R2R NEWSPAPER NOTES

Fresh SSB batches starting 17th July. Referred articles were published in The Hindu.

1. India, China must move forward on de-escalation, Jaishankar tells Wang

• Key Event: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
• Core Message: Jaishankar emphasized the need for India and China to move forward on de-escalation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Current Status: Despite disengagement achieved months ago, the actual withdrawal of troops has not yet followed.
• Areas of Discussion:
  • Border issues: Addressing all aspects related to the border and de-escalation.
  • Trade and economic relations: Called for "normalising" people-to-people ties and avoiding "restrictive trade measures and roadblocks," referencing Chinese export restrictions on critical minerals.
  • Terrorism: Discussed the issue of terrorism within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• Bilateral Benefits: Jaishankar stated that "normalised continuation of ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes."
• Previous Engagements: Jaishankar has been in China multiple times since 2019, including after the Galwan clashes in 2020. He also met with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng.

• Global Context: World Youth Skills Day highlights that reducing unemployment and promoting decent work requires addressing skill development.
• Gender Disparity in STEM:
  • Globally, less than 27% of women are in STEM careers.
  • In India, the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) declined from 41.7% to 25.4% in 2023-24, indicating a paradox as the economy grows.
  • UNESCO data (2021) shows only 31.5% of researchers worldwide are women.
• Economic Impact:
  • McKinsey Global Institute estimates that increasing women's participation could boost India's GDP by up to $700 billion by 2025.
  • Boosting female workforce participation could elevate GDP growth by 1%.
• Government Initiatives:
  • New Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Emphasizes skill development and life skills training.
  • Ministry of Education's (MoE) Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme: Focuses on vocational skills development.
  • Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India): Aims to empower women's economic inclusivity.
  • Union Budget 2025-26: Introduced ₹4.49 lakh crore for skill development programs.
  • New Skill Training Initiatives: Include technology-driven skilling, policies for framework from Skill India to Digital India, and schemes like PM Vishwakarma Yojana.
• Industry Engagement: India's private sector is increasingly stepping up with mentored campaigning, structured mentoring programs, industry-linked training initiatives, and partnerships with educational institutions.
  • UN Women's WeSTEM programme: Supported by the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, it addresses skills and bridges the talent gap.
• Challenges: Deep-rooted societal norms, such as the belief that "mechanical means masculine," contribute to implicit bias and lower women's participation in STEM. Lack of awareness and access remain barriers.

• Changing Global Order: The article discusses the shift towards a multi-alignment world with multiple power centres, contrasting it with a past unipolar or bipolar order.
• India-EU Relations:
  • India and the EU have shared strategic visions and common values, forming a basis for deeper engagement.
  • EU is emerging as a key strategic partner for India, offering an alternative to current alliances.
  • Economic Ties: EU is India's third-largest trading partner, with $116 billion in bilateral trade in 2022-23.
  • FDI: EU is a major source of FDI for India, with investment more than doubling in the last three years.
  • Trade Agreements: The India-EU Free Trade and Investment Agreements are being negotiated, which are crucial for broader economic ties.
  • Digital Partnership: The India-EU Digital Partnership, initiated in February 2023, is highlighted as a model for future cooperation in digital public goods, cybersecurity, AI, and green technologies.
• Strategic Autonomy: European nations are pursuing "strategic autonomy," emphasizing their ability to act independently in global affairs.
• Challenges and Opportunities:
  • Geopolitical instability: The Russia-Ukraine war and its implications.
  • China factor: Europe seeks to diversify supply chains away from China, creating an opportunity for India.
  • Perceptions: India needs to overcome the perception that Europe is only relevant to its neighborhood.
  • Multilateralism: Emphasizes a commitment to multilateralism and rules-based order.
• Key Figures: Shashi Tharoor (former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations) is the author.

• Core Issue: The article discusses the two-state solution as the path to peace between Israel and Palestine.
• Historical Context:
  • UN Resolution 181 (1947): Proposed the partition of Palestine into two states.
  • 1948 War: Led to Israel occupying 78% of historical Palestine.
  • 1967 War: Israel occupied the remaining 22% of Palestinian land (West Bank and Gaza).
• Current Situation:
  • The two-state solution remains elusive and is actively undermined.
  • Palestinian State: The Palestinian state is stateless, lacking political weight, and suffering from a chronic lack of international political will.
  • Israeli Actions: Continued settlement expansion, violence against Palestinians, and demolition of homes undermine prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
• International Community's Role:
  • The international community, including the United Nations, United States, and European Union, has often been ineffective in advocating for Palestinian rights.
  • US Veto Power: The US has repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions critical of Israel.
  • Financial Aid: International aid to Palestinians has decreased.
  • Military Aid to Israel: The US provides $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel annually.
• Key Arguments:
  • There can be no peace without justice and respecting Palestinian human rights.
  • The international community must implement international humanitarian law and human rights principles.
  • The article calls for a renewed commitment to the two-state solution and accountability for actions that undermine it.
• Author: Abdullah M. Abu Shaweesh (Ambassador of State of Palestine to India).

NEWS IN SHORTS