Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Changing Geopolitical world order and India's diplomacy
Central Idea
- The changing geopolitical landscape, characterized by realignments and recalibrations among major powers, demands nimble, flexible, and open-ended diplomacy from India, as it faces the challenges posed by the deepening partnership between Russia and China.
Changing geopolitical landscape
- Geopolitical Churn overview:
- Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to elevate Indo-Pacific partnership with India.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Moscow to consolidate the Eurasian alliance with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
- Recalibration of relations among major middle powers, such as the thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
- Such events signify the ongoing realignment of major powers in the world.\
- Realignment and Dealignment:
- The breakdown of the post-Cold War world order has accelerated due to Russian aggression against Ukraine and the conflict over Taiwan.
- Countries are adapting to the breakdown of the old order at different speeds and with varying senses of urgency.
- Some trends in the geopolitical landscape are enduring, while others represent short-term adjustments.
- Middle East Dynamics:
- Saudi-Iran rapprochement could be tactical or strategic, but the regional powers have some room for bargaining with both Russia-China and the West.
- Domestic crises in Turkey and Iran might encourage them to scale down their foreign policy adventurism.
- East Asia Developments:
- The recent summit between South Korea and Japan marked the first meeting between the two leaders in nearly twelve years.
- The volatile domestic politics of South Korea and its deep economic relationship with China make the regional dynamic uncertain.
- India needs to navigate this shifting regional landscape with agile diplomacy.
- Russia-China Partnership:
- The deepening partnership between Russia and China poses challenges for India.
- Different perspectives on how this partnership might affect India-Russia relations.
- Strengthening the Strategic Partnership: The visit helps to reaffirm and expand the strategic partnership between India and Japan, which is crucial for maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries share common concerns about China’s growing influence and assertiveness, and the visit highlights their commitment to working together to address these challenges.
- Enhancing Defense Cooperation: Kishida’s visit to India provides an opportunity for both countries to discuss ways to enhance defense cooperation, including joint military exercises, defense technology transfers, and collaboration on defense research and development. This collaboration could help both countries build their capabilities to address regional security challenges.
- Expanding Economic Ties: The visit offers an opportunity to further expand trade and investment relations between India and Japan, which are already robust. Both countries can explore new areas of economic cooperation, such as infrastructure development, technology collaboration, and supply chain diversification, thereby reducing their dependence on China.
- Focus on Connectivity and Infrastructure: Japan has been actively involved in major infrastructure projects in India, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and high-speed rail projects. Kishida’s visit could lead to further collaboration in connectivity initiatives, both within India and across the Indo-Pacific region.
- Collaboration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Both India and Japan are committed to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. Kishida’s visit can help strengthen cooperation in areas such as clean energy, low-carbon technologies, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
- People-to-People Exchanges: The visit can also contribute to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between India and Japan, such as academic exchanges, cultural programs, and tourism promotion, which can foster greater understanding and goodwill between the two nations.
Value addition
The deepening partnership between Russia and China in recent years
- Shared Interests: Both Russia and China have an interest in creating a multipolar world and countering Western dominance. They often share similar perspectives on international issues and work together in organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.
- Economic Ties: China has become Russia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching over $110 billion in 2020. Both countries have been working to strengthen their economic cooperation in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and technology.
- Energy Cooperation: Russia is a major exporter of natural resources like oil and gas, and China is the world’s largest energy consumer. The two countries have signed numerous agreements on energy cooperation, including the construction of pipelines and joint development of natural gas projects.
- Military Collaboration: Russia and China have increased their military cooperation in recent years, conducting joint military exercises and sharing defense technologies. Russia has been a significant arms supplier to China, helping to modernize the Chinese military.
- Political Support: Both countries have supported each other on the international stage, often backing each other’s positions in the United Nations and other international forums. For instance, China has supported Russia’s stance on issues like Crimea and Syria, while Russia has backed China on issues related to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Response to Western Sanctions: In the face of Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to its actions in Ukraine, the partnership with China has become increasingly important for Moscow. China has provided economic support to Russia, helping to mitigate the impact of these sanctions.
- The US Factor: The United States’ strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific and its efforts to counter China’s rise have pushed Beijing closer to Moscow. Likewise, strained US-Russia relations have led Moscow to seek stronger ties with Beijing.
