Indian Americans earn more than any other Asian group in the U.S., making about 40% more than Chinese and Japanese households.
What is the median annual income of Indian American households?
Highest Median Income Among Asian Groups: Indian American households had a median annual income of $151,200 in 2023, the highest among all Asian ethnic groups in the U.S. Eg: Indian Americans earn about 40% more than both Chinese and Japanese households.
Income Reflects High Educational Attainment: The high income level is linked to strong educational achievements—77% of Indian Americans aged 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, second only to Taiwanese Americans. Eg: Despite similar education levels, Mongolian Americans earn far less, highlighting that factors beyond education (like job type, geography, or discrimination) may also impact income.
How does it compare to other Asian groups?
Asian Group
Median Household Income (2023)
Key Comparison Point
Example
Indian Americans
$151,200
Highest income among all Asian groups
40% higher than Chinese or Japanese households
Taiwanese Americans
Slightly below Indians (~$140,000+)
Second highest, due to even higher educational attainment (83%)
Close to Indian income levels, driven by education
Mongolian Americans
$54,300
Despite high education (69% with degrees), lowest income
Shows income isn’t always proportional to education
Who are the largest Asian ethnic groups in the U.S. as of 2023?
Chinese Americans: Approximately 5.5 million individuals, making up 22% of the Asian American population. Example: Chinese Americans are the largest Asian ethnic group in the U.S.
Indian Americans: Around 5.2 million individuals, accounting for 21% of the Asian American population. Example: Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian ethnic group in the U.S.
Filipino Americans: Approximately 4.6 million individuals, representing 18% of the Asian American population. Example: Filipino Americans rank third among Asian ethnic groups in the U.S.
What is the significance of the Indian diaspora?
Economic Influence: Indian diaspora communities contribute significantly to the economies of their host countries through entrepreneurship, skilled labor, and remittances. Example: Indian-Americans contribute to the U.S. economy, particularly in the technology sector, with companies like Google and Microsoft having Indian-origin CEOs.
Cultural Exchange: The Indian diaspora has played a major role in promoting Indian culture globally, including its festivals, cuisine, music, and film. Example: Bollywood films and Indian cuisine have a large following across the world, especially in the UK, the U.S., and the Middle East.
Political Influence: The Indian diaspora has a growing presence in political leadership positions, influencing policies in their respective countries. Example: Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary of the UK, are of Indian origin and have shaped political discourse.
Educational Contributions: Indian diaspora members are highly skilled professionals and students, making notable contributions to global research and academic excellence. Example: Indian-origin scientists and engineers have made significant strides in fields like space exploration, medicine, and technology worldwide.
What are the challenges?
Caste-Based Discrimination: Despite migration, caste-based discrimination persists within diaspora communities. Marginalized groups, such as Dalits, often face exclusion and prejudice in educational institutions, workplaces, and social settings.
Racial and Religious Intolerance: Indian diaspora communities frequently encounter racism and xenophobia, particularly in countries with complex immigration histories. These discriminatory practices can hinder social integration and economic mobility.
Political Polarization and Identity Conflicts: Global political tensions, such as those related to the Kashmir issue, can lead to divisions within diaspora communities. Protests and calls for calm in response to international conflicts reflect how such issues can strain local community relations.
Way forward:
Promote Inclusivity and Social Integration: Efforts should be made to combat caste-based discrimination, racism, and xenophobia within diaspora communities by fostering inclusive policies and promoting intercultural dialogue. This can help create a more harmonious environment for integration and equal opportunities.
Encourage Political and Civic Engagement: To address political polarization, the Indian diaspora should engage in local politics and civic activities to bridge divides and advocate for constructive dialogue, ensuring their concerns are heard and their influence in the host country’s policies is constructive and united.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2023] Indian diaspora has scaled new heights in the West. Describe its economic and political benefits for India.
Linkage: The high earnings of Indian Americans, as indicated in the article, are a clear example of the Indian diaspora “scaling new heights” economically in the West. This economic strength directly contributes to the potential economic benefits (like remittances, investment, trade promotion) and political influence (lobbying, soft power) that the diaspora provides to India. This question requires discussing precisely these benefits stemming from the diaspora’s success, of which high income is a key metric.
