Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : G7 Summit

 GS-2 Mains Exam : IR

Revision Notes

 

Question : Analyze the challenges faced by G7 leaders in their domestic political environments. How do these challenges affect their ability to coordinate on international issues such as support for Ukraine?

G7 Announces Support for Ukraine

• The Group of Seven (G7) summit in Puglia, Italy, focused on shoring up support for Ukraine.
• G7 leaders announced a plan to provide Ukraine with an additional $50 billion by the end of the year through “Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans.”

Domestic Political Challenges Faced by G7 Leaders:

• Uncertain political futures: Many G7 leaders face potential turnover in upcoming elections.
  • US President Biden faces a tough re-election fight with Donald Trump as a potential challenger.
  • UK Prime Minister Sunak’s Conservative Party may lose the July 4th election.
  • Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau faces pressure within his own party for new leadership.
• Rise of right-wing populism: Recent European Parliament elections saw gains for right-wing parties.
  • French President Macron faces snap elections on June 30th after far-right National Rally party’s strong showing.
  • German Chancellor Scholz faces a more powerful far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
• Exception: Italian Prime Minister Meloni: Her right-wing Brothers of Italy party gained ground in the EU elections.

G7’s Founding and Rise:

• Formed in the 1970s after a financial crisis, initially as a group of six leading economies (US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK).
• G8 was formed after Canada and Russia joined.
• At its peak, the G8 controlled almost 60% of global GDP.

The Rise of G20 and Decline of G7:

• G20 (now G21 with the African Union) includes more countries and represents nearly 80% of global GDP.
• G20’s broader representation (including emerging economies like India and China) has overshadowed the G7.

G7 vs Multilateralism:

• Created as a response to economic crises, G7 transitioned into a political club seen as undermining the UN and other global institutions.
• Rise of minilateral groups (BRICS, SCO, AUKUS) further fragments global cooperation.

India’s Stance:

• PM Modi attends the G7 Outreach Summit, focusing on India-Italy relations rather than the G7 agenda.
• India prioritizes aligning the G20 agenda (which it led in 2023) with other minilateral forums.
• India advocates for issues relevant to the Global South (climate change, energy transition) at the G7.

G7’s Future:

• The G7’s relevance is questioned in a multipolar world.
• To remain relevant, the G7 needs to address issues championed by India like AI, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean.

 

 

 

 

Indian Express Editorial Summary

Editorial Topic : Untidy Exam

 GS-2 Mains Exam : Organisation issue 

Revision Notes

 

 

Wrong Question Paper and Grace Marks:

• Over 1500 NEET candidates received the wrong question paper initially.
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) awarded them compensatory marks but later reversed the decision and offered a retest.
• The Supreme Court intervened after petitions highlighted this “technical glitch.”

Unconvincing Explanations for Perfect Scores:

• A record 67 students scored perfect marks in NEET 2024, raising concerns about arbitrary marking.
• The NTA initially attributed this to an “easy paper” but later shifted to compensatory marks.
• However, only a few top scorers benefited from these marks.

Demand-Supply Mismatch in Medical Education:

• The number of NEET aspirants has doubled in a decade (24 lakh in 2024).
• This, coupled with limited medical seats (around 1.1 lakh), creates fierce competition.
• NEET functions more as an elimination test than an assessment of potential doctors.
• Only 0.25% secure seats in top colleges, making the system brutal.

Possible Solutions:

• The government should address medical education shortcomings, similar to recent UGC reforms allowing bi-annual college admissions.
• Conducting NEET twice a year could alleviate pressure on the system.
• Long-term solutions are needed to increase medical education opportunities and reduce exam stress.

Conclusion:

• Quality education is crucial for India’s “Amrit Kaal” journey towards a developed nation.
• The government must increase opportunities and make exams less stressful for students.