GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Prime Minister Modi expressed support for Bhutan’s project (Gelephu 'Mindfulness City'), calling it a significant global initiative. This mega project has the potential to redefine not just how sustainable living can be achieved, but become a global model unlike any other in the world today.

What is Gelephu Mindfulness City?

• The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is a major international co-operative project backed by India and aimed at promoting sustainable urban development.
• The Gelephu city is designed to blend technology, finance, and knowledge with mindfulness and sustainability.
• It aims to be a hub where every citizen of Bhutan participates as a shareholder and stakeholder in the project, embodying the co-operative spirit.
• The city, covering an area of 2,500 square kilometers, is designed to be a “Zero Carbon” city, promoting sustainability, mindfulness, and cooperation.
• Gelephu Mindfulness City is Bhutan’s biggest “co-operative project.”
  • India has over 8 lakh co-operatives, and India has plans to expand co-operatives to every village in India, with a focus on modernizing and making Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) tech-enabled.
• It is a Special Administratve Region (SAR).
• The Gelephu 'Mindfulness City' will have two protected areas - a national park and a wildlife sanctuary.
• It will have rivers that will have the potential to generate 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity through renewable energy. It has forests, biological corridors and is teeming with wildlife. It has its own agricultural hubs and small towns.
• Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is going to be the first of its kind special administrative region (SAR) in Bhutan based on a “two systems, one country” policy.
• This transformation aims to turn Gelephu into an economic and a strategic corridor bringing India and Bhutan closer, without disturbing Thimphu’s comfortable relationship with its other neighbour, China.
• Once built, Bhutan's 'Mindfulness City' will cover nearly 5% of the entire country's landmass and will be bigger than all of Singapore. 
• The city will be entirely based on Bhutan's Gross National Happiness philosophy which has been praised the world over
• Vision: The 'Mindfulness City' project has been envisioned by the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The idea is to build a “Silicon Valley of the East,” where technological progress aligns with nature and spirituality.

Significance for India

• The 'Gelephu mindfulness city' would "directly benefit India" in many ways since this city has been "purposely placed along the border with India in Assam."
• The town is strategically situated on the Assam border. It offers convenient access to other districts within Bhutan as well.
• It has long been a passage between Bhutan and India, serving as an important trading post and transit point for monks and traders moving between the Indian plains and Bhutanese highlands.
• Its serves as a lifeline and strategic location on the fertile plains, in contrast to the mountainous terrain that dominates much of the Himalayan kingdom.
• Bridge connecting India and Southeast Asia: The GMC is seen as a bridge connecting Bhutan to India and Southeast Asia, promoting economic growth while maintaining Bhutan’s neutrality and peaceful relations with both India and China.
• Economic development: The project is expected to boost the economy of both Bhutan and India, especially in the border region, with increasing land prices and new business opportunities.
• Strong ties: The GMC will also promote cross-border cultural ties, as the region has historically had strong familial and cultural connections between Bhutanese and Indians, especially in towns like Gelephu.

The Union Labour Ministry recently informed Parliament that several states in India have not yet published the draft rules for the labour codes passed in 2019 and 2020. Specifically, four states have not released the draft rules for the Code on Wages (2019), while five states have yet to release the draft rules for the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, all of which were passed in 2020.

What are the Labour Codes?

• India’s labour laws had historically been fragmented, with over 29 laws governing various aspects of labour, many of which had been in place since the British colonial era.
• These laws had become increasingly irrelevant in a modern, dynamic economy, and compliance with them was cumbersome for both employers and workers.
• Thus, the previous 29 laws were condensed into four main codes (the new Labour Codes):
  • The Code on Wages (2019):The code ensures all workers receive minimum wages and timely payments, with a uniform definition of “wages” across all codes to avoid multiple interpretations and reduce litigation.
  • The Code on Social Security (2020):It focuses on expanding social security benefits to all workers, including gig and platform workers. It introduces a Re-skilling Fund and allows the government to extend benefits through the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).
  • The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020):It improves workplace safety by including provisions for annual health check-ups and requiring employers to formalize employment contracts by issuing appointment letters. This enhances job security and ensures access to statutory benefits.
  • The Industrial Relations Code (2020):It simplifies compliance for businesses while safeguarding workers’ rights, including dispute resolution mechanisms and protections for collective bargaining.
• The four labour codes aim to strike a balance between easing labour market restrictions and enhancing workers’ rights and welfare. 

