General Studies Paper-3

Context: Three major events drew attention to the expanding Indian diplomatic footprint. 

Major Events: Indian Diplomatic Footprint

The annual Raisina Dialogue: It was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs

• It brings together ministers, officials, scholars, and policy researchers from across the world to promote an India-centred global agenda.
• It has become a “must-go” event for the global strategic community interested in India.

Milan Exercise: The biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise (Milan) in the Bay of Bengal attracts naval leaders from far and wide for professional exchanges on maritime issues.

• The Milan exercise is part of a much older naval diplomacy.
• Navies have always been flexible instruments for sovereigns in power projection and diplomacy.
• The annual Malabar exercises with the US and the multilateral Milan exercises were among the first initiatives of the Indian Navy in the early 1990s.
• Today, they together showcase India’s new strategic salience in the Indo-Pacific.

Gathering of top intelligence officials: “Intelligence diplomacy” is about sharing information with allied governments and their security agencies.

• The US, for example, has a tight circle of intelligence gathering and sharing with its Anglo-Saxon allies — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
• Similar to the “Five Eyes” arrangement are intelligence-sharing networks among the NATO allies and the EU partners.
• For India, the emerging “intelligence diplomacy” could be as consequential as the “discourse diplomacy” of the Raisina Dialogue and the “naval diplomacy” of the Milan exercises.

Importance and Need

• As the volume of international engagements dramatically expanded in the 21st century, there has been a rapid growth in the size of the global communities interested in international commercial, political, technological and military affairs.
• This has translated into a proliferation of think tanks and media outlets discussing foreign and security outlets.
• The deepening military crises worldwide, the new stresses on the global economic order and the return of great power rivalry have created new risks to global peace and prosperity.
• They have raised the value of the forums that facilitate valuable exchange of notes among national security professionals.
• The intelligence agencies are an essential part of the national security establishment along with the diplomatic community and the armed forces.
  • As the first line of defence against internal and external threats, intelligence has been a critical part of statecraft since ancient times.
  • The role of intelligence in national security has grown significantly in recent years thanks to the rise of international terrorism, the growth of cross-border criminal networks, renewed economic competition, the increasing need to protect intellectual property, the return of great power rivalry, and the impact of new technologies that are reshaping the domestic and global dynamics of an interconnected international society.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• The regular exchanges between the Indian agencies and their counterparts from like-minded countries on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue underline Delhi’s shift from the isolationism of the later Cold War decades to building productive intelligence partnerships today.
• India’s intelligence diplomacy aligns with India’s current strategy of building regional and global coalitions.
• It is also an important part of modernising India’s spying agencies — the Intelligence Bureau and its many offspring — which date back to the late 19th century.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Recently, the Wildlife officials of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh informed about the birth of seven cheetah cubs.

About Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus):

• It is the fastest terrestrial animal on earth, and native to Africa and central Iran.
• The Gestation Period:93 days;
• Cub Mortality:Higher in Protected Areas (like National Parks and Wildlife Reserves); It  can be as high as 90%;
• Average Life Span (in the wild):10 – 12 years.
• Adult male about 8 years (Adult mortality is one of the most significant limiting factors for the growth and survival of the wild cheetah population).

Cheetah in India (Asiatic):

• 1st plan to reintroduce the cheetah:First solid steps were taken in the 1970s, during negotiations with Iran.
• Iran’s cheetahs were Asiatic, like India’s extinct animals.
• The plan was to exchange Asiatic lions for Asiatic cheetahs.
• In 2009:Another attempt to source Iranian Cheetahs in India was made without success.
• Iran did not permit cloning of its Cheetahs.
• In 2020:South African experts visited four potential sites: Kuno-Palpur, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Madhav National Park.
• In 2022:The Government of India has decided to reintroduce cheetahs, under the ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’.
• It aims to bring back the cheetah.
• As part of the project, 50 cheetahs will be introduced in various National Parks over five years, and it is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.
• It aims to re-establish the functional role of the cheetah in representative ecosystems within its historical range.

