GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the UAE, highlighting the strengthening bilateral relationship between India and the UAE. This visit marks a significant milestone in the evolving partnership between the two countries.

India-UAE Bilateral Relations

• Strategic Partnership: The relationship between India and the UAE has evolved into a strategic partnership, characterized by frequent high-level visits and close rapport between leaders.
• Economic Partnership: Bilateral trade and investment have flourished, with the UAE emerging as India's third-largest trading partner and a significant investor.
• Technological Collaboration: Both countries have collaborated in areas like fintech, with initiatives such as the acceptance of RuPay cards in the UAE and a rupee-dirham settlement system.
• Key Pillars of Cooperation
• Energy Security: The UAE is a crucial partner in India's energy security, with strategic oil reserves stored in India and investments in strategic crude oil storage facilities.
• Defence and Security: Cooperation in defence and security is a critical aspect of the relationship, contributing to regional stability and mutual interests.
• Cultural and People-to-People Ties: Both countries have fostered cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties, reflected in reciprocal invitations, honours, and cultural collaborations.

Strategic Significance and Future Prospects

• Strategic Coordination: India and the UAE are closely aligned on regional and global issues, participating in important groupings and infrastructure projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
• Growing Partnership: Despite minor differences, the India-UAE partnership is poised for further growth and cooperation, driven by shared values, mutual respect, and converging interests.
• Potential for Future Collaboration: The visit underscores the potential for deeper collaboration in various sectors, reinforcing the belief that the strategic partnership between India and the UAE will continue to strengthen in the coming years.

Context

The government conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, and MS Swaminathan for their significant contributions to India's development.

Recognition of Contribution:

• Invaluable contributions: The decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, and MS Swaminathan underscores their invaluable contributions to India's socio-economic development.
• Noteworthy Contributions of Awardees: Charan Singh's agricultural reforms, Narasimha Rao's economic liberalization policies, and Swaminathan's advancements in agricultural technology have left a lasting impact on the nation.
• Commendable Gesture of Recognition: The recognition of their contributions through the Bharat Ratna is a commendable gesture that honors their legacy and achievements.

Contributions of the Awardees

• Economic Reforms of PV Narasimha Rao: PV Narasimha Rao's economic reforms in 1991 ushered in a new era of liberalization, opening India's economy to global markets and driving significant GDP growth.
• Agricultural Reforms of Chaudhary Charan Singh: Chaudhary Charan Singh's transformative agricultural reforms in Uttar Pradesh dismantled the zamindari system and empowered farmers, laying the foundation for agricultural growth.
• Agricultural Advancements of MS Swaminathan: MS Swaminathan's pioneering work in agricultural research and technology, particularly during the Green Revolution, revolutionized Indian agriculture and boosted food production.

Reflections and Challenges

• Persisting Challenges Despite Past Reforms: Despite the successes of past reforms, challenges such as rising inequality and agricultural modernization persist, prompting reflections on the legacies of Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, and Swaminathan.
• Need for Addressing Contemporary Issues: There is a need to build upon their contributions by addressing contemporary challenges in agriculture, such as crop diversification, improving farmer incomes, and investing in agricultural research and infrastructure.
• Importance of Honoring Legacies and Inspiring Future Generations: The conferment of the Bharat Ratna serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to nation-building, while also inspiring future generations to work towards India's socio-economic progress.

Context:

The Women’s Reservation Bill has sparked debate on the efficacy of quotas within political parties versus reservations in Parliament and State Assemblies for increasing women’s representation in politics. The recent Assembly elections in Rajasthan shed light on the challenges faced by women candidates and the effectiveness of gender quotas in improving political participation.

Performance of Women Candidates in Rajasthan Elections

• Low Success Rate: Despite the Women’s Reservation Bill, women candidates from both the Congress and BJP in the Rajasthan Assembly elections had a low success rate, indicating challenges in securing electoral victories.
• Party-wise Performance: Both parties fielded women candidates, but the success rate of these candidates remained lower than their male counterparts, raising questions about the effectiveness of quotas within political parties.
• Decrease in Women MLAs: The number of women MLAs in the current Rajasthan Assembly decreased compared to the outgoing Assembly, highlighting the limited impact of gender quotas on increasing women’s representation.

Voter Preferences and Electoral Dynamics

• Preference for Male Candidates: Analysis of voter behavior suggests a preference for male candidates over female candidates, regardless of party affiliation, indicating deep-rooted biases in electoral choices.
• Performance Against Opposite Gender: Women candidates faced challenges when pitted against male candidates from rival parties, leading to lower success rates and highlighting the existence of a voter bloc favoring male representatives.
• Lack of Winnability: The reluctance of political parties to nominate women candidates is influenced by the perceived lack of winnability, especially in closely contested elections.

Limitations of Gender Quotas and Contagion Effect

• Ineffectiveness of Gender Quotas: Increased ticket distribution to women candidates has not translated into higher representation in legislatures, as seen in the West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
• Absence of Contagion Effect: The provision of gender quotas by one party does not incentivize others to follow suit, indicating limitations in promoting women’s participation through electoral quotas.
• Policy Implications: The failure of gender quotas to address the underrepresentation of women in politics highlights the need for alternative strategies to enhance women’s political empowerment.