Governments are undermining the RTI Act by delaying the appointment of information commissioners, causing commissions to struggle with increasing backlogs, according to a 2023-24 report of Satark Nagrik Sangathan. This makes the topic important from the Governance point of view. Thus, knowing about the challenges in the implementation of RTI is important. But since RTI overlaps with multiple parts of the 4 GS papers, it is important to know the entire chain of ISSUE – SUBSTANTIATION-IMPACT for each challenge. This would make your prep for the topic conceptually strong.
GS1 – Indian Society: Role of Women, Urbanization, and Social Empowerment
Note4Students: Understand the role of RTI in promoting social accountability and the empowerment of marginalized communities. Study how RTI enables civil society to play an active role in strengthening democratic participation and social empowerment.
Microthemes: Social Empowerment, Government Programmes
GS2 – Important aspects of Governance, Transparency, and Accountability, Separation of powers
Note4Students: Strengthen your understanding of RTI as a tool for ensuring transparency and good governance. Link the impact of RTI amendments and judicial rulings to arguments for protecting democratic accountability in India.
Microthemes: Transparency and accountability
GS3 – Internal Security and Role of Non-state Actors in creating challenges to internal security
Note4Students: Explore how the protection of RTI activists relates to maintaining internal security and preventing governance abuses. Analyze how threats to RTI users affect civic activism and transparency in India.
Microthemes: Threat from external state or non-state actors,
GS4 – Ethics in Governance: Accountability and Ethical Governance
Note4Students: Enhance your understanding of ethical governance through case studies on RTI. Examine the balance between transparency, privacy, and ethical challenges in governance systems.
Microthemes: Quality of service delivery, Information sharing and transparency in Government X RTI
The Right to Information empowers citizens in a democratic state by providing unhindered access to information about government functions across the legislative, executive, and judiciary. This right transforms individuals from passive subjects to active citizens in governance.
What is the Right to Information?
The Right to Information ensures that the public can access information about government functioning, promoting citizen engagement and accountability.
Philosophical Basis of Right to Information
The philosophical foundation of the Right to Information can be traced back to Aristotle’s ideas, linking Democracy’s core values—Liberty and Equality—with citizens’ right to know about governmental functions. Access to information shapes personal, social, political, and economic identity and capabilities.
Recognition in International Law
United Nations (UN): In 1946, the UN General Assembly recognized Freedom of Information as a fundamental human right and essential for all other freedoms.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Article 19 of the ICCPR enshrines the right to access information, establishing it as a legal obligation in international human rights law.
History of Constitutional Recognition in India
The Indian Constitution does not explicitly mention RTI as a fundamental right, but the Supreme Court has interpreted it as an extension of Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) and connected it to Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).
State of U.P. v Raj Narain (1975): SC declared that RTI is implicit in the right to freedom of speech and expression.
S.P. Gupta v. President of India (1982): SC supported citizens’ right to know public actions and decisions by public functionaries.
People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India: SC elevated RTI as a human right tied to Article 21.
Legislative Recognition
The Right to Information Act (RTI Act) was enacted in 2005 after strong advocacy from civil society groups like Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and judicial support for transparency. The RTI Act aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and public access to information.
Transparency in Executive Functions: Increases government department transparency (e.g., Public Distribution System in UP).
Strengthening Democracy: Empowers citizens to question the government, reinforcing democratic engagement.
Shift in Government Work Culture: Fosters a culture of openness and record-keeping in government offices.
Judiciary’s Role: Empowers the judiciary to nullify laws promoting secrecy (e.g., ruling on the Electoral Bonds scheme).
The Issue-Impact Conundrum
While the Right to Information (RTI) Act has been a vital tool for transparency and accountability, its effectiveness is being undermined by several challenges. The following table offers a clear framework that can be used to enrich answers with facts and data.
Issue
SUBSTANTIATION
Impact
Vacant Posts in Information Commissions
Many information commissions have unfilled vacancies. For example, the Central Information Commission has 8 out of 11 positions vacant. States like Jharkhand, Tripura, and Telangana have had defunct commissions for years.
