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Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s climate change conference, COP29, has proposed to launch a new climate fund for developing countries

Background of Climate Finance Negotiations

• About Climate Finance: The United Nations has defined climate finance as the local, national or transnational financing drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.  
• Paris Agreement Mandate: The current obligation for developed countries is to mobilise at least $100 billion annually, which needs to be increased post-2025, as per the Paris Agreement.

• COP 29: The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is meant to be adopted at COP29 in Azerbaijan.
• At the same time, Azerbaijan announces a climate finance action fund (CFAF) at COP29 to support green projects and help member nations reach the 1.5C target.

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Azerbaijan’s New Initiative: Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF)

• Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) will be capitalised with the voluntary contributions from fossil fuel producing countries and companies across oil, gas and coal, and Azerbaijan will be a founding contributor. 
  • Members will commit to transfer annual contributions as a fixed-sum or based on volume of production.
  • Initial fundraising aiming for $1 billion, as COP29 President-Designate calls for contributors to come forward with climate finance. 

Issues with Azerbaijan’s Climate Fund

• Voluntary Contributions: The proposed fund by Azerbaijan would rely on voluntary contributions from oil and gas-producing countries and companies, raising doubts about its effectiveness.
• Loss and Damage Fund Comparison: Similar funds, like the Loss and Damage Fund created at COP27, have struggled with low pledges, making it uncertain how much Azerbaijan’s fund will attract.
• Legacy-Building: Azerbaijan’s proposal is seen as an effort to leave a legacy for COP29, similar to initiatives by previous COP presidencies.
• Quantum of CFAF: The proposal for the CFAF indicates an initial round of $1 billion per year by 10 countries or shareholders.
  • This amount is too little contribution by fossil fuel producing countries. To put it in perspective, the revenue of oil and gas companies is at the order of a few trillion per year. Saudi Arabia alone has an oil revenue of over $300 billion per year. 

About The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): post-2025 climate finance goal

• New Financial Target: It is a key element of the Paris Agreement, designed to set a new financial target to support developing countries in their climate actions post-2025.
  • It succeeded the previous goal set in 2009 at the Copenhagen Climate Summit, where developed countries committed to mobilising $100 billion per year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. 
  • The NCQG is currently under negotiation and is expected to be finalised by 2025. 
• Quantum of Finance Required: Several developing nations, including India, have proposed that the NCQG amount should be between $1 trillion and $1.5 trillion annually, reflecting the amount needed for effective climate action.

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Reasons for the importance of NCQG

• Addressing Climate Finance Gaps: The NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) aims to bridge the persistent gaps in climate finance. 
  • The NCQG focuses on providing concessional finance to developing countries, which need substantial resources for climate mitigation, adaptation, and transitioning to sustainable energy systems.
• Supporting Vulnerable Developing Countries: Emerging markets, especially small island states and least developed countries, are disproportionately affected by climate change. By setting higher targets for climate finance, the NCQG can provide the necessary resources to help these countries build resilience against severe climate impacts like extreme weather and rising sea levels.
• Enhancing Global Climate Action: The NCQG fosters global cooperation by encouraging developed countries to demonstrate responsibility and solidarity. 
• Leveraging Private Sector Investment: Public financing alone cannot meet the massive requirements for climate action. The NCQG signals stability and commitment, which can attract private investors to climate-friendly projects.
• Promoting Accountability and Transparency: The NCQG promotes accountability and transparency in climate finance by setting clear goals, parameters, and reporting mechanisms, ensuring funds are tracked and reach intended recipients.

Challenges of New Collective Quantified Goal

• Challenges in Meeting Targets: Developed countries have failed to meet even the existing $100 billion targets, making it unlikely that they will agree to the much larger sums proposed.
• Expansion of the Donor Base: Developed countries argue that High-Income Nations like China, South Korea, and oil-rich Gulf states should also contribute to climate finance.

