Context:

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Asia-Africa Summit held in Bandung, Indonesia (April 18–24, 1955).

• This historical meeting of 29 newly independent Asian and African nations, set the stage for South-South cooperation and laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
• The relevance of the Bandung principles is critical in today’s geopolitical environment - rising global polarisation, erosion of multilateralism, and challenges to the rules-based international order.

Bandung’s Core Principles and Objectives:

• Anti-colonial solidarity: Shared experiences of colonial exploitation and marginalisation.
• Common goals:
  • Principles of sovereignty and independent policy making.
  • Collective action in the global south.
• Key principles adopted:
  • Political independence.
  • Mutual respect for sovereignty.
  • Non-aggression and non-interference in internal affairs.
• Alignment with UN charter: Commitment to a rules-based international order grounded in UN principles.

South Africa’s Role and Anti-Apartheid Advocacy:

• Strategic use of Bandung: Brought global attention to the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa that governed the country through White minority rule.
• The African National Congress (ANC) delegation:
  • The ANC was the foremost liberation organisation championing the freedom of the country both within and internationally.
  • It sent two delegates to the conference (Moses Kotane and Maulvi Chachalia) to lobby support internationally for South Africa’s freedom struggle.

Challenges to the Multilateral World Order:

• Erosion of multilateralism:
  • Rise of polarisation and trust deficit among major powers.
  • Emergence of “might is right” as a guiding principle.
• UN reform crisis:
  • Paralysis of institutions like the UN Security Council.
  • Stalled negotiations on equitable representation and expansion of UNSC membership.
• PM Narendra Modi’s critique: Described international organisations as "irrelevant" due to lack of reform.

The Global South - Then and Now:

• Initial marginalisation: Absence during UN’s formation in 1945; continued exclusion from global decision-making bodies.
• Bandung legacy:
  • Precursor of the NAM (1961) and G77 (1964).
  • Advocated collective aspirations and a multipolar world.
• Contemporary relevance and role:
  • Emerging powers: Rise of China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa.
  • South-south institutions: Formation of BRICS as a counterweight to Global North’s dominance.
  • Strategic imperative:
    • Forge new partnerships and alliances.
    • Collaborate with like-minded Global North nations.
    • Champion an inclusive, equitable, just global order.

Conclusion - Bandung’s Vision in Today’s Context:

• The Bandung spirit remains a guiding force for the Global South.
• The need to reshape multilateralism and redefine global governance is urgent.
• Global South must take proactive leadership to realise a fair and multipolar world - “The architects of Bandung would expect nothing less.”

Q1. What was the historical significance of the 1955 Bandung Conference in the context of post-colonial international relations?

Ans. The Bandung Conference marked the first major collective assertion of newly independent Asian and African nations, promoting South-South cooperation and laying the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement.

Q2. How did the Bandung Conference contribute to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa?

Ans. The conference provided a global platform for the African National Congress to internationalise the struggle against apartheid by lobbying support through its delegates.

Q3. Why is the relevance of the Bandung principles critical in today’s geopolitical environment?

Ans. The principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and collective action are vital amid rising global polarisation, erosion of multilateralism, and challenges to the rules-based international order.

Q4. Discuss the challenges to UN reform highlighted in the context of the Bandung legacy.

Ans. Despite decades of calls for equitable UNSC representation, vested interests of permanent members and institutional inertia have stalled meaningful reforms, rendering the UN increasingly ineffective.

Q5. How is the rise of the Global South reshaping the global power dynamics today?

Ans. Emerging economies like India, China, and Brazil are leveraging platforms like BRICS to challenge Northern hegemony and push for a more inclusive, multipolar global order. 

Source:IE

Context

• In a world marked by economic uncertainty, global trade tensions, and volatile stock markets, India has emerged as a beacon of resilience.
• Fuelled by its demographic dividend, technological advancements, and rich cultural heritage, the country stands poised to reimagine its global role, not just as an economic force, but as a creative powerhouse.
• Central to this vision is India’s rapidly evolving Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, which seeks to inspire and connect creators across the world through the motto: "Create in India, Create for the World."

The Rise of India's Creative Influence

• India's global influence in creative industries is rapidly growing, supported by a youthful, talented population engaged in diverse fields such as cinema, art, music, gaming, and technology.
• A shining example is Namit Malhotra’s visual effects company, DNEG, which played a pivotal role in the Oscar-winning film Dune 2, contributing to India’s seventh Oscar victory.
• Such milestones underscore India’s shift from traditional filmmaking to world-class digital production and storytelling innovation.

