In great power rivalry across Eurasia, an opening for India

Significant Upheaval and Opportunities for India:

European-Asian Interdependence:

• Middle Powers Rising: As European and Asian regions become more interconnected, middle powers like India have more influence and opportunities to boost their national power.

Complex and Deepening Interconnections:

Asia’s Role in European Geopolitics:

• Active Influence: Unlike in the colonial era, Asian countries now play an active role in European power dynamics, with both Russia and Western Europe seeking Asian support and perspectives on issues like the Ukraine war.

Asian Arms Supply to Europe:

• North Korea and South Korea: North Korea supplies ammunition to Russia, while South Korea provides arms to Ukraine, making Asia a significant player in European conflicts.

Asian Agency in Great Power Dynamics:

• Strategic Visits: Visits by leaders like Putin to North Korea and Vietnam illustrate how Asian countries are using great power rivalries to their advantage.

Impact on Western Alliances:

• US Response: The growing influence of Asian countries such as North Korea and South Korea is prompting the US to strengthen its alliances with South Korea and Japan in reaction to Russia’s actions.

Scope for a Strategic Window:

Increased Asian Maneuverability:

• Strategic Balance: Countries like Vietnam are adeptly balancing their relationships with major powers (China, the US, and Russia) to enhance their strategic autonomy and regional influence.

Western Dilemmas:

• US Strategic Focus: The US is debating whether to focus more on Europe (due to the Ukraine conflict) or Asia (to counter China’s influence), reflecting its strategic dilemma.

Europe’s Defence Responsibilities:

• Self-Reliance: Both US Presidents Biden and Trump have emphasized that Europe should take more responsibility for its defense, urging Eurasian countries to counterbalance Russia and China.

Opportunities for Middle Powers:

• Strategic Partnerships: Middle powers like India can strengthen their national power by forming strategic partnerships with the US and its allies, modernizing their defense industries, and expanding arms production to achieve greater strategic autonomy.

Way Forward for India:

Engage with Key Allies:

• Deepen Relationships: India should strengthen strategic partnerships with countries like the US, Japan, Australia, and South Korea to enhance security cooperation, joint defense initiatives, and access to advanced military technology, training, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing.

Leverage International Platforms:

• Active Participation: India should actively engage in international platforms such as the Quad and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to bolster its role in regional security and disaster resilience efforts.

It’s time for India to reclaim its voice on Tibet

A delegation of American lawmakers visited Dharamshala shortly after the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act” passed Congress and was pending President Biden’s signature.

About the delegation on ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’

• Legislative Background: In order to support Tibetan autonomy and human rights, the U.S. Congress passed the “Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act.”
• This legislative move was followed by the delegation’s journey to Dharamshala, India, to reaffirm US support for Tibetan freedom.
• The composition and purpose of delegation: The Central Tibetan Administration asked bipartisan U.S. lawmakers who co-authored the Act to join the trip.
• Their visit was intended to promote the resumption of talks between Beijing and the representatives of the Dalai Lama, which had been put on hold since 2010.
• India’s diplomatic calculus: Having the US delegation visit in the midst of China’s current tensions demonstrates the country’s nuanced approach to handling its relations with both countries.
• It represents India’s sensitive position on Tibet, striking a balance between mounting world scrutiny and its long-standing policy of non-interference.
• Geopolitical Implications: Given the strategic rivalry between the United States and China, the delegation’s visit raises geopolitical concerns over India’s sovereignty and diplomatic independence.
• It highlights India’s contribution to both regional stability and the global human rights conversation, which affects its standing internationally and its strategic alliances.

Challenges and weaknesses involved       

• Diplomatic Sensitivities: India must strike a balance between its current diplomatic connections with China, an important economic and geopolitical partner, and its past support for Tibetan refugees.
• Relations between India and China may be strained by Beijing’s hosting of US politicians who support Tibetan autonomy, given Beijing’s sensitivity to outside intervention on Tibet-related matters.
• Political messaging and domestic perception: It might be interpreted domestically as a betrayal of India’s position on sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs if American MPs are permitted to openly support Tibetan independence in India.
• Political opposition or internal reaction challenging the government’s handling of delicate foreign policy matters, especially those pertaining to Tibet and China, is a possibility.
• Effect on Mutual Relations: India and China may experience diplomatic tension as a result of the visit and the Act, which could have an impact on bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, such as trade, defense, and regional stability.
• Tensions may rise in response to China’s perceived foreign meddling in Tibet, which might have an effect on India’s strategic autonomy as well as larger regional dynamics.

