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Nuclear fusion and the future of clean energy

Introduction: Fusion reactors have long been seen as a holy grail for clean energy production, but
they have faced significant obstacles. However, a recent breakthrough at the National Ignition
Facility (NIF) has rejuvenated hope for achieving this goal.
• Global investment in fusion technology has risen sharply, and India has emerged as a major
player in the field.
• The country has a long history of research in fusion and has developed its own indigenous
tokamaks.
• India is also a member of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
project, which is building the world's largest tokamak reactor.
However, India lags behind in private investment in fusion technology. This is due to the Atomic
Energy Act of 1962, which puts the brunt of developing and running nuclear power stations on the
government.
The commercial production of energy via fusion reactors may be at least a decade off, but India has
a golden opportunity to take advantage of the novelty of the situation. The NIF experiment has
opened up a new avenue for achieving nuclear fusion through inertial confinement, and India should
invest in this technology. This would not only offer a reliable substitute for fossil fuels in the future,
but also ensure that India reaches its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 well ahead
of time.
Recommendations:
• The Indian government should overturn the ban on foreign investment in the nuclear power
industry and allow greater participation by domestic private firms.
• India should invest in inertial confinement fusion technology, which has the potential to be
more efficient and cost-effective than tokamak-based fusion reactors.
• India should work with other countries to develop international standards and regulations for
fusion power plants.
Conclusion: By taking these steps, India can position itself as a leader in the development of fusion
energy and ensure that it has a reliable source of clean energy for the future.

Fostering eco-friendly public transport: Evaluating the case of

trams in Indian cities
Introduction - Trams were once a common sight in Indian cities, but they were discontinued post-
Independence due to a range of factors, including low ridership, operating losses, and inefficient
technology. However, in recent times, there has been a renewed interest in trams as a way to tackle
traffic congestion and improve air quality in Indian cities.
The National Urban Transport Policy 2014 recognises the need for viable and modernised urban
public transport, and suggests that trams can play a crucial role in this. However, there are a number
of challenges that need to be addressed before tram networks can be successfully implemented in
Indian cities. These include:
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• Apathy of governing agencies: At a local level, there is often a lack of interest and support
from governing agencies for tram projects.
• Limited financial capabilities: Tram projects can be expensive to implement, and many Indian
cities struggle to find the necessary funding.
• Fragmented institutional framework: There is often a lack of coordination between different
government agencies involved in transport planning and implementation.
Despite these challenges, there are a number of Indian cities that are exploring the possibility of
introducing tram networks. For example, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA) is exploring the possibility of introducing trams in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) office
hub, and the Delhi state government is mulling over the idea of trackless trams in the older parts of
the city.
If implemented successfully, tram networks could help Indian cities to reduce dependence on private
vehicles, decongest roads, and improve air quality. This would be in line with India's national
commitments to environmental sustainability and reduction of carbon emissions.
Recommendations:
• The central government should provide financial and technical support to Indian cities that are
interested in implementing tram networks.
• State governments should streamline the institutional framework for transport planning and
implementation to make it easier to implement tram projects.
• Governing agencies should be more supportive of tram projects and should work with other
stakeholders to ensure their success.
Conclusion: By taking these steps, India can make trams a viable and affordable mode of public
transport in its cities.

Dynamics of women’s empowerment in Indian politics

Introduction: The passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in India is a historic step towards
achieving gender equity and empowerment.

However, legislative quotas alone cannot fully address the complexities of this issue. The critical
mass theory suggests that a large number of women in legislatures can lead to a shift in attitudes and
political processes.

Morever, gender empowerment also requires a bottom-up approach, focusing on the lowest strata of
the socioeconomic hierarchy.

Recommendations:

• The government should implement policies and programs that promote women's education,
economic independence, and political participation at the grassroots level.

• Civil society organizations should play a role in raising awareness about gender equality and
empowering women at the community level.

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• Men should be actively engaged in the process of women's empowerment, challenging gender
stereotypes and promoting gender equality in all spheres of life.

• True empowerment necessitates a sociopolitical transformation at the grassroots level,

characterized by women's access to education, equal opportunities, economic independence,
and political independence.

Conclusion : Therefore, it is important to adopt a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to

women's empowerment in India. Legislative representation is a critical aspect, but it must be
complemented by measures that empower women at the grassroots level.

The Geopolitics of the New India-Middle East-Europe

Corridor
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a new initiative to develop a rail and
shipping corridor connecting India to Europe via the Middle East. The project is significant from an
infrastructure and connectivity perspective as well as from a geopolitical angle.

IMEC is being developed by a consortium of countries, including the United States, India, Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union. The project
involves two separate corridors – the east corridor, which connects India to the Arabian Gulf, and
the northern corridor, which connects the Arabian Gulf to Europe.

IMEC is expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic
integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe. The project will also help to create reliable
and secure regional supply chains, better trade accessibility, and trade facilitation.

The IMEC partners are still in the early stages of planning, but they have already identified a number
of potential routes for the corridor. The routes will connect several ports along the way, including
Haifa in Israel, Piraeus in Greece, and three ports on the west coast of India.

The IMEC partners are expected to meet in November to start firming up the details of the project.
The proposed cost of IMEC is not yet available, but it is estimated to be in the billions of dollars.

IMEC is being touted as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the BRI is
much larger in scale and scope than IMEC. Nevertheless, IMEC could dent China's efforts by
offering the developing world a viable alternative.

The IMEC partner countries have the right ingredients to cause some concern in Beijing. They are all
technologically and financially capable countries, and they are united in their desire to offer an
alternative to the BRI.

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 28 & 29 SEPTEMBER – SUMMARY OF ORF EDITORIALS/ARTICLES – BY VYASA IAS

Women’s participation in India’s trade ecosystem

Introduction: India's trade ecosystem does not include enough women. Women's participation in
trade and trade-related services is limited to production and manufacturing, and is significantly lower
in higher levels of trade value chains.

There are a number of barriers to women's participation in India's trade industry, including:

• Gender gap in education, skills, and training: Women are less likely to have the education
and skills required for high-value trade jobs.

• Occupational sex-segregation: Women are often concentrated in low-paying, low-status trade

jobs.

• Gender wage gap: Women are paid less than men for doing the same work.

• Limited connectivity and lack of safe public transport: Many trade jobs require travel to
remote locations, which can be difficult and unsafe for women.

• Threat of harassment and other socio-cultural problems: Women face harassment and
other challenges in the workplace, as well as in their personal lives.

Possible solutions:

• India's upcoming policy cycle must recognise women's roles in trade and consider gender
separately. Gender disaggregated data must be compiled to develop effective government
initiatives and policies that will create more opportunities for women.

• A gender-responsive trade policy would also consider suitable measures for women-intensive
industries such as jewellery, food processing, and textiles, especially ensuring fair and liveable
wages for workers.

• Indian policymakers and external parties, including private enterprises and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), that are committed to promoting women's representation and gender
equality in trade should aim to utilise multilateral initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), and India's
G20 Presidency in 2023.

• Most importantly, the voices of women stakeholders must be represented and heard at trade
associations and in government consultations while domestic reforms and capacity-building
projects must work in tandem with trade policy.

Conclusion: By addressing these barriers, India can create a more inclusive trade ecosystem that
benefits all.

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 28 & 29 SEPTEMBER – SUMMARY OF ORF EDITORIALS/ARTICLES – BY VYASA IAS

The Kautilyan legacy of spycraft and the India-Canada

diplomatic row
Kautilya's Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on state and statecraft, emphasizes the
importance of internal security for the welfare of a state. He defines internal security as
the "security of a state within its existing boundaries and acquiring new territory to enlarge
it."

Kautilya argues that sound intelligence is the bedrock of statecraft and that the king with
the eyes of intelligence and political science can overcome rival kings even if they possess
greater economic and military resources and personal valour. He identifies three kinds of
intelligence: collection-centric, cognition-centric, and action-centric.

The Arthashastra delineates four kinds of dangers in the realm of internal security:

• Outer-inner: Danger instigated from outside and responded to from within.

• Inner-outer: Danger instigated from within and responded to from outside.

• Outer-outer: Danger instigated and responded to from outside.

• Inner-inner: Danger instigated and responded to from within.

For each type of danger, Kautilya prescribes counter measures based on the type of
association and the target audience.

• Outer-inner and inner-outer: Success over the one who responds is more
advantageous because the respondents are full of guile. Respondents from the interior
should be placated with conciliation and gifts, while respondents from the outside
should be dealt with dissension and force.

• Outer-outer and inner-inner: Success over the instigator is more advantageous

because the guile is only with those instigating sedition. Individual traitors in the
outer region should be dealt with dissension, force, and secret punishment, while those
in the interior should be dealt with "means as deserved."

Implications for modern states

• It is important to note that Kautilya's treatise was written in a very different time
and place. The challenges of internal security in the modern world are more
complex and multifaceted than those faced by Kautilya's rulers.

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• Modern states need to develop sophisticated intelligence gathering and analysis

capabilities to identify and assess internal security threats. They also need to be able
to respond to these threats in a timely and effective manner, using a mix of
suppressive and remedial measures.
• It is also important to ensure that the use of intelligence and security powers is
subject to robust oversight and accountability mechanisms.

Canada Sikh activism–India: Outer-Outer

• In a modern nation-state system, where rule of law is fundamental to international peace
and stability, and relations between states are grounded in accountability, transparency,
and fairness, Kautilyan prescriptions need to be interpreted and adapted.
• India should stand up to any political, ideological, or material support given to any
terrorist/extremist organisation in any part of the world that threatens India’s sovereignty
and territoriality.
• The current imbroglio has given India an opportunity to send a clear signal to Canada, and
through it to India’s adversaries and partners, about its zero-tolerance for any form of
external abetment that jeopardises its national security.
• India needs to leverage its geopolitical clout to exterminate extremist safe havens abroad
as much (if not more) as it does to strike defence and technology deals, or establish
collaborative economic corridors.

Conclusion: If there is one lesson that the Arthashastra teaches modern, independent India, it
is the paramount importance of internal security.

Data-driven policy recommendations to strengthen nutrition

interventions in India
Introduction : Global nutrition crisis is one of the critical societal challenges of the 21st century. It
is impacting health, socio-economic indicators, and the environment.

• An estimated 828 million people experienced hunger in 2021, and 924 million experienced
severe food insecurity.
• Poor nutrition is linked to 45% of deaths among children under five years of age in low- and
middle-income countries.
• South Asia has the highest prevalence of stunting, along with sub-Saharan Africa and
Central Asia.
• India reports the highest burden of undernutrition among children in South Asia.
• India has made progress in reducing malnutrition, but the burden is still high compared to
the Asia region average.

Policy recommendations

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• It is important to understand the burden of malnutrition at the state level and the context
where interventions are implemented.
• A robust data infrastructure and real-time monitoring of nutrition indicators are needed to
capture the extent of the problem.
• Data-driven, context-specific, integrated, and holistic policy interventions at the state level
are needed to address acute and chronic malnutrition in India.
• Policymakers and stakeholders must work together to develop and implement effective
nutrition programs. This requires a holistic approach that considers the social, economic,
and environmental determinants of malnutrition.

Conclusion: The global nutrition crisis is a complex and multifaceted problem. It is important to
address the underlying causes of malnutrition, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Targeted interventions are needed to reach the most vulnerable populations, including women,
children, and adolescents.

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