PYQ Relevance:
Q) The USA is facing an existential threat in the form of China, that is much more challenging than the erstwhile Soviet Union.” Explain. (UPSC CSE 2021) |
Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on China as a threat to the USA (2021), and China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools (2017).
In mid-January, reports said China blocked its engineers and technicians from working at Foxconn in India and recalled those already there. It also restricted exports of key manufacturing equipment, which China dominates. While Foxconn brought in Taiwanese workers, the lack of equipment is a bigger challenge. This move threatens India’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub.
Today’s editorial discusses challenges arising from China’s dominance in the global supply chain. This topic is relevant for GS Paper 2 and GS Paper 3 in the UPSC Mains.
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Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
Recently, China has stopped its engineers and technicians from travelling to work at Foxconn’s facilities in India.
How is China using e-supply chains as a strategic tool?
- Monopoly Over Critical Manufacturing Equipment: China dominates the production of high-tech manufacturing equipment required for semiconductor and electronics production. Example: In early 2024, China restricted the export of specialized manufacturing machinery to Foxconn in India, slowing down iPhone assembly and production.
- Control Over Key Raw Materials: China holds a significant share of the global supply of rare earth elements (REEs) essential for electronics, EV batteries, and defense technology. Example: In 2023, China imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, two critical metals used in semiconductor and military applications, impacting global supply chains.
- Workforce and Knowledge Transfer Restrictions: By preventing its engineers and skilled technicians from working in foreign manufacturing hubs, China restricts the transfer of tacit knowledge to competitors. Example: Chinese engineers working at Foxconn’s Indian facilities were recalled, creating a skills gap that affected Apple’s production capacity.
- Disrupting Supply Chains to Gain Geopolitical Leverage: China can manipulate logistics, trade policies, and export restrictions to pressure countries and corporations dependent on its supply chains. Example: During the U.S.-China trade war, China imposed export controls on key components for companies like Huawei and Apple, demonstrating its leverage in global electronics production.
- Deep Integration into Global Manufacturing Networks: Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and heavy investments in industrial zones, China ensures that multinational corporations remain reliant on its supply chains. Example: Despite U.S. sanctions, companies like Tesla and Apple continue significant operations in China due to its well-integrated and cost-effective supply chain ecosystem.
What are the risks and vulnerabilities posed by China’s control over e-supply chains?
- Disruptions to Critical Industries: China’s dominance in semiconductor manufacturing, rare earth metals, and electronics components makes other nations vulnerable to supply chain shocks.
- India depends on China for over 75% of electronic components, affecting smartphone and telecom industries. The 2020 global chip shortage, worsened by China’s export controls, severely impacted industries like automobiles, defence, and consumer electronics.
- Geopolitical and Economic Coercion: China can weaponize supply chains to exert diplomatic pressure or punish countries for political disagreements.
- Post-Galwan clash (2020), India faced delays in customs clearance for Chinese goods, disrupting industries reliant on imports.
- Lithuania faced trade restrictions in 2021 after allowing a Taiwan representative office, showing how China uses supply chains as leverage.
- Vulnerability in Strategic Sectors (Telecom, Defense, Energy): Dependence on Chinese technology in strategic sectors poses risks related to cybersecurity, espionage, and sabotage.
- India banned Huawei and ZTE from 5G trials due to concerns over data security. The U.S. and EU have imposed restrictions on Chinese telecom firms citing national security threats.
- Supply Chain Manipulation and Price Volatility: China’s control over rare earth metals, batteries, and semiconductors allows it to manipulate prices and supply.
- Despite efforts to develop local lithium-ion battery production, India still relies on China for key materials, affecting the EV sector. In 2023, China restricted gallium and germanium exports, leading to price spikes for these critical semiconductor materials.
- Stifling Competitor Growth and Technological Dependence: China restricts the transfer of critical machinery and skilled labor to competitors to maintain its manufacturing edge.
- China’s ban on engineers working in Indian Foxconn plants and export curbs on key equipment have slowed India’s smartphone manufacturing expansion. U.S. firms like Apple, Tesla, and Intel remain dependent on China’s supply chains, despite attempts at diversification.
How can countries and companies safeguard themselves from China’s influence over e-supply chains? (Way Forward)
- Supply Chain Diversification (China Plus One Strategy): Countries and companies should expand production to alternative locations to reduce reliance on China.
