Content
- A conservation manual, drafted by the ordinary citizen
- In Namibia, India shows a new way to engage Africa
- Electoral Roll Issue & ECI Controversy
A conservation manual, drafted by the ordinary citizen
Core Thesis
- Argument: India’s current approach to conserving monuments—rooted in colonial frameworks and limited to repair–polish–protect—fails to capture the social, cultural, and ecological dimensions of heritage.
- Prescription: A new, holistic conservation manual must integrate lessons from diverse disciplines (translation, biology, economics, Gandhian thought) and involve communities, making conservation a living, people-centric process.
Relevance : GS 1(Culture , Heritage) , GS 2 ( Governance)
Practice Question : “India’s conservation policy continues to carry colonial imprints.” Critically examine with reference to ASI’s role.(250 Words)
Context & Background
- ASI (Archaeological Survey of India):
- Established: 1861 (by Alexander Cunningham).
- Mandate: Archaeological research and conservation of monuments of national importance (~3,600 protected sites today).
- Colonial Legacy:
- John Marshall’s Conservation Manual (1923): repair monuments, isolate sites, create gardens → preservation = aesthetic upkeep.
- Legal Framework:
- Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 (colonial).
- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (post-independence).
- Present Issues:
- Many sites decaying (CAG reports, SC interventions).
- ASI understaffed, underfunded, overly bureaucratic.
- 2014 National Policy on Conservation not effectively implemented.
- Govt’s “Adopt a Heritage” scheme inviting corporates (criticised as outsourcing).
Current Model of Conservation (Criticised)
- Select few sites get attention, others neglected.
- Physical repair focus rather than social/interpretive context.
- Colonial garden model isolates monuments from lived environments.
- Top-down approach with little citizen involvement.
New Framework Proposed (Editorial’s Line of Reasoning)
- Gandhian Inspiration (Sarvodaya):
- Conservation must improve lives of surrounding communities, not just stone structures.
- Dignity of labour, craftspersons, inclusivity.
- Multidisciplinary Insights:
- Translators: Meaning evolves → conservation should acknowledge temporal distance, visible interventions, periodic review of methods/materials.
- Wildlife Biologists: Protect ecosystems, not just individuals → monuments linked with water bodies, forests, settlements, not isolated.
- Mycologists (fungi metaphor): Value in neglected, small, forgotten monuments → local economies, groundwater recharge, public spaces.
- Economists:
- Value = functionality (restore ventilation, not just façade).
- Scarcity = higher value → more funding.
- Creative destruction → submerged temples as innovation labs.
- Old temples that got submerged acted like early centers of knowledge and innovation.
- They showed how change destroys some things but also creates new opportunities.
- This is an example of “creative destruction”—old gives way to new.
Citizen’s Role
- Conservation not only state-driven but shared responsibility.
- Citizens must learn “stone literacy” → understand monuments’ stories, biases, silenced voices.
- Monuments as mirrors of society → heritage conservation linked to confronting prejudices.
Broader Implications
- Cultural: Moves beyond colonial, elitist preservation to inclusive heritage.
- Economic: Tourism + local economies benefit if conservation is contextual.
- Social: Monuments become public spaces, not elite enclaves.
- Ecological: Integration of water, forests, biodiversity with monuments ensures sustainability.
Conclusion
- India must move from stone-polishing to story-telling, from isolated sites to living heritage.
- A holistic conservation manual integrating ecology, community, and functionality is the need of the hour.
- True conservation means preserving memory, empowering citizens, and linking past with present for a sustainable cultural future.
In Namibia, India shows a new way to engage Africa
Context & Background
- Historical context: India has long projected itself as a natural partner of Africa based on shared colonial experiences, South-South solidarity, and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) legacy.
- Geopolitical setting: Africa today is a contested space of influence — China (Belt & Road), U.S./EU (aid, security), Russia (military), Turkey & Gulf (trade/infrastructure).
- India’s challenge: To differentiate itself from Western conditional aid and Chinese debt-driven models by offering trust-based, adaptive partnerships.
