1.The Evolution of Sikh migrants to Canada
- Overseas Citizenship of India
3 Global India Maritime Summit (GMIS 2023)
- Reasons for Rising Global Debt
- Nilgiris Tahr
- September Rain
- Gurez Valley
The Evolution of Sikh migrants to Canada
Context:
The recent disclosure by the Canadian Prime Minister, implicating Indian agents in the assassination of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has resulted in a diplomatic standoff between Canada and India. India has accused Canada of harboring Khalistani terrorists and extremists.
Sikh Diaspora in Canada
- Significant Population: Sikhs constitute 2.1% of Canada’s population, as per the 2021 Canadian census, making Canada the largest home to Sikh population outside of India.
- Historical Migration: Sikhs have been migrating to Canada for more than a century, primarily due to their involvement in the British Empire’s armed forces.
- Empire Expansion: Sikh migration paralleled the expansion of the British Empire, encompassing countries in the Far East and East Africa.
Early Years of Sikh Migration
- Queen Victoria’s Jubilee: Sikh migration to Canada commenced in 1897 during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, with individuals like Kesur Singh, a Risaldar Major in the British India Army, being among the earliest Sikh settlers.
- Laborers and Sojourners: In the early 1900s, a significant wave of Sikh migration to Canada occurred, with most migrants working as laborers in British Columbia’s logging industry and Ontario’s manufacturing sector. Many of these early Sikh immigrants planned to stay temporarily and remit their savings to India.
Challenges and Pushback
- Hostility and Prejudice: Sikh migrants encountered hostility from locals who perceived them as job competitors, facing racial and cultural prejudices.
- Tightened Regulations: Under mounting public pressure, the Canadian government imposed stringent regulations, such as requiring Asian immigrants to possess a specified sum of money and arrive via a continuous journey from their country of origin.
- Komagata Maru Incident: In 1914, the Komagata Maru incident unfolded when a ship carrying 376 South Asian passengers, primarily Sikhs, was detained in Vancouver for two months and then forced to return to Asia, resulting in fatalities.
Turning Point after World War II
- Relaxing Immigration Policy: Post-World War II, Canada’s immigration policy shifted due to commitments to the United Nations’ stance against racial discrimination, economic expansion, and the need for labor.
- Importance of Human Capital: Canada turned to third-world countries to import human capital, leading to a decline in European immigration.
- Points System: In 1967, Canada introduced the ‘points system,’ prioritizing skills as the primary criterion for admitting non-dependent relatives, thereby eliminating racial preferences.
Conclusion
The history of Sikh migration to Canada spans more than a century, marked by challenges, prejudice, and evolving policies. Today, Canada hosts a thriving Sikh community, reflecting the journey from early struggles to a more inclusive immigration system based on skills.
Overseas Citizenship of India
Context:
- In recent developments, India has taken steps to revoke the registration of more than a dozen individuals holding Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards.
- This action has been initiated due to their involvement in activities supporting the pro-Khalistan movement and engaging in anti-India propaganda.
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)
- The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) program is designed for individuals of Indian origin who hold foreign passports and are not Indian citizens.
- It is essential to note that according to Section 7A of the OCI guidelines, an applicant becomes ineligible for an OCI card if they, their parents, or grandparents have ever held citizenship in Pakistan or Bangladesh.
- The OCI category was introduced by the Government of India in 2005. Furthermore, in 2015, the Indian government merged the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) category with the OCI category through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) defines the eligibility criteria for OCI status, which includes individuals who were citizens of India on or after January 26, 1950, those who were eligible to become Indian citizens on the same date, or individuals who are children or grandchildren of such persons, among other specified criteria.
Global India Maritime Summit (GMIS 2023)
Context:
In recent news, the Global India Maritime Summit (GMIS 2023) is scheduled to take place in India from October 17th to 19th, 2023, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
About GMIS 2023:
- The primary objective of GMIS 2023 is to serve as a prominent event in the maritime sector, bringing together influential figures from the industry to explore opportunities, address challenges, and promote investment in India’s maritime sector.
- Building upon the achievements of its previous editions, this third instalment aims to uncover broader prospects for both domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors.
- This year, the Maritime India Summit has expanded its reach to the global stage and is now known as the ‘Global’ Maritime India Summit, with FICCI serving as the exclusive industry partner.
The Need to Enhance India’s Maritime Industry:
- Prior to 2014, India’s ports encountered difficulties related to cargo handling capacity, competitiveness, and efficiency.
