Polity And International

Relations Current Affairs

Monthly Compilation

From 1-July-2023 To 31-July 2023

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity Current Affairs 2023

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity Current Affairs 2023

THE ASSOCIATION for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an

independent electoral watchdog recently wrote to the
Election Commission seeking action against political parties
that fail to publish details of criminal an tecedents of their
election candidates.
After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to ADR, 43%
of the newly-elected MPs had pending criminal cases
against them.

The criminalization of politics refers to the

phenomenon where individuals with criminal
backgrounds, including those charged or convicted
of criminal offenses, actively participate in politics.

Reason for increasing criminalisation of Of Politics

Muscle Power and Corruption: Use of muscle power
by politicians to collect votes in their favour. Also,
the use of money and other freebies in form of cash
and kind both affect the final results of the election
to a large extent.
Polarisation Towards Caste/Religions: People still
go by the caste system and favour candidates on its
Recommendations PreventionreventionPreventionrevention of
basis instead of considering the actual background Criminalisation of Politics
of the candidate. Law Commission Reports
Increasing Success rate of Politician: The chances The Law commission in its 179th report recommended an
amendment to the Representation of people act 1951.
of winning for a candidate with declared criminal It suggested the people with criminal backgrounds should be
cases in the Lok Sabha 2019 was 15.5 percent disqualified for five years or until acquittal. It also recommended
whereas for a candidate with a clean background, it that the person who wants to contest the election must furnish
details regarding any pending case, with the copy of the
was just 4.7 percent. FIR/complaint, and also furnish details of all assets.
Slow judicial process and the inadequate Supreme Court’s Observations
enforcement of election laws also provide It is mandatory for all political parties to publish all details
regarding pending criminal cases against their chosen candidates,
opportunities for politicians with criminal records not only in local newspapers, but also on party websites and
to thrive. social media handles.
Directions to ensure the asset disclosure and criminal records of
candidates.
Establishment of special courts in all States for the quick disposal
of cases involving elected representatives.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity Current Affairs 2023

On June 30, 2023, the Karnataka High Court dismissed

Twitter’s challenge to the issuance of blocking orders by the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
in connection with the taking down of Twitter accounts and
specific tweets.
The High Court admonished Twitter for not complying
with the orders and imposed an astounding cost of ₹50
lakh on the United States-based social media company.

Issues arising from Court Judgement on restriction

on online speech
Against freedom of speech -This may discourage
people from having open discussions and
expressing their thoughts openly, which would
ultimately restrict free speech and undermine
democratic dialogue.
Arbitrary Censorship of content -This lack of
control raises worries about possible abuse and
arbitrary censoring of content, which could result
in the repression of opposing viewpoints and a
Judgements which upheld Freedom of reduction in the rights to free speech.
speech and expression Widening of the Justifications for Restricting
Supreme Court of India, in the expression: The court's emphasis on the fight
Shreya Singhal vs Union of India against "fake news" and "misinformation" as
case, upheld the constitutionality of justifications for restricting content goes beyond
Section 69A and the Blocking Rules, the constitutionally permitted limits on free
emphasising the importance of expression set down in Article 19(2).
procedural safeguards such as No regulatory measures: The lack of procedural
recording a reasoned order and safeguards gives unrestricted power to the state
providing notice to the intermediary in taking down content.
and the originator of the content to
be blocked.
In Brij Bhushan And Another vs The
State Of Delhi, the Supreme Court
held that pre-censorship on freedom
of speech is unconstitutional.
The author draws the conclusion that the Karnataka
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, High Court's ruling erodes natural justice principles,
2000 empowers the state to issue blocking undermines procedural safeguards, and gives the state
orders in cases of emergency on the grounds unrestricted authority to delete whatever text it
such as “sovereignty and integrity of India,
considers objectionable.
defense of India, security of the State, friendly
relations with foreign States, public order or for
He concludes by arguing that this constitutes a
preventing incitement to the commission of any serious threat to free speech, along with the
cognizable offense relating to the above”. recently revised IT Rules on fact-checking.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity Current Affairs 2023

The Ordinance promulgated by the President on May 19,

2023 amending the Government of National Capital
Territory of Delhi Act 1991(GNCTD Act) took away the
services from the jurisdiction of the Delhi government.

Concerns with the Ordinance's Provisions:

The ordinance grants the Lieutenant Governor the

authority to nominate individuals to important
bureaucratic positions in Delhi.
It transfers authority from the elected government
Major Judgements regarding Ordinance
to the Lieutenant Governor, who was previously the
sole individual with the authority to transfer and
D.C. Wadhwa v. State of Bihar
post officials.
Challenged many ordinances issued by the
The legislation further stipulates that the
Governor of Bihar .
Lieutenant Governor's opinion shall have
The Supreme Court struck down all the
ordinances as unconstitutional and held
precedence over that of the elected government in
that re-promulgation of ordinances is a the event of a disagreement.
fraud on the Constitution and a The Lieutenant Governor's increased powers are a
subversion of the democratic legislative violation of the principle of federalism, which is
process. enshrined in the Constitution.
R.C. Cooper v. Union of India As the ordinance appears to be in violation of both
The SC held an ordinance is not immune the Supreme Court's ruling and Article 239AA of the
from judicial review and can be Constitution, it may be subject to legal challenges
challenged. and judicial review.
A.K. Roy v. Union of India It is against the philosophy of the separation of
The Court observed that an ordinance powers between the legislature, executive, and
should not be used as a substitute for judiciary for the executive to have the authority to
parliamentary legislation .Used only in create ordinances.
cases of or unforeseen emergency.

Article 239AA(3)(a) Importance Ordinance making power of President

The Union of India has executive power The ordinance is in accordance with Article 239AB
only over three entries public order , of the Constitution, which grants the President the
police and land in List II (the State list) authority to enact laws to promote Delhi's peace,
over which the NCTD does not have progress, and efficient government.
legislative competence.
Consequently, executive power over
“services” can be exercised exclusively
by the Government of the NCTD.
This interpretation of the Court is
consistent with the wordings in Article
239AA(3)(a).

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

11 men were arrested for allegedly neglecting to

stand for the National Anthem at a function on
June 25 where J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was
present, and they were subsequently sentenced
to jail by an executive magistrate in Srinagar.

Judicial Interventions and The findings regarding

National Anthem
Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors vs State Of Kerala & Ors:
The law around alleged disrespect to the
National Anthem was laid down by the Supreme
Court in its 1986 judgment .
The case involved the three children from the
religious group Jehovah’s Witnesses who refused
to participate in singing the National Anthem at
their school. For this, they were expelled by the
school.
However, when the case reached SC, it held that
forcing them to sing the Anthem violated their
fundamental right to religion under Article 25 of
the Constitution and the court also provided
Why should it be made mandatory? legal protection to them.
Demonstrate one's patriotism and The court observed that standing up respectfully
commitment to the nation and its when the National Anthem is sung was sufficient
ideals. to show respect for the country and its symbols,
Encourage a sense of community and and not singing it did not constitute an offence .
identity among the people.
In the 2018 case of Shyam Narayan Chouksey v.
Union of India.
Way Forward The National Anthem shall be played in all
Singing the national anthem should cinema halls in India before to the
be an individual expression of commencement of the feature film, and
patriotism rather than an obligation. everyone in the theatre is required to stand to
The most recent decisions made by show respect for the National Anthem, according
various courts have been made in to the court's original interim decision from 2016.
good faith and have attempted to However, the court changed its interim order in
uphold both national and its concluding decision in 2018.
constitutional patriotism. The court ruled that playing the national anthem
before feature film screenings in theatres is
optional or discretionary rather than required.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity Current Affairs 2023

The Centre is launching a unique initiative of setting up women-only

courts at the village level as an alternate dispute resolution forum for
issues like domestic violence, property rights and countering the
patriarchal system.

Nari Adalat [women’s court]:

The scheme would be run by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti,
which is dedicated to strengthening women’s safety, security
and empowerment.
It would be launched on a pilot basis in 50 villages each in
Assam and J&K and would be extended to the rest of the country
over the next six months.
The Nari Adalat of each village would have 7-9 members/Nyaya
Sakhis[legal friends] –
Half of which would be the elected members of the gram
panchayat and
The other half are women with social standing like teachers,
doctors and social workers – who would be nominated by the
villagers.
The head of Nari Adalat called the Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi [chief
Mission Shakti’ is an integrated programme for legal friend] will be chosen among the Nyaya Sakhis, generally
women’s empowerment with the following objectives: for a six-month term.
Providing for the safety, security, and empowerment The Nari Adalat though does not hold any legal status, has its
of women. primary focus on reconciliation, grievance redressal and creating
addressing topics that concern women at all stages awareness of rights and entitlements.
of life.
equalising women as partners in national
development. Importance of Nari Adalat
encouraging citizen ownership and convergence in They provide an alternative to India's current official and
development driven by women. informal judicial systems like Khap panchayat or caste councils.
Foster social development and change: They lessen conflict and
violence in society by finding peaceful solutions to
disagreements. They support social justice and gender equality
through empowering women and resisting patriarchy.
Also raise awareness about social schemes under the
government while collecting valuable feedback to enhance the
effectiveness of these initiatives.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

ADR refers to the methods of resolving a dispute, which are
alternatives for litigation in Courts.
Generally, it uses a neutral third party who helps the parties to
communicate, discuss the differences and resolve the dispute.
Acts dealing with ADR
Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 (established Lok Adalat
System)
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

A judgment by the Allahabad High Court recently, declining the prayer

by an inter-faith couple in a live-in relationship for protection from
police harassment has caught national attention.
The judgment in Kiran Rawat vs State of UP negates the very idea
of constitutional morality in personal relations, which the Supreme
Court of India has repeatedly affirmed. The High Court in its
judgment implied that the live-in relationship is a "social problem".

