Insight IAS Mains 2019 Test 13 (Upscpdf - Com) PDF

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INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019
Test BT1913
Synopsis
1. Delineate the ups and downs in relations between India and Maldives and
also bring out the strategic significance of this island-nation for India. (150
words, 10 marks)
Summing up the size of all our neighbours will only lead to a total that is far less than India’s
size. India’s size while undoubtedly is a boon, it is also a double-edged sword in
international realm, our relations with small neighbours like Maldives have always seen ups
and downs owing to set of concerns.
Small countries suspect big countries of oblique motives and big countries are always annoyed
by security threats through their small neighbours. Perhaps, India is the only country with all
its neighbours being so small before itself, Maldives stands first in being smallest, that shows
the problems size asymmetry would have created. But small neighbours are also under
compulsion to cooperate with big neighbour, that is why the relations have ups and downs.
UPs and DOWNs:

India secured its independence in 1947, but Maldives achieved independence in 1966.
Up (1966-82): India was among the few first nations to recognise Maldives’ independence.
From 1966 the diplomatic relations have begun. To counterbalance its rival Sri Lanka,
Maldives sought close relations with India. In 1981, India and Maldives signed comprehensive
trade agreement
Down (1982-88): In the year 1982 there was a maritime boundary issue occurred. Maldives
President’s brother claimed Minicoy Island belong to Maldives. This caused a bitterness in
relations. However, soon Maldives understood such irking of India is not good for that
country.
Ups:
1985: Maldives joined SAARC and the integrity of South Asia was bolstered
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1988: Operation Cactus was launched by India to thwart a coup d'état in Maldives. This
asserted the interdependent nature of India and Maldives
• Maldives seeing India as a security provider
• India wary of insecurity in her small neighbours which may boomerang into her own
territory
After Operation Cactus there was tremendous increase in economic aid to Maldives from
India.
2006: The security threat to the island nation from non-state actors was increasing. Piracy
operations, maritime terrorism, trafficking (human, arms and drugs), illegal fishing, illegal
immigration, etc.,
So, Maldives military relations with India saw a drastic uplift when Indian Navy gifted
Trikant Attacker to Maldives Coast Guard. Such aid continues till date.
Downs:
In this close relationship, the intrusion of China into India’s backyard i.e. Indian Ocean made
a fundamental disturbance. The Maldives which usually found India a net security provider
and provider of highest economic aid, saw “China as a possible alternative to India”.
2012 and after: This started at least in 2012 in an obvious manner.

• In 2012, Maldives cancelled a contract with India to upgrade its airport and the contract
was given to China
• Maldives came openly in support of China’s OBOR
• In 2015 Maldives passed a law which permits foreigners to reclaim land from sea and own
it. For such reclamation, Maldives leased an entire island to a Chinese company for 50
years!
• China is building Joint Ocean Observation Station in Maldives’ territory which is very
close to Lakshadweep
• In 2017 Maldives signed an FTA with China, while it does not have an FTA with India till
date.
2018—the biggest thaw: This evolving bitterness found a flashpoint in February 2018
when Maldivian President Yameen declared emergency. In June 2018, he also imprisoned
the nation’s Chief Justice and former President. Such undemocratic actions received
resentment from India which always found a possibility of security threat to itself from such
incidents.
• India barred entry of a Maldivian Member of Parliament into Indian territory when he
visited our nation
• Irked by this as a revenge Maldives returned the Dhruva helicopters gifted to it in 2013
• Another worrisome response was depriving opportunities of Indians for applying for job.
Up:
In the September 2018 elections in the island nation, Yameen lost and Ibrahim Solih won.
During elections, Solih pledged to bring India into confidence again.
• Our PM was present in swearing in ceremony of Solih
• President Solih consciously repaired the damages in the relation. He made India his -first
foreign nation to be visited. He affirmed his government’s India first policy.
• India reciprocated with an aid package of USD 1.4 billion

• Maldives debt to China is USD 1.5 billion, a quarter of its GDP, Solih wants India to give a
big hand in helping to relieve from debt-trap
• Maldives is also thinking about repealing the FTA signed with China
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MALDIVES:

Significance of Maldives to India comes from the geographical position of Maldives.
Geography of Maldives
• The distance between Maldives and Lakshadweep is just 445.6 miles
• North of Maldives lies the sea lanes connecting western and eastern India
• South of it lies the sea lanes connecting Suez Canal and Strait of Malacca.
• It is a series of Islands, rather than an integrated unit, hence it can be easily used for covert
operations with security risks.
Security threat to India:

So, the geography of Maldives makes it a platform very closer to India but not in India’s
control, so the territory may be used against India’s interests.
• The Makunudhoo Islands is being used as a part of China’s String of Pearls used to
encircle India
• An observatory is being built by China in India which endangers our maritime security
• The island nation is also becoming hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism with
repercussions for communal harmony and terrorism in India
• The remnants of LTTE forces in Maldives is also a security concern
• The Feydhoo Finolhu island is also being reclaimed by China in Maldives and the
Chinese may own the territory itself—a naval base in it is a potential power expansion for
China in Indian Ocean
• With experiences like Mumbai Terror attacks coming from maritime zone, India is wary of
Islands in Indian Ocean being used as havens by terrorists
• Freedom of navigation and overflight is affected by assertive actions of China and
non-state actors like pirates, since Maldives adjoins critical Indian and international sea
lanes.
So, a close relation with Maldives which is also sensitive to India’s security concerns is
necessary. The affirmation from the new President that his government will bring back the
traditional India First Policy is most welcome. Now India wants to ensure her small
neighbours have lot to benefit when they cooperate with India. We need to move beyond aid
packages and promote security and growth for all in the region.

2. What do you understand by ‘two-speed SAARC’? Is BIMSTEC an alternative of
SAARC? Examine. (150 words, 10 marks)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is a regional grouping which aims to
quicken economic growth, social progress and enhance security by means of regional and
economic integration and collective efforts. It was established in 1985.
TWO SPEED SAARC:

The SAARC did not live up to the dream of its member nations. Many of the proposed
integration initiatives remained in words mainly due to the tussle between India and Pakistan
which reduced SAARC into a fighting spot.
For instance,
i. The South Asian Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) to improve connectivity
within South Asia could not progress due to resistance from Pakistan. So, India
moved forward without Pakistan and came out with BBIN MVA (Bangladesh
Bhutan India Nepal). This has been more successful and swift progress has been
made in implementing it with minor issues
ii. The SAARC Satellite proposal from India was rejected by Pakistan and again
Indian decided to go ahead and established the South Asian Satellite.
These two cases show that India is prepared to advance “economic integration in the
region with Pakistan if possible and without Pakistan if necessary”. The smaller
countries of the region have increasingly seen the benefits of a regional market and are
frustrated that integration is not taking place.
So, integration under SAARC will be taking place at two different speeds,
• With Pakistan which is dead slow
• Without Pakistan which is swift.
This is called two-speed SAARC. For long, south Asian integration has been hostage of
Pakistan and mired in Indo-Pakistan animosity, the two-Speed SAARC is radically
integrating South Asia in which Pakistan alone stays as an outlier.

This is common around the world. For instance, Denmark and Sweden, though part of
European Union they did not adopt the euro currency.
This results in a virtual SAARC minus one/SAARC minus Pakistan. Two-Speed SAARC
however cannot create a South Asian identity. Nevertheless, this approach is more pragmatic,
rather than being pessimistic about the consistent failures of SAARC.
DEBATING BIMSTEC’s POTENTIAL TO REPLACE SAARC:

India citing state-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan boycotted 19th SAARC summit
scheduled at Pakistan in November 2016. This move was accompanied by BRICS outreach
to BIMSTEC spearheaded by India which shown Indian government’s interest to divert
attention to BIMSTEC. This initiated questions regarding ability of BIMSTEC to replace
SAARC.
1. COMPARING OBJECTIVES:
A. SAARC—A subcontinental political association:

SAARC’s aim is collective self-reliance. It understands the homogeneity amidst the
heterogeneity of the Indian subcontinent. So, it’s a geopolitical forum. It wants to form a
regional body that will work for the socio-political and socio-economic concerns.
The prevalent discourse of SAARC about economic integration should not mislead us SAARC
is here is improve economic relations. It has ultimately political aims that will reflect a
subcontinent level political entity working to promote, security, sovereignty, economic
growth and welfare.
B. BIMSTEC—India’s economic bridge to ASEAN:

But BIMSETC (Bay of Bengal initiative for multi-sectoral technical and economic
cooperation) is an economic cooperation framework. It understands the potential of
economic synergy between the member nations. India’s west gives immense mutual
economic opportunities.
What BIMSTEC does is, identifies sectors in which by cooperation huge benefits are available
eg. the body identified 14 sectors of cooperation which include trade and investment,
technology, energy, transport and communication, tourism, etc., This make BIMSTEC a geo-
economic forum. BIMSTEC is India’s bridge to ASEAN and gateway for Look East
Policy—the primary aim is to utilise the potential for trade, tourism and investment between
the nations.
So, SAARC and BIMSTEC are by foundation altogether different. Nevertheless, BIMSTEC
has its own geo-political role given the rising political convergence between India and South-
East Asia—it is the China factor. In any case, SAARC is primarily political and BIMSTEC is
primarily economical for now.
2. ECONOMIC POTENTIAL:
Both bodies are formed by member nations who grow at 4-6% GDP growth rate. The
combined GDP of both forms is almost 4% of global economy (3.5 to 3.8 trillion dollars).
India trades more with BIMSTEC nations than with exclusively SAARC members like
Pakistan, Maldives, etc. Intra-SAARC trade is 5% but intra-BIMSTEC trade is

growing at 6%. This 5% trade is with worst intra-SAARC connectivity but 6% is with a
decent level of connectivity.
The fact is imaging good connectivity, it is SAARC which can trade more internally than
BIMSTEC and also India can reap much from well-connected SAARC than BIMSTEC. But
why BIMSTEC looks optimistic there is no major rivalry or animosity at least with India. With
present conditions BIMSTEC will offer more growth, but if Pakistan is ready to mend
itself, SAARC can offer much to regional prosperity.
3. POLITICAL POTENTIAL:
SAARC has shared cultural history and at different points of time it had political unity also.
The aim is to bring back the subcontinental identity. But the enmity between India and
Pakistan spoilt this huge potential. But such intense enmity does not exist among BIMSTEC
nations, though border dispute exists between Myanmar and Thailand. Howsoever, enmity
within SAARC does not make its potential a myth.
4. INSTITUTIONAL POTENTIAL:
Over the past 32 years, SAARC has been nurtured through a multitude of meetings and
initiatives, including 18 summits. This has seen it evolve a whole set of conventions, organs
and mechanisms and a network of more than a dozen regional centres and other
institutions.
In contrast, BIMSTEC, whose secretariat was created in Dhaka only in 2014, has to date a
total staff of not more than 10 persons, including three directors and a secretary general.
5. CHALLENGES:
• Enmity between India and Pakistan weakens SAARC but with BIMSTEC the South-East
Asian members see ASEAN as their primary forum and naturally give secondary place
to BIMSTEC. But for SAARC members it is their primary forum and largest hope
• China creates challenges in both SAARC and BIMSTEC by dividing the member nations
and reducing influence of India with its economic power
• Despite 32% of BIMSTEC’s budget is sponsored by India, the member nations expect more
from India
• Size of India: the suspicion that both are India-dominated blocs
As an end note, the BIMSTEC’s founding Bangkok Declaration 1997 declared that BIMSTIC is
not an alternative to any associations of the region but only a sub-regional architecture.
Analysis shows, as a net effect only SAARC can integrate South Asia and BIMSTEC can alone
connect South Asia to South East Asia. So, BIMSTEC can play complementary role
but not replace SAARC.

3. What was Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and why it has been replaced
with Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP)? Discuss India’s concerns about these trade deals. (150
words, 10 marks)
Trans-Pacific Partnership was the largest trade liberalisation pact conceived since WTO was
signed. From 2005, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei aspired to sign a trade
agreement called Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPSEP)—this group was
called P4.
From 2010, at the behest of US President Obama, it was expanded to include 12 countries and
the pact was called Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The TPP countries were USA, Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore,
Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico.
• Objectives of TPP:
TPP is essentially a Free Trade Area that among other things, seeks to:
o lower trade barriers such as tariffs
o establish a common framework for intellectual property
o enforce standards for labour law and environmental law, and
o establish an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism.
• Salient features of TPP:
o Comprehensive market access: This involves reduction or complete
elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers on a huge list of goods, services and
investments.
o Regional approach to commitments: The TPP agreement facilities seamless
integration of economies of members facilitating development of supply chains and
opening markets for cross border trade.
o Addressing new trade challenges: The agreement promotes innovation,
productivity, and competitiveness by addressing new issues such as of digital
economy, ecommerce etc. It also includes the role played by state enterprises in the
countries.

o Inclusive trade: It tries to create an environment where members with all levels
of development and businesses of all sizes can benefit from trade.
WHY REPLACED WITH CPTPP?
It has been widely opposed by Trump administration of USA. In the election campaign itself,
Trump was highly critical of TPP. His criticisms were,
• US can benefit more through bilateral negotiations than multilateral negotiations
using its favourable bargaining power,
• US thinks TPP will affect the core interests of America. It feels TPP is incompatible with
America First policy,
• Above all, USA feels the entry into TPP regime will create unemployment which is
against manifesto promises of Trump.
ISSUES WITH TPP AND CPTPP:
• Non-Tariff Barriers are the core concern for India with regard to the two deals. The
countries within the two deals are highly developed nations, with high standards of
goods production, distribution and services and also trade and commerce,
• Capacity development—when TPP is adopted which forms more than 40% of world
economy and composed of developed countries with whom most nations trade.
Due to their trade dependency, these nations will be forced to adopt standards of TPP.
When such forced adoption happens, all the countries which trade with TPP countries
should build their capacity to establish such standards.
• IPR and Generic medicines: The strict IPR regime supposed to be created by TPP and
CPTPP will make access to patented medicine difficult, this will cripple our generic
medicine industry.
• Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanism proposed under the two deals is pro-
market while very recently India cancelled all its Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to
adopt a new BIT with ISDS that is pro-State
• Trade diversion—owing to,
o Non-compliance with TPP standards
o Loosing export competitiveness to TPP members like Malaysia and Vietnam
will create a trade diversion of USD 50 Billion.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)—the export made from a TPP member to any other
TPP member enjoy zero duty. To avail zero duty for export made to USA and or other
bigger countries companies will be interested in investing in TPP countries than growing
markets like India.
But what TPP and CPTPP brings to India is, it sidesteps China. It is most essential as China is
a mighty economic power which translates its economic power into political power that is
being misused as seen in South China Sea. However, without USA an economy whose size is
yet around 1/4th of world economy the CPTPP cannot make the impact that TPP could
have made.

4. ‘The changes in India-Australia relations perfectly mirror the changes in
global power equations”. Comment. (150 words, 10 marks)
Global power equation means the division of power and power balance phenomenon. It is a
measure of concentration of power. The Indo-Australian relations are a function of global
power equations.
The relations include following phases not only each phase but also the transition form one
phase to other is defined by change in global power equations:
Phase-I: India’s Independence and Australia:

At India’s invitation, two representatives from Australia participated at the 1947 Asia
Relations Conference held in New Delhi. At this time the global power equation was not
defined well, there was no clear USA-USSR antagonism.
However, Australia was not interested in having close relations with India and there were
even restrictions on immigration of Indians to Australia.
Phase II: Cold war divergences:

In this phase, Australia and India were caught in cold war equations. Australia belonged to the
USA bloc whereas India was non-aligned or at least had more friendly relations with USA.
A difference in approach to security soon emerged after 1947, while Australia hoped to
establish a regional security arrangement which included India, India expressed no
interest in the proposal.
Australia’s growing alignment with the USA in the emerging Cold War virtually removed
any possibility of bilateral defence cooperation. There were several other issues on which the
two countries differed including Australia’s Trusteeship position in Papua New-Guinea and
the clash between India and Pakistan over the accession of Kashmir.
Phase III: Australia’s fear about Indian Ocean:

This was the peak of cold war period and this phase ended with end of cold war which altered
the power equations.
In these years, the Australian government has paid considerable attention to India both as a
security threat and as a potential trading partner. One of the early manifestations of the

‘renaissance’ of interest was the establishment of the Indian Ocean Center for Peace
Studies at the University of Western Australia in 1990.
This may well have been a response to emerging concerns in the late 1980s over the build-up
of India’s defence forces, especially the extension of its naval capability. This was
propped up by suspicions about Indian intentions in the Indian Ocean.
They even had suspicion that India wanted to annex Australian territory in Cocos
Islands.
Another ‘hiccup’ in the India-Australia relationship also arose in the sphere of Defence when
in 1990 Australia sold 50 mothballed Mirage III jets to Pakistan during a period of
heightened tension over Kashmir.
Phase IV: Nuclear Bombs and Terrorist Threats

The India-Australian relationship dipped fast in wake of India’s nuclear testing the in May
1998.
• Prime Minister John Howard condemned it saying it was an ‘ill-judged step’ that
would have damaging consequences for security in South Asia.
• Canberra also withdrew its High Commissioner from New Delhi and imposed severe
sanctions on India along with severing all defence ties with the country.
With the US attitude softening towards India, especially as the US President Bill
Clinton visited India in March 2000, Canberra also began to warm up to New Delhi. As the
reality that India was a nuclear power state hit the world and Canberra, politico/security ties
began to be restored slowly and upgraded vastly in post 9/11 security environment.
In post 9/11 environment, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combating
International Terrorism was signed in August 2003 followed by a Memorandum of
Understanding on Defence Cooperation in 2006.
In the recent past, the Navy of Australia along with Japanese Navy had also been invited to
participate in Malabar Exercises conducted between Indian and US Navy.
Phase V: Convergence to balance China:

• QUAD—Quadrilateral engagement of India, Japan, Australia and USA to balance the
aggressive posture of China
• Indo-Pacific security architecture—similar architecture is being created to form a
seamless ocean that is characterised by,
o Balance of power
o Blue economy
o Freedom of navigation.
Beyond the deepening efforts to balance China, at present the relations between India and
USA is deepening in faster pace in economic realm also.
• The bilateral trade between India and Australia, estimated at $15 billion.
• To strengthen bilateral trade and investment, both counties agreed to conclude a
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) by the end of the year.
• Australia is pushing for tariff reduction in dairy products, fresh fruit,
pharmaceuticals and wines. India wants zero duty on automobile parts, textiles and
fresh fruit. India has also demanded greater access in the services sector.

This economic engagement is very crucial for a strong and long-lasting relations. ‘India
Economic Strategy to 2035: Navigating from Potential to Delivery’ report—the
report judges that no single market over the next 20 years will offer more growth
opportunities for Australia than India. Because by 2035, India will overtake China as the
world’s most populous country. It is poised to become the third largest economy, after China
and the United States.
5. For a stable India-Russia strategic partnership we need robust economic ties.

Substantiate your view. (150 words, 10 marks)
India-Russia relations is an all-weather relation. In a bilateral summit, Modi claimed that

“one old friend is better than two new friends”. However, the relationship is mired by
new emergences.
The rise of divergences is due to lack of seriousness in the relationship i.e. none of the
two nations have anything big in stake which may compel them to take each other seriously.
Until 1991: Ideology as a driver:

In this phase, the cold war which is an ideological war had ideology as the driver of
relationship. Both the nations were committed to socialism, while Russia was more
committed to communism.
Such deep relations led to the signing of Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty 1971.
From 1991: A relationship for defence trade?