Unemployment Rates and Youth Employment:

• According to the ILO's Global Report Trends for Youth (2022), the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 6% in 2021. By 2023, the global youth unemployment rate had decreased to 13.3%.
• For India, the official data on employment and unemployment comes from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • The PLFS data for 2023-24 showed that the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-29 in India was 2%, which is lower than the global average.
• Additionally, the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for youth, which indicates the level of employment, improved from 4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24. This suggests a positive trend in youth employment in India.

The MACE telescope in Hanle, Ladakh, represents a significant leap in India’s gamma-ray astronomy capabilities, building on over five decades of involvement in this field. MACE is poised to answer fundamental questions in high-energy astrophysics and particle physics, particularly regarding the nature of dark matter and WIMPs.

About MACE

• The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) telescope, inaugurated in Hanle, Ladakh, is a state-of-the-art gamma-ray telescope designed to study high-energy cosmic phenomena.
• Highest Imaging Cherenkov Telescope: Located at around 3 km above sea level, MACE is the highest of its kind in the world.
• Largest Dish in Asia: With a 21-meter-wide dish, it is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the second-largest globally.
• Key Features:
  • Gamma Rays and Cherenkov Radiation: Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength and highest energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. While they are harmful to living organisms, Earth's atmosphere blocks most gamma rays. When these rays hit the atmosphere, they produce Cherenkov radiation—a faint blue light—caused by charged particles traveling faster than light in air.
  • Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT): MACE is an IACT, capable of detecting Cherenkov radiation to study high-energy gamma rays from cosmic sources.
• Collaboration and Construction: The facility was built by major Indian institutions, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).

Technology:

• Light Collector and Mirrors: MACE uses 356 mirror panels, each with four smaller mirrors arranged in a honeycomb pattern. This design enhances stability and reflective area while reducing empty space between mirrors. Similar designs are used in other space observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.
• High-Resolution Camera: The telescope is equipped with a camera containing 1,088 photomultiplier tubes that detect and amplify faint light signals. Data processing is done in real-time through specialized electronics.
• Mobility and Mount: MACE’s 180-ton telescope moves along a 27-meter-wide curved track, with an altitude-azimuth mount, allowing it to adjust its view both vertically and horizontally.

Scientific Goals:

• High-Energy Gamma Ray Study: MACE primarily aims to study gamma rays with energies above 20 billion eV. This includes investigating black holes, gamma-ray pulsars, blazars, and gamma-ray bursts.
• Search for Dark Matter: One of MACE’s significant goals is to explore the elusive particles that make up dark matter, which is believed to account for more than 85% of the universe’s mass. One candidate for dark matter particles is WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). When WIMPs collide and annihilate each other, they may produce high-energy gamma rays, which MACE is designed to detect.

The Earth’s axis has tilted by 31.5 inches (about 80 centimetres), new research has found. The research blames human activity (pumping groundwater on a large scale) for impacting the planet’s rotation.

What has the study found?

• Researchers studied data from 1993 to 2010 to discover that pumping 2,150 gigatonnes of groundwater has led to a change in Earth’s tilt of nearly 31.5 inches. This is equivalent to .24 inches of sea level rise.
• The pumping is mainly for irrigation and human consumption, with the groundwater subsequently moving to the oceans.
• Redistributing water from the midlatitudes had the biggest impact on the Earth’s rotation, as per the study. Researchers identified water movement from western North America and northwestern India as playing a key role in the Earth’s tilt.

How Does Earth's Tilt Change?

• The axis of rotation of the Earth is tilted at an angle of 5 degrees away from vertical, perpendicular to the plane of our planet's orbit around the sun. The tilt of the Earth's axis is important, in that it governs the warming strength of the sun's energy.
• Due to this axial tilt, the sun shines on different latitudes at different angles throughout the year. This causes the seasons.
• Earth's tilt, or axial precession, is influenced by the distribution of mass (in this case water) across the planet.
• The melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets from Greenland and Antarctica contributes significantly to this redistribution.
• As ice melts, the water flows toward the equator, altering Earth's balance and causing its axis to shift - a process akin to how a figure skater's spin slows when their arms extend outward.

The winter session of Parliament got underway but both houses faced early adjournments after opposition demanded discussions on various issues.

