Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022
Mains level: Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022, concerns, impact and way forward
What’s the news?
- The recent inclusion of a plethora of species in the new schedules of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 has raised numerous questions among ecologists.
Central idea
- The inclusion of a multitude of species in its schedules has raised concerns about the lack of an objective and replicable process. While the intention behind the amendment is to enhance conservation efforts, it is imperative to address the issues it raises in terms of conservation, its impact on people, and its implications for research.
Overview of the New Act
- Schedule 1: Houses around 600 species of vertebrates and numerous invertebrates, with the highest protection.
- Schedule 2: Contains roughly 2,000 species, including 1,134 bird species.
- Alignment with CITES: The act also incorporates the CITES appendices.
Concerns for Conservation
- Ambiguity in Resource Allocation: The act does not provide a clear direction on prioritizing species for resource allocation.
- Uniform Protection Levels: Species ranging from tigers to jackals and from great Indian bustards to common barn owls are accorded the same protection level.
- Unintended Consequences: Acts meant to conserve might sometimes yield counterproductive results. For instance, listing the invasive spotted deer (chital) in Schedule 1 has inadvertently protected it, despite the harm it inflicts on the Andaman Islands’ ecosystem.
Impact on Humans
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: The WLPA underlines the concept of co-existence, often neglecting the harm certain species can cause to humans, both physically and psychologically. By elevating wild pigs and nilgai to Schedule 1, the act potentially limits states’ abilities to cull problematic animals, disregarding farmers’ concerns.
- Traditional Practices Overlooked: Despite hunting and use of certain animals being traditional practices, the WLPA imposes restrictions. There’s a lack of balance between conservation needs and societal traditions.
- Research Constraints: The listing of a vast number of species could inhibit research. Securing permits for research becomes a convoluted process. Furthermore, the act’s implications on citizen science and data sharing remain unclear.
Broader Issues
- Some ecologists have been observed to neglect the broader issues.
- Their operations sometimes resemble ‘parachute science’, taking more than they give back to local communities.
- The implications of this act not only hinder research, but also severely impact these communities.
Way Forward
- Transparent Inclusion Process: Develop a replicable and objective process for the inclusion of species in the schedules. This could be based on ecological significance, population sizes, and expert consultations.
- Reassess and Reclassify Species: A re-evaluation of species, especially those like the spotted deer in the Andaman Islands, is necessary. Reallocating species between schedules can ensure more appropriate protection levels.
- Resource Allocation Blueprint: Given the vast number of species included, a clear guideline for resource allocation is essential. It should be based on urgency, ecological significance, and conservation viability.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Design a more nuanced policy for managing conflicts. It should include better conflict response, compensation schemes, and awareness programs, especially in areas where Schedule 1 species are in direct conflict with human populations.
- Reconsideration of Traditional Practices: Address the disconnect between the Act and traditional practices by incorporating provisions for regulated and sustainable use of species, especially where they are abundant and pose no threat to their populations.
Conclusion
- The imperative now is a balanced approach that ensures human safety, bases management actions on research, and permits observation without harming the ecosystem, respecting both human rights and wildlife conservation.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Modern Indian, Personalities, contributions and related facts
Mains level: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and his contributions
What’s the news?
- Commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a prominent figure in India’s history
Central idea
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a name synonymous with educational reforms among Muslims, stands out for his groundbreaking efforts. Yet, his views on women’s education remain controversial and the topic demands a revisit, especially in the context of the recent passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The Complex Legacy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
- Sir Syed’s Contradictory Views:
- While Sir Syed displayed a clear inclination towards liberal values and rationality, exemplified by his establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh in 1875, his views on women’s education were more conservative.
- He advocated for a form of education that revolved around home tutoring for women, emphasizing their role in family life. He believed that formal education could hinder their primary purpose – marriage.
- Support for Gender Segregation:
- It’s noteworthy that Sir Syed supported gender segregation in education, opposing the British government’s initiatives to open co-educational schools and girls’ exclusive institutions.
- He even considered coeducation a major cause of public unrest during colonial rule, reflecting the prevalent societal disapproval of women’s education.
Sir Syed’s Advocacy for Women’s Empowerment
- Campaigning Against Regressive Practices:
- Sir Syed actively campaigned against various regressive practices that affected women’s lives in India.
- He used platforms like the Aligarh Institute Gazette to address issues such as female infanticide, polygamy, child marriage, sati (the practice of widow self-immolation), the segregation of widows, and poverty-induced marriages of young girls to older men.
- Support for Mary Carpenter’s Initiatives:
- Sir Syed welcomed and appreciated the efforts of Mary Carpenter, a British philanthropist dedicated to female education.
- Carpenter’s commitment to providing modern education to Indian women impressed him.
- This support showcased Sir Syed’s recognition of the importance of education in empowering women and allowing them to participate more fully in public life.
Reevaluation Through European Lens
- Sir Syed’s visit to England in 1869-70 had a transformative effect on his views about women’s education.
- His interactions with European women and observations about their roles in society led him to partially revise his stance.
- He began to appreciate gender equality and the essential role of women in human progress.
- He admired the freedom enjoyed by women in Europe and believed that the rejection of women’s education by Muslims played a part in the community’s decline
Conclusion
- While Sir Syed Ahmed Khan never fully relinquished his initial preference for home-based education for women, his exposure to Western ideals brought about a marked shift in his perspective. As we reflect on his contributions, it’s essential to view him in the nuanced light of a reformer caught between tradition and modernity.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Short term and Long-term risks associated with AI need for global governance
What’s the news?
- The film ‘Ex Machina’ highlights the unpredictability of AI risks as technology evolves.
Central idea
- In the digital age, sharing personal information has become riskier due to cyberattacks and data breaches. Once fictional, AI now impacts various sectors, bringing evolving risks that require global governance.
Short-term risks associated with AI
- Malfunction of AI Systems: Ensuring that AI systems do not malfunction in their day-to-day tasks, especially in critical infrastructure like water and electricity supply, to prevent disruptions and harm to society
- Immediate Dangers of Runaway AI: Although improbable, the potential for AI systems to go rogue and manipulate crucial systems, leading to catastrophic consequences even in the near future,
Long-term risks associated with AI
- AI and Biotechnology: The combination of AI and biotechnology could alter human emotions, thoughts, and desires, posing profound ethical and societal challenges.
- Human-Level AI: Advanced AI systems capable of human-level or superhuman performance may emerge, potentially acting on misaligned or malicious goals.
- Dire Consequences: Superintelligent AI with harmful intentions could have catastrophic consequences for society and human well-being.
- Ethical and Safety Concerns: Developing AI with such capabilities raises significant ethical and safety concerns.
Challenges in Aligning AI with Human Values
- Transparency and Explainability: Many AI systems, particularly deep learning models, are often seen as black boxes where it’s challenging to understand how they make decisions.
- Human Control: Ensuring that humans maintain control over AI systems and that AI does not act autonomously in ways that could harm individuals or society is a key challenge.
- Ethical Decision-Making: Developing AI that can make ethical decisions in complex situations, such as autonomous vehicles deciding how to respond to potential accidents, is an ongoing challenge.
- Cultural and Societal Values: Different cultures and societies have varying values and norms. Aligning AI with human values involves navigating these differences and ensuring that AI systems respect cultural diversity.
- Long-Term Considerations: As AI evolves and becomes more powerful, addressing long-term ethical considerations, such as the potential for superintelligent AI, is a critical challenge.
The Threat of Militarized AI
- The merging of AI with warfare intensifies long-term risks.
- Treaties like the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons show global norms can be established.
- Nations need clear rules for AI’s role in warfare.
The Uncharted Territory of AI Governance
- There’s no unified global approach to AI regulation.
- Only 37 laws included the term artificial intelligence among 127 countries, as per Stanford’s AI Index.
- The EU’s AI Act, with its risk-based approach, may be oversimplified.
The importance of global cooperation
- Uniform Regulation: AI risks are not confined by borders, and inconsistent regulations across countries can lead to confusion and inefficiencies. Global cooperation allows for the development of uniform standards and regulations.
- Mitigating Global Risks: Many AI-related risks, especially those with global implications such as AI’s convergence with biotechnology or the potential for superintelligent AI, demand a collaborative approach.
- Ethical Frameworks: Collaborative efforts can lead to the establishment of universally accepted ethical frameworks for AI development and deployment. These frameworks can guide the responsible and ethical use of AI, regardless of where it is developed or employed.
- Preventing a Race to the Bottom: In the absence of global cooperation, countries may prioritize rapid AI development over safety and ethics to gain a competitive edge. This race to the bottom can undermine global AI safety efforts, making coordination crucial.
- Technological Divides: Global cooperation helps prevent technological divides where some nations advance rapidly in AI capabilities while others lag behind. Such divides can exacerbate global inequalities and have far-reaching geopolitical consequences.
Conclusion
- The evolving nature of AI risks necessitates a unified global approach to governance. Immediate action in creating comprehensive regulations and international norms is crucial. The choices we make today will determine the world we inhabit in the future.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: 2023 Nobel Prize
Mains level: Women low labour force participation, Claudia Goldin's theory and solutions
What’s the news?
- 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Goldin’s groundbreaking work highlights that the key to addressing the underrepresentation and underpayment of women lies not in their homes but in the labor market.
Central idea
- In the realm of economic orthodoxy, long-held beliefs attributed women’s absence from the labor force to childcare responsibilities and lower education levels, perpetuating a gender pay gap. However, Claudia Goldin, the esteemed 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, challenged these notions and offered a fresh perspective.
Goldin’ theory
- Claudia Goldin’s lifetime of research has bestowed a name and a voice upon these women’s challenges.
- She meticulously traces the evolution of the American economy from agriculture to manufacturing to services, revealing that women were historically excluded from market activities.
- Only when jobs expanded beyond factories into offices, schools, and hospitals did women gain access to the workforce.
- Despite their increasing educational achievements, women continued to earn less than their male counterparts.
- Goldin’s theory attributes this persistent wage gap to the difficulty women face in pursuing jobs with demanding responsibilities.
A Solution for Gender Equity
- Reduce Reliance on Heroic Efforts: Goldin suggests moving away from a culture of greedy work that rewards extreme efforts. Instead, organizations should create roles that don’t require superhuman commitments, promoting work-life balance.
