11 Jun 2018: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS2 Related

• Narendra Modi in SCO meet called for respect for sovereignty, economic growth, connectivity and unity among the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• Modi coined an acronym ‘SECURE’ which he explained: ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, ‘E’ for environment protection.
• Talking about the importance of linking the region with transport corridors, Modi said connectivity does not only mean geographical link but it should ensure people-to-people contact.
  • In the past Modi has also commented “Asia and the world will have a better future when India and China work together”.
• Modi has demonstrated a clear individual style of engagement, and world leaders have responded positively to his initiative. Both Modi and Xi see themselves as strong leaders of their countries and peoples, and their personal engagement is a crucial aspect of the bilateral engagement on all outstanding issues.

One Belt One Road’ (OBOR)

• India welcomes any project which is inclusive, sustainable and transparent. And which respects member states sovereignty and territorial integrity
• Asserting India’s continued opposition to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Mr. Modi said mega connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries. However, New Delhi, he said, would support initiatives which ensure inclusivity.
• Referring to the “unfortunate” example of the effects of terrorism in Afghanistan, he hoped that the steps taken by its President Ashraf Ghani would be respected by all the players in the region.

Economy

• China and India are expected to be the driving force of the global economy in the years to come, along with southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
• With a combined population of over 2.6 billion and a rapidly growing middle class, China and India offer enormous potential.
• the Russian economy is much smaller, and growing slowly, the country remains one of the world’s biggest energy producers with powerful influence over oil and gas markets.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have stepped up to defend globalization in recent months, as the United States appears to turn inward under President Donald Trump.
• Both countries put their names to a statement issued earlier this week that criticized the “new wave of protectionism” and advocated for an “open and inclusive world economy.”

• On the Western Hemisphere, seven of the world’s most industrialised countries met for the 44th Group of Seven (G7) summit in Quebec
  • G7 nations (Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, UK, USA),
• on the Eastern Hemisphere, the 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) happened and for first time, in its expanded form after India and Pakistan joining it as full members
• The SCO did not comprise the world’s most developed nations but had a bigger quantity – in terms of size and population and also an impressive GDP.
• The G7 was walking just to the opposite direction with a serious fault line emerging between the United States and the rest of the members over trade tariffs.

Joint communique

• The joint statement takes on issues such as jobs, climate change, advancing gender equality, building a peaceful world and investing in growth “that works for everyone.”

Optimism Vs Pessimism

• when it comes to the issue of peace in Korea, China along with fellow SCO partner Russia has many more positive contributions
  • G7 who in the case of the EU and Canada remain remote from the issue.
• The SCO has reiterated the opinion that the 21stcentury belongs to Asia and the convergence of some of the world’s top economies of Asia and Eurasia raises more hope about the future path of development of the international community.
  • In case of the G7, the exact opposite scene has unfolded with the industrialized countries engaging them more in personality clashes and focusing less on global problems.
• The SCO is perhaps the most happening international grouping at the moment because its scope of functioning is outgoing and big. Be it in connection with China’s Belt and Road Initiative or India’s pressing problems with Pakistan or laying out a map for reconstruction of Afghanistan, the SCO offers hope for a better world order and the credit primarily goes to its members’ openness to reaching out to each other.
  • This mentality is clearly absent in case of G7 whose members are struggling to deal with Trump and finding no better ways than retaliating against him.
• The build-up to the SCO’s biggest summit so far has generated much optimism about internationalism – be it cooperation in fields of trade and security, counter drug trafficking and overall regional cooperation.
• Particularly important has been the growth in interpersonal relations between world leaders like Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin or Narendra Modi who have met on a number of occasions in recent times and come closer to each other – the growing protectionism of the US being one gluing factor.

Context

• NDA government has invited “outstanding individuals” to join the government at the joint secretary level at the Centre to bring in expertise from the private sector individuals and infuse talent into the country’s bureaucracy,

Details

• As per the notification, the eligibility criteria includes “Individuals working at comparable levels in Private Sector Companies, Consultancy Organisations, International/Multinational Organisations with a minimum of 15 years’ experience” besides those working in central public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, statutory organisations, research bodies and universities.
• the recruitment will be on contract basis for three to five years.
• The intake will be made in 10 departments initially but will expand to other categories in the second phase.
• The departments for which applicants are sought include Revenue, Financial Services, Economic Affairs, Commerce and Civil Aviation, Agriculture and Cooperation, Highways and Shipping and Environment and Climate Change.
• The notification specifies a minimum age of 40 years and minimum qualification of graduation from a recognised university or institute while higher qualification will be an added advantage.