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Subject: International Relations

  • Strong nuclear diplomacy brings opportunities for India

    nuclear diplomacyContext

    • The return of nuclear weapons on the global platform. After 1998, India premised its strategy on building ‘credible minimum deterrence’. The time has come to reflect on what is ‘credible’ and redefine what ‘minimum’ might be to strengthen nuclear diplomacy.

    Definition of nuclear diplomacy

    • Nuclear diplomacy deals with prevention of nuclear war and peacetime proliferation. It also deals with the use of threat of nuclear warfare to achieve diplomatic goals.

    nuclear diplomacyTheme of article

    • India, one of the world’s nuclear weapon powers, ought to be paying a lot more attention to the international nuclear discourse that is acquiring new dimensions and taking a fresh look at its own civilian and military nuclear programmes.
    • Nuclear cooperation has brought a new dimension to India’s nuclear diplomacy in the 21st India’s status as a responsible nuclear power is predicated upon the civil relationships in the nuclear domain that it has established with major powers.

    What is credible minimum deterrence?

    • Credible minimum deterrence is the principle on which India’s nuclear diplomacy is based. It underlines no first use (NFU) with an assured second strike capability and falls under minimal deterrence, as opposed to mutually assured destruction.

    nuclear diplomacyWhy do countries proliferate nuclear weapons?

    • Proliferation models centred on security concerns or dilemmas dominate nuclear literature.
    • Nuclear weapons provide an overwhelmingly destructive force that increases a state’s relative power in comparison to its neighbours.
    • It provides a powerful tool in an anarchic system where superpowers dominate other nation-states sovereignty.
    • Hence weaponizing helps establish a deterrence to prevent war.

    Why relook is needed?

    • Possessing nuclear weapons can confer India increased leverage to conduct foreign policy in both regional and international contexts.
    • There are two ways in which the possession of nuclear weapons can affect a state’s conduct of foreign policy and diplomacy.
    • The first involves military and strategic signalling. This includes military-oriented functions of deterrence, coercion, and brinkmanship.
    • The second, deals with non-military affairs.

    Way forward

    • It should be noted that India’s quest to be a “responsible nuclear state” has given it considerable diplomatic capital in the West.
    • It would be unfortunate for India to squander such gain owing to the lack of carefully considered foreign policy that leverages its nuclear status for its national interest.

    Conclusion

    • India’s civil nuclear engagements with the global community have strengthened its position in the global civil nuclear order, there is a need for the country to push for greater engagements with more key suppliers and stakeholders to fulfill its military nuclear potential and assert its status as a responsible nuclear state.

    Mains question

    Q. India has been a nuclear weapons state for 22 years. Has this affected India’s foreign policy in a direct manner? Express your views in context of the return of nuclear weapons on the global platform.

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  • Constitutional Breakdown in Nepal

    nepal

    Nepal is in a constitutional crisis with major organs of the state confronting each other as the Chief Justice is under undeclared house arrest and the PM openly criticizing the President.

    Nepal polity in turmoil

    • Prime Minister who is backed by the chiefs of four major coalition partners, is at loggerheads with President.
    • The President might seek to rule as an extra-constitutional authority beyond the sanction and imagination of the Constitution that completed six years last week.

    Genesis of the crisis: Row over Citizenship

    • The current crisis began after President refused to ratify Nepal’s citizenship bill, which was sent to her twice after it was passed by both Houses of Parliament over the span of a month.
    • The bill seeks to give citizenship by birth and by descent to an estimated 500,000 individuals.
    • It was also sought to provide non-voting citizenship to non-resident Nepalis living in non-SAARC countries.

    Constitutional crisis in Nepal: A backgrounder

    • Nepal transitioned into a democracy beginning with the fall of the monarchy in 2006 and the subsequent election of the Maoist government in 2008.
    • The emergence of the multiparty system was followed by the adoption of a constitution on September 20, 2015.
    • All Nepalese citizens born before this date got naturalised citizenship.
    • But their children remained without citizenship as that was to be guided by a federal law which has not yet been framed.
    • This amendment Act was expected to pave the way to citizenship for many such stateless youth as well as their parents.

    What are the issues with the Act?

