HPAS Mains 2020 (General Studies Paper 2 ): Questions and Model Answers

·       Sovereign: Independent authority within the territory of country.

·       Socialist:  To protect the interests of a different section of the society.

·       Secular: All religions in India get equal respect, protection, and support from the state.

·       Democratic: Government gets its authority from the will of the people expressed in an election.

·       Republic: The term indicates that the head of the state is elected by the people.

Article 51 of Indian Constitution deals with the promotion of international peace, security and maintain just and honorable relations in between the nations. As per this article, Indian government should encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

Article 51 of the Constitution of India is a unique provision propounding a great Indian philosophy and which creates an awareness and acts as a beacon for international peace and security. It can serve as a guideline for framing international law based on justice, equality, co-existence and human dignity in this strife-torn world for the ultimate objective of human advancement. It also follows that international or world law has to have universal sanction, be applicable to all countries and peoples of the world and must be enforceable. India’s Gujral doctrine and Panchsheel are  on the lines of Article 51 of Indian Constitution.

·       Amendments may be made by a simple majority of Parliament to certain provisions of the Constitution, in the same manner as the ordinary statute is adopted by Parliament.

·       Amendments to certain provisions, sometimes referred to as enshrined provisions, may only be made by a special majority of Parliament. By a majority of the total membership of each House, and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting in each House. For the intent of amending the Constitution, no joint sitting of both houses may be held.

·       Amendments to such laws require not less than half of the States, in addition to a special majority of legislative confirmation.

·       Interest Articulation and Policy influencer: Business associations have existed in India even before Independence. The important business groups include the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry (FICCI) and Associated Chamber of Commerce. They exert varied kinds of pressures, they try to influence planning, licensing bodies and economic ministries.

·       Big policy data influencer: Some businesspersons are always there in different legislatures at the Central as well as State level.

·       Consultation: Every Ministry of the Government of India ties some kind of consultative committee and business groups are represented there. During pre-budget meetings the Finance Ministry interacts with the groups, to secure suitable inputs which helps in budget formulation.

Clearly states what subjects it deals with and the service areas it broadly covers.

Principles of Citizen Charter:  Quality – improving the quality of services; Choice – for the users wherever possible; Standards – specifying what to expect within a time frame; Value – for the taxpayers’ money; Accountability – of the service provider (individual as well as Organization); Transparency – in rules, procedures, schemes and grievance redressal; Participative- Consult and involve.

In India, the concept of citizen’s charter was first adopted at a ‘Conference of Chief Ministers of various States and Union Territories’ held in May 1997 in the national capital.

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Role of Civil Society:

1.      Service provider, for example, running primary schools and providing basic community health care services.

2.      Advocate/campaigner, for example, lobbying Governments or business on issues including indigenous rights or the environment.

3.      Watchdog, for example, monitoring State compliance with human rights treaties.

4.      Building and mobilizing active citizenship, for example, motivating civic engagement at the local level and engagement with local, regional and national governance.

5.      Participating in global governance processes, for example, civil society organisations serve on the advisory board of the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds. The rights of trafficked children have been highlighted by groups like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, whose founded Kailash Satyarthi received Nobel Prize for his efforts. LGBT groups have won rights of transgender in India via SC’s progressive judgments.

6.      Establishing Cooperatives owned and democratically controlled by their members.

·       It consists of the Minister for Urban Development in the Government of India and the Ministers for local self-government in States. The union minister acts as the Chairman of the Council.

Functions –

1.      Making proposals for legislation for local governance.

2.      Considering and recommending the policy matters.

3.      Examining the possibility of cooperation between the Centre and the States.

4.      Drawing up a common programme of action.

5.       Recommending central financial assistance.

6.      Reviewing the work done by the local bodies with the central financial assistance.

It will enhance competition, increase efficiencies, facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology, create a tiered industrial ecosystem, ensure development of a wider skill base and trigger innovation, leading to reduction in dependence on imports and greater self-reliance in meeting national security objectives.

