General Studies Paper – 3

Context:

The Indian defense landscape faces challenges with depleting squadron strength, budget constraints, and the need for modernization.

The debate between ‘affordable defense’ and ‘affordable effectiveness’ is crucial. With a live threat on northern borders, India must balance indigenous efforts, research, and defense budgeting to ensure a robust deterrence posture.

Overview of MMRCA Program:

• Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program dubbed the ‘mother of all procurements’ for Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Original cost estimated at $10 billion in 2007, later reduced to the purchase of 36 Rafale jets.

Squadron Strength Concerns:

• IAF faces squadron strength depletion, currently at 32, with a target of reaching 35 squadrons in 10 years.
• Concerns raised by various IAF chiefs about the limited value of the Rafale purchase.

Concerns Across Forces:

• Indian Army and Indian Navy also reported to have deficiencies.
• Budget constraints and electoral sops may impact defense allocations in Budget 2024-25.

Affordable Defense vs. Affordable Effectiveness:

• Debates whether ‘affordable defense’ or ‘affordable effectiveness’ should drive defense Budget allocation.
• Example of IAF opting for 97 more Tejas Mk1A fighters despite the initial plan for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft.

Northern Border Threat and Election Mode:

• Live threat on northern borders necessitates preparedness.
• Concerns that defense allocation may be influenced by electoral considerations.

Assessment of War Preparedness:

• Urgent need for a judicious assessment of India’s approach to the next war.
• Importance of evaluating defense potency versus budget constraints.

Sea Power and Modernization Needs:

• Call for accretion in sea power to deter China.
• Need for modernization in the Army, considering its size and associated budget requirements.

Extended War Scenario and Industrial Base:

• Leadership visualizing an extended war scenario, as seen in Ukraine.
• Importance of considering the industrial base available for war scenarios.

Indigenous Drive and R&D:

• Emphasis on technological modernization.
• Realities of the armament supply chain and balance between imports and indigenous accretions.

Budgetary Constraints and Research & Development:

• Stagnant defense budget in real terms.
• Decline in defense expenditure as a percentage of central government expenditure.
• Global Innovation Index 2022 highlights India’s low research and development expenditure (0.7% of GDP).

Indigenization Efforts and Challenges:

• Government’s emphasis on indigenization through iDEX scheme and service-specific projects.
• Restructuring of Ordnance Factory Board and promulgation of negative lists for imports.
• Acknowledgment of the long gestation period for indigenization efforts.

Importance of Bipartisan Statesmanship:

• Need for sustained momentum in policy-making and defense budgeting.
• Emphasis on making defense budgets election-proof in a democratic setup.

National Security Imperatives vs. Electoral Imperatives:

• Caution against prioritizing electoral imperatives over national security imperatives.
• Instances of other countries responding to China’s belligerence with increased defense budgets.

 Conclusion:

• The necessity of giving due consideration to the defense budget and not compromising national security for electoral considerations.

General Studies Paper – 3

Context: On December 13, 2023, two men breached security in India’s Lok Sabha, exposing lapses despite enhanced measures since 2001.

The incident highlights the need for advanced technology. Leadership vacancies, political debates, and pass issuance issues compound the problem.

Urgent calls for a high-level inquiry and comprehensive security reforms are essential to protect democratic institutions.

BACKGROUD

• On December 13, 2023, two young men breached Lok Sabha, vocalizing slogans against dictatorship and releasing canisters emitting yellow smoke.

Security Measures in Parliament:

• Parliament underwent fortification after the 2001 terrorist attack, featuring spike barriers, bollards, drop gates, scanners, RFID devices, and anti-explosive checks.
• Central police forces, plainclothes personnel, and Delhi police are strategically placed in inner and outer precincts.

Security Breach Details:

• The breach unfolded across various security layers intended for personal screening.
• Door frame and handheld metal detectors were utilized but failed to detect plastic or rubber concealed in shoes, a vulnerability given that shoes are not routinely checked.

Importance of Technology:

• There’s an emphasis on advanced technology in security measures, referencing backscatter and millimeter wave scanners used abroad.
• Questioning whether the Ministry of Home Affairs advocated for technology upgrades.

Responsibility and Leadership Vacancies:

• The Joint Secretary, Security, post is vacant, as are the positions of chiefs of Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief is entrusted with the inquiry, and the Ministry of Home Affairs manages Parliament’s security needs.

