Context: The report is being prepared and  released by the International Energy Agency.

IEA Report on E-Fuels: Achieving a 10% E-Fuels Share in Aviation and Shipping

• The report gives a techno-economic assessment of a family of emerging e-fuel technologies and assesses the implications in terms of the required cost reductions, resources and infrastructure investments.
• Target: There is a  goal of achieving a 10% share of e-fuels in aviation and shipping by 2030.

Key Findings of the IEA Report on E-Fuels

• Decarbonisation of Transport sector: 
  • Low-emission e-fuels provide a complementary solution to sustainable biofuels.
  • In the aviation sector: e-fuels benefit from their ability to use existing transport, storage, distribution infrastructure and end-use equipment. 
  • In road transport:  Through fuel efficiency improvements and surging sales of electric vehicles (EVs) significant reduction in fossil fuel demand can be witnessed.
• Cost competitiveness: Enabled by the realization of current globally announced electrolyser projects, tapping sites with high-quality renewable resources and optimized project design e-fuels are expected to be cost competitive to other biofuels and fossil fuels driving its demand.
• Concerns: 
• • Standards: To enable widespread adoption and trade, e-fuels will need to meet established technical and safety standards
  • Efficiency woes: Due to several conversion steps and associated losses, the production of e-fuels generally suffers from low efficiency, leading to high resource and  infrastructure demand. 
  • Investment in infrastructure: e- methanol and e-ammonia widespread use as shipping fuels will require significant investments in compatible bunkering infrastructure, refueling infrastructure and vessels in ships and aircrafts.
  • Access to CO₂:  CO2 pipeline infrastructure  has to be built which  would require massive scale up of over 100 times the current capture volumes from biogenic sources, since it is one of the raw materials.

What are e-fuels?

• About: E-fuels are fuels obtained from electrolytic hydrogen. 
  • Example:  e-kerosene, e-diesel and e-gasoline, e-ammonia and e-methanol.
• They are low-emission fuels when their hydrogen is produced using low-emission electricity and any carbon inputs are obtained in a way that leads to low life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Process: E-fuels are produced through Electrolysis. It involves splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen with an electric current and separating them into two product streams.
• Steps for Production: Production of hydrogen,capture of nitrogen (N₂) or carbon dioxide (CO₂),conversion of the feed gas into new molecules in a synthesis, and final upgrading of the raw product.

Must Read: Decline In Global Coal Demand By 2026: IEA Report

News source: IEA

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Context: India’s First Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) has commited Rs. 45,000 crore for the development of River Cruise Tourism.

Inland Waterways Development Council: Transformative Roadmap for River Cruise Tourism

• The IWDC was organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
• Monetary Commitments: Rs. 35,000 crore for cruise vessels and Rs. 10,000 crore for cruise terminal infrastructure by 2047. 
• Other Initiatives: ‘Harit Nauka’ guidelines and the ‘River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047′ were also launched during the event. 
  • The outlined roadmap aims to expand the capacity for River Cruise tourism, increase the number of cruise circuits, and enhance infrastructure, signaling a transformative journey toward sustainable development and economic rejuvenation.

About IWDC

• Establishment: The IWDC was established in October 2023 by the government of India.
• Objective: To develop the Inland Water Transport (IWT) ecosystem for improved cargo efficiency, passenger movement, and river cruise tourism.

Must Read: Global Maritime India Summit 2023

News Source: PIB

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Context: India to host the 46th session of UNESCO’s  World Heritage Committee. 

46th Session of the World Heritage Committee

This will be the First instance of India hosting the meeting of the World Heritage Committee.

• The event positions India as the focal point for global discussions on preserving cultural and historical heritage, presenting a momentous opportunity to showcase India’s rich cultural legacy on the world stage.

About The World Heritage Committee

• Established: It was established  under the Convention for the  Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its seventeenth session on 16 November 1972.
• Members:  21 States Parties to the convention Elected by General Assembly comprising: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon Mexico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Türkiye, Ukraine, Viet Nam,  and Zambia.
  • According to the World Heritage Convention, a Committee member’s term of office is for six years.

• Responsibilities of World Heritage Committee

• • Implementation: It implements the provisions of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance.
  • Prepares World Heritage Sites list: It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. 
  • Monitoring conservation efforts: It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed.
  • It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Also Refer: UNESCO’s World Heritage List

News source: livemint

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Context: There is a plea seeking deletion of the “Nomadic Chin-Kuki” from the list of Scheduled Tribes in Manipur. 