For example, the United States and India cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic, economic and security issues, including defense, non-proliferation, regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, shared democratic values, counterterrorism, climate change, health, energy, trade and investment, peacekeeping, the environment, education, science and technology, agriculture, space, and oceans

·       Wait and Watch Policy: India is concerned by Taliban’s roots in Pakistan and spillover effects in Kashmir. India following wait and watch policy by neither recognizing the Taliban govt nor supporting the rebels. Due to lack of proactiveness India has been left out of peace Troika which includes Russia and nor invited by Peace process led by USA.

·       Balancing other neighbours: But recent meetings with Central Asian leaders shows India’s interests in the region should not be affected by emergence of Taliban regime.

·       Delhi Declaration: Reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs.

·       India should consider appointing a special envoy dedicated to Afghanistan. The envoy can ensure that Indian views are expressed at every meeting and broaden engagement with the Taliban.

·       With neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust. The resolution of the water-sharing dispute with Bangladesh in just three months in 1996-97. It was followed by agreements with Sri Lanka for expanding development cooperation. It also led to the starting of composite dialogue with Pakistan.

·       No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region. The Gujral Doctrine had a weakening impact on R&AW’s ability to conduct intelligence operations in Pakistan.

·       No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another.

·       All South Asian countries must respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Almost all countries accepted the Gujral doctrine.

·       They should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations.

The noncooperation movement included abandonment of cultivation by the peasants which resulted in loss of revenue and taxes for the British and forced them to come in line with the protestors.

The old system of payment of revenue in kind was restored by the Britishers.

The movement gave strength to rising discontent among farmers and locals against exploiting British policies. Movements against ‘Reet’, ‘Begar’ and formation of ‘Himalayan Riyasti Praja Mandal (HRPM)’ in 1938 trace back its roots in the Dujjam movement.

·       Conflict between new and old Himachal: A regular tug of war began for political power and patronage. The members of the newly merged areas stressed that they must be given due weightage in the representative institutions including Assembly and Parliament. They even stressed that president’s rule in Himachal Pradesh may be imposed to overcome this inequality in representation.

·       Beginning of Factionalism due to diverse political exposure: The erstwhile princely states were remote from the vortex of national struggle, while most of the former British Indian provinces were in the thick of it.  People in the British Indian provinces were, therefore, more articulate politically than the people in the erstwhile princely states. Congress party in Himachal thus has been founded on the infrastructure supplied by the Praja Mandals and therefore, it began its career with certain difficulties.

·       Strong pressure groups: The ‘Vishal Himachal’ led to the formation of strong political parties and interest groups such as Vishal Himachal Samiti, Hindu Mahasabha, All India Linguistic State Conference etc.

But the ‘cap politics’ is seemingly not going to stay for long now. This was evident during the first visit of CM, Jai Ram Thakur to his home district Mandi earlier this month, where he was presented a white Himachali cap worn in areas of Kullu district.

The first session of the state Assembly in 2017 was a witness to the changing trend. While many BJP leaders were not wearing any Himachali cap, some others were wearing the traditional Kullu cap with a multi-colour border.

In Congress, a prominent example was first time and youngest MLA of HP Assembly, Vikramaditya Singh (Virbhadra Singh’s son), who was wearing an exclusive Himachali cap, but with a maroon band.

According to Current Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur the caps to be seen as an inseparable part of Himachali culture and not as a symbol of regional divide.

Conflict between new and old areas: new areas added from Punjab in 1966 are having distinct culture as compared to old areas of Himachal Pradesh. This led to the growth of BJP in lower hills initially as this region was dominated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Regionalism:  Regionalism is often seen as a serious threat to the development, progress, and unity of the state. Area around Shimla are more developed as compared to the areas of Chamba district due to political dominance of Shimla district.

Methods:

Praja Mandals fought with gandhian tools like Satyagrah and non-violence.  Bushahr Praja Mandal launched a Satyagraha in 1947. Finally the Bushahr Raja conceded the demand for setting up a representative assembly in April 1947 . Praja mandal Suket started demanding responsible government and by 1947 was ready to launch Satyagraha. Raja used repressive measures to suppress it but failed. Finally to appease the people he decided to set up a Rajya Sabha . Suket Praja Mandal did not take part in the elections for Rajya Sabha.

