GS Paper - II Model Answers (2020) - 2 | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

Q11: Indian constitution exhibits centralizing tendencies to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Elucidate in the perspective of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and recently passed Farm Acts.
Ans: Centralizing tendencies which have been inculcated in Indian constitution due to pre-independence imperial legislation which started with Regulating Act of 1774. In accordance with current political setup, Sir Ivor Jennings believed India to be a “federation with strong centralizing tendencies”. Use of Disaster Management Act of 2005 and overriding the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 variably by central government during COVID-19 pandemic has reflected the centralizing powers of Indian federation. Further, despite agriculture being a state subject, formulation of farm laws via subsidiary route also undermined the role of state government.
The Disaster Management Act 2005 Vs Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 

• It provides for better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic diseases where the state governments have the prerogative over central government. 
• It provides powers to the state governments to prescribe regulations regarding any person or group of people to contain the spread of COVID-19. 
• However, central government used the Disaster Management Act 2005 to regulate and manage COVID- 19 pandemic, diluting the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005. 
• The main motive of overriding state’s jurisdiction was to act swiftly and promptly during the event of COVID-19 like disaster. 
• But, the action underlined the centralization of powers in Indian democratic setup Agriculture reforms: 
• Overriding state’s jurisdiction 
• Central government made three farm laws by promulgating ordinances. However agriculture is a subject under state list. 
• It brought following bill through ordinance under article 123 the constitution: – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, – The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and – The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 
• However, centre did not bring the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 under subject mentioned under state list but under the subject ‘Agriculture Marketing’ which has not been mentioned in any of the list of the constitution. 
• According to Article 248 in Part XI of the constitution the Centre has power to legislate on any item which is not mentioned in any of the three lists. 
• Further, for the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, the government has not clarified about the provisions of the constitution under which it has brought. 
• Further, entry 33 under concurrent list provides for both the state and the Union government to legislate regarding production, trade, supply and distribution of a range of foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials. 
• Entry 34 under it mandates central government to legislate in matters of price control, under which it brought ‘The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 
• Although, the central government has brought the three farm bills in accordance with constitutional provisions but are directly and indirectly related to agriculture which is subject under state list of the constitution. Maintaining unity and integrity of the nation 
• Although both actions of the Central government signified the centralizing tendency of Indian federation, it has also showcased pan Indian unified effort to fight pandemic. 
• Further, ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’, which has been envisaged in the farm will unify the agriculture sector of a country like India where more than 60% of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. 

In both of the above cases, central government has exercised powers under its jurisdiction but the presence of both subjects in state’s jurisdiction underlines the fact that despite willingness to legislate or act on particular subject matter, the state’s role has been limited. It justifies the centralizing power of the Indian federation underlining a strong centre with states. Further, this centralized laws help in maintaining ‘Unity in diversity’ of Indian Fedration.

Q12: Judicial Legislation is antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. In this context justify the filing of large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive authorities. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: Judicial Legislation’ can be defined as laws which are created by the pronouncements of a judge who departs from a strict interpretation of law according to the manifest intention of the legislature. Judicial legislation in context of Indian constitution is opposed to the doctrine of separation of power.
The constitution of India provides the power to legislate only to Indian Parliament and states legislatures. However, any judgment of Supreme Court and High Court regarding any legislation is considered as law in Indian context, which infringes the separation of power jurisdiction.
How is Judicial Legislation antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers? 