- Promote Moderate Work Hours: Goldin’s solution includes advocating for reasonable work hours, benefiting both genders and avoiding productivity issues associated with excessively long hours.
- Provide Predictable Schedules: Emphasizing stable work hours helps employees better plan family responsibilities and reduces stress, contributing to gender equity.
- Institutional Support: Supporting institutions should include educational reforms to ease parental homework burdens and urban planning that reduces commuting, making it easier for both men and women to balance work and personal life.
The Road Ahead in India
- Service Sector Opportunities: India’s growing service sector offers the prospect of increased employment opportunities for women. This aligns with Goldin’s observation that women found jobs when economic production shifted from factories to offices, schools, and hospitals.
- Rising Education Levels: With a continuous increase in women’s educational achievements, there is a growing potential to enhance their participation in the workforce. This trend mirrors Goldin’s emphasis on education as a factor that can boost employability.
- Declining Fertility Rates: The decreasing fertility rates in India can contribute to freeing up more of women’s time, potentially facilitating higher workforce participation, as Goldin also noted the impact of declining fertility on women’s ability to engage in the labor market.
Reshaping the environment, as proposed by Claudia Goldin
- Workplace Restructuring: Reducing the reliance on extreme efforts and creating roles that allow for a better work-life balance, particularly for women.
- Moderating Work Hours: Promoting reasonable work hours to improve work-life equilibrium, avoiding productivity issues associated with excessively long hours.
- Ensuring Predictable Schedules: Establishing stable work schedules to facilitate family planning and reduce stress, thus promoting gender equity.
- Supportive Institutions: Reforms in education and urban planning to ease parental responsibilities and reduce commuting times, enabling both men and women to better balance their professional and personal lives.
Conclusion
- To ensure the continued progress of gender convergence in labor market outcomes, we must heed her call for workplace reform and the development of supportive institutions. By doing so, we can pave the way for a more equitable and balanced future for both men and women in the workforce.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Medical Education initiatives and latest updates
Mains level: Medical Education reforms, challenges and solutions
What’s the news?
- The demand for doctors exceeds the supply in large parts of India.
Central idea
- The demand for doctors in India consistently surpasses the available supply, while the pursuit of medical education often outstrips the number of seats available. Reducing this demand-supply gap in medical education has proven to be a challenging endeavor, with potential implications for the availability of healthcare professionals.
Expanding Medical Education
- Over the last decade, India has made significant strides in expanding medical colleges and seats at both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) levels.
- UG seats have nearly tripled, PG seats have almost quadrupled, and the number of medical colleges has doubled since 2010-11.
- Despite this expansion, in 2021, India had only 4.1 medical graduates per lakh population, falling behind countries like China, Israel, the US, and the UK.
Challenges in scaling
- Regulatory and Financial Constraints: On average, Indian medical colleges offer 153 UG seats per college, significantly fewer than Eastern Europe (220) and China (930). This discrepancy is a result of regulatory and financial constraints.
- Infrastructure Limitations: Expanding UG seats in a public medical college from 150 to 200 required additional resources, such as a larger library, increased daily outpatient department (OPD) footfalls, and more nursing staff, as per the draft guidelines for establishing new medical colleges in 2015.
- Quality Maintenance: Concerns that disproportionate scaling can impact the quality of pedagogy and, subsequently, the quality of doctors produced
- Faculty Shortages: Both public and private colleges face teaching faculty shortages, despite better remuneration structures in public colleges. Scaling up can further strain the already limited pool of qualified teaching staff.
- Economic Viability for Private Colleges: Investing in scaling can be risky for private colleges if seats remain vacant and costs aren’t recovered. This can lead to high capitation fees and price distortions.
- Curriculum Limitations: The nature of the competency-based curriculum dictates constraints on scalability. For example, there can’t be more than 15 students surrounding a bed or in any other practical class.
- Equity Concerns: The goal of producing doctors evenly across regions might not result in efficient production. Migration of doctors from states with higher production can be an issue.
Value addition box
Innovations from the US
- India’s competency-based curriculum is akin to that of the US, which has successfully scaled up the production of doctors by optimizing resource utilization.
- Innovations, such as involving practicing MD doctors as mentors for medical students and integrating interprofessional education (IPE) into the curriculum, have enhanced the quality of education and reduced the faculty requirements.
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Quality vs. Scale vs. Equity: A triad of challenges
- Quality:
- Ensuring the highest standards of medical education, which translates into competent, skilled, and ethical practitioners.
- The competency-based curriculum in India requires small-group teaching to ensure a thorough understanding and hands-on experience for students.
- There’s a concern that rapid scaling could lead to a decline in the quality of education and subsequently the quality of doctors produced.
- Quality assurance becomes even more critical given the life-and-death implications of medical practice.
- Increasing the number of medical graduates to meet the country’s healthcare needs.
- Despite the expansion of UG and PG seats in medical colleges, the demand-supply gap persists.
- Regulatory, infrastructural, and financial constraints pose significant challenges in scaling up.
- The National Medical Commission prioritizes an even distribution of medical colleges and seats. They aim for localized doctor production to ensure different regions have adequate healthcare.
- Policies such as the cap on UG seats and the location restrictions of new colleges highlight this focus.
- However, this might not lead to efficient doctor production due to phenomena like interstate migration of doctors.
Way forward
- Regulatory Reforms: Streamline regulations to facilitate the establishment and expansion of medical colleges while ensuring quality standards.
- Faculty Development: Prioritize investment in faculty development programs to address shortages and retain experienced educators.
- Technology Integration: Embrace technology to enhance scalability and access to medical education, including e-learning and telemedicine tools.
- Competency-Based Curriculum: Continue to implement competency-based curricula to produce doctors with practical skills and real-world readiness.
- Incentives for Rural Service: Develop and implement policies that incentivize medical graduates to serve in underserved rural areas, addressing healthcare disparities.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Foster collaboration between public and private sectors to expand the availability of medical education seats and improve educational infrastructure.
Conclusion
- Bridging the gap between the demand for doctors and the supply of medical education is a multifaceted challenge in India. To meet the growing healthcare needs of the population, policymakers must carefully consider the trade-offs between quality, scale, and equity in medical education.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Key facts and initiatives
Mains level: Climate change, water stress and its impact on food security
What’s the news?
- The theme for World Food Day (October 16) this year—’Water is Life, Water is Food’ —calls for urgent action in managing water wisely.
Central idea
- Water is the essence of life, a resource that nourishes not just humanity but every ecosystem on this planet. However, as this year’s World Food Day theme rightly points out, water is also food. In the light of increasing climate extremes, managing this precious resource wisely has never been more urgent.
Impact of Climate Change on Crop Yields
- Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to decrease by 20% in 2050 and 47% in 2080 if no adaptation measures are taken.
- Irrigated rice yields are also expected to decline, with a projected decrease of 3.5% in 2050 and 5% in 2080 scenarios.
- Wheat yields could face substantial reductions, with a projected decrease of 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080.
- Kharif maize yields are also at risk, with projected declines of 18% in 2050 and 23% in 2080.
- Climate change, without adequate adaptation measures, not only reduces crop yields but also lowers the nutritional quality of the produce.
Challenges associated with poor water management
- Degraded Freshwater Supplies and Ecosystems: Decades of mismanagement, misuse, and pollution have resulted in the degradation of freshwater supplies and ecosystems. This has had a detrimental impact on the availability of clean water for agriculture and other essential needs.
- Vulnerability of Small-Scale Producers: Small-scale farmers, who represent over 80% of farmers globally, are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate shocks, land degradation, and water scarcity.
- Land Degradation: Approximately 40% of the world’s land area is degraded, which means that it is less productive for agriculture. This further reduces the available land for farming, exacerbating the challenges faced by small-scale producers.
- Climate Impacts: Extreme weather events and variability in water availability are disrupting agricultural production. These changes are altering agro-ecological conditions and shifting growing seasons, making it challenging for farmers to predict and adapt to changing conditions.
- Effects on Crop Productivity: Changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures have adverse effects on crop productivity. Reduced yields and food availability can result from these climate-related factors, which can contribute to food insecurity and hunger.
Do not scroll past this
FAO Crop Forecasting Framework:
- The FAO is working on a pilot project in several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
- The project aims to develop a crop forecasting framework and model that incorporates climate data, soil characteristics, and market information.
- This information can help rainfed farmers make informed decisions about their crops, potentially contributing to food security by improving agricultural planning and management.
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Climate change adaptation
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- Supports sustainable agrifood systems and climate-smart agriculture.
- Initiated the farmer water school programme in Uttar Pradesh.
- Supported the Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems project which benefits 638 habitations with hydrological monitoring.
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- Prioritizes climate change adaptation in its core strategies.
- Invests in preserving soil health, water resources, and integrating modern technologies with indigenous systems.
- Implements projects in Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, and Mizoram emphasizing climate-resilient practices.
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- Partners with the Government of Odisha focusing on women farmers.
- Employs solar technologies and promotes millet-value chains for climate resilience.
Steps needed
- Overall Strategy: Prioritize political commitment and concrete investment for global food and nutrition security. Promote innovative technologies to enhance farmer productivity.
- Climate Change Adaptation: Formulate strategies to adapt to climate change. Foster resilience against environmental and economic shocks.
- Agricultural Practices: Implement sustainable and economically feasible irrigation and water management techniques. Minimize the climate footprint in agricultural production. Address bio-hazards and environmental pollution.
- Infrastructure and Supply Chain: Prioritize sanitation and potable water supply for rural areas. Advocate for efficient food and water recycling methods.
- Regulation and Management: Strengthen sustainable and fair water regulations. Improve management, access, and ownership systems for resources.
- UN’s Collaborative Projects: Collaborate with the Indian Government on projects such as Solar 4 Resilience, Secure Fishing, and the revival of millets for renewable energy and food security.
Conclusion
- Climate change is making water more scarce and unpredictable. Droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events are becoming more common. World Food Day is a reminder that we all have a role to play in achieving food and nutrition security for all. By working together, we can create a world where everyone has enough to eat and drink.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Key facts
Mains level: India and Maldives ties, challenges, recent developments and future prospect
What’s the news?
