Q.1 )Considering the ongoing stand-off with China, examine the relevance and implications of including Australia in the Malabar exercise.
Why this question?
Ministry of Defence recently announced that Australia will join the Malabar 2020 naval exercise, to be held next month
Intro:
Mention recent incident at Galwan valley
Body:
- Background of India-China border tensions
- Details of Malabar exercise also mention AUSINDEX
- The relevance of the inclusion of Australia in the Malabar exercise
- The perspective of ‘Quad countries’
- Implications of the move
- A major shift for India’s Indo-Pacific plans.
- Signal to China(considering deteriorating relations of China and Australia)
- Bilateral cooperation between India-Australia etc
Conclusion:
Mention the vision of ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’
Q.2) In the light of The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook, discuss the strategic consequences of Bangladesh’s economic rise on India’s neighbourhood.
Why this question?
The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook published last week has triggered much outrage in India. The provocation was the IMF’s prediction that Bangladesh’s per capita GDP will overtake that of India this year
Intro:
Mention few stats in IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook
Body:
- Regional implications of Bangladesh’s economic success
- Begining of altering the world’s mental maps of the subcontinent
- Changing economic weights of Bangladesh and Pakistan in South Asia
- Probable acceleration in regional integration in the eastern subcontinent
- SAARC, BBIN etc
- Could boost India’s national plans to accelerate the development of its eastern and northeastern states etc
Conclusion:
Mention need for shifting the focus from legacy issues to future possibilities.
Q.3.) The Doha Accord signed between the Taliban and the U.S. has some serious implications for India. Explain. (150 words)
Why this question?
- During the pandemic, open terror attacks have been reducing, presumably because terror outfits lack resources. However with their past resilience, they continue to pose threats to modern society, especially to India and its neighbourhood.
Introduction: Mention in brief about the Doha Accord
- Implications of Doha Accord for India
- The U.S. is now less hostile to the Taliban
- The Taliban and the al-Qaeda
- Training support received from Pakistan
Conclusion: India should keep a particularly close eye on the al-Qaeda and the Islamic State because there is evidence that their recruitment remains undiminished by the problems posed by the pandemic.
