<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1647954439366" alt="Global Kashmiri Pandit diaspora (GKPD) seeks “One Place Settlement”, calls for recognition of genocide" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

In a bid to rehabilitate millions of people who fled Kashmir due to persecution in 1990, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), which is a civil society movement, plans to demand a “one place settlement” in the valley from the Government of India. GKPD also termed the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir as genocide and ethnic cleansing, and seeks the recognition of the same.
"We request the GoI to look into our demand of 'One Place Settlement'. We would like to have a city of our own, and for that, we have also prepared a document,” said GKPD co-founder Surinder Kaul in a Press Conference held on Monday.
Highlighting that there are more than 10 lakh Kashmiri Pandits who want to go back to their home, Surinder Kaul also said that recognition of the “genocide” is the first step in granting justice to the persecuted community.
“We are also in talks with the town planners regarding this. In the last two years, I have met many people and gathered information on how Kashmiri Hindus can go back," he further added.
The GKPD has come up with the proposal, considering the nationwide attention the displaced community has been receiving due to the release of 'The Kashmir Files'.
Talking about the proposed settlement, Kaul said discussions were also held on setting up universities, colleges, and houses to “make Kashmir a paradise again.” He also added that the proposed settlement will be based on Hub-and-Spoke model.&nbsp;
“In monetary terms, the total loss bore by the community was in the tunes of $35 billion. The government and all political parties have said repeatedly that everything will be fine, and we all will go back to our home, but nothing has happened in this regard, and our people no longer have homes. 20,000 houses were burnt, whereas several other houses were occupied. We do not even have the addresses of the houses," he said.
<ins>About ‘Kashmir Files’</ins>
Expressing its support for the ‘Kashmir files’, GKPD asserted that said true incidents have been shown in movie. “The Kashmiri Pandit community appreciates director Vivek Agnihotri for bringing his artistic creativity to give form to the cry for justice of the Kashmiri Pandits. He has shown exemplary courage in doing so,” said GKPD in a statement.
The GKPD also maintained that the feature film is not promoting any hatred as doing that is not its purpose. Kaul said that it was GKPD which requested Vivek Agnihotri to make this film, and introduced the latter to more than 700 victims for testimonials. The global Kashmiri Pandit body said that it provided the director with logistical support, but no funds were given by the former in making of the film.
It was also stressed that the movie could not show everything that was happened with the community in its entirety because of the laws pertaining to film screening in India. Only 10 per cent of what has happened to us is shown in the film," said Surinder Kaul.
Furthermore, he added that the film should not be viewed from a Hindu-Muslim perspective.
"The film is not about Hindu-Muslim polarisation. We are not against any society. This movie shows the failure of the system. The truth related to history can be painful,... but it does not mean that you should stop teaching history," he said.

Kashmiri Pandit’s body seeks “One Place Settlement”, calls for recognition of genocide

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643696844504" alt="The Infamous Romeo Force of Kashmir" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The Romeo Force on Friday organised a workshop aimed at encouraging the Kashmiri youth to join the armed forces. The workshop saw a participation of over 300 youths, who were keen to learn about the army, its weaponry, and its functioning. The army also delivered a lecture motivating the youth, displayed various weapons used by the armed forces like AK-47s, and explained to the youth about their make and models.
Ishaan, an Indian Army personnel said, “The workshop is aimed to link the army with the youth. We have discussed how the youth can join the Indian Army. Through this program, we want the youth to know about the lives of army jawans so that they can connect with us more.”
A person who attended the workshop stated, “It was a good session. Army weapons were also displayed for us. We thank the Army for organising it."
<ins>What is the Romeo Force?</ins>
Raised on September 1, 1999 at the Rajouri Fort, the Romeo Force is a division of the Rashtriya Rifles which deals with the counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, and has neutralised 1,458 militants in the valley yet. The force majorly operates in the Rajouri-Poonch border districts.
For the last 22 years, the force has been an integral part of Northern Command for attrition against terrorism, and to maintain stability in the region. Although, still a fresh unit, their contribution to the country is unparalleled. Their sagas of bravery and their unconditional devotion towards the countrymen is applaud worthy. The Romeo Force has been bestowed with 993 gallantry awards, which also include one Ashoka Chakra and four Kirti Chakra which were conferred to its personnels.
However, these achievements also came at a cost. The force has lost 18 officers, 19 Junior Commissioned Officers, and 271 other ranks over the years who made the supreme sacrifice for their country. (Note: The above figures are from the year 2018).
The force still functions in the border region ensuring peace and stability, and it is only due to their diligence that the countrymen sleep soundly at night.

The Infamous Romeo Force of Kashmir

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643383026409" alt="Many Firsts at India’s 73rd Republic Day celebration" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

This year’s Republic Day Parade was special for many reasons. While the parade saw women participating in large numbers, it also witnessed the grandest fly-past ever. To top it all off, this time Doordarshan’s coverage of the event was state-of-the-art with 360 degree camera coverage, and with cameras fitted in the pilot cockpit, the visual experience was a treat for the eyes.
Read ahead to know what more happened in this years’ Republic Day parade.
India celebrated her 73rd Republic Day on 26th January, and although the guest list had to be cut down because of COVID restrictions, the celebration made it all worth it.
In a first, India’s Air Force fly-past consisted of 75 airplanes, all going past Rajpath, saluting the President in style. The display also included Rafaele fighter jets, which soared through the sky displaying their might.
The celebration commenced from 23rd January, when the Prime Minister unveiled a hologram statue of Subhash Chandra Bose on India Gate. The date also marked Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary.
<ins>Women Power</ins>
It would be right to say that this year’s R-day parade was one that gave a strong message of women empowerment. Many women officers were seen leading their battalions with pride, and even tableaus this year were focused on women empowerment. The tableau of Meghalaya signified the working of women co-operatives, while the India Post tableau laid special emphasis on women empowerment.
Although, what was historic to note was, the tableau of the Indian Air Force which had Lieutenant Shivani Singh onboard. Notably, Singh is only the second female fighter jet pilot to set foot on an Air Force Tableau. Moreover, what is more interesting is the fact that Shivani Singh is a Rafale fighter jet pilot. She is also India’s first female Rafale fighter jet pilot. Lieutenant Shivani is a part of IAF’s golden arrow squadron based out of Ambala in Punjab.
This year’s R-day parade also witnessed some breathtaking stunts by the all-girls Seema Bhawani Motorcycle Team of BSF – from forming a human pyramid on bikes, to riding them while drinking tea, the team flaunted some exhilarating stunts.
<ins>Uniform from the past</ins>
Not only were the arms and weaponry on display, but also were the uniforms. Three contingents from the armed forces wore uniforms and carried weapons from the past, while one contingent wore fresh uniform and held new weaponry.
This was celebrated as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence.
The first marching contingent of the Rajpur battalion wore the uniform from 1950s, and carried the .303 rifles. The Assam Regiment wore the uniforms dated back to the 1960s, and Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment wore the uniform from the 1970s. The Para regiment, however, displayed the brand new uniform issued to it, and carried their new Tavor rifles.
<ins>Green invitation</ins>
This year’s Republic Day celebration was unique in another way. One of the things that grabbed everyone’s attention was eco-friendly and plantable seed paper invitation cards for the guests. The cards were made of seeds of medicinal plants like Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, and Amla, and were sent to all invitees as a part of the green initiative by the Centre.
After reading the invitation, the guests had the option to tear the cards into pieces, and the bits were to be sown in the moist soil so the seeds can grow into a plant.

Many Firsts at India’s 73rd Republic Day celebration

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643284221426" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Manipur are of great strategic importance for all the political parties. Especially because they will pave the way for the upcoming general elections in 2024. While these states are ready to go to the polls next month, there is a lot that you need to be aware of.
Read ahead to learn about the on ground situation in these 5 poll-bound states.

<ins>Uttar Pradesh</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643284569435" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

UP has always been a hotbed for politics, this state has given more politicians than any other state in India. Uttar Pradesh has a history of twisted political ploys and caste-based politics, the state also comprises a unique diversity among its voters.&nbsp;
●	<ins>Elections and Results</ins>
A whooping 402 seats will go to poll from 10th February in UP. The voting process is divided in seven phases and the first phase will begin voting on 10th February, while the seventh phase of voting is set to begin on 7th March. The counting and declaration of result will take place on 10th March. The state will go to polls for an entire month.
●	<ins>Parties in the Poll Race</ins>
While UP has a lot of political parties contesting the elections, there are some popular political parties which have been regular in the house. They find themselves every 5 years, either in the ruling side or the opposition. These are BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party. In the assembly elections of 2017, the BJP won with a clear majority and Yogi Adityanath was made the CM of UP.
While some parties have continued to retain their dominance in the region, some have lost footing and are forming alliances to prepare for the shakedown. We have compiled a list for all the alliances for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections.
<ol>
<li>NDA (National Democratic Alliance) - BJP, Nishad Party, Apna Dal</li>
<li>Samajwadi Party+ - Samajwadi Party, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya), Mahan Dal, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), Janvadi Party (Socialist), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party</li>
<li>Left Front - Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), All India Forward Bloc</li>
<li>Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha - All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Jan Adhikar Party, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Janata Kranti Party, Bharatiya Vanchit Samaj Party.</li>
<li>Others - Aam Aadmi Party, Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena. Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik), Vikassheel Insaan Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Azad Samaj Party</li>
<li>No alliance - Bahujan Samaj Party</li>
<li>UPA (United Progressive Alliance) - Indian National Congress</li>
</ol>
●	<ins>Voting Patterns</ins>
Voting in UP is mostly influenced by caste based politics. With a unique diversity of voters, different parties try to woo different communities by allotting a seat to a member of their community, or by working towards their interest. The BJP, recently had 10 of its MLAs leave the party to join the opposition’s Samajwadi party camp for upcoming elections.
●	<ins>Who is expected to win?</ins>
In a recent opinion poll conducted by Times Now, the results reflected that the BJP might secure a comfortable victory in the assembly elections, by winning an estimated 227-254 seats out of the total 403 seats available for contention, while Samajwadi Party will be the runner ups to them by securing somewhere between 136-151 seats. Notably, 53.4% of the respondents wanted Yogi Adityanath as their CM, while 31.5% wanted Akhilesh Yadav as their CM, and only 2.5% wanted Prinyanka Gandhi as their CM.
Although opinion polls are surveys conducted on a fraction of the voting population, they still reflect some truth. However, with the political situation tense in the state, the figures tend to change from time to time, and the final results might differ from the figures reflected in the opinion polls.&nbsp;
We will also cover UP’s election in detail in our upcoming article.

