Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India-china Trade, development and Bilateral Relations
Central idea
- China’s recent developments in steady growth, people’s well-being, opening up, and win-win cooperation, as well as its willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with India, can provide new opportunities for all countries in the world, especially neighbouring countries. importance of China-India relations and their role in facilitating an Asian Century.
China’s focus areas of development
- Modernization: China is currently advancing modernization in all fronts, based on its practices, and a focus on high-quality development.
- Overall development: The country aims to modernize its huge population, ensuring common prosperity for all, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development.
- New opportunities: China’s development will create new opportunities for all countries, especially neighbouring countries.
The development of China in recent years
- Steady Growth:
- In 2022, China’s economy grew by 3%, and the country added a total of 12.06 million urban jobs.
- The country’s GDP increased to 121 trillion yuan (approximately $18 trillion), registering an annual growth rate of 5.2% over the past five years and an annual growth of 6.2% over the past decade, with GDP increasing by nearly 70 trillion yuan.
- China’s economic strength is steadily reaching new heights.
- People’s Well-being:
- China has historically resolved absolute poverty, with the alleviation of close to 100 million rural residents from poverty.
- Over 70% of the government’s expenditure went toward ensuring people’s well-being.
- Basic old age insurance covers 1.05 billion people, an increase of 140 million. Living standards continue to witness new improvements.
- Opening Up:
- In 2022, China’s total volume of trade in goods exceeded 40 trillion yuan, registering an annual growth rate of 8.6%.
- China’s actual use of foreign capital was up by 8%, and the country remained one of the top destinations for foreign investors.
- The overall tariff level continues to fall, from 9.8% to 7.4%. China’s doors to the outside world are opening even wider.
- Win-Win Cooperation
- In the period 2013-2021, China’s contribution to global economic growth averaged 38.6%, higher than that of G7 countries combined (25.7%).
- More than 100 countries have expressed their support, and over 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) since Chinese President, Xi Jinping, proposed it in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.
- Emerged as Representatives: As neighboring and ancient civilizations, China, and India are representatives of developing countries and emerging economies.
- National rejuvenation: Both countries are currently in the process of national rejuvenation and a crucial period of modernization where challenges need to be overcome and problems need to be solved.
- Interests than differences: China and India have far more common interests than differences.
China- India Trade
- China and India are important trading partners, with bilateral trade volume reaching $135.984 billion in 2022.
- Although there is a trade deficit, India’s import of equipment and materials from China reduces the overall cost of Made-in-India products, benefits Indian downstream industries and consumers, enhances the competitiveness of Indian exports, and in turn facilitates India’s integration into global industrial and supply chains.
Facilitating an Asian Century
- Chinese Foreign Minister recently stated that the development and revitalization of China and India embody a boost to the force of developing countries, which will change the destiny of a third of the world’s population and have a bearing on the future of Asia and beyond.
- This echoes what India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had expressed in 2022 that the Asian Century will happen when China and India come together.
Conclusion
- China’s development and its relationship with India are important for the region and the world. Both countries are in the process of modernization and face challenges that need to be overcome. China and India are important trading partners, and their cooperation can facilitate an Asian Century and contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Mains Question
Q. Provide your insights on the role of China and India in shaping the destiny of the developing countries and their impact on the future of Asia and beyond
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India-Italy Bilateral relations
Central Idea
- The recent summit between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and India. It also marked a significant turning point in the relations between the two countries, as they have established a strategic partnership for the first time.
- Now strategic partners: India and Italy have decided to elevate the ties to the level of strategic partnership and identified defence as one of the areas where they can start a new chapter.
- Boost to startups: The meet led to the establishment of a ‘Startup Bridge’ between India and Italy.
- Bilateral defence exercise: Another important area of mutual cooperation is defence. They also decided to organise joint military exercises and training courses on a regular basis.
- Enhance people’s mobility: India and Italy also signed a Declaration of Intent on migration and mobility and inked a memorandum of understanding between Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and Italian Consulate General; and Morarji Desai Institute of Yoga and Sarva Yoga International, Italy.
India-Italy Flourishing Partnership
- Bilateral Trade: Italy and India have intensified their collaboration in recent years, resulting in a record figure of around 15 billion euros in 2022, doubling the figure recorded in 2020.
- Five-Year Action Plan: In 2020, a five-year action plan was adopted with a well-defined range of priorities including energy transition, food processing, advanced manufacturing, creative industry, and infrastructure.
- Multilateral Initiatives: Italy has joined all the multilateral initiatives promoted by India, from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to the Coalition for Disaster Relief Infrastructure (CDRI), to the International Solar Alliance.
- Cultural Collaboration: Italy and India have enhanced their collaboration in the cultural field, from the heritage front to the creative industry, including fashion, design, cinema, etc.
- Scientific Research and Technology: The partnership between the two countries has registered the launch of 13 new joint projects in scientific research and technology.
- Mobility: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the flow of Indian students and workers in Italy, where an Indian community that exceeds a figure of 2,00,000 is already actively operating in the Italian economy.
- Health Sector: During the pandemic, Italy and India collaborated by exchanging experiences and practices, with humanitarian initiatives and promoting joint research projects.
- Strategic Partnership: The Joint Declaration approved in the last summit affirms the commitment of the two governments to develop a strategic partnership that will also focus on sectors such as defence, cybersecurity, space, and energy.
- Indo-Pacific and Enlarged Mediterranean: A connection was identified between the Indo-Pacific and the enlarged Mediterranean where Italy is a front-line player in terms of energy security, investments, and commerce.
- Support for G20 Presidency: Italy offered full support to the Indian Presidency of the G20, contributing around issues that were at the centre of Italy’s G20 Presidency in 2021.
- Ukraine Conflict: Italy and India will be engaged in trying to find a cessation of the conflict in Ukraine.
- European-Indian Strategic Partnership: Both the Prime Ministers expressed their commitment to enhancing the European-Indian strategic partnership and their support for the ongoing negotiations for Free Trade Agreements and agreements on investment protection and geographical indication protection.
What makes Italy a crucial partner for India?
- Economic Cooperation: Italy is one of the largest economies in the European Union and is home to several global corporations. India has a growing economy, and both countries have strong economic ties.
- Trade and Investment: Italy is the 13th largest investor in India with around 700 Italian companies having a presence in India. Italian companies are investing in various sectors in India, including infrastructure, energy, automotive, and textiles.
- Cultural Ties: India and Italy share a rich cultural heritage, and their cultural ties go back centuries. Both countries have a long history of art, literature, music, and architecture. Italy is known for its classical art, and India is renowned for its rich cultural diversity.
- Strategic Cooperation: Both have a shared vision of a multi-polar world order, and are committed to promoting peace and security. Both countries work closely on global issues such as climate change, counter-terrorism, and UN reform.
- People-to-People Contacts: Italy and India have a significant number of people-to-people contacts, with a large Indian diaspora in Italy. There are over 150,000 people of Indian origin living in Italy, and they contribute significantly to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the country. The growing tourism sector is also promoting more significant people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Conclusion
- The strategic partnership between Italy and India is based on respect for international law, freedom of navigation, and territorial integrity. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations and focus on sectors such as defence, cybersecurity, space, and energy. In these challenging times, the two countries aim to give a strong impulse to their relations based on the common recognition of the value of true friendship and solidarity.
Mains Question
Q. What are the key highlights of the recent visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India, and how does it mark a significant turning point in the relations between Italy and India? Also Discuss the factors that make Italy a crucial partner for India.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Online Public Hearings and In person Public hearings
Central Idea
- The scale of operations of electricity distribution companies is clear from the fact that their annual revenue requirement is 20% of the Union Budget. The article discusses the importance of public participation in the decision-making process of electricity distribution companies and the role of public hearings conducted by Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) in this regard. The central ERC recently issued a public notice where it announced that hearings would resume through in-person mode.
- Independent body: ERCs are independent statutory bodies established by the government to regulate the generation, transmission, distribution, and trading of electricity in a particular state or region.
- Role: The primary role of ERCs is to protect the interests of electricity consumers by ensuring that electricity is supplied to them at reasonable and affordable rates while ensuring the financial viability of the electricity sector.
- Powers: ERCs also have the power to issue licenses to power generation and distribution companies, set tariffs, and adjudicate disputes between stakeholders in the electricity sector.
- To ensure transparent framework: ERCs are an essential part of the electricity sector, ensuring that there is a fair and transparent regulatory framework that promotes competition, efficiency, and innovation.
Importance of Public Participation in the decision-making process of electricity distribution companies
- Transparency: Public participation promotes transparency in the decision-making process, It ensures that stakeholders are informed about the decisions being made, the rationale behind them, and the potential impact on the community.
- Accountability: It creates a system of checks and balances that helps ensure that decisions made are in the best interest of the public.
- Improved Decision Making: Public participation can provide DISCOMs with valuable insights and perspectives from the community. This can help improve decision-making by ensuring that decisions are made based on a comprehensive understanding of the issues and the needs of the community.
- Increased Trust: When the public is involved in the decision-making process, it helps build trust between the community and the DISCOM. This can lead to increased support for the decisions made, greater acceptance of the outcomes, and reduced potential for conflict or opposition.
- Community Empowerment: Public participation can empower the community to have a voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives. This can lead to a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for the outcomes, as well as increased engagement and participation in future decision-making processes.
In-person Public Hearings
- Pros of In-person Public Hearings
- Greater sense of community: In-person hearings provide a greater sense of community and allow for face-to-face interactions, which can help build trust and foster dialogue.
- Physical presence: In-person hearings allow participants to physically be present in the room, which can make it easier for them to be heard and have their concerns addressed.
