Context: The government has recently approved the “Prithvi Vigyan” initiative at a cost of Rs 4,797 crore over a five-year period from 2021 to 26.

About Prithvi Vigyan Initiative

• Prithvi Vigyan: It is an overarching initiative proposed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to club five ongoing sub-schemes related to earth sciences.

• Sub- Schemes: 

  • Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS). 
  • Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART). 
  • Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER). 
  • Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE).
  • Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACH OUT).

• Objectives of PRITHVI Scheme: 

  • Enhance and maintain long-term monitoring of Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth to track vital signs and changes.
  • Develop modeling systems for accurate prediction of weather, ocean conditions, and climate hazards, while advancing the understanding of climate change.
  • Explore polar and high seas regions for the discovery of new phenomena and resources.
  • Develop technology for sustainable exploration and utilization of oceanic resources for societal applications.
  • Translate knowledge from Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental, and economic benefit.

• Significance: 

  • These integrated research and development efforts will help all five components of the earth system (weather, climate, ocean, cryosphere, seismological science) to improve the understanding of the earth system sciences.
  • Explore the living and non-living resources for their sustainable harnessing.
  • It will enable the development of integrated multi-disciplinary earth science research and innovative programs across different MoES institutes. 

Must Read: Watsonx.AI: An AI Tool For Weather Forecasting

News Source: Pioneer

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Context: The Jallikattu 2024 event in Madurai will be held for three days, beginning on January 15.

Jallikattu 2024 to Begin in Tamil Nadu

• It is a 3 day event featuring the traditional bull-taming sport, Jallikattu.
• Background:  
  • The Supreme Court, in May 2023, lifted the Ban on Jallikattu.
  • It upheld the Tamil Nadu government’s law allowing the cultural event.

    

About Jallikattu

• Location: it is celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka  as part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, in January.
• Bull Breed:  Pulikulam or Kangayam breed is used
• Traditional Practice: It is an age-old practice, wherein a bull is released into a crowd of people and participants of the event try to grab the large hump on the bull’s back, attempting to bring the bull to stop. 
• Historical References: Jallikattu is known to have been practiced during the Tamil classical period (400–100 BCE)  among the Ayar tribes who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical region of ancient Tamil Nadu.
  • A seal from the Indus Valley civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi.
  • A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.

News source: The Economic Times

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Context: Researchers have identified a new class of antibiotics with the potential to tackle a drug-resistant bacterium, Acinetobacter baumannii.

Zosurabalpin: New Class of Antibiotic for Drug-Resistant Bacterium

• Zosurabalpin was found to be effective against CRAB (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii)-induced pneumonia and sepsis in mouse models.
• Trials: The antibiotic has been evaluated in two phase I clinical trials.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

• Antimicrobial Drug Resistance or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.
• Impact: Infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.
• Reason: AMR is a natural process that happens over time through genetic changes in pathogens. 

To Read More: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: At the Airports, the security personnel are enrolling passengers into Digi Yatra without their consent, by collecting the facial biometrics during check in. 

Digi Yatra Initiative Faces Privacy Backlash

• Infringement of Privacy: Air travelers are reporting on social media the flagrant infringement of their privacy at airports, through the Digi Yatra initiative being aggressively promoted by the Union government.
• Enrollment: By August 10, 2023, Digi Yatra has been used by 34,60,454 passengers. By the same date, the Digi Yatra mobile application user base was 1.29 million.

What is Digi Yatra?

• Under Digi Yatra initiative, passengers have to scan their boarding passes and faces at the first entry point, following which a single biometric face token is created that allows them to complete the rest of the journey with just a face scan at the remaining check-points. 
• Key Pillars: It has 4 key pillars namely: 
  •  Connected Passengers, Connected Airports, Connected Flying and Connected Systems. 
• Target Audience: This caters to all Passengers whether Indian citizens (With or without Digi Yatra ID) or foreign nationals. 
• Nature of the Scheme: It is a voluntary Scheme. 
• Implementing Authority: DigiYatra Foundation, under  the Ministry of Civil Aviation. 
• Funding: The funding for Digi Yatra comes from the airports and not the government.

