Editorial Analysis By Date

From Strategic Autonomy to Vishwamitra: India’s Foreign Policy Transition

March 29, 2024

Context

Over the past decade, there has been a notable evolution in India’s diplomatic vocabulary, representing a significant change in its foreign policy approach.

Relevancy for Prelims: India’s Foreign Policy, Changing Dynamics Of India’s Foreign-Policy, Indian Diplomacy, and Gujral Doctrine Of Foreign Policy.

Relevancy for Mains: Foreign Policy of India, Rodmap from strategic autonomy to Vishwamitra.

India’s Shift from Strategic Autonomy to Vishwamitra

Political Polarization as Impeding Factors:
- The political polarisation slows this process causing a delay in the development of a new and universally embraced diplomatic vocabulary crucial for India’s rise on the global stage.
Incongruence of Idea:
- The idea of “strategic autonomy” seems contradictory when one considers that India is the world’s third-largest economy, with the third-largest armed forces and the fourth-largest defense budget.
  - This concept originates from the period of post-colonial insecurity and the persistent anxiety regarding being coerced into undesired decisions by dominant global powers.
Limits of Strategic Autonomy for Major Powers:
- As a significant power in its own right, the scope of autonomy naturally broadens.
  - Even so, there is no such thing as “absolute strategic autonomy” as even the world’s most powerful nation, the US, does not have total freedom of action.
Developmental Challenges for India:
- Although the aggregate size of its economy gives India some of the critical attributes of a major power, its low per capita income underlines the massive developmental challenges at home.
Decline in Strategic Autonomy Reference:

- It has been replaced by references to India as a “leading power”, “Vishwamitra”, “net security provider”, “first responder” to regional crises, “like-minded coalitions”, “minilateralism”, “inter-operability”, and “global public goods”.

Way Forward

Shifting Focus:
- India needs to contribute effectively to securing the region and governing the world.
  - Historically, great powers have shaped the nature of war and peace and international institutions to limit the former and promote the latter.
  - Great powers also set the rules for international commerce, manage global commons, regulate the emergence of new technologies and manage their consequences.
Shaping Global Order:

- India’s growing aggregate power also brings greater responsibilities and opportunities to shape and maintain regional and global order.

Conclusion

India must balance its aspirations for global leadership with its commitment to addressing domestic developmental challenges, thus ensuring a sustainable and inclusive path towards a brighter future for its citizens and the world at large.

Also Read: Vision India@2047

Mains Question: Define Realpolitik and its core principles in international relations. Examine instances in India’s foreign policy where Realpolitik principles were evident. (15 marks, 250 words)

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The Countdown to a WHO Pandemic Treaty: Key Features

March 29, 2024

Context

The ninth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), marking the concluding phase of discussions for the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement, began recently.

Relevancy for Prelims: World Health Organization (WHO), Global Initiative On Digital Health (GIDH), Global TB Report 2023 and, CoViNet- A Global Laboratory To Monitor.

Relevancy for Mains: WHO Pandemic Treaty: Key Features, Concerns, and Way Forward.

WHO Pandemic Treaty: WHO Member States Agree to Resume Negotiations Aimed at Finalizing the World’s First Pandemic Agreement

Background of WHO Pandemic Treaty: In March 2021, an extraordinary call for a pandemic treaty was issued by 25 heads of government and international agencies, marking a pivotal moment in global health governance.

The key features of WHO Pandemic Treaty

Establishment of the COP:
- The current negotiating texts have also proposed an establishment of the Conference of Parties (COP) to oversee the implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
International Treaty:
- The proposed establishment of a COP suggests that an agreement could be a classic international treaty adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution as opposed to the alternative Article 21 opt-out regulations.
Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS):
- To address this issue, the current draft of the Agreement proposes a quid pro quo mechanism, formally titled the WHO PABS System.
  - It compels countries to share genome sequence information and samples with WHO-coordinated networks and databases.
  - In return for access to this data, manufacturers will be required to provide 10% of their products free of charge and 10% at not-for-profit prices.
Legal Obligations on Benefits-Sharing:

- The current text of the provision aims to establish legal obligations on benefits-sharing for all users of biological materials and genetic sequence data under PABS.
  - A robust PABS system, particularly for low- and middle- income countries, including some African nations, seems non-negotiable for promoting equity in access to medical countermeasures.

Concerns with the Treaty

Access and benefit sharing: Many developed countries and the pharmaceutical industry are not satisfied with access and benefit sharing in the current negotiating text, including the perceived trade-offs.
Hesitancy to Share information: The agreement involves the establishment of a global system for sharing pathogens and their genetic codes but developing countries are hesitant to share information on pathogen spread and evolution if they perceive little in return, a situation exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic by vaccine nationalism.
Enforcement Mechanisms: The effectiveness of the Agreement could be compromised in the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism.
Limitations of International Health Regulations: The existing International Health Regulations are already legally binding. However, they failed to prevent unjust travel or trade restrictions, and hoarding of vaccines and other medical countermeasures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion

The WHO Pandemic treaty/ agreement represents a critical step towards rebuilding trust and coordination between nations, acknowledging that no single Government or institution can confront the threat of future pandemics in isolation.

