UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. It covers essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Attempt today’s answer writing on questions related to topics of GS-2 to check your progress.

India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a trade pact. Discuss the significance of the deal.

The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Rules to implement the law The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. In December 2019, Parliament passed an amendment to The Citizenship Act, 1955, to include a provision for grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities who entered India before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.

Discuss the major provisions of the law.

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

QUESTION 1: India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a trade pact. Discuss the significance of the deal.

Introduction:

— India signed a trade agreement with the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA), an intergovernmental grouping of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

— The agreement brings in $100 billion in investment over 15 years, with the EFTA considering joint ventures to assist India diversify its imports away from China.

Body:

Significance

— The timing of the signing crucial for India

— Over 64 countries, including India, are headed into elections this year, which could mean a long pause in free trade agreements (FTAs) for India and its trade partners.

— India is seen as a top contender by global inventors, the Vietnam-led Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN nations) and North American nations like Mexico are also emerging as favourable investment destinations.

Why did India push for investment commitment in the EFTA deal?

— India runs a trade deficit with most of its top trade partners, except for the US. Although India’s average tariffs have increased to 18%, the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement has helped the country secure intermediate items. As a result, if tariffs are eliminated, India’s FTA partners will have more access to the Indian market. In affluent nations, the average tariff is approximately 5%.

— The India-EFTA deal is also expected to widen the trade gap.

Benefits for Indian sectors

— The EFTA region’s funds include Norway’s $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest such ‘pension’ fund, which reported a record profit of $213 billion in 2023 because to strong returns on its investments in technology firms.

— India could see investment flow into the pharma, chemical sectors, food processing and engineering sectors.

— Currently, India’s imports of chemical products from China in FY23 alone stood at a massive $20.08 billion. It imported $3.4 billion worth of medical and bulk drugs worth nearly $7 billion from China, as per commerce and industry ministry data.

Challenges to access the EFTA market

— Switzerland, which is India’s biggest trade partner among EFTA countries, decided to eliminate import duties on all industrial goods for all countries starting from January 1, 2024.

— India is concerned about the elimination of tariffs on all industrial products, including chemicals, consumer goods, automobiles, and apparel, since industrial goods make up 98% of the country’s $1.3 billion in merchandise exports to Switzerland in FY2023.

(Source: India signs trade agreement with EFTA: What is the significance of the deal? by Ravi Dutta Mishra)

Points to Ponder

India-EFTA deal

EFTA Countries

Related Previous Year Questions

How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics? (2022)

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is transforming itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in present times Discuss. (2020)

QUESTION 2: The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Rules to implement the law The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. In December 2019, Parliament passed an amendment to The Citizenship Act, 1955, to include a provision for grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian communities who entered India before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.

Discuss the major provisions of the law.

Introduction:

— The Centre notified Rules for The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), paving the way for the implementation of the controversial law more than four years after Parliament passed it in December 2019.

— The CAA will benefit thousands of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014, and seek citizenship of India.

— The CAA aims to give citizenship to the target group of migrants even if they do not have valid travel documents as mandated in The Citizenship Act, 1955.

Body:

Major Provisions

— The CAA provides a fast track for non-Muslim immigrants from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to apply for and gain Indian citizenship.

— The law offers refugee status to non-Muslim groups in these nations, whereas Muslims are only considered “illegal migrants” in India.

— The CAA has nothing to do with India’s own religious minorities and is aimed at protecting those who have suffered from religious persecution in neighboring states.

— The law has also cut the period of citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to five.

— Under the CAA Rules, immigrants from these countries are only supposed to prove the country of their origin, their religion, the date of their entry into India, and the knowledge of an Indian language to apply for Indian citizenship.

— According to the CAA Rules, a birth or educational institution certificate, “Identity Document of any kind”, “Any License or Certificate”, “Land or tenancy records”, or “Any other document” issued by these countries, which proves the applicant was their citizen, would serve as proof of citizenship of these countries.

Conclusion:

— Aside from the equality argument, the fate of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act of 1955, which is also being challenged in the Supreme Court, is an important factor in the CAA case.

— In December 2023, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud reserved its decision on the validity of Section 6A, which was added to the Citizenship Act following the signing of the Assam Accord between the Centre and Assam movement leaders in August 1985.

(Source: The CAA Rules, unpacked by Deeptiman Tiwary)

Points to Ponder

National Register of Citizens (NRC)

Article 14

CAA and Assam

Related Previous Year Questions

“The Constitution of India is a living instrument with capabilities of enormous dynamism. It is a constitution made for a progressive society.” Illustrate with special reference to the expanding horizons of the right to life and personal liberty. (2023)

Explain the significance of the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act. To what extent does it reflect the accommodative spirit of federalism? (2023)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 40)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 40)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 41)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 42)

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