Simply, the EAS is an ASEAN initiative and refers to the annual Meeting of Heads of States/Governments of these countries, where they are able to discuss common concerns and interests.
Beginning in 2005, 16 participating countries comprised EAS, with their first meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
These members were the 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
ASEAN’s 10 member countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The United States and the Russian Federation joined at the 6th East Asia Summit in 2011.
Why was it created?
Its creation was based on the idea of enhancing cooperation among East Asian countries and those in the neighbouring regions.
Six priority areas of cooperation were identified – environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disaster management, and ASEAN Connectivity.
Topics discussed
The following issues have been discussed by the countries
This year marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations and is being celebrated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year.
In a joint statement, ASEAN-India acknowledged the deep civilizational linkages, maritime connectivity, and cross-cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and India.
All these have grown stronger over the last 30 years, providing a strong foundation for ASEAN-India relations.
New developments
India has announced an additional contribution of USD 5 million to the ASEAN-India science and technology fund.
It would enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.
In a related development, the third edition of the ‘pan-India’ coastal defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ is scheduled to be held on November 15 and 16.
Ex- Sea Vigil-22
The Exercise was conceptualised in 2018 to validate various measures that have been instituted towards enhancing maritime security since ‘26/11’.
The exercise aims to test its preparedness along the entire 7,516.6 km-long-coastline and exclusive economic zone of the country.
It aims to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since 26/11.
It aims to simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all 13 coastal States and Union Territories.
This involves the evaluation of critical areas and processes, including inter-agency coordination, information sharing and technical surveillance.
Multi agency audit and identification of gaps, shortfalls and incorporation of lessons learnt into Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are also the desired outcomes.
Role of Indian Navy
Post 26/11, the Navy was designated as the agency responsible for overall maritime security, including offshore and coastal security.
The Coast Guard was designated as the agency responsible for coastal security in territorial waters.
A multi-tiered patrol and surveillance mechanism with focus on technical surveillance and augmenting Maritime Domain Awareness through the coastal radar chain was adopted.
Progress has been made in real-time information sharing through the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network and improving intelligence and operational coordination.
Significance of the exercise
The exercise is a build up towards the major Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which the Indian Navy conducts every two years.
Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum maritime security challenges.
Progress till now
Verification and monitoring of a large number of fishing vessels in India has been greatly eased by the creation of the online ReALCraft (Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft).
The process of installing transponders on sub-20 metre boats commenced with a pilot project in Tamil Nadu for 5,000 vessels is underway.
To allay the concerns of fishermen, the transponders with GPS have been modified into a two-way communication system.
An Automatic Identification System (AIS) was made compulsory for all vessels above 20 metres after the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Trials were conducted in association with the ISRO on one of their communication satellites last year along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Book your 15th Nov, from 03.30 pm, the most important Masterclass webinar session for MPSC/UPSC 2023-24 aspirants | Learn the secret of scoring 125+ in UPSC + MPSC Prelims | Post-session important PDFs, videos, and notes will be shared for FREE.
Hi guys, do you think that sometimes luck comes in pairs? Yes, this time fortune smiles if you are a prepared mind.
We all know that MPSC, Maharashtra PSC Pattern, and Syllabus have changed since 2023. And the good news is that you can now kill two birds with one arrow.
Yes, you can say that both UPSC and MPSC are twins now. 2 Commissions are now two organizations but one heart. So, if you prepare for UPSC, you will be fully prepared for MPSC.
So if you can score 125 in one, you will easily get 125+ in the other. But the question is ‘HOW’.
Acknowledging the need to ensure125+ marks in UPSC/MPSC Prelims, CD’s mentor head, Pravin Garje siris taking up a webinar masterclass to help you learn the secret tips & tricks to score 125+ not only in MPSC but also in UPSC Prelims.
MPSC has been aligned with UPSC and aspirants preparing for UPSC as well must have an integrated preparation. To bring direction, efficiency, and 360-degree practice in the next months is not only crucial for your preparation but also to fill loopholes, identify the cause of failures, handle your comfort zone, etc. Everything that you do must be under a plan, a strategy. Strategies are nothing but the pillars of success for both UPSC and MPSC.
This Masterclass is going to be a game changer for you if you are:
A UPSC/MPSC beginner – confused about the syllabus, prioritizing subjects, making timetables & targets, or just getting started.
