THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 02 March 2020 (Regional bonding (The Hindu))

Regional bonding (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Mains level: India and its neighbourhood relations

Context:

• At a time when India has more or less shut down all conversations on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and walked away from the ASEAN-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s push for regional economic integration and for India-Pakistan dialogue should be studied carefully by New Delhi.

Suggestions given by Mr. Wickremesinghe:

• Mr. Wickremesinghe set out a number of suggestions.
• He blamed India-Pakistan tensions for bringing economic integration within the SAARC region to a “standstill”, explaining that the original purpose of the South Asian group was to build a platform where bilateral issues could be set aside in the interest of regional growth.
• Decrying the .....................................

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Major challenges:

• The government has made it clear that talks with Pakistan are strictly off the table, and that a SAARC summit, which has not been held since 2014, is unlikely to be convened anytime soon.
• The government, which has taken a protectionist turn on multilateral trade pacts, is relying more on direct bilateral deals with countries rather than overarching ones that might expose Indian markets to flooding by Chinese goods.
• For any regional sub-grouping in South Asia to flourish, it is India that will have to make the most concessions given the vast trade deficits India’s neighbours have at present, which it may not wish to do.

Conclusion:

• The overall projection that India’s global reach will be severely constrained unless it is integrated with its neighbours, and tensions with Pakistan are resolved, cannot be refuted. India needs to be more accommodative for the realisation of its ambitions

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Prelims Questions:

Q1. With reference to the Khelo India Winter Games, consider the following statements:
1. The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports recently inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Winter Games at Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
2. A total of three winter sporting competitions are being held during the Ladakh leg of Khelo India Winter Games, these are – Open Ice Hockey Championship, Figure Skating, Speed Skating.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Mains Questions:
Q1. India needs to engage with its neighbours for the realisation of its global ambitions. Critically analyse the statement.