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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 19th, 2024. If you missed the June 18th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
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- Alok Kumar Verma writes: The Indian Railways is back in the news after a freight train rammed into a passenger train on Sunday, June 16, near Siliguri in West Bengal, which left at least nine people dead and more than 40 injured. Since 1995, the country has witnessed seven deadly train accidents.
Prerequisites:
— What is Mission Raftar?
— What is dedicated freight corridors (DFCs)?
— What are the various types of railway gauges?
Key takeaways:
— “The Indian Railways has consistently lost market share in both passenger and freight streams. In fact, since 2010-12, the total volume of both freight and passenger traffic has stagnated or declined, while air and road modes have seen growth of 6-12 per cent each year…”
— “It is no exaggeration that the Indian Railways (IR), which enjoys a monopoly on rail transportation, is facing a severe crisis. If the present trend of declining market share continues for another decade, which seems likely in view of the failure to raise speed, increase line capacity, and improve safety to the required, IR could be relegated to a secondary role where it primarily carries heavy freight and some slow-moving passenger trains, as in large, thinly populated, economically advanced countries like the US, Canada, and Australia.”
— “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has recently issued two important reports on safety, speed, and punctuality on IR.”
— “The report on speed and punctuality for the years 2019-20 says that between 2014 and 2019, there has been no increase in the average speed of mail and express trains —this has remained at 50 to 51 kmph, contrary to claims of achieving an average speed of 75 kmph under Mission Raftar, which has appeared in some form every five to seven years since 2005. As for freight trains, the average speed actually declined marginally, contrary to the Board’s claims of doubling the speed.”
— “The second CAG report, which is on accidents, is equally sobering. Though there has been some reduction in the number of accidents, it is largely a result of the manning of unmanned railroad crossings. The data shows little improvement with respect to derailments and collisions.”
— “The report has expressed serious concerns about the continuing high rate of asset failures, particularly signal failures and rail fractures. Some of the worst accidents on IR have been due to these. Last year’s multiple train collision at Balasore was caused by a signal failure.”
— “The essence of these two CAG reports is that this high asset failure rate, coupled with numerous speed and capacity bottlenecks in the existing IR network, has led to inadequate safety and punctuality and stagnant speed.”
— “Earlier, in 2012, construction of two DFCs had begun. In the past three years, the nation has seen the introduction of about 50 pairs of “semi-highspeed” Vande Bharat trains, which are more about luxury and cosmetics than speed.”
For Your Information:
— Kavach, an indigenously developed, automatic train protection system, has been deployed on 1,465 route km and 139 locomotives on South Central Railway as on February 2024. Kavach tenders have also been awarded for several thousand route kilometers.
— It must be asked if there has been a disproportionate political and policy focus on the more eye-catching aspects of modernisation such as Vande Bharat, and whether it is taking a toll on other critical aspects of the system.
— Upgrading infrastructure would mean little unless it translates to greater safety for those who travel. But safety is not an isolated aspect. It is embedded in every function and operation of the Railways. Improving it calls for a more encompassing and comprehensive approach.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the primary reasons for railway accidents?
— What is KAVACH?
— What are the various committees formed to ensure railway safety?
— What are the steps taken by the government to reduce train accidents?
(Thought process: Mention Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), various technological upgradations that have been carried out by the Railways, ultrasonic flaw detection, mechanization of Track Maintenance, and more.)
Post Read Question:
Consider the following committees:
1. Kakodkar Committee
2. Bibek Debroy Committee
3. Vinod Rai Committee
How many of the above committees are related to recommendations on upgrading railway safety?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) None
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Before Kanchanjunga Express: Major train accidents of the last decade
Central Railway implements modern technology to enhance safety on tracks
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: Gs-II: International Relations
What’s the ongoing story- Russia’s entrenched position and its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity cannot be addressed without dialogue and compromise. Vladimir Putin’s rigidity is bolstered because the West is not united on how to deal with the Ukraine conflict.
Prerequisites:
— What is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war?
— What is the Ukraine peace summit?