A working professionalor college student who will be attempting UPSC 2023 with a job. Facing a serious time crunch and mismanagement in UPSC preparation.
A veteran or aspirant trying to improve your rank in UPSC 2023 attempt.
Strategic planning will help you fully uncover your options, set priorities for them, and define the methods to achieve them.
Key points that will be discussed in the LIVE webinar are:
1. Common mistakes committed by aspirants– Every failure has regrets later in life, but how you move on from your past adverse choices can make a big difference in your upcoming preparations. So learning how to take ownership of your mistakes will ensure that you learn important actions that will prevent you from repeating those same mistakes again.
2. Changing pattern of prelims– Whether it is UPSC or MPSC, pattern analysis is far more crucial than reading your book. So, how to identify the top priorities, What to read & what to skip will also be discussed.
3. Sources and approach for each subject– According to the new pattern and weightage of the subjects, what are the minimum sources you should follow as well as what is the toppers’ approach will also be disclosed.
4. Importance of Current affairs and its source– Current affairs are an inseparable part of preparation. But, unnecessary current affairs may be a boomerang. So, how to select the topics of the IMP current affairs & what will be the most reliable source?
5. Techniques to solve prelims MCQs with an example– What are Intelligent Elimination Techniques for MPSC/UPSC Prelims 2023-24.
6. In prelims, Common sense is primary, knowledge is secondary– 10 smart hacks for MCQ option elimination
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
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.
You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
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
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.
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*.
The start of COP27 in Egypt has renewed the world’s focus on climate change. Electric vehicles (EVs) are key in the global quest to decarbonizing. In India, which also faces serious air pollution issues, the transition to EVs is critical. However, there is a China-size risk in the supply chain for electric vehicles. The recent saber-rattling across the Taiwan Straits ought to be a warning for the world. Given India’s troubled relationship with China, the risk may be even more acute.
What are Electrical vehicles (EV’s)?
Electric vehicles (EV) are a part of the new normal as the global transportation sector undergoes a paradigm shift, with a clear preference towards cleaner and greener vehicles.
The electric vehicle is a vehicle that runs on electricity alone. Such a vehicle does not contain an internal combustion engine like the other conventional vehicles. Instead, it employs an electric motor to run the wheels.
The global status of EVs production and supply chain.
50% of global EV’s production comes from China: EVs themselves, China has a share of around 50 per cent in global production.
25% from Europe: Europe is a distant and stands at second position with 25 per cent.
10% from US: Surprisingly, the US is a small player in the EV supply chain, producing only 10 per cent of vehicles and containing just 7 per cent of battery production capacity.
India’s position is still not noteworthy: India does not feature as a player of note.
What makes China a dominant player in EVs supply chain?
Every part of EV concentrated in China: According to a recent report by the International Energy Association, every part of the EV supply chain is highly concentrated, mostly in China.
High global mining output of Key minerals, specifically graphite: The first stage of the supply chain is the key minerals required for batteries, namely lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite, In graphite, China has an 80 per cent share of global mining output.
Chinese control over Politically unstable DRC’ Mines of cobalt: In Cobalt, the politically highly unstable Democratic Republic of Congo mines two-thirds of the global supply and Chinese companies control a big share of that country’s mining.
China dominates the processing of ore/minerals: Globally, over 60 per cent of lithium processing, over 70 per cent of cobalt processing, 80 per cent of graphite processing and about 40 per cent of nickel processing takes place in China.
China’s heavy production of cell components: Other than Japan and south korea, China produces two-thirds of global anodes and three-fourths of cathodes.
Same case with the battery cells: China has a 70 per cent share in the production of battery cells.
The status of Governmental spending’s of energy transition
China the biggest spender on energy transition: According to a report by Bloomberg’s New Energy Fund (NEF), in 2021, out of a total global spend of $750 billion in climate-related investments (90 per cent of which went into renewable energy and electric transport), China alone spent $266 billion.
US stands at second: The US was a distant second with $114 billion. The major countries of Europe combined would equal the US. In Europe, about 75-80 per cent of the spending is on EVs, which is why it leads the US in this sector.
India holds 7th rank but needs a focused approach: India was in 7th place not a bad rank to occupy with $14 billion invested. However, almost 40 per cent of Chinese and US spending was on EVs, while more than 95 per cent of India’s spending is on renewable energy. In India, despite intent, EVs have not received sufficient investment.
Accelerating the mechanism of acquiring overseas mines of critical minerals: A recently formed government venture, KABIL, which is a JV between three minerals and metals PSUs, is tasked with the job of identifying and acquiring overseas mines
Liberalizing the domestic exploration policies: An alternate option is to liberalize exploration policies domestically, benchmark them with global best practices and invite global investors to find and mine in India.
Stitching up the supply alliances: It is important to stitch up supply alliances with countries ex-China, as has been done with Australia. At higher ends of the value chain, from battery cells onwards, there is a need to invest much more in R&D.
Making vibrant start up ecosystem and public private partnership: A public-private partnership is vital. The vibrant startup ecosystem must be leveraged because it is more likely to be innovative than legacy firms.
Do you know The Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)?
A joint venture company namely Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) set up with the participation of three Central Public Sector Enterprises namely, National aluminium Company Ltd.(NALCO), Hindustan Copper Ltd.(HCL) and Mineral Exploration Company Ltd. (MECL).
The objective of constituting KABIL is to ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to Indian domestic market. While KABIL would ensure mineral security of the Nation, it would also help in realizing the overall objective of import substitution
Conclusion
The dragon has showed its evil side during the pandemic. China is weaponizing the trade to counter its adversaries. Excessive reliance on China for critical mineral resources is like falling into China’s trap. India and world need to restrain China to have monopoly over Electric Vehicle market.
Shortly after the Supreme Court on Monday, 7 November, upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which introduced 10 percent reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government jobs and educational institutions, Tamil Nadu’s DMK termed the split verdict a ‘setback’ to a century-old fight for social justice.
What is the idea of reservation?
Based on historical injustice: Reservation is intrinsically linked to the historical injustice meted out to Shudras and Dalits.
Reservation for egalitarian society: It was during the anti-caste movement that the idea of reservation came up as a way for an egalitarian social order, to ensure fair representation in the socio-political order, and to mitigate and compensate for the inhuman exclusion of humans based on ascriptive status.
Equal participation in nation building: Reservation is implemented in politics, education and public employment so that all those in the hierarchy can participate in nation-building on equal terms.
Reservation is not a poverty alleviation: R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramasamy ‘Periyar’ spoke about reservation as a means of providing representation; not as a poverty alleviation programme.
Historical benefits to upper caste: Merit is often the mantra used against the idea and implementation of reservation. Historically, Brahmins had the monopoly in offering sacrifice, receiving gifts, becoming priests, spiritual mentorship, and teaching.
Monopoly over resources: Vaishyas had the monopoly in wealth-generating professions. These monopolies were rooted in, and buttressed by, the authority of scriptures like the Manusmriti and treatises like the Arthasashtra.
Monopoly over the education: The top three Varnas had access to learning. In the colonial era, under the progressive pressures of modernization and democratization, the traditional monopolies based on caste order were diffused into the secular domains of bureaucracy, legal practice, professorship, etc.
Upper caste reservation in certain professions: Leaders professing equality, such as Jyotirao Phule, Periyar and Ambedkar, wanted to annihilate the arbitrary reservation for certain professions, being implemented based on fanciful mythical stories.
Democratization of employment and education: Essentially, the mission was to ‘de-reserve’ education and employment opportunities from a handful of castes to make them available to the remaining castes which were aspiring to be a part of the newly independent nation.
Idea of Merit to oppose the reservation: The merit mantra was very effective at stopping, or at least stalling, the ‘de-reservation’ process. But when the bill for EWS reservation was passed hastily in Parliament in 2019, there was no concern for merit.
How categorization of poor under EWS is unfair?
The bar of 8 Lakh is absurd: Individuals from upper caste communities who earn up to ₹8 lakh a year and may own a 1,000-square feet home are being called economically weak.
Poverty estimation: In India, more than 30 crore citizens have been classified as being below the poverty line (spending less than ₹32 a day in urban areas and under ₹27 a day in rural areas).
Lower caste forms the majority of Poor: Data from India (overall) as well as individual States show that Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) have a higher share of poor people than upper castes in both urban and rural India.
Different income criteria for different community: We now live in a country where a household earning more than ₹75 per day is considered above the poverty line, while an upper caste household earning ₹2,222 a day is considered economically weak. According to the Department of Revenue data, households earning more than ₹10 lakh constitute less than 1% of India’s population.
Credibility of Data for EWS reservation was never questioned
Mandal commission data was critically analyzed: In the 1990s, renowned scholars from privileged communities viciously attacked the Mandal Commission claiming that it lacked credible data. In fact, the Mandal Commission report was based on official data curated from the Censuses of 1891 and 1931.
No credible data for EWS reservation: Further, B.P. Mandal formulated his concept of ‘backwardness’ by factoring in the social, educational and economic dimensions of different caste communities. But now, neither justification nor credible data has been presented while arguing that 10% reservation must be provided for the upper caste poor.
EWS reservation is equating the unequal’s: The Mandal Commission report said, “To equate unequal’s is to perpetuate inequality”. By giving the go-ahead for the EWS quota, Supreme Court has equated unequal’s in the category of affirmative action.
More privilege to already privileged community: The EWS quota is unfair because it twists the idea of social justice by bequeathing further privilege to communities who are historically situated to benefit from the oppressive caste system.
Other criticism of EWS reservation?
SC/ST and OBC are outside the EWS reservation: A Dalit or an OBC who does not get a job within this quota still belongs to the EWS, but he is excluded. That is the Constitutional issue, which you have to answer. How have you excluded them, how have you excluded the poor, how have you excluded those who earn only 20,000 a month who do not get jobs amongst the Dalits?
Disturbing the basic structure: The government of tinkering with the “basic structure” of the Constitution.
Ultimate goal is removal of reservation: Government basically testing the waters and this will pave the way for the removal of caste-based reservation.
Opening the lid for further reservation: There is demand that government should raise the existing reservation cap for SC, OBC and minorities in line with their proportion in the population now since a decision has been taken to break the 50 per cent ceiling set by the top court.
Conclusion
It is true that historically reservation is based social inequalities. Despite having the good credentials and marks upper caste or open categories were denied jobs. Justice to upper castes is not the injustice to lower castes. This is against the principal of natural justice. However exclusion of SC/ST and OBC from EWS category is certainly a matter of debate.
Mains Question
Q.What is the Ambedkar’s idea of reservation? Critically analyze the EWS reservation upheld by supreme court.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a conference in late October in the capital, which saw the participation of the union home minister, a few States Home Ministers and police chiefs. The Delhi conference was a very important occasion aimed at improving the quality of policing in the country through an exchange of ideas.
Sardar Patel’s vision of Police
Training and Professionalism: He placed great value on professional policing, one reason why he insisted on an elitist and well-trained corps such as the Indian Police Service (IPS) which worked alongside the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Didn’t abandon the civil services: He was under immense pressure from various quarters, to disband both the Indian Civil Service and IPS, but as a distinguished and astute visionary, he was steadfast in his belief.
Nationally accepted standards: Subsequent events proved him right. Despite all their faults, the two all-India services have been a cementing force and have greatly contributed to establishing nationally accepted standards of governance, especially in the area of law and order.
What is the Present status of Policing in India?
A case study of Tamil Nadu: The way the Tamil Nadu police have handled the case of a blast in Coimbatore that happened recently, and a possible terror-related plot, also fits in this scene and is relevant to the state of law and order in the State and elsewhere.
Delay in serious cases: There is a section of influential public opinion which has accused the Tamil Nadu government of having been slothful and delayed handing over investigation of the incident to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This has been rebutted by the State Director General of Police (DGP) who said that his force could not abruptly abandon the investigation and had to do the preliminary investigation to facilitate an NIA take-over.
Shifting the responsibility: The exchange of barbs by the two sides has been an unfortunate and avoidable development and the truth lies in between. Rather than getting into a slanging match, what is more important is an examination of the standard operating procedures in place, the identification of lacunae and the initiation of corrective measures.
West Bengal case: Conflict between the Ministry of Home affairs and State over utilizing talent in the IPS and the sharing of resources available in the States.
Collaborative approach: It is a no-brainer that, New Delhi is the senior partner in what is definitely a collaborative relationship. But there have been actions over the decades that have inflicted many deep wounds on public order.
Forge a strong camaraderie: These have been situations that have demanded large numbers of well-trained policemen. The Centre has always chipped in with support from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). There have also been other outfits such as the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which have also worked in tandem with the State Police. Therefore, it makes sense that the MHA and State Police stop squabbling but explore how best to forge a strong camaraderie.
