UPSC Key | Annual Survey of Industries, Swachh Bharat Mission, and more

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Front

Survey: Manufacturing industries’ job growth at 12-year high in FY23

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story-  The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-23, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Monday, showed that the total number of employees in manufacturing industries increased by 7.5 per cent to 1.84 crore in 2022-23 from 1.72 crore in 2021-22.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the purpose of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)?

— What is the Gross fixed capital formation?

— What is the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme?

Key takeaways: 

— This is the highest rate of increase in employment in manufacturing industries in the last 12 years.

— The highest employment was recorded in factories producing food products, followed by textiles, basic metals, wearing apparel, and motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, the latest ASI data showed.

— According to the survey, the total number of factories increased from 2.49 lakh in 2021-22 to 2.53 lakh in 2022-23, which was the first year marking the full recovery phase after the Covid-19 pandemic.

— In comparison, the number of workers employed in the informal sector in 2022-23 had dropped by 16.45 lakh or about 1.5 per cent to 10.96 crore compared to 11.13 crore in 2015-16, as per the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Enterprises (ASUSE) 2022-23 released in July this year.

— The ASI data is the principal source of industrial statistics and data for organised manufacturing. It relates to factories employing 10 or more workers using power and those employing 20 or more workers without using power. 

— The definition is slightly tweaked for states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa, wherein data is collected for factories employing 20 or more workers with power and factories having 40 or more workers without power.

— The Ministry said the main drivers of the manufacturing growth in 2022-23 were industries related to basic metal, coke & refined petroleum products, food products, chemical and chemical products and motor vehicles.

— The estimated number of persons engaged in the manufacturing industries in 2022-23 is higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2018-19 by over 22.14 lakh, the Ministry said.

For Your Information: 

— While India’s services exports constitute 4.3 per cent of the world’s commercial services exports, goods exports barely account for 1.8 per cent of the global goods market, resulting in low job generation in the manufacturing sector.

— This is particularly concerning, as India has been unable to capitalise on the opportunity presented by China’s exit from low-skill manufacturing between 2015 and 2022. 

— Despite a decrease in China’s participation in low-skill manufacturing of apparel, leather, textiles, and footwear, countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, and even advanced economies like Germany and the Netherlands, have become the primary beneficiaries of China’s shrinking market share.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the formal and informal sectors?

— How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the manufacturing sector?

— What are the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector in India?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government in the manufacturing sector?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(1) What is/are the recent policy initiative(s)of Government of India to promote the growth of manufacturing sector? (UPSC CSE 2012)

1. Setting up of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones

2. Providing the benefit of ‘single window clearance’

3. Establishing the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains

Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard. (UPSC CSE 2023)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Low- & high-skilled jobs: Gap rising as manufacturing stagnation continues

 

Express Network 

PM Modi to launch sanitation projects worth over ₹ 9,600 crore on October 2 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation 

What’s the ongoing story- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will mark the completion of 10 years of the Swachh Bharat Mission launch by participating in the Swachh Bharat Diwas programme on October 2, during which he will launch and lay foundation stones for several projects related to sanitation and cleanliness worth more than ₹9,600 crore.

Prerequisites: 

— What are the various components of SBM?

—  Read about these schemes:  Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), GOBARdhan scheme, the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme

Key takeaways: 

— The Swachh Bharat Diwas programme will showcase India’s decade-long sanitation achievements and those in the recently- concluded “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign.

— The projects to be launched include those worth more than Rs 6,800 crore aimed at enhancing urban water and sewage systems under AMRUT and AMRUT

– The Swachh Bharat Diwas programme will also set the stage for the next phase of this national endeavour, the statement said.

— The theme for “Swachhata Hi Seva 2024” — “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata” — has once again united the country in its commitment to cleanliness, public health, and environmental sustainability, the statement said. 

For Your Information: 

— The launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) by the Prime Minister on October 2, 2014, had a unique goal — to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to make the country Open Defecation Free (ODF). By offering financial incentives for building household toilets, as well as community toilets for slums and migrant populations, the government gave a huge fillip to the toilet infrastructure.

