18th May’18 – The Hindu Editorial Complete Analysis

Table of Contents

Growing cities

 A fresh look at urban governance is necessary as migration from rural areas picks up pace
 Cities are economically vibrant spaces around the world and draw a large number of
rural migrants looking for better prospects
 This is a sustained trend, particularly in developing countries now, as production, jobs and
markets get concentrated.
 More evidence of this comes from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which
has released its 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects.
 Forecasting for the year 2050, the UN agency estimates that the percentage of urban residents in India would be 52.8, compared to 34 today.
 While Delhi would edge past Tokyo as the world’s most populous city by 2028.
 India, China and Nigeria are expected to lead other countries and account for 35% of the S
projected growth in urban population by mid-century.
 Urbanisation in the country is a complex process, since it is defined not by a constant
migration of rural residents but by the flow of workers, mostly men.

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 Among governments there is a strong policy emphasis on improving facilities in rural
areas, indicating a political preference for reduced migration to urban centres
 The imperative before the Centre and State governments is to come up with policies that
provide adequate services in the villages,
 While investing in cities to ensure that their high levels of productivity and efficiency
are not compromised.
• 1)- Housing deficits have led to the proliferation of slums,
• 2)- Lack of enforcement of building norms
• 3)- Poor investment in public transport
 Released by the World Health Organisation show, 14 Indian cities are among the top 20
worldwide with the worst air quality profiles for fine particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres
 Most cities are also unable to collect and dispose of municipal waste scientifically
 Such a dismal scenario can only get worse with higher population concentrations,
 Unless city governments come into their own.

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 While the Center’s goal of homes for all by 2022 is laudable.
 It is unlikely to be realized without a push from the States and the launch of schemes driven
by innovation and low-cost approaches.
 Augmenting rental housing should be a priority within the plan.
 Integrating green spaces, open commons and wetlands will make cities cleaner
and aesthetically richer.

The East Asian reset

 It appears to be the season for diplomatic resets in Asia.
 After years of mistrust, China reaches out to Japan with high-level visits
 China is at the centre of this regional spring thaw.
 India is not the only rival with which Beijing has recently been trading pleasantries rather
than threats.
 Usually fraught China Japan ties are in the midst of an upswing as well
 Last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Japan on a three-day state visit, his first trip
to Tokyo since taking office five years ago.
 It was also the first top-level bilateral visit after relations between the two countries
plummeted in 2012 over a chain of disputed islands claimed by both sides.
 One signal came last September when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese
leader in 15 years to attend Chinese Embassy’s annual National Day celebrations in Tokyo.
 Since then, Mr. Abe and Mr. Xi have met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation summit in Vietnam.

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 In early May, Mr. Abe spoke to Mr. Xi on the phone to discuss the unfolding events
on the Korean peninsula, the first phone call ever between the two leaders.
 Tension- Second World War.
 Territorial dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.
 Japan was an important player in China’s economic rise, which saw the country’s
transformation from an agrarian backwater to a global manufacturing powerhouse
 According to the Japan External Trade Organisation, China-Japan trade stands at
about $350 billion (by comparison, India-China trade is $84.44 billion).
 China has overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest economy
 What has changed?
 U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First policy and the tariffs he has slapped on some
$60 billion worth of Chinese products have also impacted Japan
 Unpredictable U.S., North Korea and business interests.
 China is keen on getting Japan to play ball with its signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),
something that Mr. Li stressed more than once during his visit last week.

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 Although initially reluctant to participate in the BRI, Tokyo has signalled that it is open
to the initiative as long as proposed infrastructure projects meet the criteria of being “
open, transparent, fair and economically feasible.”
 Japan-backed Asian Development Bank is exploring co-financing projects with the
Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment bank
 And as with the India-China reset, although it is temporarily beneficial to both sides

Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis

 Page-1- Amid protests, Yeddyurappa takes oath as CM

Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis

 Page-1- States petition Kovind on 15th finance panel
 Stepping up pressure, the Finance Ministers of six States met President Ram
Nath Kovind on Thursday and submitted a memorandum demanding 13 amendments
to the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission.
 “The terms of reference violate the federal principle as enshrined in the Constitution,
erode the autonomy of all States and bring significant financial hardship to all States,”
according to the
 Among 13 amendments recommended by the Ministers is the use of population data of 2011
by the Finance Commission.
 The Ministers have vociferously protested against this.
 memorandum submitted by the Ministers of Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Punjab,
A.P. and Puducherry.

Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis

 Page-10- We are battling terrorists: Pakistan Army
 There is no terror sanctuary in country, military official tells visiting journalists
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Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
 Won’t hold talks with South Korea: North
 North Korea’s chief negotiator called the South Korean government “ignorant and
incompetent” on Thursday, denounced U.S.-South Korean air combat drills and
threatened to halt all talks with the South unless its demands are met
 Domestic air traffic grows 26% in April
 Domestic air traffic grew at a robust rate of 26% in April
with various airlines together ferrying 11.5 million passengers, up from 9.1 million
in the same month last year, as per government data
 Oil hits $80, highest since- Nov. 2014, on Iran concerns

Map Practice

Last Day- Q’s- Answers…
2017 SCO summit- Astana, Kazakhstan
India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members on 9 June 2017 at
a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
2018- Qingdao, China in June
Bus service b/w Janakpur (Nepal) & Ayodhya (India)