PM Internship Scheme, Attacks on UNIFIL Peacekeepers in Lebanon, NCST Report on Santhal Pargana Region

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

• India-China relations have been historically complex, shaped by both cooperation and conflict. In the current geopolitical scenario, India faces a critical challenge in balancing its engagement with China while strengthening its ties with Quad partners (Australia, Japan, and the U.S.).
• With China’s assertiveness growing, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and along the Himalayan borders, India must proceed cautiously to safeguard its interests without provoking an unnecessary escalation of tensions

History of Indo-China Relations:

1. 1950s-1962: Relations began on a cooperative note with the signing of the 1954 Panchsheel Agreement, promoting peaceful coexistence. However, China’s claims over Tibet and border disputes led to the Sino-Indian War in 1962, where India suffered a humiliating defeat.
2. Post-1962: Diplomatic ties remained strained for decades, with China continuing to claim large parts of Indian territory, particularly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
3. 1988: The breakthrough came when Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited China, leading to the normalization of relations and the establishment of mechanisms to handle border disputes peacefully.
4. 1993-1996 Agreements: Both sides signed the Border Peace and Tranquility Agreement (1993) and the Confidence Building Measures (1996), aiming to reduce the risk of conflict along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Despite this, incursions and military stand-offs persisted.
5. 2017 Doklam Standoff: Tensions flared again when Indian and Chinese troops faced off in Doklam, near the India-Bhutan-China trijunction, highlighting China’s strategic ambitions.
6. 2020 Galwan Valley Clash: A violent clash in the Galwan Valley resulted in the first fatalities on the border in 45 years, significantly deteriorating bilateral relations. This led to a series of military and diplomatic talks, but disengagement has been slow and partial.

Efforts by India to Counter China’s Threat:

1. Military Modernization: In response to China’s military posturing, India has enhanced its defensive capabilities along the entire length of the LAC, especially in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Army has deployed advanced systems like K9 Vajra howitzers, BrahMos missiles, and UAVs to strengthen its deterrence posture.
2. Border Infrastructure: India has accelerated the construction of roads, tunnels, and airbases along the Himalayan frontier. Projects like the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh and new bridges in Arunachal Pradesh are aimed at improving connectivity to remote areas, enabling faster troop movement.
3. Diplomatic Initiatives: Despite military tensions, India continues to engage with China through diplomatic and military channels. Regular meetings between Special Representatives and Working Mechanisms for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) have been held, though with limited success in de-escalating tensions in key friction points like Depsang Plains and Demchok.
4. Economic and Cybersecurity Measures: India has adopted a more defensive economic strategy by banning over 200 Chinese apps, including TikTok, citing data privacy concerns, and tightening FDI regulations to prevent Chinese investment in sensitive sectors. Additionally, India is actively working to reduce its trade deficit with China, which remains substantial, with Indian imports from China amounting to $98 billion in 2022-23, far outstripping exports.

The Role of the Quad: The Quad has emerged as a pivotal element of India’s strategy to counterbalance China’s rise, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. While the Quad does not formally mention China in its communiqués, its emphasis on a “free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific” is widely seen as a response to China’s assertiveness in the region.

1. Wilmington Declaration (2024): This recent Quad summit held in the U.S. marked a significant milestone. While avoiding direct references to China, the Quad nations have firmed up their security cooperation, signaling a stronger alignment to counter Chinese influence across the Indo-Pacific. Importantly, the Quad’s initiatives include joint military exercises like the Malabar naval exercises, and cooperation on maritime domain awareness, cyber security, and critical technologies.
2. Strategic Autonomy: India’s approach within the Quad has been cautious, ensuring it does not appear too aligned with any anti-China military alliance. India seeks to use the Quad as a strategic lever without compromising its long-held non-alignment policy. India’s reluctance to participate in any formal military alliance is driven by concerns over provoking China, which views the Quad as a containment strategy led by the U.S.
3. China’s View on the Quad: China has repeatedly criticized the Quad as a “mini-NATO”, aimed at encircling and containing its rise. Beijing’s perception of India’s growing engagement with the Quad has added another layer of strain to bilateral relations, with China viewing it as part of a larger U.S.-led effort to curtail its ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

India’s geopolitical strategy must strike a careful balance between countering China’s growing assertiveness and avoiding direct confrontation. While the Quad offers India an avenue to strengthen its security ties with like-minded democracies, it is crucial that India maintains its strategic autonomy. A nuanced approach is needed to ensure that India neither provokes an escalation with China nor compromises its long-term strategic interests by aligning too closely with the West’s agenda. The Indo-China equation remains delicate, requiring careful diplomacy and sustained vigilance.

• A study published in the U.S. CDC’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases has found evidence of prolonged shedding of the Oropouche virus (OROV) in a person who had travelled to Cuba.
• The virus was detected in blood, serum, urine, and semen samples, raising concerns about potential transmission risks.
• Higher levels of virus shedding were found in semen than in urine or blood.
• Researchers suggest prolonged persistence in semen may indicate replication in the male genital tract or passive diffusion.
• OROV infection may be harmful during pregnancy, with reports of adverse outcomes such as spontaneous abortions.
• There may be potential person-to-person transmission through sexual contact.
• Investigations are ongoing to determine the possibility of vertical transmission of the virus.

(Refer August Magazine for more information)

Dig Deeper: Read about various sexually transmitted viral diseases.

