SHIKHAR MAINS 2022 - DAY 17 Model Answer English
Q.1 स्वतंत्रता पश्चात भारत में पूर्वोतर क्षेत्र का एकीकरण अपने साथ विशिष्ट चुनौतियों को समाहित किये हुआ था। कथन का विश्लेषण कीजिये।
The integration of the North-East region in India after independence brought with it specific challenges. Analyze the statement.
Approach-
• Begin the answer by showing the background of the North-East region in newly independent India.
• In the next section, indicate the challenges faced by the integration of the North Eastern Region.
• In the last section, give details of the reorganization of North-East India by overcoming these challenges.
Answer-
In the 19th century, from the political point of view, three types of system existed in the North-East region - the status of a province to Assam or the administration as a part of the province of Bengal; Control of the Central Government over the mountainous regions of Assam; Some autonomy under the control of the British in the princely states of Manipur, Tripura etc. At the time of independence, the entire North-East region except Manipur and Tripura was included in Assam. Cultural and tribal diversity was widespread in all the mountainous regions except the plains of Assam. The cultural and social identities of the tribal people of the hill areas were quite different from those of the Assamese and Bengali speaking people living in the plains. Also, the following specific challenges existed with respect to the North-East region:
• Geographical and Ethnic Diversity – Isolation of the Northeast region from the mainland of India and the wide diversity of levels of ethnicity, language, social organization and economic development.
• Multiplicity of traditional societies which made the task of building a single political system difficult.
• Cultural isolation from the rest of India - The distinct identity of the tribes and the sub-national aspirations of the ethnic group found here promoted isolation from the rest of India. There was variation in the language and culture of almost every tribe. For example- the feeling of enmity prevailing between the tribes living in hilly and plain areas.
• There is a lack of sense of nationalism and unity among the indigenous inhabitants of the Northeast due to less involvement with the Indian independence movement.
• The policy of separation and exploitation by the British was followed by the alienation of the tribal people of the North-eastern states from the political and cultural life of the rest of India. Used to try to make him anti-India.
• Role played by extremist groups who opposed the merger of territories into the Indian Union.
• Influence of other countries such as Mizo leaders wanting to join Burma.
• Identity issue - the threat of loss of identity among local residents due to mass migration; For example, doubts in the minds of the local people of Assam due to the large number of migrants coming from East Bengal.
• After independence, the tension between the hills and the plains increased due to various reasons such as administrative neglect; non-receipt of requisite financial assistance; delay in relief work during crisis etc.
Due to the above reasons, the process of integration of Northeast India was more complicated than that of the rest of the Indian regions.
Reorganization of North East India:
• In the process of integration of the Northeast, first in 1948, the northern border areas were separated with the name NEFA to form a union territory, which was recognized as a separate Arunachal Pradesh state in 1987.
• Due to the discriminatory attitude of the Assam government, dissatisfaction grew in the tribal areas and the issue of separate state started gaining momentum. In this context, in 1960, the All-Party Hill Leaders Conference was formed by the tribal people of the hill areas and mass protests, strikes etc. were started on the issue of Assamese language. Eventually the state of Meghalaya was created within Assam through a Constitutional Amendment in 1969.
• Meghalaya was given full statehood in 1972 as a reorganization of the entire North-eastern region and the union territories of Manipur and Tripura were also given full statehood. Thus, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura were reorganized from Assam and the complexity remained only in Nagaland and Mizoram.
• Violent route taken by pro-Pakistan separatist groups in Mizoram led by Mizo National Front. But this problem was effectively resolved by the army and in 1986, as a result of the peace agreement between the Mizo National Front and the Government of India, a separate Mizoram state was formed in 1987.
• Similarly, the separatists of Nagaland also opposed the process of integration into the Union of India, but the Government of India took a tough stand against separatism and separatism. The separate Nagaland state came into existence in 1963 after prolonged negotiations and military actions.
Thus came the modern form of the North-East region, in whose integration the issue of tribal diversity and language was very important. Although the demand for autonomy and independence from the tribal areas is still raised occasionally but their ground base has shrunk to a great extent.
Q.2 भारतीय तटरक्षक बल का संक्षिप्त परिचय देते हुए भारतीय समुद्रतटों की सुरक्षा में इसके महत्व की चर्चा कीजिये।
Giving a brief introduction to the Indian Coast Guard, discuss its importance in the security of the India's coast.
Approach:
• Write a brief introduction on the establishment and mandate of the Indian Coast Guard.
• Briefly discuss the functions of the Indian Coast Guard.
• Discuss point wise the importance of the Indian Coast Guard with reference to the security of the Indian seas.
Answer:
The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force that protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law. Its jurisdiction ranges from the territorial waters of India to the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Indian Coast Guard was established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 by Parliament on 18 August 1978 as an independent armed force with the objective of protecting the Indian seas in peacetime. It functions under the Ministry of Defence.
Functions of Indian Coast Guard:
• It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India including the Contiguous Zone and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Preventing smuggling: One of the primary duties of the ICG is to prevent smuggling through sea routes.
• It is responsible for the protection of the marine environment in the maritime areas of India and is coordinating with the Authority for the response to oil spills in Indian waters.
• It is working in close coordination with the Central and State agencies to establish a strong coastal security mechanism.
• Maritime Security: It cooperates with littoral countries to combat international maritime crimes and enhance maritime security in its jurisdiction as well as in the Indian Ocean region.
• Assistance to Citizens: It has so far rescued around 13,000 civilians in the course of its various operations. Recently also provided assistance to citizens during floods, cyclones and other natural calamities in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.
• Under the policy of 'SAGAR Initiative (Security and Growth for All in the Region-SAGAR)' and 'Neighbourhood First', ICG has developed commercial relations in the oceans and established relations with the countries of the Indian Ocean region for the establishment of ocean peace.
• Role in Disaster Management: ICG has successfully provided protection during major ecological disasters and has emerged as a 'First Responder' in the region.
Importance of the Indian Coast Guard with respect to the security of the Indian seas:
• India's 7500 km long coastline provides India with a large Exclusive Economic Zone, so the Indian Coast Guard is very important from the point of view of safeguarding the economic interests of the nation.
• The importance of the Indian Coast Guard is also very high in dealing with smuggling and pirates.
• India's large maritime border also makes India vulnerable to the threat of terrorism, so the Indian Coast Guard is also important in terms of security from terrorism.
• The role of the Indian Coast Guard is also important in the context of offshore security coordination.
Thus, we see that the Indian Coast Guard acts as an important ally of the Indian Navy in the context of the security of the Indian seas.