- Better understanding: In-person hearings may be more effective at conveying complex information and data, as participants can ask questions and seek clarification in real-time.
- Increased transparency: In-person hearings can increase transparency as they allow the public to see and hear the proceedings first-hand, and hold regulators and utilities accountable.
- Cons of In-person Public Hearings
- Accessibility: In-person hearings may not be accessible to all members of the public, especially those who are physically unable to attend, live far away, or have other commitments.
- Time-consuming and expensive: In-person hearings can be time-consuming and expensive to organize and attend, which can deter participation and limit the diversity of voices represented.
- Limited participation: In-person hearings may limit participation to those who are comfortable with public speaking or who have the means to travel and attend the hearing, potentially excluding some marginalized groups.
Online Public Hearings
- Pros of Online Public Hearings
- Accessibility: Online hearings are more accessible to a wider audience, as participants can attend from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Convenience and flexibility: Online hearings provide more convenience and flexibility for participants as they can attend from the comfort of their own homes and at their own pace.
- Increased participation: Online hearings may increase participation from diverse groups and those who may not be comfortable with public speaking or traveling to attend an in-person hearing.
- Cost-effective: Online hearings can be less expensive to organize and attend, which can allow for more resources to be dedicated to other aspects of the regulatory process.
- Cons of Online Public Hearings
- Technical difficulties: Online hearings may be subject to technical difficulties, such as poor internet connection or difficulties with the online platform, which can hinder participation and the effectiveness of the hearing.
- Limited sense of community: Online hearings may lack the sense of community that in-person hearings provide, potentially limiting the opportunity for dialogue and relationship building.
- Digital divide: Online hearings may be inaccessible to those who do not have reliable internet access or the necessary technology to participate.
- Privacy concerns: Online hearings may raise privacy concerns, as participants may be uncomfortable sharing personal information or speaking out in a public forum.
What could be the best option?
- A hybrid mode with both in-person and online options is the best approach to ensure quality public participation.
- Moving back to the pre-pandemic practice of only in-person hearings takes away a convenient avenue for consumer engagement and impacts meaningful interactions that are possible in the in-person platform.
- The provision of online mode in addition to in-person hearings would strengthen public participation and plug access gaps, provide flexibility of participation to the citizen, and enable a robust avenue for public participation.
Conclusion
- Public hearings conducted in hybrid mode, with the choice of mode being left to the citizen, are best suited to improving access and ensuring quality public participation. There is a need for institutions to continue to build infrastructure and experience toward online hearings and make improvements in how online hearings are conducted.
Mains Question
Q. What is the role of Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) in the electricity sector, and why is public participation important in the decision-making process of electricity distribution companies?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Economic indicators, GDP and current trends
Mains level: India's GDP growth
Central Idea
- The National Statistical Office (NSO) has released a new set of data on India’s annual and quarterly national income, providing a final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the country’s GDP growth. The latest numbers and sector-wise performance, highlighting areas of growth and contraction.
- Advance estimates: NSO’s second advance estimate (SAE) shows a contraction of (-) 5.7% in 2020-21, lower than its first advance estimate (FAE) at (-) 7.7%.
- Benefited sectors: Manufacturing, construction, and financial sectors benefited the most in the revised estimate.
- GDP growth: Real GDP in the COVID-19 year amounted to ₹136.9 lakh crore, higher than the earlier assessment of ₹134.4 lakh crore. GDP grew by 9.1% in 2021-22 and 7% in 2022-23.
- Negative growth in 2020: The compound annual average growth rate between 2019-20 and 2022-23 was 3.2%. Comparison with other countries, including China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, shows India’s negative growth rate in 2020.
Back to basics: Advanced estimates
- Advance estimates refer to the preliminary projections made by the government regarding the likely economic growth, inflation, or other macroeconomic indicators of a country for a given period. These estimates are usually released a few months before the actual data for the period becomes available.
- Advance estimates are based on various economic indicators such as industrial production, agricultural output, exports, and consumption expenditure, among others. These indicators are used to extrapolate the economic activity for the full period, based on which the government makes its initial projections.
Sector-wise Performance
- Overall GVA in 2022-23 is higher by 11.3% compared to 2019-20.
- Mining and quarrying sector still shows a contraction at (-) 0.3%.
- Trade, hotels, transport, etc., show weak growth of 4.3%.
- Construction sector shows higher-than-average growth at 18.6%.
- Manufacturing sector also shows robust growth at 14.8%.
- Financial, real estate, etc., grew at 14.3%.
- Agriculture sector grew at 12%.
- Government final consumption expenditure (GFCE) grew at 7.4%.
- Gross fixed capital formation and private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) increased by 17.7% and 13.1%, respectively.
Investment and Capacity Utilization
- Gross fixed capital formation to GDP ratio in nominal terms increased to 29.2% in 2022-23 from 28.6% in 2019-20.
- Real investment rates increased to 34% in 2022-23 from 31.8% in 2019-20.
- Estimated incremental capital output ratio (ICOR) decreased to 4.9 in 2022-23 from 8.5 in 2019-20.
- Capacity utilization ratio in the manufacturing sector was only 70.3% in 2019-20, but it increased to 73.5% in the first half of 2022-23.
- Subdued growth implies lower capacity utilization and higher ICOR.
Quarterly Growth and Projections
- Q3 2022-23 saw a decline in real GDP growth to 4.4% from 6.3% in Q2 and 13.2% in Q1.
- Growth rate in Q3 and expected growth rate in Q4 are quite low.
- High frequency indicators point towards improved economic activity.
- PMI manufacturing in January and February 2023 remained above its long-term average.
- PMI services increased to a near 12-year
Conclusion
- the NSO’s latest data on India’s GDP growth provides a final assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the country’s economy. The NSO’s data shows that India’s economy is recovering, albeit at a slower pace, from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: China's presence in the Middle east and Implications for India
Central Idea
- In an unexpected turn of events on March 10, the National Security Advisors of Iran and Saudi Arabia declared, in the presence of Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi in Beijing, that they have come to a mutual understanding to address their issues, and will reopen their embassies within a span of two months.
Background: Iran- Saudi rivalry
- Since January 2016, when the Saudi kingdom severed diplomatic ties with Iran after the attack on the former’s embassy in Tehran, the two countries have been engaged in a rivalry for regional geopolitical influence, prolonging conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
- Only a few months ago, Iran’s top military officials were threatening Saudi Arabia with consequences unless it controlled its Persian-language media outlets zealously covering anti-government protests in Iran. Riyadh had raised alert levels citing a credible threat of attack from Iran.
Iran’s Strategic Partnership with China
- Iran considers China its most important strategic partner, and was alarmed when the joint statement issued at the first China-GCC Summit in Riyadh in December 2022 called on Iran to maintain the non-proliferation regime and respect the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
- The China-brokered agreement coming a month after Raisi’s visit to Beijing shows how Beijing has successfully leveraged its ties with an Iran struggling with domestic pressure, sanctions, and deteriorating ties with Europe over its military support to Russia.
The Dialogue Process
- The Iran-Saudi Security Dialogue: This refers to the ongoing talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia aimed at improving security in the region, particularly in Yemen. These talks were facilitated by then-Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in 2021, and have continued in fits and starts since then.
- Biden Administration’s Conflict Management Measures: The Biden administration has taken steps to end American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales, as a conflict management measure. This move helped to make Riyadh see the logic of dialogue with Iran.
- Chinese Role in Brokering the Final Agreement: China has played a key role in brokering the final agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Beijing has adopted a balanced approach of strengthening ties with all players based on common interests and mutual respect rather than geopolitical alignments with specific countries.
- China’s Growing Regional Engagement: China’s growing regional engagement in the Middle East is driven by its desire to distinguish itself from the US-led interventions in the region. Beijing has supported Gulf countries in setting up multilateral dialogue platforms and taking the initiative in regional issues, including those involving Iran.
What are India’s concerns?
- Impact on India’s Energy Security: Any improvement in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia could impact India’s energy security. India is heavily dependent on oil imports from both countries, and any conflict or tension between them could lead to disruptions in oil supplies and increased prices.
- Potential for regional destabilization: The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has fueled conflicts in the Middle East, including the ongoing war in Yemen. Any escalation of tensions between the two countries could lead to further destabilization in the region, which could have implications for India’s security interests.
- China’s growing influence in the Middle East: China’s role in brokering the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia highlights its growing political capital in the region, which could have implications for India’s strategic interests. India has traditionally maintained good relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia, and any shift in the regional balance of power could impact India’s interests.
- Impact on India’s Chabahar port project: India has invested heavily in the development of the Chabahar port in Iran as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Any improvement in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia could impact India’s plans for the port, which could have implications for India’s strategic interests in the region.
Conclusion
- India will now have to deal with the new reality where China has been able to translate its economic influence in West Asia into diplomatic heft. The agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia could have positive implications for the region’s stability, but India will need to carefully monitor the evolving dynamics and assess how it can leverage its own relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other regional players to secure its strategic interest.
Mains Question
Q. Evaluate China’s growing influence in the Middle East and its impact on India’s traditional ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Rural-Urban Continuum
Central Idea
- The traditional dichotomy of rural and urban, and the accordingly mandated governance structure, seems inadequate to understand and act upon poverty, undernourishment, education, health, environmental management or even development. There is a need to adopt the notion of urban catchment areas delineated along an urban-rural continuum to understand urban-rural interconnections and address issues related to environment and natural resources management.
What is Rural-Urban Dichotomy?
- Distinct Division: It is the perception of a clear and distinct division between rural and urban areas, which are seen as two distinct and separate entities.
