25 Dec 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Under Modi 2.0, a course-corrected foreign policy

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Prelims: Foreign Policy of India; India’s Neighborhood

Mains: Recent changes in India’s Foreign policy

Context: 

This article discusses the changes in India’s Foreign Policy so far.

Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy

• First period from 1947 to 1991:
  • This period was dominated by two rival superpowers, the USA and the USSR. 
  • Global economic and financial power was usurped by the western developed countries primarily the US and its European allies.
• Second phase from 1991 to 2008:
  • Two major events in 1991 kick-started the process of change. 
  • The former Soviet Union collapsed and splintered into many independent countries, Russia being the largest among them, and successor to the USSR in the UN. 
  • The second was the foreign currency crisis faced by India, the likes of which we had never experienced before.
• Third period is from 2008 to the present times:
  • In 2008, the US and the global banking and financial systems were severely jolted, starting with the collapse of the Lehman Brothers. 
  • This led to a severe economic meltdown in the advanced economies of the world.

Factors that contribute Stability and Dynamism in India’s foreign policy:

• The country’s relative political stability, particularly as compared to India’s South Asian neighbours.
• The constitutional decisions taken by India’s founding fathers in 1950 imbued the country with socio-religious balance.
• Poverty reduction and abolition as an ongoing state-led effort.
• Strategic independence is sought in foreign policy and practices, as seen by the fact that, although abandoning non-alignment as a policy instrument, India has been cautious not to be identified with any camp or coalition aimed against a third nation or group of countries.
• The continuity offered by the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), which includes the majority of positions in the Ministry of External Affairs as well as all Indian Diplomatic Missions and Special Offices across the world.

What makes India’s Foreign Policy process dynamic and responsive? The factors are:

1. India’s geopolitical potential: India is clearly the dominant power in South Asia and the principal player in the Indian Ocean region.
2. India’s military might: It globally is the second largest in terms of manpower deployed and third largest in terms of the annual defense budget – a factor that contributes to flexibility in our diplomatic postures.
3. Demographic dividend: It is currently enjoyed by India as it is posited on the ambition and drive of India’s millennials who are generally anti-status quo and dynamic.
4. Chinese Competition: The pressure to catch up with China on the foreign relations establishment in India ensures innovation at every stage.
5. Digitization: The unmitigated movement towards digitization is ushering change in the way diplomats communicate with each other and with the public. Public services offered like passports and visas are now increasingly digitized.
6. Indian diaspora: Indian diaspora spread across the globe, estimated to be between 20 to 25 million in numbers, second only to the Chinese diaspora, adds to the dynamism injected in Indian overseas relationships and achievements.

Major Aspects of Changes in India’s Foreign Policy: 

• Conciliatory policy

• Today, India’s neighbourhood policy is an act of cautious, measured, and well-thought-out policy overtures to the majority of the region, with a profound desire to reclaim the neighbours. 
• Because of ideological connotations and aggressive actions, relations with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka were problematic. 
• The interference in Kathmandu’s Constitution-making process and the ensuing embargo of Nepal; irritating Bangladeshis with derogatory references; and aiming to be the kingmaker in Sri Lankan elections, among other things, appeared to be motivated by an arrogant attitude.

• Change in neighbourhood policy

• India’s new Nepal strategy, which is free of Hindutva delusions and diplomatic imperialism, as well as cordial outreach to both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, are already bearing fruit. 
• If ‘illegal Bangladeshi migrants’ do not become an issue in India’s approaching elections, the goodwill engendered by the recent golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan might enhance the relationship even further.

• Effective multilateralism

• India’s international activities have also become more result-driven and interest-driven, which it appears to pursue without falling prey to a holier-than-thou attitude. 
• India’s membership and chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) saw the country take several firm stances. 
  • India’s deft formulation of the international body’s approach to the Afghan situation, including an appeal to the Taliban. 
  • The global climate change negotiations in Glasgow, while opposing moves to securitize climate change at the UN Security Council.

• Balancing contradictions

• India’s foreign policy has demonstrated considerable agility and flexibility in addressing those paradoxes. 
• India’s balancing efforts in the larger West Asian area have been outstanding as well: between Arab Nations and Israel, Israel and Iran, Iran and the Gulf states, and Iran and the US. 
• In all of these cases, Iran looks to be the weakest link in New Delhi’s West Asian balancing act, but that is not the case.

• QUAD

• The emergence of the West Asian Quad, comprising the United States, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, is another indicator of New Delhi’s newfound foreign policy savvy. 
• On the other hand, given the MEA’s acute personnel shortfall, the issue is whether New Delhi can deliver on all of these prospective collaborations. 
• If New Delhi wants to be a system-shaping power, it needs more men and women to carry out its mission.

• Change with China’s Relations

• India’s ties with China have also undergone some careful balance. Despite the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), bilateral trade between India and China has increased. 
• Even as it strengthens its involvement in the Quad, India has been able to engage the China-dominated Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

• Realities of geoeconomics

• India has shown a high level of mistrust regarding free trade agreements (FTA). India opted not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2019. 
• The sole FTA signed in the last seven years was with ASEAN in 2015, despite the fact that much of the work was done by the Manmohan Singh government.