WAVES 2025: Nurturing the Ecosystem

• To further cement its status in the global M&E arena, the Government of India has launched the World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES).
• Scheduled for May 2025 in Mumbai, the summit will feature the WAVES Xcelerator (WAVEX), a dynamic platform to support creative startups.
• This initiative aims to connect young Indian creators with global industry leaders, investors, and mentors, addressing key challenges such as funding, visibility, and mentorship.
• India’s M&E sector, valued at ₹2,422 billion in 2023, is projected to reach ₹3,067 billion by 2027.
• WAVEX is designed to catalyse this growth, particularly in frontier areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), gaming, the metaverse, and immersive media technologies.

Key Features of WAVES

• Inclusivity and Innovation at the Forefront
  • WAVEX also champions diversity and inclusivity by supporting women-led startups like Lapwing Studios and Vygr Media.
  • The program creates a launchpad for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle for recognition on the global stage. It offers not just financial backing but a structured environment fostering long-term innovation and impact.
  • Innovative companies such as Erucanavis Technologies, known for their AI-driven playable ads, and Offline Human Studios, pushing the boundaries of VR storytelling, demonstrate the breadth and creativity within India’s startup ecosystem.
  • Ed-tech innovators like InscapeXR and Vision Impact are redefining learning using immersive technologies, reflecting the sector's interdisciplinary strength and cultural relevance.
• A Synergy of Art, Science, and Imagination
  • India’s creative revolution is not confined to the arts. It reflects a deeper synergy between culture and science, where experimentation thrives in both laboratories and art studios.
  • Institutions like the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) and Science Gallery Bengaluru celebrate this convergence, illustrating how creativity transcends disciplines.
  • India’s storytelling tradition, spanning classical dance, cinema, comics, and now digital and immersive media, forms the cultural bedrock of this new creative economy.
  • The essence of India’s artistic spirit is not just about preserving heritage, but about transforming it into futuristic, globally relevant expressions.

Significance of WAVEX: A Vision for Tomorrow

• The spirit of creativity is most palpable among India’s youth, who are not only shaping today’s narratives but envisioning the future of global entertainment and culture.
• WAVES 2025 is more than an event; it’s an ambitious movement to fuel this energy and turn ideas into enterprises that can influence the world.
• As a catalyst for creative startups, WAVES represents the future of India's soft power.
• Its impact goes beyond economic metrics, it develops self-expression, cultural exchange, and identity formation in an interconnected world.
• The government’s support, paired with the visionary drive of creators and entrepreneurs, ensures that India is not just participating in the global creative economy, it is leading it.

Conclusion

• With initiatives like WAVES and the unrelenting spirit of its creators, the country is ready to inspire the world through its stories, innovations, and imagination.
• The vision of “Create in India, Create for the World” is not just a slogan; it is a declaration of intent, one that seeks to place Indian creativity at the heart of global culture and innovation.
• India stands on the cusp of a creative revolution and now is India’s moment, to lead, to inspire, and to create.

Q1. What is the goal of WAVES 2025?
Ans. The goal of WAVES 2025 is to support and showcase India’s creative startups on a global platform.

Q2. Which company contributed to Dune 2's Oscar-winning VFX?
Ans. Namit Malhotra’s company, DNEG, contributed to the Oscar-winning visual effects in Dune 2.

Q3. What is the vision driving India’s M&E sector?
Ans. The vision driving India’s Media & Entertainment sector is "Create in India, Create for the World."

Q4. Which sectors are supported by WAVEX?
Ans. WAVEX supports startups in animation, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, gaming, and the metaverse.

Q5. What is India’s projected M&E sector value by 2027?
Ans. India’s Media & Entertainment sector is projected to reach a value of ₹3,067 billion by the year 2027. 

Source:The Hindu

Context

• The global fight against malnutrition took a significant leap forward at the recent Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit held in Paris, where world leaders gathered to reaffirm their commitment to ending all forms of malnutrition.
• Coinciding with this summit, the United Nations General Assembly extended the Decade of Action on Nutrition to 2030, reinforcing alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• While past efforts have focused heavily on access to food and early childhood nutrition, a growing global consensus is calling for a paradigm shift, one that emphasises nutrition education, particularly for school-aged children and adolescents.