- Significant Differences: This dichotomy is based on the assumption that there are significant differences between rural and urban areas in terms of social, economic, and cultural characteristics.
- Traditional vs modern values: It suggests that rural areas are primarily agricultural, less developed, and have traditional social and cultural values, while urban areas are more developed, industrialized, and have modern values.
The Rural-Urban Continuum
- The Rural-Urban Continuum is an alternative perspective that acknowledges the existence of intermediate areas that blur the distinction between rural and urban.
- An intermediate settlement formation exists between the two extremes where rural and urban functions coexist without distinguishable boundaries.
- Such formations evolve due to interactions of a complex set of geographical, cultural, economic, and historical processes.
- The transition from rural to urban follows a graded curve of development, and opportunities for social and economic development depend on one’s location along this curve.
Importance of the Rural-Urban Continuum
- Identification of urban catchment areas delineated along an urban-rural continuum would help understand urban-rural interconnections, which is important for making policy decisions across development sectors and for addressing issues related to environment and natural resources management.
Studies and examples of Rural-Urban Continuum
- The Desakota Study report:
- A 2008 report of the Desakota Study Team, Re-imagining the Rural Urban Continuum, was based on studies in eight countries around the world including India.
- Team’s report in 2008 emphasized understanding the changing relationship between ecosystems and livelihoods under diversified economic systems across the rural-urban continuum as it has important policy implications at all levels.
- In India, Kerala for instance:
- Kerala is well known for the rural-urban continuum in the coastal plain. This was noted even by Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta in the 14th century. The trend further spread over the lowlands and adjoining midlands and highlands.
- Geographical factors supported by affirmative public policy promoting distributive justice and decentralisation have increased rural-urban linkages and reduced rural-urban differences in major parts of Kerala.
- The urban industrial interaction in India is spreading rapidly: The urban industrial interaction fields in India are spreading by linking rural areas and also small towns around the mega cities and urban corridors penetrating rural hinterlands.
Dissolving the boundaries and barriers
- Technology and globalization led connectivity: Technology and economic globalization have increased mobility of resources and people and enhanced inter- and intra-country connectivity, promoting the rural-urban continuum.
- Physical distance barriers are melting: The barriers due to physical distance are melting as increasing rural-urban linkages have given rise to diffused network regions.
- Movement of goods, people and information is rising: Rural hinterlands are connected to multiple urban centers, and the movement of goods, people, information, and finance between sites of production and consumption has strengthened linkages between production and labour markets.
Changing Ecosystems of the Rural-Urban Continuum
- Land Use Changes: Agriculturally productive lands are being given for other uses, food security zones are being reconfigured, and areas for pollutant filtering are declining.
- Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Local Livelihoods: There is an increase in waste dump, enhanced disaster risk, and elevated vulnerability, reducing the access of local people to water, food, fuel, fodder, and fiber from ecosystems.
- Emergence of Intermediary Market Institutions: At the same time, intermediary market institutions are emerging to provide these goods, which has significant implications for the local people.
- Escalating Market Value of Land and Marginalization: There is also escalation of market value of land, which further marginalizes them.
Way ahead
- Acknowledge the rural-urban continuum in discussions on social and economic development and environmental issues.
- Identify challenges and opportunities for improving both urban and rural governance and enhancing access to employment, services, institutional resources, and environmental management.
- Build rural-urban partnership by taking a systems approach, where the city and surroundings form a city region for which a perspective plan is prepared integrating rural and urban plans within a common frame.
- Move towards a post-urban world where the rural-urban dichotomy will no longer exist.
- Better map rural-urban linkages by using satellite-based settlement data and integrating it with Census data.
Conclusion
- Recognizing and addressing the interconnections between rural and urban areas along a continuum is crucial for effective policy-making and environmental management in India.
Mains Question
Q. The rural-urban continuum has drawn wide attention in recent years. In this light discuss the importance of Recognizing and addressing the interconnections between rural and urban areas.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Russia- Ukraine War and Implications
Central Idea
- The Ukraine conflict has significant implications for Europe and the world. It has demonstrated that the US is the true defender of Europe and highlighted the fragile state of Europe’s defence industry. The conflict has also given the US confidence to take on all challengers, leading to new ambitions in Western minds. While the conflict has taught several important lessons, the wrong lessons could also be derived, which could prove to be dangerous in the long run.
What is the Present Situation?
- While acknowledging the bravery of the Ukrainian people, significant efforts are underway in Europe, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to end the ongoing war.
- Given that neither side is poised for a decisive victory, it is highly unlikely that Russia will withdraw from the territories it initially occupied.
- The initial enthusiasm has given way to a sense of exhaustion, and the conflict in Ukraine is increasingly being viewed as a US-backed NATO proxy war against Russia.
- As a result, European leaders are currently focused on negotiating a ceasefire and ending the conflict rather than prolonging it.
Implications of the war on Europe
- Europe’s struggling economy: Despite receiving state-of-the-art weapons from the US, Europe remains at the mercy of NATO and the US due to its fragile defence industry. The prospect of a prolonged war without end is daunting for Europe’s struggling economy.
- US as the True Defender of Europe: The Ukraine conflict has demonstrated that the US is the true defender of Europe, with the people believing that without the US, Europe would not have come together to support Ukraine.
- US Confidence and New Ambitions: The US’s success in Europe has fuelled new ambitions and the belief that momentum now lies with them. This could potentially lead to dangerous experimentation, with Ukraine and the war in Europe not being a laboratory for similar experiments elsewhere.
- The Danger of Overconfidence and Misadventures: US triumphalism could lead to misadventures, as Ukraine and Europe cannot be a bellwether for what might happen in a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific. China is not Ukraine or Russia, and Asia is not Europe.
China’s strong Posture
- China’s Direct and Harsh Language Against the US and Western Countries: China is accusing the US and other Western countries of engaging in the containment, encirclement, and suppression of China. China have openly accused the US of attempting to encircle China through its Indo-Pacific strategy, which they say is an Asia-Pacific version of NATO. China’s language is unusually direct and harsh, leading to concerns that China may be preparing for a direct confrontation with the US.
- China’s Preparation for All Eventualities: China is preparing for all possible scenarios in response to the current situation. It has warned that no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment if the US continues to speed down the wrong path. China’s efforts are aimed at thwarting US attempts to restore its dominant position in world affairs.
- Taiwan as the Flashpoint
- Taiwan remains a flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific region, with tensions further aggravated by the recent visits of top US military leaders to Taiwan. However, newer tensions are also adding to the possibilities of a conflict in other regions in the Indo-Pacific.
- Starting with a misreading or misunderstanding of the other side’s intentions, all wars can begin.
- The success of the US in assisting Ukraine to withstand the Russian offensive and undercutting Russia’s image of being a superpower in Europe.
- The success in Europe and the goal of returning to the post-1945 era may be the impetus for targeting China. This could lead to a direct confrontation with China and have disastrous consequences, possibly leading to a world war.
Conclusion
- The US is basking in the glow of its successful intervention in Europe and this could provoke retaliation, leading to the escalation of hostilities in other regions and potentially paving the way for another global conflict. Such an outcome would be a catastrophe of monumental proportions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 33
Mains level: Decriminalization of Adultery
Central Idea
- The Supreme Court of India decriminalized adultery in 2018, but the Union of India sought clarification from the Court concerning its implementation in the armed forces. The court’s observations suggest that the armed forces may still discipline for adulterous acts under their special legislations. However, recent court cases show that an act must have some nexus with the discharge of duties to be considered misconduct, and private affairs cannot be subjected to moral policing under the Service Conduct Rules or Article 33 of the Constitution.
What is mean by Adultery?
- Adultery is a term used to describe a consensual sexual relationship between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.
- It is generally considered to be a breach of marital fidelity and can have legal, social, and religious consequences.
- In some societies and cultures, adultery is considered a crime or a sin, while in others it may not be explicitly prohibited but is still frowned upon or considered morally wrong.
Adultery In the Indian context
- Joseph Shine v. Union of India: Adultery was a criminal offense under Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) until September 2018, when the Supreme Court of India decriminalized it in a landmark judgment in Joseph Shine v. Union of India.
- Law applied to men only: Before the judgment, adultery was punishable by up to five years of imprisonment or a fine or both, and the law only applied to men who had sexual relations with someone’s wife without the husband’s consent.
- Law did not consider women as an offender: The law did not consider a woman who had an affair with a married man as an offender or the husband as a victim.
What is Article 33?
- Fundamental rights of armed forces personnel can be curtailed by law for discipline: It empowers the Parliament to restrict or modify the fundamental rights of armed forces personnel, including members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline among them. This means that the fundamental rights of armed forces personnel can be curtailed or modified by law to the extent that it does not hinder their duties or impact discipline.
- Laws may be different from the general laws: The article gives special powers to Parliament to make laws that may not necessarily be in line with the fundamental rights guaranteed to Indian citizens under the Constitution. These laws may be different from the general laws applicable to Indian citizens, and their enforcement may be specific to the armed forces personnel.
- Application: The article applies not only to the armed forces personnel but also to members of the police force and intelligence agencies involved in maintaining public order. However, the restrictions imposed on these personnel should be in line with the principles of the Constitution and not infringe on their right to privacy or other fundamental rights.
Decriminalization of Adultery
- Civil wrong: In 2018, The Joseph Shine judgment removed the criminalization of adultery and declared it a civil wrong that can be a ground for divorce.
- State should not interfere in matters of personal relationship: The judgment recognized that the right to choose one’s partner and engage in consensual sexual relations is a fundamental right and that the state should not interfere in matters of personal relationships between consenting adults.
