Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
4. The recent controversy surrounding the U.S.’s freedom of navigation operation threatens to adversely impact the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Critically examine. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The U.S.’s freedom of navigation operation in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone near Lakshadweep. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Explain in detail how the recent controversy surrounding the U.S.’s FONOP threatens to adversely impact the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief background of the question.
Body:
The answer body must have the following aspects covered:
First provide for brief background of India-U.S. relationship in the recent past.
Discuss the current issues related to FONOP; The U.S. has conducted a patrol in the Indian Ocean in India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Lakshadweep. While India protested against the U.S. move, the U.S has argued that it conducted the “freedom of navigation operation” (FONOP) to challenge what it has termed as India’s excessive maritime claims.
Explain the points of differences between the two countries.
Then express the implications of the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with what needs to be done.