Role Played by Cheetah

• Ecological:Cheetahs fulfil a unique ecological role within the carnivore hierarchy and their restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem health in India.
• It helps restore India’s open forests and grassland ecosystems, which have been suffering.
• Conservation: The Cheetah can benefit India’s broader conservation goalsby improving general protection and ecotourism in areas that have been previously neglected.
• Resources invested in these highly exploited and neglected systems ensure better management and restore their ecosystem services for the country.
• A Flagship Species: The cheetah serves as a flagship to save its prey-base and other endangered species of the grassland and semi-arid ecosystems.
• India is home to the world’s largest free-roaming populationsof livestock.

Threats to Cheetah:

• Coexistence with Tigers and Leopards:Threats like conflict with leopards, poaching and deaths caused while capturing cheetahs to retrieve them from outside park boundaries loom over the reintroduced species in the new habitat.
• More aggressive predators such as tigers and leopards will compete with the cheetahs.
• They may be driven to the outskirts of the park, where they could come into conflict with humans.
• Anthropogenic Threats:These include snaring for bush meat and retaliatory killings due to livestock depredation.
• Captive Breeding:There is a concern among experts that weak genetics accumulated may persist among the captive cheetahs and eventually weaken the gene pool, resulting in animals that need constant human intervention for survival.
• Cheetahs are known for open forests and grassland ecosystems.
• Locational Challenges of Kuno-Palpur National Park:
• The protected area of Kuno-Palpur National Park is largely dry, deciduous forest. 
• The African cheetahswho are more used to the savannahs of that continent adapt well to Kuno.
• There is a hypothesis that via the wound the African cheetah may have been exposed to parasites that Indian big-cats are usually resistant too.
• Specific Prey Base:
• Indian cheetahs were largely dependent on blackbucks and chinkaras, sometimes on chital and rarely on nilgai.
• Few of these species are believed to have disappeared from Kuno.

Government’s Efforts:

• Increasing Prey Base:To increase prey base inside the 500-hectare enclosure, the Kuno National Park has brought in 238 chitals or spotted deer (Axis axis) from Pench and Narsinghgarh Wildlife Sanctuaries of the state and are planning to bring in around 300 more deer.
• Gradual Co-existence:Over time, says the action plan by the Centre, cheetah and leopard populations will be able to coexist.
• Tracking:The initial batch of cheetahs and their potential offspring will be radio-collared and tracked for at least 10 years.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission recently stressed on the reform agenda to 10% growth for the Indian Economy.

Status of India’s Economy at Present

• GDP Growth:India’s GDP growth rate declined annually from 2016-17, and fell below 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2019-20.
• The GDP growth rate has been declining since 2016.
• However, the Indian economy is expected to recover with a GDP growth forecast for FY24 to be in the range of 6-6.8%.
• The IMF has projected India’s real GDP growth as 6.7% for 2023-24 and 6.5% for 2024-25.
• Fiscal Deficit:The interim Budget signals significant cutbacks in public expenditures, slashing effective capital expenditure by ₹1 lakh crore and reducing welfare and subsidy allocations.
• The fiscal deficit, which was expanded to 9.2% of GDP in 2020-21 to deal with the pandemic-induced recession, would be brought down to 5.8% by the end of the current financial year and 5.1% by next year to reach the targeted 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26.
• Economic Ranking:Recent IMF data show that India is ranked 4th in world’s GDP rankings in 2024, just after the USA, China and Germany.
• India’s economy boasts diversity and swift growth, fuelled by key sectors such as information technology, services, agriculture, and manufacturing.
• Economic Performance: India aims to become a$5 trillion economy by 2024 has been questioned due to the lack of a coherent policy structure.

