12 February 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Notes PDF

The Hindu Editorial

12-February-2024

1. A privileged strategic partnership, without a gulf

Topic: GS2 – International Relations – Bilateral Relations The India-UAE strategic partnership, covering diplomacy, trade, and global issues, holds significance for UPSC due to its geopolitical implications and economic ties.

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seventh visit to the UAE underscores the strong India-UAE strategic partnership. The visit includes the inauguration of a Hindu temple, participation in the World Government Summit, and highlights economic, cultural, and global collaborations.

 Overview:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 13-14, 2024.
• This marks Modi’s seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight months.
• The visit includes the inauguration of a temple in Abu Dhabi and Modi’s participation as the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

Bilateral Relationship:

• India-UAE relationship has evolved into a prominent and strategic partnership for New Delhi.
• Close rapport between the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Prime Minister Modi.

Religious and Cultural Ties:

• Inauguration of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi.
• UAE President donated a 27-acre plot of land for the temple.
• Second significant Hindu temple in the UAE, following the one in Dubai opened in October 2022.

Global Engagements:

• Modi to address the World Government Summit on February 14 as the ‘Guest of Honour.’
• Collaboration on global climate issues evident during Modi’s visit to Dubai for COP28.
• Co-launch of the Global Green Credit Initiative.

Economic Partnership:

• Bilateral trade grew to $85 billion in 2022-23, making the UAE India’s third-largest trading partner.
• UAE is India’s second-largest export destination.
• India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aims to increase trade in services to $115 billion in five years.
• Approval of a bilateral investment treaty on February 1, 2024, to boost economic engagement.

Fintech Collaboration:

• Acceptance of RuPay card in the UAE since August 2019.
• Rupee accepted for transactions at Dubai’s airports from July 2023.
• Operationalization of a rupee-dirham settlement system in August 2023.

Energy Security:

• UAE is India’s trusted partner in energy security.
• Strategic oil reserves stored in India.
• Agreement signed with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to invest in the strategic crude oil storage facility in Mangaluru.

Defence, Security, and People-to-People Ties:

• Strong cooperation in defence and security.
• Both countries have made exceptions for each other on various occasions, showcasing mutual respect.
• Exchange of honors, with Modi receiving the UAE’s top civilian honour, the Order of Zayed, in 2019.

Strategic Ties and Regional Cooperation:

• Both nations part of significant groupings, including I2U2 (West Asian Quad) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
• UAE’s participation in the G-20 summit under India’s presidency in September 2023.
• Collaboration on the IMEEC infrastructure project, connecting India to Europe.

Critical Time and Future Outlook:

• The Prime Minister’s visit to UAE comes at a critical time amid the war in Gaza.
• India and UAE share a unique strategic partnership with few major issues of divergence.
• It is evident that the privileged strategic partnership is set to grow stronger in the years ahead.

India – Gulf Countries Relations

Prospects: Strong economic ties: Significant trade volume, focus on energy security, growing investments in diverse sectors. Geopolitical alignment: Shared concerns over maritime security, terrorism, and regional stability. Cultural and people-to-people linkages: Large Indian diaspora across the Gulf, shared history and cultural understanding. Challenges: Regional instability: Conflicts and political tensions can impact relations and economic partnerships. Diversification beyond oil: Reliance on hydrocarbon imports poses economic and environmental concerns. Geopolitical rivalries: Balancing relations with Gulf countries and other global powers can be complex. Social and cultural differences: Addressing sensitivities and promoting mutual understanding is crucial. Way Forward: Economic diversification: Exploring new avenues in trade, investment, and technology collaborations. Maritime security cooperation: Joint patrols, information sharing, and capacity building initiatives. Cultural exchange programs: Encouraging educational exchanges, tourism, and artistic collaborations. Strategic dialogue: Engaging in regular dialogue to address regional concerns and build trust. Focus on people-to-people contacts: Promoting cultural understanding and educational exchanges between young generations.

PYQ: How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2022)

Practice Question:  Critically examine the prospects and challenges in India’s relations with Gulf countries, suggesting how India can navigate this complex partnership for mutual benefit. (150 words/10 m)

2. How women can be represented in politics

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Vulnerable Sections – Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. The Women’s Reservation Bill’s challenges offer insights into gender dynamics in politics, critical for UPSC aspirants.

Context

The Women’s Reservation Bill, passed last year, faced challenges in the Rajasthan Assembly elections, revealing low voter enthusiasm and party reluctance towards women candidates. These issues tend to impact success of women candidates and highlighting persistent barriers to increased women’s political representation.

 Introduction:

• Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament last year, settling the debate on increasing women’s representation in politics.
• Recent Rajasthan Assembly elections highlighted the challenges despite the bill’s passage.

Rajasthan Assembly Elections:

• Both Congress and BJP women candidates performed poorly in the elections.
• BJP’s success rate for women candidates was 45%, lower than the 60% for male candidates.
• Congress had a 32% success rate for women candidates.
• Total women MLAs reduced to 20 in the current Assembly, four fewer than the outgoing Assembly.

Voter Preference and Party Enthusiasm:

• Voters and political parties showed low enthusiasm for women candidates despite the Women’s Reservation Bill.
• Parties were not enthusiastic about fielding more women candidates, and voters were not keen on electing them.

Head-to-Head Contests:

• In seven constituencies where BJP and Congress women candidates competed, the parties won an equal number of seats, showing a voter preference for male candidates.
• BJP’s overall vote share reduced in these constituencies, indicating a preference for male candidates.

Male Candidates vs. Female Candidates:

• Congress performed better when fielding male candidates against BJP’s women candidates, and BJP had higher success rates with male candidates against Congress’s women candidates.
• A vote bloc exists preferring male representatives, impacting the winnability of women candidates.

Lack of Contagion Effect:

• Distributing more tickets to women may not necessarily increase women’s representation in legislatures.
• Examples from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh elections show that gender quotas do not guarantee higher representation.

Conclusion:

• Despite the Women’s Reservation Bill, challenges persist in increasing women’s political participation.
• Voter preferences and party strategies indicate a reluctance to support women candidates, especially in closely contested battles.

Women’s political participation in India

Importance: Enhanced democracy: More inclusive representation leads to diverse perspectives and better policymaking. Development: Studies show positive correlation between women’s political participation and human development indicators. Social equity: Empowers women, addresses gender bias, and promotes equal opportunities. Sustainable peace: Women often advocate for peaceful conflict resolution and social justice. Challenges: Deep-rooted patriarchy: Societal barriers, discriminatory norms, and limited access to resources hinder women’s participation. Political resistance: Male-dominated political landscape resists change and creates hostile environments. Financial constraints: Lack of funds inhibits campaigning and restricts access to political machinery. Violence and intimidation: Physical and verbal threats discourage women from engaging in politics. Way forward: Strengthen legal framework: Enforce existing laws promoting women’s political participation and enact new legislation, like reserving seats in legislatures. Capacity building: Provide training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women aspiring to be leaders. Awareness campaigns: Challenge societal stereotypes and empower women to understand their political rights and responsibilities. Financial assistance: Fund initiatives supporting women candidates, including campaign finance laws and gender-responsive budgets. Engaging political parties: Encourage parties to adopt internal policies promoting women’s representation and address internal resistance. By overcoming these challenges and implementing effective strategies, India can achieve greater women’s political participation, leading to a more equitable, representative, and prosperous democracy.

PYQ: “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self- government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian political process.” Comment. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2019)

Practice Question:  Discuss the challenges and implications of the Women’s Reservation Bill in light of the recent Rajasthan Assembly elections. (150 words/10 m)

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