Koodiyattom, Greenland Landslide, Rhinoceros

(General Studies II – International Relations section – India and its Neighborhood- Relations. Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.)

• Many analysts have highlighted a perplexing paradox of contemporary foreign policy of India where a globally rising India is also a regionally declining power.

Global Rise of India –

• Over the last two decades, robust economic growth and enhanced military capabilities have marked India’s development. This is evident from performance of defence sector where defence exports have grown by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14 (Ministry of Defence).
• Participation in global institutions such as the G-20 and Quad has enhanced India’s geopolitical significance. India’s active roles in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation further cements its position on the world stage.
• The strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, pivotal for global strategic stability, sees India at its centre, benefiting from increased international focus, including from the U.S. and its allies, to counterbalance China’s influence.

Regional Decline in South Asia –

• Despite its global stature, India’s regional influence in South Asia has waned compared to its position in the region during the Cold War.
• This is evident from the recent upheavals in India-Maldives relations due to factors like Chinese influence on Maldives domestic politics and other factors.
• Post-U.S. withdrawal from global affairs, China’s rising dominance fills the power vacuum, negatively impacting India’s regional authority.
• India’s significant focus on the Indo-Pacific region might have led to a perceived neglect of immediate regional strategies, affecting its influence in neighbouring countries.

China’s aggressive foreign policy and infrastructure initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative extend its influence across South Asia, positioning it as a formidable regional power. The rise of China in South Asia means that India faces stiff competition for regional dominance, forcing a reassessment of its strategic priorities in the immediate neighbourhood.

Strategic Adjustments for India –

• Revising Regional Approaches: Recognizing the changed geopolitical dynamics, India needs to ‘modernize’ its view of South Asia, focusing on proactive and imaginative policies to address regional challenges.
• Maritime and Continental Strategy: Leveraging maritime strengths to balance continental limitations, including enhancing trade links through agreements with ASEAN and the EU, and promoting Mini lateral groupings in the Indo-Pacific.
• Enhanced Regional Engagement: India should foster closer relations with its neighbours through strategic partnerships that reflect shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, involving countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh in broader regional dialogues.

Ways to improve Strategic Partnerships –

• Cultural Diplomacy: India can utilize its rich cultural heritage and soft power to strengthen ties within South Asia. This can be achieved by promoting Buddhism and the shared cultural festivals which resonate with its neighbours.
• New Diplomatic Ventures: Engaging with external powers not just within the traditional Non-Aligned Movement framework but also through newer platforms like joint naval exercises with the U.S., Japan, and Australia, and intelligence-sharing initiatives.
• Economic Initiatives: Implementing regional economic strategies that include creating free trade areas, enhancing connectivity projects that are sensitive to the needs and sovereignties of neighbouring countries, and tapping into regional funds for development projects.

The dichotomy between India’s global rise and regional decline has profound implications for India’s global aspirations as a country needs to maintain primacy in its periphery to be able to become a pivotal power in international politics, which also aligns with India’s goals of being a net security provider in the Indo-pacific region.

• Cholliyattom a young artists collective was created to unite young Koodiyattom artists from different schools of Kerala, offering a space for them to exchange knowledge on various styles and techniques.
• Koodiyattom Traditions: There are three primary traditions in Koodiyattom.
• Kalamandalam or Painkulam style
• Ammannur style
• Mani Gurukulam style.
• While the costumes are largely similar, there are differences in acting styles and sign language across these traditions.
• Cholliyattom take steps to spread the reach of Koodiyattom beyond its traditional temple settings.

Dig Deeper:  Read about other performing arts of Kerala.

• The Indian Army has inducted advanced technologies, including robotic mules and logistics drones, to enhance operational capabilities in high-altitude areas, crucial for extreme environments like Siachen.
• Robotic Mules:
• The Army procured and deployed 100 robotic mules under the fourth tranche of emergency procurements (EP) in 2023.
• These mules are designed for high-endurance and all-weather use, capable of traversing urban and natural environments.
• They can operate in extreme temperatures (-40°C to 55°C), carry a payload of 15 kg, and navigate obstacles like stairs and rivers.
• Logistics Drones: Logistics drones are undergoing trials to streamline supply and movement in high-altitude areas.
• High-Altitude Tent: A new tent, designed to withstand temperatures as low as -40°C, is being evaluated at locations like Leh (11,500 feet), Daulat Beg Oldie (16,700 feet), and Durbuk (12,500 feet).
• These advancements were showcased at the Himtech symposium, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in high-altitude defence technology.

Dig Deeper: Read about HimTech Symposium.

• A study of SEBI named Analysis of Profits & Losses in the Equity Derivatives Segment (FY22-FY24) found a little more than 91% of the individual F&O traders lost money in Fiscal 2024 alone.
• The study represented as many as 73 lakh traders in India.
• About 43% of the F&O traders were under the age of 30 in FY24.
• This was 31% in FY23. The share of loss-makers in the age group was 93%, more than the overall share of 91%.
• More than one crore futures and options (F&O) traders lost ₹1.81 lakh crore in last three years and 75000 Crore in 2024 alone.

Dig Deeper: Read about the concept of derivatives and their different types.

• Seismic stations worldwide recorded an unusual signal lasting nine days in September 2023. These waves were different from typical earthquakes, leading to a global investigation.
• A global team of over 68 researchers from 40 universities discovered the cause to be a massive landslide at Dickson Fjord, Greenland.
• The collapse of the Hvide Støvhorn peak triggered a rock-ice avalanche, leading to a 200-meter-high mega-tsunami.
• The rock-ice avalanche dislodged 25 million cubic meters of material into the fjord.
• The waves reached up to 110 meters as they rebounded between the fjord’s banks.
• The seismic energy from the landslide caused the Earth’s surface to vibrate like a gong, with the reverberations being recorded worldwide for nine days.

Dig Deeper: Go through Coastal water erosional and depositional landforms.  

• The global Rhinoceros population has seen a slight increase, but poaching continues to be a major threat, especially in South Africa, driven by demand for rhino horns.
• Poaching is driven by the belief in the medicinal properties of rhino horns.
• Other Threats for Rhinoceros apart from Poaching:
• Habitat Destruction
• Shrinkage of Habitat
• Invasive Species
• White rhinos increased from 15,942 in 2022 to 17,464 in 2023.
• Populations of black and greater one-horned rhinos remained unchanged.
• The northern white rhino is nearly extinct, with only two females in a private conservancy in Kenya.
• Trials are underway to develop embryos using collected eggs and sperm.
• Conservation efforts, such as creating sanctuaries, have helped increase rhino populations, as seen in Kenya, where numbers rose from 380 in 1986 to 1,000 in 2022.
• Environmental Role of Rhinos: Rhinos are essential to ecosystems as they create pathways for other herbivores and help establish forests by spreading seeds through their dung.

Dig Deeper: Locate National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries inhabiting Rhinos in India along with efforts of Migration for Conservation.