- The sector lacked modernization, mechanization, and digitization.
- However, reports from the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index indicate significant improvements in various parameters, showcasing the success of these initiatives implemented in India.
Upcoming Projects in India:
- One noteworthy project on the horizon is the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) spanning from Vladivostok to Chennai.
This corridor has the potential to transport commodities such as coking coal, crude oil, LNG, and fertilizers from Russia to India.
Reasons for Rising Global Debt
Context:
- The Institute of International Finance (IIF) has recently reported that global debt reached an unprecedented milestone of $307 trillion by the close of June 2023, representing an increase of approximately $100 trillion over the past decade.
Debt-GDP Ratio
Following seven consecutive quarters of decline, the global debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio has started to ascend again, reaching 336%.
Understanding Global Debt
- Global debt encompasses borrowings by governments (sovereign), private businesses, and individuals.
Governments borrow to finance various expenses and service interest on previous debts, whereas the private sector generally borrows for investment purposes.
Drivers of Rising Global Debt
Historical Trend: The trend of both nominal global debt and the debt-to-GDP ratio has shown consistent growth over the years. Although the pandemic briefly interrupted this trajectory due to economic slowdowns, debt levels have once again been on the rise.
Advanced Economies: A significant portion of the first-half increase in global debt, over 80%, originated from advanced economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and France. Among emerging markets, China, India, and Brazil have witnessed substantial increases in debt.
Surge Amid Rising Interest Rates: Despite expectations of reduced demand for loans due to rising interest rates, global debt expanded by $10 trillion in the first half of 2023. This phenomenon is not uncommon, as increased savings often translate into higher debt levels when directed towards investments.
Inflation’s Impact on Debt
Unique Trend: Of particular note is the preceding seven consecutive quarters of declining global debt as a percentage of GDP before 2023.
Inflation’s Role: The IIF attributes this decline to price inflation, which enabled governments to diminish their debts denominated in local currencies through inflation. This process, referred to as “inflating away debt,” involves central banks generating new currency to settle government debt, effectively imposing an indirect tax on the economy through rising prices.
Causes for Concern
Debt Sustainability: The mounting global debt levels often raise concerns about their sustainability, especially in cases of government debt driven by imprudent borrowing for populist programs.
Impact of Rising Interest Rates: As central banks raise interest rates to combat inflation, governments burdened with heavy debt may encounter difficulties in servicing their obligations. Escalating rates could potentially result in defaults or attempts to erode the debt through inflation.
IIF Warning: The IIF has issued a warning that the global financial infrastructure is inadequately prepared to handle unsustainable levels of domestic debt.
Private Debt Concerns: The rapid growth of private debt levels also raises alarms, as it is frequently associated with unsustainable economic booms that can culminate in financial crises, particularly when such lending lacks genuine savings.
Looming Financial Crisis: The 2008 global financial crisis serves as a recent example of an economic upswing fueled by lenient credit policies, similar to those pursued by the U.S. Federal Reserve, that preceded an economic downturn.
Conclusion
The surge in global debt demands careful attention, given its potential repercussions for economic stability, sustainability, and the ability of financial systems to address the mounting challenges posed by escalating debt.
Nilgiris Tahr
Context:
- Tamil Nadu initiated Project Nilgiri Tahr last year to support the conservation of the Nilgiri Tahr.
- Presently, the state is actively collaborating with Kerala to establish a standardized protocol for assessing the population of this endangered species.
Nilgiri Tahr Conservation Project
- The Nilgiri Tahr project, led by the Tamil Nadu government, aims to enhance our understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through various methods such as surveys and radio telemetry studies.
- Additionally, the project intends to reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat, address immediate threats to their survival, and raise public awareness about this species.
- This comprehensive initiative is scheduled to run from 2022 to 2027.
- Furthermore, October 7th will be celebrated as ‘Niligiri Tahr Day’ in tribute to E.R.C. Davidar, who conducted one of the earliest studies on this species in 1975.
Historic Significance of Nilgiri Tahr
- References to the Nilgiri Tahr can be found in Tamil Sangam literature dating back 2,000 years.
- The late Mesolithic paintings, dating from 10,000-4,000 BC, underscore the Tahr’s importance in folklore, culture, and daily life. In recognition of its ecological and cultural significance, it was designated as the State animal.
About Nilgiri Tahr
- The Nilgiri Tahr, designated as Endangered by the IUCN, holds a significant place in India’s wildlife conservation efforts.