- Recent changes in the Maldives’ leadership have raised questions about the future of its relationship with India.
Central idea
- While leadership changes may bring some alterations, the fundamental ties between the two nations remain intact. From the era of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to the present day, India and the Maldives have maintained a close and friendly relationship, with occasional challenges. Therefore, it’s essential not to rush to judgment regarding the current situation.
Background
- Historical Ties: The relationship between India and the Maldives is deep-rooted. From Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s leadership until today, both nations have maintained a close bond, despite occasional hiccups.
- Geographical Proximity: The Maldives spans 90,000 sq km, mostly covered by the sea, with the remaining land spread across 1,200 islands. Situated just 70 nautical miles away, India has always been the Maldives’ closest ally. As Ibn Khaldun stated, geography is destiny.
Challenges in the Maldives
“Maldives, despite its 98% literacy rate, faces various contradictions that pose challenges to democratic governance.”
- Constitutional Restrictions: The Maldivian constitution bars anyone who isn’t a Sunni Muslim from becoming a citizen. This can be seen as restrictive and exclusive, which may not align with broader principles of democratic governance.
- Nascent Civil Society: The civil society in the Maldives is still emerging. This means the public structures and mechanisms that can hold the government accountable and ensure the active participation of citizens in the governance process might be underdeveloped.
- Drug Abuse: The Maldives has been grappling with an increasing problem of drug abuse, which poses social and health-related challenges.
- Distorted Labor Market: This implies there might be imbalances in employment opportunities, perhaps with certain sectors having too many workers and others having too few, or challenges related to wages and workers’ rights.
- Growing Inequality: Despite its successes in areas like tourism, the Maldives faces growing economic disparities among its population.
- Foreign Influence and Debt: China’s policy of extending debt and subsequently interfering in the internal politics of the Maldives, as well as supporting conservative elements, poses challenges. This not only can lead to a debt crisis but also threatens the democratic progression of the country.
- Legacy of Controlled Regime: The influence of the Gayoom years and the alignment with China by certain elements for narrow gains might not serve the broader interests of the Maldivian nation in the long term.
India’s Role
- Historically: From Buddhism’s prevalence in the Maldives to its dependence on India during the British protectorate era (1887–1965), India has always played an influential role.
- Economically: The State Bank of India has been instrumental in boosting the Maldives’ tourism economy and remains the largest bank there.
- Assistance: Whether during the 1988 coup, the 2004 tsunami, or the 2014 water crisis, India has always been the first to assist. India also supplies essential items in bulk and contributes significantly to the Maldivian education and health sectors.
- Defence and Security: India has been a robust defense partner, conducting joint exercises and providing security assistance.
India’s Concerns Regarding the Maldives
- China’s Growing Influence: China’s increasing role in the Maldives is driven by debt financing. This kind of influence, particularly through debt traps, could lead to the consequent hegemony of China in the region, which is a matter of concern for India given the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region.
- Internal Interference by External Powers: China’s policy of interfering in the internal politics of the Maldives, especially its support for conservative elements, is worrisome for India. This could hinder the development of a robust democracy in the Maldives and potentially impact the bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives.
- Economic Interests: With projects like greater Male connectivity and being a major supplier of essential goods to the Maldives, India has vested economic interests. Any disruption or potential shift in trade relations can impact India’s economic engagement.
- Security and Defense Cooperation: The defense cooperation isn’t just about tangible assets like helicopters but extends to joint exercises, training, and disaster management. Any shift in Maldivian policies that affects this cooperation can be concerning.
- Legacy of Assistance: India’s role as a primary responder to Maldivian crises and its consistent support over the years hold significance. India would be concerned if such efforts and goodwill aren’t recognized or are undermined by external influences.
- President Designate Mohamed Muizzu: Mohamed Muizzu, described as a Western-educated engineer, is expected to take over the reins of leadership. His past roles and his education may influence the Maldives’ direction, both domestically and in terms of foreign relations.
- Former President Yameen’s Situation: Yameen’s shift from jail to house arrest indicates changing political dynamics within the Maldives. Given that Yameen’s tenure was marked by a pro-China policy, any change related to his influence might hint at a shift in foreign policy alignment.
Conclusion
- India’s unwavering commitment has significantly shaped the Maldives, and any impulsive decisions could be detrimental for the latter. Given the deep historical ties and mutual interests, it’s crucial for the new leadership to recognize and value the long-standing bond. As history has often shown, taking relationships for granted can have grave consequences.
Also read:
The Maldives, the evolution of a democracy
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Gaza conflict and its impact on the geopolitics of the region
What’s the news?
- The recent series of deadly attacks launched by Hamas on Israel has had profound implications for the dynamics of the Middle East.
Central idea
- The recent lethal attacks launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7 have had significant repercussions, particularly in the realm of Israeli-Saudi relations and the broader Middle East geopolitical landscape. These attacks have effectively overturned Israeli efforts, backed by the United States, to foster normalization of relations with Arab states while neglecting Palestinian concerns.
Israeli Diplomacy
- Normalization Agreements: Israel, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pursued a strategy of normalizing relations with Arab countries. This strategy aimed to establish diplomatic ties with Arab nations that had historically been hostile or distant from Israel. Notable agreements included those with Egypt and Jordan, which were signed in the late 20th century.
- The Abrahamic Accords: A significant milestone in Israeli diplomacy was the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. These agreements, brokered by the United States, led to the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan, and later Morocco. These agreements marked a shift in regional dynamics and signified growing acceptance of Israel in the Arab world.
- Strategic Goals: Israel’s diplomatic efforts aimed to enhance its security, strengthen its regional influence, and broaden economic and technological cooperation with Arab states. These agreements also served to isolate Iran, which was seen as a common regional rival.
The role of the United States
- Mediator and Facilitator: The United States has historically played a central role as a mediator in Israeli-Arab conflicts. It has facilitated peace talks, negotiations, and agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The U.S. has acted as a neutral party, using its diplomatic clout to bring parties to the negotiating table.
- Broker of the Abraham Accords: In the case of the Abraham Accords, the United States, led by the Trump administration, took a proactive role in brokering these agreements. The U.S. actively encouraged Arab nations to establish diplomatic ties with Israel and provided political support and incentives to make these deals happen.
- Strategic Interests: The United States had strategic interests in promoting Israeli-Arab normalization. These interests included strengthening its regional alliances, countering Iranian influence, and promoting stability in the Middle East.
- Security Assistance: The U.S. has provided substantial military aid and security assistance to Israel, reinforcing its position in the region and ensuring its qualitative military edge. This support has been a cornerstone of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
The Gaza War and Its Ramifications
- Reemphasis on the Palestinian Issue: The Gaza War has once again thrust the Palestinian issue to the forefront of regional politics. It has drawn attention to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the unresolved grievances of the Palestinian people.
- Regional Instability: The conflict in Gaza has contributed to regional instability and heightened tensions. It has the potential to spill over into neighboring countries and exacerbate existing regional conflicts.
- Impact on Israeli-Saudi Normalization Efforts: The Gaza War has had significant implications for Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia. It has disrupted the momentum of normalization, as Saudi Arabia, like other Arab nations, has faced domestic pressure to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza.
- Saudi Arabia’s Shift: Saudi Arabia’s response to the Gaza War represents a notable shift in its stance. While previously open to normalizing relations with Israel, the kingdom has now emphasized the importance of addressing Palestinian interests and rights. This change in stance may have lasting implications for Saudi foreign policy and its relations with both Israel and the United States.
- Iran’s Role: Some observers have speculated about Iran’s role in instigating Hamas attacks to undermine Saudi-Israeli normalization efforts. However, it is essential to note that Saudi-Iran relations had already undergone a degree of normalization before the Gaza War, reducing the likelihood of Iranian involvement as a primary motivator.
- Humanitarian Crisis: The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with casualties, displacement, and infrastructure damage. The international community has been called upon to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population.
- Impact on Regional Alliances: The Gaza War has influenced the alignment of regional alliances, with countries taking positions based on their historical relationships and geopolitical interests. This could potentially reshape alliances and cooperation in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia’s Evolving Foreign Policy
- Pursuit of Strategic Autonomy: Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a growing willingness to pursue an independent foreign policy. The kingdom has sought to assert its strategic autonomy and reduce its reliance on traditional allies, including the United States.
- Refusal to Align with Anti-China or Anti-Iran Coalitions: Saudi Arabia has rejected U.S. efforts to build global anti-China coalitions and regional anti-Iran alliances. Despite U.S. pressure, the kingdom has maintained its own strategic interests and relationships.
- Stronger Ties with China: Saudi Arabia has deepened its relations with China, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and energy cooperation. The kingdom recognizes China’s increasing global influence and sees it as an important economic partner.
- Multifaceted Engagement Across Asia: Saudi Arabia has actively pursued multifaceted relationships across Asia, including with countries like India and Pakistan. These engagements encompass economic, diplomatic, and security cooperation, reflecting the kingdom’s aim to expand its influence in the Asian region.
Way forward: Concrete Actions for Palestinian Interests
- Commitment to a Two-State Solution: Both Israel and the Palestinian leadership should unequivocally reaffirm their commitment to a two-state solution, recognizing the need for an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel.
- Freeze Settlement Expansion: Israel should halt all settlement construction activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion remains a significant obstacle to peace and threatens the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state.
- Cessation of Violence: All parties involved must commit to ending violence and terrorism. This includes a complete halt to rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and measures to prevent violence on both sides. A comprehensive ceasefire agreement should be sought.
- Support for Palestinian Elections: The international community should support transparent and inclusive Palestinian elections to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian leadership. These elections should adhere to international standards.
- Address Core Issues: Negotiations should address core issues such as the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the delineation of borders for a future Palestinian state. These issues must be resolved through peaceful negotiations based on international principles.
- International Mediation and Oversight: International actors, including the Quartet, should actively mediate and oversee the peace process to ensure accountability, adherence to agreements, and a fair and balanced negotiation environment.
Conclusion
- The Gaza conflict has had a profound impact on the geopolitics of the region, particularly by reemphasizing the importance of addressing Palestinian concerns. While Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with Arab states face challenges, Saudi Arabia’s renewed focus on the Palestinian cause marks a significant shift in its foreign policy approach, underscoring the evolving dynamics in the Middle East.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Key facts, Government initiative's
Mains level: Water and employment link, women's role, challenges and potential
What’s the news?