Plea for Indigenous Primacy: Rethinking Scheduled Tribe (ST) Criteria

• The plea is seeking that Indigeneity should be the principal criterion for defining Scheduled Tribes in the country, citing a Supreme Court judgment from January 2011. 
• The plea mentions that the “Zou” tribe were from a foreign country — Myanmar’s Chin state — that finds no mention in pre-independence India Censuses and therefore should not be in the ST list of Manipur.

About Kuki and Zomi Tribes

• Kuki and Zomi Tribes are one of the Ethnic groups from the Bangladesh region. They are mainly residents of Manipur and Mizoram in India.
• They are also known as Chin or Mizo people, and they share a common ancestry and culture.
• They speak various dialects of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo language family, which belong to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages.
• They are related to the larger Zo people, along with other tribes such as Chin and Mizo. 

Also Read: The Demand For A Kuki Homeland

Process of Amendment in the ST List

• Any tribe or tribal community can be included or excluded from the list only by law made by the Parliament of India.
  • A notification issued under clause (1) of Article 342, specifying Scheduled Tribes, is used to amend the list.
• As per the SC verdict, it is not open to State governments or courts or tribunals or any other authority to modify, amend or alter the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in the notification issued under clause (1) of Article 342
• However, the center has stated that the process of inclusion or exclusion from ST list requires the proposal to originate from the concerned State government, which is then acted upon by the Parliament. 
• The criteria used by the government to declare communities as STs were decided upon by the Lokur Committee in 1965 and continue to be in use today.
  • Criteria includes primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. 

Also Read: Himachal Grants ST Status To Hatti Community

Source: The Hindu

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Context: Recently, the SC has pronounced its verdict on short selling related to the Adani Hindenburg Case.

• SC has ordered Centre and SEBI to investigate whether the Hindenburg report on Short Selling violates any laws, and if so, to take appropriate legal action. 

What is Short Selling?

• Short selling is an investment or trading strategy speculating on a stock’s decline or other security’s price.
• It occurs when an investor borrows a security and sells it on the open market, planning to buy it back later for less money.
• Short sellers bet on, and profit from a steep drop in the share prices. However, long-term investors seek a rise in the share prices over time. 
• Purpose: Large investors use short positions to hedge their portfolio when there is a risk of stock prices going down. Other investors also use it for speculation, expecting an exceptional return. 
• Possible returns: Theoretically, the possible profit can equal the stock price, but the loss can be infinite when share price rises. On the other hand, in a long position, the loss can be equal to the price of the stock, and profit can be infinite. 
• Pros: It improves market efficiency, liquidity and price discovery. It also promotes investor skepticism and critical thinking as short sellers have a vested interest in exposing corporate malfeasance.

• Types of Short Selling

  • Naked Short Selling: When traders sell shares before actually obtaining them.
  • Covered short selling: Where the seller has made arrangements to borrow the securities before the sale.

• Rules Against Short Selling in India

  • Naked short selling is not allowed in India and USA
  • Only securities that have been allowed by the exchanges to offer futures and options (F&O) contracts are eligible for short selling. 
    • Only stocks in 183 out of more than 2000 listed companies are allowed to be shorted.

• Recent Amendment by SEBI: 

• • All institutional investors would have to disclose upfront whether the order they are placing involves short selling. 
  • Retail traders will also disclose their short trades, but they will have until the end of the trading session to do so. 

Source: Business Line

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Context: As part of initiatives for the promotion of alternate fertilizers, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the new fortified Urea combination – Sulphur Coated Urea (SCU) also called Urea Gold.

About Sulphur Coated Urea (Urea Gold)

• It is a non-organic slow-release fertilizer.
• It is generally prepared by coating preheated urea granules with molten sulfur. 
• A coating forms a membrane that regulates nitrogen availability for plant growth. 

Feature of Sulphur Coated Urea (Urea Gold)

• Urea coated with sulphur helps slow the release of nitrogen, increasing its availability and uptake. 
• Urea Gold has added humic acid to enhance the longevity of the fertiliser. 
• It will substitute urea consumption and also reduce fertilizer use.
  • It is said that 15 kg of Urea Gold is comparable to 20 kg of conventional urea.

How is Sulphur Coated Urea Different from Other Urea?