Issue

• Data Privacy: Users complain about lack of trust in the ability to securely maintain privacy data such as facial data because of: 
  • Instances of world’s largest data breaches in Aadhar Data.
  • Policy provides exemptions for airports to share data with government agencies.
  • Ineffective Privacy laws, as the latest laws are yet to be notified. 

Significance

• Improve operational efficiency by allowing faster processing of passengers and letting airlines track delayed passengers
• Enhance security by ensuring that there is no intentional exchange of boarding passes among passengers or boarding of the wrong aircraft.

Must Read: RCS UDAN: Transforming Air Connectivity

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced a greenfield corridor project for road connectivity in Kerala.

• The announcement was made at an event organized  by the National Highways Authority of India.

Key Project of the Greenfield Corridor in Kerala

• There is the 121-km NH 966 Kozhikode-Palakkad project at an estimate of ₹10,371 crore. 
  • It will reduce travel time between Palakkad and Kozhikode from four to one-and-a-half hours.
• Other major schemes in the corridor project include the NH 744 Kollam-Sengottai route and the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road 

• Benefits of Greenfield Corridor: 

• • Boost tourism sector in the state
  • Build connectivity 
  • Reduce travel time
  • Ensure Ease of doing business

About Greenfield Corridors

• About: Greenfield Expressways  go through new alignments to bring development to new areas and to reduce land acquisition costs and construction timelines and are designed to avoid inhabited areas. 
  • The widening/development of existing road is categorized as Brownfield, whereas construction of project on a new alignment is categorized as Greenfield project
• They  are designed as 12-lane wide Expressways with the initial construction of 8 lanes with maximum speed set as 120 km/h for all type of vehicles.
  • Example: The Delhi- Mumbai Expressway

Must Read: India’s First Solar Expressway In Uttar Pradesh

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: A note on a new ‘deep tech’ policy for India will be sent for Union Cabinet approval in the coming weeks.

• A draft of the policy on Deep Tech has been released In July 2023, for public comment and following feedback from the industry, a final version is ready for approval. 

Key Features of National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) 

• Aim: 

  • To  propel innovation, economic growth, and societal development and
  • To lay the foundation for India’s emerging Deep Tech Startup ecosystem.

• Pillars: 

  • Ensuring the Security of India’s Economic Future
  • Facilitating a Seamless Transition to a Knowledge-Driven Economy
  • Bolstering National Capability and Sovereignty through the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Imperative
  • Fostering Ethical Innovation.

• key Foundational Elements of the Policy

• • Funding and Innovation: The strategy attempts to give financial assistance to deep tech firms through a variety of means such as grants, loans, and venture capital. 
    • It also aims to foster innovation by simplifying regulatory processes and encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. 
  • Talent Development: It promotes steps to cultivate a skilled workforce in the deep tech sector. This includes promoting STEM education, offering training possibilities, and attracting international talent.
    • The policy also provides for the creation of domain expertise for data interpretation through a fee-service model.
  • Access to Advanced Infrastructure and Technology: It suggests that deep tech incubation centers and testing facilities be established across the country, it also emphasizes strengthening the existing tie-ups with IIT and IISc, etc to provide shared infrastructure resources at nominal fees.
  • Public Procurement and Market Opportunities: The strategy pushes government agencies to embrace deep-tech solutions and opens up new markets for businesses as well as become the first market for such deeptech startups. It also encourages international cooperation and market access.
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Protection: It suggests the establishment of a uniform IP framework and the implementation of strong cybersecurity measures.

Must Read: What Is Deepfake Technology?

News source: The Hindu

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Context: The marine commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy safely evacuated the Indian crew from the bulk carrier, after a UK organization indicated pirate hijacking. 

Indian Navy Evacuates 21-Member Crew of Vessel Hijacked in Arabian Sea

• The UK Maritime Traffic Organization indicated that the 88,000-ton Merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk had fallen prey to Hijacking in the Arabian Sea.
• After receiving the SOS, the Indian Navy deployed warships, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and Predator MQ9B drones near the hijacked ship. 
• MARCOS commandos assisted the search and rescue operation. The commandos thoroughly sanitized the ship and rescued all the Indian crew aboard. 
• The hijacking incident occurs amidst increasing worries about Houthi militants intensifying assaults on commercial ships in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Must Read: How Are Houthi Attacks On Ships In The Red Sea Affecting Global Economy?