It is said that the strong economic ties characterised by scientific cooperation, economic aid,
etc., were over suddenly with end of cold war.
In this phase, the relations is being dominated by defence trade. Actually, Russia is the largest
defence supplier to India. Defence imports from Russia accounted for 68% of defence
import and the recent deal for S-400 Trimuf anti-missile defence system is a case in point.
Need of economic partnership:

The lack of stakes to lose if relations dilute has caused following concerns for India:

• Defence Diversification—India is diversifying its defence imports to dilute the defence
dependency which has long-term negative implications.
• Rapid engagement with China—
o The former bitterness in the relations have disappeared, the amicability is
increasing very rapidly,
o A 30 years energy deal which was in deadlock has been suddenly signed whose
worth is USD 400 billion,
o Russia is also supporting One Belt One Road scheme which is against India’s
interests. This needs to be juxtaposed with cases when Russia came out to support
India whenever its security is threatened eg. 1971 Liberation war.
• New Russia-Pakistan synergy—
o Historically and especially in UNSC, Russia supported India in terms of Kashmir
issue categorically,
o Military relations—
ü Druzbha 2016: Army exercise
ü Defence trade between Russian and Pakistan has begun with giving weapons
to Pakistan.
Present Economic partnership:
• Trade—The present trade between India and Russia is USD 8 billion,
• Energy—Nuclear cooperation is most crucial of economic relation eg. Kudankulam
Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).
• Investment—Investment in India by Russia and vice-versa is rising in a moderate pace,
eg. ONGC investment in Sakhalin gas field.
Bottlenecks:
• Transport—Geographical constraints translate to substantial financial costs and delays,
while also constraining the number of products which could otherwise be more easily
traded.
• Lack of knowledge: Indians and Russians do not have sufficient knowledge and
information about each other’s’ markets. There are not enough ‘business-to-business’
exchanges between the two countries
• Lack of interest from India’s private sector: After the economic reforms of the
1990s, India has undergone a successful transition from an inward-oriented economy to a
more globally integrated one. In this process, the Indian private sector has played a crucial
role. However, the dynamic Indian private sector, which is used to dealing with the West,
is not as attracted to Russia.
• Lack of proper trade facilitation infrastructure: Bureaucratic delays on both sides,
create obstacles for the smooth flow of business. In this case, two countries signed a
protocol document on 24 December 2015 to simplify visa procedures for those doing
business.
EFFORTS TO BE TAKEN:
In order to address these challenges and realise the trade and investment targets that have
been mutually set, India and Russia should take following measures:
• Signing of Eurasian European Union Free Trade Agreement (EEUFTA)
• INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor)—it would help India’s
economic relations not only with Russia, but also with the wider Eurasian region. This,
especially, would add a boost to India’s Connect Central Asia Policy.
• Energy bridge—a joint cooperation between the two nations to harness nuclear,
hydrocarbon and renewable source, as Russia is energy surplus and India is energy deficit.
• Importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the best alternative for India under
existing conditions and therefore carries great potential in furthering India-Russia energy
ties.
• The Green Corridor is the brainchild of Russia’s Federal Customs Service and suggests
that the two countries should create a list of entrepreneurs or companies, whose goods, on
a reciprocal basis will not have to pass customs inspection. The mechanism ensures an
electronic pre-declaration issued for the cargo, whereby a unique individual number is
assigned in accordance with a "Green Corridor" registry.
• Swap deals are another way to enhance cooperation. For instance, Russia could export
oil to Northern Iran and Iran could in turn deliver equal quantity of oil to India from its
southern part. Another swap proposal includes Russia, China and Myanmar. Under this
arrangement, Russia will supply gas to China and in return, China will give its share of gas
from Myanmar to India. A smaller pipeline from Myanmar will need to be constructed in
eastern India for importing that gas
This shows there is huge potential to uplift our economic relations. In the recent joint
statement, the two countries pledged to increase the bilateral trade to USD 30 billion. The
above steps need to be taken to increase the economic partnership to reach the target. Such a
bolstered economic relation will make the long-cherished and celebrated relation stable and
long-lasting.
6. Examine the rationale behind India’s aspiration to join Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) and why it is yet a dream? (150 words, 10 marks)

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent
nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment, and technology that
can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
The NSG was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974.
INDIA’s INTERESTS IN NSG:

• NSG membership would put India on a firmer footing to propose the idea of plutonium
trade for its thorium programme that has been waiting in the wings. An early adoption
of thorium technology would give India enormous energy independence and security.
• Analysts say joining the NSG is chiefly a matter of pride and desire to be taken
seriously by some of the world's most powerful nations. Since prompting international
technology sanctions and limits on exports by conducting nuclear tests in 1998, India has
been eager to gain legitimacy as a nuclear power.
• India wants to become a player in this international arena where nuclear commerce norms
are laid.
• If India becomes a member it will have better international market for export as well
as for import of nuclear related materials.
• For building nuclear reactors, for providing energy we need nuclear materials. By
becoming a member of NSG we can have better access of nuclear materials
• All nuclear based programmes of India are being run on indigenous technology. By
becoming a member of NSG we will have access to sophisticated foreign technologies
• By becoming a member India can also sell its indigenous technology therby giving
Make In India a facelift.
OPPOSITION TO INDIA’s ENTRY:
India has been trying to get into NSG since 2008. While India is being backed by United
States, Switzerland and Mexico for its membership of NSG, it is being opposed by China, New
Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan on the basis that:
According to them a country which is a non-signatory of NPT, CTBT etc should not
be given NSG membership.
China is putting forward their arguments on the basis that if India is to be granted a seat in
NSG, then all other South Asian countries like Pakistan which were non-signatory of NPT
should be granted a seat too.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is opposing India's entry merely because it doesn't want India to
possess high end technologies in the nuclear field.
Pakistan also fears that if India becomes a member it could prevent it from becoming a
member just like how China is currently down voting India.
While hurdles to enter NSG is a concern, the entry of India into Wassenaar Agreement,
Australia Group and MTCR will help India to achieve its objectives. Also, the waiver given
to India by NSG actually helped it reap the benefits from NSG to a greater extent.
Nevertheless, India is continuing its diplomacy to strategically enter NSG.

7. Critically comment on India’s water relations with her neighbours and how it
is complicated by geographical factors? (150 words, 10 marks)
India is in the heart of Asia and the geography kept it in a subordinated position that owing to
its downstream positioning in the river basin. But the larger suspicion and animosity in
bilateral relations spoilt the water relations of India with neighbourhood.
INDIA’s WATER RELATIONS:
S.No. Neighbour River Issues Efforts

• Non-sharing of
upstream data
• Diversion of water MoU on River Data
1 China Brahmaputra
under South North Sharing 2018
Water Transfer
Project
Non-cooperation of West
Brahmaputra, Indo-Bangladesh
Bengal with Central
2 Bangladesh Ganga, Joint River
Government to share
Teesta Commission.
water
Politics and antagonism
Committee under
against India, which led
PMO to review revisiting
3 Pakistan Indus Pakistan to misuse its
Indus Water Treaty
rights under Indus
constituted.
Water Treaty 1960.
Recurrent floods in
Kosi—Sorrow of Bihar,
but no cooperation from
4 Nepal Kosi Mahakali Treaty
Nepal to take flood
control measures due to
domestic concerns there.

• Comprehensive
Scheme for
Establishment of
Hydro-Meteorological
5 Bhutan Amo Chu No major issues and Flood Forecasting
Network
• Joint Group of Expert
(JGE) on Flood
Management
DEMERITS:
1. Absence of Multilateral Water Sharing Arrangement
2. Old Treaties create issues which do not address the current concerns,
3. Regional geopolitics in the areas creates rivalry and animosity which leads to
recurrence of river water disputes
4. India’s federal structure is held to be the most crucial cause behind river water
disputes as concluded in International River Symposium 2016
CHALLENGES:
1. Mutual distrust between nations
2. Climate change
3. Water pressure from agriculture is heavy due to small land-holdings owing to the
socio-cultural factor
Analysis shows, the problem is in a lack of effective institutional mechanism. An initiative in
another sector can be a lighthouse—like BCIM Grouping which blends the strength of all
four nations. This needs to be horizontally applied to river water sector also.
8. “The trans-Atlantic relations underpins the unity of West which is being

shaken to its foundations by USA”. Elaborate the statement.
Trans-Atlantic relations is the relation between nations of North America and Europe. In its
earlier farm it was spearheaded by UK which kept North America as its colony whereas now it
is led by USA with an institutional structure constructed by it.

It is this institutional structure that upholds the integrity of this relation and this relation is
central to the unity of West.
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE UNDERPINNING WESTERN UNITY:
• Economic structure
o IMF (International Monetary Fund)—it oversees the financial stability of the
world and encourages liberal principles or free market economy rules
o WB (World Bank)—World Bank is for eradicating global poverty by
implementing free market rules.
• Security
o NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is a collective defence
organisation that oversees security situation in West eg. intervention in independence
of Kosovo.
• Political
o United Nations (UN) is designed in such a way that it facilitates western
domination of east.
o UNSC
ü Majority is with West i.e. 3 out of 5 votes is with Western nations, UK, USA
and France.
ü The General Assembly in which East has higher hand is kept powerless
USA’s DECISIONS WHICH SHOOK THE STRUCTURE:
• Economic:
o TTIP—Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, USA withdrawn from it
which shocked the western leaders
o WTO which was formed with vigour by USA to secure its own interest is under
crisis now. USA is unwilling to give its own share of budget nor is it cooperating in
appointment of the Director
o Tariffs on western nations on Steel trade which irritated the leaders
• Security:
o NATO—USA accuses European nations that they contribute very less to NATO
finance and he went on to claim it may endanger the continuity of NATO
o UNSC—while Iran Nuclear Deal 2015 was approved by UNSC, USA withdrawn
from it unilaterally
• Political:
o UN—in the Annual Meeting 2018, Trump said he will not hesitate to override UN to
uphold his America First Policy,
ü UNFCC: Environment—USA withdrawn from Paris Pact 2015
ü UNHRC: Human Rights—USA left the institution because it was
displeased by the complaints made by UNHRC against USA’s conduct for
instance in Yemen war.
ü UNESCO: Culture—USA left the institution itself since it is against USA
ally’s interest Israel
ROOT CAUSE:
This situation is because of two crucial issues,
• USA finds the Divide and Rule strategy very effective,
• USA wants to preserve the hegemony over world it had as a unipolar power.

In international relations it is said that there are no permanent friends but only permanent
interests. But America First policy should not become America Alone policy, this is
why USA is being an irritant nowadays in issues of global governance.
9. ‘G-20 has become the primary pillar of geo-economic global governance

system’. Highlight its mandate and explain its working mechanism. (150
words, 10 marks)
G20 (or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments and central bank
governors from 19 countries and the European Union. Founded in 1999 with the aim to
discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.
MANDATE:
• To secure financial stability by preventing future international financial crises in the
world economy
• The body also seeks to shape the global economic agenda that needs to be
discussed and addressed to prevent a financial crisis and also reconstruct the economy.
• It is supposed to lend inclusiveness by channelling the perspective of Asian and Latin
American growing economies.
• The eminent role by the body is building consensus between nations in terms of
decisions to be taken.
WORKING MECHANISM:
• G-20 Troika it is a joint grouping of present Chair nation, the previous country which
was Chair and the country which is next Chair
• G-20 Sherpa: Sherpa is a nominee from each nation who meet at least thrice annually
to take set the agenda and discuss modalities of the upcoming annual meeting
• Review Committee it reviews the decisions taken and how it has been implemented
• Annual Summits it is a meeting of Ministers of member nations annually which
passes resolutions.