• Normal urea contains 46% of a single plant nutrient: Nitrogen or N. 
• Urea Gold has 37% N plus 17% sulphur or S.

Benefits Of Sulphur Coated Urea (Urea Gold)

• As per the study conducted by ICAR, the use of sulfur-coated Urea (SCU) leads to a reduction in urea consumption by 25%.
• This will help address a deficiency of Sulphur content in the soil.
• The decision to price Urea Gold on par with Neem Coated Urea demonstrates a concerted effort to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly fertilizers without imposing an additional financial burden on farmers.
• • Both are priced competitively at Rs. 266.50 (inclusive of GST).

Must Read: Efficacy Of Liquid Nano Urea

News Source: PIB

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Context: The counter drone system developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) now ready to go into production. 

About Parliamentary Panel Report “A Review of the Working of DRDO”

The Defence Ministry, in a Parliamentary Panel report “A review of the working of DRDO”, informed the House of the functioning of Defence Research and Development Organisation and future endeavors.

Key Points from the Parlimentary Report

• Development of Counter Drone System:  DRDO has developed an indigenous counter drone technology that can counter attacks (soft and hard kill) of all types of drones, including micro drones.
  • Significance of Counter Drone System: It uses a laser-based kill system to  detect and destroy drones in the air. 
  • The Counter drone system can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 kilometers and fires laser signals to bring down a target up to 1-2.5 kilometres.
  • Transfer of Technology: It has been handed over to private industries, including BEL, Adani, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Icom.
• Development of Drone Systems: 
• Tapas Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV developed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) application is in an advanced stage of developmental trials. 
  • Short-range armed UAV Archer is being developed for reconnaissance, surveillance and low-intensity conflict is under progress.
• Scarcity of Drone Batteries: 
  • Lithium Ion-based battery with an indigenous battery management system has been developed by the DRDO which  is being used on Tapas UAV, but the cells are still imported. 
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation and the ISRO are working on Lithium Ion cell development.

What are Drones?

• Definition: They are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans in their embedded systems that work with GPS. It may carry lethal or nonlethal cargo.
• Classification: As per the Drone Rules 2021
  • Nano drone: Less than or equal to 250 grams.
  • Micro drone: Greater than 250 grams and less than or equal to 2 kilograms.
  • Small drone: Greater than 2 kilograms and less than or equal to 25 kilograms.
  • Medium drone: Greater than 25 kilograms and less than or equal to 150 kilograms
  • Large drone: Greater than 150 kilograms. 
• Certification: The Quality Council of India issues  airworthiness certificates to manufacturers on the Digital Sky platform if the drone meets all the specified certification standards. 
• Application of Drones in Defence: 
• Drones can be used in various areas of operation like:

• • Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • Border security
  • Search and Rescue missions and delivery of essential supplies
  • Battlefield monitoring, and mine detection and clearance.
  • Target acquisition and targeted attacks.

Must Read: NAMO Drone Didi Scheme

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: This article is based on the news “Bilkis Bano case | Rule of law vs right to liberty: What the Supreme Court said” which was published in the Indian Express. The Supreme Court (SC) struck down the remission granted by the Gujarat government to 11 convicts who were serving life imprisonment for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano during the communal riots in Gujarat in 2002.

• The court directed the convicts to surrender in prison within two weeks. 

Bilkis Bano Case: Timeline of Events From 2002 to Recent SC Verdict

Also Read: Parliament Passes Three New Criminal Law Reform Bills

Legal Issues Addressed by the Court In Its Judgment: 

• Maintainability of Petitions: 

• • Bilikish Bano’s Right to File Under Article 32: She had filed a petition under Article 32 to enforce her fundamental rights under Article 14 and Article 21.
  • Object and Purpose of Article 32: The Court emphasizes that Article 32 is considered the ‘soul of the Constitution’ and is meant for enforcing other fundamental rights.
  • Fundamental Right to File under Article 32: The SC ruled that the plea filed under Article 32 was deemed “clearly maintainable”.

• Maintainability of PIL Challenging Remission Orders:

  • • Invocation of Article 32 by Bilkis Bano: The Court notes that Bilkis Bano invoked Article 32, making the question of PIL maintainability less relevant.
  • Competency of Gujarat Government for Remission Orders:

• • Focus on Section 432 CrPC: The bench said that the Gujarat government did not have the authority or jurisdiction because, under Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), an application for remission can only be before the government within whose territorial jurisdiction the applicant was convicted. (In this case, Maharashtra, and not in Gujarat).

