1. Monsoon Session: Prioritizing National Interest Amidst Political Debate
- Syllabus Relevance:
- GS2: Polity (Parliament, Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary); Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- GS2: Governance: Transparency & Accountability.
- Core Argument: The editorial discusses the traditional tension between parliamentary debate and political grandstanding ahead of the Monsoon Session, urging parties to prioritize “national interest” and constructive engagement over political confrontation.
- Key Points for UPSC:
- Role of Parliament: Parliament is the supreme legislative body, a forum for debate, deliberation, and holding the executive accountable.
- Importance of Monsoon Session: Often crucial for passing key legislation, discussing national issues, and scrutinizing government policies.
- Call for “Bonhomie and Constructive Engagement”: This appeal from Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar highlights the ideal functioning of Parliament, where diverse opinions converge for national good.
- Expected Contentious Issues:
- Full Statehood for J&K: A long-standing demand, especially from the INDIA bloc, following the abrogation of Article 370. This involves constitutional and federalism questions.
- Delimitation: A contentious issue for Southern Indian states, which fear losing parliamentary seats due to better population control, potentially impacting federal representation.
- “Operation Sindoor”: If it’s a security-related operation, its discussion could involve issues of national security, intelligence oversight, and human rights.
- “Custodial Deaths” (Tamil Nadu), Drug Menace, Law & Order: These highlight concerns about human rights, police accountability, inter-state crime, and the effectiveness of law enforcement, often leading to heated debates and legislative demands.
- Challenges to Parliamentary Functioning:
- Disruptions & Walkouts: Frequent disruptions, walkouts, and lack of decorum hinder legislative business and substantive debate.
- Ordinance Route: Excessive reliance on ordinances by the executive can undermine the legislative supremacy of Parliament.
- Limited Debate on Bills: Passing Bills with minimal discussion.
- Way Forward: The editorial implicitly advocates for:
- Adherence to parliamentary rules and traditions.
- Focus on substantive policy debates over political point-scoring.
- Respect for dissent and minority opinions.
- Effective use of parliamentary committees for detailed scrutiny of legislation.
- UPSC Linkage: This topic directly relates to the functioning of Parliament, the role of opposition, parliamentary democracy, legislative process, and challenges to India’s federal structure (e.g., delimitation, J&K statehood).
2. India’s Abstention at UN Votes: A Tool for Strategic Autonomy
- Syllabus Relevance:
- GS2: International Relations (India’s Foreign Policy, Multilateralism, UN); International organizations; significant global events.
- GS3: Internal Security (Geopolitics).
- Core Argument: The editorial analyzes India’s growing tendency to abstain from votes in the UN, particularly on contentious issues. It argues that this is not a sign of indecision but a deliberate “tool” used by India to assert its “strategic autonomy” in an increasingly polarized world.
- Key Points for UPSC:
- Trend of Abstentions: The observation that India’s proportion of abstentions in UN votes has reached an “all-time high” while “yes” votes have decreased, particularly in response to geopolitical conflicts (e.g., Ukraine war, Israel-Palestine conflict) or issues involving major powers.
- Strategic Autonomy: This is the core concept. It implies India’s ability to take independent decisions in its foreign policy based on its national interests, without being beholden to any single power bloc (e.g., US/West or Russia/China). It’s a continuation of India’s non-alignment legacy in a new global context.
- “Useful Tool”: Former diplomats are cited, validating abstention as a pragmatic foreign policy instrument. It allows India to:
- Maintain Flexibility: Avoid taking a rigid stance that could alienate key partners on either side of a geopolitical divide.
- Protect National Interests: Prioritize its own economic, security, and developmental needs over ideological alignment.
- Signal Disagreement without Condemnation: Abstention can sometimes signal disapproval of a resolution’s wording or specific clauses without outright opposing the resolution’s core intent or supporting the actions it condemns.
- Promote Multipolarity: By refusing to be drawn into blocs, India reinforces the notion of a multipolar world where diverse voices and perspectives are valid.
- Challenges of a Polarized World: The current global scenario, characterized by rising geopolitical tensions, economic decoupling, and a weakening of multilateral institutions, necessitates such a nuanced foreign policy approach.
- “Middle Path” Diplomacy: India often seeks a “middle path” or a balanced approach in international forums, engaging with all parties and promoting dialogue rather than taking an adversarial stance.
- UPSC Linkage: Directly relevant to questions on India’s foreign policy principles, multilateral diplomacy, the role of the UN, strategic autonomy, and India’s position in the evolving global order.
