CS Mains G.

S – II
Part -2

NOTE: As the question on this topic may not come in the exact form in C. S Main Examination we have
given slightly more information so that candidates can answer a question on this topic even if it is
differently framed. Though care has been taken to give accurate information, if there are any inaccuracies,
please write to us at [email protected]. It will be referred to experts and, if need be,
correction will be made.

1. Explain India’s response to Pakistan's role in unrest in Kashmir.

India initiated political dialogue to end cross-border terrorism under the Composite Dialogue (also called
Peace process) in 2003. It was agreed to share information between the two governments about terrorist
movements and plans. India sent strong proof of terrorists hiding in Pakistan and requested Pakistan to
hand them over to India. However, Pakistan refused to cooperate and continues to instigate violence in
Kashmir.

Since August 2016, Pakistan is carrying on systematic anti-India campaign on the Kashmir issue. It is
deliberately internationalising Kashmir issue by arguing that there is serious violation of human rights in
Kashmir by Indian security forces. Such a campaign is against the Simla Pact of 1972 as under this Pact
both agreed to settle disputes through bilateral talks and not to involve any third country or party.

To counter Pakistan’s malicious propaganda on Kashmir issue, India is

-trying to maintain peace in Kashmir through political dialogue with all political parties and separatist
groups,

- restraining the security forces from using heavy force and abusing civil rights,

- countering Pakistan’s anti-India campaign by informing the world leaders about Pakistan’s involvement
and regular support to terrorism from its soil,

- using international forums like G-20, ASEAN and EAS to explain Pakistan’s complicity in using its
territory as a sanctuary for terrorists,and

- working for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in U.N.O

controversial Kashmir problem like that of Northern Ireland, or work for transformation of SARC into South Asian Union like

that of European Union. If a few European countries which fought among themselves for a few centuries formed a European

Union, why not India and Pakistan which fought only for seventy years.

Q2. What do you understand by OBOR. What are its implications for India and how India should respond to OBOR.

Ans. One Belt One Road (OBOR) is China’s grand plan to develop trade and investment relations across the continents by
building land and sea connectivities between the countries concerned. It is a trans-continental infrastructure project. OBOR
has two components: Land and Sea connectivities.

Constructing roads, railways, waterways and air ports linking the land borders of countries beginning from China and passing
through Central Asia, West Asia and ending in Europe. It is revival of the historic Asian Silk Route between Europe and Asia

during the middle age by which traders of Asian and European countries exchanged by land their goods for centuries.

The sea component of OBOR begins from Southeast China in the Pacific Ocean, passing through South China Sea, Malacca
straits, Indian Ocean, Red Sea-Suez Canal and connecting to the Mediterranean Sea. All the coastal countries along this sea
route will be connected by modern ports and advanced maritime infrastructure. China is offering to invest largely its money to
build road and maritime infrastructure projects of the OBOR project.

Though on surface, OBOR talks centre around developing close trade relations between the continents and countries, it also
has strategic objectives. Its chief political objective is to spread China’s political, strategic and economic power through
OBOR. Secondly, OBOR’s aim is to counter America’s power and unilateralism in world affairs. Thirdly, OBOR is an
extension of China’s ‘string of pearls’ doctrine whose aim is to check and control India’s rising political and strategic
influence.

OBOR is slowly gaining support among Asian countries; some of them are India’s neighbours like Maldives, Myanmar,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

India has not yet extended support to OBOR, though Chinese president invited it to join the
project. India should support OBOR for following reasons.

1. Since OBOR might attract many Asian countries including India’s neighbours, India remains isolated if it does not

join.
 2. By joining OBOR India can influence its policies, direction and check China alone dominating OBOR.

3. India can turn OBOR to suit its national economic, trade and strategic interests.

4. Since India is already a member of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and BRICS Bank both located in
China, logically India can welcome OBOR also in its own interest.

Q.3. Assess the importance of Land Border Agreement (LBA) to Indo-Bangladesh relations. Explain the LBA’s

practical progress.

Ans. India and Bangladesh share about 4000 km. of border between them. The Radcliff Award left some areas not defined
clearly. As a result, misunderstandings have developed between the countries on these undefined border areas. Fortunately,
after long delays, both countries signed an agreement in 2014 with the following provisions to resolve permanently the
anomalies in their land border.

•
Under the LBA , India transfers 51 Enclaves (7110 acres) of Bangladesh located in the its states of Assam,
Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal.
•
In return , Bangladesh will transfer to India 111 Enclaves (17160 acres).

