International Current Affairs
Concepts (2)
Key global indices like HDI (UNDP), GHI, Press Freedom, Corruption Perception, and WEF reports provide crucial insights into development, governance, and economic trends for UPSC.
Global Organisations and Key Reports
Definition
Global organisations and their reports serve as critical tools for assessing and comparing countries' performance across various socio-economic, environmental, and governance parameters. These indices provide a standardized framework for understanding global trends, identifying areas for improvement, and informing policy decisions for nations like India.
Key Facts
- Human Development Index (HDI):
- Publisher: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of its Human Development Report (HDR).
- Parameters: Life expectancy at birth, education (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling), and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP).
- India's Rank: India was ranked 130th out of 189 countries in 2018 (for 2017 data) and 132nd out of 191 countries in 2022.
- Value Range: 0 to 1; closer to 1 indicates better human development.
- Global Hunger Index (GHI):
- Publisher: Jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- Parameters: Undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
- India's Rank: India ranked 107th out of 121 countries in 2022.
- World Economic Forum (WEF):
- Nature: An international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Key Reports: Publishes several influential reports including the Global Competitiveness Report, Global Gender Gap Report, Global Risk Report, and Energy Transition Index.
- Corruption Perception Index (CPI):
- Publisher: Transparency International.
- Parameters: Ranks countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, based on expert assessments and opinion surveys.
- Press Freedom Index:
- Publisher: Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
- Parameters: Assesses the level of freedom available to journalists in 180 countries and territories.
- Ease of Doing Business (EoDB):
- Publisher: Previously published by the World Bank.
- Status: Discontinued in September 2021 due to data irregularities and ethical concerns regarding data manipulation.
- Parameters (prior to discontinuation): Measured regulations affecting 10 areas of a business's life cycle, such as starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.
Mechanism
Most global indices are composite indicators, meaning they combine multiple distinct parameters into a single score. For instance, HDI uses a geometric mean of normalized indices for life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita. This methodology allows for a holistic assessment that goes beyond single economic indicators like GDP. The data for these indices is collected from national and international sources, surveys, and expert opinions, then standardized and aggregated according to specific methodologies defined by the publishing organizations.
Exam Angle
For UPSC, understanding these indices is crucial for both Prelims and Mains. In Prelims, questions often focus on the publisher, India's latest rank, and the key parameters of an index. For Mains, these reports provide data points and analytical frameworks to support arguments related to governance, economic development, social justice, and India's position in the global order. The discontinuation of reports like EoDB and the reasons behind it are also important contemporary issues.
Analysis
Global indices are more than just rankings; they are diagnostic tools that highlight strengths, weaknesses, and areas requiring policy intervention. The Human Development Index (HDI), for example, shifted the development discourse from purely economic growth (GDP) to a more people-centric approach, emphasizing human capabilities. Its evolution, particularly the refinement of the education index in 2010 to include Mean Years of Schooling and Expected Years of Schooling, reflects a continuous effort to capture human development more accurately. UNDP also publishes the Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI), which discounts the HDI for inequality within a country across health, education, and income, and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which identifies deprivations in health, education, and living standards at the individual level. India's performance in these indices often sparks debate, revealing persistent challenges such as high poverty levels (16.4% incidences of poverty reported by MPI), quality education gaps, limited access to healthcare (e.g., 1.4 beds per 1,000 people), gender inequality, and unemployment.
The Global Hunger Index (GHI), with its four indicators, provides a comprehensive picture of hunger. India's consistently low ranking underscores severe issues of undernutrition, particularly among children. This reflects systemic challenges in food security, public health, and socio-economic disparities, despite government efforts like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and various nutrition programs. The World Economic Forum (WEF), beyond its famous annual meeting in Davos, plays a significant role in shaping global agendas through its reports. These reports often highlight emerging risks (Global Risk Report), competitiveness factors (Global Competitiveness Report), and gender disparities (Global Gender Gap Report), influencing business and policy decisions worldwide.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Human Development Index (HDI) | Global Hunger Index (GHI) | Global Gender Gap Index (WEF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | UNDP | Concern Worldwide & Welthungerhilfe | World Economic Forum (WEF) |
| Key Indicators | Life Expectancy, Education (Mean & Expected Years), GNI p.c. | Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting, Child Mortality | Economic Participation & Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health & Survival, Political Empowerment |
| Focus | Human capabilities & well-being | Severity of hunger & malnutrition | Gender disparities across key areas |
| India's Rank (2022) | 132 out of 191 | 107 out of 121 | 135 out of 146 |
| Significance | Shifts focus from GDP to people-centric development | Highlights food security & nutrition challenges | Measures progress towards gender equality |
Case Study: India's Performance in HDI and GHI
India's journey in the HDI and GHI reflects a complex development narrative. While India has shown improvements in its HDI value over decades, its rank remains relatively low, often attributed to the sheer size of its population and persistent inequalities. However, as the reference material points out, population can also be an asset if properly harnessed through education and skill development. Challenges like poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure (1 doctor for every 1,445 individuals), and gender disparities significantly pull down India's HDI score. Similarly, in the GHI, India's ranking has been a cause for concern, indicating that despite being a major food producer, issues of access, distribution, and nutritional outcomes remain critical. Factors like poor sanitation, lack of access to clean drinking water, and inadequate maternal and child health services contribute to high rates of child stunting and wasting. Government initiatives like Poshan Abhiyaan and the expansion of the Public Distribution System (PDS) aim to address these issues, but their impact is often slow and uneven.