Why are there Enhanced Episodes of  Piracy in the Arabian Sea?

• Strategic location: The Arabian Sea is a vital shipping lane for global trade, with large volumes of oil tankers and cargo ships passing through.  
• Accessibility and geography: The long coastlines of Somalia and Yemen, coupled with numerous small islands make it easy for pirates to attack and escape. 
• Regional instability: The ongoing civil war in Yemen and the instability in Somalia , coupled with shift in focus towards Houthis have led to increased episodes of piracy. 

About MARCOS

• The MARCOs or Marine Commando Force of the Indian Navy comprise the toughest soldiers who undergo rigorous training to conduct swift and stealthy responses. 
  • MARCOs are modeled on the US Navy SEALS.
• Formation: The MARCOs were formed in 1987, with collaboration of  the National Security Guard, Garud, Para commandos, Force One
• Operation: They can operate across diverse environments, encompassing sea, air, and land
• Motto: ‘The few The fearless’ is the MARCOs’ motto. 
• Past Operations: MARCOS has earned recognition for its remarkable performance in Cactus, Leech, Pawan, and  in the 26/11 Mumbai attack operation.
  • ‘Operation Pawan’ was an operation against LTTE in the 1980s amidst the Sri Lankan Civil War, which helped restore peace in the region. 

India Led Initiatives in Indian Ocean

• SAGAR: Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is India’s policy or doctrine of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. 
• Net security Provider: India has emerged as a regional power and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific by providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to regional partners through multilateral partnerships. Eg- Operation Rahat. 

Read More about: Houthi Attacks, here.

News Source: Hindustan Times

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Context: International Braille Day has been observed on January 4 every year since 2019.

• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities organized extensive awareness programs to commemorate International Braille Day, focusing on Braille literacy.

About International Braille Day

• Establishment: It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2018 to commemorate the birth anniversary of French educator Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille language. 
  • He invented a tactile system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired in 1824. Objective: To raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people.
• A Representation System: Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols.Significance: Braille is essential in education, freedom of expression and opinion, and social inclusion, as reflected in Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  • The first Braille system was published in 1829 and was adopted by the National Institute for Blind Youth.
• Kerala Federation of the Blind started the first Braille printing press in 1986.

Must Read: Disability Inclusion: What Is It? And ILO’s SPARK Project

News Source: PIB

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Context: Recently, the Ministry of Education has launched ‘Prerana: An Experiential Learning program’ for students in Classes 9 to 12  in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

• The program will run from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in Mehsana, Gujarat where the Prime Minister studied.

About Prerana Program

• Aim: To offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all participants, thereby empowering them with leadership qualities.
• Selection of Cohort for Participation: Each week, a diverse group of 20 students, comprising 10 boys and 10 girls from different regions of the country, will be selected to attend the programme.
• • Curriculum: Prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar.
  •  Values: It is rooted in nine Value-based Themes:
    • Swabhiman and Vinay
    • Shaurya and Sahas
    • Parishram and Samarpan
    • Karuna and Sewa
    • Vividhta and Ekta
    • Satyanishtha and Shuchita
    • Navachar and Jigyasa
    • Shraddha aur Vishwas
    • Swatantrata and Kartavya. 
  • A Dynamic Learning Experience: 
    • The Day-wise Program: Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation sessions, followed by experiential learning, thematic sessions, and hands-on interesting learning activities. 
    • Evening Activities: Visits to ancient and heritage sites, inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach. 
    • Other Diverse Activities: Embracing indigenous knowledge systems, the latest State-of-the-art technologies, and learning from inspirational personalities.

 Must Read: APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Registration Scheme

News Source: PIB

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Context: This article is based on the news “NITI Aayog hosted National Workshop on “Harnessing the Potential of Fisheries in Marine States” which was published in the PIB. NITI Aayog has recently hosted a National Workshop on “Harnessing Potential of Fisheries in the Marine States” in collaboration with the Government of Kerala and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi, Kerala. 

