The Indian diaspora plays a crucial role in India’s cultural diplomacy by promoting Indian arts, music, and cinema globally. Their engagement enhances India’s soft power, fosters cultural exchange, and strengthens diplomatic ties with countries around the world. The Indian government has recognized this potential and implemented various initiatives to leverage the diaspora’s cultural influence effectively.

Significance of Diaspora Engagement in Cultural Diplomacy:
Promotion of Indian Arts and Culture:

Arts and Music Festivals: Diaspora communities organize and participate in festivals celebrating Indian classical music, dance forms (like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, etc.), and folk traditions. These events showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and traditions to global audiences.
Cultural Performances: Diaspora artists and performers contribute to international stages, enhancing visibility and appreciation for Indian arts and culture.
Global Reach of Indian Cinema (Bollywood):

Film Festivals: Indian diaspora communities host film festivals that feature Bollywood movies and regional cinema, attracting diverse audiences and promoting Indian narratives globally.
Cinematic Influence: Bollywood’s popularity abroad influences global film trends, fashion, music, and cultural perceptions, thereby contributing to India’s cultural diplomacy efforts.
Educational and Cultural Exchange:

Language and Cultural Centers: Diaspora organizations establish language schools, cultural centers, and academies that teach Indian languages (like Hindi, Tamil, etc.) and offer courses in traditional arts, music, and yoga. This promotes cultural understanding and strengthens ties with local communities.
Government Initiatives to Leverage Diaspora Cultural Influence:
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD):

An annual event organized by the Indian government to engage with the diaspora and showcase India’s cultural heritage. PBD includes cultural performances, exhibitions, and awards that recognize diaspora contributions to Indian arts and culture.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR):

The ICCR promotes Indian culture and fosters cultural diplomacy through international cultural exchange programs, artist residencies, and collaborations with diaspora artists and cultural organizations.
Film and Media Promotion:

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting supports initiatives to promote Indian cinema abroad through film festivals, screenings, and collaborations with international media platforms. This enhances India’s soft power and cultural influence globally.
Cultural Diplomacy Grants and Sponsorships:

Government grants and sponsorships support diaspora-led cultural events, exhibitions, and performances that promote Indian arts, music, and traditions internationally.
Challenges and Opportunities:
Preservation of Authenticity:

Balancing traditional art forms with contemporary expressions while preserving authenticity can be challenging in diaspora cultural initiatives. Efforts are needed to maintain cultural integrity while adapting to global audiences.
Resource Mobilization:

Ensuring sustainable funding and resources for diaspora cultural activities requires collaborative efforts between government agencies, diaspora organizations, and private sponsors.
Audience Engagement and Impact Measurement:

Evaluating the impact of cultural diplomacy initiatives and assessing audience engagement can help refine strategies and enhance effectiveness in promoting Indian culture abroad.
Conclusion:
The Indian diaspora’s engagement in India’s cultural diplomacy significantly enhances the country’s soft power and global influence. Through their promotion of Indian arts, music, and cinema, diaspora communities contribute to cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and stronger diplomatic relations worldwide. Government initiatives to leverage diaspora cultural influence, such as PBD, ICCR programs, and support for film and media promotion, play a crucial role in fostering collaboration and amplifying India’s cultural narrative on the global stage. As India continues to engage with its diaspora in cultural diplomacy, these efforts will further strengthen India’s position as a cultural hub and promote global appreciation for its diverse heritage.

The Surat Split of the Indian National Congress in 1907 into Moderate and Extremist factions took place in the aftermath of the partition of Bengal. Around that time, the country was in the grip of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements against the British government, and militant nationalism was on the rise.

The various factors leading to the Split include:

• Disagreement over the extension of the Swadeshi and Boycott movements: The Extremists did not subscribe to the methods of the Moderate leaders, which they thought bore no results. They believed in the capacity of the masses and wanted to extend the movements all across India to overthrow the British government. However, the Moderate leadership wanted to keep the movements localised due to the fear of reprisals.
• Issue of Swaraj: Despite their agreement on the negative consequences of the British rule over India and the need for self-government (Swaraj), the Moderates were reluctant to declare it as the goal of the Congress, which increased the frustration of the Extremists.
• Tussle over the Presidentship of the Congress: The Extremists wanted Tilak or Lala Lajpat Rai to be the President of the Congress whereas the Moderates wanted Rash Behari Ghose as the President.
• British policy of divide and rule: The Extremists were severely repressed by the British government while the Moderates were placated through concessions. For instance, the government offered reforms in the Legislative Councils and in the beginning of 1906, it discussed them with the Moderates even when a vigorous popular movement was going on.

