11 Jan 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Lessons from Russia’s Ukraine war

Syllabus: Effects of policies and politics of the developed countries.

Mains: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Changing world order.

Prelims: Russia-UKraine Conflict.

Context: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine has completed more than 10 months.

Introduction:

• In 1939, Winston Churchill referred to Russia as “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”. It is argued that these words still hold relevance, as ten months have passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Russia created an aura of power around itself before starting the war. For instance,
  • Georgia’s ambition to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was disrupted.
  • Russia made forays into West Asia neutralizing Israel and Turkey (American allies).
  • It also took Crimea without a fight.
  • Russia again became an energy superpower.
• However, the aura of the country slipped as Russia’s superior troops struggled to cope with battlefield setbacks in Ukraine.
• Russia’s objectives and future course of action are still uncertain and lack clarity. For instance, the retreating Russian troops annexed four Ukrainian regions, and talks with Ukraine were offered even when their missiles attacked Ukrainian infrastructure. 

For more information on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, read here: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine 2022

Changing World Order:

• The United States established itself as a de facto unilateral power after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. It was at the pinnacle of its power in the 1990s.
• However, in the last few years, there were signs of the end of American unilateralism: 
  • The U.S. got stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was even perceived to be defeated in Afghanistan.
  • Russia intervened in Georgia and annexed Crimea.
  • Iran’s militancy grew in West Asia.
  • China became more powerful.
  • The Ukraine war, the largest land war in Europe since the end of World War II, is the sharpest manifestation of the shifting global order.
• As suggested by realists, the world is returning to essential anarchy, where great powers compete to maximize their powers. 
• It is well realized by the U.S. that the world has changed and its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a lesson from its Cold War period. The U.S. is trying to keep the Western alliance together. It has further said that the ‘rules-based order’ faces serious challenges from Russia and China. 
• However, the U.S. is also not willing to engage in a direct conflict with Russia.

Lessons learned from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

• When special military operations were ordered by Russia in Ukraine, there was an expectation of quick victory. But the power of Ukrainian nationalism (believed to be non-existent) and the resolve of the West (thought to be weakened by internal division and external setbacks) was miscalculated.
• Ukraine survived the initial Russian thrust and later opened avenues for Russia’s rivals in the West to start supplying Ukraine with money, weapons, artillery, intelligence, and mercenaries.
• The minor conflict that began in Eastern Ukraine in 2014 has turned out to be a de facto war between Russia and the collective West within the borders of Ukraine. Russia is under enormous pressure as it can’t retreat without accepting political and geopolitical costs.
• This reflects the limitation of great powers. Other examples of great powers getting stuck in smaller theatres are:
  • The U.S. intervention in Vietnam
  • The U.S.’s invasion of Afghanistan
  • Soviet intervention in Afghanistan 

Also read: Ukrainian Crisis

China’s Angle in the Russia-Ukraine War:

• The tensions between China and the U.S. rose in 2022 on the account of Taiwan. 
• It is argued by American strategists that defeating Russia in Ukraine would discourage China to advance toward Taiwan. On the other hand, if Russia gets away with Ukraine, China would be further emboldened.
• China and Russia today boast of limitless relationships.
• The U.S. is getting more dragged into Europe (similar to Cold War-like entanglement) and has spent enormous resources on Ukraine. If the U.S. gets further distracted in Europe, China would strengthen its ties with Russia and spreads its influence elsewhere. 
• The question that would hit the U.S. in the near term is whether the amount of time, resources, and energy spent on Ukraine (to weaken Russia) are worth changing the world where China is its biggest rival.

Also read: China vs Taiwan: RSTV – Big Picture

Nut Graf: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not have the expected results as a small country like Ukraine gave a formidable challenge to one of the superpowers. The global order is changing and there are lessons for the great powers, particularly the United States which was once the de facto leader of the global order.

Category: INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE/INDIAN ECONOMY

1. The beginning of India’s cultural renaissance

Syllabus: Indian culture; Indian Industries.

Mains: Kashi-Tamil Sangamam; Textile Sector of India.

Prelims: Kashi-Tamil Sangamam; Status of Textile Sector in India.

Introduction:

• The month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam displayed Tamil culture and heralded a new era of intermingling and revitalizing ancient Indian traditions with the help of modern practices. This also contributes to the cultural and economic growth of the country. 
• The event further carried forward the tradition of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

Background details:

• Kashi is one of the oldest living cities in the world, and Tamil Nadu is the state where people speak the world’s oldest language. 
• Both regions have old and rich traditions of arts, music, craftsmanship, philosophy, spirituality, and literature. 
• There is little knowledge among the general public about the linkage between the two traditional centres of India.
• The recently developed Kashi Vishwanath corridor, which connects the Jyotirling with the Ganga, enriches traditions with modernity for the benefit of the residents as well as visitors. Similarly, the Sangamam provided a unique platform to rediscover and integrate India’s ancient heritage and knowledge with modern philosophy, thought, craftsmanship, and technology. 

