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  • Six degrees of Endangerment of a Language

    Recently, The NY Times reported that the “near-extinct” Nepalese language Seke has just 700 speakers around the world. As per the Endangered Languages Project (ELP), there are roughly 201 endangered languages in India and about 70 in Nepal.

    The last year, 2019, was the International Year of Indigenous Languages, mandated by the UN.

    Nepal’s Seke language

    • According to the Endangered Language Alliance (ELA), Seke is one of the over 100 indigenous languages of Nepal.
    • The dialects from these villages differ substantially and are believed to have varying degrees of mutual intelligibility.
    • In recent years, Seke has been retreating in the face of Nepali, which is Nepal’s official language and is considered to be crucial for getting educational and employment opportunities outside villages.

    Degrees of endangerment

    UNESCO has six degrees of endangerment. These are:

    1. Safe, which are the languages spoken by all generations and their intergenerational transmission is uninterrupted;
    2. Vulnerable languages, which are spoken by most children but may be restricted to certain domains;
    3. Definitely endangered languages, which are no longer being learnt by children as their mother tongue.
    4. Severely endangered are languages spoken by grandparents and older generations, and while the parent generation may understand it, they may not speak it with the children or among themselves.
    5. Critically endangered languages are those of which the youngest speakers are the grandparents or older family members who may speak the language partially or infrequently and lastly,
    6. Extinct languages, of which no speakers are left.

  • [pib] BIS Gold Hallmarking

    Gold hallmarking is being made mandatory to ensure consumers are not cheated, are better informed about purity and corruption is removed.

    Gold Hallmarking

    • Bureau of Indian Standards (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 were notified w.e.f. 14.06.2018. BIS is running a hallmarking scheme for gold jewelry since April 2000.
    • The BIS Act 2016 has enabling provisions under Section 14 & Section 16 for mandatory hallmarking of Gold jewellery & artefacts by the Central Government.
    • This made it compulsory for all the jewelers selling  Gold jewellery and artefacts to register with BIS & sell only hallmarked Gold jewellery & artefacts.
    • The caratage is marked on jewelry in addition to fineness for convenience of consumers, e.g. for 22 carat jewelry, 22K will be marked in addition to 916, for 18 carat jewelry, 18K will be marked in addition to 750 and for 14 carat jewelry, 14K will be marked in addition to 585.

  • Centre eases CRZ rules for ‘Blue Flag’ beaches

    The MoEFCC has relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules that restrict construction near beaches to help States construct infrastructure and enable them to receive ‘Blue Flag’ certification.

    Why such move?

    • The Blue Flag certification, however, requires beaches to create certain infrastructure — portable toilet blocks, grey water treatment plants, a solar power plant, seating facilities, CCTV surveillance and the like.
    • However, India’s CRZ laws don’t allow the construction of such infrastructure on beaches and islands.
    • The new order allows for some constructions subject to maintaining a minimum distance of 10 meters from HTL (High Tide Line).

    Blue Flag certification

    • The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an ‘eco-tourism model’ and marks out beaches as providing tourists and beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, a safe and healthy environment, and sustainable development of the area.
    • The certification is accorded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education.
    • It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined.
    • It has 33 stringent criteria under four major heads for the beaches, that is, (i) Environmental Education and Information (ii) Bathing Water Quality (iii) Environment Management and Conservation and (iv) Safety and Services.

    Blue Flag beaches

    • Japan and South Korea are the only countries in south and southeastern Asia to have Blue Flag beaches.
    • Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395 Blue Flag beaches, respectively.

    In India

    • Last year, the Ministry selected 13 beaches in India to vie for the certificate.
    • The earmarked beaches are — Ghoghala beach (Diu), Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), Bhogave beach (Maharashtra), Padubidri and Kasarkod beaches (Karnataka), Kappad beach (Kerala), Kovalam beach (Tamil Nadu), Eden beach (Puducherry), Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh), Miramar beach (Goa), Golden beach (Odisha), Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep).

  • Eruption of Taal Volcano

     

    In the Philippines, a volcano called Taal on the island of Luzon; 50 km from Manila has recently erupted.

