of ministers, it had said.
- The Bench of then CJI status of the LG of Delhi is not that of a Governor of a State, rather he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, working with the designation of Lieutenant Governor”.
- It had also pointed out that the elected government must keep in mind that Delhi is not a state.
Consider the question “What are the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in the Government of NCT of Delhi vs. Union of India (2018) to avoid the conflict between Lt. Governor and the Delhi Government? Also examine the scope of referring any matter to the consideration of the President by the Lt. Governor.”
What will change if the amendments are cleared by Parliament?
- Encouraged by the Supreme Court verdict, the elected government had stopped sending files on executive matters to the L-G before the implementation of any decision.
- It has been keeping the L-G abreast of all administrative developments, but not necessarily before implementing or executing any decision.
- But the amendment, if cleared, will force the elected government to take the L-G’s advice before taking any action on any cabinet decision.
- The Bill seeks to bar the Assembly or its committees from making rules to take up matters concerning day-to-day administration, or to conduct inquiries in relation to administrative decisions.
Does the L-G enjoy no discretionary power under the current arrangement?
- The L-G does have the power to refer any matter, over which there is a disagreement with the elected government, to the President under Article 239AA (4).
- The Delhi Law Secretary had in 2019 written in an internal memo that the elected government cannot use the SC verdict to keep the L-G in the dark about its decisions.
- But the SC had also categorically pointed out that the L-G should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decision of the CM to the President.
What are the state government’s fears?
- From 2015 to 2018, the government was engaged in a constant battle with the Centre over policy decisions and the powers of the L-G with the elected government.
- The SC judgment gave the Delhi govt a freer hand in terms of policy decisions.
- The government insiders have maintained that it was because of the judgment that the government was able to clear policy decisions like giving free power to those using under 200 units, free bus rides for women.
- The amendments will have far-reaching implications — beyond just the tussle between any political parties.
Back2Basics: Special Status for New Delhi
- Article 239AA of the Constitution of India granted Special Status to Delhi among Union Territories (UTs) in the year 1991 through the 69th constitutional amendment.
- It provided a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers responsible to such Assembly with appropriate powers.
- That’s when Delhi was named as the National Capital Region (NCT) of Delhi.
- As per this article – Public Order, Police & Land in NCT of Delhi fall within the domain and control of Central Government which shall have the power to make laws on these matters.
- For remaining matters of State List or Concurrent List, in so far as any such matter is applicable to UTs, the Legislative Assembly shall have the power to make laws for NCT of Delhi.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Single use plastics
Mains level: Phasing out single use plastics
The draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021, issued by the MoEFCC has necessitated a few changes in the country’s handling of its plastic waste.
Background
- The Environment Ministry had first notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules in March 2016.
- It had provisions for effective and improved collection, segregation, processing, treatment and disposal of plastic waste.
What are the 2021 rules?
Phasing out Single-use Plastics
Single-use plastics have been defined under the rules as “a plastic commodity intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled”.
- The rules have proposed to ban the manufacture, use, sale, import and handling of some single-use plastic items on a ‘pan India basis.
- The provisions will also apply to ‘multi-layered packaging’ – involved extensively in e-commerce and deliver services- but will exempt packaging used for imported goods.
- They shall apply to every waste generator, local body, Gram Panchayat, manufacturer, Importers and producer as well as ‘brand-owner and “plastic waste processor (recycler, co-processor, etc.)
- Thermoset plastic and Thermoplastic will also fall within the ambit of these rules.
- These provisions will, however, not apply to commodities (including carrying bags) made of compostable plastic material, according to the rules.
The draft is proposed to be implemented in three stages starting this year and culminating in mid-2022.
Stage I
- The first set of rules propose that each sheet of non-woven plastic carry bag shall not be less than 60 (GSM per square metre) or 240 microns in thickness. A carry bag made of virgin or recycled plastic shall not be less than 120 microns, with effect from the same date.
Stage II
- The second stage will come into effect when six categories of single-use plastic — earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration — will be banned for sale, use, manufacture, stocking, import and distribution.
Stage III
- In the third stage, the list of banned items will grow to include single-use plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping/packing films around sweet boxes; invitation cards; cigarette packets, plastic/PVC banners less than 100 micron and stirrers.
