Globalisation and Sustainable Development

Globalisation

Meaning: globalisation is the growing integration of economies and societies through trade, capital flows, technology, migration and ideas. In India it accelerated with the 1991 LPG reforms.

Dimensions: economic (trade, FDI, finance), technological (IT, the internet), cultural (media, consumption), political (global governance, WTO) and environmental (climate change).

Impact on India

Positive	Negative
Faster growth since 1991; IT and services boom	Unequal gains: skilled urban workers gained more than farm and informal workers
FDI, technology, consumer choice	Pressure on small industries and handicrafts
Higher forex reserves; remittances	Vulnerability to global shocks (2008, COVID, oil, tariffs)
Poverty reduction	Regional imbalance: the south and west gained more than Bihar and Jharkhand
Women's jobs in services	Cultural homogenisation; environmental strain

Recent trends go under names like "slowbalisation", de-risking, "China+1" supply chains and friend-shoring. India seeks to gain through PLI schemes and trade agreements (see the external sector unit).

Sustainable development

• Brundtland Report, Our Common Future (1987): development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
• Three pillars: economic, social and environmental; the "triple bottom line" of people, planet and profit.
• Milestones:
  • Stockholm (1972): the UN Conference on the Human Environment, which led to UNEP.
  • Rio Earth Summit (1992): Agenda 21, the UNFCCC, the CBD, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
  • Johannesburg (2002).
  • Rio+20 (2012): "The Future We Want" started the SDG process.
• Ideas: weak vs strong sustainability, green GDP and natural capital accounting, carrying capacity and ecological footprint, and the circular economy.

The Sustainable Development Goals (2015–2030)

The 17 goals:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
15. Life on land
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. Partnerships for the goals

India

• NITI Aayog coordinates the SDGs and publishes the SDG India Index.
  • In the 2023–24 index, India's composite score was 71.
  • Kerala and Uttarakhand were top.
  • Bihar was lowest, and Jharkhand was also near the bottom.
• Schemes mapped to the goals:
  • SDG 1–2: PMGKAY and NFSA.
  • SDG 3: Ayushman Bharat.
  • SDG 6: Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat.
  • SDG 7: Saubhagya and Ujjwala.
  • SDG 13: NAPCC.

Green growth and India's approach

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008) has 8 missions: solar, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, the Himalayan ecosystem, Green India, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge.
• Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): promotes mindful consumption over wasteful consumption.
• Green Credit Programme (2023): market-based incentives for tree planting and water conservation.
• Circular economy:
  • Extended Producer Responsibility rules for plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries and tyres;
  • GOBARdhan;
  • Swachh Bharat 2.0;
  • a ban on certain single-use plastics (2022).
• Green finance: sovereign green bonds (2023) and a draft climate finance taxonomy (2025).
• Energy transition: see the climate unit for NDC targets.

Mining, tribals and sustainability (Jharkhand focus)

• The paradox: Jharkhand has about 40% of India's mineral reserves and yet high poverty. This is often called the "resource curse".
• Problems:
  • Displacement by dams, mines and steel plants, with poor rehabilitation.
  • Land alienation.
  • Pollution: Jharia's coal fires, and the Damodar river.
  • Loss of forest livelihoods.
• Responses:
  • the District Mineral Foundation and PMKKKY, which use royalty share for affected areas (MMDR Amendment 2015);
  • the Forest Rights Act 2006;
  • PESA and Gram Sabha consent;
  • the Jharia Master Plan for resettlement;
  • the RFCTLARR Act 2013 (fair compensation, social impact assessment, and consent of 70–80% of landowners for PPP or private projects).
• The Samatha judgment (1997) held that tribal land in Fifth Schedule areas cannot be leased to private non-tribals for mining.
• Niyamgiri (2013) held that Gram Sabhas decide on cultural and religious rights under the FRA.

Exam tip: JPSC Paper V titles this section "Globalisation and Sustainable Development". Write about Jharkhand's mining–tribal–forest issues every time. UPSC GS III uses the same material under "inclusive growth" and "environment".