Severe disruption of RTI functioning; delays in case processing.
Mounting Backlogs
Due to insufficient information commissioners, there are over 4 lakh pending appeals and complaints. In states like Chhattisgarh and Bihar, fresh appeals may not be resolved until 2029.
Long delays in justice; citizens lose trust in RTI’s effectiveness.
Bias in Appointments
Many commissioners appointed are retired government officials or have political affiliations, leading to reluctance in taking action against transparency violations.
Erodes public trust and reduces the effectiveness of the RTI Act.
Failure to Impose Penalties
Information commissions impose penalties in only 5% of applicable cases, leading to a culture of impunity among officials.
Discourages adherence to RTI; promotes violations without accountability.
Regressive Amendments
The 2019 RTI Amendment Act reduced the autonomy of information commissions by granting the central government control over commissioners’ tenure, salaries, and entitlements. The 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act further restricted disclosure of personal information under RTI.
Undermines the independence of the RTI Act; limits transparency.
Threats and Attacks on RTI Activists
Nearly 100 killings and thousands of cases of assault, intimidation, and legal harassment have been reported against individuals using the RTI Act.
Creates fear, discouraging the public from using RTI to expose corruption.
Way Forward
Judicial Reaffirmation: The Supreme Court should reaffirm RTI as essential to democracy, especially in cases like electoral bonds.
Language Accessibility: RTI information should be accessible in regional languages.
RTI Education: The right to know should be included in school curricula to cultivate vigilant citizens.
Inclusion of Political Parties: Parliament should consider extending RTI to cover political parties for better democratic accountability.
#BACK2BASICS
The lesser talked-about side : How RTI has ushered in an era of transparency ?
The RTI has reinforced democratic participation by transforming citizens from passive recipients of information to active stakeholders in governance.
Key Contribution
Description
Example
Exposing Corruption and Malpractices
RTI has been instrumental in revealing large-scale corruption and misuse of resources.
RTI inquiries uncovered the Commonwealth Games scam and coal allocation scam, leading to public outcry and investigations.
Enhancing Transparency in Government Functions
RTI requests have led to greater openness in government departments and more accurate record-keeping.
In Uttar Pradesh, RTI applications revealed inefficiencies in the Public Distribution System, prompting improvements in food distribution.
Promoting Citizen Engagement in Democracy
RTI empowers citizens to ask questions, seek accountability, and participate more actively in governance.
Citizens used RTI to expose irregularities in local development projects, such as incomplete road constructions and school funding misuse.
Shift in Governmental Work Culture
RTI has encouraged transparency and accountability within government offices, fostering a more open work environment.
Improved record maintenance and timely data responses in various departments due to RTI requests, making public records more accessible.
Judicial Support for Transparency
RTI aids the judiciary in challenging laws that promote secrecy or infringe upon fundamental rights.
In cases like the Electoral Bonds scheme, RTI-backed transparency arguments contributed to the judicial review of laws affecting public accountability.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released new rules to regulate access to biological resources and ensure fair and equitable benefit sharing, as approved by the Central Government.
About New Biodiversity Regulation, 2025:
It governs how benefits from the use of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge or digital sequence information (DSI) are to be shared.
It introduces a tiered benefit-sharing structure based on annual turnover of the user:
No sharing for turnover up to ₹5 crore.
0.2% for turnover between ₹5–50 crore.
0.4% for ₹50–250 crore, and 0.6% above ₹250 crore.
Users must submit resource usage statements annually if turnover exceeds ₹1 crore.
Cultivated medicinal plants are exempt, aligning with the Biodiversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.
For high-value or threatened species like red sanders, agarwood, and sandalwood, sharing must be at least 5%, rising to 20% or more for commercial use.
The Regulation covers researchers, IP right seekers, and includes digital data as part of benefit sharing for the first time.
Back2Basics: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
CBD was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit; it came into force since 29 December 1993 with secretariat in Montreal, Canada.
It is ratified by 196 countries, excluding the US.
Key objectives:
Conservation of biological diversity.
