Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Kazi Nazrul Islam
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
- A movie-maker has issued an apology for the unintended distress caused by its rendition of the iconic song “Karar Oi Louho Kopat” penned by Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in 1922.
Who was Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976)?
- Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on May 24, 1899, in Churulia, a village in the Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.
- He was a famous poet, writer, and musician from Bengal.
- He is well-known for his songs, which are called “Nazrulgeeti.”
- These songs are very popular and loved by in West Bengal, Bangladesh, almost as much as Rabindrasangeet of Rabindranath Tagore.
- Nazrul is often called the “Vidrohi Kavi (Rebel Poet)” because he wrote more than 4,000 songs, and many of them were about protesting and fighting against unfair rules and powerful rulers.
- These songs inspired the freedom fighters of Bengal who were fighting against the British colonial rule.
- He is celebrated as the national poet of Bangladesh and is also revered in West Bengal, India.
Understanding “Karar Oi Louho Kopat”
- Nazrul was an ardent supporter of India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He used his poetry and writings to inspire and mobilize people against British oppression.
- Published in 1922 in “Banglar Katha” and later included in Nazrul’s “Bhangar Gaan,” the song was penned as a call to break down the iron gates of prison, symbolizing resistance against British oppression.
- He wrote the song of revolution after the British threw Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das (1870-1925) in prison in 1922.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Electric Batteries
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- Electric batteries have become an integral part of modern life, enabling the widespread use of motorization and wireless technology.
- These devices store and release electrical energy, acquired by converting other forms of energy, primarily through chemical reactions.
Historical Roots of Electric Batteries
- Galvani’s Experiment: In 1780, Luigi Galvani conducted an experiment involving two metal plates and a frog’s leg, marking an early exploration of electricity’s effects on biological systems.
- Volta’s Voltaic Pile: Alessandro Volta’s voltaic pile in 1800 consisted of alternating copper and zinc plates separated by electrolyte-soaked paper. It produced a steady current but lacked a comprehensive explanation.
- John Daniel’s Innovation: British chemist John Daniel improved on Volta’s design with a more efficient cell that generated electric current for extended periods.
- Faraday’s Insights: In the early 19th century, Michael Faraday elucidated the principles of electrochemical cells, including naming components like anode, cathode, and electrolyte.
Understanding Electric Batteries
- Voltaic Cells: Electric batteries, also known as voltaic or galvanic cells, utilize redox reactions to produce an electric current. They consist of two half-cells, each with a metal electrode immersed in an electrolyte of the same metal.
- Electron Transfer: In one half-cell, metal ions dissolve into the electrolyte, releasing electrons. In the other half-cell, the reverse occurs, as metal ions deposit onto the electrode and require electrons.
- External Circuit: A wire connects the two electrodes, allowing electron flow from the anode to the cathode. A salt bridge connects the two electrolytes, enabling ion exchange.
- Components: Key components include the cathode (positive electrode), anode (negative electrode), and the electrolyte. The source voltage and terminal voltage are important concepts.
- Source Voltage: It represents the energy imparted to electrons and is equal to the terminal voltage in ideal conditions.
- Issues: Corrosion is a common issue in electrochemical cells, caused by factors like moisture and galvanic corrosion.
Types of Batteries
- Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries: Li-ion batteries are rechargeable and have revolutionized technology. They consist of a cathode, anode, and an electrolyte. During discharge, lithium ions move between electrodes, facilitating energy storage.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries: EV batteries, such as those used in Tesla’s Model S, are composed of numerous Li-ion cells and are critical for powering electric vehicles.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining interest, especially in the context of green energy. They use hydrogen as a fuel source and produce electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen, emitting water as a byproduct.
Future Prospects and Significance
- Ongoing Research: Li-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells continue to be areas of extensive research, with diverse configurations and advantages.
- Hydrogen Economy: Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to play a pivotal role in the emerging hydrogen economy, and countries like India are investing in green hydrogen production.
Conclusion
- Electric batteries, rooted in the principles of electrochemistry, have undergone significant evolution, transforming the way we live and utilize energy.
- Their development and improvement remain central to advancing convenience and sustainability in industrialized societies, shaping the future of technology and transportation.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Historical Perspectives on Work
Mains level: Impact of AI on Labour and Work
Central Idea
- Elon Musk’s recent remarks at the Bletchley Park summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) have stirred discussions about the potential of AI to replace all forms of human labor.
- While such a future may seem theoretical, it raises critical questions about the nature of work, economic paradigms, and societal well-being.