Constitutional morality means adherence to the core principles

of the constitutional democracy.
Constitutional morality mean an effective coordination
between conflicting interests of different people and the
administrative cooperation to resolve the issues without any
confrontation amongst the various groups.
It is a sentiment to be cultivated in the minds of a
responsible citizen but to be promoted by an independent
judiciary embodied with values and ethics.

Judicial inferences regarding "Live-In

Relationships"
Historically, the Indian Supreme Court has
taken a progressive attitude on living together
couples. The supreme court has accepted live-
in partnerships in a number of decisions,
including D. Velusamy (2010), Indra Sarma
(2013), and Dhanu Lal (2015), and stated that
they shouldn't be looked unfavourably. It
placed a focus on each person's freedom and
autonomy within these interactions.
In S. Khushboo vs. Kanniammal & Anr. (2010),
the court further established that adult
Upholding personal liberty
consent to engage in sexual intercourse The Supreme Court judgments, cited in the Allahabad verdict,
outside of a marital setting is not a statutory also upheld personal liberty and laid down the law in that regard.
criminal, inferring acceptance of live-in In Lata Singh (2006), the Court directed police authorities
relationships. throughout the country to see to it that any adult undergoing
inter caste or inter religious marriage is not harassed by anyone.
In S. Khushboo vs Kanniammal & Anr. (2010), the Supreme Court
Conclusion held: "While it is true that the mainstream view in our society is
The decision rendered in Kiran Rawat v. State of that sexual contact should take place only between marital
UP by the Allahabad High Court disregards
partners, there is no statutory offence that takes place when
constitutional morals and exhibits an outdated
adults willingly engage in sexual relations outside the marital
perspective on interpersonal relationships. The
High Court disregarded in its responsibility to
setting".
preserve personal liberty, disregard Supreme
Court rulings, and depend on unrelated personal
legislation.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Collegium sets up methods to objectively assess the quality of

judgments of prospective candidates; seniority, merit, diversity and
inclusion identified as the three-fold criteria for appointments

The Supreme Court Collegium under Chief Justice of India D.Y.

Chandrachud has quietly and transparently streamlined the
appointment process of judges to the constitutional courts while
adding a deft mix of merit and seniority in the judicial ranks
through a selection procedure which involves "meaningful
discussion on and assessment of candidates' judicial acumen".

Appointment of Judges in Judiciary

Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Judges of SC are appointed by
President under Article 124 (2) of Constitution with the help of
collegium system.
CJI should be of senior most Judge of SC considered fit to hold
the office.
Constitutional Provisions for Appointment of Judges Next CJI name is recommended by the outgoing CJI.
Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by Collegium system is the way by which judges of the Supreme
the President under Articles 124(2) and 217 of the Constitution. Court and High Courts are appointed and transferred.
Article 124(2) says: “Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be
appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal
SC collegium is a five-member body, which is headed by
after consultation with such Judges of the Supreme Court and incumbent CJI and comprises four other senior-most judges of
of the High Courts in the States as he may deem necessary. the court at that time.
Article 217: “Every Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by
the President by warrant under his hand and seal after
HC collegium is led by the incumbent Chief Justice and two
consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the other senior-most judges of that court.
State, and, in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the
Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court.”
What efforts has the Chief Justice made to ensure judges are
appointed transparently?
Arguments against the collegium system The Supreme Court, the collegium takes into consideration the
Done without any background checks: The
following aspects
administrative burden of appointing and transferring
judges without a separate secretariat or intelligence- Seniority of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges in their
gathering mechanism dedicated to collection of and respective parent High Courts as well as overall seniority of the
checking personal and professional backgrounds of High Court judges.
prospective appointees.
The merit, performance and integrity of the judges under
Informal and opaque: A closed-door affair with no
prescribed norms regarding eligibility criteria, or even consideration: For this, the judgments of the judges are
the selection procedure. circulated among the members of the collegium, well in
No recordings are conducted: It also does not involve advance.
any official mechanism and there are no official minutes
The Centre for Research & Planning of the court also prepares
of collegium proceedings.
Overlooks talent pool: The limitation of the collegium a compilation of relevant background material to assist the
field of choice to the senior-most judges from the High collegium.
Court for appointments to the Supreme Court, There is also a Judgment Evaluation Committee which goes
overlooking several talented junior judges and
advocates.
through the judicial work of the candidates with a fine-tooth
Not open to public: There is no public knowledge of comb. The judgments are graded with the very best receiving
how and when a collegium meets, and how it takes its an “outstanding” grade.
decisions.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The Gujarat High Court's decision to award activist Teesta Setalvad regular bail and
reject her motion for regular release was recently overruled by the Supreme Court.
In a free society, the fundamental rights of citizens are protected while the law
is interpreted in accordance with the fundamental values that underpin it.
Courts should examine bail with justice and common reason, and they
shouldn't hold someone behind bars just because the cops are against them.

Importance of the Rule of Law

Restrict the arbitrary nature of the State: The subjection of a person to
the Rule of Law removes the arbitrary nature of the State. A definite
nature of laws removes the uncertainty and ambiguity in the application
of laws. This concept forms the integral part of the “limited state”.
Prevents abuse of power: The Rule of Law provides a check on the
exercise of power by government officials and institutions, and ensures
that they are accountable to the people they serve.
Equal treatment: The application of the Rule of Law opens avenues for a
common person to expect same treatment from state. It protects
individual rights.

India’s Law on Bail

The CrPC does not define the word bail but only categories offences under
the Indian Penal Code as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’.
The CrPC empowers magistrates to grant bail for bailable offences as a
matter of right.
This would involve release on furnishing a bail bond, without or without
security.
In case of Non-bailable offences , a magistrate would determine if the
accused is fit to be released on bail.
Non-bailable offences are cognisable, which enables the police officer to
arrest without a warrant.

Supreme court on bail reforms

The Court highlighted that the use of arrest as a punitive measure should
be limited, especially in cases involving non-cognizable offenses (crimes for
which the police lack the legal right to make an arrest without a warrant).
Fundamental rights were breached and the court emphasized the value of
consistency and clarity in its rulings. Inconsistency could result in a
violation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.
Restrictions must be put in place on arbitrary arrests, as the Court
highlighted. It further emphasized that even for crimes that are punishable
by imprisonment, an arrest is not always necessary.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday acknowledged

the apprehensions of political parties about disclosing their internal
decisions under the Right to Information Act, reported The Hindu.
The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking
that national and regional political parties be declared public
authorities under the Right to Information Act.

Arguments in The Favor

Political parties are public institutions that receive funding from
the general public, thus apart from the political approach,
additional financial and administrative issues need to be made
public.
In order to preserve the donors' anonymity, electoral bonds do
not promote political financial openness.
In reality, political parties should be required to make public all
of their expenditures, particularly those made during periods of
elections.
RTI Act covers not only to government bodies but also some
NGOs.
There is currently no cap on the amount that political parties can
spend when running for office in India.

Argument Against
Public authorities are those that are established by, or
according to, the constitution, or by the Parliament, according
to Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
Political Parties are not actually constituted by the Parliament;
rather, they are formed under a law passed by Parliament,
namely the Representation of People Act.
Therefore, it will be challenging to include political parties in
the scope of the RTI act until and until the law is altered.
Every political party has its own internal framework for
decision-making.
Therefore, if a political party falls under the jurisdiction of RTI,
these items may hinder their ability to function and adversely
affect the party's image.
RTI could be misused by the opposition and use it to target
political parties if a political party falls under its jurisdiction.

Way Forward
Giving money to political parties is not an appropriate choice since it
establishes the connection between the funders and the parties and
influences how policies are developed in the nation. Instead, a National
Election Fund needs to be established to receive contributions from the
public. Elections should be held using the funds obtained.
There is a need to attain more transparency regarding the
functioning of political parties.
By bringing political parties in the public authority domain the
confidence of the common man on democracy and the political
system of the country would increase.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The Opposition recently wanted a discussion on the violence in Manipur using Rule 267, but the
administration consented to one under Rule 176, causing a dispute over Rule 267 and Rule 176.
The administration asserted that Rule 176 was adequate and that Rule 267 was being abused to
cause disruption in the House, while the opposition claimed that Rule 267 was required to reflect
the sentiment of the House on an important topic.
Rule 176 and Rule 267
Are two different provisions in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of
States (Rajya Sabha), which are used for raising discussions on urgent public matters.

