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BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting 2022

Why in news:

The current Minister for Labour & Employment recently took part in the meeting of the Labour and Employment Ministers of the BRICS countries. The meeting was conducted under the leadership of China, one of the members of the BRICS group that also includes Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa.

Priority Areas:

• Promoting Green Jobs for Sustainable Development
• Developing Skills for Resilient Recovery
• Protecting Workers’ Right in New Forms of Employment

Indian Perspective:

• Relief measures for workers during pandemic
• Free ration and assured employment under MGNREGA
• Collateral free loans to street vendors under PMSVANidhi Yojana
• Establishment of Sector Council for Green Jobs

Declaration Adopted:

• BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration
• Recognizes the need for promoting green jobs, strengthening skills development, and protecting workers’ rights in new forms of employment.

Introduction to BRICS

(i) BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
(ii) Coined by Jim O'Neill in 2001 to describe the four emerging economies
(iii) Formalized during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in 2006
(iv) South Africa joined in 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS

Share of BRICS

(i) Represents 41% of the global population
(ii) Represents 24% of the global GDP
(iii) Represents 16% of the global trade

Chairmanship of BRICS

(i) Chairmanship rotates annually among the members
(ii) China is the chair for 2022.

I2U2 Summit and Food Security

Why in news:

• The leaders of India, Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates recently conducted a virtual summit called I2U2.

Key Highlights of I2U2 Summit:

• UAE's Investment in India's Food Parks: The UAE announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop Food Parks in India, which will help in tackling food insecurity and reducing food waste.
• Hybrid Renewable Energy Project in Gujarat: The grouping declared support for a hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat, consisting of 300 MW of wind and solar capacity, contributing to India's goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
• Involvement of US and Israeli Private Sectors: The private sectors of the US and Israel will be invited to contribute their expertise and innovative solutions to the sustainability of the projects.

Food Parks:

• Definition: Food Parks aim to establish direct linkages from the farm to processing to consumer markets, comprising Collection Centres and Primary Processing Centres linked to a Central Processing Centre.
• Significance:
  • Tackling Food Insecurity: Investments in Food Parks will help maximize crop yields, tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East, and reduce food waste and spoilage.
  • Increasing Income of Farmers: The investment will help farmers multiply their income and come on board with the project.
  • Streamlining Agricultural Supply Chains: India was chosen as the location for the food project because of its proximity to Israel and the UAE, creating a smooth agricultural supply chain.

Way Forward

• Importance of Partnership: The conflicts and overlapping challenges of today, such as food and energy security, climate change, and healthcare, can only be overcome through partnership.
• India's Engagement in the Middle East: India has longstanding ties and engagement with the Middle East, including with Israel.
• India's Role in Israel's Integration: Just as the US can help deepen Israel's integration into the region, India also has a role to play.
• India's Role in the Indo-Pacific: India is one of the largest and most strategically consequential countries in the Indo-Pacific and plays a critical role in the region, including through the Quad strategy.

What is I2U2?

Definition: I2U2 is an acronym for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US and is also known as the 'West Asian Quad'.

Formation: I2U2 was initially formed in October 2021, following the Abraham Accords, to address issues related to maritime security, infrastructure, and transport.

Abraham Accords: The Abraham Accords are the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years, mediated by the USA.

Objectives:

(i) Stated Aim: The stated aim of I2U2 is to discuss common areas of mutual interest and strengthen economic partnerships in trade and investment in respective regions and beyond.
(ii) Identified Areas of Cooperation: The countries have identified six areas of cooperation, including water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security, with the aim of encouraging joint investments.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Why in news:

• The head of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority has recently claimed that the United States is deliberately undermining the multi-billion dollar project, which is crucial for Pakistan's economy.

Overview:

• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a multi-billion dollar project launched in 2015 as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It aims to build highways, railways, and pipelines that will eventually connect Gwadar in Pakistan to China's Xinjiang region. Pakistan is the seventh largest recipient of Chinese overseas development financing, with 71 projects worth $27.3 billion currently underway. 
• However, the project has been criticized by Western think tanks and commentators as an economic trap that has resulted in bloated public debt levels and disproportionately high Chinese influence in Pakistan's economy.

Expansion to Afghanistan:

• Pakistan has expressed interest in expanding the CPEC to Afghanistan and discussed the possibility of Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the economic corridor.

