Context:  

In Alabama, USA a convict has been executed using nitrogen hypoxia for the first time as a method of capital punishment.

About Nitrogen Hypoxia

• In Nitrogen hypoxia, high concentration of nitrogen replaces oxygen which disables the respiratory system of a person causing ultimate death of a person. 

How Does Nitrogen HypoxiaIt Work?

• Nitrogen hypoxia forces the person to breathe only nitrogen, depriving him or her of the oxygen needed to maintain bodily functions.
• In this method of execution, a respirator mask is placed over the inmate’s face, and pure nitrogen is pumped into the person’s lungs instead of oxygen.

Concern

• Critics have called the method of execution a “human experimentation”.

Evolution of Anti-Death Penalty Initiatives

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): In the early 1960s, despite the prevalent use of the death penalty in a majority of countries, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) marked the beginning of global efforts for its abolition. 
• Safeguarding Rights (1984): In 1984, the UN Economic and Social Council took a significant step by adopting safeguards to protect the rights of individuals facing the death penalty. 
• Decisive Momentum: Second Optional Protocol to ICCPR (1989): This protocol urged Member States not to execute individuals within their jurisdictions. Thus, it provided decisive momentum toward the global death penalty abolition.
• UN General Assembly Resolutions: Progressive Restriction (2007-2018): These resolutions consistently urged states to adhere to international standards, progressively limit the use of the death penalty, and reduce the number of offences punishable by capital punishment.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context

New Aadhaar cards now come with an explicit disclaimer of it being a proof of identity and not of citizenship or date of birth.

• Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in a circular of  January 16, deleted Aadhaar from the list of documents acceptable as a proof of date of birth.

Aadhaar Card

• About: It is a 12-digit individual identification number that serves as proof of identity and proof of address for residents of India.

• Issued by:  The UIDAI 

• Features of Aadhaar Card

  • The Aadhaar number is unique for each individual and will remain valid for a lifetime. 
  • Act as a proof of: Aadhaar is a proof of Identity and Residence
  • Eligibility:   Every Indian citizen irrespective of their age and foreign national is eligible to obtain one if they have been living in India for half a year 
  • Authentication: It uses Demographic and Biometric Data like Iris scan etc.
  • Welfare schemes Enabler: It will help the residents to avail of various services provided by banking, mobile phone connections, PDS, MGNREGA etc
  • Portability: Aadhaar gives nation-wide portability as it can be authenticated anywhere on-line.
  • Open Source Technology: It is built using open source technologies and structured to address scalability in a vendor-neutral manner and allow the coexistence of heterogeneous hardware within the same application.

• Aadhaar Data

• • Storage: Aadhaar data vault (ADV) as a middleware service and solution developed by C-DAC ensures secure storage of encrypted Aadhaar numbers as per UIDAI guidelines.
  • Period: for not more than 6 months as per Supreme Court Ruling

Also Read:

• Massive Aadhaar Data Breach Of 815 Million Indians
• 81.5 Crore Indians’ Aadhaar Data Leaked On Dark Web

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: 

Scientists from South African universities survey Marion Island to locate and record each wandering albatross nest.

About Albatross:

• Scientific Name: Diomedea exulans 
• About: 
  • It is the world’s largest flying bird, with a wingspan reaching upto 3.5 meters.

• • Oceanic Nomads: They  come ashore only to  breed approximately every two years once they have reached sexual maturity.
  • Nest: The birds make their nests on  a mound of soil and vegetation on the ground. They  prefer a low  and warm site near the coast  and coastal vegetation.
• Habitat: The Southern Ocean (The region between 600 South Latitude and Antarctica)  and the scattered islands where they make their nests.
  • Marion Island and Prince Edward Island: They support about half of the world’s wandering albatross breeding population, estimated at around 20,000 mature individuals
• Protection Status: Vulnerable (IUCN status).
• Risk and Threats: 
  • Bycatch  from longline fishing trawlers in open oceans
  • Habitat Degradation on Marion Island: 
    •  Temperature  had increased by 1.2°C compared to 50 years before. 
    • Precipitation: It decreased by 25 per cent and cloud cover also decreased, leading to an increase in sunshine hours.
    • The permanent snowline:  No longer exists. 
    • Wind speeds:  Increased in the Southern Ocean and are predicted to continue doing so, which may have effects on the size of areas suitable for nesting.

