Oct 9th The Hindu Imp News Articles & Editorial

Edition: International Table of Contents

Page 01 : Prelims Fact

The PSLV-C37 upper stage re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, marking a significant milestone in ISRO’s commitment to space debris mitigation.

• Launched in 2017, it carried 104 satellites, with its re-entry tracked and compliant with international debris guidelines.

Analysis of the news:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the upper stage of the PSLV-C37 rocket re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday.
• The PSLV-C37 mission was launched on February 15, 2017, carrying the Cartosat-2D satellite as the main payload along with 103 co-passenger satellites.
• This mission set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single rocket.
• After deploying the satellites, the upper stage (PS4) was left in orbit.
• Due to atmospheric drag, the orbit of the PS4 stage gradually decayed over time.
• Since September, ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) monitored the orbital decay and predicted the re-entry in the first week of October.
• The atmospheric re-entry complies with international debris mitigation guidelines, specifically limiting the orbital life of defunct objects in Low-Earth orbit to 25 years.

Page 10 : GS 2 : International relations

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a report highlighting deteriorating religious freedom in India, citing violence against minorities and government repression.

• India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected the report, labelling USCIRF as biased.
• This ongoing issue raises concerns about religious freedom and international relations.

USCIRF Report on India:

• The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a country update on India, highlighting deteriorating religious freedom conditions in 2024.
• The report claims individuals from minority communities have faced killings, lynchings, arbitrary arrests, and the destruction of places of worship throughout 2024.
• The Indian government has strongly rejected the report, calling USCIRF a biassed organisation with a political agenda.

What is the USCIRF?

• The USCIRF is a U.S.-based federal government agency that monitors religious freedom worldwide, based on international human rights standards, particularly Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• It differs from the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) and its recommendations do not directly affect bilateral relations.
• Although backed by extensive research, some view the USCIRF’s timing and reports as influenced by U.S. foreign policy goals, raising concerns about its objectivity.

USCIRF’s Role:

• USCIRF assesses religious freedom violations globally, producing an annual report recommending countries for designation as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) or inclusion in the Special Watch List (SWL).
• CPC countries face the possibility of U.S. sanctions if their violations are deemed systematic, ongoing, and egregious.

USCIRF’s Findings on India:

• The report emphasises increasing suppression of minorities through discriminatory laws like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, anti-conversion laws, and cow slaughter laws.
• It accuses Indian officials of promoting hateful rhetoric and perpetuating violence against religious minorities, while designating India as a CPC in 2024.

India’s Response:

• India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the report as politically motivated, stating that it misrepresents facts and reflects an agenda-driven narrative.

Page 10 : GS 3 : Indian Economy – Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

The Indian textile and apparel sector aims to achieve a $350 billion annual business by 2030, generating 3.5 crore jobs.

• However, challenges such as export slumps, high raw material prices, and shifting consumer preferences threaten its growth prospects.

Current Status of the Indian Textile and Apparel Sector

• Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh announced that the Indian textile and apparel sector aims for a total business of $350 billion annually by 2030, which could generate 3.5 crore jobs.
• The industry’s size was estimated at $153 billion in 2021, with approximately $110 billion derived from domestic business.
• In FY22, India ranked as the third-largest textile exporter globally, with a market share of 5.4%, and possessed the second-largest manufacturing capacity in the sector.
• The textile industry contributed 2.3% to the country’s GDP and 10.6% to total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA).
• The sector employs around 105 million people directly and indirectly.

Reasons for Export Slump

• Economic Downturn: The industry faced a decline starting in 2022-2023, marked by significant reductions in exports and domestic demand due to geopolitical issues and decreased demand from purchasing countries.
• High Raw Material Prices: Rising prices for cotton and Man-Made Fibres (MMF) worsened the situation, with a 10% import duty on cotton making Indian cotton less competitive globally.
• Quality Control Orders: The introduction of quality control orders on MMF disrupted raw material availability and pricing, leading to industry calls for the removal of the import duty during the off-season from April to October.

Challenges Facing the Industry

• E-commerce Disruption: The sector is experiencing shifts due to e-commerce trends, with more manufacturers opting for direct retail to consumers.
• Sustainability Demand: International brands are prioritising sustainability, leading to increased demand for vendors who can meet specific environmental standards.
• Changing Consumer Preferences: There is a growing consumer preference for comfort wear, coupled with shifts in shopping habits, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Labour Costs: Labour constitutes around 10% of production expenses, with trained textile workers earning ₹550 daily and unskilled workers earning ₹450.

Future Outlook

• Investment Goals: To achieve the $350 billion target, the industry anticipates a $100 billion investment across various segments by 2030.
• Focus on Technology: The industry must emphasise technology adoption and workforce skilling to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
• Strengthening Supply Chains: Efforts will be made to strengthen supply chains to mitigate disruptions and ensure timely availability of raw materials and finished products.

Page 11:  GS 2 : International Relations

The Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted at the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future,’ aims to harness and regulate digital technologies for global benefit.

• While it offers a framework for cooperation, significant challenges and limitations in implementation remain.

Overview of the Global Digital Compact (GDC)

• The Global Digital Compact (GDC) was recently adopted at the ‘Summit of the Future’ organised by the United Nations.
• This groundbreaking instrument aims to harness and regulate digital technologies for the common good, marking a significant step in international digital governance.

Nature of the GDC

• The GDC is a non-binding diplomatic instrument that outlines shared goals for governments, institutions, firms, and stakeholders.
• While it is not legally binding, increased adherence could lead to its terms evolving into soft laws within individual countries.

Background and Objectives

• Building on previous UN initiatives, the GDC recognizes the transformative impact of digital technologies on society.
• While these technologies can facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they also present significant challenges.

Goals and Structure

• The GDC focuses on ensuring human oversight of technologies to promote sustainable development.
• It aims for global cooperation in data governance and digital technologies, with member countries committing to establish two panels: an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

Proposed Digital Public Goods

• To bridge the digital divide, the GDC advocates for digital public goods such as open-source software and open AI models.
• These goods are seen as crucial for creating a digital public infrastructure that can deliver essential services effectively.

Challenges and Criticisms

• The GDC faces several lacunae:
  • Openness in public-private partnerships may be restricted by contractual requirements, limiting transparency.
  • The Compact lacks new frameworks for internet governance and relies on self-regulation from digital technology companies, which has historically proven ineffective.
  • It acknowledges the importance of interoperable data governance but fails to adequately address the risks associated with increased data collection and sharing.
  • The GDC grants more power to corporate entities in data governance without emphasising necessary countervailing measures to prevent monopolistic control.

Conclusion

• Ultimately, the GDC may not radically transform global digital governance.
• However, it holds the potential for significant outcomes if member states engage seriously with its goals.
• It could foster capacity building and collaborations between nations in developing digital public goods, thus facilitating a more equitable digital landscape.

Report In News : Global Water Resource Report 2023

• According to the State of Global Water Resource Report 2023, the year 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades.

About State of Global Water Resource Report:

• It is an annual report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) since 2021.
• It offers a comprehensive and consistent overview of water resources worldwide.
• It is based on input from dozens of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and other organizations and experts.

Highlights of the 2023 Report:

• The year 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in 33 years.
• The last five consecutive years have recorded widespread below-normal conditions for river flows, with reservoir inflows following a similar pattern.
• It notes that 2023 was also the second consecutive year in which all regions in the world with glaciers reported ice loss, the year in which “glaciers suffered the largest mass loss ever registered in 50 years.
• More than 600 gigatons (Gt) of water were lost across all glaciated regions of the world.
• The report says that 6 billion people currently face inadequate access to water at least one month a year, and this is expected to increase to more than 5 billion by 2050.
• The world is far off-track with Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.

Page : 08 Editorial Analysis

Context :

• India’s foreign policy on Palestine has evolved from its anti-colonial roots to a more transactional approach, marked by closer ties with Israel.
• This shift, influenced by national politics, strategic interests, and global power politics, reflects a departure from India’s values-based diplomacy.
• India now prioritises economic and security concerns over historical commitments.

India’s Evolving Stance on Palestine

• India’s position on Palestine, once a symbol of its anti-colonial ethos, has significantly shifted, especially in the past decade.
• The alignment with Israel and marginalisation of Palestine are influenced by domestic and global factors, including the rise of Hindutva and transactional diplomacy.
• This shift highlights a broader trend where India’s foreign policy now prioritises strategic and economic interests over historical commitments.

Hindutva’s Influence on Foreign Policy

• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar have promoted a Hindu nationalist worldview in shaping India’s diplomacy.
• This shift has led to a growing affinity with Israel, perceived as a natural ally in combating ‘Islamic terror’, a narrative prominent in Hindutva discourse.
• Historically, India’s support for Palestine was based on anti-colonialism, but now it is viewed through a communal lens, associating the Palestinian cause with Muslim identity.
• Public discourse, driven by right-wing media, frames pro-Palestinian protests as threats to national security, with crackdowns on such expressions of solidarity.

From Values to Transactional Diplomacy

• India’s shift from values-based foreign policy to transactional diplomacy is evident in its relations with Israel.
• Under the Nehruvian era, India’s foreign policy was rooted in anti-colonialism and support for Palestinian statehood.
• The post-Cold War period marked a shift towards a more transactional approach, prioritising economic and strategic interests over historical values.
• India-Israel relations have flourished, with bilateral trade surpassing $10 billion in 2022-23 and cooperation extending across sectors like defence, agriculture, and technology.
• The ‘dehyphenation’ strategy, where India treats its relations with Israel and Palestine separately, and ‘depoliticisation’, enhancing cooperation without addressing sensitive political issues, define this new engagement.

India’s Ambitions and Strategic Realignment

• India’s aspirations to become a global power have influenced its stance on Palestine.
• While positioning itself as a potential broker in the Ukraine conflict, India has notably reduced its support for Palestine.
• India’s alignment with the U.S., Israel’s key ally, amidst the China-U.S. geopolitical rivalry, also shapes its West Asia policy.
• The shift from non-alignment to strategic autonomy to multialignment reflects a broader normative dilution in India’s foreign policy.

Conclusion: Power Politics over Principles

• Despite its official endorsement of a two-state solution, India’s approach prioritises strengthening ties with Israel over its historical support for Palestine.
• This shift represents a move towards power politics, where economic and strategic interests outweigh India’s former values-based commitments.