06 May 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. The horizon for India beyond the G-20, SCO summits

Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests

Mains: India’s role in global politics as the president of G20 and SCO

Context: This article discusses the challenges that India faces during its presidency of the G-20 and the leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 

Introduction: 

• India faces multiple challenges despite holding the presidency of the G-20 and the leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• Given the worsening global situation, there is a risk that India’s priorities as G20 president, such as climate change, clean energy, sustainable development programs, and multilateral institution reform, may be overshadowed by the deteriorating geopolitical climate and the possibility of impending conflict.
• It is necessary for India to carefully manage the competing demands of the G-20, SCO, and the Global South with a cautious approach.

Concerns: 

• The lack of trust between the opposing camps headed by the United States and China/Russia respectively, leaves limited options for countries like India that have not pledged allegiance to either side.
  • The US and its allies are providing Ukraine with advanced weaponry and training, while Russia is also secretly receiving equipment from its allies. This arms race between the two sides poses a risk of a catastrophic conflict.
• India is facing threats from China at the Sino-Indian border, which is also displaying its naval power in East and Southeast Asia, and launching diplomatic-cum-strategic offensives across Asia.
  • China is attempting to widen the arc of conflict with India and is targeting India’s increasing closeness to the US and Western bloc, its participation in the Quad, and maritime surveillance exercises.
  • China is also trying to limit India’s influence in the extended neighbourhood, particularly in West Asia, where it is sidelining India and other nations with its initiatives.
• India is also facing challenges from its immediate neighbourhood, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• India’s relationship with Russia is uncertain, particularly due to its growing defence cooperation with the US and strains in the Russia-China relationship.
  • The Tripartite Russia-India-China platform and BRICS, among other agreements with Russia, have also experienced a significant decline in their level of activity.

Way Forward:

• Despite India being recognized as a potential global power and having successfully emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis with minimal harm, there are still significant obstacles that need to be overcome before it can reach its ultimate goal.
• India needs to balance its domestic priorities with its international obligations. 
  • While India has a strong desire to play a larger role in global politics, it also needs to address its domestic issues and focus on achieving its economic and social goals. 
  • This balance is crucial to ensuring that India remains a stable and prosperous nation, capable of making meaningful contributions to the international community.
• India is aware of China’s hostile intentions and therefore must exercise caution, given China’s ability to engage in hybrid warfare, politics of water, and adapt the tactics of Sun Tzu to win wars without fighting.
• As a leader of the Global South, India has a unique role to play in promoting peace and stability in the world. India can use its position to encourage dialogue and diplomacy between key stakeholders in the Ukraine war and to urge both sides to respect international law and norms.

Nut Graf: India, as the G-20 President and SCO leader, faces numerous challenges, including the risk of its priorities being overshadowed by the geopolitical climate, border threats from China, and challenges from its immediate neighbourhood. By pursuing a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy, India can continue to advance its own interests while also contributing to global peace and stability.

Category: ECONOMY

1. India’s smart electricity future

Syllabus: Infrastructure

Mains: Implications of smart electricity initiative towards India’s green-energy transition.

Context: This article discusses the potential and challenges of India’s smart metering initiative.

Introduction: 

• The smart metering initiative is a government-led program aimed at replacing traditional electricity metres with advanced smart metres. 
• The program is part of the larger Smart Grid initiative, which aims to modernise the country’s electricity infrastructure and improve the efficiency of the power sector.
• Under the smart metering initiative, the government plans to install 250 million smart metres in households and businesses across the country by 2025. 
  • More than 5.5 million smart metres have been installed so far.
• The program is being implemented by state-owned power distribution companies, with support from the union government.
• India is supporting this initiative through a results-linked grant-cum-financing to help power distribution companies (discoms) become financially sound and efficient to deliver better services to consumers. 

Also read: Smart Electricity Transmission System

Advantages:

• Smart metres are digital devices that can measure and transmit electricity consumption data to utilities in real time. 
• They offer several advantages over traditional metres, including more accurate billing, reduced theft and tampering, and better load management.
• Smart metres provide accurate and timely information about energy consumption, which can help to eliminate errors in billing. 
• They can detect instances of energy theft or tampering. By identifying and addressing these issues, the initiative can help to reduce losses for utilities and improve the financial viability of the power sector.
• Real-time data on electricity consumption can help utilities to manage demand more effectively. This can lead to a more stable and reliable power supply and help to reduce blackouts and brownouts.
• Smart metres can help to integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, into the grid more effectively. By providing real-time data on energy consumption and production, utilities can balance supply and demand more efficiently and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Challenges: 

• Smart metres are more expensive than traditional metres, and the cost of installation and maintenance is a significant challenge for utilities, particularly in rural and remote areas.
• They require reliable communication infrastructure, such as a robust and secure data network, to transmit data to utilities. This can be a challenge in areas with poor network coverage or limited connectivity.
• Some consumers may be reluctant to switch to smart metres due to concerns about privacy, data security, and the reliability of the technology. 
• Smart metres can also face technical issues such as malfunctions, hacking attempts, and cyber-attacks.
• The implementation of smart metres requires coordination between multiple stakeholders, including utilities, regulators, and consumers. 

Way Forward:

• In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity in India while also reducing carbon emissions from generation sources, it is essential for the smart metering initiative to adopt a philosophy centred around the needs and preferences of users.
• The Union Ministry of Power should drive a nationwide campaign to educate consumers about smart metre benefits and improve the uptake of smart metre apps.
  • The apps should be accessible to users from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and provide actionable tips and information.
• Discoms must co-own the program with Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs), responsible for the installation and operation of the AMI system for the project lifetime (10 years).
• Discoms, system integrators, and technology providers should collaborate to devise innovative and scalable data solutions for the effective use of smart metre data.
• Policymakers and regulators must strengthen regulations to empower consumers to unlock new retail markets and simplify tariff design.
  • In a progressive step, the Union Ministry of Power in April 2023, proposed amendments to the Electricity Rules to enable time-variable tariffs for all smart metre users.
• Regulators must also enable simplification and innovation in tariff design and open the retail market to new business models and prosumers (producers, consumers, and storage users).

Nut Graf: India’s Smart Metering initiative aims to replace traditional electricity meters with advanced smart meters, helping to modernize the country’s electricity infrastructure and improve the efficiency of the power sector. Smart meters offer several advantages over traditional meters. However, the initiative also faces several challenges.