News Source: Down To Earth

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On the Occasion of 75th Republic Day, the PM, all three military chiefs placed a wreath on the Amar jawan Jyoti situated at the Amar Chakra of the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

About National War Memorial

• It is a national monument built to honour & remember soldiers of the Indian military who laid their supreme sacrifice in military conflicts with: Pakistan & China, as well as the 1961 war of Goa, operation Pawan and other operations Rakshak, their names are inscribed in golden script on the monument walls.
• Unveiled on : 25th February 2019
• Layout : C-hexagon
• Main Architect : Yogesh Chandrasan of WeBe Design Lab.

Features of National War Memorial

• Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality): 
  • The Eternal Flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti): It symbolises the immortality of fallen soldiers with the assurance that the nation will never forget their sacrifices.
• Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery): It signifies the bravery of Indian soldiers in the form of a covered gallery with six bronze paintings representing courageous fighting acts of the Indian Armed Forces. 
• Tyag Chakra (Sacrifice Circle): The honour walls are circular concentric walls that represent the ancient war formation ‘Chakravyuh.’
• Rakshak Chakra (Circle of Protection): It  provides comfort to the residents of the country regarding their safety against any danger, with each tree symbolising the troops who ensure the Nation’s territorial integrity around the clock. 

Also Read: 

• Gallantry Awards 2024
• Padma Awards 2024
• Republic Day 2024 Tableaux

News Source: PIB

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Context: 

For the year 2024, the President approved conferment of 132 Padma awards, up from 106 such awards last year.

Padma Awards 2024 List

• The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan (see Table), 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri awards. 
• While 30 awardees are women, the list also includes 9 persons from the category of “Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI” and 9 posthumous awardees.

About Padma Awards

• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
• It is provided in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
  • The ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is given to people who have done outstanding and remarkable service. 
  • The ‘Padma Bhushan’ is awarded for excellent service of a high order. 
  • The ‘Padma Shri’ is given to those who have shown great service in different fields.

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Padma Awards History and Relevance

• The Government of India introduced two civilian awards in 1954: Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.
• • Padma Vibhushan initially had three classes: Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg.
  • It was later renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri in 1955 respectively.

Padma Awards Eligibility and Purpose

Eligibility: Individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, occupation, position, or gender, can qualify for these awards. Nevertheless, government employees, excluding doctors and scientists, are not eligible, including those employed in public sector undertakings (PSUs).

Purpose: The award is given to recognize outstanding achievements in various fields.

Fields Recognized:

• Art, Social Work, Public Affairs, Science & Engineering, Trade & Industry, Medicine, Literature & Education, Civil Service, Sports.

Padma Awards Selection Process

• Padma Awards are granted based on recommendations from the annually formed Padma Awards Committee appointed by the Prime Minister.
• The public can participate in the nomination process, including the option of self-nomination.

News source: The Hindu

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Context: 

On the eve of the 75th Republic Day, the President of India approved Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumously. 

About Gallantry Awards 2024

• The awards included six Kirti Chakras, including three posthumous awards; 16 Shaurya Chakras, including two posthumous; 53 Sena Medals, including seven posthumous; one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). 
• The President also approved 311 defence decorations to armed forces and other personnel.
• These include 31 Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSM); four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSM); 61 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals; 10 Yudh Seva Medals; 46 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); 10 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty); 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty) and 135 Vishisht Seva Medals.

About Gallantry Awards 

• About: These have been instituted by the Government of India to honor the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians.

• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day.

Categories of Gallantry Awards

• Wartime Gallantry Awards/Gallantry in the Face of Enemy: It includes following Awards: 
  • Param Vir Chakra (PVC): It is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. 
  • Mahavir Chakra (MVC): It is awarded for acts of conspicuous  gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal may be awarded posthumously.
  • Vir Chakra: It is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. 
• Peacetime gallantry awards/Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy: It includes following Awards: 
  • Ashok Chakra: It is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. 
    • It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.
  • Kirti Chakra: It is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. 
    • It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. 
  • Shaurya Chakra: It is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not directly engaging with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians and military personnel, sometimes posthumously. 

