Context

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced the formation of an expert committee to review the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Committee On Ayushman Bharat Scheme Implementation

• Composition: The 16-member committee, chaired by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog.
• Tasks: 
  • It will oversee the progress of AB-PMJAY in beneficiary identification, hospitalisation, and modes of implementation.

• • Reviewing the roles and responsibilities of the Centre and state in terms of scheme policy, design and implementation.
  • To suggest measures to prevent fraud or misuse of the scheme.
  • Suggest ways to provide linkages with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).

Ayushman Bharat Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): 

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• It is an umbrella of two major health initiatives, namely Health and Wellness Centres and the National  Health Protection Scheme.

Benefits:

• Insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family year. 
• The benefit covers almost all secondary care and most tertiary care procedures including pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. 
• No cap on family size and age
• All pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one of the policy. 
• Other Benefits: Transport allowance per hospitalization, portable across the country and cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals nationwide.

News Source: Business Standard

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Recently, Israel approved the military’s plan for an operation in Rafah, where most of the war-battered Gaza’s population has sought refuge.

• Rafah is the last major population centre yet to be subjected to a ground assault during Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

What is the Rafah Crossing?

• It’s the southernmost post of exit from Gaza and borders Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.
• There are only two other border crossings from and into the Gaza Strip –
  • Erez is a crossing into Israel in northern Gaza for the people.
  • Kerem Shalom, a solely commercial goods junction with Israel in southern Gaza.

About Israel-Hamas War

• Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have been at war since early October 2023.
• It began when Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza – the deadliest in Israel’s history.
• An Israeli military campaign has followed, which has killed thousands in the Palestinian territory.

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Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were appointed Election Commissioners by the President of India on the recommendation of a high-powered panel chaired by the Prime Minister.

New Election Commissioners Appointment 

• This is the first time Election Commissioners have been appointed under the new Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 Passed in December 2023. 
• The two Election Commissioners were appointed following vacancies in the EC owing to the sudden resignation of Arun Goel and the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey.
• Recently, the Supreme Court has listed for urgent hearing petitions challenging the appointment procedure of Election Commissioners and CECs under the new law.

Appointment of Election Commissioners: Appointment Process

• Selection Committee for Appointments: 

  • The President will appoint the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners based on the recommendation of a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

• Validity of Recommendations: 

  • Recommendations made by the Selection Committee will be valid even in case of a vacancy in the Committee.

• Search Committee: 

  • A search committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary will suggest five names each for the post of two Election Commissioners on the basis of laid down rules. 
    • This list would be placed before the PM-lead panel to finalize two names who would eventually be appointed by the President as Election Commissioners.

• Salary and Conditions of Service: 

  • The salary and conditions of service of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners will be equivalent to the salary of a Supreme Court Judge.

• Term and Reappointment:

  • Members of the Election Commission will hold office for six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They cannot be re-appointed.

• Removal Process: 

• • The manner of removal of the CEC and ECs is retained as specified in the Constitution{Article 324(5)}.
  • The CEC is removable in the same manner as a Supreme Court Judge and the ECs removable only upon the recommendation of the CEC.

Status of CEC and ECs:

• They enjoy the status of a judge of the Supreme Court. The new act has retained that status.

Supreme Court ruling in March 2023:

• Supreme Court Judgement (In Anoop Baranwal v. UOI case, 2023): Until the government forms a law on this, the selection panel of chief election commissioner and other election commissioners will have three members – the PM, the Leader of the Opposition and the CJI.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context

According to a paper released by the Federation of Seed Industries of India (FSII) and Sathguru Consultants, rice cultivation in India, especially using the direct seeded rice (DSR) technique, necessitates collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

Rice Cultivation Collaboration: Stakeholders

Various stakeholders are;

• Agri-input and farm mechanization companies: To provide necessary tools and equipment.
• Crop management advisories: To guide farmers on best practices.
• Government: To create an enabling environment and support policy changes

About Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Technique:

• Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), also known as the ‘broadcasting seed technique,’
• It  is a method in which less water is used during paddy cultivation.
• Method Description: In DSR, seeds are directly planted into the fields, eliminating the need for transplanting seedlings from a nursery to waterlogged fields.
• Groundwater Conservation: Unlike traditional methods, DSR saves groundwater by reducing the water-intensive practices associated with transplanting.
• Simplified Process: DSR requires minimal preparation, with no need for nursery setup or transplanting.
  • Farmers only need to level their land and provide one pre-sowing irrigation, simplifying the cultivation process.

