THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 15 June 2020 (No longer special: On India-Nepal ties (The Hindu))

No longer special: On India-Nepal ties (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Realtions
Prelims level: India-Nepal
Mains level: India and its neighbourhood relations

Context:

• After months of brinkmanship, India and Nepal have brought their relations to the edge of a precipice.
• The Oli government’s decision to pass the constitutional amendment ratifying a change in its maps that include Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, territories that India controls, marks a decidedly new phase in ties.

Lack of diplomatic manoeuvring:

• While the issue is an old one, it resurfaced in 2019 when New Delhi published new political maps.
• These maps reflect the changes following the decision on August 5 to reorganise the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and Nepal objected to the depiction of disputed territory.
• In 2000 and 2014, India and Nepal agreed to hold talks about Kalapani and Susta, without much success.
• Matters snowballed when India’s ...................

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No space for diplomacy:

• Regardless of the truth of those accusations, or who is more responsible for the downslide in ties, the speed with which the constitutional amendment was passed has left little space for diplomacy now.
• That the vote was unanimous should also inform New Delhi of the futility of casting Mr. Oli alone as the ‘villain’ of the piece.
• It is necessary the two nations resolve their issues through dialogue lest they face more serious consequences.
• The Modi government has in the past not flinched from taking tough measures, including the 2015 blockade that severely affected India’s land-locked neighbour.

Conclusion:

• The Oli government, which seeks to build its legacy by overturning what it calls “unequal” agreements made by the monarchy, could also cause a security nightmare for India if it opens up other parts of their long boundary, and reverses old commitments on open and unsecured border posts.
• Both sides moved quickly this week to manage the fallout of border firing by Nepali police on a group of Indians that left one dead.
• The same alacrity is needed to manage the fallout of Saturday’s amendment vote, on the once celebrated “special” relationship between the two countries.

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Prelims Questions:

Q1.  With reference to the 'Shapes of Economic Recovery', consider the following statements:
1. In Z-shaped recovery the economy quickly rises after a crash.
2. In V-shaped recovery the economy quickly recoups lost ground and gets back to the normal growth trend-line.

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

Answer:

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Mains Questions:
Q1.  What are the steps needed to improve the ........................................