Nevertheless, G-20 has no decision-making powers and they only pass resolutions. The
actual functioning tells us that, G-20 works within Bretton Woods institutions in which the
body is an informal shop where the leaders discuss to sort out their concerns and differences,
that makes it a shock absorber or choke point in the entire global economic system.
10. “The very idea of offering innovative solutions to terrorism is mired in a
lack of basic, globally accepted norms on how to approach the problem”. In
this context, discuss the significance of Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism advocated by India. (150 words, 10 marks)
The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty which

intends to criminalize all forms of international terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers
and supporters’ access to funds, arms, and safe havens.
SIGNIFICANCE:
The terrorist acts in past were related to ideology based, but the rise of terrorism after 9/11
incident CCIT become highly important, 26/11 made it crucial for India. The significances are:
• Drug-Finance nexus: Threats emerging from the growing production, trade and
misuse of narcotic substances, as well as from the use of proceeds of illicit drug
trafficking for financing terrorism
• Propaganda: propaganda of terrorist ideas on the Internet, including public
justification of terrorism,
• Terror recruitment: the recruitment of new members to terrorist groups,
• Information dissemination: financing of terrorism and the spread of information
about ways to carry out terrorist attacks on the Internet
• Multilateralism: terrorism is handled by regional security institutions and we don’t
have an international law to deal international problem
• What CCIT gives is,
o To have a universal definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA
will adopt into their own criminal law
o To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps
o To prosecute all terrorists under special laws

o To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide.
ISSUES DESPITE ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
• The OIC wants exclusion of national liberation movements, especially in the
context of Israel-Palestinian conflict.
• The US wanted the CCIT draft to exclude acts committed by military forces of
states during peacetime. The Modi government has urged several member states of the
OIC to adopt the CCIT.
The global community has so far failed to develop rules under which terrorists shall be
prosecuted or extradited. The CCIT would give “legal teeth to prosecute terrorist acts”,
according to Indian officials.
Presently the draft is being discussed by the Sixth Committee constituted for this purpose.
India has raised the issue of the need for endorsement of the CCIT across several bilateral and
multilateral forums for the past two decades, irrespective of governments in Delhi. The issue
behind non-passage of CCIT is the geopolitics around terrorism.
11. ‘Democracy in South Asia is at cross roads and India has to be vigilant of its
contours’. Discuss the state of democracy in our South Asian neighbours.
Examine how it affects India’s interests. (250 words, 15 marks)
Democracy in India’s neighbourhood has given mixed outcomes for India—it created pain and
pleasure at once. While democracy can give more voice to people and prevent wars and
military dictatorships which India wants from neighbours, it can also lead to populism and
identity politics which is not in India’s interests.
STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH ASIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD:

Worldwide democracy is at crossroads, the rise of right-wing and populism has threatened
democracy everywhere and South Asia is no exception. But democracy is also evolving with
many nations transitioning to democracy due to people awakening and globalisation.

A. DEMOCRACY IN DESCENDENCE:
In the following countries democracy has descended due to power concentration or misplaced
popular will.
i. Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, the President sought to replace his belligerent Prime
Minister with Rajapaksa—the politician rejected by people in last election—by
by-passing constitutional requirements and trying to cripple Parliament with
misuse of powers vested in him.
This was not only an overnight coup but also an unconstitutional act by first citizen
of the State itself. This was violation of rule of law and contempt of popular will.
ii. Maldives: President Abdulla Yameen, crushed the opposition, imprisoned Chief
Justice of the nation and declared an unreasonable emergency virtually taking
every pinch of power of the polity.
Such developments proved democracies in South Asia are immature and prone to
turn into authoritarianism. While democracy of India evolved and matured
today, in other South Asian nations, democracy is either non-exiting or is at level of
India’s democracy in 1970s.
iii. Bangladesh: In Bangladesh the problem is erosion of party politics. Parties
are instruments of democracy and they uphold ideals of democracy.
Bangladesh has become one-party state. Awami League Party won the
elections in December 2019 for fourth consecutive term. The party in its last term
eliminated the opposition parties with corruption charges and reduced the
communal party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to ashes by arresting the
popular leader Khaleda Zia.
When power concentrates in one party it leads to poor governance which has been
marked by repeated protests
Eg. nationwide protests by students for road safety recently.
iv. Afghanistan: In Afghanistan, democracy is periled by terrorism. The ruling
elected government is losing its shine with rise of Taliban. This is largely due to
misplaced popular will—the attitude of electorate favouring a medieval era, violent
and terrorist group—Taliban.
Taliban is not only a terrorist group but it’s a religious fundamentalist and
conservative group which suppresses human rights eg. recent killing of women for
not wearing burkha.
B. DEMOCRACY IN ASCENDENCE:
i. Nepal: In Nepal the protest to replace monarchy with democracy begun with 2006
democracy movement. It led to end of monarchy led by King Gyanendra.
Despite that an absence of constitution did not give a functioning democracy. After
continuous constitutional logjam, a constitution was adopted in 2015 which led
to election of a democratic government within a constitutional framework.
ii. Bhutan: The absolute monarchy in Bhutan has given way to constitutional
monarchy in 2008. This made all nations in South Asia democratic. Interestingly,
introduction of democracy in Bhutan was spearheaded by the Monarchs
themselves.
iii. Myanmar: Myanmar makes a transition from South Asia to South East Asia and it
is India’s neighbour. The democracy movement which begun in 1988 (8888
Uprising) saw its fruit only in 2015 when the first genuine elections for democracy
was conducted. The party of Aung San Sui Ki won the elections. This seen a
transition of Myanmar polity from military dictatorship to democracy.

C. DEMOCRACY AS A MYTH:
In Pakistan the democracy was always dubious and was only existing in its procedural form.
i. The army controls the State machinery in Pakistan.
ii. Not even a single decade was without military rule. There were repeated coups
iii. When elected government is against the army’s will the former is virtually punished
in different ways eg. when Nawaz Sharif publicly called for democratising
Pakistan, in few months the process for sending him to jail was initiated and
successfully completed
iv. Sometimes, Army’s puppets are installed in government
v. There is even assassination of leaders who augur people’s support eg. Bhutto’s
assassination.
In the 2018 General Elections, Imran Khan won against traditional parties. However, he
proved to be yes-man of army and in fact many terrorist groups trained by ISI registered
themselves as parties and fought the elections. So, yet democracy exists as in procedural form.
Anyways, despite the violent atmosphere and obvious army involvement in elections, the
voter turnout stood at 55.8% and shows the Pakistani’s desire for a democracy.
EFFECTS OF DEMOCRACY ON INDIA’s INTERESTS:

Despite the transition to democracy in South Asia, it did not create a good atmosphere for
neighbourhood relations. Three reasons can be attributed for it:
• Democracy does not exist substantially but only in procedural form eg. Pakistan is
controlled by Army,
• Democracy leads to identity politics which spoils the security situation and causes
migration eg. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Myanmar or it forces India to take a stand on
domestic identity politics of neighbouring country eg. Nepal.
• For gaining vote-bank, parties in neighbouring countries cite India’s foreign policy as a
violation of sovereignty of their nation. So, nationalism is another reason which spoil
the atmosphere for good relations.
• Another factor is demand of one party to intervene into the domestic affairs which is
not agreed by another party eg. intervention demanded by opposition party when
emergency
was declared but opposed by ruling party.
A. SECURITY THREATS:
Pakistan and Bangladesh create security threats to India. Since Pakistan and Bangladesh are
partitioned from Indian Subcontinent based on communalism their existence is based on
emphasizing enmity with India.
Army in Pakistan and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Bangladesh desire to destabilise
India with help of terrorism and weakening economy.
• PAKISTAN—State sponsored terrorism from Pakistan is the top-most
security threat for India,
ü Mumbai Terror Attacks 2008,
ü Pathankot attack 2016 and
ü Uri attacks, etc.
Also, Pakistan’s ISI interferes in Kashmir affair—it indoctrinated Kashmiris,
created militants, engineered protests and worsened the overall security and
Kashmir unity with India.

• BANGLADESH—by hosting insurgents of Assam especially United Liberation
Front of Assam (ULFA) Bangladesh has helped in creating insecurity in
Bangladesh whenever it was ruled by BNP party
• MYANMAR—ostensibly during the military rule, not only the rulers but also the
people on Myanmar side gave safe havens to terrorists of Nagaland like NSCN.
B. POOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION:

Democratic politics in neighbourhood also affected economic integration. Integrating their
economy with Indian economy is seen as spoiling their competitiveness or for vote-bank it is
opposed unreasonably,
• BHUTAN: It failed to enter BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) citing
environmental concerns but the root cause is lobbying by the Bhutanese drivers
who see a threat to their livelihood when Indian drivers enter their market
• PAKISTAN: It thwarts any attempt to integrate SAARC nations—it created a
strategic depth by not allowing India to improve connectivity with
Afghanistan. It boycotted SAARC MVA which led to BBIN MVA
• SRI LANKA: The internal domestic politics for long prevented adoption of
Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA).
C. POLITICS OVER RESOURCE SHARING:

• There is river water sharing is mired by politics.
o Indus Water Treaty–politics in Pakistan affected hydro-power projects in
Kashmir eg. Kishenganga hydropower project.
o Problems in Teesta river water sharing with Bangladesh. Here democratic
politics and populism in West Bengal also affect hassle-free river water
relations.
D. SOCIAL HARMONY IN INDIA:

• Migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar due to identity politics as part of their
democratic politics has altered demography in North East India,
o Bengali Muslims in Assam
o Chakmas and Hajongs in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Islamic fundamentalism in India created by Pakistan—Kashmiris joining terror
outfits like LeT, creation of terror groups like Indian Mujahideen, SIMI, etc.,
This led experts to claim that democracy in neighbourhood created more headache to India.
However, in terms of problems from democracy, more and more democracy is the
solution—the active participation of electorate in Maldives to oust Yameen and bring pro-
India Solih to power recently is case in the point.

12. How is Indonesia central to India’s Indo-Pacific ambitions? What are the
measures India took to engage Indonesia in this regard? (250 words, 15
marks)
Indo-Pacific is the emerging theatre of global politics. Indo-Pacific is a mega-region

encompassing two oceans which is core to the strategic interests of nations of the region. In
this regard, India has started engaging the nations in the Indo-Pacific region actively—both
bilaterally and multilaterally.
AMBITIONS:
The following are the various ambitions that India has in its foreign policy for the Indo-Pacific
region:
A. GEOECONOMIC AMBITIONS:
• Act East policy has an economic component which aims at engaging the East Asia,
South East Asian nations for maximising its opportunities to increase trade and
investment. When India conducts itself in such a way that it acts a net-security
provider in Indian Ocean and as inevitable partner in Indo-Pacific engagement—this
will help in reaping economic benefits.
• Freedom of navigation and overflight is most essential as the Indo-Pacific hosts
critical sea lanes that passes crucial choke points like Strait of Malacca.
B. GEOPOLITICAL AMBITIONS:
• Countering Chinese hegemony—the aggressive conduct of China in Pacific Ocean
and its encirclement strategy of China in Indian Ocean is the cause of concern for all
nations in the region. So, they desire to balance China by partnering together. Since
India is an inevitable and primary rival of China, India is expecting big role in Indo-
Pacific.
• Asian century—the Asian century is dependent on a peaceful atmosphere in
Asian region which is necessary for smooth relations between the Asian nations. Unity
between Asian nations is necessary to counter the Western nations to downplay Asia
and prevent its rise.
C. SECURITY & SOVEREIGNTY:
• India’s security—the String of Pearls strategy of China which is expected to encircle

India is driving us to secure our strategic interests by establishing security architecture,
• Maritime security—the non-traditional threats that India faces are anti-piracy,
maritime terrorism, etc., so a collective security mechanism like this will enable
the nations of the region to thwart such issues,
• Territorial integrity—By preventing any threat from Indian Ocean, it can avoid any
threat to its territorial integrity, also piling up its position in Indian Ocean will enable it
to attain a bargaining position especially against China in the border talks.
D. REGIONALISM
• Collective Efforts for economic, political and security interests by means of
regionalism is seen as the right approach. Asian Relations Conference (ARC) is the
regional approach which is imitated in Indo-Pacific partnership.
CONVERGING INTERESTS BETWEEN INDIA AND INDONESIA:

Indonesia’s Natuna Sea is encroached by China, and that has irked Indonesia heavily. This
led to strong convergence of relation between India and Indonesia in maritime field to secure
their maritime territorial integrity.
ENGAGING INDONESIA:
A. SUPERFICIAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP:
At present, ties between both the countries are limited to,
o Anti-piracy patrols
o Search and rescue exercises
o Joint hydrographic exploration.
B. DEEPER MARITIME ENGAGEMENT:

MARITIME POLICES & PROGRAMMES:
• Eye in Sky programme for maritime surveillance
• Global Maritime Fulcrum Policy—a mechanism to bring balance of power in Indo-
Pacific region
• Act East Policy—It is an advancement of Look East policy which now includes a
strategic component with an aim to secure strategic interests
• India Maritime Security Strategy 2015— The strategy brought out the various
ways in which the Indian Navy could serve as a catalyst for peace, security and stability
in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This strategy has served its role well over the past
decade, in providing long term direction and guidance to the Indian Navy in a dynamic
environment.
MARITIME INSTITUTIONS:
• Malacca straits patrol
o India could also push for becoming a part of the Malacca Strait Patrols Programme.
It would offer the following benefits to India:
o Strengthen India’s maritime knowledge of the region.
o The eyes-in-the-sky component would give an opportunity for India to use its
maritime surveillance aircraft to jointly patrol the region.
o India can monitor Chinese naval movement in these regions.
o India would get access to the Jayapura naval base in West Papua. It would
complement India’s access to French naval bases in French Polynesia and New
Caledonia in the Southern Pacific.

MARITME INFRASTRUCTURE:
• Jayapura Naval Base to which India has been given access will give Indian Navy an
expanded foray and this has upset China that India become successful in getting access
to a port that will nullify its Gwadar port
• Sabang port:
o It is located at the mouth of Strait of Malacca and is 100 nautical miles from the
southern tip of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
o It is strategically located. It would help Indian Navy to be at the forefront and
supervise movements in the Straits of Malacca.
o It could provide an alternative to China’s BRI initiative.
o A cruise tourism circuit has been proposed between the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and Sabang.
MARITIME AGREEMENTS:
During PM visit both the countries are expected to sign a Comprehensive Defence
Cooperation Agreement which is similar to the one India signed with France. The benefits
of this include:
o Stronger maritime security partnership.
o give India access to naval bases in Lampung on the Sunda Strait, and Denpasar and
Banyuwangi on the Lombok Strait.
o It would help expand the Indian Navy’s operations in the eastern Indian Ocean.
India and Indonesia have partnered at right time with right pace. Indonesia is central to our
Indo-Pacific policy because it is the only nation that straddles both the oceans and are equally
fierce in protecting their interests threatened by China. However, a bilateral relation is not
sufficient but a multilateral relation like IORA, INCOIS, etc., for the Indo-Pacific region is
required.
13. India must realise that its diaspora can act as a crucial force in its
development and should take steps to leverage the potential of diaspora.
Examine the steps taken to engage our diaspora and what are its potential
that India can harness? (250 words, 15 marks)

A recent UN report says that India now has the largest ‘diaspora’ in the world, with more
than 16 million persons of Indian origin living abroad. Diaspora is a group of people who
spread from one original country to other countries, in this way they carry culture, expertise
and information which can be harnessed by both parent country or the host country.
INDIA’s 3C FORMULA FOR DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT

A. Connect with India
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)— Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated once
in every two years to strengthen the engagement of the overseas Indian community
with the Government of India and reconnect them with their roots. During the
Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi
Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in
India and abroad
• Scholarship—Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was introduced
in 2006-07 to make higher education in Indian Universities/Institutes in different
fields (except medical and related courses) in India accessible to the children of
overseas Indians (PIOs) and Non- resident Indian students (NRIs) and promote India
as a centre for higher studies.
• Voting—proxy voting facilities for NRIs made them feel the connect with India in a
best way as it keeps them Indian citizens despite being not in India.
• OCI scheme— The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is an immigration status
permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in the Republic of India
indefinitely. The OCI was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by
the Indian diaspora, particularly in developed countries.
• ICWF— The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), set up in 2009, is aimed at
assisting Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the ‘most
deserving cases’ on a ‘means tested basis’. ICWF has also been a critical support in
emergency evacuation of Indian nationals from conflict zones, countries affected by
natural disasters and other challenging situations. In view of its immense utility, ICWF
stands extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
B. Contribute to home development
• IDF-OI— India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) is a not-for-
profit Trust which enables Overseas Indians to send contributions for implementation
of social and development projects in India. IDF-OI’s Board of Trustees is chaired by
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister.
C. Celebrating Cultural Heritage
• ICCR & Diaspora— The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is an
autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external
cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples.
• Diaspora Tourism— Diaspora tourism refers to the travel of people in diaspora to
their ancestral homelands in search of their roots or to feel connected to their personal
heritage.
• Bharat Ko Jano online quizzes that test the participants’ knowledge of India’s
heritage, history and culture.
• Know India Programme abbreviated as KIP is a government initiative by the
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India for the Indian diaspora (excluding
NRIs) between the age group of 18 to 30 years. The purpose of the Know India
Programme is to help Persons of Indian Origin youths familiarize with their roots

and contemporary India and provide them an exposure to the country of their origin
and its culture. From 2016, six KIPs a year are being organised.
DIASPORA’s POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE

ECONOMIC POTENTIAL:
A. Mobilising Finance to India:
• Remittances—India was the largest remittance-receiving country in the world, with
an estimated $69 billion in 2015. 3.4 per cent of India’s GDP, an amazing multiplier
because just 1 per cent of the citizenry, which does not even live in the country,
contributes more than three times its fair share to the nation’s wealth
• FDI—Perhaps the most mutually beneficial policy is the government’s 2015 move to
treat NRI/OCI holders’ investment as domestic investment and not FDI
• Purchasing power—Spend more lavishly than the locals, thereby helping economic
activity
B. Reversing Brain Gain
• Start-ups by Indian Diaspora
• Using skills and expertise of diaspora in India
• Diaspora as angel investors
C. Translating culture into commerce:
• Diaspora with its connect to India can be a great participant in tourism. Above this,
they also translate and be ambassadors of our culture. This promotes Indian culture.
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL:
D. Participating in Development Industry
• Donors—diaspora acts as donors and contribute to our development programmes,
• NGOs—beyond donation they also establish NGOs for their public spirit and
E. Reorienting Indian Education—Indo-Universal Collaboration of Engineering
Education, they participate in education sector of India and bring the outside orientation
to India.
POLITICAL POTENTIAL
F. A pressure group on behalf of India
• Lobbying—the diaspora in other nation’s acts as a pressure group. This was
sometimes even the foundation for relationship.
Eg: Indian diaspora in USA was helpful in making the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.
SUGGESTIONS:
There are obstacles to utilising diaspora. Till date, the contribution of diaspora is unilateral
and voluntary and they by patriotism and philanthropy contributed to India. Nowadays, for
instance, USA is aiming to encourage diaspora to contribute its potential to USA itself by
giving incentives.
Some measures to be taken are:
• A Department of NRIs with Minister of State as in-charge like Ventures Department
of USA,
• Income Tax relaxations for NRIs,
• Utilising NRI’s expertise by allowing their lateral entry in PSUs.