- Water, a vital resource for life, is poised to play a central role in the transition to a green economy. This transition brings not only environmental benefits but also the potential to drive significant employment growth, particularly for women.
Central idea
- Water is essential for a green economy, offering immense potential for job generation, particularly for women. Women globally are pivotal players in water management, yet their expertise remains underutilized. As green jobs surge in India, how can women’s roles in water management be enhanced and recognized?
Backdrop
- Green Jobs in Water Management: These jobs contribute to preserving or restoring environmental quality. A promising estimate by the International Labour Organisation posits that jobs in this sector could escalate from 3 million (2020) to 19 million by 2030 in India.
- Water and Global Employment: A 2016 UN report underscores that nearly 1.5 billion people, or half the global workforce, are in water-related sectors. Water thus fosters both direct (managing resources, infrastructure, services) and indirect jobs.
Harse reality
- A World Bank evaluation of 122 water projects found that those involving women were six to seven times more effective than those that did not.
- Despite this evidence, women constitute less than 17 percent of the paid workforce in water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing economies, and women’s representation as technical experts remains disproportionately low.
The Role of Women in Efficient Water Management
- Household Water Management: Women are typically responsible for managing water within households. They oversee water collection, storage, and distribution for domestic use, ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply for their families.
- Community Engagement: In many communities, women actively engage in the management of communal water sources. They take the lead in maintaining these sources, making sure they remain accessible and functional for all community members.
- Agriculture: Women play a crucial role in agriculture, which is a major consumer of water resources. They are involved in activities such as irrigation, crop cultivation, and livestock care. Their knowledge of efficient water use is vital for agricultural sustainability.
- Environmental Stewardship: Women often act as environmental stewards, safeguarding local ecosystems, rivers, lakes, and forests. Their traditional practices and knowledge contribute to the preservation of water resources and the environment.
- Community Development: Women actively participate in community development projects related to water infrastructure, sanitation, and hygiene. They serve on water and sanitation committees, helping plan and implement projects that benefit the entire community.
- Innovative Solutions: Women frequently devise innovative solutions to address water-related challenges. They may create rainwater harvesting techniques, sustainable farming practices, or household-level water treatment methods, enhancing water resource management.
Unlocking Opportunities through Government Programs
- Traditionally, women’s involvement in water management has been limited to voluntary or part-time roles, often at the lowest level of decision-making.
- Recent government initiatives in India, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Jal Shakti Abhiyan, present an opportunity to expand women’s participation in water management and provide access to decent work.
- These programs prioritize community ownership and support both direct and indirect jobs.
The Potential of Jal Jeevan Mission
- The Jal Jeevan Mission, in particular, has the potential to generate a substantial number of jobs.
- A study by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, estimated that the mission could create millions of person-years of direct and indirect employment, although gender-disaggregated data are lacking.
Way forward
- Addressing Skill Gaps and Capacity Building:
- Water management jobs require specific skills and training, yet there is often a gap between the skills needed and the expertise available.
- While some training programs exist for wastewater treatment and watershed management, they do not cover emerging employment opportunities in the water sector.
- Promoting Sustainable Employment:
- Despite robust policies for community participation, sustainable employment creation has been lacking.
- Investing in training women, providing access to finance, and leveraging self-help groups can foster women’s self-employment in water management, strengthening water security in both rural and urban areas.
Conclusion
- Government initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission are poised to unlock this potential. By addressing skill gaps and promoting women’s participation, India can not only create green jobs but also empower women in the vital task of water management, contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Climate change
Mains level: Climate change, Rising Temperatures, solutions and actions
What’s the news?
- September 2023 stands out as it recorded a remarkable 1.75-degree Celsius increase compared to the pre-industrial baseline of 1850–1900, making it a month with an unprecedented temperature deviation.
Central idea
- In the relentless march of climate change, 2023 has emerged as a year of unprecedented heatwaves. Each passing month seems to shatter temperature records, leaving us with grim prospects for the remainder of the year. As September, the hottest on record, draws to a close, we must confront the sobering reality that 2023 may become the warmest year ever recorded.
2023: On Track to Be the Warmest Year
- 2023 is poised to claim the dubious distinction of being the warmest year on record. The average temperature for the first nine months of the year already surpasses the corresponding period of 2016, the previous record holder.
- In 2016, the average temperature was 1.28 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial times, and 2023 may breach the 1.5-degree Celsius mark for the first time.
Rising Temperatures Predicted
- The remarkable string of record-breaking temperature events in 2023 was not entirely unexpected. Scientists had foreseen this year’s warmth, primarily due to the development of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean.
- While specific events couldn’t be predicted, the overall trend was ominous. Forecasts indicate that the last three months of the year will continue to be warmer than usual.
Record-Breaking Months
- The record-breaking temperatures in September follow a pattern of extraordinary warmth throughout the year. July, in particular, stood out as the warmest month ever recorded, setting a new global monthly temperature high.
- Multiple days in July broke daily temperature records. Preceding this, June claimed the title of the warmest June ever, and February, March, April, and May all ranked among the top five hottest for their respective months.
Lack of immediate solutions
- Despite the alarming rise in temperatures and the string of record-breaking events in 2023, there has been a noticeable lack of immediate policy responses from countries to combat climate change.
- Addressing climate change in the short term is challenging, and there are limitations to what can be done to lower temperatures or prevent future warming events on an immediate timescale.
- Only a global disruption on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic could bring about significant deviations from the current trend of increasing temperatures.
Way forward: Urgent action is needed
- There is an urgent need for decisive action in response to the unprecedented heatwaves and their associated impacts.
- The world is rapidly approaching critical climate thresholds, including the 1.5-degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement.
- The lack of immediate solutions and policy responses to mitigate climate change is a pressing concern.
- Nations need to acknowledge the stark reality of climate change’s relentless advance and take immediate, robust, and meaningful measures to address the crisis.
- Decisive action is required now to prevent irreversible consequences associated with global warming.
Conclusion
- As nations prepare for the annual climate change meeting in Dubai, it is imperative that they acknowledge the stark reality of climate change’s relentless advance. The stock-take exercise must reveal the gaps in global climate action and serve as a wake-up call for more robust and immediate measures.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Key findings
Mains level: Recent labor force survey- positive and concerning trends
What’s the news?
- The issue of employment has been a central topic in economic policy discussions, especially in recent decades, as the correlation between economic growth and job creation has appeared fragile.
Central idea
- The COVID-19 pandemic intensified economic disruptions, causing financial distress, surging unemployment, and rural migration. The 2022-23 labor force survey shows rising participation rates and lower unemployment but raises concerns with declining regular employment and a rise in self-employment.
Increasing Labor Force Participation
- The national labor force participation rate (15 years and above) has grown from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 57.9% in 2022-23.
- Both rural and urban areas have witnessed increased participation, with a more significant rise in rural regions.
- Female participation in rural areas increased from 24.6% in 2017-18 to 41.5% in 2022-23, indicating higher female engagement in the labor force.
- However, this rise may also reflect economic distress in rural areas, pushing women to seek employment to augment family incomes, including work under MGNREGA.
Rise in Self-Employment
- The percentage of self-employed individuals increased from 55.6% in 2020-21 to 57.3% in 2022-23.
- Concurrently, the share of regular wage/salaried employment declined from 21.1% to 20.9%.
- The proportion of workers engaged in informal sector enterprises in the non-agricultural sector also rose from 71.4% in 2020-21 to 74.3% in 2022-23.
Concerns Over Job Quality
- While unemployment rates have fallen across the board, especially among the youth (age group 15-29), the decline in regular wage/salaried employment and the increase in self-employment raise concerns.
- These trends indicate that the economy may struggle to create sufficient productive and well-paying job opportunities to absorb the annual influx of millions into the labor force.
- Inadequate job creation remains the most significant challenge facing policymakers.
Conclusion
- The recent labor force survey highlights both positive and concerning trends in India’s labor market. Addressing the challenge of job creation and ensuring that these jobs are productive and remunerative should remain a top priority for policymakers in India’s economic development agenda.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: G-20, P-20 and key outcomes
Mains level: India's role in shaping international economic and environmental agendas, G20
What’s the news?
- India’s leadership role in the G20 reflects its growing importance and influence in global politics.
Central idea
- India celebrated its 74th Republic Day earlier this year, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950, marking the nation’s transition to a sovereign republic. This year, India’s Republic Day holds special significance as the country assumes the presidency of the G20, an influential forum comprising the world’s leading advanced and emerging economies.
India’s Democratic Success Story
- India’s journey as the world’s largest inclusive democracy, characterized by its multi-dimensional diversity and pluralistic society, is both fascinating and inspiring.
- Despite formidable challenges in the form of illiteracy and widespread poverty, India’s visionary Constitution makers established a multi-party democratic political system immediately after gaining independence.
- Overcoming these hurdles, India has consistently conducted free and fair elections through its independent constitutional body, the Election Commission of India, solidifying its democratic credentials.
- In a world where many post-colonial nations grappled with political turbulence, India’s commitment to electoral democracy stood as a beacon of hope.
Socio-Economic Development and Increased Political Participation
- India’s ascent as a democratic republic has been accompanied by substantial socio-economic advancements.
- Over the decades, the nation has made significant strides in alleviating poverty, expanding access to education, improving healthcare, and developing infrastructure.
- These achievements have not only improved the standard of living but also fostered a sense of inclusion among its diverse population.
- India’s burgeoning youth population has emerged as a potent force in shaping the country’s political landscape.
- Young people are increasingly active in civic participation, advocating for change, and driving social and political discourse.
- This dynamism reflects a commitment to democratic principles and a desire to influence the nation’s direction.
- India’s commitment to democratic values is vividly demonstrated through the consistently rising voter turnout in elections.
- Citizens across the country recognize the power of their votes in shaping the destiny of the nation.
- This surge in political engagement underlines the vibrancy of India’s democracy.
- A heartening trend in India’s democratic journey has been the growing participation of women in both electoral processes and political leadership.
- The increased representation of women at various levels of governance not only strengthens democracy but also promotes gender equality and diversity in decision-making.
- Diverse Political Landscape:
- India’s democracy has evolved into a dynamic and diverse political arena. A multitude of political parties, each representing unique constituencies and interests, actively participate in the democratic process.
- This pluralism underscores India’s commitment to accommodating a wide range of perspectives and voices.
India’s G20 Presidency
- Global Significance: The G20, comprising the world’s most advanced and emerging economies, is a forum of immense global significance. India’s presidency in this forum signifies its ascent as a major player in international affairs.
- Showcasing India: Hosting G20 meetings in India provided a unique opportunity to showcase the nation’s diversity, culture, democracy, development, and technological prowess to the global community. It allowed India to present its story as a positive model of pluralistic democracy and development, inspiring other nations, particularly in the Global South.
- Covid Pandemic Response: India’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic further solidified its reputation as a responsible global leader. Its ability to manage the crisis, provide vaccines to other nations, and contribute to global efforts for containment and recovery demonstrated its commitment to international cooperation.
- Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement: During its G20 presidency, India engaged in important bilateral and multilateral discussions, fostering partnerships and addressing global challenges. Key agreements, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Agreement and the Global Biofuels Alliance, highlighted India’s role in shaping international economic and environmental agendas.
Outcomes of the G20 Summit
- Economic Advancements: The G20 New Delhi Summit also served as a platform to showcase India’s contemporary technological advancements and its rich heritage, culture, and traditions. It energized the international economy, promoted tourism, enhanced food security through millet production, and deepened commitments to sustainable biofuels.
- Food Security: The summit emphasized stronger food security through millet production and consumption. This initiative aligns with global efforts to enhance food sustainability and ensure a stable food supply for growing populations.
- Commitment to Biofuels: India’s leadership in the G20 Summit deepened its commitment to sustainable biofuels. This focus on clean energy sources aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
- Key Agreements: Notably, the G20 Summit witnessed the conclusion of significant agreements, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Agreement and the Global Biofuels Alliance. These agreements are of considerable significance in shaping international economic and environmental agendas.
P20 (Parliamentary 20)
- The P20 (Parliamentary 20), which has evolved significantly since its inception in Canada in 2010, exemplifies the importance of parliamentary participation in shaping the global agenda.
- It has garnered social acceptance and legal tenability in participating countries, emphasizing the importance of involving elected representatives in international decision-making.
The Role of Parliament in Global Governance
- Supreme Law-Making Body: Parliament is the supreme law-making body in any democratic nation, representing the will and aspirations of its citizens. In the context of global governance, the role of parliament is essential, as it ensures that international agreements and commitments align with the interests and values of the people it represents.
- Democratic Accountability: Parliament’s participation in global governance adds a layer of democratic accountability to international agreements and treaties. When elected representatives endorse these agreements, they become socially acceptable and legally binding within their respective countries.
- Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement: Parliaments also engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions, further fostering partnerships and addressing global challenges. Their involvement helps shape the direction of international cooperation and ensures that agreements benefit their respective nations.
P20 Summit Agenda
- The upcoming P20 Summit, hosted by the Indian Parliament, exemplifies the parliamentary dimension’s significance in global governance.
- The summit’s four high-level sessions, focusing on themes such as Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Energy Transition, Gender Equality, and Public Digital Platforms, will facilitate wide-ranging discussions among G20 members and guest countries on how parliaments can effectively advance global objectives.
What else: Emphasizing Environmental Responsibility
- The LiFE is Beautiful initiative, recognizing environmentally conscious communities as Pro-Planet People” (P-3), demonstrates India’s commitment to sustainability and responsible living.
Conclusion
- This year’s P20 Summit theme, One Earth, One Family, One Future, reflects the spirit of unity and shared responsibility. India’s journey from Republic Day to G20 leadership is a testament to its democratic strength and its increasingly influential role in shaping the global future.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Semi-conductors
Mains level: semi-conductor industry, potential, initiatives challenges and way forward
What’s the news?
- Moody’s report has brought to light a critical factor that could disrupt India’s semiconductor aspirations: climate change.
Central idea
- In December 2021, the Indian government launched the Semicon India Programme, allocating a substantial budget of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of a domestic semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. While this initiative aimed to position India as a prominent player in the global semiconductor market, it faces multifaceted challenges, as highlighted in a recent report by Moody’s, a global rating firm.
Challenges highlighted in the Moody’s report
- Climate Change Risks: The report points out that climate change can lead to damage to manufacturing facilities, disruptions in supply chains, and substantial financial losses in the semiconductor industry, potentially deterring investments.
- Environmental Footprint: The semiconductor industry’s substantial environmental footprint is a challenge, with chip fabrication plants consuming large amounts of water, generating hazardous waste, and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Competitive Landscape: India’s emerging semiconductor sector faces competition from established global players who are already taking steps towards sustainability, making it essential for Indian semiconductor units to adopt sustainable practices to remain competitive.
The Significance of Semiconductors
- Technological Advancement: Semiconductors are the bedrock of technological progress, enabling innovations across industries. They underpin the development of advanced electronic devices, leading to continuous improvements in efficiency, performance, and functionality.
- Information Processing: Semiconductors power the microprocessors and memory chips found in computers, smartphones, and digital gadgets. This processing capacity drives data analysis, artificial intelligence, and complex computations.
- Consumer Electronics: Nearly all consumer electronic devices, from televisions to household appliances, incorporate semiconductors. These components enhance functionality, making these devices more user-friendly and efficient.
- Clean Energy: Semiconductors are vital for renewable energy sources. They enable efficient energy conversion and management in solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems, promoting clean and sustainable energy solutions.
- Healthcare Revolution: In the healthcare sector, semiconductors are crucial for medical imaging, diagnostic equipment, and wearable health monitoring devices. They empower healthcare professionals with accurate data for improved patient care.
- National Security: Semiconductors are indispensable for defense and security applications, including radar systems, encryption technology, and surveillance equipment. They ensure the reliability and security of vital systems.
- Space Exploration: Semiconductors are vital for space missions and satellite technology. They enable data collection, communication with Earth, and the operation of instruments, advancing humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.
- Environmental Monitoring: Semiconductors are used in environmental monitoring systems, aiding efforts to assess and mitigate environmental issues such as air and water quality, climate change, and pollution.
Industry Initiatives Toward Sustainability
- Taiwan’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC): TSMC, one of the world’s largest chip manufacturers and a key supplier to tech giants like Apple, has taken a significant step by pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This commitment reflects a proactive approach to reducing the environmental impact of semiconductor manufacturing.
- Samsung and Intel: The article also notes that companies like Samsung and Intel, along with several European semiconductor firms, have reportedly started conducting greenhouse gas (GHG) audits. These audits are essential for understanding and quantifying the industry’s carbon footprint, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement.
India’s Greenfield Advantage
- Clean Slate: India’s semiconductor industry has the advantage of starting from a relatively clean slate. Unlike established semiconductor hubs that may have legacy issues, India’s greenfield centers can begin their operations with a fresh perspective and without the burden of historical environmental challenges.
- Learning Opportunity: These greenfield centers in India can learn from the experiences of semiconductor companies in other parts of the world. They have the opportunity to incorporate global best practices right from the outset, making sustainability and environmental responsibility integral to their operations.
- Smart City Programme: Many of India’s semiconductor hubs are planned as part of the government’s Smart City Programme. This planning approach involves creating modern, sustainable urban environments. As a result, these townships are more likely to incorporate eco-friendly and climate-resilient infrastructure and drainage systems.
- Preventing Disruptions: The greenfield centers should prioritize strategies to prevent disruptions during extreme rainfall events. This proactive approach is important, considering the potential impacts of climate change, which can lead to increased rainfall and extreme weather events.
Way forward
- Learning from Global Best Practices: By learning from the experiences of established global players and incorporating best practices from the outset, Indian semiconductor units can enhance their sustainability quotient.
- Regional Considerations: The government’s vision of establishing Dholera in Ahmedabad as a chip-making hub should be attuned to regional climate factors. Climate change is expected to exacerbate heat-related stresses in the region, making it crucial to factor in climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Government Intervention: In light of Moody’s report, it is evident that the government must play a pivotal role in supporting the semiconductor industry. This includes investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, providing guidance to the industry, and encouraging semiconductor units to adopt sustainable practices.
Conclusion
- The Semicon India Programme holds the potential to propel India into the ranks of global semiconductor manufacturing leaders. However, this ambitious endeavor faces significant challenges, with climate change posing a formidable threat to its success. By taking proactive measures, India can navigate the treacherous waters of climate change and move closer to realizing its dream of becoming a chip-manufacturing hub.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: World Heart Day
Mains level: World Heart Day, Rising burden of Cardio vascular diseases, efforts and challenges
What’s the news?
- World Heart Day, observed globally on September 29, serves as a crucial reminder of the escalating threat posed by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the need to promote heart-healthy lifestyles.
Central idea
- World Heart Day, an annual event, initiated by the World Heart Federation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000, seeks to heighten awareness, engage communities, and advocate for universal access to CVD prevention, detection, and treatment. Tackling the silent epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in India demands a multi-pronged approach.
Public Awareness Efforts on CVD
- On World Heart Day, several English-language national dailies published full-page advertorials, which are advertisements designed to resemble written articles. These advertorials aimed to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and promote heart-healthy lifestyles.
- The content of these advertorials seemed to provide information about CVD rather than directly promoting a product.
- Notably, there was limited involvement or a meaningful campaign by public health agencies like the Union Ministry of Health in raising awareness about CVD on this occasion.
- These advertorials were sponsored by the diagnostics, devices, and pharmaceutical industries, indicating a partnership between these industries and media outlets for public awareness efforts.
- Additionally, clinicians from high-end corporate tertiary care hospitals contributed by providing lifestyle modification advisories as part of the public awareness campaign
Alarming Data on Hypertension
- Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021) and the 2017-18 National NCD Monitoring Survey (NNMS) in India reveals concerning statistics about hypertension.
- The NFHS-5 data shows that 18.3 percent of the country’s population has hypertension, while the NNMS reports a higher rate of 28.5 percent among individuals aged 18-69.
- These percentages translate to significant numbers, given India’s large population.
- Both surveys highlight low levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension.
Treatment Gaps and Disparities
- The NNMS data indicates that only 28 percent of those with hypertension were aware of it.