The Split of 1907 dealt a blow to the Congress and India’s freedom struggle. Its consequences were the following:

• Loss of public support: The Moderates lost support in the eyes of the politically conscious and educated Indians who were more sympathetic to the views of the Extremists. With the passing of time, the Moderate group turned into a small coterie.
• Loss of momentum in the nationalist movements: In the absence of popular leaders like Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai etc., the Extremists were unable to create an alternative party, the Swadeshi and Boycott movements lost their leg, and by 1908, the nationalist movement as a whole declined.
• Victory for the British: The Moderates gave up the radical agendas adopted at previous sessions of the Congress at Banaras and Calcutta. To placate the Moderates, the British brought in the Morley-Minto reforms in 1909, which were more of an eyewash and with its separate electorate provisions, sowed the seeds of India’s partition.
• Rise of revolutionary terrorism: The Split left the national movement leaderless and directionless for quite some time paving the way for the first phase of revolutionary terrorism.

However, Indian leadership learnt from its mistakes and when a similar situation arose in 1924 with respect to the Swarajists and in 1936 between Nehru and Leftists, they remained united against the British despite their differences.

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as “any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water, and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved and protected by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment”. In the wake of global threats such as climate change, ocean acidification and intensified resource extraction, the world’s seas are at risk. As a result, many nations have adopted Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a tool for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions. There are 24 MPAs in peninsular India and more than 100 MPAs in the country’s islands. The Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gulf of Mannar National Park, Sundarbans National Park and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park are some of the important MPAs of India.

Significance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):

• Protecting habitats: A declaration of an area as a Marine Protected Area helps to protect habitats. For example, it can help to restore the nesting sites of the Olive Ridley turtles at Odisha’s Ganjam district, which is under threat due to sea erosion.
• Helps to protect endemic species: MPAs help the authorities deal with the invasive species to protect the local biodiversity. They are also the key to arresting and possibly reversing the global and local decline in fish populations and productivity by protecting critical breeding, nursery and feeding habits. Further, they are sites for scientific study.
• Restrict human activities: MPA network declaration addresses habitat conversion to other land use, over exploitation of resources, pollution from domestic and industrial effluents, which otherwise lead to ecosystem degradation and destruction of coastal areas.
• Aid in income generation: MPAs raise the profile of an area for marine tourism, as they provide sites for nature-based recreation and also broaden local economic options.

The marine protected area network in India has been used as a tool to manage natural marine resources for biodiversity conservation and for the well-being of people dependent on it.

Challenges in extending the MPA network in India:

• Difference of opinion on factors: There is no consensus regarding factors that should be considered in declaring an area as a Marine Protected Area like the size of area, its habitat heterogeneity etc.
• Financial resources: It is difficult for a developing country like India to maintain and manage such areas in the long-run due to lack of adequate financial resources.
• Criticised as “paper parks”: Lack of synchronisation between social conditions and conservation efforts have led to MPAs being deemed as mere “paper parks”.
• Difficulty in extending the network: Due to the socio-economic dependency on coastal areas, it is difficult to extend the MPA network as national parks or sanctuaries.
• Lack of data: Poor data on status and distribution of the marine species in India has resulted in a compromise of the assessment of the conservation status of coastal and marine species of India using the IUCN Regional Red Listing Guidelines.

Way forward:

• Climate change adaptation plan: There is an urgent need to frame a climate change adaptation plan for the coastal and marine protected areas in the country.
• Inter-departmental coordination: Coordination among all the organizations/institutions that work for conservation of threatened marine species and the welfare of coastal communities is required.
• Maintaining data: Documentation and updation of database of information obtained through research on threatened marine species is urgently required.
• Human resource: Development of human resources to manage the MPAs of India is critical.

Dedicated efforts are required to secure and strengthen community participation in managing the Marine Protected Area network in India. Such efforts will also help to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, especially Target Number 11 and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Target of ’30×30′.

Answer:
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was launched in 2013 with the aim of reforming the government delivery system by re-engineering the existing process in welfare schemes for simpler and faster flow of information/funds and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de- duplication and reduction of fraud. It transfers government benefits directly into the Citizen’s Aadhar-seeded bank accounts for targeted delivery of the benefits.
Impact of DBT on the effectiveness and transparency of welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections in India:

• Efficient transfer of Government benefit: By using DBT, the intended benefit is directly transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries, cutting down the middle administrative layers that were delaying the process of transfer earlier. For example, DBT to landholding farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
• Wide coverage of schemes: According to the DBT Mission’s status report, DBT has expanded from a mere 24 schemes (as part of a pilot Programme) in 43 districts in 2013 to over 300 Central schemes across India by December 2022.
  • For example, the Government of India has transferred $312 billion to beneficiaries (nearly 65% of the vulnerable population) under its various social security schemes since the start of the DBT in 2013.
• Ensure financial inclusion: DBT comes with the prerequisite of a compulsory Aadhaar linked Savings account and this brings the beneficiary into formal economy and introduces him/her to the banking system. For example, women hold 56% of over 46 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts.
• Increases the transparency & accountability: The intended amount for the welfare scheme and its movement can be tracked to and forth thereby providing more accountability.
• Reduces Corruption: DBT helps in reducing the interactions between the beneficiary and officials, thereby reducing the possibility of bribe and corruption. For example, India saved over USD 27 billion in key central government schemes through direct benefit transfer.
• Reduces the ghost beneficiaries and reduced leakage: The Aadhaar integrated transfer mechanism with biometric authentication helps to remove the ghost beneficiaries existing in the system, as multiple or fake entries can easily be mapped. As a result of which the government has been able to target the genuine and deserving beneficiaries.
• Real time tracking: Public Financial Management System (PFMS) provides real time utilization of funds released from the consolidated fund of India. It has been designed in a way to meet complete end to end requirements of accounting and fund management.

Notwithstanding its success, the program still faces hurdles like:

• Lack of infrastructure: There exists many regions in the country, which are yet to be brought under the regular banking system like bank branches and ATMs and it is difficult to process DBT for those areas.
• Digital literacy: The digital literacy of the people in rural areas is comparatively poor and they might be even unaware of the benefits that they are eligible to receive from the government.
• Ineffective grievance redressal: The process of grievance redressal is opaque in many schemes and the point of contact in case of discrepancy is also unclear. For example, many citizens have claimed that they were not getting the DBT for their LPG connections in spite of opting for it.

However, the continuous refinement of DBT, coupled with efforts to bridge the digital divide, can fortify India’s social welfare system, making it more robust, efficient, and citizen-centric.

Answer: Non-violence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. In the quest for ultimate truth, Gandhiji singled out non-violence as the fundamental moral virtue, which ought to be practiced at all times by all men. He firmly believed that “truth without non-violence is not truth but untruth” and hence truth can be attained only by non-violent means. Gandhiji further stated that, non-violence is meant for the strong character, and not for the weak, and that forgiveness is the virtue of the strong, and the weak cannot forgive. Non-violence ensures the requisite changes in the existing social order without sacrificing the cherished values of humanity. For instance, Gandhiji’s non-violent struggle against the Rowlatt Bill and his Salt Satyagraha molded the nationalist thinking of that time for betterment. Also, Martin Luther King Jr. adopted Gandhiji’s non-violent methods in his campaigns to ensure civil rights for African Americans in the US. Further, Nelson Mandela applied the tenets of non-violence like love, harmony, etc. to end apartheid in South Africa. In contemporary times, non-violence is the greatest moral force at the disposal of mankind and is a powerful tool for socio-political change and justice, highlighted as follows:

• Higher spiritual growth: A person embedding the tenets of non-violence would make choices from a place of love rather than hate, non-violence, anger, selfishness, hatred, and enmity, thereby, paving the virtues of compassion, empathy for the marginalized sections, especially in a materialistic and capitalist society.
• Ameliorating social evils: A person practicing non-violence will stand against social evils and practices like discrimination based on caste, religion, race, etc. For instance, Gandhiji fought against the age-old system of untouchability through non-violence by working along with the Harijans.
• Peaceful co-existence of nations: Violence can destroy not only societies but also nations and civilizations. Imbibing principles of non-violence in international relations can pave the way for addressing conflicts like the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict, etc.
• Shared environment responsibility: A follower of non-violence shares the same love for nature as he/she has for humanity. He/she recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and plants and any untoward harm can threaten our shared environment. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic showed the relevance of ‘One Health’ principles in the governance of infectious diseases, especially efforts to prevent and contain zoonotic diseases throughout the world.

Non-violence, as a virtue, helps people to live sustainably, to share nature’s resources equitably, live without violence, fear, oppression or alienation, and in spiritual harmony and peace. When non-violence is accepted as the law of life, it must pervade to the whole being and not be applied to isolated acts.