Addressing Challenges and Promoting Sustainability in the Fisheries Sector of India: NITI Aayog

• Deliberation on Critical Aspects of Marine Fisheries: The key stakeholders from Central and State Governments, Researchers, Industry Representatives and practitioners deliberated upon critical aspects of realizing India’s vast marine fisheries.
  • Such as sustainability practices, export competitiveness, infrastructure gaps and livelihood challenges facing India’s marine fishing industry across states. 
• NITI Aayog applauded the achievement of Andhra Pradesh in the fisheries sector and emphasized the need to address the regional disparities in terms of production and productivity in marine fisheries.

About Fisheries Sector in India

• Fishery Sector in India: India is the world’s second-largest aquaculture nation and the third-largest fish producer after China. 
  • The total fish production in the country rose from 0.75 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 14.16 million tonnes in 2019-20, an average annual growth rate of about 8 percent. 
  • The Indian Blue Revolution has led to a major improvement in the fishing and aquaculture industries. 
• Marine Fisheries Resources: They are spread along the country’s vast coastline of over 8,000 km with 0.53 million square km of Continental Shelf and 2.02 million square km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Maritime States and UTs: The 9 maritime States are Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa and 4 maritime Union Territories UTs) are Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 

Potential of Marine States in India’s Fisheries Sector

• Improving Fishermen’s Income: Marine fisheries are a promising sector contributing to income with variable production having a very strong influence on the increase in the income of fishermen. 
  • The total fisheries potential of India has been estimated at 22.31 million metric tons, of this, the marine fisheries potential stands at an estimated 5.31 million metric tons, tapping this potential may help in doubling fishermen’s income by 2025. 
• Boosting Seafood Exports: The industry is regarded as a sunrise sector and is anticipated to have a big impact on the Indian economy. 
  • In 2021-22, the country exported 1.36 million MT of seafood worth US $ 7.76 billion which is an all-time high export by value.
  • The PMMSY lays out ambitious goals for FY 2025, doubling exports to US$ 12.28 billion.
• Providing Employment Opportunities:  Fisheries is a fast-growing sector in India, which provides employment to more than 28 million people. Growth and development of fishery sector has huge potential to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in many fields such as capture and culture fishery activities, fish processing, cold chain, etc.
  • For instance, for putting India in the forefront for ornamental fisheries, government is making efforts for holistic development of the sector through creation of ornamental fish clusters in marine areas. FY 2022-23 investment of Rs 189.14 crores has been made towards development of Ornamental fisheries sector under PMMSY
• Ensuring Nutritional Security: Fish has an important role to play in nutrition and food security. Fish is ‘nature’s superfood’ and an important source of proteins and healthy fats, source of essential nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, vitamin D, and calcium. 
  • Fish, being an affordable and rich source of animal protein is one of the healthiest options to mitigate hunger and malnutrition.

Marine States in India: Examining the Fisheries Sector and its Associated Challenges

• Marine Fisheries Management: It faces several challenges such as open access fishery property rights systems, weaknesses in several aspects of the state and national level legal and policy frameworks, low state government capacity for monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and knowledge gaps regarding the sustainability of key fish stocks. 
• Infrastructure Gaps:  Inadequate cold chain facilities can lead to post-harvest losses. The post-harvest management in the marine fisheries sector suffers from inadequate infrastructure in landing centers and fishing harbors such as a lack of cold storage facilities, logistic facilities, etc. 
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Marine fisheries sectors across the globe are going through challenging times due to climate change issues, change in ocean temperature and the current rate of marine biodiversity loss due to exploitative fishing practices. 
  • For instance, in Kerala, marine fish production declined in 2019-20 and 2020-21, mostly due to the rough weather at sea.
• Conflicts between India and Neighbouring Countries: This conflict primarily arises from fishermen’s violations of national jurisdiction while pursuing fish as they lack navigational devices to forewarn them of trespassing their jurisdiction. 
  • Problem between India and Pakistan: Fishermen in Okha in Gujarat accidentally trespassing on Indian jurisdiction being caught by Pakistan’s navy patrols.
  • Problem between India- Sri Lanka: Tamil problem is causing tensions as fishermen in Rameshwaram are being caught by the Sri Lankan navy.
• Vulnerability to External Shocks: External factors such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks can impact livelihoods. 
• Deep Sea Trawling: This bottom trawling is done with some gears that can harm the marine life as it is a method that is infamous for catching huge number of fishes as well as disrupting sea life. Sharks, Sea turtles and coral reef are the most vulnerable victims which also damages tourism. 
  • Deep sea trawling is famous in the Palk strait located between the India and Sri Lanka, where, for every 3 km there are approximately 2000 trawlers operating.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: Within India, IUU fishing typically has been viewed as a non-traditional security concern that includes food and economic security, as well as broader societal and political issues. 
  • IUU fishing activities push illegal activities like human trafficking and smuggling of drugs and arms in fishing vessels.  
• Other Challenges: Waste management, exploitation of middlemen, the drudgery of fisherwomen engaged in the processing sector, certification and traceability, etc. are other factors limiting the growth of the marine fisheries sector in the country.