    Ans. Gender bias

    • The main criticism against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2006 is that it goes against established parameters of gender justice.
    • According to Article 11(2b), a person born to a father or a mother with Nepalese citizenship can get citizenship by descent.
    • Another article says a person who is born to a Nepalese mother (who has lived in the country) and an unidentified father will also get citizenship by descent.
    • But this section appears humiliating for a mother as she has to declare that her husband is unidentified for the child to be eligible for citizenship.
    • In case of a Nepalese father, such declarations are not required.

    Why has the President refused to sign the Act?

    • Bhandari is the first female President of Nepal.
    • Her refusal to sign the Act has drawn attention to certain sections in the constitution that thrusts greater responsibility on women.
    • For example, Article 11 (5) says that a person who is born to a Nepalese mother and an unidentified father can be granted citizenship by descent.
    • Next, it says that in case the unidentified father turns out to be a foreigner, the citizenship by descent would be converted to naturalised citizenship.
    • Furthermore, it supports punitive action against the mother if the father is found later.

    Indian connection to the issue

    • There is an unarticulated concern in the orthodox sections that Nepalese men, particularly from the Terai region, continue to marry women from northern India.
    • These people feel that Nepalese identity would be undermined.
    • Because of this “Beti-Roti” (Nepalese men marrying Indian women) issue, many women could not become citizens of Nepal.
    • They were subjected to the infamous seven-year cooling off period before they could apply for citizenship in Nepal.
    • As such women were stateless, children of such families were also often found to be without Nepalese citizenship.
    • However, the new amendments have done away with the cooling off period for these stateless women.

     

  • G4 countries call for UNSC reforms

    g4

    The G4 nations have said that the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform are constrained by a lack of openness and transparency.

    Who are the G4 Countries?

    • The G4 nations, comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan are four countries which support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
    • Their primary aim is the permanent member seats on the Security Council.
    • Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment.
    • Their economic and political influence has grown significantly in the last decades, reaching a scope comparable to the permanent members (P5).

    Deterrent in their cause

    • The UK and France have backed the G4’s bid for permanent seats.
    • All the permanent members of P5 have supported India’s bids for permanent seat.
    • However, China has previously implied that it is only ready to support India if it does not associate its bid with Japan.
    • The US has sent strong indications to Brazil that it is willing to support its membership; albeit, without a veto.

    What holds them back?

    • There has been discontent among the present permanent members regarding the inclusion of controversial nations or countries not supported by them.
    • For instance, Japan’s bid is heavily opposed by China, North Korea, Russia and South Korea who think that Japan needs to make sincere reparations for war crimes committed during World War II.
    • Under the leadership of Italy, countries that strongly oppose the G4 countries’ bids have formed the Uniting for Consensus movement, also called as Coffee Club.
    • In Asia, Pakistan opposes India’s bid.

    Why India deserves a permanent seat?

    • India has been part of UN since inception.
    • It has the world’s second-largest population and is the world’s largest democracy suited to represent South Asia.
    • It has contributed maximum peacekeepers to UN so far.

    Why reform UNSC?

    • Non-representative nature: UNSC in current form is not representative of developing world and global needs, with primacy of policy being political tool in hands of P5, is well recognised globally.
    • Contention over Veto and Technical Holds: Veto power with P5 enables any one of them to prevent the adoption of any “substantive” draft Council resolution, regardless of its level of international support.
    • Divided institution: UNSC has become an organisation, which can pass strong resolutions against weak countries, weak resolutions against strong countries and no resolution against P5 countries.

    Conclusion

    • There is a possibility that if UN doesn’t reform itself, it may lose relevance and alternate global and regional groupings may assume greater importance.
    • More global pressure from middle powers like G4 may force an expansion of UNSC as a possibility, but abolition of veto power in current set up is unlikely

    Back2Basics: United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

    • The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
    • Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
    • It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
    • The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five permanent members.
    • These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
    • The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.

     

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  • Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Conflict

    conflict

    Nearly 100 people have been killed and scores injured in violent border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the last week.

    What is the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Conflict?