Order of Precedence: The Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

Service Awards

• Sena Medal: It is awarded to members of the Indian army, of all ranks, “for such individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage as having special significance for the Army.”
  • Awards may be made posthumously and a bar is authorised for subsequent awards of the Sena Medal.
• Nao Sena Medal: It is a gallantry award for servicemen in the Indian Navy. 
• Vayusena Medal: It is an Indian military decoration, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done. 
  • However it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of the enemy, though not in the same numbers as the Vir Chakra.
  • Posthumous awards may be made and a bar is authorised for subsequent awards of the Vayu Sena Medal.

Wartime Distinguished Service

• Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

• • It is India’s highest Wartime Distinguished Service decoration. It is awarded for the highest degree of distinguished services in an operational context. 
    • “Operation context” includes times of war, conflict, or hostilities. The award is a wartime equivalent of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, which is the highest Peacetime Distinguished Service decoration of the country. 
    • Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously.

• Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

  • It is one of India’s military decorations for Wartime Distinguished Service. 
  • It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished services in an operational context. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal may be awarded posthumously.

• Yudh Seva Medal

  • It is one of India’s military decorations for distinguished service during wartime. It is awarded for a high degree of distinguished service in an operational context.
  • The award is the wartime equivalent of the Vishisht Seva Medal, which is a peacetime distinguished service decoration.

Peacetime Distinguished Service

• Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM): It is a military award of India awarded in recognition to peace-time service of the most exceptional order and may be awarded posthumously. 
• All ranks of the Indian Armed Forces including Territorial Army, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces, Nursing officers and other members of the Nursing services and other lawfully constituted Armed Forces are eligible for the award.
• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM): It is a military award of India given to recognize “distinguished service of an exceptional order” to all ranks of the armed forces.
  • The award can also be granted posthumously. Subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The awardee can use “AVSM” as post-nominal letters.
• Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM): It is a decoration of the Indian Armed forces. It is awarded to recognize “distinguished service of an exceptional order” to all ranks of the Indian armed forces. 
• The award may be granted posthumously and subsequent awards are represented by a bar worn on the ribbon. The award carries with it the right to use “VSM” as post-nominal letters. 

News Source: PIB

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Context: 

India celebrates its 75th Republic Day on 26 January 2024.

• France President Emmanuel Macron is the Chief Guest for 2024 Republic Day.
• Themes for 2024: There are 2 themes namely, ‘Viksit Bharat’ through Women Empowerment and ‘Bharat: Loktantra ki Matruka’

Republic Day 2024 Tableaux: States/Ministries and Their Themes

• 25 tableaux or ‘jhankiyan’ in total from 16 states and Union Territories, as well as 9 Ministries and Departments, were part of the parade on Kartavya Path this year.

Selection Process of Tableaux

• Ministry of Defence (MoD) invites proposals from states, UTs and departments on a broad theme 
• The proposals sent by states include a concept note, along with design sketches and models of the Tableaux
• Proposals are then evaluated by an expert committee, comprising eminent artists, designers, architects and cultural experts.
• Selection:  They are  assessed on parameters of aesthetics, functionality, mobility and safety
• The Ministry of Defence has introduced a unique three-year roll-over plan to  ensure equitable participation on a rotational basis for all states and UTs over three years.

News Source: The Hindu

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Content: 

Recently, The General Insurance Council launched the “Cashless Everywhere initiative in consultation with all the General and Health Insurance Companies.

Cashless Everywhere Initiative Revolutionizes Health Insurance

• Current Scenario: Presently, around 56% of health claims are settled through cashless routes. 
  • However, cashless facilities are restricted to network hospitals, posing challenges for policyholders in rural areas who may lack access.
• Boost Insurance Penetration: With the newly announced initiative GIC and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) aims to root out the cashless facilities restricted to network hospitals, for the customers and boost insurance penetration in the country.

What is the Cashless Everywhere Initiative?

• Under ‘Cashless Everywhere’, the policyholder can get treated in any hospital of their choice, and a cashless facility will be available even if such a hospital is not in the network of the Insurance Company. 