Political Fallout and Responsibility:

• Calls for responsibility regarding security and technology upgrades.
• Criticism of political debates on jurisdiction, urging acknowledgment of the access control failure.
• Urgency for a high-level inquiry and acknowledgment of the breach’s severity.

Youngsters’ Actions and National Security:

• The incident caused no harm but exposed security gaps.
• Recommendation for legal action due to unauthorized entry, even though the charge of terrorism may not stick.
• Emphasis on the breach’s gravity for national security.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Call for sweeping changes in the security set-up through out-of-the-box thinking.
• Suggestion to have the Secretary, Security, in the Cabinet Secretariat supervise Parliament security.
• Formation of a committee comprising MPsfrom various parties to regularly monitor security.

Conclusion:

• A reminder that security arrangements can be breached, necessitating constant monitoring and upgrades.

MPs are urged to cooperate with enhanced security measures to safeguard democratic institutions.

General Studies Paper – 2

Telecommunications Bill, 2023 Overview:

• Aims to consolidate laws for wireless networks and Internet service providers.
• 46-page statute maintains existing regulatory structures and simplifies bureaucratic procedures.
• Digitization of licensing processes and new mechanisms for non-compliance with license terms.

Local Authority Access:

• Telecom operators granted access to district- and State-level authorities for permissions and dispute resolution.

Satellite Internet Industry:

• Exempted from bidding for spectrum,aligning with global practices.
• Welcomed by industry bodies for streamlining regulations and promoting ease of doing business.
• Potential to provide regulatory stability for the next phase of telecom expansion in India.

Concerns and Challenges:

• Broad definition of telecom raises privacy and surveillance concerns.
• State authority implications for privacy and potential compromisesin proposed solutions.
• Urgent need for transparent handling of public responsesduring consultation and rule-making processes.
• Subordinate legislation required for the Act’s provisions, emphasizing the evolving digital landscape since the 19th century.

Conclusion:

• The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, while streamlining regulations, poses challenges with privacy and state authority concerns.
• Transparent rule-making is crucial for its successful implementation amid evolving digital dynamics.

General Studies Paper – 2

Context:

• The Supreme Court’s judgment on the 2019 presidential orders in Jammu and Kashmir has wide-reaching implications.
• Overlooked aspects include varied regional impacts, security concerns’ acceptance, human rights violations, and the neglect of peacemaking.
• Moving forward, a new peace process and a return to the A.B. Vajpayee blueprint are suggested for resolution.

Background:

• Supreme Court judgment on August 2019 presidential orders discussed.
• Focus on implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and division into Union Territories.

Key Points:

• Commentaries highlight impact on national issues, statehood, and presidential powers.
• Neglect of three crucial aspects: Ground impact, Court’s view on peace/security, and democratic implications.

On the Ground Impact:

• Varied reactions in different regions—ambiguity in Jammu, disappointment in Kargil, cautious welcome in Ladakh, and ominous sentiment in the Valley.
• Economic dispossession concerns in Jammu, majority Shia wishes in Kargil, and a desire for elected administration in Ladakh.
• Severe impact on the Valley, reinforcing a belief of resentment and silencing of Kashmiris’ voices.

Security Concerns and Court’s View:

• Draconian circumstances during President’s August 2019 orders not adequately acknowledged.
• Blanket acceptance of security concerns criticized;potential danger in unwarranted arrests and limiting policy debates.
• Neglect of the importance of peacemaking in resolving internal conflict.

Human Rights and Violence:

• Justice Kaul’s ‘epilogue’ acknowledges human rights abusesbut overlooks violations since August 2019.
• Rise in violence post-2019 contrasts with the decline during the 2002-13 peace process.
• Lack of emphasis on the lesson that peacemaking offers a better solutionto internal conflict.

Moving Forward and Blueprint:

• Suggestion for the Union administration toinitiate a new peace process.
• Recommendations include restoring statehood, holding elections, and returning freedom of expression.
• Acknowledgment of potential anger and the need for compassionate responses.
• Reference to the A.B. Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh blueprint for disarmament, demilitarization, soft borders, and autonomy.

Concluding Thoughts:

• The Supreme Court’s Jammu and Kashmir judgment holds vast implications, urging a critical examination of its constitutional, regional, and security dimensions.