Challenges Associated with Direct Seeded Rice

• Limited Adoption Despite Years in Practice: 

• • Despite its existence for several years, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) has not gained popularity in key rice-growing areas of India because the lack of incentives for procurement of rice grown through this method hinders its widespread adaptation.

• Concerns about Yield and Pest Susceptibility:

  • Farmers often express dissatisfaction with DSR due to reported lower crop yields compared to traditional transplanting methods.
  • Additionally, they cite increased vulnerability to pests and insects in DSR crops as another challenge.

• Lack of Collaboration Platform: 

  • There is a need for a collaborative platform between agricultural research institutions, universities, and seed companies to accelerate the development and dissemination of improved DSR products. Without such collaboration, advancements in DSR may be slower to materialize.

• Absence of Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: 

  • The absence of supportive policies and regulatory frameworks from the government poses challenges for DSR farmers. Issues related to land tenure, credit access, and market linkages need to be addressed to facilitate smoother adoption and implementation of DSR practices.

• Insufficient Post-Harvesting Facilities: 

• • Insufficient post-harvesting facilities present obstacles to the quicker adoption of DSR. Improved facilities are necessary to handle and process DSR crops efficiently.

Status of Rice Crops in India

Area of Cultivation:

• Rice is cultivated on approximately 43.86 million hectares of land throughout India.
• Leading Rice Cultivating states: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are among the leading states in rice production in India.

Trend of Rice Yields In India

• Rice yields increased noticeably from 2013/14 to 2015/16, from 3.6 tons per hectare to 4.2 tons per hectare.
• There were fluctuations around 4.2 tons per hectare for the next three years.
• Rice yields then increased again in 2019/20 to 4.0 tons per hectare, and have continued to increase slightly since then.

Reason For Rise in Rice Production: 

• The development and use of high-yielding rice varieties
• Improved irrigation practices
• More widespread use of fertilizers
• Government policies that support rice production such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rice. 
  • These policies encourage farmers to produce rice. 

News Source: Business – standard

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India ranks 134th in the Global Human Development Index according to the recently released 2023-24 HDR Report by UNDP.

HDR Report 2023-24 (Human Development Report)

• It builds on the 2021–2022 Human Development Report findings that saw the global HDI value fall for the first time — two years in a row.
• The report revealed that while rich countries attained record human development, half of the poorest remain below their pre-crisis level of progress.

Key Highlights of the HDR Report 2023-24

• Theme of HDR Report 2023-24 Titled: “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World”
• Improvement in Human Development Index (HDI): India has ascended one position on the global Human Development Index (HDI) as per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report. 
  • In 2022, India stands at 134th place, compared to 135th in 2021, out of 193 countries ranked. 
  • India in the Medium Human Development Category: Between 1990 and 2022, the country saw its HDI value increase by 48.4 percent, from 0.434 in 1990 to 0.644 in 2022.
• Improvements in Life Expectancy at birth
  • It has marginally increased from 67.2 years in 2021 to 67.7 years in 2022. 
• Improvements in Education: 
  • Expected years of schooling (EYS) have risen by 5.88%, from 11.9 years to 12.6 years, leading to an improvement of 18 places in this aspect.
• Improvements in GNI:  Gross National Income (GNI) per capita has also seen improvement, rising from $6,542 to $6,951.
• Top Performers: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Hong-Kong china(SAR), Denmark
• Bottom 5 HDI Countries: Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Chad
• Comparison with Neighboring Countries:
  • India lags behind its southern neighbor Sri Lanka (ranked 78th) and China (ranked 75th) in the High Human Development category. 
  • Bhutan (125th) and Bangladesh (129th) rank above India, all falling under the Medium Human Development category. 
  • Nepal (146th) and Pakistan (164th) rank lower than India on the HDI scale. 
• Improvement in reducing Gender Inequality (on 3 key Dimensions – Reproductive Health, Empowerment & Labour Market): 
  • Gender Inequality Index value of 0.437 in 2022, India has shown progress and fares better than the global average of 0.462 and the South Asian average of 0.478.
  • India ranks 108 out of 166 countries in Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2022.
  • Reason Behind Improvement In Gender Inequality Index:
    • Determined Agenda for Women’s Empowerment by Government.
    • Comprehensive Policy Initiatives for Long-Term Development.
    • Focus on Workplace Safety and Gender Equality.
    • Focus on Women’s Life Cycle: Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship etc.
• India has shown remarkable progress in human development over the years: 
  • Since 1990, life expectancy at birth has risen by 9.1 years; expected years of schooling have increased by 4.6 years, and mean years of schooling have grown by 3.8 years. India’s GNI per capita has grown by approximately 287 percent.