— The second phase of the project, which commenced in 2020 and is expected to run till 2025, has set even more ambitious targets — sustaining the achievements of phase 1 and ensuring that treatment of both liquid and solid waste is achieved through the help of technology and private sector engagement.

Points to Ponder: 

— How did SBM become a Jan Andolan?

— What are the challenges of the SBM?

— What are SBM ODF+ and SBM ODF++?

— Why did the government include the treatment of liquid and solid waste in the second phase of the SBM?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC CSE 2019)

(a) The waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.

(b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns, and all industrial townships only

(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.

(d) It is mandatory on the part of the waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.

Mains

How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? (UPSC CSE 2016)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Knowledge nugget of the day: Swachh Bharat Mission

How Swachh Bharat Mission advanced progress on safety and dignity, health and economy

Govt to cut off 2 crore mobile connections block 2 lakh handsets

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has informed the Centre’s high-level inter-ministerial panel it will disconnect around 2.17 crore mobile connections, that are either taken on forged documents or misused in cybercrime, and also block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets.

Prerequisites: 

— What are cyber crimes?

— What is the significance of cyber security?

— Read about the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). 

Key takeaways: 

— On March 28, The Indian Express reported that more than 5,000 Indians were suspected to be trapped in Cambodia after being allegedly held against their will, and forced to carry out cyber frauds. 

— According to government estimates, Indians had been duped of at least Rs 500 crore in the six months before March this year. The Centre had then set up the inter-ministerial panel to look into the issue and identify the loopholes. The panel is learnt to have identified gaps in the banking, immigration, and telecom sectors.

— DoT said it has taken several measures to effectively implement Know Your Customer (KYC) for the procurement of SIM cards. “They are also disconnecting around 2.17 crore mobile connections, that are either taken on fake/forged documents, more than prescribed limit or misused in cyber-crime/financial frauds. They are also blocking 2.26 lakh mobile handsets,” said a source in the security establishment.

— DoT said in the meeting that to identify roaming phone numbers in scam compounds in the Southeast Asia region, all the telecom service providers (TSPs) have been asked to provide data every week for Indian mobile numbers, which are under roaming facility in Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, and Myanmar.

— Analysis of data by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of MHA, had found an increase in the number of cyber crimes targeting Indians — about 45 per cent were found to originate from the Southeast Asia region. Around 1 lakh cyber complaints have been registered with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal since January 2023.

For Your Information: 

— The digital age, while bringing unparalleled convenience and connectivity, has also seen a parallel and alarming rise in cybercrime. This surge is attributed to the increasing penetration of the internet and digital services across the globe, making more individuals and organizations vulnerable to cyber threats. 

— Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of malicious activities, including identity theft, financial fraud, hacking, cyberstalking, and the distribution of harmful software, among others.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the reasons behind the increasing cases of cyber crimes?

— What legal frameworks exist at the national and global levels to combat cyber crimes? 

— What are the government initiatives to tackle cyber crimes in India?

Post Read Question:

What are the different elements of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy. (UPSC CSE 2022)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How criminals based in southeast Asia are trapping Indians online

The Editorial Page

The La Nina Shadow

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation

Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- Dr Gufran Beig writes: The delayed onset of the La Niña and the late retreat of the monsoon have eroded the optimism that Delhi’s residents could experience better air this winter compared to previous years.

Prerequisites: 

— What is La Nina?

— What is ENSO?

— What are PM2.5 and PM10?

Key takeaways: 

— It now seems that a large part of north India will face significant pollution-related challenges in the early winter months, with the possibility of some relief in December and January depending on how quickly La Niña conditions strengthen. If stubble burning occurs even at half the intensity of the past few years, the situation could worsen in November.

— Recent research by scientists at the National Institute of Advanced Science (NIAS) has underlined the links between climate change, La Niña and air quality. 

— Gone are the days when air pollution used to be only “local emission-centric” and a region-specific problem. In an era of rapidly changing climate, researchers need to shift from an emission-centric approach to one that focuses on larger meteorological and climatological processes and maps of airsheds.

— The influence of large-scale atmospheric circulations such as ENSO, changes in wind patterns, and the behaviour of pollutants over long distances require greater attention. This dynamic introduces complexities in how emissions from neighbouring regions, even different countries, contribute to local air quality. 

