UKPSC Mains PYQs

The government of Uttarakhand has made noteworthy progress in advancing the empowerment of women and the development of children. One significant initiative is the ‘Uttarakhand Mahila Samman Yojana,’ which offers financial support to women entrepreneurs, promoting their economic independence. Furthermore, the ‘Kanyadan Yojana’ assists with the educational and marriage costs for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, with the goal of narrowing gender gaps. In terms of child development, the ‘Bal Saksham Yojana’ aims to improve the nutritional and educational well-being of children, ensuring they have a healthy foundation for life. These programs demonstrate the government’s dedication to fostering a more inclusive and fair society, empowering women while nurturing future generations.

Uttarakhand’s Start-up Policy represents a thoughtful strategy designed to nurture a thriving entrepreneurial landscape in the region. Introduced to stimulate creativity and foster economic advancement, this policy provides a variety of benefits, such as tax relief, financial assistance, and development of essential infrastructure. The ‘Uttarakhand Conclave and Grand Challenge 2022’ was crucial in enhancing this landscape by offering a venue for startups to present their concepts and engage with potential investors, mentors, and government representatives. The event included workshops, pitching opportunities, and chances for networking, which enabled emerging entrepreneurs to refine their business strategies and acquire invaluable knowledge. Furthermore, the Grand Challenge granted funding and support for incubation to promising startups, ensuring they have the tools necessary to expand and succeed. This comprehensive strategy not only invigorates the local economy but also establishes Uttarakhand as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship.

As India takes on the presidency of the G-20, it stands ready to guide the international agenda with a strong emphasis on inclusiveness, ambition, decisiveness, and proactive measures. This leadership role presents a remarkable chance for India to not only highlight its own progress in development but also to tackle worldwide challenges through a cooperative and forward-thinking strategy.

Opportunities:

Global Leadership: India’s presidency serves as a stage to exhibit its leadership in confronting pressing global issues like climate change, economic disparity, and the evolution of digital technologies. By capitalizing on its young population and technological advancements, India can motivate fresh and creative solutions.

Economic Growth: India has the opportunity to advocate for strategies that encourage sustainable economic development, especially in less developed countries. This involves championing equitable trade practices, investing in infrastructure, and backing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Inclusive Development: With an emphasis on inclusivity, India can underscore the significance of social welfare initiatives, gender equity, and access to education and healthcare. This can pave the way for a more just global framework.

Digital Innovation: India’s prowess in technology and digital strategies can be utilized to close the digital gap and enhance digital literacy, thereby improving global connectivity and expanding economic prospects.

Obstacles Ahead:

Geopolitical Strains: Navigating the intricate geopolitical terrain, particularly the frictions among major nations, presents a formidable hurdle. India must strive to balance its diplomatic ties and ensure that the G-20 serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue.

Economic Volatility: The global economic turmoil, intensified by the pandemic and international disputes, calls for prompt and effective measures. India needs to introduce practical strategies aimed at stabilizing economies and promoting recovery.

Environmental Challenges: Confronting climate change is an urgent priority. India will have to reconcile its developmental aspirations with the necessity for environmental protection, fostering global collaboration on climate initiatives.

Health Resilience: The persistent pandemic has underscored the critical need for strong health infrastructures. India can take the lead in advocating for global health resilience, stressing the significance of equitable vaccine distribution and preparedness for future health emergencies.

In summary, India’s presidency at the G-20 represents a significant chance to lead with vision and intention. By tackling these opportunities and challenges, India can play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and thriving global community.

India’s Strategic Engagement with Central Asian Nations via the SCO: Reflections from the Samarkand Summit
The recently held Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, underscored India’s expanding strategic and economic interests in Central Asia. India’s involvement with the Central Asian Republics (CARs) through the SCO represents a comprehensive strategy designed to fulfill several primary goals.

Firstly, India aims to boost its economic presence in the region. The CARs are abundant in natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, which are essential for India’s energy needs and industrial advancement. By utilizing the SCO platform, India can promote trade and investment collaborations, especially in sectors like energy, infrastructure, and technology.

Secondly, India intends to enhance its geopolitical sway in Central Asia. This region holds a critical position between China, Russia, and the Middle East, making it an essential route for trade and security. By participating in the SCO, India can interact with regional powers while contributing positively to maintaining stability and security, combating terrorism, and fostering economic collaboration.

Thirdly, India seeks to diversify its strategic alliances and lessen its reliance on any single partner. The SCO, which includes both China and Russia, offers a distinct multilateral setting where India can maneuver through intricate geopolitical landscapes and establish a well-rounded foreign policy. This is particularly crucial as India strives to balance its interactions with major global powers and assert its strategic independence.

Lastly, India’s engagement with the CARs through the SCO forms part of its broader Act Far East initiative, which aims to extend its influence beyond South Asia. By nurturing closer relationships with these nations, India can help create a more interconnected and inclusive regional framework, aligning with its vision of a multipolar world.

In summary, the Samarkand summit highlighted India’s dedication to intensifying its relationship with the CARs through the SCO. This strategic initiative is focused on achieving economic, geopolitical, and security goals while also enhancing regional stability and cooperation.

India’s deep-informed strategic vision for a deeper and wider partnership with Africa has thus been a large part of its success. In effect, this vision, which was rooted in historical ties and shared values, and set the stage for a deeper convergence of Indo-African relations that defines the upward trajectory of economic engagement, people-to-people ties and political collaboration.

India’s engagement with Africa is multifaceted. Economically, India has become significant trading partner for many African nations and bilateral trade has surpassed over $70 billion in the last few years. While Indian investment has driven economic growth itself, it has also proved to be a catalyst for jobs and improved technology on the continent across sectors like pharmaceuticals, information technology, and agriculture. Enabling PM Narendra Modi to lead the African renaissance, India could also play a stellar role in addressing the burgeoning humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Ethiopian War as evidenced by its infrastructure and capacity building initiatives like the Pan-African e-Network and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program that will address the digital divide, moving the needle on education and health care accessibility on the continent.

Individually, India has been a partner for Africa on the world stage too. South Africa has stood up for African interests in many international platforms — including the United Nations — and is a vocal proponent of reforms to global governance mechanisms to better accommodate developing countries. This is reflected in India’s engagements with the African Union and support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to regional integration and economic development across the continent.

Yet, some obstacles need to be addressed to bolster such links. Some of the major barriers include the presence of unbalanced trade relations. India’s exports to Africa, on the other hand, have expanded; concomitantly, while imports from Africa are comparatively low, this has led to a trade imbalance. The solution is diersified trade and investment in Indian-export enhancing sectors.

A second challenge is that you have to invest more on your infrastructure. Infrastructure bottleneck for development (Gaps in many countries in Africa) Moreover, it paves way for the work of such nations, through strengthening its track-record in investment towards areas including construction projects and renewable energy infrastructure.

Finally, India must work harder to engender trust and mutual respect. This means that it treats African countries as equals, and that its behaviors are in accordance with the principles of South-South cooperation. By surmounting these hurdles, India can sustain and deepen its relations with Africa, for a better world for all.