Rule 267
Rajya Sabha MPs can submit a written notice to suspend all listed business in the House and
discuss an issue of importance that the country is facing.
A motion under Rule 267 indicates that a matter was serious enough for the House to suspend its
normal business to take it up.
The rule further says, "The Chairman alone has the power to give consent for moving of a motion
for suspension of a rule, and it is for the House to decide whether a particular rule should be
suspended or not."
Thus, it is the discretion of the Chairman to decide whether to allow a motion under Rule 267, as it
states that “the consent of the Chairman" is required for a member to bring such a motion.
However, this rule does not apply where specific provisions already exist for the suspension of a
rule under a particular chapter of the rules.

Issues with Rule 176 and 267 The adjournment motion

Is a form of censure of the government
While the government agreed to a short-duration discussion on the urgent matter raised by the
It originated in the House of Commons
Opposition under Rule 176, the Opposition insisted on suspending all business and having the
in the United Kingdom, and started its
Prime Minister make a suo motu statement followed by a discussion on the Manipur situation
journey in India under the rules of the
under Rule 267.
pre-independent bi-cameral legislature
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, declined the
established under the Government of
notice under 267 saying he will accept the notices on merit. India Act of 1919.
Given the availability of other procedural devices in the Rule Book for MPs to raise urgent The central assembly and legislative
matters, Lok Sabha Speakers have been reluctant to allow adjournment motions Most Lok Sabha council members could move the
have spent less than 3% of their time on adjournment motions. adjournment motion in their Houses.
The only exception was the 9th Lok Sabha (1989-91, Speaker Rabi Ray) which spent almost 5% (36 Presiding officers of these Houses
hours) of its time on it During its short-lived tenure, this Lok Sabha took up eight adjournment allowed adjournment motions because
motions on subjects like terrorist activities in Punjab, crim- inalization of politics, and violence members did not have other procedural
triggered by the decision to implement the Mandal Commission report. devices for raising urgent matters.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Parliament Monsoon Session: A No Confidence Motion has

been moved against the PM Modi government on Wednesday
by Congress's Lok Sabha Deputy and North east leader Gaurav
Gogoi, marking the first such motion in 20 years.

No-Confidence Motion:
This is a motion moved in the Lok Sabha (and not in the Rajya
Sabha) to test the confidence of the government.
The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must
resign.
No-confidence motions are significant political events that
usually occur when there is a perception of the government
losing majority support.
The Constitution of India does not mention about either a
Confidence or a No Confidence Motion. Although, Article 75
does specify that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively
responsible to the Lok Sabha.

The Speaker then, once satisfied that the motion is in order,

will ask the House if the motion can be adopted.
If the motion is passed in the house, the Government is
bound to vacate the office.
A no-confidence motion needs a majority vote to pass the
House.
If individuals or parties abstain from voting, those
numbers will be removed from the overall strength of the
House and then the majority will be taken into account.

How many no confidence motions have been moved in

the past?

It was during the third Lok Sabha in 1963 that the first
motion of no confidence was moved by Acharya J B
Kripalani against the government headed by Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru. The debate on the motion lasted for 21
hours over four days, with 40 MPs participating.
Since then, there have been 26 more no-confidence
motions moved in the parliament (not counting the latest
one), with the last one being in 2018, moved by the TRS
against the previous Narendra Modi government.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday cleared the Cinematograph

(Amendment) Bill, 2023 that introduces new age-based
certification for films, separate certification for the
exhibition of films on television and "other media,'" and
provides for stringent provisions to penalise piracy with a
jail term and fine.

Need for Amendment

To harmonise the law with various executive orders,
Supreme Court judgements, and other legislations;
To improve the procedure for licensing films for public
exhibition
And to expand the categorisations for certification.
Importantly, there was a huge demand from the film
industry to address the issue of unauthorised recording
and exhibition of films and curb the menace of piracy,
which is causing them huge losses.

Provisions under the bill

Showing films on TV
As the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995
stipulates that only UA category films can be shown on TV, the
Bill allows for a change of category of a film from A (adult) or S
(specialised groups) to UA, after making suitable alterations.
While the earlier Act provided that the certificate issued by the
CBFC is valid for 10 years, it would now be valid perpetually.
The new Bill clarifies that the Centre will not have any
revisional powers over CBFC certificates.
Concerns regarding the bill On piracy
Online streaming services not covered Recording or helping a person record any film that is being
by the Bill What if a film is broadcast exhibited at a cin-ema theatre using audio-visual devices has
on OTT uncut. been prohibited under the Bill. "The film industry is facing a
Age-appropriate categories operate on loss of Rs 20,000 crore annually because of piracy,"
their own judgment: It puts the While inserting new clauses for piracy, the Bill aims to
responsibility on parents and legal harmonise the Cinematograph Act with the existing laws that
guardians to decide if the content is tangentially address piracy - the Copyright Act, 1957 and the
suitable for viewers in a specific age Information Technology Act (IT) 2000, officials said.
range.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

JUST DAYS before a Zero FIR was filed in connection with the May 4
incident in Manipur, in which two women were stripped and paraded
in the state's Thoubal district, another Zero FIR was filed at the same
police station

The concept of Zero FIR means that a FIR can be filed in

any police station (irrespective of place of incident and
jurisdiction of the Police Station concerned) and the same
can be later transferred to the appropriate police station.
It was introduced on the recommendation of the Justice
Verma Committee formed at the backdrop of the brutal
Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi in 2012.
The provisions of CrPC (Criminal procedure Code), says if
FIR is not filed within the territorial jurisdiction of a
concerned Police Station, the SHO of that particular Police
Station cannot proceed with further investigation of the
case and the FIR should be filed with a Police Station
having territorial jurisdiction to act over the case.
But this poses certain practical limitations in cases of grave
crimes where there is a possibility of tampering with
evidence and the nature of the crime is heinous.
In case of Satvinder Kaur Vs State ( Government of Delhi) -
The Supreme Court held that, Police can investigate the
case, which does not fall under their jurisdiction.

FIR
It is the information given to a police officer in writing as per
the provisions of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure (CrPC). The term "FIR" is not defined in the Indian
Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), or
any other law.
In police regulations or rules, however, information recorded
under Section 154 of the CrPC is referred to as a First
Information Report (FIR).
FIR contains three critical components:
The information must be related to the commission of a
cognizable offence.
It should be submitted either orally or in writing to the head of
the police station.
The informant must write it down and sign it, and the essential
aspects must be recorded in a daily diary.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

NEW DELHI: At last count, the Supreme Court had 69,766 cases pending before it
for adjudication. But what catches the eye is the pendency before its constitution
benches. The oldest case before a five-judge constitution bench has been pending
for 31 years now, and another before a seven-judge bench has been undecided for
29 years.

Constitution Bench of the SC

A Supreme Court bench with a strength of minimum five judges is called as
Constitution Bench.
It is set up when a significant question of law arises, necessitating
interpretation of a provision or provision of the Constitution.
Constitutional Provisions
Article 145(3)A minimum of five judges need to sit for deciding a case involving
a “substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution”, or
For hearing any reference under Article 143, which deals with the power of the
President to consult the SC.

Data
As of December 13, 2022, there were 498 Constitution Bench cases still
outstanding in the Supreme Court, according to data provided to Parliament.
There are 2,870 petitions for public litigation pending before the Supreme
Court.
There are 4,331 special leave applications and 2,209 writ petitions,
respectively.
The Supreme Court is overworked by "frivolous" public interest lawsuits and
bail requests, which has hurt the effectiveness of justice delivery. There are
about 1,295 Contempt of court cases pending in the Supreme Court as on
December 16, 2022.
Reasons for Pendency of Cases
Rise in the awareness of rights by a How Judicial Delay Can be Addressed?
common man-Recent socio-economic Speedy appointment of judges-There is urgent need to improve the judge-
topopulation ratio to reduce the workload of judges.
advances and increased awareness of legal
Lok Adalat-Voluntary agencies like Lok Adalats (People’s Courts) are an
rights have encouraged more people to
interesting feature of the Indian legal system. It is one of the alternative
approach law courts for justice. dispute redressal mechanisms.
Increased Vacancies of judges-Another Counseling-Disputes can be settled at the pre-litigation stage through
prime reason is that there are not enough counseling.
judges (only around 21,000). The current Live-Hearings of the PIL-PIL refers to litigation undertaken to secure public
interest and demonstrates the availability of justice to socially disadvantaged
Judge to Population ratio is 10 to 1 million.
parties.
The number of judges is very low given size
Government Actions-Centre had suggested measures like increasing the
of our demography -The Law Commission number of working days of courts, establishment of fast track courts and
report in 1987 recommends at least 50 to 1 Indian Courts and Tribunal Services (ICTs) to increase the productivity of the
million. The population has increased by court system.
over 25 crores since 1987. E-platforms:Improve judicial infrastructure through the use of e-platforms
Budgetary Constraints Indian judiciary has and setting up of more courts. India has launched the e-Courts National
portal ecourts.gov.in of the eCourts Project.
insufficient resources, due to which there
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism:It uses the modes like
are not enough courts. Indian Judiciary is Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation. It uses a neutral third party who
allotted only with 0.1% to 0.4% of the helps the parties to communicate, discuss the differences and resolve the
budget. dispute. It offers to resolve all types of matters related to civil disputes, as
explicitly provided by the law.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The Supreme Court (SC) has requested an explanation from

the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the governments of
Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, MP, and Haryana on
their "consistent failure" to take action against lynching and
mob violence against Muslims that was carried out by cow
vigilantes.

