MAINS Current Affairs includes India’s Opportunity in a Shifting World Order & Importance of Biotechnology in Traditional Farming Practices

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. India’s Opportunity in a Shifting World Order

Context

The present global system is passing through a phase of uncertainty marked by multiple simultaneous crises.

At this moment, both rivals and strategic partners are preoccupied with their own challenges, creating a temporary strategic pause in world politics.

This offers India a rare window to strengthen its domestic capabilities and long-term strategic position instead of merely reacting to external pressures.

Meaning of Multipolarity

• Multipolarity refers to an international system in which power is distributed among several major centres rather than concentrated in one or two.
• These centres may include:
  • United States
  • China
  • European Union
  • India
  • Russia
• This is different from:
  • unipolarity → dominance of one power
  • bipolarity → rivalry between two powers
• India strongly supports this framework because it creates room for strategic autonomy and independent decision-making.

Why the World is Moving Towards Multipolarity

1) Relative Decline of the United States

• The dominance of the United States has weakened due to:
• economic pressures
• domestic political polarization
• strategic overstretch in Iraq and Afghanistan
• reduced willingness to act as global policeman

2) Rise of China

• China has emerged as a major global power through:
  • economic expansion
  • military modernization
  • assertive diplomacy
• Belt and Road Initiative
  • influence in the South China Sea

3) Reassertion of Russia

• Russia has re-emerged as an important power through:
  • strategic assertiveness
  • energy diplomacy
  • military interventions

4) Rise of Middle Powers

• Countries such as:
  • India
  • Brazil
  • Turkey
  • Indonesia
• are increasingly influencing regional and global affairs.

5) Fragmentation of Globalisation

• Trade wars, protectionism, and supply chain disruptions have weakened the earlier globalised order.
• This has accelerated power redistribution.

India’s Vision of Multipolarity

• India advocates the idea of a multipolar world supported by a multilateral institutional order.
• This means power should be shared not only among countries but also reflected in institutions like:
  • United Nations Security Council
  • International Monetary Fund
  • World Bank
• India seeks reform of these bodies to reflect present global realities.

Strategic Autonomy: India’s Core Principle

• India follows the principle of strategic autonomy.
• This means it avoids fixed alliances and maintains relations with multiple powers simultaneously.

Examples include:

• partnership with United States
• defence ties with Russia
• managed competition with China
• leadership of the Global South
• This is often described as non-alignment 2.0.

Key Pillars of India’s Strategy

1) Issue-Based Alignment

• India partners with different countries depending on the issue.
• Examples:
  • Quadrilateral Security Dialogue → Indo-Pacific security
  • BRICS → Global South and economic cooperation
  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation → Eurasian engagement

2) Balancing Major Powers

• India carefully balances ties with major powers.

With USA

• Focus on:
• defence
• technology
• Indo-Pacific cooperation

With Russia

• Strong relations in:
• defence procurement
• energy security
• strategic coordination

With China

• Simultaneous competition and selective cooperation.

3) Global South Leadership

• India increasingly presents itself as the voice of developing nations.
• Its G20 Summit 2023 presidency strengthened this role.

Opportunities for India

1) Greater Strategic Space

• Multipolarity allows India to pursue an independent foreign policy and negotiate better diplomatic and economic arrangements.

2) Economic Opportunities

• Global firms are diversifying supply chains away from China.
• This China+1 strategy benefits India.

3) Rule-Making Role

• India can help shape global rules in areas like:
  • climate governance
  • digital standards
  • maritime security
  • AI regulation

Key Vulnerabilities

1) Defence Modernisation Gaps

• Challenges include:
  • delayed procurement
  • import dependence
  • need for AI, cyber, drone, and space capabilities

2) China Challenge

• China’s assertiveness along the LAC and in the Indo-Pacific limits India’s strategic room.

3) Weak Global Institutions

• Reforms in bodies like the United Nations Security Council remain stalled.

4) Energy Dependence

• India imports nearly 80% of its crude oil requirements.
• This creates vulnerability during conflicts, especially in West Asia.

5) Critical Minerals Dependence

• India remains dependent on imports for:
  • lithium
  • cobalt
  • rare earth minerals
• These are crucial for EVs and semiconductors.

6) Supply Chain Risks

• Heavy reliance on China-centric supply chains affects:
  • pharmaceuticals
  • electronics
  • APIs

7) Economic Constraints

• Strategic ambitions require sustained economic growth.
• Without internal economic strength, geopolitical influence remains limited.

