Chintamani Padya Natakam

Chintamani Padya Natakam It is a stage play penned by social reformer, writer and poet Kallakuri Narayana Rao about 100 years ago. In the play, the writer explains how people neglect their families by falling prey to certain social evils. It was aimed to create awareness on the Devadasi system and how the flesh trade was ruining many families at that particular period. Subbisetty, Chintamani, Bilvamangaludu, Bhavani Shankaram, and Srihari are some of the characters in the play. The play is named after the main character, Chintamani, a woman born into a family involved in the flesh trade. The play focuses on how she attained salvation after repentance. Subbi Shetty, a character in the play, loses his wealth to Chintamani and his character is utilised in a way that engages the audience. Chintamani play is popular across the state. It has been performed at thousands of places. The play continues to engage the audience even today and has become a must stage play in villages during Dasara celebrations. The Andhra Pradesh government has brought the curtains down on the popular Telugu play ‘Chintamani Padya Natakam’, . Began as a social sermon, this play has been increasingly vulgar. Subbi Shetty, who resembles a person of a transgender community, is used to portray the social group in a bad way. Obscene dialogues are added to the play in the name of creativity. Read Also Tala Maddale Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now

Munich Security Conference

The Munich Security Conference has developed into the most important independent venue for international security policy decision-makers to exchange ideas during the last four decades. Every year, it brings together over 350 top officials from over 70 countries to engage in a discussion on various security concerns.  Heads of state, international organizations, and governments as well as members of parliament, ministers, high-ranking military representatives, civil society, science, the media, and business are among those expected to attend this conference. The conference takes place every year in February in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany. The conference arose from Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Internationale Schmenzin’s Wehrkundebegegnung / Münchner Wehrkundetagung, which he created in 1963. The Stauffenberg circle of resistance fighters advocated for the prevention of future military confrontations such as the Second World War and gathered together leaders and professionals in security policy to do so.  Henry Kissinger and Helmut Schmidt were among the 60 people who attended the inaugural meeting. Von Kleist headed the meetings until 1997 when he was succeeded by politician and business manager Horst Teltschik, who led them from 1999 to 2008. Wolfgang Ischinger, a veteran diplomat, has led the conference since 2009. This conference has been cancelled twice, once in 1991 because of the First Gulf War and again in 1997 due to Kleist-Schmenzin’s retirement.   The Security Conference started in the year 1999 under Teltschik’s leadership for military, political, and business leaders from Eastern and Central, as well as India, the People’s Republic of China and Japan. Senior politicians, diplomats, military and security experts from NATO and the European Union, as well as other countries such as India, China, Japan, Iran and Russia, are invited to discuss current issues in defence and security policies at this conference, which is themed peace through dialogue. The conference’s goal is to address current major security concerns and evaluate major security difficulties, all while sticking to the concept of networked security.  The discussions of ideas on the future of transatlantic relations, as well as European and global security in the twenty-first century, are a focal feature of the conference. Since the conference is privately organised, it is not a government-sponsored event. It is just used for debate; there is no authorization for binding intergovernmental decisions.  The high-level meeting is also used for private conversations among the attendees. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now

UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice  GS 3 -Test 20

UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice GS 3 -Test 20 Check All  Mains Questions 1. Improving the quality of workforce and social security measures are important components of inclusive growth in the country. In light of this statement, explain the measures taken by the government in this regard. (150 Words) (10 Marks) 2. Openness to trade and private enterprise usually has positive effects on growth. However, it can also promote inequality and lack of inclusiveness. Examine. (150 Words) (10 Marks) 3. Labour reforms will support the formalisation of India’s labour market and improve its flexibility, with positive efficiency gains. Discuss. (150 Words) (10 Marks) 4. Food processing industry holds potential not just for increasing farmer’s income but also for ensuring sustainability and nutritional security. Examine. (10 Marks) (150 Words) 5. Do you think Zero Budget Natural Farming is the panacea for the problems faced by marginal and small farmers in the country? Justify. (10 Marks) (150 Words) 6. Strategic disinvestment in India has been guided by the basic economic principle that the government should not be in the business to engage itself in manufacturing/producing goods and services in sectors where competitive markets have come of age. In light of this statement, critically examine the relevance of the shift in the disinvestment policy of the government. (250 Words) (15 Marks) 7. Explain how increasing protectionism and formation of regional trading blocs impact India’s international trade? How do you think India can harness the economic opportunities created by increasing conflicts between large economies? (250 Words) (15 Marks) 8. Examine the role of investments in promoting economic growth and employment in the country. How far have the recent measures taken by the government helped in boosting investments in the country? (250 Words) (15 Marks) 9. Ensuring better returns for the farm produce has been the goal of successive governments since independence. In light of this statement, explain the importance of agricultural marketing and the measures taken by the government to improve agricultural marketing in India. (15 Marks) (250 Words) 10. Public distribution system evolved as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices. Do you think the Public Distribution System was able to meet its objectives? Suggest measures for improving the system. (15 Marks) (250 Words)   Answers 1. Improving the quality of workforce and social security measures are important components of inclusive growth in the country. In light of this statement, explain the measures taken by the government in this regard. (150 Words) (10 Marks) APPROACH:●Brief introduction about inclusive growth●Mention how inclusive growth and social security measures help to build inclusive growth in India.●List out measures taken by the government to ensure it. ANSWER: Inclusive growth is a concept that ensures equitable opportunities for economic participants during economic growth with benefits incurred by every section of society. Improved quality of workforce and social security measures are sine qua non for the inclusive growth in India due to: ●Demographic Dividend: India is the youngest country in the world with 64 percent of its population in the working age.●Work in Informal Sector: More than 8 in every 10 Indian workers are informally employed or work in informal sectors, excluded from employment rights, benefits and social protection.●Low productivity works: Employment growth remains concentrated in low-productivity sectors like the construction sector.●New technology tapping: NITI Aayog aims to leverage artificial intelligence for high productivity-high end jobs for economic growth, social development and inclusive growth.●Skill development: Sustained investments in skills development and fostering opportunities for decent job creation through entrepreneurship. Currently only 5% workers are formally skilled in India leading to inequitable growth.●Poverty Alleviation: Social security measures will be helpful to the 90% total labour force in the informal sector and help to raise the current 22% population lying below the poverty line. Measures to improve quality of workforce and social security: ●Productivity and skill development:○Promote entrepreneurship amongst women through Mahila e-Haat, Stand Up India etc.○Self-Employment and Talent Utilization, Skill India Mission, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana for skill enhancement.○Promoting innovations through increased R&D expenditure.●Technological Upgradation and Human Capital Development:○Occupational mobility of workers from the agriculture sector to non farm jobs.○Improved vocational education through SANKALP, STRIVE schemes.○Labour Market Information System for identifying skill shortages, training needs and employment created○National Strategy for AI to tap the benefits of new technologies.●Legislative reforms:○Simplify and modify labour laws applicable to the formal sector to introduce an optimum combination of flexibility and security. Eg: Industrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020 etc.○The National Policy for Domestic Workers needs to be brought in at the earliest to recognize their rights and promote better working conditions○Adherence to Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 to increase Female Labour Force Participation Rate.○Expand the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to cover all jobs. Economic Survey 2020 envisions India to become a $5 trillion dollar economy by 2025. It should be on the basis of inclusive sustainable development. 2. Openness to trade and private enterprise usually has positive effects on growth. However, it can also promote inequality and lack of inclusiveness. Examine. (150 Words) (10 Marks) APPROACH:●List out the positive effects of growth through openness to trade and private enterprise.●Examine how it perpetuates income inequality and inclusiveness issues.●Conclude with measures to address the issue. ANSWER: After the advent of New economic policy in 1991, India has transformed into an open economy with overall trade as a percentage of GDP around 40%. Positive effects of openness to trade and privatisation:●Export Potential: The International Trade Center estimates India’s untapped export potential at around USD 201.4bn.●Employment Generation: India can generate adequate well paid jobs for 13 million new workers added every year.●Wealth Generation: Economic Survey 2020 mentions that the privatisation of firms can help to create wealth generation.●Spillover effects: Privatisation can help to create efficiency gains, increased profitability, improved return on assets and service to customers. Issues with openness to trade and privatisation:●Domestic Concerns: The indigenous manufacturers, farmers etc. will lose their profit margins due to high trade liberalisation. Eg: Dairy farmers protest during RCEP negotiations, Electronic