State must cooperate with Centre: We are also witness to frequent spats between States and the Centre over the use or alleged misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Here again both parties have to share the blame. But the basic point that has been ignored is that crime and bureaucratic corruption have inter-State ramifications and only a national agency can bring in a much-needed and wide perspective.
CBI is inevitable for corruption at state level: Insensitive action by a few States to withdraw consent to the CBI to function in a state smack of politics and vindictiveness, which diminishes the fight against public servant graft.
How union government can improve the Policing?
Training and technology: ‘Police’ are a state subject under the distribution of powers laid down in the Constitution of India. But that does not mean the Union government has no say in the matter. Training and technology are two areas where the Centre does greatly contribute to sharpening police ability to combat terrorism and other major public disturbances.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy: in Hyderabad is a world-class institution that has resources and the professional excellence which are generously available to State police forces.
Strong political leadership: Petty squabbling reduces the exchange of ideas and goes to attenuating the police response to difficult situations that require police assistance. This is why we need a political leadership that does not get bogged down in petty differences but promotes a free exchange of talent and resources between New Delhi and the States.
Conclusion
With exponential rise if technology nature of crimes has significantly changed. We must impart a modern training with professionalism to our Police. Police subject need to delink from Centre-state politics.
Mains Question
Q. Analyze the state of Police governance in India? What reforms are needed for modern policing in India? How Centre-state can collaborate for better police governance?
As soon as the government took the decision to release India’s first genetically-modified (GM) food crop Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) for “environment release”, some activists approached the Supreme Court to ban it for various reasons. The Supreme Court has ordered the status quo to be maintained till the next hearing on the matter on November 17.
What are Genetically modified organisms (GMO)?
Changes in genetic material: GMOs can be defined as organisms (i.e., plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination
Transfers of genes: It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species.
GM foods: Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods
What is the ironic case of opposition to the GM crops?
Opposition to GM is not new: The opposition to GM food crops is not new. There has been a global campaign in this regard by many activists. GM crops have spread around the world since 1996.
of countries accepted the use of GM crops: More than 70 countries have accepted the use of GM crops. For instance, by 2019, roughly 190 million hectares were under GM crops, led by corn and soyabean in the US, Brazil, Argentina, and canola (rapeseed/mustard) in Canada, even Bangladesh has marched ahead with Bt brinjal.
No concrete evidence of harmful impact: There is ample evidence in support of that with no harmful impact on human or animal health or the environment per se.
India’s journey towards GM crops, specifically “Bt cotton”
First GM crop released under Vajpayee government with the slogan of Jai Vigyan:
Atal Bihar Vajpayee envisioned that science could transform agriculture
India had its first GM crop, Bt cotton, released in 2002 by the Vajpayee government. He extended the original slogan of “jai jawan, jai kisan” (salutation to the soldier and the farmer), given by Lal Bahadur Shastri, to include “jai vigyan” (salutation to science).
The case of Historic success of Bt cotton:
Cotton production Increased: With the Bt cotton, Cotton production increased remarkably from a mere 13.6 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14. Registered an increase of 192 per cent in just 12 years, ushering the famous “gene revolution”.
Area under Cotton cultivation expanded: The area under cotton cultivation expanded by 56 per cent, of which about 95 per cent is under Bt cotton.
Cotton productivity per hectare increased significantly: Cotton productivity increased from 302 kg per hectare in 2002-03 to 566 kg per hectare in 2013-14, an increase of 76 per cent,
More productivity more income to farmers lead to increase in agri- GDP: The gains to cotton farmers whose incomes increased significantly. For instance, Bt cotton led Gujarat’s “agrarian miracle” of very high (above 8 per cent) annual growth rate in agri-GDP during 2002-03 to 2013-14.
Revived the glory to The Indian cotton in the world market: It made India the second-largest producer after China, and the second-largest exporter after the US, of cotton in the world today.
What are the concerns associated with the cultivation of GM crops?
Emergence of Increased pest resistance: Enhanced sucking pest damage in Bt cotton; increase in secondary pests such as mired bugs and Spodoptera; and the emergence of pest resistance.
Impact on environment of human health: Environmental and health implications in terms of toxicity and allergenicity that can cause hematotoxin reactions in the human body.
Fear of increased mono cropping: Farmers’ exposure to a greater risk of monopoly in the seed business.
What is the controversy and debate associated with GM Mustard?
Debate on advantages and impacts: There is a raging debate going on advantages and disadvantages of GMOs. For a long time, further study was requested by farmers, environmentalist on GMO crops.