Sustainable use of biodiversity components.
Fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
It is governed by the Conference of the Parties (COP), meeting biennially.
COP16 (2024) in Colombia established a multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for Digital Sequence Information (DSI).
It ensures fair reward for communitiesprotecting biodiversity when their knowledge or genetic data is used commercially.
Nagoya Protocol on ABS:
It was adopted in 2010, enforced in 2014, it supplements the CBD.
It provides a legal framework for fair benefit-sharing from the use of genetic resources with the country of origin or local communities.
It strengthens the global framework for responsible biodiversity use.
[UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining acces and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2* (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Tensions escalated between Punjab and Haryana after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decided to release an extra 4,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra dam to Haryana, sparking political and legal opposition from Punjab.
About the Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute:
The dispute dates back to 1966 when Haryana was created from Punjab and was promised a share of river waters from the Ravi and Beas rivers.
The Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was proposed to deliver Haryana’s share but remains incomplete due to Punjab’s resistance.
The current issue involves Punjab and Haryana over the release of additional water from the Bhakra dam, managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
On April 30, 2025, BBMB ordered the release of 8,500 cusecs of waterto Haryana for drinking needs, which Punjab opposed, claiming Haryana had already withdrawn 104% of its annual share.
Water levels in the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams are low due to poor snowfall in the Himalayas.
Punjab argues that BBMB’s decision is unilateral and has refused to open the Nangal dam sluice gates.
Inter-State Water Dispute Resolution in India:
Article 262 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate on inter-state river water disputes and bar courts from intervening in such matters.
River Boards Act, 1956 allows creation of boards for inter-state river management, but no such board has ever been constituted.
Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides for:
Conciliation by the Centre among aggrieved states.
Tribunal formation if conciliation fails.
The 2002 amendment mandates:
Formation of a tribunal within 1 year.
Tribunal decision within 3 years.
Supreme Court cannot question the award of a tribunal but can examine procedural issues.
Other prominent disputes include Krishna, Cauvery, and the Satluj Yamuna Link canal disputes.
[UPSC 2006] Recently Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the linking of two rivers as a link project. Which are these two rivers?
Options: (a) Betwa and Chambal (b) Betwa and Ken* (c) Chambal and Son (d) Ken and Narmada
India’s Agriculture Minister has introduced ‘Kamala’ and ‘Pusa DST Rice 1’, the country’s first genome-edited rice varieties, developed by ICAR. These are also the world’s first genome-edited rice varieties.
About ‘Kamala’ and ‘Pusa DST Rice 1’:
Kamala (DRR Dhan 100): Developed by ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad, derived from Samba Mahsuri; shows higher yield, early maturity, drought tolerance.
Pusa DST Rice 1: Developed by ICAR-IARI Delhi, based on MTU1010; improves drought and salinity tolerance.
Agencies involved: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-IIRR, ICAR-IARI.
They were created using CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing, specifically Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1). It has NO foreign DNA inserted.
It has been approved by Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) and Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under relaxed genome-edit rules.
Specific Benefits Offered:
Yield boost:
Kamala: +19% over Samba Mahsuri (avg. 5.37 t/ha, max. up to 9 t/ha).
Pusa DST Rice 1: +9.6% to +30.4% over MTU1010 under stress conditions.
Climate resilience:
Kamala: Drought tolerance, early maturity.
Pusa DST: Salt and drought tolerance for saline/alkaline/coastal soils.
Water saving: Kamala matures 20 days early → saves 3 irrigations, i.e., 7,500 million m³ water.
Emission reduction: Cultivation over 5 million ha may reduce 32,000 tonnes GHG emissions (20% drop).
Food security support: Improved paddy output enhances India’s average yield, critical for 40% of total foodgrain basket.
[UPSC 2018] With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:
1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
2.GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
3.GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Options: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only* (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Japanese companies, along with other global players, are increasingly turning to India under the China Plus One strategy, aiming to diversify supply chains and reduce overdependence on China.
About China Plus One Strategy:
It is a global business model introduced in 2013 to reduce dependence on China by adding another country to the manufacturing or sourcing base.