Current Policies to Boost India’s Economy

• India’s Evolving and Dynamic Policy Framework:It is designed to ease the entry of foreign direct investment, streamline the financial system, dismantle redundant procedures and add transparency to the process of doing business.
• As per the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business, India is ranked 63 among 190 economies.
• Diversification: India has implemented a range of policy initiatives in the areas of sustainable development, infrastructural improvements, banking and financial services, job creation, digital transformation, manufacturing and services industries in an effort to build a strong base for the Indian economy.
• Priority: It is keeping India on track as one of the world’s fastest growing economies so it can become the second largest economy in the world by 2050.
• Formalisation: India aims to expand the reach of the formal economy, thereby improving the informal sector’s efficiencies and increasing the country’s tax base.
• It has taken measures to improve capacity to spend in the rural sector, infrastructure creation, and inviting foreign investments.
• Inclusive Growth:India has the twin objectives of inclusive growth and financial empowerment as the centrepiece of its policy agenda for the country’s growth.
• Climate related Policy:Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 could boost India’s economy by as much as 7% above the projected baseline growth in GDP terms by 2036.

Emerging Challenges

• Disruption caused by the pandemic:India’s potential growth may have slowed to 6% (from 7.1% YoY estimated in 2017) due to longer-than-expected disruption caused by the pandemic, balance-sheet concerns and a modest policy response by the government.
• Regulatory Issues: These are related to trade policy, labour law implementation, and the long standing, very long-term issue of the land markets.
• India’s economic growth is facing potential risks due to reform and policy barriers, according to research by Moody’s Investors Service.
• Geopolitical conflicts:There are many ongoing crises in the world that are impacting the global supply chain that affects the emerging economy and market like India.
• End of hyper globalisationin global manufacturing, energy transition challenge, and advent of Artificial Intelligence.

Future Outlook:

• Challenges before the economy are complex and multifaceted, and it requires a combination of policy interventions, institutional reforms, and private sector initiatives.
• Political stability and policy consistency can pave the way for India’s ascent to becoming the third-largest economy at a time of geopolitical uncertainties and risks to economic growth.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The US has confirmed that Russia is developing a space-based weapon that is a ‘serious threat to national security’.

What are anti-satellite weapons?

• Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons are designed to debilitate and/or destroy satellites that are already in orbit and operational.
• Most of these weapons are kinetic,e. they destroy satellites in orbit by rocketing into them or detonating an explosive near them, and blowing them to pieces.
• Because of the low gravity and lack of an atmosphere, the resulting debris can stay in orbit for a long time depending on their size.
• ASAT weapons violate the Outer Space Treaty (OST)through
  • Article VII, which holds parties to the treaty liable for damaging satellites belonging to other parties
  • Article IX, which asks parties to refrain from the “harmful contamination” of space.

Space weapons in the past

• The U.S. in 1962 in a high-altitude test called Starfish Prime detonated a thermonuclear bomb 400 km above ground. It remains the largest nuclear test conducted in space.
  • It set off an electromagnetic pulse (EMP)and the charged particles and radiation emitted was accelerated by the earth’s magnetic field, distorting the ionosphere and resulting in bright aurorae.
• The Soviet Union also conducted high-altitude nuclear tests during the same period, which is Test 184.
  • The resulting EMP induced a very high current in 500 km of electric cables and eventually triggered a fire that burned down a power plant.

Why has space emerged as the new battlefield?

• Military Significance of Space:Space has immense strategic importance due to its role in enabling communication, navigation, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities for military operations.
• Competing Interests:As space becomes more accessible and economically valuable, there is a growing competition among countries for space resources, such as valuable minerals and water on celestial bodies.
• National Security Concerns:Countries perceive safeguarding their space assets as critical to their national security interests. As a result, they invest in deploying capabilities to protect their assets and degrade those of potential adversaries, leading to militarization of the space.
• Technological Advances:Advances in technology have led to the proliferation of capabilities that could be used for offensive purposes in space, such as anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, cyber warfare tools targeting space systems, and directed energy weapons.