- Violation of fundamental Rights: The provisions were found to be violative of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Recent Court Cases
- Rajasthan High Court: In Mahesh Chand Sharma versus State of Rajasthan and Others (2019).
- The court set aside departmental proceedings against a police inspector who allegedly had illicit relations with a woman constable and had a child from illicit relations.
- The court held that no employer could do moral policing on its employees beyond the domain of their public life.
- Gujarat High Court: In Maheshbhai Bhurjibhai Damor versus State of Gujarat and 3 other(s) (2022).
- The court quashed and set aside the dismissal order of an armed police constable arising from allegations that he had developed illicit relations with a widow.
- The court held that allegations of misconduct must have some nexus with the duties to be performed by the government servant.
- Private affairs cannot be subjected to moral policing under the Service Conduct Rules or Article 33 of the Constitution.
Government’s argument
- Sought clarification: The Union of India sought clarification from the Court on implementing the decriminalization of adultery in the armed forces.
- Special legislations must govern: The Union of India argued that special legislations, such as the Army Act, Air Force Act, and Navy Act, should govern promiscuous or adulterous acts among members of the armed forces.
Conclusion
- The recent court cases show that the decriminalization of adultery does not inhibit the parameters of departmental proceedings or enlarge them. Private affairs cannot be subjected to moral policing under the Service Conduct Rules or Article 33 of the Constitution unless it has some nexus with their duties. The sacrosanct right to privacy available to the members of the armed forces cannot be taken away unless it interferes with the discharge of duties.
Mains Question
Q. What is mean by Adultery? The Supreme Court of India decriminalized adultery in 2018. Discuss the reasons for doing so?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: AUKUS, significance and challenges
Central Idea
- The AUKUS security partnership between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom has important implications for Australia’s plans to operate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, with potential drawbacks.
What is AUKUS?
- Trilateral Partnership: AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, announced on September 15, 2021. The partnership involves cooperation in various areas, including defence and security, technology, and climate change.
- Indo-Pacific region a primary focus: The AUKUS partnership is primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region and aims to counter China’s growing influence in the region. As part of the partnership, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and the United Kingdom, which is seen as a significant shift in Australia’s defence posture.
- Promote Peace and stability: The three countries have emphasized that the partnership is not aimed at any specific country and is intended to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia’s AUKUS Dilemma
- AUKUS Pathway Impact: Announcement about optimal pathway for AUKUS has implications for Australia’s plans to operate a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines
- Opposition from Regional Partners: Regional partners oppose Royal Australian Navy operating nuclear attack submarines, posing a challenge for Australia’s deterrence capabilities against potential adversaries
What are the Options for Australia’s Nuclear Submarines?
- Following AUKUS consultations, three main options have emerged,
- US builds nuclear-powered attack submarines for Australia
- UK expands Astute-class program to Australia
- Trilateral effort to develop a new nuclear submarine design
What are the Challenges and Complexities for Australia’s Nuclear Submarines
- US uncertain on Australis’s nuclear subs: US Policymakers are sceptical about building nuclear-powered attack submarines for Australia due to national security concerns
- UK’s Dreadnought hinders Australia’s submarine expansion: UK’s construction of Dreadnought-class ballistic-missile submarine program and differences between Australian and American fleets pose a challenge for expanding Astute-class program to Australia
- Nuclear design challenges: Trilateral effort to develop a new nuclear submarine design faces challenges related to U.S. export controls and technology transfer agreement
- Nuclear tech complex and risky globally: The nuclear technology is complicated under the international system and poses potential proliferation risks.
- Increased security cooperation: The partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States is likely to lead to increased security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. This could help to balance out China’s growing military and economic power in the region and could create opportunities for India to work more closely with these countries on shared security concerns.
- Potential for technological collaboration: AUKUS includes cooperation in technology and could lead to opportunities for India to collaborate with the three countries in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. This could help to bolster India’s technological capabilities and could lead to new opportunities for trade and investment.
- Impact on regional dynamics: The announcement of AUKUS could have a significant impact on regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in terms of how other countries in the region respond. India will need to carefully navigate these dynamics and ensure that its own interests are protected.
Conclusion
- The AUKUS security partnership has significant implications for Australia’s defence capabilities and strategic positioning in maritime Asia. However, it poses significant challenges and risks. Even with its closest allies, the U.S. faces difficulties transferring technology, highlighting the challenges for India and other countries in acquiring critical technology from the U.S. The AUKUS developments may have broader implications for regional security and nuclear technology.
Mains Question
Q. Evaluate the broader implications of the AUKUS developments for regional security and nuclear technology.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India Sweden Bilateral relation
Central Idea
- This year marks 75 years of bilateral relations between India and Sweden, and it is an occasion to celebrate. Bilateral trade has reached unprecedented levels in the past year, with Swedish companies making significant strides in the Indian market. The latest Indian administration has shown a keen interest in augmenting and broadening the partnership between the two countries.
The Past and Present: Bilateral Relations between India and Sweden
- Sweden and India have come a long way in the past 100 years.
- From limited contacts to a flourishing partnership, both countries have developed national wealth through industry and manufacturing. Swedish companies have been key drivers in both domains, and through their work, Sweden and India have found friends in one another.
- In 2023, Sweden is celebrating the anniversaries of Ericsson, SKF, Alfa Laval, and Volvo, notable Swedish companies in India.
Celebrating 75 Years of Friendship
- Record bilateral trade: India and Sweden celebrated a record year for bilateral trade in 2022, with Swedish companies experiencing strong growth in India.
- Flourishing partnership: Both countries are committed to expanding their partnership and collaborating in innovation, green transition, energy, health, industry policy and more.
Emphasizing the Importance of Industry and Manufacturing
- Key sectors: Industry and manufacturing are key to building long-term economic growth, and Sweden and India have identified these sectors as key areas of collaboration.
- Swedish companies have been key drivers: An active industry policy necessitates partnerships and taking bold steps, and Swedish companies have been key drivers in industry and manufacturing in India for several decades.
Prioritizing Green and Sustainable Practices
- Commitment to green supply chain: The future belongs to green and sustainable practices, and both Sweden and India are committed to socially and environmentally sustainable practices throughout the entire supply chain.
- Green transition and digitalisation: There is a clear commitment to this vision from governments and businesses alike, with a focus on digitalisation, the green transition, and the industry of the future.
Way ahead: Opportunities for Even Closer Ties
- There are opportunities for even closer ties between India and Sweden, including a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India.
- The European Union presidency offers a chance to explore this possibility, which would have a positive impact on economic and industrial exchange, particularly in cities like Pune where Swedish companies have a strong presence.
Conclusion
- The partnership between India and Sweden has come a long way in the past 75 years. Both nations have identified industry and manufacturing as key to building long-term economic growth, and there is a need to deepen work towards socially and environmentally sustainable practices.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the key areas of collaboration between India and Sweden in the context of their 75-year bilateral relationship?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Tourism Sector and Economic Growth
Central Idea
- India’s travel and tourism sector is one of the fastest-emerging tourist destinations in the world, and it is poised to be the key axis of development in the coming years. Budget 2023, which marks the beginning of Amrit Kaal, the period of intense robust growth, has outlined the path to developing tourism in mission mode.
Vision to develop 50 destinations
- G20 provided Economic Boost: India’s presidency of the G20 and Prime Minister’s vision to develop 50 tourist destinations across the country have provided a significant boost to the tourism sector.
- Global ranking: This initiative is expected to improve India’s global ranking on the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index.
- Employment opportunities: The development of these destinations will create more employment opportunities and contribute to the overall GDP growth of the country.
The central government’s push on tourism
- Various policies and initiatives: The central government is committed to supporting the travel and tourism sector by implementing various policies and initiatives.
- Six themes for the development in Union budget: The Union budget has identified six themes for the development of the sector, including convergence, public-private participation, creativity, innovation, digitization, and development of destinations.
- Collaboration is essential: Collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities is essential for the development and promotion of tourism in India. This collaborative approach stimulates creativity, enhances competitiveness, and achieves visionary results.
- For example: The Prime Minister has cited examples of successful collaborations, such as Kashi, Kedarnath, the Statue of Unity, and Pavagadh, to demonstrate how a unified approach can boost tourism in a region.
Role of Technology in Tourism
- Interdependence: Technology and tourism are becoming increasingly interdependent, and a coordinated approach that adopts technology can boost the tourism sector in India.
- Employing Augmented and virtual reality: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can provide travellers with virtual tours and simulations of famous landmarks and cultural experiences.
- Artificial intelligence: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots and digital assistants can assist travellers in planning their trips and provide real-time assistance while travelling.
“6P” approach to unlocking India’s tourism potential
- 6P: Planning, Place, People, Policy, Process, and Promotion
- Unlocking India’s tourism potential requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses the six key pillars 6Ps.
- The government’s Budget Session addressed all these 6Ps effectively by covering destination planning and management, infrastructure development, sustainability and safety, development of human capital, policy and process interventions to align the Centre and states as well as promoting the narrative of Indian tourism.
Tourism: A state subject
- Tourism is constitutionally a state subject, and the central tourism department has been advocating for it to be moved to the Concurrent List to allow policy-making at both the central and state levels.
- Granting tourism infrastructure status will provide further impetus to the growth of the sector.
- The government is also considering the establishment of a National Tourism Board.
Conclusion
- With the right policies and initiatives in place, it’s the ideal time for India to turbo-charge efforts to be among the top three travel and tourism economies globally.