Local bodies and state pollution control boards will ensure the implementation and enforcement of these rules.
What else is covered?
One, the amendment has extended the applicability of the rules to brand-owner, plastic waste processor, including the recycler, co-processor, etc. It will also include new definitions of:
- Non-woven plastic bag
- Plastic waste processing
- Single-use plastic (SUP) item
- Thermoset plastic
- Thermoplastic
Try this PYQ:
Q.In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011
Why such a move?
- As much as 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste was generated in India in 2018-19, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report 2018-19.
- The total municipal solid waste generation is 55-65 million tonnes; plastic waste is approximately 5-6 per cent of the total solid waste generated in the country.
- Goa has the highest per capita plastic waste generation at 60 grams per capita per day, which is nearly double what Delhi generates (37 grams per capita per day).
- Clearly, we do not know the amount of plastic we generate as a country, as the increase in wealth and affluence contributes to a higher generation of plastic waste.
- Despite the Plastic Waste Management legislation of 2011, followed by numerous changes in the recent past, most parts of the country lack systematic efforts required to mitigate the risks associated with plastic waste.
Way ahead
Managing plastic waste requires effective knowledge, not only among those who produce plastic but also among those who handle it.
- Brand owners, consumers, recyclers and regulatory authorities need to take long strides in ensuring that we first inventorize the total amount of plastic waste that we generate by means of proper calculations.
- The second step would be to identify the avenues where the use of plastic can be minimised.
- Third, the brand owner and manufacturer should try and understand the fates a plastic packaging material would meet after its purpose of packaging has been served.
- Last, as consumers, we should ensure that all plastic waste leaving our homes is segregated and is not contaminated with food waste.
Conclusion
- Plastic, without a doubt, is a miracle commodity that has uses ranging from increasing shelf lives of eatables to medical equipment and automotive.
- Their waste management needs due attention. And the draft policies is a significant step in this direction.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Map marking of these countries
Mains level: Issues in Africa
In a move that is set to further undermine stability in East Africa, Kenya has said that it will not take part in proceedings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its maritime border dispute with neighbouring Somalia.
Can you recall the terms like “Scramble for Africa”, “Paper Partition of Africa”? If yes, then you know very well the malady of the present-day Continent of Africa.
What is the news?
- Nairobi has accused the top UN body of bias.
- The move comes after Somalia’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Kenya in December after it accused Nairobi of meddling in its internal affairs.
- The maritime dispute is said to form a crucial part of the diplomatic quarrel between the two countries.
The disputed area
- The main point of disagreement between the two neighbours is the direction in which their maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean should extend.
- According to Somalia, the sea border should be an extension of the same direction in which their land border runs as it approaches the Indian Ocean, i.e. towards the southeast.
- Kenya, on the other hand, argues that the territorial southeast border should take a 45-degree turn as it reaches the sea, and then run in a latitudinal direction, i.e. parallel to the equator.
- Such an arrangement would be advantageous for Kenya, whose coastline of 536 km is more than 6 times smaller than Somalia’s (3,333 km).
Why is this area important?
- The triangular area thus created by the dispute is around 1.6 lakh sq km large and boasts of rich marine reserves.
- It is also believed to have oil and gas deposits.
- Both Somalia and Kenya have accused each other of auctioning off blocks from this area, Al Jazeera reported.
How have Kenya and Somalia tried to resolve the dispute?
- After negotiations to resolve the issue bilaterally failed, Somalia in 2014 asked the ICJ to adjudicate.
- Kenya resisted, arguing that the world court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.
- In 2009 both countries had a commitment to settle the dispute out of court.
- However, in February 2017, the ICJ ruled that it did have the right to rule in the case, and in June 2019 said that it would begin public hearings.
- These hearings never took place, as Kenya successfully applied to have them postponed thrice– the last one being in June 2020, when it cited difficulties due to the Covid-19.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Iconic Archaeological sites
Mains level: Indus valley civilization
Rakhi Garhi is being developed as one of the five Identified Iconic Archaeological Sites, informed the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Rakhi Garhi
- The ancient site of Rakhi-Khas and Rakhi-Shahpur are collectively known as Rakhigarhi, located on the right bank of the now dried up Palaeo-channel of Drishadvati.
