Samavasar-UPSC Mains

How Agni V MIRV will benefit India

1. Deterrence
2. Enables Nuclear Policy
3. Dominance of Indian Ocean Region
4. Technology Demonstrator will seek Geopolitical Edge
5. Supports Economic Interests
6. Reduces BRI advantage of China
7. Collaboration Opportunities for niche Technologies
8. Aatmanirbhar Bharat
9. Multiple Targetting in special situations
10. Strategic Capability Asset

Follow me here: https://twitter.com/samavasar

#Update: Shifted to Lucknow

India's foreign policy under PM Modi has been characterized by several key features and significant shifts.

Extremely important for UPSC interviews & mains. A summary:

Neighbourhood First Policy: One of the hallmarks of India's foreign policy under Modi has been the emphasis on strengthening relationships with the neighbouring countries. This approach, often termed as the "Neighbourhood First" policy, aims to improve ties with countries in South Asia, fostering regional cooperation and stability. This policy has been evident in PM Modi's early visits to neighbouring countries, efforts to resolve longstanding issues, strengthen Infrastructure connectivity and becoming the first responder in a natural crisis situation.

Act East Policy: Modi's government has given a renewed impetus to the "Act East Policy," which focuses on strengthening relationships with Southeast Asian countries. This policy is not only about enhancing economic engagement and rejuvenating cultural ties but also about strategic partnerships and security cooperation, particularly in the context of the Indo-Pacific region.

Engagement with Major Powers: India has actively engaged with major global powers like the USA, France, Japan, Russia, and China. The approach has been to maintain strategic autonomy while building strong bilateral relationships. This is evident in the balancing act India performs in its relations with the U.S. and Russia, and its complex dynamics with China.

Strategic Autonomy: A key aspect of India's foreign policy has been the emphasis on strategic autonomy. India has been keen on not aligning itself strictly with any major power bloc but instead pursuing its own strategic interests. This is evident in India's nuanced approach on issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where India maintains an independent stance.

Global Leadership on Key Issues: India has taken a leadership role in global issues like climate change and sustainable development. Initiatives like the International Solar Alliance exemplify India's commitment to leading global efforts in renewable energy and climate change mitigation. Celebrations of International Day of Yoga or the International Year of Millets signify India's ambition to be a global leader.

Diaspora Engagement: There has been a significant focus on engaging the Indian diaspora worldwide. PM Modi's visits abroad often feature interactions with the Indian community, aiming to strengthen their ties with India and leverage their influence in their countries of residence for India's benefit.

Counterterrorism and Security: India's foreign policy under PM Modi has been proactive in addressing issues of terrorism and security. This includes diplomatic efforts to isolate Pakistan in the international community due to its alleged support for terrorism, and strengthening defense and security cooperation with like-minded countries.

Economic Diplomacy: Economic considerations have been a significant part of India's foreign policy. This includes efforts to attract foreign investment, boost exports, and engage in trade negotiations that benefit India's economic interests.

Multilateralism and International Forums: India has actively participated in various international forums like the United Nations, G20, BRICS, and SCO. India's approach has been to use these platforms to advance its interests and contribute to shaping the global agenda.

Response to Global Crises: The Modi government's response to global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, has also been a part of its foreign policy. For instance, the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative, where India supplied COVID-19 vaccines to numerous countries, was a significant diplomatic and humanitarian gesture.

In summary, India's foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is marked by a blend of pragmatism, strategic autonomy, and a focus on both regional and global engagement. It reflects India's aspirations to play a more prominent role on the world stage while pursuing its national interests.


#UPSC #UPSCinterview

A very happy new year to everyone!

May all of you get to achieve what you dream of in this year 💐💐💐

#Essay Topic: Capability is the father of Intent

https://x.com/neuracap/status/1738185254832087534?s=52&t=sPGH4T_oq7QMOc-uNl7fiA

We are also having an interaction with Sh Ankur Garg, IAS(Rank 1 2003, Highest marks in interview - 243/300) on 30th. If you are appearing for the personality test, y ou may like to register for the same at https://forms.gle/REDGGrijq1uqFSRo6

There’s no denying that body camera is a very effective device to capture police actions and incidents. But body cameras are not very effective in reducing the problem of abusive actions and use of excess force by police officers. The difference between the two lies in the challenges arising from the use of body cameras to monitor and administer the actions of officers in police departments.