<ins>Punjab</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643284892816" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Punjab has been going through a turbulent political atmosphere for the last few years. While Congress was struggling as two of its popular leaders were caught in the middle of a power struggle, the BJP lost its footing because of the controversial Farm Laws. Meanwhile, the AAP snuck in and campaigned for a better, more literate, and healthier Punjab. It will be interesting to see who the people of Punjab choose as their representative.
●	<ins>Elections and Results</ins>
The voting for the 117 seats in Punjab will begin on 20th February, which was earlier scheduled for 16th February. The counting will begin on 10th March, and the results will be declared on the same day.
●	<ins>Parties in the Poll Race</ins>
The farmers’ protest has changed the entire dynamics of Punjab politics, and in a state where power was usually shuffled between two or three major parties, a fourth party has emerged, and is gaining popularity day by day. The most prominent political parties contesting elections in Punjab are: Indian National Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Aam Aadmi Party. Considering the turbulent political atmosphere of Punjab, several parties have formed a coalition, below are all the coalitions formed for assembly elections in Punjab 2022.
<ol>
<li>United Progressive Alliance - Indian National Congress</li>
<li>No alliance - Aam Aadmi Party</li>
<li>Shiromani Akali Dal+ - Shiromani Akali Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party</li>
<li>National Democratic Alliance - Bharatiya Janata Party, Punjab Lok Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt)</li>
<li>Sanyukt Samaj Morcha+ - Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, Sanyukt Sangharsh Party, Communist Party of India</li>
<li>Others - Lok Insaaf Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Marxist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation</li>
</ol>
●	<ins>Who is expected to win?</ins>
Recent surveys and early predictions have reflected that the AAP is the most favored party, but it will be difficult for them to gain complete majority. The Congress comes in second, and the SDU comes third in terms of popularity. AAP’s sudden popularity can be a result of their CM candidate, Bhagwant Mann, a comedian turned politician who has a great footing among the youth of Punjab.

<ins>Goa</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643285239133" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Goa has been at the center of political debate, although it might not be as important as Uttar Pradesh or Punjab in terms of strategic importance for the parties, but it will play a big role in defining the future of all the parties contesting in the state. With AAP, Congress, BJP, GFP, and several other parties campaigning with their full might, the state’s election will be a nail biting poll race.
●	<ins>Elections and Results</ins>
Goa will go to polls on 14th February 2022. The votes will be counted and declared on 10th March 2022. The contention will be for 40 seats, and the party or an alliance with 21 seats will form the government.
●	<ins>Parties in the Poll Race</ins>
While AAP failed to win even a single seat in the elections of 2017, the party’s hopes from this election are sky high. The BJP will give it all to maintain the seat of power in the assembly, and the Congress will be trying to move to the other side of the assembly (the ruling party). The most popular political parties in Goa are: BJP, Congress, AAP, GFP (Goa Forward Party), AITC (All India Trinamool Congress), MGP (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), NCP (Nationalist Congress Party), RGP (Revolutionary Goans Party)
Some parties have formed alliances as well, and this is how different parties will be contesting the upcoming Goa Elections.
<ol>
<li>United Progressive Alliance - Indian National Congress, Goa Forward Party</li>
<li>National Democratic Alliance - Bharatiya Janata Party</li>
<li>Aam Aadmi Party+ - Aam Aadmi Party, Independent (Dr. Chandrakant Shetye)</li>
<li>All India Trinamool Congress+ - All India Trinamool Congress, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party</li>
<li>Nationalist Congress Party+ - Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena</li>
<li>Revolutionary Goans Party - Revolutionary Goans Party</li>
</ol>
●	<ins>Who is expected to win?</ins>
According to several opinion polls conducted in the state, it is being predicted that the BJP might retain its rule in the state. Most people want the ruling party to remain in place, at the same time, AAP might win some seats in the region as a result of its aggressive campaigning. While Congress will be restricted to seats under double digits. The opinion polls by Times Now and News18 have also claimed that the independent candidates will again play a key role in king making as they are expected to win at least 4-5 seats in the state.

<ins>Manipur</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643285404157" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Distant from the politics in the center, Manipur is still not far enough to be away from all the party politics, which makes it a crucial state when it comes to the question of elections. Several political parties are contesting in this election and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. In the last elections of 2017, BJP formed the government in an alliance with (NPF) Naga People’s Front, LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), and (NPP) National People’s Party. Nongthombam Biren Singh of BJP was made the Chief Minister of the state.
●	<ins>Elections and Results</ins>
Elections in Manipur will be held in two phases for a total of 60 seats. Voting for the first phase will begin on 27th February 2022, while the second phase will go to polls on 3rd March, and the results will be declared on 10th March 2022.
●	<ins>Parties in the Poll Race</ins>
There are several parties that will contest in the assembly elections of Manipur. While the ruling party, BJP will try its best to retain power in the state, the others will try to rattle the ruling party with the promises in its manifestos. The most popular political parties in the state are BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), INC (Indian National Congress), NPF (Naga People’s Front) and the NPP (National People’s Party).
Some parties have formed alliances too for the upcoming elections and this is how the different parties are set to go to the polls.
<ol>
<li>National Democratic Alliance - Bharatiya Janata Party</li>
<li>United Progressive Alliance - Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party</li>
<li>Naga People's Front</li>
<li>National People's Party</li>
<li>Others - Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), All India Forward Bloc</li>
</ol>
●	<ins>Who is expected to win?</ins>
According to various opinion polls and a series of surveys conducted in the state, it is being predicted that no party will be able to form a clear majority in the state. While BJP and Congress might win most of the seats, the smaller and local parties will play a crucial role in deciding who will form the government in the region.

<ins>Uttarakhand</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1643285602099" alt="Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Uttarakhand is all set for the upcoming assembly elections. The state has witnessed the rule of three Chief Ministers in 5 years. The state’s political instability makes this election all the more important. This year, apart from all the parties which have been contesting in the state, AAP will also be contesting in the state. This election will be crucial in deciding the fate of the people of Uttarakhand.
●	<ins>Elections and Results</ins>
Uttrakhand will go to poll on 14th February 2022. The political parties in the state will be contesting for a total of 70 seats in the state. The majority needed to form the government would be 35 seats. The votes will be counted on 10th March 2022, and the result will also be declared on the same day along with the other four states that go to poll in February.
●	<ins>Parties in the Poll Race</ins>
In the last assembly elections of 2017, the BJP won and formed the government with Trivendra Singh Rawat becoming the Chief Minister. However, due to some internal turmoil within the party, Trivendra Singh had to step down, and Tirath Singh Rawat was sworn in as the new chief minister. However, in July Tirath Singh Rawat had to resign to avoid a constitutional crisis in the state, and Pushkar Singh Dhami was sworn in as the 10th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.
Given the political disturbance of Uttrakhand, the opposition parties will try to make the most out of it in this years’ elections. The most popular political parties in the state contesting for the elections are: BJP, INC, BSP and AAP.
This is how the alliance formation looks like ahead of the elections:
<ol>
<li>National Democratic Alliance - Bharatiya Janata Party</li>
<li>United Progressive Alliance - Indian National Congress</li>
<li>Aam Aadmi Party</li>
<li>Left Front - Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)</li>
<li>Others - Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, Samajwadi Party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen</li>
</ol>
<ins>Who is expected to win?</ins>
While several opinion polls and surveys conducted in the state claim that Congress might win the elections in a neck to neck competition with the BJP. Some say that the BJP will retain its position of power and will win this election. Although, this will be a tight competition between the two political giants.

