29th September 2024

Article: 29^th September, 2024

Topic: Global Governance Reforms

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – International Relations

Source: News on AIR

Context

• India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasized India’s position on global governance reforms in his speech to the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York.

About

• India outlined its opinions on the following three crucial areas of reforming global governance:
• Restructuring the United Nations and its affiliated organizations,
• Restructuring the Global Financial System and
• The Multilateral Trade System Reform.

UN and its affiliated bodies reform

• Current Situation: Since the UN’s founding in 1945, the world order has grown increasingly multipolar and interconnected.
• In spite of this, a small number of powerful nations control the UN, especially the UN Security Council.

• India’s Argument: The UN, particularly the UNSC, finds it difficult to address contemporary issues like terrorism, climate change, or conflicts in various regions, due to its outdated structure.
• India has long aspired to be a permanent member of the UNSC, arguing that the body ought to represent the balance of power around the world.
  
  

Restructuring the Global Financial System

• Current Situation: It is now believed that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which were founded following World War II, are insufficient to address modern global issues like climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• India’s Argument: The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) ought to be reorganized with an emphasis on inclusive development, eradicating poverty, and attending to the financial requirements associated with climate change.
  
  

Modifications to the Multilateral Trade Agreement

• Present Situation: By enforcing regulations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) promotes free trade and acts as the cornerstone of the global trading system.
• Fair competition, particularly for developing countries, has been hampered by worries about protectionist policies, subsidies, and market-distorting practices by certain nations.
• India’s Position: India is in favor of a multilateral trading system that is rules-based, inclusive, transparent, fair, open, and non-discriminatory.
  
  

Conclusion 

• India seeks to ensure that trade, financial institutions, and the UN reflect the interests of all countries, especially developing ones, rather than favoring a small number of powerful nations. To this end, India is advocating for reforms in these areas.
• This is consistent with India’s larger diplomatic endeavors to promote a multipolar global order.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm dtl/38342/Remarks_by_EAM_Dr_S_Jaishankar_at_G20_Foreign_Ministers_Meeting

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding UN Security Council.

1. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has fewer members than the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
2. UNHRC decisions are not legally binding, but UNSC resolutions are binding on member states.
3. Issues pertaining to global peace and security are the UNSC’s main priorities.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 2
4. 1, 2, 3

Ans: b

Explanation

There are fifteen members of the UNSC and forty-seven members of the UNHRC.
UNHRC decisions are non-binding, but UNSC resolutions are legally binding on member states. The main areas of concern for the UNSC are global peace and security.

Mains Model Questions Q. Discuss about India’s progress toward permanent UNSC membership.

Introduction:

According to the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is in charge of preserving world peace and security. But the UNSC has come under fire for a number of reasons, including abuses of veto power and an undemocratic structure.

Thus, reforms to the UNSC are widely supported. Given this, India also supports UNSC reforms and India’s appointment as a permanent member.

Body:

The following justifies India’s permanent admission to the UNSC:

• India has the world’s largest democracy, the second-highest population, and the fifth-largest economy.
• In May 1998, India became the first country to possess nuclear weapons, placing it on par with the current permanent members of UNSC.
• India’s dominant position in the Non-Aligned Movement and G-77 grouping confirms its status as the unchallenged leader of the third world.
• India was one of the original members of the UN and has been elected to a two-year non-permanent member seat seven times.
• One of the biggest military personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping forces comes from India.
• The majority of UNGA members, as well as four of the five permanent members, support India’s candidacy.
• India has recently assumed a more active role in both regional and international politics. The International Solar Alliance, the Quad Initiative, and the SAGAR Vision are a few examples.
  
  

Roadblocks on the Path to India

• India’s non-signatory status to the NPT and CTBT is cited by the countries opposing India’s candidacy.
• The only permanent member of the UNSC who is against India’s admission is China. thus opposes India’s bid to join as a permanent member by using its veto power.
• India has not demonstrated its military might outside of the Indian Ocean region yet.
• India’s military needs are largely met by imports of weapons from the US and Russia.
• India’s claim to leadership is undermined by poor performance in numerous socio-economic indicators, such as the Human Development Index.

