1. Critically examine the challenges India faces in aligning its foreign policy with changing global and regional dynamics. Suggest measures to enhance its strategic relevance.
| Syllabus: General Studies – III: International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. |
IN NEWS: India’s travails in negotiating a friendless world – THE HINDU
India, the world’s fifth-largest economy (IMF, 2024), aspires to shape global norms and regional stability. Yet, its foreign policy apparatus faces strain in a fast-evolving world order. For instance, India’s non-invitation to the Gaza Peace Summit (2025) reflects a perception of decreasing geopolitical influence, despite India’s growing economic and military clout.
Challenges in Aligning India’s Foreign Policy
1. Geopolitical Realignments and India’s Marginalisation
- India was absent in the Gaza peace deal (2025) brokered by the U.S., Turkiye, Egypt, and Qatar.
- India’s exclusion reflects a disconnect between global negotiations and Indian diplomacy.
2. Regional Instability and a Weak Neighbourhood Policy
- Nepal’s Gen Z movement in 2025 erupted with India as a silent observer.
- Afghanistan: Post-Taliban resurgence and instability spill over into India-Pakistan relations.
- Example: Despite investing over $3 billion in Afghan reconstruction, India has limited strategic leverage post-2021 U.S. withdrawal.
3. Erosion of Trust and Image among Neighbours
- Perceived heavy-handedness and big brother syndrome in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
- Example: Sri Lanka’s tilt towards China during the Hambantota port lease shows a loss of Indian strategic space.
- India’s slow vaccine diplomacy (post-Delta wave) contrasted poorly with China’s fast-paced aid programs.
4. Overdependence on the U.S. and Western Bloc
- India’s foreign policy is often seen as West-tilted, especially in strategic forums like the Quad.
- Example: India walked out of RCEP (2020) due to domestic concerns, missing a chance to shape Asia-Pacific trade norms.
5. China’s Expanding Influence
- BRI projects in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have encircled India geopolitically.
- China is now Bangladesh’s top arms supplier and Nepal’s largest FDI source.
- Example: The Galwan clash (2020) and border tensions have exposed the gap between diplomatic rhetoric and preparedness.
6. Weak Institutional Capacity
- India’s MEA has about 1,000 IFS officers, significantly fewer than China (6,000+) or the U.S. (13,000).
- Strategic policy often lacks think tank support and inter-agency coordination.
- Delayed diplomatic postings and slow response to regional shifts hurt agility.
Measures to Enhance India’s Strategic Relevance
1. Recalibrate Strategic Vision
- Shift from ideology-driven non-alignment to interest-based multi-alignment.
- Example: Engage in I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), IBSA, and BRICS selectively, based on issue convergence.
2. Revitalise Neighbourhood First
- Prioritise subregional connectivity (e.g., BBIN corridor, Kaladan multimodal project).
- Use cultural diplomacy through Buddhism, cinema, and diaspora.
3. Strategic Economic Diplomacy
- Expand FTAs (e.g., with UAE, Australia), and pursue IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor) as a counter to BRI.
- Example: India-EFTA FTA (2024) signals a willingness to engage economically.
4. Strengthen MEA and Institutional Capacity
- Increase IFS recruitment, promote lateral entry, and invest in language/area specialisation.
- Empower Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and RIS to contribute to policymaking.
5. Develop a Realistic China Policy
- Assert India’s stance on the LAC, while engaging China economically where interests align.
- Build coalitions in ASEAN, Africa, and Central Asia to counterbalance.
6. Leverage Soft Power and Diaspora
- Promote Study in India, digital infrastructure exports (e.g., UPI, CoWIN), and AYUSH diplomacy.
- Tap into 33-million-strong Indian diaspora to build informal diplomatic networks.
In a fragmented global order, India must match its aspirations with diplomatic agility, strategic clarity, and proactive regional engagement. To remain a shaper of global affairs, it must invest in a robust diplomatic ecosystem and rebuild trust at both regional and global levels.
| PYQ REFERENCE: (2020) Q. What are the challenges to India’s diplomatic relations with its neighbours? Discuss the measures to be taken to overcome these challenges. |
2. Urban air pollution in India remains a persistent challenge despite seasonal relief. Examine the key natural and anthropogenic factors contributing to this crisis, with reference to Delhi-NCR. Suggest long-term mitigation measures.