- Among those aware, 52 percent were receiving treatment, and a smaller percentage had their blood pressure under control.
- Disparities exist based on factors such as education, income, and geographic location, with better access to healthcare services in south India.
- Vulnerable groups, including males, illiterates, those with lower income, rural residents, smokers, and alcohol users, were less likely to be part of the treatment cascades.
Efforts in India
- India launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010, expanding its implementation.
- The program primarily focuses on screening and treatment.
- India is committed to the principles of primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as outlined in the 2018 Astana Declaration.
Challenges
- Challenges include inadequate awareness, limited healthcare access in various regions, and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. More resources are needed for primary healthcare.
- Contemporary approaches to managing CVD heavily emphasize risk factors, particularly lifestyle-related ones like diet, physical activity, smoking, and obesity.
- Epigenetic modifications may emerge as a consequence of a lifetime of disadvantage, structural inequalities, and discrimination, thereby influencing future generations.
- There is a challenge in retaining rural health workers.
The Need for a Holistic Approach
- Contemporary approaches to managing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) emphasize lifestyle risk factors.
- The WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health highlights that these risk factors often result from systemic compromises rather than individual choices.
- The Commission emphasizes addressing socioeconomic factors that affect health across an individual’s lifespan and calls for equity and social justice in healthcare.
Conclusion
- As the WHO rightly asserts, Reducing health inequities is… an ethical imperative. Social injustice is killing people on a grand scale. World Heart Day serves as a stark reminder that the battle against CVD must continue with renewed vigor and a holistic perspective.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNSC
Mains level: UNSC, need for reforms, obstacles, India's case
What’s the news?
- The issue of fundamental reforms at the United Nations (UN) has resurfaced at the ongoing General Assembly session.
Central idea
- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye has declared that the Security Council no longer guarantees world security but serves as a battleground for a select few. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that the organization must evolve to reflect the changing world.
- Outdated Structure: The current composition of the Security Council reflects the geopolitical realities of 1945 and fails to account for the significant changes in the world since then.
- Inadequate Representation: In 1945, the Council had 11 members out of 51 UN member countries, representing 22% of the states. Today, with 193 member states, the Council consists of only 15 members, less than 8% of the total.
- Lack of Equitability: The existing composition gives undue weight to the balance of power of 1945. For instance, Europe, with just 5% of the world’s population, controls 33% of the Council’s seats.
- Historical Inequity: Some countries, like Japan and Germany, which have been major financial contributors to the UN, are still labeled as enemy states in the UN Charter, despite their significant contributions.
- Failure to Address Current Challenges: The Council’s inability to adapt to the contemporary world hampers its effectiveness in addressing current global issues and crises.
- Global Dynamics Have Changed: The world has changed significantly since 1945, and the Council needs to evolve to remain relevant and capable of addressing 21st-century challenges.
Obstacles to Reform
- High Bar for Charter Amendment: One of the primary obstacles to reforming the UN Security Council is the high bar set for amending the UN Charter. Any amendment requires a two-thirds majority of the overall UN membership, which translates to the support of 129 out of 193 states in the General Assembly. This level of consensus is challenging to achieve.
- Ratification Hurdles: Beyond the General Assembly’s approval, amendments must also be ratified by two-thirds of the member states. Ratification is typically a parliamentary procedure, making it essential for the proposed reforms to gain widespread support and avoid opposition from any member state.
- Resistance from Current Permanent Members: Existing permanent members of the Security Council, notably China, may resist reforms that could dilute their status as the only Asian permanent member. This resistance can be a significant roadblock to any reform efforts.
- African Representation: Africa, with 54 member states, insists on having two permanent seats. However, resolving the rival credentials of nations like Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt poses a substantial challenge.
- No Consensus on Semi-Permanent Members Proposal: A proposal to create a second category of semi-permanent members with 10-year electable terms has not found acceptance among the principal aspirants, adding to the complexity of reform discussions.
- Geopolitical Conflicts: Ongoing geopolitical conflicts, such as the Ukraine crisis, highlight the Security Council’s gridlock in responding effectively to global issues when permanent members exercise their veto powers.
Stances by Countries
- Reforming the Security Council faces opposition from both rival countries and those who fear losing their influence.
- The high bar for amending the UN Charter, requiring a two-thirds majority of member states and ratification by the same, makes change difficult.
- China resists diluting its status as the sole Asian permanent member, Pakistan opposes India’s inclusion, and Indonesia has reservations.
- In Latin America, Brazil’s claims clash with those of Argentina and Mexico. Africa, with 54 member states, demands two permanent seats, further complicating the issue.
The case for India’s inclusion in the UNSC
- Population Size: India is the world’s second-most populous country, with over 1.3 billion people.
- Economic Significance: India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
- Peacekeeping Contributions: India has been a consistent and substantial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
- Regional Influence: India’s geographical location places it in a critical region of Asia. Its inclusion in the Security Council would provide a balanced representation of Asian interests and perspectives.
- Diplomatic Engagement: India has a long history of active engagement in international diplomacy and has played a constructive role in various global forums.
- Democracy and Pluralism: India is the world’s largest democracy, with a diverse and pluralistic society.
- Representation of the Global South: India’s presence in the Security Council would provide greater representation to the Global South, addressing concerns of equity and diversity in international decision-making.
The issue of continuing gridlock
- Lack of Progress Over Decades: Despite the urgent rhetoric, the UN has missed several milestones for reform, including the 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th anniversaries of the organization.
- Obstructionism and Veto Use: The ongoing gridlock in the Security Council is exemplified by instances where permanent members have used their veto powers to block resolutions on critical issues. For example, Russia’s repeated use of the veto has obstructed resolutions related to Ukraine, Mali, Syria, and North Korea.
- Failure to Respond to Crises: The Security Council’s inability to respond effectively to crises, such as when a permanent member invaded a sovereign UN member state (as seen in the Ukraine conflict), underscores the Council’s limitations in addressing pressing global challenges.
- Stalemate in Financial Institution Reforms: The gridlock extends to other areas, such as reforms of international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Way Forward
- Acknowledging the UN’s importance: Recognize the vital role that the United Nations (UN) plays as the only global platform that brings all countries together. It serves as a crucial forum for international cooperation, diplomacy, and conflict resolution.
- Addressing the Challenges: While acknowledging the challenges and obstacles to reform, member states should actively engage in discussions and negotiations to find viable solutions.
- Building Consensus: Prioritize the process of building consensus among member states on the need for Security Council reform. Diplomatic efforts should focus on finding common ground and shared objectives.
- Flexible Reform Proposals: Explore flexible reform proposals that can accommodate the diverse interests and aspirations of member states. Proposals should be open to adjustments and compromises to secure broader support.
Conclusion
- The ongoing debate on Security Council reform must prioritize maintaining the UN’s relevance in the 21st century by achieving equitable representation through innovative solutions that balance emerging powers’ aspirations with existing permanent members’ concerns, ensuring the UN fulfills its mission as a global platform for peace and progress.
Also read:
UNSC: India’s Remarkable Tenure
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Basics- traditional and modern medicine system
Mains level: The coexistence of traditional and modern medicine systems, challenges and significance
What’s the news?
- The recent case where a manufacturer of indigenous drugs filed a lawsuit against a medical practitioner over a social media thread has ignited discussions in medical circles.
Central idea
- The recent case prompts us to explore the broader questions surrounding the role of traditional medicine in our modern world, the principles of evidence-based medicine, and the steps governments should take to ensure the health of their populations.
The Evolution of Modern Medicine
- Early Medical Practices: In ancient civilizations, various cultures developed their own medical systems, often rooted in traditions and observations. These practices formed the foundation upon which modern medicine would later build.
- Scientific Renaissance: The Renaissance period in Europe marked a resurgence of interest in science and inquiry. This era laid the groundwork for the scientific approach that modern medicine would adopt.
- 19th Century Advancements: The 19th century witnessed significant strides in medical science and technology. Innovations such as the microscope, anesthesia, and surgical techniques transformed medical practices.
- Evidence-Based Medicine: Modern medicine became truly science-based in the late 19th century, when advances in technology allowed for a more accurate understanding of human physiology, health, and disease. The adoption of evidence-based approaches has become a hallmark of modern medical practice.
- Technological Marvels: The 20th century saw unprecedented developments in medical technology, including the advent of diagnostic imaging, organ transplantation, and the establishment of pharmaceutical research. These advancements revolutionized patient care.
- Global Collaboration: The latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century have been characterized by increased global collaboration in healthcare. Medical knowledge, research, and innovations have transcended geographical boundaries, leading to improved healthcare outcomes worldwide.
The Global Nature of Modern Medicine
- Global Scientific Collaboration: Researchers worldwide work together to advance medical knowledge and develop innovative treatments.
- Access to Innovations: Patients globally benefit from medical breakthroughs, ensuring wider access to cutting-edge treatments and technologies.
- Healthcare Diplomacy: Many countries engage in healthcare diplomacy, offering aid and expertise to regions in need and fostering goodwill.
- International Healthcare Workforce: Healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds contribute their expertise globally, addressing healthcare disparities.
- Cross-Cultural Integration: Modern medicine respects diverse healthcare approaches, integrating traditional medical systems and practices from different cultures.
- Pandemic Response: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted global health interconnectedness, emphasizing collaborative efforts in vaccine development, information sharing, and medical aid distribution.
Traditional Medicine in the Modern World
- Traditional medicine, which includes systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha, continues to coexist alongside modern medicine. These traditional systems have a long history and cultural significance. However, their place in the modern world is subject to several challenges:
- Scientific Scrutiny: Traditional medicine often lacks the rigorous scientific validation that modern medicine adheres to. This can hinder its integration into the mainstream healthcare system.
- Safety and Quality Control: Ensuring the safety and quality of traditional medicines can be a concern. Contaminants, inconsistent formulations, and a lack of standardized production processes can lead to safety issues.
- Lack of Standardization: Traditional medicine formulations can vary widely from one source to another, making it difficult to assess their efficacy consistently.
- Cultural and Ethical Considerations: Traditional medicine is deeply rooted in cultural and traditional beliefs. Balancing cultural practices with modern medical standards can be complex, as some treatments may hold cultural significance but lack scientific validation.