Conclusion: India is a strong contender to join the UNSC as a permanent member given its stature and skills on the international stage. However, India needs to address its socioeconomic indicators and reliance on military imports in order to have a more credible claim.

Article: 29^th September, 2024

Topic: PM inaugurates Param Rudra Supercomputers

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Science & Technology

Source: Times of India

Context

• Under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently dedicated three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers, valued at ₹130 crore.
  
  

About

• These homegrown supercomputers will power cutting edge research in physics, cosmology, earth sciences, and other scientific domains. They are situated in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata. These facilities will be used for state-of-the-art research by the Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune, the Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi, and the S.N. Bose Centre in Kolkata, strengthening India’s scientific capabilities.
• A High-Performance Computing (HPC) system devoted to weather and climate research was also unveiled by the prime minister. They can be found at the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune.

• The “Arka” and “Arunika” systems are designed to offer more precise forecasts for heat waves, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and other important meteorological events.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)

• About:
• The Government of India has taken a significant step in advancing national efforts to lead the world in supercomputing capabilities for the country’s socioeconomic development.
• The Department of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Electronics and IT jointly oversaw the mission.

• Important characteristics:
• Native American Development: The development of native hardware and software for supercomputing systems, including processors, networks, and storage options, is one of NSM’s main priorities.
• Collaborative Effort: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) jointly lead the mission, with implementation support from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
• The PARAM series is one of the supercomputers that have already been developed as part of the mission; these machines are installed in some of India’s top research institutes.

• Impact:
• By putting India at the forefront of the world supercomputing map, this initiative will support the government’s visions of “Digital India” and “Made in India.”
• Advanced research in vital fields like material science, defense, healthcare, and climate change is made possible by the mission.
  backs India’s goal of becoming a global leader in cutting-edge fields like big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
  
  

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements

1. The National Super Computing Mission (NSM) seeks to establish nationwide access to a supercomputing grid for academic and research institutions.
2. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has a Pratyush supercomputer installed.
3. Supercomputers are a convenient option for routine tasks because they can process and analyze data at speeds that are comparable to those of standard desktop computers.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 2
4. 1, 2, 3

Ans: c

Explanation

NSM wants to link educational and research facilities across the nation to a supercomputing grid. Pratyush supercomputer is installed at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. The machine is a Cray XC40.
Supercomputers are high-performance computing systems used for weather forecasting, scientific research, engineering simulations, and other compute-intensive applications. They are built to handle complicated calculations, simulations, and data analysis tasks at extraordinarily fast speeds.

Mains Model Questions Q. Discuss about India’s advancements in creating its own supercomputers. What role does it play in national development and scientific research?

Introduction:

India began producing supercomputers on its own in 1980, with assistance from institutions such as BARC, C-DAC, and C-DOT, among others. Work has progressed faster since the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) was launched in 2015. There are currently 27 supercomputers in India, most of which are used for scientific and engineering applications where supercomputing performance of up to 10 times faster than traditional computations is needed.

Body:

India’s Development of Homegrown Supercomputers

• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) introduced India to the world of supercomputing with the PARAM 8000, which launched the PARAM series. It has undergone multiple upgrades, the most recent of which is the PARAM Yuva II, which improves India’s computational capabilities manifold.
• The National Supercomputing Mission was initiated in 2015 by the Indian government with the goal of democratising supercomputing power and making it available for a range of scientific pursuits. Over 70 indigenous supercomputers are to be installed across academic and research institutions in India.
• Pratyush and Mihir: These supercomputers, which were introduced in 2018, are the mainstay of Indian weather and climate research. Ranked among the fastest supercomputers globally, they play a vital role in more accurate weather predictions and climate modelling.
• Anupam Series: The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) created the Anupam Series, which is centered on atomic energy simulations. This helps support India’s national security framework and nuclear energy research.
• R&D Partnership: partnerships and collaborations with esteemed academic establishments such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) with international organisations like IBM and NVIDIA have significantly sped up the development of next-gen supercomputers in India.