Significance basic structure :

1. Protection from authoritarian regime: It certainly saved Indian democracy from degenerating into authoritarian regime. The doctrine of the basic structure helps to prevent legislative excesses, as was evident in the Emergence Era.
2. Protection of rights: It, by restraining the amending powers of legislative organ of State, provides basic Rights to Citizens which no organ of State can overrule. These rights are called Fundamental Rights.
3. Rigidity: Being dynamic in nature, it is more progressive and open to changes in time unlike the rigid nature of earlier judgements.

However, this doctrine has no basis in the Constitution’s language. The doctrine does not have a textual basis. There is no provision stipulating that this Constitution has a basic structure and that this structure is beyond the competence of amending power This doctrine accords the judiciary a power to impose its philosophy over a democratically formed government There is no definite elucidation on what exactly constitutes basic structure, thereby, making the doctrine ambiguous.

The President of India is elected indirectly by the single-transferable voting system through secret ballot (Article 55). Electoral college of the presidential election consists of:

• Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
• Legislative Assemblies of the states
• Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry (Since 1992 through 70th Constitutional Amendment Act)

The process has ensured that there shall be uniformity of representation of the different States at the election and parity shall be maintained between the States as a whole and the Union. President being indirectly elected shall not create rift between the people mandate of lok sabha and elected prime minister. India represents a parliamentary form of govt hence this election process uplift the cabinet form of govt. and truly symbolises President as nominal head. The Supreme Court has consistently taken the view that position of President under the Constitution is similar to the position of Crown under the British Parliamentary system hence this election procedure is in synchronisation with the rule.

•  Participation:
  • People should be able to voice their own opinions through legitimate immediate organizations or representatives.
  • This includes men and women, vulnerable sections of society, backward classes, minorities, etc.
  • Participation also implies freedom of association and expression.
• Rule of Law:
  • Legal framework should be enforced impartially, especially on human rights laws.
  • Without rule of law, politics will follow the principle of matsya nyaya ie law of fish which means the strong will prevail over the weak.
• Consensus Oriented:
  • Consensus oriented decision-making ensures that even if everyone does not achieve what they want to the fullest, a common minimum can be achieved by everyone which will not be detrimental to anyone.
  • It mediates differing interests to meet the broad consensus on the best interests of a community.
• Equity and Inclusiveness:
  • Good governance assures an equitable society.
  • People should have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being.
• Effectiveness and Efficiency:
  • Processes and institutions should be able to produce results that meet the needs of their community.
  • Resources of the community should be used effectively for the maximum output.
• Accountability:
  • Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this can not take place without the government being accountable to the people.
  • Governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations should be held accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders.
• Transparency:
  • Information should be accessible to the public and should be understandable and monitored.
  • It also means free media and access of information to them.
• Responsiveness:
  • Institutions and processes should serve all stakeholders in a reasonable period of time.

• It restricts a citizen’s right to contest elections and thereby challenges the basic premise of democracy.
• Denying the right to contest effectively restricts the right of a citizen to vote for a candidate of her choice since more than half the population is restricted from contesting.
• It disproportionately disenfranchises the more marginal sections of society: women, Dalits and poor.
• In a country like India with unequal access to education, it is cruel to blame citizens for the failure of the state to fulfill its constitutional obligations.
• Prescribing educational qualifications for contesting elections is based on an ill-informed assumption that those with formal education will be better in running panchayats. On the other hand, it reveals that State governments and courts place a premium on the administration over representation in case of local governments.

Arguments in Favour of the Criteria of Minimum Education Qualification

·       In Rajbala case, the Apex court held that prescription of educational qualification is relevant for “better administration of the panchayats”.  “Right to Vote” and “Right to Contest” are not fundamental Rights but only constitutional rights of the citizen. So, the minimum qualification for contesting election can be imposed.

·       Setting educational criteria would motivate society to be literate.

·       Reducing the gap: NGOs endeavour to plug gaps in the government’s programmes and reach out to sections of people often left untouched by state projects. For example, providing aid to migrant workers in Covid-19 crisis.

·       Community upliftment: Community-level outfits and self-help groups are critical for bringing any change in the ground. In the past, such grass roots organisations have been enabled by collaborations with bigger NGOs and research agencies that have access to foreign funding.

·       Acting as a Pressure Group: There are political NGOs that mobilise public opinion against government’s policies and actions. To the extent such NGOs are able to educate the public and put pressure on public policy, they act as important pressure groups in a democracy.