Mob lynching
Is an act of premeditated extrajudicial killing by a
group of people, often targeted against a particular
individual or group. Mob lynching is based on some
false information, unconfirmed rumours etc.
Mob Lynching Violates constitutional guarantees
provided under following articles of the Constitution–
Articles 14
Article 15
Article 21

Factors contributing to an increase in mob lynchings in India:

Social factors:Religious divisions and differences between races are two of
the main factors that contribute to mob lynchings in India. The idea of the
so-called form of ‘instant’ justice is immensely popular. Prejudices and
biases based on caste, religion etc.
Political Propaganda: In the competitive electoral politics, the culture of
political mobilization based on social faultlines for polarization of
electorate into votebanks and use of violence for garnering support and
intimidating opponents, has gained strength.
Lack of Regulations: The weak law enforcement system in India is another
cause of mob lynching.
Administrative Failure: Given the state of the police and judiciary in the
country, there is a wide-ranging perception that ‘culprits’ go unpunished,
and that there is a chance that the accused in heinous crimes like rape,
child lifting and cow-slaughter will go scot-free. Vigilantism is a
Way Forward consequence of this basic failure of the government in providing justice. A
recent report by Delhi-based NGO Common Cause and CSDS mentioned
that, “35% of police personnel interviewed for the survey think it is natural
for a mob to punish the “culprit” in cases of cow slaughter, and 43% think
it is natural for a mob to punish someone accused of rape.”
Influence of Media: Social media has played a significant role in the spread
of fake news and rumors, which have contributed to the rise in mob
lynching incidents.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

International Relations Current Affairs 2023

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

Cross-border terrorism, cooperation in de-radicalisation strategies, promotion of

millets and sustainable lifestyles to address climate change, and digital
transformation — these are some of the key areas which will be discussed and be
part of the New Delhi declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
summit on Tuesday.

India And Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

India's association with the SCO began in 2005 as an Observer
country. India became a full Member State of SCO at the Astana
Summit in 2017, which was a "historic moment" in India's
engagement with the Organisation, according to officials.
In the past six years, India has played a "very active and con-
structive role" in all spheres of activities of SCO, officials said.
The theme of India's Presidency of SCO-SECURE is derived from
the acronym given by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO
Qingdao Summit.
"It stands for - S: Security, E: Economic development, C:
Connectivity, U: Unity, R: Respect for sovereignty and territorial
integrity and E: Environmental protection. an official said.
During its presidency, India created five new pillars and focus
areas of cooperation in SCO. These are Startups and Innovation,
Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment and
Shared Buddhist Heritage.
"Two new mechanisms in SCO, Special Working Group on Startups
and Innovation and Experts Working Group on Traditional
Medicine, were created on India's initiative.

Way Forward
The SCO is known as the "alliance of the East" and has been the
region's main security pillar due to its growing vital role in the
Asia-Pacific.
The SCO charter may need to be altered to address shifting
geopolitics and demand from neighbouring nations. The Charter's
growth and development are easily foreseen. The future of SCO is
bright, and it may be able to safeguard the future of this region as
well.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

In a significant step aimed at boosting economic linkages,

Taiwan on Wednesday announced it would open its third
representative office in India in Mumbai, more than a
decade after it last expanded its presence in India.

India And Taiwan Relationship

India and Taiwan don't have any formal diplomatic
relations because India follows the One-China policy.
However, as de facto Indian and Taiwanese embassies,
India and Taiwan created the Taiwan Economic and
Cultural Centre (TECC) in New Delhi and the India-Taipei
Association (ITA) in Taiwan, respectively, in 1995.
To pursue commerce, Taiwan opened the Taipei Economic
and Cultural Centres (TECC) in Chennai in 2012. These
offices represent Taiwan's interests in India in the absence
of an embassy.
Despite Chinese sensitivity to Taiwan, the opening of these
offices by Taiwan in India had little impact on relations
between India and China.

Taiwan's importance to
the entire world
Taiwan plays a
significant role in the
semiconductor
industry's global
supply chain.
Additionally, its
contract
manufacturers
represented more than
60% of the total
income generated by
semiconductors
worldwide in 2021.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

As Iran joins the Shanghai Cooperation

Organisation (SCO) as its ninth member, leaders
of the SCO at a virtual summit chaired by Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4 stressed
that the formation of a "more representative" and
multipolar world order is in the global interest.

Why is Iran's entry to the SCO important?

Shift of Goal of SCO -Stability and security were
the initial SCO goals. However, recently, attention
has switched to the region's connection.
Foster connectivity to Central Asia -In this regard,
Iran's admission to the SCO will support India in
developing its connectivity strategy through the
International North South Transport Corridor.
This will also assist India in avoiding land-based
trade with Pakistan.
Iran's accession also enables India to interact
with Central Asia without being involved in
China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Curbing Terrorism -India will be strengthened in
its appeal for action against terror safe havens by
Iran's historical ties to India and their shared
worries about terrorism from Pakistan and
Afghanistan.

How Iran's entry into SCO will have impacts on

India ?
Way Forward Russia and Iran both face harsh sanctions, and the
The SCO's membership of Iran presents SCO is increasingly seen as a "anti-West" platform.
both opportunities and difficulties. Iran has been charged by the US for providing
The reputation of the SCO as a "anti- Russia with weapons. This anti-Western attitude of
West" group is made worse while also the SCO could become even more entrenched with
bolstering cooperation against Belarus' anticipated admission to the organisation
terrorism and India's goals for next year.
connectivity. India's balancing task in maintaining relations with
Given the divergent dynamics and
the SCO is made more difficult by its expanding
interests, it becomes essential to
links with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
balance India's interactions with the
(Quad).
SCO and the Quad.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

All eyes are now on India’s negotiations with

France to co-develop a high-thrust engine for
the country’s stealth fighter jet programme,
the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
(AMCA).

India France Defence Ties

France has become the second-largest
defence supplier to India after Russia.
The strategic partnership between India
and France was established in 1998,
making France one of the first countries
to support India's nuclear tests in 1998.
Important aspect is the co-development
of a high-thrust engine for India's
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
(AMCA), a stealth fighter jet program.
With the delivery of Rafale fighter jets,
joint development of Scorpene
submarines, and an Airbus deal for
manufacturing tactical transport aircraft.
Both nations have also signed an
agreement for reciprocal logistics support
between their armed forces, similar to the
one between India and the US.
For an agreement between the Defence
Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) and French defence major Safran
- is significant, as it comes on the heels of
the GE-HAL MOU announced during Mr.
Modi's visit.
Joint development of Scorpene
submarines (six Kalvari submarines by
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited) and
the Airbus deal to manufacture C-295
tactical transport aircraft in Gujarat.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels settled on a three-

month dialogue on a potential course for Yemen in April
2023 in exchange for a six-month cease-fire.
The Houthis demanded that the Saudi-led blockade of
Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport be dropped as well as
that the Saudis pay the salaries of Yemeni government
employees out of the country's oil profits.

Who Are Houthis?

The country has been wracked by civil war for more than
seven years now, and the Houthis control the western
part of the country, including the capital Sana'a.
The Houthis are a large clan belonging to the Zaidi Shia
sect, with roots in Yemen's north western Saada
province.
Zaidis make up around 35 per cent of Yemen's
population. • The Zaid is ruled over Yemen for over a
thousand years until 1962, when they were overthrown
and a civil war followed, which lasted until 1970.

Significance of Yemen to India:

Yemen's location at the entrance to the Red Sea, a vital
commercial route for Indian shipping, gives it strategic
significance for India.
A important bottleneck for oil tankers heading to and from
the Suez Canal, which receives a sizeable share of India's
oil imports, is the Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Yemen
and Djibouti.
India has sent Yemen humanitarian aid, and its naval
vessels have assisted in the evacuation of Indian people
and other relief efforts.
Way Forward
India, a significant regional power, is interested in fostering
stability and peace in Yemen and the greater Middle East.
Overall, there are a number of obstacles to the Yemeni
peace process, including the Houthis' persistence on their
demands and conflicting regional power interests. It is
Add a subheading
uncertain if the two parties will be able to come to a
compromise that will stop the conflict and allow for the
nation's rehabilitation.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

In June 2022, the member-countries of the World Trade Organization

(WTO) managed to hammer out a face-saving deal India played a vital
role at the Geneva ministerial conference, thereby keeping faith in
trade multilateralism alive.
An important part was resurrecting the WTO's dispute settlement
system (DSS), also called WTO's 'crown jewel', by 2024. Since
2019, the WTO's two-tiered DSS remains paralysed.