Also read: India’s bilateral relations

Conclusion: 

India appears to have recognised that pursuing national interests is a serious business that must go beyond the promotion of ideological preferences and personality cults.

Pakistan and terrorism do not constitute existential dangers to India, and India should not expend too much diplomatic capital on them.

2. Simple ways to better counts of Omicron in India

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Prelims: Omicron

Mains: Ways to count Omicron in India

Context:

This article discusses the ways to count Omicron cases in India.

Ways to Count Omicron Cases in India: 

• Genome sequencing: 

• The reported instances of Omicron infections are the result of genomic monitoring conducted by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
• Genome sequencing is difficult, and just 38 facilities in the United States are capable of sequencing a virus as infectious as this one.
• As a result, only a tiny percentage of affected people provide viral samples for sequencing.

• RTPCR Tests: 

• According to the MoHFW, India did over 12 lakh RT-PCR tests every day, with approximately 0.5 percent of the test findings being positive. INSACOG has sequenced just a small percentage of these genomes.
• If the viral genomes to be sequenced were picked at random from the newly infected, one would have to assume that there are around 20,000 Omicron positive cases in India.
• However, all public health organisations across the world have assumed that the Omicron form developed recently and is currently being transferred around the world. As a result, the sequencing effort has favoured international tourists.

• Improving the estimates

• The data-handling agencies and scientists who run statistical models would be able to greatly refine these estimations and limit the range of uncertainty. 
• However, there may be issues about medical privacy that restrict the government and its agencies from making such data information public.

Conclusion: 

Given the numbers made available by the MoHFW and INSACOG, it is possible for individuals to estimate their personal health risks from COVID-19, whether they stay at home or travel for work or on vacation.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to the Right to Education:

1. The Act mandates that non-minority private unaided schools should reserve at least 25% of seats in entry-level grades for children from economically weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. In 1993, the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh & Others held that Education is a fundamental right flowing from Article 21.
3. Tapas Majumdar Committee (1999) was set up, which encompassed the insertion of Article 21A.

Choose the correct statements:

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation

• Section 12(1)(c) mandates that non-minority private unaided schools should reserve at least 25% of seats in entry-level grades for children from economically weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• In 1993, the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh & Others held that Education is a fundamental right flowing from Article 21. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• Tapas Majumdar Committee (1999) was set up, which encompassed the insertion of Article 21A. Hence Statement 3 is correct.

Q2. Which of the following statements with regards to NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope 
is not correct?

1. It is the most powerful infrared telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
2. It is also considered a successor of the Hubble Telescope and will extend and complement its discoveries.
3. It was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, and has made more than 1.4 million observations, including tracking interstellar objects, capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter, and discovering moons around Pluto.
4. The telescope is the result of an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation

• The James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful infrared telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• It is also considered a successor of the Hubble Telescope and will extend and complement its discoveries. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has made more than 1.4 million observations, including tracking interstellar objects, capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter, and discovering moons around Pluto. Hence Statement 3 is correct.
• The telescope is the result of an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.  Hence Statement 4 is not correct.

Q3. ___________ was one of the most well renowned revolutionary leaders of the Indian National 
Movement. He passed the ICS examination securing the 11th rank out of 250 candidates and 
joined King’s College for the training but had himself disqualified for an exam by arriving 
deliberately late as he had no interest in the ICS. He joined the Baroda service in 1893. 
He also did jobs like teaching grammar and composing speeches for the Maharaja of Gaekwad. 
In 1905, he started an English newspaper called Bande Mataram.

Who is ‘he’ in this above passage?

1. Rash Behari Bose
2. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh
3. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
4. Jatindranath Mukherjee

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: 

About Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

• He was a well-known and significant figure in the history of Indian revival and Indian nationalism.
• As a revolutionary leader, he was lured to the Indian liberation struggle.
• He passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS) test, finishing 11th out of 250 applicants.
• He enrolled at King’s College for training but disqualified himself from a test by coming late on purpose since he had no interest in the ICS.
• In 1897, he began teaching French at Baroda College while simultaneously learning Sanskrit and Bengali.
• In 1902, he helped form the Anushilan Samiti of Calcutta by attending Congress sessions.

Q4. Who amongst the following decides on the election schedule for the state assembly 
elections?

1. Election Commission of India
2. State Election Commission
3. Governor in consultation with State Election Commission
4. President of India

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation

• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. 
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• Hence Statement 1 is correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. The Petroleum and Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India.
2. One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas.
3. Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity.

Which of the statements given above are correct? [UPSC 2019]

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation

• The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act of 2006 established the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).  TRAI is India’s first independent regulator.  Hence Statement 1 is not correct.
• PNGRB is responsible for ensuring competitive gas markets. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• To settle conflicts, the PNGRB will have the same authority as a civil court. The Appellate Tribunal created under Section 110 of the Electricity Act of 2003 (36 of 2003) serves as the Appellate Tribunal for the purposes of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act of 2006.  Hence Statement 3 is correct.