What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: India-Bhutan story offers lessons for managing asymmetric relationships.

Context:

The piece examines the enduring partnership between Bhutan and India — a relationship marked by size and power asymmetry — and draws lessons on how India should manage its smaller neighbours in the evolving regional order

Historical Foundations & Asymmetry:

• India and Bhutan forged a bilateral relationship after Indian independence, guided early on by the 1949 Treaty of Friendship (revised in 2007).
• The asymmetry is clear: India is a large, regional power with global ambitions; Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom with limited capacity and heavy reliance on its neighbour.
• The article emphasises how Bhutan has navigated its sovereignty while being strategically located between India and China — essentially a “buffer” state for India.

Key Features of the Partnership:

• Development & Economic Co-operation:India has been Bhutan’s major development partner — hydropower projects, infrastructure, aid and trade play central roles.
• Security & Strategic Depth:Bhutan’s location (especially near the Siliguri Corridor) makes its strategic posture vital for India’s defence calculus. Collaboration on border management, training and Bhutan’s foreign policy choices matter.
• Respecting Bhutan’s Agency:Although the relationship is asymmetric, Bhutan has retained its sovereignty, democratic evolution and international rights, which India has increasingly recognised.

Lessons for Managing Asymmetric Relationships:

• Respect and Equity:India must treat even smaller neighbours with dignity, acknowledging their sovereign choices. The article argues that the success of the India-Bhutan model lies partly in India’s restraint and willingness to act as partner rather than hegemon.
• Strategic Sensitivity:India’s policy must account for smaller countries’ security, economic and social concerns — not only India’s strategic interests. The Himalayan geography and Bhutan-China border dynamics illustrate this.
• Diversification & Autonomy:Bhutan has gradually diversified its partners (Japan, South Korea, European nations) and asserted its diplomacy beyond India-centric ties. India must welcome this and even support it, because it builds trust.
• Adaptability in Changing Context:The article notes that the end of the Cold War, Bhutan’s internal democratic shift and China’s growing assertiveness forced India and Bhutan both to recalibrate their relationship. India should therefore avoid rigid models.
• Mutual Benefit over Dependency:Hydropower, trade and development assistance have worked best when benefits are mutual — Bhutan produces electricity, India procures clean power; Bhutan receives investment, India secures a friendly neighbour.

Challenges & Future Risks:

• Chinese Influence & Border Realities:Bhutan-China negotiations, potential territorial settlements and Chinese economic overtures may test Bhutan’s alignment with India.
• Public Perception of Dominance:Even in a strong relationship, Bhutanese sentiment of being overshadowed by India (“big brother”) can erode goodwill. India needs to continuously manage perceptions.
• Economic Imbalances & Diversification Needs:Bhutan’s heavy reliance on hydropower and Indian market gives India leverage; but this also means Bhutan may seek greater autonomy, possibly rebalancing towards other powers.
• Changing Neighbourhood Architecture:With evolving regional groupings (BBIN, BIMSTEC, Indo-Pacific frameworks) and greater external players (China, US), India must update its engagement strategies to remain relevant.

Implications for India’s Neighbourhood Policy:

• The India-Bhutan relationship should be seen as a templatefor India’s broader South Asia approach: combining development, connectivity, strategic collaboration and respect for sovereignty.
• India must invest in infrastructure, digital cooperation, educational exchange and value-based ties (culture, Buddhism, GNH) as Bhutan emphasises Gross National Happiness rather than GDP.
• In external defences and diplomacy, India should assume the role of enabler, not dictator, supporting smaller states’ hedging efforts rather than dictating their alignments.
• Maintaining open channels with both the neighbour and its other partners (including China) is vital — India’s security calculus needs Bhutan’s trust more than Bhutan’s obedience.

Conclusion:

The above discussion underlines that asymmetric relationships — based on disparity in size, power and resources — need not become exploitative or one-sided. The India-Bhutan story proves that trust, mutual respect, pragmatic cooperation and sensitivity to smaller states’ agency can yield a durable and productive partnership. For India, managing its broader neighbourhood with these principles could enhance regional stability and reaffirm India’s role as a responsible power in South Asia.

 

Editorial 2: Beijing’s WAICO push will shape new global AI order

Context:

China’s proposal to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) aims to reshape global AI governance, signaling Beijing’s ambition to become a global rule-maker in the emerging AI-driven world order.

Background:

• WAICO builds upon China’s Global AI Governance Initiative (GAIGI)launched in 2023, which laid out principles for equitable and secure AI use.
• Over the last decade, China has also proposed other multilateral ideas like:
  • Global Development Initiative (GDI)
  • Global Security Initiative (GSI)
  • Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)
• These initiatives collectively position Beijing as a leader in shaping multilateral frameworksbeyond Western-dominated institutions like the WTO, IMF, and World Bank.

What is WAICO?

• A proposed multilateral organizationto establish rules, norms, and governance mechanisms for AI technologies.
• Headquarters proposed in Shanghai.
• It aims to create a shared technology platform, promote interoperability of AI systems, and set ethical standardsfor AI development and data use.
• Would involve public–private collaborationfunded by AI-generated revenues.

Geopolitical Significance:

• Shift in Global Norm-Setting:Just as the U.S. shaped the rules for global finance after World War II (Bretton Woods system), China now seeks to shape the “AI Bretton Woods” — controlling both the “rulebook” and the “referee.”
• Challenge to Western Frameworks:Western models, like the EU AI Act or S. Executive Order on AI, emphasise rights, transparency, and regulation; WAICO promotes technological sovereignty, state control, and developmental inclusivity.
• Strategic Competition:AI governance is now a strategic domain — whoever sets the global rules will control data flows, standards, and market access for emerging technologies.

India’s Perspective:

• Opportunities:
  • Voice of the Global South:India can act as a bridge between developed and developing nations, advocating for equitable AI governance (aligning with India’s Global Digital Public Infrastructure model).
  • Rule-Shaping Role:India’s frameworks such as Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) and IndiaAI Mission (2024) can serve as models for transparent and responsible AI.
  • Collaboration Platforms:India’s leadership in G20 Digital Economy Working Group and Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) gives it leverage to influence future AI standards.
• Cautions:
  • Regulatory Ambiguity:WAICO’s governance mechanism remains unclear — who funds, who decides algorithms, and how data sovereignty is ensured.
  • Privacy & Surveillance Risks:Chinese-led AI systems often raise concerns over state surveillance and lack of transparency.
  • Strategic Autonomy:India must balance between Western-led AI frameworks (GPAI, OECD) and China’s WAICO, preserving its independent voice in multilateral digital diplomacy.

Way Forward:

• Multi-Alignment Strategy:India should engage in both WAICO discussions and Western-led platforms to avoid isolation in the emerging AI order.
• Regional Cooperation:Strengthen AI collaborations within Quad, IBSA, and Global South forums to push for a plural, inclusive governance model.
• Ethical and Legal Readiness:Build a robust AI Ethics & Governance framework rooted in democratic values, transparency, and privacy protections.
• Capacity Building:Invest in AI infrastructure, digital literacy, and algorithmic transparency to leverage opportunities without dependency.

Conclusion:

WAICO reflects China’s ambition to institutionalize its vision of AI-driven multilateralism — a model prioritizing state control and developmental parity over Western liberal ethics. For India, it’s a chance to shape a balanced, inclusive, and human-centric global AI order — ensuring technology governance remains democratic, transparent, and accountable.