Full GS2
Q1. “India’s engagement in BRICS reflects its commitment to multilateralism”. Explain the statement. Do you think the proposed expansion of BRICS will be advantageous for India? Discuss. (10M)
Introduction
Sixteen years after its creation, BRICS has become an important platform for win-win cooperation among China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa, and a significant force for the evolution of international order, the improvement of global governance and the promotion of common development.
Body:
India’s engagement in BRICS and multilateralism:
- BRICS as a Multilateral Forum: BRICS is a multilateral forum and India’s active participation and engagement in BRICS demonstrate its commitment to working within a multilateral framework to address global challenges and promote cooperation among member countries.
- Promotion of Multipolarity: India’s involvement in BRICS reflects its aspiration to promote a more multipolar world order. By joining forces with other emerging economies, India seeks to balance the influence of traditional powers and contribute to shaping global governance in a more inclusive and equitable manner.
- Cooperative Agenda: BRICS operates on the principles of cooperation, mutual benefit, and shared development. Through its engagement in BRICS, India collaborates with other member countries to enhance economic cooperation, foster trade and investment, promote financial stability, and address common challenges such as poverty, inequality, and sustainable development.
- Strengthening Global Institutions: BRICS countries have expressed a shared interest in reforming global institutions, such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, to make them more representative and reflective of the contemporary world order.
- India’s engagement in BRICS reflects its commitment to working with other member countries to push for reforms that ensure greater participation and voice for emerging economies in global decision-making processes.
- Addressing Global Issues: BRICS provides a platform for member countries to collectively address global issues such as climate change, terrorism, poverty eradication, and sustainable development.
- By actively participating in BRICS, India demonstrates its readiness to contribute to global solutions and collaborate with other nations to tackle these challenges.
Proposed expansion of BRICS and India: First proposed by China when it chaired the group last year, the planned expansion would increase representation from countries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, with the list of interested nations including Egypt, Nigeria, Mexico, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and others. The proposed expansion of BRICS has the potential to be advantageous for India in several ways.
- Increased Geopolitical Influence: BRICS expansion would provide India with an opportunity to enhance its geopolitical influence on a global scale.
- Economic Opportunities: BRICS expansion could open up new economic opportunities for India. Access to an expanded BRICS market would enhance trade and investment prospects, providing Indian businesses with access to a larger consumer base and potential partners.
- Strengthening Regional Cooperation: BRICS expansion could strengthen regional cooperation, particularly with countries in India’s immediate neighbourhood. For instance, if countries like Indonesia or Turkey join BRICS, it would provide a platform for closer economic and strategic ties with these countries.
- Counterbalance to Other International Forums: Expanding BRICS would provide India with an additional forum to engage with major global powers outside of traditional Western-dominated institutions.
- This diversification of international engagement can enhance India’s diplomatic leverage and reduce overreliance on a few specific forums.
Challenges for India:
- Maintaining cohesion and unity among a larger and more diverse group would be a challenge for current BRICS grouping.
- Restructuring of existing frameworks: expansion could also necessitate the restructuring of existing frameworks and coordination processes, which may pose administrative and logistical challenges.
- Dilution of influence: Expansion could lead to a more diverse range of interests and objectives, making it challenging for India to maintain its influence and ensure its specific concerns are adequately addressed.
- Divergent Priorities and Interests: Expansion could bring countries with diverse political systems, economic structures, and strategic interests into the fold. This may result in conflicting priorities and difficulties in reaching consensus on key issues.
- Influence of Dominant Members: The inclusion of new members could shift the balance of power within BRICS, potentially resulting in a greater influence of dominant members, such as China and Russia.
Conclusion
By including more members in the grouping promoting greater economic cooperation among emerging economies, the BRICS bloc has the potential to reshape the global financial landscape. India, as an active participant in BRICS, stands to gain from these developments and should actively pursue this expansion for its long-term economic and geopolitical interests.
Value addition:
Q2. How does India’s approach to secularism compare to that of France? Explore how India has successfully assimilated its diverse population, while France has faced challenges in doing so. (15M)
Introduction
Secularism can be understood as separation of religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life, religion being treated as a purely personal matter. However, secularism has evolved differently in different societies, shaped by their socio-cultural histories. Different constitutions of the world have defined secularism in different ways.
Body:
Comparison of India’s approach to secularism with that of France:
| Indian approach | French approach | |
| Concept | India’s approach to secularism is enshrined in its constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and maintains a separation between religion and state.
The Indian model of secularism is often described as “positive secularism” or “principled distance,” aiming to treat all religions equally and ensure religious harmony.
In India the State is allowed to interfere in secular aspects of religions or in those religious practices which it finds oppressive or discriminatory in nature. |
France’s approach to secularism is known as “laïcité.”
Laïcité aims to strictly separate religion and state, emphasizing the neutrality of the state and the primacy of the public sphere over religious considerations.
It upholds the principle of equality, where individuals are seen as citizens first and their religious identities are considered private matters. |
| Accommodation of Diversity | India’s secularism seeks to accommodate the country’s diverse religious, linguistic, and cultural communities.
The state strives to protect minority rights and prevent discrimination based on religion. |
France’s interpretation of secularism is often seen as stricter and assertive than India’s approach.
It seeks to create a public space free from religious influence, with restrictions on religious symbols and practices in certain contexts, such as banning religious symbols in public schools or prohibiting face-covering garments like the niqab in public spaces. |
| State Involvement: | In India, the state is involved in managing religious affairs to some extent.
The government provides financial aid to religious institutions, regulates religious endowments, and intervenes in matters like the appointment of religious leaders in certain cases. |
France adopts a stance of non-interference in religious affairs. The French government does not provide financial support to religious institutions and seeks to maintain a strict separation between religion and state institutions. |
| Freedom of expression vs Religion: | India has a balanced approach. It puts reasonable restrictions on Freedom of Speech in order to maintain respect of all religions. | The French concept encourages absolute Freedom of expression and a spirit of inquiry. It gives primacy to Freedom of Expression over religious sentiments. |
| Right to Religion: | Indian Constitution recognizes Right to Profess, Propagate, Practice Religion as a Fundamental Right. | French Secularism does not recognize one’s Right to Profess Religion. |
| Minority rights and identity: | Indian Secularism thrives to protect minority rights and enable them to preserve their cultural identity. E.g. Article 29 &30 | The French Secularism is based on cultural assimilation and no such rights for minorities exist there. |
India has successfully assimilated its diverse population, while France has faced challenges in doing so:
- Historical Context: India’s history has been characterized by a tradition of pluralism and India’s cultural ethos of “unity in diversity” has provided a foundation for coexistence and integration.
- In contrast, France has historically adhered to a more homogeneous national identity, emphasizing the French language and culture, which has posed challenges in accommodating diversity.
- Governance and Policy: India’s governance and policies have focused on fostering social cohesion and inclusivity. The Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom and prohibits discrimination based on religion, caste, or gender.
- France, on the other hand, has followed a policy of assimilation, emphasizing the primacy of French language and culture, which has at times created tensions with diverse communities.
- Cultural Pluralism vs. Assimilation: India embraces cultural pluralism, allowing diverse cultural practices, languages, and religious beliefs to coexist. The idea of India as a “melting pot” of different cultures has allowed for the preservation of diverse identities while promoting national unity.
- France, on the other hand, has traditionally pursued a policy of assimilation, expecting newcomers to adopt the French language and conform to a common national identity.
- Institutional Support and Recognition: India has established institutions, laws, and policies to protect the rights and promote the welfare of marginalized and minority communities. Institutions such as the National Commission for Minorities.
- France, though it has made efforts to address discrimination and promote equal opportunities, has faced criticism for its handling of issues related to social integration and equality.
Conclusion
Recent violence in France demands current political debates in the West need to open up to solutions that go beyond secularism, from places like India and from elsewhere. They need to embrace differences with policies for integrating minorities into education, the labour market and overall public life.
Ethics
Syllabus: “Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions;
Q3. Examine the importance of objectivity in the context of Indian public administration. What aspects should one develop to showcase objectivity in their professional duties? Discuss (10M)
Introduction:
Objectivity means taking decisions based upon established facts and figures. rather than opinion or bias. It means separation of biasness from individual action.
Body:
Civil servants must be completely objective while delivering public services which is also one of the prime recommendations of Noland Committee and 2nd arc report.
Its importance include:
- Impartial Decision Making: For instance, in the allocation of government contracts, an objective based on merit and compliance with established criteria, rather than personal favoritism. For instance, For example, Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform to enhance transparency and objectivity in government procurement
- Effective Policy Formulation: by relying on objective data, and design effective solutions. For example, the New Education Policy 2020 formulation process involved extensive analysis and consultation among various stakeholders.
- Promoting Meritocracy: where appointments and promotions are based on competence and qualifications.
- Accountability and Transparency is enhanced by objectivity. For Instance, In the context of financial management, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India plays a crucial role holding officials accountable for financial irregularities.
- Fair and Impartial Service Delivery: Objectivity is vital in delivering public services fairly and impartially. The Jan Dhan Yojana, a financial inclusion program launched by the Indian government, is an example of objective service delivery.
Aspects to develop:
- Factuality: For example, while presenting the budgetary figures, an official should rely on verified financial statements and reports rather than speculative or unverified information.
- Impartiality: For instance, when designing a healthcare policy, administrators should be mindful of the needs of all stakeholders.
- Truth: For instance, while addressing a natural disaster, they should provide accurate information about the situation, potential risks, and recommended safety measures, ensuring that the public receives truthful and reliable information.
- Neutrality: Justice Verma Committee in 2012 conducted extensive consultations, sought public opinion, and engaged with various stakeholders, including activists, legal experts, and members of civil society.
- Background Information: For example, when proposing amendments to existing laws, administrators should provide historical context, previous policy decisions, and their rationale.
Conclusion:
By adhering to objectivity, public administrators can make informed and unbiased decisions, formulate effective policies, and ensure equitable service delivery.
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