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General Studies – 1
Topic: Second World War
Reference: Old NCERT World History chapter 12
Why the question:
The question is from the static portions of GS paper I , part World History.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss if the Western policy of appeasement of the fascist powers brought about the Second World War. Justify your answer with suitable backing.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with timeline of the happenings of World War II.
Body:
Appeasement is most often used to describe the response of British policy makers to the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It is seen as a policy of one-sided concessions to an aggressor state, often at the expense of third parties, with nothing offered in return except promises of better behaviour in the future.
Explain how Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain hoped that it would bring a quicker end to the crisis created in Europe by the Nazi clamor for revision of the Treaty of Versailles.
He believed that pacification could be achieved through negotiating a general settlement that would in almost all respects replace the Treaty of Versailles, and bring Germany into satisfactory treaty relations with her neighbours.
Suggest your opinion.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of it in the World War II.
Introduction:
The policy of appeasement was the policy followed by the British and the French, of avoiding war with aggressive powers such as Japan, Italy and Germany by giving way to their demands in order to maintain peace and harmony.
Body
- Learning from the First World War made Britain and France apprehensive of another global escalation and they wanted to avoid a war-like situation by any means.
- British and French governments were not prepared for war because there was a strong anti-war attitude prevailing among the people in these countries.
- The devastation left by the First World War forced the European leadership to work for peace and harmony in every possible way.
- The western powers believed that mistakes were committed at the Paris Peace Conference and some of the German grievances were quite genuine.
- The fear of communism was also behind the policy of appeasement. It was believed that Germany and Italy would act as buffers to check the spread of communism.
Examples of the policy of appeasement:
- The allied powers failed to check the German advancement in Rhineland which under the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno was to remain demilitarised.
- German occupation of Austria, Czechoslovakia met no resistance whatsoever from either Britain or France.
- The signing of the Munich Treaty was also a form of western appeasement employed to avert the imminent danger of war.
- Backed by German expansionist motives, Italy too attacked Ethiopia in 1935 which was a member of the League of Nations. The failure of the League in stopping the aggression highlighted its ineffectiveness in containing global conflicts.
The policy of appeasement can be held responsible for the Second World War as:
- The policy of appeasement allowed Hitler to destroy the system created by peacemakers of Paris (after the First World War).
- This policy played a role in the failure of the League of Nations because western democracies were supposed to maintain peace by providing meaningful leadership to the League.
- It allowed Germany, Italy and Japan to come closer to form the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo axis. The emergence of this alliance had disturbed the balance of power.
- The policy of appeasement convinced Hitler that western democracies had neither the intention nor the capacity to stand in front of Germany. He was greatly emboldened by the appeasing attitude.
- Eventually, the policy of appeasement drove Hitler to attack Poland on 1st Sep 1939 and with this World War II commenced.
Conclusion
Hence, the policy of appeasement which was introduced by the British and the French to avoid war eventually resulted in the Second World War.
Topic: Second World War
Reference: Old NCERT World History chapter 12
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of Second World War and about the role of Navy in WWII.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail the factors that caused the Second World War and also discuss the role of the Navy in WWII.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief timeline of WWII.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
First explain what were the factors that caused the Second World War? – The question can be answered by describing two set of factors- the necessary but insufficient factors and the precipitating factors. The factors which proved to be the precipitating causes for the war included – Hitler and Germany’s imperialistic tendencies, the Policy of Appeasement followed by UK& others and the role of USSR.
Elaborate the above and then discuss the role of the Navy in WWII.
Conclusion:
Conclude by highlighting the significance of it in the history.
Introduction:
The instability created in Europe by the First World War (1914-18) set the stage for another international conflict—World War II—which broke out two decades later and would prove even more devastating. Rising to power in an economically and politically unstable Germany, Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, rearmed the nation and signed strategic treaties with Italy and Japan to further his ambitions of world domination.
Body:
Factors responsible for Second World war:
Treaty of Versailles
- Following World War, I, the victorious Allied Powers met to decide Germany’s future. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles.
- Under this treaty, Germany had to accept guilt for the war and to pay reparations. Germany lost territory and was prohibited from having a large military.