What is Adjournment Motion?

• A motion for an adjournment of the business of the House is moved for discussing a “definite matter of urgent public importance”, with the Speaker’s consent.
• The notice for this is to be given before 10 am on a given day to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General. This is not a provision available in the Rajya Sabha.
• An adjournment suspends the work of a sitting for a specific period, which could be for hours, days, or even weeks. The time for reassembly is clearly specified.
• Difference between Adjournment and Adjournment Sine Die:
  • Adjournment: Suspends a sitting and sets a time for reassembly.
  • Adjournment Sine Die: Terminates a sitting indefinitely, with no set date for reassembly.
• Power of Adjournment: The presiding officer of the House (e.g., the Speaker in the Lok Sabha) has the power to adjourn the sitting.
• Termination of a Sitting: A sitting can end in several ways:
  • Adjournment
  • Adjournment sine die
  • Prorogation
  • Dissolution

Government of India announces the commencement of a historic year-long celebration to commemorate the 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution of India, a milestone that reflects the remarkable journey of our democracy and the enduring legacy of our founding principles and Constitutional values starting on Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas), 26th November 2024.

Key-highlights

• These celebrations are being conducted under the campaign tagline “Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhimaan”and aim to honour the contributions of the Constitution’s makers while reiterating the core values enshrined in it.
• Constitution Day, or 'Samvidhan Divas,' is observed annually on November 26to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950.
• On November 19, 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced the Government of India's decision to observe November 26 as 'Constitution Day' each year, with the aim of promoting the values enshrined in the Constitution among citizens.

Constitution of India

• India, also known as Bharat, is a Union of States. It is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of government.
• Adoption and Enforceability: The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949 and came into force on 26th January, 1950.
• Structure of Government: The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary form of government that is federal in structure with certain unitary features.
  • The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President.
• Parliament of India: As per Article 79, the Parliament of the Union consists of:
  • The President
  • The Council of States (Rajya Sabha)
  • The House of the People (Lok Sabha).
• Council of Ministers:
  • Article 74(1) of the Constitution mandates that there shall be a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, which aids and advises the President in the exercise of his/her functions.
  • The real executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers, with the Prime Minister at its head.

Key-features of Indian Constitution:

• Lengthiest: The Constitution of India is the lengthiest of all the written Constitutions of the world. It is a very comprehensive, elaborate and detailed document.
  • The Indian Constitution originally consisted of 395 articles divided into 22 Parts and 9 Schedules. Presently, it consists of a Preamble, 448 articles (as of the 105th Constitutional Amendment), divided into 25 Parts and 12 Schedules.
• Parliamentary system: The Constitution of India has opted for the British Parliamentary system of Government. The Parliamentary system is based on the principle of co-operation and co-ordination between the legislative and executive organs while the Presidential system is based on the doctrine of separation of powers between the two organs.
• Flexible: Indian Constitution has a unique blend of rigidity and flexibility.
• Fundamental Rights: The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights. Part III of the Indian Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights to all the citizens—
  • Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
  • Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22)
  • Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24)
  • Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28)
  • Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30)
  • Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)
• Directive Principles of State policy: The Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Part of the Constitution set out the aims and objectives to be taken by the state in the governance of the country.
• Fundamental Duties: By Forty-second Amendment Act, Part IVA has been added to the Constitution which enumerates certain fundamental duties of the citizens. Originally, ten duties were enlisted in clause (a) to (j) of article 51A. Clause (k), which imposes duty on parents/wards has been added by the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002.
• Federal system of Government: Article 1 describes that India “is a Union of States” which implies two things:
  • Firstly – Indian federation is not the result of an agreement by the States
  • Secondly – no State has the right to secede from the federation
• The Constitution of India establishes a federal system of Government. It contains all the usual features of a federation viz., two governments, division of powers, written Constitution, Supremacy of the Constitution, rigidity of Constitution, independent judiciary and bicameralism.