    Taal Volcano

    • Taal is classified as a “complex” volcano. Taal has 47 craters and four maars (a broad shallow crater).
    • It is situated at the boundaries of two tectonic plates — the Philippines Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate — it is particularly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanism.
    • A complex volcano, also called a compound volcano, is defined as one that consists of a complex of two or more vents, or a volcano that has an associated volcanic dome, either in its crater or on its flanks.
    • Examples include Vesuvius, besides Taal.
    • The Taal volcano does not rise from the ground as a distinct, singular dome but consists of multiple stratovolcanoes (volcanoes susceptible to explosive eruptions), conical hills and craters of all shapes and sizes.

    Threats posed

    • Taal’s closeness to Manila puts lives at stake. Manila is a few tens of kilometres away with a population of over 10 million.
    • The volcano is currently at alert level 4, which means that a “hazardous eruption” could be imminent within a few hours to a few days.
    • Hazardous eruptions are characterised by intense unrest, continuing seismic swarms and low-frequency earthquakes.

    Earlier records of eruption

    • Taal has erupted more than 30 times in the last few centuries. Its last eruption was on October 3, 1977.
    • An eruption in 1965 was considered particularly catastrophic, marked by the falling of rock fragments and ashfall.
    • Before that, there was a “very violent” eruption in 1911 from the main crater. The 1911 eruption lasted for three days, while one in 1754 lasted for seven months.
    • Because it is a complex volcano with various features, the kinds of eruption too have been varied. An eruption can send lava flowing through the ground, or cause a threat through ash in the air.
  • Mains Results Out ! Get Ready for Interviews | TRANSCEND by Civilsdaily – Interview Guidance Program 2019-20

    Mains Results Out ! Get Ready for Interviews | TRANSCEND by Civilsdaily – Interview Guidance Program 2019-20

    Dear Students, the mains result is out. We have already started to receive emails from students who made it. We will be compiling the results soon.
    Kindly check the following pdf. Let us know in the comments if you have made it or not.

    WR-CSME-19-Engl-F

    The details of our interview program are as follows. Subsequently, we request all failed candidates to email us.

    Highlights of Transcend: Focused offerings for 3 distinct groups of IAS Mains-qualified aspirants

    1. Freshers
    2. Work Ex
    3. Veterans 

    Dedicated telegram groups, telephonic and skype video sessions, SWOT analysis via personalized questionnaire & in-person mock interviews with the panel.

    • The end of your journey starts with you filling this small form and sending your DAF 1 to us at rakesh.dalal[at]civilsdaily.com – Click2fill

    Dear students,

    Heartiest congratulations for clearing yet another, and according to many, the most difficult phase of this long and mettle-testing exam. You are now just one small step away from the life-changing dream the pursuit of which has instilled in you sage-like discipline and warrior-like ferocity. But, despite best efforts, the distance that this small step has to cover will be simply too large for the majority of the candidates.

    So, this small step is what makes all the difference. And this is where our ‘Transcend’ program assumes the utmost significance.

    Civilsdaily formally launched ‘Transcend’ (our interview Guidance Program) last year (2018-19) under the overall leadership of Sh. V.P. Singh (IRPS, 2009). This program achieved incredible success with all our (mock interview) students making it to the final list. The details of these candidates can be found here.

    The official UPSC notification  mentions that the candidates will be assessed on the following qualities:

    Mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety, and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

    Besides,

    Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

    Go through the lecture below to understand these qualities in detail.

    What UPSC expects from candidates in an IAS Interview – V P Singh, IRPS (Interview Topper)

    Last year, we tracked the students on the above parameters and worked hard on them so they progressively improved. This year, we intend to raise the bar even higher by providing trailblazing professional, personalized mentorship. There are 3 broad categories into which the IAS Mains-qualified candidates are be divided:

    #1. Freshers: Facing 1st UPSC interview without work-ex

    These candidates have given dedicated and exclusive time to UPSC preparation, often right after their graduation. We also have candidates who decide for UPSC a little later in life. These candidates have a wide variety of backgrounds. Some have quit their jobs to prepare for CSE, some may have household and family responsibilities, etc.

    The interview, in the case of these aspirants, will focus on academics, mental alertness, critical power of assimilation, leadership and teamwork, variety and depth of interest, etc.