- The humiliation faced by Germany under this treaty, paved the way for the spread of Ultra-Nationalism in Germany.
Failure of the League of Nations
- The League of Nations was an international organization set up in 1919 to keep world peace.
- It was intended that all countries would be members and that if there were disputes between countries, they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force.
- The League of Nations was a good idea, but ultimately a failure, as not all countries joined the league.
- Also, the League had no army to prevent military aggression such as Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in Africa or Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in China.
Rise of Fascism
- Victors’ stated aims in World War I had been “to make the world safe for democracy,” and post-war Germany was made to adopt a democratic constitution, as did most of the other states restored or created after the war.
- In the 1920s, however, the wave of nationalistic, militaristic totalitarianism known by its Italian name, fascism.
- It promised to minister to peoples’ wants more effectively than democracy and presented itself as the one sure defence against communism.
- Benito Mussolini established the first Fascist, European dictatorship during the interwar period in Italy in 1922.
Rise of Nazism
- Adolf Hitler, the Leader of the German National Socialist (Nazi) party, preached a racist brand of fascism.
- Hitler promised to overturn the Versailles Treaty, restore German wealth & glory and secure additional Lebensraum (“living space”) for the German people, who he contended deserve more as members of a superior race.
- In 1933 Hitler became the German Chancellor, and in a series of subsequent moves established himself as dictator.
- Moreover, in 1941 the Nazi regime unleashed a war of extermination against Slavs, Jews, and other elements deemed inferior by Hitler’s ideology.
Policy of Appeasement
- Hitler openly denounced the Treaty of Versailles and began secretly building up Germany’s army and weapons.
- Although Britain and France knew of Hitler’s actions, they thought a stronger Germany would stop the spread of Communism from Russia.
- An example of appeasement was the Munich Agreement of September 1938. In the Agreement, Britain and France allowed Germany to annex areas in Czechoslovakia where German-speakers lived.
- Germany agreed not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia or any other country. However, in March 1939, Germany broke its promise and invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia.
- Even then, neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action.
Great Depression of 1929
- The worldwide economic depression of the 1930s took its toll in different ways in Europe and Asia.
- In Europe, political power shifted to totalitarian and imperialist governments in several countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain.
- In Asia, a resource-starved Japan began to expand aggressively, invading China and manoeuvring to control a sphere of influence in the Pacific.
Ideological Conflict:
- Dictatorship vs. Democracy.
- Another cause of World War II was the ideological conflict between dictatorships on the one hand and democracies on the other.
- Germany, Italy and Japan (Axis states) stood for dictatorship, war and imperialism, while Britain, France and the U.S.A. stood for democracy, peace and status quo.
- The ideological conflict between the former and the latter prevented the adoption of a peaceful and balanced approach to the settlement of their disputes.
Problem of National Minorities:
- The Paris Peace Conference failed to solve the problem of settling the minorities.
- US President Wilson had advocated the need to base the peace treaty on the principle of self-determination.
- But due to several social, cultural, religious, economic and military factors, it was found difficult to operationalize this principle.
- Consequently, in many states minorities opposed to each other were left under an alien rule.
- For example, a large number of Germans were left in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria.
Role of Navy in WWII.:
- The United States Navy grew rapidly during World War II from 1941–45, and played a central role in the Pacific theatre in the war against Japan.
- It also played a major supporting role, alongside the Royal Navy, in the European war against Germany.
- The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) sought naval superiority in the Pacific by sinking the main American battle fleet at Pearl Harbor, which was built around its battleships.
- The December 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor did knock out the battle fleet, but it did not touch the aircraft carriers, which became the mainstay of the rebuilt fleet.
- Naval doctrine had to be changed overnight.
- The U.S. Navy grew tremendously as it faced a two-front war on the seas. It achieved notable acclaim in the Pacific War, where it was instrumental to the Allies’ successful “island hopping” campaign.
- The U.S. Navy fought five great battles with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN): The Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Battle of Okinawa.
- By war’s end in 1945, the United States Navy had added thousands of new ships, including 18 aircraft carriers and 8 battleships, and had over 70% of the world’s total numbers and total tonnage of naval vessels of 1,000 tons or greater.