• The power of judicial review over legislative action vested in the High Court under Article 226 and in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution. 
• It is an integral and essential feature of the Constitution which constitutes part of its basic structure. 
• It empowers the Supreme Court and High court to curtail any legislation which infringes fundamental rights of the citizens. 
• But, a large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive authorities under article 32 and Article 226 has called the courts to intervene in number of cases. 
• These petitions are completely based on loopholes of different legislations citing need of court’s intervention for social welfare and public interest. 
• When the court intervenes in such conditions, it sometime pronounces changes in legislation which undermines the power of parliament. 
• Further, some of the petitions are related to those subjects which do not come under any legislations. 
• Under such circumstances the court legislates by judgments instead of directing the legislature to enact laws upon the aforesaid subject. Judicial legislations on different subject matters in recent past due to PILs 
• In recent past judiciary has intervened in matters pertaining to subjects such as bonded labour matters, neglected children, non-payment of minimum wages to workers and exploitation of casual workers, and petitions from jails complaining of harassment, against police for refusing to register a case, harassment by police and death in police custody, against atrocities on women impact the lives of the marginalized and disadvantaged. 
• In absence of any appropriate statutory arrangement for these subjects issuance of directives or guidelines by the judiciary is a clear case of judicial intervention. 
• Although, these subjects are related to infringement of fundamental rights, but the judiciary should direct the central government for guidelines instead of its own guidelines. 

Although judicial review is part of basic structure of the constitution, it provides for ‘Checks’ on government’s legislative overreach rather than providing an instrument to judiciary to legislate. As ‘Custodian of the Indian Constitution’, the apex court must limit the use of instruments such as ‘Public Interest Litigations’. It must maintain ‘Separation of Powers’ among different organs of the government i.e. Legislature, Executive and Judiciary by exercising instrument of ‘Checks and balances’.

Q13: The strength sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of ‘Functions, Functionaries and Funs’ to the contemporary stage of ‘Functionality’. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as envisaged by 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts respectively have evolved recently in Indian democratic horizon and have started to yield better results, leaving behind its formative state. Now democratic credentials as shown by these local bodies and ground level development envisaged by them has started to quantify in India’s development process. However, there are some of the challenges faced by these local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times.
Challenges faced by these local institutions in terms of their functionality 

• Apart from some of the states like Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh etc. Most states have conformed to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts only on paper and are yet to devolve powers and autonomy to their local bodies. 
• Financial constraints of these local bodies are yet to be fully realized as these bodies rely on central grants and limited revenue sources in their periphery. 
• Further, there are limitations in terms of exercising power as there are various subjects where power of state and PRIs overlap. These subjects are related to management in area of education, health, sanitation and water. 
• Intervention of state’s executive in functioning of these institutions further belittles their autonomy and powers. 
• There is lack of clear demarcation of powers in administrative setup and inconsistency across vertical and horizontal cooperation. 
• PRIs and ULBs have been inconsistent in delivery of services due to lack of human resource and physical infrastructure. 
• In some of the states, log pending elections and deliberate scrapping of PRIs by state government has shown the loopholes which need to be corrected. Conclusion: Although, Indian constitution clearly mandates for division of subjects among different level of governance, there are some overlapping powers assigned at different levels. 
• These powers are exploited by legislatures and executive at higher rung of the government leading to limited exercise of power by lower rung. Further, financial and infrastructure constraints of local institutions have limited their role in democratic setup. 
• Decentralization of power was the motive of “Gandhian Philosophy’ which can only be realized by strengthening local institutions. Then only India will be able to deliver ‘Citizen Centric Services’ to the tizens on the last rung of democracy.

Q14: Rajyasabha has been transformed from a ‘useless Stepney tire’ to the most useful supportive organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as areas in which this transformation could be visible. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: The Upper House of Indian Parliament has been playing a pivotal role in India’s much cherished parliamentary democracy, keeping the bicameral structure alive, setting new records and creating history since its inception. Thus, Rajya Sabha as the second chamber of the parliament is considered as a permanent house (it never dissolves as Lok Sabha and one-third of its members retire every two years), revisionary house (reconsidering bills passed by the Lok Sabha) and offers a degree of continuity in the underlying policies of laws passed by parliament.
Importance of Rajya Sabha 

