the Politique Issue #1 -

Please enable JavaScript to view the full PDF

Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 the Politique A lesson from DPRK’s Political Nupur Sharma & a Tale Agneepath - A step Monthly Economic Mass-Shootings Crackdown of Fragile Diplomacy towards a better line Forecast of defence? Pg: 2 Pg: 3 Pg: 4 Pg: 5 Pg: 7 K nowledge and the ability to use of gun restrictions and control after a look that knowledge for the back at the events in the United States, development of the society is the economic and social conditions of what separates us from those with whom Russia and it’s citizens, throw some light we walk and share the Earth with. on the blueprints of a political And news is one of the crackdown in North Korea, messengers of knowledge report on the development of delivering wisdom to us. life expectancy rates in India With “the Politique”, we over the past decade, tackle strive to bring the readers the Nupur Sharma debacle, every important bulletin of Boris Johnson facing vote the globe in a concise and of no con dence within his unstrained manner. the party earlier last month, Politique is a product of the give an insight on the solid effort, extensive proposed Agneepath system brainstorming, unabated of recruitment of the Indian dedication and consistent toil of 4 Army. Our Economic Section tells boys from a leading Indian boarding us of the monthly economic forecast, and school, Mayo College. In the rst edition about the buying of Flipkart’s stakes by of the Politique we discuss the Chinese rm Tencent. importance and effectiveness Boris Johnson faces Tory Vote Challenged by his own party members, leadership. This drastic fall in British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson comradeship within the Tory Party comes faced a vote of no con dence on June 6 after the many allegations of after 15 percent of his fellow Tory mismanagement under Boris’ helm and Parliamentarians requested for a especially the rather recent disclosing of challenged to the leadership. Although the the “Partygate Scandal” where the Prime outcome of the vote was in favour of the Minister and his of cials violated British Premier, his leadership is lockdown protocols on multiple undoubtedly under question as 41 percent occasions, throwing “booze” parties at 10 of his party members voted against his Downing Street. -Apoorv Agarwal Page 1 of 8 fi fi fi fi fi Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 Messages from the Editors Bhavamanyu Shekhawat - Being from a I’ve visited over the years, I’ve had the military background, I have always had a chance to interact with some very interesting front row seat in witnessing a plethora of and insightful people holding extremely complexities that a simple life has to offer- diverse yet thought provoking views on an the hardships as well as the luxuries. I have assortment of topics concerning areas that I grown up in an environment where intend to incorporate in the Politique. With discipline has always been considered an this one of a kind newsletter, we aim to make integral part of everyone’s life and I wish to our peers, seniors and the people around us inculcate the same ideologies in my aware of relevant global issues. They say behaviour everyday. Having to continuously there’s always two sides to every story which switch houses and nding a “home” in a is why we, the Politique team, promise to new place every 2 years, adaptability has bring you both the sides with absolute never been a concern for me. As a result, I transparency, along with each editor’s have gathered a number of valuable lessons completely neutral yet individualistic take and unique experiences from many different on the matter; as we realise the sensitivity of regions of the country and I wish to every issue discussed in our newsletter. showcase them here. Moreover, owing to the countless places that Aarjav Mehindratta Dear reader, the the business acumen. Both my parents are Politique is a brainchild of 4 Class XI business icons in their own lane and I have students who came together to provide adapted their ways of daily money making everyone with political and nancial and gathering knowledge into my basket.I literacy. Our aim is to reach a wider have learnt the importance of saving from audience and help people with the daily my mother and she has always taught me to economics. I am Aarjav Mehendiratta and I save even when its 10 or 1000 rupees. I am the editor of the economic section. Ever hope reading this newsletter helps you in since I was young I’ve been accustomed to your daily life. Apoorv Agarwal- The world and the funny of understand of the right and wrong, lines that divide it to form countries never morally and factually. Discovering my stop to amuse me. These countries are so passion and interest helped me to discover similar yet so different. Sometimes so close myself. I know for a fact that knowledge and yet so far and the contrary too! How wars, experience don't just land you at good jobs alliances, diplomacy and trade collectively and positions but help you develop yourself form International Relations, a twine that into the person you have always wanted to holds all these far off and unlike countries be. While we can with no doubt consider together. I from a very young age had a ourselves literate, it’s a long road for us to curiosity of these funny lines and the become truly educated. And the aim of this governance that shape them. My knowledge newsletter is just that, to educate it’s of the working of countries and their audience with the understanding of the relations, has helped me gain a lot of world they live in. con dence, as it helped me develop a sense Editorial Team: @Aarjav Mehindratta @Apoorv Agarwal @Bhavamanyu Shekhawat @Dhruv Pratap Page 2 