Brief details about the upcoming elections in 5 states

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1642687140150" alt="Just one Indian qualified for Winter Olympics 2022. Arif Khan" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Arif Khan, the sole Indian to qualify yet for the Winter Olympics in 2022 has sparked the debate over ‘why only one Indian has qualified for the Winter Olympics’. A total of only 15 Olympians have represented India at the Winter Olympics across 10 editions yet. Here, we’ll look at these Oylmpians and will try to analyse why the country fails to send more representation in the Winter Olympics.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1642687235928" alt="Just one Indian qualified for Winter Olympics 2022. Arif Khan" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

<ins>India’s Poor Representation at The Winter Olympics</ins>
India is a sub-tropical country, and there is no doubt about that. With limited places where there is snow all around the year, India faces an acute shortage of sportspersons who can be sent to the Winter Olympics.
The government removed wintersports from their priority list in 1998, and it has not been reinstated since. Many people feel that the government has not paid much attention to these sports, and as a result, youths in the Himalayan region have not been taking up any kind of winter sports.
Shiva Keshavan, who has represented India a record six times in Luge at the Winter Olympics says, “Unfortunately, we have not made much progress institutionally for winter sport. Winter sports are in the far reaches of India – we are far from the centres of power of Delhi and Bombay (Mumbai). So sometimes, much attention is not given. But that does not mean we do not exist. Fifty million people live in the mountains in India. When we talk about protection of border areas, when we talk about development of mountain regions, winter sports should be seen as a factor that can impact entire socio-economic development. It needs to be looked at strategically and with a long-term planning. We are talking about basic facilities that you need for sport and give a fair chance to the youth from the hill states.”
Poor infrastructure, no recognition, limited events, and almost very little support from the government are all the reasons behind India not being able to send more than 4 Olympians for a single Winter Olympics edition.&nbsp;
This year, the story is not so different. With only one Olympian qualified yet for this year’s Winter Olympics, India’s hopes of sending more representation are looking dim.
<ins>All Eyes on Arif Khan</ins>
Born in the snowy region of Gulmarg, Kashmir, Arif Khan was introduced to the sport at an early age. His father, Yaseen Khan was a known skier in the region, and had Arif skiing on the glorious slopes of the Himalayan region since he was just four years old. Arif won his first gold medal in slalom Alpine Skiing at the national championship when he was 12. Since then, it has been a bumpy ride for the Kashmiri champion.
“As children we used to play football and cricket, but there was no playground around us. Skiing was the only convenient sport for us,” says Arif Khan.
As Skiing is an expensive sport, Arif’s adventures on the slopes were funded by his father’s earning from his ski shop in Gulmarg. Arif also resorted to some part-time ski instructing in Gulmarg when he fell short for the funds, but for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, Arif had to turn to crowd funding in order to train and pay for other expenses incurred in the sport.
Sadly though, he fell short of the fund by a small margin which cost him a spot at the Winter Olympics of 2018. However in 2022, things took a turn for good, Arif has qualified for the Winter Olympics. He had 5 races to qualify, but has managed to qualify in just 4.
"It's exciting to be the first Indian to have qualified for the Beijing Games. It's a big boost for winter sports in the country and for the youth in Kashmir. I remember the last time how difficult it was chasing the 2018 qualification when there was hardly any support for training and racing events," said the 31-year-old Arif Khan after qualifying for the Winter Olympics 2022.
<ins>India’s History at at The Winter Olympics</ins>
India has never won a single medal at the Winter Olympics, and has sent a total of 15 Olympians across 10 editions yet. It started in 1964, with Jeremy Bujakowski, who was born in Lithuania but moved to India, becoming the first Indian to qualify for downhill alpine skiing back then. Although he could not race in 1964, he came back to participate in the 1968 edition of the games in three events – men’s downhill, slalom, and giant slalom – at the 1968 edition. This time, he finished the downhill and giant slalom events, ranking 53rd and 65th respectively.
Gul Dev, Kishor Rahtna Rai, and Shailaja Kumar were part of the 1988 contingent from India sent to compete in the Winter Olympics of 1988. Shailaja Kumar became the first Indian woman to compete at the Winter Olympics, finishing 28th in women’s slalom. It was only in 2006, when another woman, Neha Ahuja was sent from India to represent the tricolor at Winter Olympics 2006. India has sent only two women to the Winter Olympics yet.
Talking about India’s quest in the Winter Olympics is incomplete without mentioning Shiva Keshavan, who represented India six times at the global stage. While almost every other Indian has qualified for ski related sports, Keshavan qualified for Luge, a completely different sport. He qualified for his first Olympics in 1998 when he was just 16 years old, and went on to participate in 5 Olympic Games after that, which makes him the most decorated Winter Sports Olympian in India. Keshavan eventually retired in 2018, and is currently coaching an international Luge team in Beijing.
While India’s quest at the Winter Olympics has been bumpy, we have great expectations from those who are representing India. The government, however, should take note of these problems and provide the sportsperson with the required assistance. They should also focus on improving the infrastructure and promoting winter sports in the Himalayan region where youth are increasingly taking up winter sports. For a cricket crazy country like India, it is important for the people to shift their attention to other sports as well which require our support.
Arif Khan has led by example, with his unmatched dedication he has proved that with perseverance and hard-work, one can achieve anything. We wish him luck and hope he brings glory to the nation.

Just one Indian qualified for Winter Olympics 2022

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1642507741226" alt="Govt plans to replace diesel with Methanol for army trucks & inland waterways" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The government is planning to convert its army truck and inland waterways diesel engines into Methanol ones. In doing so, the government aims to reduce the nation’s dependency on petrol and diesel.
<ins>What is Methanol?</ins>
Methanol is a low carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants, and natural gas, and the government feels it is the best pathway for meeting India’s commitment to COP 21.
<ins>Methanol as an Alternate Fuel</ins>
The NITI Aayog has been planning to shift to methanol as a source of energy for various uses. Most recently, it has been reported that the government is now in talks with Deccan Water Treatment to undertake the conversion of diesel engines used in Inland waterways into methanol engines as the government plans to focus on green fuel in the coming years. This project is most likely to be implemented through Deccan ScandiNAOS India, which is a 70:30 joint venture between Deccan Water Treatment and Scandi NAOS respectively, with Scandi as the technology partner.
“NITI Aayog is facilitating conversion of inland waterways at Haldia, Varanasi, and Allahabad under this project,” said an official.
The government is also planning to set up five methanol plants based on high ash coal, five DME plants, and one natural gas-based methanol production plant with a capacity of 20 MMT/annum in a joint venture with Israel. Three boats and seven cargo vessels are also being built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited for Inland Waterways Authority of India to use methanol as a marine fuel.
The aim is to replace up to 20% of crude imports by Methanol alone which will help greatly in reducing crude oil imports and promoting a more sustainable way of life. Using Methanol instead of other fuels is also expected to bring down the pollution levels in the country by 40%. According to the government’s plan, 500 barges are to be converted to run on 100% methanol replacing heavy oil or bunker oil. This will also result in reduction of pollutants in seas and rivers.
Moreover, the government also plans to replace diesel engines used in Army trucks and railway engines to methanol engines. Chairman and Managing Director of the JV Animesh Sarkar said, “Deccan ScandiNAOS India aims to drive the ‘Methanol Economy’ program in India in-line with the government’s initiative to promote and adopt alternative fuels in the country by providing design and supply methanol fuel solutions for internal combustion engines as well as conversion for existing conventional fuel engines to run on methanol.”&nbsp;
<ins>Future Plans</ins>
The NITI Aayog mentions in its plan for building a Methanol Economy in India, “although slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel, methanol can replace both these fuels in the transport sector (road, rail and marine), energy sector (comprising DG sets, boilers, process heating modules, tractors and commercial vehicles), and retail cooking (replacing LPG [partially], kerosene and wood charcoal). Blending of 15% methanol in gasoline can result in at least 15% reduction in the import of gasoline/crude oil. In addition, this would bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms of particulate matter, NOx, and SOx, thereby improving the urban air quality.”
A Methanol economy will reduce India’s oil import bill, its dependency on petrol and diesel, and will also result in reducing current oil inflation as methanol will also be very cost efficient.

Govt plans to replace diesel with Methanol for army trucks & inland waterways

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649169490723" alt="Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, declared a nationwide state of emergency on Friday, giving a free-hand to the security personnel following the violent clashes which erupted outside his residence when hundreds of supporters tried to storm his house in anger over the ongoing economic crisis in the country. Gotabaya, in a statement, explained that imposing emergency was needed for “protection of public order, and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.”

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649169539943" alt="Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