Mains Hooks
- Governance and Policy: How global indices act as accountability mechanisms for governments and influence policy formulation (e.g., health, education, food security). Discuss the role of NITI Aayog in monitoring India's progress on SDGs, which are often reflected in these indices.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Many of these indices directly measure progress towards specific SDGs (e.g., HDI for SDG 3, 4; GHI for SDG 2; Gender Gap Index for SDG 5). Analyzing India's performance in these reports provides insights into its SDG achievement.
- India's Global Standing: The indices provide a comparative perspective on India's development trajectory relative to other nations, impacting its soft power and diplomatic engagements. They highlight areas where India needs to accelerate reforms to achieve its aspiration of becoming a developed nation.
- Economic Growth vs. Human Development: The disparity between India's rapid economic growth and its relatively lower human development indicators is a critical area for analysis, emphasizing the need for inclusive growth.
Recent Developments
- Ease of Doing Business (EoDB): The World Bank officially discontinued the EoDB report in September 2021 following an independent investigation that found data irregularities and ethical issues, including pressure on staff to alter data for certain countries. This highlights the importance of data integrity in global rankings. The World Bank is now developing a new approach called Business Ready (B-READY), which aims to provide a more balanced and transparent assessment of the business environment, focusing on broader aspects of competitiveness and sustainability.
- Global Health Security Index: India ranked 66th out of 195 countries in the 2021 report, indicating areas for improvement in pandemic preparedness and response. This index gained significant relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- WEF's focus: Recent WEF discussions and reports have increasingly focused on climate change, technological transformation (e.g., AI governance), future of work, and geopolitical fragmentation, reflecting evolving global challenges.
India's foreign policy balances core national interests with global cooperation, emphasizing 'Neighbourhood First,' 'Act East,' and strategic partnerships to foster economic growth and a stable intern
Objectives of Indian Foreign Policy
India's foreign policy is a dynamic framework aimed at safeguarding its core national interests while contributing to a stable and prosperous global order. Rooted in principles like Panchsheel (mutual respect, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, peaceful coexistence), it has evolved from Non-Alignment to a more pragmatic multi-alignment approach.
Key Facts
- Core National Interests: Protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and promoting rapid economic growth through higher investments, trade, technology access, and energy security.
- Autonomy: Preserving the independence of decision-making in a rapidly changing international environment.
- Global Threats: Strengthening the international campaign against terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
- Neighbourhood First Policy: Intensifying and strengthening ties with neighbours through mutually beneficial cooperation, acknowledging legitimate concerns, and working towards a peaceful, economically integrated SAARC region.
- Act East Policy: Upgraded from the 'Look East Policy' in 2014, this policy focuses on the extended Asia-Pacific region. It has expanded beyond economic initiatives to include political, strategic, and cultural dimensions. India has forged strategic partnerships with countries like Japan, Vietnam, Australia, Singapore, and with ASEAN as a bloc. It actively engages in forums like BIMSTEC, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and East Asia Summit (EAS).
- Strategic Partnerships: Building strong ties with major powers including the USA, EU, Japan, Russia, and China. Examples include the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018 with the US.
- Multilateralism: Active participation in global and regional groupings like the UN, G20, SCO, BRICS, QUAD, and advocating for UN Security Council reforms to reflect contemporary global realities.
- Diaspora Engagement: Continuously interacting with the Indian diaspora to strengthen their bonds and leverage their role in international relations.
Mechanism
India's foreign policy is implemented through a combination of bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, economic cooperation, and strategic defence partnerships. It seeks to build consensus on global issues like climate change, sustainable development, and global governance reform. The Ministry of External Affairs, along with various diplomatic missions and international organizations, spearheads these efforts. The policy emphasizes soft power through cultural exchanges and diaspora engagement, alongside hard power projections where necessary, such as participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Exam Angle
UPSC questions often focus on the evolution of India's foreign policy, the rationale behind specific policies like 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First', and India's role in multilateral forums like G20 and QUAD. Understanding the shift from non-alignment to multi-alignment and the balancing act between major powers is crucial. Specific agreements (e.g., LEMOA, COMCASA) and their implications are also important. The impact of India's G20 presidency and its outcomes will be a significant topic.