• Improvement in reproductive health: India’s performance is better than other countries in the medium human development group or South Asia. 
• Improvement in India’s adolescent birth rate:  in 2022 was 16.3 (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19), an improvement from 17.1 in 2021.
• Concerns in Largest Gender Gaps in LFPR: India also has one of the largest gender gaps in the labor force participation rate—a 47.8 percentage points difference between women (28.3%) and men (76.1%).

Other Key Observation Highlighted by HDR Report 2023 – 24

• Reversal Trends in Inequalities: The HDR Report 2023 – 24 notes that after 20 years of convergence, the gap between the richest and poorest countries has started to widen from 2020.
• The failure of collective action on climate change, digitalization, poverty, and inequality not only hinders human development but also worsens polarization and further erodes trust in people and institutions worldwide.

Four Areas for Immediate Action Proposed by HDR Report

To break through the current deadlock and reignite a commitment to a shared future: 

• Planetary public goods: Planetary public goods  for climate stability as unprecedented challenges of the Anthropocene; 
• Digital global public goods: Digital global public goods for greater equity in harnessing new technologies for equitable human development; 
• Financial mechanisms: By international cooperation in  humanitarian assistance and traditional development aid to low-income countries; and 
• Reducing Political Polarization: Implementing new governance approaches by enhancing people’s voices in deliberation and tackling misinformation.

Global Human Development Index

• Background: Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq Introduced the Human Development Index (1990).
• HDI refers to the assessment of average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development – long and healthy life, access to education, and decent standard of living.

• The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions. 
  • The HDI sets a minimum and a maximum for each dimension, called “goalposts”, then shows where each country stands in relation to these goalposts. 
  • This is expressed as a value between 0 and 1. The higher a country’s human development, the higher its HDI value. 
• A report on the Human Development Index (HDI) is part of the Human Development Report released by the United Nations Development Programme.

News Source: TheHindu

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Recently, Six properties were added to India’s Tentative List by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Six Indian Places Added to Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Following are the Six Heritage Sites of Madhya Pradesh to India’s Tentative List included by UNESCO (In Compliance with the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention) : 
  • Gwalior Fort
  • The Historic Ensembles of Dhamnar
  • The Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Bhojpur
  • Rock Art Sites of the Chambal Valley (Serial Nomination)
  • Khooni Bhandara, Bhuranpur
  • Gond Monument of Ramnagar, Mandla
• With this India has expanded its UNESCO Tentative List to include 57 sites.

About Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (UNESCO)

• The Tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites is an inventory of natural and/or cultural heritage sites that a State Party considers to demonstrate potential Outstanding Universal Value to humanity and therefore suitable for nomination to the World Heritage List.
• To be submitted at least one year in Advance: States Parties must provide Tentative Lists to the World Heritage Centre before submitting any nomination, which should be submitted at least one year in advance.

News Source: DD News

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The Cinematograph Certification Rules 2024 have been notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India to improve the film certification process. 

• Last year, the government amended the outdated Cinematograph Act of 1952 after almost 40 years.
  • This amendment aimed to address various issues concerning film certification.

What are Cinematograph Certification Rules 2024?

• The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 is an Act to make provision for the certification of cinematograph films for exhibition and for regulating exhibitions by means of cinemagraphs.
• The introduction of the new Cinematograph Certification Rules 2024 is a part of last year’s government ongoing efforts.
• Significance: 
  • Simplify and modernize the certification process: These rules are designed to simplify and modernize the film certification process.
    • Vision: The goal is to make the process more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
    •  Promotes growth and success of Cinema: By aligning with global standards, these rules support the growth and success of Indian cinema.

