India, for a very long time, had called for the 2-state solution that supports the establishment of a sovereign independent state of Palestine. India has since long been maintaining that the Israel-Palestine conflict should be resolved through negotiation resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. However, the recent close ties with Israel have India, for a very long time, had called for the 2-state solution that supports the establishment of a sovereign independent state of Palestine. India has since long been maintaining that the Israel-Palestine conflict should be resolved through negotiation resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. However, the recent close ties with Israel have appeared to have diluted India’s stance on the Palestine issue.

Strengthening Indo Israel Relations

1. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, there has been an upswing in the relations between the two countries in view of the common concerns about religious extremism and global terrorism.
2. The political ties have become especially cordial under the Modi Government. In 2017, Prime Minister Modi became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.
3. During this visit, the diplomatic relationship was upgraded to a strategic level, and seven agreements/MoUs were signed in the areas of R&D, innovation, water, agriculture, and space. Defence and agriculture have become the two main pillars of bilateral engagement.
4. In 2018, the Israeli Prime Minister visited India, during which Government to Government (G2G) agreement on cybersecurity, oil and gas cooperation, film cooperation, and air transport were signed, along with five other semi-government agreements.
5. An increase in the high-level exchanges in recent times has expanded cooperation in areas like trade, agriculture, science and technology and security.

How Strengthening Of Indo-Israel Ties Affected Indo-Palestine Relations

1. For two-and-a-half decades from 1992, the India-Israel relationship continued to grow, mostly through defence deals, and in sectors such as agriculture. But India never acknowledged the relationship fully.
2. It was during NDA-2 that the government under PM Modi decided to take full ownership of the relationship with Israel.
3. In 2014, India favoured a UN resolution to establish a Commission to investigate a violation of an international humanitarian and human rights law during Operation Protective Edge conducted by Israel in the Gaza strip.
4. However, the Indian Government did not pass a resolution in the parliament condemning the Israeli action, contrary to the earlier practices.
5. At the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), India abstained on the resolution that welcomed the report of the same Commission of Inquiry, making it the first time India had refused to vote against Israel at the UN.
6. Though the Indian government clarified that this does not mean that there is a change in India’s traditional support for the separate state of Palestine, it is evident that India is distancing itself from advocating for the Palestinian cause.
7. Until 2017, in various statements, with its expression of support for a two-state solution, India had always included a line in support of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state which was missing in PM Modi’s statement during PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas visit to India in 2017.
8. In February 2018, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel but not Ramallah. The signal was that India had “de-hyphenated” the Israel-Palestine relationship, and would deal with each separately.

India’s Balancing Act With Palestine

1. Meanwhile, India continues to improve ties with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and feels vindicated by the decision of some Arab states to improve ties with Israel.
2. It voted for Palestine to become a full member of UNESCO in 2011, and a year later, cosponsored the UNGA resolution that enabled Palestine to become a “non-member” observer state at the UN without voting rights.
3. Even as it abstained at UNESCO in December 2017, India voted in favour of a resolution in the UNGA opposing Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
4. Despite growing Indo-Israel ties, New Delhi remained firmly on the side of the PLO, which was seen as ready for a political solution and had accepted the two-state solution.
5. In the current context of violence, India in its official statement appears to implicitly hold Israel responsible for triggering the current cycle of violence by locating its beginnings in East Jerusalem rather than from Gaza.

There has been much debate in recent times about whether India has changed its pro-Arab historical stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. India’s close diplomatic relationship with Israel is vital for India’s national interest. Despite the criticism of India abandoning the Palestinians, at the current juncture, it is necessary to undertake a balancing in the highly unstable West Asia so that there is room for change when the need arises.

India has a land border of over 15,000 km, which it shares with seven countries. Further, it has a coastline of over 7,500 km. These long porous borders are not only under dispute but also for the most part located in highly challenging terrain making border security an uphill task before security forces of India. Robust border management is vital for national security due to various borders disputes and cross border terrorist infiltrations. However, it is not possible to erect border fences along the length of the border owing to its length and complex terrain. Hence the government is increasingly focusing on smart border management using technological solutions.