• Equilibrium - The Rajya Sabha is required to maintain the federal equilibrium by protecting the interests of the states against the undue interference of the Centre. 
• Review - The second chamber enables a second and reflective expression of representative opinion. 
• Checks and Balance - Both the Houses check one another and hence instances of parliamentary tyranny can be avoided. In other words, it can ensure that the majoritarian thrust of the Lower House does not undermine rule of law and public institutions. 
• Promotes Federalism - It represents the interests of the States as a federal chamber. 
• Important Body - It acts as a deliberative body holding high-quality debates on important issues. 
• Public Policy - It helps to initiate proposals for public policy. 
• Citizen rights - Rajya Sabha can be the voice of sanity, of the excluded, and of citizen rights. 

How in recent decades the role of Rajya Sabha has been enhanced? 

• The Upper House has played significant role in the socio-economic transformation of the country at the stroke of freedom marked by poverty, illiteracy, poor healthcare, low level of industrialization and economic growth, social orthodoxy, poor infrastructure, unemployment etc. are now a leading engine of economic growth and a voice being heard in the complex global order besides substantially improved quality of life of the people. 
• The Constitution has placed both Houses of Parliament on an equal footing in some important matters such as: 
  • Equal right with the Lok Sabha in the election and impeachment of the President (Articles 54 and 61); 
  • Equal right with the LokSabha in the election of the Vice-President (Article 66); 
  • Equal right with the LokSabha to make law defining parliamentary privileges and to punish for contempt (Article 105);. Equal right with the LokSabha to approve the Proclamation of Emergency (issued under Article 352) 
  • Proclamations regarding failure of the Constitutional machinery in States (issued under Article 356) and even a sole right in certain circumstances; and 
• Equal right with the LokSabha to receive reports and papers from various statutory authorities, namely: 
  • Annual Financial Statement [Article 112(1)]; 
  • Audit Reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India [Article 151(1);] 
  • Reports of the Union Public Service Commission [Article 323(1)]; 
  • Report of the Commission to investigate the conditions of the Backward Classes [Article 340(3)]; and 
  • Report of the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities [Article 350B (2)]. 
• The factors, which have been responsible for the transformation of RajyaSabha into an essential organ, are: 
  • Coalition Government - It requires wider consensus and when there is no single party having a majority. 
  • Prime Minister from RajyaSabha - As a head of the government, he imparts RajyaSabha with enhanced weightage. example Manmohan Singh 
  • Opinion - The requirement of informed opinion on the issues such as climate change, surrogacy law, DNA bill. 
  • Principle of Federalism - Increased principle of Federalism in Indian polity and the rise of regional parties. The areas where this change is visible 
  • Role of RajyaSabha in enacting important legislation like the RTI act and also in opposing discriminatory legislation such as POTA act 2003. 
  • Making the government is accountable by the passing of amendments to the President’s address. 
  • Making government to agree on amendments on important legislation of the Lokpal Act and Food Security Act 2013. 
  • The support of RajyaSabha in passing critical bills like the abrogation of article 370 was crucial. 

Even through the ups and downs of Indian politics, the RajyaSabha has remained a vanguard for political and social values, a melting pot of culture and diversity and over all, a relentless flag-bearer of sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic called India.

Q15: Which steps are required for constitutionalisation of a commission? Do you think imparting constitutionality to the national commission for women would ensure greater gender justice and empowerment in India? Give reasons.
Ans: Constitutionalising a body gives strong powers which are drawn from the constitution.
The procedure includes:

• Amendment under Article 368, which follows the ordinary bill passing process.
• After that, the erstwhile statutory body is abolished.
• This procedure has been followed previously in case of National Commission for

Backward classes.

• Constitutional status empowers the body members to work independently, due to the safeguards, fixed tenure and protection from removal procedures.
• Currently, the National Commission on Women as a statutory body

• Reviews constitutional and legal safeguards for women
• Recommends remedial legislative measures
• Facilitates redressal of grievances
• Advises the government on all policy measures.