·       Role in Governance: Many civil society initiatives have contributed to some of the path-breaking laws in the country, including the Environmental Protection Act-1986, Right to Education Act-2009, Forests Rights Act-2006 and Right to Information Act-2005.

Issues Emanating from NGOs

·       Lack of Credibility: During the last few years, numerous organisations have mushroomed which claim to work for the cause of helping the poor. Under the garb of being an NGO, these NGOs often mint money from donors and are also involved in money laundering activities.

·       Lack of Transparency: India’s disproportionate number of NGOs and the sector’s lack of transparency and accountability is clearly an issue that needs reforms. Further the allegations of corruption against NGOs be ignored. In the past many NGOs were blacklisted after being found to have indulged in misappropriation of funds.

·       Undermining Development Activities: A report by India’s Intelligence Bureau accused NGOs such as Greenpeace, Cordaid, Amnesty, and Action Aid for reducing India’s GDP by 2-3% per year.

·       Welfare and development activities: The objective for setting up of the State Social Welfare Boards was to coordinate welfare and developmental activities undertaken by the various Departments of the State Govts. to promote voluntary social welfare agencies for the extension of welfare services across the country, specifically in uncovered areas. The major schemes being implemented by the Central Social Welfare Board were providing comprehensive services in an integrated manner to the community.

·       Many projects and schemes have been implemented by the Central Social Welfare Board like Grant in Aid, Welfare Extension Projects, Mahila Mandals , Socio Economic Programme, Dairy Scheme, Condensed Course of Education Programme for adolescent girls and women, Vocational Training Programme, Awareness Generation Programme, National Creche Scheme, Short Stay Home Programme, Integrated Scheme for Women’s Empowerment for North Eastern States, Innovative Projects and Family Counselling Centre Programme.

·       The scheme of Family Counselling Centre was introduced by the CSWB in 1983. The scheme provides counselling, referral and rehabilitative services to women and children who are the victims of atrocities, family maladjustments and social ostracism and crisis intervention and trauma counselling in case of natural/ manmade disasters. Working on the concept of people’s participation, FCCs work in close collaboration with the Local Administration, Police, Courts, Free Legal Aid Cells, Medical and Psychiatric Institutions, Vocational Training Centres and Short Stay Homes.

Role of India in UN Peacekeeping Mission:

·       India is one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions. India is the largest cumulative troop contributor, having provided almost 200,000 troops in nearly 50 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions over the past six decades, including 13 of the current 16 missions.

·       India is one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions. India is the largest cumulative troop contributor, having provided almost 200,000 troops in nearly 50 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions over the past six decades, including 13 of the current 16 missions.

·       India has been actively contributing to the UN peacekeeping missions since independence in different forms beginning with a medical mission in Korea. Ever since military personnel began to be deployed for peacekeeping, India has been a key contributor beginning with 1956 Arab – Israeli war. Later, India’s contribution towards ensuring peace in Congo proved vital to the country’s stability after decolonization.

·       India’s contribution is not only reflective of the objectives set out in the UN charter, but also has generated goodwill in different parts of the world especially in the developing world. Furthermore, it has served India’s national security interests in her near and extended neighborhood.

·       India had set an example in February last year, when it deployed the first ever female foreign police unit for peacekeeping mission in Liberia.

·       UN peacekeeping budget is less than a half of one per cent of global military spending and is shared between all 193 UN members’ states.

·       In March 2000, when U.S. President Bill Clinton visited India, the Indo-US Science & Technology Forum was established.

·       Since 2004, Washington and New Delhi have been pursuing a “strategic partnership” that is based on shared values and generally convergent geopolitical interests. Numerous economic, security, and global initiatives have been collaborated upon.

·       India and US have four foundational defence agreements: Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA); General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA); Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA); Communication Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA).

·       In Indo-Pacific, QUAD challenging aggressive China.

·       India-US Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Initiative was signed in 2010 to expand collaboration on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building.

·       Bilateral and regional exercises include: Yudh Abhyas (Army); Vajra Prahar (Special Forces); RIMPAC; Red Flag.

·       During the Cold War, more than three-fourths of India’s defence equipment was of Soviet origin. This gradually began to change, and in recent years, the U.S. and Israel emerged as major suppliers.