Concerns with the WTO's DSS

From 1995 to 2019, the appellate body, the second tier of the
WTO's DSS, supported the rule of law by holding major nations
like the United States and the European Union responsible for
violations of international law.
It does not differentiate between large and small countries
when making assessments or choices.
However, as a result of its success, the appellate body has
suffered. It is still paralysed as of 2019.
The United States has blocked the appointment of appellate
body members, making it inactive.It has criticised the WTO's
appellate board for overstepping institutional bounds and
exercising judicial overreach.
In response to the growing economic influence of China, the
United States aims to assert greater control over its trade
policies by reducing the influence of the appellate body's
judicial review.

Dispute Settlement System under WTO

Need for Reform in WTO
The Dispute Settlement System (DSS) is often referred to as the
‘crown jewel’ of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Help Developing Countries: Developing countries, including
It was established in 1994 Uruguay Round negotiations (1986- India, can benefit from these reforms if proposals specific to
1994) and serves as a mechanism for resolving trade disputes their needs are accepted.
among WTO member states.
The main objective
Enhance effectiveness of Dispute Settlement Mechanismeff
Dispute Settlement System is to bring stability and Dispute Settlement Mechanism: The dispute settlement
predictability to the global trading system by providing a fast, mechanism within the WTO requires strengthening and
efficient, reliable, and rule-based framework for settling
expediting to enhance its effectiveness.
disputes.
It offers a platform for a complaining country to safeguard its WTO forms the backbone of the multilateral trading system
rights and allows the accused country to defend itself against and its reforms are necessary to strengthen its functioning.
allegations.
The DSS facilitates the interpretation, clarification, and proper
application of the rights and obligations outlined in the WTO
agreements. Way Forward
Though DSS may be out of trend, trade multilateralism is
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental still essential for developing nations like India.
organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between
nations.
Despite identifying numerous issues, the US has failed to
It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to offer a single solution. Since it is meaningless to engage
the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General
with the US to get the appellate body back on track, other
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been
established in 1948 nations must find a method to reform the WTO.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

The phrase "Global South" has once again gained attention

as many powerful nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
have declined to support NATO in the conflict in Ukraine.

Rise of Global South

Colonial Rule: The South's countries have a lot in

common, including a history of colonisation that was
mostly carried out by European powers.
Historical Exclusion from prominent International
organisations: Region's historical exclusion from
prominent international organizations - such as from
the permanent membership of the UN is intriguing.
Consciousness for decision-making: As bodies like
the UN and the IMF are involved in major decision-
making that affect the world in terms of politics,
economy and society, the exclusion is seen by these
countries as contributing to their slower growth.
Emergence of the two major Economies: China and
India have emerged economically sound in the past
two decades.
Declining US hegemony: Many consider the world to
now be multipolar rather than one where the US
alone dominates international affairs.
South-South Cooperation Initiatives Climate reparations: The Northern nations, who have
Reversal in the geopolitical poles- historically contributed to higher carbon emissions,
BRICS Forum: BRICS is a grouping of five significant are now being discussed as paying for funding green
developing economies, including South Africa, Brazil, energy.
Russia, India, and China. The forum fosters
communication between its member nations as well
as economic and political collaboration. India's approach for the Global South
The India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Forum was S Jaishankar said that India would be the “voice of the
created with the intention of fostering collaboration Global South that is otherwise under-represented in
in a number of sectors, including agriculture, trade, such forums.
investment, science and technology, education, and India is actively pursuing a collaborative strategy with
social development. countries in the Global South in order to establish an
influential collective front and implement exercise
Way Forward - practical development plans for these nations.
Global South nations are flexing their political muscles India's G20 Presidency and Role: India is actively
more and more. For instance, Brazil is aggressively
attempting to bring together countries in the Global
promoting peace solutions for the crisis in Ukraine, while
South and facilitate an action-oriented approach.
China is actively participating in Middle Eastern
India is a significant member of this region. India, a
diplomacy.
G20 leader, aims to elevate the voices of the Global
A "post-Western world" and a "Asian Century" are
South and bring their issues to the fore of
expected to arrive as a result of this increase in political
and economic power, according to scholars. international conversations.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity & IR Current Affairs 2023

India is seeking a “positive transformation” in its ties with Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary
Vinay Kwatra said, following a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in
Colombo on Tuesday.
In a visit aimed at laying the groundwork for Mr. Wickremesinghe’s upcoming trip
to New Delhi on July 21 — his first official visit to India since becoming President
under extraordinary circumstances a year ago — Mr. Kwatra said he discussed ties
across “the entire matrix of economic partnership” between the two countries.

India And Sri Lanka Relations

Grants: The overall commitment by GOI is to the tune of more than USD 3.5
billion. Demand-driven and people-centric nature of India’s development
partnership with Sri Lanka have been the cornerstone of this relationship.
FDI: India is also one of the largest contributors to Foreign Direct
Investment in Sri Lanka. According to BoI, FDI from India amounted to
about US$ 1.7 billion during the period 2005 to 2019.
People to people contact: Buddhism is one of the strongest pillars
connecting the two nations and civilizations from the time when Emperor
Ashoka sent his children Arhat Mahinda and Sangamitta to spread the
teachings of Lord Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri
Lanka.

Geopolitical -Indian government's focus on its Neighbourhood First Policy.

Regional Cooperation -Sri Lanka is a member of regional groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which
India plays a leading role.
Defence-India-Sri Lanka conduct ‘SLINEX’a joint naval exercise India, Sri Lanka and Maldives
conduct “DOSTI” a trilateral naval exercise India and Sri Lanka hold annual joint military drill
'Mitra Shakti’to boost counter-terror cooperation
Infrastructure -Two renewable energy projects, involving the Adani Group, were aimed at
generating combined capacity of 500 MW, at a cost of $ 500 million.The Indian Housing
Project: India has so far committed to construct close to 62,500 houses in Sri Lanka, making it
one of the largest projects undertaken by GoI abroad.
Cultural: The Cultural Cooperation Agreement has been signed between both the countries.
The Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo actively promotes awareness of Indian culture by
offering classes in Indian music, dance, Hindi, and Yoga. Buddhism is a connecting link
Way Forward
between India and Sri Lanka on religious lines.
India, which has adhered to
the "Neighbourhood First
Issues and Conflicts In India-Srilanka Relations
policy" to fortify ties with its
Strategic Issues: As part of Maritime Silk Route (MSR) policy, China built two ports, one in
neighbours, may go above Colombo and another in Hambantota. China has also collaborated in satellite launching activities
and beyond to assist Sri with Supreme SAT (Pvt.), Sri Lanka's only satellite operator.
Lanka in resolving the Problem with Fisherman : The country regularly arrests Indian fishermen for crossing the
current situation and International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) that demarcates Indian and Sri Lankan waters.
assisting Sri Lanka in Pro-China tilt:Sri Lanka is a member of China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) China is developing
Colombo Port City and the Hambantota port, which are slated to play an important role in the
reaching its potential so
BRI.
that Sri Lanka can benefit
Katchatheevu Island: It is an uninhabited island that India ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 based on a
from a stable, friendly conditional agreement called "Katchatheevu island pact”. Tamil Nadu claimed that Katchatheevu
neighbourhood. falls under the Indian territory and Tamil fishermen have traditionally believed that it belongs to
them and therefore want to preserve the right to fish there.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid on Wednesday said that

Maldives has an outstanding relationship with India and every time,
Maldives had an emergency, India has always been the first to respond.
“We have confidence in India that every time the Maldives has to dial
international 911 in an emergency, India has always responded— 1988,
the mercenary attack in the Maldives undermining our sovereignty, the
2004 tsunami, the 2015 water crisis in Mali, and the most recent COVID-
19 pandemic,” the Foreign Minister of Maldives told ANI about how
India has been helpful to the Maldives in the past and in recent times.

India and Maldives Relations

Regional Security: Maldives is important for political stability and security in
the Indian Ocean Neighbourhood and protection of Indian trade and
investment. They have a clear responsibility in maintaining peace and security
in the Indian Ocean. India to see Maldives supporting the Pacific strategy of the
Quad — a strategic arrangement between India, US, Japan and Australia.
Economic Relations & Blue Economy-The Indian Ocean is a key highway for
global trade and energy flows. The Maldives is geographically positioned like a
‘toll gate’ between the western Indian Ocean chokepoints of the Gulf of Aden
and the Strait of Hormuz on the one hand, and the eastern Indian Ocean
chokepoint of the Strait of Malacca on the other. It is extremely important for
India’s strength in blue economy through sustainable management and
Add a subheading utilisation of marine resources.
Geopolitical -India was among the first to recognize Maldives and establish
diplomatic relations with, after its independence in 1965. India promptly
assisted Maldives during 1988 under ‘Operation Cactus’ to abort a coup
against autocratic regime.
Diaspora-Indians are the second largest expatriate community in the Maldives
with a total strength of around 28000; consisting of doctors, nurses and
technicians, teachers, construction workers, tailors, etc.
Developmental Cooperation-The major completed and ongoing development
assistance projects executed by India are: Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital
Maldives Institute of Technical Education (now called the Maldives
Polytechnic) India-Maldives Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Studies
Technology Adoption Programme in Education Sector in the Maldives

What are the Challenges associated with India Maldives Relations?