Also Read: India TB Report 2024

Prelims PYQ (2021):

With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant Vector Vaccine’, consider the following statements:

1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines.

2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Mains Question: Explain the key areas of debate surrounding the WHO Pandemic Treaty. Analyse the divergences between developed and developing nations on issues such as intellectual property rights and equitable vaccine distribution. (15 M, 250 Words)

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Consultation On Vision 2047 Document: Roadmap to a $30 Trillion Economy

March 29, 2024

Relevancy for Prelims: Vision India@2047, Economic Indicators, Annual Survey Of Industries For 2020-22,and India To Be A $ 7 Trillion Economy By 2030.

Relevancy for Mains: Roadmap to make India as a developed nation by 2047

Vision 2047 Document: Introduction

Announcement of Panch Pran: On August 15, 2022, Indian Prime Minister announced five pledges (Panch Pran) from the Red Fort to make India a superpower.
- The first pledge was to make India a developed nation by 2047.
Vision 2047 Document: The Indian government, along with NITI Aayog, prepared the Vision 2047 document, providing a roadmap to make India a $30 trillion economy and increase per capita income from $2,600 to $18,000.

Defining a Developed Nation

No Official Definition: There is no official status or definition of a “developed nation” by any world institution.
Categories as per World Bank: The World Bank divides countries into four categories:
- Low income countries
- Lower middle income countries
- Upper middle income countries
- High income countries
Current Status of India: India currently falls under the lower middle income category with a per capita income of $2,612.
- To be considered developed, India needs to increase its per capita income to $20,000-$25,000, requiring exceptional growth rates.

Challenges in India’s Economic Landscape

According to the Indus Valley Report 2024, there are three major challenges that could hinder India’s mission to become a developed country:

Inadequate Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF):
- India’s economy is consumption-led, with 60% dependent on private consumption and only 29% contribution from GFCF.
  - For instance, India’s GFCF has never exceeded 35% between 2001 and 2023, while China consistently invests above 40% in capital assets.
  - GFCF: It represents a country’s investment in physical assets like buildings, roads, and machinery, which drive long-term growth, productivity, production, and exports.
Lack of Credit:
- Private companies require loans to invest, and the MSME sector (contributes 29% to India’s GDP) is struggling with credit shortages.
  - India’s domestic credit to the private sector is only 54% ($1.6 trillion), compared to China’s 182% ($32 trillion).
  - Despite having 110 unicorn startups, venture funding in India has been declining since 2017 due to credit shortages and high Non-Performing Assets (NPA) in the banking sector.
Increased Government Debt:
- India’s government debt is 84% of its GDP, while China’s is only 68%. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that India’s government debt might reach 100%, negatively impacting the economy.
  - India’s low income tax base is a major factor behind the high government debt, with only 1.5% of people paying income tax.
  - High government debt leads to a crowding-out effect, reducing the availability of loans for the private sector.

Way Forward

Addressing inadequate GFCF, lack of credit, and increased government debt is essential for India’s growth.
Improve ease of doing business, providing credit guarantees to MSMES and increase the tax base.
Investing in human capital, particularly the youth, is crucial for India’s growth and development.

Conclusion

Investing in human capital and implementing reforms will be key to achieving the goal of becoming a $30 trillion economy with high per capita income.

Also Read: Interim Budget: Blue Economy 2.0

Mains Question: Discuss the key challenges that India must overcome to achieve its Vision India 2047 and suggest a roadmap for addressing these challenges. (10 M, 150 Words)

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Mar 29 2024

From Strategic Autonomy to Vishwamitra: India’s Foreign Policy Transition

Context

India’s Shift from Strategic Autonomy to Vishwamitra

Political Polarization as Impeding Factors:

Incongruence of Idea:

Limits of Strategic Autonomy for Major Powers:

Developmental Challenges for India:

Decline in Strategic Autonomy Reference:

Way Forward

Shifting Focus:

Shaping Global Order:

Conclusion

The Countdown to a WHO Pandemic Treaty: Key Features

Context

WHO Pandemic Treaty: WHO Member States Agree to Resume Negotiations Aimed at Finalizing the World’s First Pandemic Agreement

The key features of WHO Pandemic Treaty

Establishment of the COP:

International Treaty:

Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS):

Legal Obligations on Benefits-Sharing:

Concerns with the Treaty

Conclusion

Consultation On Vision 2047 Document: Roadmap to a $30 Trillion Economy

Vision 2047 Document: Introduction

Defining a Developed Nation

Challenges in India’s Economic Landscape

Inadequate Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF):

Lack of Credit:

Increased Government Debt:

Way Forward

Conclusion

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