Nutrition Education: From Awareness to Action

• One of the key takeaways from the N4G Summit’s side event, ‘Learn to Eat Well: Bio-diverse Diets and Youth as Agents of Change,’ was the call to embed nutrition education in schools.
• This education must transcend calorie counting and include lessons on how to make informed, sustainable, and culturally respectful food choices.
• In today’s fast-paced, convenience-driven food landscape, where processed foods are easily accessible and aggressively marketed, such education is more important than ever.

The Crisis of Dietary Diversity and Rethinking the Focus on Nutrition

• The Crisis of Dietary Diversity
  • A major casualty of modern food systems is dietary diversity. Despite the UN’s adoption of Minimum Dietary Diversity as an indicator under SDG 2, many children still fail to consume even five of ten essential food groups daily.
  • This dietary inadequacy is not confined to impoverished regions but is also prevalent in urban centres, indicating systemic issues in both food access and education.
  • Poor diets contribute not only to malnutrition and obesity but also to chronic illnesses and mental health challenges.
  • Alarmingly, research suggests that 70% of preventable adult diseases originate from childhood habits, underlining the urgency of early and sustained intervention.
• Rethinking the Focus on Nutrition
  • Historically, nutrition initiatives have targeted the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to age two, as the most critical period for preventing malnutrition.
  • However, emerging research highlights the importance of the next 4,000 days, including adolescence, a time marked by intense physical and psychological development.
  • Proper nutrition during this period can mitigate early deficits, aid in growth recovery, and lay the foundation for lifelong health.
  • This calls for a shift from simply feeding children to teaching them how and why to eat well.

The Missing Link in Schools

• Despite the critical role schools can play, nutrition education is often absent, outdated, or disconnected from students' lived experiences.
• Teachers frequently lack the tools and training needed to deliver effective food education.
• A structured curriculum, beginning from preschool and extending through middle school, could fill this gap.
• Such a curriculum should explore the relationship between food, the human body, the environment, and cultural identity.
• Central to this approach is the promotion of bio-diverse diets, those that prioritise local, seasonal, and culturally familiar foods, benefiting not just personal health but also local economies and environmental sustainability.

The Way Forward and Opportunities for India

• Bringing Food Education to Life
  • To be effective, food education must be an immersive part of school life.
  • Weekly lessons, practical experiences like gardening and cooking, healthier canteen options, and student-led campaigns can develop deeper engagement and lasting habits.
  • Around the world, innovative schools are already demonstrating success: students are reading food labels, preparing meals, and understanding the impact of their dietary choices on both personal and planetary health.
• India’s Opportunity
  • India’s National Education Policy and the School Health and Wellness Programme have laid a foundational framework for integrated nutrition education.
  • Yet, to achieve meaningful change, this framework must evolve into a comprehensive curriculum with consistent implementation, appropriate learning materials, and teacher training.
  • Recognising children as not only learners but also influencers is vital.
  • Equipped with the right knowledge, they can positively impact their families and communities, advocating for healthier meals, reducing food waste, and promoting sustainable practices.

Conclusion

• In a world grappling with the twin challenges of undernutrition and overconsumption, climate change, and cultural erosion, food literacy is no longer optional, it is essential.
• Teaching children to eat well is about much more than nutrition; it is about cultivating respect for health, heritage, and the environment.
• If we hope to raise a generation that is healthier, more empathetic, and better equipped for the future, we must embed nutrition education at the heart of every child’s learning journey, starting now.

Q1. What was extended by the UN to align with the 2030 SDGs?
Ans. The United Nations extended the Decade of Action on Nutrition to the year 2030 to align efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Q2. Why is adolescence a key period for nutrition?
Ans. Adolescence is a key period for nutrition because it provides a second opportunity to address early childhood nutritional deficits and support long-term health.

Q3. What is a major concern with children’s diets today?
Ans. A major concern with children’s diets today is the lack of dietary diversity, which can lead to poor health outcomes.

Q4. Where should nutrition education ideally begin?
Ans. Nutrition education should ideally begin in schools, starting from the preschool level and continuing through middle school.

Q5. What kind of diets support both health and sustainability?
Ans. Diets that are bio-diverse, including a variety of local, seasonal, and culturally familiar foods, support both health and environmental sustainability. 

Source:The Hindu