of 8 fi fi fi Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 Buffalo, Uvalde & Tulsa. What do we take back from these tragedies? Surely, we learn from our mistakes. After where gun laws are among the the most all, we are taught to. Why then do we still lenient in the world, we don’t often hear not learn from the many tragedies that gun crimes, but while USA had a federal have costed many their family members assault weapon ban from 1994 to 2004, or closed ones. The Uvalde and Buffalo along with a rising sense of unity of attacks were just the tip of a much bigger, nationalism in the wake of a national unseen and neglected iceberg. The tragedy inform the World Trade Centre majority of these shootings go Attacks, failed to bring down gun unreported, and we never care to learn violence. Talking again about the United about them. While gun-control and States where gun-ownership rates and restrictions are bound to help bring the gun-violence reports are the highest in number of such incidents under control, the developed world, the lawmakers its not complete* solution. There are cannot make up a mind with so much countries with no or bare gun restrictions money spent on lobbying for both gun with no abuse of guns and there are rights and gun control. countries with gun restrictions where mass shootings and gun violence is a common occurrence. In Switzerland, -Apoorv Agarwal India Reports Highest Life Expectancy In Ten Years, But Still Below Global Average After ten years, India nally sees an increase urban regions than in rural ones when it in its average life expectancy. The country's comes to life expectancy at birth. life expectancy at birth has spiked by two Nationally, the difference in urban-rural life years to 69.7 from 2015 to 2019, shows a expectancy at birth is around 4.7 years, and report by Sample Registration System the difference in urban-rural life expectancy (SRS). Despite this, the gure remains well at age 70 is about 1.6 years. below the estimated global average life Except for Bihar and Jharkhand, almost all expectancy of 72.6 years. States and UTs, both rural and urban, have a According to the demographic survey's higher female life expectancy in 2015-19. ndings, high infant and under- ve Female life expectancy at birth is more than mortality may be one of the reasons India is two years higher than male life expectancy struggling to improve life expectancy at at birth. birth. Males have a life expectancy of 68.4 years Overall, the country's life expectancy at and females have a life expectancy of 71.1 birth has increased signi cantly, from 49.7 years at the national level. Men in Delhi in 1970- 75 to 69.7 in 2015-19, a 20-year (74.3 years) and females in Kerala (78.0 increase in the last four decades. years) have the highest life expectancy, From 1970-75 to 2015-19, the gap between while males in Chhattisgarh (63.7 years) and rural and urban life expectancy has reduced females in Uttar Pradesh (66.2 years) have dramatically. Except for Kerala, most states the lowest. have reported higher life expectancy in -Dhruv Pratap Singh Page 3 of 8 fi fi fi fi fi Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 North Korea Plans Crackdown As Kim Pushes for Internal Unity North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his been battered by pandemic-related border top deputies have pushed for a crackdown shutdowns, U.N. sanctions and his own on of cials who abuse their power and mismanagement. The North's elevated commit other “unsound and non- restrictions on movement in the wake of the revolutionary acts," state media reported COVID- 19 outbreak could cause a further Monday, as Kim seeks greater internal unity strain on the country's economic dif culties, to overcome a COVID-19 outbreak and some experts say. economic dif culties. North Korea on May 12 admitted the Kim and other senior omicron variant of the party secretaries coronavirus had infected discussed “waging a people, and it more intensive struggle subsequently has said against unsound and about 4.5 million people non-revolutionary acts — more than 17% of its including abuse of 26 million people — have power and bureaucracy fallen ill with fevers and revealed among some only 72 have died. party of cials,” the Foreign experts widely of cial Korean Central doubt the outbreak was News Agency said. North Korea's rst, and they believe the Kim ordered the authority of the party’s statistics being disclosed in state media are auditing commission and other local manipulated to prevent political damage to discipline supervision systems to be Kim while bolstering internal control and bolstered to promote the party’s “monolithic promoting his leadership. leadership” and “the broad political During a Workers’ Party conference last activities of the party through the strong week, Kim claimed the pandemic situation discipline system,” KCNA said. Kim has has passed the stage of “serious crisis” and previously occasionally called for struggles ordered of cials to remedy “the against “anti-socialist practices” at home in shortcomings and evils in the anti-epidemic the past two years amid outside worries work” and take steps to build up the about his country's fragile economy that has country’s anti-pandemic capability. - Dhruv Pratap Singh Russian Gas - Fuelling the War As the Kremlin launched an of cial attack and Gas Exports which account for 40 on the nation of Ukraine on February 24 this percent of their revenue, generating almost year, among the many strategies adopted by 400 Billion USD in 2021. As American the Western Bloc was the implication of Think-Tank predicts, this move can cost sanctions and boycott Russian Gas (Oil). Russia more than $1Billion each day. Such The West with this move hopes to strip sanctions and embargos are salient against Russia off it’s main source of revenue, Oil Russian force as they deprive Moscow of Page 4 of 8 fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 vital funds for their military Campaign. which receives the majority of it’s Oil and Despite united effort of a plurality Gas through Pipelines from Russia. of nations, a 100 percent Although Germany has stalled the boycott is nearly impossible constructions of any more pipelines as many countries are heavily including Nord Stream 2. China and India depended on Russian remain as prominent buyers of Russian Gas, supplied gas to generate opting for a more neutral stance on the energy, which include con ict. global giant Germany -Apoorv Agarwal Nupur Sharma & a Tale of Fragile Diplomacy “Prophet Muhammad married a six year old about the Shivling. As a result, more than and had sex with her when she was 9 years 20 countries including Qatar, Pakistan, old.” The statement made by the suspended Malaysia, Egypt, UAE and Turkey BJP leader shook the entire world and the condemned Nupur Sharma and barred her minority in India. Nupur Sharma, former entrance from the respective BJP spokesperson, made the infamous nations. The Gulf Cooperation statement in a heated debate which has left Council and the the world and especially the gulf region in a Organisation of state of havoc ever since. Following that, Islamic Cooperation she was handed out her suspension letter also demanded from the Bharatiya Janta Party. The leader answers from the had then withdrawn her statement and ruling party in India. Nupur publicly apologised for the same. Naveen Sharma has also been banned Jindal, who was a primary member of the from travelling via Qatar same party, was also expelled after making Airways. This in turn caused riots comments which could cause communal in the country between the two religious disharmony. Both the statements were made groups, leaving the nation in pandemonium. in response to hurtful comments made - Bhavamanyu Singh Shekhawat Chinese Giant Tencent Buys Stake In Flipkart Chinese conglomerate Tencent has bought a $60-70 billion valuation for its IPO having 0.72% stake in Flipkart from its co founder raised $50 billion earlier. US giant Walmart Binny Bansal through its European had bought about 77% stake in ipkart for subsidiaries.The stake is worth about $264 $16 billion.This is a great deal considering million and has left the co founder with a many foreign companies are investing in 1.84% stake in Flipkart post deal. our country’s booming startup ecosystem. Bengaluru based Flipkart is aiming for a -Aarjav Mehendiratta Page 5 of 8 fl fl Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 Agneepath - A step towards a better line of defence? The Union Cabinet took a historic where soldiers, with their association to decision by approving a fresh recruitment their regiment over a period of time start scheme for India’s youth to serve in the taking pride in the history and battle armed forces called Agneepath on June achievements of the regiment. This 14. Agneepath is going to help the armed enables soldiers to remain forces recruit younger and tter soldiers steadfast in life threatening as the average age in the Indian Army situations in the would drop down from 32 to 26 years. environment of the With 25% of the soldiers getting selected battle eld with guns after being trained for 6 months and a blazing all around. service of total 4 years, every one in four This regimental system soldiers would get to serve the 15 year which is at the core of the battle- time period in the forces. This scheme winning factor will totally would help reduce unemployment, as break down with the well as it would give the Agniveers a transitory Agniveers, leading chance to serve the nation and would help to a failure of military them with post release job opportunities. missions. With this policy, in the next 15 A package of Rs 11-12 lakhs, partly years, all regiments will have 75% of funded by their monthly contributions, inadequately trained Agniveers, with their with a skill certi cate and bank loans regimental service ranging from one day would be provided to the ones released, to three and a half years, making the army for help in their second careers. After no better than a conscript army. A poor release these Agniveers would be given quality human resource, an inadequately priority when signing up for paramilitary trained and poorly paid Agniveer lacking forces which are The Assam Ri es and any motivation with a broken regimental Special Frontier Force in addition to system will be a sure recipe for disaster Border Security Force, for national security while ghting the Central Reserve Police battle-hardened soldiers of our western Force and many more. neighbours. The 4 year time period Is also The scheme would very less for the Agniveers to understand result in civil society the hierarchy and thus would result in having well- disputes within the army between the disciplined and newly commissioned Agniveers and the skilled youth with senior JCO’s. As only 25% of the soldiers military ethos, but like would get recruited, many of the rest 75% every story, this one also who would have predicted that their has 2 sides to it. The future doesn’t lie with the forces would training period of 6 months would be cause ruckus, leaving a well run inadequate to get accustomed with the organisation disorganised. Post release practices of the armed forces and the the weapon training could also result in modern military equipment. Taking an increase of criminal activities. The example of the Indian Army, the battle- biggest worry would be the breakdown of winning factor is the regimental system, unit cohesion. Within a combat unit, it is Page 6 of 8 fi fi fi fi fl Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 