THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 24 July 2020 Calibrated balance: On India and non-alignment(The Hindu)

Calibrated balance: On India and non-alignment(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:International 
Prelims level: Non- Alignment Movement
Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context:

• In separate statements this week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar laid out India’s world view in the face of global challenges, many of which pull it in different directions. 
• Mr. Jaishankar’s contention was that non-alignment as a concept belonged to a bygoneera.

Non-alignment: Bygone era

• He held that multipolarity in the world necessitated that India would have to take a definite stand, and even take “risks” on issues such as connectivity, maritime security, terrorism and climate change. 
• However, he made it clear that India does not reject non-alignment in its entirety, and that while it would no longer remain disentangled from difficult decisions, it would not compromise on its independence. 
• More importantly, he said that India has “never been part of an alliance system, nor will it ever be”. 
• He added that even the U.S. must look beyond its present alliances, and engage with more multilateral arrangements. 
• Mr. Jaishankar explained that while non-alignment worked for India during the Cold War era. 
• He also opined the fact that India and China share a land boundary would always be a factor in a “new cold war” between the U.S. and China. 
• He spoke of Indo-U.S. cooperation in many fields, and the growing maritime collaboration in particular.
• However, he left unsaid the hard reality that military collaboration on land would prove problematic given India’s disputed boundary with China.

Carefully calibrated balance:

• Mr. Jaishankar’s comments are a clear-eyed assessment of India’s constraints and avenues for its potential growth. 
• The assertion of India’s strategic independence and resistance to joining any alliance comes as a timely reminder amid speculation that tensions with China will push India into a stronger clinch with Washington. 
• U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referring to the India-China clashes, the deaths of Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley last month, called for India and the U.S. to jointly “counter” China.
• The government has rightly chosen not to raise its tensions with China in any forum other than bilateral talks with Beijing. 
• Equally significant is the government’s outreach to Moscow, including a visit by Defence Minister and the participation of Mr. Jaishankar in the Russia-India-China trilateral last month. 
• External Affairs Minister’s comments that India should also seek to build coalitions with “middle powers”, such as the European Union and Japan is step in the right direction.

Conclusion:

• A time of crisis often clarifies priorities. 
• At a time of a double crisis for India — battling the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country and Chinese aggression at the border — the message from New Delhi is one of a carefully calibrated balance.
• Non-alignment as a policy must be rethought, but India must be wary of alliance systems.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka economic corridor, consider the following statements:

1. The greenfield highway is part of Sagarmala project. 
2. It will be implemented by the National Highways Authority of India.

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: B

Mains Questions:

Q.1)What is Non- Alignment Movement? What are its origin and composition? What is the relevance of NAM in the multipolar world?