Political Instability: India’s major concern has been the impact of political
instability in the neighbourhood on its security and development. The
Way Forward February 2015 arrest of Maldives’ opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed on
To guarantee regional security in South Asia terrorism charges and the consequent political crisis have posed a real
and adjacent maritime borders, India must diplomatic test for India’s neighbourhood policy.
play a significant role within the Indo-Pacific Increased Radicalisation:In the past decade or so, the number of Maldivians
drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based
security space.
jihadist groups has been increasing.
The development of extraregional powers Debt Trap Diplomacy of China: The political and financial links and incentives
(especially China's) in India's maritime created by China have continued to bear advantages for China and its
sphere of influence prompted the creation of geopolitical ambitions.
Maldives as prey to China's String of Pearls strategy: China's strategic
the Indo-Pacific security space.
presence has grown in the area surrounding India. The Maldives has emerged
as an important 'pearl' in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in South Asia.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The foreign ministers of India and the Philippines, S. Jaishankar

and Enrique Manalo, respectively, discussed strengthening the
bilateral relationship between their two countries at the sixth
meeting of the Philippines-India Joint Commission on Bilateral
Cooperation, which was held in New Delhi on June 29. The
meeting's main topics were South China Sea issues and
maritime cooperation.

“Quiet diplomacy”
Refers to one state’s efforts to influence the behavior of another
state through discreet negotiations or actions.
Quiet diplomacy operates behind the scenes and may rely on
back channeling rather than on public talks. It may also involve
deal making and strategic partnerships, involving more carrots
than sticks. Quiet diplomacy can also bringing indirect influence
to bear on a nation’s leaders through meetings with members of
civil society.

What were the meeting's key implications?

A resident defence attaché post would be established in Manila,
and the two nations' coast guards would work more closely
together.
Both parties agreed to start a maritime conversation, expand
training and collaborative exercises on maritime security and
disaster response, and allow Manila to purchase naval assets using
a concessional line of credit from Delhi.
The most important development was the agreement on local and
global issues, particularly the South China Sea.
India reaffirmed its firm commitment to upholding international
law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, but it also made a point of pressing adherence to the 2016
South China Sea Arbitral Award. This represents a shift from
India's prior stance.
Way Ahead
There is a realisation that the South China Sea problem
Strategic Importance of South China sea:
requires a political framework, which can only be
This sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as
created through dialogue.
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
it is the connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific
(ASEAN) should try to find a political solution through Ocean (Strait of Malacca).
"quiet diplomacy", as the potential for resolving this According to the United Nations Conference on Trade And
issue through legal methods is very low. Development (UNCTAD) one-third of the global shipping passes
The creation of a "political framework" and progress through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant
towards a legally binding "code of conduct" falls more geopolitical water body( 21% of global trade, amounting to $3.37
on the shoulders of ASEAN's leaders. If the ASEAN trillion).
nations want to convey a crucial political message to
It is also home to rich fishing grounds that provide for the
China, greater understanding is needed among
livelihoods of millions of people.
themselves.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

India-France relation is now geared towards the next quarter century,

said Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reached Paris on July 13
afternoon. In an interview that he gave to Les Echos before
commencing the journey to Paris, Prime Minister Modi made a strong
pitch for the overhauling of the international political-economic
architecture

India And France Relations

Strategic -France is the first country with which we initiated a
Strategic Dialogue after our 1998 nuclear tests when France
refused to impose bilateral sanctions on us and displayed a far
greater understanding of India’s security compulsions
compared to other countries.
Energy :An agreement was signed about a decade ago for
building six EPR (European Pressurized Reactors) nuclear
power reactors with a total capacity of 9.6 GW for which
negotiations have been on-going between the Nuclear Power
Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Areva.
Renewable energy: The International Solar Alliance is set in
motion jointly by India and France.
Combating Climate change through -Green Hydrogen, which
aims "to bring the French and Indian hydrogen ecosystems
together to establish a reliable and sustainable value chain for
a global supply of decarbonised hydrogen.
Earlier in February 2022, they signed a Road Map on the Blue
Economy and Ocean Governance.
Technology -An MoU signed last month between NPC
International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lyra, a France-
based payment services provider, may be implemented soon
with UPI payment.
Defence Ties- France has become the second-largest defence
supplier to India after Russia. The signing of an agreement for
the supply of 36 Rafale aircraft in September 2016.
Both nations have also signed an agreement for reciprocal
Way Forward logistics support between their armed forces, similar to the
As the the only EU state with territories in one between India and the US.
the Indo-Pacific, France could be an Joint development of Scorpene submarines (six Kalvari
important partner for building maritime submarines by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited) and the
do main awareness and keep an eye on Airbus deal to manufacture C-295 tactical transport aircraft in
China's presence in the region, Gujarat.
Space -Collaboration for Mission Gaganyaan, Space agencies
augmenting New Delhi's participation in
of India and France inked an agreement for cooperation for the
the Quad. India could act as a bridge
country’s first human space mission Gaganyaan.
between the West and the Global South.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

INDIA Is learnt to have asked for better market access in order to be a part of the trade
pillar of the Indo-Pacific EconomicFramework for Prosperity (IPEF) a 14-nation trade
bloc, officials said.
Renewed deliberations within the Union Commerce Ministry are learnt to be
centred on whether New Delhi should first take a commitment on joining even if
there is lack of clarity about specific gains or join now instead as 13 countries are
already negotiating the nitty gritties and if India were to accede later, it could be at
a disadvantage at having missed out on the negotiations.

Four pillars
Trade
Supply chains
Clean energy, decarbonization, and infrastructure
Tax and anti-corruption

India’s position in IPEF

India has joined 3 pillars expect the trade pillar.
Since India is in the process of firming up its own digital framework and laws,
regarding privacy and data, India will wait for the final outlines to emerge.
India expects that certain responsibilities of the developed world should also be an
integral part of any such agreement.
India has also few concerns about environment, labor, digital trade and public
procurement.

Members of IPEF
The IPEF has 14 partner countries including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and
the US.
Importance
The 14-nation IPEF bloc is seen as crucial as it accounts for about 40 per cent of the world’s
GDP and 28 per cent of the world’s trade in goods and services.
It is seen as an economic and trade strategy backed by the US to counter China’s economic
influence in the region.
India and IPEF
India joined three pillars of the IPEF.
The supply chain, decarbonisation and infrastructure, and anti-tax and corruption pillars of
the IPEF.
India had decided to remain out of the trade pillar.

India's situation with regard to the IPEF's trade part

In the long run, it may have a more significant impact on economic and trade flows
than tariffs.
Fixed supply chains and giving up policy space in critical sectors would result in
irreversible economic dependency in a world that is becoming more and more
digital.
The IPEF's profound effects on agriculture are already apparent in the form of
genetically modified seeds and foods, the transfer of policy space to Big Tech
regulation, and the compromise of a competitive edge in manufacturing due to
unequal labour and environmental standards.
It would also have a significant impact on India's capacity to build a dynamic home
ecosystem in developing industries like the digital economy and green products.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Governors of the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the United
Arab Emirates exchange MoUs as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan look on Qasr Al-Watan in
Abu Dhabi on July 15, 2023.

The UAE has had a special place in India's efforts in recent years to
increase its engagement in areas ranging from trade to security with
West Asian states. The Emirates are home to 3.5 million Indian
expatriates, who account for about 30% of the country's population.
Bilateral trade got a boost with the signing of the Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022.

India-UAE Relations
CEPA
Tade-in Goods: India will benefit from preferential market access
provided by the UAE, especially for all labour-intensive sectors. •
Such as Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, leather, footwear etc.
Trade-in Services: Both India and UAE have offered each other
market access to the broad service Such as 'business services',
'communication services', 'construction and related engineering
services,
Trade-in Pharmaceuticals: Both sides have also agreed to a separate
Annex on Pharmaceuticals to facilitate access to Indian
pharmaceuticals products, especially automatic registration and
marketing authorisation in 90 days for products meeting specified
criteria.
Investment: During the I2U2 meet the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
pledged $2 billion in funding to help build food parks in India (in
Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat).
Indian Diaspora
Around 3 million Indians are living harmoniously in the UAE.The
remittances from the UAE in the first half of 2020 accounted for US
$21 billion.
Energy Cooperation:
The UAE is a major supplier of crude oil, LPG, and LNG to India. The
CEPA trade deal is expected to further strengthen bilateral energy ties
and explore opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy.
Challenges between two countries
Space Cooperation
Kafala System:
The inhuman conditions imposed by the Kafala system on Collaborations between the Indian Space Research Organisation
immigrants sometimes create differences between the two (ISRO) and the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) have been established.
countries.Concerning unclear regulations, labour laws and The two space agencies have developed the nano-satellite, Nayif-1.
transparency issues. Defence
Growing Intolerance in India: 'Desert Eagle II', a ten day air combat exercise, was held between the
The recent crack caused due comments on Prophet
air forces of India and UAE.
Mohammed by members of ruling party spoils the positive
atmosphere between two countries. The maiden bilateral naval exercise 'Gulf Star 1' took place in March
India and UAE are yet to renegotiate their air services 2018.
agreement. Soft Diplomacy
Energy pricing: Indian cinema/ TV / radio channels are easily available and have good
As an OPEC country UAE is on the side of the debate, where viewership; major theatres/cinema halls in the UAE screen
India as a major oil consumer is arguing for a cap on prices.
commercial Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil films.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

Foreign minister S Jaishankar co-chaired 12th meet of Mekong Ganga

Cooperation, initiative by 6 nations focusing on cooperation in tourism,
culture, education, transport & communications.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Sunday emphasised the need to
speed up connectivity projects across the Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) region
and sought peace along the India-Myanmar border.