But, seeing the facts like-

• 7.3% rise in violence against women (NCRB) which got exacerbated during lockdown.
• It seems, there are some limitations in the functioning of the body like-
• No legislative powers – can only suggest amendments and submit reports.
• No power to choose its own members.
• Has to rely on the central government for financial assistance.
• These factors may impede my free functioning of the body.

In its current status also the commission has achieved in

• Preparing gender profiles of all states and UTs
• Taking up women related issues and was proactive in Parivarik mahila Lok Adalats
• Reviewing laws like Dowry Prohibition Act. PCPNDT Act to make them more stringent.

Would Constitutional status help?

• This is certain that the NCW lacks some powers and it should be empowered for better functioning
• The question could be also answered by looking at the difference made by granting constitutional status to NCBC and similar bodies.
• The process of gender equality lags behind even today. All necessary steps like such legal protection would prove effective only if there is societal change that would be true gender justice.

Q16: “The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyse the latest United Nations Multidimensional Poverty Index Report. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: Poverty can be defined as a condition in which an individual or household lacks the financial resources to afford a basic minimum standard of living. Economists and policymakers estimate “absolute” poverty as the shortfall in consumption expenditure from a threshold called the “poverty line”. However the official poverty line is the expenditure incurred to obtain the goods in a “poverty line basket” (PLB). Whereas Poverty can be measured in terms of the number of people living below this line (with the incidence of poverty expressed as the head count ratio). Committees for poverty estimates Six official committees have so far estimated the number of people living in poverty in India — the working group of 1962; V N Dandekar and N Rath in 1971; Y K Alagh in 1979; D T Lakdawala in 1993; Suresh Tendulkar in 2009; and C Rangarajan in 2014. 

• The government did not take a call on the report of the Rangarajan Committee; therefore, poverty is measured using the Tendulkar poverty line. 
• As per this, 21.9% of people in India live below the poverty line. Global Scenario: 
• Status - 1.3 billion People are still living in multidimensional poverty. More than 80% are deprived in at least five of the ten indicators used to measure health, education and living standards in the global MPI. 
• Status of Children - The burden of multidimensional poverty disproportionately falls on children - half of multidimensional poor people are children under age 18. 
• Positive - 65 out of 75 countries studied significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019 Asia - About 84.3% of multidimensional poor people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 
• Other countries - 67% of multidimensional poor people are in middle-income countries. 

Indian Scenario: 

• Current Status - India lifted as many as 270 million people out of multidimensional poverty between 2005-06 and 2015-16. 
• Neighbourhood Scenario- In China, 70 million people left multidimensional poverty between 2010 and 2014, while in Bangladesh, the numbers declined by 19 million between 2014 and 2019. 
• Impact of Covid-19 - Covid-19 is having a profound impact on the development landscape. – The study finds that on average, poverty levels will be set back 3 to 10 years due to Covid-19. 
• Sustainable Development Goals - The index emphasises on measuring and monitoring progress under the goals to reach ‘zero poverty by 2030-Goal 1 of the SDGs’. Multidimensional Poverty index: Report The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) identifies multiple deprivations at the household and individual level in health, education and standard of living. 
• It uses micro data from household surveys, and—unlike the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index—all the indicators needed to construct the measure must come from the same survey. The MPI reflects both the incidence of multidimensional deprivation (a headcount of those in multidimensional poverty) and its intensity (the average deprivation score experienced by poor people) MPI provides a practical and beneficial complement to income-based poverty measures, it doesn’t directly incorporate income. 
• The inclusion of income as an indicator could result in the counting of people’s deprivations twice. The standard of living, one of the key dimensions of the United Nations MPI, is a key representative input of economic wellbeing. 
• The MPI, which also takes account of other dimensions of wellbeing like poor health, lack of education, poor quality of work, the danger of violence, and residing in environmentally harmful locations, is considered as a corresponding measure of income poverty that underscores the progress beyond a stated limit of the monetary side of people’s lives. This way, we can say The incidence and intensity of poverty are more important in determining poverty based on income alone. 

