Context: Structured negotiation is an increasingly employed dispute resolution technique, offering a collaborative and solution-oriented approach as an alternative to litigation. Widely applicable, it has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in settling disability rights cases, particularly in the United States.
Success in Disability Rights:
Win-Win Situation:
Challenges in India:
Benefits of Structured Negotiation:
Call for Action in India:
Conclusion:
Context: The Maldives government suspended three of its ministers- Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan- for their ‘derogatory remarks on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the latter's Lakshadweep visit.
News:
In retaliation more than 8,000 hotel bookings, as well as 2,500 flight tickets, have been cancelled after a Maldivian minister insulted Indian PM ,various social media posts claim.
India and Maldives relations:
Strategic Significance: Due to its proximity to India, with Minicoy in Lakshadweep just 70 nautical miles away and the mainland's western coast 300 nautical miles away, the Maldives holds strategic importance for India. This becomes particularly crucial in light of China's increasing assertiveness in the region.
Political Ties: India was among the first countries to recognize the Maldives upon its independence in 1965, establishing a mission in Male in 1972. The two nations share deep-rooted connections in terms of ethnicity, language, culture, religion, and commerce. Founding members of SAARC, the South Asian Economic Union, and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement, they consistently support each other in various multilateral forums.
Strategic Relationship: The Maldives' location in the Indian Ocean, near major shipping lanes crucial for uninterrupted energy supplies to China, Japan, and India, solidifies its role as India's key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It aligns with India's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy.'
Defence Cooperation: The signing of a technical agreement on sharing 'White Shipping Information' facilitates the exchange of prior information on the movements of commercial, non-military vessels. The joint military exercise, Ekuverin, strengthens military ties between India and the Maldives.
Trade and Economic Relations: The 1981 trade agreement ensures the export of essential commodities, and India provides items like rice, wheat flour, sugar, dal, onion, potato, eggs, and construction materials to the Maldives on favorable terms. India maintains a positive Balance of Trade with the Maldives.
Development Assistance: India's assistance in diverse areas, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and technology adoption, has contributed significantly to the Maldives' development. Noteworthy projects include the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Polytechnic, India-Maldives Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Studies, and infrastructure developments like ports, airports, and stadiums.
Crucial Interventions: Operations like Cactus in 1988 prevented a coup attempt, and subsequent initiatives like Operation Neer and assistance during water treatment plant collapse showcased India's commitment to the Maldives' well-being.
Challenges in India-Maldives Relations:
Political Instability: The Maldives has experienced political instability, marked by government changes and a constitutional crisis, causing tensions between India and the Maldives.
Increasing Chinese Influence: India is apprehensive about China's growing influence in the Maldives, reflected in substantial infrastructure projects and loans provided by China. The expanding involvement of smaller regional states in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other Chinese ventures raises concerns.
Border Dispute Strategies: China's attempts to resolve border disputes with neighboring countries (excluding India), as observed in the case of Bhutan, serve as part of its strategy to gain influence in the region.
Economic Challenges: The Maldives is grappling with an economic crisis, resulting in delays in implementing development projects and facing issues related to debt.
Divergent Approaches to Terrorism: India expresses worry about the surge in Islamic extremism in the Maldives and urges decisive action from the Maldivian government.
However, the Maldives has its own perspectives and concerns regarding the approach to countering terrorism and extremism.
Tourism Dynamics: While India has traditionally been a significant market for Maldives tourism, the Maldives aims to diversify its tourism sector and reduce dependence on India.
India out policy: Mohamed Muizzu has opted for an ‘India-out’ policy by choosing Turkey as his first foreign destination which is seen as significant swings in foreign policy of Maldives.
Way Forward:
Enhanced Involvement in Maldivian Domestic Politics: India should increase its engagement with the internal political dynamics of the Maldives. The recent Maldivian election highlighted that even minor shifts in the domestic power balance can lead to significant changes in the country's external orientation.
Collaboration with Gulf Allies: India ought to collaborate closely with like-minded partners in the Gulf to avert potential destabilization caused by Turkey in the Maldives. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, having experienced Turkey's assertiveness in the region, share an interest in preventing the Maldives from falling into a Turkish sphere of influence.