Importance of Building Domestic Supercomputers for National Development and Scientific Research

Scientific Investigations:

• Climate Modeling: Advanced climate modeling is made possible by supercomputers such as Pratyush and Mihir. These systems have been critical in projects like the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Monsoon Mission, aiming to improve monsoon forecasts.
• Pharmaceutical Research: Supercomputers helped the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) find drugs and develop vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic by accelerating the computational stages of research.
• Space Missions: By performing simulations that helped to optimize trajectory and lower mission costs, ISRO’s SAGA-220 has been crucial for missions like Mangalyaan.
• Research on Quantum Computing: In order to build a quantum computer, Indian universities such as IISc Bangalore are simulating quantum algorithms on supercomputers.
  
  

The country’s development

• National Security: Defense applications, such as simulations pertaining to India’s ballistic missile defense program, depend heavily on supercomputers.
• Disaster management: Forecasts made possible by supercomputers were instrumental in the prompt evacuation of almost 500,000 people from West Bengal and Odisha during Cyclone Amphan.
• Agriculture: Farmers in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka have benefited from agro-met advisories, which are produced using supercomputing capabilities and help them better plan their agricultural activities, resulting in higher yields.
• Economic Competitiveness: Foreign R&D collaborations and investments are anticipated to be greatly attracted by the National Supercomputing Mission, which intends to install over 70 supercomputers throughout India.

Conclusion: India has made tremendous progress in scientific research and national development with its own supercomputing technology. These supercomputers are crucial resources for resolving challenging issues, elevating India’s stature internationally, and paving the way for a brighter, more self-reliant future.

Article: 29^th September, 2024

Topic: World Tourism Day

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Economy

Source: News on AIR

Context

• World Tourism Day is observed annually on September 27.

About

• Background: In honor of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) created World Tourism Day in 1980.
• Goals: The purpose of the celebration is to highlight the role that tourism can play in promoting sustainable development and reducing poverty.
• The theme for 2024 is ” Tourism and Peace.”
  
  

India’s Potential for Tourism

• India is one of the top destinations for foreign tourism spending due to its diverse geography and abundance of cultures, each with unique experiences. India’s tourism and hospitality sector is expected to bring in more than $59 billion by 2028.
  Furthermore, 30.5 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) are predicted by 2028.
• India is ranked 39th out of 119 countries in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024 report.

• India’s GDP contribution from travel and tourism increased by 5.9%, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Impact 2023 report.
  
  

The advantages of promoting travel

• Heritage Preservation: Tourism contributes to the upkeep and restoration of historic forts, temples, and other landmarks, guaranteeing their survival for upcoming generations.
• Initiatives aimed at promoting rural and village tourism can help smaller towns and villages financially, fostering inclusive development.
• Soft Power Diplomacy: By presenting India’s culture, art, and history to the world, tourism plays a significant role in soft power diplomacy.
• Job Creation: It results in the opening of jobs in a number of industries, such as hospitality, transportation, tour guiding, and handicrafts etc.

Issues in the Tourism Sector:

• Inadequate infrastructure, such as inadequate lodging, transportation, and sanitary facilities, impedes the visitor experience at many locations.
• Theft of Travelers: Events involving theft, fraud, and even violent crimes committed against tourists have a detrimental effect on how safe people feel.
• Degradation: Uncontrolled tourism has caused cultural erosion in areas where local customs and historical sites are either overly commercialized or poorly managed, as well as environmental harm in places like the Himalayas and Goa beaches.
• Issue of Carrying Capacity: Short but intense tourist seasons cause crowding and strain local infrastructure at some locations.
  – During the monsoon season, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand puts strain on the state’s transportation system and increases the risk of landslides.

Actions made

• The goal of the Swadesh Darshan scheme is to create theme-based tourism circuits, such as the Buddhist Ramayana, the Coastal, Himalayan, and Desert regions.

• Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) is a national mission. It was started in 2015 with the goal of locating and developing national pilgrimage sites in order to encourage religious travel.

• Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains: These trains give visitors the chance to see well-known historical sites, religious sites, and heritage sites.
• India’s spiritual initiatives, like the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Mahakal Corridor, and the Kashi Corridor, are drawing large numbers of visitors and boosting the local economy.
• In order to train locals living close to the tourism destination, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a training program called Destination Based Skill Development.

Way Ahead

• On World Tourism Day, attention is drawn to the effects of travel on the world economy and how it fosters cross-cultural understanding.
• Not only is tourism a popular pastime, but it also plays a significant role in local economic development, job creation, economic growth, and the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage.
• According to Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization, tourism promotes inclusive growth, fosters mutual respect and trust, and averts conflict.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans:

Explanation

Mains Model Questions Q. What are the main issues that India’s tourism industry is facing, and how might these issues be resolved?

Key Demand of the question:

Directive:

Discuss – This is a comprehensive instruction that you must discuss on paper by going over the specifics of the issues at hand and carefully considering each one of them. You have to provide arguments for and against each position.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

With over 80 million jobs and 9.2% of India’s GDP coming from tourism, the country’s economy is greatly impacted by this industry (about twice the population of New York).
– India is a popular tourist destination because of its varied landscape, warm hospitality, and rich cultural legacy. Nevertheless, a number of obstacles prevent India’s tourism sector from growing to its full potential, despite its enormous potential.

Body:

Principal Obstacles India’s Tourism Industry Faces:

• Insufficient Infrastructure: India’s travel infrastructure, which includes public transportation, highways, and airports, is frequently antiquated and insufficient. Basic amenities like clean water, sanitary facilities, and medical care are lacking in many tourist destinations.
• Security and Safety: Issues India has been grappling with safety and security concerns for tourists, particularly women travelers.
• There have been documented cases of violence and harassment directed at visitors, which has caused a drop in travel in recent years.
• Insufficient Promotion and Marketing: Efforts Ineffective marketing and promotion initiatives plague India’s tourism sector.
  – Government marketing campaigns frequently focus only on cultural and heritage tourism, ignoring other potential travel destinations like adventure, health, and environmental travel.
• Absence of Skilled Manpower: This is another significant issue that India’s tourism industry must deal with. Skilled workers in a variety of fields, such as travel management, hospitality, and tour guiding, are needed in this industry.

Possible Remedies for the Issues Affecting India’s Travel and Tourism Industry:

• State Assistance: The Swadesh Darshan Scheme and the PRASAD Scheme are two of the measures the Indian government has implemented to encourage travel.
  – These programs seek to improve the nation’s infrastructure for tourism and encourage travel to particular areas of the nation. To solve the infrastructure and safety issues, more work must be done.
• Eco-friendly Travel Strategies: India’s tourism industry faces challenges that can be addressed by sustainable tourism practices, which also protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage.

Conclusion: Although the tourism sector in India has enormous potential, a number of obstacles prevent it from expanding. The industry is confronting a variety of issues that call for an all-encompassing strategy to resolve.
To overcome these challenges, the public, government, and stakeholders in the tourism industry must collaborate.

Article: 29^th September, 2024

Topic: FSPA extended in 8 districts of Nagaland

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Security

Source: Hindustan Times

Context

• The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended for a further six months in a few districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  
  

About

• At the moment, portions of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh are subject to the AFSPA.
• Jammu and Kashmir’s Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act, 1990 is the legal framework that governs the region. The Armed Forces are given unique authority under the AFSPA to uphold public order in “disturbed areas.”
  
  

About AFSPA

• Enacted in 1958 with presidential approval and legislative approval.
• Gives the armed forces exceptional authority and immunity to restore order in the “disturbed areas.”
• Conflicts or disagreements between people belonging to various ethnic, religious, linguistic, or regional groups can cause disturbances in a given area.