It emerged due to concerns about geopolitical risks, trade tensions, and regulatory unpredictability in China.
The strategy gained momentum after the US–China trade war, China’s Zero-Covid policy, and increasing labour and compliance costs.
Its goal is to create resilient and diversified supply chains by operating in China and one or more alternative countries.
Vietnam, Mexico, and Taiwan have become early beneficiaries in sectors like machinery, electronics, and transport.
Benefits for India:
India offers a large market, skilled labor, and cost advantages, making it an attractive destination for diversification.
The growing digital infrastructure and industrial corridors support the relocation of manufacturing, with government schemes like PLI and Make in India aligning with the China Plus One goals.
Challenges:
India faces limited integration into global value chains, logistics inefficiencies, and regulatory bottlenecks.
Historical protectionist trade policies and lack of participation in trade agreements like RCEP hinder its full potential.
To compete with nations like Vietnam or Mexico, India needs labour reforms, improved ease of doing business, and better trade facilitation.
[UPSC 2021] Consider the following:
1.Foreign currency convertible bonds 2.Foreign institutional investment with certain conditions 3.Global depository receipts 4.Non-resident external deposits Which of the above can be included in Foreign Direct Investments?
Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3* (b) 3 only (c) 2 and 4 (d) 1 and 4
[UPSC 2019] ‘The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised Nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global order”. Elaborate.
Linkage: India is at a turning point, and the world is becoming more equal, moving away from old colonial ways. As Asia becomes more important again, this change is also affecting how India is seen and positioned globally.
Mentor’s Comment: India is at another turning point, similar to when Vasco da Gama arrived in Kozhikode in 1498 and the local ruler, the Zamorin, failed to act strategically. But this time, it’s not about sea trade routes—it’s about how global value chains are being reshaped through power and influence. This is a crucial moment for India, which is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy. For the past 75 years, the world has followed a post-colonial order known as globalisation. It was based on countries following common rules for the greater good, and divided the world into “donors” and “recipients.” But this idea no longer works, especially after China overtook the U.S. in foreign aid, manufacturing, and global trade share. As a result, institutions like the WTO, UN, and various treaties have become less useful to powerful countries, leading to U.S. pullouts.
Today’s editorial analyses global value chains as being reshaped through power and influence. This content would help in the GS Paper II (International Relations).
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
President Donald Trump is not acting randomly. He is reacting to a world where countries are becoming more equal and breaking free from old colonial ideas, while still trying to keep their fading advantages.
What shift in global trade is compared to Vasco De Gama’s arrival?
Transition from Trade Routes to Value Chains: Vasco De Gama’s 1498 voyage opened sea-based trade routes connecting India to Europe. Today, the world is witnessing a shift from traditional trade to technology-driven global value chains (GVCs), reshaped by geopolitical forces rather than free markets. Eg: The semiconductor supply chain, where countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and the U.S. dominate chip design and fabrication, reflecting value chain complexity over simple trade.
Strategic Inertia vs Strategic Foresight: The Zamorin’s complacency during Vasco’s arrival represents a lack of strategic foresight in seizing global opportunities. India now faces a similar moment and must act strategically to capitalize on the global trade realignment and not miss out like in the colonial past. Eg: India’s PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes in electronics and pharmaceuticals are efforts to plug into global manufacturing chains proactively.
Geopolitically Driven Trade Structures: Earlier global trade was commercially motivated, but today it is increasingly geopolitically driven, with blocs forming and multilateralism weakening. Eg: The U.S.-China trade war and decoupling from Chinese supply chains are forcing countries like India to reposition themselves in new GVCs.
Why is the post-colonial global order losing relevance?
Shift from Multilateralism to Bilateralism and Power Politics: The post-colonial world order was built on rule-based multilateral institutions (e.g., WTO, UN), promoting equal participation. Now, major powers prefer bilateral deals that prioritize national interest over global consensus. Eg: The U.S. withdrawing from multilateral agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and WTO dispute mechanisms.