India- West Asia Relations

India- West Asia Relations West Asia is a part of India’s extended neighbourhood. India has enjoyed exceptionally close historic and civilizational ties with West Asia. Centuries old bilateral trade had benefited both sides greatly as it enhanced their knowledge and understanding of each other.  The Arabs acted as a conduit to the West taking Indian knowledge like numerals and traded Spices, foodstuffs jewellery, textiles and muslin and other goods flowed from India toward the Arab region, while pearls and dates were exported from the Gulf region. India-West Asia Relations – Background For decades, India was a passive player in West Asia – a beneficiary of good relationships with multiple actors.  During the Cold War years, India maintained close economic cooperation with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, the rival poles in regional geopolitics. In the post-Soviet world, the bi-directional approach has been expanded to a tri-directional foreign policy to accommodate the three key pillars of West Asia – Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel. India adopted Look West policy in 2005. India has huge stakes involved in the region such as energy, trade, and safety of Indian community in the region. Significance of West Asia Energy security – 70% of India’s imported energy needs come from West Asia. Gateway to Central Asia – West Asia is also gate way to land locked and energy rich central Asia. Trade & Investment – The economic ties between India and the GCC countries are moving at a faster pace increasing the mutual interdependence UAE and Saudi Arabia are India’s third and fourth-largest trading partners respectively. Economic Growth – India is the largest recipient of foreign remittances from West Asia, which plays a significant role in India’s growth. Indian Diaspora – Six West Asian countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain) accounted for nearly 70% of all Indians who live abroad. Culture & Religion – India hosts the 3rd largest Muslim population in the world, which views Saudi Arabia as its important pilgrimage. Regional Connectivity – India has invested in Iran’s Chabahar port which is expected to a bridge of trade between India, Iran, and Central Asia along with Afghanistan. Defence – India has a strong defence and security partnership with Israel which is useful for its security and military modernization drive. Regional Stability – close cooperation is essential with west Asian nations to counter radicalization and rising terrorism in the region. Maritime Diplomacy – West Asia is an integral part of India’s Indo-Pacific maritime domain. Naval cooperation has already been gaining momentum with Oman giving berthing rights to Indian naval vessels to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Drawbacks in India-West Asia Relations Political constraints – India’s narrow bureaucratic approach towards the Gulf was incapable of a political engagement with the region’s interests. For example, India viewed gulf countries through the prism of Pakistan. Low Investments – Despite India’s growing stature in the Gulf, it has not been able to attract substantial Arab investment. FDI from the GCC countries between 2000 and 2014 has remained stagnant at $3.2 billion. There is a wide gap between the investments that the Gulf is ready to offer and India’s ability to absorb needs. In 2015, Abu Dhabi committed to invest $75 billion in India. Still, India is a long distance away from facilitating that scale of investments. China factor – China has made rapid inroads in the Gulf by having acquired equity stakes in the region’s upstream oil and gas sector and having successfully penetrated Arab markets. China is continuously making in road to west Asia through OBOR initiative. India’s incapacity to manage its own periphery, South Asia, has made Gulf Arabs more inclined to seek China as a better security partner, rather than India. Pakistan factor – India’s “trust deficit” with Pakistan has incapacitated India from advancing its commercial interests in West Asia, including the bringing to fruition of the Iran-India-Pakistan (IPI) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects. Arab slowdown & Nationalization – the decline of oil and gas prices, along with the rising cost of “war conditions” has led to the slowing of Arab Gulf economies, resulting in salary cuts, layoffs, contracting employment opportunities, and nationalization of workforces at the cost of Indian expatriate community. Domestic Challenges within West Asia Political instability – The security situation in West Asia has been continuously deteriorating ever since the onset of the Arab Spring in December 2010. E.g., Syria, Yemen, and Iraq crises. The GCC-Iran rivalry, Shia-Sunni conflict, external intervention in the region, the fear of rise of religious radicalism etc. have further contributed to instability in West Asia. Involvement of global and regional powers – The involvement of extra-regional players such as the USA and Russia in the internal conflicts in West Asia has further aggravated the situation. Terrorism – Terrorism has emerged as the biggest security threat to the region. The rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is the most disturbing trend. Regional Conflicts – such as the Arab-Israel conflict, Israel-Palestine conflict and the Saudi-Iran rivalry create destabilizing effect in West Asia. US Sanctions on Iran: US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal and has threatened to impose economic sanctions on Iran. This may weaken the dialogue mechanisms, embolden conservatives, and may threaten regional stability even more. India also has significant oil trade with Iran and stakes in connectivity through Chabahar port and other projects. West Asia is one of the most volatile and sensitive regions in the world marked by historical injustices, intra-regional rivalries and competition for religious supremacy and loyalties. India treads its path very carefully and without prejudice. This has earned India the trust of almost all countries in the region and they look at India as an honest partner and friend. Read Full GS Notes No Longer Exclusive Petro-States – The Gulf states have embarked on massive economic diversification and are investing in a variety of new projects including renewable energy, higher education, technological innovation, smart cities, and space commerce. Khaleeji Capitalism or Gulf Capitalism – Gulf has become the source of capital that has been built on the massive accumulation of oil revenues over the last few decades. For example, sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf dominate several regional sectors from banking and finance to infrastructure and logistics etc. Moving Towards Modernisation – Gulf countries, in the present times,