Outer Space Treaty (OST)

• The Treaty was opened for signature by the three depository Governments (the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) in January 1967,and it entered into force in October 1967. 
• It provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following principles:

• The exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
• Outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
• Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means;
• States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
• The Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
• Astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
• States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities;
• States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and

States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Supreme Court has struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme.

About the Judgement

• The apex court said that the Scheme is violative of the Right to Information under Article 19(1)(a). They also infringe on the principle of free and fair elections as stipulated in the constitution.
• SC also quashed the amendments made to the Income Tax Act and the Representation of People Act which made the donations anonymous.
• The SC also criticised the legal provision that allowed unlimited political contribution, saying it allowed companies with deep pockets to influence policy.
• The SBI shall submit details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to date to the Election Commission.

What is an Electoral Bond?

• Government of India notified the Electoral Bond scheme in 2018.
• An electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India.
• The citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice. 

Why was it Introduced?

• The government contended that it would make political donations transparent while also protecting the identity of the donor.
• The electoral bonds would keep a tab on the use of black money for funding elections.

How does it Work?

• The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 1 crore.
• The receiver can encash the bonds through the party’s verified account. The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days.
• The electoral bonds are available for purchase for 10 days at the beginning of every quarter. 
• Eligibility:Any party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 and has secured at least one percent of the votes polled in the most recent General elections or Assembly elections is eligible to receive electoral bonds.
• Anonymous Donation:The electoral bonds will not bear the name of the donor. Thus, the political party might not be aware of the donor’s identity.
• Tax exemption: A donor will get a deduction and the recipient, or the political party, will get tax exemption, provided returns are filed by the political party.

Concerns with Electoral Bonds

• Anonymity of Donor:Concerns arose due to donor anonymity and lack of disclosure.
• The cash donation limit was reduced from ₹20,000 to ₹2,000, while mandatory disclosure remained at ₹20,000.
• Further Amendments:Amendments removed the cap on corporate donations and disclosure obligations.
• The petitioners argue that these changes allow unlimited, unchecked funding for political parties, with a bias toward the ruling government.
• Corporate Dominance:Electoral bonds, mainly issued in high denominations, raise concerns of corporate dominance over individual donors, and the anonymity for donors further fuels suspicion.
• Lack of Transparency:Transparency issues exist, as funds transferred to political parties make it challenging to track corporate contributions, infringing upon citizens’ right to information and creating corruption risks.

Conclusion

• All election funding should be made completely transparent so that voters know who is funding whom.
• A set of rules on limiting funding shall be brought to prevent private interests from unduly influencing elections or Governments.
• Elections should be amore level playing field so that good politicians, candidates and parties with less funds also stand a chance of competing in elections.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: Union Minister Smriti Irani said that spiritual tourism has a high potential for tourist footfall and future investment in India.

About

• Religious/Spiritual tourism, a subset of cultural tourism, holds vast unrealized potential for destinations worldwide.
• As an intricate interplay between spirituality, history, and culture, it offers a unique opportunity to attract a diverse range of travelers seeking meaningful experiences.

Prospects of Spiritual Tourism in India

• Diverse Religious Heritage: India is home to a multitude of religions, each with its own sacred sites, rituals, and traditions. This diversity attracts tourists from around the world.
• Wellness Tourism Integration: India’s spiritual traditions are closely linked with practices promoting health and wellness, such as yoga, Ayurveda, and meditation.
• Historical Significance: Many of India’s religious sites have deep historical significance, dating back centuries.These sites offer visitors a glimpse into the country’s rich past.
• Pilgrimage Circuits: India is home to numerous pilgrimage circuits that connect multiple religious sites within a region. Examples include the Char Dham Yatra in the Himalayas, the Golden Temple circuit in Punjab, and the Buddhist circuit in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Benefits of Promoting religious tourism