For more information on Sangamam, read here: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. Dec 17th, 2022

Textile Conclave:

• The textile conclave was also organized during the Sangamam, where several experts from the textile industry (both from Tamil Nadu and Kashi) shared their knowledge and experiences. 
• The Indian government has a vision of raising textiles exports to $100 billion by 2030 and creating new opportunities in the sector. It is a key sector of India’s mission to become a developed country by 2047.
• The sector has great potential to create jobs. Moreover, the textiles market of India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12-13% and reach approximately $2 trillion by 2047. 
• The 5F formula that is, ‘farm, fibre, fabric, fashion, and foreign’, proposed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will accelerate growth and transform the lives of farmers and weavers. 
• The Indian government is also encouraging technical textiles that are used in protective clothing, bulletproof vests, vehicles, and construction. 
• Kashi and Tamil Nadu will play an important role in the vision. The Sanagamam was thus crucial in accelerating development and focusing on the welfare of the poor, promoting local industries and handicrafts, and eventually reflecting the love for Indian culture.
• Apart from the textile industry, traditional wooden toys were also promoted. 
• The One District One product scheme is also a step by the government of India to take Indian products to the global markets.
• Traditional products will also get a boost from initiatives like the Open Network for Digital Commerce and the Government e-Marketplace.

For information on Government e-Marketplace, read here: GeM: Government e-Marketplace

Conclusion:

• The Sangamam concluded on 16th December 2022. It has ignited a new cultural zeal in India.
• Home Minister Shri Amit Shah exclaimed that the Sangamam is the beginning of India’s cultural renaissance that is not just limited to Tamil Nadu and Kashi and will further extend to all cultures of India.

Also read: Kashi Tamil Sangamam

Nut Graf: The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam was a great step in reviving the ancient link between the two traditional centres of India. Moreover, it has also paid attention to the traditional textile sector with an essence of modernity, which will play a major role in the path of development. It is also suggested that such efforts will be taken in future as well covering all the cultures of India.

Category: INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Barking up the wrong tree

Syllabus: Powers, functions, and responsibilities of constitutional bodies.

Mains: Remote voting proposal of Election Commission and associated challenges.

Context: Recent proposal of the Election Commission of India to grant voting rights to migrants.

Details:

• The Election Commission of India (EC) has proposed to introduce remote voting. 
  • Remote voting is a facility that will enable voters who are residents elsewhere to vote in their home constituencies. 
• The commission further intends to use isolated remote voting machines (RVMs) whose prototype will be demonstrated to all political parties on 16 January.

For more information, read here: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. Jan 2nd, 2023

Challenges Associated with Remote Voting:

• There are several concerns about the assurance of the application and the ability to remotely vote without any hindrance. The conditions on which it will be denied and the public verifiability of the related protocols are other related issues. The solution to such queries lies in the digitization of the electoral roll, which itself requires thorough examination.
• Another major concern is the ambiguity in validating remote voting and the invalidation of local voting. The two different lists in two different locations will be difficult to manage.
• The location of VVPAT auditing – home constituency or remote location is another challenge. If it is a remote location then consolidation and counting will be impacted. And, if it is a home constituency then vote secrecy will be compromised.
• There are also doubts about the verifiability and software independence of EVMs.
• Other questions are: Who will be the polling agents in the remote location and how non-coercion of voters will be ensured in the different political environments?

Examples from Other Countries:

• Due to demands for public verifiability of elections, the German Constitutional rejected the use of EVM in 2009. This decision was emulated in several other jurisdictions in Europe, America, and Pakistan. 
• The U.S. National Academy of Sciences in a public report of 2018 also recommended against pure electronic voting. 
• An alternative to ensure software independence is to audit the electronic results through VVPATs, either with a complete count or that of a statistically significant sample. This procedure is called a risk-limiting audit in voting literature. 
• However, it is argued by many experts that VVPAT audits in India are not on the desired lines. Even the Supreme Court’s decision of auditing five randomly selected EVMs in every Assembly constituency was also inappropriate. 
• The EC is also accused of ignoring the plea of a 2020 report of a Citizens’ Commission on Elections.

Conclusion:

The demonstration of usability is essential for public acceptability but they do not address the issues of security or safety.

Also read: Electoral Reforms in India

Nut Graf: The Election Commission of India’s efforts to introduce remote voting is appreciable. But they have several associated concerns. The need of the hour is to address the issues and focus on ensuring the verifiability of remote voting.