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Analysis: India's Evolving Foreign Policy Paradigm
India's foreign policy has undergone a significant transformation from the idealistic Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) era to a more pragmatic multi-alignment strategy in the 21st century. While NAM aimed to preserve strategic autonomy during the Cold War, today's multi-alignment seeks to engage with multiple power blocs and countries simultaneously, without being exclusively tied to any, to maximize national interests. This approach allows India to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, balancing relationships with traditional allies (like Russia) and emerging partners (like the US and Japan).
Challenges include managing the rise of China, cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, and securing critical resources like energy and technology. Opportunities lie in leveraging its demographic dividend, economic growth, and democratic values to enhance its global stature. India's aspiration for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council is a testament to its growing global ambitions and its belief in a more equitable world order that respects multi-polarity.
Comparison Table: Look East vs. Act East Policy
| Feature | Look East Policy (Initiated 1992) | Act East Policy (Initiated 2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Largely economic engagement, trade, and investment with Southeast Asia. | Comprehensive engagement across economic, political, strategic, and cultural dimensions with the extended Indo-Pacific. |
| Geographic Scope | Primarily Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN). | Extended neighbourhood including ASEAN, East Asia (Japan, ROK), and Oceania (Australia). |
| Nature of Engagement | Reactive, primarily economic, aimed at countering post-Cold War isolation. | Proactive, strategic, and multi-faceted, aiming for deeper integration and influence. |
| Key Drivers | Economic liberalization, seeking new markets and investment. | Geopolitical shifts, rise of China, maritime security, regional stability, and economic integration. |
| Outcomes | Increased trade, initial diplomatic ties with ASEAN. | Strategic partnerships, enhanced defence cooperation, connectivity projects, cultural exchanges, and active participation in regional security forums (e.g., QUAD). |
Case Study: India's G20 Presidency (2022-2023)
India's G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, marked a significant milestone in its foreign policy. Under the theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future" (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam), India aimed to bridge divides and foster consensus on critical global issues. Key outcomes included:
- New Delhi Leaders' Declaration: A consensus document adopted despite geopolitical tensions, addressing issues like sustainable development, climate finance, food security, and digital public infrastructure.
- Global Biofuels Alliance: Launched to accelerate the global uptake of biofuels, promoting energy transition and sustainability.
- Green Development Pact: Emphasizing sustainable lifestyles, climate finance, and technology transfer for developing countries.
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Showcasing India's success with Aadhaar and UPI, promoting the adoption of DPI for inclusive growth globally.
- Reforming Multilateral Institutions: Advocating for strengthening and reforming multilateral development banks and other global governance structures.
The presidency showcased India's ability to lead global discussions, build consensus, and project its vision for a more inclusive and sustainable world, significantly enhancing its diplomatic standing.
Mains Hooks
- India as a Responsible Global Power: Discuss how India's foreign policy, through initiatives like UN Peacekeeping, climate action, and disaster relief, positions it as a responsible stakeholder in global governance.
- Economic Diplomacy: Analyze the interplay between India's economic growth ambitions and its foreign policy objectives, focusing on trade agreements, investment promotion, and energy security.
- Strategic Autonomy in a Multipolar World: Evaluate the challenges and opportunities for India in maintaining strategic autonomy amidst increasing geopolitical competition, particularly between the US and China.
- Regional Integration and Connectivity: Examine the role of policies like 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' in fostering regional stability, economic integration, and connectivity projects (e.g., BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation).
- Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy: Discuss how India leverages its rich cultural heritage, yoga, and diaspora to enhance its influence and build bridges internationally.
Recent Developments
- QUAD Summit: Continued high-level engagement among India, the US, Japan, and Australia, focusing on maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, climate change, and infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific.
- SCO Summit: India hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in 2023, emphasizing regional security, counter-terrorism, and connectivity, despite differing views among members on certain geopolitical issues.
- Bilateral Trade Agreements: Recent free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries like Australia (ECTA 2022) and the UAE (CEPA 2022) underscore India's push for diversified trade partnerships and economic integration.
- India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Announced during the G20 Summit, IMEC represents a significant connectivity initiative aimed at enhancing trade and economic cooperation across continents, involving India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Germany, Italy, and the US.
- Focus on Global South: India has increasingly championed the concerns of the Global South, advocating for their representation in global forums and addressing issues like debt, climate finance, and food security.
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