Radical democracy: why is it still relevant today?

• The necessity for society restructuring is emphasized by the current socio-political and economic issues.
• Manabendra Nath Roy and others put forth a theory that addressed the shortcomings of both contemporary authoritarianism and liberal democracy by balancing freedom and justice.

They emphasized crises for the reasons listed below:

• Liberal Democracy and Capitalist Exploitation in the 19th Century.
• The decline of communism and the emergence of fascism.
• Global Conflict and World Wars.

Radical democracy: what is it?

• A type of democracy known as radical democracy pushes for a broadening of liberty and equality. Democracy is seen as a continuous, inclusive, and reflective process.
• The ways that radical democracy views liberty, equality, and the democratic process are different from those of traditional democracy.
• Aiming for stability and agreement, traditional democracies usually place a strong emphasis on preexisting structures and practices.

Significance of Radical Approach towards Elections:

• Empowerment of Citizens: Radical democracy places a strong emphasis on empowering people in ways that go beyond simple voting, elevating people’s sense of worth and facilitating their active involvement in political processes.
• Critique of classic Democracy: Points out the drawbacks of classic liberal democracy and emphasizes how parliamentary systems, particularly for those from lower-income backgrounds, can result in demagoguery and a loss of civil freedoms.
• Decentralization and Local engagement: Supporters of giving local councils more authority over legislation, this approach encourages grassroots accountability and direct engagement and guarantees a more responsive and inclusive democratic process.
• Protection Against Authoritarianism: Promotes a more pluralistic and accountable political environment by distributing power and prevents political parties or charismatic leaders from monopolizing representation. This serves to defend against authoritarianism and tyranny.
• Enhanced Democratic Culture: Encourages the development of a dynamic democratic culture that transcends institutional frameworks, placing a strong emphasis on the political participation and critical thinking that empower citizens, as well as the development of a public ethos that upholds democratic values and practices.

What is the Humanist Economy made possible by a Radical Democracy?

• Roy faults nationalized and capitalist economies for being too centralized and failing to put the needs of people first.
• He stresses the cooperative structure of rural economies and promotes the modernization of agriculture through improved irrigation, increased fertility, and infrastructural development.
• Social security, unemployment insurance, pensions for the elderly, and enhancing housing, health, and education should be the main objectives of economic policy.
• Roy warns against hasty industrialization that enriches a small portion of the people and instead advocates for a balanced approach to industrialization that meets urgent demands and advances social and economic fairness.

Significance of Radical Democracy:

• Realize social justice and true freedom: According to Roy, radical democracy is necessary to realize social justice and true freedom. Democracy should be understood as a byproduct of civilization, achievable only in highly developed cultures where the rights of the individual are acknowledged as being inextricably linked to the rights of others.
• Prevent totalitarianism: Roy highlights that social injustice and economic hardship are the precursors of totalitarianism. Democracy needs to be based on individual ingenuity, reason, and group endeavors to improve society in order to avoid this.
• Humanism and moral radicalism: He espouses a philosophy grounded in these two ideologies, arguing that people are the makers of their own universe and stressing the importance of approaching society development in a logical and scientific manner.

Starting from inventing the ‘basic structure’ doctrine, the judiciary has played a highly proactive role in ensuring that India develops into a thriving democracy. In light of the statement, evaluate the role played by judicial activism in achieving the ideals of democracy. (2014)

Why worker housing is the key to unlocking India’s manufacturing ambitions

The emphasis on workers’ accommodation in the manufacturing sector is gaining traction in the news due to its potential to address key challenges and unlock India’s manufacturing ambitions.

Present Challenges:

• Inadequate Facilities: Many industries today lack the facilities required to enable large-scale production, especially with regard to housing for workers.
• Land Regulation: State-level regulatory adjustments are required because worker housing is often not taken into account by the industrial land allocation policies now in place.
• The relationship between commute and productivity is well-documented. Research indicates that workers frequently endure two-hour round-trip commutes, which can result in fatigue and decreased output.
• Living Conditions: Ad hoc housing is a common living arrangement for workers, but it is not ideal for retaining a steady and effective workforce.
• Skill Gaps: To improve worker productivity and adaptability to new manufacturing processes and technology, more focused skill development programs are required.
• Lack of Coordinated Policy: To offer the required fiscal and policy support, state and federal governments must take a more coordinated approach.

Economic Factors that will steer Enlightened Self-Interest:

• Transportation Savings: Businesses can save a lot of money on transportation, which is thought to cost more than Rs 5,000 per person per month, by offering on-site or close to the factory housing.
• Improved living conditions and shorter commutes can both contribute to higher worker productivity.
• Decreased Attrition: More steady and seasoned workers can be attained by reducing stress related to commuting and providing better living conditions.
• Improved Training Facilities: On-site lodging can support more effective training initiatives that raise employee productivity and skill levels.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: The total carbon footprint of manufacturing processes can be decreased by eliminating the need for lengthy trips.

Way forward:

• Tax and Fiscal Incentives: By lowering taxes, reducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and providing other fiscal advantages, the Union government can encourage investment in worker housing.
• Priority Sector Tagging: By designating worker housing as a top priority for construction financing, additional capital may be drawn in.
• Collaborative Financing: Funding reputable worker housing projects through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) helps accelerate the construction of infrastructure.

The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as a jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer. (2015)

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Project

An important step forward since the agreement’s signing was taken when an Indian interministerial delegation traveled to the United Arab Emirates to explore the operational components of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

About IMEC Project

• As a component of the larger Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), IMEC works to create infrastructure in areas that are still in the process of economic development.
• At the 2023 G20 conference in New Delhi on September 10, 2023, the Memorandum of Understanding for IMEC was formally endorsed.
• The following countries have signed this agreement: Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, United States, and the European Union.
• Aim: To integrate Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, enhancing economic cooperation across these regions.

Objectives:

• Improve transportation efficiency, lower costs, and promote economic cohesion among participating nations.
• Generate employment opportunities and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
• Facilitate trade and connectivity, thereby reshaping regional integration among Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Significance:

• When IMEC is finished, it will create a dependable and affordable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to support the current networks for road and maritime transportation.
• Redefining regional trade dynamics and promoting sustainable economic growth and cooperation among participating countries are among the many opportunities presented by the IMEC Project.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. (150 Words, 10 Marks) 2018

‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of: 2016

(a) African Union

(b) Brazil

(c) European Union

(d) China