MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. With its historical, cultural, and spiritual links to countries all over the world, Buddhism and Buddhist culture are essential parts of India’s projection of soft power. Discuss.
GS II – International Relations
Introduction:
- Political scientist Joseph Nye is credited with creating the notion of “soft power” in international affairs. It speaks to a nation’s capacity to sway people’s beliefs and attitudes without resorting to force or violence. In contrast to hard power, which depends on imposing economic or military pressure, soft power emphasises seduction and persuasion. Buddhism uses its connections to other countries’ cultures, histories, and spiritual traditions to project soft power throughout the world.
- The “Buddhist tourist circuit” is a tourism promotion initiative that the Indian government is actively pursuing as part of its Buddhist diplomacy. Furthermore, when the PM travels to Southeast and East Asia, he makes it a point to visit Buddhist places. The Indian government intends to show its dedication to safeguarding and advancing Buddhist legacy and culture, as well as fortifying relations with the international Buddhist community, by arranging such a prominent event. India is in a good position to lead the world conversation on Buddhist concerns because of its deep historical and cultural ties to the religion.
Buddhism as a gentle force:
Historical Relationships:
- India: Siddhartha Gautama, often known as Buddha, is credited with bringing Buddhism to the region in the sixth century BCE in what is now Bihar, India.
- Buddhism Extended Throughout Asia: From India, it extended to other regions of Asia, including Tibet, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. India has historical ties and a shared heritage with these countries because of this historical connection.
Cultural Impact:
- Cultural interactions: India and other countries have had many cultural interactions thanks to the introduction of Buddhism. India and other nations with Buddhist traditions now share a common culture because to the flow of ideas, artwork, and literature between them.
- Architectural Heritage: A large number of Buddhist monuments, such the stupas at Sanchi and the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, are important not just for India but also for the rest of the world. The cultural influence of India is increased by these locations.
Spiritual Connections:
- Common Philosophical Principles: People all throughout the world can relate to the philosophical and ethical principles that Buddhism upholds. Ideas that appeal to everyone, such compassion, non-violence, and mindfulness, help people from different cultural backgrounds feel more connected to one another.
- Soft Power and Diplomacy: India frequently uses its Buddhist background to its advantage in diplomatic dealings. For example, by promoting understanding and goodwill, cultural exchanges, festivals, and tourism projects centred around Buddhism strengthen India’s soft power.
- International diplomacy: India actively promotes its Buddhist history through diplomatic endeavours. One platform that unites Buddhist scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts from all around the world is the International Buddhist Conclave.
- Diplomatic links have been strengthened by India’s Buddhist linkages, especially with East Asian and Southeast Asian nations where Buddhism is widely practiced.
- For example, the “Samvad” or Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative was a geocultural application of Buddhism to counterbalance the geoeconomic appeal of China’s Silk Road project. In the years that followed, Japan and India jointly promoted the Samvad framework.
Soft Power in the Modern World:
- Global Interest in Mindfulness: Buddhist concepts are in line with the increasing interest in mindfulness, meditation, and overall wellbeing on a global scale. As a result, there is now more interest in Indian disciplines like yoga and meditation, which helps India project its soft power.
- India projects its soft power by promoting historical, cultural, and spiritual linkages with countries all over the world through Buddhism and Buddhist culture. India makes ties that go beyond political and geographic borders by highlighting its common history with countries that are inspired by Buddhism and culture, which increases India’s influence on the international scene.
Q2. The basic structure theory keeps the legislature and executive branch from abusing their authority and keeps things from devolving into a majoritarian system. Analyse.
GS II – Indian Constitution related issues
Introduction:
- The upshot of the judiciary’s imaginative interpretation of the constitution is the Doctrine of Basic Structure, one of the most significant instances of judicial activism. It was delivered by the Supreme Court’s 13-judge bench in the Keshavananda Bharti case (1973) and was intended to define the parameters of the Parliament’s amending authority. Examining the constitutionality of a proposed amendment is a doctrine.
Understanding and applicability of the Basic Structure Doctrine:
- With the advent of the “Basic structure” theory, the judiciary’s function shifted significantly from one of constitutional interpretation to one of creativity, going beyond the written wording of the constitution.
- The Indian constitution grants Parliament the constituent power to alter the document in response to evolving requirements and goals.
- The Indian constitution, which is dynamic and organic and aims to achieve a certain social revolution goal, specifies a unique mechanism for amending it.
- It indicates that the Parliament’s ability to change laws is unspecified; instead, procedural restrictions as outlined in Article 360 are to be expected.
- The topic of whether the Parliament’s amending authority is limitless and absolute was addressed by the Supreme Court in the Keshvananda Bharti Case (1973). The court concluded that the amending power is restricted to the extent that it does not modify the “Basic Structure” of the constitution.
- The court determined that, as per Article 368, the term “amend” refers exclusively to modifications that do not include changing the fundamental elements of the constitution, which would require creating or drafting a new one.
- In this sense, the Supreme Court established a “substantive limitation” on the Parliament’s ability to change the Constitution while also giving precedence to the unwritten provision.
- Nonetheless, there has been a great deal of scholarly discussion surrounding the Supreme Court’s ruling that created the new concept of the “basic structure.”
- The judgment’s opponents contend that the court has adopted a metaphysical approach in place of the written word’s legal method.
- They contend that the judiciary went so far as to draft the constitution, even though the government was destroying it.
- However, the decision’s supporters contend that the judiciary has upheld the constitution’s sanctity.
Relevance of the Basic Structure Theory:
- The basic structural concept is proof of the constitutionalist thesis that the governing majority’s brutal majority cannot destroy the core of the COI.
- The fundamental doctrine preserved Indian democracy by acting as a check on constituent power; otherwise, India might have become a totalitarian nation.
- It aids in the preservation of the fundamental principles that our founding fathers painstakingly crafted.
- By defining a true separation of powers, where the judiciary is independent of the other two organs, it fortifies our democracy. Additionally, it has given the Supreme Court unrestricted power beyond measure, making it the most powerful court in the world.
- Citizens were granted fundamental rights that are unalienable to any organ of the state by restricting the legislative branch’s ability to modify laws.
- Unlike the inflexible character of previous assessments, it is more progressive and flexible throughout time due to its dynamic nature.
- In her book “The Ten Judgements that Changed India,” Zia Modi makes the following claims: while the judiciary was incorrect from an academic perspective, from a practical one, it was necessary in the Indian setting at the time. (ii) Because it has restrained the government’s authoritarianism, it has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. India’s journey along the same route as other Third World nations has been halted by this.