• Adult Suffrage: In India every person, male or female, who has obtained the age of 18 years, is entitled to vote in elections to Parliament or State Legislatures. Originally this age limit was 21 years but after the 61st Amendment Act, 1988 it was reduced to 18 years.
• Independent Judiciary: Independence of Judiciary is essential for impartial adjudication of disputes between individuals, between Union and State, between Union/State and individuals, between Union and States or between States inter se.
• A Secular State: The Constitution of India stands for a secular State. Hence, it does not uphold any particular religion as the official religion of the Indian State. The term ‘Secular’ was added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. Articles 25-28 of the Constitution give concrete shape to this concept of secularism.
• Single Citizenship: Every citizen is the citizen of India and enjoys the same rights of citizenship no matter in which State he resides.
• Separation of Powers: This doctrine was for the first time properly formulated by the famous Jurist Montesquieu in his Escript Des Lois and exercised great influence on the French legal system. Doctrine of separation of powers implies that powers of the three organs of the government viz., Legislative, Executive and Judiciary should be kept separate from each other.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission on its PSLV rocket to study the solar corona.

About Proba-3:

• Proba-3 is the latest solar mission in ESA’s Proba suite of missions.
  • Its predecessors Proba-1 (also launched by ISRO) and Proba-2 were launched in 2001 and 2009, respectively.
• Developed at an estimated cost of 200 million euros, Proba-3 has an expected mission life of two years. It will be launched into a highly elliptical orbit measuring around 600 x 60,530 km and have an orbital period of 19.7 hours.
• First-ever “precision formation flying: The mission is designed with two satellites that will be launched together, separate from each other and then fly in tandem.
  • They will then form a solar coronagraph, an instrument that helps block out the bright light emitted by the Sun to reveal the objects and atmosphere around it.
• What will Proba-3 study?
  • Due to the corona’s temperature, going up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, it is difficult for any instrument to observe it closely. However, it is important for scientific study, as all space weather and its associated turbulences — solar storms, solar winds, etc. — originate from the corona.
  • These phenomena influence space weather and can potentially interfere with the smooth operations of all satellite-based communications, navigation, and power grids on Earth. To study these, Proba-3 will have three instruments onboard:
    • Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun (ASPIICS) or the coronagraph. Its field of view is between the Sun’s outer and inner corona, a circular belt normally observable during solar eclipse events. The instrument has a 1.4-metre diameter occulting disk mounted on it, to block the Sun’s light and facilitate a close-up view of this belt.
    • Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA) will maintain a continuous measurement of the Sun’s total energy output, known as the total solar irradiance.
    • 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES) will measure electron fluxes as it passes through Earth’s radiation belts, providing data for space weather studies.

Why is Proba-3 unique?

• The two satellites — Occulter Spacecraft (weighing 200 kg) and the Coronagraph Spacecraft (weighing 340 kg) — will mimic a natural solar eclipse. They will manoeuvre precisely in Earth’s orbit so that one satellite casts a shadow onto the other.
• A naturally occurring solar eclipse allows solar physicists to observe and study the Sun’s corona for 10 minutes, across an average of about 1.5 eclipse events per year.
• Proba-3 will give six hours, equivalent to 50 such events annually, which will help deepen understanding of the Sun’s corona like never before.
• Both the Occulter and the Coronagraph will face the Sun at all times. They will maintain a formation of a few millimetres and then move to a position where they will be 150 metres apart for six hours at a time.
• One satellite will act as a viewing telescope, kept at the centre of a shadow cast by the other satellite positioned 150 metres away. This positioning will facilitate observing the Sun’s corona and will be autonomously achieved through precise flight formation.
• If done successfully, the Occulter will create an artificial yet stable eclipse, by masking large parts of the Sun. As a result, the Sun’s blinding light will get blocked and only the solar corona will be visible to the coronagraph, which will photograph and facilitate studies of the lesser-known features.

The role of women in the drafting of the Indian Constitution is being highlighted, with a focus on their contributions that have been overshadowed in popular narratives. The work of the 'founding mothers' has been marginalized, despite their crucial involvement in shaping India's constitutional framework, as discussed in Achyut Chetan's "Founding Mothers of the Indian Republic" (2022). Their struggle for gender equality within the Constitution, despite the challenges posed by patriarchal structures, has largely been overlooked in mainstream historical accounts.