- Example: Apple is shifting iPhone production to India, Vietnam, and Mexico to mitigate risks from China. The U.S. has passed the CHIPS Act (2022) to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains.
- Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing and R&D: Governments should invest in local industries, incentivize component manufacturing, and build advanced R&D ecosystems.
- Example: India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme supports domestic electronics and semiconductor manufacturing. Japan and South Korea are increasing investments in semiconductor fabs to reduce dependence on China.
- Forming Strategic Trade Alliances and Technology Partnerships: Nations should collaborate on trade agreements and secure alternative sources for critical materials and technology.
- Example: India, the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan are working together under the Chip 4 Alliance to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain. The EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC) is securing alternative semiconductor and rare earth suppliers.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Panchayati Raj-related issues;
Why in the News?
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released a report in Delhi on Thursday about how powers are given to Panchayats in different states. The report ranks states and UTs based on six key areas.
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
- Devolution Index: The report ranks states and Union Territories (UTs) based on six dimensions: Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Enhancement, and Accountability.
- The overall devolution has increased from 39.9% to 43.9% between 2013-14 and 2021-22.
- Top Performing States: The top five states in the devolution ranking are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Notably, Uttar Pradesh improved its rank significantly due to enhanced accountability measures.
- Uttar Pradesh made a significant jump from 15th to 5th place, highlighting governance reforms and accountability measures.
- Capacity Building & Infrastructure Growth: The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) played a crucial role in increasing the capacity enhancement index from 44% to 54.6%, along with improved Panchayat infrastructure (office buildings, internet connectivity, etc.).
- Significant Progress in Functionaries: The percentage of functionaries assigned to Panchayats increased from 39.6% to 50.9%, indicating efforts in recruitment and personnel strengthening.
What are the Major concerns in effective Devolution?
- Election Management: State Election Commissions (SECs) sometimes consult with state governments on election dates, leading to potential delays or political manipulation.
- Example: In Maharashtra, Panchayat elections were delayed in 2022 due to the state government’s interference
- Non-centrality of Panchayats: Panchayats operate in subjects designated for them in the eleventh schedule but face challenges that undermine their constitutional mandate.
- Example: In many states, rural development schemes like PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) are implemented by state departments rather than Gram Panchayats.
- Inadequate devolution of functions, funds, and functionaries: The devolution of functions, funds, and functionaries to PRIs has been inadequate, limiting their ability to effectively discharge their responsibilities.
- Example: In Jharkhand and Odisha, despite having legal provisions for devolution, Panchayats have limited control over education, health, and agriculture schemes.
- Lack of financial autonomy: PRIs don’t have enough financial independence since they mostly depend on irregular and inadequate grants from state governments.
- Example: In Uttar Pradesh, Gram Panchayats rely heavily on state grants for executing local projects.
- Lack of Support Staff: There is a severe lack of support staff and personnel in panchayats, such as secretaries, junior engineers, computer operators, and data entry operators, which affects their functioning and delivery of services by them.
- Example: In Bihar, several Gram Panchayats function with just one Panchayat Secretary managing multiple villages.
What are the recommendations in the report?
- Comprehensive Curriculum Development: Implementing a two-year course in Local Public Service Management that covers essential areas such as public systems, financial management, personnel management, law, and e-governance for Panchayat functionaries
- Enhance Capacity Building & Digital Governance: Improve digital infrastructure, training programs, and data-driven governance. Example: Telangana’s success in capacity enhancement highlights the importance of institutional strengthening for effective governance.
- Ensure Greater Transparency & Accountability: Implement real-time financial monitoring, social audits, and grievance redressal systems. Example: Uttar Pradesh’s leap in rankings is attributed to anti-corruption measures and a robust transparency framework.
Way forward:
- Strengthening Institutional Autonomy & Devolution: Ensure full devolution of functions, funds, and functionaries to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) with legal safeguards to prevent state interference. Example: Karnataka’s success in decentralized governance through direct fund transfers to Gram Panchayats.
- Capacity Building & Technology Integration: Expand digital infrastructure, conduct regular training for PRI members, and adopt real-time monitoring for transparency. Example: Telangana’s effective use of digital governance and capacity-building initiatives under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
Mains PYQ:
Q Assess the importance of the Panchayat system in India as a part of local government. Apart from government grants, what sources the Panchayats can look out for financing developmental projects? (UPSC IAS/2018)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Social Cohesion; Solidarity;
Why in the News?