Government Initiatives for the Fisheries Sector

• Marine Fisheries Management: Fisheries are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Fishing and fisheries beyond territorial waters are on the Union list.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Scheme (PMMSY): The scheme aims to address significant productivity and production gaps in the fisheries sector, infuse innovation and cutting-edge technology, etc. 
  • It lays out ambitious goals for 2025, including increasing fish production by 70 lakh MT, increasing aquaculture productivity from the current national average of 3 tonnes per Ha to 5 tonnes per Ha, doubling exports from Rs. 46,589 crore (US$ 5.72 billion) to Rs. 100,000 crore (US$ 12.28 billion), creating more than 55 lakh job opportunities, and doubling fishers’ and fish farmers’ incomes to consolidate the fisheries’ sectoral gains and boost economic growth.
• National Fisheries Policy, 2020: The Government has decided to introduce a comprehensive and integrated ‘National Fisheries Policy, 2020’ by integrating the National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 (NPMF), the Draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (NIFAP) and the Draft National Mariculture Policy (NMP) along with the Elements of Post Harvest.
• Sagar Parikrama: It is a journey in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. 
  • During the event, certificates related to PMMSY, Kisan Credit Card & State Scheme are awarded to the progressive fishermen, especially coastal fishermen.
• International Support: The World Bank approved USD 150 million in funding to support the recovery of India’s fisheries sector In 2020-21. The sector saw losses of about $5.5 billion and fish production fell almost 40% in one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• State Specific Initiative: 
  • Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Policy 2015: It envisages improving fish and prawn production and aims to reach 2nd position in the World in shrimp production. 

Continue To Read: National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen, Eligibility, Benefits, Objective And More

Way Forward to the India’s Fisheries Sector

• Sustainable Fisheries Practices: Encourage and promote sustainable fishing practices to ensure the long-term health of marine ecosystems. This can involve implementing regulations, adopting eco-friendly fishing methods, and promoting responsible harvesting.
  • For instance, regulations like the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act (KMFRA) were amended to strictly regulate the fisheries sector, such as preventing juvenile fishing. This led to an increase of 26% in marine capture in 2018-19.
  • Sustainable fishing practices like protected areas and no-take zones where fishing is restricted or prohibited, implementing seasonal closures etc. allowing fish populations to recover, and protecting critical habitats and breeding grounds.
• Infrastructure Development: Address infrastructure gaps in the marine fisheries sector by investing in developing cold chain facilities, upgrading landing centers, and improving fishing harbors. Adequate infrastructure is crucial for reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing the overall efficiency of the sector.
  • For instance, schemes like PMMSY aim to address significant productivity and production gaps in the fisheries sector by enhancing post-harvest infrastructure and management. 
• Climate Resilience: Incorporate the growing reality of climate change into proactive fisheries management planning and update fisheries management to implement better emergency actions for necessary adjustments in response to unpredicted environmental events.
  • This may include developing strategies and measures to address the impact of climate change and extreme weather events, including early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Diversification and Value Addition: Encourage diversification in the fisheries sector by promoting activities such as ornamental fisheries. Additionally, supports value addition through improved processing techniques, certification, and traceability, which can enhance the export competitiveness of Indian seafood.
• Technology Adoption: Promote technology adoption in marine fisheries, including using advanced aquaculture techniques. Technology can improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and attract more youth to venture into the fisheries sector, etc.
  • For instance, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) combined with other technology like NavIC or GPS can be utilized with fishing vessels to reduce the instance of international trespassing and for improved spatial areas management where fishermen are assigned the rights to harvest. 
• Providing Subsidies to Fishermen: The subsidies can be direct and indirect. Direct subsidies include those for the purchase of vessels, gear, engines, etc. Indirect subsidies include financial assistance through welfare schemes, construction of ports, fishing harbours etc. 