The Role of Founding Mothers in Drafting the Constitution

• Intersectional Alliance with Ambedkar: The founding mothers, including figures like Amrit Kaur, formed an alliance with B.R. Ambedkar, who shared their skepticism of the patriarchal structures deeply rooted in Indian society. This alliance sought to push for social revolution, challenging the traditional, brahmanical patriarchal norms that restricted women’s freedoms and rights.
• Struggle Against Patriarchy: Amrit Kaur asserted that Indian women were no longer willing to accept standards set by the male-dominated community. The founding mothers actively worked within the Constituent Assembly to challenge the patriarchal ecosystem, advocating for progressive social changes, but their efforts have been largely ignored in mainstream narratives.
• Constitution as a Feminist Charter: The founding mothers viewed the Fundamental Rights as not only protecting citizens from state oppression but also as a tool to reclaim women's freedoms curtailed by religious and family structures. They demanded a Uniform Civil Code to counteract patriarchal forces and protect women’s equality, but this was relegated to the Directive Principles of State Policy.

Women’s Role in Shaping Social and Religious Reforms

• Fight for Uniform Civil Code: Prominent founding mothers like Hansa Mehta and Amrit Kaur argued for the inclusion of a Uniform Civil Code to ensure equal rights for women, especially in the private sphere, where practices like polygamy and child marriage were prevalent. Their struggle was crucial in making gender equality a part of the constitutional discourse, even if it was not immediately implemented.
• Secularism and Women’s Rights: Begum Aizaz Rasul highlighted secularism as a cornerstone of the Constitution. Hansa Mehta, in particular, pushed for limiting the right to religious freedom, fearing that it could be used to perpetuate harmful religious practices that subjugated women, like purdah and child marriage. Their advocacy for secularism was aimed at ensuring that religion did not interfere with women's social reforms.
• Dissent on Religious Freedom: Amrit Kaur’s dissent on religious freedom reflected her concerns about the patriarchal tendencies within religious practices. She argued that unrestricted religious freedom would undermine past legislative reforms like the Widow Remarriage Act and the Sarda Act, which were aimed at women’s emancipation. Her stance was rooted in the belief that many religious practices subjugated women under the guise of tradition.

The Continuing Struggle for Women’s Equality

• Failure to Achieve Equality: Despite the promises made in the Constitution, the 1974 "Towards Equality" report highlighted the failure to achieve substantive gender equality in India. Women’s constitutional rights remained largely unrealized, with patriarchal structures continuing to dominate social, political, and economic spheres.
• Post-Independence Feminist Setbacks: After the passing of the founding mothers, the feminist vision in India's constitutional framework has been significantly weakened. While there have been strong women leaders in politics, India has not seen a feminist stateswoman or jurist rise to prominence. Women's representation in decision-making roles remains minimal, and the promise of gender justice remains unfulfilled.
• The Unfulfilled Promise of the Uniform Civil Code: The founding mothers envisioned the Uniform Civil Code as a tool for gender justice, but political resistance has kept it from being implemented. Despite legal backing, the political will to address gender injustice has been lacking, leaving women’s rights to be subordinated in the face of complex political and religious interests.

Practice Question

Q. Critically analyze the role of women members in the Constituent Assembly of India in shaping the Constitution, with special reference to their contributions to gender equality and social reforms.

November 26, 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. The Indian government has announced plans for a special joint sitting of Parliament to commemorate the occasion. Amid celebrations, attention is drawn to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s warning about the future challenges of implementing the Constitution, which continue to resonate today.

Dr. Ambedkar's Vision on Constitutional Democracy

• Ambedkar's Warning: Dr. Ambedkar, in his final speech before the adoption of the Constitution, highlighted that the success of the Constitution depended not only on its framework but on the moral character of those who would implement it. He warned that a good Constitution could fail in the hands of corrupt or incapable leaders, while a flawed Constitution could succeed with virtuous leadership.
• Contradictions Between Political and Social Equality: Dr. Ambedkar identified a major contradiction: while political equality was ensured by universal suffrage, social and economic inequality would persist due to the entrenched caste system and disparities in wealth. He foresaw this disparity as a challenge for India’s democratic journey, which would require a transformation in social structures to align with constitutional ideals.
• Fraternity and National Unity: Dr. Ambedkar stressed that fraternity, or a sense of common brotherhood, was essential for the Constitution’s success. Without it, liberty and equality would remain empty ideals, and social cohesion would be undermined. He warned that fraternity was necessary to unite India, where caste and religious divisions continued to dominate social life.