India participated in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSoCD) from February 10 to 14, 2025, in New York, USA. The Indian delegation was led by Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development.
What is Social cohesion?
- Social cohesion refers to the strength of relationships, trust, and sense of belonging among individuals and groups within a society.
- It ensures that people work together harmoniously, respect diversity, and actively contribute to the well-being of the community.
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What are the Dimensions of the Social Cohesion?
- Social Inclusion & Equity: Ensures equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights for all individuals, reducing discrimination and marginalization. Example: India’s JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) has enabled financial inclusion for disadvantaged communities, particularly women and rural populations.
- Trust in Institutions & Social Capital: Building confidence in governance, law enforcement, and civic institutions to enhance cooperation and stability. Example: Sweden’s transparent governance and welfare policies result in high public trust in government institutions.
- Participation & Civic Engagement: Encouraging individuals and communities to actively engage in decision-making and democratic processes. Example: Rwanda’s high female political representation (over 60% in Parliament) fosters inclusive and equitable policymaking.
- Solidarity & Shared Identity: Promoting unity while respecting cultural diversity and fostering a common sense of belonging. Example: Canada’s multicultural policies encourage immigrant integration while maintaining cultural heritage.
- Economic Inclusion & Opportunity: Providing equal access to economic resources, employment, and skill development to ensure upward mobility. Example: Germany’s dual vocational education system equips young people with job-ready skills, reducing unemployment and income inequality.
What is the virtuous cycle?
- A virtuous cycle is a positive, self-reinforcing loop where one beneficial action leads to another, creating a continuous cycle of improvement and progress.
- It is the opposite of a vicious cycle, which perpetuates negative outcomes.
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What are the roles of Social Cohesion in the Virtuous cycle?
- Promotes Inclusive Economic Growth: Social cohesion ensures equal access to economic opportunities, reducing disparities and fostering shared prosperity. Example: In Germany, strong social policies and labor rights have contributed to stable economic growth and low unemployment rates.
- Enhances Trust in Institutions and Governance: When citizens feel included and represented, they trust public institutions, leading to political stability and effective governance. Example: Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway have high levels of trust in governance due to inclusive decision-making and welfare policies.
- Encourages Social Mobility and Equal Opportunities: A cohesive society provides fair access to education, healthcare, and social protection, enabling upward mobility for all. Example: Singapore’s education system focuses on meritocracy, ensuring students from all backgrounds have access to quality education and career opportunities.
- Strengthens Community Participation and Civic Engagement: Social cohesion encourages people to engage in local governance, volunteerism, and community development initiatives. Example: Japan’s neighborhood associations play a crucial role in disaster response, fostering collective responsibility and mutual support.
- Reduces Social Conflicts and Crime: By addressing inequalities and fostering a sense of belonging, social cohesion minimizes tensions and crime rates. Example: New Zealand’s restorative justice programs emphasize reconciliation and community involvement, reducing recidivism rates.
What are the Key Recommendations to promote Social Cohesion? (Way forward)
- Inclusive Policies and Equal Opportunities: Ensure access to quality education, healthcare, and employment for all, reducing social and economic disparities. Example: Finland’s education system provides free, high-quality education, ensuring equal opportunities for all children, regardless of socioeconomic background.
- Community Engagement and Trust Building: Promote civic participation, intergroup dialogue, and local governance to strengthen social bonds and mutual respect. Example: South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) helped heal racial divides by addressing historical injustices through public dialogue.
- Economic and Social Safety Nets: Implement strong social protection systems like universal healthcare, unemployment benefits, and targeted welfare programs. Example: Brazil’s Bolsa Família program reduced poverty and inequality by providing conditional cash transfers to low-income families, improving education and health outcomes.
Mains PYQ:
Q An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. (UPSC IAS/2021)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dhokra Artwork
Why in the News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted a Dhokra (or Dokra) artwork to French President Emmanuel Macron.
About Dhokra Artwork
- Dhokra Art is an ancient metal-casting craft from India, primarily practiced by the Dhokra Damar tribes.
