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  • Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.

    Seeding a data revolution in Indian Agriculture

    op-ed snap | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues

    In June this year, two significant documents relating to the Indian agriculture sector were released.

    What are the reports about?

    • The first is a consultation paper on the India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA) and the second on Indian Agriculture: Ripe for Disruption from a private organisation, Bain and Company.
    • Through their work, these reports have depicted the agriculture reforms announced by the union government as a game-changer in the agriculture sector.

    Challenges highlighted

    The major challenges of the agriculture sector are:

    1. Food Sufficiency but Nutrition Deficiency
    2. High import of edible oil and oilseeds
    3. Yield plateaus
    4. Degrading soil, Water stress
    5. Inadequate market infra/linkages
    6. Unpredictable, volatile prices
    7. Post-harvest losses, wastages
    8. Lack of crop planning due to information asymmetry

    Key takeaway: Way for doubling farmers income

    • These reports in short argues that benefiting from the huge investments into the agri-ecosystem, doubling farmers’ income targets can be achieved in near future.
    • The Indian agriculture sector in future will encompass farm to fork and pave the way for a single national market with a national platform with better connection between producer and consumers.

    The forecast

    • The Bain report is a data-based prediction on agri-business scenarios, anchored to the agricultural set-up at present and predicting its future trajectories in another 20 years.
    • It includes targeting the production of alternative proteins, and food cell-based food/ingredients and initiating ocean farming, etc.
    • The report has a ‘today forward– future back approach’ and predicts a drastic investment opportunity development by 2025.
    • The agriculture sector (currently worth $370 billion), is estimated to receive an additional $35 billion investment.

    The two enabling conditions for such investment opportunities are:

    1. Changes in the regulatory framework, especially recent changes in the Farm Acts and
    2. Digital disruption

    The IDEA of integration

    • Digital disruption: The blueprint of “digital agriculture” is similar to the digital disruption mentioned in the Bain report.
    • Integration: Eventually, the farmer and the improvement of farmers’ livelihood is the aim of the IDEA concept and it is proposed to happen through tight integration of agri-tech innovation and the agriculture industry.
    • Enabling conditions: To be precise, the IDEA concept profounds the creation of second enabling conditions (which is described in the Bain report).
    • Openness of data: The IDEA principles explicitly talk about openness of data, which means open to businesses and farmers, indicating the kind of integration it aims at.
    • Value-added innovative services: by agri-tech industries and start-ups are an integral part of the IDEA architecture.
    • Data architecture: The services listed in the document (to be available on the platform) are equally important data for farmers and businesses.

    A thread of digital disruption

    • The IT industry has opposition to IDEA mainly due to the ethics of creating a Unique Farmer ID based on one’s Aadhaar number and also the potential for data misuse.
    • Beyond the news coverage about the prospects of achieving the goal of Doubling Farmers Income on which the present government has almost lost its hope.

    Issues with these reports

    • The Bain report has not been widely discussed — at least in the public domain.
    • The assumptions used by authors especially for its ‘future back approach’, need more or less focusing on widespread food production in controlled environments.
    • The emission, energy, and other resource footprints and sustainability issues around these techniques are not adequately studied.

    Yet these reports are important

    • The report has convincingly demonstrated the business opportunity available in supply chains between farm to APMC mandi and mandi to the customer.
    • This can be realised with the support of digital disruption and the latest agriculture reforms.
    • Both these reports heavily rely on digital disruption to improve farmers’ livelihoods, without discussing how much farmers will be prepared to benefit from the emerging business.

    An unconvincing ‘how’

    • Digital divide: The fact is that a majority of small and marginal farmers are not technology-savvy.
    • No capacity building: That most of them are under-educated for capacity building is ignored amidst these ambitious developments.
    • Unrealistic assumptions: The Bain report relies on the general assumption that more investments into the agriculture sector will benefit farmers; ‘but how’ has not been convincingly answered.
    • Overemphasis on technology: Similarly, how the technology fix will help resolve all the issues of Indian agriculture listed at the beginning of the report is unclear in the IDEA concept.
    • Reluctance by farmers: These reports ignore the protest of farmers against the reforms without considering it as a barrier or risk factor resulting in a repealing of these new farm laws.

    Way ahead: Focus on the farmer

    • A data revolution is inevitable in the agriculture sector, given its socio-political complexities.
    • However, we cannot just count on technology fixes and agri-business investments for improving farmers’ livelihoods.
    • There need to be immense efforts to improve the capacities of the farmers in India – at least until the educated young farmers replace the existing under-educated small and medium farmers.
    • This capacity building can be done through a mixed approach through FPOs and other farmers’ associations where technical support is available for farmers.

