GS Paper- 2 ; Take-away : An opinion on strain in Indo-US relations
USA indictment on India for attempting an assassination plot against U.S.-based Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,
The indictment is based on details of communications between the accused, an illicit drugs and arms dealer, Nikhil Gupta, with a serving senior Indian government intelligence officer, who is identified but unnamed, as well as with two men in the U.S. who were allegedly engaged to kill Mr. Pannun.
India has now instituted a high-level inquiry committee to look into the U.S.’s allegations.
India’s U.S. ties could be impacted.
India too, must ask the U.S., which is rightly placing such emphasis on the plot, why it is not keen on extraditing to India a man facing terror charges.
the U.S. and Canadian allegations will directly impact India’s ties with all “Five Eyes” intelligence partner countries.
Five Eyes- is an intelligence alliance comprising nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the US.
New Delhi must judge its next steps in the case extremely wisely.
GS Paper- 2 ; Take-away : An opinion on India’s position on Myanmar’s Civil War
There seems to be a rejuvenation in the hopes for a return to democracy in Myanmar.
The Tatmadaw (the junta) has never had a bigger challenge until now since its February 2021 coup that ousted the National League for Democracy-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The launch of coordinated attacks by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (TBA) (Pro-democratic force) in late October, the junta has lost scores of bases and is being stretched thin as its forces have to battle opposition militias, especially in rural areas of the country.
INDIA-While India has supported democratic reforms, it has cautiously cultivated ties with the junta, as it seeks to counter China’s influence in Myanmar.
Issue of refugees in bordering states of India-Mizoram & Tripura.
GS Paper- 2 ; Take-away : Possible solution in Israel-Palestine War
All wars end.The Israeli-Hamas war will also end. When and how are still to be determined. But doing so is urgent.
The UN reports that 1.3 million of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and almost half of all homes have been damaged or destroyed. Israel is expected to win militarily, but Hamas may gain increased support among Arab populations, especially in the West Bank.
The only problem is that the Palestinians, in Gaza as well as in West Bank, do not want the Palestine Authority led by Mr. Abbas to rule anywhere, let alone Gaza.
The only solution is to hold fresh elections in both Gaza and the West Bank under international supervision, followed by the deployment of a UN peace-keeping contingent on the Gaza-Israel border for security, with the US taking the lead in the UNSC.
how feasible is the two-state concept today?
The 1993 Oslo Accord envisaged Palestine to be based in the West Bank. Today, the West Bank is heavily populated by Israeli settlers, 4,50,000 at latest count. No Israeli government will succeed in persuading the settlers to return.
The only lasting solution is for Israel to vacate its occupation of the West Bank and let a viable Palestinian state emerge.
Crux of Interview : Swaran Singh (JNU) & Major Gen B K Sharma (GS Paper-2)
Several global disruptions - Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas conflict, China's phenomenal rise & its competition with USA, Rise of several middle powers such as India
Present world order - Asymetric bi-polarity with USA still as the leading power
World is much more independent and free now - China can't produce a rigid bi-polar world now
Slowly the transition is towards Multi-polar world.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) released the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill in November, which is part of a larger effort to regulate broadcasting in a comprehensive way.
The current Bill contains 3 positive propositions, but each needs important improvements-
Broadcasting network operators and broadcasters must maintain records of subscriber data and subject it to periodic external audits, as per international standards.
A Bill proposes a methodology for audience measurement and sale of ratings data to bring transparency to the opaque value chain of cable and satellite television in the country.(The bill lacks privacy protection for subscribers and audiences in data collection practices. )
The allowance of private actors in terrestrial broadcasting can increase competition for state broadcasters like Doordarshan, as seen in many G-20 countries.
Apprehensions:
A major concern is the Bill including Over-the-Top (OTT) content suppliers in the definition of broadcasting services.(OTT platforms do not fall under the purview of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Instead, they are governed under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, notified by the IT Ministry.)
A news outlet having an oversight body is beneficial, but mandating a self-certification process for news programming through an internal body raises questions.
The Bill is silent on creating an independent broadcast regulator, as hinted in TRAI’s paper.