— Policymakers should not lose sight of the challenges posed by PM2.5. Mitigating its emissions means framing policies related to its dominant sources, fossil fuels with a toxic chemical content.

— The slower withdrawal of the monsoon typically leads to extended periods of high humidity and calm winds. This, combined with the anti-cyclonic circulation in the post-monsoon period, results in reduced atmospheric mixing and dispersion of pollutants. This will likely result in elevated levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in the pre-winter period.

— The delayed onset of La Niña is a matter of concern…However, the earliest that La Niña is expected to develop is between September and November 2024. The neutral conditions will, therefore, contribute to stagnant surface winds, exacerbating the pollution problem in northern India in autumn and early winter.

— Given the dominance of north-north-westerly winds at 850-900 mb, in the absence of La Niña conditions, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is likely to have a significant impact in undermining Delhi’s air quality.

— La Nina could also bring a longer and more severe winter. This will contribute to the lowering of the inversion layer — the part of the atmosphere that traps pollutants — and limit vertical mixing.

—  In a warming world, other than local anthropogenic emissions, rapidly changing climate is an additional uncertainty that requires more rigorous mitigation efforts. There is a need to focus on larger airsheds rather than concentrating on individual cities.

Points to Ponder: 

— How air pollution is not a region-specific problem?

— What are the government initiatives to combat air pollution?

— What are the challenges of those initiatives?

— What additional steps need to be taken to combat air pollution?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022)

1. The 24-hour mean of should not exceed and annual mean of  should not exceed

2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.

3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.

4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements, given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

Mains

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards? (UPSC CSE 2021)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Why winter of 2022-23 in Delhi was cleaner than usual, but Mumbai saw poor air

Dhaka Outreach

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance 

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations,  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Muhammad Yunus, Nobel laureate and head of the interim government in Bangladesh, had a successful diplomatic outing in the US. Apart from speaking at the UN General Assembly, he held an impressive number of meetings, including with US President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, the President of the European Commission, and the heads of the World Bank and ADB.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the history of India-Bangladesh bilateral ties?

— Map work: Location of Bangladesh and Indian states sharing boundaries with Bangladesh. 

Key takeaways: 

— A near singular theme emerged from the talks – the West, including and especially the US, is willing to extend support to the post-Sheikh Hasina regime in Dhaka. Yunus also met Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Reportedly, Sharif and Yunus discussed the deepening and restoration of bilateral ties, as well as the revival of SAARC. Delhi must read the tea leaves after Yunus’s visit, and it must deal maturely and practically with the new reality.

— The overtures to Pakistan seem to confirm that the Jamaat-e-Islami may now be more central to the Bangladesh government. The fact remains that the interim government seems to have popular political legitimacy and that Delhi will not have a veto over Dhaka’s ties with Islamabad. However, Yunus addressing the UNGA in Bengali is also a reminder that linguistic identity is still central in Bangladesh and that political change must not be viewed through the prism of religion alone.

— Doing so is counterproductive, runs the risk of bringing out the worst tendencies of Partition, and constrains Delhi’s space for engagement.

— Speaking in New York last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted that India’s rise comes at a time of global political and economic turbulence. He was also right when he pointed out that over the last decade, this country has “been pursuing a policy of focusing on the neighbourhood in a non-reciprocal, very generous way”. 

— In Bangladesh, like in much of the Subcontinent, India has geographical and economic interests and advantages along with deep historical ties. For the people of both nations, economic development is the priority, and a task made easier through collaboration.

For Your Information: 

— India and Bangladesh have deep-rooted bonds of history, language, culture, and many other commonalities. The exceptional nature of their bilateral ties is reflected in a comprehensive partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding. The cooperation between both the nations can be seen in various areas.

— India was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh and establish diplomatic relations immediately with it in December 1971.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of Bangladesh for India?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Bangladesh?

— What are the challenges in India and Bangladesh ties?

Post Read Question:

Prelims 

(4) How many of the following states share the borders with Bangladesh?

1. Assam

2. West Bengal

3. Tripura

4. Mizoram

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) One only

(b) Two only

(c) Three only

(d) All four

Mains

The protests in Shahbag Square in Dhaka in Bangladesh reveal a fundamental split in society between the nationalists and Islamic forces. What is its significance for India? ( UPSC CSE 2013)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

UPSC Issue at a Glance | Bangladesh Crisis and India: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

Explained

Why a ‘Suicide Pod’ is under Legal scrutiny in Switzerland 

UPSC Syllabus: 

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-IV: Government Policies and Interventions; Rights issue,   Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships.

What’s the ongoing story- Switzerland police arrested at least four persons recently for their involvement in the death of a 64-year-old American woman by a ‘suicide pod’ on September 23. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly suffered from an autoimmune condition for years.

Prerequisites: 

— What is euthanasia?

— How euthanasia is different from assisted dying?

Key takeaways: 

— Both euthanasia and assisted dying are ways in which a person may intentionally choose to end their life.

— Euthanasia relies on the presence of a physician to address a lethal drug to the person. Euthanasia may be of two kinds — voluntary, where the patient gives their explicit consent, and involuntary, when they are unable to do so, possibly because they are in a coma.

— Assisted dying, on the other hand, is understood to rely on self-administration of the lethal substance, with medical involvement restricted simply to the procurement of the drug. It means intentionally helping another person end their life, and does not stipulate that the person is terminally ill.

— Active euthanasia is banned in Switzerland. However, assisted dying and assisted suicide are legal as long as the person ends their life without any “external assistance” and those who help them do not have “any self-serving motive”.

— The country’s laws on assisted dying and assisted suicide have made it a preferred destination for “death tourism,” wherein people come there to end their lives.

— According to critics, the Sarco Pod allegedly exploits a loophole in Swiss laws on euthanasia and assisted dying.

For Your Information: 

— The Supreme Court had in 2018 legalised passive euthanasia, contingent upon the person having a “living will”, or a written document that specifies the actions to be taken if the person is unable to make their own medical decisions in the future.

— The Supreme Court had allowed passive euthanasia while recognising the living wills of terminally-ill patients who could go into a permanent vegetative state and issued guidelines regulating the procedure.

— The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide for anyone who faces “unbearable suffering” that has no chance of improvement.

— The United States has different laws in different states. Euthanasia is allowed in some states like Washington, Oregon, and Montana.

— The United Kingdom considers it illegal and equivalent to manslaughter.

Points to Ponder: 

— Evolution of the concept of living will in India

— What are the ethical issues concerning euthanasia?

Post Read Question:

What does living will entail? What are the challenges associated with its implementation?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

High Court judge becomes first in Goa to register ‘living will’

Explained: The law and the ground realities of passive euthanasia in India

Export ban on Non-Basmati White Rice lifted: why, what is the likely impact

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic Development

Mains Examination: GS-III: Economic development and agriculture

What’s the ongoing story- The Centre Saturday (September 28) lifted the ban on export of Non-Basmati White Rice. It has, however, imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $490 per tonne.

Prerequisites: 

— What is India’s export policy related to agricultural products?

— What are the top three rice-producing states?

Key takeaways: 

— The export ban had come amid a marginal dip in rice production and the looming threat of an erratic monsoon last year.

— This year, sowing of paddy during the ongoing kharif season has been higher, the crop is normal, and a bumper output is expected. Wholesale prices are down, while the Central pool is well-stocked. Factors behind this are:

1. Higher sowing

2. Record production

3. Declining wholesale prices, stable retail inflation

4. Surplus stocks

— Along with easing export restrictions, the Centre has also allowed state governments to buy rice for their welfare schemes, and distilleries for ethanol making.

— Before its export was banned, Non-Basmati White rice constituted about 25 per cent of the total rice exported from the country. The lifting of the ban will help traders, who, if they were at all exporting, were paying a 20% duty. It will boost export sentiment and may benefit farmers who grow non-Basmati premium varieties like Sona Masoori (mainly grown in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana), which was hit by the ban.

— For domestic consumers, retail prices, which are already elevated, may further go up.

— The Centre had allowed exports “on the basis of permission granted” to meet the food security needs of other countries, based on the request of their governments.

— Thus, the rice was being exported, through the newly formed National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL), to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bhutan, Mauritius, Singapore, Nepal, Cameroon, Cote d’ Ivore, Republic of Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, and Seychelles, among others.

— Two east Asian countries—Thailand and Vietnam—are the two main competitors of India in the global rice market. In 2023, the combined rice export of these two countries was almost equal to Indian exports. Besides, Pakistan, Cambodia and the United States are also in the list of rice exporters.

— India’s rice exports are broadly categorised into basmati and non-basmati rice. The non-basmati rice category includes six subcategories— rice in husk of seed quality; other rice in husk; husked (brown) rice; rice parboiled; non-basmati white rice; and broken rice.

For Your Information: 

— India is the second-largest producer and the biggest exporter of rice. Basmati accounts for almost one-third of India’s total rice export. 

— India, along with China, accounts for over half of the world’s rice production. China, however, is also the biggest consumer of rice, leaving little for exports.

— According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), India accounted for 33 per cent (17 million tonnes) of the world’s total rice exports (53 million tonnes) during the calendar year 2023.

— Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, European Union, Nigeria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are the top rice importers.

Points to Ponder: 

— Why the government has lifted the export ban on Non-Basmati Rice?

— What are the potential benefits of lifting the export ban on Non-Basmati Rice?

— What impact will the lifting of the export ban have on domestic prices and inflation? 

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the following statements:

1. India was the largest rice exporting country in the world from 2018 to 2022.

2. In 2023, India banned the export of broken and non-basmati white rice.

3. Rice export from India in 2022 accounts for around 40 per cent of the world’s rice exports.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How Basmati in India is reaping the rewards of research

 

The Ideas Page

A war without victors

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: International Relations and Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. 

What’s the ongoing story- Anju Gupta writes— “Within 10 days of September 17-18, when Israel remotely triggered explosions of hundreds of communication devices used by Hezbollah cadres and civilians in Lebanon, leading to thousands of casualties, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike in southern Beirut by Israeli forces.”

Prerequisites: 

— Read about the Hezbollah. 

— What is the historical background of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict?

— Map work: Location of Lebanon, Israel, Iran, West Bank, Gaza strip, Yemen. 

Key takeaways: 

— “The ceasefire talks on Gaza seem stuck, while another war between Israel and Lebanon appears possible. The series of tactical wins for Israel concerning Hezbollah is unlikely to end the cycle of violence between Israel and the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance”.

— “The forces have started operations in parts of the West Bank too. The Yemen-based Houthis have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, despite US-led reactive and pre-emptive strikes on land and sea-based resources of the Houthis. In mid-September, a hypersonic missile fired by the Houthis from 2,000 km away hit Tel Aviv, causing major panic.”

— “Among the multiple fronts, it’s the northern front bordering Lebanon that has become a big worry for Israel. Since October 7, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in aerial attacks across the border.”

— “Hezbollah is known to be a highly organised group and may throw up an ideologue as a new undeclared leader, while operational commanders may remain under the radar to avoid being targeted. This has become a new tactic for big groups.”

— “The deployment of ground troops in southern Lebanon would present serious force protection issues for Israel, even if aerial attacks by Hezbollah pause for a while. Apart from Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli troops could also get bogged down on Lebanese soil.”

— “The chaos in the Middle East is surfacing in distant lands, too. On September 8, the French General Directorate for Internal Security announced the arrests of a French-Algerian dual citizen and his partner for attempting to execute an Iran-backed plot to assassinate seven individuals, probably all Jewish/Israeli, across Paris, Munich and Berlin. The asymmetric warfare of the broader combat engulfing the Middle East is likely to intensify across the region and far beyond.”

For Your Information: 

— Hezbollah, meaning “Party of God”, is a Shiite militant organisation that was set up by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982 to fight Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon that year. 

— The Houthis are a large clan belonging to the Zaidi Shia sect, with roots in Yemen’s northwestern Saada province. Zaidis make up around 35 per cent of Yemen’s population.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of the Middle East for India?

— What do recent developments in the Middle East mean for India’s Middle East policy?

— What is India’s stand on the Israel-Hamas war?

Post Read Question:

Where does India stand in terms of commerce with Israel? Highlight the regional tensions that are affecting commerce.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

 How Israel-Hezbollah conflict has intensified

Why Nasrallah’s killing has West Asia on the edge

 

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