•
LBA also readjusts the Radcliff Award ‘adverse’ territorial distributions across the India-Bangladesh border.
•
India commits to transer to Bangladesh adverse land possessions on its side of the border (2267 acres) to the latter.
•
In return, Bangladesh agreed to surrender its land possessions (2777 acres) on the border to India.

In 2015, Indian parliament passed LBA with Bangladesh through a constitutional amendment as according to the Indian
constitution to cede or surrender any piece of Indian territory to a foreign country, constitutional amendment is necessary.

Q. 4 What do you understand by Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Why is MTCR in Indian media
recently?

Ans. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in June , 2016 said that India has joined the Missile Technology Control
Regime (MTCR) The press release also thanked 34 MTCR partners for their support and said “India’s entry into the regime as
its 35th member would be mutually beneficial".

The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal political understanding among States. Under this agreement
countries agree to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology to other countries of the world. The MTCR is not a
treaty and does not impose any legally binding obligations on Partners (members). India so far refused to sign the NPT, and
therefore was denied entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), mainly by China. By joining MTCR India can prove to
the world that it is a responsible country and does not transfer missiles and technology to other countries.

India was under pressure from advanced countries, mainly by the USA, to sign the MTCR. For not signing MTCR, India was

denied the technical and material necessary for production of Indian missiles, rockets and satellites. For example, US brought

pressure on Russia not to supply cryogenic engines and technology for satellite launch vehicles. It means missiles carry

nuclear bombs or conventional weapons to target an enemy country. Pakistan was helped by China with missiles and missile

technology.

MTCR membership will allow India to procure high end and advanced missile technology. Under MTCR, countries that
signed it are expected not to export items that could contribute to the production, designing and proliferation of missiles.
Missiles are capable of delivering Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Q.5. Indo-US Defence Cooperation is increasing. What are the recent agreements between the two countries on defence

cooperation? Explain your answer with specific examples.

Ans. India and US signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement e Framework Agreement in 2005. Since then

bilateral defence relations between them are growing very fast, US agreed to supply to India weapons, weapons technology

and training, Security forces of both countries –army, air force, navy – are regularly conducting joint military exercises.

More recently during the Modi-Obama meeting in Washington in June 2016, US recognised India as ‘major defence partner’
which promotes India as America’s military partner, just short of NATO ally. On this occasion, the two countries agreed to
strengthen their defence ties further in three major areas:

1. Arms supplies by US to India, and joint development of certain types of weapons by India and US.

2. Coordination, cooperation and sharing of information between the armed forces of both countries.

3. Joint military operations to combat piracy, and to undertake peacekeeping operations in Asia-Pacific region.
Another important declaration by leaders of both leaders of India and US in 2016 is that both will protect sea lane of
commerce and freedom of navigation from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean.

Lastly, in August 2016, India and US signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). Under LEMOA,
defence forces both countries will use each other’s military facilities like military bases, training centres and transport
vehicles. LEMOA is an another most important decision which consolidates Indo-US defence partnership.

Q. 6. What are the arguments of India for permanent membership of U N S C? What,in your view, are the prospects of
India getting this status?

Ans. India argues its UNSC membership case on the following grounds.

UN does not reflect the current geo-political realities.

More developing nations must be included in the decision making structures of the Security Council for more legitimacy and
credibility

India is a largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping forces.

India is a major contributor to UN General Assembly resolutions on anti-colonialism, disarmament, south-south cooperation,
UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) and sustainable development.

India is one of the biggest democracies of the world.

As a fastest growing economy, India is a major contributor to global economic growth and development. India is also one of
the biggest economies of the world.

Prospects of Membership:

At present, chances are not very encouraging to get UNSC membership by India due to the following reasons.

Lack of unanimity and consensus among member countries on how to reform the UN.

Majority of countries with veto powers have not declared support for India's candidature.
China is against India’s membership for geo-political reasons.

However, India should continue to campaign for UN reform and its UNSC membership strongly.

Q.7.Explain the objectives of India-Africa Forum Summit, and the outcome of the third Summit held in Delhi in 2016?

Ans. India-Africa Forum Summit is a group of African countries created by India first in 2008. It's participants are top
African and Indian leaders. Its objectives are to checkmate or balance growing Chinese influence in Africa, and to gain
support for India's permanent membership of UNSC through close political, economic and security relations between India
and all African countries.

