GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

India and Greece are finding new ways to revive an age-old relationship.

India-Greece Relations

• Recent Leap: Modi-Mitsotakis meeting deepens ties, establishing Strategic Partnership, trade plans, and maritime security discussions.
• Geopolitical Nexus: Shared interests in countering regional challenges, fostering Indo-Pacific links, and artifact restoration cooperation.
• Historical Affinity: Maritime legacies converge as both nations embrace potential for economic synergy, bolstered by cultural restoration efforts.

Agendas highlighted

• Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Leaders from both countries emphasized on India-Greece ties through a Strategic Partnership, focusing on security, trade, and mobility.
• Diverse Collaborative Agenda: Discussions encompass skilled migration, India-EU trade, economic synergy, and restoration of historical artifacts, enhancing bilateral collaboration.
• Economic Growth and Cultural Restoration: Joint pursuit of global manufacturing hub status for India and economic gateway role for Greece, with potential UNESCO-backed artifact restoration efforts.

Driving Forces

• Geopolitical Motivation: Indian PM’s, Greece visit aligns with Greece's diversification efforts amid ties with Israel and Cyprus against Turkey.
• Strategic Alignment: India-Greece share interests amidst Delhi-Ankara tensions, maritime security concerns, favoring cooperation over prolonged delays.
• Symbolic Affirmation: Chandrayaan-3 success signifies potential for enhanced collaboration between ancient maritime powers India and Greece.

Context:

For a democratic country, the political system should be able to adapt the Constitution to challenging times. Also a sovereign nation must shape its future independently, free from external 'universal' values, as debates resurface around concepts like 'Basic Structure Doctrine'.

What is Basic structure doctrine?

• Basic Structure Doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati) limits altering Constitution's core via amendments, expanding restricted executive domain, impacting democracy's efficacy.
• Doctrine's undefined basic features accumulate through case-by-case judgments, binding executive action, fostering "cheap talk" political culture, undermining action.
• Nehru's First Amendment example underscores constitutional adaptability; Article 368 outlines parliamentary constituent power within stipulated procedures.

The Debate around Basic structure doctrine

• The Rajya Sabha debate on Delhi Government's authority over services raises federal balance concerns, impacting 'Basic Structure Doctrine'.
• Implications on fundamental rights, amendability, and judicial authority arise, notably for Article 370 hearings on Jammu and Kashmir.
• Revisiting 1951's First Amendment debates, relevance of Article 21, Article 368, and reevaluation of the politicized Basic Structure Doctrine urged.

India’s Constitutional balance

• India's political system balances an active judiciary and empowered legislature, maintaining democracy's resilience through separation of powers.
• "Cancel culture" stifles debate, hindering justice and democratic progress; Nehru's vision emphasizes the importance of an autonomous Parliament.
• The Basic Structure Doctrine, likened to a "Pole Star" by Chief Justice Chandrachud, guides navigation in turbulent times for effective governance.

Context:

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 51,863 cases were reported under The Protection of Children from Sexual O?ences Act in 2021; of them, 33,348 or 64% were of sexual assault. There is a need to educate people related to sexual offences.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)

• Curriculum­ based process of teaching- It is a curriculum­ based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.
• Fundamental human rights- As the UN Population Fund says, “the right of access to comprehensive sexuality education is grounded in fundamental human rights and it empowers young people to protect their health, well­being and dignity”
• Starting Age- The UN global guidance recommends starting comprehensive sexuality education from the age of five along with formal education.

 Impact of CSE

• Better informed- As per World Health Organization, with comprehensive sexuality education, young people will be better informed of their rights and sexuality, and will be more likely to engage in sexual activity later.
• Necessary for both students and teachers- NCRB data show that it is necessary for schools to impart comprehensive sexuality education not only to children, but also to parents and caregivers.
• Important to maintain healthy relationships- CSE is important not only to learn about violation and abuse, but also to maintain healthy relationships

Way Forward

• Sound Monitoring- Ensure that the CSE programmes include sound monitoring and evaluation components, with due consideration to inequality, gender norms, power in intimate relationships.
• Curriculum is holistic- With the relationship between sexual health and human rights being complex, non­linear and interrelated, it is hoped that the curriculum is holistic and not simply related to legalities.
• Teacher training is crucial- The UNESCO 2021 Global Status Report says that capacity­ building of teachers is critical as the curriculum requires non-­intuitive participatory pedagogies.

Context:

Market observers had predicted that the global economy would experience a slowdown in 2023. Also the forecasts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in January 2023 showed that global growth would be 2.9% against 3.4% in 2022.

Economic outlook for 2023

• The growth Projections: For advanced economies was 1%, slowing down from 2.7% during the previous year, and 1.4% for the USA against 2% in 2022.
• China’s growth after COVID: China has decided to discontinue its zero-COVID policy earlier in the year, was expected to grow at 5.5% and was to benefit from releasing “pent-up” demands.
• Shift in Forecasts: Recent IMF projections show advanced economies growing faster, US at 2%, while China faces deflationary pressures for sub-5% growth.

China’s Economy

• China's Economic Strategy: Under Deng Xiaoping, China effectively used global markets and trade to boost its economy, becoming a leader in leveraging international demand.
• Shift in Crisis: After the 2008 global recession, China shifted focus to its domestic economy, launching a stimulus package to reduce reliance on global markets.
• Debt Concerns: China's local governments used financing vehicles to fund infrastructure projects, but post-pandemic, debt surged due to revenue drops and tax cuts.

Concerns for global Economy

• China's Export Decline: China's exports have dropped, notably to key markets like the US, EU, and ASEAN, amid global trade sluggishness.
• Global Economic Struggles: Major economies, including the US and EU, face trade challenges, dimming China's prospects for external solutions.
• Contrasting Predictions: While some forecast improved global growth, China's economic challenges suggest a less optimistic outlook.