China is so fixed on the US, it may lose India. Comment.

Intro: China is so fixed on the US, it may lose India

Problem in China's plan: China is fixated upon the United States in its foreign policy. Chinese officials
and scholars publicly hail US-China relations as the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st
century. Where India stands in the pecking order of China's foreign relations is anybody's guess, but
there is no doubt China has not taken India seriously. This cognitive gap, together with all historical
and diplomatic disputes, has exacerbated problems in the delicate China-India relationship.
Subpoint: Rising Tensions
Conclusion: China is obviously of paramount importance to India's foreign policy. China's every move
is scrutinised by Indians, and every issue with China magnified. China is the first benchmark for
India's aspiration to be a global power.

Role of Social Media during Covid Pandemic

Intro: In the face of COVID-19, social media is a great way for individuals and communities to stay
connected even while physically separated.

Diff. b/w recent and previous pandemics: During the 1918 flu pandemic, which the CDC estimates
infected a third of the world’s population, people didn’t have the same sources of communication
we now have in the 21st century to quickly share news and information.
Example : For context, a public health report on Minneapolis’s response to the 1918 flu shows that
critical information regarding the virus was primarily shared via postal workers, Boy Scouts, and
teachers. Can you imagine having learned about COVID-19 from a Boy Scout knocking on your door,
encouraging you to wash your hands?
Subpoints:
1.A source of information (and misinformation)
2.An influence on public response to the outbreak
3.A marketing platform
4.A powerful way to bring positivity to a scary time
Example:
Fundraisers organized and distributed on social help raise money for those in need like PM Cares,
publicly collected funds, PM speeches etc;

Can India become a manufacturing superpower? Refernce to Post Covid Scenario

Intro: India as the next global manufacturing hub: Several industries have realized the drawbacks of
being excessively dependent on manufacturing on a single country and are looking to expand the
geographic spread of their facilities.
Main: In 2010, China overtook the US to emerge as the world’s largest manufacturing sector.
The Coronavirus epidemic is beginning to change this in many ways. The supply shock created by a
Chinese shutdown has prompted global firms to look for new manufacturing centres as a part of a
risk hedging strategy for the future.
This presents a moment of opportunity for India which can reap rich dividends by creating a
manufacturing-friendly environment and offering lucrative deals to global players for setting up units
in India. Reports have indicated that a large number of companies have already initiated talks with
Indian authorities seeking to pursue production plans in this country in sectors such as electronics,
medical devices and textiles, among others. India needs to capitalize on this opportunity and present
itself as a viable alternative manufacturing destination.

Points to focus:
1.Creating a world-class manufacturing ecosystem
2.Fostering Innovation and Skill
Foreign Students Uncertainties Under New U.S. Immigration Policy

Intro: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unveiled a policy memorandum
announcing it is changing how the agency will deal with unlawful presence for students as well as
exchange visitors who hold F, J, and M non-immigrant visas. Specifically mentioned are foreign STEM
students from designated countries.
This strict revision of policy is evidence that there is pressure from Washington on universities to
clamp down on international students in the United States.
Main:
According to the Trump Administration’s new regulations, unlawful presence will begin:
1.The day after the visa holder no longer pursues the course of study or authorized activity.
2.The day after the visa holder engages in any unauthorized activity; or
3.The day after the visa holder completes his/her course of study or program.

What activities are classified as “unauthorized?”

1.Attending another school, other than the one the student was authorized to attend.
2.Engaging in unauthorized employment, including working on campus more than 20 hours per
week while school is in session.

What are the exceptions for a visa holder pursing his/her course of study or program?
1.Annual or summer vacation.
2.Approved absences for medical reasons.
3.Approved academic circumstances during the first semester of study. E.g., Difficulty with the
English language/reading requirements.

On the occasion that a person is found unlawfully present, they will need to go back to their country
of origin to re-apply for a visa. Their application will, of course, also depend on whether or not they
have been barred from entering the United States because they have overstayed longer than six
months. If a person is found to be unlawfully present over six months, they could be barred for three
years.
In addition to the strict timing, visa holders may not even be aware that they have entered unlawful
status, due to the fact that violating their status is automatic. Those students who are unaware of
the policy changes could unintentionally and therefore, automatically, become unlawfully present in
the United States.
How Post Covid Work scenarios may change?
Points:

1. Support for mental health will be embraced:

Isolation is a primary factor in depression, anxiety and other significant mental health issues—and
the need for physical and social distancing has only exacerbated this struggle. Previously, mental
health may not have received the necessary attention it deserved. But with a potential increase in
mental health issues, there is a greater appreciation for its importance and for the ways companies
can provide solutions, employment benefits and programming to help employees.

2. Employer will expand the support they provide employees:

Many employers have added to employee support systems as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and it
is likely this new programming will be maintained. Companies have been forced to consider
employee wellbeing more holistically—in terms of not only the physical, but also mental and
emotional wellbeing.

3. Leadership will improve. Throughout a crisis, leadership is more important than ever. It is also
clear which leadership behaviors are most effective. In the toughest times, the leaders who excel are
those who communicate clearly, stay calm and strong, demonstrate empathy, think long-term and
take appropriate decisive action.

4. Company culture will become a focus. Like leadership, company culture is paramount to an
organization’s success. If culture is “the way things get done around here” or “what people do when
no one is looking”, it has become especially critical in guiding actions and decisions of both leaders
and employees.

5. Work will allow for more diversity. The traditional approach to work may not have been as
welcoming to those with different capabilities—physically, mentally or socially. But allowing people
to work from home has made way for more people to contribute in new ways.

6. Work will become more flexible. Many companies have been resistant to letting employees work
from home, but this unexpected global work-from-home experiment has forced companies to
accept it as a legitimate option. Companies have put greater technology systems and support in
place to facilitate mobile working. Teams are figuring out how to collaborate at a distance and
leaders are improving their ability to manage based on outcomes and objectives rather than
presence. Companies will expand the acceptability of remote work, and they will provide more
choice and flexibility to employees to work wherever they can get their best work done, including
away from the office.

7. Office will get better. When employees go back to the office, employers will be forced to re-think
their approach to the workplace. Companies will need to consider enhanced cleaning techniques,
more distancing and increased choices for employees across a campus (providing places for focus,
collaboration, learning, socializing and respite). In addition, all the things employees loved about
being home—comfortable places to relax between meetings or personalization for example—will
create new demands on the office. Organizations will have a new appreciation for the importance of
the office, the critical nature of face-to-face interactions and the ways their workplaces must support
employees.
8. You’ll be more comfortable with technology. No matter what your level of comfort with
technology in the past, you’ve likely had to become even more adept after the current COVID crisis.
It’s stressful to use new systems, leverage technology to connect in new ways and work through
challenges when your platform goes down because the network is overloaded. But you’ve probably
expanded your comfort, capability and confidence with all-things tech. In addition, your company or
neighbourhood may have upgraded their infrastructures, creating a better pipeline and more
streamlined and user-friendly interfaces, making technology easier to live with and ensuring it
creates less friction in your day.

9. Speed will increase, and bureaucracy will be reduced.

10. Innovation will flourish.

11. Companies will work together more effectively.

12. You’ll have renewed career opportunities.

13. Your entrepreneurial spirit will be tapped when every business is a start-up. When the
coronavirus finally abates, businesses will be in a rush to re-establish their value, re-energize their
product flows and do so quickly. In this way, even the most mature, well-established organizations
will become like start-ups.

Importance of Technology in Indo-China Tension?

Hi-tech weapons becoming increasing important as a deterrent, says report by International Institute
for Strategic Studies.
It was recently reported that the first batch of 5 Rafale fighter jets that are being delivered to India
by Dassault Aviation, were going to be deployed at forward air bases along the Ladakh region. Now,
we hear that the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India, has gifted the
indigenously developed Bharat Drones to the Indian Army.
Bharat Drones are very small, yet powerful and can work autonomously at any location with great
accuracy. T-90 Bhishma Tank, which is considered to be the main battle tank of the Indian Army, at
Ladakh
Other:
Indian Navy Inducts Advanced Torpedo Decoy System ‘Maareech’ Indigenously Developed by DRDO
labs.
DRDO Develops Dry Heat Treatment Chamber “GermiKlean” to Sanitise Uniforms of Security Force.
Popular Chinese-made drone is found to have security weakness.
Rafael, the 4.5 Generation fighter in the armoury of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has changed the aerial
warfare dynamics with both Pakistan and China lagging far behind the superior technology and
weapons package of the French-made combat jet. China recently has downgraded its Chengdu J-20
'stealth' fighter to 4th Generation but claims IAF Rafael’s no match for it.

Apart from facing the brunt of the outbreak of the COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus, India has also been
facing a number of natural calamities as well as headaches from our neighbouring countries
Pakistan, China & Nepal, along the borders. The recent skirmishes between the troops of both India
& China at the Galwan Valley in the Ladakh region, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of the Indo-
China border, raised the tensions between the countries.
Start-ups in India, just a trend?
Didn’t get a lot of impactful info, just numbers and blunt info. U should give ur own views.

Depression in Youth: Underdiagnosed and Deadly

Intro: The onset of depression is the leading cause of morbidity in adolescents, taking an enormous
toll on the quality of life in paediatric and young adult populations. Yet depression is significantly
underdiagnosed in youth, partially because clinicians are taught to look for symptoms of adult
depression, which may present differently in youths.
Childhood depression can present with traditional symptoms such as blunt affect, lethargy, and
hopelessness, but other markers are often more prominent, including:
Main:
Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school
Poor concentration
A major change in eating and/or sleeping patterns
Low self-esteem and guilt
Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure
Increased irritability, anger, or hostility
Equally worrying are the effects of social stress on depressed youths, reflected in the correlation
between childhood depression, bullying, and suicide.
Treatment for paediatric and adolescent depression is similar to that in adult depression, utilizing a
combination of talk therapy and medication when appropriate. However, the mechanics of therapy
look quite different for younger patients, whose experiences with depression vary by age, emotional
vocabulary, cognitive development, and experiences with trauma.
Conclusion:
A behaviour that seems “maladaptive” to outsiders may have instead helped a young person survive
difficult circumstances. Instead of pathologizing a depressed young person for their emotional and
behavioural responses, doctors encourage providers to seek a deeper understanding of a young
person’s experiences with trauma.

Privatization:

Souce: Quora

Starting with a little introduction.

Privatisation is the transfer of control of production and services from Government to

Private sector. Privatisation can be the sale of shares in a public undertaking.
Privatisation is allowing private or corporate investors to participate in the market.

Privatisation is a boon or bane depending on the context. It maybe a boon or a bane.

Privatisation is a boon in some way because -

1. COMPETITION - If the task of producing goods in the economy is handed over to
corporate investors instead of the Government, there is stiff competition among such
private organizers of business, which in turn leads to better quality at reduced prices.
Private companies are always on the look out to become more efficient to stay
competitive. In the India context, before 1991 - India's production was mostly under the
control of the Indian Government, because of the product quality was poor, India
prohibited trade imports and exports.
2. BETTER PRODUCTS & STANDARD OF LIVING - Privatization involves as mentioned
delivering superior quality products, which gives the consumers more value for their
money, hence improving the standard of living.
3. BETTER SYSTEM THAN A PUBLIC STRUCTURE - Government run enterprises in a sense
have a political mindset instead of an economic one. They might employ surplus labour
even if by doing that their undertakings become inefficient.

Collectively, this leads to more taxes and revenues for the Government, in the form of
more investment being made in the economy. Leading to more income for the factors of
production, which again leads to more savings. Thus, initiating a cycle, which is depicted
in the Keynesian Multiplier model.

As a boon - it gives rise to the following:

1. EXPLOITATION - Since privatization is so focused competition that it leads to
exploitation. Private companies - exploit their workers, by making them work for more
hours and giving them less salary (atleast in India) - which arises due to the need to be
efficient (more production at lower costs).
2. Private investors are totally focused on the Economic point of view of business. This
leads to two problems - private companies in essential sectors like medicine etc may
focus on profit earning while the objective in such a sector should be superior delivery of
value to customers. Also, since, private companies focus on earning more profits, they
tend to invest in areas in which an economy might have surplus, thus deviating
investments from the place where the economy actually needs them to the place where
the investors actually need them.

Privatization maybe a boon if its followed with the right mindset, if companies,
understand that delivering superior customer value is the way.

Make in India (Vocal for Local):

COVID 19 pandemic continues to impact millions of lives as the unprecedented human toll is
accompanied by a deep global Economic crisis and India is no exception. But there is something
exceptional about India and it is our strategy and approach for safeguarding our people and
economy from the pandemic. Ever Since India made a bold move by going for a complete lockdown
to break the chain, we could see a better chance for our country to get over the crisis.

The Government of India’s new campaign — “Vocal for Local” to make India self-reliant gives us the
hope that we will not only survive this crisis but will surpass the post COVID economy race. While
addressing the nation, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister spoke about the potential of India as a huge
local market and scope for India to be a manufacturing hub to take its local products global.

Our nation had envisioned a self-sufficient economy in the early ’20s with the Swadeshi Movement,
to liberate our country and economy from the British rule. The same ideology got a makeover with
the Make in India program which was a call to action to facilitate investment, foster innovation,
enhance skill development, and build best in class infrastructure in the country. The primary
objective of the initiative was to attract FDI from across the globe to make India a global
manufacturing hub. While Make in India was more about creating a favorable environment that
appeals for investors across the globe to invest and manufacture in India utilizing our resource and
talent base, Vocal for local is taking it to the next level.

The ultimate goal of Vocal for Local campaigns is “Atma Nirbhar”(Self-reliant) which is a call not only
to make in India but also to buy and promote local products made in India and also to take local
products to global markets. India is likely to be the most favored investment destination for
companies across the globe as the current pandemic scenario has brought economic activity near
standstill for almost every country while India being comparatively less impacted by COVID 19 crisis.
The opportunity is higher so as the challenges to produce and deliver high-quality products and
services that will meet the demand of global buyers.