Provisions:

• Section 3: Gives the state or union territory’s governor the authority to designate all or a portion of the territory as a disturbed area.
• Section 4: Authorizes the Army to conduct warrantless searches and arrests.
• Section 6: Directs that police receive both the seized property and the people who have been arrested.
• Section 7: The prosecution can only proceed with the Central Government’s approval.
  
  

Justification for its imposition

• efficient use of force in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations.
• Protection of military personnel
• Keeping the law and order
• National security and sovereignty

Criticism

• crimes against humanity and abuses committed by security services.
• incapacity to effectively quell the insurgency and the danger to fundamental rights against the democratic regime.
• Revocation was suggested by the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and the Santosh Hegde Committee.
  
  

The Way Ahead

• It is imperative that there be transparency, that legal ambiguity be removed, that NE develop, and that HR violations be monitored.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Which of the below statements are incorrect about Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)?

1. In areas that the government declares to be unstable, the AFSPA gives the armed forces extra authority.
2. The states of Northeast India are the only ones to which the AFSPA applies.
3. Security personnel are authorized to make warrantless arrests of people under the AFSPA if they have reasonable suspicion.
4. The federal or state governments may repeal the AFSPA if peace is restored to the region.

Ans: b

Explanation

Under the AFSPA, the military is given extra authority in areas that the government has designated as “disturbed”. Although the AFSPA is in effect in a number of northeastern states, during times of unrest it has also been used in Jammu and Kashmir and certain other states, including Punjab. It is therefore not exclusive to the Northeast. The Act gives the armed forces the authority to detain individuals on suspicion alone without a warrant. If the federal or state governments believe that things have returned to normal in the region, they may revoke the AFSPA.

Mains Model Questions Q. Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court. (UPSC PYQ 2015)

Introduction:

The Indian Armed Forces are granted special powers in what the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) refers to as “disturbed areas” in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland. In 1990, it was expanded to include Jammu and Kashmir because of the growing insurgency. The AFSPA’s reach was recently curtailed by the Union Government, which withdrew it from portions of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur. Nonetheless, AFSPA is still in effect in some areas of these states, as well as in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

Body:

Parts of the AFSPA That Activists Have Criticized:

• Section 3 (Declaration of “Disturbed Areas”): This section grants the government the authority to designate any area as “disturbed,” a term that is ambiguous and therefore subject to arbitrary interpretation.
• Section 4 (Special Powers of the Armed Forces): Extrajudicial killings are a concern because this section gives security forces the ability to use lethal force, conduct searches, and make arrests without a warrant.
  
  

Opinion of the Supreme Court:

• Order and Rights: The Supreme Court emphasizes the value of upholding citizens’ rights while also acknowledging the role AFSPA plays in preserving order.
• In the 2016 case of the “Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association,” the Court declared that all cases of security forces using lethal force in AFSPA areas have to be thoroughly investigated.
  – For example: Case of Thangjam Manorama: In 2004, there were widespread protests in Manipur over the alleged sexual assault, torture, and death of Thangjam Manorama by Assam Rifles soldiers.

Conclusion: The AFSPA controversy highlights how carefully national security and human rights must coexist. Protecting citizens’ rights is just as important as keeping the peace in areas that are unstable. In accordance with the Supreme Court’s orders, it calls for a reevaluation of AFSPA, particularly the contentious sections, and the reinforcement of accountability and transparency in its implementation.

Article: 30^th September, 2024

Topic: Global Innovation Index 2024

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Science & Technology

Source: Swarajya

Context

• India is now ranked 39th out of 133 economies worldwide in the Global Innovation Index 2024.
  
  

About

• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, publishes the Global Innovation Index (GII).
• Institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, credit, investment, connections, the generation, assimilation, and dissemination of knowledge, as well as creative outputs, are among the criteria used to measure innovation.

Global Innovation Index 2024

• Top performers include the United States, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
• China, Turkiye, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the fastest 10-year climbers.
  