Emphasized the significance of MGC

In both a historical and modern sense, India attaches great importance
to the lower Mekong region.
The oldest sub-regional cooperation in this area, MGC is rooted in the
strong historical, geographical, and cultural ties between its six member
nations.
India's regional initiatives have been highlighted India is consistent in
its commitment to improving complete connectivity throughout the
region.
He highlighted a number of India's big projects. This comprised the
MGC traditional textile museum, the Centre for Excellence in Software
Development training, and the MGC scholarships.

India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.

India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long
highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land.
It would give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism
ties among the three countries.
Which will connect Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand via
Myanmar.

The Mekong–Ganga Cooperation

Was established in 2000, at Vientiane, Laos at the First MGC
Ministerial Meeting. It comprises six member countries, namely
India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
The four areas of cooperation are tourism; culture; education;
transportation and communication.

Objective
Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational rivers, and the
MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer contact among the people
inhabiting these two major river basins
The North East of India has been a priority in Act East Policy .
The focus of the “Look East Policy ” was to increase economic
integration with the South East Asian countries and the area was
confined to SouthEast Asia only.
On the other hand the focus of the “Act East Policy” is economic
and security integration and the focus area increased to South
East Asia as well as East Asia.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The UK on Sunday formally signed the Comprehensive and Progressive

Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc, a move it says
will help grow the country's economy and provide access for British
businesses to a market of over 500 million people.
UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who is also leading
the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, signed
the pact agreed earlier this year during a visit to Auckland and hailed it
as a major post-Brexit win for the country

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific

Partnership (CPTPP)
CPTPP is a free trade agreement (FTA) that was agreed in 2018
between 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
All 11 countries of CPTPP are members of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Britain will become the 12th member, and the first to join since
the partnership since its inception.
The agreement was originally proposed as the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP) in 2005, with the goal of creating a free trade
area that would cover 12 countries, including the US.
However, the US withdrew from the agreement in 2017,
prompting the remaining 11 countries to renegotiate the deal and
create the CPTPP.

Key economic goals of the CPTPP

The CPTPP aims to lower tariffs and advance economic
unity among its participants.
It seeks to remove tariffs on more than 95% of the goods
traded among its members and to open up more markets for
investments and services.
The agreement also contains clauses regarding labourlaws,
environmental norms, and intellectual property.

What are the advantages of adopting CPTPP for the UK?

Commercial gains: In the year ending September 2022, British
shipments to CPTPP nations totaled 60.5 billion pounds. Long-
term membership will bring an additional 1.8 billion pounds
per year, and potentially more if more nations join.
The agreement served as a "gateway" to the Indo-Pacific
region, which is expected to generate the majority (54%) of
future global economic development. Additionally, the UK and
India are presently negotiating a "free trade" agreement.
Benefits in terms of geopolitics include the UK's right to reject
China's ratification of the treaty. China has submitted an
application to join the union in September 2021.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

ON JULY 21, Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be in India for a visit. He will meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and finalise several investments supported by India, especially
in energy, infrastructure and tourism. Wickremesinghe was elected by a majority of MPs to
tackle Sri Lanka's economic crisis when the country defaulted on its sovereign debt in April
2022, and the investment. measures implemented since are starting to stabilise the economy.

Opportunities and Challenges

Chinese influence -The extensive involvement of China, whose total investments would
account for 18% of Sri Lanka's 2021 GDP and 10% of its foreign debt, is India's main concern
with regard to Sri Lanka. Keeping Sri Lanka nearby will aid India in keeping China at a distance.
An robust Neighborhood first policy will increase the appeal of South Asia as a region. From a
strategic perspective, the bilateral relationship might logically reach out to the Indian Ocean
and, beyond that, the Indo-Pacific.
Increased trade and the development of a strong South Asian supply chain can result from
India's assistance and investments in Sri Lanka. Since South Asian nations' hourly rates are
lower than those of China, they can create industrial clusters and export processing zones that
are supported by strong supply chains.
The docking of a Chinese "research" vessel in Hambantota Port in August 2022 was a serious
security concern.

For India-Sri Lanka to follow a similar track, five dimensions need attention.
First, India can consolidate its fragmented aid programme. Currently, Indian aid is
routed via multiple ministries and agencies. A single development bank will work
better. Good models exist, like the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and
China's Development Bank, which fi- nance large-scale development projects
internationally.
Second, as India becomes a destination for manufacturing and services, it can foster
supply chains in South Asia. Significant private Indian companies are investing in Sri
Lanka. The Adani Group invested $1.14 billion in renewable energy in the Mannar
Basin and the West Container Terminal at Colombo Port. The Tata Group already has
investments in Sri Lanka's tourism, agri-business, telecom and automobiles.
Third is digitalisation. The special focus of India's G20 presidency is digital public
infrastructure. India's open-source fintech is among the best in the world, and is
being adopted to achieve the UN's SDGs. India's UPI is being rapidly adopted
worldwide. But it has not been exposed to its own South Asian neighbourhood.
Fourth, a deeper engagement between the central bank governors of India and Sri
Lanka is needed. Frequent meetings and an early warning system for economic crises
are necessary. The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 ensured that ASEAN adopted a mu-
tual monitoring mechanism for early wam- ings and methods to assist each other
dur- ing a crisis.
Finally, there is security. It's no secret that India's most significant concern with Sri
Lanka is the presence of China. Cumulative Chinese investments account for 18 per
cent of Sri Lanka's 2021 GDP and 10.8 per cent of the country's foreign debt

Way Forward
The Indian Ocean is still India's and Sri Lanka's strategic backyard, India, Sri Lanka and
the Maldives conduct a tri- lateral naval exercise already and participate actively in the
important National Security Advisor led Colombo Security Conclave which includes
Mauritius. Bangladesh and Seychelles.
Sri Lanka must understand India's security concems. India has stepped up to help its
neighbour in difficult economic straits. A credit line is showing the path to private and
public investments. This can lead to increased trade and the building of a robust South
Asian supply chain. It's a winning proposition for the region, and offers potential
security through trade across the Indo-pacific.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The recent NATO summit (July 11-12) in Vilnius, Lithuania, signifies a Look
East moment for the reinvigorated alliance. Vytis, the armoured Lithuanian
knight, symbolises strength and resilience, having served as the country's
national coat of arms since the late 1300s.

NATO
Founded in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, also
known as the Washington Treaty, NATO consists of 31 member
countries and emerged amidst concerns over expanding Soviet
influence in Eastern Europe.
It was formed in 1949 to promote mutual defence and collective security
among its members.
After the Second World War, the European nations were struggling to
rebuild their economies and security. The economic advancement
required a huge amount of aid to help the war-torn landscapes. Help
was also needed to establish industries and produce food, while the
threat from Germany and the Soviet Union prevailed.
Highlights of the summit
The summit’s agenda included discussions on pressing security
concerns such as Ukraine and significant challenges in the Indo-Pacific,
including North Korea’s nuclear activities, ballistic missile tests, and
China’s military expansion and modernisation.
Add a subheading A new partnership programme called the Individually Tailored
Partnership Programme between NATO and Japan for 2023-2026 was
signed, focusing on cooperation in areas like new technologies, space,
and supply chain resilience.
NATO praised New Zealand as a valued partner, particularly
highlighting their collaboration in areas such as cyber defence, counter-
terrorism, arms control, and new technologies.
A significant agreement was also reached between South Korea and
NATO, further strengthening their collaboration in emerging areas such
as hybrid threats.
The approval of Finland and Sweden as NATO members demonstrated
the alliance’s adherence to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty,
enabling member countries to invite other European countries to join
NATO.