• Non-adherence to the Law in Remission Orders: 

  • The SC rules that the remission orders passed by the state government were not in accordance with the law. This is because of four reasons.
    • Usurpation of Power by Gujarat Government: The court said the Gujarat government had “usurped the powers of the State of Maharashtra” since the latter was the only state that could have considered the applications seeking remission.
    • Inapplicability of Gujarat Government’s Policy:  July 9, 1992 policy of remission of the Gujarat government, which was used to pass the remission order, did not apply to the case of the 11 convicts.
    • Ineffectiveness of Presiding Judge’s Opinion: The opinion of the presiding judge of the Special Court, Mumbai “was rendered ineffective” by the Gujarat government which in any case had no jurisdiction to entertain the convicts’ plea for the remission of their sentences.
    • Neglect of Unpaid Fines as Relevant Consideration: The Court highlights that the authorities ignored the fact that the convicts hadn’t paid fines ordered by the special court, Mumbai, which should have been a relevant consideration.

• Decision on Convicts’ Status After Quashing Remission:

  • Balancing Rule of Law vs Individual Liberty: The court said that it had attempted to balance the primary consideration of the rule of law against an individual’s liberty.
  • Primary Consideration of Rule of Law: It said it had attempted to balance the primary consideration of the rule of law against an individual’s liberty.
  • Setting Aside Remission Orders: The court directed the setting aside of remission orders and the convicts were instructed to report to jail authorities within two weeks.

The Essence of The Supreme Court Judgment:

• The Rule of Law Must Prevail: 

  • Rule of law over personal liberty: The bench favored the paramountcy of the rule of law over the personal liberty of the convicts by saying that Article 21 does not permit a deprivation of an individual’s right to liberty in a manner not supported by the rule of law.
  • Equality and judicial scrutiny under Article 14: The court said that breaching the rule of law amounts to negating equality and “equality” before law would itself become an “empty” word if its violation was not a matter of judicial scrutiny, and if courts didn’t enforce the rule of law. 
    • Judiciary is the guardian of the rule of law and the central pillar of a democratic State.
  • Quoting Justice V R Krishna Iyer: The court quotes the late Justice V R Krishna Iyer stating that “the finest hour of the rule of law is when law disciplines life and matches promise with performance” and justice “should remain loyal to the rule of law”.
  • Referring to Justice H R Khanna: The court refers to Justice H R Khanna’s dissenting judgement that “rule of law is the antithesis of arbitrariness”.
• Preservation of the Essence of Democracy: The bench said that compassion and sympathy have no role to play where rule of law is required, which forms the essence of a democracy, and should be “preserved” and enforced by courts without fear, favor, affection, or ill-will.

Options That Are Now Available For Convicts:

• Review Petition: The convicts can file a review petition before the SC within 30 days of the date of the judgment. 
• Application for Remission: The convicts may apply for fresh remission after spending some time in jail. However, they must appeal to the Maharashtra government for remission, as the trial occurred in that state. 

Punishment and Policy of Remission

• Punishment for Betterment: As per classical Greek philosopher Plato, “Punishment is to be inflicted not for the sake of vengeance but for the sake of prevention and reformation. 
  • The curative theory of punishment likens penalty to medicine administered for the sake of the one being punished. 
• The Core of Policy of Remission: If a criminal is curable, he ought to be improved by education and other suitable arts and then set free as a better citizen and less of a burden to the State. 
• Constitutional Provisions: Both the President (Article 72) and the Governor (Article 161) have the power of pardon.

  • Pardoning power of the President: 

• • • • Article 72: He/she can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense

• • Pardoning power of the Governor: 

• • • • (Article 161): He/she can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment, or suspend, remit or commute the sentence.

• • Difference Between Pardoning Powers of President and Governor:

• • • The President’s power under Article 72 is wider than the Governor under Article 161 which differs in the following two ways:
      • Court Martial: President to grant pardon extends in cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial but Article 161 does not provide any such power to the Governor.
      • Death Sentence: The President can grant pardon the sentence of death but the Governor’s power does not extend to death sentence cases.