- Case of Namibia: Relations trace back to India’s strong support for Namibia’s independence struggle. India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Namibia in 1990 after its independence. Both nations share colonial legacies, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) principles, and South-South cooperation ethos.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
Practice Question : “India’s engagement with Namibia reflects a new model of South-South cooperation in Africa. Critically examine India’s three-step engagement logic, its strategic significance, and the challenges that may hinder its effectiveness.” (250 words, 15 marks)
India’s Engagement Model (Three-Step Logic)
- (a) Shared history of anti-colonial struggle
- India supported Namibia’s liberation: hosted SWAPO’s first office, contributed troops to UN peacekeeping.
- These references anchor diplomacy in long-term solidarity, not transactional aid.
- (b) Pragmatic present cooperation
- Trade: India–Namibia bilateral trade = $800M (modest but growing).
- India’s wider Africa development partnership = $12B.
- Education/IT capacity-building: India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT, Ongwediva University “India Wing” ($12M grant).
- (c) Future-oriented tech & knowledge cooperation
- Namibia = first African adopter of India’s UPI digital payments system.
- Potential transfer of digital public goods: institutional design, regulatory frameworks, user-centric models tested at Indian scale.
Advantages of Namibia as Partner
- Political stability: Unlike conflict-prone neighbours, Namibia provides predictable governance.
- Mineral wealth: Uranium reserves critical for India’s clean energy transition.
- Tech-readiness & youth bulge: Makes it a natural fit for India’s IT & digital models.
- Global South alignment: Namibian leadership echoes India’s stance on reforming global governance and financial systems.
Gaps & Critiques
- Uneven follow-through: First Indian PM visit in nearly 30 years — shows neglect.
- Modest outcomes: Only 2 MoUs (entrepreneurship, health) + Namibia joining India-led alliances (Biofuels, CDRI).
- Missed strategic opportunity:
- No major deal on critical minerals (uranium, rare earths).
- No framework for supply chain resilience, local skill development, or value-addition industries.
- Symbolism > substance: Cultural outreach appreciated, but tangible economic depth missing.
Comparative Dimension
- India vs West:
- West = conditional aid, migration deterrence, episodic funding withdrawals.
- India = inclusive, culturally grounded, shared histories, non-paternalistic.
- India vs China:
- China = massive infra loans, debt risks, rapid visible projects.
- India = small-scale, adaptive, tech-driven, trust-based capacity-building.
- India’s advantage: Low-cost, people-centric, no coercion → but needs scaling & consistency.
Strategic Significance
- Energy security: Namibia’s uranium can power India’s nuclear program → low-carbon pathway.
- Digital diplomacy: UPI adoption as a soft power export. Potential to replicate across Africa.
- Global South solidarity: Both nations champion reformed global financial/UN systems.
- Geopolitical balancing: Counters China’s dominance, creates alternatives to Western dominance in Africa.
Policy & Institutional Lessons
- Need for sustained institutional mechanisms: India-Africa Forum Summits (IAFS) must become more regular.
- Beyond symbolism: MoUs must translate into investments, infrastructure, and concrete sectoral collaborations.
- Sectoral prioritisation:
- Minerals & energy
- Digital public infrastructure
- Healthcare & pharma
- Skill development & education
- Domestic coherence: India must fix bureaucratic delays, uneven funding, lack of follow-up to maintain credibility.
Ethical & Normative Angle
- Partnership of equals: India projects dignity, respect, and inclusivity — vital in a post-colonial context.
- Decolonial diplomacy: Cultural gestures (local languages, indigenous references) signal respect for African identity.
- Contrast with neo-colonial practices: Avoids extractive models, though risk of over-symbolism remains.
Conclusion
- India’s Namibia outreach signals a new template for Africa engagement: respectful, tech-driven, historically grounded.
- Success depends on moving beyond symbolic gestures to sustained, strategic, sectoral collaborations (minerals, energy, digital infrastructure).
- If followed through, India can consolidate its role as a credible Global South leader, offering an alternative to Western conditionality and Chinese debt diplomacy.
Value Addition
Cheetah Diplomacy (Flagship Soft Power Initiative)
- In 2022, India and Namibia signed an MoU on Wildlife Conservation, leading to the transfer of 8 cheetahs from Namibia to India.
- This marked the world’s first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore.
- Cheetahs were relocated to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, as part of India’s biodiversity restoration.
- Symbolism:
- Showcases India–Namibia environmental cooperation.
- Strengthens India’s image as a global conservation leader.
- Enhances soft power diplomacy, branding it as “Cheetah Diplomacy.”