    Freshers have the advantage of ‘excitement’ and ‘happy-go-lucky’ attitude, but they also suffer from fear-of-the-unknown.

    For them, Transcend will revolve around psychological strengthening and belief formation besides personality development and polishing of soft skills.

    #2. Work-Experience: Facing 1st UPSC interview with work-ex

    The second category is of working professionals. These candidates have the advantages of leadership, tactfulness, foresight, and maturity. Of all other categories of candidates, the responses of working professionals are expected to be brief, well crafted, balanced, logical and reflecting emotional intelligence. Leadership is another area these aspirants are tested for.

    Transcend will focus intensely on each of these general traits. Stress will be on the trends highlighted by the latest research in these domains.

    #3. Veterans: Have faced the UPSC interview board in the past

    Candidates who have appeared in the UPSC interview, probably more than once; but have consistently scored low marks.

    Such a person has the advantage of the experience of the official set-up. She is aware of the entire process, her DAF and does not have fear-of-the-unknown. She has possibly taken mock interviews in her previous attempts but success eludes her owing to some fundamental flaw, which if unidentified, will compromise her chances yet again.

    For veterans, our Transcend mentors will analyze your DAF, previous mock interviews, transcript of real interview/s and will have detailed discussions to pinpoint the weakness. Then will follow the personalized recovery strategy.

    We are the only institution in this space that brings such high levels of clarity and purpose to the interview program.

    All in all, ‘Transcend’ from Civilsdaily is the finest tool you can choose to uncover the shimmering light of your personality and to realize the simmering desire of your heart.

    Take that final leap. You are in good hands now.

    What to expect in the coming weeks?

    #1. Once you submit your DAF and other details on the link & email, we request you to send a video snippet (shot over a mobile selfie and sent via Whatsapp to this number or at hello[at]civilsdaily.com) on the questions listed below. These are basic, time tested questions that do not need any preparation but helps us understand your default presentation styles:

    1. Why do you want to join the civil services?

    2. Why should you be selected over the other candidates?

    3. Which in-service officer has inspired you the most and why?

    4. One feedback that you received from a friend, peer or superior which fundamentally changed the way you operate in the world or look at the world?

    We want you to be uninhibited, relaxed and natural when you make this video. All questions are compulsory (especially 2, 4 and 5).

    #2. We will get back to you with the feedback on your DAF and this video exercise.

    #3. Post that, your progress will be tracked in 3 rounds of interviews and taken over the telephone, skype, and panel-driven mocks and you will be given access to interact with both our in house mentors and industry experts to fine-tune your reasonings.

    We will work on your innate tendencies and help you carve out the best version of yourself.

    If the form gives you any trouble, mail us at atul@civilsdaily.com

    Warm Regards
    Civilsdaily

  • [op-ed of the day] Economic reforms are best done brick by boring brick

    Context

    Rather than big bang measures or a stealthy agenda, India can count on small but significant improvements.

    Reforms only in crisis or by stealth

    • The accepted conventional wisdom is that economic reforms in India happen only in a crisis or by stealth.
    • Reforms in the crisis
      • Reforms of 1991 : The big example of the former are the 1991 reforms.
      • In 1991 the country faced a huge foreign exchange crisis, resulting partly from the fiscal profligacy of the previous decade.
      • 1999 telecom sector reforms: Another example is from 1999 when the telecom sector was in near bankruptcy, and that crisis led to the shift away from fixed fee for spectrum to revenue sharing.
      • The situation of no other choice: In both cases, there was considerable opposition to those reforms, but they were pushed through because the crisis left no other choice.
    • Reform by stealth: Other than a crisis, more often than not, it has been economic reform by stealth.
      • In the form of executive orders: These reforms are often in the form of an executive decision rather than legislation. Following are the examples of it-
      • Expansion of the list under licence: The expansion of the list of items under the Open General Licence for imports, which is a reform of protectionism, or the reduction in the set of industries reserved for small-scale businesses.
      • Electoral bond introduction: A more recent example of stealth reform was the insertion of an electoral bond scheme in the Finance Bill of 2018.
      • Advantages of going stealth: Reform by stealth offers the advantage of going in either direction.
      • In 2013, faced with a potential currency crisis, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) quietly retracted the limits on the liberalized remittance scheme (LRS).
      • Problem with stealth reforms: Stealth reforms are introduced stealthily but when they do not yield the desired result they are rolled back unpredictably, increasing uncertainty in policies of the government.

