Mains Question:
Q1. “Despite being a fast-growing economy, India has slipped on quality of life, and attainments in basic schooling and healthcare, as per the latest 2021 global Human Development Index (HDI)”. In the light of this statement, underline the need for greater investments in human development. (150 words)
Approach
- Introduction- brief about findings of HDI
- Factors contributing to decline (in India and globally)
- Pandemic and climate change
- sweeping social and economic shifts
- dangerous planetary changes
- intensified health crisis
- massive increases in polarization
- Discuss the importance of human capital in development
- Required measures
- Investment in human development
- Investment in disaster management and health sector
- investment in renewables because climate change crisis is imminent
- Sum up your answer with a way forward
Context:
The last decades have been the best period in India and Bangladesh relationship, which has also been noted as “Shonali Adhhaye” (golden chapter), indicating promising future prospects.
Stability in Relationship:
- The stability in the relationship remained in a robust state despite the external turmoil.
- Areas of disagreement have not been allowed to upset the broad positive trend in the relationship, which exemplifies the maturity of leadership
Milestones in Bilateral Ties:
- Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation: The Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation facilitated the grant of duty-free access to Bangladesh’s exports to India in 2011.
- “Friendship” pipeline from Assam’s Numaligarh refinery is nearing completion and will deliver petroleum products to Parbatipur in Bangladesh
- Water-sharing: Agreement on the water-sharing formula for the river Kushyara that flows into Bangladesh from Assam’s Silchar district. Discussions are under the finalization of the temporary water sharing accord on the Feni River.
- Credit: $8 billion Line of Credit (LoC) has been extended to Bangladesh, including $500 million for defense-related procurement. This reduced the dependency on Chinese military hardware.