The best thing about the MPI is that it not only provides a comprehensive and in-depth description of global poverty in all its dimensions but also observes progress towards SDG 1 – to end poverty in all its forms. That becomes more important when the key findings of the 2020 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) state that India has recorded the biggest reduction in the number of multidimensionally poor people about 273 million between 2005-06 and 2015-16.

Q17: “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine, is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of Self-Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: Granting of very small loans to impoverished borrowers and enabling the borrowers to use that capital to become self-employed and strengthen their businesses is referred as micro financing For instance Loans given as microcredit to people who may lack collateral, credit history, or a steady source of income due to which it has gained much traction as a tool for ensuring the welfare of the most impoverished in the society but also there are certain flaws in the model. Micro financing being the anti – poverty vaccine because Micro finance Institutions, also known as MFIs, a microfinance institution is an organisation that offers financial services to low income populations.
Usually, their area of operations of extending small loans are rural areas and among low-income people in urban areas. MFIs provide the much-needed aid to the economically underprivileged who would have otherwise been at the mercy of the local moneylender and high interest rates. The model had its genesis as a poverty alleviation tool, focused on economic and social upliftment of the marginalised sections through lending of small amounts of money without any collateral to women for income-generating activities. . Some of the MFIs, that qualify certain criteria and are non-deposit taking entities, come under RBI wings for Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Regulation and supervision.
These “Last Mile Financiers” are known as NBFC MFI. Role of SELF – HELP Group 

• Credit availability– Individual poor are not familiar with the formal banking system, but by forming a SHG, there are make better prospects for bank credits. (Often without collateral). Under the SHG-Bank linkage programme, many SHGs have become institutions of micro-credit. • Entrepreneurship– Increased Opportunities for self-employment through setting of micro-enterprise. 
• Skill development–SHGs generally undergoes with some kind of Skill development program to improve employability of members involved. 
• Rural poverty– SHGs have become a vehicle to lift people from below poverty line. There is a Positive correlation between SHGs and poverty that can be inferred from the fact that southern states with high number of SHGs (71%) have average poverty rate at 9% as against nation’s average of 21%. 
• Improved living standards– As a result of increased jobs there is rise in income which enhances access to food, health services and overall rise in living standards. 
• Women empowerment– By providing employment opportunities, financial and social security SHGs help improve the status of women and creating awareness regarding their rights and responsibilities, as pointed by the 2nd ARC report. 
• Literacy rates– with more women participation and their enhanced status address issues such as nutrition poverty and low literacy rate. 
• Social capital– The SHGs provide a forum in which people can meet on a regular basis and discus various issues or concerns that the members face in their day-to-day life which acts as the basic source of social capital generation. 

Some of the examples 

• Kudumbashree in Kerala. 
• Pressure groups for policy framing in Bihar. 
• Tamil Nadu used SHGs to inculcate sanitation habits among the community 
• Haryana government used SHGs for making betibachaobeti 
• SHGs like SEWA, Lizzatpapad promotes entrepreneurial culture among women. 
• Andhra Pradesh Government programme of poverty alleviation

As we all know financial institution is the integral part of our economy as it plays key role in economic development. Therefore, India financial institution is very strong but operations of the same are adverse, somewhere we are lacking in its implications. However micro finance plays the major role in the alleviation of poverty from the society. Many banks in India have initiated to lend money to the micro finance institution. It works towards the empowerment of women which is the great move towards the development of the country.

Q18: National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: The government unveiled the new National Education Policy bringing a number of reforms almost after 34 years. The NEP committee under Dr Kasturirangan’s leadership recognises the fundamental differentiators, and has laid out a far-reaching vision to create learning environments that are multidisciplinary, that cater to a well-rounded education for all individuals, and has the immense potential to transform India’s human capital development. National Education Policy 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) is the education goal .It aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” The following are the areas where the National Education policy reforms intersect with the SDG 4: SDG 4.2 Equal access to quality pre-primary education. 

