Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 17 January 2025

Content:

1. Great anniversaries of peace initiatives, a role for India
2. An alliance of democracies with India at its core
3. Gates in the sky

Great Anniversaries of peace initiatives, a role for India

Introduction:

• 80th Anniversary of the First Nuclear Test (July 16, 1945): Marks the first detonation of a nuclear weapon by the United States, opening the era of nuclear weapons.

• 80th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings (August 1945): Direct consequences of the nuclear test, with massive civilian casualties and widespread devastation.

• 70th Anniversary of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto (1955): A call to halt nuclear weapon development, led by prominent scientists like Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein, warning of the potential destruction of humanity.

• 70th Anniversary of the Avadi Resolution (January 17, 1955): India’s significant political step towards advocating for the total prohibition of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

Relevance : GS 2 (Governance, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations)

Practice Question: Discuss the significance of the Avadi Resolution (1955) in the context of global nuclear disarmament efforts. How can India play a pivotal role in leading future peace initiatives concerning nuclear weapons?(250 Words)

Relevance of the Avadi Resolution

• The resolution called for the prohibition of nuclear weapons and stressed the existential threat posed to civilization.

• It aligned with the scientific calls for disarmament, particularly echoing the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, reinforcing the urgency of nuclear disarmament in the face of escalating global tensions.

• India’s role as a nuclear state has evolved, but its foundational call for a peaceful world remains relevant today.

Current Global Nuclear Threats

• Nuclear Arms and Geopolitics: The revision of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, NATO’s missile deployments, and the instability in the Israel-Palestine conflict illustrate the escalating risks of nuclear warfare.

• Non-state Actors: The growing risk of non-state actors acquiring nuclear capabilities, especially via cyber pathways and Artificial Intelligence, represents a new frontier of nuclear threat.

• Deterrence and Arms Control: While the world still maintains nuclear weapons, the emphasis on deterrence and arms control has weakened, and the nuclear arsenal remains dangerously high (12,100 warheads globally).

India’s Position and Responsibility

• As a nuclear weapons state, India is uniquely positioned to advocate for global peace and nuclear disarmament.

• The Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan (1988) demonstrated India’s commitment to a nuclear-free world, showing India’s ability to lead peace initiatives.

• India’s Call for Leadership: India must take proactive steps to prevent nuclear conflict by leading a new conference on mass annihilation prevention, building on the legacy of Avadi and Russell-Einstein.

• India’s voice is crucial to bridge gaps between nuclear powers and to prevent an impending global disaster.

Global Denial of Nuclear Threats

• The world remains largely in denial about the real and immediate threats of nuclear annihilation.

• The metaphor of the 2004 tsunami and recent California wildfires underscores how, like these natural calamities, the nuclear threat is underestimated until it becomes too late.

• India must champion peace initiatives to prevent the world from facing a future of nuclear conflict or Armageddon.

An Alliance of Democracies With India At Its Core

Global Geopolitical Context

• 2024: Super-Election Year: The year 2024 marked a period of political change across democracies, providing an opportunity for nations to reassess global alliances, particularly between Europe and India.

• EU-India Relations: Historically centered around on/off Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, these relations need to evolve into a broader strategic partnership, focusing not only on trade but also on defence, economic security, technology, and global governance.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)

Practice Question:Evaluate the strategic importance of a closer EU-India relationship in the context of global geopolitical challenges. How can both sides overcome existing hurdles and build a robust alliance of democracies?(250 Words)

Challenges to Strengthening EU-India Ties

• Trade Barriers: The EU and India face significant barriers to establishing a comprehensive FTA. Although negotiations have been ongoing for nearly two decades, the political and bureaucratic processes continue to hinder progress.

• India’s Neutrality in Global Conflicts: India’s cautious stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its historical ties to Russia and China complicate its full alignment with the West. While India’s rivalry with China is significant, it does not want to be forced into a binary conflict between democratic and autocratic blocs.

• Double Standards in Europe’s Expectations: Europe’s demand for India to sever ties with Russia while ignoring its own dependence on China has led to accusations of hypocrisy.

The Need for Strategic Realignment

• Geopolitical Interdependence: The outcomes in the Atlantic (Europe-U.S.) directly affect the Indo-Pacific, where India is a key player. A unified democratic alliance can counterbalance the growing influence of autocratic states.

Practical Steps for Strengthening EU-India Relations

• Trade and Investment: In the absence of a full FTA, India and the EU should focus on pragmatic, piecemeal trade agreements that break down existing barriers. The goal should be to foster economic cooperation, with India emerging as a ‘Trusted Partner’ in key sectors like raw materials and pharmaceuticals.