    Persistent, encompassing, creative incrementalism in reforms

    • The Economic Survey of 2015 pretty much ruled out Big Bang reforms in India, calling instead for “persistent, encompassing, creative incrementalism” on them.
    • This is the right mantra.
    • What incrementalism means: It implies continuity, not slowness, a sustainable speed that gives reforms predictability and stability. Following are its examples of it-
    • Reform in food subsidy: Example of incrementalism could be reforms that are being carried out in food subsidies.
      • First: Reduce the leakages of the subsidy to non-farmers.
      • Thus, when procurement is done, payments go directly to their Aadhaar-linked accounts.
      • This will lead to non-farmers getting eliminated,
      • Second-Pay subsidy only to the poor: It will lead to subsidy savings, allowing us to limit the subsidy only to poor farmers.
    • Sovereign gold bond scheme: The use of paper gold greatly reduces imports of the physical metal and outgoes of foreign exchange.
      • The sale of these bonds is being expanded, and they would eventually be everywhere, even at post offices.
    • Aggregate licence by RBI: The next example is from a new category called account aggregators licensed by RBI.
      • It allows users’ control over the digital data trail that their transactions generate, and they can monetize it or use it to enhance their creditworthiness.
      • This is an incremental reform with huge ramifications.

    Conclusion

    • The reforms cited above are incremental, not a big bang, persistent but not slow, open and not by stealth, and finally, imaginative too, since they respond to real needs.
    • Effective reforms are those that are done brick by brick, the boring measures that chip away at everything that constrains high, inclusive and sustainable growth.

     

  • [Burning Issue] Regulation of Minority Institutions

    Context

    • Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India.
    • The Supreme Court in a recent judgement has held that the state is well within its rights to introduce a regulatory regime in the “national interest” to provide minority educational institutions with well-qualified teachers in order for them to “achieve excellence in education.”
    • The judgment came in connection with a case that concerned the validity of the West Bengal Madrasah Service Commission Act 2008, which had constituted a commission to appoint teachers in madrasas.

    What did the Supreme Court rule?

    • Upholding the validity of the 2008 Act, the apex court held that the commission was made up of persons with knowledge of Islamic culture and theology and that the provisions of the Act were “specially designed” for madrasas.
    • The court held that the Act was “not violative of the rights of the minority educational institutions on any count”.
    • The court held that minority institutions cannot ignore such a legal regime on the grounds that it is their fundamental right under Article 30 of the constitution to establish and administer their educational institutions.

    What is Article 30 all about?

    Article 30 upholds the right of the minorities “to establish and administer educational institutions. It reads:

    • Article 30(1) says that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
    • Article 30(1A) deals with the fixation of the amount for acquisition of property of any educational institution established by minority groups.
    • Article 30(2) states that the government should not discriminate against any educational institution on the ground that it is under the management of a minority, whether based on religion or language while giving aid.

    Why minorities need special rights?

    • The idea to make the provision for minorities to protect their educational right is not inequality towards the privileged classes but it definitely gives the sense of security to the minority class people.
    • It is clear from the census that the minorities in India are not well-off when compared with the privileged class.
    • Therefore, it is important to give the minorities certain legal rights, thus helping them uplifting their position in society.

    Classification of Minorities under Article 30

    I. Religious Minorities

    • The six community groups existing in India are Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Zoroastrians.
    • These communities have been nominated as minorities by the union government. India is a multi-religious country.
    • Out of these communities, some of the community groups are greater in number and they are stated as majority communities.
    • The basic ground for a community to be nominated as a religious minority is the numerical strength of the community.
    • For example, in India, Hindus are the majority community. As India is a multi-religious country, it becomes important for the government to conserve and protect the religious minorities of the country.
    • The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was established by the government in 1992 to protect the rights and interests of the minority groups.

    II. Linguistic Minorities

    • Class or group of people whose mother language or mother tongue is different from that of the majority groups is known as the linguistic minorities.
    • The Constitution of India protects the interest of these linguistic minorities.