Mains Question
Q. What are the six themes identified by the Union Budget for the development of India’s travel and tourism sector? How India can boost its economic growth through robust tourism sector? Discuss
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cheetah- characteristics and conservation status
Mains level: Reintroduction of species and Its Overall Impact
Central Idea
- India has embarked on a conservation plan to reintroduce the cheetah into the country, with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining population at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park. The initiative has translocated eight African cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa since September 2022. Can this initiative succeed in helping India’s grasslands?
Know about Cheetahs
- Appearance: Cheetahs have a distinctive appearance, with a slender, muscular body, long legs, and a spotted coat. They have black tear marks on their faces that help to protect their eyes from the sun’s glare.
- Speed: Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour in short bursts.
- Diet: Cheetahs are obligate carnivores and typically hunt during the day.
- Conservation status: Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of less than 7,000 individuals in the wild. Their numbers have declined due to habitat loss, hunting, and other threats, and they are at risk of extinction in many parts of their range.
- Reproduction: Cheetahs have a relatively low genetic diversity, which makes them more vulnerable to disease and other threats.
- The plan is to introduce roughly 20 cheetahs annually for the next 8-10 years, and the goal is to establish a population of 21 adults in Kuno National Park in 15 years.
- The larger habitat of 3,000-5,000 sq km, which is larger than the 748 sq km where the cheetahs are based, could accommodate up to 40 cheetahs.
The impact of cheetahs on India’s grasslands: Illustration
- Regulate herbivore populations: Cheetahs are predators that primarily hunt herbivores such as antelopes, gazelles, and other small to medium-sized ungulates. By preying on these herbivores, cheetahs can help regulate their populations, preventing them from overgrazing and causing damage to the grasslands.
- Increase biodiversity: The presence of cheetahs in the grasslands is expected to increase biodiversity by creating a more balanced ecosystem. By regulating the populations of herbivores, cheetahs can prevent certain species from dominating the ecosystem, allowing other species to thrive.
- Promote grassland health: Overgrazing by herbivores can damage the grasslands, leading to soil erosion and other ecological problems. By regulating herbivore populations, cheetahs can help maintain the health of the grasslands, ensuring that they continue to provide important ecosystem services.
- Ecotourism: The presence of cheetahs in India’s grasslands could also boost ecotourism in the region, providing economic benefits to local communities.
- Challenges: However, there are also potential challenges associated with the reintroduction of cheetahs to India’s grasslands, such as competition with other predators and potential conflicts with human activities.
The impact of cheetahs on India’s grasslands: Opinion
- Reintroduction programme can improve India’s grasslands: Cheetahs indicate the overall wellness of open areas, meadows, and grasslands because they need these habitats to survive. The health of the cheetah population can, therefore, be an indicator of the health of the grasslands.
- Opinion in contrast: Some expert disagrees and argues that restoring open natural ecosystems, including grasslands, should begin by addressing the problems that led to their degradation and decline. The arrival of the cheetahs will not save India’s grasslands, and there are already issues, such as large tracts of open natural ecosystems being categorised as wasteland and granted to renewable energy projects, including solar panels.
Example: Reintroduction of species contributing to the development of a larger ecosystem:
- Project Tiger in India: The project started with nine reserves and now has 53 reserves making up 2.3% of the country’s geographical area. Scientists worked to establish source and sink dynamics and the concept of how exclusively investing in an umbrella can bring in a compelling, inclusive engagement with people and areas beyond.
- Wolves in Yellowstone national park, US: The reintroduction of wolves and beavers in the Yellowstone ecosystem in the US as a global example based on solid science. The presence of wolves helped to control the population of elk, which had been overgrazing and damaging the park’s vegetation. As a result, the vegetation began to recover, which in turn led to increases in other species such as beavers, songbirds, and fish.
FYI: Impact of the Project Tiger
- Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in 1973, has made a significant impact on tiger conservation and the ecosystem in India.
- Increase in tiger population: Project Tiger has been successful in increasing the tiger population in India. The latest tiger census conducted in 2018 estimated that there were around 2,967 tigers in India, an increase from the previous census in 2014 which estimated the population to be around 2,226.
- Restoration of degraded ecosystems: The conservation efforts under Project Tiger have also helped to restore degraded ecosystems. For example, in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, efforts have been made to restore degraded grasslands and create water sources, which has resulted in the return of several species that were previously absent.
- Expansion of tiger habitat: The project has also helped to expand the habitat available to tigers in India. The creation of new protected areas and improved management of existing ones has resulted in an increase in the area of tiger reserves from 9 to 51, covering an area of more than 71,000 square kilometers.
- Protection of other species: The conservation efforts under Project Tiger have had a positive impact on other species in the ecosystem as well. The protection of tiger habitats has helped to conserve a wide range of flora and fauna, including elephants, leopards, and various bird species.
- Reduction in human-wildlife conflict: The conservation efforts under Project Tiger have helped to reduce human-wildlife conflict by providing alternative livelihoods and increasing awareness about conservation among local communities. This has helped to reduce retaliatory killings of tigers and other wildlife
- Challenges: Despite the success of Project Tiger, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed. Poaching, habitat loss, and human-tiger conflict remain significant threats to tiger populations in India.
Remarks: The success of the translocation exercise
- According to the experts it took two and a half to three years for tigers to acclimate to Indian conditions in Sariska.
- In cheetah project, they expect it to take longer since cheetahs are coursers that require large tracts of terrain.
- While others believes that a clear picture of success will emerge when the animals not only survive but start reproducing, leading to a self-sustaining population.
Conclusion
- The reintroduction of cheetahs to India can help establish a self-sustaining population and contribute to the global survival of the species. However, it remains to be seen if they can successfully acclimate to Indian conditions and if they will have a significant impact on India’s grasslands. Nevertheless, the initiative highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the need to address the root causes of environmental degradation.
Mains Question
Q. What is the significance of India’s cheetah reintroduction plan, and can it help improve the country’s grasslands? Illustrate
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: PM Gati Shakti
Mains level: PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Challenges and solutions for hustle free logistics transport
“Efficient logistics is the backbone of a successful economy, enabling businesses to access markets, reduce costs, and increase productivity, ultimately leading to sustainable economic growth.” – Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
Central Idea
- The Union Budget 2023 has increased the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan’s budget from ₹5,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore and allocated ₹2.4 lakh crore to the Indian Railways. This plan aims to improve India’s logistics competitiveness by increasing the railways’ share in freight movement from 27% to 45% and addressing infrastructural challenges. However, several challenges such as operational and connectivity issues, infrastructural challenges, and lack of integration need to be addressed to achieve these targets.
What is PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan?
- Comprehensive development: It is a comprehensive infrastructure development plan announced by the Government of India in November 2021.
- Aim: The plan aims to improve economic growth and sustainable development by focusing on infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics.
- Increased Budget: The Union Budget 2023 has increased the budget for the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
- The plan includes the development of five main corridors:
- East-West Corridor: It will connect the east and west coasts of India, stretching from Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat.
- North-South Corridor: It will connect the northern and southern parts of India, stretching from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
- North-East Corridor: It will connect the northeastern states to the rest of India, stretching from Imphal in Manipur to Kohima in Nagaland.
- South-West Corridor: It will connect the southwestern states to the rest of India, stretching from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
- East Coast Corridor: It will connect the east coast states to the rest of India, stretching from Kolkata in West Bengal to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
- The railways have a pan-India network and offer an efficient and economic mode of logistics movement, making them an essential component of the plan.
The Freight Movement at Present
- Freight movement Impact: Currently, 65% of freight movement is done by road transport, leading to congestion, pollution, and increased logistics costs.
- convenience over cost: Although the cost of rail transportation is less than road transportation, convenience has taken precedence over cost, and the railways have lost their share in freight movement to more flexible modes.
- For instance: In 2020-21, coal constituted 44% of the total freight movement of 1.2 billion tonnes, followed by iron ore (13%), cement (10%), food grains (5%), fertilizers (4%), iron and steel (4%), etc.
- Non-bulk commodities: Transportation of non-bulk commodities accounts for a very small share in the rail freight movement
- Rise in Container Traffic: The convenience of moving non-bulk commodities in containers has led to an increase in containerized traffic. Globally, railway systems are heavily investing in advanced rail infrastructure for quick and low-cost container movement.
- The national transporter faces several challenges, leading to a shift of freight traffic to roads.
- Infrastructure: Increased transit time by rail, pre-movement and post-movement procedural delays, lack of necessary terminal infrastructure, maintenance of good sheds and warehouses, and uncertain supply of wagons are some of the infrastructural challenges that customers face.
- Connectivity: The lack of integrated first and last-mile connectivity by rail increases the chances of damage due to multiple handling and also increases the inventory holding cost.
Strategies to Improve Efficiency in Rail Cargo Movement in India
- Overall improvement: The Indian Railways need to improve infrastructure and encourage private participation in the operation and management of terminals, containers, and warehouses to efficiently utilize resources.
- Special Entity Needed: Establishing a special entity under the railways to handle intermodal logistics in partnership with the private sector could address the first and last-mile issue faced by the railways.
- For instance: An integrated logistics infrastructure with first and last-mile connectivity is essential to make rail movement competitive with roads, and facilitate exports by rail to neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
- An Uber like model: An Uber-like model for one of the two cargo wagons, wherein the customer can book the wagon using an online application, could help in increasing the utilization rate of these wagons.
Way ahead
- The adoption of railways for cargo movement is crucial to improve India’s logistics competitiveness.
- The Indian Railways are upgrading their infrastructure with PM Gati Shakti, but a continuous monitoring of existing projects and identification of new priority areas are required to achieve the targets of rail freight movement.
