The Hindu News Analysis – 14th December 2023 – Shankar IAS Academy

S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1 SC holds arbitration deals in unstamped contracts to be valid 14 14 12 10 12

2 Gaza, a new pointer to India’s changed world view 10 10 6 6 8

3 IMF clears second tranche of $337 mn for Sri Lanka 16 16 14 12 14

4
RoDTEP: U.S., EU slap countervailing duties on four Indian 15 15 13 11 13
goods

5 Prelims Practice Questions @ end of the video

*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

Pg: 14 – C, B;
Pg: 12 – D, T ;
Pg: 10 – H ;
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

• Method of resolving a dispute without going

to the court.

• ADR Process - confidential and less formal

than traditional court proceedings.

Benefits

• Arriving at creative solutions with long

lasting outcomes,

• Greater satisfaction & improved relations.

• Saves money.

• Speedy settlement of disputes.

Methods of ADR
Mediation
Arbitration
• Meditator - help the parties in reaching an
• Dispute is submitted to an arbitral tribunal.
agreement.
• Arbitrator in the tribunal - hears arguments
• Mediator does not make decision.
and evidence from each side.
• Final decision - made by the parties.
• Decision - mostly binding on the parties.
Negotiation
• No appeal - but allowed in rare cases.
• Disputed parties settle the disputes among
Conciliation
themselves with or without mediator.
• Studying of issue with the help of Conciliator.
• Even if a negotiator is involved, his role is
• Conciliator - prepares a report & facilitates often limited.
settlement.
• Bargaining - common feature of negotiation.
• Report - not binding on the parties.
 UPSC PYQ - 2010
Lok Adalat / Peoples court Q. With reference to Lok Adalats, which of the
following statements is correct?
• Settlement of disputes or cases pending in
the court of law or at pre-litigation stage.
(a) Lok Adalats have the jurisdiction to
settle the matters at pre-litigative stage
• Statutory recognition - Legal Services and not those matters pending before
Authorities Act, 1987. any court.
(b) Lok Adalats can deal with matters which
• Decision - deemed to be order of civil court.
are civil and not criminal in nature.
• Decision is final and binding on the parties. (c) Every Lok Adalat consists of either
serving or retired judicial officers only
• If parties are not satisfied - they are free
and not any other person.
to approach the court.
(d) None of the statements given above is
correct.
Pg: 10 – C, B;
Pg: 6 – D, H ;
Pg: 8 – T ;

Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
“What does the concept of 'Strategic
Autonomy' entail? Why did India adopt
‘Strategic Autonomy’ as a cornerstone of its
foreign policy? Offer examples showcasing
instances where India's foreign policy has
emphasized Strategic autonomy?”
(250 words, 15 marks)
Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international
importance.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies‐II: Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests.
Introduction

• Strategic autonomy - ability of a state to

pursue its own national interests
Independently.

• Preferring a foreign policy - No constraint

by any other states.

• Advantage - Enable a state to resist any

external pressures to change its stand or
policies.

 India - actively pursuing this policy in

Inter-national relations.
Body of the answer

India & Strategic autonomy.

• Historical Reasons.
• India - Developing power cannot afford to
 After Independence. lose co-operation with super powers.

 India didn’t join any of the blocs of  Multi-polar co-operation - fight own evils.
cold war.
• Independent voice in the Global arena.
 “Strategic autonomy” principle - Shaped
 Spirit of Indian moralism – India stood for
India’s Foreign Policy.
International Justice, Human Rights, Rights
 It led to the birth of “non-alignment”, of Global south etc
or equidistance between the
superpowers.
2 Case studies - India’s strategic autonomy • India abstained - UNGA resolution for an

• UN voting of 1947 - partitioning British Immediate truce in Gaza.

Mandate Territory of Palestine into two  Reasons - Failed to condemn the terror
states, Israel and Palestine - India voted attacks in Israel.
against it.
• India voiced for the humanitarian pause in
• India - 1st non-Arab country to recognise the valley & sent aid to Gaza.
the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) • Balancing - Humanitarian issue & fight
in 1974 & recognise the Palestinian state in against terrorism.
1988.
• Rising Aspirations of the country.

 India’s Policy - aligned with India’s • Strategic Flexibility - Aligning policy with its
Economic growth and security. growth and world peace.

• India - Advocate of Ending war between

 For example – India refused to Join the
Russia and Ukraine RCEP trade agreement.

 Defending own economic and energy  Advocates for more free trade & bilateral
security interests. trade agreements to maximise the benefits.

 India's imports from Russia rose by a

 For example – FTA with UAE and Australia
whopping 64% during this fiscal. etc.

• India got waiver Under CAATSA of USA to

import S-400 Triumph missile defence system.
Strategic Autonomy - 2.0

• Multi-alignment approach.
Conclusion.
 In the era of multi-polar world with
• Many challenges of the policies - criticized
diversified supply chain of growth.
for the Strategic silence on the various
 Eg : India chaired both SCO and G-20 issues.
in 2023 - India is a partner for the
• India is actively pursuing this policy &
both camps of the world.
balancing the National Interests with global
• India reversed its historical stand of peace & humanity.
hypenation of Ties with Israel and Palestine.
 Idea of Balancing - India should keep in
 India - de- hypenation approach of mind the founding values of the nation.
separately Engaging with both of the
• Balance - Ideals vs Real Politik.
countries.

• Issue based Co-operation to the countries.

Pg: 16 – C, B;
Pg: 14 – D, T ;
Pg: 12 – H ;
International Monetary Fund or IMF:

• Established in 1944.

• Aim - oversee the stability of the world's • Provides policy advices and provides for
monetary system. capacity development.

• Supports economic policies that promote • Financial assistance

financial stability and monetary cooperation.
 General Resources Account (GRA) - non-
• Critical missions of IMF: concessional account.

 Furthering international monetary  Poverty Reduction and Growth (PRGT) -

cooperation. low-income countries can borrow at

 Encouraging expansion of trade and concessional rates.

economic growth, and • IMF does not lend for specific projects.

 Discouraging policies that would harm

prosperity.
Special Drawing Right (SDR):

• Supplementary international reserve asset

created to supplement the official reserves of
its member countries.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), consider the following statements:
1. It was established to ensure exchange rate
stability and eliminate exchange restrictions.
2. It provides financial support at zero interest
rates through the Poverty Reduction and
Growth Trust (PRGT).
3. Unlike development banks, the IMF does
not lend for specific projects.
How many of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Pg: 15 – C, B;
Pg: 13 – D, T ;
Pg: 11 – H ;
Countervailing Duty (CVD)

• A tariff - levied on imported goods.

• Purpose

 To neutralize the negative effects of

subsidies given to the producers in
the originating country of goods.

 To protect the domestic producers.

• WTO - considers export subsidies as

an unfair trade practice.

• WTO’s agreement - Agreement on Subsidies

and Countervailing Measures.

 Contains procedure - When CVD can be

imposed by an importing nation.
Difference between CVD and Anti-dumping duty

Countervailing Duty (CVD)

• Imposed on imported goods in order to

counter the negative impact of subsidies.

Anti-dumping duty

• Imposed on imported products that are

priced below the fair market value.

• Purpose - to protect the domestic industry

from the damages caused by the dumping of
low-priced goods.
 UPSC PYQ - 2013
Q. The balance of payments of a country is a
systematic record of
(a) All import and export transactions of a
country during a given period of time,
normally a year.
(b) Goods exported from a country during a
year.
(c) Economic transaction between the
government of one country to another.
(d) Capital movements from one country to
another.
 UPSC PYQ - 2010
Q. With reference to Lok Adalats, which of the
following statements is correct?
(a) Lok Adalats have the jurisdiction to
settle the matters at pre-litigative stage
and not those matters pending before
any court.
(b) Lok Adalats can deal with matters which
are civil and not criminal in nature.
(c) Every Lok Adalat consists of either
serving or retired judicial officers only
and not any other person.
(d) None of the statements given above is
correct.
 UPSC PYQ - 2013
Q. The balance of payments of a country is a
systematic record of
(a) All import and export transactions of a
country during a given period of time,
normally a year.
(b) Goods exported from a country during a
year.
(c) Economic transaction between the
government of one country to another.
(d) Capital movements from one country to
another.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), consider the following statements:
1. It was established to ensure exchange rate
stability and eliminate exchange restrictions.
2. It provides financial support at zero interest
rates through the Poverty Reduction and
Growth Trust (PRGT).
3. Unlike development banks, the IMF does not
lend for specific projects.
How many of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Best Loot Deals
Telegram
Channel in India
Never Miss
Any Loot Deals Get Super Deals
Upto 85% Off

We Provide Here Daily

Big Loot Deals