29 Jan 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. A closer look at Myanmar’s discontent

Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s Interests

Mains: India needs to reassess its Myanmar policy in the backdrop of continuing Military Rule

Introduction: The Aftermath of the 2019 Coup

• February marks three years since the Myanmar military seized power, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
• The coup triggered a massive civil disobedience movement and the formation of a National Unity Government with the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs).

Escalation of Armed Resistance:

• Ethnic armed organizations, including the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and Ta’ang National Liberation Army, launched coordinated attacks last October.
• Significant losses were inflicted on the military, leading to territorial control shifts in regions like Shan State and Paletwa Town.

National Unity Failure: Military’s Inability to Strengthen Unity

• The military’s objective to strengthen national unity has backfired, evidenced by the significant territorial concessions to ethnic armed groups and PDFs.
• Historical context: The military has previously lost and regained ground, but the current situation is different due to widespread popular discontent.

Reasons for Territorial Loss: Beyond Military Incapacity

• The military’s loss of territory is not solely due to incapacity; reports indicate challenges in recruiting from Bamar-dominated regions.
• Sporadic reports of government officials, doctors, and police supporting the resistance, while military personnel surrender to armed groups.

China’s Strategy to Protect Interests

• China defends the Myanmar military internationally, while ethnic armed organizations on the northern border maintain close relations with China.
• Rumours suggest China used the ethnic alliance to address online scams, leading to a ceasefire agreement between rebels and the Myanmar army.

ASEAN’s Response and Regional Dynamics:

• ASEAN’s five-point consensus and exclusion of Myanmar’s military from summits.
• Limited impact: ASEAN’s special envoy faces challenges in engaging with relevant stakeholders, and some ASEAN members are becoming more critical of the coup.

Thailand’s Influence and Engagement:

• Thailand, with a significant border, wields influence in Myanmar.
• Engagement with both military leadership and Aung San Suu Kyi, along with efforts to assist displaced communities and engage with exile organisations.

India’s Role and Potential Policy Shift:

• India’s proactive humanitarian approach could provide relief to displaced communities and reduce refugee inflow.
• Recognition of three political realities: persistent discontent, resilient resistance to the coup, and a politically fragmented Myanmar.
• Suggestion for India to re-calibrate its Myanmar policy in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Nut Graf: Three years post-coup, Myanmar grapples with escalating armed resistance, territorial losses, and deepening discontent. China employs a multi-layered strategy, ASEAN’s response is limited, while India is urged to consider a proactive humanitarian approach and reassess its Myanmar policy.

2. Analysing China’s ties with Africa

Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s Interests

Mains: Rising China’s influence in Africa 

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi’s Africa Trip:

• Countries Visited: Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, Ivory Coast.
• Purpose: Implementation of China-Africa Leaders Dialogue outcomes, fostering economic and security cooperation, and preparing for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation 2024 (FOCAC).
• Key Initiatives: Support for Africa’s industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development.

Historical Context of China-Africa Relations:

• Origin: Dating back to the 1950s, with Chinese support for African liberation movements during the Cold War.
• UN Security Council Seat: Africa played a crucial role in China acquiring its seat in the UN Security Council in the 1970s.
• Shift in Focus: From ideological support to investment in 1999 under the “Go Out Policy.”
• FOCAC: First held in 2000, marking the evolution from trade to aid to mutual security assistance under Xi Jinping.
• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Launched in 2013, enhancing connectivity with 52 African countries.

China’s Objectives in Africa:

• Resource Access: Securing key resources such as Cobalt, Platinum, and Coltan, is vital for China’s tech industry.
• Geopolitical Influence: Leveraging Africa’s position as the largest bloc in the UN General Assembly for support on international issues.
• Currency Promotion: Encouraging the use of the Chinese Yuan (RMB) in trade and investments, offering financial incentives.
• Commercial Opportunities: Tapping into Africa’s markets for finished goods, exploiting a young population and affordable labour.

Implications for Africa:

• Economic Benefits: Significant investment, trade, and development aid from China in exchange for natural resources.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): China emerges as a major source, contributing to infrastructure development and industrial parks.
• Agricultural Advancements: Chinese support in advancing hybrid crops aids Africa’s agricultural sector.
• ‘Win-Win’ Partnership: Perceived as a mutually beneficial relationship with high levels of trust.
• Non-Interference Policy: China’s approach contrasts with the West, offering African countries opportunities without political conditionality.
• Debt Concerns: Western countries fear of Chinese investments being predatory and leading to debt traps, although some countries have manageable debt arrangements.
• Authoritarian Regimes: Chinese non-interference rhetoric provides space for certain authoritarian regimes to maintain power.

Nut Graf: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent African tour aimed at implementing outcomes from the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue, emphasizing economic and security cooperation. Rooted in a historic relationship, China seeks resources, geopolitical influence, currency promotion, and commercial opportunities in Africa, fostering economic development and facing scrutiny over debt concerns.

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Aadhaar-based pay a bad idea for MGNREGS

Syllabus: Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes

Mains: Aadhaar-Based Payment Systems (ABPS)  in MGNREGS and issues associated with it 

Introduction:

• The Rural Development Ministry mandated Aadhaar-Based Payment Systems (ABPS) in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on January 1.
• Despite multiple deadline extensions and worker memorandums against it, ABPS became obligatory, leading to concerns.

Two Modes of Wage Payments:

• MGNREGS offers two wage payment modes: account-based and ABPS.
• Account-based payments use the worker’s name, bank account number, and IFSC code.
• ABPS requires Aadhaar seeding with job cards, Aadhaar linkage to bank accounts, and mapping through a National Payments Corporation of India software.

Challenges with ABPS Implementation:

• Authentication glitches in ABPS can result in workers being denied work or not receiving wages promptly.
• Workers often face financial and livelihood losses while rectifying technological errors in the Aadhaar-based system.

Government Claims and Realities:

• The government asserts that ABPS eliminates duplicate job cards, reduces payment delays, and has lower rejection rates.
• Research questions the validity of these claims, revealing errors and lack of transparency in the deletion of job cards.
• Pressure to meet Aadhaar seeding targets has led to spelling mismatches and a 247% increase in job card deletions in FY 2022–23.

LibTech Study and Government Misrepresentation:

• The Ministry references a LibTech study to support ABPS, claiming a 3% gain over account-based payments.
• However, the study, based on a sample of 3.2 crore transactions, does not find a statistically significant difference in efficiency between ABPS and account-based payments.
• The paper also disputes the government’s assertion of lower rejection rates in ABPS compared to account-based payments.

Conclusion and Advocacy:

• Timely payments are more a function of adequate fund allocation than the payment system used.
• The difficulties in resolving issues with ABPS outweigh those in account-based payments.
• Advocacy is made for account-based payments in MGNREGS due to their comparative ease of problem resolution.

Nut Graf: The mandatory implementation of Aadhaar-Based Payment Systems (ABPS) in MGNREGS faces criticism. Despite government claims of efficiency gains, research refutes the benefits, highlighting errors, job card deletions, and challenges faced by workers, advocating for account-based payments instead.

Q1.Which of these articles of the Indian Constitution talks about the Uniform Civil Code?

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to International Court of Justice (ICJ):

Q3. Which of the following was created through the Treaty of Lagos?

Q4. Which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of 
the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers 
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 at the national level?

Q5. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized: