Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 28 February 2022
Contents:
- A testing vote
- No quick fix
A testing vote
Context:
India abstains from voting on the UNSC resolution that condemned Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Relevance:
GS-II: Bilateral Groupings & Agreements, Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests
Dimensions of the Article:
- UNSC resolution against Russia:
- Sanctions to cripple Russia
- Why did India abstain from voting?
- Way Forward
UNSC resolution against Russia:
- The United States and European allies, moved a resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to condemn Russia’s actions.
- India abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution along with China and UAE
- China’s stand: China shifted from its support for Russia in the previous vote to abstention. The decision was taken by China after the U.S. and Albania, the two “penholders” of the resolution, agreed to drop the reference to Chapter VII (the authorisation of the use of force against Russian troops).
- Russia exercised its veto, which was an expected move.
- Veto power of Russia:
- Russia as a permanent member of the UNSC, can exercise its veto power to prevent the adoption of any “substantive” draft Council resolution, regardless of its level of international support.
- Russia has vetoed UNSC resolutions earlier that were critical of its decision to send troops into Georgia (2008), and Crimea (2014).
- The Western coalition was disappointed as it was unable to move India from its consistent position of abstention.
Sanctions to cripple Russia:
- The U.S. and European allies now plan to ensure a censure of Moscow’s actions at the UN General Assembly, where they already have the support of more than 80 countries.
- Following the ineffectiveness of the resolution, the U.S. and the EU has adopted unilateral sanctions.
- The move is to cripple Russia’s ability to sustain a longer assault on Ukraine
- They also excised the Russian economy from the international SWIFT transaction system.
- Additionally, the U.S., Germany and other countries have announced weapon supplies for Ukrainian forces.
- However, in the absence of direct air power assistance and foreign troops, it is unlikely that Ukraine will be able to change the balance of power in the equation with Russia easily.
Why did India abstain from voting?
- India abstaining from voting on UNSC resolution that condemned Russia’s aggression was a decision formed in advance after proper consideration issues concerning India.
- Apart from the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership, Russia is India’s most trusted P-5 ally when it comes to blocking intrusive resolutions on Kashmir.
- India, rather than offering any assistance to Ukraine, has only requested the assistance of the Ukrainian government for the safe exit of Indian students.
- India is seen focussing solely on the well-being of Indians amidst the peril faced by others.
Way Forward:
- If the War in Ukraine prolongs, India’s continued ambivalence in the issue can be seen as an active support for aggressive transgressions by a more powerful neighbour over a weaker one.
- This is one of the core issues India has protested in its own neighbourhood.
- Though the hesitation of India to act against Russia is well-understood, but India, that aspires to be a “leading power” cannot take a neutral stand on a conflict that threatens global security.
-Source: The Hindu
No quick fix
Context:
The war in Ukraine has highlighted the plight of Indian students, many of them pursuing medicine.
Relevance:
GS-II: Health, Education, Government Policies & Interventions,
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Points
- International destinations for Medical education
- Medical education in India
- Way Forward
Key Points:
- The Prime Minister of India, recently stated the following in a webinar on the Union Budget announcements on the health sector:
‘Many young Indians were going to “small countries of the world for medical education” and, therefore, the private sector should be encouraged, along with cooperation from States, to set up more medical colleges and hospitals locally so that such aspirants remain in India.’
- However, these remarks should be studied considering the dynamics of India’s complex medical education system.
International destinations for Medical education:
- Traditionally, the U.S., the U.K. and a few west European countries are the most sought-after international destinations for medical education.
- However, not many Indians can afford for it.
- In the last few decades, Russia, China (countries larger than India) and Ukraine (one of Europe’s largest countries), with their historical commitment to public health care have been able to offer more affordable, yet quality, education.
Medical education in India:
- Indian population predominantly resides in rural areas, but most of the trained medical doctors, paramedics and nurses gravitate towards cities.
- The medical education infrastructure in India is geographically limited and are well short of supplies like land, equipment, and trained faculty at the post graduate level.
- India needs to correct these abnormalities to increase the availability of medical personnel.
- The Government needs to make health care the centrepiece of its economic rebuilding.
- Finance: Historically, the health care sector in India has witnessed low spending and this has been considerably low compared to several countries.
- Shortage of medical personnel: India, barely has one doctor for every 1,000 Indians and specialists often a tenth of what is required.
- These shortcomings have lubricated the phenomenon of young Indians seeking affordable, quality, health-care education in other countries.
Way Forward:
- Merely having private establishments start medical schools, without a long-term commitment to offer necessary training and post-graduate education cannot yield the required results.
- Steps needed to improve medical education in India?
- Ease procedures for establishing medical colleges
- Spend more on infrastructure
- Provide incentives for a health-care ecosystem to develop in rural areas
- Though these steps may not be a quick-fix solution, over time this could facilitate the growth of private and public medical colleges.
- These initiatives can significantly reduce the outflow of students aspiring to be doctors from India.
-Source: The Hindu