- It is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain in the Hissar district of Haryana.
- Seven mounds are located here.
- The site has yielded various stages of Harappan culture and is by far one of the largest Harappan sites in India.
- The site shows the sequential development of the Indus culture in the now dried up Saraswati basin.
Try this question from our AWE initiative
Ancient Indian sculptural art is highly rich in its traditions. Trace the development ancient Indian sculpture that go back to the Indus Valley civilisation. 10 marks
Major findings at Rakhi Garhi
- Findings confirm both early and mature Harappan phases and include 4,600-year-old human skeletons, fortification and bricks.
- Digging so far reveals a well-planned city with 1.92 m wide roads, a bit wider than in Kalibangan.
- The pottery is similar to Kalibangan and Banawali.
- Pits surrounded by walls have been found, which are thought to be for sacrificial or some religious ceremonies.
- There are brick-lined drains to handle sewage from the houses.
- Terracotta statues, weights, bronze artefacts, comb, copper fish hooks, needles and terracotta seals have also been found.
- A bronze vessel has been found which is decorated with gold and silver.
- A granary belonging to the mature Harappan phase has been found here.
- Fire altars structures were revealed in Rakhigarhi.
Back2Basics: Five Iconic Archaeological Sites
The government has proposed to develop five archaeological sites as “iconic sites” with onsite museums in Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Sivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu) in the Union Budget 2020-21.
(1) Rakhigarhi
*discussed above*
(2) Hastinapur
Hastinapur in the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh finds mention in the Mahabharata and the Puranas. One of the most significant discoveries made at this site was of the “new ceramic industry”, which was named the Painted Grey Ware, which as per the report represented the relics of the early Indo-Aryans.
(3) Sivasagar
In Sivasagar (Assam), excavations at the Karenghar (Talatalghar) complex between 2000 and 2003 led to the discovery of buried structures in the north-western and north-eastern side of the complex. Among the structural remains found at the site were ceramic assemblages including vases, vessels, dishes, and bowls, etc. Terracotta smoking pipes were also found.
(4) Dholavira
Dholavira in Gujarat is located in the Khadir island of the Rann of Kutch, and like Rakhigarhi is one of the sites where the remains of the Harappan civilization have been found. It is unique because the remains of a complete water system have been found here.
(5) Adichnallur
Adichnallur lies in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. The urn-burial site was first brought to light during a “haphazard excavation” by a German archaeologist in 1876. Following this, an Englishman Alexander Rae excavated the site between 1889 and 1905.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Various folk arts mentioned
Mains level: Not Much
To protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk art and ancient folk cultures throughout the country including Jharkhand, Bihar and Kerala, the GoI has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.
What is the news?
- Jharkhand is the member state of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata.
- Bihar is the member state of North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj and
- Kerala is the member state of South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Thanjavur.
Note the various folk arts mentioned and their respective states:
What are the various folk arts covered?
There is no dedicated scheme to preserve these particular folk art forms-
Jharkhand
- Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Jharkhand are Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Paika Nritya, Hodopathy, Tribal dance (Karam Nritya).
Bihar
- Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Bihar are Lok Gatha “Reshma Chuharmal” (Begusarai), Lok Gatha, Godana Painting (Madhubani), Lok Natya “Hirni-Birni” (Magadh region) etc.
Kerala
- Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Kerala are: Poorakali, Malayankettu & Kannerpattu (Kannur), Daffumuttu (Malabar), Kanyarkali (Thrissur) and Arabanaumuttu (Kozhikode).
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mission SAGAR
Mains level: Not Much
As part of Mission Sagar-IV, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa has arrived at Port Anjouan, Comoros to deliver 1,000 Metric Tonnes of rice.
Mission SAGAR, unlike other missions, can create confusion with the name and its purpose. It is not a military exercise. Make note of such special cases. UPSC can ask such questions as one-liner MCQs.
Also note the location of the island country Comoros and its geostrategic significance.
Mission Sagar
- SAGAR is a term coined by PM Modi in 2015 during his Mauritius visit with a focus on the blue economy.