The neglected aspects underscore the need for comprehensive reevaluation and future considerations.

General Studies Paper – 2

Context:

In a landmark judgment, CJI Chandrachud creatively interprets Article 200, limiting Governor’s power to withhold assent.

Supreme Court emphasizes timely decisions, while potential exploitation in reserving Bills for the President is examined.

Governor’s discretion restricted by constitutional principles.

Landmark Judgment (November 10, 2023):

• Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, interprets Article 200creatively in State of Punjab vs Principal Secretary case.

New Interpretation of Article 200:

• CJI’s interpretation links withholding of assent with sending the Bill back for reconsideration.
• Governor has no option but to give assent after reconsideration.

Clarity on Governor’s Powers:

• Judgment clarifies confusion about Governor’s power to withhold assent.
• Protects legislative rights and constitutional system from unelected Governors.

Emphatic on Timely Decisions:

• Supreme Court emphasizes Governors cannot delay decisions on Bills.

Reserving Bills for President’s Consideration:

• Governor’s absolute option available.
• Second provison to Article 200 mentions Bills mandatorily reserved for President’s consideration.

Areas of Potential Exploitation:

• Governors can still frustrate state law-making by reserving Bills for President’s consideration.
• Supreme Court examines the issue of what Bills can be sent to the President.

Constitutional References:

• Constitution indirectly refers to reserving Bills for President’s consideration in Articles 213 and 254.

Governor’s Discretion Limited:

• Governor cannot send Bills exclusively on State subjects to the President.
• Bills on concurrent subjects need President’s assent only if they conflict with central laws.

Constitutional Duty of Governor:

• Governor’s duty is not to send Bills to the President for assent if they pertain exclusively to State subjects.
• Constitutional validity of laws is decided by the court.

Conclusion:

• Governor’s discretion limited; cannot send Bills to President arbitrarily.
• Constitutional scheme restricts Governor’s powers to ensure adherence to federal principles.

General Studies Paper – 2

Context:

Hamas’ attack led Houthi militia to join, affecting the Red Sea’s strategic waterways.

Houthi aggression, US military deployment, and calls for a multinational task force highlight rising tensions.

Asian economies face global impacts, emphasizing the evolving role of non-state actors in regional security.

Escalation of Tensions:

• In October, Hamas’ attack on Israel led Yemen-based Houthi militia, supported by Iran, to join, impacting the Red Sea waterways.
• Suez Canal, vital for global trade (15% of West-East trade), now central to the conflict.

Houthi Aggression in the Red Sea:

• Houthis attacked a cargo vessel with Israeli links, highlighting Red Sea vulnerability.
• Increasing incidents of Houthi aggression against commercial vessels pose a threat to the region’s stability.
• US Response and Call for Multinational Task Force:
• The US deploys military capacity in the Red Sea to counter Houthi threats, including drones and missiles.
• Calls for a multinational task force around Bab al-Mandab Strait to address rising tensions.

Geopolitical Complexities and Saudi Stance:

• Riyadh calls for restraint by the US in direct military action against Houthis, signaling geopolitical complexities.
• Saudi-Houthi talks amid the ongoing conflict and Saudi-Iran détente brokered by China.

Global Impact and Asian Economies:

• Depletion of security in the Red Sea affects global interests, especially Asian economies like India, Japan, South Korea, and China.
• Asian nations, as stakeholders in West Asian security, face challenges in securing their interests.

Role of Non-State Actors:

• Non-state militant actors gain political and military strength, impacting global geopolitics.
• Red Sea’s strategic importance necessitates a progressive, nimble, and practical approach to address evolving security challenges.

Conclusion:

• The Red Sea’s escalating tensions demand a nuanced approach.
• The involvement of non-state actors underscores the need for a collaborative, agile strategy to safeguard global interests and stability.

General Studies Paper – 2

However, implementation challenges, political opportunism, and bureaucratic resistance hinder its transformative potential, limiting its impact.