Progress Made Since Independence

• Advancements in Equality: India has made significant strides in promoting equality, notably through the abolition of untouchability and the introduction of affirmative action policies such as reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, despite these efforts, the task of achieving social and economic equality remains far from complete.
• The Issue of Caste and Fraternity: Although India has made progress in promoting fraternity through nation-building efforts, including moments of national solidarity, caste continues to be a major political and social resource. The extension of reservations to OBCs, intended to uplift marginalized groups, has inadvertently entrenched caste identities rather than diminishing them, hindering the realization of true fraternity.
• Challenges in Constitutional Governance: Despite the success of the Constitution in surviving political upheavals, there are growing concerns over the erosion of constitutional institutions, such as Parliament and the judiciary. The rise of "electoral autocracy" and pressures on democratic structures have led to warnings from international observers, signaling that the ideals of the Constitution are under threat.

Ambedkar's Enduring Legacy and the Path Ahead

• Irony in the BJP’s Celebration of the Constitution: It is noteworthy that the current ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which historically opposed the Constitution, is now celebrating its 75th anniversary. This reflects the Constitution’s resilience and the evolving political landscape, where even those who once rejected it are now its custodians.
• Institutional Weaknesses and the Role of the Judiciary: Dr. Ambedkar’s concerns about the potential decay of democratic institutions have come true to some extent, with pressures on the judiciary and diminishing parliamentary authority. This has raised questions about the Constitution’s ability to protect democratic values in the face of growing authoritarian tendencies.
• Reflection on Dr. Ambedkar’s Responsibility of Independence: Dr. Ambedkar’s concluding remarks about the responsibility of independence resonate today: the challenges India faces are no longer the fault of colonial rule but the responsibility of its citizens and leaders. In the 75th year of the Constitution, it is time for India to reflect on its progress and identify the changes necessary to fulfill the Constitution's vision.

Practice Question

Q. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision of the Indian Constitution emphasized equality, liberty, and fraternity as inseparable principles. Critically examine the progress made by India in achieving these ideals 75 years after the adoption of the Constitution.

The 29th Conference of Parties (CoP 29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, has concluded with a weak agreement, disappointing many climate activists and developing countries. The primary goal of securing a robust climate finance deal was not met, leaving developing nations with inadequate support to transition to a sustainable future. This outcome has raised concerns about the global commitment to tackling climate change.

Key Issues with the Baku Agreement

• Failure to Secure Adequate Climate Finance: The main objective of CoP 29 was to establish a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, which would provide developing countries with the necessary funds to combat climate change. However, the agreement only promised to mobilize USD 300 billion annually from 2035, far below the USD 1.3 trillion needed, primarily through grants and loans, which allows wealthy nations to avoid fulfilling their financial obligations.
• Developed Nations’ Influence in the Deal: Last-minute political maneuvering by developed countries, particularly the United States under Donald Trump, heavily influenced the outcome of the deal. Developing nations were pressured into accepting this insufficient financial arrangement, with the argument that this was the best deal they could secure due to the political climate, further exacerbating the global divide on climate action.
• China's Voluntary Contribution: Despite being classified as a developing nation, China has voluntarily agreed to contribute to the climate finance fund under the new deal. While not obligated, this move by China is seen as a positive step in climate negotiations, as it could inspire other nations to make voluntary contributions, helping to fill the financial gap.

Implications of CoP 29's Outcome

• Impact on Future Emission Reduction Plans: CoP 29's lackluster outcome will likely have long-term consequences on national climate plans due to be published next year. These plans will outline how each country intends to limit emissions over the next decade. A more substantial financial agreement could have incentivized countries to make more ambitious commitments, but with the current agreement, the planet is still on track for a dangerous 2.7°C rise in global temperatures.
• India's Slipping Climate Performance: India, while among the few nations on track to meet its goals, has slipped three ranks in the latest Climate Change Performance Index. This is a concerning development, as India’s progress is critical in meeting the Paris Agreement targets. The CoPs serve as an important platform to hold countries accountable for failing to meet climate goals, and this year’s missed opportunity could have lasting negative effects.
• The Risk of Missed Opportunities: The CoP 29 was an opportunity to press countries on their emission targets and financial commitments, especially those who have not made significant progress. With the global climate crisis accelerating, the failure to achieve a stronger deal at this conference may limit the chances of reversing the harmful trajectory of climate change in future negotiations.

Practice Question

Q. Critically analyze the outcomes of the 29th Conference of Parties (CoP 29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, with respect to climate finance, and its implications for global climate action.