Key Improvements Associated with the Cinematograph Certification Rules 2024

• Streamlining Online Certification:

  • Transition towards online certification: The rules have been completely revised to match the shift towards online certification processes.

• Certification Time:

  • Elimination of delays: Time taken for certifying films has been shortened by adopting fully digital processes.
    • This eliminates unnecessary delays in certification procedures.

• Accessibility for All:

  • Movie accessibility to disabilities: Movies must include features that make them accessible to people with disabilities.
  • Guidelines ensure inclusivity for disabled individuals in the certification process.

• Age-Based Certification:

  • Film classification: Films will now be classified into age-based categories: UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+, instead of twelve years.
    • These categories help parents decide if the content is suitable for their children.
  • It ensures young viewers see content appropriate for their age while respecting freedom of expression and consumer choice.

• Promoting Gender Representation:

  • Rise in women’s representation: Women’s representation in the CBFC Board and Advisory Panels is increased.
    • One-third of Board members, preferably half, should be women, promoting gender diversity.

• Priority Screening System:

  • Introduction of Film screening system: A system for prioritizing film screenings has been introduced.
    • Filmmakers can request expedited screenings if they have urgent release commitments, enhancing transparency and efficiency.

• Perpetual Validity of Certificates:

  • Validity of certification: Certificates issued by the CBFC no longer have a validity period of only ten years.
    • They are now valid indefinitely, providing long-term assurance to filmmakers.

• Television Broadcast Standards:

• • Recertification of edited films: Edited films must be recertified before broadcast on television.
    • Only films classified as “Unrestricted Public Exhibition” can be shown on TV, ensuring content suitability.

What Are legal Guidelines for Film Certification in India?

Film certification in India is governed by legal guidelines set forth by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, of 1952.

Five Objectives for Film Certification

These guidelines provide five objectives for film certification under the Act:

(a) The medium of film remains responsible and sensitive to the values and standards of society.

(b) Artistic expression and creative freedom are not unduly curbed.

(c)  Certification is responsive to social changes.

(d) The medium of film provides clean and healthy entertainment.

(e) The film is of aesthetic value and cinematically of a good standard

Legal Framework

• Earlier, The filmmaking industry in India was governed by the Cinematograph Act of 1952 and the Cinematograph Rules of 1983.
• At present, Cinematograph (amendment) act 2023 and Cinematograph certification rules 2024 govern the filmmaking industry. 

News Source: PIB

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Recently, The Government of India mooted to launch a platform for trading e-waste responsibility certificates.

About Online Platform for E-waste Responsibility Certificate

•  Aim:
  • It will transform & Streamline the EPR certificate market, enhancing transparency and efficiency & facilitating better compliance with guidelines. 
  • It aims to manage the proliferation of electronic waste such as obsolete mobile phones, laptops, etc.
• Developed by: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Features of the Platform: 
  • Provide flexibility for companies while ensuring they contribute to properly handling e-waste. 
  • It will increase recycling targets’ achievement. 
  • It will be a step towards establishing a robust and accountable system for managing this growing environmental challenge.
• Regulation of the Platform: 
  • The CPCB will establish guidelines for operating the platform and set a price range for EPR certificates.
  • The Price Range will be between 30 % and 100% of the environmental compensation amount imposed for failing to meet EPR obligations. 

About Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Certificate System

• Regulated under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
• A Market-driven Mechanism:
  • It allows for the quantification of e-waste recycling efforts and incentivises producers to meet or exceed their EPR obligations. 
  • It provides a revenue stream for registered recyclers, encouraging more efficient and scalable recycling operations.
• Applicable to:
  • All items of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts (computers, equipment, home appliances, audio or video products & all of their peripherals )that its owner has discarded as waste without the intent of re-use.
  • ‘Orphaned products‘ means non-branded or assembled electrical and electronic equipment as specified in Schedule I or those produced by a company which has closed its operations. 
• Obligation for the E-Waste Generating Companies: 
  • By collecting and processing their waste or 
  • By purchasing EPR certificates from entities that have exceeded their collection targets. 
  • They are tradable credits just like green credits or carbon credits. 

E-Waste Management Rules 2022 

• Objective: To undertake all necessary measures to ensure the e-waste management in a manner that safeguards both human health and the environment from any potential adverse effects.
• Coverage: Every manufacturer, producer refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I, including their components, consumables, parts and spares which make the product operational.
• Exception (Not applicable to):
  • Waste batteries (under Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022);
  • Packaging plastics (under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016);
  • Microenterprise as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (27 of 2006); &
  • UNDP reportRadio-active wastes (under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (33 of 1962).