- Education and Training: There is a need for comprehensive education and training programs to ensure that practitioners of traditional medicine are well-informed about modern medical standards and safety protocols.
Challenges in Evaluating Ayurvedic Medicines
- Complex Formulations: Ayurvedic medicines often consist of multiple herbs and ingredients, making it challenging to isolate and study the specific active components responsible for their effects.
- Diverse Combinations: Ayurvedic formulations can vary widely in their combinations of herbs and minerals. Understanding how these components interact and their individual contributions to treatment can be complex.
- Lack of Standardization: There is a lack of standardized protocols for the production and quality control of Ayurvedic medicines, affecting the consistency and safety of products.
- Integration with Modern Science: Bridging the gap between traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific methods is essential. Developing research methods that respect Ayurvedic principles while adhering to contemporary scientific standards is a challenge.
The government’s role in promoting evidence-based medicine
- Regulation and Oversight: Governments should establish regulatory bodies to oversee traditional medicine practices, ensuring they meet safety and quality standards. This includes setting guidelines for the manufacturing, labeling, and marketing of traditional medicines.
- Research and Funding: New investigational methods and trial designs that can evaluate Ayurvedic therapies without undermining the classical basis of administering them must be worked out. The Ministry of AYUSH must facilitate this.
- Public Awareness: Governments can educate the public about the benefits and limitations of traditional medicine, promoting informed choices when seeking healthcare.
- Integration with Modern Healthcare: Promoting collaboration and integration between traditional and modern healthcare systems can provide patients with a more comprehensive range of treatment options.
Way forward: Maintaining an Open Mind
- Balanced Perspective: Maintain a balanced view when assessing traditional medicine alongside modern healthcare, considering both potential benefits and limitations.
- Open-mindedness: Embrace open-mindedness in exploring traditional practices for potential insights, fostering an environment of curiosity and exploration.
- Informal Verifications: Acknowledge the value of centuries of informal verifications in traditional medicine, recognizing that these practices have been refined through generations of use.
- Cultural Significance: Traditional medical systems are often deeply intertwined with cultural heritage and beliefs. Respecting and acknowledging this cultural significance is essential when considering their place in modern healthcare.
- Historical Insights: The reference to artemisinin, a Nobel-winning anti-malarial drug derived from a 1,600-year-old text of Traditional Chinese Medicine, underscores the potential for valuable discoveries when traditional knowledge is integrated with modern scientific methods.
- Collaboration: Encourage collaboration between traditional practitioners and modern scientists, promoting dialogue and cooperation for the advancement of healthcare.
- Evidence-based Approach: Subject traditional knowledge to rigorous scientific evaluation to ensure safety and efficacy, aligning with the principles of evidence-based medicine to validate its effectiveness.
Conclusion
- The coexistence of traditional and modern medicine systems is a testament to the diversity of human healthcare practices. It is crucial to embrace a nuanced approach that recognizes the strengths and limitations of each system, fostering an environment where science and tradition can collaborate for the betterment of public health.
Also read:
Homeopathy and associated issues
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Women's Reservation Bill
Mains level: Gender parity in India, challenges and Women's Reservation Bill
What’s the news?
- The recently released 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report (2023) predicts it will take 131 years to close the global gender gap, rising to 149 years in South Asian countries, including India.
Central idea
- The recently released Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, based on data from 146 countries, paints a grim picture. In light of this sobering reality, it is evident that affirmative action in the form of reservation is an essential step towards achieving gender equity and, ultimately, gender equality.
Reservation: An Effective Tool for Equality?
- Equality through Equity: Equity is the initial and essential step toward achieving true equality. In a world where gender discrimination has persisted for centuries, equitable policies like reservations are indispensable. They provide women with the opportunities they have long been denied and help level the playing field.
- Affirmative Action through Reservations: Reservations are undeniably one of the most effective forms of affirmative action aimed at rectifying historical injustices and promoting equity. It serves as the cornerstone for achieving gender equality and is integral to dismantling deeply entrenched societal biases.
- Inefficiency and incompetency Misconceptions: Critics claim that reservations result in inefficiency, but this assertion lacks evidence; competency gaps, if any, are temporary and can be overcome through skill development and experience for marginalized individuals, including women.
- A Level Playing Field: Women are not seeking to compete against their own gender; instead, they aspire to operate in an environment where gender becomes entirely irrelevant, where meritocracy triumphs over discrimination.
- Challenging the Competency Argument: Women consistently outperform men in academics, with higher college graduation rates and increasing representation in the workforce. The glaring gender gap emerges in leadership positions, not due to women’s incompetence but because entrenched male hegemony persists.
Notable examples: Complexities of Gender and Leadership
- Indira Gandhi’s Delayed Leadership: Despite her significant political advantages and early involvement in politics, Indira Gandhi did not become Prime Minister immediately after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964. She had to wait until the passing of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 to assume the role.
- Historical Opposition to Gender-Based Reservations: During the 1930s Round Table Conference in London, prominent women leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz presented a joint manifesto. They rejected the idea of providing either discriminatory or preferential treatment based on gender in legislative representation, indicating their opposition to gender-based reservation policies.
- Diverse Perspectives Within the Women’s Movement: Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz and Radhabai Subbarayan advocated for a modest five percent reservation for women, while Sarojini Naidu opposed such reservations.
A Fresh Start: Women’s Reservation Bill
- Historic Moment: The Women’s Reservation Bill, Constitution (One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, cleared both Houses in September 2023, marking a historic achievement in India.
- Delayed Gender Equality: Despite early universal adult suffrage, women’s role in shaping Indian politics has remained minimal, highlighting the significance of this legislation.
- Global Youthful Leaders: In a trend of younger political leaders worldwide, questions arise about the potential for an ordinary Indian woman to aspire to the Prime Minister’s office, as seen in leaders like Jacinda Ardern.
- Undervalued Women’s Leadership: While women are often recognized in supportive roles, their presence in leadership positions remains limited, as evident in the case of Hillary Clinton, whose qualifications were overshadowed by an inexperienced male opponent in a prominent democracy.
Regressive Views and Misconceptions
- Regressive Views on Gender Equality:
- One of the most significant obstacles to gender equality is the presence of regressive views held by both men and women.
- Even individuals who are considered progressive, like C. Rajagopalachari, have opposed women like Radhabai Subbarayan from contesting general seats.
- Misconceptions about the Women’s Reservation Bill:
- Mulayam Singh’s accusation in Parliament in 2010 further illustrates the challenge. He argued that the earlier version of the Women’s Reservation Bill would primarily benefit educated, urban, and elite women.
- However, this viewpoint failed to recognize that the bill’s core objective was to provide opportunities for women who did not belong to privileged and elite classes.
Changing landscape
- The Prolonged Gender Gap: The persistence of regressive views and misconceptions has contributed to the enduring gender gap. Women have had to wait for an extended period to close this gap. The current Women’s Reservation Bill is considered the first step toward achieving gender parity.
- Desire for Expedited Implementation: There is a hope that the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill will be expedited by readjusting seats based on the 1991 Census data, similar to the process followed for Scheduled Caste seats by the Delimitation Commission.
Conclusion
- The Women’s Reservation Bill is the first step toward achieving gender parity in India. It is time to correct historical wrongs, as women and society as a whole demand and deserve change. There is no reason to delay the journey towards true gender equality.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Recent developments involving India
Mains level: India's approach in the evolving Maldivian political landscape
What’s the news?
- The recent presidential election in the Maldives has demonstrated the vitality of democracy in South Asia’s smallest nation-state.
Central idea
- The Maldives’ recent fair and free election, which enhanced its international standing, underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding of its politics rather than portraying it as a China vs. India contest. Voter concerns, especially among the youth, are primarily centered on economic well-being.
Transition of Power in the Maldives and India vs. China
- Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Era (1978–2008): For three decades, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ruled as the President, maintaining a one-party system. This period marked a lack of political pluralism and democracy in the Maldives.
- Emergence of Multiparty Democracy (Late 2000s): The Maldives began to transition towards a multiparty democracy under a new constitution, signaling a shift away from Gayoom’s authoritarian rule.
- Mohamed Nasheed’s Presidency (2008–2012): Mohamed Nasheed, a charismatic leader, became the first directly elected President of the Maldives. However, his presidency was short-lived, as he did not complete his full five-year term.
- Shared Presidency (2012–2013): Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation led to a period of political uncertainty. Mohamed Waheed Hassan assumed the presidency during this transitional phase.
- Abdulla Yameen’s Presidency (2013–2018): Abdulla Yameen became president and was notably the most pro-China president during his tenure. His presidency marked a shift in the Maldives’ foreign policy towards China.
- Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s Presidency (2018–2023): Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, representing the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), assumed the presidency and adopted an ‘India First’ policy, emphasizing strong ties with India.
- Transition to Mohamed Muizzu (Upcoming): Following Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s defeat, the presidency is set to transition to Mohamed Muizzu, the opposition candidate backed by an alliance of political parties. Muizzu, who currently serves as the mayor of the capital city, Male, will be sworn in as the new president.
Challenges Faced by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
- Historical Incumbent Disadvantage: The Maldives has a history of not re-electing incumbent presidents, posing a significant challenge to Solih’s re-election.
- Intraparty Conflict: Internal divisions within the ruling MDP, exacerbated by Mohamed Nasheed’s departure, weakened party cohesion and campaign effectiveness.
- Disinformation Campaign: The opposition alliance launched a disinformation campaign exploiting MDP’s internal divisions and injecting unnecessary geopolitical issues into the election discourse.
- Loss of Nasheed’s Influence: Mohamed Nasheed’s departure deprived the MDP of his charismatic leadership and effective communication skills, further straining party unity.
The Path Ahead for the Maldives
- Leadership Dynamics: Watch for the evolving relationship between President-elect Muizzu and former President Yameen, a key figure in the new administration.
- Transition to Presidential Role: Expect Mayor Muizzu to shift from his mayoral role to acting as president, focusing on domestic development and regional responsibilities.
- Domestic Priorities: Muizzu is likely to prioritize issues like employment, housing, and education for Maldivian citizens while leveraging foreign policy for national interests.
- Foreign Policy Options: The new administration faces choices in foreign policy: revert to ‘India Out,’ continue ‘India First,’ or adopt a balanced approach involving India and China.