— Map work: Location of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Key takeaways:
— Going by numbers alone, it would seem that the Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland over the weekend made significant headway. Of the 90 countries that attended the summit, 82 backed the communique that called for the safety of all nuclear installations — including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been at the centre of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
— Among the countries that did not endorse the demands were India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, Thailand and Indonesia. They represent important regional powers and significant players in the Global South.
— New Delhi’s rationale for the abstention — echoed by others — is that peace in Ukraine requires “all stakeholders and a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict”. Without Russia’s presence, then, the peace conference may not have had a significant impact.
— On the other hand, the delicate balancing act that India has thus far managed between maintaining ties with Moscow even as it deepens its engagement with the West, may become harder to sustain if and when the conflict deepens and intensifies.
— The fact remains that Russia’s entrenched position and its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity cannot be addressed without a meaningful dialogue and compromise. Vladimir Putin’s current rigidity is bolstered by the fact that the West is not completely united on how to deal with the Ukraine conflict and that Russia’s economy has not suffered as much as was initially believed.
For Your Information:
— The communique addressed three topics of discussion at the summit: nuclear safety, food security and humanitarian dimension.
— On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said Russia would end the war only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow – demands Kyiv swiftly rejected as tantamount to surrender. Putin’s conditions reflected Moscow’s growing confidence that its forces have the upper hand in the war.
Points to Ponder:
— What is the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy?
— Impact of the war on India?
— How the war has impacted the nuclear safety, food security, and humanitarian dimensions?
— India and Russia’s bilateral relationship
Post Read Question:
The Ukraine Peace Summit was hosted by which of the following nations?
(a) Candana
(b) Finland
(c) Switzerland
(d) Italy
Other Important Articles Covering the Same Topic:
Swiss peace summit: Flagging need for Russia to be in, India opts out of Ukraine declaration
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography
Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-III: Important Geophysical phenomena and environment
What’s the ongoing story- On almost all days in June so far, North and Northwest India have experienced ‘heatwave’ to ‘severe heatwave’ conditions. The southwest monsoon that made an early onset over Kerala has advanced until Maharashtra, but maximum temperatures in the plains of North India have sustained around 45-47 degrees Celsius.
Prerequisites:
— What is on-set of monsoon?
— What is La Niña?
— What are easterly and westerly winds?
— What is the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)?
Key takeaways:
— Cumulative rainfall over the country from June to September depends on multiple factors. It also shows natural inter-annual variability, which makes every monsoon different. Alongside the quantum of rainfall, its distribution is also vital.
— The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast ‘above normal’ rainfall this season. Quantitatively, it is expected to be 106% of the Long Period Average of 880 mm (1971-2020 data).
— The ‘above normal’ rainfall is being attributed mainly to the soon-to-emerge La Niña conditions, which are known to positively influence the Indian monsoon, and a positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
For Your Information:
— According to the IMD, the onset of the monsoon happens when there is a significant transition in the large-scale atmospheric and ocean circulations in the Indo-Pacific region. IMD announces the onset of the monsoon only after certain precisely defined and measurable parameters are met.
— The IMD essentially looks at the consistency of rainfall over a defined geography, the intensity of the rainfall, and the wind speed.
Points to Ponder:
— How monsoon occur in India?
— What are the conditions that determine the onset of monsoon?
— What is the impact of La-nina and El-nino on monsoon?
Post Read Question:
Why is the South-West Monsoon called ‘Purvaiya’ (easterly) in has this directional seasonal wind system influenced the region? (UPSC CSE 2023)
Other Important Articles Covering the Same Topic:
How India’s monsoon rain pattern has been changing amid climate change
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination:
Mains Examination:
What’s the ongoing story- The Congress party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infra upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a “grave threat” to the island’s indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem, and demanded “immediate suspension of all clearances” and a “thorough, impartial review of the proposed project, including by the Parliamentary committees concerned”.
Prerequisites:
— What is the Great Nicobar Island Project?
— Who are the particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG)?
Key takeaways:
— Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands, a sparsely inhabited 910-sq-km patch of mainly tropical rainforest in southeastern Bay of Bengal. Indira Point on the island, India’s southernmost point, is only 90 nautical miles (less than 170 km) from Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago.
— Great Nicobar has two national parks, a biosphere reserve, small populations of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal peoples, and a few thousand non-tribal settlers.