    • The clashes are replaying old pre- and post-Soviet era legacies.
    • The borders of the two republics were demarcated under Joseph Stalin’s leadership.
    • Historically, the Kyrgyz and Tajik populations enjoyed common rights over natural resources.
    • The issue of the delimitation of the border is a relic of the Soviet era.
    • While regular talks have tried to resolve the issue, one of the crucial points of disagreement remains over the map which should be used for demarcation purposes.
    • Almost half of its close to a 1000 km border is disputed.

    Genesis of the dispute

    • The creation of the Soviet Union saw the large-scale redistribution of livestock to collective and state farms, which upset the existing status quo.
    • Unfortunately, there was only so much land to go around.
    • The Tajik territory of Batken saw their livestock increase, and with scarce grazing land, agreements were signed between the two populations over the utilisation of Kyrgyz territory by the Tajiks’ livestock.

    What is happening now at the border?

    • The last few weeks have seen constant shelling, violent confrontations by local communities, and active engagement by security forces on either side.
    • The Batken region of Kyrgyzstan is seeing families being moved out and getting relocated.
    • According to Kyrgyzstan, close to 1,50,000 people out of the 5,50,000 odd population of the Batken region have either fled the area or have been relocated by the state.
    • The situation in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, is no different. The highly militarised borders also add to tensions.

    Significance of Batken

    • The Batken region, bordering Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the south of the country, is one of the seven regions of Kyrgyzstan with its natural underground and water resources, natural beauty, smooth transit routes and a population of around 500,000.
    • Located 750 kilometers (466.02 miles) from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and in the southwest of the country, the Batken region is located on the edge of the famous Fergana Valley in Central Asia.
    • Fergana Valley includes Fergana, Namangan, Andijan in Uzbekistan, Hocand in Tajikistan, Osh, Jalalabad and Batken in Kyrgyzstan.
    • The Batken region borders the Republic of Uzbekistan in the northeast and the Republic of Tajikistan in the southwest and north.
    • Covering 8.5% of Kyrgyzstan’s land, the region has agricultural, underground, water and energy resources, as well as oil and natural gas resources, albeit small.

    What led to the current flare-up?

    • The ideological basis of the current set of clashes is reinforced by developmental issues, thus providing a fertile ground for the entire geopolitical space to become a hotbed of multiple minor conflicts and clashes.
    • The groups from either side planted trees in disputed areas and engaged in a physical confrontation using agricultural equipment as weapons.

    Why are the clashes occurring now?

    • The collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent dissolution of the then-existing water and land agreements saw the creation of multiple smaller independent farms.
    • This has led to a marked increase in water consumption patterns among the farmers.
    • Both countries share multiple water channels with undulating trajectories and flow, which upset equitable access to water on both sides.
    • As a result, small-scale conflicts occur practically every year during the crucial irrigation period.

    What is the road ahead?

    • The path to resolution of the conflict will require groups to agree upon a common map.
    • Russia often brokers between the two.
    • The international community will have to make efforts to solve the dispute by involving elders in the communities, as historically, elders have been used to resolve conflicts.
    • The informal small-scale governance mechanisms would also have to be further strengthened through a concerted effort by the respective countries to stabilize the geopolitical dynamics.

     

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  • Why the India China Border situation is still risky?

    india china borderContext

    • According to the consensus reached in the 16th round of India China Corps Commander Level Meeting, the Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way. With disengagement at PP 15 India China border, forces of the two countries have disengaged at all friction points in the region which included the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso, PP 14, PP 15 and PP 17A.

    India china borderWhy the India-China Border situation is still risky?

    The tentative conciliatory steps between two nuclear-armed rivals are important; but they also carry risks, especially for India. The risks are as follows:

    • Uneasy peace: Despite the latest round of disengagement, the LAC remains deeply unsettled. Observers have pointed out that the buffer zones produced by the crisis inhibit India’s ability to patrol its own territory.
    • Un-resolve areas: India and China have tacitly agreed to postpone settlement at two other confrontation sites, particularly tactically valuable area known as Depsangand Charding Nala regions.
    • Persisting threat: The reinforcements that each side deployed since 2020 have not returned to garrison. Even if future rounds of talks continue “disengagement and de-escalation,” and reduce those forces, returning to the status quo ante is now impossible.
    • Border infrastructure: Both sides on India China border are racing towards building permanent military infrastructure near the border, to help them surge forces to the border. Unsurprisingly, China seems to have outpaced India in building these roads, helipads, and communications nodes.
    • Possibility of conflict: The increasing capabilities and mobility on both sides of the border means that a crisis can more quickly escalate to a large military stand-off anywhere on the LAC, and possibly even trigger a conflict

    india china borderWhat are the Strategic implications?