AI’s impact and Labour and Work
- Elon Musk’s Vision: Musk envisions a future where AI replaces all forms of human labor, leaving individuals to seek work solely for personal fulfillment.
- Reality of AI: AI, while capable of substituting certain jobs, also generates new employment opportunities, such as AI programmers and researchers.
- AI’s Self-Awareness: A truly workless future implies AI becoming self-aware, capable of designing, operating, and maintaining itself, a scenario that remains theoretically possible but practically improbable.
Historical Perspectives on Work
- John Maynard Keynes: Keynes believed that reducing working hours would enhance welfare, as work often represented drudgery. He foresaw technological advancements reducing work hours and increasing well-being.
- Karl Marx: Marx viewed work as integral to human identity, providing meaning through material interaction with nature. Capitalism’s exploitation of labor alienates individuals from their work.
- AI’s Impact on Work: Musk’s vision aligns with Keynes’ thinking, suggesting that AI’s advancements could eliminate work, a positive outcome in this context.
Role of Capitalism in a Workless World
- Capitalism and Income: Under capitalism, individuals rely on income from work to access essential resources. Lack of work equals deprivation.
- Access to Resources: Musk’s vision allows for voluntary work but doesn’t address how individuals without work can access basic needs within the capitalist framework.
Imagining a Workless Economy
- Alternative Economic System: A workless world necessitates an economic system with different rules governing production and distribution, possibly involving a universal basic income.
- Institutional Questions: This alternative world raises questions about determining income levels, resource distribution, and balancing future growth with current consumption.
- Challenges of Change: Implementing such a system may be met with resistance within the existing capitalist society marked by rising inequality and a billionaire class.
Conclusion
- While the prospect of a world without work as envisioned by Elon Musk may seem speculative, it underscores the need to understand the potential disruptions caused by technological innovations.
- The impact of AI on work cannot be fully comprehended without considering the economic institutions that shape our society.
- Addressing these challenges requires a thoughtful examination of our current economic system and its adaptability to a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Try this PYQ:
Karl Marx explained the process of class struggle with the help of which one of the following theories?
(a) Empirical liberalism
(b) Existentialism
(c) Darwin’s theory of evolution
(d) Dialectical materialism
Post your answers here.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cyprus Confidential
Mains level: Tax avoidance vs. evasion
Central Idea
- The Cyprus Confidential investigation unveils a web of offshore entities controlled from India, shedding light on financial transactions orchestrated by individuals in India.
Cyprus Confidential and Its Scope
- Global Offshore Probe: Cyprus Confidential explores 3.6 million documents, unveiling companies established in Cyprus by global elites.
- International Collaboration: Over 270 journalists from 60 media outlets across 55 countries and territories participate in this investigation.
- Data Sources: The investigation draws on documents from six offshore service providers in Cyprus, revealing not only Indian investors but also entities formed by prominent business conglomerates to leverage Cyprus’ favorable tax environment.
The Indian Perspective:
Setting Up Offshore Entities in Cyprus
- Indian entities: The investigation aims to lift the secrecy surrounding offshore entities, exposing how they are controlled from India, with financial instructions originating from individuals within the country.
- Legality: Establishing offshore companies in Cyprus is not illegal. India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) with various countries, including Cyprus, offering advantageous tax rates.
- Tax Residency Certificates: Companies utilize tax residency certificates in these countries to legally benefit from reduced tax rates. These jurisdictions are characterized by loose regulatory oversight and stringent secrecy laws.
India’s Tax Treaty with Cyprus
- Pre-2013: Before 2013, India and Cyprus had a tax treaty exempting investors from capital gains tax, attracting substantial investments. Cyprus also had a low withholding tax rate of 4.5%.
- 2013 Onward: India categorized Cyprus as a Notified Jurisdictional Area (NJA) in 2013, leading to higher withholding tax rates and transfer pricing regulations for transactions involving NJA entities.
- Revised DTAA in 2016: A revised DTAA was signed in 2016, rescinding Cyprus from NJA with retrospective effect from November 1, 2013. This treaty introduced source-based taxation of capital gains and a grandfathering clause.
Tax Benefits in Cyprus
- Tax Rates: Offshore companies and branches managed from Cyprus are taxed at 4.25%, while those managed from abroad and offshore partnerships enjoy complete tax exemption.
- Dividends and Capital Gains: No withholding tax on dividends, and no capital gains tax on the sale or transfer of shares in offshore entities.