Russia and China axis: Implications for India
- Strategic Concerns: A closer Russia-China alliance could potentially undermine India’s strategic interests, as both countries are India’s neighbors and have had historical disputes with it. A stronger partnership between Russia and China could complicate India’s efforts to maintain a balance of power in the region.
- Impact on India-Russia Relations: India has traditionally enjoyed a strong relationship with Russia, especially in defense cooperation. However, Russia’s growing ties with China could potentially affect this relationship, as Moscow may prioritize its partnership with Beijing over New Delhi.
- Influence in the Indo-Pacific: A stronger Russia-China partnership could challenge India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries are trying to expand their presence. This might lead to increased competition and tensions between India and the Russia-China alliance.
- Security Challenges: Increased military cooperation between Russia and China might pose security challenges for India, as it could result in a more assertive and capable China in the region. This could also affect India’s efforts to maintain a stable security environment along its borders.
- Multilateral Forums: India’s role in multilateral forums such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) might be impacted by the Russia-China partnership. India may find it challenging to pursue its interests in these forums if both countries work together to promote their shared goals.
- Diplomatic Balancing Act: India will need to navigate a delicate diplomatic balancing act as it seeks to maintain strong ties with both Russia and the US, while also pursuing closer relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s rise.
- Economic Implications: India’s trade and investment relations with Russia and China could be affected by the evolving geopolitical situation. India might need to diversify its economic partnerships to minimize the risks associated with the Russia-China alliance.
India’s diplomacy in response to the changing geopolitical landscape
- Act East Policy: India has strengthened its focus on East and Southeast Asia, both economically and strategically, through the Act East Policy. This approach aims to deepen India’s engagement with the ASEAN countries, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, promoting regional connectivity, trade, and investment while also addressing shared security concerns.
- Indo-Pacific Strategy: Recognizing the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, India has been actively participating in regional forums and partnerships, such as the Quad (comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the United States). This strategy aims to maintain a rules-based order, ensure freedom of navigation, and promote regional stability in the face of China’s growing influence.
- Balancing Relations with Major Powers: India has been navigating its relationships with major powers, such as the United States, Russia, and China. While India has strengthened its strategic partnership with the US, it also maintains its long-standing ties with Russia, despite Moscow’s growing closeness to Beijing. At the same time, India seeks to manage its complex relationship with China, balancing cooperation on regional and global issues with competition and strategic rivalry.
- Neighbourhood First Policy: India has been prioritizing its relationships with its immediate neighbors in South Asia, focusing on enhancing connectivity, economic integration, and people-to-people exchanges. This policy aims to foster regional stability, counterbalance China’s growing influence, and promote India’s leadership role in the region.
- Multilateralism and Global Governance: India has been actively participating in and seeking reforms in global governance institutions, such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council reflects its ambition to play a more significant role in shaping global norms and addressing shared challenges, such as climate change, sustainable development, and international terrorism.
- Economic Diplomacy: India has been leveraging its economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment, promote its exports, and diversify its supply chains. By engaging with various regional trade blocs and negotiating bilateral trade agreements, India aims to integrate itself more closely with the global economy and enhance its economic competitiveness.
Conclusion
- As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift and evolve, India needs to adapt its diplomacy to navigate the changing dynamics effectively. The deepening partnership between Russia and China requires India to reassess its strategic relationships and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with both traditional and emerging partners.
Mains Question
Q. India-Japan relations have witnessed a significant transformation in recent years. Discuss the strategic significance of the bilateral partnership and also evaluate the challenges in further strengthening the relationship.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: TB
Mains level: TB Burden, Challenges and solutions
Central Idea
- The fight against tuberculosis (TB) has been going on for over 30 years since it was declared a global health emergency, yet the goal of ending TB by 2030 is still uncertain. The fight against TB needs a renewed focus on three key areas i.e., vaccine development, newer therapeutic agents, and improved diagnostics to meet the goal of ending TB by 2030.
Background
- In 1993, the World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency and the 1993 World Development Report stated that TB treatment for adults was the best buy among all developmental interventions.
- Since then, the global response to TB has been slow and lacks urgency.
Global Fund
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria was created in response to the call for action against TB at the G7 summit in Okinawa, Japan, in 2001.
- The Global Fund has become the single largest channel of additional funding for global TB control.