India European Union (EU) Relation

India European Union (EU) Relation The relationship between India and the European Union (EU) are based on shared values and principles such as democracy, rule of law, rules based international order and multilateralism. The ties are multifaceted and cover a broad spectrum of topics including trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, artificial intelligence, connectivity, agriculture and marine. India-EU Relations – Background India-EU bilateral relations date back to the early 1960s with India being amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community in 1962 The Joint Political Statement signed in 1993 coupled with a Cooperation Agreement signed in 1994 opened the way for strengthening the bilateral ties A multi-tiered institutional architecture of cooperation has since been created, presided over by the India-EU Summit since 2000. The relationship was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ in 2004. They adopted a Joint Action Plan in 2005 that provided for strengthening dialogue and consultation mechanisms in the political and economic spheres, enhancing trade and investment, and bringing peoples and cultures together. Areas of Cooperation EU and India remain close partners in the G20 and have developed a regular macroeconomic dialogue to exchange experience on economic policies and structural reforms. Trade & Investment – EU is India’s 3rd largest trading partner in 2020, next only to China and US. EU is India’s largest source of FDI. India and EU have also established an Investment Facilitation Mechanism (IFM) in 2017 under which Invest India has created a single window entry point for EU companies. Development Cooperation – Over €150 million worth of projects by EU are currently ongoing in India.. European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing loans for Lucknow, Bangalore, and Pune Metro Projects. India-EU Partnership for Smart and Sustainable Urbanization will support the Indian ‘Smart cities’ and ‘AMRUT’ initiatives to boost joint research and innovation. Defence & Security – EU and India have instituted several mechanisms for greater cooperation on pressing security challenges like counterterrorism, maritime security, and nuclear non-proliferation. Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region in New Delhi (IFC-IOR) has recently been linked-up with the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) established by the EU Naval Force (NAVFOR). ICT Cooperation – EU and India aims to link the ‘Digital Single Market’ with the ‘Digital India’ programme. A new “Start-up Europe India Network” initiative was launched in 2016. An EU-India Cyber Security Dialogue has been set up that focusses on exchange of best practice on addressing cybercrime and strengthening cyber security and resilience. Environment & Water – EU and India also underline their highest political commitment to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC despite US withdrawing from the same . India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership was agreed at the 2016 Summit – to promote access to and disseminate clean energy and climate friendly technologies and encourage R&D. Energy cooperation is now ongoing on a broad range of energy issues, like smart grids, energy efficiency, offshore wind and solar infrastructure, and research and innovation. EU and India also cooperate closely on the Indian Clean Ganga initiative and deal with other water-related challenges in coordinated manner. Science & Research – India-EU Science & Technology Steering Committee meets annually to review scientific cooperation. India and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) signed a cooperation agreement in the field of fusion energy research in 2009. Both have official mechanisms in fields such as Digital Communications, 5G technology, Biotechnology, artificial intelligence etc. Space Cooperation – ISRO has a long-standing cooperation with the European Union, since 1970s. In 2018, the ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed an agreement on sharing data from the satellites (Copernicus Programme). People to People relations – India and the EU organize Festivals of culture (e.g., Europalia-India festival), exchanges on heritage such as yoga & Ayurveda etc. Over 50,000 Indian students currently studying in various European Universities. Migration and mobility – The EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) is a fundamental cooperation agreement between India and EU . This agreement aims at a better organized regular migration and the fostering of well-managed mobility After the promising beginnings in 2000s, the EU-India partnership lost its momentum as it largely focused on trade and cultural matters, rather than broad strategic and political issues. Europe’s main focus earlier was on China as its key partner and market in Asia. Challenges in Relations India-EU BTIA – The negotiations for a Broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) were held between 2007 to 2013 but have remained dormant/suspended since then. India demands for ‘Data secure’ status (important for India’s IT sector) (relate with GDPR), to ease norms on temporary movement of skilled workers, relaxation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), etc EU demands for significant duty cuts in automobiles, tax reduction on wines, spirits etc, a strong intellectual property regime, relaxation in India’s data localisation norms, etc. Trade imbalance – India accounts for only 1.9% of EU total trade in goods in 2019, well behind China (13.8%). Post Brexit situation – In the longer term of balancing of global powers, a smaller Europe without the key military and economic force UK, can be a weaker Europe in the face of an ambitious China and an increasingly protectionist US. India viewing EU primarily as a trade bloc – this has resulted in a lack of substantive agreements on matters such as regional security and connectivity.. Human Rights concerns of EU – The European Parliament was critical of both the Indian government’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. In the present complex international environment, India and the European Union, both “unions of diversity”, sharing values of democracy, rule of law and human rights, are equally convinced of the necessity to preserve the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism. India and the EU have a common interest in each other’s security, prosperity, and sustainable development. With a stronger cooperation, they can contribute jointly to a safer, cleaner, and more stable world. Need for Strengthening India-EU Relations/Opportunities under changing Geopolitical Developments Chinese Challenge – China’s increasing presence in Eurasia and South Asia is creating similar security, political and economic concerns for Europe and India. Both are driven by the need to diversify its partnerships and balance. Fall of the conventional Liberal Trade Order – Trade war, crumbling WTO and break down of TPP etc. has made

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) Fair and Remunerative Price – FRP is the price declared by the government, which mills are legally bound to pay to farmers for the cane procured from them. Mills have the option of signing an agreement with farmers, which would allow them to pay the FRP in instalments. Delays in payment can attract an interest up to 15% per annum, and the sugar commissioner can recover unpaid FRP as dues in revenue recovery by attaching properties of the mills. The payment of FRP across the country is governed by the Sugarcane Control order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955 which mandates payment within 14 days of the date of delivery of the cane. It has been determined on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The FRP is based on the Rangarajan Committee report on reorganising the sugarcane industry. Read Also Minimum Support Price (MSP) Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards yours Civils out journey. Feel free to reach to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help join now