- Estate Duty Exemption: No estate duty on the inheritance of shares in offshore companies.
- Import Duty Exemption: No import duty on the purchase of vehicles, office, or household equipment for foreign employees.
- Beneficial Owner Anonymity: Ensures anonymity of the beneficial owners of offshore entities.
India-Cyprus DTAA and Its Significance
- Tax Planning: The DTAA enables Cyprus, with its favorable tax regime, to be a jurisdiction for tax planning. Foreign investors often set up investment firms in Cyprus to invest in India and benefit from the DTAA.
- Alternative to Mauritius: Cyprus is now an alternative to Mauritius for establishing offshore entities for Indian investments, as dividends paid from India are subject to withholding tax but not to taxation in Cyprus.
Offshore Trusts in Cyprus
- Cyprus International Trust Law: Offshore trusts under this law are exempt from estate duty and income tax, provided the trustee is Cypriot. Confidentiality is guaranteed.
- Tax Avoidance: Offshore trusts allow businesspersons to avoid taxes they would have paid if income from overseas operations had been remitted to their country of residence.
- Limitations of Indian DTAA: A DTAA does not prevent the Indian Income Tax department from denying treaty benefits if a company is found to have been inserted as a shareowner in India solely to avoid tax. In such cases, the entire transaction may be questioned.
Conclusion
- The India-Cyprus offshore connection is a complex landscape with legal tax planning, secrecy, and regulatory challenges.
- The Cyprus Confidential investigation has brought these nuances to light, prompting scrutiny and raising questions about the intricacies of offshore financial activities.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea
- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week is currently underway in San Francisco, bringing together leaders from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss pressing economic and trade issues.
- Although India is not an APEC member, is participating at the forum.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): An Overview
- Founding: APEC, established in 1989, is a regional economic forum aimed at promoting regional economic integration and greater prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. It consists of 21 member economies, termed “economies” due to their focus on trade and economic matters.
- Member Economies: APEC’s member economies include Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong (as part of China), the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile, strategically located around the Pacific Ocean.
APEC’s Role over the Years
- Champion of Free Trade: APEC has consistently advocated for free trade, reduction of trade tariffs, and economic liberalization.
- Seoul Declaration: The 1991 Seoul Declaration marked the establishment of a liberalized free trade area around the Pacific Rim as APEC’s primary objective.
- Economic Impact: APEC initiatives have contributed significantly to the development of a growing middle class in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC economies, comprising 2.9 billion citizens, account for approximately 60 percent of global GDP and 48 percent of global trade as of 2018.
India’s Interest in APEC
- Historical Interest: India expressed interest in joining APEC in 1991, coinciding with the initiation of economic reforms for liberalization and globalization.
- Rationale: India’s interest in APEC is based on its geographical location, the potential size of its economy, and its trade interactions with the Asia-Pacific.
- Challenges: APEC has maintained an informal moratorium on expanding membership, despite India’s interest. The US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region in 2015 welcomed India’s interest in joining APEC but no formal progress has been made.
Highlights of APEC Summit 2023
- Biden-Xi Meeting: The meeting between US President Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping is a significant highlight. While it may not result in immediate changes in US-China relations, it reflects ongoing high-level engagements.
- Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): The summit will focus on progress related to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), initiated after the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Fourteen members, including Fiji and India, are part of the IPEF, with the rest being APEC members.
Conclusion
- The APEC Summit 2023 brings together leaders from the Asia-Pacific region to address economic and trade issues, with the Biden-Xi meeting and discussions on the IPEF among the key highlights.
- Despite India’s historical interest in APEC, membership expansion remains a challenge, underscoring the importance of regional economic forums in shaping global economic policies and partnerships.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Mount Etna
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
- Volcanic eruptions often make headlines only when iconic volcanoes like Etna, Kilauea, or Eyjafjallajokull erupt.
- However, throughout any given year, our planet witnessed numerous volcanic eruptions, with as many as 50 to 80 occurring worldwide.
About Mount Etna
- Mount Etna, located in Italy, holds the title of Europe’s most active volcano and ranks among the world’s largest.
- Its recorded volcanic activity dates back to 1500 B.C., with over 200 eruptions documented since then.
- Etna’s recent eruptions have disrupted air travel, leading to flight cancellations at the nearby Catania airport.
- Additionally, the accumulation of volcanic ash on roads prompted authorities to temporarily ban the use of cars and motorbikes due to safety concerns.