BOLD-QIT project (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique)

Due to the changing nature of threat patterns and human limitations in manually manning the border, India is experimenting and deploying many technological solutions. One such solution is the BOLD-QIT project to guard its border with Bangladesh in Dhubri district of Assam.

1. The project BOLD-QIT comes under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system) on the international borders.
2. It is a project to install technical systems which enables the BSF to equip the border with various kinds of sensors in the unfenced riverine area of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
3. The entire span of Brahmaputra has been covered with data networks generated by microwave communication, OFC cables, DMR communication, day and night surveillance cameras and intrusion detection system.

Effectiveness Of BOLD-QIT Project In Border Management

1. The entire stretch of the 61 km border in Dhubri has been brought under technological surveillance.
2. The modern gadgets along the border provide feeds to BSF control rooms on the border and enable the BSF quick reaction teams (QRTs) to thwart any possible infiltration or crimes.
3. There are alarm systems and whenever there is an intrusion, a QRT of the BSF will rush to the place.
4. The initiative will curb cross-border crimes and give respite to the BSF from round-the-clock human surveillance.
5. It will help to keep a check on illegal immigration and smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs and cattle and such other crimes that thrives in Dhubri sector of the international border, a porous riverine section of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
6. Smart and effective border management will help in improving intelligence and surveillance, capable of providing day and night all-terrain and all-weather inputs.

The BOLD-QIT project is a step towards a larger strategy of CIBMS. CIBMS is a robust and integrated system that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment. We must also address the issues such as erratic power supply technical glitches, etc for optimal utilisation of technology for effective security management along all the international borders.

Social exclusion is a form of discrimination. It occurs when people are wholly or partially excluded from participating in the economic, social and political life of their community, based on their belonging to a certain social class, category or group. In India, social exclusion occurs based on identities including caste, ethnicity, religion, gender and disability.

Features Of Social Exclusion

Social exclusion as a concept has three distinguishable features:

1. It involves culturally-defined social categories, with associated cultural perceptions, values and norms that shape social interaction.
2. It is embedded in social relations.
3. It affects people’s rights and entitlements, denying them the opportunities they need to attain and maintain a universally acceptable standard of living and to fulfil their potential.

The Correlation Between Education And Social Exclusion

A.How Lack Of Education Leads To Social Exclusion

1. Educational exclusion is closely associated with social exclusion, Since education is essential if people are to access resources and use them effectively, denial of educational opportunity causes social exclusion.
2. Since education is intricately linked with the capability to use resources, exclusion from the education of certain groups creates a society with massive inequality and further the deprivation of poorer classes.
3. Children who are excluded from education may suffer due to lack of other capabilities too. For example, they may find it difficult to get gainful employment due to lack of adequate skills or they may suffer from a lack of proper development of their mental capabilities. These factors will further reinforce their social exclusion.
4. Lack of access to education will affect women and girl children more severely. Education helps to gain employment and adequate financial independence for women. In a patriarchal society like India, financial independence is the only way to ensure their participation.
5. Education creates awareness among people. As long as this awareness is not generated, meaningful participation in the societal processes is not possible. The good example of this fact is reservations provided for women, SC and ST in local bodies. Despite these reservations, we are still failing to meaningfully incorporate these sections into our political process.

B.How Social Exclusion Leads To Lack Of Education

In India communities such as Dalit, Adivasis, and Muslims are suffering from social exclusion. Effects of this social exclusion are visible on socio-economic indicators including that of education of these communities. Along with these communities, women, transgenders etc are also not able to get quality education due to social exclusion. Caste-based social exclusion

1. Caste is one of the oldest illnesses Indian society is suffering from. Even though the Constitution of India abolished untouchability under Article 17, and provides for affirmative actions in favour of marginalised sections under Article 15 and Article 16, social exclusion is still visible from statistical studies of these communities.
2. Average literacy rate in India is 74.04%, whereas literacy rates of SCs and STs are approximately 66% and 59% respectively. There is a gap of 8 to 15% between literacy of the average Indian and that of an Indian belonging to the SC or ST community.

