Elucidate the relationship between globalization and new technology in a world of scarce resources, with special reference to India.
Approach · directive: “elucidate”
What it asks · Explain how globalisation spreads technology, how technology in turn stretches or strains scarce resources, and what this means for India.
It asks 3 things — answer each
- Elucidate the two-way relationship: technology enables globalisation and globalisation diffuses technology
- Elucidate how the relationship works under resource scarcity: technology as a multiplier of scarce resources and as a source of new scarcities and costs
- With special reference to India: gains, vulnerabilities, policy response and the way forward
Open with · Globalisation integrates economies through flows of goods, capital, people and ideas, and new technology is both its vehicle and its product; with finite water, energy, land and minerals, the two decide output per unit of resource and who controls inputs.
Cover
- Technology enables globalisation: containers, telecom and the internet cut costs, allowing global value chains.
- Globalisation diffuses technology: trade, FDI, licensing and skilled migration, as in India's IT and business-process services.
- Multiplier: solar, wind, drip irrigation, recycling and digital logistics yield more per unit of energy, water and land.
- New scarcities: lithium, cobalt and rare earths are concentrated in few countries; export controls and supply shocks follow.
- Costs: automation, expensive IPR, e-waste and extraction damage.
- India: Make in India, PLI, a Rs 76,000 crore chip and display programme; since then, Green Hydrogen and Critical Mineral Missions.
- Way forward: R&D, skilling, circular economy, technology partnerships and diversified supply chains.
Close with · India's aim should be to be a maker of technology, not only its market, so that growth meets SDG 9 (innovation) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Add value (verified)
- Since the exam: the Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission on 4 January 2023 with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore.Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission — PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 4 January 2023 ↗“The initial outlay for the Mission will be Rs.19,744 crore, including an outlay of Rs.17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme, Rs.1,466 crore for pilot projects”
- Same release: the Mission targets green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million tonnes a year by 2030, with about 125 GW of associated renewable capacity.Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission — PIB, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 4 January 2023 ↗“Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country”
- PIB: the Government approved a Rs 76,000 crore programme for a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.PIB press release on the semiconductor and display manufacturing programme (PRID 1781723) ↗“the approval of the programme for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India with an outlay of Rs.76,000 crore”
- Since the exam: on 29 January 2025 the Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission with Rs 16,300 crore of spending and Rs 18,000 crore expected investment by PSUs.PIB, Cabinet approves National Critical Mineral Mission (29 Jan 2025) ↗“has approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of Rs.16,300 crore and expected investment of Rs.18,000 crore by PSUs, etc.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2022, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 16 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 367words · Minimalist IAS
Globalisation integrates economies through flows of goods, capital, people and ideas; new technology is both its vehicle and its product. With finite water, energy, land and minerals, the two together decide how much each unit of resource yields, and who controls the inputs technology itself needs.
A two-way relationship
- Technology drives globalisation: containerisation, cheap telecom and the internet cut transport and coordination costs, letting production spread across global value chains.
- Globalisation spreads technology: trade in capital goods, foreign investment, licensing and skilled migration diffuse know-how, as India's IT and business-process services show.
Under scarcity: multiplier and new scarcities
- Global flows of capital and know-how
- Efficient, cheaper technology
- More output per resource unit
- Demand for critical minerals
- Supply-chain rivalry
- Resource multiplier: solar and wind power, drip irrigation, recycling and digital logistics extract more from each unit of energy, water and land.
- New scarcities: clean-energy and digital technologies need lithium, cobalt and rare earths concentrated in a few countries, so export controls and supply shocks follow.
- Costs: automation displaces low-skill work, intellectual property makes imported technology costly, and extraction and e-waste harm the environment.
India's position
- Gains: software and services exports, population-scale digital payments, low-cost satellite launches, and leadership of the International Solar Alliance.
- Vulnerabilities: heavy imports of crude oil, electronics and critical minerals, plus water stress and pressure on land.
- Policy response: Make in India, the PLI schemes and a Rs 76,000 crore programme for semiconductors and displays. Since then, the National Green Hydrogen Mission (January 2023, Rs 19,744 crore) targets at least 5 million tonnes a year by 2030, and the National Critical Mineral Mission (January 2025) carries Rs 16,300 crore of spending plus Rs 18,000 crore expected from PSUs.
Way forward
- Build capability: more research and development, and skilling for automation and green jobs.
- Close the loop: a circular economy that recovers minerals from e-waste and scrap.
- Partner wisely: technology partnerships with transfer of know-how, and diversified supply chains for chips, minerals and fuels.
Managed well, globalisation and technology let India grow with fewer resources; its aim should be to become a maker of technology, not only its market, so that growth meets SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 16 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