The diaspora has a multiplier effect on our economy and political power. Diaspora is an
inevitable link in our development. Also, diaspora is facing multiple threats and very
especially protectionism. As held in World Economic Forum summit, India should
strive hard to protect and safeguard globalisation.
14. ‘The One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative of China is receiving strong
resistance from many quarters that vindicate India’s stand on it’. Discuss why
India has boycotted the initiative and why there is resistance to it from many
countries. Is there any alternative that can match OBOR in terms of its scale
and benefits? Examine critically. (250 words, 15 marks)
OBOR is an initiative with potential to alter the economics of world, it rapidly globalises the
economic structure of India which is for long disintegrated. The Belt and Road Initiative
aspires to link Asia and Europe and creates a Eurasia that is borderless in economic realm.
When borders are erased, cultures collide, it creates huge resistance—such resistance is being
faced by OBOR.
INDIA’s JUSTIFICATION FOR BOYCOTTING:
A. VIOLATION OF SOVEREIGNTY
CPEC which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) violates the principle of
sovereignty. PoK is a disputed region between India and Pakistan.
B. LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL NORMS:
The project is also criticised for violating the global level infrastructure norms, as it does not
embrace the values like transparency and accountability in its working. The projects are
criticised for being opaque. Other such norms cited for India for being violated includes,
• Good governance,
• rule of law, openness,
• transparency and equality,
• pursue in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity

C. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:
India also claims there is lack of environmentalism in the projects. It leads to deforestation
and multi-sectoral pollution.
D. VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW:
International laws—United Nations treaties needs to be upheld. With regards to the violation
of UNCLOS law by China in South China Sea, India is wary of international law violation by
China in the OBOR/BRI projects.
RESISTANCE:
EU
• Bilateral—European Union is based on the principle of multilateralism. But the
OBOR project’s working methodology is bilateral agreements between China and each
of the nations participating in the project.
• China vs EU companies—EU also wants OBOR to be more open to funds from
multiple directions. China does not allow funds of other countries being ivested in
OBOR. It is exclusively Chinese funded and so EU is suspicious of China in this regard.
• Non-transparent nature of the projects is another demerit cited by EU
• Liberal functioning—The Chinese companies are highly subjected to State control.
EU is displeased with such control and arm-twisting of industry. It is wary of threat to
liberal and free market principles.
Russia
• Russia openly came out and demanded the project planning and implementation
should be very transparent.
USA
• Sovereignty—USA came in open support for India and claimed any international
project should give prime importance to principle of sovereignty. USA’s famous
opposition is, “there are many roads to development not just one road”.
• Monopoly—USA feels OBOR is endangering global competitive economy and
may lead to monopoly.
Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
Third World nations have the following issues:
• Debt trap—they feel by giving debt at exploitative rates, China is entrapping their
nations
• Neo-colonialism
These nations feel the OBOR project may be an instrument of colonialism. Terming it as
a 'Road of Gulami' or Slavery for Gilgit-Baltistan, the protestors said the China-Pakistan
project is an illegal attempt to capture Gilgit.
• Ethnicity— Leading the protests against OBOR in Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Ghizer
are students and political organisations such as Balawaristan National Students
Organisation, Karakoram Students Organisation, Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement,
Balawaristan National Front.

ALTERNATIVE:
The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor is the best conceived alternative to OBOR. The Asia-
Africa Growth Corridor or AAGC is an economic cooperation agreement between the
governments of India, Japan and multiple African countries.
The AAGC will give priority to development projects in health and pharmaceuticals,
agriculture and agro-processing, disaster management and skill enhancement.
The Act East policy of India and Partnership for Quality Infrastructure (PQI) of
Japan are converging. This gives the policy basis for the
AAGC Vision document 2017 was released. It gives the basic principles and features of the
AAGC project,
Principles:
• Development and cooperation projects,
• Quality infrastructure and institutional connectivity,
• Capacity and skill enhancement and
• People-to-people partnerships
Salient features:
• Effective mobilisation of financial resources,
• Their alignment with socio-economic development and development strategies of
partner countries and regions,
• Application of high-quality standards in terms of compliance with international
standards established to mitigate environmental and social impact,
• Provision of quality of infrastructure taking into account aspects of economic efficiency
and durability, inclusiveness, safety and disaster-resilience, sustainability as well
as convenience and amenities,
• Contribution to the local society and economy.
One Belt One Road is a great idea, but the problem is it is owned by one country.
Globalisation is not true until it is participated by all countries and also principles of equality,
equity and transparency are upheld.
15. Estimate the potential of BRICS to influence the world affairs. Do you agree
with the view that threats to BRICS are internal not external? Critically
comment. (250 words, 15 marks)

BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies:
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The BRICS members are known for their
significant influence on regional affairs.
The BRICS is a grouping which was conceived after understanding individual potential of
each member country separately and what they can do collectively.
Economic potential:
• The combined economic potential of the BRICS grouping was expected to overtake
western economy by 2041 itself. But the high potential of BRICS nations led to much
favourable estimate that this may take place in 2032 itself or even 2025.
• NDB
The New Development Bank, formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a
multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.
According to the Agreement on the NDB, "the Bank shall support public or private projects
through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments."
Till date, NDB has issued loans worth USD 2.5 Billion.
• BRICS Credit Rating Agency—It is a proposed idea. India had first mooted the idea of
having such an agency for the BRICS grouping to solve impediments for the emerging
market economies posed by present credit rating agency market that is dominated by
S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.
These three western rating agencies hold over 90% of the ratings market. Emerging
economies claim that western ratings firms are biased, pessimistic on the developing
countries and optimistic on developed nations. They also have concerns over
methodologies of the three global agencies.
• BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)— BRICS Contingent Reserve
Arrangement (CRA) is a framework for the provision of support through liquidity and
precautionary instruments in response to actual or potential short-term balance of
payments pressures.
• Currency—to counter the monopoly of US dollar a BRICS currency called Bricso is
proposed.
• BRIC Business council
The BRICS Business Council was established in 2013. The objective of creating the council
was to constitute a platform which will:
o Promote and strengthen business, trade and investment ties amongst the business
communities of the five BRICS countries;
o Ensure that there is regular dialogue between the business communities of
the BRICS nations and the Governments of the BRICS countries; and
o Identify problems and bottlenecks to ensure greater economic, trade and
investment ties amongst the BRICS countries and recommend solutions
accordingly.
Think Tank: A group of emerging nations has the greatest potential has crucible of ideas,
innovations and innovators which will enable it to establish a best think tank, in this regard,
BRICS Think Tanks Council (BTTC) was established.
• It was proposed at a 2013 meeting of BRICS and confirmed at the eThekwini Summit
(Durban, South Africa).
• The BTTC comprises the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) (India) apart from think
tanks from individual BRICS countries such as Institute for Applied Economic Research
(IPEA) (Brazil).

• Purpose is to form a platform for the exchange of ideas among researchers, academia and
think tanks, to convene the BRICS Academic Forum, and to present policy
recommendations and guidance to the BRICS leaders for consideration.
Education:
• BRICS Education Ministers Conference to create a synergy and harness the
strengths for mutual benefits,
• New Delhi Declaration— BRICS nations have adopted the 'New Delhi Declaration on
Education resolving to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-
long learning opportunities for all.
• BRICS Universities League—It is a consortium of leading research universities from
BRICS countries.
• BRICS Network University (NU)
o NU is a consortium of the universities, elaborating Master and PhD programmes in
different disciplines.
o It was established in 2015 in BRICS meeting at Moscow.
o NU follows principles of:
o Openness, which enables various universities to join the network respecting
national criteria.
o Focus on educational programmes that can be supplemented with network research
and innovation projects.
Political:
• BRICS aims at creating a multipolar world order in which the present unipolarity of
USA or the past bipolarity of US-USSR will vanish
• United Nations reforms is necessary to bring democracy in global governance
• Democratisation of WTO, IMF and WB is the immediate desire of BRICS nations
and it is the potential to do this helped them to come together.
CHALLENGES:
A. INTRA-MEMBER WEAKNESS:
• BRICS—corruption and right-wing politics in Brazil
• Russia—the weakest economy now, faced with economic vulnerability now
• China—debt crisis and entrapment in trade war
• India—demonetisation and GST crippled the economy and reduced the growth rate

• SA—the GDP growth rate of SA is now just 0.8% which is a worst scenario for the
nation and the unemployment rate is 27%.
B. INTER-MEMBER DIFFERENCES:
• Competition—the most important issue within BRICS is the competition between
member countries that often kills the collective spirit
• India China antagonism that is created by border dispute, rivalry for primacy often
makes the body itself irrelevant. When Doklam Standoff happened, an annual summit
was about to happen and it was suspected whether the summit will convene at all.
• India Russia friendship dilution—and the closeness of Russia with Pakistan in recent
times is a cause of concern, it is said that Indo-Russian friendship is a glue that stuck
the BRICS members together
• West vs East rivalry within BRICS divides the body and reduces its potential and limits
its capacity to reform the global governance which it wanted to change altogether
• Chinese hegemony in the recent times in Asia is a cause of conern for other members of
the groups
• IBSA—a small group affects the BRICS integrity since it is another group formed by three
BRICS member nations—Brazil, India and South Africa.
• QUAD—a group which is considered Asia’s NATO is in stark contrast and diagonally
opposite to the BRICS composition.
The BRICS is still young, it is no longer merely a passing economic phenomenon; it has played
a vital role in the global economy, as well as in global politics and security. What we need first
for the BRICS to succeed is the Asian consciousness not the Global consciousness.

16. What is the difference between Hard Brexit and Soft Brexit? What is the
present status of Brexit? Discuss the pros and cons of Brexit for India. (250
words, 15 marks)
Brexit a portmanteau of "British" and "exit", is the impending withdrawal of the United
Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). It follows the referendum of 23 June 2016
when 51.9 per cent of those who voted supported withdrawal.
HARD BREXIT vs SOFT BREXIT:
A. Hard Brexit:
A hard Brexit is an arrangement that is likely to see the UK give up full access to the single
market and full access of the customs union along with the EU. The arrangement
would prioritise giving Britain full control over its borders, making new trade deals and
applying laws within its own territory.
Initially, this would mean the UK would likely fall back on World Trade Organisation (WTO)
rules for trade with its former EU partners.
What are the pros and cons?

Hard approach would benefit the UK by making it a global trading nation.
A hard Brexit could see British goods and services subject to tariffs, adding 10 per cent, for
example, to the cost of exported cars. While sectors such as agriculture could lose protections
against cheap imports from abroad.
Leaving the customs union would mean a significant increase in bureaucratic checks on
goods passing through ports and airports. And nations such as the US and Australia have said
that reaching new trade agreements with the EU would take priority.
B. Soft Brexit:
This approach would leave the UK's relationship with the European Union as close
as possible to the existing arrangements, and is preferred by many remainders.
• The UK would no longer be a member of the EU and would not have a seat on the
European Council.
• It would lose its MEPs and its European Commissioner. But it would keep unfettered
access to the European single market.
• Goods and services would be traded with the remaining EU states on a tariff-free basis and
financial firms would keep their "passporting" rights to sell services and operate branches
in the EU.
• Britain would remain within the EU's customs union, meaning that exports would not be
subject to border checks.
National models for this sort of deal include Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which are not
members of the EU but have access to the single market by being part of the European
Economic Area.
In return, these countries must make payments into EU budgets and accept the "four
freedoms" of movement of goods, services, capital and people. They are subject to
EU law through the Luxembourg-based EFTA Court. Switzerland has a similar arrangement
through a series of regularly updated treaties.
It is likely that a "soft Brexit" deal would insist on Britain observing the "four freedoms",
meaning continued free access for European nationals to work and settle in the UK.
What are the pros and cons?