- However, it faces constraints due to zero-sum games from donor constituents and competition between the three diseases it finances.
StopTB Partnership
- The StopTB Partnership was constituted to mobilize and marshal a disparate set of actors towards the goal of ending TB.
- It has been adapting to changes, such as using molecular diagnostic tools developed to respond to bioterrorism to diagnose TB and using social safety programs to address the poverty drivers of the TB epidemic.
- Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- It mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body such as the kidneys, spine, and brain.
- TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
- Symptoms of TB include coughing that lasts for three or more weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.
- TB can be treated with antibiotics, but drug-resistant forms of TB are a growing concern.
Three key areas that need attention
- Vaccine development:
- The development of an adult TB vaccine is the first area that needs urgent attention.
- The current vaccine is 100 years old, and the development and wide use of an adult TB vaccine are essential to ending TB.
- COVID-19 vaccine development process provides insights into accelerating the process.
- India’s capabilities can play a significant role in vaccine development and equitable distribution.
- Newer therapeutic agents for TB:
- A few new anti-TB drugs are available but face cost and production constraints.
- Shorter, injection-free regimens are needed to improve compliance and reduce patient fatigue.
- A continuous pipeline of new drugs is essential to combat drug resistance.
- Improved diagnostics:
- AI-assisted handheld radiology and passive surveillance of cough sounds can revolutionize TB diagnostics.
- Incentivize biotech startups to disrupt the complexity and price barriers of molecular testing.
Conclusion
- India’s leadership role in the G20 and the upcoming StopTB Partnership board meeting in Varanasi provide the perfect opportunity for India to lead the way in ending TB. With the collective will and action of leaders, it is possible to end TB sooner rather than later.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NPS
Mains level: Pension reforms and challenges
Central Idea
- The demand for the old pension scheme (OPS) is growing in India, particularly after some states announced plans to revert to it. The mainstream critique of OPS is centered around inefficiency and fiscal deficit concerns. However, it is crucial to examine the policy from the class and welfare perspectives.
What is pension?
- A pension is a retirement plan that provides a stream of income to individuals after they retire from their job or profession. It can be funded by employers, government agencies, or unions and is designed to ensure a steady income during retirement.
What is Old Pension Scheme (OPS)?
- The OPS, also known as the Defined Benefit Pension System, is a pension plan provided by the government for its employees in India.
- Under the OPS, retired government employees receive a fixed monthly pension based on their last drawn salary and years of service.
- This pension is funded by the government and paid out of its current revenues, leading to increased pension liabilities.
- NPS is a market-linked, defined contribution pension system introduced in India in 2004 as a replacement for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
- NPS is designed to provide retirement income to all Indian citizens, including government employees, private sector workers, and self-employed individuals.
Analyzing the Impact of OPS on India’s Socio-Economic Landscape
- Inequality and Regressive Redistribution: Under the National Pension System (NPS), the Sixth Pay Commission increased the basic salary of government employees to cover pension contributions and promote post-retirement savings. As a result, the salary of a government employee is higher than the income of more than 90% of the population. The OPS thus acts as a regressive redistribution mechanism favoring a better-off class.
- Rising Pension Liabilities: Pension liabilities of the government increased substantially due to the Sixth pay matrix, reaching 9% of total state expenditure. By 2050, pension expenditure will account for 19.4% of total state expenditures, assuming the current growth rate remains constant.
- Disproportionate Burden on the Lower Class: The bottom 50% of the population faces the inequitable burden of indirect taxation, six times more than their income. Due to OPS, they must bear the burden of supporting government employees’ pensions, which could push them further into poverty.
- Expenditure Challenges and Public Goods: As India’s population ages and public provision of education and healthcare becomes more critical, OPS poses expenditure challenges for providing public goods. This situation compels governments to compress already low social sector expenditures, pushing marginalized groups into further destitution.
- Monopolization of Future Labor Markets: The OPS facilitates the monopolization of future labor markets in the private sector by a proprietary class, allowing supervisory bureaucracy to consolidate its position and emerge as a dominant group.
Recommendations for Equitable Resource Distribution
- Opposition to the OPS should focus on equitable distribution of resources and expansion of universal provisions of public goods.
- Implement a participatory pension system for government employees to provide more egalitarian outcomes.