Controversies:

• The US and Europe view the CPEC as a way for China to expand its political, strategic, and business influence. However, China has been able to allay these concerns to a great extent. Critics have raised concerns about the project's impact on Pakistan's economy, which may lead to a debt trap.

Financing:

• The CPEC will be financed by heavily-subsidized loans from Chinese banks that will be disbursed to the Government of Pakistan.

India’s Concerns on Afghanistan joining CPEC

• India’s concerns stem from the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. The primary concern is regarding India’s investment in Chabahar Port in Iran. With the extension of CPEC, China will play a leading role in Afghanistan, overpowering India’s economic influence in Afghanistan. 
• India is also apprehensive about undermining the India–Iran–Afghanistan trilateral that gives Afghanistan access to the sea via Chabahar port.

Economic and Strategic Concerns:

• India is concerned about the weakening of its position as an economic, security and strategic partner of Afghanistan due to the extension of CPEC. India has invested more than US$2 billion for developmental work in Afghanistan. 
• China’s exploitation of rare-earth metals with the extension of CPEC is also a concern for India. Given India’s limited strategic depth in Afghanistan, China is in a better position to leverage its strategic advantages in Afghanistan. This could lead to Pakistan gaining the upper hand in Afghanistan at the cost of India.

Terrorism and Strategic Concerns:

• India’s concerns also include the possibility of Pakistan facilitating the use of terrorism against India. China may try to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan, which could lead to China building military bases on the ports and air bases acquired on foreign lands in lieu of loans provided. This could also result in a boost to terrorist organizations and provide a safe haven to such organizations.

Way Ahead:

• Improved infrastructure and security situation in Afghanistan may help India conduct its economic and trade activities in a secured environment. However, to achieve that, it is necessary to make the region terrorism-free. It will be a big strategic gain for China and Pakistan and a loss for India if Afghanistan joins the CPEC.

Genomics Democracy

Why in news: 

• The WHO Science Council has issued a report titled "Accelerating access to genomics for global health," calling for the transfer of Genomic Technologies to developing nations.
• This report is based on the WHO's ten-year plan for genomic surveillance of pathogens.
• Genomic surveillance has played a vital role in the global COVID-19 response, with countries such as South Africa contributing significantly to the detection of variants due to their capabilities in this field.

WHO Report on Accelerating Access to Genomic Technologies

About:

• The WHO Science Council has released a report titled "Accelerating access to genomics for global health" that highlights the need for expanding access to genomic technologies, especially for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Key Highlights of the Report

Expanding Access to Genomic Technologies:

• The report stresses the need to expand access to genomic technologies and not to delay access to countries with fewer resources.

Addressing Shortfalls:

• The report identifies shortfalls in financing, laboratory infrastructure, materials, and highly trained personnel that need to be addressed to expand access to genomic technologies.

Worldwide Deployment:

• The benefits of genomic technologies will not be fully realized unless deployed worldwide, and science can only reach its full potential through equity to improve global health.

Four Themes:

• The report recommends addressing four themes: advocacy, implementation, collaboration, and associated ethical, legal, and social issues to increase access to genomic technologies.

Genomics Committee:

• The report recommends that WHO creates a Genomics Committee to take forward the recommendations and monitor their applications.

What do we need to know about Genomics?

Overview of Genomics:

• Genomics involves studying an individual's complete set of genes (genome) and how they interact with the environment.
• This field uses various methods from biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to understand and utilize biological information from DNA and RNA.
• The technologies used in genomics are constantly expanding, with nucleotide sequences being a fundamental tool for depicting biological information stored in genomes.

Applications of Genomics

Controlling Infectious Diseases:

• Mapping the evolution of infectious agents to better understand them.
• Assigning phenotypic characteristics, such as infectivity and pathogenicity, to specific genes.
• Evaluating an infectious agent’s sensitivity or resistance to drugs.

Preventing and Managing Genetic Conditions:

• Evaluating carrier status for a genetic disorder.
• Screening for and diagnosing single gene disorders.
• Assessing disease susceptibility or predisposition to many chronic illnesses.
• Selecting medications based on mechanism of action or genetic determinants of metabolism to reduce toxicities.

Agriculture:

• Cataloguing genetic diversity in wild and founder stocks.
• Assessing genetic profiles for health and commercial traits.
• Predicting susceptibility and responses to environmental stress.

Benefits of Genomics

Economic:

• Stimulating the commercial for-profit sector that produces machines and reagents and provides services.
• Creating indirect stimulus through improvements in population health, potentially leading to decreased healthcare utilization and intellectual property rights.
• Generating job opportunities in academic, medical, and commercial positions.

