Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:

'Cruel Genocidal Act': Non-aligned Movement condemns Israel's assault on Gaza

The five-day summit of NAM member states which began on 15 January, 2024 was held in Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni officially assumed the chairmanship of the summit and the NAM for the next three years.

The body "strongly condemn the illegal Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip, the indiscriminate attacks against Palestinian civilians, civilian objects, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population and further calls for an immediate and durable humanitarian ceasefire". It urged for the implementation of a UN Security Council resolution to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged strip.

The New Arab, January 21, 2024

(a) With reference to the above excerpt, state the relevance of NAM at present.

(b) Explain how Non-alignment is neither neutrality, nor isolation nor non-commitment.

(c) Give any four objectives of NAM.

(a) The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) remains highly relevant today, as seen in the 2024 Uganda Summit where it condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza and called for a humanitarian ceasefire. NAM continues to serve vital global functions:

1. Advocacy for Peace and Human Rights – NAM opposes human rights violations and military aggression. It supports ceasefires and humanitarian aid, promoting global peace and stability.
2. Defending Sovereignty and Justice – It stands by oppressed nations, supporting their rights and justice in international platforms like the UN.
3. Humanitarian Concerns – NAM urges the implementation of UN resolutions and ensures relief reaches affected populations.
4. Mediating Global Conflicts – It acts as a unified voice for developing nations, encouraging peaceful resolutions and opposing unilateral military actions.
5. Maintaining a Balanced Global Order – NAM challenges neocolonialism and foreign interventions, protecting economic and political sovereignty.
6. Economic Justice – NAM counters the dominance of global financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, which often undermine democratic processes in weaker nations.
7. Resisting Superpower Domination – With its long-standing experience, NAM can play a key role in balancing global power dynamics, especially against U.S. dominance.

(b) Non-alignment is neither neutrality, nor isolation nor non-commitment.

1. Non-alignment is not neutral as it does not remain aloof from international problems. It actively participates in the politics among nations. So, non-alignment stands for 'action' rather than passivism.
2. NAM is not aloof as it comes forward to help the underdeveloped and developing newly independent countries.
3. NAM is not committed to any military blocs but maintains friendly relations with the countries of the First and the Second World.

(c) Four objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement are as follows-

1. To oppose colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination.
2. To advocate sovereign equality of all states,
3. To encourage friendly relations among countries.
4. To advocate peaceful settlement of international disputes.