Preventing External Influence: It is crucial for India to work collaboratively with its Gulf partners to safeguard the Maldives from external influences that may lead to destabilization. Addressing potential challenges and ensuring the Maldives maintains a stable external orientation should be a collective effort among India and its Gulf allies.
Context: The Election Commission of India has brought in new rules for allocation of symbols to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).
New rules:
About the Election Commission of India:
Registered Unrecognised Political Parties :
Requirements for Symbol Allocation:
Allocation of common symbols to RUPPs is contingent on their commitment to fielding "at least 5% of total candidates with regard to said Legislative Assembly election of a State."
Context: The Prime Minister applauded first oil production commences from the complex and difficult deepwater Krishna Godavari basin situated off the coast of Bay of Bengal.
About Krishna-Godavari Basin
Benefits:
Challenges:
The oil production process from the deepwater Krishna Godavari basin can face several challenges:
Context: A recent study on child marriage in India published in the Lancet noted the overall decrease in child marriage across the country but pointed out that four States, mainly Bihar (16.7%), West Bengal (15.2%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%), and Maharashtra (8.2%) accounted for more than half of the total headcount burden of child marriages in girls.
Key findings:
Key interventions:
The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century in India, which replaces the previous National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986.
How is NEP 2020 different from the earlier policies?
The National Policy on Education (NPE) was first formulated in 1968, based on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission. The NPE 1986 focussed on providing education to all sections of society, promoting primary education, and establishing open universities. Later, the Plan of Action (POA) 1992 had special emphasis on early childhood care and education and the universalization of elementary education.
The NEP 2020 stands apart and marks a departure from the earlier policies on the following grounds.
What are the targets set under NEP 2020?
What are the provisions of NEP 2020?
School Education
Existing structure |
Proposed structure |
Not covered (ages 3-6)
Primary and Secondary stage Class 1-10 (ages 6-16)
Higher Secondary stage Class 11-12 (ages 16-18) |
Foundational stage 3 years of pre-primary (ages 3-6) + 2 years of Class 1-2 (ages 6-8)
Preparatory stage Class 3-5 (ages 8-11)
Middle stage Class 6-8 (ages 11-14)
Secondary stage Class 9-12 (ages 14-18) |
Higher Education
Other Recommendations
Major Initiatives Taken Under NEP 2020?
What are the Other Related Initiatives?
Criticisms of NEP 2020?
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has received mixed reactions and criticisms from various stakeholders. Some of the major criticisms of NEP 2020 are
Explorers and naturalists have been curious why some areas are more biodiverse than others.
What is Humboldt’s enigma?
What drives the biodiversity in mountain?
What lies ahead?
Steps taken to study biodiversity in India |
National Mission on Himalayan Studies
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing
|
Recently the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a study found that over half of the nearly 10,000 hospital patients surveyed were given antibiotics to prevent, rather than treat, infection.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?
Antimicrobials - including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic - are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.
What are the key highlights of the report?
India carries one of the largest burdens of drug-resistant pathogens worldwide.
Surveyed patients in % |
Reason for antibiotic prescription |
55% |
Given prophylaxis as a preventive measure |
45% |
It is given to treat infections |
6% |
To identify the specific bacteria |
What are the causes of AMR?
The World Health Organization (WHO) included AMR as one of the top 10 threats to public health in 2019.
What is the way forward?
Steps taken to control AMR |
Global initiatives
India’s initiatives
|
All 4 shankaracharyas will not attend Ram temple inauguration in 2024.
Shankaracharyas |
They are religious teachers who belong to a line of teachers going back all the way to Adi Shankara himself. Meaning – Teacher of the way of Shankara.
Mathas – Dwarka (Gujarat), Joshimath (Uttarakhand), Puri (Odisha), and Sringeri (Karnataka)
|
Advaita Vedanta
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), also known as Darjeeling zoo was successful in breeding 77 snow leopards since the 1980s.
Darjeeling Zoo is the world’s 2nd largest Snow Leopard breeding program next to New York’s Bronx Zoo.
Conservation of Snow Leopard
GSLEP – Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme is an alliance of 12 snow leopard range countries, multi-lateral institutions, NGOs, scientists and local communities to conserve them.
Krizna Jama is the 4th biggest known underground ecosystem in the world in terms of biodiversity.
A mobile food testing van called Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) was launched to reach remote areas and conduct training and awareness activities & to promote awareness campaigns.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.