Indian Express – 16 June 14 – After the photo-op

SUMMARY – ‘INS Vikramaditya’ best illustrates many of the defence challenges the Modi government must meet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not have chosen a better setting than the deck of India’s new aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for his first visit outside the national capital and the first field engagement with India’s armed forces. India’s latest and most sophisticated defence platform offered a fabulous stage to reinforce Modi’s image as a strong leader and underline the BJP’s traditional commitment to vigorous national defence. In his address to the sailors on board, Modi promised that his government would keep the multiple commitments made during the extended election campaign — from <1.> the implementation of the “one-rank one-pension” scheme to the <2.> construction of a national war memorial. Modi also reaffirmed the pledges he had made for <3.> bringing the most advanced defence technologies to the Indian armed forces and <4.> replacing costly weapons imports with indigenous arms production. <<Look out for these details through the upcoming news>

<The defence challenges >> Some of the defence challenges inherited by the Modi government are best illustrated by the INS Vikramaditya. If long delays and massive price escalation marked the acquisition of the aircraft carrier from Russia, the UPA government did not provide sufficient funds and political support for the construction of an indigenous carrier at the Cochin Shipyard. The UPA government’s mismanagement of naval arms acquisition was compounded by the huge gulf between the immense power potential of the INS Vikramaditya and the utter lack of policy competence within the higher reaches of the ministry of defence. While the carrier represents India’s emerging capability to project hard and soft military power across the Indian Ocean littoral and beyond, the MoD under the UPA government was incapable of integrating the new potential into India’s national security strategy. Worse still, the MoD actively hindered the use of naval power for the pursuit of India’s political and diplomatic interests.

<The Result>> These failures over the last decade are part of a deepening structural crisis in India’s higher defence organisation. This crisis is reflected in the deteriorating civil-military relations, an enduring inability to build a domestic defence industrial base, a continuing incapacity to imagine and implement effective military strategies to deal with threats from China and Pakistan and promote synergies with India’s diplomatic strategy. <Conclusive Comment>> The Modi government can address these challenges only if it is prepared to undertake a comprehensive reform of India’s defence policies. To get there, the PM must first appoint a full-time defence minister who has both the conviction and the competence to modernise one of the most ossified structures in the government of India.

Q: In light of the first field engagement of the Prime Minister with India’s armed forces, discuss the challenges, impacts and some solutions to resolve the defence related challenges.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -2, Important aspects of governance,transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Paper -2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Paper -3, Effects of liberalization on the economy; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Paper -4 Accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance, ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance, Probity in Governance

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The Hindu – 16 June 14 – Premature optimism

The latest economic data relating to retail inflation and factory output can give rise to optimism. <the statistics>> Consumer price index inflation for May at 8.28 per cent on a year-on-year basis was lower than the 8.59 per cent for the previous month. The index of industrial production (IIP) grew 3.4 per cent in April over the same period last year. In March it had contracted by 0.5 per cent. Also, in April, according to government figures there was a revival in exports. Merchandise trade deficit shrunk as exports grew after declining over the previous three months. <notice the political timing now!>> All these relate to a period when UPA-II was in power. However, for the NDA government these could be a harbinger of better times. <What can be the effects??>> At the very least, the first set of important monthly statistics after the new government was formed can reinforce the robust sentiment reflected in the stock indices and spur the Narendra Modi government’s economic revival plans. <But on deep-reading the statistics>> Yet, for all their positive connotations, <1.> evidence of a growth revival is not robust. <2.>The IIP, regarded as an important lead indicator, has often been faulted for being inconsistent and volatile.< 3.> The drop in retail inflation by itself is not significant enough to influence the Reserve Bank of India to cut rates immediately. < 4.> Food inflation, which has underpinned both the main inflation indices, has not come down appreciably. Core retail inflation, excluding food and fuel prices, has remained high.

<Other environmental risks>> Besides, there are other important risks. < 1.>The forecast of a less-than-satisfactory monsoon raises the possibility of higher agricultural prices.< 2.> All of a sudden the geopolitical situation in West Asia has deteriorated sharply. Petroleum prices have shot up in the global markets and this naturally has important ramifications for India. Oil imports will become more expensive. The much-vaunted reduction in the current account deficit to below 2 per cent of GDP as was seen last year (2013-14) will be difficult to achieve now. Higher oil prices can push up other commodity prices. India’s subsidy burden might go up, adding to the fiscal deficit. If, however, the government decides to pass on the burden of high global oil prices to consumers, retail inflation will rise. << concretise the understanding of the way economy works> Turning to factory output data,<5.> <back to the earlier discussion above – deep reading>> it is difficult to explain the 16 per cent jump in the capital goods segment in April, the highest such rise in nine months. In March it had contracted by 11.6 per cent. Over three months the trend in capital goods output has been negative. The small uptick in intermediate goods does not really suggest a revival. <6.> Bank credit has grown at a lower rate than what an economy on the rebound would require. <Conclusive Comment>>The upshot of all this is: the usual lead indicators need to be evaluated over time to draw firm conclusions regarding the economy.

Q: Evaluate if the recent economic data relating to inflation and factory output (April-May) can be considered as vital signs to the revival of growth of Indian Economy.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -2, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
• Paper -3, Indian Economy, Infrastructure
• Paper -4, ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;

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The Hindu – 16 June 14 – Opinion

1) Acknowledging home as a workplace

TAKEAWAY – case for domestic worker and the needed policy- MUST READ.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -1, Role of women and women’s organization, Urbanization, Poverty and Developmental Issues
• Paper -2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Paper -2, Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Paper -4  dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships; Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Work culture

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2) Fresh ideas, not more institutions

TAKEAWAY – what public policy ought to be on higher education – promoting quality infrastructure and environment – research, collaboration, innovation  –  MUST READ for the analysis of what is and what should be the policy.

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -1, Population and Associated Issues
• Paper -2, Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
• Paper -3, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Paper -4  role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values;

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3) Mayawati’s broken dream

TAKEAWAY – In the backdrop of the 16th Lok Sabha elections, understanding the caste structure and voting patterns in UP – MUST READ

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper -1, Salient Features of Indian Society
• Paper -2, Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Paper -4  moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

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4) Fewer Elephants killed in 2013, figures show

TAKEAWAY – S&T – Biotech – MUST READ

In which topic of the CS Mains syllabi, can this article fit in? –

• Paper –1 changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
• Paper -3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Paper -4 Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding

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