    Conclusion

    • Considering the size of the agriculture sector of the country this is not going to be an easy task but would need a separate program across the country with considerable investment.

     

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  • Coal and Mining Sector

    Coal Crisis in India

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

    More than half of the country’s 135 coal-fired power plants are running on fumes – as coal stocks run critically low.  They have fuel stocks of less than four days, government data shows.

    Coal shortage in India

    • In a country where 70% of the electricity is generated using coal, this is a major cause for concern as it threatens to derail India’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
    • Utilities are scrambling to secure coal supplies as inventories hit critical lows after a surge in power demand from industries and sluggish imports due to record global prices push power plants to the brink.

    How did the crisis escalate?

    • As India’s economy picked up after a deadly second wave of Covid-19, demand for power rose sharply.
    • Power consumption in the last two months alone jumped by almost 17%, compared to the same period in 2019.
    • At the same time global coal prices increased by 40% and India’s imports fell to a two-year low.
    • India is the world’s second largest importer of coal despite also being home to the fourth largest coal reserves in the world.
    • Power plants that usually rely on imports are now heavily dependent on Indian coal, adding further pressure to already stretched domestic supplies.

    What is the likely impact?

    • Experts say importing more coal to make up for domestic shortages is not an option at present.
    • India has seen shortages in the past, but what’s unprecedented this time is coal is really expensive now.
    • Businesses at the end of the day pass on these costs to consumers, so there is an inflationary impact – both direct and indirect that could potentially come from this.
    • If the crisis continues, a surge in the cost of electricity will be felt by consumers.
    • Retail inflation is already high as everything from oil to food has become more expensive.

    Other reasons for this crisis

    • In recent years, India’s production has lagged as the country tried to reduce its dependence on coal to meet climate targets.
    • Prices of power-generation fuels are surging globally as electricity demand rebounds with industrial growth, tightening supplies of coal and liquefied natural gas.
    • India is competing against buyers such as China, the world’s largest coal consumer, which is under pressure to ramp up imports amid a severe power crunch.
    • Rising oil, gas, coal and power prices are feeding inflationary pressures worldwide and slowing the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Challenges posed

    • The desire to cut its reliance on heavily polluting coal burning power plants has been a major challenge for the government in recent years.
    • The question of how India can achieve a balance between meeting demand for electricity from its almost 1.4bn people has to be answered.

    What can the government do?

    • Experts advocate a mix of coal and clean sources of energy as a possible long-term solution.
    • It’s not completely possible to transition and it’s never a good strategy to transition 100% to renewables without a backup.
    • Long term investment in multiple power sources aside a crisis like the current one can be averted with better planning.
    • There is need for closer coordination between Coal India Limited – the largest supplier of coal in the country and other stakeholders.
    • For now, the government is working with state-run enterprises to ramp up production and mining to reduce the gap between supply and demand.

    Way forward

    • This is a global phenomenon, one not specifically restricted to India.
    • It is unclear how long the current situation will last.
    • With the monsoon on its way out and winter approaching, the demand for power usually falls.
    • So, the mismatch between demand and supply may iron out to some extent.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Consider the following statements:

    1. Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi.
    2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis.
    3. Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now India is self- sufficient in coal production.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

    Genetic proof for domestication of sheep in Indian subcontinent

    | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture

    Researchers at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) have found that domestication of sheep had taken place in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) regions in the 6th or 7th millennium BC.

    Animal domestication in IVC

    A number of domesticated animal species have been found in excavations at the Harappan cities.

    • The Indian humped cattle (Bos indicus) were most frequently encountered, though whether along with a humpless variety, such as that shown on the seals, is not clearly established.
    • The buffalo (B. bubalis) is less common and may have been wild.
    • Sheep and goats occur, as does the Indian pig (Sus cristatus).
    • The camel is present, as well as the ass (Equus asinus).
    • Bones of domestic fowl are not uncommon; these fowl were domesticated from the indigenous jungle fowl.
    • Finally, the cat and the dog were both evidently domesticated.
    • Present, but not necessarily as a domesticated species, is the elephant.
    • The horse is possibly present but extremely rare and apparently only present in the last stages of the Harappan Period.