Volcanic Eruptions this Year
Many of the world’s most active volcanoes are concentrated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, encompassing regions like New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the western coast of the Americas. This volatile area also experiences about 90% of all earthquakes globally.
- Kilauea, Hawaii: The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii captivated the world with a nearly nonstop eruption that began in 1983 and continued for an astonishing 35 years until 2018. Remarkably, it rekindled in 2021, with the eruption still ongoing.
- Dukono, Indonesia: Erupting since August 1933, Dukono volcano in Indonesia stands as a testament to long-term volcanic activity, defying the passage of time.
- Santa Maria, Guatemala: The eruption of Santa Maria in Guatemala commenced in June 1922 and persists to this day, underscoring the enduring nature of certain volcanic phenomena.
- Yasur, Vanuatu: Yasur in Vanuatu first erupted around 1270 and has maintained its volcanic activity, continuing as of June 9, 2023.
Understanding Volcanoes
- Volcanoes are geological features characterized by openings or vents through which lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth’s surface.
- They result from both their own eruptions and the broader processes of tectonic plate movement.
- Volcanic eruptions are essentially the result of magma, or molten rock, beneath the Earth’s surface rising, bubbling, and ultimately overflowing, much like boiling milk spilling out of a pot on a stove.
- The magma seeks pathways to vents within the volcano, where it erupts and is expelled across the land and into the atmosphere, a phenomenon referred to as lava.
Types of Volcanoes
|
Appearance |
Formation |
Eruption Style |
Notable Examples |
| Cinder Cones |
Small, steep, conical |
Formed from basaltic magma with high gas content |
Often explosive eruptions with cinders/scoria |
Paricutin (Mexico), Sunset Crater (USA) |
| Composite/Stratovolcanoes |
Tall and symmetrical |
Result from alternating layers of lava, ash, etc. |
Both explosive and effusive eruptions |
Mount St. Helens (USA), Mount Fuji (Japan) |
| Shield Volcanoes |
Broad and gently sloping |
Primarily formed from basaltic magma |
Primarily non-explosive with extensive lava flows |
Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea (Hawaii) |
| Lava Domes |
Rounded dome-like shape |
Formed from slow extrusion of viscous magma |
Typically non-explosive but can be dangerous |
Novarupta Dome (Alaska), Mount St. Helens’ Lava Dome (USA) |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: na
Mains level: criminal justice system
Central idea
The article highlights gender-based challenges in India’s criminal justice system, citing delays and discrimination against women complainants. Despite increased representation and specialized stations, the study in Haryana indicates persistent issues. The central idea emphasizes the need for reforms, gender sensitivity, and equal treatment within the justice system.
Key Highlights:
- Justice System Accessibility: Citizens face challenges accessing the criminal justice system in India due to police station unapproachability, court delays, and outdated forensic equipment.
- Gender Disparities: The study reveals “multi-dimensional discrimination” against women in the justice system, with differential treatment at all stages and levels.
- All-Women Police Stations: Despite efforts, the study, focused on Haryana, suggests that women face delays, dismissals, and lower conviction rates in cases where they are complainants.
- Limited Representation: While more women are joining the justice system, the study emphasizes the need for increased sensitivity and recruitment drives for female officers.
Challenges:
- Police Station Atmosphere: Unfriendly police stations, especially for women, contribute to delays and hinder justice delivery.
- Legal System Inefficiencies: Overworked prosecutors, court delays, and overcrowded prisons impact the overall efficiency of the justice system.
- Gender Bias: Discrimination against women at various stages, including delayed investigations and dismissals, poses a significant challenge.
- Recruitment Delays: Achieving the 33% reservation target for women in police stations may take another decade, delaying the improvement of gender sensitivity.
Key Phrases:
- Multi-dimensional Discrimination: The study identifies pervasive gender-based discrimination throughout the justice system.
- All-Women Police Stations: Initially created to address women’s concerns, the study questions the effectiveness of this approach.
- Delayed Investigations: Cases with women complainants experience longer waiting times and fewer registrations.
- Lower Conviction Rates: Women complainants have a lower chance of seeing the accused being sent to prison.
Analysis:
- Insufficient Gender Sensitivity: Despite efforts to increase women’s representation, the study suggests that sensitivity and fair treatment are lacking in investigations and trials.
- Systemic Inequalities: The research highlights systemic issues leading to dismissals, delays, and lower conviction rates for cases with women complainants.