India – Central Asia Relation

India – Central Asia Relation India and the region of Central Asia have very long historical, cultural, and economic connections. The famous Silk Route not only connected the people and businesses, but also let the thoughts, culture and beliefs flow  freely from one region to the other.   Background The five Central Asian Republics (CARS) viz Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attained independence on the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. India was among the first countries to recognize the five Central Asian states and established diplomatic relations with them. India now considers the Central Asian countries as part of its “extended and strategic neighbourhood”. In 2012, India announced the ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy, and also announced to hold an India-Central Asia Dialogue at Track II annually in one of the Republics. Significance of Central Asia to India Energy Security – The countries of Central Asia are endowed with significant hydrocarbon and mineral resources and are close to India geographically Kazakhstan is the largest producer of uranium and has huge gas and oil reserves as well. Uzbekistan is also rich in gas and is an important regional producer of gold along with Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan has vast hydropower potential besides oil deposits. Turkmenistan has the fourth largest gas reserves of the world. Strategic Location – Central Asia serves as a land bridge between Asia and Europe, making it geopolitically axial for India. India’s only foreign military airbase is in Farkhor (Tajikistan), which is operated by IAF and Tajik Air Force. Trade and Investment potential – The economic development activities in the region has led to a construction boom and development of sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. India has expertise in these sectors and deeper cooperation will give a fresh impetus to trade relations with these countries. There is a great demand for Indian pharmaceutical products in the region. Security – being located close to the ‘Golden Crescent of opium production (Iran-Pak-Afghan), Central can help to tackle the challenge of narcotics trafficking and arms smuggling. Counter terrorism and radicalization – keeping a check on the rise of radical Islamist groups that may pose a threat to India’s security. Stabilization of Afghanistan – Central Asian nations and India can effectively play role in bringing normalcy in Afghanistan.        India has not been able to take advantage of its civilizational and historical ties with the region as adequate attention was not accorded to the relation till recently. India’s relations with the Central Asian countries are hampered by geography, economic constraints, security concerns and red-tapism. Challenges in Relation   Low Accessibility – India does not share physical border with any of the Central Asian states, which is a landlocked region. The adverse geographic terrain and the thorny India-Pakistan border dynamics, greatly impedes connectivity, thereby curbing greater economic cooperation between India and the region. Below par trade – At present the five Central Asian republics account for trade of only about $2 billion with India, compared to about $50 billion with China that has made them a key to its Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) initiative. Growing influence of China in Central Asia – China’s One Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seems to be a credible threat to India’s objective on overcoming connectivity issues with Central Asia. Security issues – porous border and unbridled corruption along with the proximity with regions of soaring opium production (Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle) makes the region a powerhouse for drug and money trafficking. Instability in Neighbouring regions – The unstable situation in Afghanistan and a highly problematic India-Pakistan relation have deprived India from the benefit of relations with Central Asia. Domestic challenges – emerging from religious extremism, authoritarian regimes, terrorism, ongoing conflicts etc is in itself a challenge in furthering India’s economic interests. Administrative laggards in the region – such as non-availability of hard currency, banking services, and prevailing corruption creating roadblocks in smooth bilateral relations. Indian efforts to strengthen Cooperation Connect Central Asia policy – launched in 2012 to strengthen strategic, economic, and security cooperation. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) membership – With full membership of SCO, there will be more frequent summit level contacts between the top leaderships of India & CARs. International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – a multi-modal transport project to connect Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea. Chabahar Port in Iran – Once the Chabahar port is ready, along with INSTC it can become an important anchor for trade to and from Central Asia via Afghanistan. Signing of Ashgabat Agreement – an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline – to supply natural gas from Turkmenistan to India. Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) – India is negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, which include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. India-Central Asia Dialogue – provides a platform for strengthening cooperation between India and Central Asian countries. India-Central Asia Business Council (ICABC) – launched in February 2020 and comprises the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and chambers of commerce from the 5 central Asian countries. Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program provides technical assistance and training in areas such as banking, remote sensing, and information technology etc in the premier institutions in India. Both India and Central Asia are factors of peace, stability, growth, and development, in the region and the world. Stronger relations between them will contribute to increased security and prosperity of these countries and the world.   Way Forward India should leverage its soft power and its ready acceptability in Central Asia to strengthen bilateral ties. More energy and vigour need to be imparted to the area of commercial and economic ties. Exploring Air Routes – While incentivising the use of Chabahar port, India must simultaneously develop the air route by promoting easy flight connectivity. India can create an Air Corridor, like the one it has with Afghanistan Utilizing untapped potential – Chambers of Commerce as well as official government agencies need to be more active to bridge the ‘’information deficit’’ between India and the region. India provides an assured and competitive market to these countries for their energy, raw materials, oil and gas, uranium, minerals, hydro-electric power etc. Private sector participation also must be encouraged through