• Background: Historic Injustices in Forest Governance
• Pre-Colonial Era: Local communities had customary rights over forests.
• Colonial Takeover (1878): Indian Forest Act disrupted traditions, prioritizing timber resources.
• Post-Independence Injustices: Forest lands declared state property, displacements, exploitation continued.
• Acts Contributing to Injustice: Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 exacerbated injustices.
• The Forest Rights Act (FRA): A Revolutionary Approach
• Enactment (2006): Rajya Sabha endorsed FRA, aimed at addressing historical injustices.
• Three Forms of Redress:
• Individual Forest Rights (IFRs): Recognition of habitation, cultivation, or activities pre-December 2005.
• Conversion of Forest Villages: Transforming them into revenue villages after full rights recognition.
• Community Rights: Recognizing village communities’ rights to access, use, and manage forests.
• Challenges in FRA Implementation
• Political Opportunism: Some states focused only on individual rights, framing it as an ‘encroachment regularisation’ scheme.
• Shabby Implementation of IFRs: Compromised by Forest Department resistance, apathy, and misuse of technology.
• Incomplete Recognition of Community Rights (CFRs): Forest bureaucracy vehemently opposes, leading to slow and incomplete recognition.
• Lacuna in Addressing ‘Forest Villages’: Many states have not adequately addressed the issue.
• Distortions and Lacunae
• Faulty Recognition Processes: Arbitrary rejections and partial recognition, imposing digital processes in areas with poor connectivity.
• Resistance to CFRs: Forest bureaucracy opposes community forest rights, hindering decentralized forest governance.
• Selective State Recognition: Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh recognized CFRs, but Maharashtra alone enabled activation.
• Convenient Non-Recognition of Community Rights
• Convenient for Conservationists and Development Lobby: Non-recognition of community rights makes communities vulnerable for rehabilitation and allows forest handovers for mining without consent.
• Call for Understanding FRA’s Intent
• Emerging Calls for Shutdown: With changing political regimes, calls to shut down FRA implementation have emerged.
• Mission Mode Implementation: In some states, mission mode implementation led to distorted rights recognition and technocratic control.
• Conclusion:
• Need for Appreciation: Political leaders, bureaucrats, and environmentalists need to appreciate the spirit and intent of the FRA for addressing historical injustices and realizing the potential for community-led forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

General Studies Paper – 2

Context:

Oman has a pivotal role to play in India seeking deeper engagement and collaboration in West Asia.

Introduction

• The Sultan of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, is visiting India from December 16 on a state visit. This is his first visit to India after taking over in January 2020 following the passing of Sultan Qaboos.
• The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had visited Oman in February 2018 in his first visit to Oman as Prime Minister. In what proved to be a landmark visit, key agreements on trade, defence and security were agreed upon, making it a milestone in diplomatic relations between India and Oman.

Geography of Oman.

• Oman is the closest neighbour to India in the Arabian Gulf region.
• With key Omani ports abutting the coastline along the Arabian Sea as well as the Gulf of Oman leading into the Persian Gulf and towards the Gulf of Aden, Oman’s location is of utmost strategic importance to India. Along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman completes the trio of key strategic partners of India in the Gulf region.

Strong connection with India

• The ruling family of Oman has always had a strong connection with India. Sultan Qaboos was always favourably disposed towards India and invited Indian companies and professionals to undertake projects apart from sourcing supplies from India. At the people-to-people level too, India and Oman enjoy close ties. There is a large Indian community of almost seven lakh people which has contributed to the constantly evolving vibrant relations.

During the Cold war era, and thereafter.

• During the Cold War era, and even thereafter, when the Arab world was largely ambivalent towards India and was often soft and supportive of Pakistan, it was Oman which kept its doors open to India. In a conflict-prone region, Oman has always been an island of peace.
• It has pursued a foreign policy which is based on the twin strands of moderation and mediation, including a policy of deliberate neutrality in dealing with regional issues and conflicts.
• It has carefully balanced its close relations with the western powers and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with a pragmatic approach to neighbouring Iran, maintaining that the Straits of Hormuz will not be closed.
• Even during the Persian Gulf crisis in 2019, when the United States and Iran were on the brink of a military conflict, it was Oman which played a key role in diffusing tensions.
• Oman’s key role in the Iran nuclear deal in July 2015 is well documented and acknowledged too. During the GCC-Qatar diplomatic stand-off, Oman refused to join Saudi Arabia and other countries in breaking diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017.
• Much before the Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain in September 2020, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made a surprise visit to Oman in October 2018, once again confirming the importance of Oman in the region.

India-Oman strategic partnership

• Oman is a crucial pillar of India’s West Asia policy, with their multi-faceted engagement increasingly taking on a more strategic shape in recent decades.
• The India-Oman strategic partnership was signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Oman in November 2008 and is based on twin pillars of mutual trust and shared interests. Oman was one of the few countries to have been invited by India to its G-20 presidency as a guest nation earlier this year.

Key pillars

• Defence and security engagement form a key pillar of this strategic partnership and are governed by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2005.
• Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defence forces hold joint exercises. Since 2012-13, an Indian naval ship has remained on duty in the Gulf of Oman for anti-piracy operations.
• During the Persian Gulf crisis in June 2019, the Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Sankalp’ to ensure the safe passage of Indian flagged ships which most often operated off the coast of Oman.
• The MoU on Duqm Port during Mr. Modi’s visit is a historic landmark in our security cooperation, providing basing facilities, Operational Turn Round and other logistics facilities to Indian naval ships operating in the region.
• Trade and commerce forms yet another important pillar of engagement. Bilateral trade during FY2022-23 reached $12.388 billion. There are over 6,000 India-Oman joint ventures in Oman, with an estimated investment of over $7.5 billion.
• India was the second largest market for Oman’s crude oil exports for the year 2022 after China. In October 2022, India and Oman launched the Rupay debit card in Oman, a key footprint of India’s initiative of promoting digital public infrastructure (DPI) in the world.

Looking forward to increased engagement.

• India and Oman are looking forward to increased engagement in strategic areas such as space cooperation — an MoU on this was signed during Mr. Modi’s visit.
• The possibility of an agreement on joint exploration of rare earth metals, vital to modern electronic equipment, could add strength to the partnership.
• The proposed India-Middle East-Europe Connectivity Corridor (IMEEC) infrastructure project to link India to Europe across West Asia could also see Oman playing an important role.
• There is a proposal from the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), a private consortium based in India, to lay a 1,400 km long deep-sea pipeline from Oman to India for the transfer of gas. With IMEEC too looking at similar undersea connectivity, there could be convergence on it with Oman in the future.

India’s gateway to West Asia

• The list of convergence and shared interests is thus long and limitless. As a part of its broader global outlook and its outreach in the extended neighbourhood, India is seeking deeper engagement and collaboration in West Asia, of which Oman is an important pillar.
• Security challenges in the region have a ripple effect in India and, therefore, any instability in the region has a direct bearing on the safety and security of millions of Indians working there, India’s energy security and its steadily growing trade relations.
• Apart from being India’s oldest strategic partner in the region and closest neighbour, Oman is an integral part of all important groupings in the region; the GCC, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League.
• Its ability to manage rival ideologies and power games in the region makes it vitally important to India.

Conclusion

• Both countries consider themselves as ambassadors of peace and enjoy goodwill across ideologies in the world. Oman is, therefore, India’s gateway to West Asia. And with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war testing the region to its limits, the visit of Oman’s Sultan is timely and very important for India and the region.

General Studies Paper – 3

Context: If inflation is not tamed, there is risk to consumption and growth

Introduction

• November’s resurgence in headline retail inflation, while clearly not unexpected after the RBI just last week predicted a likely ‘uptick’, is a stark reminder of the risks volatile food prices pose.

Rise in Consumer price index

• While the National Statistical Office’s provisional reading of headline inflation shows the Consumer Price Index rose by 5.55% year-on-year to a three-month high, from October’s 4.87%, food price gains measured by the Consumer Food Price Index accelerated by a steep 209 basis points to 8.7% last month.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

• A comprehensive tool for estimating price changes in a basket of goods and services that is representative of consumption expenditure in an economy is the Consumer Price Index.
• One of the most significant economic statistics, it provides an estimate of the cost of living and is typically based on the weighted average of commodity prices.
• The amount of inflation during a given period, or the rise in the prices of a representative basket of consumed goods, is indicated by the percentage change in this index over time.
• Four kinds of CPI are as follows:
• CPI for Industrial Workers (IW).
• CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL).
• CPI for Rural Labourer (RL).
• CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined).
• The first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Fourth is compiled by the NSO in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Consumer Food Price Inflation is a specific measure of inflation that focuses exclusively on the price changes of food items in a consumer’s basket of goods and services.
• It calculates the rate at which the prices of food products consumed by the average household are increasing over time.
• CFPI is a sub-component of the broader Consumer Price Index (CPI).

