Current Affairs 30th July 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

India Blocking Chinese

Context: Indian authorities have promised more visas to Chinese technicians.

Reasons for Issuing Visas to Chinese Technicians

• Skill Gap: There is a significant skill gap between Chinese and Indian factory supervisors and workers.
• Productivity: Chinese professionals are highly productive and able to produce more items with the same resources compared to Indian workers.
• Technical Assistance: Indian businesses have purchased machines from China but cannot use them productively without Chinese technicians.
  • Without Chinese technicians, machines bought from China remain idle, leading to unfulfilled export orders and economic losses.
• Industry Needs: Various industries, including footwear, textiles, engineering, and electronics, require Chinese expertise to operate machinery and fulfil export orders.
• Cost-Effective: Chinese experts are less expensive than those from other countries, providing a cost-effective solution for Indian businesses.
• Economic Growth: Chinese expertise can help India secure a foothold on the global skills ladder, which is crucial for economic growth.

Comparison

China

• China excels in global education and technology, with high-performing students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
• Chinese universities are among the world’s best, especially in computer science and mathematics.
• Chinese scientists lead in various applied sciences and technology, including electric vehicles and solar technology.

India

• India struggles with education quality, affecting its economic prospects.
• Indian Institutes of Technology graduates face job scarcity, and many IT workers seek gig economy opportunities.
• IT jobs peaked at just above 5 million in 2023, insufficient for the working-age population of a billion.
• Predictions of India becoming a global economic superpower ignore its educational deficiencies and job market challenges.

Missed Opportunities and Future Prospects

• India missed the China-plus-one opportunity, with Mexico and Vietnam seizing the moment.
• Foreign investors are shying away from India, and labour-intensive manufactured exports are stagnant.
• National security and self-reliance rhetoric may block essential foreign expertise, hindering development.
• Addressing human capital deficiencies is crucial for India’s economic future.
• The global Red Queen race is intensifying, and India risks falling further behind.

India US Cultural Property Pact

Context: India and the United States signed their first bilateral ‘Cultural Property Agreement’ (CPA).

About the Agreement

• Background: Illegal trafficking of cultural property has been a longstanding issue affecting numerous countries.
  • A significant number of Indian antiquities were smuggled out before the 1970 UNESCO Convention, and many are now housed in museums, institutions, and private collections globally.
• Purpose: To prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural property and ensure the return of antiquities to their origin.
• Benefits: The agreement will expedite the seizure of Indian antiquities at US Customs and streamline the repatriation process.
• Significance: India became the 30th country to sign a CPA with the United States.
• Impact: This is seen as a major step in preventing illegal trade and recovering stolen artefacts.

Statistics

• Repatriated Antiquities: India has brought back 358 antiquities since 1976, with 345 of these recovered since 2014.
• Pending Repatriation: Over 290 Indian antiquities are currently waiting to be returned from the US.
• Recent Handover: India received 262 antiquities from the US during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit.

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