• Supreme Court Observation while Granting Remission:

• • In ‘Laxman Naskar v. Union of India’ (2000) Case: The SC laid down five grounds:
    • Whether the offense is an individual act of crime that does not affect the society
    • Whether there is a chance of the crime being repeated in future
    • Whether the convict has lost the potentiality to commit crime
    • Whether any purpose is being served in keeping the convict in prison
    • Socio-economic conditions of the convict’s family
      • Also, convicts serving life sentences are entitled to seek remission after serving a minimum of 14 years in prison.
  • Kehar Singh vs. Union of India (1989) Case: It was observed that Courts cannot deny to a prisoner the benefit to be considered for remission of sentence.
  • The State of Haryana vs. Mahender Singh (2007) Case: The SC has observed that, even though no convict has a fundamental right of remission, the State in exercise of its executive power of remission must consider each individual case keeping in view the relevant factors.

The Challenges Revealed by the Bilkis Bano Case, that India Needs to Work Upon

• Prevalence of Communal Violence: The Bilkis Bano case exposes the issue of communal violence in India and the shortcomings in providing justice to the victims. 
  • To counter this challenge, the strict implementation of laws is a must.

• Poor Condition of Women: This case highlights the issue of women’s safety and dignity, and the ethical concern of thinking of them as objects. 
  • To counter this challenge, there is a need to protect women’s rights and mental shifting.
• Challenge in Achieving Justice: Bilkis Bano’s prolonged battle highlights the concern of achieving justice in a very difficult way. 
  • To counter this challenge, there is a need for symmetry in judicial understanding and verdicts.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the remission restores faith in the legal system and it sets an example for future remission cases by emphasizing the importance of the Rule of Law.

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Context: The Maldives government has recently suspended three of its ministers for their derogatory remarks on India’s Prime Minister.

India-Maldives Relations and Recent Social Media Controversy

• PM’s Lakshadweep Visit: Recently, the Indian Prime Minister (PM) visited Lakshadweep to inaugurate the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection and some other projects. 

• • The PM’s recent social media posts promoting tourism in Lakshadweep have ignited an unexpected controversy, triggering a social media war involving Maldivian officials, politicians, and Indian social media users.
• Offensive Comments: Maldivian officials responded with offensive comments against India which escalated the situation. 
• Social Media Backlash: The social media war led to a #VisitMaldives campaign by Maldivian officials, in response, Indian social media users, Bollywood celebrities and Indian sportspersons initiated a ‘#Visit Lakshadweep’ campaign. 
• Maldives Government’s Response: While some Maldivian politicians condemned the comments, the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that personal opinions on social media do not represent the government’s views.

Background of India-Maldives Relations

• Historical Links in India-Maldives Relations: India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links rooted in antiquity and enjoy close, cordial, and multi-dimensional relations.
• Recognition and Diplomatic Relations: India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country. 
• High Commission: India established its mission in 1972 and resident High Commissioner in 1980. Maldives opened a full-fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November 2004. 

India-Maldives Relations: Importance of India for the Maldives

• Ensuring Defence and Security: India remains a valuable regional security partner, making up for Male’s scarce maritime surveillance capacity and capabilities. 
  • For instance, even during the Presidency of Abdullah Yameen (2013-2018), under whose Presidency Male drifted closer to China, Maldives continued defense cooperation with India.
  • According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India provides around 70 percent of defence training requirements of the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF). Capacity building through joint exercises like the Ekuverin, Ekatha, and disaster management have also been part of defense cooperation. 
• India-Maldives Bilateral Trade: India is also the Maldives’ biggest trade partner, a top export destination, and a traditional donor. 
  • Maldives is dependent on India for a host of essential commodities like rice, wheat flour, sugar, potatoes and onions, eggs, vegetables and even construction material. 
  • The State Bank of India is the largest bank in the island nation and has been playing a key role since 1974 by providing loans for resorts, the export of marine products and business enterprises.
• Development And Infrastructure: India is engaged in a host of infrastructure and development projects in the Maldives, ranging from airports at Hanimaadhoo and Gan Island, the Greater Male Connectivity Project, as well as the development of Gulhifalhu Port.
  • The biggest project India is presently carrying out in the Maldives is the Greater Male Connectivity Project, for which, India has sanctioned USD 500 million. 
• Healthcare And Education: 
  • In the healthcare sector, India has provided Rs 52 crore for the development of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital besides helping set up a state-of-art cancer facility that will connect over 150 health centers on various islands. 
  • In education, India helped set up an institute of technical education in 1996. India has also started a program to provide training to Maldivian teachers and youth and for vocational training in a USD 5.3 million project. 
• Maldives Tourism: India is amongst the largest sources of visitors to the Maldives, which is heavily dependent on tourism to run its economy. 
  • As per the World Bank, tourism revenue accounts for almost one-third of its economy.
  • According to the Maldives tourism ministry statistics, more than 2.09 lakh Indians visited the island nation in 2023. Since 2018, Indians have been the largest source of tourist arrivals. 