- It uses the lost-wax casting technique, where a wax model is made, coated in clay, and molten metal is poured into the mold after the wax melts.
- This technique has been in use for over 4,000 years, with the earliest known artifact being the dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro.
- Dhokra is practiced in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, with distinct regional styles.
- In 2018, Adilabad Dokra from Telangana received the GI tag for its distinct style.
Features of Dhokra Art:
- Primitive: The designs are rustic and simplistic, often featuring animals, religious figures, and tribal motifs.
- Seamless: Dhokra pieces are crafted as a single unit without joints, providing a unique and smooth finish.
- Long Crafting Time: Each figurine can take up to a month to complete due to the intricate processes involved.
- Non-ferrous Metal: Brass and copper are mainly used in Dhokra Art due to their strength and malleability.
- Casting Types:
- Solid Casting: Common in Southern India, uses solid wax.
- Hollow Casting: Predominant in Central and Eastern India, uses a clay core.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sṛjanam
Why in the News?
Union Ministry of Science & Technology has launched India’s first indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Plant, named “Sṛjanam,” at AIIMS, New Delhi.
About Sṛjanam
- Sṛjanam is India’s first indigenously developed Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig, designed by CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram.
- It provides a sustainable, non-incineration-based solution for biomedical waste disposal, aligning with India’s Waste to Wealth vision.
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- Eco-Friendly & Non-Incineration-Based: Eliminates the need for incineration, reducing toxic emissions.
- High-Efficiency Pathogen Elimination: Disinfects blood, urine, sputum, and lab disposables, with third-party validated antimicrobial action.
- Safe & Fully Automated: Minimizes human exposure, reducing the risk of infections and spills.
- Capacity & Scalability: Processes 400 kg of biomedical waste daily, with 10 kg/day degradable waste capacity in phase one.
- Odor Neutralization: Eliminates foul smells, ensuring safer surroundings.
- Supports Circular Economy: Enhances waste segregation and recyclability, reducing landfill burden.
PYQ:
[2019] In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(b) The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Einstein Ring
Why in the News?
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid Space Telescope has captured a rare Einstein Ring around a galaxy nearly 590 million light-years away from Earth.
What is an Einstein Ring?
- An Einstein Ring is a circular ring of light caused by gravitational lensing, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
- It occurs when a massive celestial object (like a galaxy) bends and magnifies light from a more distant background galaxy that lies directly behind it.
- The recent discovery by ESA’s Euclid telescope identified an Einstein Ring around NGC 6505, located 590 million light-years away, acting as a lens for a distant galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away.
- Features of an Einstein Ring:
- Perfect circular shape (only if source, lens, and observer align precisely).
- Example of strong gravitational lensing, distorting background light.
- Extremely rare (found in less than 1% of galaxies).
- Not visible to the naked eye, observed only with advanced space telescopes like Euclid or Hubble.
Significance of the Discovery:
- Reveals Dark Matter: Helps indirectly map dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe.
- Magnifies Hidden Galaxies: Makes faint, distant galaxies visible for study.
- Measures Universe’s Expansion: Tracks how light stretches over time, refining cosmological models.
- Confirms Einstein’s Theory: Proves light bends in curved space-time, supporting gravitational lensing theory.
- Demonstrates Euclid’s Capabilities: Shows Euclid’s high-resolution potential, promising more discoveries.
PYQ:
[2018] Consider the following phenomena:
- Light is affected by gravity.
- The Universe is constantly expanding.
- Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY)
Why in the News?
Finance Minister while presenting the Union Budget announced the launch of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY).
About the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDKY):
- The PMDKY aims to enhance agricultural productivity, crop diversification, storage infrastructure, irrigation, and credit access.
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- Identifies 100 districts with low productivity, moderate cropping intensity, and below-average credit access.
- Develops panchayat/block-level storage and expands irrigation coverage.
- Ensures affordable short-term & long-term loans for farmers.
- Uses data-driven governance & district rankings.
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- Implementation: Jointly executed by Central & State Governments.
- Funding: Drawn from existing schemes under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- Evaluation: Assessed based on yield improvements, credit flow, and irrigation expansion.
PYQ:
[2015] ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for:
(a) providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates
(b) promoting women’s Self-Help Groups in backward areas
(c) promoting financial inclusion in the country
(d) providing financial help to the marginalized communities |
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