- Tweak the NPS to provide a guaranteed monthly return for lower-rung employees.
- Address unequal pay among various ranks of employees through administrative reforms.
- Advocate for progressive taxation of the top 10% and a rationalization of political executives’ pensions and profligacy.
Facts for prelims: NPS vs OPS
| Parameter |
National Pension System (NPS) |
Old Pension Scheme (OPS) |
| Type of System |
Defined Contribution System |
Defined Benefit System |
| Funding |
Contributions from employee and employer |
Government-funded |
| Investment |
Market-linked investments in various asset classes |
No direct investment involved |
| Returns |
Subject to market risks |
Predetermined and not market-linked |
| Pension Amount |
Depends on accumulated corpus and investment returns |
Based on last drawn salary and years of service |
| Annuity & Lump-sum Withdrawal |
Minimum 40% corpus used to purchase annuity, remaining can be withdrawn as lump-sum |
Fixed monthly pension, no annuity or lump-sum withdrawal |
| Portability |
Portable across jobs and sectors |
Limited to government employees |
| Flexibility |
Choice of investment options, fund managers, and asset allocation |
No flexibility, pension determined by predefined formula |
Conclusion
- It is essential to recognize the disenchantment with neoliberalism driving the demand for the OPS. Government employees and policymakers must work together to address the challenges posed by OPS and implement pension reforms that prioritize equitable resource distribution, efficient allocation, and social welfare.
Mains Question
Q. Compare and contrast OPS with the National Pension System (NPS) and discuss the impact of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on India’s socio-economic landscape.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Right to Health
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Right to Health (RTH), even as doctors continued their protest against the Bill, demanding its complete withdrawal.
Right to Health (RTH): A conceptual insight
- RTH is a fundamental human right that guarantees everyone the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
- It is recognized as a crucial element of the right to an adequate standard of living and is enshrined in international human rights law.
Scope of RTH
- RTH covers various health-related issues, including-
- Access to healthcare services, clean water and sanitation, adequate nutrition, healthy living and working conditions, health education, and disease prevention.
- Accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services,
- Eliminating barriers to healthcare access
- Informed consent to medical treatment and accessing information about their health.
What is the Rajasthan Right to Health Bill?
- Free treatment: RTH gives every resident of the state the right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities and select private facilities.
- Wider scope of healthcare: Free healthcare services will include consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedures, and emergency care. However, there are conditions specified in the rules that will be formulated.
- Free emergency treatment: Residents are entitled to emergency treatment and care without prepayment of fees or charges.
- No delay in treatment: Hospitals cannot delay treatment on grounds of police clearance in medico-legal cases.
- State reimbursement of charges: After emergency care and stabilisation, if patients do not pay requisite charges, healthcare providers can receive proper reimbursement from the state government.
Existing schemes in Rajasthan
- The flagship Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme provides free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh, which has been increased to Rs 25 lakh in the latest budget.
- The Rajasthan Government Health Scheme covers government employees, ministers, current and former MLAs, etc.
- The Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan scheme provides free OPD and IPD services in government hospitals and covers about 1,600 medicines, 928 surgicals, and 185 sutures.
- The Free Test scheme provides up to 90 free tests in government hospitals and has benefited 2.93 crore persons between March-December 2022.
Need for the RTH Scheme
- The state prioritizes healthcare and wants Rajasthan to be a great example of good health.
- The Health Minister has received many complaints about private hospitals asking for money from patients who have the Chiranjeevi card.
- So, they are bringing in a new law to stop this.
- The new law will make sure that future governments follow it and provide free healthcare to everyone.
Controversy with the RTH Law: Emergency Care Provisions
- Emergency care was a contentious issue in the RTH.
- The clause states that people have the right to emergency treatment and care for accidental emergency, emergency due to snake bite/animal bite and any other emergency decided by the State Health Authority under prescribed emergency circumstances.
- Emergency treatment and care can be availed without prepayment of requisite fee or charges.
- Public or private health institutions qualified to provide such care or treatment according to their level of health care can offer emergency care.
Issues raised by healthcare professionals
- Existing burden of schemes: Doctors are protesting against the RTH because they question the need for it when there are already schemes like Chiranjeevi that cover most of the population.
- Specialization concerns: They are also objecting to certain clauses, such as defining “emergency” and being compelled to treat patients outside their specialty as part of an emergency.
