24 June 2024

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. After elucidating the free movement policy, talk about the problems to internal security brought about by the porous border between India and Myanmar.

GS III – Internal Security related issues

Introduction:

• According to a mutually agreed-upon agreement, tribes residing along both sides of the border can enter the other country for up to 16 kilometres without a visa thanks to the Free Movement Regime (FMR). Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh make up the four states that make up the 1,643 km boundary between India and Myanmar. There are close family and ethnic relationships across the border among the people in the area. The regime of free mobility was intended to promote local trade and business and make interpersonal interactions easier.

Though the free movement policy benefits the local population, it has also brought forth a variety of issues related to internal security, including:

• Insurgency along the border: There is a close relationship between some insurgent organisations operating in North-East India and the ethnic armies of Myanmar. In the Sagaing Division, Kachin state, and Chin state of Myanmar, numerous rebel factions have established camps, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
• Illegal migration: Tensions with the local population have increased as a result of the illegal influx of tribal people from Myanmar. One of the main causes of the current ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kukis in Manipur, for instance, is the influx of Kuki-Chin people from Myanmar into India.
• In addition to the cross-border movement of terrorists, one major security issue arising from the India-Myanmar border is gun running. Both rebel groups based in Myanmar and Southeast Asian black markets have sent weapons to Indian insurgent groups. Additionally, Chinese-made weapons are transported through Myanmar and into India.
• Narcotics and the “Golden Triangle”: The border between India and Myanmar is susceptible to the trafficking of heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), which are made in Myanmar, due to its close proximity to Myanmar. These drugs are smuggled into India from Bhamo, Lashio, and Mandalay through the states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland.
• Misuse of the free movement regime: Because Indian militants are able to enter Myanmar without any restrictions and create safe havens, the security agencies are becoming concerned about how the free movement regime is being used. A different FMR clause that permits tribe members to bear the bulk of the load has also been abused to smuggle in illegal goods like firearms, drugs, and other items.
• Vulnerabilities brought on by challenging terrain: The border between India and Myanmar is made more vulnerable by its difficult topography. Lush woodland, deep river channels, and tall mountains define the borderland. Buildings for communication and transportation are difficult to erect on such terrain. Because they make it more difficult for border guarding forces to move quickly and easily, the lack of roads, communication lines, and other infrastructure has a negative impact on border patrol.

Strategies that can be implemented to address the aforementioned issues include:

• A clear plan should be in place for both India and Myanmar with regard to the regime of free movement, and India’s Myanmar strategy should take the aspirations of the people living in the northeast into account.
• The emphasis should be on updating the regime for free movement and turning unofficial trade into official trade through the building of infrastructure at integrated checkpoints (ICPs) and Land Custom Stations (LCSs).
• It is imperative to increase the number of workers and deploy them around-the-clock in order to monitor the movements of traders, locals, and those with heavy local workloads.
• Strict monitoring at access points with an adequate number of security personnel deployed.
• It is not practicable to fence the entire Indo-Myanmar border due to the difficult and severe terrain; instead, selective fencing is needed in certain areas.
• The border between India and Myanmar is more than just a porous or unfenced line; rather, it represents the physical, linguistic, cultural, and brotherly ties that exist between the transborder communities. Therefore, in order to handle security challenges successfully, India needs increase meaningful engagement with Myanmar.

Q2. What are the benefits and difficulties of building a strong semiconductor sector in India? What steps is the government doing to establish India as a global centre for semiconductor manufacturing?

GS III – Indian Economy

Introduction:

• Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as integrated circuits or microchips, are silicon-based devices that process data by acting as tiny electrical switches made up of millions or billions of transistors. Semiconductors are the powerful brains behind many of the applications of modern technology, ranging from transportation and military to medical gadgets and clean energy. The Electronics and IT Ministry projects that by 2026, India’s semiconductor market will be worth $70-80 billion. India is aiming to become a centre for the design and production of semiconductors in light of this.

Benefits of India building a strong semiconductor sector include:

• create jobs: It is anticipated that the growth of India’s semiconductor industry will create 2,50,000 new positions in manufacturing, research and development, and other supporting fields.
• Meet rising local demand: Rising semiconductor content in consumer electronics and autos, especially electric vehicles (EVs), as well as rising smartphone demand are predicted to propel the growth of the semiconductor sector in India. India would be able to meet rising local demand if it can create a solid semiconductor manufacturing and design base.
• Lower import costs: In 2022, the Indian semiconductor sector was valued at USD 27 billion, of which over 90% came from imports. This shows how heavily Indian chip consumers rely on outside sources. India’s chip manufacturing industry would lessen this reliance.
• Application in important sectors: The use of semiconductors in 5G technology, cryptocurrency mining, computers, the energy industry, healthcare, and other fields has resulted in a significant increase in demand for semiconductors in recent years.
• A highly competent pool of design engineers: India is one of the top nations in the world for semiconductor design engineers. About 20% of engineers working in semiconductor design worldwide are Indian. India can take advantage of this skill to create a complete chip design R&D ecosystem.

Obstacles in the way of India’s semiconductor sector development:

• Significant outlay of funds necessary: Making chips is a costly and resource-intensive operation. For example, the establishment of a single semiconductor factory necessitates an expenditure ranging from $3 billion to $7 billion.
• Water-intensive Industry: According to experts, the government should supply firms with the gallons of ultra-pure water needed for chip production in a single day. This is made worse by the fact that a lot of the country frequently experiences drought.
• Competition from other nations: Experts say that although India first concentrates on lagging-edge technological nodes to supply the automotive and appliance industries, it may be challenging to create demand globally because giants like Taiwan provide practical cutting-edge chip technology globally.
• Advanced technology: Only a select few companies possess the sophisticated technology required for the fabrication of high-end chips. Furthermore, nations have the authority to prohibit the export of these technologies since chips might be used for both military and civilian applications.

Government initiatives to establish India as a global centre for semiconductor manufacturing:

• The Semicon India initiative was established with a 76,000 crore INR total expenditure with the goal of fostering the growth of our nation’s semiconductor and display manufacturing sector. The aforementioned programme introduces the following schemes:
• In order to attract significant investments for the establishment of semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities in the nation, the Scheme for the Establishment of Semiconductor Fabs in India offers financial support to qualified applicants for the establishment of Semiconductor Fabs.
• The Scheme for Establishing Display Fabs in India offers financial assistance to qualified candidates to establish Display Fabs. The Plan offers financial assistance equal to up to 50% of the project cost.
• The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme from Semicon India Future Design provides funding and support for design infrastructure at different phases.
• Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL): The Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) is being modernised and brought to the market by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): An autonomous, dedicated organisation has been established to spearhead long-term plans for the development of sustainable semiconductors and display ecosystems. It will serve as the central point of contact for the effective and seamless execution of the plans for establishing semiconductor and display fabs.
• The worldwide semiconductor scarcity created opportunities and made the government grasp how urgent it was to achieve semiconductor self-reliance by upending supply networks throughout industries. In the next ten years, semiconductor manufacturing offers India a huge chance to become a major force in the global technology industry and a centre for chip technology.