What caused the rise?

• Propelling the upsurge in food prices were cereals and vegetables, constituents of the ‘food and beverages’ subgroup, that logged 10.3% and 17.7% inflation, respectively.
• Cereals, that account for almost one-tenth of the CPI and logged double-digit inflation for a 15th straight month, also saw a month-on-month acceleration in inflation with rice, wheat, and the coarse cereal of jowar, a rural hinterland staple, all registering palpable sequential price gains.
• Vegetable prices were back on a boil with the year-on-year inflation rate surging by almost 15 percentage points from October’s 2.8%.
• While price gains in the perishable tomato swung from two straight months of sizeable deflation to a more than 11% year-on-year rate of inflation last month, the extent of increase could be truly gauged from the fact that prices surged a steep 41% from the preceding month’s levels, as per data aggregated on the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s website.
• And the key masala essentials of ginger and garlic registered more than 100% rates of inflation for the seventh and third months, respectively.

The biggest source of concern

• From the TOP or tomato, onion and potato triumvirate of India’s most widely consumed vegetables, onion prices remained the biggest source of concern as year-on-year inflation ballooned to 86%, from October’s 42% pace, and the sequential pace swelled to 48%.
• With reports that inclement weather and depleting groundwater are likely to cause a near 25% shortfall in onion output during the key rabi season, the outlook for prices of the nutrient-dense bulb moderating in the near future appears bleak, the government’s move to impose a ban on its exports notwithstanding.

Other things

• Only potato prices, which continued to remain in deflationary territory, offered some respite. Pulses and sugar are other areas of concern, with the first witnessing more than 20% inflation and the sweetener also experiencing an uptick in the pace of price gains to 6.55%.
• With sugar production also expected to take a hit due to lower rainfall, the number of supply-related challenges policymakers face to rein in price gains is rising.

Conclusion

• With the RBI having opted to refrain from raising rates for now, the onus is squarely on the government to help temper inflation, or risk suffering an erosion in broader consumption and economic growth.

General Studies Paper – 2

Introduction

• Two months after Israel’s bombardment of Gaza residents in retaliation for the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas began, India joined its voice to the global call to stop the bombing, voting in favour of a resolution at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) along with 152 other nations.

Resolution, and India’s shift

• The resolution demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, an observance of international humanitarian law, the unconditional release of all hostages, as well as “ensuring humanitarian access”.
• India’s vote was a shift from its previous vote at the last such UNGA resolution on October 27, when despite the death of 8,000 Gazans, India had decided to abstain from voting for a resolution that called for a ceasefire.
• The government and the MEA explained this to be a matter of principle, as part of India’s “zero-tolerance” approach towards terrorism, as the earlier resolution did not contain an “explicit condemnation” of the October 7 attacks.
• However, while the UNGA resolution passed on December 12 bears no direct mention of the terror attacks, India has voted in favour.

Possible reasons for such shift.

• There could be several reasons:
• Casualty figures have risen relentlessly, with 18,000 dead and the highest such toll of nearly 90 journalists. More than 80% of the entire population is homeless. Even the U.S., Israel’s biggest ally, estimates that nearly half of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions deployed by Israel thus far are “unguided” or indiscriminate missiles.
• Second, Israeli Defence Forces have gone far beyond their original mandate of eliminating Hamas capacity and freeing the hostages to a large-scale flattening of Gaza and forced occupation of more territory. More than 100 Israeli hostages remain in Hamas custody.
• Third, global opinion, including Indian public opinion, has moved decidedly from sympathy with Israel, to horror at the unfolding aftermath, and New Delhi could not have been immune to entreaties by Palestine and the Gulf States to take a relook at its vote, even as India stood isolated in South Asia and the Global South for its previous abstention.

India’s role

• It may be too early to see India’s UNGA vote as a reversal of its earlier position and a reversion to its original position in the conflict, where it has traditionally called for peace.
• Much will depend on the role India chooses for itself in ensuring the ceasefire is affected and holds, given that Israel has already rejected the UNGA resolution.

Conclusion

• Having proven its credentials as a friend to Israel following the terror attacks, as well as the odium of enabling the civilian deaths, the Modi government must be more vocal in helping the Netanyahu government out of the strategic cul de sac it has bombarded its way into, one which could cause regional instability and insecurity for decades.