    • Changing priorities: India has reassigned one of three originally Pakistan-facing Strike Corps to the China front. It has deployed its newest artillery, jets, and drones to the China border.
    • Unattended Indian Ocean: India has not yet improved its capabilities or posture in the Indian Ocean region significantly.
    • Diversion from real threat: With the border crisis, China seems to have successfully fixed India’s gaze to the land border, at the expense of that more consequential competition over the Indian Ocean.
    • Loss of grazing: Ladakh’s elected representatives said the disengagement has caused loss of huge grazing land as it would now be converted into no man’s land.

    india china borderSteps taken by India

    • Increasing capability: from cruise missile-equipped fighter jets and U.S.-origin naval helicopters to a brand-new indigenously-built aircraft carrier.
    • Atmanirbhar Bharat: India undertook several structural economic reforms for strengthening domestic capability and reducing the economic parity between two nations. Defence ministry has decided to increase CAB (capital acquisition budget), around 64% of modernization fund around 70000 cr. has been allocated for purchasing from domestic market. Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India mission will also include Defence sector, we can see the local or private companies can also participate in procurement of defence equipment
    • Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC): Started by the defence ministry and over 1200 MSMEs participated in the fourth edition of the DISC in 2020. The government has prepared a negative list, it include light combat helicopters, artillery guns; these items will not be imported by anyone thus encouraging self-reliant India.
    • The SRIJAN portal: Launched to facilitate the two initiatives, Atmanirbhar Bharat and make in India
    • Sagarmala project: The sagarmala project has been started to revamp port Infrastructure which is a welcome step in modernization.

    Conclusion

    • For china Deception is diplomacy. Time and again China tries a deception strategy from its Confucius doctrine to defeat its enemy. From 1962 to 2022 India has made a lot of progress in military and economic sphere but China is way ahead than us. Strategic competition between two Asian giants will continue foreseeable future. So as long as India doesn’t gain domestic capabilities it would be prudent step to undertake strategic balancing.

    Mains Question

    Q. India has decided to maintain a strategic balance with china rather than being subsidiary to china. Discuss.

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  • What is the Plant Treaty?

     

    The ninth session of the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) has recently begun in New Delhi.

    Theme of this years event

    • The theme of the meeting is ‘Celebrating the Guardians of Crop Diversity: Towards an Inclusive Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’.

    What is the Plant Treaty?

    • The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) was adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations November 3, 2001.
    • It was signed in 2001 in Madrid, and entered into force on 29 June 2004.
    • It is the first legally-binding international instrument to formally acknowledge the enormous contribution of indigenous people and small-holder farmers as traditional custodians of the world’s food crops.
    • It also calls on nations to protect and promote their rights to save and use the seeds they have taken care of for millennia.
    • The parties to this treaty have come together after nearly three years to discuss governance of agricultural biodiversity and global food security.

    Objectives of the treaty

    The treaty aims at:

    1. Guaranteeing food security through the conservation
    2. Exchange and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA)
    3. Fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from its use, as well as
    4. Recognition of farmers’ rights.

    Key feature: Annex 1 Crops

    • The treaty has implemented a Multilateral System (MLS) of access and benefit sharing, among those countries that ratify the treaty, for a list of 64 of some of the most important food and forage crops essential for food security and interdependence.
    • The genera and species are listed in Annex 1 to the treaty. The treaty facilitates the continued open exchange of food crops and their genetic materials.
    • The list of plant genetic material included in the Multilateral System of the Treaty is made of major food crops and forages.
    • The Forages are also divided in legume forages and grass forages.
    • They were selected taking into account the criteria of food security and country interdependence

     

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  • Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)

    eef

    Russia hosted the seventh Eastern Economic Forum- EEF Vladivostok from September 5 to 8. The four-day forum is a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses into Russia’s Far East (RFE).