Soft Brexit proponents believe a "harsh Brexit" must be avoided at all costs suggesting it could
"damage UK’s economy, damage UK’s capacity as a nation to perform capably in the future
and actually damage Europe.”
‘Hard Brexit’, is likely to come “at the cost” of a period of economic disruption, which is “likely
to be negative for the pound".
Experts warn that London’s position as a financial hub will be dealt a severe blow if the UK
left the single market. However, that access is contingent on countries agreeing to let
European Union citizens live and work anywhere in the bloc.
STATUS OF BREXIT:
• LAW: European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 is the law passed by UK Parliament for
Brexit it gives two crucial things,
o The date of Brexit is March 29, 2019
o It orders executive organ to strike a Brexit deal with EU which will secure the
interests of UK post-Brexit.
• DEAL:
Brexit deal composes following:
o A Withdrawal Deal dealing with the date, time and other details
o Future Relations Deal which will be detailing the type, nature and other
modalities of the relation
• TRANSITION PERIOD is the time taken to withdraw after March 29, 2019 and the
completion of withdrawal and commencement of relations between EU and UK as per
Future Relations deal.

• POLITICS AROUND BREXIT:
o The deal struck by UK Government was rejected by Parliament,
o Some members of PM’s Conservative Party itself withdrawn their support to the
deal and a confidence motion was passed,
PROS:
• Cheaper Pound Sterling: The British pound is among the most expensive currencies in
the world. The cheaper UK currency would likely boost exports from India as an
alternative to the overpriced Euro zone. Indian students could pay less for the rupee
conversion and for the Indian tourists UK travel could become much more affordable.
• Boost Skilled Immigration from India:
o As per the EU rules, any EU member country should not invite immigrants from the
non-EU country unless there is a significant shortfall of talent within the EU.
o For most of the ‘knowledge workers’ from India, this was the end of the British dream.
Physicians, nurses, IT professional and researchers were denied UK job opportunities.
o The stricter EU-enforced laws virtually stopped the immigration from India at the time
when the UK is experiencing great shortfalls in such skills.
o The Brexit would provide a new opportunity for the Indian professionals to look for the
work options in the UK.
• Stronger Trade ties with India: To compensate for their weaker trading position with
the EU, the UK government will likely look back to the countries with which it shares
history, legal frameworks and business mentality. They need to find in a hurry stronger
allies and dependable trading partners. Given Indian business and personal connections
over the years, the UK-India ties are most likely to be stringent.
• Opportunity for India to sit at the higher table: India is among the strongest,
innovative, consistently growing and most stable economies and democracies in the world.
As Britain would renegotiate her trade agreements with the EU, India could leap towards
sweeter deals for the Indian companies employed in the UK and Europe. If played right, it
would be a great advantage for the Indian firms.
CONS:
• Subdued global growth:
o Due to rapid change in trade terms between UK and EU—latter is largest export
market for former—the global GDP growth will be affected as per estimates of
IMF—export by Indian industries in UK to EU is affected
o The Brexit may set precedent for exit by other Europhobic countries and countries
like Greece (Grexit) which will weaken EU economy further and subdue the global
growth—subdued global growth will automatically reduce export demand from
India itself as happened during GFC 2008.
• Restriction on immigration if Brexit happens could have a big impact on students and
professionals who aim to travel to the UK. According to the UK Council for International
Student Affairs, the number of Indian students studying in universities in UK have fallen
from over 22,000 to 18,000-plus following the withdrawal of the post-study work visa and
the situation could worsen if Brexit happens.
• Hit on financial hub status of Britain: Britain has emerged as a major financial hub.
Post Brexit, the financial/services sector in UK would take a hit. We have already seen the
London Exchange soaring down post Brexit referendum. A weakened Britain economy
deprived of finance is not in interest of India because,

o We will lose the FDI flowing from Britain
o Indian industries will be deprived of the financial incentives given by Britain
• FPI outflows: The immediate impact of Brexit is an increase in risk aversion when it
comes to investing, especially in light of the possibility of other countries following suit.
This will affect the FPI outflows from foreign portfolio investors.
• Depreciation of rupee: Rupee may depreciate because of the double effect of foreign
fund outflow and dollar rise
• Indian investment in UK: IANS report says that Britain ranks 12th in terms of India’s
bilateral trade with individual countries. It is also among 7 in top 25 countries with which
India enjoys a trade surplus. India invests more in UK than the rest of Europe
combined, emerging as the 3rd largest FDI investor. Access to European markets,
therefore, is a key driver for Indian companies setting shop in UK. Britain coming out of
EU is likely to affect the business prospects of these companies.
Nasscom in a recent report held that IT and ITeS industry of India will have a negative
impact of close to $108bn. The impact can be seen in medium term (2-3 years).
UK’s PM Theresa May claimed people who talk about a “trade-off” between controlling
immigration and trading with Europe are looking at things the “wrong way”, arguing that soft
Brexit is "subverting" democracy and attempting to "kill" the process by "delaying it".
17. ‘The peace process in Afghanistan has attained many new dimensions’. What
do you know about this process and also critically examine the concerns of
India in the present peace process? (250 words, 15 marks)
Immediately after 9/11 attack USA waged a war against terror and the main battlefield of
that war is Afghanistan which is the hotbed of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups and also
Osama Bin Laden. The USA is the main belligerent against terrorists which grounded huge
number of troops and spent enormous money.

Peace process constitutes,
• The end of violence by belligerent Taliban
• Withdrawal of USA from war
• Construction of institutions to sustain peace and promote development
PEACE PROCESS:
• Previous peace efforts:
Earlier the Hamid Karzai’s government of Afghanistan took efforts to bring peace
o Office in Qatar for peace talks with Taliban
o Two-Track Strategy—It is the strategy followed by USA for cracking down
Taliban. It involves two components: Military and Diplomacy,
o Heart of Asia—Istanbul Process: established to provide a platform to discuss
regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic
cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours.
• Present peace efforts:
It involves a completely new environment and new players. Russia which was cause of
Afghan war is also the participant in peace process,
o Moscow Format—Russia led peace process
o Kabul Process II—unconditional and comprehensive confidence-building
measures aimed at reconciliation with the insurgent group. It was initiated by
Ghani’s government,
ü It gives political recognition to Taliban
ü Government is willing to share power with Taliban
ü It will be completed with review of constitution.
o Trump-led process: Trump's Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad
initiated peace process and this week it was said the process is going in a very
positive way.
INDIA’s CONCERNS:
A. PRINCIPLES to be followed:
• India’s long-lasting stand is Taliban should not be recognised as a stakeholder in the
process because it is a terrorist organisation,
• Afghan led Afghan owned—it is the style of peace process to be followed according
to India, because allowing dominant powers would bring geopolitical considerations
which may lead to affecting interests of Afghanistan and India,
• India is also not interested in sending India’s troops to Afghanistan. But USA is highly
critical of it.
B. Security:
• US withdrawal from Afghanistan will create issues for security and South Asia will be
flooded with violence if instability sets in Afghanistan
• Whenever there is insecurity in Afghanistan it is converted into insecurity in South Asia
by Pakistan
C. Strategic:
• The stability in South Asia is essential for the long-term peace and development of
India. Any issue in South Asia is misused by Pakistan and it affects the strategic
interests of India.

Despite consistent efforts, the peace process is very fragile—the core of the issue is every
nation which involves in the process manipulates it in such a way that it can advance its own
interest. Afghan owned Afghan led process will alone be a long-lasting methodology for this
process.
18.Discuss in detail the salient features and limitations of Nuclear Non-

Proliferation Treaty (NPT), 1968 and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT), 1996. What is India’s stand on these treaties? (250 words, 15 marks)
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki incident shook the world and the United Nations agency
is responsible for bringing peace to the world was striving hard to strike a treaty to regulate
nuclear sector.
Between 1965 and 1968, the treaty was negotiated by the Eighteen Nation Committee on
Disarmament, a United Nations-sponsored organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-
Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread
of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and
complete disarmament.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968:

1. Ban on transferring nuclear weapons:
• Each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any
recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control
over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly;
• Not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapon State to
manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices,
or control over such weapons or explosive devices.
2. Ban on receiving nuclear weapons:
• Each non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to receive the
transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive
devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly,
• Not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive
devices; and not to seek or receive any assistance in the manufacture of nuclear
weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

3. Monitoring by IAEA:
Each non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes to accept safeguards, as set
forth in an agreement to be negotiated and concluded with the International Atomic
Energy Agency in accordance with the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency
and the Agency’s safeguards system
4. Peaceful uses of nuclear energy:
Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the
Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of this
Treaty. All the Parties to the Treaty undertake to facilitate, and have the right to
participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and
technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
5. Review of nuclear use:
Each Party to the Treaty undertakes to take appropriate measures to ensure that, in
accordance with this Treaty, under appropriate international observation and through
appropriate international procedures
6. General and complete disarmament:
Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on
effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to
nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict
and effective international control.
INDIA’s STAND:
For the following reasons, India did not sign NPT:
1. NPT is highly discriminatory and it monopolises nuclear weapons
2. The treaty legitimises power gap—nuclear haves and have nots
3. The treaty only freezes nuclear weapons with 5 States, but not gives a credible
mechanism for disarmament
4. It tolerated nuclear weapons with France and China
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty that bans all
nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, in all environments. It was
adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 1996, but has not entered into force, as
eight specific states have not ratified the treaty.
1. Ban on proliferation: The Treaty banned every kind of nuclear weapons test or nuclear
explosion.
2. Monitoring Testing: An international monitoring system was to be set up for checking
violations of CTBT.
3. Detection: Any underground, atmospheric or underwater explosions more powerful
than the equivalent of 1,000 tones of conventional explosive was to be detected by a network
of 20 stations.
4. Institutional mechanism: Further, based on information collected by the international
monitoring system or through surveillance by individual countries (but not through spying
activities), any country could request an inspection to see whether an explosion had been

carried out or not. A request for an inspection was to require 30 votes in the 51-member
Executive Council.
All decisions were to be made by an Executive Council, whose representatives were to be
chosen regionally.
INDIA’s STAND:
Because of following objections, in August 1996 India vetoed the CTBT text at the
Conference on Disarmament (CD) at Geneva. As a result, the plenary of the CD had no text of
the CTBT to recommend to the UN General Assembly.
i. No time-table was incorporated in the CTBT for making the five nuclear weapon
countries to destroy their nuclear weapons.
ii. The entry into force clause was unacceptable and unacceptable
iii. The nuclear haves retained the advantage. They secured the recognition of their
right of modernizing their n-arsenals.
iv. The treaty was not comprehensive, because it only banned nuclear weapons
test. Computer simulated tests could be used by the nuclear haves to go ahead with
the process of perfecting their weapons system. Sub-critical tests were vaguely dealt
with.
NPT and CTBT both are vetoed by India because they were undemocratic. This is part of
India’s fight for equality and equity in global governance. With non-entry in NPT and CTBT
India was banned from entering NSG. But it is a widely held belief that India conducts itself in
a responsible way and as a responsible nuclear power, which lent huge support for India
to enter NSG.
19. Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Peacekeeping
Operations. Examine the evolution, achievements and limitations of the
peacekeeping operations. What reforms do you suggest to improve the
operations? (250 words, 15 marks)