- Unnecessary obligations: The Bill empowers patients to choose the source of obtaining medicines or tests at all healthcare establishments, which means that hospitals cannot insist on in-house medicines or tests.
Way forward
- Given the contentious nature of the Bill, it is important for all stakeholders to come to the table and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the issues at hand.
- It should involve liaison between government, doctors, patient advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the concerns raised by all parties and identify potential solutions.
- This could be followed by a revision of the Bill, incorporating feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders, and a renewed effort to build consensus and support for the legislation.
- Additionally, greater efforts could be made to improve transparency and accountability in the healthcare system, with a focus on educating patients about their rights.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NA
Mains level: Marital Rape
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a series of petitions seeking to criminalise marital rape.
What is Marital Rape?
- Marital rape is the act of sexual intercourse with one’s spouse without her consent.
- It is no different manifestation of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
- It is often a chronic form of violence for the victim which takes place within abusive relations.
Status in India
- Historically considered as right of the spouses, this is now widely classified as rape by many societies around the world.
- In India, marital rape is not a criminal offense (as protected under IPC section 375).
- India is one of fifty countries that have not yet outlawed marital rape.
Recent observations by Delhi HC
- Spousal intimacy: In a marriage, conjugal expectation is a two-way street, where “consent is given as a part of spousal intimacy although the will to engage may be absent”.
- Need for written agreement: If every such case is treated as marital rape, then the only way partners in a marriage may survive would be by drawing up a detailed written agreement.
- Burden of evidentiary record: This would lead to creating a detailed evidentiary record of every act of intimacy and/or by inviting a third party to act as a witness.
- Defying marital obligations: The HC said that marriage was accompanied by obligations that the partners had to bear, including conjugal expectations, financial obligations and, finally, duty towards progeny.
- Sexual liberty of spouses: The bench also underlined the signs of injury on a partner need not necessarily mean there had been non-consensual sex as “in the age of sexual liberation”, injuries could be a sign of “passion”.
- Cruelty not rape: Forced sexual intercourse between a husband and wife cannot be treated as rape. At worst, it can be treated as sexual abuse found in Section 3 of the Domestic Violence Act.
- Clash of ego: A wife cannot prescribe a particular punishment that can be imposed on the husband ‘to satisfy her ego’,” the HC said.
Reasons for rebuttal of this concept
- The reluctance to define non-consensual sex between married couples as a crime and to prosecute has been attributed to:
- Traditional views of marriage
- Interpretations of religious doctrines
- Ideas about male and female sexuality
- Cultural expectations of subordination of a wife to her husband
- It is widely held that a husband cannot be guilty of any sexual act committed by himself upon his lawful wife their on account of their mutual matrimonial consent.
Why it must be a crime?
- Associated physical violence: Rape by a spouse, partner or ex-partner is more often associated with physical violence.
- Mental harassment: There is research showing that marital rape can be more emotionally and physically damaging than rape by a stranger.
- Compulsive relationship: Marital rape may occur as part of an abusive relationship.
- Revengeful nature: Furthermore, marital rape is rarely a one-time event, but a repeated if not frequent occurrence.
- Obligation on women: In the case of marital rape the victim often has no choice but to continue living with their spouse.
Violation of fundamental rights
- Marital rape is considered as a violation of FR guaranteed under Article 14 of the Indian constitution which guarantees the equal protection of laws to all persons.
- By depriving married women of an effective penal remedy against forced sexual intercourse, it violates their right to privacy and bodily integrity, aspects of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
Problems in prosecuting marital rape
- Lack of awareness: A lack of public awareness, as well as reluctance or outright refusal of authorities to prosecute is common globally.
- Gender norms: Additionally, gender norms that place wives in subservient positions to their husbands, make it more difficult for women to recognize such rape.
- Acceptability of the concept: Another problem results from prevailing social norms that exist.
Present regulations in India
- Indian Penal Code criminalizes rape in most cases, although marital rape is not illegal when the woman is over the age of 18.
- However, until 2017, men married to those between 15 and 18 could not be convicted of rape.
- Marital rape of an adult wife, who is unofficially or officially separated, is a criminal offence punishable by 2 to 7 year in prison; it is not dealt by normal rape laws which stipulate the possibility of a death sentence.