    Key findings of the study

    • The study has found genetic evidence that sheep had been domesticated in the region in contrast to the general belief that they were domesticated then in West Asia alone.
    • India ranks second in terms of sheep population, represented by as many as 44 well-described breeds in addition to several nondescript species.
    • It highlights that genetic diversity and phylogeography of Indian sheep breeds remained poorly understood, particularly the south Indian breed.

    How was the classification held?

    • Researchers retrieved the mitochondrial DNA sequences of another 11 breeds for analysis, which further strengthened their study.
    • The researchers analysed these sequences along with published data of domestic and wild sheep from different countries, including India.
    • The haplotype diversity observed was relatively high in Indian sheep, which were classified into the three known major mitochondrial DNA lineages namely A, B, and C.

    Diversity among Indian Sheeps

    • It was found that lineage A was predominant among Indian sheep, whereas lineages B and C were observed at low frequencies.
    • Particularly lineage C was restricted to the breeds of northern and eastern India.
    • The study examined the south Indian breeds, provided strong genetic evidence that the Indian subcontinent was one of the domestication centres of the lineage A sheep.
    • When DNA sequences were compared with other breeds across the world, it was found that the Indian sheep haplotypes were unique and highly diverse.
    • The high genetic diversity and statistical analysis suggest that sheep was domesticated in the country.
    • The wild Sheep, O. vignei blanfordi in Mehrgarh [Pakistan], may be a potential progenitor of domestic sheep lineage.

    Breeds studied

    • Among the south Indian breeds, except for Mandya, all others, notably Bellary, Coimbatore, Hassan, Katchaikatty Black, Nilgri, Ramnad White, and Vembur, were fully encompassed with lineage A.
    • However, Kenguri Kilakarsal, Madras Red, Mecheri, and Tiruchy Black breeds, had very low occurrences of lineage B mitochondria.
    • In contrast, a majority of individuals of Mandya and Sonadi breeds carried a relatively high frequency of lineage B.
    • In terms of the conservation of sheep genetic resources, these two breeds are important with respect to maternal lineages.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
    2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
    3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Russia

    NATO fires Russian Diplomats

    IOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Communalism, Secularism, Regionalism,Important International Institutions

    NATO has withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to the military alliance in response to a rise in malign activities by Moscow.

    NATO

    • NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
    • It sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.
    • Its original members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
    • NATO has spread a web of partners, namely Egypt, Israel, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Finland.

    Why was it founded?

    Ans. Communist sweep in Europe post-WWII and rise of Soviet dominance

    • After World War II in 1945, Western Europe was economically exhausted and militarily weak, and newly powerful communist parties had arisen in France and Italy.
    • By contrast, the Soviet Union had emerged from the war with its armies dominating all the states of central and Eastern Europe.
    • By 1948 communists under Moscow’s sponsorship had consolidated their control of the governments of those countries and suppressed all non-communist political activity.
    • What became known as the Iron Curtain, a term popularized by Winston Churchill, had descended over central and Eastern Europe.

    Ideology of NATO

    • The NATO ensures that the security of its European member countries is inseparably linked to that of its North American member countries.
    • It commits the Allies to democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes.
    • It also provides a unique forum for dialogue and cooperation across the Atlantic.

    The Article 5

    • The heart of NATO is expressed in Article 5, in which the signatory members agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.

    Why in news now?

    • The relationship between NATO and Russia is at its lowest point since the end of the Cold War.
    • The NATO (rather US) sees their aggressive actions, not least against Ukraine, but also the significant military buildup and violations of important arms control agreements.
    • NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia in 2014 after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

     

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  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    [pib] River Ranching Programme

    PIB | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Economics Of Animal-Rearing

    The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, is set to launch the River Ranching Programme in Uttar Pradesh under the Namami Gange Programme.

    What is River Ranching?

    • River Ranching is a form of aquaculture in which a population of a fish species (such as salmon) is held in captivity for the first stage of their lives.
    • They are then released, and later harvested as adults when they return from the sea to their freshwater birthplace to spawn.

    Objective

    The key objectives of the program are:

    • To sustain and conserve the biodiversity in the river.
    • Facilitate regular stocking of fingerlings of cultivable carps to enhance productivity
    • Increase fish production
    • Enhance income and livelihood opportunities to communities’ dependent on these resources

    Why need such a program?

    • River ranching helps in achieving sustainable fisheries, reducing habitat degradation, conserving biodiversity, maximising social-economic benefits and would also remove factors causing pollution.
    • In this activity, different species of fish are released in the river, which destroy factors that increase the level of nitrogen.
    • These fishes will also aid in maintaining the cleanliness of the river as they feed on organic remnants.