    What is the Eastern Economic Forum-EEF?

    • The EEF was established in 2015 aiming to encourage foreign investments in the RFE to display:
    1. Economic potential
    2. Suitable business conditions and
    3. Investment opportunities in the region
    • Focus areas: The agreements focus on infrastructure, transportation projects, mineral excavations, construction, industry and agriculture.
    • With EEF, Russia is trying to attract the Asian economies in investing and developing the Far East.
    • This year, the Forum aimed at connecting the Far East with the Asia-Pacific

    What does the EEF aim for?

    eef

    • FDI inflows: The primary objective of the EEF is to increase the Foreign Direct Investments in the RFE.
    • Natural resource exploitation: The region encompasses one-third of Russia’s territory and is rich with natural resources such as fish, oil, natural gas, wood, diamonds and other minerals.
    • Demographic revamp: The sparse population living in the region is another factor for encouraging people to move and work in the Far East.
    • Unleashing economic potential: The region’s riches and resources contribute to five percent of Russia’s GDP.

    Success of EEF

    • Agreements signed at the EEF increased from 217 in 2017 to 380 agreements in 2021, worth 3.6 trillion roubles.
    • As of 2022, almost 2,729 investment projects are being planned in the region.
    Who are the major actors in the EEF?
    • China is the biggest investor in the region as it sees potential in promoting the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and the Polar Sea Route in the RFE.
    • China’s investments in the region account for 90% of the total investments.
    • South Korea has invested in shipbuilding projects, manufacturing of electrical equipment, gas-liquefying plants, agricultural production and fisheries.
    • Japan is another key trading partner. In 2017, its investments through 21 projects amounted to $16 billion.

    How does Russia see Chinese investment in EEF?

    • Russia has been welcoming Chinese investments since 2015; more now than ever due to the economic pressures caused by the war in Ukraine.
    • The Trans-Siberian Railway has further helped Russia and China in advancing trade ties.
    • The countries share a 4000-km-long border, which enables them to tap into each other’s resources with some infrastructural assistance.
    • China is also looking to develop its Heilongjiang Province which connects with the RFE.
    • Both nations have invested in a fund to develop connectivity between the cities of Blagoveshchensk and Heihe.

    India and Russia’s Far East

    • India seeks to expand its influence in the RFE.
    • In 2019, India also offered a $1 billion line of credit to develop infrastructure in the region.
    • During the forum, PM Modi expressed the country’s readiness in expanding trade, connectivity and investments in Russia.
    • India is keen to deepen its cooperation in energy, pharmaceuticals, maritime connectivity, healthcare, tourism, the diamond industry and the Arctic.

    Strategic significance of EEF for Russia

    • Gateway to Asia: The RFE is geographically placed at a strategic location; acting as a gateway into Asia.
    • Negating the Ukrainian war impact: The Ukraine war is a worrying issue as it affects the economic growth of the country.
    • Surviving sanctions: Although, the EEF is an annual gathering, the forum comes at an opportune time for Russia who is dealing with the impact of the sanctions.
    • Supply chain resilience: The IPEF will also play a key role in building resilient supply chains.

    Will India be able to strike a balance between the EEF and IPEF?

    • Both are incomparable: The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and the EEF are incomparable based on its geographic coverage and the partnership with the host-countries.
    • India values both: India has not shied away from investing in the Russia-initiated EEF despite the current international conditions.
    • India is firm for its purpose: At the same time, India has given its confirmation and acceptance to three of the four pillars in the IPEF.

    Conclusion

    • India understands the benefits of being involved in the development in the RFE but it also perceives the IPEF as a vital platform to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • India’s participation in the forum will help in disengaging from supply chains that are dependent on China and will also make it a part of the global supply chain network.

     

    Also read:

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Russia’s Far East- Opportunities for India

     

     

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  • G20 summit will open pandora of opportunities

    G20 summitContext

    • India is going to be at the centre stage of geopolitical spectrum as India will be hosting G20 summit presidency from December 2022. As Harsh V. Shringla, India’s chief G20 coordinator and former Foreign Secretary, (Amitabh kant is G20 Sherpa of India) recently said, “Our G20 Presidency would place India on the global stage, and provide an opportunity for India to place its priorities and narratives on the global agenda.”