  

The Performance of India

• India has risen over the last few years in the Global Innovation Index (GII), moving up from 81st place in 2015 to 40th place in 2023.

• Key performance indicators like venture capital received, intangible asset intensity, and information and communications technology (ICT) services exports (which rank first in the world) highlight India’s advantages.
• India’s unicorn businesses also guarantee the nation’s eighth-place finish in the world.
  
  

Actions that India has taken

• The innovation ecosystem has grown significantly thanks in large part to the Atal Innovation Mission.
• In order to promote a culture of research and innovation across India’s universities, research centers, and R&D labs, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was founded.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) established the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) with the goal of enabling and bolstering nascent biotechnology enterprises to engage in strategic research and innovation.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Declared as a component of the 2020 National Education Policy, NRF seeks to encourage a culture of research and innovation in universities and higher education institutions by funding interdisciplinary research.

Challenges

• India’s innovation ecosystem is fragmented, with insufficient integration between government, business, and academia. There is little cooperation between these industries, which hinders the commercialization of research results.
• Brain Drain and Skill Mismatch: Although there is a sizable pool of STEM graduates, many of them lack the abilities necessary for cutting-edge innovation.
• Infrastructure Restrictions: Inadequate infrastructure impedes the expansion of creative businesses, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
• In India, the private sector’s involvement in R&D is still relatively small. However, in leading innovative economies where private enterprises play a significant role in R&D.

Way Forward

• The GII ranking has consistently improved, which can be attributed to the active start-up ecosystem and knowledge capital.
• Nonetheless, there is a need to promote increased private sector participation in R&D and innovation in developing industries like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Quantum Computing etc.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Global Innovation Index (GII)

1. It is an annual ranking that evaluates how well nations around the world perform in terms of innovation.
2. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes the index.
3. India’s GII 2024 ranking has improved.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 and 3
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 2
4. 1, 2, 3

Ans: a

Explanation

An annual ranking that assesses the performance of nations worldwide in terms of innovation is called the Global Innovation Index (GII). India moved up to 39th place in the GII 2024, which is an improvement over its previous ranking.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publishes the GII.

Mains Model Questions Q. What do you mean by Innovation? What effect does it have on socioeconomic development?

Introduction:

The creation and implementation of concepts and technologies that enhance products and services or increase the productivity of their manufacturing can be characterized as innovation.

In order to significantly advance socioeconomic development, new and creative technologies that are accessible, affordable, and based on the needs of the community at large must be developed.

Body:

The following are some ways that innovation can support socioeconomic development:

• Innovation is the process of producing new goods and services that the public needs in order to meet unfulfilled demands and gaps in the market. Innovation makes it possible for people to obtain the goods and services they need to be productive.
• Economic growth is facilitated by innovation because new, creative businesses hire workers. Therefore, innovation generates employment, and these business opportunities improve and strengthen communities by raising the general standard of living and quality of life.
• Socio-economic empowerment: Innovative products can also contribute to the goal of empowering marginalized groups within society. For example, Smokeless Chulha can reduce indoor air pollution (IAP), which is good for women’s health.
• Policy Innovations: In the context of governance, policy innovation has the potential to improve the socioeconomic status of targeted beneficiaries, particularly in developing nations. For instance, cutting-edge goods like Kisan Credit Cards assist farmers in avoiding unofficial loans with exorbitant interest rates.
• Reduced time and expenses associated with conducting business, or any other non-commercial activity, are two ways that innovation fosters efficiency. Therefore, innovation can result in significant socioeconomic benefits by helping to cut back on government spending that could be better spent elsewhere.
  
  

Conclusion: India has been on the rise since 2015 and is currently ranked 39th in the world in terms of innovation (2024). However, India lags behind in a number of innovation-related metrics, including low R&D spending, low patent filing volume, and a dearth of published research papers.
India today requires a strong innovation ecosystem that includes not only research institutions but also technology parks, idea incubators, accelerators, and balanced regulatory frameworks along with well-thought-out standards.