Challenges:

·       India’s red tapism

·       Offset policies

·       The major impediment is Washington’s reluctance to share high-end technology

Colonial legacy: In 1913, the British-India government had called a tripartite conference, in which the boundary between India and Tibet was formalized after a discussion between the Indian and the Tibetans. A Convention was adopted, which resulted in the delimitation of the Indo-Tibetan boundary. This boundary is, however, disputed by China which terms it as illegal.

1962 war : In 1957, China occupied Aksai Chin and built a road through it. This episode was followed by intermittent clashes along the border, which finally culminated in the border war of 1962. The boundary, which came into existence after the war, came to be known as Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is a military held line.

Regional conflicts: However, relations between contemporary China and India have been characterized by border disputes, resulting in military conflicts like — the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Chola incident in 1967, the 1987 Sino-Indian and the 2020 India-China skirmish. This further aggravated the distrust and incite problems between two nations.

Partial Disengagement: The current disengagement is limited to two places on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh viz. north bank of Pangong lake and Kailash range to the south of Pangong. However, there are three other sites of contention on the Ladakh border where the PLA had come in — Depsang, Gogra-Hot Springs and Demchok — and talks will be held to resolve these after the current phase of disengagement is completed.

Issue Regarding Creation of Buffer Zone: There are worries that the creation of proposed buffer zones would lie majorly on the Indian side of the LAC, thus converting a hitherto Indian-controlled territory into a neutral zone.

Since the late 1980s, both countries successfully rebuilt diplomatic and economic ties. In 2008, China became India’s largest trading partner and the two countries extended their strategic and military relations to some extent. Today, China and India are the two most populous countries and fastest growing major economies in the world. Growth in diplomatic and economic influence has increased the significance of their bilateral relationship.

Despite this, the relations between India and China have come under “severe stress” time and again in the last decade due to multiple border stand-offs along the Line of Actual Control.

We really should not be in a hurry to ‘solve’ the dispute—especially not when the distance between China and India is as vast as it has become; Secondly, an agreement is worth something only if we are sure that the other side would not violate it. And we can actually make it expensive for the other side if it violates the agreement.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India grew 10% in 2020-21 to touch a record $81.72 billion.

Routes through which India gets FDI is through automatic route and the Government route.

Factors which make India attractive for Investments

1 Huge market size

2 Rationalisation of Policies

3 Good demographics and quality companies

4. Strong Economic Growth

Benefits of the FDI Policy of India:

1. Increased Employment and Economic Growth

Increased FDI boosts the manufacturing as well as the services sector. This in turn creates jobs and helps reduce unemployment among the educated youth as well as unskilled labour.

2. Human Resource Development

Skills gained and enhanced through training and experience boost the education and human capital quotient of the country.

3. Development of Backward Areas

FDI enables the transformation of backward areas in a country into industrial centres. This in turn provides a boost to the social economy of the area. The Hyundai unit at Sriperumbudur, Tamil exemplifies this process.

4. Provision of Finance & Technology

Over time, the introduction of newer, enhanced technologies and processes results in their diffusion into the local economy, resulting in enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the industry.

5. Increase in Exports

The creation of 100% Export Oriented Units and Economic Zones have further assisted FDI investors in boosting their exports from other countries.

6. Exchange Rate Stability

The constant flow of FDI into a country translates into a continuous flow of foreign exchange. This helps the country’s Central Bank maintain a comfortable reserve of foreign exchange.

7. Stimulation of Economic Development

FDI is a source of external capital and higher revenues for a country. When factories are constructed, at least some local labour, materials and equipment are utilised leading to stimulation of economic growth.

8. Improved Capital Flow

Inflow of capital is particularly beneficial for countries with limited domestic resources, as well as for nations with restricted opportunities to raise funds in global capital markets.

9. Creation of a Competitive Market

By facilitating the entry of foreign organisations into the domestic marketplace, FDI helps create a competitive environment, as well as break domestic monopolies.

Issues and challenges of the FDI Policy of India

1. Resource challenge: There are some underexploited or unexploited resources in the rural as well as the urban areas.

2. Political Challenge: There is a lack of common ground related various sectors like banking, and insurance between the Parliament and the Foreign countries investing in India.