    What is G20 (Group of Twenty)?

    • Composed of most of the world’s largest economies: 19 countries plus European Union, including both industrialized and developing nations. Together, its members represent more than 80% of the world’s GDP, 75% of international trade and 60% of the world’s population.
    • Role: To address major issues related to the global economy such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.
    • It is an Intergovernmental forum.
    • Strategic role: The G20 holds a strategic role in securing global economic growth and prosperity.

    G20 summitIndia and the presidency of G20 summit

    • In November this year, the 17th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit will take place in Bali.
    • After Indonesia, India will assume the presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
    • By hosting the summit of the G20, India will have the opportunity to assume centre stage in proposing and setting the global agenda and discourse.
    • India can assert its political, economic and intellectual leadership while hosting the G20 presidency.
    • Further it Provides India an opportunity to also champion the causes of developing and least developed countries.
    • India could invite and engage countries from Africa and South America to ensure better and more balanced representation at the G20.

    G20 summitChallenges before India:

             Global

    • World affected by the pandemic: Uneven vaccine availability has been flagged by many countries. Vaccine issue upset some countries.
    • Ukraine conflict: According to external affairs ministers Dr.S.Jaishankar due to Ukraine  conflict world is divided and this poses the challenge for India to bring rival camp on same stage
    • Climate change: Divergent view of developed and developing countries on climate change can be the bone of contention between west and the rest.
    • The rise of an assertive China: To maintain the delicate balance between NATO, G7 on the on hand while Russia and china on the other (as India is part of both QUAD and SCO).

         Domestic

    • Economic challenges: Such as stagflation, unemployment, exchange rate, declining prospects for exports and rising trade deficit.
    • Terrorism: Cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

    Indonesia has focused on three key pillars in its presidency of G20 presidency:

    • Global health architecture: president of Indonesia Joko Widodo talked about a global contingency fund for medical supplies, building capacity in developing countries to manufacture vaccines and the creation of global health protocols and standards.
    • Sustainable energy transition: as part of its roadmap to reach net zero by 2060, Indonesia had slashed the coverage area of forest fires sevenfold. The country has restored peatlands and rehabilitated 50,000 hectares of mangrove forests.
    • Digital transformation

    What India can address?

    • Issues of global concern: Terrorism, climate change, stagflation etc.
    • Domestic and regional: economic recovery, trade and investment, unemployment, patent waivers on diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines etc.
    • Greater co-operation and co-ordination: free trade agreements, supply chain resilience mechanism, stressing on green and digital transformations in the economy and its impact on societal well-being.
    • Other important Areas :such as technology transfer, assistance towards green economy, greater access to trade for developing countries, addressing debt distress of countries by offering sustainable aid and loan programmes, tackling food and energy prices/security for vulnerable economies etc.

    Why G20 summit presidency is an opportunity for India?

    • India exchange the G20 presidency with Indonesia and chose 2023 instead of 2022 to host the G20 countries.
    • India wanted to showcase its prowess in its 75th year of independence as cornerstone of new emerging world order. As India is part of Quad and SCO BRICS -the warring factions at world stage, it’s an opportunity in crisis to become the bridge of the divided world.
    • India is hosting the summit in Kashmir. World media will be in the Kashmir. In the direct message to world India will again assert that Kashmir is an integral part of India.

    Way ahead

    • As India will be hosting G20 and SCO summits, India will be central in outlining key priority areas. India can assert its political, economic and intellectual leadership which will have to address issues that help in cement the Fault-line in the world order.
    • India’s leadership could define the coming years and decades of global discourse and avenues of cooperation.

    Other related Information

    SCO (Shanghai Co-operation Organization):

    • The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization. It is the world’s largest regional organization, 40% of the world population, and more than 30% of global GDP.
    • Members: The Shanghai Five group was created on 26 April 1996; China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

    QUAD:

    • Known as the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (QSD), the Quad is an informal strategic forum comprising four nations, namely – United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan.
    • One of the primary objectives of the Quad is to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

    G7:

    • The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, the European Union is a ‘non-enumerated member.

