Daily RC and Vocabulary 23rd January 2026

A piece of board

India must eschew temptation to be a part of Trump’s peace board

India, on Thursday, skipped the U.S. President Donald Trump-led “Board of Peace (BoP)” charter announcement held in Davos, although the government is said to be still discussing the invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join it. The BoP is part of the Trump administration’s Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Proposal, which is also meant to help resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict through talks on a two-state solution. This was cleared unanimously by the UN Security Council (Russia and China abstained) in November 2025 after an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. There are some reasons for India to seriously consider joining the BoP, as about 20 countries already have. India has been a principled supporter of the Palestinian cause, and a consistent provider of humanitarian assistance, and this could be an opportunity to help the brutalised Palestinian population. The decision by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Türkiye, to join may put pressure on the Modi government. The rupture in U.S.-India ties and fragility of trade negotiations maybe another cause not to rebuff Mr. Trump’s invitation now, as it may invoke his ire.Neither pragmatism nor principle dictates taking such a decision in haste, however, and a country of India’s standing cannot act based on the fear of missing out on a position of influence, or punishment by the U.S. Even though the UN has backed the U.S.’s original plans, the BoP’s latest structure and mandate appear to have been unilaterally altered — it does not actually mention Gaza, according to leaked versions of the charter. Mr. Trump has appointed himself as chairman, with friends and family on the executive board, and the charter proposes to extend the BoP to other conflict-resolution ventures, suggesting that it would seek to supplant the UN. Second, while the board will appoint Palestinian technical experts, it does not include the Palestinian leadership, an affront to countries that have recognised Palestine. That Mr. Netanyahu, accused of genocide by UN agencies should be included, but not the Palestinian President, adds to that injustice. For India, Pakistan’s decision to join the board is a red flag, particularly if Mr. Trump decides to include the Kashmir dispute to the BoP’s peace plans. The BoP’s 2-tier membership, offering “permanent” membership for a “fee” of one billion dollars is another red flag. It would also be difficult for India to cavil at its troops joining the International Stabilization Force, a non-UN initiative. Without clarity, members will only be rubber stamps to Mr. Trump’s arbitrary and often illegitimate diktats on the future of Palestine. New Delhi must continue to consult partners on the best way forward, particularly the Palestinians, even as it keeps its own independent counsel. Above all, India must listen to its own conscience. 

Top 10 Vocabulary from the Editorial

1. Eschew (verb)

Meaning: To deliberately avoid or abstain from something.
Example: India must eschew impulsive diplomatic alignments that undermine strategic autonomy.

2. Pragmatism (noun)

Meaning: A practical approach focused on results rather than ideals.
Example: Excessive pragmatism in foreign policy can dilute moral credibility.

3. Rupture (noun)

Meaning: A serious break or disruption in relations.
Example: A rupture in India–U.S. trade negotiations would have global repercussions.

4. Unilaterally (adverb)

Meaning: Done by one actor without consultation or agreement of others.
Example: Peace frameworks imposed unilaterally often lack legitimacy.

5. Supplant (verb)

Meaning: To replace or take the place of something, often unfairly.
Example: Parallel peace boards risk supplanting the authority of the United Nations

.6. Affront (noun)

Meaning: An act that causes offence or insult.
Example: Excluding Palestinian leadership is an affront to the principle of self-determination.

7. Genocide (noun)

Meaning: The deliberate destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
Example: Allegations of genocide necessitate impartial international investigation.

8. Red flag (noun)

Meaning: A warning sign indicating potential danger or risk.
Example: Pakistan’s inclusion in the board is a strategic red flag for India.

9. Cavil (verb)

Meaning: To raise petty or unnecessary objections.
Example: It would be difficult for India to cavil at troop deployment once it joins such a mechanism.

10.Diktat (noun)

Meaning: An authoritative or arbitrary command imposed without consent.
Example: Peace cannot be built through diktats imposed by powerful states.
High-Level RC MCQs

Q1.The editorial’s primary concern with India joining the “Board of Peace (BoP)” lies in the fact that the initiative:(a) Is dominated by West Asian countries with conflicting interests
(b) Lacks economic incentives for meaningful peace-building
(c) Undermines institutional multilateralism in favour of personalised diplomacy
(d) Risks isolating India from its traditional allies

Q2.The editorial uses Pakistan’s participation in the BoP mainly to highlight:(a) The erosion of India’s influence in South Asia
(b) The possibility of bilateral disputes being internationalised
(c) Pakistan’s growing proximity to the United States
(d) The weakness of India’s neighbourhood policyQ3.Which of the following best captures the editorial’s criticism regarding Palestinian representation in the BoP?(a) Palestinians are denied voting rights in decision-making
(b) Humanitarian aid is prioritised over political engagement
(c) Technical inclusion is used as a substitute for political legitimacy
(d) Israel’s security concerns are disproportionately highlightedQ4.The reference to permanent membership being offered for a fee primarily illustrates:(a) Financial unsustainability of the initiative
(b) Privatisation of global peace-making
(c) Strategic exclusion of developing countries
(d) Western domination of conflict-resolution mechanismsQ5.The editorial’s mention of **United Nations backing earlier proposals but not the BoP’s current structure suggests that:(a) UN endorsement is conditional and reversible
(b) The BoP represents a continuity of UN peace efforts
(c) Institutional legitimacy has been diluted through unilateral modifications
(d) The UN has abdicated its responsibility in global conflict resolutionQ6.By cautioning India against acting out of fear of U.S. displeasure under Donald Trump, the editorial implicitly upholds which foreign-policy principle?(a) Non-alignment
(b) Strategic autonomy
(c) Balance of power
(d) Collective securityQ7.The editorial’s tone towards the BoP can best be described as:(a) Hostile and dismissive
(b) Cautiously optimistic
(c) Principled but sceptical
(d) Neutral and observationalQ8.The concern over a non-UN International Stabilisation Force reflects anxiety about:(a) Financial burden-sharing
(b) Military overstretch
(c) Erosion of international legal legitimacy
(d) Regional imbalance in troop contributions
Answer Key with ExplanationsQ1. – (c)The editorial repeatedly critiques the personalisation of diplomacy, with Trump as chairman and family members involved, and the attempt to supplant UN-based multilateralism.Q2. – (b)Pakistan’s inclusion is flagged as a red flag because it could open the door to internationalising Kashmir, contradicting India’s consistent bilateral approach.Q3. – (c)The editorial objects to the replacement of legitimate Palestinian political leadership with “technical experts”, undermining self-determination and political agency.Q4. – (b)A billion-dollar “permanent membership” fee signals a commodification of peace, violating sovereign equality and moral legitimacy.Q5. – (c)The editorial draws a clear distinction between earlier UN-endorsed proposals and the unilaterally altered BoP, highlighting loss of institutional legitimacy.Q6. – (b)India is urged not to act due to fear or pressure, reinforcing the doctrine of strategic autonomy, not alignment or collective security.Q7. – (c)The editorial does not reject peace efforts outright but is deeply sceptical on ethical and institutional grounds, making the tone principled yet cautious.Q8. – (c)The anxiety stems from the absence of a UN mandate, which raises concerns about legality, accountability, and legitimacy of military involvement.