At the third Summit held in Delhi in 2016, India promised to help African countries in the following sectors.

1. Development aid for industry, agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. $10 billion concessional credit was
announced at the 2016 Summit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2. Investment in Africa’s energy, water, agriculture and mining areas.

3. Sharing India’s skills in education, health, industrial and agricultural R&D with African partners.

4. Offering maritime security to African coastal states to combat piracy, terrorism and other threats to their territory.
Q.8. Explain India’s relations with European Union (EU). How does recent BREXIT affect India’s interests?

Ans. India has close political and economic interests with the twenty eight member EU.

Political interests: EU is the largest regional group in the world. It has a common foreign and security policy and has influence
in world politics. Two of its members, France and UK have veto power in UNSC. As India wants to rise as a global political
and strategic power and also wants to join UNSC as a permanent member, India is maintaining close relations with EU. EU
also needs India because India is a growing Asian power capable of influencing political and security affairs in Asia and
Indian Ocean. EU also has security and economic interests in these regions. Under India-EU Summit Agreement, each year
top political leaders of both partners meet to discuss and take decisions on important issues of mutual relevance. Both also
signed strategic partnership agreement in 2004.

Economic interests: EU is India’s one of the largest trade partners. Annual Indo-EU trade is above$ 73 billion Euros. EU is
the largest foreign investor in India. Indian FDI in EU is growing with around 55 billion Euros in 2014. So both partners have
close economic interests with each other.

India however is complaining that EU is creating market access problems to Indian exports. Tariff and non-tariff barriers
(NTBs) are raised to discourage Indian exports like mangoes, leather goods, tea and textile products.

Security Interests: India and EU are closely cooperating to combat terrorism, piracy and other threats to them. India is buying
advanced weapons from EU countries like France, Germany, Italy and UK .
Brexit is England’s decision to withdraw from EU’s membership. By a referendum in 2016, British people voted to leave the
EU. India has close trade and investment relations with UK. India exports textiles, tea, leather, fruits and spices to UK. Indo-
UK bilateral trade is about $14 billion.Indian investments in UK are in technology, telecom, pharma and financial services.
India is UK’s third largest investor. UK’s universities also attract Indian students for higher professional degrees. So, when
finally UK withdraws from EU, it is estimated that that Indian business interests in UK will be affected. But this impact will
be for short term, and not for ever. Until UK finalized its terms and conditions of exit from EU, it is not easy to assess how
much its impact will be on India.

Q. 9. What is BIMSTEC ? Explain India’s role in BIMSTEC.

Ans. Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Initiative for Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a sub-regional bloc. It
was established in 1997 and there are seven countries in it. Its objectives are to promote regional cooperation among seven
countries in the following important sectors: A. energy; b. infrastructure; c. tourism; d. trade; e. fisheries; f. transport and
communication; and g. maritime security. BIMSTEC summits were held in 2004, 2008 and 2014. The 3rd Summit Declaration
emphasized the need to further BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework (FTA) Agreement. In 2017, BIMSTEC will complete
two decades of its establishment. FTA talks are going on but there are some differences between India and other member
countries on the issue of tariff reductions on goods traded among them.

India made good contribution to BMSTEC Countries in the following areas.

1. Building trilateral highway project of 1300km. linking Northeast India-Myanmar-Thailand.

2. Construction of Tamu (Mayanmar)-Kalemyo (Manipur) 135 km. road.

3. Kalanden multimodal river-road project is constructed connecting Mizoram with Myanmar’s Sittawe port on the Rakhine

coast.

4. Offering HADR (Humanitarian and disaster relief) to cyclone-affected countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Maritime security assistance and training to the naval forces of BIMSTEC countries.

Q.10. What happened regarding India's membership of NSG at the meeting held in Seoul on June 23 and 24,2016 ?
Why is India interested in NSG membership?

Ans. India applied for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in May 2016. The NSG’s annual Plenary
meeting in Seoul (June 23-24, 2016) discussed India’s membership,but could not decide in India’s favour. China raised
objections arguing that India is not a signatory to NPT. A few other countries raised issues regarding the process of India’s
participation in the NSG. Indian Government continues to deal with all NSG members for an early decision on India’s
application.

Membership of the NSG would enable India to have more access to nuclear technology, fuel and materials required for its
civil nuclear programme. It would create good environment for foreign investments required for setting up nuclear power
plants in India