impossible for soldiers to operate together border of the country tomorrow.” This was when on different employment contracts. the response of the former Indian Army The seasoned soldier won’t trust the intern Chief, General VP Malik to the riots. Many with his life, and the intern will reciprocate can say, that the scheme has worked well by not taking a risk with his life. Since its with our not so friendly neighbours China, release, the scheme hasn’t received a very but China is in control of a dictator. positive response as protests broke down in Whether it will work in India or not, a curse many parts of the country. “Hooligans are or a boon, only time can tell. not required in the forces, those who are protesting today shouldn’t be guarding the -Bhavamanyu Singh Shekhawat Word of the Edition Russian Central Bank Wants To Accept Cryptocurrency As Mode For Tory - A Tory is a person who holds a International Transactions political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the The First Deputy Governor Of Russia’s supremacy of social order as it has evolved Central Bank, Ksenia Yudaeva said on May in the English culture throughout history. 31 that the government is interested in The Tory ethos has been summed up with allowing cryptocurrencies as mode of the phrase "God, Queen, and Country”. payment for international transactions.This move could help Russia evade sanctions imposed by the West.Russia has been working towards a crypto framework for a Crossword long time.The Ministry Of Finance has made amendments towards crypto mining Across: and other important aspects of 3. The west hopes to strip Russia of its main source of revenue cryptocurrencies.The country has eased its of this export. stance down from its earlier stringent 5. 2. Healthy monsoon coverage, gradually rising _________ polices of cryptocurrency regulation but sowing is expected to ease food, and thereby headline, Yudaeva says the bank still believes that the in ation. widespread use of cryptocurrency still 7. Mode of payment for internal transactions in Russia poses a nancial threat to the currency. con rmed by the First Deputy Governor of Russia's Central Bank. -Aarjav Mehendiratta 8. The Kremlin launched an of cial attack on this nation on February 24 earlier this year. 9. The epitome of Affordable modern comforts, suspended its operations in Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. 10. This US giant had bought 77% stake in ipkart for $16 billion. Down-wards: 1. A country where mass shootings are a rare sight despite of the lenient laws for guns. 2. Post release the Agniveers would be given priority when signing up for these forces. 3. Airlines which has banned Nupur Sharma from travelling via their aircrafts. 4. In the Indian army, this system is the battle winning factor. Page 7 of 8 fl fi fi fi fl Issue #1 1 JULY 2022 Monthly Indian Economic Forecast After recording the strongest facilitated by the Production- hand, electricity and GDP rebound in the G20 in Linked Incentive Scheme. manufactured products 2021, the Indian economy is While in ation will in ation led the uptick in progressively losing gradually decline, the current wholesale in ation. Healthy momentum as in ationary account de cit will widen monsoon coverage, expectations remain elevated due to the surge in energy gradually rising Kharif due to rising global energy import costs. In ationary sowing and unlocking of and food prices, monetary pressures took an upturn in states is expected to ease policy normalises and global May 2021 with headline food, and thereby headline, conditions deteriorate. Real in ation (CPI- C) and WPI in ation. However, risks due GDP is projected to grow in ation touching a high of to global demand-led by 6.9% in 6.3 percent and 12.94 per recovery in commodity scal year cent respectively. Supply prices and input cost ( F Y ) side disruptions in states and pressures remain. 2022-23 unfavourable base effects and 6.2% drove the broad-based -Aarjav Mehendiratta in FY 2023-24, momentum in retail in ation despite a pick-up of across food, fuel and core corporate investment categories. On the other After 3 Months Of War Life In Russia Has Profoundly Changed When Vladimir Putin expanses of shuttered walked away, despite their announced the invasion of storefronts once occupied by huge investments in Russia. Ukraine, war seemed far Western retailers. Shell has estimated it will away from Russian territory. M c D o n a l d ’s — w h o s e lose about $5 billion by Yet within days the con ict opening in Russia in 1990 trying to unload its Russian came home — not with was a cultural phenomenon, assets. cruise missiles and mortars a shiny modern convenience While the multinationals but in the form of coming to a dreary country were leaving, thousands of unprecedented and ground down by limited Russians who had the unexpectedly extensive choices — pulled out of economic means to do so volleys of sanctions by Russia entirely in response were also eeing, frightened Western governments and to its invasion of Ukraine. by harsh new government economic punishment by IKEA, the epitome of moves connected to the war corporations. affordable modern comforts, that they saw as a plunge Three months after the Feb. suspended operations. Tens into full totalitarianism. 24 invasion, many ordinary of thousands of once-secure Some young men may have Russians are reeling from jobs are now suddenly in also ed in fear that the those blows to their question in a very short time. Kremlin would impose a livelihoods and emotions. Major industrial players mandatory draft to feed its Moscow’s vast shopping including oil giants BP and war machine. malls have turned into eerie Shell and automaker Renault -Dhruv Pratap Singh Page 8 of 8 fi fl fl fl fl fl fl fi fl fl fl fl fl fl