6 December 2023 Current Affairs

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Navy Day- Shivaji Naval Prowess

The celebration of Indian Navy Day, on December 4 holds historical significance as it
commemorates ‘Operation Trident’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Context:

❖ On December 4, Navy Day, the Indian Prime Minister honored Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by unveiling a large statue of the Maratha king from the 17th century at Sindhugarh, a coastal fort in Maharashtra.

❖ He declared that the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj emblem would soon be worn by naval officers’ epaulets, which are decorative shoulder pieces that indicate rank.

Establishment of Maratha Navy by Shivaji:

• Vision: His vision stemmed from his conviction that “He who rules the seas is all powerful,” or “Jalameva yasya, balameva tasya.”
• Decision to Establish a Navy: After Shivaji’s dominions touched Kalyan in 1656–1657, they expanded to the west coast. He made the decision to form a navy that same year.
• The Navy was established with the intention of safeguarding its territory against the Siddis, securing ports and merchant ships to facilitate maritime trade, and generating revenue through customs duties.
• The Maratha Navy: It was founded sometime between 1661 and 1663.
  • It consists of about 400 ships of different types and dimensions. These included larger battleships as well as other craft like the gurab, tarande, galbat, shibad, and pal that served a variety of roles.

Strategic Naval Forts

1. Naval Fort Construction: Initiated in 1653.
   • Shivaji ordered the construction of several naval forts between 1653 and 1680.
     • Important forts include Sindhudurg, Kolaba, and Vijaydurg.
2. For Strategic Objectives: These forts, a large number of which remained unoccupied, served as strategic watchtowers, keeping an eye out for enemies making their approach from the sea.
   • As an illustration, Vijaydurg was positioned to watch out for potential threats.
3. Under His Authority: By 1657, Shivaji had taken control of Kalyan and Bhiwandi in the North Konkan, which were then a part of the Bijapur region.
   • The Maratha Navy, under the command of admirals like Angre, remained a powerful force even after Shivaji’s death.

Naval Success and Tactics:

• First Success: According to BK Apte’s groundbreaking work, A History of the Maratha Navy and Merchant Ships (1973), the successful raid on Basuru, near Kundapura, in modern-day Karnataka, involved 85 ships.
  • It demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of the Maratha Navy.
• Creative Methods: They employed creative methods in the littoral waters.
• According to the Indian Navy Document, Shivaji understood the value of having a safe coastline and shielding the western Konkan coastline from the fleet attacks of the Siddis, who were Afro-Indians allied with the Deccani Sultans.

Limitations of the Maratha Navy:

• Brown Water Navy: Shivaji’s naval force was primarily focused on countering threats in the region, especially the Siddis of Janjira, despite his extraordinary military intelligence in building it.
• Lesser than European Powers: Few strategic goals, no opposition to European naval forces.
  • The British gained authority over the high seas following the fall of Portuguese dominance; this was the foundation upon which the British constructed their empire. Regretfully, the Marathas lacked the resources necessary to oppose these blue water policies.
  • As an illustration, Maratha ships that were sailing toward West Asia paid taxes to the Portuguese.

Legacy and Recognitions:

• Indian Navy’s New Ensign (Flag): During the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier’s commissioning in Kochi last year, the Prime Minister unveiled the Indian Navy’s new flag, which was based on Shivaji’s seal.
  • In addition, the Shivaji seal’s octagonal design is used on the new Naval Ensign.
• Calling Marathas Naval Commanders by name: The Indian Navy has designated:
  • Its Lonavla training facility, known as INS Shivaji.
  • The Western Naval Command’s shore-based logistics and administrative center, Mumbai, known as INS Angre (named after the renowned Maratha naval commander Kanhoji Angre, 1669-1729).

Impact on Maritime Defense:

1. Security: Protecting the trade routes and coastline of the Konkan.
2. Establishing the Groundwork for Future Naval Power: Developing India’s future naval capacities.
   • Example: Indian Navy’s coastal and high seas defense influenced by Shivaji’s vision.

News Source: The Indian Express

Honest Reckoning- On Commitment To Renewable Energy

Context :

The COP28 Climate Summit is discussing limiting the half-degree rise beyond 1°Celsius (C) (as that 1°C is now crossed).

About Limiting the Temperature Concept:

• The Paris Agreement: a legally binding international climate change treaty signed in 2015, binds nations to aim for a 1.5°C increase in global average temperature over pre-industrial levels and to keep the rise well below 2°C.
  • Approval of the Goal: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approved the goal in 2018 as a global goal.
  • To Avert Climate Crisis: The global climate target of 1.5°C is to keep warming to that level by 2100 in order to keep the earth from sliding further into a climate crisis.

Steps that have been Taken:

1. Abandon of Coal Use: In Dubai, the US joined 56 other nations in pledging to stop using coal for energy altogether by 2035.
2. The Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge: Although it was still in draft form, signatories pledged to triple their capacity for renewable energy.
3. India’s Aspirations: The country has positioned itself as a leader in the field of renewable energy.
   • The Indian Prime Minister unveiled a new set of five targets at COP-26 in 2021 (Panchamrit).
     • By 2030, India’s non-fossil fuel energy capacity is expected to rise from 170 GW to 500 GW.
     • By 2030, it plans to source half of its energy from renewable sources.
     • Between now and 2030, the estimated total carbon emissions will be lowered by one billion tonnes.
     • Its economy will have a carbon intensity of less than 45 percent.
     • India is expected to attain Net Zero by 2070.