Conclusion
- The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan has the potential to transform India’s logistics infrastructure and increase the railways’ share in freight movement. However, several challenges such as operational and connectivity issues, infrastructural challenges, and lack of integration need to be addressed. The upcoming Dedicated Freight Corridors, multimodal logistics parks, and establishment of a special entity under the railways could address these challenges.
Mains Question
Q. Explain the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and its significance in improving India’s logistics competitiveness.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Space debries
Mains level: Space updates
Central Idea
- Space debris, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), is becoming an increasingly urgent problem due to the rising number of rocket launches and payloads, as well as anti-satellite missile tests and collisions. On March 7, 2023, ISRO successfully carried out a controlled re-entry for the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1).
ISRO’s controlled re-entry of the decommission
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out a controlled re-entry of the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1) satellite.
- MT1 was launched over a decade ago with the objective of studying clouds in the tropical regions of the world.
- As the satellite had reached the end of its operational life, ISRO brought it down in a controlled manner to reduce space debris in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and limit the potential risks associated with it.
Space debris
- Space debris refers to any human-made object that is in orbit around the Earth but no longer serves any useful purpose. This can include pieces of spacecraft, rocket stages, and other materials that have been left in space after they have completed their missions or have been discarded.
- Space debris can vary in size, from small paint flecks and bolts to larger objects like satellites and old rocket bodies.
- There are currently more than 26,000 objects larger than 10 cm in orbit around the Earth, and many smaller objects that are too small to be tracked.
- Increasing number of payloads: The surging number of rocket launches and the increasing number of payloads carried in recent years have made the space junk problem acute, especially after private companies such as SpaceX launched thousands of satellites to provide Internet access.
- For instance: In 2022, over 2,160 objects were launched into space, about 300 more than 2021 and 900 more than 2020.
- Data on fragmented debris: The number of satellites in space has crossed the 10,000 mark, including active and defunct ones still orbiting Earth, and the number of fragmentation debris is hurtling towards the 14,000-mark.
- Smaller debris poses a bigger challenge: While satellite launches are the reason for the rise in rocket bodies orbiting Earth, fragmented debris are mostly a consequence of collisions and Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile tests. The fragmented junk poses a bigger challenge as tracking debris smaller than 10 centimetres is tough.
Countries responsible
- Russia: Close to 35% originated from the Soviet Union/Russia,
- US: 31% from the U.S.,
- China: 29% from China, over 2,700 pieces of debris from a Chinese anti-satellite test in 2007, marked as the single worst contamination of space in history, are still in orbit.
- India: India’s contribution is 0.5%.
- India added to the problem in 2019 by testing an ASAT missile which targeted a live satellite in LEO which resulted in 400 pieces of orbital debris
- While all the trackable debris from India’s test have re-entered Earth in subsequent years, over 50 pieces from a break-up event of the 4th stage of PSLV-C3 in 2001 are still in orbit.
The cost of avoiding collision
- High cost: While debris has the potential to cause serious accidents, the cost of manoeuvres to avoid collisions is high.
- For instance: In 2022, ISS had to conduct two such collision avoidance manoeuvres due to threats posted by debris from Russia’s ASAT test in 2021.
- Challenges: Such manoeuvres are costly as they require hours of monitoring, fuel for movement, and also result in loss of data as instruments are turned off during such operations.
- India’s honest efforts:
- India conducted 21 such corrections for its satellites in 2022, the highest ever for the country.
- Also, in 2021, ISRO monitored 4,382 events in LEO and 3,148 events in geostationary orbit (GEO) in which debris or other space objects came close to India’s space assets.
Conclusion
- Small debris orbiting Earth pose threats to space assets, the immediate need is that the countries must acknowledge the responsibility. India’s continues efforts towards controlled decommission set the bar high.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the challenges posed by increasing space debris and the potential risks associated with it.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Economic survey and Budget, Various Schemes
Mains level: Union Budget 2023, Read the attached article
Central Idea
- The Union Budget 2023 has made nominal increases in the allocation for education, which will not suffice to improve the education sector’s current situation.
Government Expenditure on Education
- As per the Economic Survey 2023, the combined expenditure on education by the Centre and States (as a percentage of GDP), has remained stagnant at 2.9% during 2019-20 to 2022-23 (BE).
- As a percentage of total government expenditure, it slid from 10.7% in 2019-20 to 9.5% in 2022-23 (BE), while the share of education in social services nosedived from 42.5% to 35.5% during the same period.
Budgetary allocation for School sector
- Allocation for School Education increases due to new scheme: The school sector has been allocated ₹68,804.85 crores, as against ₹63,449.37 crore last year, largely due to a fresh allocation of ₹4,000 crore for the PM ScHools for Rising India), or PM-SHRI alone.
- Existing schools suffer due to allocation for new initiatives: This combined with the newly announced Eklavya model residential schools to be opened in every district of India actually brings down the provisions for already existing schools and their activities, leaving them high and dry to deal with rising prices and the pressure of increasing enrolment in government schools.
- Majority of Indian students attend government schools: Government and government-aided schools are still where the deprived and have-nots go to. Out of about 15 lakh schools, 10 lakh schools are owned and managed by the government, employing about 97 lakh teachers and catering to over 26 crore students.
- Allocation for higher education has increased: The allocation for higher education has increased from ₹40,828 crore to ₹44,094 crore, with autonomous bodies receiving an average increase of 13.60%. The central universities have benefitted the most with a 22.39% increase.
- Reduction in Budgetary Support to Indian Institutes of Management: The budgetary support for Indian Institutes of Management has been drastically reduced with most of the allocation meant for loan repayment. The reduction in funding for IIM was expected due to their increased fees. The impact of this on equity in these institutions is uncertain.
- No provision for HEFA and reduced allocations: There is no provision for Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) in this year’s Budget, which means no new loans for infrastructure development in centrally funded institutions. The allocation for world class universities has also been reduced. The allocation for Prime Minister’s Girls’ hostels has been reduced by half.
Allocation for Research and Innovation Initiatives
- Reduction in Startup India and Design Innovation Initiatives: The Startup India initiative for higher educational institutions has been reduced and also provisions for the national initiative for design innovation have been reduced.
- Drastic Reduction in IMPRINT and SPARC Allocations: The allocations for IMPacting Research, INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) and the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) have also been drastically reduced.
- No Allocation for IMPRESS: The Budget does not provide any allocation for Impactful Policy Research in Social Sciences (IMPRESS).
- National Research Foundation awaits Cabinet Approval: The proposed National Research Foundation has been allotted ₹2,000 crore through the Department of Science and Technology, but this awaits approval from the Union cabinet.
Conclusion
- In today’s time, everyone wants to benefit and improve their lives. However, not investing enough in education could harm the growth and improvement of education. Unfortunately, the 2023 budget doesn’t offer anything new to make the sector ultimately effective. The education sector needs more investment to improve the quality of education and provide equal opportunities for all students.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Vibrant Villages Programme
Mains level: Border Areas tourism
Central Idea
- India has tremendous tourism potential in its border states, which remains largely untapped due to the remoteness of locations and difficulty of access. The government has made unprecedented efforts to build border infrastructure and announced plans to open villages along the northern border for tourists under the Vibrant Villages Programme. However, encouraging tourism in these areas requires promoting hubs of civilian presence, building necessary infrastructure, and conducting feasibility studies to ensure sustainable development.
- Improve infrastructure in villages along India’s border with China: The Vibrant Villages program is a government initiative aimed at improving infrastructure and creating job opportunities in villages situated along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
- Overview: The program involves a significant allocation of funds, i.e., Rs 4,800 crore, to upgrade 633 villages situated in five states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Under the programme, residential and tourist centres will be constructed.
- Objectives of the program: The program aims to enhance the living conditions of the people residing in the border areas and improve the security situation along the LAC with China.
- Expected Benefits: The Vibrant Villages program aims to provide better facilities like schools, 24×7 electricity, and more 4G telecommunication towers in the border areas to match what is available in settlements across the LAC.
- Strategy to enhance security: The Vibrant Villages program is part of the broader Indian government strategy to enhance security along the border with China. The investment in developing infrastructure and creating job opportunities is a crucial step towards improving the living conditions of the people in the border areas and enhancing the security situation along the LAC with China.
- Program is modelled after Chinese actions on LAC: The program is modelled after the Chinese military and civilian authorities’ actions on their side of the LAC to build permanent population settlements along the border.
Tourism potential in Border areas
- Karakoram:
- Regular motorcycle expeditions should be organised for civilians in cooperation with India’s major motorcycle manufacturers. Areas such as the Saser Kangri massif could be explored for mountaineering expeditions by small experienced teams in tandem with the armed forces and the Indian Mountaineering Federation.
- Areas around Pangong Lake:
- The area around Pangong Lake and Chushul is a delight for photographers and birdwatchers. In the Changthang wildlife sanctuary, there are wetlands and a thriving population of the Kiang, a wild ass.
- Lhari Peak is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
- The Demchok area is home to several hot springs that are popular for naturopathy cures.
- The nearby villages of Tsaga, Koyul and Hanle can also be further developed.
- Tourism can be promoted in the Tso Moriri lake area, with a particular focus on home stays.
- Mana Pass and Niti Valley in Uttarakhand:
- It is one of the world’s highest vehicle-accessible passes.
- The village of Mana is rich in mythology, believed to be the gateway to heaven, and is situated near popular destinations like Hemkund and the Valley of Flowers and the revered Badrinath shrine is located nearby.
- Tourists can enjoy sailing on the Deo Tal Lake near Mana, while skiing enthusiasts can make use of the nearby slopes. Mount Kamet and other peaks in the Nilang-Jadang valley are also ideal for mountaineering expeditions.