<ins>How bad is the situation?</ins>
The Government of Sri Lanka has exhausted their foreign exchange reserves, which are used to import goods from other countries. In the last few weeks, experts have claimed that the Lankan Government has witnessed a 70 percent drop in foreign exchange reserves which led to the currency devaluation of Sri Lankan Rupee, resulting in further deepening the economic crisis.
As of now, the situation in Sri Lanka is a cause of concern. Due to limited supply and the currency devaluation, prices of almost all goods and products have skyrocketed. While the retail inflation is being reported at 18.7%, food inflation is being reported at 30% compared to last year.
The nation is also going through crippling power cuts, which sometimes even extend up to 13 hours. While public offices have been advised to avoid using ACs, the Government has also directed for the street lights to be turned off. To make matters worse for the common citizens, the Lankan Government is also struggling to meet the daily need for fuel. Huge queues outside the petrol pumps have become a daily spectacle.
The SL regulatory body said, “what we are facing is not an issue of electricity capacity, but a foreign exchange crisis, as the country does not have enough reserves to import fuel.” In fact on February 23, the Bank of Ceylon had released $35.5 billion to pay for a shipment of 40,000 tonne of fuel which was kept waiting at the Colombo port for four days as the government struggled to find funds to pay for it. The Public Utilities Commission is still seeking assistance from the Government to pay for the three ships of fuel that arrived at the port last week.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649169599279" alt="Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Other than that, basic amenities like cooking gas cylinders have also become scarce as the cylinders are running low on supply, but are high in demand. The supply shortage has caused an unprecedented inflation in their prices. Over the past four months, the price of a standard cooking gas cylinder has shot up from $7.50 to $13.25 – an increase of around 85%.
Mrs. Dilrukshi, a mother of four says, "I used to provide fish and vegetables daily to my children. Now we are giving them one vegetable with rice. Earlier we used to have three meals a day, now sometimes we can afford only two."
In the markets, where the green of veggies and the red of fruits is all around, the shoppers are tense due to the soaring prices. One such shopper said, "with our current monthly salary, we can survive only for two weeks because the prices have shot up. We do not have any hope for the future. Rice prices have also increased. There is a long queue outside government-run shops."
Now, to address the elephant in the room, Sri Lanka is under a mountain of debt, totaling up to more than 45 billion dollars. The country needs to find 6 billion dollars just for debt servicing alone. Sri Lanka owes this money to a multifold of creditors, among whom China is at the forefront as the Chinese Government has lent billions as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past decade for infrastructure projects like ports and a coal power plant. Sri Lanka has asked China to restructure debt repayments of about $3.5 billion, while the Asian Development Bank and Japan have also lent billions of dollars to the Lankan Government.
The debt that has been mounting for quite some time now has become around 119 percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP. This means that the country has effectively borrowed more value than what it could produce in terms of goods and services. The situation in Sri Lanka has become so bad that the Lankans have started fleeing from their country. Last week, 16 Sri Lankans, including eight children, boarded illegal ferries to India. They were intercepted by the Coast Guard off the Tamil Nadu coast. The state is caring for them, but they will almost certainly not be the last batch of refugees. School exams have been canceled in the country because of the lack of paper. Hospitals have suspended surgeries owing to the lack of medical facilities.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649169646710" alt="Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Reports from Reuters bring forward heart-breaking stories of the less privileged class struggling to make ends meet in Sri Lanka, many of whom are now working two jobs, just to survive.
"We cannot survive here anymore," said Indika Perera, 43, a security guard at a private company in Colombo. Perera now spends over half his salary on groceries for his family, but still cannot get more than rice once a day for his three children.
<ins>What led to the crisis?</ins>
Experts have identified multiple reasons behind the crippling economy of Sri Lanka. Although, the major reason remains economic mismanagement by several Governments over a period of 10 years which led to the creation of a twin deficit – a budget shortfall alongside a current account deficit.
In a 2019 Asian Development Bank’s paper, it was said that “Sri Lanka is a classic twin deficits economy.” Further explaining what a twin deficit economy is, the paper read “twin deficits signal that a country’s national expenditure exceeds its national income, and that its production of tradable goods and services is inadequate.”
There were, however, several other factors which brought the doomsday closer for Sri Lanka. The Rajkapasan Government had promised deep tax cuts during its 2019 election campaign which were enforced just months before the pandemic struck which led to wiping out huge chunks of Sri Lanka’s economy.
To make matters worse, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which had taken a blow after 2019’s Easter bombing, was torpedoed by the onset of COVID-19, further deepening the economic crisis. Credit agencies all over the world went on to downgrade Sri Lanka and effectively locked it out of the international capital markets. As a result, Sri Lanka’s debt management programme, which was totally dependent on accessing those markets, derailed and foreign exchange reserves plummeted by almost 70 per cent in two years.
The Lankan Government’s decision to ban chemical fertilizers also went against them, and led to a drop in the critical rice crop. Moreover, with Russia invading Ukraine, the crisis further deepened as Sri Lanka relied on Russian fuel. Additionally, high freight rates accelerated the crisis for the Lankan Government. According to a report, “the average cost of shipping a standard container from Europe to Asia has increased from around $2,000 in 2020, to over $10,000 last year.”
<ins>What does the future hold?</ins>
Since November, when experts had predicted the crumbling of the Lankan economy, rating agencies like Moody's, Fitch, and Standard &amp; Poor had all downgraded Sri Lanka on debt default worries. Fitch has estimated Sri Lanka will also need to arrange for $2.4 billion to help state-owned and private firms in the country to honor 2022 debt obligations; these will be over and above the $4.5 billion Central Government debt. As of now, the country will also need to gather around $20 billion for essential imports such as fuel, food, and intermediate goods for exports.
For months, the Rajkapasan Government had been dodging calls from opposition leaders and economic experts, who were suggesting the government to seek help from the IMF, but as the crisis deepened, the government eventually drew up a plan to approach the IMF in April. The IMF is willing to initiate discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities for a possible loan programme in the “coming days,” said an IMF spokesperson. In the interim, Rajkapasa has also seeked help from its neighboring countries – India and China. The Chinese have lent heavily to the Lankans in the past through a series of infrastructure projects, and after providing the CBSL (Central Bank of Sri Lanka) with a $1.5 billion currency swap, and a $1.3 billion syndicated loan to the Government, China is considering offering the island nation a $1.5 billion credit facility and a separate loan of up to $1 billion.
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
Also Read: <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/17090f41-ba84-4f5f-b9a1-4b175cc5e28b/indias-another-blow-to-china-in-the-indopacific" target="_blank">India’s another blow to China in the Indo-Pacific</a>&nbsp;
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
<ins>What is India doing to help?</ins>

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649169816420" alt="Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

History is a testament to the fact that India has always helped its neighbors, and this time the Government of India (GoI) has stepped in to help the neighboring country of Sri Lanka. India in February had sent 40,000 tonne of fuel to the country to help allay its crisis. In January, India signed off on a $400-million credit swap facility, and deferred an Asian Clearing House settlement of $515.2 million.
On February 2, India had extended a line of credit of $500 million to Sri Lanka to buy petroleum products. “The Government of India support for fuel imports by Sri Lanka from India, through the line-of-credit of USD 500 million is in response to GoSL’s urgent requirement. This critical support comes in the wake of a virtual meeting between the External Affairs Minister of India, and his the SL Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa on January 15, 2022, during which they discussed a range of issues,” the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka had stated in a press release.
Basil Rajapaksa will also be visiting India to formalise an economic relief package for the country. He had earlier visited India in December 2021 to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
<ins>Way forward</ins>
Experts have suggested that Sri Lanka should establish a three-year repayment structure as doing so would lessen the burden on the citizens of Sri Lanka. Verité Research Executive Director and Economist Dr Nishan de Mel told Reuters, "Sri Lanka is unreasonably committed to repaying its debt. It is more prudent to press pause on debt repayment and take care of critical economic needs."
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis could have been avoided, but the economic mismanagement, and the welfarism schemes launched by successive Governments have created a grave crisis for the people of Sri Lanka, who are now paying thousands for food and gas, and are deprived of electricity. The country is now trapped in a vicious cycle of borrowing, which will be difficult to get out of, until the IMF bails them out once again.&nbsp;
The citizens of Sri Lanka have taken it to the streets, protesting against the government and the mighty Rajkapasas, who the people are blaming for the crisis. The SL Government responded by imposing an emergency in the state which has given the army the right to detain anyone without any warrant. The army is now arresting and detaining anyone they deem appropriate, and several journalists and protestors have fallen prey to this disgusting practice. According to several news reports, cases of torture have also been came to light.
The Government now should focus on restoring normalcy in Sri Lanka, rather than using emergency as a tool to suppress the dissenting voices. Diplomacy will play a key role in this situation as Sri Lanka will need to engage with multiple international organisations for a bailout or relief package. While several countries like India and China have come forward to help the island nation, it still will not be enough to turn the tide.

Explained: The Sri Lankan economic crisis

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1649077872220" alt="Freebies can make states go bust like SL, officials told PM" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

In a long meeting, which lasted for around 4 hours, between PM Narendra Modi and senior bureaucrats, a few officials raised concern over the populist schemes announced by several states. The officials claimed that ‘freebies’ or populist schemes are economically unsustainable in the long run, and can take India down the same path of Sri Lanka or Greece, according to reports from several outlets. PM Modi held the meeting with secretaries of all departments at his camp office at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Saturday.
The meeting was also attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra, and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba along with other top bureaucrats of the Union Government. During the meeting, Modi categorically told bureaucrats to come out of the mentality of managing shortages to the new challenge of managing surplus. PM further told the officials to give up the old story of citing “poverty" as an excuse for not taking up major development projects, and asked them to adopt a bigger perspective, the sources told news outlets.
Citing the teamwork shown by the secretaries during the COVID-19 pandemic, PM Modi said they should act as secretaries of the Government of India, not merely as secretaries of their respective departments, and should work as one team. He also asked secretaries to give feedback and suggest loopholes in policies of the Government, including those which are not related to their respective Ministries.
This was the ninth such meeting of the PM with secretaries since 2014 in which more than two dozen secretaries expressed their views, and shared their feedback with PM Modi, who heard them with an open mind.&nbsp;
As per several reports, the officials, who held prominent positions in the states before going to the Centre, warned that numerous states were in dire financial straits, and would have gone bankrupt if they had not been a member of the Union.
<ins>Freebies announced before polls</ins>
Many political parties including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) have offered tonnes of freebies just before the polls as an election-promise. This trend is growing as several other political parties are imitating this strategy to win elections
In the recent assembly elections in five states, these political parties had announced various schemes in which they promised free electricity for households, and free money to all women who have attained a certain age.
However, no matter how good they seem from the outside, the reality is these schemes are not economically viable, and moreover, sends a wrong message to the population, which ultimately gets dependent on such schemes, and resultantly negatively impact the social fabric of a state or nation, Sri Lanka is the prime example in front of us.

