UPSC Mains 2025 GS2 Q9 — India-Africa relations
India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Elaborate
- Scope keywords
- India-Africa digital partnershipmutual respectco-developmentlong-term institutional partnerships
- Implicit sub-parts
- How does the Indian digital model (DPI/India Stack) differ from the Western or Chinese models in the African context?
- Concrete examples of 'co-development' where India is not just a provider but a partner in building local capacity.
- The role of pan-African institutional frameworks like the e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti (e-VBAB) project.
- Alignment of digital cooperation with the African Union's 'Agenda 2063'.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on physical infrastructure (roads/ports) instead of digital public infrastructure.
- Failing to define 'mutual respect' as a non-exploitative, non-debt-trap alternative to other global players.
- Ignoring the shift from 'aid-donor' relationship to a 'technology-sharing' partnership.
- Writing a generic history of India-Africa relations without focusing on the 'digital' specificities of the question.
- Dimensions required
- Technological (DPI, UPI, Aadhaar-like systems)Diplomatic (Soft power and the 'Global South' leadership)Economic (Financial inclusion and fintech)Human Capital (Skill development and e-education)Strategic (Countering digital neo-colonialism)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 20 words on the introduction defining India-Africa digital synergy. Dedicate 30 words each to the three pillars mentioned in the question (respect, co-development, and institutions). Use the remaining 40 words for specific case studies like the Pan-African e-Network or UPI linkages, concluding with a forward-looking statement on G20's focus on DPI.
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