• XDLINX Space Labs, an Indian space technology start-up specialising in nano and microsatellites, has announced the launch of five additional satellites by 2025.
• The company is capitalizing on the growing global demand for multifunctional and modular satellites.
• Modular satellites offer affordable and quicker solutions compared to traditional methods, with development time reduced from 36-40 months to 12-18 months.
• The cost of these satellites has been cut by over 60%, making space missions more accessible to countries that previously stayed away from such endeavours.

Dig Deeper: Read about leading players in the Indian Space Sector.

• The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme aims to provide 1 crore internships over the next 5 years to young individuals, helping them gain practical work experience across various sectors.
• The scheme, introduced in the 2024-25 Union Budget, seeks to offer 1.25 lakh internships for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
• Internships are available in 24 sectors, such as energy, automotive, hospitality, and banking, providing broad industry exposure.
• Top 500 companies, chosen based on their CSR expenditure, will provide internships. Other companies can participate with approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• The portal facilitates matching candidates with companies based on location, qualifications, and sector preferences.
• Internships are available in 737 out of 800 districts across 24 sectors.

Dig Deeper: Read about various initiatives the Government of India took to boost employment and formalize the workforce.

• In Q1 2024-25, India’s real wages grew by 0.7%, a modest improvement after an average contraction of 1.6% over the past 24 quarters.
• This growth, though uneven across sectors, is expected to accelerate, potentially boosting personal consumption.
• Rising real wages could boost household consumption, crucial for private investment momentum.
• However, urban consumption shows signs of weakness, with passenger vehicle sales dropping 18.8% in September 2023, and a slowdown in FMCG sales in urban areas.
• Despite India’s 8.2% economic growth in 2023-24, private consumption grew by only 4%, the slowest pace since 2002-03, excluding the pandemic year.
• The Finance Ministry highlighted declining urban unemployment and improving rural incomes as key factors in consumption growth but noted concerns over weakening urban demand.

Dig Deeper: Read about the Global Wage Report of ILO.

• Ongoing attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) amidst fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah have drawn widespread condemnation.
• A joint statement from 34 countries contributing troops to UNIFIL called for respect for the mission and the safety of its personnel.
• India, though not part of the statement, fully aligned with its message and emphasized the importance of safeguarding peacekeepers.
• IDF Attack on UN Facility: IDF tanks destroyed the main gate of a UNIFIL facility in Ramyah, southern Lebanon.
• Calls for UNIFIL Evacuation: Israel urged the immediate withdrawal of UNIFIL from areas near Hezbollah strongholds.
• UNIFIL peacekeepers observed IDF soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon before the attack.
• UNIFIL reported no immediate danger to its personnel during the IDF actions.
• UNIFIL’s Presence and India’s Role: UNIFIL, operating under the UN Security Council, comprises over 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries.
• India, the third-largest contributor to UNIFIL with 903 soldiers, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line and reiterated the importance of respecting UN premises.

Dig Deeper: Read about UN organisations and other important international NGOs working in conflict areas.

• The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has set a deadline for the Nagaland government to share its views with the Centre regarding the creation of an autonomous territory, the Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), comprising six districts bordering Myanmar.
• ENPO represents seven Naga tribes and has been leading this demand.
• It would include the districts of Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs asked the Nagaland government in 2023 to provide feedback on a draft memorandum concerning FNT.
• ENPO urged the state government to act in accordance with collective responsibility as outlined in Article 164 (2) of the Constitution.
• The demand stems from alleged neglect of these six districts by the state government, leading to a boycott of Nagaland’s 60th Statehood Day celebrations and the Lok Sabha elections in the region.

Dig Deeper: Read about the various separatist organisations of Nagas.

• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has released a report highlighting alleged demographic changes in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana region, attributing it to the infiltration of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
• The Commission suggests involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address the issue.
• The report acknowledges the difficulty in accurately counting Bangladeshi infiltrators due to constantly changing numbers and the limitations of official records.

• The NCST conducted an investigation in four districts—Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda, and Jamtara—and concluded local issues, such as land disputes, human trafficking, and lack of access to government schemes, stem from illegal immigration.

Dig Deeper: Read about the issues Scheduled Tribes face in different areas like Nicobar, MP, and Maharashtra.

• After devastating floods and landslides claimed over 200 lives in Kerala’s Wayanad, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences approved the installation of an X-band radar to monitor and provide early warnings for future landslides.
• X-band Radar: X-band radar emits radio waves in the 8-12 GHz range (2-4 cm wavelength) and is effective for detecting smaller particles like rain droplets.
• In Wayanad, it will monitor particle movements, such as soil, to issue landslide warnings.
• India has been using radars for weather forecasting, with both X-band and S-band radars deployed.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences plans to install 56 more Doppler radars under the ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ by 2026 to improve meteorological infrastructure.
• The government is procuring 10 more X-band Doppler radars for the northeast and Himachal Pradesh.
• Alongside the Wayanad radar, a C-band radar with a 250 km range will be installed in Mangaluru.

Dig Deeper: Read about the basics of various band Radars.

• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in its “Guardians of Faith or Oppressor of Rights” Report made remarks on madrasas, claiming violation of basic education guarantees under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

• The report claims children studying in madrasas are deprived of quality education and suggests states should stop providing aid to madrasas, even calling for their closure.
• Several organisations of minority refuted claims by arguing madrasas provide valuable moral education and that the move is a violation of constitutional rights, specifically Articles 29 and 30, which protect the cultural and educational rights of minorities.

Dig Deeper: Read about the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.