Freebies can make states go bust like SL, officials told PM

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648823224015" alt="No. of Electric Vehicle (EVs) on road in India crosses 10L, with around 1700 charging stations" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

​The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, gave out important updates on the growing number of electric vehicles (EV) in the country.
He informed the Parliament of the whopping growth in the number of EVs in the country which has now crossed 10 lakh. He further added that to facilitate efficient charging for these EVS, around 1,700 charging stations have also been set up in several public places in India.
​The Ministry of Power has also issued “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles – the revised consolidated Guidelines and Standards” to facilitate the transition towards E-mobility in India.
Gadkari said, “Action Plans have been prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for 8 cities with a 4 million-plus population (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune).”
MHI (Ministry of Heavy Industries) had also invited applications from Government Organisations and PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) to build, operate, and manage EV charging infrastructures on National Highways and Expressways under the FAME India Scheme Phase- 2 for Highways and Expressways.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in consortium with Convergence Energy Services Limited (a subsidiary of EESL), has already been awarded the work for setting up EV charging stations along 16 NH or expressways. Moreover, in order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with the former, the Ministry said. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space or land near toll plazas and its buildings for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations based on the revenue sharing model, subject to an agreeable amount to NHAI and EESL.

No. of EVs on road in India crosses 10L, with around 1700 charging stations

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648799434544" alt="UAPA Tribunal confirms Centre’s decision to declare Zakir Naik’s IRF an unlawful association" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

On Wednesday, March 30, UAPA Tribunal confirmed the Centre's decision and declared Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). A single-member tribunal consisting of Justice (Retd) DN Patel has confirmed this decision of the Central Government to ban IRF on grounds of unlawful activities and promoting terrorism.
In a notification issued on 30 March 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the Tribunal, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 4 of the said Act, passed an order on 09 March 2022, confirming the declaration made in the said notification. Therefore, in pursuance of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the said Act, the Central Government publishes the order of the said Tribunal according to which there is substantial evidence to confirm that the association has been involved in Unlawful activities which are detrimental to sovereignty, unity, integrity, security of India, and causes disaffection against India.&nbsp;
<ins>What is UAPA? </ins>
UAPA or Unlawful Activities Prevention Act primarily is an anti-terror law, which is aimed at “more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities”. Enacted in 1967, it is much like the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act (TADA), and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) acts, both of which had to be repealed because they were too ‘stringent’.
In case of IRF, the Ministry of Home Affairs in its Notification stated that Naik’s speeches and statement did not just meant to inspire youth of particular religion in India, but also influenced people outside to commit terrorist acts.
“Naik’s Statements and speeches are objectionable, subversive that promote enmity, hatred among religious groups,” the Home Ministry said on extending the ban on IRF.
The Ministry further stated, “these statements by Naik can also disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, propagate anti-national sentiments, escalate secessionism by supporting militancy, and some people may undertake activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.”
After going through the evidence, the Tribunal said that it is satisfied that there existed sufficient cause for imposing the said ban on IRF as its unlawful activities are subsisting through various mediums, which are detrimental to the sovereignty, unity, integrity, security of India, and causes disaffection against India.
The Tribunal order stated. “This Tribunal confirms the Notification dated 15 November 2021, issued by the Government of India for the imposition of ban on IRF for a period of five years with effect from the date of the aforesaid notification. In view of this, the Court found justification in the decision of the Central Government to take action under section 3(1) and Section 3(3) of the Act.”
<ins>What was IRF’s Response?</ins>
IRF in its reply to the UAPA tribunal stated that there is not “an iota of evidence” to show that the Foundation has ever indulged in any unlawful activity in the past. “The Foundation also does not have for its objects any unlawful activity or any activity punishable under sections 153 (A) or 153 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Foundation is a registered charitable Public Trust and has in its aims and objectives, activities which inter-alia promote charitable, educational, moral and socio-economic development, besides establishing schools, orphanages, research and educational institutions, hospitals, etc. and also giving scholarships and educational support to deserving students,” IRF proclaimed.
In the matter, Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India with Sachin Datta, Senior Advocate, Amit Mahajan, Capital Goods Skill Council (CGSC), Advocates Rajat Nair, Jay Prakash Singh, Kanu Aggarwal, Dhruv Pande, Himanshu Goel and Shantanu Sharma appeared for the Government of India. Advocates Rahul Chitnis and Aaditya Pande appeared for the State of Maharashtra. Advocates S.Hari Haran, Shakul R. Ghatole, Bhavana Duhoon, Jaikriti S. Jadeja appeared for IRF.
Naik runs two television stations, namely Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu. Both the channels are banned in many countries. It is banned in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The IRF head had fled to Malaysia in 2016, just before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started a probe against the Islamic preacher.

UAPA Tribunal confirms Centre’s decision to declare Zakir Naik’s IRF an unlawful association

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648734054090" alt="No. of areas reduced under AFSPA in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland; How have CMs reacted?" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Taking a monumental decision, the Government said on Thursday that areas under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in north-eastern states of Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur will be reduced. The Act has not been completely removed, however, the government has clarified that the decision will considerably reduce areas under the AFSPA effective April 1, 2022.
“Reduction in areas under AFSPA is a result of the improved security situation and fast-tracked development due to the consistent efforts and several agreements to end insurgency and bring lasting peace in North East by PM Modi Government,” HM Amit Shah said in a tweet.
In Assam, where AFSPA has been in force since 1990, the ‘Disturbed Area’ tag will be removed completely from 23 districts, and partially from one district, according to a PIB release.
In Manipur, where civil society organisations and activists have long fought for the law’s repeal, 15 police station areas of six districts will be excluded from the purview of the act, the release read.
In Nagaland, the Centre has accepted the recommendation of a high-level committee formed in the aftermath of Mon killing to withdraw AFSPA in a phased manner, said the release. Therefore, the Disturbed Area Notification is being withdrawn from 15 police stations in seven districts in Nagaland with effect from April 1.
The Government had earlier removed AFSPA entirely from Meghalaya, and partially from Arunachal Pradesh. In March of 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered removal of AFSPA from Meghalaya completely, and from eight police station areas bordering Assam in Arunachal Pradesh. A year later, this was further reduced to just four police stations. Arunachal currently has three districts with AFSPA apart from these four police stations.
<ins>About AFSPA</ins>
As per AFSPA, a “disturbed area” is any area in a state or a Union Territory to which this Act extends where the governor or the administrator “is of the opinion that the whole or any part of such state or UT… is in such a disturbed or dangerous condition that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary."
The Act also says any commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, or any other person of equivalent rank in the armed forces in any disturbed area, after giving such due warning as he may consider necessary, can fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death if he is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for the maintenance of public order.&nbsp;
Moreover, officers positioned under AFSPA can arrest any person without warrant in connection with the commission of a cognisable offence or even on the reasonable suspicion that the person has committed or is about to commit a cognisable offence. The Act allows such officers to “use such force as may be necessary to effect the arrest."
<ins>Reactions</ins>
The Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland welcomed the Centre's decision to reduce 'disturbed areas' in each of their states that come under the AFSPA.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that his State Government whole heartedly welcomed the Centre’s decision to withdraw AFSPA from all areas of Assam barring nine districts and one sub-division.
He also thanked HM Amit Shah for freeing around 60 percent area of Assam from AFSPA.
“AFSPA has been in force since 1990 &amp; this move marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam’s future. It is a testimony to the significant improvement in law &amp; order in the State. With peace getting primacy, North East is now on a new trajectory of growth &amp; development,” he tweeted.
Terming the decision as “historic”, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said it was the result of “robust development and improved security situation” under various initiatives adopted by PM Modi in the northeast.
"The decision will lead to a new era of peace, prosperity, and development in Manipur yet again," he tweeted.
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio also thanked PM Modi and HM Shah for the landmark decision. He stated that the move was a “significant development” towards bringing security, prosperity, and stability to the northeast.

No. of areas reduced under AFSPA in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland; How have CMs reacted?

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648655025033" alt="India to provide $1 mn to increase operational budget in re-organised BIMSTEC" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The Seven-nation regional grouping Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) met for their 5th summit on Wednesday, and adopted a charter to expand its overall co-operation and firmed up a master plan for transport connectivity at a virtual summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other leaders of the bloc.
Among several other issues discussed at the summit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said regional cooperation – specifically among south and south-east Asian countries – has become a priority because the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war had raised questions about the stability of the international order.
"The recent developments in Europe have raised questions about the stability of the international order. In this context, it has become a greater priority to have regional co-operation," PM Modi told representatives of the seven-nation regional bloc.
"(As) our region faces challenges of health and economic security, the need of the hour is unity and cooperation," he said, noting India would provide BIMSTEC with $1 million towards its operating budget. "It is important to strengthen the capacity (of the regional alliance)…," he added.
The BIMSTEC comprises of India and six other countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.&nbsp;
Shortly after the Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the adoption of the charter has given the BIMSTEC an "international personality", and it reflected a significant evolution of this grouping. Rudrenda Tandon, Additional Secretary in the MEA looking after the BIMSTEC division, said PM Modi announced $1 million as an ad-hoc grant for the operational budget of the grouping's secretariat.&nbsp;
He further added that the Summit, hosted by Sri Lanka, also finalised three documents providing for the expansion of co-operation. At a media briefing, Tandon said the leaders of the BIMSTEC member countries also approved a complete re-organisation of the grouping's co-operation activities.
Henceforth, the BIMSTEC cooperation activities will take place in seven pillars and each of the member countries will lead one pillar, Tandon said. He said India will lead the security pillar of the BIMSTEC.
Prime Minister Modi, in his address also underlined the importance of having a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to “increase mutual trade among BIMSTEC nations.”&nbsp;
The time has come to make the Bay of Bengal the bridge of connectivity, prosperity and security. I call on all BIMSTEC nations to dedicate themselves to working with new enthusiasm to achieve the goals we achieved together in 1997," PM added.