Denial goes against the principle of basic rights of farmers: By not allowing GM mustard or for that matter even Bt brinjal for so long, one is denying the basic rights of farmers who want to increase their incomes.
Allow with the sustainable practice with the use of science and technology: The best way to do so is by raising productivity in a sustainable manner. The field trials of GM mustard at different locations showed 25-28 per cent higher yield and better disease resistance compared to indigenous varieties. This can go a long way in augmenting domestic mustard oil supplies and farmers’ incomes.
Unnecessary debate after the approval by the scientific body: Dissent is a good sign in any democratic society and forms an essential part of checks and balances. But once the safety tests are done and the scientific body (GEAC) has given the green signal, what is needed is political leadership to keep the decision-making science-based.
India’s heavy dependence on Imported edible oils: India heavily depends on imported edible oils (55-60 per cent of India’s domestic requirement is imported). A large portion of this about three-four million tonnes every year comes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the US, etc, which is all from GM technology (in soybean and canola).
Import and GM crops are already in our food chain: We eat plenty of our own cotton seed (binola) oil, and about 95 per cent of our cotton is now GM. Cotton seed is also fed to cattle which gives the milk its fat content. Even poultry feed, such as soya and corn, is being imported. So, one thing is clear GM food is already in our food chain, and has been there for quite some time.
A chance to emerge as a major export hub: It was expected that India would be at the forefront of the gene revolution and emerge as a major export hub to other Asian and African countries. What the IT revolution has done in computer science, the Bt revolution could have done in agriculture.
Conclusion
The agriculture of tomorrow is going to be science-based, and the winners will be those who adopt it and develop it further today. Innovation is the name of the game, and “Jai Anusandhan” is a good slogan given by PM Modi. But it will have meaning only when the government goes ahead with not just GM mustard but also fast-tracks Ht Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and even GM soya and corn.
Mains Question
Q. What are GM crops? With policy paralysis in the case of GM mustard, India may not be able to keep pace with the success of Bt cotton. Critically analyse.
Successfully concluded 3 Days’ UPSC Workshop by AIR 109, Areeba & senior IAS faculties | How to crack UPSC in the 1st attempt | Art of Intelligent Elimination for Prelims MCQs | Top 10 skills of Mains Answer writing | Register for the recorded sessions and 1 to 1 mentorship call
AIR 109, UPSC 2021, Areeba Nomaan, CD’s Super Mentor took the IMP masterclass on cracking UPSC 2023-24 in just one attempt + Important themes and strategy.
Areeba gave a 6 months strategy for UPSC 2023 Prelims aspirants.
She made a UPSC trend analysis and based on that decoded the expectations and pattern of UPSC. Areeba ma’am shared 10 important themes for the upcoming exam that one must not ignore.
Sukanya Rana, Civilsdaily Mains head took on the second session on 10 steps to writing UPSC Mains Answers like a topper. Comparative analysis of toppers’ approach. Sukanya Rana ma’am had mentored AIR 28, 32, 49 and more.
Sukanya ma’am has been the head of Mains programs and has personally guided hundreds of UPSC rankers.
Dimple Chouhan ma’am, CD’s Senior IAS Mentor discussed how to make UPSC notes for GS-Current Affairs for Pre+Mains. She also shared value-added 2-3 paged crisp and comprehensive notes so that students get proper guidance…
Dinesh sir, the senior IAS Faculty from Civilsdaily discussed the most important aspects of the UPSC exam – How to attempt UPSC Prelims MCQs? and in that he shared tips and hacks to attempt successfully questions that pull you into negative marking by confusing you.
Intelligent Elimination Techniques for UPSC Prelims 2023-24
10 smart hacks for MCQ option elimination
You will be able to solve many questions with almost no or relatively less information by using these techniques.
CivilsDaily Delhi center is conducting a 3-day UPSC LIVE Workshop with UPSC Ranker, AIR-109, Areeba Nomaan, and senior IAS Faculties starting from 11th Nov to 13th Nov.(details below)
Get ready for Day 3: Two sessions by Dimple ma’am and Dinesh sir
3 days, 4 sessions on UPSC Prelims, Mains, Current Affairs, and Strategy
Date: 11th to 13th November 2022 (daily for 3 days)
Day 3: 13th Nov, 12 noon (Sunday)
Dimple Chouhan ma’am, CD’s Senior IAS Mentor will discuss how to make UPSC notes for GS-Current Affairs for Pre+Mains. She will also share value-added 2-3 paged crisp and comprehensive notes so that students get proper guidance.