• Under NEP the biggest win is that there is special attention to 3-6 years of age. This was a major drawback of the Right to Education Act, 2008. SDG 4.3 Equal Access to Affordable Technical and Vocational Education 
• Under NEP vocational education will be provided at a younger age and technical skills such as coding will begin from as early as 6th standard. SDG 4.4 Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success 
• Under NEP the curriculum design in higher and school education has shifted from the erstwhile 10+ 2 model. With a 5+3+3+4 model, clearer benchmarks are defined which will lead to better outcomes. SDG 4.5 Eliminate Discrimination in Education 
• Under NEP, the Digital Divide is proposed to be bridged by setting a new unit which addresses Internet-based e-learning, Digital learning, infrastructure and capacity building. SDG 4.6 Universal literacy and numeracy 
• Under NEP a National Foundation of Literacy and Numeracy will be set up to provide basic literacy and numeracy skills by 3rd grade. How NEP 2020 intends to restructure and reorient education system in India 
• The NEP proposes sweeping changes including opening up of Indian higher education to foreign universities, dismantling of the UGC and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), introduction of a four-year multidisciplinary undergraduate programme with multiple exit options, and discontinuation of the M Phil programme. 
• In school education, the policy focuses on overhauling the curriculum, “easier” Board exams, a reduction in the syllabus to retain “core essentials” and thrust on “experiential learning and critical thinking”. 
• In a significant shift from the 1986 policy, which pushed for a 10+2 structure of school education, the new NEP pitches for a “5+3+3+4” design corresponding to the age groups 3-8 years (foundational stage), 8-11 (preparatory), 11-14 (middle), and 14-18 (secondary). This brings early childhood education (also known as pre-school education for children of ages 3 to 5) under the ambit of formal schooling. The mid-day meal programme will be extended to pre-school children. The NEP says students until Class 5 should be taught in their mother tongue or regional language. 
• The policy also proposes phasing out of all institutions offering single streams and that all universities and colleges must aim to become multidisciplinary by 2040. Flaws in proposed restructuring 
• Regional and local languages will be promoted but somehow, English will take a back seat. 
• The proposed institutional framework for higher education clearly reflects even more governmental control with considerable levels of centralization than what is already the case. 
• Implementing so many regional or local languages in different states will be difficult to assess whether they all are on the same platform or syllabus. 
• According to the national education policy 2020, students willing to complete their graduation have to study for four years while one can easily complete his/ her diploma degree in two years. This might encourage the pupil to leave the course midway 
• Neglected the question of Under-Represented Groups (URGs) who are outside school education currently. 

Way forward 

• Language: A language is mainly a utilitarian tool for acquiring knowledge. While learning new languages is indeed beneficial, compulsory learning should be restricted to one’s own mother tongue. 
• Consensus: Education is a concurrent list subject. In addition to the consensus between the centre and the states, all the other stakeholders such as educational institutions, public and academicians should also be consulted. 
• Natal and prenatal studies: should also be included in the Indian education system to create awareness about the issues regarding the mother and infants, in view of the high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country. 
• Teacher Training: There should be a course of Masters of Teacher Education. Furthermore, there is a need to establish good teacher training institutions. 

National Education Policy 2020 is sweeping in its vision and seeks to address the entire gamut of education. It acknowledges the 21st century need for mobility, flexibility, alternate pathways to learning, and self-actualisation and can prove to be a game changer for India.