India to provide $1 mn to increase operational budget in re-organised BIMSTEC

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648639950357" alt="All you need to know about India’s Green Hydrogen plans" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Union Minister of Road Transport &amp; Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday reached Parliament in a car powered by green hydrogen or green ammonia. He was riding in a ‘Mirai’ manufactured by Toyota which is the first-of-its-kind vehicle run on Hydrogen-based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
Mirai (Japanese word for ‘Future’), manufactured by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. along with International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT), was introduced earlier this month under a project which seeks to study and evaluate the world's most advanced FCEV which runs on hydrogen. The main aim is to shift from fossil fuel to using contemporary resources for the conservation of the environment.
Toyota Mirai can cover a distance of 645 kilometers in single charge, and can refuel within 5 minutes, according to various reports.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648640063166" alt="All you need to know about India’s Green Hydrogen plans. Toyota Mirai" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Naturally, the move by Minister Gadkari raised some questions among the people about not only the viability of the project, but also what are India’s plans to further its motive to shift to alternate fuel to power development of the country. Gadkari said that India’s aims to manufacture green hydrogen domestically.
“To become 'Atmanirbhar', we have introduced green hydrogen which is generated from water. This car is a pilot project. Now, the manufacturing of green hydrogen will begin in the country. Imports will be curbed, and new employment opportunities will be created,” the minister said.
Speaking about the capacity building and infrastructure modernisation, Nitin Gadkari said, “within maximum of two years, the cost of electric scooter, car, auto-rickshaw will be same as petrol-driven scooter, car, auto-rickshaw. Prices of lithium-ion battery are coming down. We are developing this chemistry of zinc-ion, aluminium-ion, (and) sodium-ion batteries. If petrol, you are spending ₹100, then on electric vehicle you will spend ₹10."
He also informed that Government has initiated Rs 3000 crore mission to become a county exporting hydrogen.
<ins>Hydrogen as a power source</ins>
Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. Green hydrogen can be produced from renewable energy and abundantly available biomass.
Green hydrogen was talked-about as an alternative fuel choice in a number of emissions reduction pledges at the UN Climate Conference, COP26, as a means to decarbonise various industries. Not just transportation sector, but also various other sectors like freight, shipping, and aviation can use green hydrogen as a fuel.
Hydrogen is emerging as an important source of energy since it has zero carbon content and is a non-polluting source of energy, whereas hydrocarbons have a net carbon content in the range of 75 to 85 percent.
Hydrogen energy is expected to reduce carbon emissions that are set to jump by 1.5 billion tons in 2021. It is the most abundantly available element on earth, but commercially viable Hydrogen can be produced from hydrocarbons including natural gas, oil, and coal through processes like steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, and coal gasification; as well as from renewables like water, sunlight, and wind through electrolysis and photolysis and other thermo-chemical processes.
<ins>India’s Green Hydrogen plans</ins>
Last year, in the budget speech for FY22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/environment/1b99b568-8c30-441f-b55a-c44a702500e1/quest-for-a-green-future-hydrogen-energy-mission" target="_blank">talked about launching a ‘Hydrogen Energy Mission’</a> , and earmarked an additional capital of Rs 1500 crore to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) for the financial year 2021-22.
Later in the year, in August 2021, PM Narendra Modi launched the National Hydrogen Mission with an aim to make India an export hub Green Hydrogen &amp; Green Ammonia, and to meet the country’s climate change requirements.
Under the mission, the government has set a target of producing 5 million tonnes of Green Hydrogen by 2030.
The implementation of this policy seeks to provide clean fuel to the common people of the country which will, resultantly, reduce dependence on fossil fuel, and reduce crude oil imports.
<ins>Some points in the policy:</ins>
<ol>
<li>Manufacturers of Green Hydrogen may purchase renewable power from the power exchange or set up renewable energy capacity themselves anywhere.</li>
<li>The Green Hydrogen manufacturers can bank their unconsumed renewable power, up to 30 days, with a Distribution Company, and take it back when required.</li>
<li>Distribution licensees can also procure and supply Renewable Energy to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen in their states at concessional prices which will only include the cost of procurement, wheeling charges, and a small margin as determined by the State Commission.</li>
<li>Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for a period of 25 years will be allowed to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen for the projects commissioned before 30th June 2025.</li>
<li>The manufacturers and the renewable energy plant shall be given connectivity to the grid on priority basis to avoid any procedural delays.</li>
<li>The benefit of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) will be granted incentive to the hydrogen manufacturer, and the distribution licensee for consumption of renewable power.</li>
<li>To ensure ease of doing business a single portal for carrying out all the activities, including statutory clearances in a time bound manner will be set up by MNRE.</li>
<li>Manufacturers of Green Hydrogen shall be allowed to set up bunkers near ports for storage and export of Green Ammonia by shipping. The land for the storage for this purpose shall be provided by the respective Port Authorities at applicable charges.</li>
</ol>
<ins>What is the private sector doing?</ins>
The shift from fossil fuels to hydrogen needs major participation from private players as well. To facilitate this positive shift, recently six companies, working in the domain of renewable energy generation, have come together to form an independent advocacy group called Independent Green Hydrogen Association (IGHPA) to give an impetus to the Hydrogen Sector in India.
IGHPA, formed by companies, namely Azure Power, Acme Group, Fortum India, O2 Power, Sprng Energy and SunEdison Infrastructure, aims to engage with the Government and other key stakeholders to turn India into an export hub of green hydrogen and green ammonia.
The association will also work towards creating awareness among the masses about the usage of Green Hydrogen.
Former Secretary in the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shashi Shekhar has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the organisation. IGHPA is mandated to give technical, regulator, and economic inputs to help evolution of policy framework and its subsequent implementation.
Moreover, companies like IOC, NTPC, BPCL, L&amp;T, Jindal Steel, Reliance Industries and the Adani Group have announced their respective plans for hydrogen production in India. By some estimates, over $25 billion stands to be invested in the generation of green energy.

All you need to know about India’s Green Hydrogen plans

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648220232797" alt="Rewriting history, Yogi Adityanath takes oath as the CM of UP for the second time in a row. Full list of cabinet members." style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Rewriting history, Yogi Adityanath on Friday took oath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second time in a row. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several other Union Ministers were present at the grand ceremony in Lucknow's Ekana Stadium (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium). Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and party leaders also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
In his newly elected cabinet, the BJP has retained 21 ministers from the old cabinet, while 31 are fresh faces. As many as 22 ministers have been dropped. BJP has appointed Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state.
<ins>Yogi’s Cabinet 2.0 Announced</ins>
Full list of Ministers:
<ins>Cabinet ministers:</ins> Surya Pratap Shahi, Suresh Kumar Khanna, Swatantra Dev Singh, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Jayveer Singh, Dharampal Singh, Nand Gopal Gupta, Bhupendra Singh Choudhary Anil Rajbhar, Jitin Prasada, Rakesk Sachan, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Yogendra Upadhyay, Ashish Patel, and Sanjay Nishad.
<ins>Ministers of state (independent charge):</ins> Nitin Agrawal, Kapil Dev Agrawal, Ravindra Jaiswal, Sandeep Singh, Gulab Devi, Girish Chandra Yadav, Dharmveer Prajapati, Asim Arun, JPS Rathore, Dayashankar Singh, Narendra Kashyap, Dinesh Pratap Singh, Arun Kumar Saxena and Dayashankar Mishra 'Dayalu'.
<ins>Minister of state:</ins> Mayankeshwar Singh, Dinesh Khateek, Sanjeev Gond, Baldev Singh Olakh, Ajit Pal, Jaswant Saini, Ramkesh Nishad, Manohar Lal Mannu Kori, Sanjay Gangwar, Brijesh Singh, KP Malik, Rajni Tiwari, Suresh Rahi, Somendra Tomar, Anoop Pradhan 'Valmiki', Pratibha Shukla, Rakesh Rathore Guru, Satish Sharma, Danish Azad Ansari and Vijay Laxmi Gautam.

Rewriting history, Yogi Adityanath takes oath as the CM of UP for the second time in a row

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648196472503" alt="Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

Since the Russian invasion began, an estimated 10 million Ukrainians have left their homes in search of a safe place. While some have received shelter in the neighboring countries after waiting in long queues, some remain displaced in their own country, and others still await a chance to cross the border. This displacement of such a huge population has caused a massive humanitarian crisis that Europe is still not ready to deal with.
<ins>Background</ins>
Tensions started brewing at the Kremlin after Volodymor Zelenskyy urged US President Joe Biden to fast-track the NATO approval for Ukraine. Putin strongly advocated that he did not want a neighboring country to be part of the NATO alliance, and <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/ce6018a9-f35e-4d0a-9827-44ce4aac92ed/can-russias-insecurity-dilemma-lead-to-invasion-of-ukraine-again" target="_blank">started amassing troops on the border</a>. While most experts predicted a war like situation, some also said that Russia is in no position to wage war against Ukraine, given the economic crisis it faces. However, on 24th February, Russian forces launched a “special military operation” on Ukraine. Zelenskyy asked for support from the West, but all they did was supply the country with arms and ammunition, and not actual military support. Since then, the country has been caught in the midst of the war, and its citizens are stuck in an endless loop of enemy shelling and firing.&nbsp;
<ins>Migration</ins>
Many foresighted Ukrainians who had felt the tensions escalating have already migrated to the neighboring countries, but the majority of the population, who were caught off guard with the Russian invasion, thought about migrating only when the invasion begun or when it reached near them.
Almost 3.6 million refugees have left Ukraine, while an estimated 6.48 million people have been displaced within the country. In total, ten million people – more than a quarter of the population – had left their homes in Ukraine by 20 March.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648196588828" alt="Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