Obsolescence of Donor-Recipient Hierarchy: The older order assumed a world divided into ‘donors’ (developed nations) and ‘recipients’ (developing nations). This has become irrelevant as emerging powers like China now surpass traditional Western powers in aid and trade influence. Eg: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has made it a larger global lender than the World Bank in many regions.
Erosion of Trust During Global Crises: Global institutions failed to uphold equitable principles during emergencies, revealing self-serving behavior by developed nations. Eg: During the COVID-19 pandemic, G-7 countries hoarded vaccines and medical supplies, sidelining poorer nations and weakening trust in global cooperation.
Who should lead India’s push for new global governance principles?
India’s World-Class Diplomats: India should empower its skilled and experienced diplomatic corps to frame and advocate new governance principles suited to a multipolar world. Eg: Indian diplomats played a key role in shaping the International Solar Alliance, showing leadership in global climate governance.
Cooperation Between Political Leadership and Policy Experts: A coordinated approach involving political vision (e.g., Prime Minister’s “Asian Century” narrative) and strategic policy institutions can guide India’s global engagement. Eg: NITI Aayog and MEA’s policy think tanks can jointly shape proposals for reforms in multilateral institutions like the WTO and UN.
Engagement with Global South and Emerging Institutions: India must lead with inclusive principles by aligning with BRICS, ASEAN, and the African Union, promoting a fair and tech-driven global order. Eg: India’s BRICS presidency and advocacy for the Global South Voice at G-20 summits shows readiness for leadership beyond the West-dominated system.
How can India become a global leader in AI and technology?
Leverage Human Capital and Digital Infrastructure: India must build on its skilled workforce, vast datasets, and proven digital stack (like Aadhaar, UPI) to drive AI innovation. Eg: IndiaStack enabled large-scale digital public goods, which can now serve as the foundation for developing large language models (LLMs) and AI applications.
Promote Open-Source and Indigenous Innovation: Focusing on open-source technologies and encouraging local R&D will allow India to innovate independently and at scale. Eg: India can emulate models like DeepSeek (an open-source AI rivaling U.S. models) to build affordable, accessible AI tools.
Create National Consensus and Industry-Academia Collaboration: A national policy consensus involving all stakeholders—governments, academia, and industry—must be built to focus on AI, chips, and deep tech. Eg: China’s rise in hardware was driven by state-industry coordination; India needs similar programs for semiconductors and AI research centers.
Which regions should India partner with for a new economic framework?
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): India should collaborate with ASEAN to build an Asian Common Market and leverage regional complementarities in trade, manufacturing, and digital economy. Eg: India’s Act East Policy and its trade agreements with Singapore and Thailand provide a base for deeper economic integration.
African Union: Africa offers a growing consumer base and untapped potential for investment in infrastructure, technology, and education. Eg: India’s Pan-African e-Network Project and growing pharma exports make Africa a strategic partner in India’s south-south cooperation.
BRICS and Emerging Economies: Collaborating within BRICS helps India shape multipolar global governance and alternative trade norms. Eg: India’s proposal for a BRICS currency system and its role in the New Development Bank demonstrate long-term strategic engagement.
Middle East (West Asia): Strong energy ties and growing interest in tech cooperation make the Middle East a key partner in India’s economic future. Eg: The India-UAE CEPA and I2U2 group (India-Israel-UAE-USA) promote trade, food security, and innovation-led partnerships.
Latin America and Caribbean (LAC): This region provides opportunities for trade diversification, agricultural cooperation, and technology exchange. Eg: India’s investments in pharmaceuticals and IT sectors in Brazil and Mexico mark a growing footprint in the LAC region.
Way forward:
Institutionalise Strategic Partnerships: India should formalise economic and technology alliances through frameworks like FTAs, digital cooperation pacts, and regional value chains with emerging regions (ASEAN, Africa, LAC).
Champion Inclusive Global Norms: Lead the Global South in advocating reforms in global governance institutions, emphasising equity, sustainability, and tech sovereignty to shape a multipolar, resilient global order.
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Along with having efficient governance, there should also be a high level of accountability, which should begin with a strong and effective Parliament.
What mechanisms does the Indian Parliament currently use to ensure executive accountability?
