9 October 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Sunset for the U.K.’s coal-fired power, lessons for India

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

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Infrastructure – Energy

Context

The closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant highlights its long energy transition, driven by economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors. India, heavily reliant on coal, faces a different trajectory in its transition to renewables. Lessons from the U.K.’s shift can guide India toward a just, inclusive transition.

Britain’s Coal Phase Out: A Milestone in Energy Transition

• The closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire symbolises a crucial step in the global shift toward renewable energy.
• Though celebrated, Britain’s coal phaseout faced challenges and is not easily replicable in developing nations.
• The transition did not start with the 2015 Paris pledge but can be traced back to the 1952 Great Smog of London, resulting in the 1956 Clean Air Act.
• Britain’s coal phaseout spans over 70 years, involving economic, geopolitical, and environmental factors.

Factors Accelerating Britain’s Transition from Coal

• The discovery of natural gas in the North Sea (1965) and geopolitical factors like the Cold War led to the reduction of coal reliance.
• Rising costs, declining domestic coal reserves, and forced mine closures under Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s accelerated the shift.
• The transition caused economic challenges, leading to poverty in regions dependent on coal industries.

India’s Coal Trajectory: Comparison with the U.K.

• At the 2021 Glasgow COP, India and China sought to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal.
• India pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and meet 50% of its energy needs from renewables by 2050.
• As the third-largest carbon emitter, India produced 2.9 gigatons of emissions in 2023 compared to the U.K.’s 384 million metric tonnes, though India’s population is over 20 times larger.
• Per capita emissions in India were 2 tonnes, far lower than the global average and the U.K.’s 5.5 tonnes.

India’s Coal Dependency and Future Projections

• India’s coal sector remains vital, with 60% of its energy coming from coal, amounting to 218 GW of installed capacity.
• India’s coal consumption is expected to peak between 2030 and 2035, with over 350 operational mines and 120 new ones planned.
• The coal sector provides direct employment to over 340,000 miners and supports millions through related industries.
• India’s per capita energy consumption remains much lower than Britain’s, underscoring the challenges in reducing reliance on coal.

Lessons from Britain’s Transition for India

• Britain pursued a holistic approach, retraining workers in coal-dependent sectors for employment in engineering, heavy machinery, and renewable energy.
• Redevelopment of coal-dependent regions, establishment of renewable energy projects, and repurposing old infrastructure helped ease the transition.
• India, with its historically coal-dependent and impoverished regions, must take a similar forward-thinking approach.
• Fixing timelines for plant decommissioning, regional redevelopment, and workforce retraining will be essential for ensuring an inclusive and just energy transition.

PYQ: “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2017)

Practice Question:  Discuss the challenges India faces in phasing down coal while transitioning to renewable energy. How can lessons from the U.K.’s coal phase-out be applied to ensure an inclusive and just energy transition for coal-dependent regions in India? (250 Words /15 marks)

2. From solidarity to pseud, India’s shift on Palestine

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

Topic: GS2 – International Relations

Context

India’s foreign policy on Palestine has evolved from its anti-colonial roots to a more transactional approach, marked by closer ties with Israel. This shift, influenced by national politics, strategic interests, and global power politics, reflects a departure from India’s values-based diplomacy. India now prioritises economic and security concerns over historical commitments.

India’s Evolving Stance on Palestine

• India’s position on Palestine, once a symbol of its anti-colonial ethos, has significantly shifted, especially in the past decade.
• The alignment with Israel and marginalisation of Palestine are influenced by domestic and global factors, including the rise of Hindutva and transactional diplomacy.
• This shift highlights a broader trend where India’s foreign policy now prioritises strategic and economic interests over historical commitments.

Hindutva’s Influence on Foreign Policy

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar have promoted a Hindu nationalist worldview in shaping India’s diplomacy.
• This shift has led to a growing affinity with Israel, perceived as a natural ally in combating ‘Islamic terror’, a narrative prominent in Hindutva discourse.
• Historically, India’s support for Palestine was based on anti-colonialism, but now it is viewed through a communal lens, associating the Palestinian cause with Muslim identity.
• Public discourse, driven by right-wing media, frames pro-Palestinian protests as threats to national security, with crackdowns on such expressions of solidarity.

From Values to Transactional Diplomacy

• India’s shift from values-based foreign policy to transactional diplomacy is evident in its relations with Israel.
• Under the Nehruvian era, India’s foreign policy was rooted in anti-colonialism and support for Palestinian statehood.
• The post-Cold War period marked a shift towards a more transactional approach, prioritising economic and strategic interests over historical values.
• India-Israel relations have flourished, with bilateral trade surpassing $10 billion in 2022-23 and cooperation extending across sectors like defence, agriculture, and technology.
• The ‘dehyphenation’ strategy, where India treats its relations with Israel and Palestine separately, and ‘depoliticisation’, enhancing cooperation without addressing sensitive political issues, define this new engagement.

India’s Ambitions and Strategic Realignment

• India’s aspirations to become a global power have influenced its stance on Palestine.
• While positioning itself as a potential broker in the Ukraine conflict, India has notably reduced its support for Palestine.
• India’s alignment with the U.S., Israel’s key ally, amidst the China-U.S. geopolitical rivalry, also shapes its West Asia policy.
• The shift from non-alignment to strategic autonomy to multialignment reflects a broader normative dilution in India’s foreign policy.

Conclusion: Power Politics over Principles

• Despite its official endorsement of a two-state solution, India’s approach prioritises strengthening ties with Israel over its historical support for Palestine.
• This shift represents a move towards power politics, where economic and strategic interests outweigh India’s former values-based commitments.

Practice Question:  Discuss the factors behind India’s evolving stance on the Palestine-Israel issue, focusing on the influence of domestic politics, strategic interests, and global power dynamics.(150 Words /10 marks)