India – Latin America Relations

India – Latin America Relations Latin America is generally understood to consist of the entire continent of South America in addition to Mexico, Central America, and the islands of Caribbean whose inhabitants speak a Romance language such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French. India- Relation – Background   Both the LAC (Latin American and Caribbean) countries and India had found themselves in very different situations post-independence. LAC countries came under the influence of US hegemony, while India started the Non-Aligned Movement and later signed a friendship treaty with Soviet Union. This had created a wedge between the two.  Moreover, LAC countries did not act as a unit and were grappling with political instabilities where some countries showing capitalist tendencies while others leaning towards socialism. India’s closed economy didn’t help matters either. With the emergence of democracies in the region post-Cold War and India’s opening up of its economy, several opportunities for growth of trade and commerce were created.                                   India’s Interests in Latin America Economic Interests – Latin America is very rich in minerals such as copper, lithium, iron ore, gold, and silver. gives India an opportunity to increase investments for their extraction as well as for their imports at cheaper rates. India’s exports to Latin America amounts to $13.6 billion in 2018-19. Strategic Interests – The region is very important for India in order to achieve its global ambitions. such as pursuing permanent membership of the UNSC, the NSG and at various other negotiations like climate change, terrorism, trade, etc. Energy Security – India sources about 15% of its crude oil from Latin America countries. Latin America has huge reserves of crude oil (20% of global reserves). Latin America is also an important partner in the India led International Solar Alliance. Food Security – Latin American region is five times the size of India with only half as much population. India can utilize this fertile land to improve agriculture and reduce its import costs, as India is currently importing pulses and oil seeds from many of African and Southeast Asian countries at very high costs.                                Areas of Cooperation Economic Cooperation – India imports large quantities of hydrocarbons from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil; edible oils and sugar from Brazil and Argentina; copper and precious metals from Chile and Peru; wood from Ecuador, etc. India is one of the largest suppliers of IT services to Latin America In the last five years, India has been exporting more pharma to Latin America than China. Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was signed with MERCOSUR in 2004 – to expand and strengthen the existing relations between MERCOSUR and India and promote the expansion of trade by granting reciprocal fixed tariff preferences. Investment – Latin American firms have invested about a billion dollars in India in areas such as soft drinks, multiplexes, theme parks, and auto parts. Development Assistance – India had recently announced 14 million US dollar grant for community development projects in CARICOM & 150 million line of credit for solar, renewable energy and climate change related projects. Global Partnership – India is cooperating with Brazil at platforms like BRICS, IBSA which has provided an alternative platform for developing countries and reduces their dependence on existing institutions controlled by west. Military Cooperation – India’s DRDO and Brazilian aircraft company Embraer have collaborated to develop and produce airborne radar platforms. India has not been able to tap the full potential of engagements with the Latin American world, due to several factors.     Read Full GS Notes           Challenges in Engagement Lack of Uniform approach – India has good relations with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile but other countries lag behind. FTA talks with MERCOSUR has been stalled due to differences amongst the members of the grouping. Though trade in commodities continues to grow and has reached $46 billion in 2012-13, but it is nothing compared to the Chinese trade. Regional politics – Rivalries between countries like Brazil and Argentina for regional dominance is also affecting India’s relations with the region. For instance, while India and Brazil are part of the G4 seeking the UNSC membership, Argentina is part of the Coffee Club (in opposition to expansion of UNSC). Poor Connectivity – geographical distances have impeded trade between India and Latin America. Lack of direct shipping service from India to Latin America; difficulty in shipping heavy commodities and perishables. Whereas China has direct shipping links through the Panama Canal, giving it an upper hand. Brand awareness of Indian products in Latin America is abysmal compared to European, US, Chinese, Japanese or Korean industry. The absence of political disagreement with Latin America leaves the field open for positive engagement. The bridges we build will endure and enable Indian business and other interests to cross over and operate in that region with greater ease. The need to engage the LAC region bilaterally, collectively, and concertedly, at all levels, as we have done with Africa and South-East Asia, is evident.                                        Way Forward India and Latin America need to better understand each other’s political reality, endowments, capabilities, and priorities, beyond the experience of transitory diplomats. Latin America acts through multiple layers of regional and sub-regional organisations, so arguably India needs to take the lead in identifying and activating the principal actors and forums. Political initiatives need to be supported by economic and social interaction Agreements should be made for investment protection, avoidance of double taxation, extradition, immigration, lines of credit, elimination of regulatory hurdles, etc. India should increase its diplomatic presence in the region, promote Latin American studies, invest in shipping industries, conclude PTAs (Preferential Trade Agreements) and FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) at the earliest with different countries and groupings in the region. A combination of government initiatives and private ventures and diplomatic engagements have to be increased if we have to realise the full potential of India-LAC ties. The Indian elephant has already engaged the ‘Tigers of Asia’. It is now the turn of the ‘Pumas of the