<ins>Which Countries Are Accepting The Ukrainian Refugees?</ins>
Europe is witnessing the biggest migrant crisis since the World War II. The vast majority of these refugees have directly entered their neighboring European countries. Among the countries absorbing the refugees, Poland has accepted more refugees from Ukraine than all the other European countries combined. Other neighboring countries of Ukraine that have received refugees are Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia. Some refugees have then moved further west to other European countries, and to a lesser extent, elsewhere. However, observers note that most are likely to stay in Poland and other countries in Central Europe because "tight labor markets, affordable cities, and a pre-existing diaspora have made those countries more appealing alternatives for Ukrainians, who find options slimmer in Europe's west."&nbsp;
The EU countries bordering Ukraine have allowed the Ukrainian refugees to cross the border without much trouble and have allowed entry to all people fleeing war in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds, regardless of whether they have a biometric passport. Furthermore, the EU has decided to grant them the right to stay, work, and study in any EU member state of their choosing for an initial period of one year.
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
Also Read: <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/9e7c9ffa-6d40-498f-aec8-99fd6bed13f9/the-big-game-in-eurasia-pushing-for-a-new-world-order-but-incurs-collateral-damage" target="_blank">The big game in Eurasia pushing for a New World Order</a>&nbsp;
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
<ins>Poland</ins>
The authorities in Poland had predicted a full blown invasion far before the actual invasion even began. The Polish government had asked the communities to make preparations to accommodate at least a million refugees. By 19 March 2022, more than 2.1 million Ukrainian refugees had entered Poland. The authorities have made it very easy for the Ukrainians to cross the border by doing away with the long list of formalities that one needs to have to cross the Polish borders. Assembly points for refugees have opened in every district of Poland. Local authorities are providing free accommodation, food, and other necessary supplies. Apart from that, a huge number of citizens and organisations are voluntarily offering assistance, free accommodation, and other help.
Although, the Polish Government has asked for monetary help from the EU in order to host the overwhelming amount of refugees pouring in from Ukraine.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648196765204" alt="Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

<ins>Romania</ins>
According to the Romanian Government, by 21st March, 5,43,308 Ukrainians had crossed the border into Romania. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has said Romania is “open … to all those in need”, and that the refugees will be provided with “whatever is needed for them to feel safe.”
<ins>Moldova</ins>
Moldova was among the first countries to receive refugees from the Odessa and Vinnytsia oblasts. Moldovan authorities have activated a center of crisis management to facilitate accommodation and humanitarian relief for refugees. By 21 March 2022, 3,67,913 Ukrainian refugees had entered Moldova which is the highest number of refugees per capita of any country. The Government of Moldova is providing free bus rides, and Romania has assisted Moldova with moving people onwards into Romania in order to relieve the pressure in Moldova.
<ins>Hungary</ins>
A country that seven years ago built barbed-wire fences and deployed attack dogs to keep out refugees has allowed 3,17,863 Ukrainians to enter by 21st March, according to the UNHCR. Their Prime Minister Viktor Orban had said on 16th March that there would be "no limit on the number of Ukrainian refugees who can stay in Hungary."
<ins>Slovakia</ins>
By 21 March 2022, nearly 2,53,592 Ukrainian refugees had entered Slovakia. The country’s Prime Minister, Eduard Heger, had earlier said, “Slovakia is ready to help every Ukrainian who asks for such help.”
<ins>Russia</ins>
Since <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/e3e9146e-91cf-4570-9e20-2b08df2f4c16/russiaukraine-crisis-looking-at-history-might-answer-some-questions" target="_blank">Russia and Ukraine have a shared history</a>, Several Ukrainians have also migrated to Russia post the invasion. According to Russian Government figures, 2,52,376 refugees had gone to Russia by March 21, 2022. Before the 2022 crisis, more than a million refugees from Ukraine, mainly from Donbas, which is a <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/10ac6db7-b5f9-4ec1-9c69-5d2bd581a59c/explained-the-minsk-agreement-and-minsk-conundrum" target="_blank">bone of contention between Russia and Ukraine</a>, had gone to Russia between 2014 and 2016.
<ins>Czech Republic</ins>
As of March 17, over 2,70,000 refugees from Ukraine had arrived in the Czech Republic. A network of ‘Regional Centres for Help and Assistance to Ukraine’ (Krajská asistenční centra pomoci Ukrajině) was created in the regional capitals of the country to help refugees obtain registration, accomodation, health insurance, and other assistance.
<ins>France</ins>
By 16 March, at least 17,000 Ukrainian refugees had entered France, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. By 22 March, more than 26,000 Ukrainian refugees had entered France, according to Prime Minister Jean Castex. On 25 February, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France "will take its part" in welcoming Ukrainian refugees; a step welcomed by migrant aid associations.
<ins>International Help</ins>
Several other countries have also extended a helping hand in times of distress for the Ukrainian refugees. International help is pouring in, and a lot of fundraisers have also been initiated by the well-wishers of the Ukrainian community. Organisations such as UNICEF, the United Nations Refugee Agency, International Rescue Committee, United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, and others began accepting monetary donations for helping refugees and those affected by the crisis. Others such as The Kyiv Independent began ‘GoFundMe’ campaigns to raise money for specific causes or calls for physical items to be donated by an individual.
Furthermore, railway companies in several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland, are allowing Ukrainian refugees to travel by train for free.

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648196917469" alt="Russia-Ukraine crisis: Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The international response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis was almost unreal. Several countries extended a helping hand to the fleeing Ukrainians, and are providing them with all the basic necessities. Although, leaving one’s home in times of crisis is a terrible image to carry which will haunt the Ukrainian refugees for years to come.
However, while the entire international community hopes for their timely return to their homes, the situation in Ukraine is still tense and requires some de-escalation before the Ukrainians could even imagine turning towards their home.

Leaving war-torn country, where are the Ukrainians going to?

<img src="https://api-discussion.policharcha.com/1648029646787" alt="Russia-Ukraine crisis: Looking at history might answer some questions" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>