Question Hour: A daily session where Members of Parliament (MPs) ask questions to the government, holding the executive accountable for its actions. Eg: During Question Hour, MPs can ask questions on various issues like government policies, spending, and public welfare programs. If the government fails to respond adequately, it is held accountable in front of the public.
Zero Hour: An informal session where MPs can raise urgent matters of public importance without prior notice. Eg: In the past, MPs have used Zero Hour to raise concerns about natural disasters, governance issues, or urgent societal problems like price hikes or corruption, which require immediate attention from the government.
Standing Committees (e.g., Department-related Standing Committees): These committees examine the policies and functioning of various government departments, scrutinizing their budget proposals, schemes, and implementation. Eg: The Standing Committee on Railways in 2015 recommended waiving dividend payments to Indian Railways to improve its financial health, which was subsequently implemented.
No-Confidence Motion: A formal motion in Parliament that can be moved by MPs to express a lack of confidence in the government. If passed, it leads to the resignation of the government. Eg: In the 17th Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion was raised against the government over issues related to economic policies, though it did not pass, it highlighted the need for greater executive accountability.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC): This committee scrutinizes government expenditure and ensures that public funds are used efficiently and for their intended purposes. Eg: The PAC exposed irregularities in the Commonwealth Games 2010, revealing delays, opaque appointments, and corrupt practices, leading to corrective actions and reforms.
Why has the effectiveness of Question Hour and parliamentary committees declined in recent years?
Frequent Disruptions during Question Hour: Question Hour is often disrupted by protests and disruptions, leading to adjournments and reducing the time spent on addressing important government issues. Eg: During the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24), Question Hour functioned for only 60% of its scheduled time in the Lok Sabha and 52% in Rajya Sabha, limiting its effectiveness in holding the government accountable.
Focus on Isolated Queries rather than Systematic Scrutiny: MPs often focus on individual queries rather than engaging in comprehensive, cross-ministerial scrutiny of complex issues, which limits the depth of oversight. Eg: Instead of addressing broader policy issues, MPs tend to ask specific questions that do not contribute to a deeper analysis of government actions or programs.
Limited Impact of Parliamentary Committees’ Reports: Despite generating detailed reports, parliamentary committees’ findings are often not discussed in Parliament, leading to a lack of follow-up on recommendations and diminishing their influence on legislation and executive actions. Eg: Even though the Standing Committees on Railways and Transport made significant recommendations, such as waiving the dividend payments and influencing the Motor Vehicles Bill, many committee reports have not led to substantial legislative or executive changes.
How can technology and data analytics improve the quality of parliamentary scrutiny?
AI and Data Analytics for Efficient Scrutiny: Technology can help MPs analyze vast amounts of data, such as budget documents and audit reports, enabling them to quickly identify irregularities and policy trends. Eg: Using AI, Parliament can automatically flag inconsistencies in spending or uncover patterns in policy implementation, helping MPs ask more informed, evidence-based questions during sessions like Question Hour.
Enhancing Accessibility and Transparency of Committee Findings: Technology can make parliamentary committee reports more accessible to the public and MPs by translating them into local languages, creating visual explainers, or using short videos. This increases transparency and public engagement while also aiding MPs in scrutinizing complex issues. Eg: The use of visual tools and AI-driven summaries could simplify the analysis of technical reports, helping MPs quickly grasp important findings and engage in more meaningful debates in Parliament.
Way forward:
Strengthen Post-Legislative Scrutiny: Establish a formal process for tracking the implementation and impact of laws, ensuring timely reviews and corrections. This can be modeled on the UK system, where government departments submit reviews of major laws within a set period.
Enhance Technology Integration: Leverage AI, data analytics, and digital tools to support MPs with real-time insights, enabling more effective questioning and in-depth scrutiny of government actions and policies.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2018] Why do you think the committees are considered to be useful for parliamentary work? Discuss, in this context, the role or the Estimates Committee.
Linkage: General usefulness of parliamentary committees, which are highlighted as crucial mechanisms for accountability and scrutiny. It specifically asks about the Estimates Committee, another important financial committee alongside the PAC.
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