— The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 836 islands, split into two groups — the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south — by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.
— The project for the “holistic development” of Great Nicobar Island was implemented after a report by NITI Aayog. A pre-feasibility report flagged the opportunity to leverage the strategic location of the island, which is roughly equidistant from Colombo in Sri Lanka to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast.
— It is close to the Malacca Strait, the main waterway that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, and the ICTT is expected to “allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment’’.
— It has been alleged that the project violates the rights of the tribal population, and will impact the island’s ecology with the felling of nearly a million trees. It is feared that the port project will destroy coral reefs with spinoff effects on the local marine ecosystem, and pose a threat to the terrestrial Nicobar Megapode bird and leatherback turtles who nest in the Galathea Bay area.
For Your Information:
— The Great Nicobar project is to be implemented in three phases over the next 30 years.
— The proposal: A “greenfield city” has been proposed, including an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a power plant, and a township for the personnel who will implement the project.
— The Great Nicobar Island has tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges reaching almost 650 m above sea level, and coastal plains. Fourteen species of mammals, 71 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians, and 113 species of fish are found on the island, some of which are endangered. The leatherback sea turtle is the island’s flagship species.
Points to Ponder:
— What is the strategic significance of Andaman and Nicobar?
— What are the criticism related with the Great Nicobar Project?
— What is the significance of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)?
Post Read Question:
Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)
1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.
2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.
3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 and 3
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Development of Great Nicobar: strategic imperative and ecological concerns
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Polity
Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity
What’s the ongoing story- The 18th Lok Sabha will hold its first session from June 24 to July 3, during which the new Speaker of the House will be elected. Speculations are rife about who will assume the post, given the strong showing of NDA coalition parties in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Until this happens, a pro-tem Speaker will be chosen to swear in the new Members of Parliament.
Prerequisites:
— What are the constitutional provisions related to the speaker?
— Why pro tem speaker is appointed?
Key takeaways:
— Being the Presiding Officer of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker has to fulfil certain key duties related to its day-to-day proceedings.
— 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.”
— 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’.
— 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’.
— 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, three other elected members of the Lok Sabha are also appointed by the President for the MPs to take oath before them. According to the handbook, the seniormost members (in terms of number of years of membership of the House) are generally chosen for the purpose, though there have been exceptions.
Points to Ponder:
— How Members of Parliament are elected?
— How speaker is elected?
— What is the role and function of the speaker?
Post Read Question:
Consider the following statements:
1. The position of pro tem speaker is permanent as mentioned in Article 94 of the constitution.
2. The seniormost member of the Parliament is appointed as the pro tem speaker as mentioned in the constitution.
3. The President himself administers oath to the Speaker Pro Tem.
Which of the following statements is not correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
What are the powers of the Speaker and why is the post crucial for BJP and its allies?
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economy
Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy
What’s the ongoing story- More central banks plan to add to their gold reserves within a year and more of them expect others to do so as well, due to ongoing macroeconomic and political uncertainty despite high prices for the precious metal, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in its annual survey.
Prerequisites:
— What is the World Gold Council (WGC)?
— What are the components of foreign currency reserves?
— What is an inflation hedge?
— What is the significance of gold in foreign currency reserves?
Key takeaways:
— The survey, which was conducted in February-April and included a total of 69 responses, showed that 29% of central banks expected their own gold reserves to increase in the next 12 months.
— This is the highest level since the WGC, an industry body whose members are global gold miners, began the survey in 2018 and compares with 24% in 2023.
— The WGC said 81% of respondents expected global central bank gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months compared with 71% a year ago.
— While in prior years, gold’s “historical position” was the top reason for central banks to hold gold, this factor dropped to fifth among WGC survey responses this year.
— The top reasons given for the increases now are “long-term store of value or inflation hedge,” “performance during times of crisis” and “effective portfolio diversifier.”
— Some 41% of 58 respondents listed domestic storage as the vaults where their gold reserves are kept, compared with 35% in 2023. However, the Bank of England remains the most popular location listed in 55% of the responses.
Points to Ponder:
— Why central banks choose to store their gold in foreign custody like the Bank of England?
— How much gold does the RBI holds?