Gender-based social exclusion

1. Discrimination against women is not only an issue in India but also a global cry. But the situation in India is worse compared to its counterparts in the world. 2.
2. According to census 2011, male and female literacy rates in India are 82.1% and 65.5% respectively. This shows the gap of almost 17ppts between the literacy rates of the two genders. 3.
3. Similarly, the participation of women in higher education is very low. Most of the girls drop out of their school at the higher secondary level due to domestic responsibilities and early marriage.

Religion-based social exclusion

1. Before wounds of partition would heal, the rise of right-wing extremism further pushed the Muslim community into social exclusion. Social boycott, economic exclusion, fear of lynching and mob violence pushes them away from mainstream society. 2.
2. The literacy rate of Muslims is 57.3 percent as against the national average of 74.04%.

Class-based social exclusion Rich vs Poor

1. According to a recent NSSO survey, only 6% of young people from the bottom fifth of the population attend educational levels above higher secondary in urban India whereas 31% of the young people from the richest fifth of the population attend educational levels above higher secondary.
2. Privatisation and commercialisation of education and declining quality of education in public schools have also widened the gap between rich and poor for access to quality education.
3. Coaching culture and private tuitions are making competition tougher for poor students to get access to premier higher educational institutions of India.

Why Do We Need Equal Opportunities In Education?

1. Education is directly related to the development of an individual and the community. It is the most important single factor for economic development as well as social emancipation.
2. Experiences in many countries demonstrate that persistent social and economic inequalities and exclusion can lead to disaffection, social fragmentation and even conflicts.
3. Lack of quality education keeps the communities trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Measures Taken By Government

1. Article 21A is inserted into the constitution as Right to Education and it is being implemented by the Right to Education Act 2009. The principle of equal educational opportunities is at the core of the right to education.
2. SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA) addresses issues of access, equity and quality and makes schools open and inclusive. The coverage of the Scheme has been concurrently extended to recognize volunteering Madrasas/Maktabs.
3. The Mid-Day-Meal (MDM) Scheme has been extended to cover all children studying in classes I-VIII of Government and Government Aided schools.
4. To establish quality residential schools for the promotion of education in all areas and habitations in the country, the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for ST students are along the lines of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and the Kendriya Vidyalayas. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are set up in States/UTs with grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
5. Padho Pardesh is yet another Scheme of interest subsidy to students of minority communities on educational loans for overseas higher studies.

Social exclusion creates an inability to participate effectively in economic, social, and cultural life. It leads to alienation and distance from mainstream society. Education is increasingly seen as a key to the inclusive and sustained development of a society. For a New India, we must achieve an egalitarian society which is possible by providing equal access to quality education. Social exclusion can only be eradicated by eliminating exclusion in access to education at all levels.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a prominent Indian leader during British rule. He worked tirelessly to eradicate the social and economic inequalities faced by Dalits in India and played an instrumental role in abolition of untouchability and reservation for dalits in education and employment. Though he is widely recognized for his pivotal role in championing the cause of Dalit rights, his contributions spanned a diverse range of issues:

Contribution to women’s cause

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar wrote extensively on women’s oppression in his newspapers ‘Mook Nayak’ and ‘Bahishkrit Bharat’.
• He advocated family planning measures for women. In 1942, while serving as a labour minister of the executive council of governor-general, he introduced a Maternity Benefit Bill for women working in mines
• After independence, he introduced the Hindu Code Bill of 1949, which dealt with women’s marriage, adoption, property rights etc.
• He supported ‘equal pay for equal work’ irrespective of gender and also played an important role in legalising voting rights for women in independent India.

Contribution to Economics

• Dr. Ambedkar was an economist by training. Some of his prominent writings in the field of economics include, The Problem of Rupee: Its Origin and Solution; The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India; and Administration and Finance of the East India Company.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was conceptualised in accordance with the guidelines presented by Dr. Ambedkar to the Hilton Young Commission (also known as Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance) based on his book, The Problem of the Rupee – Its Origin and Its Solution.
• Dr. Ambedkar, while being a Law Minister, also established the Finance Commission in 1951.

Drafting of Indian Constitution:

• As the Chairman of the constitution drafting committee in 1947, he played a key role in framing the Indian constitution and is recognised as the “Father of Indian Constitution”.
• His efforts ensured that the Constitution of India became one of the most comprehensive and progressive documents in the world.

Political Contributions:

• Dr. Ambedkar formed the Independent Labour Party in 1936, which won 15 seats in the Bombay Legislative Assembly elections.
• In July 1942, the Viceroy appointed Dr. Ambedkar as the Labour Minister in the Executive Council. During his tenure, he brought several labour reforms including paid holidays and restrictions over daily and weekly working hours.
• He served as the Law and Justice minister in the first cabinet of independent India and later remained a Member of Parliament till 1956.
• He was one of the founders of Employment Exchanges in India. He played a vital role in the establishment of the National Power Grid System, Central Water Irrigation, Navigation Commission, Damodar Valley Project, Hirakud Dam Project and Sone River Project.

Revival of Buddhism in India: Though the Buddhist revival movement began in India in May 1891 with the founding of Mahabodi Society in Calcutta, the real impetus to this movement was provided by Dr. Ambedkar who adopted Buddhism in 1956 resulting in an unprecedented wave of conversion. As per census records, the population of the Buddhist community rose from 1,80,823, in 1951 to 32,50,227 in 1961. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s contributions to India’s socio-economic and political landscape were wide- ranging and encompassed issues that went beyond the Dalit rights. He was a visionary leader who worked tirelessly to promote social justice, equality, and human rights.

The South-West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region can be defined as the nautical area where the African sovereign island states of Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, and Madagascar are strategically located- southwest of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), adjoining the eastern/south-eastern coastline of the African continent. In the post-Cold War era, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) experienced instability exacerbated by weak government structures and the littorals’ limited capacity to control the maritime domain.

Rise of security threats in the South-West Indian Ocean:

• Piracy: The SWIO region is connected to the prominent Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and the troubled waters off the coast of Somalia, where international piracy and sea-borne terrorism rise at a rampant rate.
• Region for power tussle: Given its strategic importance, most rising powers like China have significant footprints in the region and thus potential threats to the autonomy of the SIDS in the region. This has also made the islands in the region fearful of being used as pawns in the great power competition.
• Marine environment protection: As a region of the busy SLOCs, the region is exposed to oil spillages, plastic pollution and thus impacting the marine ecosystem and environment as a whole.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU): This phenomenon impacts the economic resources of the SIDS in the SWIO and makes them dependent on assistance from foreign nations.
• Climate change: Coastal areas across the Indian Ocean region are likely to see a continuous rise in sea levels (3.7 millimeters annually), resulting in severe coastal erosion and frequent flooding in low-lying areas.
• Impact of declining multilateralism: The decline of multilateralism and multilateral institutions has led to a lack of accountability among states in responding to global challenges thus leaving the region vulnerable to disasters.

India’s engagement with the SIDS in the SWIO: As part of its commitment to South-South Cooperation (SSC) and its growing profile as a regional power, India has demonstrated its capabilities and willingness to assist them in dealing with common maritime and developmental challenges. These include:

• Information dissemination on smuggling and trafficking: In 2018, New Delhi launched the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to better address challenges like illegal fishing, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. The government also approved the National Maritime Domain Awareness Project, which will provide “actionable intelligence” to deal with maritime threats.
• To tackle climate change: India has served as a leading player by spearheading various climate-related initiatives, like the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Promoting island diplomacy: Initiatives such as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Colombo Security Conclave engage senior officials of the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and India.
• Medical assistance during the pandemic: Through SAGAR, the Indian Navy also provided medical assistance teams and food aid during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a testimony to New Delhi’s humanitarian outreach.
• Engaging through Indian Ocean Commission: Institutionalized in 1984 and as the sole sub-regional organization of Africa composed exclusively of SIDS (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, the French overseas region of Reunion, and Seychelles). India being an observer actively engages with the IOC to raise awareness about the specific challenges that developing islands face especially Security, Climate and Biodiversity, and Economy.

While most of India’s engagements with these island states so far have been bilateral, multilateral engagement is gaining traction. This presents India with an excellent opportunity to distinguish itself from China and play a more constructive role in the SWIO region.