News Source: Business Standards

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Renewed clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.

About  Democratic Republic of Congo

• Location: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is located in central sub-Saharan Africa, within the Congo Basin.
• Area:  It is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Border: The DRC shares borders with the Republic of Congo to the northwest, the Central African Republic to the north, South Sudan to the northeast, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania (Lake Tanganyika) to the east, Zambia to the southeast and Angola to the west.
• Congo River: The country is home to the Congo River, the second-longest river in Africa, and the Congo Basin, one of the world’s largest tropical rainforest areas.

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This Article is based on the news “Jaishankar to China: It’s in our common interest not to mass troops at the LAC” which was published in the Indian Express. China has lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Prime Minister’s (PM’s) visit to Arunachal Pradesh, where he dedicated the newly-built Sela Tunnel to the nation. 

Sela Tunnel inauguration: China lodges Diplomatic Protest Over PM Modi’s Arunachal visit

• Inauguration of Sela Tunnel: The PM inaugurated the Sela tunnel, constructed at an altitude of 13,000 ft in Arunachal  Pradesh. 
  • It connects Assam’s Tezpur to the West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • It will also ensure better movement of troops along the frontier region. 
• Chinese Objections: China claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet routinely objects to Indian leaders’ visits to the state to highlight its claims. China has also named the area as Zangnan.
• Rejection of Chinese Territorial Claims: India has repeatedly rejected China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of the country.

Evolution of India China Relations: A Timeline

• India China Relations – Early Years (1950s-1960s):

  • 1950: India recognizes the People’s Republic of China, and establishes diplomatic relations.
  • 1954: Signing of Panchsheel Agreement emphasizing peaceful coexistence.
  • 1962: Sino-Indian War over border disputes, China wins decisively.

• India China Relations – Post-war Scenario:

  • 1959-1962: Unilateral changes to the Line of Actual Control, leading to conflict.
  • Decades later, China claims Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part, straining ties.

• India China Relations – Strategic Distance (1970s-1980s):

  • Limited diplomatic and trade engagements due to mutual distrust.
  • India’s closeness with the Soviet Union and China’s stance against the USSR heighten tensions.
  • Deng Xiaoping’s reforms from 1978 paved the way for economic growth, and openness.

• India China Relations – Efforts for Normalization (1980s):

  • 1988: Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China marks significant advancement.
  • Agreements were signed to maintain peace along the border, Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was established in 2012.

• Post-Cold War Era (1990s onwards):

  • Economic cooperation rises as focal point, significant increase in trade and investment.

• India China Relations – 2003: 

  • Special Representatives Mechanism established to address boundary question.
    • Occasional military standoffs over regions like Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh.

• India China Relations – Recent Developments:

• • 2017: Doklam standoff leads to significant strain.
  • June 2020: Galwan Valley Clash results in casualties on both sides, intensifying tensions.

India China Relations: Bilateral Ties

• Political: On 1 April, 1950, India became the first non-socialist bloc country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. 
• Economic Ties: Bilateral trade has grown significantly, reaching US$100 billion by 2022, with India becoming a large market for project exports from China.
• Cultural: India and China have a history of cultural exchanges and have established institutions like the Yoga College in China. 
• Education: India and China signed the Education Exchange Programme (EEP) in 2006 under which  government scholarships are awarded to 25 students, by both sides in recognized institutions of higher learning in each other’s country.
• Multilateral cooperation: India and China continue high-level engagement at regional fora such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS groupings reflecting common agenda for growth and development. 
• Informal Summits: Both countries have jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. 
  • Both countries have initiated the “hometown diplomacy”, held two informal summits in Wuhan and Chennai respectively.

Challenges Associated with India China Relations

• Five Finger Policy: 

  • Both countries share around 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) that runs along the Himalayan region, much of it poorly demarcated. 
    • China considers Tibet to be the right hand’s palm of China with Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh) as its five fingers.
    • An estimated 50,000-60,000 troops have been posted on either side of the India-China border in eastern Ladakh.

• Salami Slicing Strategy: 

  • Sino-Indian border skirmishes are a part of China’s larger “Salami Slicing Strategy”, wherein China is undertaking small geopolitically unlawful steps to achieve a larger gain which would have been otherwise impossible to carry out all at once.
    • China has been consistently building infrastructure in border areas including roads, bridges and model villages etc. 
      • For instance, China has constructed around  628 well-off villages along India’s borders with the Tibet Autonomous Region, understood as dual-use infrastructure for both civil and military purposes.

• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): 

• • India opposes China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through parts of the Pakistan occupied Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.

• Aggressive Policies in the Neighbourhood: 

• • Building ports and naval facilities under String of Pearls would encircle India which would allow China to influence and control key maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.
    • String of Pearls is a geopolitical and geostrategic initiative which includes a network of Chinese military and commercial facilities which extend from the Chinese mainland to Port Sudan in the Horn of Africa. Ex- Hambantota port.

• Debt Trap Diplomacy: 

  • China’s “Debt Trap Diplomacy” influences India’s relations with other countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Nepal, thereby hindering India’s neighbourhood first policy.
    • Recent change in Maldives’ stance towards India, setting a deadline for withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives, is a consequence of its growing proximity to China.

• India’s Import Dependency: 

  • India has a trade deficit of USD 83.2 billion with China in 2022-23. 
    • Further, India’s dependency on Key Starting Materials (KSM) from China exceeds 50% for its Pharmaceutical industry.

• Water Dispute: 

  • No formal treaty has been established for the sharing of the Brahmaputra River water has been a significant source of tension with China constructing numerous dams in the upper reaches of the river on which India has raised objections.

• South China Sea and India: 

  • China claims sovereignty over part of the SCS, via the 9 dash line and its illegal creation/militarisation of artificial islands in the SCS. 
    • China’s “Nine-Dash Line” refers to a demarcation line used by the People’s Republic of China to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
    • China recently voiced objection to Vietnam’s invitation for India to invest in the oil and natural gas sector in the contested SCS.

Way Forward to India China Relations

• India China Border Disputes Resolution: 

  • Extra buffer zones should be established in well-known contested areas and built on existing border protocols, particularly the ban on firearms. 
    • Both nations engage in more regular dialogue at the highest levels. Both should seek to adapt the principle of “mutual and equal security” i.e., military deployments of mutually acceptable size near the border – to the reality of a heavily militarised frontier. 

• Economic Cooperation: 

  • India must focus on measures to correct the trade imbalance with China since, despite geopolitical tensions, it has huge import dependency on China.
    • India should try to facilitate the development of alternate global supply chains and diversify the imports from other countries.
    • India may also consider signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in order to boost its exports to China. 

• Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management Mechanism: 

  • India needs to build and maintain a credible military deterrence capability in the mountains and the Indian Ocean. 
    • There is an urgent need to build structures and capabilities to counter Chinese grey zone threats. 
    • This should include deployment of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), introduction of Rafale jets to bolster border security, joint military exercises, etc.

• Cultural Diplomacy: 

  • India needs to promote people-to-people exchanges, harness the soft power  of culture, tourism and people-to-people ties to strengthen bilateral relations.
    • Initiatives such as student exchange programs, cultural festivals, and joint research projects.
    • Language exchange programs can also help in fostering confidence and trust among the people of both countries.

• Track Diplomacy: 

  • Encouraging non-governmental initiatives, such as track diplomacy can provide alternative channels for dialogue and help in  expanding “trust society” with “high trust” by facilitating personnel exchanges at all levels and in all fields of society. 
    • Track One diplomacy refers to formal negotiations between nations conducted by professional diplomats. 
    • Track Two diplomacy refers to conflict resolution efforts by professional non-governmental conflict resolution practitioners.

• Proper Implementation of Vibrant Villages Programme: 

  • It will ensure seamless connectivity with bordering districts.
    • Vibrant Villages Programme was introduced in Budget 2023-24 for the development of villages in states bordering China, i.e., Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

• Replicating ANC to other Regions: 

• • From a larger geostrategic perspective, the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) can contribute to Indo-Pacific security given China’s display of increasing belligerence in the region.
    • The ANC has proved that units of India’s three armed forces can march, sail, fly and fight “jointly” and seamlessly, under a single commander. 
    • The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is an integrated tri-services command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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