Dinesh sir, the senior IAS Faculty from Civilsdaily will discuss the most important aspects of the UPSC exam – How to attempt UPSC Prelims MCQs? and in that he will share tips and hacks to attempt successfully questions that pull you into negative marking by confusing you.
Intelligent Elimination Techniques for UPSC Prelims 2023-24
10 smart hacks for MCQ option elimination
You will be able to solve many questions with almost no or relatively less information by using these techniques.
Venue: This Workshop will be held in both offline and online mode. You can attend in CivilsDaily’s Delhi center offline, and for Online mode, we will share a Zoom link in your email. Please register.
Address: CivilsDaily IAS, 1 LGF, Apsara Arcade, Pusa Rd Next to Gate No 7, Karol Bagh, Delhi
Day 1: UPSC FREE Workshop by AIR 109, UPSC 2021, Areeba Nomaan was concluded successfully. In case you missed it, Register for the Recorded session, PDF & Notes | Crack UPSC 2023-24 in just one attempt. Important themes and strategy
Areeba Nomaan, AIR 109, CD’s Super Mentor will inaugurate the workshop on day 1. She will be followed by the senior IAS mentor of UPSC Rankers like Sukanya Rana, Dimple Chouhan, and senior IAS Faculty Dinesh sir.
Day 1: 11th Nov, 5 pm (Friday)
AIR 109, UPSC 2021, Areeba Nomaan, CD’s Super Mentor will take the IMP masterclass on cracking UPSC 2023-24 in just one attempt + Important themes and strategy.
Areeba will be giving a 6 months strategy for UPSC 2023 Prelims aspirants.
She will be doing a UPSC trend analysis and based on that will decode the expectations and pattern of UPSC. Areeba ma’am will share 10 important themes for the upcoming exam that one must not ignore.
Day 2: 12th Nov, 5 pm (Saturday)
Sukanya Rana, Civilsdaily Mains head will be taking on the second session on 10 steps to writing UPSC Mains Answers like a topper. Comparative analysis of toppers’ approach. Sukanya Rana ma’am had mentored AIR 28, 32, 49 and more.
Sukanya ma’am has been the head of Mains programs and has personally guided hundreds of UPSC rankers.
You can attend this Workshop both offline (CivilsDaily’s Delhi center) and Online through Zoom (we’ll share the link in the email).
Day 3: 13th Nov, 12 noon (Sunday)
Dimple Chouhan ma’am, CD’s Senior IAS Mentor will discuss how to make UPSC notes for GS-Current Affairs for Pre+Mains. She will also share value-added 2-3 paged crisp and comprehensive notes so that students get proper guidance..
Day 4: 13th Nov, 4pm (Sunday)
Dinesh sir, the senior IAS Faculty from Civilsdaily will discuss the most important aspects of the UPSC exam – How to attempt UPSC Prelims MCQs? and in that he will share tips and hacks to attempt successfully questions that pulls you into negative marking by confusing you.
Intelligent Elimination Techniques for UPSC Prelims 2023-24
10 smart hacks for MCQ option elimination
You will be able to solve many questions with almost no or relatively less information by using these techniques.
Don’t miss out on this super important workshop.
CivilsDaily’s Webinar package
Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.
Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.
What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship
The Hindu has acknowledged the success rate of CD’s Smash mains Mentorship
India and ASEAN region is celebrating 30th Anniversary of their ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations in 2022.
The year is embarked as ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’.
The year also witnessed few key bilateral visits and meetings.
Key takeaways from the dialogue
Member states of ASEAN and India have decided to establish meaningful, substantive and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships.
Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
Both sides decided to enhance cooperation on cyber security, counter terrorism and digital economy and expedite the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement.
What is ASEAN?
ASEAN is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia.
It brings together ten Southeast Asian states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – into one organisation.
It was established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by the founding fathers of the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines.
The preceding organisation was the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) comprising of Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Five other nations joined the ASEAN in subsequent years making the current membership to ten countries.
India-ASEAN Relations: A Backgrounder
Look-East Policy in 1992 gave an upthrust to India -ASEAN relation and helped India in capitalizing its historical, cultural and civilizational linkages with the region.