| Syllabus: General Studies III (Environment) – Environmental pollution and degradation, Climate change and disaster management |
IN NEWS: Warmer weather, timely monsoon withdrawal meant slightly better air around Diwali. But worse is to come – Indian express
According to the World Air Quality Report 2023, Delhi was ranked among the most polluted capital cities globally, with an annual PM2.5 concentration exceeding 90 µg/m³, far above the WHO safe limit of 5 µg/m³. While short-term climatic phenomena like La Niña or western disturbances offer temporary relief, the structural nature of pollution in Delhi-NCR demands sustained attention to both natural and man-made causes
Natural Factors Contributing to Urban Air Pollution
1. Climatic Patterns and Seasonal Changes
- Delayed monsoon withdrawal, now a trend due to climate change, creates anti-cyclonic conditions and low wind speeds, trapping pollutants.
- E.g., SAFAR reports show that late monsoon retreat in recent years has coincided with poor air dispersion.
2. Temperature Inversion and Boundary Layer Compression
- During winters, cold air settles close to the ground, acting as a lid that traps pollutants from surface-level emissions.
- E.g., NIAS studies note that compressed boundary layers intensify smog events in NCR.
3. Western Disturbances and Rainfall
- Occasional post-monsoon rainfall can temporarily wash pollutants, improving AQI.
- E.g., The 2025 monsoon withdrew early, and frequent western disturbances helped lower pollution temporarily.
Anthropogenic Factors
1. Stubble Burning in Punjab and Haryana
- Contributes up to 35–45% of PM2.5 levels in NCR during October–November, as per SAFAR estimates.
- In 2025, delayed paddy harvest due to floods postponed burning but may still coincide with colder months.
2. Vehicular Emissions
- Contribute nearly 28% of PM2.5 in Delhi. Old diesel vehicles, poor public transport, and last-mile delivery traffic worsen the problem.
- E.g., Delhi’s vehicle population crossed 1.2 crore in 2023, according to Delhi Transport Department.
3. Construction and Dust Pollution
- Road dust accounts for over 25% of Delhi’s PM10 emissions, per CPCB data.
- Construction activity remains poorly regulated despite norms like GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan).
4. Industrial and Power Plant Emissions
- NCR houses numerous brick kilns, DG sets, and coal-based plants.
- E.g., The Badarpur thermal power plant was closed in 2018 due to its massive pollution load.
5. Firecrackers and Festive Emissions
- Even “green” firecrackers emit 60–70% of conventional pollutants.
- AQI spikes sharply around Diwali, often entering “severe” or “hazardous” levels.
6. Urban Planning and Localised Emissions
- Dense residential clusters, inadequate waste management, and unplanned urban sprawl worsen neighbourhood-level emissions.
- E.g., Monitoring stations near Anand Vihar consistently report AQI > 400 in peak winter.
Long-Term Mitigation Measures
1. Airshed-Based Management Approach
- Move beyond city-centric strategies to regional pollution management (Delhi + neighbouring states).
- E.g., Implement NIAS-proposed NARFI (National Air Quality Resource Framework of India).
2. Crop Diversification and Stubble Management
- Incentivise non-paddy crops, subsidise in-situ management tools like Happy Seeder, and improve MSP regimes.
- Use biodecomposer solutions at scale (pilot-tested in Delhi).
3. Clean Mobility and Public Transport
- Expand electric bus fleets, enforce scrappage policy, and promote non-motorised transport.
- E.g., Delhi EV policy targets 25% of all vehicles to be electric by 2025.
4. Strengthen Monitoring and Data Transparency
- Upgrade real-time pollution monitoring, ensure open-access AQI data, and improve accuracy (e.g., fix capping errors in AQI algorithms).
5. Industrial Emission Control
- Enforce fuel switching (to PNG), promote zero-liquid discharge, and adopt continuous emission monitoring.
6. Urban Planning Reforms
- Create green buffers, regulate land use, and design low-emission zones in high-density areas.
7. Public Awareness and Behavioural Change
- Campaigns like “Red Light On, Gaadi Off”, school-based education, and citizen science participation can help reduce micro-level emissions.
Delhi’s air pollution crisis demands a coordinated, multi-sectoral response beyond seasonal fixes. Structural reforms in agriculture, mobility, and governance, guided by science-based frameworks like NARFI, are essential to shift from reactive measures to long-term prevention and resilience.
| PYQ REFERENCE [2020] Q. What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? How far do you think this programme has succeeded? |