Arising Concerns:

• Absence of Active Adaptation: It is paradoxical that, despite numerous pledges to switch to renewable energy, nations are still not actively preparing to phase out fossil fuels.
• Developed countries have a high level of fossil fuel backup, even though they have committed to giving up coal. This is because they typically have access to other large fossil fuel resources.
• Usage of Alternative Greenhouse Gas Emitters: The United States plans to produce more energy from oil and gas in 2030 than it does now, with at least 55% of its energy coming from these sources.
• Voluntary Basis: India has repeatedly stated that it cannot be coerced into giving up any fuel, even though it has formally stated its 2030 targets as nationally determined contributions (NDC).
  • Coal-fired power plants account for almost 70% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• Insufficient Pledges: Global pledges to cut emissions are insufficient to achieve the target.

Steps that need to be Taken

1. Tripling Renewable Energy Efficiency: By 2030, the globe will need at least 11,000 GW, or three times more renewable energy capacity, according to current estimates, in order to keep global warming to 1.5°C.
   • At the G-20 summit in Delhi, the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration served as the first official statement of the global consensus.
2. Global Inclusion: All countries must adopt a positive outlook and take full intention and action.
   • Although only 118 countries have endorsed the global convention on tripling renewable energy, it was believed at the Dubai summit that the convention was supported by the majority of the roughly 190 member countries.
   • Furthermore, it has not been signed by China and India, two significant nations.

Conclusion

The time has come for an actual commitment and actions to replace current and future fossil capacity with clean energy, not just the creation of laws and regulations on paper.

News Source: The Hindu

The Ambedkar Touch In Rethinking Social Justice Policies

Context

The article highlights the differences between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s expectations and the current situations of the marginalized communities of India under the rise of neoliberalism.

About Modern Democracy

• Definition: “Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people, and by the people,” as stated by Abraham Lincoln.
• Addresses: Promoting social harmony as well as reforms.
• Goal: To protect people’s self-respect and dignity, particularly those who have historically been marginalized and deprived of opportunities.
  • In order to attain social justice, one must guarantee equitable rights, equal opportunities, social benefits, and protection from discrimination for all.
• Democratic Institutions’ Mandates: To interact with the underprivileged and socially marginalized population and guarantee their meaningful involvement as a major ruling class in national politics.

Democracy in India:

• Expectations: As a leading proponent of liberal, enlightened ideas, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar anticipated that marginalized communities would have equal access to the country’s political and economic advancement after independence.
  • The government would make social justice policies more relevant and less prone to mistakes.
• Significance: Due to their egalitarian objectives and capacity for liberation, these contemporary virtues were embraced and celebrated by India’s socially oppressed communities, particularly the Dalits.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Article 17: It states that “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.
  • Part XVI: It deals with the claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) to services and posts.
  • Article 15(4) and 16(4): It enabled the Central and State Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SCs and STs.
  • Article 243D: It provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat.
  • Article 233T: It provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality.
  • Article 335: It deals with the claims of SCs and STs to services and posts.

Arising Concerns

The traditional support that marginalized communities received from state institutions has decreased with the rise of neo-liberal economic development, leaving them with only a tokenistic presence.

The Path Ahead

• Adopt Ambedkar’s Strategy: His method is essential for diagnosing diseases in the social and economic hierarchy. In order to make institutions more democratic, representative, and receptive to the demands and claims of marginalized social groups, he proposes morally sound corrective actions.
• A Social Justice Sense and Mechanism: It imbues institutions with moral sensibilities and holds them accountable to the diverse populace.
• Market Economy Reforms: The market economy requires reforms because the neo-liberal market has neglected the needs and ambitions of marginalized communities, increasing market exploitation and moving it closer to a crony capitalist mode.
• Integration of Marginalized Groups in the New Economic Order: By incorporating social justice policies into the way the market economy develops, marginalized communities will be integrated into the working classes and will also gain prominence as powerful defenders of capitalist assets.
• Address the Issues: Adivasi concerns about ecological order, cultural autonomy, and habitat protection need to be taken seriously.
• Adoption of New Policies against Social Discrimination: In order to ensure these groups’ equitable participation in the various domains of development, newer conditions and reparation policies should be adopted to combat historical injustices and social discrimination against them.
• New Social Justice Framework and Increased Affirmative Action Policies Are Needed: to guarantee the improvement of underprivileged communities and enable decision-makers to see beyond the traditional social justice policies (which frequently treat them as the obedient recipients of the welfare state’s programs).

Conclusion

In the modern era, capitalism must be reinterpreted according to Ambedkar’s vision of social justice as a pluralistic and cooperative form of economic organization that ensures the meaningful participation of marginalized communities in the market economy and in the related institutions of power and privilege.

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