India-Maldives Relations: Importance of Maldives for India

• Strategic Importance: Maldives is an important partner for India, as it is strategically located with respect to key international shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean which ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like India, China, and Japan. 
  • 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.
• India’s Role as Net Security Provider: As the pre-eminent South Asian power and a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean region, India needs to cooperate with Maldives in security and defense sectors. 
• Cooperation in Regional Groupings: Maldives is also a member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and it is important for India to have Maldives on board to maintain its leadership in the region. 
  • For instance, Maldives was reluctant to follow India’s call for boycott of the SAARC summit in Pakistan after the Uri attack.
• Ensuring Safety and Security of Indian Diaspora: Indian expatriate community in the Maldives has an approximate strength of 27,000 living peacefully with Maldivians and other expatriates, with no major issues being faced by them. 

Reasons for Increasing Divergence in the India-Maldives Relations

• Changing “India First” Approach: In Maldives, people are divided into two viewpoints. One is supporting the ‘India out’ campaign and the other is the ‘India first’ campaign led by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 
  • For instance, the new President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu visited Turkey as his first destination for a bilateral visit, followed by China, breaking a long-held tradition whereby his predecessors used to visit India first after taking office. 

• Effects of Domestic Politics of Maldives: Relations between the Maldives and India have been on shaky grounds since President Muizzu came to power and there have been deliberate attempts by Male to create a distance with New Delhi. 
  • For instance, the termination of the hydrography pact by Maldives can be seen as a way of distancing from India. 
• Diplomatic Crisis in Maldives: All states in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) have to balance between their two regional powers viz. India and China. It requires a fine diplomatic balance. In the case of the Maldives under Muizzu, that balance has become faulty. 
  • For instance, the Maldivian envoy to India was summoned by the external affairs ministry amid the row over Maldives leaders’ derogatory comments on India’s PM. 
  • This imbalance is further leading to a situation where not only ties between the two governments but also between the two peoples are likely to be impacted by long-term consequences.
• Rising Chinese Influence: President Muizzu’s decision to visit China before India has raised concerns, with rising speculations about the Maldivian leader’s pursuit of an “India-out” policy and leaning toward China. 
  • China in pursuit of its own geo-economic goals, views Maldives as one of the key components of its ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative (BRI) and is actively establishing its presence by involving itself in infrastructure projects in the archipelago. 
• Islamic Radicalisation Concerns for India: Over the past decade, the number of Maldivians drawn towards Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based jihadist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) have exploited Maldives through its charitable front organization, Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq, to establish a foothold in the garb of relief operations post-2004 tsunami.
  • For instance, the Islamic radicals attacked a Yoga gathering organized by the Indian embassy in 2022, saying Yoga did not align with their Islamic beliefs.
• Perceived Security Challenges: The present government of Maldives has accused India of violating the country’s sovereignty, and asked India to remove its troops from Maldives as part of the ‘India out’ campaign. 
  • Further, Male was absent from the Colombo Security Conclave meeting in December 2023. 

Also Read: Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) 

Way Forward to the India-Maldives Relations

• For Maldives: India remains a critical economic and security anchor in the region which makes it imperative that mutual sensitivities are respected.
  • To further strengthen the ties the new government has to let go of an anti-India stance by lowering China’s growing influence in South- Asia. 
• For India: Indian diplomacy could be flexible enough to engage multiple actors in the neighboring countries, including Maldives. This would help in engaging with whoever is in power rather than engaging only those in power. 
  • he trending hashtag “boycott Maldives” is self-defeating as China is well-positioned in Maldives to take advantage from this situation. 
  • Further, boycotting Maldives in any form will only reduce India’s leverage in the islands. Thus, India should ensure a firm but patient engagement with Maldives. 

Conclusion

The ongoing dispute underscores the importance of diplomatic communication in the digital age and the need for responsible engagement between nations.

• Further Reading: Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) Project

• Further Reading: India Maldives Relations in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape and Maldives’ Political Shift. 

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