    Where is the scheme being launched?

    • In Uttar Pradesh, about 15 lakh fish fingerlings of native carp species shall be simultaneously released into the river in 12 districts by the department.
    • These districts include Bulandshahr/Hapur, Hardoi, Bijnor, Amroha, Fatehpur, Kanpur, Badayun, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Ghazipur.
    • Four other states namely Uttarakhand, Orissa, Tripura and Chhattisgarh will also witness the launching of nationwide River Ranching program.

     

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  • Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fisheries Sector – Pashudhan Sanjivani, E- Pashudhan Haat, etc

    [pib] National Digital Livestock Mission

    PIB | Agriculture | Mains Paper 3: Economics Of Animal-Rearing

    The Union Minister of State Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying unveiled the National Digital Livestock Mission Blueprint.

    National Digital Livestock Mission

    • The NDLM would be a digital platform developed by Dept. of Dairy and Animal Husbandry on the foundation of the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
    • It aims to create a farmer-centric, technology-enabled ecosystem where the farmers are able to realize better income through livestock activities with the right information.
    • The bedrock of NDLM will be the unique identification of all livestock, which will be the foundation for all the state and national level programmes including domestic and international trade.
    • The farmers will be able to effortlessly access the markets, irrespective of their location or holdings through this digital platform as a wide-range of stake-holders will be connected in this ecosystem.
    • This system will also include robust animal breeding systems, nutrition, disease surveillance, disease control programmes and a traceability mechanism for animals and animal products.

    Why need such mission?

    • The livestock sector has a unique combination of being the backbone of rural livelihood.
    • The growth would have been a lot better if there were concerted efforts to harmonise programmes across the country in order to create an ecosystem that is conducive for growth of the sector.
    • This has been the main idea behind the deployment of NDLM, keeping the welfare of the farmer at the core.

    Back2Basics: National Livestock Mission

    • National Livestock Mission is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
    • The mission, which commenced from 2014-15, has the objective of sustainable development of the livestock sector.
    • NABARD is the subsidy channelising agency for following schemes, under Entrepreneurship Development & Employment Generation (EDEG) component of National Livestock Mission.
    1. Poultry Venture Capital Fund (PVCF)
    2. Integrated Development of Small Ruminants and Rabbit (IDSRR)
    3. Pig Development (PD)
    4. Salvaging and Rearing of Male Buffalo Calves (SRMBC)
    5. Effective Animal Waste Management
    6. Construction of Storage Facility for Feed and Fodder

     

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  • Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

    India joins High Ambition Coalition (HAC)

    IOCRPIB | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    India has officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30×30.

    High Ambition Coalition (HAC)

    Aim: To promote an international agreement to protect at least 30 % the of world’s land and ocean by 2030

    • The HAC is an informal group of approximately 61 countries within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
    • It is committed to advancing progressive proposals on climate ambition.
    • The HAC was founded by the Republic of the Marshall Islands in 2014 with the aim of ensuring the Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, was as ambitious as possible.
    • The Republic of the Marshall Islands serves as the convener and secretariat of the HAC.
    • The global 30×30 goal is currently a centerpiece of the treaty.

    Members

    • HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south; European, Latin American, Africa and Asia countries are among the members.
    • India is the first of the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to join the HAC.

     

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  • WTO and India

    WTO & Related issues

    | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    Context

    Created in 1995, during the heyday of neoliberalism, the World Trade Organization (WTO) became a shining example of triumphant free-market capitalism. Now, the WTO is facing a serious existential crisis.

    Challenges facing WTO

    1) Disfunctional appellate body

    • The United States, which played a pivotal role in establishing the WTO, seems to have lost interest in it.
    • The feeling in the US is that the WTO hasn’t served the American national interest by failing to stem China’s rise and regularly indicting the U.S. in several trade disputes.
    • The continuation of the U.S. policy on the WTO is most evident in the sustained crippling of the Appellate Body (AB).
    • Three out of seven AB members serve on any one case.
    • However, since December 2019, the AB has stopped functioning due to rising vacancies.
    • Countries now have an easy option not to comply with the WTO panel decisions by appealing into the void.
    • If no solution is found soon, the WTO’s rules-based order will start crumbling.