— What is the significance of gold hoarding for a central bank?
Post Read Question:
Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves? (UPSC CSE 2013)
(a) Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries
(b) Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs
(c) Foreign-currency assets, loans from the World Bank and SDRs
(d) Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans from the World Bank
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
India’s gold demand up 8% in March quarter to 137 tonne: World Gold Council
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economy
Mains Examination: GS-III: Economy
What’s the ongoing story- Amid a sharp decline in funding for startups and consequent job losses, Indian Inc has sought the removal of Angel Tax that has been a subject of heated debate between the industry and the government ever since the scope of the controversial tax was expanded in the Finance Bill 2023.
Prerequisites:
— What is angel tax?
— What is money laundering?
— What is the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)?
Key takeaways:
— The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in its Union Budget recommendation on Tuesday suggested the removal of Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income-tax Act colloquially known as the ‘Angel Tax’ stating that the step “would greatly aid capital formation in the country”.
— Angel Tax was first introduced in 2012 to deter the generation and use of unaccounted money through the subscription of shares of a closely held company at a value that is higher than the fair market value of the firm’s shares.
— The industry has argued that the government is wrong in citing the difference between valuations and actual performance as a sign of money laundering, adding that investors fund startup based on their future potential. Taxes levied on the difference between issue price of unlisted securities and its fair market value (FMV) has hurt funding, it said.
— The changes in the Angel Tax provisions came at a time when an estimated 100 Indian startups laid off over 15,000 employees in 2023, as funding winter that began in 2022 persisted. Moreover, Indian startups witnessed over 60 per cent decline in funding in terms of value in 2023.
— With the latest amendment, the government had proposed to also include foreign investors in the ambit, meaning that when a start-up raises funding from a foreign investor, that too will now be counted as income and be taxable.
For Your Information:
— Angel tax – which is income tax at the rate of 30.6 per cent – is levied when an unlisted company issues shares to an investor at a price higher than its fair market value. Earlier, it was imposed only on investments made by a resident investor. However the Finance Act 2023 proposed to extend Angel Tax even to non-resident investors from April 1, 2024.
Points to Ponder:
— Why is angel tax a concern for Indian startups?
— What are the issues with angel tax?
— What are the steps taken by the government to control money laundering?
Post Read Question:
Which of the statements is correct about angel tax?
(a) It is a tax levied on the listed companies when they raise excess capital through the issue of shares over the fair market value of that share.
(b) It is a tax levied on the unlisted companies when they raise excess capital through the issue of shares over the fair market value of that share.
(c) It is a tax levied on venture capitals investing in a startup less than five years old.
(d) It is a tex levied on venture capital for investing in a startup over a period of ten years.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Why a proposed change in Angel Tax has rattled Indian start-ups
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
Mains: GS-I, GS-II, GS-III: Important Geophysical Phenomena, Climate Change Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Government Policies & Interventions.
What’s the ongoing story- Krishna S Vatsa writes: The recent surge in temperatures across North India has caused serious concern, with cities facing intense and prolonged heat. Maximum temperatures have exceeded normal levels by 4-8°C across Haryana-Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Prerequisites:
— What is a heatwave?
— How is heatwave declared in India?
— What is the urban heat island effect?
— What is heatstroke?
— What are the heat action plans (HAPs)?
Key takeaways:
— A heatwave is declared when the departure from normal temperature is between 4.5°C and 6.4°C, and a severe heat wave is declared when the departure exceeds 6.4°C. However, the entire region is currently experiencing heatwaves based on actual maximum temperatures above 45°C.
— When such extreme heat conditions persist for an extended period, they can pose risks to public health and infrastructure. Historically, heat waves in India lasted for five to 15 days. This year, it has persisted through most of May and June.
— Cyclone Remal, which originated in the Bay of Bengal, disrupted the arrival of monsoons from this region, exacerbating the intensity of heat waves. The monsoon stream through the Arabian Sea has also progressed steadily, sparing South India from similar heat wave conditions. This changing pattern underscores a direct link between monsoon variability and the duration of heat waves.
— Cities are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect, exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions. Factors such as increased congestion, paved surfaces, depletion of water bodies, loss of vegetation, and high-density settlements trap heat and contribute to higher urban temperatures.