Way forward:

• International Advocacy and Diplomatic Engagement: The visit and endorsement of the Tibet-China Dispute Act by the U.S. delegation demonstrate the continued interest and support for Tibetan autonomy on a global scale.
• Future plans call for ongoing diplomatic efforts by international parties to support Tibet’s autonomy and human rights, with the goal of influencing Chinese policy.
• India’s Strategic Positioning: To strike a balance between its current diplomatic relations with China and its historical support for Tibetan refugees, India may take a nuanced approach.
• In the future, India plans to manage its bilateral relations with China in order to prevent escalation and preserve regional stability, while also reiterating its position on Tibet in international fora.

Why India needs to build disaster resilience in its critical infrastructure

Present Challenges in India: High Temperatures and Electricity Demand

Record-breaking Electricity Demand:

• Delhi faced unprecedented electricity demand due to sustained high temperatures.

Frequent Power Cuts:

• The surge in demand led to frequent power outages in Delhi and surrounding regions.

Worsening Conditions:

• Central and eastern India experienced similar or worse conditions, with high night temperatures worsening the impact.

Heat-related Deaths:

• High temperatures and lack of electricity likely contributed to several heat-related fatalities.

Mounting Losses

Increased Economic Losses:

• Despite early warnings and quick responses reducing human casualties, economic losses from extreme weather events are rising due to their increasing frequency and intensity.

Government Expenditure:

• Between 2018 and 2023, states spent over Rs 1.5 lakh crore on disaster and natural calamity aftermaths.

Long-term Costs:

• Long-term impacts include livelihood losses and decreased agricultural land fertility, expected to worsen over time.

Job Losses:

• A 2022 World Bank report projected that heat-related stress could result in the loss of around 34 million jobs in India by 2030.

Food Wastage:

• Food wastage due to non-air-conditioned transportation is estimated at about $9 billion annually.

Uncounted Infrastructure Damage:

• Damage to critical infrastructure like transportation, telecommunications, and power supply is often uncounted in government figures, particularly for privately owned services, causing significant disruptions.

Incorporating Resilience:

• Disaster Management Plans: To prepare for and react to unforeseen circumstances, infrastructure sectors have plans in place for things like subterranean telephone connections, emergency power sources for hospitals, and waterlogging prevention for railroads and airports.
• Slow Progress: In spite of plans, a large portion of India’s infrastructure is still quite disaster-prone.
• Future Infrastructure: A large portion of India’s infrastructure is still under development, and it is more economical to build disaster resilience from the ground up rather than retrofitting it afterwards. Future initiatives must be resilient to natural disasters, sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-smart.

Way Forward:

• Proactive Infrastructure Investment and Planning: Future Indian infrastructure initiatives must include catastrophe resilience into the design and building phases. This strategy lessens the need for subsequent, expensive retrofits by ensuring that new developments are resilient to harsh weather occurrences, sustainable, and energy-efficient.
• Adoption of Best Practices and Cooperation with Expert Organizations: States and the infrastructure industry should aggressively pursue cooperation and expertise from groups such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our government for this purpose? (2020)

SRINAGAR GETS TAG OF WORLD CRAFT CITY

After being included in the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN) for crafts and folk arts three years ago, Srinagar has now been named as the fourth Indian city to get the title of “World Craft City” by the World Craft Council (WCC).

Context:

• The other Indian cities that have previously been named World Craft Cities are Jaipur, Malappuram, and Mysore.

Key takeaways

• The World Crafts Council AISBL (WCC-International) initiated the World Craft City (WCC) program in 2014 to acknowledge the important role that communities, local government, and artisans play in the global development of culture, economy, and social life.
• In keeping with the tenets of the creative economy, the WCC-World Craft City Programme creates a vibrant global network of craft cities.
• This initiative responds to the increasing acknowledgment of the valuable contributions made by local entities to the multifaceted dimensions of development.

Key Objectives of the WCC-World Craft City Programme

Global Recognition:

• Showcase the reputation and assets of creative cities/regions specializing in specific craft disciplines, raw materials, articles, or a variety of crafts on a global platform.

Government Advocacy:

• Encourage governmental support and future commitments for the development of crafts in designated cities/regions.

Local Innovation:

• Strengthen local potential for innovation and foster the development of creative tourism.

Knowledge Exchange:

• Promote the exchange of know-how, experiences, and best practices in various craft fields at the national, regional, and international levels.

Collaborative Opportunities:

• Create new opportunities for cooperation and partnerships between designated craft cities.