    2) Public stockholding for food security purposes

    • No solution has been found to the public stockholding for food security purposes despite a clear mandate to do so in the 2015 Nairobi ministerial meeting.
    • This is of paramount concern for countries like India that use Minimum Support Price (MSP)-backed mechanisms to procure foodgrains.
    • With rising prices and the need to do higher procurement to support farmers and provide food to the poor at subsidised prices, India might breach the cap.
    •  Although countries have agreed that legal suits will not be brought if countries breach the cap (the so-called ‘peace clause’), it is imperative to find a permanent solution such as not counting MSP-provided budgetary support as trade-distorting.

    3) Disagreement on TRIPS waiver for Covid-19

    • The WTO member countries continue to disagree on the need of waiving the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for COVID-19 related medical products.
    • It was exactly a year back when India and South Africa proposed a TRIPS waiver to overcome intellectual property (IP)-related obstacles in increasing accessibility of COVID-19 medical products, including vaccines.

    4)  Regulating irrational subsidies provided for fishing

    • Irrational subsidies provided for fishing that has led to the overexploitation of marine resources by countries like China, which is the largest catcher and exporter of fish.
    • The WTO is close to signing a deal on regulating irrational subsidies
    • This agreement should strike a balance between conserving ocean resources and the livelihood concerns of millions of small and marginal fishermen in countries like India.

    5) Fragmentation of global governance due to plurilateral trade agreements

    • The gridlock at the WTO has led to the emergence of mega plurilateral trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
    • These mega plurilateral agreements not only fragment the global governance on international trade but also push the multilateral order to the margin, converting the WTO to what some call an “institutional zombie”.

    Conclusion

    Notwithstanding its flaws, the WTO is the only forum where developing countries like India, not party to any mega plurilateral trade agreements, can push for evolving an inclusive global trading order that responds to the systemic imbalances of extant globalisation. What is at stake is the future of trade multilateralism and not just an institution, in which India has a huge interest.

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

    A strategy for India in a world that is adrift

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    This article discusses new situations prompted by the tectonic shifts in India’s internal and external environment to take another look at India’s path to power in a world between orders.

    New global order: No Order

    • Multipolarity: The world is today adrift. We are neither in a bipolar Cold War nor in a multipolar world, though perhaps tending towards a world of several power centres.
    • Lack of cohesion: The lack of a coherent international response to the COVID-19 pandemic is proof of an absence of international order and of the ineffectiveness of multilateral institutions.
    • Climate ignorance: So is the ineffective international response to climate change and other transnational threats.

    What are the major shifts in global order?

    • Secular stagnation
    • Retreat from globalisation
    • Regionalisation of trade
    • Shifting balance of power
    • Rise of China and others
    • Structural China-United States strategic rivalry

    All above factors have shifted the geopolitical and economic centres of gravity from the Atlantic to Asia.

    Major Concerns

    • Chauvinism: Inequality between and within states has bred a narrow nationalism and parochialism.
    • Existential threats: We are entering a new polarised information age, and face ecological crises of the Anthropocene, making climate change an existential threat.

    Asia as the nucleus: With focus on China

    • Shift of focus by the US: Over the next decade we expect Asia to remain the cockpit of geopolitical rivalries, and that the US remains the most formidable power, though its relative power is declining.
    • China at the centre: China sees a window of opportunity but acts in a hurry, suggesting that she believes that window may close or is already closing due to push back from the West and others.

    China’s expansionism

    • China’s crowded geography constrains her both on land and at sea.
    • Hence it expects her profile and power to continue expanding, particularly in our periphery.
    • The result is likely continued friction, some cooperation, and quasi-adversarial relations between India and China, which others will take advantage of.
    • Overall, we do not expect conventional conflict between the great powers in Asia, though other forms and levels of violence and contention in the international system will rise, with Taiwan a special case.

    Opportunities in disguise for India

    • The uncertainty and changing geopolitical environment clearly pose considerable challenges to Indian policy.
    • However, it also throws up certain opportunities, enhancing our strategic options and diplomatic space, if we adjust policies internally and externally, particularly in the subcontinent.

    How can India reap the benefits?

    • Enhancing ties with the US: Increasing security congruence with the US could enable growing cooperation in fields significant for India’s transformation: energy, trade, investment, education and health.
    • Climate cooperation: Other areas in which India and the U.S. could increase cooperation are: climate change and energy, tech solutions for renewable energy, and on digital cooperation.
    • Neighbourhood first: Several middle powers like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia in the neighbourhood are now India’s natural partners.
    • Digital space: This time of transition between orders is also when new standards and norms are being developed, particularly in the digital space. India can and must be present at the creation.
    • Maritime cooperation: At sea, the balance is today more favourable to us than before, possibly more so than on the continent. India must bat for the creation of a Maritime Commission in IOR.