- Tourism Potential in Sikkim:
- In Sikkim, the region around Doka La is ripe for tourism.
- Pedong, Nathang Valley, Zuluk, Kupup, Baba Harbhajan Mandir and the Yak Gold Course, the highest golf course in the world, are nearby.
- Conducted tours, including trekking expeditions up to Batang La, could be a start.
- Bum La Pass in Arunachal Pradesh
- In the eastern sector, the Bum La Pass in Arunachal Pradesh is already a well-established tourism hub.
- There is scope to bring in more tourists all the way up to Zero Point, the site of border personnel meetings with China.
- Publicity should be given to the memorial built there in honour of Subedar (Baba) Joginder Singh, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for outstanding bravery in the battle near Tongpen La during the India-China war in 1962.
- Nearby, the Pangateng and Sangetsar lakes are picturesque.
- Expeditions on the lines of NIMAS’s Winter Bailey Trekking Expedition could attract international tourists to Tawang and the interiors of the State
What measures should be taken to promote commercial activity in India’s remote border areas?
- Transition from Military to Tourism in Remote Areas:
- Encourage Commercial Activity:
- Prioritize Tourism
- Build Infrastructure for Tourism
- Developing Border Areas for Sustainable Growth:
- Establish Civilian Hubs and Home Stays
- Allocate Border Area Development Programme Funds
- Install Vital Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Sources
Conclusion
- While developing border areas for security is crucial, conducting feasibility studies before implementing tourism projects is equally important to ensure sustainability. Unplanned construction violates norms and harms the Himalayan belt, so promoting sustainable infrastructure that benefits the local economy is necessary.
Mains Question
Q. India’s Border Areas have Tremendous Tourism Potential, but it remains largely untapped due to remoteness and accessibility. What measures should be taken to promote commercial activity in India’s remote border areas?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Green Hydrogen
Mains level: Green Hydrogen and Mission
Central Idea
- The 2023 Union Budget has allocated ₹19,700 crore for the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This will set in motion a programme that can position India as a green hydrogen (super)power.
- Clean and no harmful gas emission: The Green hydrogen is the one produced with no harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
- Produced by electrolysis of water: It is made by using clean electricity from surplus renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to electrolyse water. Electrolysers use an electrochemical reaction to split water into its components of hydrogen and oxygen, emitting zero-carbon dioxide in the process.
- Clean energy source: It can serve as an energy source (heavy industry, long-distance mobility, aviation, and power storage) and an energy carrier (as green ammonia or blended with natural gas).
- Energy intensive process: It is an energy-intensive process for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable power to achieve this.
All you need to know about National Green Hydrogen Mission
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission is a program launched by the government of India to promote the production and use of green hydrogen in the country.
- It aims to establish India as a leading producer and consumer of green hydrogen. The mission is expected to create demand for 100-125 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, 60-100 GW of electrolysers, and an investment opportunity of ₹8 lakh crore, while cutting 50 MMT of annual emissions.
Why is this important and what will it take?
- India’s ambitious renewable energy goal for 2030: By 2030, India aims to generate 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources, while also requiring an industrial energy transition.
- Industrial sectors contributing to India’s greenhouse gas emissions: Steel, cement, fertilizers, and petrochemicals contribute significantly to India’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
- Green hydrogen’s potential for fuelling industrial growth and reducing emissions: Green hydrogen has the potential to fuel industrial growth and reduce industrial emissions simultaneously.
- India’s production target for green hydrogen and its requirements: India has set a production target of five million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, surpassing that of any other single economy. This target would create a demand for 100-125 GW of renewable energy, 60-100 GW of electrolysers, and an investment opportunity of ₹8 lakh crore, while reducing annual emissions by 50 MMT.
- India’s advantage as a cost-effective green hydrogen producer: India’s abundance of sunshine and wind energy resources position it well to become one of the world’s most cost-effective green hydrogen producers.
Five Priorities(5Ps): For the vision to convert into reality
- Domestic demand is critical: If we are not a big player domestically, we cannot be a major player in the international market. The mission introduces a Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) fund for five years, with ₹13,000 crore as direct support to consume green hydrogen. This will encourage heavy industries to increase demand, offering economies of scale by which suppliers can reduce prices.
- India can be an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investment: Green hydrogen production projects announced/underway in India are far fewer compared to others. Green hydrogen is difficult and expensive to transport. The mission envisions green hydrogen hubs to consolidate production, end use and exports. A mission secretariat can ensure project clearance is streamlined and reduce financial risks.
- Support and targeted funding: Currently, manufacturers are importing stacks and assembling them. We must become more competitive with targeted public funding in manufacturing the most critical and high-value components of electrolysers in India.
- Establish bilateral partnerships to develop resilient supply chains: Globally, about 63 bilateral partnerships have emerged; Germany, South Korea and Japan have the most. Using yen- or euro-denominated loans for sales to Japan or to the EU, respectively, could reduce the cost of capital and help us become export competitive. India must cooperate with like-minded countries on trade, value chains, research and development, and standards
- Coordinate with major economies to develop rules for a global green hydrogen economy: In the absence of common global frameworks, attempts for rules and standards are being driven by collectives of private corporations rather than through structured intergovernmental processes. There are already signs of conflicting regulations and protectionist measures in major markets. These put India’s ambitions at risk.
What is Green Steel?
- Green steel refers to steel that is produced using sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.
- Green steel, is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and by utilizing low-emission technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
- One of the main ways to produce green steel is through the use of hydrogen instead of coal or natural gas as the reducing agent in the steel-making process.
- Green steel is seen as a way to reduce the environmental impact of the steel industry, which is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions.
- Costs of green steel, made from green hydrogen, are currently much higher, but could be reduced with economies of scale and changes in production technologies
Conclusion
- India’s G20 presidency is an opportunity to craft rules for a global green hydrogen economy. These rules must address operational threats, industrial competitiveness and strategic threats. India should promote a global network on green hydrogen via which companies could collaborate. Green hydrogen will be a critical industrial fuel of the 21st century. India is well-positioned to show leadership in our collective interest and that of the planet.
Mains Question
Q. What is National Green Hydrogen Mission launched by the government of India? Discuss the key priorities of the mission that will they help India achieve its ambitious production target.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: India-Germany Relations Green Hydrogen Mission
Central Idea
- India and Germany are enhancing their relationship through bilateral talks and collaboration, with Germany showing interest in being a key partner in India’s defence, trade, and clean energy. The recent visit of German Chancellor Scholz to India highlights the importance of India-German cooperation in shaping a new global order.
- Freedom struggle: Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent freedom fighter for Indian independence, made a determined effort to obtain India’s independence from Britain by seeking military assistance from the Axis powers. The Indische Legion was formed to serve as a liberation force for British-ruled India principally made up of Indian prisoners of war.
- Diplomacy: India maintained diplomatic relations with both West Germany and East Germany and supported their reunification in 1990. Contrary to France and the UK, Germany has no strategic footprint in Asia.
- Past contentions: Germany condemned India for liberating Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961 and supported Portugal’s dictatorial regime under Salazar against India. It was critical of India for intervening in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. It rejected India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
- Quest for UNSC: India and Germany both seek to become permanent members of the UNSC and have joined with Japan and Brazil to coordinate their efforts via the G4 collective.
- Cultural ties: Germany has supported education and cultural programs in India. Germany helped establish the IIT Madras after both governments signed an agreement in 1956 and increased its cooperation and supply of technology and resources over the decades to help expand the institution
- Trade and investment: Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe. Germany is the 8th largest foreign direct investor (FDI) in India.
What is the significance of Chancellor Scholz’s visit to India?
- Chancellor Scholz’s visit to India is significant as it builds on Germany’s growing political outreach to Asia and highlights India’s importance as a key partner in Germany’s overall strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.
- The visit aimed to expand cooperation between India and Germany in areas such as defence, trade, clean energy, migration, digital transformation, and the Indo-Pacific.
- It also assumes greater importance as India holds the G-20 presidency this year and seeks to avoid geopolitics hampering cooperation in the forum.
India-Germany Cooperation: Opportunities
- Defence collaboration: Germany could become an important defence partner for India as the country attempts to diversify from its military dependence on Russia. The two countries have discussed co-development of military hardware and tech transfers, and a deal worth $5.2 billion where Germany would jointly build six conventional submarines in India could be underway.
- Economic ties: India and Germany share strong economic ties, with Germany being India’s largest trading partner in the European Union. Germany is also interested in stability of supply chains and trade routes linking Asia to Europe, given its status as Europe’s economic powerhouse and its reliance on exports.
- Indo-Pacific region: Germany’s overall strategy for the Indo-Pacific region mentions India as a key partner. Germany has enhanced its political outreach to Asia, including India, as part of this strategy.
- Multilateral cooperation: Both cooperate in multilateral forums, including as part of the G-4 grouping pushing for United Nations Security Council reform, and as evident in Germany’s invitation to Mr. Modi to attend last year’s G-7 summit.
- Development projects: A recent agreement on India-Germany triangular cooperation involving development projects in third countries is an important step in enhancing strategic involvement in the region.
- Security collaboration: The first ever France-India-Germany military exercise drill is slated to take place in 2024 towards enhanced security and defence collaboration.
India-Germany Cooperation: Challenges
- Different geopolitical priorities: Germany is focused on ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region for the sake of trade and economic growth, while India is more concerned with territorial conflicts with neighbouring China.
- Germany’s economic dependence on China: Germany has strong economic ties with China, making it difficult to completely decouple from the country. This creates a challenge for Germany in trying to balance its economic interests with its security interests.