Key Features of Cashless Everywhere Initiative 

• Expanded Coverage: Policyholders can avail of cashless treatment at any hospital of their choice, regardless of network affiliation.
• Hospital Eligibility: Hospitals with a minimum of 15 beds, registered under the state health authorities, can offer cashless hospitalisation.
• Enhanced Ecosystem: Up to 40,000 hospitals across India will be part of this cashless facility ecosystem.

Procedure

• Pre-Admission Notification: Policyholders must inform insurers at least 48 hours before elective procedures and within 48 hours of emergency admissions.
• Admissibility: Claims must comply with policy terms and insurer guidelines for cashless facility eligibility.

Technological Support

• The cashless system is backed by a robust technological platform facilitated by the National Health Authority.

Benefits of Cashless Everywhere Initiative 

• Convenience: Simplifies the claims process and eliminates paperwork associated with reimbursement.
• Fraud Reduction: Helps in curbing fraudulent claims and abuse, ensuring better cost management.
• Cost Management: Enables insurers to negotiate better tariffs with hospitals, contributing to premium stability and affordability.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context: 

Recently, the Delhi High Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA), which prohibits marriage between Hindus if they are “sapindas” of each other.

What is Sapinda Marriage?

• A sapinda marriage is one between individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness. 
• Under the HMA, marriage is prohibited within certain generations on both the mother’s and father’s sides. 
  • Mother’s Side: Marriage is forbidden within three generations. 
    • Sibling (first generation), their parents (second generation), their grandparents (third generation) 
  • Father’s Side: It extends to five generations.
    • This prohibition would extend up to their grandparents’ grandparent,
• Sapinda relationships for the purposes of the HMA are defined in Section 3 of the Act.

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Prohibition Criteria

• Marriage Voidance
• • If a marriage violates Section 5(v) of the HMA by being a sapinda marriage without an established custom permitting it, it is deemed void. 
  • This means the marriage is considered invalid and treated as if it never occurred.

Exception to Prohibition

• The Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) provides an exception to the prohibition against sapinda marriages. 
• This exception applies when the customs of each individual involved permit such marriages.
• Criteria for Custom
  • According to Section 3(a) of the HMA, a custom must be continuously and uniformly observed for an extended period to gain legitimacy. 
  • It should have the force of law among Hindus in a local area, tribe, group, or family.
• Conditions for Valid Custom
  • For a custom to be valid, it must be certain, not unreasonable, and in line with public policy. Additionally, if the custom applies only to a specific family, it should not have been discontinued by that family.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context: 

The pro-Taiwan leader of the Pacific islands nation of Tuvalu has lost his seat in recent elections.

• Importance of Election: The election could decide whether Tuvalu maintains ties with Taiwan or switches to China.
  • Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties and switched to China. 

About Tuvalu

• Location: It is a Polynesian country in the west-central Pacific Ocean, composed of 9 small coral islands.
  • It is geographically positioned both in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. 

Tuvalu Map

• Bordering Countries: It is situated to the east-northeast of Santa Cruz Islands, to the northeast of Vanuatu, to the southeast of Nauru; to the south of Kiribati, to the west of Tokelau, to the northwest of Wallis and Futuna and Samoa; and to the north of Fiji.
• Capital City: The de facto capital is Vaiaku, on Funafuti Atoll.
• Key Islands: Nanumanga Niutao and Niulakita
• Grouping: Tuvalu is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum.

News Source: Reuters

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Context: 

This article is based on the news “Path of brotherhood will ensure India’s progress, says Mohan Bhagwat” which was published in the Hindu. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief recently emphasised the importance of fostering ‘bhaichara’ (brotherhood) among people.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Emphasises Brotherhood for India’s Progress on Republic Day

• Abiding by Constitutional Values: He stressed that the nation’s citizens had given the Constitution to themselves, emphasising the need for upholding and abiding by its values.
• Civic Responsibility: He stated that although the government has the ‘technical’ responsibility of implementing and protecting the Constitution, the citizens have the main role of implementing it through their conduct.
• Rising Incidents of Communalism: The call for brotherhood coincides with instances of communal violence reported in various states following the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
  • An incident of stone pelting was reported in Vadodara, Gujarat on a Shobha Yatra taken out to celebrate the event.
  • During a similar procession in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, firecrackers were reported to be ignited in front of a mosque.
  • Communal violence took place in Mumbai’s Mira Road, following the Ram Mandir inauguration.

What is Fraternity?

• It refers to the idea of brotherhood and solidarity among citizens of a nation and inculcates a sense of unity, social harmony, and mutual respect among individuals.
  • In its most literal sense, fraternity refers to a feeling of friendship and mutual support that exists between members of a group. 
• Context of Dr Ambedkar’s Writings: It also refers to individuals in Indian society breaking free of the caste system and practising social harmony and contact in a freer and more inclusive way.
  • According to him, Fraternity is only another name for democracy.
• Related ideas: Some ideas related to fraternity include empathy, solidarity, collective caring, and love.

Origin of the Concept of Fraternity

• Ancient Age: 
  • Plato: The sharing of knowledge and love in the pursuit of wisdom are elements of fraternity.
  • Aristotle: Justice and friendship among citizens were the most enduring features of the state and it became the idea of political fraternity.
• Mediaeval Age: During the Middle Ages, it was associated with religion, particularly within the context of Christian society in Europe.
• French Revolution: The concept of fraternity gained political significance during  the French Revolution of 1789 by the revolutionary trinity “liberte, egalite, fraternite.”.
• Fraternity in India: The drafting committee included a clause on “fraternity” in the Preamble, which was earlier not a part of the Objective Resolution.

Fraternity in Indian Constitution

• Preamble: The Preamble to the Constitution says that the Indian republic aims to promote fraternity, “assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation”. 
  • Preamble also specifies that the nation will secure not just political and economic justice for its citizens, but also social. This is significant considering deep division in Indian society. 
• Fundamental Duty – Article 51A(e): The duty of every citizen is to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India.
• Source of affirming “the dignity of the individual”: The Constitution views fraternity significantly considering it as a source of affirming “the dignity of the individual” .
• This is accomplished by recognising the moral equality of individuals, upheld through mutual respect, despite all our differences, of religious belief, caste, language, culture, ethnicity, class and gender.
• Unity of the Nation: Both Ambedkar and the Constitution derive the unity of the nation from fraternity wherein a sense of mutual belonging and respect transcends all other differences between the people.

Challenges with Fraternity in India

• Ideological Differences: Fraternity amongst individuals is hindered by ideological differences, hence one needs to have a secular understanding of fraternity and politics. 
• Casteism:  The caste system in India, not only contradicts the principles of equality and liberty but also poses challenges to the individual-centric approach upheld by the Constitution.
  • There is a widespread caste-centric unity that frequently alienates and excludes those from lower castes.
• Communalism: Although the Indian Constitution prioritises the individual within the trio of liberty, equality, and fraternity, the civic life in India predominantly revolves around communal lines leading to conflicts with community interests.
• Social Inequalities: Fraternity loses its essence if it ignores existing social disparities. It cannot be built on social solidarity that ignores these differences.
  • Such solidarity often serves to uphold the existing social hierarchy, benefiting the already privileged while perpetuating the subjugation of the underprivileged.
• Fundamentalism: Fundamentalism in every form undermines the idea of fraternity. A fanatic may exhibit many traits and any sort of fundamentalism (rigid and extreme thinking) hampers the true fraternal connections.
• Poor Protection Under the Law: While equality in law exists, it does not always translate into equal protection under the law, neglecting constitutional morality and exacerbating social division. 
  • There is a failure of local compassion, of any kind of fraternity of local people as people just stood by  and captured videos of such hate crimes by the perpetrators but never intervening to stop the mobs or to save the victims. 

