UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on India’s neighbourhood foreign policy and pro-tem Speaker (Week 56)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with India’s neighbourhood foreign policy.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

THOUGHT PROCESS

You may enrich your answers by some of the following points

QUESTION 1: How pro-tem Speaker of Lok Sabha is appointed? Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the pro-tem Speaker.

Introduction:

— In the new Lok Sabha, the Speaker of the House is decided by a simple majority. Until her selection, the pro-tem Speaker is chosen to administer some important duties. ‘Pro-tem’ essentially means ‘for the time being’ or ‘temporarily’.

— Article 94 of the Indian Constitution states: “Whenever the House of the People is dissolved, the Speaker shall not vacate his office until immediately before the first meeting of the House of the People after the dissolution.”

— The Constitution does not mention the post. However, the official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ speaks about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.

Body:

How a pro-tem Speaker is appointed?

— The handbook states when the Speaker post falls vacant before a new Lok Sabha, “the duties of the Speaker are to be performed by a Member of the House appointed for this purpose by the President as Speaker pro tem”.

— Normally, the President appoints three additional elected members of the Lok Sabha to witness the MPs taking their oath.

— According to the handbook, the senior most members (in terms of number of years of membership of the House) are generally chosen for the purpose, though there have been exceptions.

— As soon as the new government is constituted, the Legislative I Section of the Government of India compiles a list of the most senior Lok Sabha MPs. It is subsequently submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs or the Prime Minister, who will appoint an MP as Speaker pro-tem and three more members for oath-taking.

Duties of the pro-tem Speaker

— Administering oaths to the new MPs is the pro-tem Speaker’s primary duty. Under Article 99 of the Constitution, “Every Member of the House shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the President or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule of the Constitution.”

— The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs sends a note to the President requesting consent for the appointment of the Speaker pro-tem and the remaining three members. They also set the day and hour for the swearing-in event.

— In Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President administers the oath of office to the Speaker pro-tem. The Speaker pro tem of the Lok Sabha administers the oath to the other three members selected by the President.

— The Speaker pro-tem then gives the oath/affirmation to the newly elected members with the assistance of the remaining three members.

(Source: Who is the pro-tem Speaker of Lok Sabha and how is an MP chosen for the role?)

Points to Ponder

Duties of Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Articles related to Speaker of the Lok Sabha and chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Related Previous Year Questions

Once a Speaker, Always a Speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (2020)

Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss. (2017)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with India’s neighbourhood foreign policy.

Introduction:

— Leaders of seven countries in India’s neighbourhood — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles — attended the swearing-in of the new government. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar were not invited.

— There was no substantive bilateral meeting with any neighbourhood leader.

— However, there will be some calibration and re-setting of the agenda for specific regions, depending on the changing global situation and Indian strategic imperatives.

Body:

Challenges and opportunities associated with India’s neighbourhood

Afghanistan

— There has been no diplomatic relationship with Kabul since the Taliban captured power in August 2021. There is low-level engagement through a technical team assigned to help in humanitarian aid, but high-level engagement has been ruled out for now.

Myanmar

— The challenge has been engaging with the junta administration, which is focused with internal armed resistance. It has been urged in Indian strategic circles that given the possibility of the government’s collapse, India should begin engaging with the opposition groups.

Maldives

— The arrival of President Mohamed Muizzu, who rode to power on a “India Out” plank, was particularly noteworthy. As asked by the Muizzu government, India replaced military personnel manning Indian aviation assets in the Maldives with trained technical personnel. New Delhi and Malé look to be prepared to engage.

Bangladesh

— Greater restraint from members of the government and the ruling party during the third phase of the BJP government is likely to be good, as both sides share the same goal of combating extremism, radicalisation, and terror.

Bhutan

— India has been ready to support Thimphu with assistance in its five-year plan, a financial stimulus package, and the Gelephu city project.

Nepal

— China has a significant political presence in Nepal, and the Kathmandu government, led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, is considered to be attempting to leverage Beijing’s influence against Delhi.

— India would have to work hard to recover the faith of the Nepalese people, which was eroded by the 2015 economic boycott.

Sri Lanka

— The goodwill gained by India on the Sri Lankan street after helping out with the island nation’s financial crisis was jeopardised by the needless raking up of Katchatheevu island.

Seychelles and Mauritius

— India’s plans to help upgrade port infrastructure in these countries is part of its maritime diplomacy and security effort. Some success has been achieved at Agalega Islands in Mauritius, but developing Assumption Island in Seychelles has presented a challenge.

Pakistan

— India’s engagement with Pakistan went through ups and downs in 2014 and 2015, before being wrecked by the terrorist attacks in Pathankot and Uri in 2016.

— In 2019, the Pulwama attack and Balakot strikes fuelled nationalist sentiment in India.

— The constitutional changes in J&K in August 2019 was the final blow that led to the downgrading of the diplomatic relationship.

— The series of terror attacks in J&K over the last few days have put paid to any potential build-up of public opinion in favour of a possible engagement.

China

— High-level engagements, especially Modi’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan in the first week of July on the sidelines of the SCO summit, may hold potential for an unlock.

— India wants complete disengagement and then de-escalation, and it will take a lot of time to move 50,000-60,000 troops and weapons away from both sides of the border.

(Source: India’s foreign policy in Modi 3.0: A look at challenges and opportunities by Shubhajit Roy)

Points to Ponder

India’s engagement with western countries

India’s involvement in the South-Asian region.

Related Previous Year Questions

Indian diaspora has scaled new heights in the West. Describe its economic and political benefits for India. (2023)

‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India’s role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (2022)

Indian Diaspora has an important role to play in South East Asian countries economy and society. Appraise the role of Indian Diaspora in South-East Asia in this context. (2017)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 55)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 54)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 54)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 55)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 55)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 56)