TEN CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON CURRENT GEOPLOITICAL AND NATIONAL ISSUES – 197

PRERNA FOR IAS

(ASSOCIATE OF SAMKALP)

TEN CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON CURRENT GEOPLOITICAL AND NATIONAL ISSUES – 197

1. Should India prioritise controlling inflation even if higher interest rates slow economic growth?

Answer: Sir/Ma'am, I believe inflation control and economic growth are equally important, but persistent inflation particularly harms poor and middle-class families. The supplied newspaper summaries report that the RBI raised the repo rate to 5.50% to address inflationary pressures. Higher interest rates can reduce excessive borrowing and demand, but they may also discourage investment and employment. Moreover, interest-rate increases cannot directly solve shortages caused by poor monsoons or expensive imported oil. Therefore, the government should improve food supply, logistics and energy security while the RBI manages demand and inflation expectations. My view is that price stability should support sustainable growth, not become an objective isolated from employment and public welfare.

2. Why is the conflict in Yemen a serious concern for India even though India is not directly involved?

Answer: Sir/Ma'am, Yemen is important because its conflict affects the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Disruption of this route can increase shipping costs, insurance premiums and delivery times for Indian trade. The reported attacks on airports and other infrastructure also create humanitarian concerns and threaten regional stability. India should protect its maritime interests, strengthen naval cooperation, maintain diplomatic relations with regional countries and support peaceful negotiations. At the same time, humanitarian assistance must remain important. The larger lesson is that in an interconnected world, regional conflicts can become global economic problems. India's foreign policy must combine national interest with regional stability.