26 March 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Notes PDF

Topic: GS2 – International Relations

From a UPSC perspective, understanding China’s role in the Middle East aids in comprehending global geopolitical dynamics.

● Geopolitical Competition: China’s rapid economic growth has fueled its ambitions for global influence, leading to increased competition with India for power and resources in the region.

● Border Disputes: Long-standing border disputes, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), have escalated tensions between China and India, culminating in deadly clashes on multiple occasions.

● Infrastructure Development: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to enhance connectivity across Asia, but India sees it as a strategy to encircle and contain Indian influence, particularly in South Asia.

●  Economic Expansion: Chinese investments in South Asian countries, such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, raise concerns in India about potential strategic encirclement and economic dominance.

●Military Modernization: China’s rapid military modernization, including advancements in technology and naval capabilities, poses a direct challenge to India’s security interests in the Indian Ocean region.

● Diplomatic Maneuvering: China’s growing influence in international organizations and forums marginalizes India’s voice on global issues, limiting its ability to counter Chinese initiatives effectively.

● Regional Dynamics: China’s alliances with countries like Pakistan and its increasing presence in India’s traditional sphere of influence, such as in Nepal and Bangladesh, further exacerbate India’s security concerns.

Way Forward:

●  Enhanced Regional Cooperation: Strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries through initiatives like the “Neighbourhood First” policy can counterbalance Chinese influence by fostering economic ties and security cooperation.

● Infrastructure Development: Investing in infrastructure projects within the region to improve connectivity and socio-economic development can undercut the appeal of Chinese-funded projects under the BRI.

● Strategic Alliances: Deepening alliances with like-minded countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia can provide India with diplomatic support and bolster its strategic position vis-à-vis China.

● Economic Diversification: Diversifying trade partnerships beyond China and promoting domestic manufacturing through initiatives like “Make in India” can reduce economic dependence and mitigate the impact of Chinese economic coercion.

●Military Preparedness: Strengthening military capabilities, particularly along the border areas, and investing in advanced defence technologies can deter Chinese aggression and safeguard India’s territorial integrity.

● Diplomatic Engagement: Actively engaging in regional and international forums to highlight concerns about Chinese expansionism and build consensus among other nations can amplify India’s diplomatic efforts in countering Chinese influence.

●Soft Power Projection: Leveraging cultural diplomacy, educational exchanges, and public diplomacy initiatives can enhance India’s soft power and counter Chinese narratives in the region.

Topic: GS2 – Indian Polity – Constitution – Significant provisions

The topic is crucial for UPSC as it pertains to constitutional law, equality, and judicial interpretation, reflecting contemporary legal debates on CAA 2019.

About:

●  The Act seeks to amend the definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist, Jains and Christian (but not Muslim) immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation.

●  They will be granted fast track Indian citizenship in 5 years (11 years earlier).

● The Act (which amends the Citizenship Act 1955) also provides for cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration where the OCI card-holder has violated any provision of the Citizenship Act or any other law in force.

Who is eligible?

● The CAA 2019 applies to those who were forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion. It aims to protect such people from proceedings of illegal migration.

● The cut-off date for citizenship is December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date.

● The act will not apply to areas covered by the Constitution’s sixth schedule, which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

● Additionally, the act will not apply to states that have an inner-line permit regime (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram).

●   Constitutional Challenge: Critics argue that it violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on religion.

●    The CAA’s provision of granting citizenship based on religion is seen as discriminatory.

● Potential for Disenfranchisement: The CAA is often linked to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a proposed nationwide exercise to identify illegal immigrants.

●  Critics fear that a combination of CAA and a faulty NRC could disenfranchise several citizens who are unable to prove their documentation.

●   More than 19.06 lakh people were left out of the final draft of the Assam NRC released in August 2019.

●  Impact on Assam Accord: In Assam, there is a specific concern regarding the compatibility of the CAA with the Assam Accord, 1985.

●  The Accord established criteria for determining citizenship in Assam, including specific cut-off dates for residency.

●  The CAA’s provision of a different timeline for granting citizenship could conflict with the provisions of the Assam Accord, leading to legal and political complications.

●   Secularism and Social Cohesion: The CAA’s focus on religion as a criterion for citizenship eligibility has raised broader concerns about its impact on secularism and social cohesion in India.

● Critics argue that privileging certain religious communities over others undermines the secular principles upon which the Indian state was founded and could exacerbate communal tensions.

● EXclusion of few Religious Communities: The exclusion of certain religious communities from the CAA and its subsequent rules, such as Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetan Buddhists, who faced religious persecution in their home countries, raises concerns.