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Context: This article is based on the news “Bangladesh elections today: The significance for India, explained” which was published in Indian Express. As elections in Bangladesh are scheduled to take place on 7 January, India is closely observing the process. 

Bangladesh Elections 2024 and Its Impact on India Bangladesh Relations

• Ruling and Opposition Party in Bangladesh: The Awami League (AL), led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 whereas the main opposition  party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Khalida Zia is boycotting the January 7 election amid violence.
• The BNP was in power for the period from the year 2001 to 2006.
• International Pressure for Democratic Elections: Extra Regional powers like the US, UK, Japan, and Australia have put pressure on the nation to hold free, fair, transparent elections giving the opposition party a viable chance to compete.
• Suppression of Dissent: The government in Bangladesh is stifling dissent by permitting the arrest of opposition members and impeding their campaign through the threatening and brutally attacking their supporters. 
  • Concerns such as corruption and inflation have also been associated with the protests and boycotts.
• Significance of Bangladesh Elections for India: India supports the current incumbent, Sheikh Hasina as she has nurtured a friendly and mutually advantageous relationship between the two countries over the years.
  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is pursuing a fourth term in office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
  • She is the daughter of Mujibur Rehman who served as the first President of Bangladesh and President of Awami League and later as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17 April 1971 until his assassination on 15 August 1975.

Political Parties of Bangladesh and it’s Ramifications on India

• Awami League: 

• • Cooperation with India in Growth and Development: The Awami League (AL), led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ruling Bangladesh since 2009 has a pan-Bangladesh presence.
    • It has nurtured strong bonds with India with cooperation in growth and development.
  • Acting against Security Threats: It alleviated India’s security challenges along the eastern border of India with proactive measures  in tackling terror groups and militancy.
    • It acted against ethnic insurgent groups operating from Bangladesh to harm the interests of India’s northeastern states.
    • Bangladesh signed an Extradition treaty in 2013 for deporting militants to india.
    • It handed over the key leaders of the secessionist (United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)  to India whose main objective was an independent Assam.
  • Action Against anti-India militant groups: It cracked down on the activities of anti-India militant groups which operated training camps and transported arms through routes in Bangladeshi territory.
  • Land Boundary Agreement: The historic agreement facilitated the transfer of 111 enclaves, adding up to 17,160.63 acres, from India to Bangladesh. Conversely, India received 51 enclaves, adding up to 7,110.02 acres, which were in Bangladesh
  • Line of Credit:  In 2010, during Hasina’s visit to India, India extended $1 billion in credit to Bangladesh under its development assistance programme. Bangladesh is currently the largest recipient of such assistance from India, to the tune of $8-9 billion.
  • Ganga Water Treaty: In 1996, during Hasina’s first term in office as prime minister, the two countries signed the Ganga Water Treaty on sharing waters of the river Ganges.
  • Connectivity to North Eastern States: Access to India’s northeastern region via Bangladesh diminishes the vulnerability previously associated with connecting to the northeast solely through the Siliguri Corridor, commonly referred to as the Chicken’s Neck region.

• Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Alliance

  • Hostility Towards India: The BNP alliance is the opposition party in Bangladesh which is supported by radical, orthodox political forces, like Jamaat-e-Islami. ,It displayed hostility towards India and was allegedly linked to Pakistan’s ISI.
  • Support to Islamist Radicals:It supported hardline Islamist radicals which are critical of many of India’s policies and accuse India of acting against the interests of Muslims.
  • Support to Jihaadi Groups:  The loss of Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina could pave the way for the return of Islamists in Bangladesh.
  • Support for Anti- India Activities: Bangladesh National Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia had close ties to Islamist fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh.
    • It refused to take actions against anti-Indian organisations like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) from seeking sanctuary in Bangladesh. Zia and the BNP are thought to be developing strong relationships with China, India’s strategic adversary.
  • BNP ties with China: The BNP has developed strong relationships with India’s strategic rival China.