• Economic Growth: The popular religious centers in India attract annual tourist traffic of 10-30 million.
• Creation of a new religious tourist center with improved infrastructure can create a large economic impact.
• Job Creation: Growth in religious tourism leads to the creation of employment opportunities in various sectors, including hospitality, transportation, tour guiding, and handicrafts.
• Cultural Exchange: Religious tourism promotes cultural exchange and understanding between visitors and local communities.
• Enhanced Connectivity: Development of new religious tourist centers with improved connectivity and infrastructure, like Ayodhya, can have a significant economic impact.
• Preservation of Heritage: Promoting religious tourism contributes to the preservation of cultural and historical heritage at religious sites.

Challenges in Spiritual Tourism

• Infrastructure Deficits: Many religious sites lack adequate infrastructure such as transportation, accommodation, and sanitation facilities, hindering the tourist experience.
• Maintenance and Conservation: Historical religious sites require extensive maintenance and conservation efforts due to their significance, putting a strain on local resources and posing challenges for their preservation.
• Misconceptions about Religious Tourism: Many people perceive religious tourism as solely for believers, overlooking its appeal to those interested in cultural and historical exploration.
• Waste Management: Increased tourist activity at religious sites can lead to environmental degradation and waste management challenges. Proper waste management systems need to be implemented to preserve the sanctity of these sites and protect the surrounding environment.
• Problem of Carrying Capacity: Certain religious centers experience short but intense tourist seasons, leading to overcrowding and straining local infrastructure.
• The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand causes pressure on transport infrastructure and leads to safety hazards like landslides during the monsoon season.
• Commercialization Concerns: There is a risk of over-commercialization of religious sites, which can detract from their spiritual essence and alienate both local religious communities and tourists seeking authentic experiences.

Government Steps

• Spiritual projects across India such as the Kashi Corridor, the Mahakal Corridor and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya are attracting a high volume of tourists and have been helping boost the local economy.
• Swadesh Darshan scheme: The objective of the scheme is to develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist & destination-centric approach.
• Under the scheme thematic circuits are identified including Buddhist Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Sufi Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit.
• National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): It was launched in 2015 to identify and develop pilgrim sites across the country to promote religious tourism.
• Under the scheme religious cities/sites in different States are identified like Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Dwaraka (Gujarat), Amritsar (Punjab), Kamakhya (Assam), Varanasi and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) etc.

Way ahead

• The unrealized potential of religious tourism is a compelling prospect for destinations seeking to diversify their offerings and boost local economies.
• By addressing infrastructure, preservation, marketing, and education, governments and local communities can transform religious sites into thriving hubs of cultural and spiritual exploration.
• Collaborative efforts between travel agencies, religious organizations, and cultural bodies can create comprehensive packages that cater to different interests, including heritage tours, art exhibitions, and culinary experiences.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The government acceding to the protesting farmers demand for a legal guarantee of MSP) is somewhat limited given India is under pressure on its farm subsidies at the WTO.

About:

The Cairns Group – comprising Australia, Brazil and Canada among others members — have claimed that India’s public stockholding (PSH) programme is highly subsidised and the farm support that India gives is “distorting” global food prices and “hurting” food security of other countries.

WTOs Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)

It was designed to remove trade barriers and to encourage transparent market access and integration of global markets.

AoA stands on 3 pillars:

(1) Domestic Support: Subsidies such as guaranteed minimum price or input subsidies which are direct and specific to a product.

This can be divided into:

Green Box: Subsidies which are not or least market distorting. It includes measures such as income-support payments, safety-net programs, payments under environmental programs and agricultural research and development subsidies.

Blue Box: These production-limiting subsidies cover payments based on acreage, yield or number of livestock in a base year. The government is given the room to fix ‘targets price’ if the ‘market prices’ are lower than the farm prices.