    Mains Question

    Q. India can take advantage of G20 for its economic growth and security architecture. Discuss.

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  • What is the Kushiyara River Treaty?

    Kushiyara

    For the first time in 26 years, India and Bangladesh agreed to share the waters of a significant transboundary river, the Kushiyara, while negotiations over a long-delayed agreement to share the Teesta River’s waters, which are politically sensitive are still ongoing.

    India-Bangla water disputes: A backgrounder

    • The Teesta River and the Ganges River dispute are the two main long-standing water conflicts between India and Bangladesh.
    • Both rivers are important supplies of water for fishermen, farmers, and boatmen in both nations.
    • Since the sacred river flows from India to Bangladesh, the Ganga river dispute has been a source of contention between the two countries for the past 35 years.
    • There hasn’t been a long-term solution for sharing water offered despite several rounds of bilateral negotiations failing.
    • In order to establish a water sharing arrangement for the following 30 years, a treaty was signed in 1996. This deal is about to expire.

    What is the Kushiyara River Treaty?

    • The first such deal since the 1996 signing of the Ganga water treaty, India and Bangladesh reached an interim agreement on water sharing for the Kushiyara River.
    • India withdrew its objection to withdrawal of Kushiyara’s waters by Bangladesh through the Rahimpur Canal.
    • Over the last century, the flow of the Barak river has changed in such a way that the bulk of the river’s water flows into Kushiyara while the rest goes into Surma.
    • The agreement is aimed at addressing part of the problem that the changing nature of the river has posed before Bangladesh as it unleashes floods during the monsoon.
    • It goes dry during the winter when demand of water goes up because of a crop cycle in Sylhet.

    Terms of the treaty

    • Under this MoU, Bangladesh will be able to withdraw 153 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water from the Kushiyara out of the approximately 2,500 cusecs of water that is there in the river during the winter season.
    • The agreement addresses Bangladesh’s concern over water supply along the river, during the winter months but flood control in the basin of Kushiyara is expected to require much more work.

    How will Bangladesh use the water?

    • The water of Kushiyara will be channelled through the Rahimpur Canal project in Sylhet.
    • The eight km long canal is the only supplier of water from the Kushiyara to the region and Bangladesh has built a pump house and other facilities for withdrawal of water that can now be utilised.

    Benefits to Bangladesh

    • It is generally understood that approximately 10,000 hectares of land and millions of people will benefit from the water that will flow through a network of canals in Sylhet.
    • It will benefit the farmers involved in Boro rice, which is basically the rice cultivated during the dry season of December to February and harvested in early summer.
    • Bangladesh has been complaining that the Boro rice cultivation in the region had been suffering as India did not allow it to withdraw the required water from the Kushiyara.

    Why is the water from the Kushiyara so important for Rahimpur Canal?

    • The water of the Kushiyara has been used for centuries in Sylhet’s subdivisions like the Zakiganj, Kanaighat and Beanibazar areas.
    • But Bangladesh has witnessed that the flow and volume of water in the canal has reduced during the lean season.
    • The utility of the river and the canal during the lean/winter season had gone down, affecting cultivation of rice as well as a wide variety of vegetables for which Sylhet is famous.

    What was India’s objection to the Rahimpur Canal?

    • India objected to the clearing and dredging of canal.
    • It claimed that the dyke and other infrastructure interfered in border security as Kushiyara itself forms part of the border between the two sides.
    • However, the agreement indicates that the economic benefits possible from the river outweighed the security

    What are the hurdles to the Teesta agreement?

    • The Kushiyara agreement is relatively smaller in scale in comparison to Teesta that involves West Bengal, which has problems with the proposal.
    • The Kushiyara agreement did not require a nod from any of the States like Assam from which the Barak emerges and branches into Kushiyara and Surma.

     

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  • India stays out of ‘Trade Pillar’ of IPEF

    India stayed out of the joint declaration on the trade pillar of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial meet in Los Angeles, with Union Commerce Minister citing concerns over possible discrimination against developing economies.

    Why did India opt out of the trade pillar?

    • One of the reasons for staying out of the trade pillar was that the contours of the framework had not emerged yet.
    • This is particularly about the kind of commitment each country would have to make on “environment, labour, digital trade and public procurement”.
    • India’s decision also mirrors the decision to walk out after seven years of negotiations from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

    What is IPEF?