India entered into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods with the region in 2003 which has facilitated the bilateral trade which now stands at approximately USD 76 Billion.
Further, the launch of Act East Policy in 2014 has added a new vigour to India-ASEAN relations.
Five-key focus areas for India and ASEAN
(1) Connectivity
Physical connectivity remains a constraint in India-ASEAN trade relations.
However, infrastructure projects like Trilateral Highway connecting India’s Northeast to Thailand, the Data Deep-sea Port in Myanmar, and the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project have the potential to overcome the infrastructure bottleneck.
(2) Maritime Security
The maritime space in today’s world plays a key role not only in economic development but also in security and connectivity.
Piracy, disputes over resources, territorial claims, terrorism, China’s increasing assertiveness, and a fractured governance system are creating instability in the Indo-Pacific region.
(3) Blue Economy
Given India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), there is huge potential in this sector that remains to be realized.
India should deepen its engagement with ASEAN on this front through developing PPP models for fisheries sectors, knowledge sharing and joint efforts to conserve and manage coastal and marine resource.
(4) Strategic Relations
India and ASEAN forged a strategic partnership in 2012.
The further elevation of ties is focused on some specific areas – maritime security, joint implementation of projects in the Indo-Pacific, cybersecurity and inter-operability of digital financial systems.
(5) Other
India and ASEAN focus on greater knowledge sharing and developing best practices for fostering inclusive growth.
Policies governing cyberspace and cyber securities are in their nascent stage, in such scenario both India and ASEAN should seek to be a decisive voice in norm-setting, and in cultivating inter-regional cooperation for addressing cyber insecurity.
Issues in ties
Trade imbalances: In bilateral trade, there is an imbalance as the majority of ASEAN countries have strong manufacturing bases that rely on export while Indian export remains feeble.
Nature of engagement: India still engages more with ASEAN countries on a bilateral basis rather than on a multilateral basis.
Limited financial outreach: India’s has a limited capacity to provide development assistance and other financial relation.
Chinese presence: ASEAN’s inclination to harness India for regional stability remains limited because of the presence of other regional powers like China.
No strategic vision: ASEAN and India are yet to fully converge on a joint vision for the maritime domains of Asia and the world at large.
Why does ASEAN hold immense significance for India?
Convergence on Indo-Pacific: Engagement with ASEAN has been, and will remain, a critical element of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and ‘Indo-Pacific’ initiative.
Security convergence: India needs a close diplomatic relationship with ASEAN nations both for economic and security reasons.
Improving presence: Connectivity with the ASEAN nations can allow India to improve its presence in the region.
Connectivity with NE: These connectivity projects keep Northeast India at the centre, ensuring the economic growth of the northeastern states.
Countering China: Improved trade ties with the ASEAN nations would mean a counter to China’s presence in the region and economic growth and development for India.
Rule-based order in the region: ASEAN occupies a centralised position in the rules-based security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. Rogue neighbourhood is a liability of healthy growth.
Inherent issues with ASEAN
Inequality matrix: Gap between rich and poor ASEAN member states remains very large and they have a mixed record on income inequality. While Singapore boasts the highest GDP per capita—nearly $53,000 (2016), Cambodia’s per capita GDP is the lowest at less than $1,300.
Development disparity: Many regional initiatives are not able to be incorporated into national plans, as the less developed countries faced resource constraints to implement the regional commitments.
Mixed nature of polity: The members’ political systems are equally mixed with democracies, communist, and authoritarian states.
Contention with China: Every ASEAN member is exposed to the manipulations by China over the South China Sea.
Lack of consensus: ASEAN has been divided over major issues of human rights. For example, crackdowns in Myanmar against the Rohingyas. The emphasis on consensus sometimes becomes a chief drawback.
Way forward
India has cultivated strong bonds of historical and contemporary significance with the ASEAN.
This relation can offer the region a natural recourse to peace, unlike the many conflicts that the ASEAN countries are involved in with China.
There are opportunities for ASEAN and India to build long term partnership by sharing medical technologies and traditional medicine knowledge.
Three potential areas for ASEAN-India partnership are Health security, digital economy and green sustainable development. India and ASEAN can work together to address the digital gap by solution and expertise sharing.
Further, some emerging areas of cooperation could be cryptocurrency, making use of social media as a medium of change and exchange for digital payments, lucid involvement of MSMEs in financial digitalization, and participation in global value chains.
