ENVIRONMENT

Create the space for governance with a green heart

Source: The Hindu

Context

• India's environmental degradation needs urgent green policies despite development goals. Government actions on climate change, forest cover, urban issues, Himalayan concerns, public participation, and genuine conservation are essential for sustainable development and ecological health.

Details

Key Points

• India’s environmental degradation requires urgent adoption of green policies alongside development goals.
• Recent governments prioritized industrial interests over environmental protection.
• Climate change impacts include increased floods, droughts and heatwaves.
• Remediator aspects of climate change, like building resilience and food security, are neglected.
• India's forest cover is among the lowest globally, with misleading accounting practices.
• Urban areas face severe pollution, water shortages and inadequate sewage treatment.
• Climate change significantly affects the Himalayas, impacting water and food security.
• Public participation in environmental decisions is often ignored, undermining effective policies.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mechanisms need statutory status to prevent dilution.
• Greenwashing policies replace genuine conservation efforts, driven by commercial interests.
• Sustainable development requires robust enforcement mechanisms and genuine environmental rule of law.

Sources:

The Hindu

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India-Bangladesh ties: A shared vision

Source: Indian Express

Context

• Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi have significantly advanced bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh over the past decade, marking a "golden chapter" in their partnership.
• Key areas of focus include enhancing connectivity, economic cooperation and defence collaboration, while addressing unresolved issues like river water management to realize the full potential of the bilateral relationship.

Details

Key Points

• Strengthened bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi.
• Major initiatives in connectivity, including visa procedures, movement of goods, energy flows, and digital bridges.
• Bangladesh as a significant trade partner for India, with upcoming negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
• Ambition to modernize bilateral defence relations, with collaboration between armed forces and defence industrial partnerships.
• Impact on regional stability and the promotion of the Global South's collective interests through Indo-Bangla cooperation.
• Overcoming historical legacies of Partition while addressing unresolved issues like river water management.

India-Bangladesh Bilateral ties:

• Historical Context:
  • Pre-Independence and Partition: The regions of India and Bangladesh share historical, cultural, and economic ties dating back to ancient times. The partition of British India in 1947 and the subsequent creation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and India left a complex legacy.
  • 1971 Liberation War: India played a crucial role in Bangladesh's independence in 1971 by supporting the Bengali nationalist movement against Pakistani rule.
• Diplomatic Engagements:
  • High-Level Visits: Frequent high-level visits, such as Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India and Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, underscore the importance both nations place on their bilateral relationship.
  • Bilateral Treaties and Agreements: Numerous treaties and agreements have been signed to enhance cooperation in various fields, including trade, security and connectivity.
• Economic Cooperation:
  • Trade Relations: Bangladesh has emerged as one of India’s most important trade partners. The two countries are set to negotiate a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to enhance free trade.
  • Connectivity Projects: Significant investments in connectivity projects, such as cross-border energy flows, railway links and roadways, have been made to facilitate easier movement of goods and people.
  • Economic Integration: Efforts to integrate the economies of the eastern Subcontinent, Bay of Bengal littoral, and eastern Indian Ocean aim to foster regional economic growth.
• Strategic and Security Cooperation:
  • Defence Collaboration: Plans to modernize the bilateral defence relationship include cooperation between armed forces and defence industrial partnerships. This collaboration aims to maintain regional stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Counter-Terrorism and Border Security: Both nations work closely to address security concerns, including counter-terrorism and managing the long, porous border.
• Cultural and People-to-People Ties:
  • Cultural Exchanges: Cultural exchanges and initiatives to preserve shared heritage have strengthened people-to-people ties.
  • Educational and Professional Exchange Programs: Programs facilitating educational and professional exchanges have been instrumental in building mutual understanding.
• Environmental and Water Management:
  • River Water Management: One of the critical unresolved issues is the management of shared river waters, which requires ongoing dialogue and cooperation to ensure equitable distribution and sustainable use.
  • Joint Initiatives: Collaborative efforts on environmental conservation and disaster management are vital for addressing common challenges.
• Regional and Global Cooperation:
  • Regional Stability: A robust Indo-Bangla partnership contributes to regional stability in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
  • Global South Interests: Joint initiatives in international forums help promote the collective interests of the Global South.
• Future Prospects:
  • Shared Vision: The shared vision for the future articulated by Hasina and Modi aims to build on the advances of the past decade, transforming the bilateral relationship into a "transformational partnership."
  • Continued Engagement: Sustained diplomatic engagement and the resolution of outstanding issues like river water management are crucial for realizing the full potential of the bilateral relationship.

Sources:

Indian Express