- It is a maritime initiative that gives priority to the Indian Ocean region for ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of India in the Indian Ocean region.
- The goal is to seek a climate of trust and transparency; respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries; sensitivity to each other`s interests; peaceful resolution of maritime issues; and an increase in maritime cooperation.
- It is in line with the principles of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
Earlier such missions
- This is the second visit of an Indian Navy ship to the island country within a span of one year.
- Earlier, as part of Mission Sagar-I, in May-June 2020, the Indian Navy had delivered essential medicines to the nation.
- Mission Sagar-II was undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines.
- Sagar-III was undertaken in Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Baralacha Pass
Mains level: Himalayan passes and tunnels of strategic importance
For the first time ever, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started work on reopening the crucial Baralacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh much before schedule to restore connectivity to Leh in Ladakh.
Note all the Himalayan passes from their N-S sequences.
Baralacha Pass
- Bara-lacha la also known as Bara-lacha Pass is a high mountain pass in the Zanskar range connecting the Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh to Leh district in Ladakh.
- It is situated along the Leh–Manali Highway.
- The Bhaga river, a tributary of the Chenab river, originates from Surya Taal lake, which is situated a few kilometres from the pass towards Manali.
- The native name of Chenab “Chandrabhaga” represents the union of Chandra and Bhaga rivers downstream.
- The pass also acts as a water-divide between the Bhaga River and the Yunan River.
Why is this pass so important?
- The BRO had kept crucial passes open for a longer duration to enable the Army to undertake advanced winter stocking for the thousands of additional troops deployed in Ladakh.
- The team has traversed a total distance of 20 km in super high-altitude conditions scrupulously crossing the Baralacha La in the Zanskar range on foot amidst sub-zero freezing conditions.
- Frequent avalanches and slides with 15 to 20 feet of snow accumulation.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Replacement level of fertility
Mains level: Paper 1- Population stabilisation
Achieving replacement levels of fertility
- The National Population Policy 2000 affirmed a commitment to achieve replacement levels of fertility (total fertility rate of 2.1) by 2010.
- Ten states — Karnataka, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — and Jammu and Kashmir, have achieved this goal.
- This fertility decline over half of India has cut across all sections of society — the privileged and the poor, those educated or not, and the high and low caste.
- The National Family Health Survey-4 has shown how TFR has reduced even among illiterate women from all religions in the southern states.
Growing gap between North-South
- The difference between the progressive South and the Central- North is becoming disproportionately skewed.
- UP and Bihar are 23 per cent of India’s population and are projected to grow by over 12 per cent and 20 per cent in the next 15 years.
- Their high TFR pervades all religious groups.
- Action to prevent unwanted pregnancies particularly in these two Hindi belt states is urgently required.
- For decades UP has had a dedicated agency — SIFPSA (State Innovations in Family Planning Services Agency). But its website gives dated information.
- Women in rural UP are still giving birth to four or more children.
- In some districts, the contraceptive prevalence rate is less than 10 per cent.
- In many districts neither Hindus nor Muslims use modern family planning methods.
- In such a scenario, demographics will eclipse economic growth and destroy the gains from a young populace.
- UP’s over-reliance on traditional methods of contraception needs to be swiftly replaced with reliable and easy alternatives.
- Bihar has the highest fertility rate in the country and also the highest outmigration.
Which method should be used
- While national and state policies emphasise male vasectomy, politicians never champion its adoption.
- No other country in the world uses female sterilisation as excessively as India.
- Indonesia and Bangladesh introduced injectables right from the late 1980s but India only did so in 2016.
- Executed properly, one jab renders protection from pregnancy for three months.
- This method needs greater impetus given the helplessness of women who carry the burden of unwanted pregnancies.
Way forward
- Three things are needed:
- 1) Incentivise later marriages and child births.
- 2) Make contraception easy for women.
- 3) Promote women’s labour force participation.
- Some other disturbing nationwide trends must also be counteracted without delay because stabilisation isn’t only about controlling population growth.
- A balanced sex ratio is essential to secure social cohesion.
- The inheritance law favouring women’s rights to ancestral property is far from being implemented.
- And then there is ageing. Paradoxically, it is the Southern states that will face problems in future.