Q19: ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)’ is the transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times. Discuss. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) also known as QUAD is an Inter-governmental security forum. It comprises of 4 countries India, the United States, Japan and Australia. The member countries of the QUAD organise summits, exchanges the information and military drills. The objective is to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. The idea of QUAD was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
Significances of QUAD in the present world order 

• Countering China: In the event of any chinese aggression on borders, India by cooperation with Quad countries can potentially disrupt chinese trade. 
• Net Security Provider: There is a growing great power interest in the maritime sphere, especially with the arrival of the concept of ‘Indo-Pacific’. For instance, many european countries have recently released their Indo-Pacific strategies. 
• Long-term interests of all countries: Free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and of the world at large. 
• Terrorism and proliferation: It can help in tackling common challenges of terrorism and proliferation. 
• Rules-based order: Upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight. 
• Inclusion of great powers: Involving the U.S. and Japan in development projects in South Asia will yield the necessary finances. 
• Significant for India’s policy: By joining the QUAD India has taken a significant turn in its policy for the subcontinent. It gives India a powerful platform to advance its interests in East Asia, coordinate strategies with powerful friends and add more strength to its Act East initiative. It will deepen India’s ties with US, Australia and Japan with benefits in diplomatic leverage and sharing of burden in defence. 
• Why and how the group is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance? In the recent time, Analysts are already calling the RCEP a coup by China because of the manifold increase in its influence in the region because of the formation of this trade bloc—a bloc whose key China will hold. 
• On the face of it, China may be a “mercantilist” power, but in reality, it is an imperialist power, where it uses trade as one of the means for empire-building and world domination. In this context, if the Quad wants to be successful as a security alliance, it must be a strong economic alliance as well. 
• It is significant that the meeting of the Quad foreign ministers in Tokyo in September talked about the need to build “resilient supply chains”, which essentially means non dependence on one particular country as a manufacturing base. Japan proposed a “Supply Chain Resilience Initiative” (SCRI), comprising Japan, India and Australia. This has the potential to develop into an alternative trade bloc—a Quad and Quad-plus trade bloc.
• Marked change towards becoming a trade bloc: It is making a marked change towards becoming a trade bloc when its nations call for responding to the challenges emanating from Covid-19 including financial problems, improving the resilience of supply chains, easing access to affordable vaccines, medicines and medical equipment, coordinating efforts to help countries vulnerable to harmful and coercive economic actions in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• Regional infrastructure projects for trade: The Quad nations are planning to work together on regional infrastructure projects extensively, for example, the Blue Dot Network. They affirm their collective vision of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, which has scope for trade activities when Australia wants to minimize its trade dependency on China. 
• India’s real GDP could increase: In a Quad trade agreement where bilateral tariffs are scrapped, India’s real GDP could increase by 0.2% or $2.7 billion a year, while exports could rise by 2.5% or $5.7 billion. 
• Gains in manufacturing Sectors: where India’s exports are competitive such as clothing, textiles and light manufacturing would gain the most. 
• Tariffs and lowers trade costs: Quad does away with tariffs and lowers trade costs by 25%, India’s real GDP could increase nearly 2% or $23.5 billion a year. 

In times to come, it will be interesting to see how the four countries balance the desire to stop China’s aggression on security issues on one hand and maintain their economic interests with China on the other. This is a big challenge which would be difficult to surpass. India’s role in the success of Quad 2.0 is most important.
All the four democratic countries not only want to counter China but want to create stronger economic ties. India can play a pivotal role in getting QUAD countries closer on issues like Technological cooperation, healthcare, Cyber security etc. If QUAD 2.0 succeeds, then India can take the lead in increasing the scope to Quad Plus where there can be other countries like Israel, UK, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, and New Zealand who can also join the alliance.