    Bottlenecks in India’s neighbourhood policy

    • Over securitisation of policy: towards our neighbours has driven trade underground, criminalised our borders.
    • Conducive environment for entry of China: This has enabled the large-scale entry of Chinese goods destroying local industry in the northeast.
    • Lack of self-strengthening: While lessening dependence on China, and seeking external balancing, our primary effort has to concentrate on self-strengthening.
    • Lack of socio-political enterprise: If there is one country which in terms of its size, population, economic potential, scientific and technological capabilities can match or even surpass China, it is India.

    Way forward for India

    (A) Bringing multipolarity in Asia.

    • The way forward should be based on the core strategic principles in Non-Alignment 2.0 which are still relevant: independent judgement, developing our capacities, and creating an equitable and enabling international order for India’s transformation.
    • Today’s situation makes India’s strategic autonomy all the more essential.

    (B) Making an issue-based coalition

    • India must adjust to changing circumstances. We have no choice but to engage with this uncertain and more volatile world.
    • One productive way to do so would be through issue-based coalitions including different actors, depending on who has an interest and capability.

    (C) Reviving SAARC

    • India must craft and reinvigorate regional institutions and processes in the neighbourhood, reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for instance.
    • India could be the primary source of both prosperity and security in the neighbourhood — the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean Region.

    Conclusion

    • Economic policy must match political and strategic engagement.
    • Globalisation has been central to India’s growth.
    • A more active regional and international role for India is incompatible with a position on the margins of the global economy.
    • Self-reliance in today’s world and technologies can only be realised as part of the global economy.
    • We should not imitate China’s claims to being a civilisational state and its adoption of victimhood.
    • Instead, we should affirm our own strength and historic national identity.

     

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  • Minority Issues – SC, ST, Dalits, OBC, Reservations, etc.

    Government asks Supreme Court to set norms for quota in promotions

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    The Union government has urged the Supreme Court to do away with the requirement of collecting quantifiable data by the Centre and states to determine the representation of people belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) while implementing reservation in promotion.

    Supreme Court directive on Quota in Promotions

    Background

    • The top court has called it “disturbing” that the Union government did not discontinue reservation in promotion for people belonging to SC/STs.
    • It referred to their numbers exceeded the upper ceiling of 15% and 7.5% respectively, of positions in some classes of central government jobs.

    Quota in Promotions: A timeline

    What was the case?

    • The Union government has been pressing for reservation in promotion proportionate to the population of SCs and STs as per a 1995 judgment by the top court in the RK Sabharwal case.
    • It wants it to be left open to the Centre and states to decide on promotional avenues for SCs and STs.
    • It claims that the condition regarding collection of quantifiable data to show inadequacy of representation of SCs/STs is “vague”.
    • Advocates representing general category have contended that the reservation cannot be for an indefinite period and that it must stop as soon as the upper ceiling has been reached.
    • Further, they have emphasised that reservation in promotion should be cadre-based only after quantifiable data is collected and the creamy layer has been excluded.

    Defying the need for quantifiable data

    • Attorney General sought to convince the court that the roster system, based on the proportionate population of SCs/STs, has been working quite well in all government departments.
    • The condition of collecting quantifiable data on inadequacy of representation of SCs/STs may not be required at all.
    • He urged that there is no need to verify any further or collect quantifiable data after the roster system.

    Referring to the Nagraj Case

    • Article 16(4A) of Indian Constitution allows reservations to SCs and STs in promotions, as long as the government believes that they are not adequately represented in government services.
    • In 2006, a Constitution bench’s ruling in the M Nagaraj case made it incumbent upon the state to collect quantifiable data showing inadequacy of representation in public employment.
    • This was to be done in addition to maintaining overall administrative efficiency.

    Why such demand by the Centre?

    • The Attorney General has said that it is tough for a member of the SC/ST to reach the ‘Group A’ category jobs.
    • The time has come for the apex court to firm up and draw the basis for reservation in promotions for SC/ST candidates to fill up vacancies in top jobs.
    • The Bench referred to records filed before it to note that there was low representation of SC/ST category in Group A jobs.
    • Instead of improving the situation in the Group A ranks, the court said, efforts are on to ensure adequate representation in Groups B and C. This was not fair, it remarked.

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