- Challenges: Concerns over adaptation, prey base, and human–wildlife conflict, but remains a landmark project in India–Africa ties.
Electoral Roll Issue & ECI Controversy
Basics & Constitutional Framework
- Article 324: Provides for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to supervise, direct, and control elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President & Vice-President.
- Current Structure: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) + 2 Election Commissioners.
- Original Gap: Constitution silent on the method of appointment → Parliament empowered to legislate.
- Key Democratic Principle: Free & fair elections are part of the Basic Structure (Kesavananda Bharati, Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain).
Relevance : GS 2(Elections – Reforms , ECI , Judiciary , Separation of Powers )
Practice Question : Critically analyse the Supreme Court’s role in safeguarding the independence of the Election Commission with reference to Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023) and subsequent judicial responses.(250 Words)
Judicial Backdrop (Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India, 2023)
- Constitution Bench (5 judges) held that appointments cannot be left solely to the executive.
- Directed creation of a Selection Committee = Prime Minister + Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha + Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- Rationale: Prevent “pliable” ECI under executive control; safeguard against biased umpiring in elections.
Legislative Response (2023 Act)
- Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023:
- Replaced CJI with a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM in the Selection Committee.
- Effect: Executive regains 2:1 majority in appointments.
- Seen as an attempt to nullify judicial reform and weaken institutional independence.
- Ambedkar’s concern: “Persons under the thumb of the executive” may compromise electoral fairness.
Litigation & Judicial Inaction
- Writ petitions filed against the Act (Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India, 2024).
- Petitioners sought a stay → would have changed the appointment process before 2024 elections.
- SC (Bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna) rejected stay, citing presumption of constitutionality of laws.
- Effect: Elections 2024 conducted under the new “executive-heavy” ECI.
Electoral Roll Controversy (Bihar SIR Case, 2024–25)
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar excluded 65 lakh voters.
- Issues:
- Higher exclusion of women (32 lakh) vs men (25 lakh), despite more men migrating and higher male mortality.
- Voters wrongly marked as dead/untraceable despite valid voter IDs.
- ECI refused to publish a consolidated list of exclusions + reasons.
- Aadhaar/ration cards not accepted; reliance on 11 selective documents created barriers.
- SC Intervention:
- Ordered ECI to publish names of excluded voters + reasons.
- Directed Aadhaar to be accepted for filing claims/objections.
- Core Issue: Non-transparent, exclusionary practices compromise universal adult franchise.
Comparative & Global Perspective
- Abusive Judicial Review theory (Landau & Dixon, 2020): Courts sometimes legitimize authoritarian consolidation by upholding executive manipulation.
- Examples: Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia → courts facilitated electoral fraud by validating partisan electoral commissions.
- South Africa’s Fourth-Branch Institutions:
- Chapter 9 of its Constitution creates independent institutions like the Electoral Commission to safeguard democracy.
- Lesson: Need autonomous watchdogs insulated from executive capture.
Democratic Risks in India
- Majoritarianism + electoral manipulation = erosion of level playing field.
- Current ECI structure may:
- Favor ruling party in delimitation, roll revisions, MCC enforcement.
- Weaken Opposition’s trust in the electoral process.
- Judiciary’s Role: By refusing to stay the 2023 Act, SC risked appearing complicit in legitimizing executive control.
Way Forward
- Restore Baranwal formula: CJI + PM + LoP in Selection Committee → balanced, credible process.
- Independent “Truth Commission”-like ECI: Investigate electoral fraud allegations transparently.
- Transparency in rolls: Consolidated exclusions, use of Aadhaar, citizen-friendly appeal process.
- Institutional innovation: Consider constitutionalizing ECI as a Fourth-Branch Institution, akin to South Africa.
Conclusion
- Free & fair elections are the bedrock of Indian democracy, but executive dominance over ECI threatens impartiality.
- Judiciary’s hesitation to enforce its own Baranwal judgment diluted safeguards at a critical democratic moment.
- Restoring institutional independence of the ECI through balanced appointments, transparent electoral rolls, and judicial vigilance is essential to safeguard universal adult franchise & democratic legitimacy.
Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed here are based on the original article published in THE HINDU and do not reflect the official stance of Legacy IAS Academy. This content is provided solely for Academic purposes.
