Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

India, as the world's largest democracy and a rapidly growing economy, occupies a unique position in the Global South. Its role has evolved from being a recipient of aid to becoming a key player in South-South cooperation.

• This transformation is rooted in India's historical commitment to solidarity among developing nations, its economic progress, and its aspirations for a more equitable global order.

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India's Role in the Global South:

• Leadership and Advocacy: India is a prominent voice for developing nations in international forums, advocating for climate justice and equitable access to resources.
  • It actively pushes for the reform of multilateral institutions such as the UN, WTO, IMF, and World Bank.
  • The African Union became a full member of the G-20 during India’s Presidency in 2023 signifying the theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future."
  • India also champions South-South cooperation at the United Nations, highlighted by the establishment of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund in 2017.
• Development Partnerships: India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program benefits over 160 partner countries through capacity-building initiatives in IT, rural development, parliamentary affairs, and more.
  • It has committed over USD 30 billion in lines of credit for infrastructure projects in Africa and Asia, including notable projects like the Pare Hydroelectric Plant in Bhutan.
  • India also provides project-specific aid, such as the USD 1 billion line of credit to Mongolia for oil refinery construction
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: India has been proactive in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as demonstrated by the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
  • India also conducted Operation Dost for Turkey and Syria earthquake relief in 2023 and deployed National Disaster Response Force teams immediately.
  • Cyclone relief efforts include Operation Sahayata in Mozambique after Cyclone Idai in 2019.
• Economic Cooperation and Trade Facilitation: India promotes trade and investment within the Global South, focusing on complementarities and mutual growth.
  • The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, in partnership with Japan, enhances connectivity and promotes sustainable development.
  • Within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), India supports initiatives like the SAARC Food Bank and SAARC Seed Bank.

Challenges in Strengthening South-South Cooperation

• Divergent Interests: The Global South is a heterogeneous group with diverse economic, political, and social conditions.
  • Aligning their interests and priorities for cooperation can be challenging.
• Political Instability and Governance Issues: Frequent regime changes affecting long-term cooperation
  • Example: Recent coups in Niger impacting regional stability
• Resource Constraints: Many Global South countries face resource constraints, limiting their capacity to participate effectively in South-South cooperation.
• Dependency on the Global North: The Global South's economies are still heavily reliant on the Global North, making it difficult to reduce dependence on traditional development partners.
• Infrastructural Deficiencies: Inadequate infrastructure, particularly in connectivity and digital realms, hampers effective South-South cooperation.
• Lack of Institutional Mechanisms: Robust institutional frameworks for facilitating South-South cooperation are still under development.

Opportunities in Strengthening South-South Cooperation

• Technology Transfer and Digital Cooperation: India can share its technological process with the Global South.
  • This includes digital public goods like UPI, Aadhaar, and CoWIN.
  • The country collaborates on emerging technologies through joint research on AI, blockchain, and quantum computing.
• Climate Change Mitigation and Environmental Cooperation: India can lead efforts in climate change mitigation through the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • India can also share best practices in sustainable development, such as its LED bulb distribution program (UJALA).
• Health Cooperation and Pharmaceutical Collaboration: In health cooperation, India can engage in joint research on tropical and neglected diseases through the India-Africa Health Sciences Platform.
  • India can also share its Telemedicine and e-health initiatives, like the E-Sanjeevani.
• Cultural Exchange and Soft Power Projection: India can foster people-to-people contact and cultural understanding with initiatives like the Know India Program for diaspora youth.

Conclusion

India can be a pivotal leader in South-South cooperation. Platforms like the Voice of Global South Summit can facilitate enhanced collaboration, overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities will enhance India's global standing and benefit the entire Global South.