Challenges in India Bangladesh Relations

• Sanction by US: The United States has openly expressed its dissatisfaction with the ‘undemocratic’ procedures adopted by the Awami League in the lead-up to the election.
  • The United States sanctions on Bangladesh may force increased dependence of Bangladesh on China.
  • Several Western nations have advocated for imposing sanctions on Bangladesh, citing alleged human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.
• Chinese Factor: Bangladesh aligns strategically with China with its investments in BRI-financed infrastructure projects having surpassed $10 billion. 
  • Bangladesh’s two-way trade with China exceeded $25 billion in 2022. 
  • The import of Indian electricity to Bangladesh currently stands at 1,160 MW but it has enabled around $450 million of Chinese investments into 1,845 MW domestic power generation as of 2021. 
• Concerns of  Minorities: The Hindu minorities in Bangladesh have faced atrocities by the majority population.
  • Hindus comprise a meagre 8 percent of the country’s population.
• Concerns of Influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from Bangladesh: The influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh into West Bengal and Assam has created demographic challenges as well as posed a burden on resources meant for Indian citizens.
• Illegal Migration and Human Trafficking: The rackets involved in illegal infiltration and human trafficking are active along both sides. 
  • The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the BSF recently rescued two Bangladeshi and one Indian woman from the clutches of human traffickers.
  • According to the South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF), 2,345 persons were apprehended for illegally crossing the border between January to November 2023.
• Smuggling of goods:  A range of commodities are traded illicitly across the entire stretch of the border. 
  • According to an estimate in 2014, illegal exports from India to Bangladesh were about $4 billion, which is almost the same as the volume of formal trade.  
  • There is rampant smuggling of gold and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) along the border.
  • In the year 2022, the South Bengal Frontier seized about 114 kilogram of gold and the FICN seized along the frontier had increased from fake currency valuing 3.33 lakh in 2022 to fake currency valuing ₹15.86 lakh till November 2023.
• Drug Trafficking: Bangladesh is increasingly being used as a  transit point by drug dealers and the drug mafia,  which  dispatches  heroin  and  opium  from  Burma,  and  other  countries  of  the  golden  triangle,  to  different destinations.
• Cattle Smuggling: Every year, more than 2 million Indian cattle are smuggled to Bangladesh due to porous India-Bangladesh border. 
• Water Sharing Issues:The Teesta River, originating in the Himalayas and flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal before merging with the Brahmaputra in Assam (Jamuna in Bangladesh), is a major point of contention between India and Bangladesh, both friendly neighbors.

Must Read: Drug Trafficking In India 

Way Forward to the India Bangladesh Relations

• Securing Bi-partisan Support: India’s official stance is to engage with whoever holds power in Bangladesh, and New Delhi has extended its outreach to Khaleda Zia on multiple occasions.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Khaleda Zia (Leader of BNP)  during his visit to Bangladesh in 2015, three years after her visit to India in 2012. During India’s visit she was quoted as expressing that it marked “a new beginning” in discussions with then Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid.
• Addressing the issue of illegal migration: Measures should be taken to resolve the issue of illegal migration and ensure that illegal migrants do not acquire voting rights and Indian nationality.
  • According to the Union home ministry’s annual report for 2022-23, fencing and road construction along the 4,000 kilometre India-Bangladesh border will be completed by March 2024.
• Security cooperation:  There is a need for institutionalizing the security cooperation so that it does not remain restricted to the tenure of a particular government in either country. 
• Water Sharing Issue: A beginning could be made by signing the bilateral extradition treaty Agreement on water sharing. Early resolution of the Teesta issue is necessary. 
• People-to-people: Growth in people-to-people contact needs to be encouraged. Hence liberal visa system should be put in place.

Conclusion

The results of the 2024 Bangladesh elections are crucial for India Bangladesh relations, as the re-election of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League would likely contribute to the maintenance of robust cooperation between the two nations.

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