Advancing Brotherhood in India: A Path Forward

• Gandhian Approach to Communal Harmony: He promoted the practice of universal religion. 
  • He conducted prayer meetings and emphasised that reverence is more than tolerance. 
  • He preached respect for all religions where Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Christians and Jews should live as one nation and not as followers of different religions.
• Addressing Caste Dynamics: Need to address caste dynamics to inculcate fraternity as caste and the idea of political fraternity cannot coexist.
  • The caste system imposes rigid restrictions on interactions among various castes and sub-castes. 
  • For Ambedkar, a democratic nation meant the removal of such hierarchies.
• Political conditioning: The fraternity in India must be grounded in politics, where the  caste privilege can be contested. 
  • It requires careful cultivation and reinforcement through political means, rather than relying solely on moral considerations. 
  • One of the central aims behind the implementation of various affirmative actions, including the reservation system, was to foster equality among vastly disparate social groups in terms of their access to social and economic opportunities
• Countering Religious fanaticism: Strict actions and steps should be taken to bring equality and counter the notion of fundamentalism and religious discrimination.
  • This goal can only be achieved by fundamentally accepting the principle of equality. 
  • Without this fundamental understanding, fraternal bonds may indeed exist, but they tend to remain confined within caste groups rather than extending across them. 
• Raising Awareness on Fraternity:  Creating awareness among people about the constitutional principle of fraternity will help in building a discourse of justice, equality, rights, and empowerment possible.
• Integration with Constitutional Value: The government should make necessary public investments and strive to ensure a minimally decent life for all persons as enshrined in the fundamental duties and directive principles.
  • This will reduce inequalities and foster a sense of brotherhood among the fellow citizens.

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Context:  

This article is based on the news “India-France defence ties take a bigger leap” which was published in the Hindu. The French President Emmanuel Macron attended the 2024 Republic Day as the chief guest.

French President Emmanuel Macron as a Republic Day Chief Guest: Key Highlights

• 6th Invitation for Republic Day: France accepted India’s Republic Day invitation and this was Mr. Macron’s third visit to India, and the sixth time a French President has been invited to Republic Day, the maximum number for any country.
  • U.S. President Joe Biden was earlier invited to attend Republic Day as the chief guest, but he expressed his inability to come to India for Republic Day and the Quad Summit. 
• Roadshow in Jaipur: Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron held a roadshow in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
  • Visit started with a tour of Amber Fort in Jaipur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • PM Modi met President Macron at Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar UNESCO World Heritage Site, the solar observatory built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in the 18th century.
  • The two leaders then moved to the Hawa Mahal. 

French President Visit to India: Key Outcomes

• India France Relations Defence Relations: 

  • Roadmap for India-France defence industrial partnership. 
  • Letter of intent between the Ministry of Defence, Government of India and the Ministry for the armed forces of France on defence space partnership. 
• Space: Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace SAS, France. 
• Civil Aviation: Memorandum of agreement between TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus to set up an assembly line for H125 helicopters in India.
• Science and Technology: 
  • Framework cooperation arrangement between department of science and technology (DST), government of India and INRAE, France. 
  • Framework arrangement on cooperation concerning funding of research projects between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), France.

Key Announcements Made to Strengthening India France Relations

• Declaring 2026 as India-France Year of Innovation.
• Operationalisation of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) at Eiffel Tower.
• Setting up of a Solar Academy in Senegal under the STAR-C programme of International Solar Alliance.
• Establishment of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad.
• Operationalisation of Young Professional Scheme under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
• Operationalisation of 5-year validity Schengen Visa for Indian Masters alumni of French institutions.
• Support to France for United Nations Ocean Conference to be organised in Nice in 2025

Background of India France Relations

• Diplomatic and Strategic India France Relations: The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1947, and the partnership was upgraded to the strategic level in 1998.
• Pillars of Cooperation: Cooperation in the areas of defence & security, space and civil nuclear matters constitute the principal pillars of the Strategic Partnership. 
• New Areas of Cooperation: India and France are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation in bilateral, trilateral and plurilateral formats such as maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, digitalisation, cyber security and advanced computing, counter-terrorism, climate change, renewables and sustainable growth and development among others.

• France’s Support to India: 

  • France has continued to support India’s claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the reforms of the United Nations. France supported India’s joining of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) as an observer country.
  • France’s support was vital in India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and Australia Group (AG).
  • France continues to support India’s bid for accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). 
• India’s Support to France: India played a key role in France’s membership of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). 
• Horizon 2047– “25th Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between France and India, towards a Century of Indo-French Relations”: 
  • Horizon 2047 sets the course for the India France  relationship in all areas till 2047. 
  • This year will mark 100 years of India’s Independence, 100 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and 50 years of the Indo-French strategic partnership. 