Way Forward

• Short-Term (0–5 Years): Accelerate defence reforms, expand renewable energy capacity, strengthen space capabilities, and reform the mining sector.
• Medium-Term: Achieve energy diversification, build supply chain resilience, and enhance technological self-reliance.
• Long-Term: Sustain high economic growth, institutionalise strategic autonomy, and develop comprehensive national power.

Conclusion

The ongoing global transition presents India with a historic opportunity.

Instead of being distracted by external turbulence, India must use this phase to strengthen its economy, defence capability, technology base, and diplomatic influence.

A strong domestic foundation is essential for converting multipolarity into long-term strategic advantage.

Biotechnology

2. Importance of Biotechnology in Traditional Farming Practices

Context

With agriculture expected to expand significantly by 2033, experts have highlighted the increasing role of agri-biotechnology in making farming more productive and climate-resilient.

Scientists have also warned that for every 1°C rise in temperature, India’s wheat production may decline by 6–10%, making climate adaptation urgent.

What is Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA)?

• Climate-resilient agriculture refers to farming systems that use biotechnology and allied modern tools to protect crops from climate stress while maintaining productivity.
• Its objective is to ensure sustainable and stable agricultural output under changing climatic conditions.

Key Tools Used in CRA

1) Biofertilisers

• These are microbial inputs that improve soil fertility naturally and reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.
• Examples include nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphate-solubilising microbes.

2) Biopesticides

• These are eco-friendly biological agents used to control pests and diseases.
• They help reduce chemical pesticide use.

3) Soil Microbiome Analysis

• This helps understand the microbial composition of soil and improves crop-specific nutrient management.

4) Genome-Edited Crops

• Modern biotechnology helps develop crops that can tolerate:
• drought
• heat stress
• salinity
• pests and diseases

5) AI-Based Precision Farming

• Artificial intelligence can combine weather, soil, and crop data to generate location-specific advisories.
• This improves efficiency and reduces resource wastage.

Why India Needs Climate-Resilient Agriculture

1) Agriculture-Centric Economy

• India remains largely agrarian with a growing population.
• This increases pressure on the food production system.

2) Large Rainfed Agriculture

• Nearly 51% of India’s net sown area is rainfed.
• These areas produce around 40% of the country’s food output.
• Such regions are highly vulnerable to climate variability.

3) Conventional Methods are Inadequate

• Traditional farming methods alone may not withstand:
  • erratic rainfall
  • rising temperatures
  • drought
  • new pest attacks

4) Threat to Staple Crops

• Studies suggest that by the end of the century:
  • rice yield may decline by 3–22%
  • in worst cases, decline may exceed 30%

5) Strategic Food Security

• CRA can reduce India’s reliance on food imports and strengthen national food sovereignty.

India’s Bioeconomy and Agriculture

• India is among the top 12 biotechnology destinations globally and ranks 3rd in Asia-Pacific.
• The country’s bioeconomy has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024.
• It contributes about 25% to GDP.
• The target is to achieve a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.

Challenges in India

• Low Adoption:CRA techniques adoption is low among small and marginal farmers due to limited access, awareness, and affordability, and quality inconsistencies in biofertilizers and biopesticides that undermine trust in biological alternatives.
• Uneven Distribution: The rollout of climate-resilient seeds remains slow, with the adoption of new tools such as gene editing still emerging and uneven distribution across States.
• The digital dividelimits the reach of precision agriculture and AI-based decision tools.
• These challenges are compounded by ongoing soil degradation, water scarcity, and accelerating climate volatility, which may outpace current adaptation efforts.
• Fragmented policy coordinationfurther risks slowing progress.

Government Initiatives 

• National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture: In 2011, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched a flagship network project‘National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture’.
• The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has been formulated to enhance agricultural productivity, especially in rainfed areas, focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management, and synergising resource conservation.
• The BioE3 policyalso positioned CRA as a key thematic area for the development of biotechnology-led solutions.
• Leading companies such as Biostadt, IFFCO, GSFC, NFL, and IPL Biologicals supply bio-inputs that improve soil health and reduce chemical dependence.
• India also has an expanding digital agriculture sector,with agritech startups offering AI-enabled advisories, precision irrigation, crop-health monitoring, and yield prediction tools.

Way Forward

• fast-track climate-tolerant crop development
• scale genome-edited crop deployment
• improve credit and climate insurance access
• promote farmer awareness and training
• strengthen digital agriculture access
• create a unified CRA roadmap under the BioE3 Policy 

Conclusion

Biotechnology is becoming essential for strengthening traditional agriculture against climate risks.

By integrating modern biotechnology with conventional farming, India can ensure food security, sustainability, and resilience in the face of climate change.

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