Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal is the creation of a new state or entity independent from the group or territory it seceded from. Secession in India typically refers to state secession, which is the withdrawal of one or more states from the Republic of India. It was extended to most parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1990 after the outbreak of an armed insurgency in 1989

Narmada Bachao Andolan also was known as NBA is a social movement formed by activist Medha Patkar. NBA consists of human activist, farmers, Adivasis, and people established on the bank of Narmada river. The main aim of the movement is against the large dams built or in process across the Narmada river. The Narmada flows across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and ends up in the Arabian sea.

  The main features of the Indian approach to diversity are as explainned below :

(i) The different regions and linguistic groups have right to retain their own culture.

(ii) The cultural diversity is not considered as a threat to the nation.

(iii) India had adopted a democratic approach to the question of diversity. It allows the political expressions of regional aspirations. It allows parties and groups to address the people on the basis of their regional identity, aspiration and specific regional problems.

(iv) Regional issues and problems receive adequate attention and accommodation in the policy making process.

India claims the entire erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir based on an instrument of accession signed in 1947. Pakistan claims Jammu and Kashmir based on its majority Muslim population, whereas China claims the Shaksam Valley and Aksai Chin.

India is due for election to the temporary membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) later this year, for the 2021-22 period. Moreover, India for long has been of the view that the UNSC sought to be reformed by expansion in the membership of the Security Council in both the permanent and non – permanent categories.

India, by any objective criteria, such as population, territorial size, GDP, economic potential, civilizational legacy, cultural diversity, political system, is eminently qualified for permanent membership.

Thus, the Indian tryst for permanent membership of Security Council flows broadly from a mix of, three streams, viz., India’s historic association with the UN system, India’s intrinsic value and place in contemporary international politics and its role as the leader of developing countries.

Need for UNSC Reforms

UNSC has been in existence for more than 75 years. However, it does not represent the geopolitical and economic realities of the 21^st century.

• Undemocratic UNSC: Barring two regions (North America and Europe), other regions are either underrepresented (like Asia) or not represented at all (Africa, Latin America and the Small Island developing states).
• Lack of Global Governance: There are no regulatory mechanisms for global commons like the Internet, Space, High Seas (beyond your EEZ-exclusive economic zone) and no unanimity on how to deal with global issues like terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and public health (as seen in the current pandemic).
• Misuse of Veto Power: The veto power is used by permanent five countries to serve the strategic interest of themselves and their allies.
  • Since 1990, the United States has cast a veto on Council resolutions 16 times, concerning Israeli-Palestinian relations. Russia has done so 17 times, including eight times over Syria.
• Due to all these factors, the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that the Security Council must either reform or risk becoming increasingly irrelevant.

The era of Coalition Governments at the centre began in India in 1989. 

The main objectives of the United Nations are the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of the well-being of the peoples of the world, and international cooperation to these ends. The aim of the United Nations system is to prevent war from happening, restoring security, protecting people and advancing human development and social progress.

(i) End of Congress System.

(ii) Rise of OBC politics – Mandal Issues.

(iii) Demolition of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

(iv) Rise of the BJP.

(v) Beginning of the Coalition Era / alliance politics.

(vi) Rise of regional parties as they played a role in the formation of coalitions at the Union Government level.

This dispute is associated with a mosque known as Babri Masjid because some Hindus believe that it was built after demolishing a temple of Lord Rama which was birth place of Lord Rama. The mosque was locked as per court orders in late 1940s. The Faizabad District Court in 1986 ordered to unlock the Babri Masjid premises as for Hindu to offer prayers at the site which they considered as temple. In opposition to this Muslim organisations had tried to mobilise their communities. This large scale mobilisation led to surcharged atmosphere and many instances of communal violence and ultimately ended with the demolition of Babri Mosque in December 1992 by Karsevaks.

A major development was the order by the Faizabad district court in February 1986. The court ordered that the Babri Masjid premises be unlocked so that Hindus could offer prayers at the site which they considered as a temple. A dispute had been going on for many decades over the mosque known as Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. The Babri Masjid was a 16th century mosque in Ayodhya, built by Mir Baqi, a general of Mughal emperor Babur. Some Hindus believe that it was built after demolishing a temple for Lord Rama in what is believed to be his birth place. The dispute took the form of a court case and has continued for many decades. In the late 1940s, the mosque was locked up as the matter was with court.