- Changing Global Landscape: Consider the impact of challenges to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Sri Lankan financial crisis requiring India’s help, and shifts in India-Gulf State relations on the Maldives’ stance.
- Islamist Constituency: Monitor the attitude of the Maldives’ Islamist constituency, which historically had complex relations with India, in response to changing regional dynamics.
- Reduced Interest in Pakistan: Observe how diminishing interest in Pakistan in West Asia may affect the Maldives’ security and its handling of extremism-related challenges.
Recommendations for India’s approach in the evolving Maldivian political landscape
- Positive Public Sentiment: India enjoys a positive image among the Maldivian people, thanks to extensive development work and community projects. This sentiment can be leveraged for stronger bilateral relations.
- Engagement with Youth: Thousands of Maldivian youth have benefited from training and capacity-building programs in India. Continued engagement with youth is vital for fostering long-term ties.
- Diverse Engagement: India plays a significant role in the Maldives, including in tourism, trade, and investment. This multifaceted engagement should be nurtured and expanded.
- Strengthening Regional Initiatives: New Delhi should focus on strengthening regional initiatives, such as the Colombo Security Conclave, with tangible outcomes in maritime security and the development of the Blue Economy.
- BIMSTEC Involvement: India should consider reimagining regional cooperation by inviting the Maldives as an observer in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) at its next summit. This could enhance regional collaboration.
- Resource Allocation: There is a need for additional resources to support India’s strategic community and media organizations in taking a more active interest in the Maldives. Building bridges of mutual understanding and trust is essential.
Conclusion
- The Maldives’ recent presidential election underscores the resilience of democracy and the evolving political landscape in South Asia. As the nation embarks on a new chapter, prudent diplomacy and strategic engagement will be essential for the Maldives and its regional partners, including India, to navigate the challenges and opportunities on the horizon.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Women’s Reservation Bill
Mains level: Women’s Reservation Bill, concerns and challenges
What’s the news?
- The Women’s Reservation Bill has journeyed through decades of debates and discussions, yet its implementation remains uncertain.
Central idea
- The recent tabling of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha has brought attention to the long-awaited issue of gender representation in Indian politics. However, despite the grand announcement, there are several complexities and challenges surrounding its implementation that demand scrutiny.
Historical Background
- The issue of women’s reservation in Indian politics dates back to the Constituent Assembly debates in 1947, where it was initially rejected as unnecessary.
- However, subsequent decades witnessed a decline in women’s political representation, prompting further policy deliberations.
- The quest for women’s reservation in legislative bodies began in 1996, with notable progress occurring during Manmohan Singh’s tenure in 2010, when it passed in the Rajya Sabha but faced rejection in the Lok Sabha.
- Since then, the commitment to empowering women in India’s political landscape has remained unfulfilled.
Current Bill’s Complexities
- Implementation Linked to Census and Delimitation: One of the major complexities is that the bill’s implementation is contingent upon two crucial factors: conducting a new census and completing the delimitation process. Unlike some previous legislation, this bill cannot be immediately enforced but rather depends on these time-consuming processes.
- Unclear Timeline: The bill lacks a clear and specific timeline for its implementation. It leaves the question of when reservations for women in legislative bodies will become a reality unanswered. This ambiguity has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to gender equality in politics.
Census and Delimitation Challenges
- Delay Due to the Pandemic:
- The last census in India was conducted in 2011. Subsequent Census exercises were delayed, with the Union government attributing the postponement to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This delay has had a direct impact on the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill since the bill is linked to the data obtained from the Census.
- Even if the Census process moves forward, there is a looming possibility of conflicts arising during the delimitation process.
- Delimitation, which involves the division of electoral constituencies, can be contentious, particularly between different regions and states. This could further delay the bill’s implementation and pose political challenges.
Key Differences from the 2008 Version
- Intra-State Women Representation: Unlike the 2008 version of the bill, the current iteration does not include provisions for “intra-state women representation.” The 2008 bill mandated that one-third of Lok Sabha seats in each state or Union Territory should be reserved for women, ensuring representation from various regions within the state.
- Rotation of Reserved Seats: The current bill proposes that reserved seats for women should be rotated after every delimitation exercise. This means that the seats set aside for women may change constituency boundaries periodically. In contrast, the 2008 bill did not include such a provision.
- Unclear Status During Delimitation: The current bill does not provide clarity on the status of women’s reservations when the delimitation process is ongoing. Given that delimitation commissions typically take several years to issue their reports, it remains uncertain how the reserved seats for women will be affected during this period.
Way forward
- Clear Implementation Plan: The government must outline a comprehensive and transparent plan for the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill. A clear roadmap with specific timelines can provide clarity and boost public confidence in the process.
- Fast-Track Census and Delimitation: Expedite the Census and delimitation processes. Swiftly resolve any conflicts that may arise during these procedures to prevent further delays in implementing the bill.
- Revise Intra-State Representation: Reconsider the exclusion of intra-state women’s representation from the current bill. Ensuring representation from various regions within a state can enhance diversity and inclusivity.
- Seat Rotation Framework: Develop a framework for seat rotation that balances stability and change in women’s representation. Ensure that changes in constituency boundaries do not disrupt the continuity of women in politics.
- Encourage Political Parties: Encourage political parties to proactively nominate more women candidates in elections. Parties can voluntarily set quotas for women candidates to increase their presence in legislative bodies.
Conclusion
- For a nation that initially championed equal rights and representation for all citizens, this delay is a blemish on the visionary ideals of our founding fathers. It is high time that the promise of women’s reservation in politics transforms into a tangible reality.
Also read:
What will hold up women’s reservation Bill?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Banking sector updates
Mains level: India's banking sector growth, reforms, opportunities, challenges and way forward
What’s the news?
- Despite facing numerous challenges in the past quarter-century, including economic crises, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions, India’s banking and financial sector has continued to evolve and adapt.
Central idea
- India’s remarkable growth and stability over the past 25 years have placed the country at the forefront of global optimism. This shift is attributed to the nation’s governance structures and policy apparatus, which have fostered innovation and positioned India as a hub of novel public goods. Among the sectors driving this transformation, banking and finance stand out as key contributors.
The Banking Evolution
- Maturation of Banking in India: Over a period of 75 years, India’s banking sector has matured and grown into a vibrant and robust industry.
- Reforms and Critical Enablers: The past 30 years have seen critical reforms that have played a pivotal role in enabling the growth and transformation of the banking sector.
- Diversity in Banking: India’s banking sector now boasts a diverse landscape that includes public sector banks, private banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and a burgeoning fintech ecosystem. This diversity has made the financial sector more inclusive and dynamic.
- Addressing Legacy Issues: Reforms and changes in the sector have addressed legacy issues such as non-performing assets (NPAs), making the banking system more resilient.
- Internal Accruals: The internal accruals have become a significant source of growth capital for banks, enhancing their financial stability.
- Technological Advancements: Banks in India have moved away from traditional, brick-and-mortar models to embrace advanced technology. Products such as mobile banking apps, UPI, Aadhaar e-KYC, and digital payment systems have transformed the banking landscape.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI)
- Knowledge-Based Regime: India’s banking system is undergoing a transition toward a knowledge-based regime, primarily driven by AI and cognitive computing technologies. This shift represents a move away from traditional banking practices toward more data-driven and intelligent operations.
- Personalization of Customer Engagement: AI is enabling banks to personalize customer engagement. Through AI-powered capabilities, banks can gain a deeper understanding of individual customer preferences and needs. This personalization enhances the overall customer experience.
- Deeper Understanding of Customers: AI facilitates a more profound insight into customers’ behaviors and financial needs. By analyzing data and utilizing machine learning algorithms, banks can develop a comprehensive understanding of their customers, allowing for more targeted services.
- Adaptation to a Changing Business Environment: In a landscape characterized by constant change, AI serves as a valuable tool for ensuring banks remain agile and responsive to shifting demands.
- Challenges and Opportunities: While AI presents significant opportunities for banks, it also poses challenges. Banks must address issues related to data privacy, ethical considerations, and the potential biases inherent in AI algorithms.
- Key to Future Success: AI will be a pivotal factor in differentiating successful banks in the coming years. Banks that effectively harness AI technologies are likely to maintain their competitiveness and adapt to the changing demands of customers and the business landscape.
What are the Challenges?
- Digitalization Challenges: The digitalization of banking services has introduced several challenges. These include the proliferation of unregulated digital lending apps, the emergence of cryptocurrencies, and the risk of cyberattacks.
- Cybersecurity Risks: There is a need to address cybersecurity risks. As digitalization advances, banks are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats and attacks.
- Critical Support Infrastructure: With the increasing reliance on digital banking channels, ensuring the availability of critical support infrastructure becomes paramount. This encompasses maintaining secure payment settlement systems, safeguarding ATMs, and ensuring the continuity of internet and mobile banking services.
- Data Challenges: As banks increasingly rely on data for decision-making and personalization, addressing methodological and data challenges is essential. Ensuring data accuracy, security, and compliance with privacy regulations is a responsibility that banks must prioritize.
Way forward
- Customer Grievances: The digital banking era comes with added responsibilities related to addressing customer grievances efficiently. Banks must establish mechanisms to handle and resolve customer complaints promptly to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of banking services.
- Regulator frameworks: These digitalization-related challenges require banks to adopt robust security measures and regulatory frameworks to protect both customers and the financial system.
- Climate Change Imperative: Initiatives for decarbonization present opportunities in renewables, green hydrogen, and green goods trade. Banks are expected to be major financiers in combating climate change, necessitating robust risk management practices.
- Investment in Human Resources: In an ever-changing environment, the quality of human resources becomes a critical differentiator. Banks and financial institutions must attract, train, and retain talent while fostering adaptability and upskilling.
- Innovation and Governance: Financial services must invest in research and embrace out-of-the-box ideas for seamless service delivery and product personalization. Governance remains the backbone of institutions and is crucial for financial stability.
Conclusion
- India’s banking sector has endured and evolved, emerging from a challenging decade more resilient and adaptable. With a focus on robust governance, innovation, and a growing domestic market, it is poised to play a crucial role in India’s journey towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, promoting equitable and sustainable development.
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