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Delhi Edition of The Hindu
Redrawing the arc of influence Indian diplomacy needs to display higher levels of sophistication for New Delhi to play a global role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi s schedule of foreign visits has been extremely impressive. Taking the two most recent visits, for example, one can easily see the contrast in outcomes. 1)- U.S. visit was a carefully calibrated one producing few surprises, despite the U.S. President having a reputation of being highly unpredictable. Prime Minister charted a time-tested course, concentrating mainly on counter-terrorism and the defence security partnership, avoiding contentious trade-related issues. The naming of the Hizbul Mujahedeen chief as a specially designated global terrorist and a new consultation mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations listing proposals were the high points of the counter-terrorism agenda. India s position as a major defence partner and -> Sale of the Guardian Unmanned Aerial System -> deepening security and defence cooperation.
Continue 2)-In the case of Israel, this being the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister Elevation of the India-Israel relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. Main focus of the visit was on defence cooperation, joint development of defence products and transfer of technology. Most of the agreements signed related to transfer of technology and innovative technologyrelated items and Israeli export rules are far more flexible than those of the U.S. Both countries also expressed a strong commitment to combat terror.
Continue Euphoria(उत स ह) of the visit cannot, however, conceal(छ प न ) China s importance for Israel. China is a far bigger investor and trading partner of Israel than India. On this occasion, India and Israel decided to set up a $40 million Innovation Fund to allow Indian and Israeli enterprises to develop innovative technologies and products for commercial applications, but it is clearly dwarfed by the Israel-China comprehensive innovation partnership which has an outlay of $300 million. India and Israel also have differences over China s BRI: Israel is eager to participate in it, unlike India. India s diplomacy-> currently facing heavy odds are China and Pakistan. China s influence in Iran today appears to be at an all time high, whereas India s influence seems to be diminishing
Continue China has been successful in winning quite a few friends among India s neighbours such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Russia-> close relations recently established with China. India-Russia relations appear less robust than at any time in the past half century India s Act East and Look West policies have given a new dimension to Indian diplomacy in both East and West Asia. Especially in West Asia, Indian diplomacy still lacks the nimbleness(चत र) required to deal with fast-changing situations. 9-million strong diaspora, and the region being its principal source of oil, India is not a major player today. Both Russia and China have overtaken India in the affairs of the region. This is particularly true of Iran where the Russia-China-Iran
Continue Most recent challenge->qatar to the existing order in the West Asian region. Act East policy has produced better results. Closer relations with countries in East and South East Asia, especially Japan and Vietnam, are a positive development. What Indian diplomacy currently needs to do is to find a way to steer amid an assertive China, a hostile Pakistan, an uncertain South Asian and West Asian neighbourhood, and an unstable world. The strategic and security implications of these, individually and severally, need to be carefully validated and pursued. Indian diplomacy may possibly need to display still higher levels of sophistication to overcome the odds.
That sinking feeling Government s own data suggest the economy is in a deep hole Prime Minister->his Independence Day address, spoke triumphantly about how demonetisation drove 3 lakh crore of unaccounted money into the banking system. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is still counting old notes, and unaccounted money cases are ongoing-> Thus, this number is at best a guesstimate, and cannot be taken seriously. Economic Survey II Survey states that GDP growth will miss the targeted 6.75% to 7.5%. The Survey thus confirms that demonetisation ambushed a slowing economy. Consequently, core GVA, i.e. private business activity, dropped steeply from 11% in March 2016 to 4% in March 2017.
Gross value added (GVA) is the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy, in economics. In national accounts GVA is output minus intermediate consumption GVA = GDP + subsidies - (direct, sales) taxes
Continue Survey shows how demonetisation devastated the informal sector Construction, which absorbs migrant labour, was also badly hit. Demonetisation badly affected farmers incomes resulting in a loss of demand, lowering food prices. Additionally, hasty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has paralysed the informal manufacturing sector which lives on the edge, often saddled with debt. Twin balance sheets problem. Non-performing assets (NPAs).
Continue Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy reports that 1.5 million jobs were lost during January-April 2017. Ignoring his own promise of creating two crore jobs a year, Mr. Modi exhorted jobseekers to become job creators. Mr. Modi extolled the job-creating impact of the MUDRA loan scheme. In contrast, MUDRA s CEO is on record saying that it cannot be verified that the agency has created large numbers of jobs Overall, the real state of India s economy is deeply worrying. Unfortunately, Economic Survey II s numbers suggest that the economy has actually been derailed. The sooner the government understands this, the better.
News Analysis Page-1,10- T.N. to probe Jayalalithaa s death Former CM s residence in Chennai to be made a public memorial, says CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Continue Page-6- Do you want to destroy Taj, Supreme Court asks govt The scathing remarks by the apex court came during the hearing of an application seeking its nod to cut over 400 trees to lay an additional railway track between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
Continue Page-7- At 706 crore, BJP gets lion s share of corporate donations, says report It received nearly three times the combined funding for other four national parties, according to ADR-> Association for Democratic Reforms
Continue Page-7- E-toll lane on all national highways from Sept. 1 All toll plazas on national highways will have electronic toll collection facility->known as FASTags, beginning September 1. FASTags is a device that can be installed on the windshield of any vehicle, and toll payments can be made directly from the pre-paid account linked to it. Hence such vehicles do not have to stop at toll plazas for payment of fees. All 371 national highway toll plazas from September 1, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman Deepak Kumar FASTags are valid for five years and can be recharged online through debit or credit card and internet banking.
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Continue Page-10- Pangong scu e a routine affair A local flag meeting between military commanders of India And China in Eastern Ladakh on Wednesday has agreed to maintain peace in the area. The meeting came in the wake of incidents of scuffle and stone-throwing between the two sides at Pangong lake on Tuesday.
Last Day- Q s- Ans Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) - Article 148 to 151 - Part V Elephant Census 2017->Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change, Government of India 5 writs in ARTICLE 32 is: 1. Habeas corpus 2. Mandamus 3. Ceritiorari 4. Prohibition 5. Writ of quo- warranto
Last Day- Q s- Ans Five Writs in Indian Constitution - Indian Constitution empowers Supreme Court to issue writs for enforcement of any of the FRs conferred by part 3 of Indian Article 32. Thus the power to issue writs is primarily a provision made to make available the " Right to Constitutional Remedies " to every citizen. (i) Habeas Corpus - It means " You may have the body " - To release a person who has been detained unlawfully whether in prison or in public custody (ii) Mandamus - It means " We command " - To secure the performance of public duties by lower court, tribunal or public authority (iii)prohibition - The purpose is " To prohibit an in inferior court from continuing the proceedings in a particular case where It has no jurisdiction (iv) Cartiorari - It means " To be Certified " - To Quash the Order already passed by an inferior court, tribunal or quasi judicial authority (v) Quo Warranto - It means " What is Your Authority? " - To restraint a person from holding a public office which he is not entitled