- Need for Effective Monitoring: Effective monitoring systems are essential to ensure equal treatment for all genders throughout the justice process.
- Research Limitations: While the study raises crucial issues, the lack of validation from police or judicial officers in Haryana raises questions about the data’s accuracy.
Key Data for answer enrichment:
- Representation: Women constitute only around 12% of the police force, emphasizing the need for increased recruitment.
- Conviction Rate: India struggles with less than a 60% conviction rate, reflecting inefficiencies in the justice system.
- Reservation Target: Achieving the 33% reservation target for women in police stations may take another decade.
- Haryana Sample: The study focuses on Haryana, providing insights into the state-specific challenges faced by women in the justice system.
Way Forward:
- Increased Recruitment: Urgent recruitment drives are needed to enhance gender diversity in police stations and improve sensitivity.
- Efficient Justice System: Addressing inefficiencies, overhauling procedures, and providing adequate resources are essential for an accessible and fair justice system.
- Effective Monitoring: Implementing robust monitoring systems ensures consistent and unbiased treatment for all genders.
- Research Validation: Future research should involve direct interactions with police and judicial officers for accurate data validation and a comprehensive understanding of the issues.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Digital Public Infrastructure
Mains level: digital public goods in shaping international development frameworks
Central idea
India’s digital journey, marked by Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), exemplifies a commitment to inclusivity. The article underscores global collaboration, with MOSIP impacting millions, and highlights Norway’s role, advocating for the 50-in-5 campaign. It emphasizes the balance between openness and security in navigating the digital domain.
Key Highlights:
- DPI Transforming India: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has transformed India, providing digital identities and access to services for its vast population.
- Global Recognition and Frameworks: India’s G-20 presidency gained global recognition for DPI, setting frameworks for digital public goods and highlighting its development benefits.
- Digital Inclusion Success Stories: MOSIP, developed in Bengaluru, serves as a global blueprint, benefiting over 97 million citizens in diverse countries, showcasing achievements in digital inclusion.
- Comprehensive Development Framework: DPI is a comprehensive framework aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing development, inclusion, innovation, trust, and global competition.
Challenges:
- South-South Cooperation Dynamics: The article explores the dynamics of South-South cooperation, especially in the context of MOSIP, showcasing organic global organization.
- Financial Considerations and Privacy: Financial challenges in developing digital protocols and concerns about data privacy are highlighted as critical challenges for the future.
- Safeguarding Digital Sovereignty: Governments and businesses must navigate challenges, ensuring digital sovereignty without compromising an open, free, and secure Internet.
- Balancing Openness and Security: Balancing openness and security is crucial, emphasizing the importance of DPGA’s compass in certifying and pooling digital public goods.
Key Phrases:
- “Leaving no one behind” – Emphasizes the commitment to inclusivity and the challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)” – Highlights the transformative role of DPI in providing digital identities and access to services.
- “South-South cooperation” – Signifies the collaborative efforts among countries in the global South, exemplified by MOSIP’s impact.
- “Global development architecture” – Describes the role of digital public goods in shaping international development frameworks.
Analysis:
- Global Recognition of DPI: The article analyzes India’s G-20 presidency and its impact on recognizing DPI as part of the international development architecture.
- Challenges in Digital Domain: The challenges of financial considerations, data privacy, and safeguarding digital sovereignty are critically examined.
- Norway’s Digital Contributions: The analysis delves into Norway’s contributions to the digital domain, showcasing its commitment to the 50-in-5 campaign.
- Balancing Openness and Security: The article emphasizes the need to balance openness and security, considering the complexities of the digital domain.
Key Data:
- MOSIP’s Global Reach: Over 97 million people in various countries, including Morocco, Togo, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, have received IDs through MOSIP.
- Norwegian Digital Goods: Examples include weather services (Yr), health information systems (DHIS2), and contributions targeting SDG2 on ending food hunger.
- 50-in-5 Campaign: Norway pledges to make at least one national digital good available globally in the next five years as part of the 50-in-5 campaign.
- Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA): The article highlights the DPGA’s role as a registry of certified digital public goods, shaping the global digital landscape.
Key Facts:
- Digital Inclusion in India: DPI has played a pivotal role in providing digital identities to almost all of India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
- G-20 Framework for DPI: India’s achievement in getting all G-20 countries to agree to the G-20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure is emphasized.
- Norway’s Role in DPGA: Norway is a co-founder and member of the DPGA, contributing to the certification and pooling of digital public goods.