- Having largely redeemed their demographic dividend, the cohort of the elderly will start outstripping the working age population.
- The theoretical possibility that younger people from the Central-Northern states may fill the growing gap in services will need strong political support.
- The freeze on the state-wise allocation of seats in Parliament until 2026 was extended through the Constitutional (84th Amendment) Act, 2002, to serve “as a motivational measure to pursue population stabilisation”.
- This goal has not been achieved.
- In the absence of further extension, it will be politically destabilising.
Consider the question “India’s efforts at populations stabilisation still remains work in progress, as the Northern states fail to achieve the targets. Suggest the ways to deal with the issue.”
Conclusion
The population momentum, if managed properly in the Hindi belt, will remain India’s biggest asset until 2055. By 2040, India will be the undisputed king of human capital.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SCO
Mains level: Paper 3- Changing context of India's strategic autonomy
India is a member of both the Quad and the BRICS. Is not it the contradiction? The article answers this question and maps the transformation of India’s relation with the U.S. over the years.
Is India’s participation in BRICS and Quad contradictory?
- Global Times, the Chinese newspaper last week speculating on the implications of the historic Quad summit for the BRICS.
- In calling the Quad a “negative asset” for the BRICS the Global Times was highlighting what it sees as a contradiction in India’s participation in both the forums.
- The paper argues that India has worsened “India-China and India-Russia relations” and halted progress “in the development of BRICS and SCO”.
- Global Times warns that if India continues to get closer to Washington, India “will eventually lose its strategic autonomy”.
Understanding India’s strategic autonomy
- “Strategic autonomy” is the framework that guided Delhi’s international relations since the Cold War.
- In the early 1990s, strategic autonomy was about creating space for India against the overweening American power.
- Why the space was needed? It was mainly because of the U.S. stance on two important aspects: Kashmir issue and nuclear program.
- President Bill Clinton had questioned the legitimacy of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India and declared the US’s intent to resolve Delhi’s Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.
- Washington insisted that rolling back India’s nuclear and missile programmes was a major objective of US foreign policy.
- All that changed over the last three decades.
8 elements of transformation of India’s relations with the U.S and China
- A rising China has emerged as the biggest challenge to India and the US is increasingly an important part of the answer.
- A few elements stand out.
- First, China has become more assertive on the contested boundary, therefore, the support from the US and its Asian allies has been valuable.
- Second, on the Kashmir question, China raises the issue at the UNSC while the US is helping India to block China’s moves.
- Third, on cross-border terrorism, the US puts pressure on Pakistan and China protects Rawalpindi.
- Fourth, the US has facilitated India’s integration with the global nuclear order while Beijing blocks Delhi’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
- Fifth, the US backs India’s permanent membership of the UNSC, China does not.
- Sixth, India now sees the trade with China hollowing out India’s manufacturing capability.
- Its objective on diversifying its economy away from China is shared by the US and the Quad partners.
- Seventh, India opposes China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a project that undermines India’s territorial sovereignty and regional primacy.
- India is working with Quad partners to offer alternatives to the BRI.
- Finally, India sees China’s rising military profile in the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean as a problem and is working with Washington to redress the unfolding imbalance in India’s neighbourhood.
India’s approach to BRICS and SCO
- The BRICS was part of India’s strategy in the unipolar moment that dawned at the end of the Cold War.
- India’s current enthusiasm for the Quad is about limiting the dangers of a unipolar Asia dominated by China.
- But India will continue to attach some value — diplomatic if not strategic — to a forum like the BRICS.
- After all, the BRICS forum provides a useful channel of communication between Delhi and Beijing at a very difficult moment in the evolution of their bilateral relations.
- The BRICS is also about India’s enduring partnerships with Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
- India also values its ties with the Central Asian states in the SCO.
- The BRICS could certainly become a productive forum someday — when Delhi and Beijing mitigate their multiple contentions.
Consider the question “A rising China has emerged as the biggest challenge to India and the US is increasingly an important part of the answer. Examine the elements that support this underlying transformation of India’s relationship with the two countries.”
Conclusion
No amount of words in a BRICS declaration can hide the sharpening contradictions between India and China today. The absence of joint statements did not mask the growing strategic congruence among the Quad nations in recent years.
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