Way Forward
This summit marks NATO’s pivot towards Asia, highlighting the importance
of the Indo-Pacific for Euro-Atlantic security as stated in the official
communique.
Challenges associated with NATO
The Vilnius Summit brought to light the difficulties posed by China's The rules-based international order established after World War II currently
aggressive cyber operations, hostile rhetoric, and disinformation stands on shaky ground, with alternative narratives of global governance
campaigns targeting NATO countries, making China an increasing challenging existing institutions.
threat to the Alliance. The Indo-Pacific region is where the future of this global order may be
Significance of the Indo-Pacific: With widening space for QUAD
countries, New Zealand, South Korea, and others, the summit
determined.
underlined the growing significance of developments in the Indo- NATO and its allies in the West and well-wishers in the East must exercise
Pacific for Euro-Atlantic security. caution while navigating the “Thucydides’ Trap” of the 21st century.
The Soviet Union's rigid stance: Amid talks at the summit on Looking East and strengthening ties with allies there is a step in the right
possible NATO expansion, Russia's drone strike on Kyiv during the
direction, but acting East requires careful consideration and abundant
meeting suggested that the future of Eurasian security is still in
doubt. caution.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

If Southeast Asia is the heart of the

Indo-Pacific, the 56th Foreign
Ministers Meeting (FMM) of the
Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), the post-ministerial
conferences and other related regional
meetings, held in Jakarta, Indonesia in
mid-July, 2023, are the best barometer
to check on the region's latest
dynamics.

The Association of Southeast Asian

Nations is a regional organization which
was established to promote political and
social stability amid rising tensions among
the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.
The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision,
One Identity, One Community”.
ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia,
Jakarta.

ASEAN’s vision are :

Creating a political community that guarantees regional peace
and a just, democratic, and peaceful environment;
An economic community committed to establishing a regional
economy that is related to and well integrated into the global
economy; and
A sociocultural community to improve the region’s sustainability
and the quality of life for its people.
Concerns associated with ASEAN
The ASEAN's plans to rule the region and its agenda are in risk
due to the strained relations between the United States and
China.
The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which it
frequently promotes, expresses ASEAN's be concerned over "the
escalating geopolitical tensions in the region." ASEAN countries
have reaffirmed their support for the AOIP, but there are
uncertainties about how it will be put into practice.
China has close political and economic ties with ASEAN member Way Forward
states. Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar are considered as virtual Our EAM emphasised the importance of a “strong and
dependencies. unified” ASEAN in the emerging Indo-Pacific dynamics and
But, the Philippines has recently become more assertive in its highlighted the alignment between the AOIP and India’s
claims in the South China Sea. Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand hold favourable He has proposed exploring “newer areas such as cyber,
attitudes towards Beijing. None of these countries raises financial, and maritime security domains to enhance the
objections to China’s delaying tactics in negotiating an comprehensive strategic partnership between India and
enforceable code of conduct for the South China Sea. ASEAN.
Increased Internal Differences: Their internal differences on And also ASEAN has been referred to as “the Epicentrum
issues such as Myanmar keep surfacing in public. of Growth” by the group’s current chair, Indonesia.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The push for AU's inclusion has received significant momentum after
India hosted the 'Voice of the Global South Summit' earlier this year to
ascertain the needs of developing nations that it could pitch to leading
countries during its G20 presidency.
Major economies including the US, France, Japan, and China, have
also backed the proposal.

The AU is made up of 55 countries from the African continent,

and a G20 membership will give the union voting rights within the
bloc, possibly enhancing the continent's presence on the global
stage.
Even as the AU has been a regular invitee to summit gatherings
since 2010, as of now, only South Africa is part of the Group of 20
nations.

African Union
The AU seeks to promote peace, security, and stability on the
continent, enhance economic cooperation, and advance the
social and political well-being of African citizens.
It serves as a platform for African nations to collaborate on
various issues and represent their collective interests on the
global stage.
The African Union has 55 member states, which include all
recognized sovereign countries in Africa.
Member states actively participate in the AU's decision-making
processes, summits, and various specialized committees and
organs.
The AU provides a forum for African leaders to engage in
dialogue, address common challenges, and work towards shared
goals.
The African Union has over 1.3 billion people and an area of
around 29 million km2 (11 million sq mi) and includes popular
world landmarks, such as the Sahara and the Nile.
The union's current chair, Senegalese president Macky Sall had in
July 2022 voiced concerns over the lack of representation that the
continent has received on the global stage, even as some of the
most pressing issues like climate change, security and debt are
ones Africa is especially affected by, and the "gap in African
representation can weaken the G20's credibility, traction, and
representativeness," he had written at the time.
It is unclear if G20 will be named G21 if the AU receives full and
permanent membership, but officials said this is a branding
nomenclature issue that shouldn't be given much attention.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

On July 4, 2023, India successfully hosted the 23rd Meeting of the Council of
Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The world witnessed another “SCO moment”. Leaders of the SCO
member-states signed the New Delhi Declaration, and issued the
statements on countering radicalisation and exploring cooperation in
digital transformation.
The summit granted Iran full SCO membership, signed the
memorandum of obligations of Belarus to join the SCO as a member-
state, and adopted the SCO's economic development strategy for the
period until 2030.

23rd SCO Summit Highlights

The New Delhi Declaration and statements on preventing radicalization
and exploring collaboration in the digital transformation were signed by
the leaders of the SCO member states.
The summit approved the SCO's 2030 economic development strategy,
granted full membership to Iran, and signed a memorandum of
understanding with Belarus to become a member state.
India declined to join other members on sentences in the joint statement
that discussed China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and it opted out of a
joint statement on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO)
Economic Development Strategy 2030, demonstrating a lack of
agreement within the group.

The SCO's Importance in Global Politics and a Changing World

The SCO has performed hard to preserve its members' essential interests
throughout the years, supporting one another strongly in doing so, and coordinating
national development plans and regional cooperation projects.
All member nations have maintained the spirit of good friendliness and goodwill
and created alliances based on alliance rather than cooperation and partnerships
characterized by discussion rather than conflict.
The SCO has served as an upholder of and contributor to regional stability, wealth,
and peace.
These accomplishments represent the global goals for peace, progress, and
mutually beneficial cooperation.
The SCO can strengthen unity and cooperation, embrace growth opportunities, and
handle risks and problems by taking the lead and setting an example.
The SCO's importance to India
Regional Security: By focusing on intelligence sharing, law enforcement, and the
development of best practices and technologies, RATS can assist India in
strengthening its counterterrorism capabilities.
India can combat the spread of small weapons and drug trafficking through the SCO.
Geographical importance: India's extended neighborhood includes Central Asia.
Additionally, the SCO gives India the chance to advance its "Connect Central Asian
Policy."
Additionally, it will assist India in keeping an eye on China's expanding influence in
Eurasia.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty

 Polity& IR Current Affairs 2023

The minister was speaking in the presence of his counterpart S Jaishankar

who described Japan as modernising India’s natural partner. Talks
between the two leaders on Thursday saw them backing efforts to
strengthen defence and security cooperation between India and Japan
that would help them achieve their aim of a free, open and inclusive Indo-
Pacific.

India And Japan Relations

History
Exchange between Japan and India is said to have begun in the 6th century
when Buddhism was introduced to Japan. Indian culture, filtered through
Buddhism, has had a great impact on Japanese culture, and this is the source
of the Japanese people's sense of closeness to India.
Economic
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) India is the largest
recipient of Japanese aid and Japan is India's 12th largest trading partner.
Currency swap typically involves the exchange of interest and sometimes of
principle in one currency for the same in another currency. Interest rates are
exchanged at fixed rates through the life of the contract.
Infrastructure Investment
India has been the largest recipient of the Japanese Official Development
Assistance(ODA) Loan for the past decades. Delhi Metro is one of the most
successful examples of Japanese cooperation through the utilization of ODA.
Highlights of the Meet Health Ties
EAM credits Japan for a number of industrial Objectives of India's AYUSHMAN Bharat Programme and Japan's AHWIN,
"revolutions" in India, such as the advent of the both sides had been consulting with each other to identify projects to build
Maruti-Suzuki passenger vehicle collaboration and the narrative of AHWIN for AYUSHMAN Bharat.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation
metro rail services in several Indian cities.
India Japan Nuclear Deal 2016 will help India build the six nuclear reactors in
With reference to India-Japan military and maritime
southern India, increasing nuclear energy capacity ten-fold by 2032.
drills, which included the first-ever joint fighter
Strategic Cooperation
exercise in January of this year, he continued, "Both
Japan is only the second country after the United States with which India
countries are already doing some cooperation in holding 2+2. The India-Japan 2+2 dialogue is an endorsement of the special
the security sphere." strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo.
In the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, he Security
was confronted about the level of "wartime Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India.
cooperation" that Japan and India may anticipate. There are also various frameworks of security and defense dialogue between
Increasing "peace, stability, and security" in the Japan and India including –
area, he claimed, would allow India and Japan to Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2” meeting),
prevent "many of the worst fears" from becoming Annual Defense Ministerial Dialogue and
reality. Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard dialogue
Science And Technology
India-Japan Digital Partnership’ (lI-JDP) was launched in October 2018. In May
2018, both countries signed the Joint Statement on Japan-India Startup
Initiative setting up the first Startup Hub in Bangalore.

Way Forward
Indo-Japan should be realistic enough to understand that in any future
regional strategic scenario, because of its economic and military strength .
China would likely play a significant role in any future regional strategic
scenario due to its economic and military might, hence efforts should be
made to retain the Indo-Pacific multipolar. Indo-Japan should be realistic
enough to grasp this.

By Nikhil K Gowda PSIR Faculty