    Article 30 is not absolute

    • The verdict said that Article 30(1) (right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice) was neither absolute nor above the law.
    • The regulatory law should, however, balance the dual objectives of ensuring standard of excellence as well as preserving the right of the minorities to establish and administer their educational institutions.
    • Regulations that embrace and reconcile the two objectives should be reasonable.
    • The managements of minority institutions cannot ignore such a legal regime by saying that it is their fundamental right under Article 30.

    Is Article 30 diluted now?

    • To achieve a balance between the twin objectives of ensuring excellence in education and preserving the right of minorities, the court said, it divides education into two categories.
    • They are the secular education and education “directly aimed at or dealing with preservation and protection of the heritage, culture, script and special characteristics of a religious or a linguistic minority.”
    • On the latter, the court advocated that “maximum latitude” be given to the management to appoint teachers.
    • The court also holds that only “teachers who believe in the religious ideology or in the special characteristics of the concerned minority would alone be able to imbibe in the students admitted in such educational institutions, what the minorities would like to preserve, profess and propagate.
    • However, when it comes to the second category, the governing criteria must be to see to it that the most conducive atmosphere is put in place where the institution achieves excellence and imparts best possible education.
    • If the subjects in the curriculum are purely secular in character, that is to say, subjects like Arithmetic, Algebra, Physics, Chemistry or Geography, the intent must be to impart education availing the best possible teachers,” the bench said.
    • Where the curriculum was “purely secular”, the intent must be to impart education by availing the best teachers.

    Significance of the Judgement

    Besides safeguarding the rights of religious and linguistic minorities to establish educational institutions of their choice, the Article categorically directs the government to ensure that the minority rights do not get abrogated in case of compulsory acquisition of educational institutions run by minorities.

    • The clause (1A) was inserted in the Article during the 44th amendment of the Indian Constitution in 1978.
    • The primary objective behind including this clause was to make sure that the acquisition of minority institution should be followed by ‘conformable compensation.’
    • The clause (2) of Article 30 further creates a level playing field for the minority institutions.
    • It states that the government shall not discriminate against any educational institution run by a religious or linguistic minority while granting aid.

    Serving the national interest

    • A regulation framed in the national interest must necessarily apply to all institutions regardless whether they are run by majority or minority as the essence of Article 30(1) is to ensure equal treatment between the majority and minority institutions.
    • An objection can certainly be raised if an unfavourable treatment is meted out to an educational institution established and administered by minority.
    • But if ensuring of excellence in educational institutions is the underlying principle behind a regulatory regime and the mechanism of selection of teachers is so designed to achieve excellence in institutions, the matter may stand on a completely different footing.

    Way Forward

    • The court explains how to strike a “balance” between the two objectives of excellence in education and the preservation of the minorities’ right to run their educational institutions.
    • For this, the court broadly divides education into two categories – secular education and education “directly aimed at or dealing with preservation and protection of the heritage, culture, script and special characteristics of a religious or a linguistic minority.”
    • When it comes to the latter, the court advocated “maximum latitude” to be given to the management to appoint teachers.
    • The court reasons that only “teachers who believe in the religious ideology or in the special characteristics of the concerned minority would alone be able to imbibe in the students admitted in such educational institutions, what the minorities would like to preserve, profess and propagate.”
    • However, minority institutions where the curriculum was “purely secular”, the intent must be to impart education availing the best possible teachers.

     

     

    References

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/state-can-regulate-minority-institutions-says-supreme-court/

    http://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-230-educational-rights-of-minorities-under-article-30-a-prime-source-of-inequality.html

    https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-minority-institutions

  • 14th January 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 337]

  • 15th January 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    The topics covered in the upcoming AWE on 16th January are:

    Q.1) Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

    Q.4) Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information.

     

    Question 1)

    What do you understand by an earthquake swarm. Discuss the reasons behind the earthquake swarms being witnessed across India. (15 Marks)

    Question 2)

    For all our attention on education in the country, preschool education is still a largely neglected area, affecting the overall education system. Analyse. (15 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Do you agree with the view that economic reforms in the country are best-done brick by brick instead of big-bang reforms? Give reasons in support of your argument. (15 Marks)

    Question 4)

    What do you understand by governance? Also, discuss some of the indicators of  good governance. (15 Marks)

    Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment, check  here: Click2Join

  • [op-ed snap] The world from Raisina.