- According to the Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act (2005), other married women subject to such crime by their husband may demand for financial compensation.
- They also have the right to continue to live in their marital household if they wish, or may approach shelter or aid homes.
However, marital rape is still not a criminal offence in this case and is only a misdemeanour.
Arguments against criminalization
- Subjective: It is very subjective and intricate to determine whether consent was acquired or not.
- Prone to Misuse: If marital rape is criminalized without adequate safeguards it could be misused like the current dowry law by the dissatisfied wives to harass and torture their Husbands.
- Burden on Judiciary: It will increase the burden of judiciary which otherwise may serve other more important causes.
Way forward
- Sanctioning marital rape is an acknowledgement of the woman’s right to self-determination (i.e., control) of all matters relating to her body.
- In the absence of any concrete law, the judiciary always finds it difficult to decide the matter of domestic rape in the absence of solid evidence.
- The main purpose of marriage is procreation, and sometimes divorce is sought on the ground of non-consummation of marriage.
- Before giving a final interpretation, the judiciary must balance the rights and duties of both partners.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Solomon Islands
Mains level: Read the attached story
A Chinese state-backed company has won a contract to develop Honiara, a key port in the Solomon Islands. This is a major victory for China, which is seeking to gain a strategic foothold in the South Pacific.
Why discuss this?
- The Solomon Islands have become a focal point in the diplomatic tussle between China and the US, following the signing of a secret security pact between the Solomons and Beijing in 2022.
- This has raised concerns that China may be establishing a permanent naval base in the country.
About Solomon Islands
- The Solomon Islands is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.
- Its capital, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
- It is part of the ethnically Melanesian group of islands in the Pacific and lies between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
- The country takes its name from the Solomon Islands archipelago, which is a collection of Melanesian islands that also includes the North Solomon Islands (a part of Papua New Guinea).
- It excludes outlying islands, such as the Santa Cruz Islands and Rennell and Bellona.
Quick recap of its past
- The islands, which were initially controlled by the British Empire during the colonial era, went through the hands of Germany and Japan.
- It then went back to the UK after the Americans took over the islands from the Japanese during World War II.
- The islands became independent in 1978 to become a constitutional monarchy under the British Crown, with a parliamentary system of government.
- Nevertheless, its inability to manage domestic ethnic conflicts led to close security relations with Australia, which is the traditional first responder to any crisis in the South Pacific.
How did China enter the picture?
- Earlier this year, the Solomon Islands established a security agreement with China, saying it needed Beijing’s assistance with its domestic security situation.
- But the announcement had rattled the west, esp. the US, Australia and others in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The concerns were that the agreement could potentially lead to a Chinese military base on the island nation and a gain in power-projection capabilities.
- At that time, following intense scrutiny, the Solomon Islands had denied that the agreement would allow China to establish a naval base.
What is the Solomon Islands’ stance?
- The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place.
- The revised national mechanism applied to all foreign vessels seeking access to the country’s ports.
- The nation wanted to build up its own naval capacity.
- It has some unfortunate experiences of foreign naval vessels entering its waters without any diplomatic clearance.
What is behind China’s growing influence in the region?
- There is no dispute that China has been rapidly increasing its presence and influence in the region for over three decades, particularly in the South Pacific.
- Certainly Beijing views the Pacific Island region as an important component of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Specifically, it sees the region as a critical air freight hub in its so-called Air Silk Road, which connects Asia with Central and South America.
Concerns of the West
- The port project could open the door to a Chinese naval base, which would significantly extend China’s military reach in the South Pacific.”
- It is likely that this security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands has been driven by, what the CFR calls, Beijing’s “sense of vulnerability” in the region.
What is the rationale for the Solomon Islands’ increasing proximity to China?
- The Solomon Islands had cultivated strong ties with Taiwan, which ended with the emergence of the current government in Honiara.
- In 2019, the regime change switched Taiwan for China.
- This was supposedly after Beijing offered half a billion US dollars in financial aid, roughly five times what Taiwan spent on the islands in the past two decades.
- It has been alleged by the pro-Taiwan Opposition that the incumbent government has been bribed by China.
Why is China interested in the Solomon Islands?
- Isolating Taiwan: The Solomon Islands was one among the six Pacific island states which had official bilateral relations with Taiwan.
- Supporter in UN: The small Pacific island states act as potential vote banks for mobilising support for the great powers in international fora like the United Nations.
- Larger EEZ: These states have disproportionately large maritime Exclusive Economic Zones when compared to their small sizes.
- Natural resources: Solomon Islands, in particular, have significant reserves of timber and mineral resources, along with fisheries.
- Countering US: But more importantly, they are strategically located for China to insert itself between America’s military bases in the Pacific islands and Australia.
What does this mean for the established geopolitical configuration in the region?
- Diminishing western influence: The Pacific islands, in the post-World War II scenario, were exclusively under the spheres of influence of the Western powers, in particular, the US, UK, France and Australia and New Zealand.
- Inserting into western hegemony: All of them have territorial possessions in the region, with the three nuclear powers among them having used the region as a nuclear weapons testing ground.
- Shifting of dependencies: The smaller island nations of the region are heavily dependent on them, especially Australia as it is a resident power.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sharda Peeth
Mains level: Not Much
Home Minister said that the government will move forward to open Sharda Peeth on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor.
Why in news?
- Activists request that the Sharda Peeth corridor should be made operational on the lines of Nankana Sahib Gurudwaras and the Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan.
Sharda Peeth
- Sharda Peeth is a Hindu temple located in the Neelam Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
- It is considered one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, or major shrines, of the Hindu goddess Shakti.
- The temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, particularly those from the Kashmir Valley.
History and Significance
- The temple is believed to have been established in the 6th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya, a famous Hindu philosopher and saint.
- Sharda Peeth became an important center of learning and scholarship during the medieval period, attracting scholars from all over India and even from as far as Central Asia.
- The temple was destroyed several times by invading armies and underwent major renovations and restorations under various rulers over the centuries.
- The temple’s importance declined during the colonial period and it fell into disrepair in the years following India’s partition in 1947.
Current rundown state and Controversy
- Sharda Peeth is now located in a remote and inaccessible part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and has become a subject of political and religious controversy.
- The Indian government has long sought to open a pilgrimage corridor to Sharda Peeth for Hindu devotees, but this has been complicated by the ongoing conflict and tension between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
- In recent years, there have been calls for the temple to be handed over to India or for it to be converted into a museum that can be visited by people from both sides of the border.
Significance in Kashmiri Identity
- Sharda Peeth is an important part of Kashmiri Hindu identity and culture, and its restoration and revival have been a longstanding demand of the community.
- Some Kashmiri Pandits view the temple as a symbol of their lost homeland and argue that its restoration would be a step towards reclaiming their cultural and religious heritage.
- Others, however, caution against politicizing the temple and argue that it should be seen as a shared heritage of all Kashmiris, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Abel Prize
Mains level: Not Much
The Abel Prize for mathematics for 2023 was awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli, an expert in “partial differential equations” which can explain phenomena ranging from how water flows to population growth.
Abel Prize
- The Abel Prize is a prize awarded annually by the King of Norway to one or more outstanding mathematicians.
- It is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829) and directly modeled after the Nobel Prizes.
- It comes with a monetary award of 7.5 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) (increased from 6 million NOK in 2019).
- Its establishment was proposed by the Norwegian mathematician Sophus Lie when he learned that Alfred Nobel’s plans for annual prizes would not include a prize in mathematics.
- The laureates are selected by the Abel Committee, the members of which are appointed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Has any Indian ever won this prestigious prize?
- Srinivasa Varadhan, an Indian-American citizen won the Abel Prize in the year 2007 for his valuable contribution in “probability theory and in particular for creating a unified theory of large deviation”.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CBUD App
Mains level: NA
Prime Minister has launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to facilitate coordination between excavation agencies and underground utility owners to prevent damage to utilities due to digging.
Call Before u Dig (CBUD)
- The app is an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
- Uncoordinated digging and excavation causes damage to underlying assets like optical fibre cables, leading to losses of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
- The app aims to prevent damage to utilities due to digging.
- It will save potential business loss and minimise discomfort to citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.
How does the app work?
- The CBuD app connects excavators and asset owners through SMS/Email notifications and click-to-call.
- It ensures planned excavations in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.
- Excavating companies can inquire about existing subsurface utilities before starting excavation work.
- Utility owners can find out about impending work at the location.
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