• Defence Cooperation: India already enjoys strong defence ties with the U.S., but Europe can play a crucial role by supporting India’s security through enhanced defence cooperation. This includes increasing EU-India discussions on defence and space cooperation, areas where both have ambitious plans.

• Technology and Innovation: The EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) holds significant potential, especially in areas such as critical and emerging technologies. Inspired by U.S.-India initiatives like iCET, this cooperation can propel India to the forefront of global research in emerging technologies like quantum computing and biotech, competing against China’s growing technological dominance.

Future of EU-India Strategic Partnership

• People-to-People Ties: Strengthening people-to-people connections can enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, complementing the broader strategic and economic ties.

• India as a Core Member of the Alliance: The ultimate goal is to position India as the central figure in a broader alliance of democracies, with Europe and the U.S. at the helm. This alliance can serve as a powerful counter to autocratic powers, combining the strengths of three globally influential democracies.

Challenges Within Democracies

• Internal Democratic Challenges: Both India and Europe face their own internal challenges to democracy. It is crucial for these democracies to collaborate in addressing these issues, creating a more resilient and unified global democratic front.

• Global Leadership: The combined leadership of Europe, India, and the U.S. can become a formidable force in defending democratic values, addressing global challenges like climate change, economic inequality, and human rights, while countering autocratic regimes.

Gates in the sky

Context :  ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission

• Launch of PSLV-C60: On December 30, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C60 mission, marking a significant step in its space exploration capabilities. The primary payload was the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), which involved demonstrating orbital rendezvous and docking, a crucial technology for future space missions.

• Docking Milestones: While the mission faced delays and abortive attempts, the satellites successfully docked on January 16, 2025. This docking was followed by tests to exchange electric power and undocking, before moving on to the satellites’ payload testing over the next two years.

Relevance : GS 3(Space)

Practice Question: Analyze the strategic significance of ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) for India’s future space missions. How does docking technology contribute to long-duration spaceflight and interplanetary exploration?(250 Words)

Importance of Docking Technology

• Enabling Complex Missions: Docking technology allows space components to be launched separately and assembled in space. This capability is vital for more complex missions that require heavier spacecraft than current rockets can launch.

• By assembling spacecraft in orbit, space agencies can bypass the limitations of Earth’s gravity and atmosphere, enabling interplanetary missions and long-duration spaceflights.

• Gateway to Interplanetary Exploration: One such mission that benefits from docking technology is the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission, which will require a modular spacecraft capable of docking in orbit.

• This technology opens doors for ambitious space missions, including those targeting Mars, deep space exploration, and resource extraction from asteroids.

Challenges in Space Docking

• Delays and Uncertainties: Despite the advanced technology, space docking is fraught with technical challenges. The docking attempt was postponed multiple times (initially expected on January 7, then January 9, and eventually January 16), illustrating the difficulty of achieving precise orbital mechanics in real-time. These delays are part of the learning curve in developing new space technologies.

• Data Collection and Testing: Each docking attempt was a data-gathering effort, as ISRO collected information about satellite displacement and other technical aspects. These tests were crucial for refining docking technology and ensuring its reliability in future missions.

Strategic Importance of Docking for India’s Space Program

• Long-Duration Spaceflights: Docking technology is particularly relevant for missions like Mars exploration and space-mining operations, which require long-duration flights and the ability to resupply spacecraft in orbit. This makes docking an essential tool for India’s aspirations in deep space exploration.

• Cost Reduction and New Opportunities: The ability to assemble spacecraft in space will significantly reduce the cost of launching large interplanetary spacecraft. This is especially important for countries like India, where space agencies face budget constraints and need to maximize the utility of each mission.

• Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): ISRO’s plans for the BAS, which is expected to be launched later this decade, will rely heavily on docking technology. The station will serve as a hub for research, orbital servicing, and potentially as a platform for space exploration missions. The success of SpaDeX and future docking experiments will lay the foundation for these ambitious goals.

Future Implications for ISRO and Global Space Exploration

• Global Collaboration and Competition: As docking technology becomes a key component of space exploration, India’s advancements in this field will allow it to compete with other spacefaring nations, such as the U.S., Russia, and China, while also opening the door for greater international collaboration in space missions.

• Technology and Research Opportunities: The success of SpaDeX will pave the way for ISRO to expand its capabilities in satellite servicing, orbital resupply, and even the potential for future space tourism. These opportunities align with the broader global trend of reducing the cost of space exploration and increasing its accessibility.