    Context:

    As the world is moving from an era of predictability to an era of unpredictability led by the US and China, a new Middle Power coalition is the need of an hour.

    The “Rising India” narrative and challenges

    • The narrative was scripted over the two post-Cold War decades, 1991 to 2011.
    • Narrative of plural secular democracy: It was based on the improving performance of the economy and India’s political ability to deal with many longstanding diplomatic challenges within a paradigm of realism.
    • Three successive prime ministers – scripted the narrative of India rising as a plural, secular democracy, as opposed to China’s rise within an authoritarian system.
    • Opening of new vistas: India’s improving economic performance had opened up new vistas for cooperation with major powers and neighbours.
    • New challenges to the narrative: Now the economy’s subdued performance and domestic political issues have created new challenges for Indian foreign policy.
      • The new approach to relations with India adopted by both President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping has created a more challenging external environment.

    Relations with the US

    • New demands from the US: Each time New Delhi has tried to meet a US demand, Washington DC has come up with new demands.
    • US-China dispute resolution and effects for India: Any resolution of US differences with China, can only reduce whatever little bargaining clout India has.
    • Complaint at WTO: The US has, in fact, actively lodged complaints against India at the World Trade Organisation.
    • Geopolitical effects for India:  On the geopolitical side, US intervention in West Asia has always imposed an additional economic burden on India.

    Relations with China

    • Consistent policy: There has been continuity and consistency in India-China policy over the past two decades, with some ups and downs.
    • Effects of power difference with China: As the bilateral power differential widens, China has little incentive or compulsion to be accommodative of Indian concerns, much less the interests. 
      • China never fails to remind India of the growing power differential between the two.
    • Building strength to deal with China: In dealing with China, India will have to, paraphrasing Deng Xiaoping, “build its strength and bide its time.

    Russia’s focus

    • It will remain focused on Eurasian geopolitics.
    • It will also be concerned with the geo-economics of energy.
    • Implications for India: Both these factors define Russia’s relations with China, and increasingly, with Pakistan, posing a challenge for India.

     

    Way forward in the relations with Pakistan

    • The government’s Pakistan policy has run its course.
      • It yielded some short-term results thanks to Pakistan’s efforts not to get “black-listed” by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
      • But the rest of the world is doing business with Pakistan, lending billions in aid.
    • The global community may increasingly accept future pleas from Pakistan that terror attacks in India are home-grown.
    • related to the situation in Kashmir or concerns about the welfare of Muslims, unless incontrovertible evidence to the contrary is offered.
    • The need for a new Pakistan policy: Backchannel talks should be resumed and visas should be given liberally to Pakistani intellectuals, media and entertainers to improve cross-border perceptions as a first step towards improving relations.

    The Middle Powers and opportunities for India

    • What are the middle powers?  It is a mix of developed and developing economies, some friends of the US and other friends of China.
      • It is an amorphous group but can emerge into a grouping of the like-minded in a world of uncertainty capable of taming both the US and China.
      • A new Middle Powers coalition may be the need of the year.
    • Which countries can be part of it?  Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and perhaps South Korea. One could include Russia, Nigeria and South Africa also in this group.
    • Stakes involved but no influence: Like India, these countries have a stake in what the US and China do, but little influence over either.
    • What India can do? These countries which constitute the part of the Middle Powers should engage the attention of India’s external affairs minister.

    Disruptive policies not an option

    • Adoption of disruptive approach: There is a view among some policy analysts that India too can adopt a “disruptive” approach as a clever tactic in foreign affairs.
      • Disruption is not an end in itself. It has to be a means to an end.
      • Powerful nations can afford disruption as tactics.
    • Unchanged strategic elements: The strategic elements defining Indian foreign policy in the post-Cold War era have not changed.
    • Not an option: India cannot risk such tactics without measuring the risk they pose to strategy.

    Conclusion

    With the changing geopolitical atmosphere particularly with respect to the US and Chiana, India needs to adopt a suitable approach to its foreign policy especially involving the Middle Powers.

     

     

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