- This unique species is native to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern regions of the Western Ghats, found in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. Notably, it serves as the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
- In its natural habitat, the Nilgiri Tahr thrives in the open montane grasslands of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests eco-region.
- These habitats typically range from elevations of 1,200 to 2,600 meters (3,900 to 8,500 feet) and consist of grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted forests, locally referred to as sholas.
Among its protected areas, Eravikulam National Park boasts the largest population of the Nilgiri Tahr. However, the species faces significant conservation challenges, with an estimated wild population of 3,122 individuals and localized extinctions occurring in approximately 14% of its traditional shola forest-grassland habitat.
September Rain
Context:
- Due to an intensified El Nino phenomenon this year, the monsoonal rainfall pattern has undergone a significant shift, leading the majority of Indian farmers to rely on tubewell or canal water irrigation for their Kharif season crops.
- Now, let’s delve into the meteorological factors responsible for crop losses and the deviation in rainfall patterns towards September.
Regarding September’s Rainfall:
- September has witnessed approximately 7% surplus rainfall thus far.
- These September showers have particularly benefited oilseeds, notably soybeans and groundnuts.
- Additionally, inflationary pressures have eased in the vegetable sector, which had experienced a 37.4% year-on-year increase in the consumer price index in July and a 26.1% increase in August.
Causes of Irregular Rainfall:
- Attributed to El Nino:
- The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has projected a 73% likelihood of sea surface temperatures in the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal from October to December, along with a 78% probability of exceeding 1 degree from January to March 2024.
- Attributed to Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD):
- A positive IOD tends to reduce rainfall in parts of South Asia, including India.
- This can lead to arid conditions, affecting agriculture and water resources in the affected areas.
- It may pose challenges related to water scarcity and drought for farmers.
- A positive IOD can also influence sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, subsequently impacting weather patterns and temperature fluctuations in the region.
Attributed to the Upcoming Retreating Monsoon Season:
- The retreating monsoon, known as the post-monsoon season, signifies the withdrawal of southwest monsoon winds from the Indian subcontinent, typically beginning in September and extending into October.
- During this phase, there is a shift in wind direction, with dry winds prevailing from the northeast.
- This transitional period is referred to as the northeast monsoon or retreating monsoon.
- While northern India experiences cooler and drier conditions, the southern and southeastern regions receive precipitation.
Significance of September Rains:
- September rains play a crucial role in the cultivation of crops such as rice, pulses, and oilseeds in southern India.
- They facilitate the replenishment of groundwater levels and ensure a consistent water supply for irrigation.
Concerns:
- Approximately one-third of India’s paddy fields remain un-irrigated, and there has been insufficient rainfall in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal.
- Excessive rain and dam water releases have led to inundation in significant parts of Punjab and Haryana.
Consequently, farmers in these regions have had to replant short-duration paddy varieties, including basmati, resulting in lower yields compared to the initial plantings in June.
Nilgiris Tahr
Context:
- The high-altitude passes connecting the Gurez valley in northern Kashmir to the Mushkoh valley in the Drass Sector of Kargil, Ladakh, have recently been established, serving as a crucial link between the two regions, which played a significant role in the 1999 war.
- This 130-kilometer road is now open to tourists, with Kaobal Gali, a pass at an elevation of 4,166.9 meters in Gurez, serving as a vital connector.
About Gurez Valley:
- Gurez, located in the Kashmir valley near the Line of Control, shares its borders with Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s Astore and Neelum districts.
- It is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Dards/Shins who speak the Shina language and share cultural traditions with those in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Notably, Buduaab village in Gurez is famous for its Zumba yak, a smaller breed.
- The Gurez valley was a significant player in the Kargil war and lies in close proximity to the Line of Control, with the Kishanganga river marking the border in multiple areas.
- One distinctive feature of the region is the presence of villages built entirely from log houses, lacking modern urban construction materials.
- The area also boasts diverse wildlife, including the Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, ibex, musk deer, and marmots.
- Despite its population of approximately 38,000, the Gurez valley has already welcomed an impressive 50,000 tourists this year.
Mushkoh Valley:
- The Mushkoh valley, located in Dras, Ladakh, is renowned as the “valley of wild tulips.” It gained prominence due to the intense battle at Tiger Hill during a conflict between India and Pakistan, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
The meadows of Mushkoh valley are adorned with vibrant wild tulip flowers, and it serves as a habitat for the endangered Himalayan yew.