Amber Box: Those are trade distorting subsidies which need to be curbed. These reduction commitments are expressed in terms of a “Total Aggregate Measurement of Support” (Total AMS) which includes all supports.

• These supports are subject to limits- “De minimis”. This threshold is generally 5% of the value of agricultural production for developed countries, 10% for most developing countries.
• Peace Clause is a product of the Bali Summit, 2013. Article 13 of AoA contains a “due restraint” or “peace clause” which controls the application of other WTO agreements to subsidies.

(2) Market Access requires that tariffs, which have been fixed (like custom duties) by individual countries, should be cut progressively to facilitate free trade.

It also encompasses removal of non-tariff barriers (e.g. quotas on import).

(3) Export subsidies are limited to four situations:

1. product-specific reduction commitments within the limits;
2. any excess of budgetary outlays for export subsidies;
3. export subsidies consistent with the special and differential treatment provision; and
4. export subsidies other than those subject to reduction commitments provided that they are in conformity with the anti-circumvention disciplines of Article 10 of the Agreement on Agriculture.

A Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) was designed as a safety valve, allowing developing countries to impose additional (temporary) safeguard duties in the event of an abnormal surge in imports or the entry of unusually cheap imports.

Challenges for India at WTO regarding subsidies

Agriculture: India’s extensive agricultural subsidies are often deemed WTO-noncompliant, exceeding allowed limits and distorting global markets.

• Examples include minimum support prices, input subsidies, and export subsidies. Developed countries like the US and EU challenge these at the WTO, arguing they harm global farmers.

Industrial subsidies: Some Indian industrial subsidies may also be challenged, particularly those deemed to have specific export promotion or trade-distorting effects.

• Examples include the Production Linked Incentive(PLI) scheme for electronic goods.
• Developed vs. developing country distinctions: India advocates for fairer treatment based on development levels, arguing that the subsidy rules need to consider the needs of developing countries like India to promote economic growth and support vulnerable sectors.
• Complexities of subsidy rules: WTO rules around subsidies are complex and open to interpretation, leading to disputes and protracted litigation.
• Negotiation difficulties: Achieving consensus-based solutions at the WTO is often challenging, with developed and developing countries having differing priorities and interests.
• Geopolitical dynamics: The broader geopolitical context can influence the willingness of countries to engage constructively in subsidy negotiations.

Ongoing efforts by India:

• To attain greater flexibility to offer farm support, India is in the process of pushing for a permanent solution at the upcoming inter-ministerial summit at Abu Dhabi from February 26 to 29.
• India is not only pushing for measures to amend the formula to calculate the food subsidy cap but also to include programmes implemented after 2013 under the ambit of ‘Peace Clause’.

Way Ahead:

• Addressing subsidy concerns will be crucial for India to participate effectively in the global trading system and ensure a level playing field for its exports.
• India needs to actively engage in WTO negotiations, seeking reforms that address its concerns about developed country subsidies while also working towards greater transparency and compliance with its own subsidy obligations.
• Exploring alternative frameworks like plurilateral agreements or sectoral negotiations might be needed to find workable solutions.

General Studies Paper-1

Context: India has successfully established the “Global Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality” during 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

About the Alliance

• It was anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership, guided by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• It will have a global network of experts, think-tanks, industry and country leadership that will drive collective actions to augment women empowerment.
• The initiative builds on the commitments of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s dedication to women-led development.

Importance of Alliance

• Women play an integral part in society; without their progress, the overall progress of society comes to a halt.
• Societies in which women see consistent growth have been known to prosper themselves.
• It is through the empowerment of women that societies can ensure their growth as well.
• Their economic empowerment drives development, and their access to education drives global progress. Their leadership promotes inclusivity, and their voices inspire positive change.
• Therefore, Global Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality aims to bring together global best practices, foster knowledge sharing, and attract investments in key areas such as women’s health, education, and enterprise.

