Topics

1. East Asia Summit
2. Aspirational District Programme
3. Airbus C-295
4. Black Sea

Topic 1: East Asia Summit

News

• India’s External Affairs Minister recently attended the 13th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led initiative.

• During the event, India engaged in bilateral discussions with China’s top diplomat to address outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and emphasize the significance of peace and troop disengagement.

Basics of East Asia Summit

• A regional forum held annually by leaders of 18 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
• The only leader-led forum at which all key Indo-Pacific partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the region.
• Established in 2005 with an idea first promoted in 1991 by then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
• ASEAN has held the central role and leadership in the forum.
• The United States and Russia joined the summit at the Sixth EAS in 2011.

EAS Areas of Cooperation

• Energy, environment and climate change
• Education
• Finance
• Global health issues and pandemic diseases
• Natural disaster management
• ASEAN Connectivity
• Food security
• Maritime cooperation

EAS Outcomes

1. Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security (2007)
2. Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment (2007)
3. Agreement to establish Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (2007)
4. Phnom Penh Declaration on East Asia Summit Development Initiative (2012)
5. EAS Declaration on Combating Wildlife Trafficking (2016)

India and EAS

India is one of the founding members of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and has been actively participating in the forum since its inception in 2005.

India sees EAS as a platform for dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security and economic issues facing the Indo-Pacific region.

Some of the highlights of India’s engagement with EAS are:

1. India unveiled its Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) at the EAS in Bangkok in November 2019, which is aimed at forging partnerships to create a secure and stable maritime domain.
2. India co-sponsored declarations on mental health, economic recovery through tourism and green recovery at the 16th EAS held virtually in October 2021.
3. India endorsed regional collaboration in all six priority areas of EAS, namely environment and energy, education, finance, global health issues and pandemic diseases, natural disaster management, and ASEAN connectivity.
4. India supported the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which was adopted by the EAS Leaders in 2019, as a way to promote a rules-based order, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes in the region.
5. India contributed to the EAS Covid-19 Response Fund, which was established in 2020 to support the efforts of EAS members to combat the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts.

India’s participation in EAS reflects its commitment to strengthening the regional architecture of Asia-Pacific and advancing its vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Topic 2: Aspirational District Programme

Introduction

• The Aspirational District Programme (ADP) is a government initiative launched in 2018 to transform 112 most under-developed districts across the country.

• The programme aims to improve the socio-economic indicators of these districts by focusing on five broad themes: health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and infrastructure.

• The programme follows a three-pronged strategy of

1. Convergence (of central and state schemes),
2. Collaboration (of central, state and district officials),

• Competition (among districts through monthly delta ranking).

• The programme is anchored by NITI Aayog, which monitors the progress of the districts through a dashboard and provides support and guidance to the district collectors.

Objectives

• The main objective of the programme is to raise the living standards of the citizens and ensure inclusive growth for all.
• The programme also aims to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and align them with the national development targets.
• The programme seeks to foster a spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism among the districts and states, and encourage them to learn from each other’s best practices.

The programme also intends to leverage data and technology to improve programme implementation and design at the local level.

Parameters for Ranking

• The programme ranks the districts based on their incremental progress across 49 key performance indicators (KPIs) under the five themes.
• The weightage of each theme is as follows:

• health and nutrition (30%),
• education (30%),
• agriculture and water resources (20%),
• financial inclusion and skill development (10%),
• infrastructure (10%).
• The ranking is done on a monthly basis using a delta ranking method, which measures the change in performance from the baseline to the current month.
• The ranking is based on data collected from various sources such as household surveys, administrative data, third-party validations, etc.

Achievements

1. According to a recent assessment by UNDP, the programme has created significant improvements in health, nutrition, and education outcomes since its inception.
2. Some of the achievements include: reduction in infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, stunting, wasting, low birth weight, anemia among women; improvement in institutional deliveries, immunization coverage, learning outcomes, access to toilets, electricity, banking services, etc.
3. The programme has also fostered innovation and collaboration among various stakeholders such as district collectors, central and state officials, NGOs, civil society organizations, etc.
4. The programme has also demonstrated the potential of data-driven governance and evidence-based policymaking at the grassroots level.

Challenges

• Insufficient budgetary resources,
• Lack of coordination among multiple ministries,
• Poor quality of administrative data,
• Focus on quantity rather than quality of indicators,
• Quality of education, etc.

Way Forward

1. Simplifying the ranking index with a few carefully chosen output and outcome measures
2. Strengthening data collection and validation mechanisms.

• Enhancing capacity building and training of district officials.

1. Ensuring adequate funding and convergence of schemes.
2. Improving quality of education and health services.
3. Involving local communities and beneficiaries in programme design and implementation.

Questions

Q. How does the Aspirational District programme aim to address regional imbalances and promote balanced development across India?

Q. Analyze the challenges and constraints faced in the successful implementation of the Aspirational District programme and suggest potential solutions.

Q. Evaluate the impact of the Aspirational District programme on the socio-economic development of the selected districts. Provide specific examples to support your analysis.

Q. How can the Aspirational District programme be aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure a more holistic approach to development?

Topic 3: Airbus C-295

Introduction

• The Airbus C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft developed by Airbus Defence and Space.

The C-295 can be configured for a variety of missions :

• Troop transport
• Cargo transport
• Medical evacuation
• Search and rescue
• Maritime surveillance
• Electronic warfare
• Airdrop

The C-295 has been ordered by over 30 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It is currently in service with the air forces of over 20 countries.

Key features of the Airbus C-295:

• STOL capability: The C-295 has short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability, which allows it to operate from unprepared airfields.
• Robust landing gear: The C-295 has a robust landing gear that allows it to operate on rough terrain.
• Self-defense system: The C-295 has a self-defense system that includes a radar warning receiver, chaff and flare dispensers, and a laser warning system.
• Integrated avionics: The C-295 has integrated avionics that provide the pilot with a high level of situational awareness.
• Wide cargo door: The C-295 has a wide cargo door that allows for the rapid loading and unloading of cargo.
• Long range: The C-295 has a range of 5,600 km (3,500 mi), which allows it to operate over long distances.

The Airbus C-295 is a versatile and capable tactical military transport aircraft that can be used for a variety of missions.

It is a popular choice for air forces around the world thanks to its STOL capability, robust landing gear, self-defense system, integrated avionics, wide cargo door, and long range.

Topic 4: Black Sea

Image source: WorldAtlas.com

Introduction

• The Black Sea is an enclosed sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
• Its bordering countries are Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey.
• The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea, via the Aegean Sea and various straits.

Geographic features

• The Black Sea is the world’s largest inland sea, with a surface area of 436,400 square kilometers (168,500 square miles).
• It is also one of the deepest, with an average depth of 1,240 and a maximum depth of 2,212 meters.

The Black Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Bosporus Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait.

Economy

• The sea is rich in oil and gas resources, and it is also a major shipping route for trade between Europe and Asia.
• The Black Sea region is also home to a number of important industries, including agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

Environmental issues

• The Black Sea is facing a number of environmental challenges, including pollution from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and oil spills.
• These challenges are threatening the health of the sea and its marine life.

Important facts about the Black Sea:

• The Black Sea is the world’s largest body of water that is entirely landlocked.
• The Black Sea is home to over 2,000 species of fish, including the Black Sea sturgeon, which is a critically endangered species.