India – Asean Relations

India – Asean Relations ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a regional organization of 10 nations which was established to promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states. Its members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. ASEAN commands far greater influence on Asia-Pacific trade, political, and security issues than its members could achieve individually. India’s relationship with ASEAN has emerged as a key cornerstone of our foreign policy. India-ASEAN Relation – Background After its Independence in 1947, India followed a policy of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and became a champion of decolonisation, including in Southeast Asia. However, during the 1970s, India’s perceived tilt towards the Soviet Union caused Southeast Asia to drift away from India as both followed different economic and political ideologies. In a major shift away from policies of the Cold War era, India adopted the “Look East Policy” (LEP) soon after economic liberalization in 1991 to increase economic and commercial ties with East and Southeast Asian nations. India became a Sectoral Partner of ASEAN in 1992, a Dialogue Partner in 1996 and a Summit-level Partner in 2002. The partnership was upgraded to Strategic Partnership in 2012 as a result of the growth of India-ASEAN relationship in last two decades. India announced Act East Policy in 2014 with an intent to upscale its engagement with ASEAN Member States. India and ASEAN celebrated 25 years of their Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership in 2017. The Act-East Policy emphasizes the 3 C’s of Connectivity, Commerce and Culture as the focus areas of action for a greater ASEAN-India integration. Significance of ASEAN to India ASEAN’s centrality in India’s foreign policy – A cohesive, responsive, and prosperous ASEAN is central to India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and India’s Act East Policy and contributes to Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). Economic – ASEAN is the one of the largest market in the world comparative to the EU and North American markets. It’s also the 4th most popular investment destination globally. Investment opportunities for Indian businesses – Cost of production is lower in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, which means that Indian firms can gain significantly by investing in these countries. Countering China – Cooperation between India and ASEAN is crucial to counter China’s power projection in the region. Both have territorial and border issues with China, disputes over the South China Islands and waters for ASEAN and over land boundaries for India. Integration with regional and global supply chains – Increasing engagement with ASEAN is pivotal to facilitate India’s integration with regional and global supply chain movements. North-East development – Connectivity projects with the ASEAN nations keeping Northeast India at the centre can ensure the economic growth of the land-locked north-eastern states. Collaboration with the ASEAN nations is necessary to counter insurgency in the Northeast, combat terrorism, etc. Maritime security – The Indian Ocean carries 90% of India’s trade and its energy sources. Presence of choke points such as the Malacca strait makes the South-East Asian region significant for countering traditional and non-traditional maritime threats like piracy and terrorism. Indian Diaspora – About 9-8% of the population in Malaysia and Singapore is of Indian origin, in Myanmar-4% and Indonesia about 0.5%. Areas of Cooperation Economic Cooperation – ASEAN is India’s 4th largest trading partner. India signed FTA in goods in 2009 and an FTA in services and investments in 2014 with ASEAN. India has a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with various countries of the ASEAN region which has resulted in concessional trade and a rise in investments. Political Cooperation – ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) was established to undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN. Delhi Dialogue – Annual Track 1.5 event for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India. Financial Assistance – India provides financial assistance to the ASEAN nations through various mechanism like ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund and ASEAN-India Green Fund. Connectivity – India has been undertaking several connectivity projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMT) Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project. India is also trying to establish a Maritime Transportation Agreement with ASEAN and also Plans for a Railway link between New Delhi in India to Hanoi in Vietnam. Socio-Cultural Cooperation – Programmes to boost People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN are organized, such as inviting ASEAN students to India, Special Training Course for ASEAN diplomats, Exchange of Parliamentarians, etc. Defence Cooperation – Joint Naval and Military exercises are conducted between India and most ASEAN countries. Vietnam has traditionally been a close friend on defense issues, Singapore is also an equally important partner. Maritime Cooperation – adopted Delhi Declaration and decided to identify Cooperation in the Maritime Domain as the key area of cooperation under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. India is developing its maiden deep-sea port in a strategically located Sabang port in Indonesia. REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (RCEP) AGREEMENT RCEP is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that has been signed between 15 countries including the 10 ASEAN members, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. RCEP was first proposed in 2011 with an aim to create a consolidated market for the ASEAN countries and their trade partners. RCEP now forms the world’s largest trade bloc, covering over 2.2 billion people and accounting for 30% of the world’s economy. Though India was a part of the RCEP’s negotiations, it dropped out in November 2019, citing significant outstanding issues that remain unresolved. Reasons behind India pulling out of RCEP Trade imbalance with RCEP members – India’s trade deficit with RCEP countries has almost doubled in the last five-six years. Chinese Angle – From a geopolitical perspective, RCEP is China-led or is intended to expand China’s influence in Asia. India has already signed FTA with all the countries of RCEP except China. Signing of RCEP can lead to cheaper products from China flooding the Indian market. Lack of adequate protection for domestic industries – India’s proposals for strict Rules of Origin (to prevent routing of products from non-RCEP countries) and an Auto-trigger mechanism to impose tariffs when imports crossed a certain threshold which were not accepted. Lack of Service component – Most developed RCEP countries where India can export services, have been unwilling to negotiate wide-ranging disciplines in services that can create new

UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice Test 9 GS 3

UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice Test 9 GS 3 Check All  Mains Questions 1.Explain the consequences of land degradation in drylands around the world. (10 Marks) 2. Examine the importance of peatlands in maintaining ecological resilience around the globe. (10 Marks) 3. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples. (10 Marks) 4. Elaborate on the contributions made by the ISRO for the economic development of India. (10 Marks) 5. What is a three-parent baby? Explain the processes and procedures of the same? (10 Marks) 6. What are the major objectives of the Sendai Framework on disaster management? Evaluate whether India’s disaster management systems are in line with the Sendai framework. Suggest measures too. (10 Marks) 7. Discuss the consequences of Climate change on agriculture and food supply and on the coastal livelihood in India.​ (1​5 Marks) 8. “Environmental impact assessment in India is a tool to ensure economic development does not impede ecological balance”. In light of this statement, discuss the issues associated with EIA. Also, suggest adequate measures to strengthen the EIA. (15 Marks) 9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are continuing to transform our world. In this light, Analyse the possible consequences of the AI in the social and economic life? ​(​15 Marks) 10. What is ransomware? Do you think India’s Cybersecurity regime is strong enough to curb these attacks? Elaborate. Also, suggest measures to improve cybersecurity regime of India. ​(​15 Marks)  Answer Key 1. Explain the consequences of land degradation in drylands around the world. (10 Marks) Answer:​Drylands are regions faced with deficiency of water yet it supports immensely rich biodiversity, including some of the most iconic and endemic species. The distinct features of the drylands are: ● They cover around 40 per cent of the land surface across the globe. ● Characterized by low and uncertain rainfall usually around 75 cm annual rainfall spread over unevenly throughout the year.● Semi-arid regions are included under this category. ● Responsible in producing 44 percent of the crops around the world. ● Inhabited by about 2 billion people and almost one half of the world’s livestock accordingto Millenium Ecosystem Assessment Report. ● Home to a diverse human culture including some of the world’s largest cities.Communities in drylands are economically poorer and socially backward than elsewhere and the land is more vulnerable to degradation from climate change and direct human pressures. The major consequences of land degradation in drylands around the world are: ● Poor management of the drylands can lead to desertification. ● Food Security of the world itself will be under risk because these drylands are the breadbaskets of the world. Eg: ​Steppes of Kazakhstan. ● Drylands store approximately 46% of the global carbon share. Excess degradation of the drylands leads to release of the carbon from the land which will accelerate ​global warming​. ● Stressed Migration: World Water Development Report suggests that land degradation will ultimately result in a water crisis which will displace between 24 million and 700 million people from these areas. ● Millennium Assessment report that the well-being of dryland peoples is lower than that of people in other ecological systems. Infant mortality rates are the highest and gross national product (GNP) per capita is lowest. Case Study:The part of the Deccan Plateau that extends from Telangana into Karnataka are drylands. ​Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas report state that close to 35% of drylands of the region are under the threat of degradation. Unsustainable agricultural practises, erratic monsoon pattern etc. contribute to this degradation. Measures like Organic Farming, Zero Budget Natural Farming etc. are steps required to recover from the current situation.  2. Examine the importance of peatlands in maintaining ecological resilience around the globe. (10 Marks)Answer:​Peatlands are regions covered with peats, which are the decayed plant material that accumulates under waterlogged conditions over long time periods. They are well distributed across the globe in permafrost regions towards the poles and at high altitudes, in coastal areas, beneath tropical rainforest and in boreal forests.Contribution of Peatlands to ecological resilience:  ● They are one of the largest natural terrestrial carbon stores. The total carbon storage in this region accounts to about 40% of all soil carbon which is higher than the tropical rain forests. ● Peatlands cover about 3% of the global land surface. It is a pristine ecosystem which helps to purify the wastes in water. ● They support rich biodiversity and wildlife. Eg: Bornean Orangutan lives in the swampy forests of Indonesia. ● Provide vital ecosystem services. They regulate the water flows and thus help to minimise the risk of flooding and drought and prevent seawater intrusion. • Peatlands supply food, fibre and other local products that sustain local economies. • They also preserve important ecological and archaeological information such as pollen records and human artefacts  Challenges to the peatland conservation include: ● Large areas of peatlands are currently drained for agriculture, forestry, and, to a lesser extent, peat extraction. Drainage in peatlands results in the emission of carbon from the peatlands to the atmosphere. ● Damages and further human interventions in peatlands lead to a decline in plant productivity.  ● Peat surface gets subsided due to agriculture and artificial forestry. This can have a significant effect on the carbon emission from the peatlands. ● Damage to peatlands also results in biodiversity loss. The productivity of the ecotone will be affected.UN Food and Agriculture Organization presented 10 point action plan to conserve and restore the peatlands worldwide. These include assessing the distribution and state of peatlands, measuring and reporting emissions from peatlands, protecting and restoring peatlands with targeted financial support etc. These steps are vital to helping restore global ecological resilience. Recognising the importance of Peatlands, the ​Brazaville declaration was enacted to protect the peatland ecosystems. 3. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples. (10 Marks)Answer:At 13 per cent of the world reserves, India has the third-largest stash of beach sand minerals and meets 6-7 per cent of global demand. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recently advised the private