Achieving Gender Parity is Considered Important for Several Reasons

• Human Rights and Equality: Gender parity is rooted in the principles of human rights and equality. It emphasizes that all individuals, regardless of their gender, should have equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities.
• Social Justice: Gender inequality has been a long-standing issue, and addressing it is essential for promoting social justice. It aims to eliminate discrimination and bias based on gender, allowing individuals to be treated fairly and with dignity.
• Economic Growth: Research suggests that gender diversity in the workforce contributes to economic growth. Companies with diverse leadership and workforce tend to be more innovative, make better decisions, and outperform their less diverse counterparts.
• Improved Governance: Gender-balanced representation in political and decision-making processes leads to more inclusive governance. Policies and decisions are likely to reflect a broader range of perspectives, contributing to more comprehensive and effective solutions.
• Health and Education: Gender parity is closely linked to improvements in health and education outcomes. Ensuring equal access to education and healthcare for both genders can lead to healthier and more educated populations.
• Social Stability: Societies with greater gender equality tend to be more stable. Reducing gender-based discrimination and violence contributes to social harmony and cohesion.
• Role Modelling: Achieving gender parity provides positive role models for future generations, challenging stereotypes and encouraging young individuals to pursue their aspirations without limitations based on gender norms.
• Global Development Goals: Gender equality is a key component of several international development goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working towards gender parity contributes to the achievement of broader development objectives.

Present Scenario in India

• There has been an increase in India’s female labour force participation rate, from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23 (data from the annual Periodic Labour Force Surveys).
• Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28% in the last 10 years.
• In terms of enrolment in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) courses, the share of women is a significant 43%, which is one of the highest enrolment rates in the world.
• Even within rural India, there is a participation of over nine crore women in 83 lakh self-help groups, improving the socio-economic conditions in rural areas.
• All these provide a glimpse of women-led development that India is witnessing.
• About one-fourth of the space scientists in India are women. The talent and hard work of women scientists are behind the success of our flagship programmes like Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and Mission Mangal.

Issues and Challenges

• The development models adopted by countries describing themselves as democracies (mainly developed countries in the West) have led to obscene inequalities between countries, between the rich and the poor within countries, and between men and women.
• A crucial obstacle to the progress and advancement of women and girls across geographies is the pronounced gender-based digital divide
• There is a decreasing government investment in projects and schemes meant for women’s development.
• Another wicked challenge disproportionately impacting women across the globe is the climate crisis.
• Women entrepreneurs hurdle more barriers compared to their male counterparts in starting, operating, and growing enterprises
• These obstacles include poor access to capital, markets, and skills, as well as technological, social, cultural, and psychological constraints.

Related Steps of India

• Mainstreaming gender equality and equity has been a key development area for the Government of India for over a decade now.
• The passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, ensuring reservation of a third of seats for women in Parliament and the State Assemblies, is a revolutionary tool for women’s empowerment and is expected to contribute extensively to improving the processes of India’s governance.
• Allocations of nearly $27 billion under the gender budget in 2023-24 are a manifestation of the commitment of the government to advancing women-led development.
• Stand-Up India aims to promote entrepreneurship amongst Women, Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories and help them in starting a greenfield enterprise
• 80% of the beneficiaries under Stand-Up India are women
• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) :PMMY was launched for providing loans up to Rs. 10 Lakhs to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises
• Around 70% of the loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs under PMMY
• It has been decided to set up a new working group on the empowerment of women under the chairmanship of India in the G20 summit.

 Conclusion and Way Forward

• The most effective way to empower women is through a women-led development approach. India is taking steps in this direction.
• India took the mission for gender equity several steps ahead with the launch of the ‘Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality’.
• It is an opportunity to learn and develop solutions with the global community to advance our commitment to increased engagement and leadership of women within the economy, through increased access to health care, education opportunities and economic opportunities
• We must work to remove barriers that restrict women’s access to markets and global value chains.
• At the same time, we need to ensure that the burden of caregiving and domestic work is addressed appropriately.
• There is also a need to reduce the burden of unpaid care work, boosting demand for women’s employment, promoting digital skills, and enhancing urban infrastructure to facilitate women’s mobility and economic engagement.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 13-14, 2024, to inaugurate a temple in Abu Dhabi.