    • It is a US-led framework for participating countries to solidify their relationships and engage in crucial economic and trade matters that concern the region, such as building resilient supply chains battered by the pandemic.
    • It is not a free trade agreement. No market access or tariff reductions have been outlined, although experts say it can pave the way to trade deals.

    Members of IPEF

    • The member nations include Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
    • It includes seven out of 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), all four Quad countries, and New Zealand.
    • Together, these countries account for 40 per cent of the global GDP.

    Four pillars of IPEF

    1. Trade that will include digital economy and emerging technology, labor commitments, the environment, trade facilitation, transparency and good regulatory practices, and corporate accountability, standards on cross-border data flow and data localisations;
    2. Supply chain resilience to develop “a first-of-its-kind supply chain agreement” that would anticipate and prevent disruptions;
    3. Clean energy and decarbonization that will include agreements on “high-ambition commitments” such as renewable energy targets, carbon removal purchasing commitments, energy efficiency standards, and new measures to combat methane emissions; and
    4. Tax and anti-corruption, with commitments to enact and enforce “effective tax, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery schemes in line with [American] values”.

    How do members participate?  

    • Countries are free to join (or not join) initiatives under any of the stipulated pillars but are expected to adhere to all commitments once they enrol.
    • Negotiations are meant to determine and list the provisions under each pillar and open the floor for countries to choose their ‘commitments’.
    • The framework would be open to other countries willing to join in the future provided they are willing to adhere to the stipulated goals and other necessary obligations.

    Reasons for the creation of IPEF

    • US regaining lost credibility: IPEF is also seen as a means by which the US is trying to regain credibility in the region after Trump pulled out of the Trans Pacific Partnership TPP).
    • Rising Chinese influence: Since then, there has been concern over the absence of a credible US economic and trade strategy to counter China’s economic influence in the region.
    • Competing RCEP: It is also in the 14-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, of which the US is not a member (India withdrew from RCEP).
    • “Pivot to Asia” strategy: US has intensified its engagement with the wider Asia-Pacific region to advance its economic and geopolitical interests.

    India’s perception of IPEF

    • PM Modi described the grouping as born from a collective desire to make the Indo-Pacific region an engine of global economic growth.
    • India has called for common and creative solutions to tackle economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

    What does it have to do with China?  

    • The US strategists believe the US lacks an economic and trade strategy to counter China’s increasing economic influence in the region since 2017.
    • US companies are looking to move away from manufacturing in China.
    • IPEF would therefore offer an advantage to participating countries, allowing them to bring those businesses into their territory.
    • However, it officially excluded Taiwan despite its willingness and economic merit to join.
    • This exhibits Washington’s geopolitical caution.

    Reactions from the opponents

    • Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the initiative as an attempt to further economic decoupling from China.
    • He argued that the initiative, and the US Indo-Pacific strategy as a whole, created divisions and incited confrontation. It is destined to be ultimately be a failure.
    • Taiwan was excluded in order to appease key “fence-sitter” countries such as Indonesia whose governments feared angering China.

    Issues with IPEF framework

    • IPEF would neither constitute a ‘free trade agreement,’ nor a forum to discuss tariff reductions or increasing market access.
    • Unlike a traditional trade agreement, the US administration will not need congressional approval to act under the IPEF. Hence its legal status is questionable.
    • This also raises doubts among potential participants about their reluctance to offer significant concessions under the agreement.
    • The volatility of US domestic politics has raised concerns about IPEF’s durability.
    • Unlike traditional FTAs, the IPEF does not subscribe to the single undertaking principle, where all items on the agenda are negotiated simultaneously.

    Given the divisive nature of American politics, it is unclear whether the IPEF will survive past the Biden administration.

    Way forward

    • The IPEF’s launch in Tokyo was symbolic in nature; bringing the IPEF to fruition will involve significant domestic and international challenges.
    • Without ratification by Congress, the IPEF’s fortunes will remain in limbo.
    • Going forward, the US and the founding partners need to develop the process and criteria by which other countries from the region will be invited to join the negotiations on the IPEF.

     

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