This is the challenge with new many new ideas. Translating an idea or innovation to implementation at scale is a near universal problem, and involves the issue of how the new idea interacts with the system’s environment.

Impact evaluations done in sanitised environments and supervised by energetic and committed research assistants merely assess the technical efficacy of body cameras in detecting abuses and excesses. They do not evaluate the efficacy of these cameras in reducing the systemic problem of abuses and excesses by police officers. In fact, they cannot ever evaluate such efficacy since there are too many confounders and systems vary widely in their characteristics.

The technology innovation, body cameras here, have to be complemented with its effective deployment (positioned to capture actions, should not be possible for the police officer to tinker with it etc) and its effective adoption by the primary stakeholder (the police department in monitoring errant actions and administering disciplinary action). The last, in particular, is dependent on state capability, systemic culture, and governance. And none of these are addressed by the technology innovation.

Technology solutions are rarely the solution to intractable systemic problems on social/public issues. At best they can improve things at the margins. In any case, without addressing the institutional structures or incentives or cultures that create these problems, technology solutions are unlikely to be of much use.

The most important requirement for successful adoption of such new technologies is institutional commitment. Without such commitment, the innovation is a non-starter. The system will easily stifle the innovation and leave it a failure or even worse than before.

Today i.e. 6th Nov 2023 - Monday we will be having a session by my better half , Divya Mittal - IAS.

She scored 205,240( Highest in batch) & 223 in her UPSC interviews!

So, be ready with all your questions on situations, ethics, or any other doubts you have!

🏹Why join the Best Prelims Channel?🏹

📊 Daily practice with real-time polls.
🤝 Discuss answers with fellow aspirants.
✅ Immediate feedback to hone accuracy.
🧿 Only high probability questions covered.
⌛️ Membership would be closed at 14,625 members!

https://t.me/samavasar

Values vs Ethics

The distinction between "values" and "ethics" is a nuanced one, and your example offers a good way to differentiate the two, though there are some refinements we can make.

Values refer to the fundamental beliefs or principles that guide and motivate behaviors. They are often deeply ingrained within individuals or groups and are shaped by cultural, familial, societal, religious, and personal experiences. Examples of values include honesty, integrity, commitment, and respect.

Ethics, on the other hand, refers to the study of what is morally right and wrong, or the set of moral principles or values one follows. In the context of an organization, ethics often manifest as a codified set of guidelines or rules that members are expected to adhere to. These rules or guidelines are based on the values the organization holds.

Taking the example of Election Commission of India:

ECI's Code of Conduct: This can be seen as embodying the institution's ethics, which are rules or guidelines based on the principles of transparency, fairness, etc. This code dictates the behavior expected of those associated with the commission.

TN Seshan's Leadership: His leadership and the values he imparts, like impartiality, honesty, commitment to service, and integrity, guide the internal beliefs and motivations of the members. While the code of conduct is a manifestation of ethics (rules/guidelines), the inherent principles like honesty and commitment are values.

However, a couple of clarifications are needed:

Organizational vs. Personal Values: While an individual leader can strongly influence and shape the values of an organization, it's important to note that organizations can and do have values independent of any particular leader. These values might be entrenched in its mission, vision, and history. Over time, leaders come and go, but organizational values often persist.

Ethics are not always codified: While many organizations codify their ethics in the form of guidelines or a code of conduct, ethics can exist outside of these formal documents. For instance, unwritten but understood ethical norms might exist within an organization or profession.

BRICS

A more comprehensive view of immigration to Israel between its founding in 1948 and last year shows that it is a very Eastern European and Middle Eastern country.

During the Israeli War of Independence, nearly 110,000 Jews made their way to the new country.

By 1952, more than 620,000 more Jews followed them.

The graph where they came from:

More than half were fleeing violence in, explicitly expelled from, or seeking opportunities away from the Muslim world.

The majority of the rest were Holocaust survivors.

Less than 10% came from other places.

Most simply had nowhere else to go.

Seven of the eight first Israeli Prime Ministers were born in (the area which used to be) the Pale of the Settlement - the part of Russia which Jewish people were limited to by the Czar.

The parents of the eighth, Yitzhak Rabin, had immigrated from there.

Those who had registered, please check your emails once and proceed as directed! Many are yet to join the group

If you understand this one article fully, you will be able to answer many questions related to monetary policy

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-duma-passes-law-revoke-ratification-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-2023-10-18/