What is the status of India-U.A.E relations?

• The upcoming visit will be the Prime minister’s seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight months. Further, UAE President was felicitated in a road show when he was in Gandhinagar in January this year as the chief guest of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
• In this short duration. India’s relationship with UAE has evolved into becoming one of the most prominent bilateral relationships for New Delhi.

What are the Areas of cooperation between India-U.A.E. relationship?

1) Strategic cooperation-

1. India is a part of a number of important groupings such as the I2U2 or the West Asian Quad comprising India, Israel, the United States and the UAE.
2. The UAE is also part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) infrastructure project that was signed during the G-20 summit in Delhi. This is aimed to counter China’s Belt and road initiative in the region.

2) Energy cooperation– The UAE is only nation from the gulf region which has strategic oil reserves stored in India. An agreement was signed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to invest in the strategic crude oil storage facility in Mangaluru.

3) Economic cooperation

23. The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner and India’s second-largest export destination. The bilateral trade between the two countries grew to $85 billion in 2022-23.
24. The UAE is also the fourth-largest overall investor in India.
25. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aims to increase trade in services to $115 billion in five years.
26. The Indian government has also approved the signing and ratification of a bilateral investment treaty with the UAE.

4) Technical cooperation– India and U.A.E. have a robust financial technology cooperation. For example-

1. The RuPay card, a key component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), is accepted in the UAE.
2. From July 2023, the rupee was accepted for transactions at Dubai’s airports.
3. India and the UAE have operationalized a rupee-dirham settlement system where the Indian Oil Corporation made a rupee payment to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for crude oil imports.

5) Climate change cooperation-PM Modi attended the COP 28 climate summit held in Dubai. To address the issue of finance, India and the UAE co-launched the Global Green Credit Initiative.

What are the areas of divergence between India and U.A.E.?

1. There are challenges like unclear regulations, labour laws and transparency faced by Indian businesses’ in U.A.E.
2. The UAE and Iran have territorial disputes between them. Any escalation in this will affect India’s trade and energy security.
3. The UAE is home to a large number of Indians. There are so many blue-collar workers and manual laborers as well. They face many issues such as terrible working and living conditions, and discrimination in treatment vis-a-vis other workers.

Conclusion–India and UAE display great convergence and mutual respect at all levels. There are certain divergences, but those exist even among the best of friendly nations.

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi along with the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and also RuPay card services in Mauritius via video conferencing.

BENEFITS:

• Digital transformation will get a boost, local economies will witness positive change and tourism will be promoted.
• Its launch symbolizes the success of Global South cooperation.
• The launch will enable the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius as well as for Mauritian nationals travelling to India.
• The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on RuPay mechanism in Mauritius and facilitate usage of RuPay Card for settlements in India and Mauritius.
• It aligns with India’s policy of ‘Neighborhood First’ and our maritime vision -SAGARe. Security and growth for all in the region. India does not see its development separately from its neighbors.

ABOUT UNIFIED PAYMENTS INTERFACE (UPI):

• It is an advanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)- round–the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother.
• UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
• UPI is currently the biggest among the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) operated systems including National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc.
• The top UPI apps today include PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and BHIM, the latter being the Government offering.

ABOUT RUPAY:

• RuPay (portmanteau of Rupee and Payment) is an Indian multinational financial services and Payment Service System, conceived and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2014.
• NPCI conceived RuPay as an alternative to Mastercard and Visa, while consolidating and integrating various payment systems in India. RuPay was launched with an objective of a less cash economy.
• It was created to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) vision of establishing a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments. RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.