- Still, naval aircraft were the weapons of decision. Although the duels of the great carrier fleets received more attention, air strikes from sea to shore were as crucial in securing control of the seas.
- The Navy continued its long movement west across the Pacific, seizing one island base after another. Not every Japanese stronghold had to be captured; some, like the big bases at Truk, Rabaul and Formosa were neutralized by air attack and then simply leapfrogged.
Conclusion:
After the end of the war, a conference was held in Potsdam, Germany, to set up peace treaties. The countries that fought with Hitler lost territory and had to pay reparations to the Allies. Germany and its capital Berlin were divided into four parts. The zones were to be controlled by Great Britain, the United States, France and the Soviet Union. The three western Allies and the Soviet Union disagreed on many things and as time went on Germany was divided into two separate countries: East Germany, which had a Communist government and West Germany, which was a democratic state. This laid the foundation of the Cold War.
Topic: GS-1: Social empowerment
GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article explains in what way a delay in the provision of marriage rights to same-sex couples would fall foul of constitutional guarantees and judicial directives.
Key Demand of the question:
One is expected to analyse the need to now expand the institution of marriage to include all gender and sexual identities in the country with associated challenges and inhibitions.
Directive:
Analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with the current news with respect to the rights of LGBTQIA+ community.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
First talk about the worldwide expansion of human rights: Towards establishing civil rights for LGBTQIA+ community.
Discuss the shifts witnessed in India; Recognition to transwomen and intersex persons: In Arunkumarand Sreeja vs The Inspector General of Registration and Ors case, 2019, the High Court of Madras held that the term ‘bride’ under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 includes transwomen and intersex persons identifying as women. Right to marry and privacy: In Shafin Jahan vs Asokan K.M. and Others case, 2018.
Explain that any legal or statutory bar to same-sex and queer marriages must necessarily be held to be unconstitutional and specifically violative of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Understanding the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community today, the law must now expand the institution of marriage to include all gender and sexual identities.
Provide for both pros and cons.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
Marriage lies at the intersection of society and the law. Societal traditions are crystallized into the rules relating to marriage by law. The last two decades have witnessed tremendous progress in establishing civil rights for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Body
International jurisprudence
- Globally, the recognition of the unequal laws discriminating against the LGBTQIA+ community has acted as a trigger to reform and modernise legal architecture to become more inclusive and equal.
- As a result of a verdict by the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Civil Union Act, 2006 was enacted, enabling the voluntary union of two persons above 18 years of age, by way of marriage.
- In Australia, the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – General Law Reform) Act 2008was enacted to provide equal entitlements for same-sex couples in matters of, inter alia, social security, employment and taxation.
- In England and Wales, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013enabled same-sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies or with religious rites.
- In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples.It held the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples to be a grave and continuing harm, serving to disrespect and subordinate gays and lesbians.
Indian Courts and civil rights
- In India, marriages are solemnised under personal lawssuch as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937.
- At present, same-sex and queer marriages are not clearly recognised in India. However, we are not deprived of judicial guidance.
- Arunkumar and Sreeja vs The Inspector General of Registration and Ors: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court employed the interpretation that the term ‘bride’ under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 includes transwomen and intersex persons identifying as women.
- It expands the scope of a term used in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in a progressive manner and sets the stage for re-imagining the marriage rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Shafin Jahan vs Asokan K.M. and Others (Hadiya case): The Supreme Court said that the right to choose and marry a partner was considered to bea constitutionally guaranteed freedom.
- SC held that the “intimacies of marriage lie within a core zone of privacy, which is inviolable” and “society has no role to play in determining our choice of partners”.
- From the logical interpretation of these judgements, it is apparent that any legal or statutory bar to same-sex and queer marriages must necessarily be held to be unconstitutional and specifically violative of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Expanding the scope of marriage
- The domain of marriages cannot be immune to reform and review.
- Reform of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 to bring self-respect marriagesunder its very umbrella, is seen as a strong move towards breaking caste-based practices within the institution of marriage.
- Self-respect marriages were legalised in Tamil Nadu (later, in Puducherry) through amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
- Self-respect marriages have done away with priests and religious symbols such as fire or saptapadi.
- Solemnisation of such marriages requires only an exchange of rings or garlands or tying of the mangalsutra.
- Similarly, understanding the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, the law must expand the institution of marriage to include all gender and sexual identities.
Conclusion
At least 29 countries in the world have legalised same-sex marriage. It is time that India thinks beyond the binary and reviews its existing legal architecture in order to legalise marriages irrespective of gender identity and sexual orientation. The law is however a dynamic concept. Inevitably the nature of marriage would change if there is a change in society.
General Studies – 2
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
US President Joe Biden met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
In the context of the Geneva summit held recently between the two countries explain why U.S and Russia must retune their relationship to reasonable levels and reduce tensions.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with the fact that the world leaders met for the first time in a decade. They last met when the Russian leader was prime minister and Biden was serving as vice president, in 2011.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Brief about the history of US-Russia relationship.
Relations between the two countries have hit the lowest point in recent years since the end of the Cold War.
The U.S. has accused Russia of interfering in its elections and launching cyberattacks and criticized its stifling of internal dissent.
Russia has slammed America’s interventionist foreign policy.
Discuss the significance of the meet.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the message from Geneva is that the leaders wanted to establish rules of engagement so that the countries can better address their differences and seek common ground on issues of mutual interest.
Introduction:
The Geneva summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has set a pragmatic tone for engagement between the two competing great powers.
Body
Significance of the meeting
- Relations between the US and Russia have hit the lowest point in recent years since the end of the Cold War.
- The U.S. had accused Russia of interfering in its elections and launching cyber-attacks.
- Russia was also criticised on stifling of internal dissent.
- On the other hand, Russia had slammed America’s “interventionist” foreign policy.
- Given these differences, the summit gains significance.
Issues between US- Russia Relations
There are many structural issues in the U.S.-Russia ties.
- Russia ended its post-Soviet strategic retreat and adopted a more assertive foreign policy under Mr Putin
- It did this partly in response to NATO expansion into Eastern Europe.
- The West saw this as a threat to its primacy.
- The 2008 Georgia war practically ended the good terms between “democratic Russia” and the West.
- The annexation of Crimea in 2014 again renewed the tensions.
- Russia was thrown out of the G8, and western sanctions followed.
- Ties hit rock bottom after allegations on Russian cyber-attacks and role in US elections.
- Russia, which had amassed troops on the Ukraine border earlier in 2021, sees NATO’s expansion into its border region as a threat
Key outcomes of the Summit
- Despite the differences, the leaders held talks on all critical issues, bringing diplomacy to the centre-stage.
- Mr Biden sought a more predictable, rational engagement, while Mr Putin said relations were “primarily pragmatic”.
- They have decided to return their Ambassadors to the Embassies.
- The leaders also announced “a strategic stability dialogue” to discuss terms of arms control measures.
- While there was no major breakthrough, they could at least demonstrate a willingness to strengthen engagement and reduce tensions
Way forward
- S and Russia cannot resolve these geopolitical and bilateral issues in one summit.
- But they can certainly take measures to prevent relations from worsening.
- Both countries should be ready to address their critical concerns and agree to a cold peace.
- This would help in addressing other geopolitical problems such as Syria.
- The U.S. should be less pessimistic about Russia’s foreign policy goals.
- Permanent hostility with other powers cannot be of much help to Russia.
- So, Russia should realise that if his goal is to restore Russia’s lost glory in global politics, they should be ready to cooperate with the West.
Conclusion
It’s too early to see any meaningful change in Russia-U.S. relations. But the Geneva summit suggests that policymakers in Washington have at least started thinking of Russia as a secondary challenge that needs to be tackled diplomatically, not only through coercion, if the U.S. wants to take on a rising China.
General Studies – 3
Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The question is from based on the theme of Integrated Theatre Commands. For the wider consultations on the creation of integrated tri-service theatre commands a high-level committee consisting of representatives from the services and the Ministries were formed.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the prospects and challenges faced in the implementation of the integrated theatre commands for India.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with what you understand by Theatre commands.
Body:
An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres (areas) that are of strategic and security concern.
Discuss the need for Integrated Theatre Command – The Shekatkar Committee had recommended the formation of three integrated theatre commands namely, western for the Pakistan border, northern for the China border and southern for the maritime role. The Kargil Review Committee (1999), which was set up after the end of the Kargil War, also recommended the creation of joint theatre commands.
Bring out the prospects and challenges in realizing the idea of theatre commands.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres that are of security concern. The commander of such a force will be able to bring to bear all resources at his disposal — from the IAF, the Army and the Navy — with seamless efficacy.
Recently, a high-level committee consisting of representatives from the services and the Ministries concerned has been formed for wider consultations on the creation of integrated triservice theatre commands
Body:
About ITC:
- The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services, and will be free to train, equip and exercise his command to make it a cohesive fighting force capable of achieving designated goals.
- In case of war, each Service Chief is expected to control the operations of his Service through individual commands, while they operate jointly.
- The logistic resources required to support his operations will also be placed at the disposal of the theatre commander so that he does not have to look for anything when operations are ongoing.
- This is in contrast to the model of service-specific commandswhich India currently has, wherein the Army, Air Force and Navy all have their own commands all over the country.
- India has an integrated theatre command only in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- The committee, which was headed by Lt General DB Shekatkar (retd)has recommended the creation of 3 integrated theatre commands — northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan border and southern for the maritime role.
- The Kargil Review Committee (1999), which was set up after the end of the Kargil War, also recommended the creation of joint theatre commands.
Prospects:
- An integrated theatre command is one that enables the pooling of resources of all three services under a single commander, towards securing a particular geographical area.
- The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services, and will be free to train, equip and exercise his command to make it a cohesive fighting force capable of achieving designated goals.
- A military commander in charge of a joint command will have the resources of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force at his disposal in the face of a national security threat.
- The commander can also carry out joint training while benefiting from the logistics of all three services.
- The concept of an integrated theatre command originated in the US. The US has eleven unified commands. In 2016, China, emulating the US, reorganised its military into five joint theatre commands.
- Given that India has the fourth-largest military in the world with each service acting independent of the other, the creation of integrated theatre commands is the need of the hour.
Challenges:
- Structure of command: Who will report to who within the tri-services and joint theatre command configurations, and who will have operational command over personnel and machinery, service chiefs or theatre commanders is a question to be pondered over.
- Shortage of resources within the Indian Air Force (IAF): The IAF has only 31 operational squadrons against the sanctioned strength of 42. This would make it difficult for the IAF to permanently station assets in a particular command with territorial boundaries.
- Inter-services competition: Each service zealously oversees its own assets and strives for a greater share of the defence budget and influence, this might prove to be an obstacle in creating synergy among the services.
- Limited experience: India’s lack of enough experience in integrated theatre commands will mean that as such commands evolve, some course corrections might be required.
- Requirement for battle preparedness: During war, the fate of an entire campaign can hinge on a single decision. Such a decision can only be made by a specially selected defence chief and not by a committee like the COSC that operates on the principle of the least common denominator. In the newly emerging scenarios, with threat perceptions ever changing the possibility of an unsymmetrical or lightning strike assault remains high.
- Need for unified expert advice from military: The need for single point military advice for India’s civilian political masters cannot be over emphasized. The political leadership would be in a dilemma if the three service chiefs offer separate opinions regarding a military campaign or another strategy.
- Civilian bureaucracy acting as interface: In the present structure, the military has limited access to the political leadership. The Defence Secretary and the National Security Adviser act as the interface between the Service Chiefs and the Cabinet Committee of Security or the National Security Council. However, these two posts are often manned by persons belonging to generalist services like IAS or IFS.
Way forward:
- The appointment of the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) are momentous steps towards the integration and advancement of defence forces.
- Experience from the US, Russia and China shows that the decision to create integrated theatre commands will have to be a political one, which will then be executed by the defence services.
- This was first proposed by the GoM in 2001, but hasn’t been implemented so far.
Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Indian Naval Ship Trikand, mission deployed for Anti-Piracy Operations, is participating in the maiden IN – EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise in the Gulf of Aden. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
The question is straightforward; explain the maiden Indian Navy and European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) exercise and its relevance.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief introduction if the exercise.
Body:
Explain the importance of the exercise first; EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including counter piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of World Food Programme (UN WFP). Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) meetings held annually at Bahrain.
This engagement showcases increased levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between IN and EUNAVFOR. It also underscores the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
The maiden Indian Navy – European Union Naval Force (IN-EUNAVFOR) Exercise is being conducted in Gulf of Aden. Along with Indian Navy, other naval forces are from Italy, Spain and France. The naval exercise included advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search & Rescue, and other maritime security operations.
The exercise aims to enhance and hone their war-fighting skills and their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.
Body:
Relevance of the exercise:
- The EU and India intend to strengthen their operational cooperation at sea, including joint naval exercises and port calls, and to protect the sea-lanes of communication.
- They also intend to boost maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific through mutual coordination and exchanges
- The EU and India reaffirm their interest to enhance their cooperation in the field of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
- EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including counter piracy operationsand protection of vessels deployed under the charter of World Food Programme (UN WFP).
- The Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction) meetings held annually at Bahrain.
- SHADEis an international operational counter piracy platform, which aims to encourage partners for sharing information, assessing the evolution of trends, best practices and to de-conflict operations amongst counter-piracy actors in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and the Western Indian Ocean.
- It also underscores the shared values in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order.
- Concurrently, a virtual “Information sharing Exercise”is also being conducted between the Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region and Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa, an integral part of EUNAVFOR.
- It also underscores the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order.
Conclusion:
The EU and India are committed to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes. They reaffirm the primacy of international law, including the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
General Studies – 4
Topic: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of Family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
7. Why are certain rights considered universal in nature? Explain using examples. (250 words)
Reference: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Lexicon Publications
Why the question:
The question is based on the theme of universal rights.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain why certain rights are considered as universal.
Directive:
Explain – Clarify the topic by giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with what you understand by rights in the context of the question.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
Briefly introduce with a definition of rights. Rights mean claims and entitlements of individuals and groups that are considered to be necessary for leading a life of respect and dignity and are essential for their well-being. For example, Freedom is an essential condition for life and entitlement of the right to freedom is hence a universal claim.
Discuss why certain rights are considered universal in nature.
Conclusion:
Give a brief conclusion based on the discussion in the answer.
Introduction:
Universal rights are those which are inherent to us all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. They range from the most fundamental – the right to life – to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty. Thus, universal rights are those rights whose entitlement is non-negotiable.
Body:
Human rights are universal and inalienable; indivisible; interdependent and interrelated. They are universal because everyone is born with and possesses the same rights, regardless of where they live, their gender or race, or their religious, cultural or ethnic background. Inalienable because people’s rights can never be taken away. Indivisible and interdependent because all rights – political, civil, social, cultural and economic – are equal in importance and none can be fully enjoyed without the others. They apply to all equally, and all have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. They are upheld by the rule of law and strengthened through legitimate claims for duty-bearers to be accountable to international standards.
Some rights are considered to be universal in nature because they are equally important for all the human beings living in the society.
For instance, consider the following
- The right to livelihood: It is considered necessary for leading a life of respect and dignity by all human being across the world.
- Right to freedom of expression: it is cherished by all human beings. Having our basic needs met gives us freedom to pursue our talents and interests. This right gives to all human beings the opportunity to be creative and original, in any field of his or her choice. Freedom of expression is also important for all democratic or liberal countries of the world
- The right to education: is also universal in nature because it helps to develop capacity to reason, gives all people useful skills and enables them to make informed choices in life. It is in this sense that education can be designed as a universal right.
Conclusion:
Nelson Mandela had stated ‘To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity’. Human rights are at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as in the absence of human dignity one cannot hope to drive sustainable development. The Covid-19 crisis has been fuelled by deepening poverty, rising inequalities, structural and entrenched discrimination and other gaps in human rights protection. Only measures to close these gaps and advance human rights can ensure that people fully recover and build back a world that is better, more resilient, just, and sustainable.
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