— The recent general elections saw polling officials lose their lives due to heatstroke in several states, including West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. In 2023, when 14 people died during a political rally at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, humidity played a significant role. These incidents highlight the severe risk to public safety during such events, emphasising the need for better preparedness and immediate measures to mitigate heat-related hazards.
— Longer and more intense heat waves result in a higher relative risk of mortality, falling into two categories: Direct heat stroke deaths and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. Each 10°F increase in mean daily temperature can lead to a 2.6 per cent rise in CVD mortality.
For Your Information:
— There are three key strands of support that HAPs must offer.
— One, it is crucial to improve temperature monitoring across cities and towns through a dense network of weather stations. This network should provide granular data on microclimates, enabling the identification of high-risk areas.
— Two, preparedness measures are essential to mitigate the immediate effects of extreme heat. Regulating working and school hours can help protect vulnerable populations.
— Three, implementing solutions such as improving and restoring water bodies, increasing vegetation cover, and promoting cool roofs and better ventilation in buildings will enhance thermal comfort.
Points to Ponder:
— What is the connection of heatwaves with other hazards like forest fires, electrical faults, droughts, water scarcity, and lightning?
— What are the socioeconomic impacts of heat waves in India?
— What steps need to be taken to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect our communities and ecosystems from the escalating threat of heatwaves?
— Why heatwaves have not been included as a notified disaster in the Disaster Management Act?
Post Read Question:
Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world. (UPSC CSE 2013)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Explained: The criteria for heatwaves, how climate change is affecting it
UPSC Issue at a Glance | Heatwaves: 5 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: International Relations
What’s the ongoing story- C. Raja Mohan writes: As the NDA government settles down to govern in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, five new themes will shape its engagement with the world. Delhi now faces an international context that is quite different from 2014 or 2019. Deep structural changes are unfolding in the international system that demand major adjustments in India’s worldview and adaptations to its domestic policies.
Prerequisites:
— What is the difference between the policy of ‘non-alignment’ and ‘multi-alignment’?
— What is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)?
— What is the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET)?
— What is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)?
Key takeaways:
— “The five imperatives outlined below are by no means the only challenges that will confront the new government, but they are among the main geopolitical imperatives.”
— “The first is the return of great-power rivalry that demands an approach driven by interest rather than ideology. The renewed conflict between the West on the one hand and China and Russia on the other has begun to produce a very different set of external conditions for the conduct of India’s international relations than the one it had to deal with in 1991.”
— “Second is the changing structure of the global economy that demands more reform at home. If India adapted to the logic of economic globalisation at the turn of the 1990s, it must now deal with the impact of geopolitics on the global economy.”
— “Three, the unfolding technological revolution promises to redistribute global power and is now an integral part of great-power competition. This again has opened the door for accelerated advanced technological development in India.”
— “Four, Delhi must adapt to the rise of new regions that break down old regional categories. The emergence of the Indo-Pacific over the last decade cutting across many traditionally defined regions such as South Asia and Southeast Asia is one example.”
— “Five, Delhi needs to tone down its expansive rhetoric on India’s rise. There is no doubt that India, well on its way to becoming the third-largest economy, is climbing up the global hierarchy. But its aggregate GDP of nearly $4 trillion should not obscure the fact that India’s per capita GDP is barely $2,800. If India’s developmental challenges are huge, so is the problem of dealing with growing inequality within.”
For Your Information:
— The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a connectivity project that seeks to develop a seamless infrastructure of ports, railways, roads, sea lines and pipelines to enhance trade among India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region and Europe.
— The IMEC aims to capitalise on the existing trade routes between India and the Arab Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe and build the missing infrastructure to link the Gulf and Mediterranean regions.
Points to Ponder:
— How geopolitics of the world are impacting global governance?
— What is the significance of Indo-pacific for India?
— How is India playing a balancing act concerning Russia and the West?
Post Read Question:
The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as (UPSC CSE 2016)
(a) G20
(b) ASEAN
(c) SCO
(d) SAARC
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
C Raja Mohan on PM’s first trip abroad in Modi 3.0: A chance to reboot relations with the West
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