- Digital Goods Addressing Global Challenges: Digital goods like VIPS and DHIS2 contribute to addressing global challenges such as food insecurity and health management.
Key Terms for enriching answer quality:
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
- South-South Cooperation
- MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform)
- G-20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure
- 50-in-5 Campaign
- Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA)
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Way Forward:
- Collaborative Frameworks with India: Encouraging closer collaboration with India within DPGA frameworks is seen as a positive step for advancing global digital initiatives.
- Learning from India’s Digital Journey: Leveraging lessons from India’s digital journey is crucial for inclusive global development, offering insights into effective transformation strategies.
- Balancing Sovereignty and Collaboration: Collaborating with India within the DPGA framework requires a delicate balance, ensuring digital sovereignty while fostering successful global digital initiatives.
- Certification and Pooling for Global Good: Certification and pooling of digital public goods under DPGA’s global leadership provide a compass for future collaborations, emphasizing global cooperation for mutual benefit.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: social justice agenda
Central idea
Bihar’s caste census is a significant step, yet modernizing caste politics faces hurdles with global economic changes, an authoritative government, and assertive Hindutva ideology. To lead in this complexity, Bihar can pioneer a nuanced, coalition-based approach, reshaping caste politics for the 21st century.
Key Highlights:
- Historic Steps: Bihar takes significant strides in social justice by conducting a caste census and revealing socio-economic data associated with different castes.
- Leadership Challenge: The RJD-JD(U) coalition faces a critical juncture in utilizing caste survey data for an effective social justice agenda, beyond mere reservation expansions.
- Global Economic Situation: Neoliberal policies demand innovative approaches for mass employment (decent work).
- Authoritarian Regime: India experiences an authoritarian shift impacting constitutional norms and federal structures.
- Upper-Caste Hegemony: A visible rise of aggressive north-Indian Hindu upper-caste dominance through Hindutva ideology.
- Internal Differentiations: Complex internal variations within major caste groups challenge traditional one-dimensional caste politics.
Key Data for enhancing answer quality:
- “Formal Sector Jobs”: Despite market-friendly policies, the formal sector of the Indian economy offers less than 8% of all jobs.
- “Reservation Expansion”: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement of expanding reservations to 65%.
- “Resistance Against Hindutva”: Bihar’s historical role in resisting Hindutva politics, along with other states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Rajasthan.
- “Erosion of Indian Federalism”: The resistance against the erosion of Indian federalism, with Bihar contributing to the assertion of State rights.
Key Terms for value addition:
- Caste Census,
- Neoliberal Policies,
- Authoritarian Regime,
- Hindutva Ideology,
- Internal Caste Differentiations,
- Portrait vs. Proxy Model,
- Evolution of Caste Politics,
- State Rights Assertion,
Challenges:
- Neoliberal Constraints: Limited formal sector jobs despite market-friendly policies pose a challenge for reducing caste inequalities.
- Authoritarian Shift: Constitutional norms, checks and balances eroded by an authoritarian regime, altering the Indian state’s shape.
- Hindutva Ideology: Overt and aggressive upper-caste dominance through Hindutva challenges secularism, creating a one-dimensional Hindu identity.
- Internal Caste Differentiations: Diverse class interests within castes require a coalitional approach, potentially leading to unpredictable consequences.
Analysis:
- Changing Caste Politics: The article highlights the need for evolving caste politics beyond automatic association with social justice, considering the complexities of the present context.
- Role of Lower Castes: Lower caste politics can counter Hindutva, even when focused on community interests, offering resistance to the dominance of upper-caste neo-elites.
- State Rights Assertion: Bihar’s resistance against Hindutva and the act of conducting a caste census assert State rights, contributing to the fight against the erosion of Indian federalism.
- Portrait vs. Proxy Model: The caste survey raises questions about representation—whether elected representatives should resemble the population (portrait model) or act on their behalf (proxy model).
The Way Forward:
- Innovative Social Justice: Bihar has the opportunity to pioneer a new form of caste politics, adapting to the present context, breaking from past habits while upholding the core of the social justice agenda.
- Political Representation: The article questions the idea that sharing the same identity is sufficient for representation, emphasizing the need for effective action on behalf of the represented.
- Balancing Identities: Despite the census favoring larger numbers, Bihar can demonstrate that shared identity is a necessary but not sufficient condition for political representation.
- Championing Federalism: Bihar, along with other states, can lead the resistance against the erosion of Indian federalism, emphasizing the importance of locally-relevant policies.
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