3. Federal Challenge: Very important among the major challenges facing larger FDI, is the need

to speed up the implementation of policies, rules, and regulations. Some of the issues are:

·       Restrictive FDI regime

·       Lack of clear cut and transparent sectoral policies for FDI

·       Lack of decision-making authority with the state governments

4. Stringent labour laws

Because of the issues with the labour laws India remains an unattractive base for such production in part because of the continuing obstacles to flexible management of the labour force.

6. High corporate tax rates

High corporate tax rate is a major disincentive to foreign corporate investment in India.

§  Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST. Article 330 and 332 provides for specific representation through reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively.

Politics of Reservation:

• Reservation in state services led to divisions and enmity among government employees, vitiating the atmosphere at workplace.
• Reservation was introduced to ensure that the historically underprivileged communities were given equal access to resources but irrespective of the economic progress they continue to remain socially disadvantaged.
• It has became a tool to meet narrow political ends through invoking class loyalties and primordial identities.
• The dominant and elite class within the backward castes has appropriated the benefits of reservation and the most marginalised within the backward castes have remained marginalised.
• Reservation has become the mechanism of exclusion rather than inclusion as many upper caste poors are also facing discrimination and injustice which breeds frustration in the society.

Why reservation needed?

• To correct the historical injustice faced by backward castes in the country.
• To provide a level playing field for backward section as they can not compete with those who have had the access of resources and means for centuries.
• To ensure adequate representation of backward classes in the services under the State.
• For advancement of backward classes.
• To ensure equality as basis of meritocracy i.e all people must be brought to the same level before judging them on the basis of merit.

 How reservation helped marginal society

1.       According to ministry of social justice and empowerment, the marginalised society has been benefited by reservation as we have seen a rise in the number of college students belonging to these strata

2.      The affirmative actions brought by reservation according to DALIT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE has roped in talent from all the spheres of Indian society, it says that due to reservation the marganalised has been added to mainstream and has helped increase gpd directly

3.      Reservation has brought social equity to marganlised people

4.      It has helped the marginalised by bringing them under the ambit of government employment

5.      Affirmative action spurred students from disadvantaged castes – who still lagged upper castes – to perform better in college than in school

The Indian migration began in large numbers during the British rule as indentured labourers to former colonies like Fiji, Kenya and Malaysia.

It continued in the post-independence period with Indians from different social strata moving to countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Gulf countries.

Significance of Indian Diaspora in realisation OF INDIA FOREIGN POLICY

§  Political leadership: Two good examples of Indian origin people taking leadership positions are Antonio Costa, the Portuguese Prime Minister, and Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Prime Minister. Both belong to the Indian diaspora, and come from two economically strong countries that can trade with India. Portugal has already signed MOUs with India in science and technology, double taxation avoidance, space, trade and investment. Further, the two countries have agreed to create a joint science fund of four million Euros where they will collaborate in science research projects. As for Ireland and other countries like the Netherlands with a large Indian diaspora, they are more likely to support India in her bid to join the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This will be even more likely with enough pressure from the diaspora.

§  Institutions: India can also benefit from the diaspora in North America in achieving her space, defence and security goals. Groups like the United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), Friends of India, Canada India Foundation (CIF) and Canada India Business Council (CIBC), are already actively pushing for India’s interests. In Canada, the CIF and the CIBC are proponents of stronger ties between the two states, even supporting a free trade deal. In April this year Harjit Sajjan, Canada’s defence minister, visited India to strengthen defence ties between the two nations.

§  Soft Power: The government can also benefit from the Indian diaspora in the Middle East. Modi certainly envisions India playing a larger role here especially in terms of security and defence. India needs delicate balancing between its relationships with Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar as it has interests engaged with all three countries. Currently, India enjoys a favourable relationship with the three countries, perhaps to an extent due to the presence of the diaspora. Indians in the Middle East are known to be honest and hard workers. This “soft power” asset may have helped in convincing Saudi Arabia that India is and will remain a long-term trading partner despite Indian PM pursuing stronger ties with Israel.

§  Economic aspects: Remittances by the overseas communities have become important source of foreign exchange for countries like India, Mexico and Philippines etc. India has also accorded high priority to the engagement of its Diaspora since the nineties. Remittances have also played an important role in the foreign exchange management. With US$ 52 billion in 2008, India is the largest recipient of remittances in the world.