Social and Environmental:

• Contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those concerning poverty, hunger, and health.
• Assisting national and international efforts to conserve marine and land resources.

Health:

• Making significant contributions to human health, from surveying populations for infectious agents to predicting and treating various diseases, such as cancers and developmental disorders.

Challenges in Genomics:

• The potential for genomic information derived from human subjects to violate privacy, lead to discrimination in employment and insurance, inappropriate financial gain, or convey cultural disrespect.
• Insufficient protection of participants and their data risks the abuse of genomic information, while overly restrictive rules about the generation, sharing, and use of genomic information can limit the benefits that such information can provide.

Recommendations of the WHO Report on Genomics

Promotion of Genomics through Advocacy:

• Encourage the adoption and expansion of genomics in all Member States through advocacy by various parties.
• Utilize WHO's leadership role in global public health to advocate for the expanded use of genomics in Member States.
• Promote affordable access to genomic technology globally, especially in LMICs, to improve health and other benefits.

Implementation of Genomic Methodologies:

• Identify and overcome practical issues that hinder the implementation of genomics through local planning, financing, training, and provision of instruments and computational infrastructure.
• Provide guidance to Member States on the best practices for implementing national or regional genomic programs.
• Establish national programs or join regional programs for building or expanding genomic capabilities.

Collaboration among Entities Engaged in Genomics:

• Foster commitments to collaborative activities that advance genomics in Member States.
• Promote international collaborations on genomics by strengthening existing collaborative arrangements and helping form new ones.
• Encourage industry, academia, and civil society to collaborate on using genomics to address health problems, especially in LMICs.

Attention to the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSIs) raised by Genomics:

• Promote ethical, legal, and equitable use and responsible sharing of information obtained through genomic methods.
• Provide guidance on dealing with the ethical and social ramifications of genomics, including global governance of genomic information.
• Be attentive to ELSIs and to efforts by WHO and other international bodies to develop solutions to outstanding issues related to genomic ELSIs, especially funding agencies, academic institutions, and governmental units.

Sri Lanka’s Crisis

Why in news:

• Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, which is the worst in the last seventy years.
• The crisis has resulted in millions of people struggling to purchase basic necessities such as food, medicine, and fuel.
• Due to political and economic instability, hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed into the Sri Lankan President's residence.
• The protesters demanded the resignation of the Sri Lankan President.

What led to recent Sri Lanka Crisis?

Background:

• Sri Lanka's post-war GDP growth was high until 2012.
• Average GDP growth rate halved after 2013 due to falling commodity prices, slow exports, and rising imports.
• High budget deficits during the war and the 2008 financial crisis drained forex reserves, leading to a USD 2.6 billion loan from the IMF in 2009.
• IMF's conditionalities worsened Sri Lanka's economic health.

Economic Factors:

• Easter bomb blasts in April 2019 led to a decline in tourism and forex reserves.
• Newly led government promised lower tax rates and SoPs for farmers, which worsened the situation.
• Covid-19 pandemic further worsened the situation by affecting exports, tourism, and increasing government expenditures.
• Forex reserves dropped by 70% in the last two years to just USD 2 billion, while foreign debt obligations are about USD 7 billion for 2022.

Sudden Move to Organic Farming:

• Fertiliser imports were banned, and Sri Lanka declared itself a 100% organic farming nation overnight in 2021.
• Overnight shift heavily impacted food production, leading to rising food prices and a depreciating currency.
• Sri Lankan President declared an economic emergency.

China's Debt Trap:

• Sri Lanka borrowed heavily from Beijing since 2005 for infrastructure projects, many of which became White Elephants.
• Sri Lanka leased its Hambantota port to a Chinese company in 2017.
• Sri Lanka's total debt to China stands at USD 8 billion.

Current Political Vacuum:

• Prime Minister and President signalled the willingness to resign to make way for an all-party government.