Significance of India France Relations

• Economic Ties: Bilateral trade in goods between India and France remained steady at $11-13 bn. range in the last 5 years.
  • Total trade in goods for FY 2022-23 has breached the $13 bn. trademark for the first time, with exports from India crossing $7 bn. 
  • Trade in Services: According to the French Central Bank, the Indian exports of services to France from January to December 2022 registered an increase from € 2.37 billion to € 2.93 billion in 1 year. 
    • The Indian imports of services from France have recorded a decrease from € 3.90 billion in 2021 to € 3.68 billion in 2022. 
• Defence Partnership: The defence industrial roadmap with France prioritises co-designing, co-development, co-production of military systems with France’s. 
  • France is willing to transfer jet engine technology that only a handful of countries possess. 
  • Mega defence deal included 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, and three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines.
• Security Ties: India and France are deepening their cooperation on internal security and the fight against transnational organised crime, including human trafficking, financial crime and environmental crime. 
  • Indo-Pacific Region: Both countries adopted a roadmap for joint actions in the region, covering all aspects of our comprehensive strategy for the  Indo-Pacific region. 
  • Counter-Terrorism: Both countries welcomed the work towards the formalisation of cooperation between the National Security Guard (NSG) of India and the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) of France for Cooperation in the field of Counterterrorism.
• Partnership in Space Technology: Scientific and commercial partnership is being enhanced between France’s CNES and India’s ISRO, focusing on reusable launchers and Earth observation satellite TRISHNA.
  • The two sides signed a new agreement for a defence-space partnership that will see them collaborate on “space situational awareness”, and an MoU on coordinating on satellite launches.
• Civil Nuclear Energy: Both sides welcomed progress on the 6- European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) power plant project in Jaitapur. They decided to launch a cooperation programme on small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors. 
• Blue Economy: Launch of a partnership between IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) and India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) on ocean research, under the roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance adopted by France and India in 2022.
• Civil Aviation: Signing of technical and safety agreements in the field of civil aviation, towards supporting the expansion of routes between France and India, and the growth of the Indian civil aviation market. 
  • Further, recently, a joint venture for the local manufacture of civilian helicopters was agreed between Airbus and TATA.
• Culture: Cultural exchanges between France and India have always been very intense with a bilateral cultural dialogue established in the 1980. 
  • For instance, recently a partnership between France and India for the establishment of a major new National Museum in New Delhi was announced. 
  • Further, Thiruvalluvar statue was recently inaugurated in Cergy, France.

Major Challenges Associated With India France Relations

• Differences in Geopolitical Approaches: There have been several differences being noted in the diplomatic approaches of India and France on global issues like Ukraine- Russia conflict, growing Chinese concern, etc. 
  • For instance, France has become the first country to join China to jointly build seven infrastructure projects worth over USD 1.7 billion in Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. The French move to join China is not in line with India, who refused to support China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Stalled Projects: The two sides did not report any breakthrough on the civil nuclear cooperation agreement to build reactors at Jaitapur that was first signed in 2009 due to the technical and engineering elements.  
• Protests over French Journalist Issue: Recently, around 30 foreign correspondents based in India issued a letter of protest over a case where Indian authorities issued a notice to a French journalist based in New Delhi, for violating certain regulations. 
• Lack of Free Trade Agreement: The negotiations for the ambitious free-trade agreement (FTA) were suspended in 2013 after several rounds of talks spanning six years. 
  • However, in 2022, India and the European Union (EU) restarted the negotiations for the long-pending trade and investment agreement, but it is still not finalised. 

Way Forward to the India France Relations

• Ensure Timely Project Completion: There is a need to ensure timely completion of these projects. 
  • For instance, India and France are trying to move forward on elements related to putting in place a financing mechanism and localisation component for the 9,900 MWe Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA): There have been issues related to India-EU FTA where issues are related to market access. To resolve this issue, India and the EU have resumed negotiations for a FTA.
• Collaboration on Global Challenges: Amid rising geopolitical uncertainties, India and France intend to work together in the interest of international peace and stability and reaffirm their commitment to a rules-based order.
• Ensuring Bilateral Support: Both countries share strong historical ties and have many instances showing bilateral support, showcasing the need to continue this support. 
  • Recently, the Indian PM thanked the French President for France’s continued support to India’s Presidency of G-20. 
  • For instance, the French President assured that France will back India towards hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. 

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