As soon as the Babri Masjid was opened mobilisation started on both sides. Many Hindu and Muslim organisations tried to mobilise their communities. Suddenly this local dispute became a major national issue and led to communal tensions. The BJP made this issue its major electoral and political plank. Along with many other organisations like the Rashtriya Swemsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), it convened a series of symbolic and mobilisational programmes. This large scale mobilisation led to surcharged atmosphere and many instances of communal violence. The BJP, in order to generate public support, took out a massive march called the Rathyatra from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in UP.

In December 1992, the organisations supporting the construciton of the temple had organised a Karseva, meaning voluntary service by the devotees, for building the Ram temple. The situation had become tense all over the country and especially at Ayodhya. The Supreme Court had ordered the State government to take care that the disputed site will not be endangered.
But on 6 December 1992, thousands of people gathered from all over the country at Ayodhya and demolished the mosque. This news led to clashes between the Hindus and Muslims in many parts of the country. The violence in Mumbai erupted again in January 1993 and continued for over two weeks. The events at Ayodhya led to a series of other developments. 

Deterrence theory is the idea that an inferior force, by virtue of the destructive power of the force's weapons, could deter a more powerful adversary, provided that this force could be protected against destruction by a surprise attack. Specific deterrence refers to the use of punishment for criminal activity, intended to discourage a specific individual from committing the crime again. ... For example, if the person is wealthy a monetary fine may not deter him from repeating the crime.

 (i) According to Shah Commission nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested under Preventive detention laws.

 (ii) Torture and custodial deaths occurred, arbitrary relocation of poor people and compulsory sterilization.

 (iii) Formation of Janata Party and the defeat of congress in most of the states.

(iv) Democratic functioning were suspended and draconian measures were adopted.

• Bipolarity is a world order where two states have sphere of influence over the political, social, cultural and military power of the world.
• It emerged during the late 20th century when world divided between the two poles of USA and USSR.
• NIEO was proposed during 1970s by group of developing countries on the platform of UN in order to promote trade and commerce globally.
• NIEO aims for trade and commerce by increasing the availability of funds to developing countries and promoting reduction of tariff by developed countries.
• NAM is a political platform formed it 1960 where the countries aligned their goals initially to not favour any superpower bloc i.e. USA and USSR
• It was asserted by third world countries with active role of India under the leadership of Pt. Nehru.

Social safety nets refer to welfare measures implemented by states to provide social security to poor and weaker section of society who is at the receiving end of economic development.

Five permanent member countries i.e France, Russia, UK, the US, China got veto power because they have been emerged as industrialised developed countries to stall any decision.

Hegemony is defined as the dominance or leadership by a single state over other states. It is the social, economic and political dominance of a state over other states. It is the political and military supremacy over others. 

US Hegemony is the supremacy and dominance of the United States over other countries. Over the years, America has grown to be a world power; both politically and economically. 

Hard power is the use of military in order to influence and win over other states. 

During the World War II, US came out as big military force. Also after 9/11, it started a military operation against terrorism all across the world showing its military dominance. 

Soft power is the use of persuasive terms to gain power and supremacy over other nations. US has a history of using soft power to gain supremacy in the international spectrum. US Marshall Plan is an example of US using soft power. It aided Western Europe in billions to keep it safe from Soviet influence. It gained a lot of good will and support by the Europeans as a result. 

Structural power is the form of power used to systematically  interact within societies and states. US foreign policy has always helped it gain power over other states with its ways of communication. It has set up trade routes such as NATO with alliance of other countries which shows their structural power.

After Indian Independence from British Rule in 1947, the Northeastern region of British India consisted of Assam and the princely states of Manipur and Tripura. ... It remained the capital of undivided Assam until the formation of the state of Meghalaya in 1972. The Northeastern States are often known as the Seven Sister states because they are interdependent on one another. All these states are connected to India via Siliguri Corridor. Hence, that is the only way to reach the Seven Sister States.

• The word ‘hegemony’ means the leadership or predominance of one state over others by virtue of its military, economic, political power and cultural superiority.
• Politics is all about gaining power. In world politics, countries and groups of countries are engaged in constantly trying to gain and retain power.
• It is important to understand the distribution of power among the countries of the world in order to understand world politics.
• During the Cold War Era, there were two superpowers, the US and the USSR. But after the disintegration of USSR, only a single power was left i.e. the US.
• The international system dominated by a sole superpower or hyper-power is sometimes called a ‘unipolar system’.

he Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a term used for an international organization who do not want to officially align themselves with, or against, any major power bloc (group of countries). The countries of the non-aligned movement are nearly two-thirds of the United Nations's members and 55 per cent of the world population. As of 2018, the movement has 125 members and 24 observer countries. The current Secretary-General of the movement is Nicolas Maduro, who took office in 2016.