THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 15 July 2020 A big plan(Indian Express)

A big plan(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:International
Prelims level: Google $10 billion investment planfor India
Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Context:

On Monday, the US tech giant Google announced plans to invest $10 billion in India over the coming five to seven years through the “Google for India Digitisation Fund”.

INCREASING ENGAGEMENT:

The focus will reportedly be on bringing more high-quality low-cost smartphones to enable greater Internet access in the country.
It also aims to build new products and services in consumer technology, education, health and agriculture, and empowering small and medium businesses to transform digitally.
The move signals a stepping up of engagement between Indian and US tech firms and underlines the continued attractiveness of the country’s digital economy, even in the midst of a severe global economic slowdown.

SPLIT IN THE TECH WORLD:

Google’s decision is also indicative of a wider shift, with events over the past few weeks or so signalling a split in the tech world between the US and China.
Following India’s decision to ban the widely used Chinese app TikTok, Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, has indicated that the US administration is considering following suit.
Washington also putting pressure on countries to keep Chinese company Huawei’s equipment out of their 5G networks.
The UK, on Tuesday, banned the purchase of new Huawei equipment by its telecom operators after the end of 2020, reversing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s earlier stance.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of China passing the new national security law in Hong Kong, major US tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter have announced that they are pausing requests for user data from Hong Kong authorities.

EASIER SAID THAN DONE:

Even as these shifts are underway, however, reducing the world’s dependence on Chinese manufacturing will be a complex and costly affair.
Reconfiguring of the supply chains, most of which are centred around China, is unlikely to be achieved in the short run.
For India, which imports a significant share of its mobile/internet equipment requirements from China, and has also seen huge Chinese investments in the tech space, disentanglingthe relationship will be difficult.
For a government that has been aggressively courting foreign investment, the sheer size of the Google outlaywill be heartening, especially at a time when the economy is in the midst of a deep slowdown.
The move signals the tech major’s commitment to the Indian market, underlines the huge opportunity that exists, and signals the continuing global appeal of the India digital story.
The government should do everything it can to deepen and widen this burgeoningmarket.

CONCLUSION:

Google’s proposed $10 billion investment underlines global appeal of India's digital story, unfolding shift in tech world.
Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

E-Books Download for UPSC IAS Exams

General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Material

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), consider the following statements:

1. The Government had announced a relief package “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana" which also included relief for poor families who had availed of an LPG connection under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
2. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme, an adult woman belonging to a poor family not having LPG connection in her household, is an eligible beneficiary under the expanded scheme.

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: C