Q20: What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (UPSC GS2 2020)
Ans: US-INDIA relations enjoy a bipartisan consensus, especially on defence and security relations (DSR) which are the original drivers of their comprehensive global strategic partnership. India expects the US administration to catalyse DSR by implementing the Defence Technology Trade Initiative to provide high-end defence technology, change the buyer-seller mode to joint development and co-production, now that the Defence Industrial Security Annexe and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) are signed.
A Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CATSA) waiver on India buying Russian defence equipment, like the S-400 air defence system. India-Russian is the bilateral relations between India and Russia. During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union (USSR) had a strong strategic, military, economic and diplomatic relationship. Russia inherited its close relationship with India which resulted in both nations sharing a Special Relationship. Russia and India both term this relationship as a “special and privileged strategic partnership”. Traditionally, the Indo-Russian strategic partnership has been built on five major components: politics, defence, civil nuclear energy, anti-terrorism co-operation and space.
Significance of Indo-US defence deals and Indo-Russian defence deals 

• India-US defence deals 
  • The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement: It largely pertains to geospatial intelligence, and sharing information on maps and satellite images for defence. Anyone who sails a ship, flies an aircraft, fights wars, locates targets, responds to natural disasters, or even navigates with a cell phone relies on geospatial intelligence. 
  • The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA): It allows the military of each country to replenish from the other’s bases: access supplies, spare parts and services from the other country’s land facilities, air bases, and ports, which can then be reimbursed. This is extremely useful for Navy-to-Navy cooperation, since the US and India are cooperating closely in the Indo-Pacific. 
  • The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA): It allows the US to provide India with its encrypted communications equipment and systems so that Indian and US military commanders, aircraft and ships can communicate through secure networks in peace and war. 
• India-Russia Defence Deals 
  • S-400 Anti-missile System: It is an anti-missile system.The radar fitted in the S-400 antimissile system has a range of about 600 km for surveillance and can track 300 targets simultaneously. 
  • Kilo-class Submarines: In 1986, the first INS Sindhughosh was commissioned. In 2000, the Indian Navy inducted the youngest Kilo-class submarine. Till now, the Kilo-class fleet has been upgraded several times in terms of SONAR system, electronics and weapons, etc. 
  • T-90S Battle Tanks: The T-90S tank can target low-flying helicopters up to 5 km of range, has an infrared jammer, a laser warning system with four laser warning receivers, a grenade discharging system that produces an aerosol screen and a computerised control system. It also has nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection equipment. 
  • India-Russia Defence Deals at Def Expo: During DefExpo 2020, India and Russia signed 14 MoUs (memorandums of understanding). The MoUs consist of development and production of land, air and naval systems and hi-tech civilian products.  
• The United States 
  • It is the leader of the “Indo-Pacific Strategy”. At present, the United States has put forward the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” which reflects the attention of the United States to the Indian Ocean region. 
  • Through its economic rise in recent years India has has become a leader among emerging economies. 
  • On the other hand, after the retreat of Obama’s”Asia-Pacific rebalancing” strategy, the AsiaPacific power structure involved corresponding adjustments. 
  • Allies in the Asia-Pacific region have been skeptical of Trump’s foreign policies. This time, the objective why Trump returned to the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” is very clear The “Indo-Pacific Strategy” is the expansion and revision of the “Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy.” The purpose is to contain China’s rise and safeguard U.S. leadership in the region. 
• Russia Opposes an Indo-Pacific Order 
  • Its interests in the APR are based on the Russian Far East’s proximity to China, Japan, and the two Koreas; its political history with these countries; and its perception of these East Asian countries as ‘gateways’ to greater economic and political ties with Southeast Asia. 
  • Reaffirming the importance of ASEAN’s centrality to Southeast Asian politics and dissuading China’s exclusion is a natural extension of Russia’s desire to maintain its neutral image in the region. 
  • Russia’s participation in the so-called “Axis of Revisionists” is not only driven by normative challenges to the US-led global order but also by the idea of an imminent medium-term US China conflict in the Pacific; a conflict Russia believes it will have to participate in. 

As a foreign policy move, incorporating Russia in the IPR gives weight to the concept as a free, fair, and open space. Russia’s normative and strategic calculations have undeniably put it on an opposing path. With growing US-China and India-China tensions, Russian acceptance of the IPR looks unlikely.