- Differences in defence capabilities: India and Germany have different defence capabilities and priorities, which can make it challenging to collaborate effectively on defence projects.
- Historical baggage: Germany’s colonial past and role in World War II can create challenges in developing closer relations with India, particularly in the context of Germany’s efforts to deepen its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.
Conclusion
- Amidst geopolitical shifts and multipolarity, New Delhi’s ties with Berlin could be vital in shaping a new global order. There are high expectations on both sides regarding the potential for deeper collaboration, particularly in the defence sector. However, it will take time and effort to develop the necessary trust and alignment of interests.
Mains Question
Q. In recent times, India and Germany have been enhancing their relationship through bilateral talks and collaboration. In light of this, discuss challenges and opportunities that lie ahead?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: 5G
Mains level: 5G, Security and challenges
Central Idea
- With the arrival of 5G technology, all electronic devices will potentially be connected to the internet. Cyber damage scenarios, imagined only in dystopian fiction, could become a reality. A collaborative approach between the government, academia, and businesses is necessary to address these cyber security concerns and ensure that 5G technology is safe and secure for consumers.
- Latest advancement: 5G, or fifth-generation wireless technology, is the latest advancement in mobile communication and internet technology.
- Higher frequency spectrum: 5G operates on a higher frequency spectrum than 4G, typically between 24 GHz to 90 GHz. This higher frequency range allows for faster data transfer rates and lower latency.
- MIMO technology: 5G uses a technology called MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) to transmit and receive multiple data streams simultaneously. This allows for greater capacity and faster speeds.
- Network slicing: It also utilizes network slicing, which enables the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical network. This allows for more efficient use of network resources and can improve overall network performance.
- Applications: 5G technology is expected to enable the development and implementation of emerging technologies such as self-driving cars, virtual and augmented reality, and smart cities.
Security Features of 5G Technology
- Security-by-Design Approach: 5G technology is designed with a security-by-design approach that embeds security features from the beginning. This approach ensures that security is an integral part of the technology, rather than an afterthought.
- Strong Encryption Standards: 5G technology incorporates strong encryption standards that make it extremely difficult for attackers to access and use any information they might obtain. Even if an attacker manages to obtain some information, it will be in an unusable format.
- Interconnected Device Protection: 5G technology also includes protocols that protect the confidentiality of interconnected devices. These protocols prevent unauthorized access and ensure that data transmitted between devices remains secure and private.
What are the Concerns?
- Inheriting past vulnerabilities: The initial wave of 5G will be built on existing 4G infrastructure, therefore, it will inherit vulnerabilities of the past.
- Multiplying privacy concerns: More devices connected to the internet increase the scope of cyber-attacks. In a connected network, such attacks can spread like wildfire if not contained in time. Privacy concerns are bound to multiply as the number of devices increases.
- Concerns about pre-ban imported equipment: A bulk of 5G network components have been imported and manufactured in factories based in China. Imports of such equipment have been banned. However, concern remains about the use of the equipment that was imported before the ban came into effect.
- For instance, concerns over user privacy: Many countries including the USA and Canada have expressed concerns over protocols used by Huawei and ZTE that compromise the privacy of users.
What can be done to Ensure 5G Security
- Collaborative efforts between government, academia, and businesses: Governments should work with industry experts and academia to develop comprehensive security measures and policies that align with the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
- Ongoing security testing: Telecom companies should perform regular security testing of their 5G infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities and address them before they can be exploited by attackers. Telecom companies and ethical hackers can be invited to test infrastructure.
- For instance: C-DOT’s 5G alliance focuses on security aspects, it needs to be scaled up as a Center of Excellence involving IITs and CERT-In.
- Reward mechanisms: Offering incentives to 5G service providers who adhere to high security standards can promote better security practices across the industry.
- Consumer education: Government agencies like CERT-In can publish easy-to-understand advisories to educate end-users on best practices to protect themselves and their devices from potential security breaches.
- Greater responsibility: All stakeholders must assume greater responsibility to protect the 5G ecosystem from cyber threats.
- International cooperation: International cooperation between governments and organizations can help establish global standards and guidelines for 5G security, promoting greater consistency and transparency in security practices.
Conclusion
- Consumers are at the heart of the 5G ecosystem and need to be aware of the security challenges. Exciting times await us in 2023. All stakeholders need to prepare for the security challenges of the 5G package.
Mains Question
Q. Technology upgrade comes with advantages and challenges. In this light discuss security features concerns related to the implementation of 5G technology?
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Adopt a Heritage project, Monument Mitras
Mains level: Adopt a Heritage project and concerns
Central Idea
- Businesses that enter agreements with ASI to adopt sites are going to be known as Monument Mitras. The tenfold increase in the number of sites being brought under the ambit of the controversial ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme of 2017 raises concerns. Unless the ‘revamped’ scheme is suspended, the nation’s precious pluralistic heritage stands at the threshold of obliteration.
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All you need to know about Adopt a Heritage project
- Initiative of Ministry of Tourism: The ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme was launched by the Indian government in September 2017 under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- Objective: The main objective of the scheme is to provide world class tourist facilities at the various natural/cultural heritage sites, monuments and other tourist sites to make them tourist friendly, enhance their tourist potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner across the country.
- Primary focus: The project primarily focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public convenience, drinking water, ease of access for tourists, signage etc. and advanced amenities like TFC, Souvenir shop, Cafeteria etc.
- Monument Mitra: The public, private sector companies and individuals will develop tourist amenities at heritage sites. They would become ‘Monument Mitra’ and adopt the sites essentially under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.
- Current plan side-lines the ASI mandate: The current plan also side-lines the mandate of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and abandons The Sarnath Initiative, guidelines devised by the ASI, the Getty Trust, U.S., the British Museum, and National Culture Fund to safe keep excavated objects and present them to visitors in an engaging manner.
- Undermine local communities and their relationships with historical sites: Guided tours led by employees of large businesses who have received permission to adopt a monument may endanger livelihoods of those who have lived near the site and made a living by regaling visitors with stories of its colourful past.
- Excessive wear and tear: The potential of big businesses to underwrite a monument’s illumination is also troubling. Night tourism will also pull electricity away from rural homesteads and hospitals.
- It may alter historical character of monuments which are not under ASI: There are some monuments selected for the scheme that are not protected by the ASI and are in States without Archaeology Directorates. One fears that businesses that sign agreements with the Union Ministry of Culture to adopt these monuments will be able to alter their historical character without much opposition.
What might Corporate India instead do to look after the nation’s-built heritage?
- Businesses can help citizens understand why monuments matter: This can be done by earmarking CSR funds for grants for researching, writing, and publishing high quality textbooks, and developing imaginative and effective ways of teaching history.
- For instance: Corporates might also follow the lead taken by Sudha Murthy and N.R. Narayana Murthy in giving gifts to organizations such as the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune to continue their missions of writing history by rationally coordinating the textual record and the archaeological evidence.
- Skillful conservation: Industrial houses can support the meaningful conservation of heritage buildings by looking within. Their CSR funds can be used to purchase new equipment that release fewer noxious gases that darken and corrode marble buildings and discharge fewer effluents into rivers, thus making these water bodies less likely to serve as breeding grounds of microbes that gather on the walls of ancient buildings erected on riverbanks and cause their decay.
- For instance: In the past, Tata Sons, ONGC, and other companies have regularly contributed funds to organisations training individuals in much needed restoration skills and creating jobs for them.
- Collaborative efforts: The private sector’s resources and expertise may also help the ASI and State Archaeology Directorates to secure monuments from dams, mining projects, defacement, and looting.
Climate change: Significant threat to India’s historical monuments
- Sanchi Stupa: The 3rd-century BC Buddhist monument in Madhya Pradesh is facing a threat from increasing rainfall and humidity. The stone is deteriorating due to the changes in weather patterns, leading to the loss of carvings and sculptures.
- Mahabalipuram Monuments: The 7th-century rock-cut monuments in Tamil Nadu are facing a threat from sea-level rise and erosion. The monuments, which are located close to the shore, are being battered by the waves, leading to the loss of sculptures and carvings.
- Sun Temple, Konark: The 13th-century temple, made of Khondalite stone, is facing a threat from rising temperatures and humidity. The stone is expanding and contracting due to the changes in temperature, leading to cracks and erosion.
- Hampi Monuments: The 14th-century monuments in Karnataka are facing a threat from heavy rainfall and flooding. The monuments, which are made of granite, are being eroded by the rainwater, leading to the loss of carvings and sculptures.
- Rajasthan’s Shekhawati’s murals: Shekhawati is known for its beautifully painted havelis with intricate frescoes and murals. Greater fluctuations in temperature are peeling away Shekhawati’s murals.
- Ladakh’s stucco houses: Higher rainfall is leading Ladakh’s stucco houses to crumble. The traditional way of building houses in Ladakh is under threat due to climate change, which is affecting the durability of the structures.
- Taj Mahal: The monument built in the 17th century, is facing a threat from rising pollution and changing weather patterns. The white marble is turning yellow due to air pollution.
- Sea forts in Maharashtra: Rising sea levels are leading to water percolation into forts along Maharashtra’s coast. Salination is eating into their foundations.
Conclusion
- Currently, India’s progress in diverse fields is being projected at G-20 events across the nation. By embracing forward-thinking principles of historical preservation, businesses, government agencies, and civil society groups can showcase India’s genuine progress in this arena. Maybe their efforts will inspire more citizens to participate in the pressing task of safeguarding India’s pluralistic heritage.
Mains Question
Q. What is Adopt a Heritage project? Why there needs a scrutiny of such project, highlight the concerns and suggest what else can be done?
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