Peacekeeping by the United Nations is a role held by the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations as "a unique and dynamic instrument developed by the organization as a way to
help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace."[2] It is distinguished
from peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peace enforcement although the United Nations does
acknowledge that all activities are "mutually reinforcing" and that overlap between them is
frequent in practice
EVOLUTION:
A. The early years
UN Peacekeeping was born at a time when Cold War rivalries frequently paralyzed the
Security Council. Peacekeeping was primarily limited to maintaining ceasefires and stabilizing
situations on the ground, providing crucial support for political efforts to resolve conflict by
peaceful means.
Example: The UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC), launched in 1960, was the first large-scale
mission having nearly 20,000 military personnel at its peak
B. The post-cold war surge

With the end of the Cold War, the strategic context for UN Peacekeeping changed
dramatically. The UN shifted and expanded its field operations from “traditional”
missions involving generally observational tasks performed by military personnel to
complex “multidimensional” enterprises.
These multidimensional missions were designed to ensure the implementation of
comprehensive peace agreements and assist in laying the foundations for sustainable
peace.
The nature of conflicts also changed over the years. UN Peacekeeping, originally developed as
a means of dealing with inter-State conflict, was increasingly being applied to intra-State
conflicts and civil wars.
Although the military remained the backbone of most peacekeeping operations, there were
now many faces to peacekeeping including:
• Administrators • Human rights monitors
• Economists • Civil affairs and governance
• Police officers specialists
• Legal experts • Humanitarian workers
• De-miners • Communications and public
• Electoral observers information experts
Today, a little more than 110,000 military, police and civilian staff currently serve in 14
peacekeeping missions, representing a decrease in both personnel and peacekeeping
missions, as a result of peaceful transitions and the rebuilding of functioning states.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Stabilising environment: It was very popular in ending violence and participation
in El Salvador is very popular for achievement of UN,
• Introducing democracy: in dictatorial violence-ridden areas, democratic
institutions were built to sustain peace eg. Namibia
• Facilitating independence movements in more than 50 nations

• The Noble Prize for Peace was given to UNPKF in 1988
• A 2005 RAND Corporation study found the UN to be successful in two out of three
peacekeeping efforts. It compared UN nation-building efforts to those of the
United States, and found that seven out of eight UN cases are at peace, as opposed to
four out of eight US cases at peace.
• Also, in 2005, the Human Security Report documented a decline in the number of
wars, genocides and human rights abuses since the end of the Cold War, and
presented evidence, albeit circumstantial, that international activism—mostly
spearheaded by the UN—has been the main cause of the decline in armed conflict since
the end of the Cold War.
Limitations:
The three major limitations of the UNPKF found by Brahmi Report are:
• Disagreements within UNSC—eg. Rwanda Genocide
• UN peacekeepers have also been accused of sexual abuse including child rape, gang
rape, and soliciting prostitutes during peacekeeping missions in the Congo, Haiti,
Liberia, Sudan, Burundi, and Côte d'Ivoire
• Transparency International found huge limitations in anti-corruption
guidance and oversight.
Reforms:
The Action for Peacekeeping (A4p) report suggested following reforms in
Peacekeeping:
• Rapid reaction force: a standing group, administered by the UN and deployed by the
Security Council that receives its troops and support from current Security Council
members and is ready for quick deployment in the event of future genocides.[14]
• Brahimi Report—Standard Operating Procedures needs to be introduced to prevent
abuse of power and wastage of resource
• The current system of excluding the troop and police-contributing countries
(T/PCCs) from the process of framing the mandates is not sustainable.
• Partnership between DPKO and UNDP is necessary
• Triangular cooperation between the T/PCCs, Secretariat and Security Council on
important policy and doctrinal issues being formulated in the field of peacekeeping,
and it needs to be expedited
• Finance—The UN peacekeeping budget of $ 7.87 billion and total number of
peacekeepers are not enough to meet today’s challenges. Greater contributions from
its members in both these areas can make India’s peacekeeping efforts more effective.
• Due to the opaqueness in the UN Security Councils handling of peace operations,
it is not clear how the resources are allocated in the UN. This has led to resource
constraints in the UN, thus leading to issues such as lack of helmets and other
protective equipment.
This made the traditional peacekeeping into peace building.
Implementation of a more transparent system will ensure adequate resources are allocated to
the peacekeeping forces. In the post-cold war era the ideological politics is replaced by
identity politics which led to consistent civil wars and the Yemen war is recent example.
That makes the robust peacekeeping most necessary.

20. India’s Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
is a major initiative in the realm of South-South cooperation. Analyse. (250
words, 15 marks)
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) is a New Delhi–based
autonomous policy research institute that specialises in issues related to international
economic development, trade, investment and technology.
RIS is envisioned as a forum for fostering effective policy dialogue and capacity-
building among developing countries on global and regional economic issues, thus it is an
initiative as part of South-South cooperation.
SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION:
South–South Cooperation is a term historically used by policymakers and academics to
describe the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between developing countries,
also known as countries of the Global South.
Example: NIEO (New International Economic Order) is a global economic structure that
promotes equity and considers the needs of Global North.
WHAT MAKES RIS A “MAJOR” INITIATIVE IN SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION:

The RIS is not only a south-south cooperation initiative it is considered MAJOR because:
A. Focus areas—AREAS OF THRID WORLD INTEREST
Its work programme focuses on policy research and capacity building in multilateral
trade and financial negotiations, regional economic cooperation in Asia, South-South
cooperation, new technologies and development, and strategic policy responses of
developing countries to globalisation, among other issues
C. Institutional framework—A WORKING MECHANISM
§ Governing council which finalises the themes on which the body should research
§ Research Advisory Council (RAC) is the subordinate institute which is
responsible for finding the themes to be researched. It is manned by people interested
in development of global south.

D. Policy Research—OVERCOMING CRITICAL GAP IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
The core of the RIS work programme includes policy research in four broad areas, namely:
(a) Global Economic Governance;
(b) Regional Economic Integration in Asia;
(c) South-South Cooperation; and
(d) Strategic Responses to Globalisation. Climate
E. Policy advisory Services—CONVERTING IDEAS INTO REALITY
F. Fostering Policy Dialogue—FACILITATING SOUTH-SOUTH
COMMUNICATION: We have Conferences, Symposia and Workshops for policy
dialogue.
Example: The RIS organised a High-Level Conference on ‘Asian Economic Integration:
Agenda for the East Asia Summit’ in collaboration with the Institute of South East Asian
Studies (ISEAS).
G. Outreach, Global Presence and Networking—INTEGRATING GLOBAL SOUTH
WITH GLOBAL GOVERNANCE:
• RIS has a consultative status with UNCTAD, and has been accredited to the Summit
Meetings of NAM and WTO Ministerial Conferences.
• It has conducted policy research and other activities in collaboration with other
agencies, like
o UN-ESCAP, o Asian Development Bank
o UNCTAD, (ADB),
o UNU, o World Bank,
o Group of 77, o Commonwealth Secretariat
o SAARC Secretariat, and the South Centre
UN Office for South-South Cooperation found RIS of India is a jewel in crown of the
initiatives taken to foster development of global south. However, not only unity between
global South is adequate the recognition of North to aid South is most necessary, this has been
proved to be true in climate change talks and climate finance.

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INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

UPs and DOWNs:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

2012 and after: This started at least in 2012 in an obvious manner.

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MALDIVES:

Security threat to India:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

TWO SPEED SAARC:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

DEBATING BIMSTEC’s POTENTIAL TO REPLACE SAARC:

A. SAARC—A subcontinental political association:

B. BIMSTEC—India’s economic bridge to ASEAN:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

Phase-I: India’s Independence and Australia:

Phase II: Cold war divergences:

Phase III: Australia’s fear about Indian Ocean:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

Phase IV: Nuclear Bombs and Terrorist Threats

Phase V: Convergence to balance China:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

5. For a stable India-Russia strategic partnership we need robust economic ties.

India-Russia relations is an all-weather relation. In a bilateral summit, Modi claimed that

Until 1991: Ideology as a driver:

From 1991: A relationship for defence trade?

Need of economic partnership:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INDIA’s INTERESTS IN NSG:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INDIA’s WATER RELATIONS:

S.No. Neighbour River Issues Efforts

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

8. “The trans-Atlantic relations underpins the unity of West which is being

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

9. ‘G-20 has become the primary pillar of geo-economic global governance

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

The Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is a proposed treaty which

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH ASIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

EFFECTS OF DEMOCRACY ON INDIA’s INTERESTS:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

B. POOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION:

C. POLITICS OVER RESOURCE SHARING:

D. SOCIAL HARMONY IN INDIA:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

Indo-Pacific is the emerging theatre of global politics. Indo-Pacific is a mega-region

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

CONVERGING INTERESTS BETWEEN INDIA AND INDONESIA:

B. DEEPER MARITIME ENGAGEMENT:

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

INDIA’s 3C FORMULA FOR DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT

INSIGHTS IAS MAINS TEST SERIES 2019

DIASPORA’s POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE