GS Score 2017 Mains Test 7 With Solutions - IR

SCORE
Test - 7
GS Mains
Test Series
IAS - 2017
International Relations
TEST - 7
GS MAINS TEST SERIES 2017
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Time Allowed: 3 hr. Max. Marks: 250
1. As a rising China challenges the US primacy in Asia, navigating between Beijing and Washington
is a major challenge for India. How shall India respond in order to find a new balance?
2. With no substantial development in SAARC, the moment for turning the Bay of Bengal into a
zone of regional cooperation would be a right step for bringing South and South East Asia
closer. Do you agree? Discuss initiatives taken for enhancing the cooperation in Bay of Bengal.
3. India's Connectivity to South East and East Asia is a major challenge to the development. In this
reference examine the significance of BCIM project to create a win-win relationship with a
special reference to China?
4. Recent visit of Kenyan President to India further deepens the ties in various areas. Discuss the
avenues of engagement and challenges between India and Kenya. How India's engagement in
Kenya is different from China?
5. Stability in Afghanistan is beneficial for both India and Pakistan in particular and region in
general. In this light discuss the significance of Heart of Asia Conference. Also critically analyse
the Amritsar Declaration in this regard.
6. Rohingya crisis is not just an issue of Myanmar, it is impacting the whole region and India's
response to it will determine its aspirations as a South Asian power. In this reference examine
the need of India's response and suggest how India shall response to this crisis?
7. Does the change in stance regarding Baluchistan indicate a change in India's Foreign policy
principles? What are the implications of this move on the Indian relations with Pakistan, China,
and the rest of the world? Critically analyse.
8. "If China is allowed to arm-twist weaker states, an international order, that has benefited the
world, will erode". Elaborate on the statement in the context of South China Sea.
9. What seems unconventional to India is now becoming a convention in China-Nepal relations,
as the current development of new normal in China-Nepal relations is troubling for India.
Critically analyze.
10. Is UN becoming another League of Nations? If yes, then how such a change shall be averted?
Discuss in context of UN reforms.
11. Is the world coming towards a new multi-polar order with USA as a waning superpower and
China-Russia axis as an emerging challenger? What would be the implications of such change
for India?
12. Brexit has been so far the biggest shock to the European Union when it is already bleeding with
the sovereign debt crisis and recession. What were the reasons of Brexit? What are the possible
outcomes of the Brexit on England and the European Union?
13. Though BRICS is neither an economic union nor a political coalition, it creates space for India
to move the contemporary International Order towards alternative models of development &
governance. Comment.
International Relations [1]
14. The US Congress's willingness to designate India as a "Major Defence Partner" represents the
culmination of a process that has slowly, but surely brought the two states into a mutually
supportive defence cooperation relationship. Discuss the significance of this move.
15. What are the reasons of rise of far right wing politics in many developed and developing
countries? What does it hold for global politics, economic development and peace?
16. "The 1951 Refugee Convention is as relevant today, as it was at the time". How successful has
been this convention in protecting the interests of the refugees. Does the world need a new UN
convention on refugees? Comment.
17. Is engaging relation with Pakistan a necessity to solve terrorism problem in Afghanistan and
India? Critically analyse. What should be the course of action to achieve peace in the region?
18. What is Project Europe? With the huge influx of refugees into Europe, it is said that this project
is doomed or in a disarray? Critically comment.
19. In abandoning strategic restraint in favour of strategic proactivism, India is transiting from a
strategic doctrine of offensive deterrence to compellence with respect to Pakistanis it so? What
do you understand by this? Discuss.
20. Despite the WHO declaring Ebola epidemic as an international health emergency, the
international effort to stem the outbreak is dangerously inadequate to meet the needs required
to control the spread of the virus. Critically analyze.

[ 2 ] International Relations
TEST - 7
Time Allowed: 3 hrs. Max. Marks: 250
Q. Marks Instructions to Candidate
1.
• There are 20 questions.
2.
3.
4. • All questions are compulsory
5.
6. • The number of marks carried by a question is indicated
7. against it.
8.
9.
• Answer the questions in NOT MORE THAN 200 words each.
10.
Contents of the answer is more important than its length.
11.
12.
• Answers must be written within the space provided.
13.
14.
15. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-
16. cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Name _______________________________
Roll No.___________________________
1. Invigilator Signature _______________ Mobile No.___________________________
2. Invigilator Signature _______________ Date ________________________________
Signature ____________________________
2
REMARKS GS MAINS TEST SERIES 2017
Remarks
3
Roll No.____________
Q1. As a rising China challenges the US primacy in Asia, navigating between Beijing and
Washington is a major challenge for India. How shall India respond in order to find a
new balance? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
4
Remarks
5
Q2. With no substantial development in SAARC, the moment for turning the Bay of Bengal
into a zone of regional cooperation would be a right step for bringing South and South
East Asia closer. Do you agree? Discuss initiatives taken for enhancing the cooperation
in Bay of Bengal. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
6
Remarks
7
Q3. India's Connectivity to South East and East Asia is a major challenge to the development.
In this reference examine the significance of BCIM project to create a win-win
relationship with a special reference to China? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
8
Remarks
9
Q4. Recent visit of Kenyan President to India further deepens the ties in various areas.
Discuss the avenues of engagement and challenges between India and Kenya. How
India's engagement in Kenya is different from China? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
10
Remarks
11
Q5. Stability in Afghanistan is beneficial for both India and Pakistan in particular and region
in general. In this light discuss the significance of Heart of Asia Conference. Also
critically analyse the Amritsar Declaration in this regard. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
12
Remarks
13
Q6. Rohingya crisis is not just an issue of Myanmar, it is impacting the whole region and
India's response to it will determine its aspirations as a South Asian power. In this
reference examine the need of India's response and suggest how India shall response to
this crisis? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
14
Remarks
15
Q7. Does the change in stance regarding Baluchistan indicate a change in India's Foreign
policy principles? What are the implications of this move on the Indian relations with
Pakistan, China, and the rest of the world? Critically analyse. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
16
Remarks
17
Q8. "If China is allowed to arm-twist weaker states, an international order, that has benefited
the world, will erode". Elaborate on the statement in the context of South China Sea.
(12.5 Marks)
Remarks
18
Remarks
19
Q9. What seems unconventional to India is now becoming a convention in China-Nepal

relations, as the current development of new normal in China-Nepal relations is troubling
for India. Critically analyze. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
20
Remarks
21
Q10. Is UN becoming another League of Nations? If yes, then how such a change shall be
averted? Discuss in context of UN reforms. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
22
Remarks
23
Q11. Is the world coming towards a new multi-polar order with USA as a waning superpower
and China-Russia axis as an emerging challenger? What would be the implications of
such change for India? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
24
Remarks
25
Q12. Brexit has been so far the biggest shock to the European Union when it is already bleeding
with the sovereign debt crisis and recession. What were the reasons of Brexit? What are
the possible outcomes of the Brexit on England and the European Union?
(12.5 Marks)
Remarks
26
Remarks
27
Q13. Though BRICS is neither an economic union nor a political coalition, it creates space for
India to move the contemporary International Order towards alternative models of
development & governance. Comment. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
28
Remarks
29
Q14. The US Congress's willingness to designate India as a "Major Defence Partner" represents
the culmination of a process that has slowly, but surely brought the two states into a
mutually supportive defence cooperation relationship. Discuss the significance of this
move. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
30
Remarks
31
Q15. What are the reasons of rise of far right wing politics in many developed and developing
(12.5 Marks)
Remarks
32
Remarks
33
Q16. "The 1951 Refugee Convention is as relevant today, as it was at the time". How successful
has been this convention in protecting the interests of the refugees. Does the world
need a new UN convention on refugees? Comment. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
34
Remarks
35
Q17. Is engaging relation with Pakistan a necessity to solve terrorism problem in Afghanistan
and India? Critically analyse. What should be the course of action to achieve peace in
the region? (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
36
Remarks
37
Q18. What is Project Europe? With the huge influx of refugees into Europe, it is said that this
project is doomed or in a disarray? Critically comment. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
38
Remarks
39
Q19. In abandoning strategic restraint in favour of strategic proactivism, India is transiting

from a strategic doctrine of offensive deterrence to compellence with respect to Pakistanis
it so? What do you understand by this? Discuss. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
40
Remarks
41
Q20. Despite the WHO declaring Ebola epidemic as an international health emergency, the
international effort to stem the outbreak is dangerously inadequate to meet the needs
required to control the spread of the virus. Critically analyze. (12.5 Marks)
Remarks
42
Remarks
GS Mains Test Series 2017
Answer Hints: Test No.7 www.iasscore.in
1. As a rising China challenges the US primacy in Asia, navigating between Beijing and
Washington is a major challenge for India. How shall India respond in order to find a new
balance?
E
Hints:
21st century is being referred as Asian Century. Rising China and Aspiring India are seen as the two
OR
pillars of it. China has been already asserting its economic might and military superiority in the
Asia; however, India may have to wait for two to three more decades to boast the same.
In the time when China is challenging American primacy in Asia through its various acts like
creating military base on artificial islands in south china sea and economic and strategic move to
secure resources and markets through OROB, As the Interests are the only permanent thing to
secure in international relation, India has to find a balance in its foreign policy to take considerations
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on the various engagements with China and Washington.

This balancing move could involve the following acts from India:
• India has a trade surplus with America, which has ended its pro-Pakistan tilt and supports
India’s membership of the UNSC and NSG.
USA indicates it wants to see India emerge as a great power; China seems to block India’s
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rise in spite of this India can’t forget the imperatives of maintaining reasonable relations with
a powerful neighbour like China. It will be the best of expanding the partnership with the
United States while limiting and managing the differences with China.
• China is banking on the OROB more than US$ 4 trillion project to secure its future economic
and strategic interest. China is emphasising on India’s engagement in OROB as china cannot
negate the importance of India in south Asia so India can offer to participate in BCIM, the
eastern connectivity project of OROB while maintain its opposition on the western connectivity
project i. e. CPEC of OROB.
• Washington and Beijing have a stronger economic partnership with each other than they
have with Delhi. So in spite of various differences their economic ties are intact thus India
should also enhance its economic ties with both the countries. As India imports hugely from
China, it can ask for China’s support to develop its manufacturing capacity.
• India’s diplomatic interests are tilting eastwards towards the Indian Ocean region where the
global power axis lies today. India’s trade, economic and strategic interests are hugely tied
to the Indian Ocean. India need to develop close and co operational relations with Indian
Ocean Rim countries most of which are concerned about more assertive china and to maintain
a peace in the region.
Hints: International Relations [1]
India needs to adopt a de-hyphenation policy in relations with America, China, and Russia to
secure its interests. India needs to do a tightrope walk in such circumstances. The times pose a
challenge, no doubt, but they also provide an opportunity. What we need is some out-of-the-box
thinking in our diplomatic objectives and goals.
2. With no substantial development in SAARC, the moment for turning the Bay of Bengal into
a zone of regional cooperation would be a right step for bringing South and South East Asia
closer. Do you agree? Discuss initiatives taken for enhancing the cooperation in Bay of
Bengal.
Hints:
As the developments in the SAARC are constrained altogether by India- Pakistan rivalry. Most of
these are created by Pakistan’s obstructionist approach and non-cooperating behaviour in regional
development like- South Asian connectivity project, connected power grid project, fuel and natural
gas pipe line projects are lingering and the recent collapse of the SAARC summit in Islamabad has
made the consideration of alternatives productive regional forum an immediate imperative and
Bay of Bengal provide a fertile platform to grow the South Asian region in congruence with other
E
forums like ASEAN.
Strategically Importance:
OR
Bay of Bengal has been a uniting force between India, Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries in
terms of trade and cultural tie ups. Now Bangladesh is also looking forward to join the initiatives in
Bay of Bengal to further strengthen the cooperation.
The following initiatives and development provide to see Bay of Bengal into a zone of regional
cooperation for bringing South and South East Asia closer:
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• Sri Lanka highlighted in various forums that Sri Lanka and India’s five southern states
(Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) together have a population
of 272 million people and a combined GDP of over $500 billion thus this economic zone can
emerge as one of the world’s most dynamic section.
• Sri Lanka has called for a tripartite trade liberalisation agreement between Sri Lanka, India
and Singapore and the Japan can contribute in the economic modernisation of South East
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Asia.
• The Bay of Bengal could rival the Caribbean as a high-end tourist destination. The cruise
liners sailing from Kochi to Singapore via Maldives, Sri Lanka, Andaman’s and Thailand can
be a great tourist attraction.
• If Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore join the BIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for
Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. It could provide an alternative to
SAARC.
• Other initiatives – like Sagarmala, Project Mausam, IORA, RCEP, India–Myanmar–Thailand
Trilateral Highway, military exercises with Bay of Bengal, littoral states might pave the way
for further cooperation.
The prospect of the Bay of Bengal emerging as a vehicle for regional cooperation was also presaged
by the formation of the BBIN grouping that brought four contiguous states — Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Nepal and India — in the eastern subcontinent together after Pakistan’s reluctance to sign on to the
South Asian connectivity agreements.
Thus, littoral states of Bay of Bengal in South Asia can utilise the common bonding of Bay of Bengal
to develop a regional forum between South Asia and South East Asia for a much connected and
opened region for trade and security.
[ 2 ] Hints: International Relations
3. India's Connectivity to South East and East Asia is a major challenge to the development.
In this reference examine the significance of BCIM project to create a win-win relationship
with a special reference to China?
Hints:
Though India adopted the “Look East” policy in early 1990’s however, the connectivity of India
with South East and East Asia through land route was not given its due propriety. On challenges of
connectivity India could not take the benefit of ASEAN markets and its north-eastern region also
remain economically under developed. As the India’s trade is shifting to South East and East Asia,
developing the road connectivity with eastern countries is the right time to act.
At this juncture The BCIM is a 2, 800km-long economic corridor that starts from Kolkata and
passes through Bangladesh and Myanmar before ending at Kunming in China. It seeks to revive
the southern Silk Route between Assam and Yunnan, and is expected to cost $22 billion.
BCIM a Win-Win opportunity for India and China:
• Connectivity of mainland India and North east is hindered by narrow Chicken neck Siliguri
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corridor, which will be improved by BCIM along with China’s access to Bay of Bengal for
fuel supplies thus, the in India rest of the passage will be connected with Imphal and then
OR
pass through the India-built Tamu-Kalewa friendship road in Myanmar ending Malacca
dilemma.
• North eastern India and Yunnan province in China, both are under-developed regions.
BCIM will ensure development of both these regions though growth of industries.
• India’s gain from the BCIM includes the ability to connect to the One Belt, One Road
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(OBOR) project thus opening up markets to the east. It can also use the economic corridor
to break out of the pattern of exporting primary products to China and importing
manufactured goods by negotiating for downstream industries to be located within India. It
also offers significant gains to China. This includes access to the Indian market.
• It will boost India’s Act East Policy. BCIM can further be connected with the India-Myanmar-
Thailand trilateral highway which will give it access to South East Asian nations through
Myanmar.
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• It will promote cultural exchanges between India with other members of this corridor.
• In absence of connectivity through SAARC platform due to veto of Pakistan. Connectivity
in eastern sub-continent through projects like BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) can
provide developmental pathway. BBIN can further be linked with BCIM to take advantage
of ASEAN and East Asia.
Shared Economic and cultural development through transnational project would enable the inclusive
development of the much neglected north eastern region of India, Yunnan of China including
Myanmar and Bangladesh. This would also ensure the active participation of the countries to jointly
maintain the peace and security in the region. Thus could be a way out to solve insurgency in north
east, drug menace in Myanmar and employment for the youths.
Supplementary Notes
Project BCIM:
The 4 countries (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar) at present are discussing the
construction of a multi-modal economic corridor passing through 4 countries starting from Kolkata
and ending at Kumming (in Yunnan province in China) passing through Bangladesh, India again
(Assam and Manipur) and Myanmar (Yangon and Mandalay).
There are various benefits of reviving
this ancient “Southern Silk Road” which
was used by merchants in 12th century
for trade between China and India.
• BCIM region has huge economic
potential (one of the richest in the
world in terms of natural and
mineral resources, involves 440
million people). But still it’s
underdeveloped. Thus aim is to
develop it by facilitating connectivity,
trade and P2P contact.
• It will benefit North East in general
and Manipur & Barak valley of
Assam through it will pass as it will improve infrastructure and provide them market
E
to sell their goods.
• This along with India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway will allow NE region to serve
OR
as gateway to southeast and East Asia (under act east policy).
• Also it will allow China to reduce its reliance on the Straits of Malacca which is
militarily dominated by the U.S.
• But the project faces many hurdles:
a) Highways/roads are in poor condition due to difficult terrain and lack of funding e.g. 200
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km stretch from Silchar in Assam to Manipur. AIIB should be used to fund it.
b) It’s a dense forest region thus will lead to environmental loss
c) Probably will encounter tribal resistance especially in Manipur through which it will pass
(recently they angry over ILP issue and new bills). This corridor will open up the region and
will lead to influx of outsiders which is resented.
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d) And above all perennial Internal security challenges like Insurgency in NE and Myanmar
and Drug trafficking (being close to golden triangle).
4. Recent visit of Kenyan President to India further deepens the ties in various areas. Discuss
the avenues of engagement and challenges between India and Kenya. How India's engagement
in Kenya is different from China?
Hints:
The East African coast and the west coast of India have long been linked by merchants. The Indian
Diaspora in Kenya has contributed actively to Kenya’s progress. Many Kenyans have studied in
India. The bilateral trade between the two was near $4.0 billion in 2014. With the Kenyan economy
expected to be among the star performers in Africa this year, India is looking at the East African
economic powerhouse as a safe haven for investments and a hospitable market.
Avenues of Engagement: Area of engagement includes diverse fields from bilateral trade and
investment to technology, healthcare, tourism, energy and security.
• India is engaging with Kenya for cooperation in agriculture and food security. India announced
100 million dollars Line of Credit for Kenya’s agricultural mechanisation. India can support
to raise the productivity of agriculture in Kenya. While a long term arrangement with Kenya
for production and import of pulses is being explored.
• In trade Kenya seek more access to the Indian market for Kenyan goods, while India is likely
to be interested in exploring ways to become its top foreign trading partner.
• In the health sector, India can assist in augmenting Kenyan healthcare. Bhabhatron machine
has been delivered to the Kenyatta National Hospital for cancer treatment. Related capacity
building of the Kenyan doctors is being undertaken under India Africa Forum Summit
initiative.
• Africa is biggest market for Indian generic drugs. Kenyan President has publicly invited
Indian firms to set up manufacturing facilities in his country and make it a distribution hub
for generic drugs for the region.
• As members of the Indian Ocean Littoral States, both sides can cooperate to further
consolidating the security and defence cooperation between the two countries. Both sides
agreed to enhance cooperation in areas of maritime surveillance, maritime security; sharing
of white shipping information and joint hydro graphic surveys. India also invited Kenya to
participate in exhibitions like Aero-India and DEFEXPO.
E
• India invited Kenya to join the framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance
(ISA). India offered its expertise in the area of LED smart street lighting and LED bulbs for
domestic use.
OR
However, the challenge lies in regaining the top spot for trade from China, According to the Kenyan
Economic Survey, Indian imports were around $2. 4 billion, while Chinese imports were $3. 09
billion in 2015 and securing maritime domain is another area of concern. However, India has certain
advantage over Chinese engagement with Kenya.
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• In the World Bank paper, during 2003-2015, Chinese FDI was only the fifth largest creator
of jobs. In contrast, Indian FDI was the top employment generator for Kenyans, creating
7422 jobs during the same period.
• For Kenya, with a large youthful population, accelerating job creation is an essential part of
maintaining domestic stability.
• Beyond economic ties, India is keen to build up a strong security relationship linked to
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Kenya’s coastal location on the Indian Ocean.

• India’s soft power is more trusted than Chinese aggressive nature.
India’s policy is broadly aligned in line with Agenda 2063, promoted by the African Union. Kenya
is a major corner stone in East Africa to peruse Indian foreign policy in Africa. However, some
recalibration in New Delhi’s approach may be needed because issues such as UN reform,
counterterrorism, climate change and international solar alliance will inevitably take longer to show
results. Meanwhile, India must concentrate on actions that strengthen its economic cooperation
with select African countries.
5. Stability in Afghanistan is beneficial for both India and Pakistan in particular and region
in general. In this light discuss the significance of Heart of Asia Conference. Also critically
analyse the Amritsar Declaration in this regard.
Hints:
West Asia has been the world’s playground of superpowers and within west Asia Afghanistan has
been the most unstable region creating security concerns for entire region. Stability in Afghanistan
will ensure the peace on western border of Pakistan dominated by tribes and India would be able to
access the resources of West Asia.

Significance of the Issue:
• To create a sustainable peace and democracy in Afghanistan through cooperation of
neighbouring countries of region Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was established.
• It provides a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political,
and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbours.
• Common threats for region including counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, poverty, and
extremism are major dimensions of the discussion.
• Trade promotion, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, the CASA-
1000 electricity project, and the expansion of the transit corridors under the Asian Development
Bank’s Central Asia Regional Economic Corridor (CAREC) Program are projects discussed
under the conference for development of the region.
Amritsar Declaration: The 6th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia- Istanbul Process to
help the political and economic transition of Afghanistan was organised in Amritsar, India. The
three big issues of the conference were countering terrorism to create stability in Afghanistan,
E
Providing Afghanistan connectivity to strengthen economic activities and the development which
is essential for its progress.
•
OR
Conference was able to manage to side step Indo-Pak rivalry that often derails regional
initiatives.
• Conference was centred on region’s biggest challenge of terrorism; some of the far-reaching
battles against al-Qaeda, Islamic State, will be decided on the battlegrounds of Afghanistan.
For India, putting terror centre stage at the Heart of Asia declaration in Amritsar was thus
timely and necessary.
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• Conference was able to create pressure on Pakistan to set its house right which is in total
disorder and stop giving institutional support to the terror groups like the Haqqani network
and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
• Urgency was highlighted to respond to the drug menace, finalization on the draft CCIT
(Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism), and use Afghanistan’s location as
factor for better regional economic cooperation.
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• The initiatives regarding regional connectivity including Iran-India-Afghanistan trilateral

agreement on developing Chabbhar port were also taken into consideration.
However, peace and stability of Afghanistan remain elusive and the nascent Afghan democracy
continues to be attacked because of different reasons. Apart from it the problems of Indian Afghan
minorities such as the Sikhs and Hindus have not been made part of the diplomatic discussion.
These peoples are highly discriminated in Afghanistan and are most vulnerable. There is a need to
assure regional cooperation for peace, security and development in Afghanistan which will also
contribute to the stability and prosperity to Afghanistan’s extended neighbourhood in South, Central
and West Asia.
Supplementary Notes
India-Afghanistan relationship:
India has historically had friendly ties with Afghanistan and wishes to see a stable
government installed in Kabul that is independent of any external interference. India’s policy
towards Afghanistan today is what it has always been: that there should be no outside
interference and no export of terrorism/extremism from there. In practical terms, its emphasis
in recent years has been on the reconstruction of the country.
India signed an “Agreement on Strategic Partnership” with Afghanistan in October 2011.
This agreement envisages close political & security cooperation with a mechanism for regular
consultations.
Terrorism and Indian suffering:
Indian embassies & projects have been targeted; Many Indians working in Afghanistan have lost
their life under terrorist attacks (many of them alleged to have been conspired Indians) by Pakistan)
In May 2015, in a Taliban attack on Kabul guesthouse, 14 were killed out of which 4 were Indians.
Change in Regime- His predecessor Hamid Karzai had nurtured close ties with India, much to the
chagrin of Pakistan. Ghani, on the other hand, seems intent on charting a different path for his
country taking into account the ground realities in the region. Unlike Karzai, Ghani has been reluctant
to get into very strong dependence on India.
Pakistan –Afghanistan Relationship:
Despite shared geography, ethnicity and faith, relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have
E
never been smooth, with the sole exception of four years of Taliban rule over Afghanistan.
Successive governments in Kabul have displayed varying degree of disaffection towards Islamabad.
OR
In a nutshell, Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan has primarily been to resume Afghanistan’s
dependence on Pakistan and to negate Indian influence. Pakistan is continuing interference in
Afghan affairs through proxies such as the Haqqani network.
Pakistan has misapprehensions about India’s role in Afghanistan, India has tried to remove
it but Pakistan refrains from discussing this issue. It is crucial for India and Pakistan to
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discuss their suspicions at the official level so as to allay each other’s apprehensions and
work together for peace and stability.
Future concerns:
1. Peace and stability of Afghanistan remain elusive :-
o The nascent Afghan democracy continues to be attacked by the religious extremists.

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o Afghan soldiers continue to die on the battlefields and the Afghan people continue to be
victims of terror attacks.
o As long as this remains the state of affairs, there cannot be any secure development in
Afghanistan
2. Performance has been slow and tardy due to unclear foreign policy of the Afghan
government and lack of political will at highest levels in the administration
3. Conflicting agendas of the participating members
o While Pakistan was not happy with India’s inclusion, China, Russia, and Iran view the
process as a way of US dominance in the region.
4. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to be a weaker economy
o There are many reasons for this, including the strategic depth that Afghanistan provides
to Pakistan in its war against India.
o The most important is the fact that once Afghanistan becomes strong, secure and stable,
it will demand the return of its territories, particularly Waziristan (even Peshawar region).
6. Rohingya crisis is not just an issue of Myanmar, it is impacting the whole region and
India's response to it will determine its aspirations as a South Asian power. In this reference
examine the need of India's response and suggest how India shall response to this crisis?
Hints:
Rohingyas are the world’s most discriminated Muslim minorities living in Rakhine state of Myanmar
which is a Buddhist dominated country. Citizenship has been denied and their basic rights are
constrained. They are seen as illegal migrant from Bangladesh. Government has been accused of
human right violation and conducting frequent raids on minority camps which lead to the migration
of these minorities in neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh and even India. Rohingya
survivors have described rape, murder and arson at the hands of soldiers - accounts that have
raised global alarm and galvanised protests around Southeast Asia. These people can be used by
radical groups & terrorist organisation to spread disturbance and violence in the region thus a
security issue can be evolved for whole region.
India has been committed to respect basic human rights of each community and is a reckoning
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force in the region to maintain security and stability.
India also needs to respond to the crisis on following account:
OR
• Common border with Myanmar can have a spill over effect in the Indian Border States and
there could be spread violence, instability and distress migration.
• Cross-border trade can be negatively impacted and further expansion would be a challenging
task.
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• India is alleged of giving attention to the plight of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and
Pakistan by the policymakers. Whereas persecution of Muslim minorities (Rohingya) has
been given low priority thus an Image makeover is required for Indian government.
• Myanmar is the gateway to the ASEAN countries. Hence, Myanmar’s stability is at the core
for our Act east policy and NE development.
On account of these factors India should response to the crisis as a responsible power in the region.
GS
• India has a robust civil society, media and human rights groups which must urge the
Myanmar government to end violence against Rohingya.
• India using its experience can educate nascent democratic government of Myanmar on
minority protection, diversity, pluralism and secularism.
• India can actively participate and debate issue in international forum a like UN, ASEAN and
urge Myanmar to consider Rohingya as its citizens and provide for their protection.
• Countries bordering Myanmar like India, China, and Bangladesh can come together by
formulating a mechanism to deliberate on the crisis and to find out feasible solutions.
• India can also provide humanitarian assistance to the refugees by accommodating them in
refugee camps in India and providing them adequate facilities for their safe repatriation and
reintegration.
If India wants to project itself as a regional leader, it has to rise above narrow economic and geo-
political interests and take a stance consistent with the moral and spiritual values with which it
identifies. The crisis not only holds humanitarian significance, but also bears security implications
for India and the region thus Indian response is much awaited.
Supplementary Notes
What is the present status of Rohingyas?

The Myanmar government refuses to grant the Rohingya citizenship status, and as a result the vast
majority of the group’s members have no legal documentation, effectively making them stateless.
Though Myanmar’s 1948 citizenship law was already exclusionary, the military junta introduced a
citizenship law in 1982 whose strict provisions stripped the Rohingya of access to full citizenship.
Until recently, the Rohingya have been able to register as temporary residents with identification
cards, known as “white cards,” which Myanmar’s regime began issuing to many Muslims (both
Rohingya and non-
Rohingya) in the 1990s.
The white
cards conferred some
limited rights but were not
recognized as proof of
E
citizenship.
The situation of the
Rohingya, and other OR
Muslims in Rakhine State,
deteriorated significantly
after waves of violence
erupted between Rakhine
Buddhists, Rohingya and
other Muslim groups in
SC
2012. State security forces

were also accused of
perpetrating human rights abuses against the Rohingya during the unrest. Scores were killed and
thousands of homes were destroyed, resulting in massive displacement. More than four years later
about 120,000 people – mainly Rohingya – continue to live in squalid internally displaced person
(IDP) camps and unofficial settlements, where they do not have reliable access to adequate food,
medical care or sanitation facilities. The dire conditions are due, in part, to government-imposed
GS
restrictions that prohibit displaced people from leaving the camps but then also create barriers for
humanitarian organizations to access the affected communities.
Rohingyas and other Muslims living outside displacement camps also face similarly severe restrictions
on their freedom of movement, limiting their access to livelihoods, healthcare, food and education.
In Central Rakhine State, Rohingyas are not allowed in the main towns and, in most cases, are able
to travel to other Muslim villages often only by waterway. In northern Rakhine State, prior to the
October attacks, Rohingya movement was subject to a complex system of travel authorisations, and
restrictions that were strictly enforced by state security forces, including the military and the Border
Guard Police (BGP).
Rohingyas in Bangaladesh:
In Bangladesh, the Rohingyas are faced with hardly any protection from their host country. A
burden to the densely populated country, the Rohingyas are living a harsh life in refugee camps,
struggling from malnourishment, isolation, illiteracy and neglect. There is one registered camp
situated meters away from the unregistered camp where 90,000 refugees live. There is also another
camp 15 miles away in Leda Bazaar, where approximately 25,000 Rohingya live. Similar to the
Rohingyas living in Burma, the Rohingya refugees are limited in their movement and often subject
to exploitation. In refugee camps, the Rohingya women are victims of sexual violence, children are
denied education and there is limited access to health and medical aid. The hostile environment for
Rohingyas in Bangladesh urges the refugees in Bangladesh and Burma to seek help in other parts of
Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia; however, these parts are not usually welcoming or
like Bangladesh, do not have the resources to house another community.
ASEAN’s response to the Rohingya problem has been mute and passive, constrained by its non-
intervention principle. An upfront defiance of non-interference to justify regional intervention would
backfire.
ASEAN member states should apply sustained pressure on the Myanmar government to seek a
durable solution to the citizenship status of Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine the root cause of all these
travails.
To date, the United States and other global powers have ‘urged the central government’ in Myanmar
to do more to protect ethnic minority groups from persecution. Still, experts say more must be done
to address the plight of the Muslim minority to prevent it becoming “a flashpoint for further social
and religious destabilization”.
E
7. Does the change in stance regarding Baluchistan indicate a change in India's Foreign policy
principles? What are the implications of this move on the Indian relations with Pakistan,
OR
China, and the rest of the world? Critically analyse.
Hints:
• In 2016 the Prime Minister of India’s Independence Day speech sought to bring back the
focus on Balochistan nearly seven years after an India-Pakistan joint statement mentioned
it.
SC
Yes, the change in stance regarding Baluchistan indicates a change in India’s foreign policy
principles:
• Vocal articulation of support to Baluchistan changes the age old narrative pursued by the
Indian government since Independence.
• This is the first time India has openly acknowledged Baluchistan issue.
GS
• India has always adhered to the principles of the UN charter that no country should
interfere in another’s internal matters. This has changed with the prime minister’s mention.
• Today, when India openly supports Bloch then in the international fora, India loses that
moral argument which could lead to reduction of support in India’s favour on Kashmir.
No:
• Nowhere did PM mention that, India will adopt an interventionist policy by actively inciting
insurgency on a sovereign nation's soil. The effort was to internationalise the violations of
human rights and make it the talking point by acknowledging Baloch struggle and expressing
empathy with the long-suffering people.
• As a growing power which takes itself seriously and wants to have a greater say in the
geopolitical developments around it while retaining core interests, India also has a moral
obligation towards Balochistan.
• India has been vocal against human rights violations in Jaffna, Sri Lanka too. So, Baluchistan
is not an exception.
[10] Hints: International Relations

• Experts say, this reflects a shift in strategy, but refrains from calling it a policy change.
Implications on neighbouring countries:
Pakistan:
• It is the largest province in Pakistan with huge natural resources and India emphasizing on
the strategy would give the life to the Baloch nationalists who have long been waiting for
the support from India.
• This would lead to Pakistan focussing on its western borders and Kashmir would get a
respite.
• It would bring the human right violations in Balochistan region in the international spotlight
which could actually make Pakistan take a foot back and act responsibly rather than show
more aggression.
• Pakistan is now compelled to defend its performance in Balochistan and focus on blunting
E
any Baloch separatist narratives that may take advantage of the situation to paint Balochistan
as a dispute to be internationalised – akin to Kashmir.
China and rest of the world:
•
OR
It does not provide much scope for military intervention. Iran’s fear of a pan-Baloch rebellion
and China’s commercial interests further limit India’s manoeuvring room. A free independent
Baluchistan can act as an antidote to Pakistan- China anti India coalition.
• China and Pakistan relation with India will be much tensed.
SC
• The effort was to internationalise the violations of human rights by acknowledging Baloch
struggle and expressing empathy with the long-suffering people.
India:
• But as India is a country which strict an adheres to the principles of Panchsheel it can, at
the maximum, provide moral, political, financial and intelligence support to the Baloch
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insurgents and thus, keep the Pakistani army busy on the western frontiers.
• It gives India the option of responding forcefully to Pakistan’s own use of (terrorist) force
against India without fearing nuclear escalation.
• Supporting the rebellion in Balochistan will help India in expanding its intelligence and
covert action footprint within Pakistan.
• Baluchistan can be much more than a negotiating card to contain Pakistan's proxy terrorism.
• To be a great power in the world India has to take risks. India has always stood for the
righteous sufferers as seen in its role in liberation war of Bangladesh 1971. A successful
Balochistan policy premised on India’s historical association with just causes would also lead
to forging of successful Pakistan policy.
• India runs the risk of scoring tactical victories at the risk of sacrificing its grand strategy of
regional stability.
• Pak-based terror groups may plot more attacks and increase infiltration.
• India’s reputation as a peace-loving country could take a serious beating. The world might
look at us not as victims, but as a bully.

8. "If China is allowed to arm-twist weaker states, an international order, that has benefited
the world, will erode". Elaborate on the statement in the context of South China Sea.
Hints:
South China Sea is a tangle of competing and mutually complicating claims over territory, resources
and navigation rights. It is enclosed by the west coast of mainland Southeast Asia, Borneo and the
Philippine archipelago. Rich in hydrocarbons and fish stocks, it is traversed by over one-third of
global shipping. Its waters and seabed are subject to six opposing territorial claims by China, Taiwan,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.
How is china overpowering the countries with respect to South China Sea which is leading to
erosion of the existing international order?
• China has been island building cementing over coral all over the South China Sea, but
especially in the Spratly and Paracel chains. This is called great wall of sand by some
experts.
E
• China is not only disregarding its treaty obligations, thereby eroding the international system,
it is also trying to dismember its neighbours.
OR
• The most significant aggressive act in recent years is Beijing’s seizure of Scarborough Shoal.
In early 2012, both Chinese and Philippine vessels swarmed the feature, only 124 nautical
miles from the main Philippine island of Luzon.
• The Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that China has no legal basis for its expansive
claims in the South China Sea, where China has been attempting to intimidate its neighbours
into conceding their rights.
SC
o China is alone in making claims far in excess of the treaty standards, opposing international
arbitration, advancing its claims by force and using civilian fishing fleets as military tools.
• Countries upheld the terms of the Law of the Sea treaty, even though some of them are not
party to it which china is not adhering to with respect to South China Sea.
• Experts hold that nothing in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
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or state practice negates the right of military forces of all nations to conduct military activities
in EEZs without coastal state notice or consent. China insists that reconnaissance activities
undertaken without prior notification and without permission of the coastal state violates
Chinese domestic law and international law.
• With the exception of China, all the claimants of the South China Sea have attempted to
justify their claims based on their coastlines and the provisions of UNCLOS. Failure to
uphold international law and norms could harm other countries interests elsewhere in the
region and beyond.
• Ensuring freedom of navigation is another critical interest of the United States and other
regional states. Although China claims that it supports freedom of navigation, its insistence
that foreign militaries seek advance permission to sail in its two-hundred-mile EEZ casts
doubt on its stance.
o China’s development of capabilities to deny American naval access to those waters in a
conflict provides evidence of possible Chinese intentions to block freedom of navigation
in specific contingencies.
• Military conflict will become more likely as countries try to protect their waters from Chinese
incursion, and trade will be pinched.
Preventive actions needed are:
• Bolster Capabilities of Regional Actors:
o Steps could be taken to further enhance the capability of the Philippines military to
defend its territorial and maritime claims and improve its indigenous domain awareness,
which might deter China from taking aggressive action.
• Support U. S. -China Risk-reduction Measures:
o Operational safety measures and expanded naval cooperation between the United States
and China can help to reduce the risk of an accident between ships and aircraft.
o Joint naval exercises to enhance the ability of the two sides to cooperate in counter-
piracy, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations could increase cooperation
and help prevent a U. S. -China conflict.
• Promote Regional Risk-reduction Measures
E
o ASEAN:
– The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China agreed upon
OR
multilateral risk-reduction and confidence-building measures in the 2002 Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), but have neither adhered
to its provisions nor implemented its proposals to undertake cooperative trust-building
activities.
– The resumption of negotiations between China and ASEAN after a hiatus of a
SC
decade holds out promise for reinvigorating cooperative activities under the DOC.
o The United States, China, and all ASEAN members with the exception of Laos and
Burma are members of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS). WPNS brings
regional naval leaders together biennially to discuss maritime security. In 2000, it produced
the Code for Unaltered Encounters at Sea (CUES), which includes safety measures and
procedures and means to facilitate communication when ships and aircraft make contact.
GS
o Nations with active navies in the disputed sea should better utilize the CUES safety
measures and procedures to mitigate uncertainty and improve communication in the
event of a maritime incident. Under current arrangements, observing CUES procedures
is voluntary.
o There are also other mechanisms available such as the International Maritime
Organization’s Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the
International Civil Aviation Organization’s rules of the air.
o In addition, regional navies could cooperate in sea environment protection, scientific
research at sea, search and rescue activities, and mitigation of damage caused by natural
calamities.
o The creation of new dialogue mechanisms may also be worth consideration. A South
China Sea Coast Guard Forum, modelled after the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum,
which cooperates on a multitude of maritime security and legal issues, could enhance
cooperation through information sharing and knowledge of best practices.
o There is a pressing need for the United States and China to agree on operational safety
rules to minimize the possibility of a conflict in the years ahead. A more formal “incidents
at sea” agreement should be considered.

Supplementary Notes
South China Sea Dispute:

a) Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) rejecting China’s ownership claim to the 80% of
the South China Sea (an area almost the size of India), it’s not only has important implication
for countries with unsolved territorial dispute with China but also impinges on India
relationship with Japan, the USA, ASEAN counties, and the international order.
b) The growing Sino India disorder over the South China Sea adds the numerous stresses and
strains in their bilateral relationship, since 2008 China has sent nearly two dozen naval
expeditions in the Indian Ocean, ostensibly to counter piracy but implicitly to project power
in the region. China’s role as the largest arms supplier to India’s neighbors, and patrols by
Chinese nuclear submarines in the Indian Ocean (which New Delhi considers its strategic
backyard), India is understandably maneuvering for advantage in those spheres of influence
that overlap with China.
E
c) China is not just aiming for uncontested control in the South China Sea; it is also working
relentlessly to challenge the territorial status quo in the East China Sea and the Himalayas.
OR
Since 55 per cent of India’s trade passes through the SCS, the Indian Navy has of late come
to prioritize energy security and sea-lane protection.
Since 2007, Beijing has been protesting a Vietnamese-Indian energy exploration project in
the disputed waters of the South China Sea, and there have even been reports
of Chinese warships confronting Indian naval vessels in the region. Control over the South
China Sea is also vitally important to the success of Xi Jinping’s Maritime Silk Road strategy.
SC
d) India is planning to informal multilateral efforts to constrain China could coalesce into a
maritime coalition or the “Indo-Pacific Maritime Partnership” (an “Asian NATO” by another
name).
9. What seems unconventional to India is now becoming a convention in China-Nepal relations,
as the current development of new normal in China-Nepal relations is troubling for India.
GS
Critically analyze.
Hints:
New normal in China Nepal relations:
• China and Nepal penned a new level of bilateral military engagement; Nepal will hold its
first ever joint military exercise with China in February, 2017 named Pratikar-1 that will be
on training Nepali forces in dealing with hostage scenarios involving international terror
groups.
• Although the military drill with China does not violate the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace
and Friendship, it does appear unconventional to the Indian side.
• There is no denying the fact that China is making inroads in not only Nepal but in most of
the South-Asian countries, be it Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Bhutan.
• From the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and Maritime Silk Route (MSR), to One Belt One
Road (OBOR) and the current BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), the Chinese strategy to create
a link in South Asia will not be limited to trade and commerce only. China is looking much
beyond its trade relations and it is considering Nepal as a centre to promote its ambitions
in the South Asian region.
• The geographical proximity of Nepal to China gives China additional leverage to strengthen
its stronghold in Nepal.
• India-Nepal relations took another slide in the latter half of 2015 when trade with India was
effectively halted in the wake of protests over Nepal’s new constitution by Madhesi protestors.
o During the crisis, China appeared as an attractive alternative trading partner and for the
first time, Nepal sought to import gasoline from China, the first concrete sign that
Kathmandu would look to Beijing to decrease reliance on Indian trade.
• There have been other important agreements between Nepal and China during Prime Minister
Oli’s visit to China in 2016.
o According to the joint Nepal-China statement , China has agreed to upgrade two road
links between Nepal and Tibet, pledged financial support to build an international airport
at the tourist hub of Pokhara, agreed to extend the Chinese railway to Kathmandu and
then to Lumbini, and given its nod to a long-term commercial oil deal.
• The Sino-Nepalese relationship can set a good example for surrounding countries, thus
E
further enhancing China's cooperation with countries in South Asia.
• In addition, multilateral cooperation is a trend in South Asia. Now the region has seen
OR
cooperation mechanisms such as the BRICS and South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SARC). In the future, South Asia will welcome more cooperation mechanisms.
China closing up with Nepal is a part of this trend.
No:
• India-Nepal ties could not be compared or curtailed by Nepal’s agreements with China.
SC
o 98 per cent of Nepal’s third-country trade goes through India and through Kolkata port.
o India at present has two rail lines under construction and three more are being planned
to increase Nepal’s trade ties.
o India agreed to give Nepal dedicated access to Vizag port.
o It has also been pointed out that in comparison to the Nepal-China agreement, India
GS
and Nepal had 25 crossing points, two integrated checkpoints and 2 more checkpoints
were under construction
• The bilateral cooperation between China and Nepal is for protecting national interests and
is not directed against any third party.
• Owing to historic reasons, India and Nepal are highly interdependent in economic, culture,
security and politics. It cannot be ignored that India's influences on Nepal is profound.
India-Nepal relations can head in a more pragmatic direction instead of being limited by Cold-War
thinking. Meanwhile, India, as a regional power, should be more open to security and economic
cooperation between South Asian countries and countries outside the region. This does not conflict
with India's interests, but is good for peace and stability in South Asia.
Supplementary Notes
Some perennial issues:

• Treaty of friendship: nationalist elements in Nepal have been demanding the revision of
Indo-Nepal treaty of peace and friendship of 1950 as it doesn't reflects the present reality.
India has agreed to it but hasn't been happening because there is no consensus among the
Nepalese.
• Problem of time delays and consequently, budget overruns in Indian funded projects (Terai
roads, railway linkages and the Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline)
• Hydro-power issue - contention regarding two principal issues remain: water rights, and
operation of the barrages.
• China - Nepal relations are improving further. China plans to build rail link with Nepal
through Mt Everest. In January 2014, china overtook India to become the largest contributor
of FDI to Nepal.
• Border issue - its Undemarcated and Terrorists using it as safe heaven, smuggling.
10. Is UN becoming another League of Nations? If yes, then how such a change shall be
averted? Discuss in context of UN reforms.
Hints:
Yes, UN is becoming another league of nations:
E
• Once limiting itself to crisp, pointed decisions (such as its demands for Israel’s withdrawal
OR
from the occupied Palestinian territories), its resolutions have grown ever longer and less
intelligible.
• The council has designed five or six (different categories of its public statements). There used
to be one. Experts suggest that the heads of UN missions cannot understand the confused
mandates the council has given their peacekeepers.
SC
• Basic problem is that the council’s founding premise of a world ordered by states no longer
holds.
• Conflicts involving al-Shabaab, Boko Haram or Islamic State originate from particular local
circumstances but often have regional and global reach and consequence. Designed to prevent
and arbitrate state-to-state conflict, the council has failed to adapt to an entirely different
world.
GS
• Weak UN head and more influence of the permanent members of the security council:
o The head of UN peacekeeping failed to pass on warnings to the security council of
imminent genocide in Rwanda because he believed its members didn’t want to hear
them.
o Officials have admitted that certain UN reports are edited by permanent members before
delivery to the Security Council.
o Important issues such as Chechnya or tensions in the South China Sea, are banished from
the council’s agenda because certain powerful countries forbid their discussion.
o The UN investigations into its failure to prevent mass killings in Rwanda, Srebrenica and
Sri Lanka all identified serial weaknesses, both political and institutional.
• Lack of transparency:
o Despite the claim that the security council now holds more public meetings than ever, the
vast majority of its substantive negotiations are conducted in private
• Not including nations that are affected:
o It can listen to the people and parties affected by its decisions. When the council discusses
Syria, Libya or Somalia, Syrians, Libyans or Somalis will not be present.
• In early 2013, the United Nations decided to send 10, 000 soldiers and police officers to Mali
in response to a terrorist takeover of parts of the north. Inexplicably, UN sent a force that
was unprepared for counterterrorism and explicitly told not to engage in it. More than 80
percent of the force’s resources are spent on logistics and self-protection.
• UN is failing at what should be its most important task: assisting in the creation of stable,
democratic institutions.
No:
• It cannot be denied that a world without the UN would be a poorer and more unstable
one.
o There are many success stories, ranging from decolonization to financial development,
from responses to epidemics to vaccination programs, from assisting refugees and displaced
E
people to dealing with all manner of other humanitarian disasters.
• The United Nations is uniquely placed to meet these challenges, and it is doing invaluable
OR
work, like protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian aid in South Sudan and elsewhere.
• Indeed, the best successes can often be chalked up to UN staff being allowed to get on with
their jobs without member states politicizing their work.
Reforms in UN needed are:
SC
• There had been more conflicts in Africa over the past 70 years than on any other continent,
yet there had been no move to end Africa’s “absolute exclusion” from decision-making on
the Council.
o Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda, on reducing inequality within and among countries, would
not be achieved without eradicating the inequality among countries in the 15-member
body.
GS
• Asia’s inadequate representation poses a serious threat to the UN’s legitimacy, which will
only increase as the world’s most dynamic and populous region assumes an increasingly
important global role. One possible way to resolve the problem would be to add at least four
Asian seats.
• Experts call for reforming the UN demand to make the UN administration more transparent,
more accountable, and more efficient
o Including direct election of the Secretary-General by the people as in a presidential system.
• Another frequent demand is that the UN becomes "more democratic", and a key institution
of a world democracy.
11. Is the world coming towards a new multi-polar order with USA as a waning superpower
and China-Russia axis as an emerging challenger? What would be the implications of such
change for India?
Hints:
With the inception of various multilateral organizations jointly led by mighty regional and great
powers, have almost changed the overall perception of international power politics of these days.
Yes, world is moving towards a new multi polar order:
• SCO:
o SCO is rapidly moving towards the creation of the new glory of Multi-polarity in the
world. it is viewed that US is no more a dominant player in South Asian politics as both
Pakistan and India have joined the Eastern bloc, the bloc led by Russia militarily and
China economically.
• Syria:
o Yet in military terms, Syria shows that Russia is stronger today than at any point since
the Soviet collapse, capable of effectively deploying its armed forces beyond its immediate
region.
o The two countries’ support is largely the reason Bashar al-Assad has been able to hold
on to power in Syria.
E
• Both countries share a desire to limit American power; they enjoy a burgeoning trade
relationship in which hydrocarbons are swapped for cheap consumer goods; and they have
a mutual interest in promoting an alternative model to western diplomacy.
OR
o Trade has increased six fold over the past decade. Last year they trumpeted the biggest
gas deal in history.
o Moscow and Beijing have lots in common apart from a 2, 500-mile border, economies
dominated by state-run firms.
SC
• Russia shares the strategic goal of challenging US hegemony in favour of a more multipolar
world, and the two powers often find themselves on the same side in the UN Security
Council, where they wield vetoes as permanent members.
• Iran:
o No deal on regulating Iran’s nuclear programme could be made without Russia and
GS
China, which have staunchly backed its atomic expansion in the past.
• North Korea:
o Recently, Russia has been making political and economic overtures to North Korea,
which relies on food, arms and energy from its key ally, China, to survive.
• International disputes:
o Russia has annexed Crimea and backed a separatist campaign to frustrate Ukraine’s turn
to the west, and China has been disputing islands with western allies in the South China
Sea.
o The Russian support to the Chinese claim over the South China Sea (SCS) and its rejection
of the international tribunal's verdict, as also the decision to initiate joint naval exercises
in the disputed sea.
• Pakistan:
o Moscow's decision to undertake its first-ever military exercises with Pakistan, at a time
when the latter is being internationally censured for promoting cross-border terrorism
also shows US waning power in the region.

o Moscow lifted its self-imposed weapons embargo on Islamabad, and then the Cold War
rivals signed a historical military cooperation agreement, which was based on exchange
of politico-military information, beefing up the countries’ defense and counter-terrorism
sectors as well as combining their efforts on developments in Afghanistan.
• US elections:
o With the election of the new president in US, the previous policies like Asia Pivot, the
Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP hang in a limbo.
• Afghanistan:
o In view of the imminent US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia sees Pakistan as a key
player in its neighbourhood, which can play either a stabilising or destabilising role.
No:
• In reality these two countries have struggled to turn past agreements into real supply deals;
E
pipelines announced last decade have still not been built because of disagreements over
pricing and other conditions.
• Imbalance in trade relationship:

OR
o China is Russia’s second largest trading partner after the EU, while Russia only just
scraped into a list of China’s top 10 trading partners, accounting for barely 3% of the
country’s total trade volume.
• What concerns Central Asia, objectively Russia and China are both rivals and partners and
SC
by joining SCO. India also can play its positive role in the development of the region by
partnering with Moscow.
• Competition between the both countries and the border disputes can hamper the unity.
Implications on India:
GS
• These developments are a wake-up call to India on the need to re-orient its great power
relationships. India's effused confidence in striking an effective balance between Moscow
and Washington seems to have seriously eroded.
• It’s a rather chaotic future where undecided countries such as India, Brazil, Egypt and
others will be squeezed between the two sides.
• The string of pearls strategy can get a boost up.
• The militancy can be further perpetuated in Kashmir as Pakistan has got significant support
from the dominant players in Asia.
12. Brexit has been so far the biggest shock to the European Union when it is already bleeding
with the sovereign debt crisis and recession. What were the reasons of Brexit? What are
the possible outcomes of the Brexit on England and the European Union?
Hints:
European Union which was till now seen as an example of regional integration, which other countries
tried to emulate has faced headwinds in recent years. Issues of sovereign debt crisis in Greece,
recession and now yes vote for Brexit has raised questions over the whole process of regional

integration and globalization. The separation process from EU is complex, causing political and
economic changes for the UK and other countries.
The reasons for Brexit:
The perceptions and realities of being at economically disadvantageous position, suffering from
bureaucratic tangles, perceived loss of sovereignty and failure to protect its own interests were
some of the reasons which were used by Eurosceptics to garner 52% votes in June 23rd referendum
resulting into win for Brexiteers. Some of important reasons are:
• The representatives of BRITAIN are of the opinion that the EU over the decades has undergone
a lot of transformation and has taken away the powers of Britain to decide on various
matters
• Sovereignty: the argument is that members of European Commission are not accountable to
British Parliament though play a very important role in formulating and effecting policies for
Britain and many of the policies related to competition, patents etc. have gone against the
British interest.
E
• Immigration issue: UK has seen large influx of migrants from EU countries, which effects
the employment opportunities for the locals and creates stress on public services. The situation
has worsened because of recession. All this has resulted into resentment against EU
OR
membership. (UK is not signatory to Schenzen Agreement).
• Euro currency issue and Euro crisis: because of Greece crisis questions have been raised
over the viability of common currency and capacity of ECB to manage monetary policies of
the countries.
SC
• Contribution by Britain to EU: it was said that around $19 billion were contributed
annually by Britain to EU and in return it got very less. If Britain exits from EU it will be
able to use this money for its own benefit.
Brexit consequences on EU and UK:
• If we see the trade pattern then 51.4% goods export to EU from Britain in return to 6.6%
from EU to Britain. A post-Brexit Britain will have to form a set of trading and institutional
GS
relationship with it to secure above mentioned export.

• EU will become smaller and weaker both in economic and geopolitical terms.
• The EU share of the world population will fall from 7.0 to 6.1 percent. In terms of world
GDP, in purchasing power parity, the EU share will decrease from 17.0% to 14.6%, and in
current international dollars from 23.8 to 20.0 percent. The EU share in global exports of
goods and services at current prices and exchange rate will fall from 33.9% to 30.3 percent.
• The transition process may take several years. It would greatly increase legal and economic
uncertainty, not only in the UK but also in EU.
• The political and economic shock created by Brexit could be a step towards further
disintegration of the union. Given the increasing strength of Eurosceptic parties in many EU
member states.
• It will further aggravate problems with completing the Banking Union, or accepting the
burden sharing mechanism to tackle the refugee crisis. Due to its opt-out clauses the UK
does not participate in these projects and there are other EU member states that are reluctant
to accept larger degree of burden and sovereignty sharing related to them.
• The free movement of people, goods and services has been affected by the Brexit from other
EU member states.
• Attracting and retaining this foreign talent will become harder after Brexit, when EU workers
moving to Britain will no longer be able to take their pension rights with them, and the other
conveniences of a single labour market which are lost.
Supplementary Notes
Global impact of BREXIT

• The globalization has increased correlation between the countries. If there is a disturbance
in one country then there will be impact on other countries. It may impact global growth,
It is a big blow when more countries are moving towards multilateral trade arrangements.
• The major exporting countries such as China and India would get affected as EU is one of
the major export market
• BREXIT was a referendum which rode on many components-anti immigration, increasing
protectionism etc. with this these sentiments are going to increase in other parts as well
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Impact of BREXIT on India
The impact of Brexit on India can be both positive and negative:
Negative impacts:
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• India is the third largest source of FDI for UK. There are more than 800 Indian companies
in Britain. With BREXIT, the business of these companies will be affected. With the fluctuation
in exchange rates, the bottom line of these companies will suffer.
• India considers Britain as a gateway to EU, now with Britain opting out, India loses the
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advantage. Hence there is a need to get border free access. Earlier they used to get pan-
European access by establishing companies in Britain which will not be the case now.
• UK accounts for 17% of India’s IT exports. With BREXIT the overhead costs are going to
increase. Nasscom in a report has said that the Indian IT industry is going to experience a
negative influence in the short term. The depreciation of pound also will have an effect on
the returns of these companies.
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• With this Britain can further increase immigration fees and other restrictions, which will
impact Indian service sector and IT professionals.
Positive impacts:
• Indian FTA talks with EU have been stuck for many years. Now we go for separate talks
with Britain which a major trade partner for India.
• EU sanitary and phytosanitary regulations were tough for Indian food sector exports. Now
this Indian sector can gain.
13. Though BRICS is neither an economic union nor a political coalition, it creates space for
India to move the contemporary International Order towards alternative models of
development & governance. Comment.
Hints:
BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies that is, Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa. It was established in 2009. Originally it was known as BRIC
before the inclusion of South Africa in 2011. The BRICS members are all developing or newly
industrialised countries and all five are G-20 members. They are distinguished by their large, fast-
growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs.
BRICS cannot be considered as an Economic or Political union. Today example of Economic and
Political union is European Union. EU countries have common economic and monetary policy.
Countries of Euro Zone have common currency. Schengen Countries require no visa to travel among
themselves. European Parliament is a supranational representative body of people. In contrast BRICS
has no such characteristics. Though BRICS deals with economic and political issues but there is less
formalisation in comparison to EU.
Number of times BRICS is seen as organisation of countries opposed to western led world order.
Aim of BRICS is considered as creation of alternative models of development & governance. This is
especially true for an emerging country like India that aspires to find its rightful place in emerging
world order.
• Since 2000 world has seen consequences of uni-polar world order. Thus, India through the
platform of BRICS has demanded multi-polar world order. India is also demanding reforms
in UNSC and UN working through BRICS platform.
• In the political realm, India through BRICS platform has advocated for reform of the United
Nations and of its Security Council, aiming for more inclusive representation and a more
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democratic international governance.
• As an alternative to nondemocratic nature of forums like IMF and World Bank India has
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supported creation of BRICS bank (New Development Bank) under which all countries will
have equal voting power. Focus will be mainly on infrastructure development in developing
countries.
• India along with other developing countries is getting adversely affected by climate change.
But on issue of climate change there is difficulty at world stage to arrive at consensus. India
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along with other BRICS countries is focusing on renewable energy, expanding green financing,
putting viewpoint of developing countries at international forums etc. by achieving consensus
at BRICS platforms.
• At WTO Doha Development Agenda has not concluded for more than 15 years. Policies of
WTO are more favourable to developed world. In contrast BRICS is example of south-south
cooperation. India is cooperating with other countries to promote intra BRICS trade on basis
of mutual equality.
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• India is a major victim of terrorism. India tried to bring comprehensive convention on

terrorism at the platform of UN. But India was not successful. Thus, India is using BRICS
platform to contain the menace of terrorism. At recent Goa summit India was not able to
isolate Pakistan but India was able to bring the issue of terrorism in its final outcome. BRICS
countries have vowed to come together to tackle the menace of terrorism.
• Also, India has dealt with areas like agriculture, science and technology, culture, outer
space, think tanks, Internet governance and security, social welfare, intellectual property,
health, and tourism, among others. These are the issues which are of vital importance to
India.
BRICS is a group of emerging, newly-indstrialized and developing economies. It constitutes almost
42% of world population and 20% of global GDP. Thus it is a significant grouping that has emerged
as an alternative to the West-led institutional mechanisms. BRICS is thus a platform which the
emerging economies have chosen to forge a new global order in both economic and political arena
challenging the status quo.
But, along with challenging the status quo it wants to reform the existing governance architecture.
Thus, India and other countries are also cooperating with west. At various summits BRICS countries
have clarified that it is not anti-west platform.
Supplementary Notes
The BRIC countries were the constituent members of an acronym coined by Jim O’Neill, then of
Goldman Sachs to convey the fact that much of the world’s economic growth would soon come
from Brazil, Russia, India and China. It became a formal grouping to which South Africa was
added later. The economies were and are at different stages of economic growth and have different
political orientations.
The BRICS are open to cooperation and constructive engagement with other countries, as well as
open with international and regional organizations in dealing with current international issues.
The 2016 BRICS summit was the eighth annual BRICS summit, an international relations conference
attended by the heads of country or heads of government of the five member countries Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa. The summit was held from 15 to 16 October 2016 inGoa,
India. India holds the chair of the BRICS from February 2016 to December 2016. The theme for the
summit was “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”.
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Highlights of Goa Declaration:
• BRICS nations condemns terrorism in all its forms and stressed that there can be no justification
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for such acts.
• International terrorism, especially the Islamic State (IS) is an unprecedented threat to
international peace and security.
• BRICS nations reaffirmed the commitment to increase effectiveness of the UN counter terrorism
framework.
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• Need for adaptation of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the

UN General Assembly.
• All nations must counter radicalism and block sources of financing international terrorism,
dismantling terrorist bases and countering misuse of the Internet including social media.
• Appreciated progress in implementation of Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership and
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emphasise importance of BRICS Roadmap for Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation
until 2020.
Besides, first-ever BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit was also held on side-lines of 2016 BRICS
Summit. Leaders from both forums planned to jointly explore possibilities of expanding ties between
them on issues such as terrorism, economy, trade and connectivity.
14. The US Congress's willingness to designate India as a "Major Defence Partner" represents
the culmination of a process that has slowly, but surely brought the two states into a
mutually supportive defence cooperation relationship. Discuss the significance of this move.
Hints:
As part of a defence appropriations bill of over $600 billion, the US Congress passed legislation that
designated India as a “major defence partner”.
Under its provisions, India will be treated at par with the US’s closest allies when it comes to the
transfer of defence technologies.
India has become not only the largest foreign purchaser of US weaponry but the US has now
transplanted Russia as the principal supplier of weaponry to India.

Significance of the Issue:
• It institutionalises the progress made to facilitate defence trade and technology-sharing with
India to a level at par with that of the United States’ closest allies and partners, and ensures
enduring cooperation into the future.
• Procurement of weapons’ systems spares for those platforms already in the Indian inventory
and most critically the transfer of technology will get smoother.
• It will allow the United States and India to cooperate, which speaking from the US point
of view, in a way that it does only with its closest and most long-standing allies. That’s a
very big change.
o India is treated at par with US allies and accrued to benefits those countries have despite
not being part of any alliance with US.
• There would be greater sharing of defence technologies, coordination in military logistics,
and satellite and strategic communication systems between USA and India.
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• With USA designating India a MDP, licensing regulations to acquire sensitive military
technologies, such as those that go into the F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, will be simplified.
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• DTTI will strengthen ‘Make in India initiative’. The new fighter aircrafts are going to be built
under Make in India initiative. Boeing and Lockheed have submitted their proposals for the
same.
• In 2015, other agreement was also signed i. e. ‘Defence Framework Agreement’. This agreement
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laid the foundation for the collaboration between the defence establishments and the logistics
support agreement ‘Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)’.
• India's long desired dream of becoming a part of NSG will get a push with this.
• India would receive license-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies in conjunction
with advanced export control.
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• Making it eligible to buy some of the most sophisticated American-made weapons and
technology without first having to receive a license.
• Critics say once India is accorded this status, Indian defence forces and defence production
would be under US scrutiny.
Supplementary Notes
• India's push to buy arms is driven by its perception of the security threats it faces - notably
China's growing military presence and the China-Pakistan "all weather friendship" - as well
as its own expanding strategic interests and big power ambitions.
• The strategic implications of the India-US Defence Pact are far-reaching and should be seen
against the backdrop of great power politics of the 21st century.
• Despite economic interdependence between the US and China and India and China, and
despite China's claim to peaceful intentions, China's military activities are viewed as
threatening by both the US and India.
• America is concerned about China's presence in the Western Pacific and South China Sea.
India is concerned about China's so-called "String of Pearls" containment strategy.

15. What are the reasons of rise of far right wing politics in many developed and developing
Hints:
Amidst of globalization there has been a sudden rise of far right politics which staunchly advocates
anti-immigrant, anti-Islamic, nationalist (nation first eg America First) and protectionist policies.
This has emerged as trend throughout Europe (in Britain, France, Austria etc.), America and Asia
(in Phillipines) and raises questions over the future of globalization, multilateral co-operation and
peace and stability of the world.
The reasons for the rise of far right politics are:
• The recession and the hardship caused by it had resulted into a perception that the economic
hardships are because of the globalization, free trade, easy visa regimes etc.
• It is a response to the inequalities and inequities arising from free market system, globalization.
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• It is also in response to the situation of powerlessness, wherein people lose hope and control
over their future, especially among those who are left out of the globalization process.
•
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The recent incidents of bombing in Europe and security threats emerging from volatile
middle-east have made people of various nations skeptical of the process of globalization
and anti-immigrant.
• Rise of populists politics world over which basks on threat perception and give rise to
xenophobia.
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• All these factors have been helped by the emergence of post truth era, wide penetration of
internet and dis-information campaign carried through it.
Its impact on global politics, economics and peace?
The rise of far right in global politics can have serious consequences globally , like:
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• It may result into protectionism and the process of socio-economic development in developing
countries which were the main beneficiaries of trade liberalization.
• The co-operation among countries in various fields of economy, S&T may be hampered
which will further effect economic development globally.
• There may be demand for greater role of governments in economic spheres, as seen in USA.
• The rise of populists politics may move further right, which may result into xenophobic
violence.
• Rise of far right in one country will result into rise of far right in other countries and
competitive nationalism which may threaten the peace and stability of world.
• The relevance global institutions, conventions, treaties may be questioned and new treaties
may be negotiated. What shape world will take is not clear?
• New alignments among nations may emerge, for eg. As USA withdraws from TPP, east
Asian countries will move for RECAP and move closer to China. Similarly other developing
countries which have greatly benefitted from globalization may continue to co-operate resulting
into greater co-operation among them.
16. "The 1951 Refugee Convention is as relevant today, as it was at the time". How successful
has been this convention in protecting the interests of the refugees. Does the world need a
new UN convention on refugees? Comment.
Hints:
Horrifying images of refugees risking their lives in a desperate quest of safety embarking on dangerous
sea journey across the Mediterraneanto reachEurope from Middle East and Africa. Overall increase
in the number of refugee’s worldwide (climatic, economic, war). Absence of effective asylum
mechanism both in developed world (US, EU) and developing countries (south Asia).
• Grounded in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of human rights 1948, which recognizes
the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries, the United Nations
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, adopted in 1951, is the centrepiece of
international refugee protection today.
• The 1951 Refugee Convention defines the term ‘refugee’ and outlines the rights of the
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displaced, as well as the legal obligations of States to protect them. This rights-based instrument
and is underpinned by a number of fundamental principles, most notably non-discrimination,
non-penalization and non-refoulement.
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A refugee's right to be protected against forcible return, or re-foulement, is set out in the 1951
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees:
• "No Contracting State shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee in any manner whatsoever
to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of
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his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion"
(Article 33(1)).
• This recognizes that the seeking of asylum can require refugees to breach immigration rules.
Convention to be applied without discrimination as to sex, age, disability, sexuality, or other
prohibited grounds of discrimination.
• The Convention lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees, without
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prejudice to States granting more favourable treatment. Such rights include access to the
courts, to primary education, to work, and the provision for documentation, including a
refugee travel document in passport form.
• In the general principle of international law, treaties in force are binding upon the parties
to it and must be performed in good faith. Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention
are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory, in accordance with its terms.
• In the present times the refugee convention has been instrumental in protecting the huge
influx of refugees as seen in Europe past few years.
However, some of the issues with the convention include:
• It confers no right of assistance on refugees unless and until they reach a signatory country,
it imposes no obligation on countries not to persecute or expel their citizens, and it imposes
no requirement for burden sharing between states.
• The asylum channel is providing an avenue for irregular migration and is linked with people
smuggling and criminality.

• The Convention takes no account of the impact (political, financial, and social) of large
numbers of asylum seekers on receiving countries.
India & south Asia:
• India hosts 2 lakh refugees annually and is at the heart of refugee movement in south Asia.
• India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN refugee convention (fearing more refugee inflow).
• It does not have a domestic asylum framework. ( covered under foreigner’s Act)
• Indian refugee protection framework has traditionally based on executive policies and judicial
pronouncements.
• Extended protection under a body of complementary laws to support refugees.eg – RTE

applies to all children to India, other health services etc.
• As a member of executive community of UNHCR, India has repeatedly stated its commitment
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to protect refugees. It emphasized the need for burden sharing and cooperation.
• Though South Asia collectively hosts more than 2 mn. Refugees, none of the countries are
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a signatory to the UN convention, neither have they had any domestic asylum frame work.
In 1994 UNHCR initiated a regional consultation in south Asia - model asylum law was adopted at
1997 Dhaka regional consultation.
India constituted ‘eminent persons group” under former chief justice P. N Bhagwati, which developed
a draft legislation to suit the country’s specific requirement. The rights promulgated by the
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Convention generally still stand today.

The complex nature of 21st century refugee relationships calls for a new treaty that recognizes the
evolving nature of the nation-state, population displacement, and modern warfare. And also address
some of the issues like seen in the recent past.
Many countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia are unwilling to accept them because they
are threatened of being exposed to the policy of non-refoulement , where by the countries cannot
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forcibly return the refugees to the places where they have of persecution and also because of the
ASEAN policy of non-interfence.
It also doesn’t address issues like disaster and ecological refugees. Nevertheless, ideas like the principle
of non-refoulement are still applied today, with the 1951 Convention being the hallmark of such
rights.
17. Is engaging relation with Pakistan a necessity to solve terrorism problem in Afghanistan
and India? Critically analyse. What should be the course of action to achieve peace in the
region?
Hints:
South Asia is one of the most severely affected regions of world in term of cross border terrorism.
Afghanistan and India has been feeling the brunt of it for several decades and Pakistan has been
accused of providing shelter, safe heaven and support to the non state actors & terrorist organisations
like Lashkar-e-taiba, Hakkani network and Afghan Taliban.
There are a number of cases where India approaches proactively and sometime reciprocatively to
engage with Pakistan like Delhi- Lahore bus, ‘Samjhuta Express’ train service, Free trade zone
under SAARC, Ufa dialogue and so on however, most of the initiatives followed by a betrayal such

as, Terrorist attack on Indian soil, whether it was Kargil, Parliament attack, 26/11 or most recent
Pathankot or Uri attacks. Thus many critics advocates for a tit for tat policy to be adopted and no
dialogue to be conduct with Pakistan if it does not shun its support to terrorist organisations.
However, it is argued that it is the dual centre of power in Pakistan that is responsible for such acts.
Civilian government is perceived to act in friendlier manner with India however it is centre of
military which fails it’s all efforts to engage with India on sustainable meaningful terms. It is military
which provide support to anti -India forces to keep itself relevant in power equations of Pakistan.
As one can change it friends or enemy but not its neighbours so India and Afghanistan has to find
a suitable institutional mechanism for a sustained diplomatic dialogue, the relevance of which
cannot be negated to create a sustainable peace in the region. Following course of actions can be
taken to enable peace in the region.
• Continue to put politics, not bureaucratic conservatism, in command to drive the peace
process with Pakistan.
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• Resist pressure from the media to suspend the peace process at the first setback
• Explore opening up a channel of communication with the Pakistan Army.

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• Confidence-building measures should be pursued to alleviate the “trust deficit” but should
not be used as a substitute for the resolution of disputes.
• Economic co-operation and trade should be facilitated to develop mutuality of interest.
• Invite the chief ministers of the states bordering Pakistan—Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab,
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Rajasthan, and Gujarat—to initiate contact with the neighboring regions across the frontier.
• Liberalize the visa regime to promote exchanges between religious communities, business
groups, and civil societies. Regular exchanges between the people of the two countries can
create better understanding and goodwill.
• Build on the Bangkok Mechanism the newly established dialogue on terrorism between the
two countries’ national security advisers to strengthen engagement with Pakistani security
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agencies.
• Revisit the many negotiations that came close to fruition during the previous government’s
decade long engagement with Pakistan, ranging from trade liberalization to energy exchanges
to the Siachen dispute in Kashmir.
• As the conflict in Afghanistan winds down, India and Pakistan will need to discuss their
respective legitimate interests in that country. India will need to convince Pakistan that its
interest in Afghanistan is not aimed at opening up a new front in the west or promote
destabilisation in the two Pakistani provinces bordering Afghanistan.
• There is a need to embrace an overarching strategic stability regime and to shun aggressive
security doctrines to reduce the possibility of a nuclear conflict
Neither the trade and economic co-operation nor socio-cultural harmonies can yield any dividends
in the absence of peace and stability. India and Pakistan, therefore, need to remove the causes of the
tensions underpinning their relations. India will have to move away from offensive and provocative
military doctrines and Pakistan, which has responded by lowering its nuclear threshold, would
need to pull back to a more stable, and less crisis-prone, nuclear posture.

18. What is Project Europe? With the huge influx of refugees into Europe, it is said that this
project is doomed or in a disarray? Critically comment.
Hints:
“Project Europe” was envisaged as a roadmaptowards the shared objective of prosperous and
integrated Europe: politically, economically and culturally. The success of Maastrichttreaty and
European free market was the spring board from where this ambitious project was envisaged.
The project Europe was unifying effort of EU nations to have equal stakes, control and participation
in decision making processes of EU member states. The overall democratic processes and shared
social and economic goals apart from the general security and political stability as almost all EU
member states were suffering from common problems in the region. However, only few EU states
were in lead position and thus, the project EU was to build democratic efforts with in EU members
and their empowerment to have the mutual participation. This was initially through common
currency but then it transcended to many more efforts.
However, the project itself came to standstill due to Brexit and major other changes in the power
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structures EU.
Despite long sustained economic vibrancy, political stability and cultural richness, in recent times
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the idea of Project Europe has been weakened due to several political-economic and social factors.
Significant among them is the present refugee crisis.
Economic implication:
• The economic slowdown post 2008 recession has led to serious problem of unemployment.
The huge influx of refugee, has led to completion for the limited job opportunity available,
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leading to more conflicts.

• On question of rehabilitation of refugees, the European nations have shown divergence.
While one group (led by Germany) proposes for more liberal approach, relatively poorer
southern and eastern European countries vehemently oppose the proposition, owing to
economic hardship faced by them.
Political:
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• Terrorism: The rise of right wing parties (in France, Germany) has deepened the social fault
lines by highlighting the rise of terror attacks with rise of refugee influx.
• Fragmentation: The contention over refugees, has led to countries following their own refugee
policy, separating themselves from a common European agenda. (e. g Romania and Greece
have taken a hard stance)
Cultural:
• Demography: With shrinking demography and aging population, the conservative European
community is more skeptical towards refugees, as in -migration will in near future remain
the main source of critical labour force.
• Discrimination: The growing discrimination against foreigners(and refugees), and the resultant
conflicts has eroded the cosmopolitan characteristics of Europe,
Thus it the refugee crisis (among other significant developments like BREXIT, Global recession,
sovereign debt crisis, Intra- Europe disparity) has weakened the idea envisaged under “Project
Europe”. However, given the history of resilience of Europe (which has built up over the ruins of
two world wars), the objectives of project Europe can still be achieved, if constituting nations converge
their political will and social capital towards a more Inclusive Europe, appropriate to the need of
the time.
But Project Europe’s future looks a lot less rosy now. Worries over immigration, brought to a boil by
the refugee crisis, have contributed to a general resurgence in right-wing nationalism. All this is
exacerbated by a persistent, region-wide depression that has triggered a series of sovereign debt
crises and contributed to growing economic inequality across the member nations.
19. In abandoning strategic restraint in favour of strategic proactivism, India is transiting from
a strategic doctrine of offensive deterrence to compellence with respect to Pakistanis it so?
What do you understand by this? Discuss.
Hints:
While defining the changing nature of India’s engagement with Pakistan, compellence states as, to
drive the action of Pakistan as per India’s ‘pre thought strategy’ which is the opposite of deterrence.
India has changed its attitude in dealing with Pakistan from offensive deterrence to compelling
Pakistan to come on discussion form by Bilateral Talks.
Strategic doctrine means to translate power into policy. Whether the goals of a state are offensive or
defensive, whether it seeks to achieve or to prevent a transformation, its strategic doctrine must
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define what objectives are worth contending for and determine the degree of force appropriate for
achieving them.
OR
A state’s strategic doctrine precedes its military doctrine. The political leadership determines the
strategic doctrine in accordance with the nation’s values and aims whereas; the military formulates
the military doctrine to reflect and enable the strategic doctrine. Strategic doctrine can be defensive,
offensive, deterrent or compellent.
Being an ultimate arbiter, the Military power is a consequential component of grand strategy as a
state’s strategic doctrine. The military reflects the strategic doctrine through its military doctrine.
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The effectiveness of the military instrument is not only a function of military budgets, sound strategy,
leadership etc., but also of appropriate military doctrine.
• The war of 1971: Was a watershed in India’s military history in post Independence that
has given a sharp change in India’s military doctrine which has been on deterrence based
on counter offensive capability. But since deterrence was not sufficient to deter the threat
from Pakistan in the form of proxy war, hence the Army moved towards a greater offensive
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bias in its military doctrine. This has culminated in the proactive doctrine of Cold Start that
can be taken to countenance compellence in case of Pakistan’s continued provocation.
This period represented a quantum leap in Indian employment of the military instrument, from
defensive and restrained military operations to taking the war into the enemy’s territory. This meant
having maneuverable forces in order to hit him in depth on his lines of communication, rather than
merely inflict casualties.
• 1980’s: A strategic dialectic that is ongoing to the present day. Indian strategic orientation
in the period had two prongs – diplomatic and military. Among the many peace initiatives
included efforts to bring about better understanding through discussion on drafts of ‘No War
Pact’ proposal by Pakistan and a ‘Treaty of Peace and Friendship’ proposed by India and
setting up of an Indo-Pak Joint Commission.
Agreements have been reached on Advance Notification of military exercises and prevention of
Airspace Violations by military aircraft. A bilateral agreement on non-attack on nuclear installations
proposed by India in December 1985 was signed in December 1988 and finally came into force with
the exchange of lists of locations on 01 Jan 1992.
On the military front was a movement away from the defensive posture of the Seventies to an
offensive posture. Therefore, the resulting ‘carrot and stick’ approach can be characterised as a
strategic doctrine of deterrence, one inducing self-restraint on the other side.
• 1990’s: there were three factors which had a retarding effect on the turn to the offensive
seen in the previous decade.
– Proxy War by Pakistan, Its continuance in Punjab and being fostered in Kashmir.
– Declining defence budgets.
– Effect of Nuclearisation that was initially covert, but requiring the military taking cognisance
of the emerging security situation.
Thus, even as the threat heightened in terms of a more aggressive Pakistan, India could not leverage
its power. Pakistani acquisition of the nuclear capability rendered India’s conventional superiority
questionable. Therefore the doctrine of ‘deep strike’ could not be employed with impunity. This
detracted from credibility of India’s conventional deterrent. Resulting Pakistani adventurism
culminated in the Kargil intrusion in end decade, barely a year after both states had gone nuclear in
May 1998.
• 2000-2010: began with heightened terrorism in Kashmir, a result of inability to control
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infiltration and momentary diversion of attention from counter insurgency during the Kargil
episode. Thereafter, terrorism spread in the rest of India, spurred on by Pakistan but also due
to local roots brought about by a worsening communal situation. Overt nuclearisation further
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cramped India’s conventional might, particularly during Operation Parakram.
This, along with the earlier Kargil War, served to impel doctrinal thinking through which the military
instrument was to be brought back into the reckoning of significance to its employability however,
was the presence and action of the US in the vicinity in the form of the Global War on Terror.
Nevertheless, by decade end, the situation has stabilised in Kashmir, even as Mumbai 26/11, the
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late November 2008 multiple terror attacks in Mumbai, recent Pathankot and Uri attacks indicated
continuing vulnerability to terror.
The Limited War thinking in the early part of the decade led to acknowledging ‘the importance of
strategic (politico-military) doctrine is much higher for limited war than those that are full scale,
leave alone total wars. “In India’s case, there has not been a clearly articulated strategic doctrine.
India has a strategic doctrine of deterrence predicated on punishment. Therefore, it maintains a
dissuasive defensive posture on the border, even as it has reserves to deliver a counter offensive.
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Undermining the changing scenario observed that, India has an active diplomatic prong to
complement deterrence for the China front it needs to replicate this for the Pakistan front. On this
score, its cancellation of the talks with Pakistan right at the inception is counter-productive. The
self-fulfilling prophecy could well kick in; India’s tendency towards compellence can only prompt
Pakistan’s ‘deep state’ or ‘establishment’ to up-the-ante and vice versa. India can do without such
dissonance in its strategic and diplomatic dealings and exchanges.
20. Despite the WHO declaring Ebola epidemic as an international health emergency, the
international effort to stem the outbreak is dangerously inadequate to meet the needs
required to control the spread of the virus. Critically analyze.
Hints:
• As a response to the Ebola outbreak the World Health Organization has declared an
international public health emergency. During this period, the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency
Response (UNMEER) was launched.
• The pathogen is passed through contact with bodily fluids of infected patients or eating
infected meat, and has no known cure, although chances of survival improve dramatically
with early detection and treatment.

• WHO has rapidly scaled-up the response with focus on increasing capacities, interrupting
all remaining chains of Ebola transmission, and responding to the consequences of residual
risks.
• The response to the disease included quarantine the hospital with infected patients, ban
public gatherings, rapidly hiring and training teams in safe and dignified burials. Strengthening
social mobilization capacities.
• The WHO urged all nations where the disease is spreading to declare an emergency, to
screen all people leaving at international airports, seaports and land crossings, and to prevent
travel by anyone suspected of having the Ebola virus.
Apart from WHO, the world countries like United States have lent their support to control the
spread of the virus.
• U. S. has sent military personnel to the region to assist with shipping and distributing
medical equipment, sanitation kits and body bags, among other supplies. American personnel
also will help build -bed treatment centers and train health-care providers in the region
E
apart from research in better treatment of disease.
• The IAEA provided the west African country with an RT-PCR(Reverse Transcriptase
OR
Polymerase Chain Reaction)machine, cooling systems, biosecurity equipment, diagnostic kits
and other materials. This technology allows Ebola to be detected within hours, unlike other
diagnostic techniques which take several days.
o Early diagnosis of Ebola, if combined with appropriate medical care, increases the victims’
chance and survival and helps cut the spread of the disease by making it possible to
SC
isolate and treat patients earlier.

But the response has been less compared to the scale of the epidemic and because these affected
countries also have extremely weak health infrastructures and lacked the capacity to respond
effectively when the outbreak occurred.
• International community’s slow recognition of the gravity of the crisis had all contributed to
delays in gearing up an effective response.
GS
• Available infectious disease experts and disaster relief specialists from countries with these
capacities must have been deployed teams to the affected countries. In addition to a larger
deployment of medical and epidemiological specialists, additional laboratory capacity for
Ebola testing; ambulances and helicopters to safely transport samples and suspected cases;
and supplies to ensure safe burials were not provided immediately.
As on March 2016, World health organization has terminated the Public Health Emergency of
International Concern status of the outbreak. Although the epidemic is no longer out of control,
flare-ups of the disease for some time remain likely, and the possibility of sexual transmission from
survivors to others is still possible and needs to be addressed in the long term.


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GS MAINS TEST SERIES 2017

GS MAINS TEST SERIES 2017

Q. Marks Instructions to Candidate

REMARKS GS MAINS TEST SERIES 2017

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Q9. What seems unconventional to India is now becoming a convention in China-Nepal

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Q19. In abandoning strategic restraint in favour of strategic proactivism, India is transiting

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on the various engagements with China and Washington.

Kenya’s coastal location on the Indian Ocean.

Hints: International Relations [5]

• The initiatives regarding regional connectivity including Iran-India-Afghanistan trilateral

1. Peace and stability of Afghanistan remain elusive :-

o The nascent Afghan democracy continues to be attacked by the religious extremists.

3. Conflicting agendas of the participating members

4. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to be a weaker economy

What is the present status of Rohingyas?

2012. State security forces

[10] Hints: International Relations

Hints: International Relations [11]

Hints: International Relations [13]

South China Sea Dispute:

Some perennial issues:

Yes, UN is becoming another league of nations:

[18] Hints: International Relations

• Imbalance in trade relationship: