11 February 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. India as a bridge between the Global North and South

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

India’s Renewed Interest in the Global South

• India is actively advocating for the concerns of developing countries and aims to create a more inclusive global governance system.
• Unlike past movements focused on decolonization, India is strengthening ties with traditional partners like the United States and European nations.
• High-level diplomatic visits indicate India’s attempt to build new alliances while maintaining strategic relationships.

Strategic Considerations and Global Positioning

• Some believe India’s growing role in the Global South is aimed at countering another major global power’s influence.
• Investment patterns suggest competition, particularly in African countries where both nations are expanding their presence.
• Industrialized nations are strategically aligning with India, partly to balance the global power dynamics.
• The country, however, is not just competing but also trying to establish itself as an independent emerging power with its own strategic and economic interests.

Addressing Global South Concerns

• Many developing nations face economic hardships, debt burdens, and conditional aid from major powers.
• These nations are looking for alternative partnerships that do not replicate existing models of dependency.
• India has the potential to act as a bridge between developed and developing nations but must implement effective strategies to strengthen its position.

Key Steps for India’s Success

1. Redefining Development Cooperation
   • India must promote an alternative model of development that is not dictated solely by advanced economies.
   • The country emphasizes equal partnerships but sometimes prioritizes its own strategic interests.
   • The newly introduced ‘Global Development Compact’ focuses on strategies rooted in India’s experiences.
   • While India’s development journey is valuable, it should also learn from other developing nations to address domestic and global challenges effectively.
   • A balanced approach will help avoid perceptions of dominance over smaller nations.
2. Adopting a Human-Centric Approach
   • India promotes sustainability and responsible consumption through initiatives like Mission LiFE.
   • A broader focus on human resource development is needed, particularly in skills training and entrepreneurship.
   • The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program has traditionally provided short-term skill-building initiatives.
   • To enhance long-term impact, India should help countries build strong institutions that can develop skilled workforces.
   • Cooperation in digital infrastructure, climate resilience, energy solutions, water, and food security can strengthen India’s role in global development.
3. Building Inclusive Global Governance
   • India has advocated for more inclusive decision-making by pushing for the inclusion of the African Union in the G-20.
   • While influencing existing global institutions is important, India must also strengthen its own domestic capacity for international cooperation.
   • Initially, collaboration with experienced development partners like the United Nations or European nations can be beneficial.
   • Over time, India should build independent mechanisms for international development partnerships.
   • Trilateral cooperation and long-term engagement can help India scale up its own global initiatives.

The Road Ahead

• India’s ambition to be a leading voice for the Global South requires active listening and collaboration.
• The country once led a major global movement by offering an alternative path for developing nations.
• Now, it has a similar opportunity to create an inclusive and sustainable development model for the world.

2. The problem of regulating live-in relationships

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)

Introduction to the UCC in Uttarakhand

• The law criminalizes unregistered non-marital cohabitation, imposing penalties for non-compliance.
• While some provisions aim to protect vulnerable individuals in live-in relationships, others raise concerns regarding autonomy and legal clarity.

Well-intentioned Provisions

• The UCC protects the rights of individuals in live-in relationships, especially those who may become financially or socially vulnerable.
• Children born in live-in relationships will be considered legitimate, improving upon the existing legal position where only children from void or voidable marriages were deemed legitimate.
• The law provides maintenance rights in cases where one partner deserts the other, offering legal protection against abandonment.

Challenges in Maintenance Provisions

• While the law allows for maintenance in case of desertion, it does not provide maintenance rights upon termination of the relationship.
• Termination requires only a statement to be submitted to the registrar, meaning one partner may be left without support.
• Same-sex relationships are excluded from legal recognition, leaving individuals in such relationships unprotected.

Ambiguity in the Definition of Live-in Relationships

• The UCC defines a live-in relationship as being ‘in the nature of marriage’, following previous legal interpretations.
• However, many live-in relationships are not equivalent to marriage, making this definition problematic.
• The law mandates registration within one month, but live-in relationships often develop gradually without a clear start date.
• This rigid registration rule may force casual relationships into legal regulation, creating unnecessary complications.

Concerns About Sexual Autonomy

• The Supreme Court has upheld the right to sexual autonomy, meaning individuals can freely choose their relationships without external interference.
• However, the UCC mandates informing parents/guardians if one partner is below 21 years of age, violating privacy rights.
• In a society where honor-based violence is a concern, this provision may put individuals in inter-caste or inter-religious relationships at risk.

Increased State Surveillance

• The UCC requires all registered live-in relationships to be reported to the local police, treating such relationships as a potential law-and-order issue.
• Failure to register a live-in relationship is a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment or fines, which is an extreme legal stance.

Conclusion

• In many countries, the purpose of registering live-in relationships is to extend marriage-like protections to cohabiting couples.
• However, Uttarakhand’s UCC treats live-in relationships as a problem to regulate, rather than a social reality requiring legal safeguards.
• The law, in its current form, limits personal freedom, increases state intervention, and reinforces social control over personal choices.