Economic challenges for India due to Sri Lanka crisis

• Decline in Sri Lanka's share in India's total exports from 2.16% in FY15 to just 1.3% in FY22
• Automotive firms like Tata Motors and TVS Motors have stopped exports of vehicle kits to Sri Lanka and halted production at their Sri Lankan assembly units due to its unstable forex reserves and fuel shortages

Refugee crisis and its impact on India

• Large influx of ethnic Tamil community refugees from Sri Lanka to India through the Palk strait and Gulf of Munnar during political or social crisis
• India needs a robust policy in place to handle the crisis as it may find it difficult to handle such an influx
• Tamil Nadu has already started feeling the impact of the crisis with the reported arrival of 16 persons from Sri Lanka through illegal means

Opportunities for India in the wake of Sri Lanka crisis:

• India could fill the tea supply gap created by the sudden halt of tea supply by Sri Lanka to the global tea market
• India could strengthen its footprint in Iran and explore new markets such as Turkey, Iraq
• Big Sri Lankan tea importers from Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Russia are reportedly visiting India for tea plantations in Assam and Kolkata
• The average price for orthodox leaf saw an increase of up to 41% compared to corresponding sales last year at recent Kolkata auctions
• India could benefit from orders for apparel (clothing) that are being diverted from Sri Lanka to companies in Tirupur, the hub of the textile industry in Tamil Nadu

Why Should India Assist Sri Lanka?

• Sri Lanka is a strategically important partner for India.
• India can balance its diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka to counter China's influence in the region.
• India's aid to Sri Lanka can improve bilateral relations.
• Importance of Diplomatic Ties with Sri Lanka for India
• Diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka can keep it out of China's 'string of pearls' game in the Indo-Pacific.
• India's aid to Sri Lanka must be done with care to maintain positive optics.

Way Forward for Sri Lanka:

• Sri Lanka needs strong political consensus for better crisis-management.
• Militarisation of administration should be reduced.
• Steps should be taken to help the poor and vulnerable and prevent long-term scarring, such as increasing agricultural productivity, creating non-farming job opportunities, implementing reforms, and reviving tourism.

Support from India:

• India can walk the extra mile to help Sri Lanka overcome its current crisis and realise its potential.
• India's "Neighbourhood First policy" can help cement bonds with its neighbours.

IMF Bailout for Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka has approached the IMF for a bailout to overcome its current economic crisis.
• IMF support can be instrumental in Sri Lanka's recovery.

Prospects of Circular Economy:

• A circular economy can help reduce Sri Lanka's dependence on imports and offer a sustainable alternative for economic recovery.

Indian Diaspora

Why in news:

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention.

Overview of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of India. The tradition of celebrating PBD started in 2003, and the first PBD Convention was organized on 9 January 2003. Since 2015, PBD Convention has been organized once every 2 years (biennial).

Significance of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:

• 9 January is significant as it commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915. PBD is celebrated grandly to strengthen the engagement of the Government of India with the overseas Indian community.

Concerns with Celebrations:

• One concern with the celebration of PBD is that low/semi-skilled and blue-collar workers may not find a place or feel comfortable to participate, as the general profile of participants is seen to be of very high level. The participation and involvement should be more broad-based, accommodating the vulnerable sections of the diaspora community too.

Themes of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:

• The themes of PBD vary each year. For instance, the 17th PBD was themed "Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit Kaal", while the 16th PBD had the theme "Contributing to Atma Nirbhar Bharat".

About Indian Diaspora

History:

• The term diaspora comes from the Greek diaspeiro, meaning dispersion.
• The Indian diaspora grew significantly since the first Girmitiya arrangement.
• Thousands of Indians were shipped to east Pacific and Caribbean countries to work on plantations in British colonies in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Nearly 20 lakh Indians went to Singapore and Malaysia in the second wave, and professionals headed to western countries in the third and fourth wave.

Numbers:

• As of December 31, 2021, 4.7 crore Indians lived overseas, including NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, and students.
• Excluding students, the number stands at 3.22 crore, including 1.87 crore PIOs and 1.35 crore NRIs.
• India has the largest emigrant population in the world, making it the top origin country globally, followed by Mexico, Russia, and China.

Geographical Spread:

• The countries with over 10 lakh overseas Indians include the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Kuwait, and Canada.
• The geographical spread of the Indian diaspora is vast.

Remittances:

• India is on track to receive more than $100 billion in yearly remittances, according to the latest World Bank Migration and Development Brief 2022.
• India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and Egypt are the top five remittance recipient countries, with India and China being well above the rest, according to the World Migration Report.

Involvement in Politics:

• The vocal political positions taken by a section of the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US and the UK, is a recent phenomenon.
• The Hindu American Foundation was set up in 2003, the same year the Pravasi Bharatiya Convention was launched.
• Many prominent overseas Indians play an active role in organizing global meetings.