The legacy of the Tsarist Empire and the Soviet Union is one of the crucial factors for an understanding and an explanation of current affairs in the post-Soviet space. This is especially true for Ukraine and for Russian–Ukrainian relations. Russia regards Ukraine as a part of its own strategic orbit, while many Ukrainians want to liberate themselves from the Russian hegemony, and advocate a closer cooperation with the European Union.
<ins>Historical perspective</ins>&nbsp;
Both Russians and Ukrainians share the same ancestry dating back over a millennium, especially Kiev/Kyiv (‘Kiev’ will be used further in article), the current capital for Ukraine, is the historic home to the first eastern Slavic state in history. ‘Rus’ is a Slavic term used to refer to red-haired Scandinavians who arrived as ‘Vikings’ to conquer the indigenous Slavic population who swept down from the north in 9th century and established this medieval empire making Kiev its capital.
The birthplace of both modern nation-state – Russia and Ukraine – traces their roots back to the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which stretched from Baltic to the Black Sea from the 9th century to the mid-13th century.
The pagan prince of Novgorod and grand prince of Kiev, Vladimir I, accepted the Orthodox Christian faith, and was baptized in the Crimean city of Chersonesus. Thus, the Eastern Orthodox Christianity became the official state religion of the Kievan Rus that was officially adopted in A.D. 998 by laying the foundation of modern Russian Church. From that moment on, Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently declared, “Russians and Ukrainians are one people, a single whole.” Putin wrote an article last year titled, ‘On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians’, and he argues that “Russian and Ukraine are one people” and calls them “essentially the same historical and spiritual space”. It is on this conflict-ridden land that people from both the nations built their national identities as such Kiev holds a colossal significance.
In the 13th century, Kiev was attacked and devasted by Mongol invaders from the east which resulted in the power shift north to a small Rus trading outpost called Moscow. Again, in the 16th century, Polish and Lithuanian armies invaded from the west. In the following century, war between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Tsardom of Russia brought lands to the east of the Dnieper River under Russian imperial control. Hence, the east became known as "Left Bank" Ukraine; lands to the west of the Dnieper, or "Right Bank," were ruled by Poland.
In the year 1793, right bank (western bank) Ukraine was further annexed by Russian Tsarist Empire which introduced coercive policies to subvert the Ukrainian culture, identity, history and language. The use and study of the Ukrainian language was banned in schools under the policy known as ‘Russification’, and further people were pressured to convert to the Russian Orthodox faith. The czars referred to their dominion as "little Russia" and tried to crush surging Ukrainian nationalism in the 1840s. The geography of Ukraine has repeatedly been carved up by competing powers from over the past 10 centuries, consequently, changing the narratives of history of Ukraine whose dire consequences are visible in today’s war-torn country.&nbsp;
<ins>Post-Russian Revolution</ins>&nbsp;
Following the collapse of the Tsarist Russian Empire and Austro-Hungarian empires during the World War I, the state of Ukraine declared independence in Kiev in 1917. The communist revolution in Russia in the same year had severe consequences for independent-Ukraine as new country was invaded by Poland and fought with the forces loyal to the Moscow’s new Bolshevik government in the brutal civil war.
By the time Ukraine again incorporated in the Soviet Union in 1922, the Ukrainian economy was in tatters with its populace starving. This was further aggravated by the Joseph Stalin’s orchestrated mass executions and man-made famine that killed up to 10 million Ukrainians in 1930s popularly known as Holodomor or terror-famine. Afterward, Stalin imported large numbers of Russians and other Soviet citizens — many with no ability to speak Ukrainian and with few ties to the region — to help repopulate the coal and iron-ore rich east.
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
Also read – <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/9e7c9ffa-6d40-498f-aec8-99fd6bed13f9/the-big-game-in-eurasia-pushing-for-a-new-world-order-but-incurs-collateral-damage" target="_blank">The big game in Eurasia pushing for a New World Order</a>&nbsp;
Also read – <a href="https://policharcha.com/article/internationalrelations/10ac6db7-b5f9-4ec1-9c69-5d2bd581a59c/explained-the-minsk-agreement-and-minsk-conundrum" target="_blank">The Minsk Agreement and Minsk Conundrum</a>
<ins>-------------------------</ins>
<ins>Post-Cold War</ins>
Ukraine became an independent nation again with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, along with the other Union republics. The remaining centre was reduced to the territory of the former Russian Federal Soviet Republic, whose territory corresponded roughly to the Muscovite state in the middle of the 17th century.
To maintain the hegemony of Kremlin over the free republics, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established, but the Russian society and the Russian politicians were shocked when they realised that CIS did not become, as expected, the successor of the Soviet Union headed by Russia.
For Russian political class, it was hard to digest the Ukrainian independence as their imagination does not allow them to accept the fact that Ukraine can be a separate nation. The Ukrainian government, representing people, aimed at the maintenance and extension of state's sovereignty and at relations with Russia on the basis of equality. 
"The biggest divide after all these factors is between those who view the Russian imperial and Soviet rule more sympathetically versus those who see them as a tragedy," says Adrian Karatnycky, a Ukraine expert and former fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States. These fissures were laid bare during the 2004 Orange Revolution, in which thousands of Ukrainians marched to support greater integration with Europe.
On ecological maps, you can even see the divide between the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine — known as the steppes — with their fertile farming soil and the northern and western regions, which are more forested, says Serhii Plokhii, a history professor at Harvard and director of its Ukrainian Research Institute. He says a map depicting the demarcations between the steppe and the forest, a diagonal line between east and west, bears a "striking resemblance" to political maps of Ukrainian presidential elections in 2004 and 2010.
These legacies of history created lasting fault lines because eastern Ukraine came under Russian rule much earlier than western Ukraine. People in the east have stronger ties to Russia, and have been more likely to support Russian-leaning leaders. Western Ukraine, by contrast, spent centuries under the shifting control of European powers such as Poland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire — one reason Ukrainians in the west have tended to support more Western-leaning politicians. The eastern population tends to be more Russian-speaking and Orthodox, while parts of the west are more Ukrainian-speaking and Catholic.
The question of the approximately 8 million ethnic Russians living in Ukraine (17% of its population), and of the about 50% of Ukrainian citizens with Russian as their first language is a major bone of contention between Putin and Ukraine.
The Russian speaking population is concentrated in the cities of Eastern and Southern Ukraine, that too, due to forced migration in the Stalin-era. About 3 million Ukrainians live in Russia, being the second largest ethnic minority after the Tatars. The Russian government tried to instrumentalise the ethnic Russians and the Russian-speaking Ukrainians for political purposes, while the Ukrainian government rarely mentions the Ukrainian minority in Russia. 
<ins>Conclusion</ins>
Many Russians, and especially the political elites, are suffering from the lost status as a great power. There is a wide-spread nostalgia for the Tsarist Empire and the Soviet Union, even for the totalitarian Stalinist regime. These tendencies became stronger under the presidency of Vladimir Putin. So, one main goal of Russia's foreign policy is keeping the regions of the former empire under its hegemony. Russia tries to control the post-Soviet space, designated as “near abroad”, and to restrict the sovereignty of the former Soviet republics by interfering into their inner affairs. Russia had to recognise that the Baltic States were lost, but Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Belarus, and Ukraine are regarded as parts of the Russian orbit.
Again, Ukraine is the most important and disputed region. Russia fears a complete separation of Ukraine from Russia and its entrance into the European Union and the NATO. As already in tsarist Russia, this is regarded as a threat for Russia's position as a great power, and a threat for the Russian nation imagined again as an Orthodox “all-Russian” nation.
So, the asymmetry of the relationship persists until today. Russia exerts considerable economic and political pressure to keep Ukraine in its imperial strategic realm and tries to prevent the integration of Ukraine to EU and NATO. As already mentioned, this problem is on today’s political agenda.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Looking at history might answer some questions

In a surprise visit to India, Chinese Foriegn Minister Wang Yi met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in two separate meetings on Friday.

This is the first visit by a high-profile Chinese official since the clash at Galwan valley, where soldiers from both the country engaged in hand-to-hand combat, leading to casualties from both sides. Since then, the Indian and Chinese forces remain locked in a stand-off at several places along the LAC in Ladakh region.

Among the multifold issues discussed in the meeting with S Jaishankar, the most important ones were about the disengagement of troops in Ladakh, and India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. Both sides agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Jaishankar also confronted Yi on his controversial remarks on Kashmir in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

"We met for about 3 hours and addressed a broad substantive agenda in an open and candid manner. We discussed our bilateral relations that have been disturbed as a result of Chinese actions in April 2020," said Jaishankar after his meeting with the Chinese official.

The Chinese delegation also invited NSA Ajit Doval to visit China to take forward the mandate of Special Representatives. NSA Doval responded positively and stated that he can only visit after immediate issues were resolved successfully between both the sides.

The surprise could not come at a more interesting time. Is there anything more than what meets the eye?

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval in a surprise visit

Lodged in Jail since September 2020 under the controversial anti-terror UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), Umar Khalid has once again been denied bail by the Delhi High Court. The Additional sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat pronounced the order after the verdict was deferred several times earlier this month. The Karkardooma court had reserved the order on March 3. Subsequently, the order was to be pronounced on March 14, but got deferred for non-filing of written arguments by the lawyer of Umar Khalid. Then the matter was deferred till March 23, following the submission of additional notes by the Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, who contested that there are multiple chats and other evidence against Umar Khalid.

The former JNU student faces several charges, and has been accused for being one of the “masterminds” behind the North-East Delhi riots of February 2020 which had left 53 dead, and over 700 injured. A total of 18 people were named as accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, out of which only 6 have received bail so far. Senior Advocate Trideep Pais, appearing for Umar Khalid, had argued that the entire charge sheet filed by Delhi Police in the case is a fabrication, and that the case against him is based on the video clips run by two TV channels showing a truncated version of his speech.

What are your views about the issue? What do you think about the UAPA?

No bail for former JNU Student Umar Khalid for his alleged role in the NE Delhi riots

The Supreme Court-appointed expert committee's report reveals that a majority – 85.7 percent of stakeholders were in favour of the now-repealed farm laws, while only 13.3 per cent were against it. The Apex court appointed the committee in January 2020. The committee consisted of agricultural economists, namely Anil Ghanvat, Ashok Gulati, and Pramod Joshi.
Farmer leader Bhupinder Singh Mann was initially a part of the committee, but resigned later.
The panel in its report said it interacted with 73 organisations, representing almost 38.3 million farmers. Around 86 per cent of them fully supported the Acts, while four groups, representing around 5.1 million did not do so.
Other seven organisations, representing 3,60,000 farmers supported the Acts with some modification.
That apart, the panel invited comments. It received 19,027 representations and suggestions. Two-thirds of respondents there supported the Acts. The panel said the committee studied the farm laws, and had a bilateral discussion with various stakeholders. It submitted the detailed 92-page report on three farms laws of the Narendra Modi Government to the Supreme Court.
The court, however, did not make this report public, but Anil Ghanwat, leader of a farmers' union, decided to make it public for the larger interest of the farmers.

What are your views about it?

86% of the farmers supported the three farm laws: SC appointed panel

US President Joe Biden on Monday said that among all the Washington allies, India has been “shaky” in its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden also lauded the US-led alliance, including NATO, the European Union, and key Asian partners for its united front against President Vladimir Putin.
This includes unprecedented sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's currency, international trade, and access to high-tech goods.
However, unlike fellow members of the QUAD group – Australia, Japan, and the United States – India continues to purchase Russian oil, and has refused to join votes condemning Moscow at the United Nations. An Indian Government official said last week that the world's third-biggest consumer of crude relies on imports for almost 85 percent of its needs, with Russia supplying a "marginal" less than one percent of this.

What are your views about India’s stance regarding the Russia-Ukraine crisis?

Joe Biden calls India “shaky” amid Russian confrontation

Hundreds of Pre-University (PU) students in Karnataka who had boycotted the practical examinations, protesting against the Hijab ban in educational institutions, will not be allowed to re-appear for the examinations. Ruling out the possibility of re-exams, the Karnataka Minister for Primary and Secondary Education BC Nagesh on Monday said that there is no such system for absentees. In Karnataka, class 12 is called PU.
“How can we even consider this possibility? If we allow the students who boycotted the practicals for not being allowed to wear hijab to the exam even after the high court gave its interim order, then other students will come citing some other reason and seek a second chance. It is impossible,” said BC Nagesh.
In PU examinations, the practicals carry 30 marks and the theory paper carry 70 marks, making the total marks 100. The students who boycotted the practicals will be marked zero in the practicals, and will have to score well in the theory paper to pass the exams, and to avoid losing an entire academic year.

What are you views?

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets S Jaishankar and Ajit Doval in a surprise visit

No bail for former JNU Student Umar Khalid for his alleged role in the NE Delhi riots

86% of the farmers supported the three farm laws: SC appointed panel

Joe Biden calls India “shaky” amid Russian confrontation

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