Way Forward

• Address Three pillars of Climate Change: To ensure that all the Three Pillars of Climate Action: Adaptation, Mitigation and Loss and Damage are addressed adequately.
• Designing the NCQG to Support High-quality Climate Finance: Beyond the dollar amount of the NCQG, the quality of the finance delivered is also important. 
  • “High-quality” climate finance mechanisms ensure that the funding can be used most effectively and efficiently.
• Donor Base of the New Fund: It is essential to determining which countries should contribute to the New Finance Goal.
  • Developed countries have suggested various indicators to assess who can and should pay into the NCQG. For example, countries’ potential to contribute could be analysed based on their ability to pay (income) and historical responsibility for climate change (emissions). 

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Recent reports have highlighted cases of atrocities against SCs and STs.

Key Findings on Atrocities Against SCs and STs (2022)

• 97.7% of atrocities against SCs were reported from 13 states, with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh leading in the number of cases.
  • Uttar Pradesh: Reported the highest number of atrocities against SCs, with 12,287 cases (23.78%).
• Rajasthan and Odisha: Both states featured significantly in both SC and ST-related crimes.
• 98.91% of atrocities against STs were also concentrated in 13 states, with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan reporting the highest cases.
  • Madhya Pradesh: Led in ST cases, with 2,979 cases (30.61%)
• Conviction rates under the Act have declined, dropping to 32.4% in 2022 from 39.2% in 2020.
• Many states still lack the necessary special courts to handle these cases efficiently.

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Who are Dalit?

• Dalits, also known as Scheduled Castes (SCs), are a socially disadvantaged group in India.
• Historically, they were considered “untouchable” and faced severe discrimination and exclusion from mainstream society

Constitutional provisions to protect Rights of Dalits/SC

• Article 15(1): Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
• Article 17: Abolishes untouchability.
• Article 23: Prohibits forced labour or begar.  
• Article 46: Directs the state to promote the welfare of SCs and STs.
• Articles 16(4) & 16(5): Provide for reservations in services and posts for SCs and STs.
• Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and liberty, which includes the right to be free from discrimination.
• Article 335: Directs the state to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs in services and posts under the state.
• Scheduled Cases and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

Persisting Challenges in Implementation

• Declining conviction rates and delayed investigations pose major hurdles in securing justice.
• Inadequate special courts: Out of 498 districts across 14 states, only 194 have set up special courts.
• Some states, like Uttar Pradesh, report no atrocity-prone areas despite high numbers of cases.
• SC/ST protection cells exist, but their efficacy remains uneven across states.

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Way Forward

• Strengthen special courts: Ensure the establishment of more special courts for faster trials.
• Improve conviction rates: Focus on improving investigation processes and addressing legal gaps.
• Identify atrocity-prone areas: States should recognize and address high-risk regions for targeted interventions.
• Awareness and sensitization: Conduct awareness campaigns to prevent atrocities and ensure better enforcement of the SC/ST Act.

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The National Statistical Office (NSO) is considering using GST (Goods and Services Tax) data to estimate value addition in the upcoming GDP revision.

GDP Base Year Revision to 2020-21

• This would replace the MCA-21 database from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which is currently used for the Private Corporate Sector (PCS), accounting for 38% of GDP. 
• Current and Proposed Base Year
  • The current GDP base year is 2011-12.
  • A revision is planned, proposing 2020-21 as the new base year.
  • Most major datasets are ready, except for Census data.

About MCA-21 Database

• Background: The MCA-21 database was introduced during the last GDP revision (2011-12 base year) to improve the estimation of value addition in the Private Corporate Sector (PCS).
  • Previous Methods:
    • Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): Earlier, ASI was used to estimate value added by factories.
    • RBI Sample: A small sample of large companies by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was used to measure non-financial corporate output.
• Reason for the Shift:
  • Limitations of ASI: ASI didn’t account for value added outside of factories within corporate entities.
  • Inadequate RBI Sample: The RBI sample couldn’t capture the rapid growth in PCS.MCA-21 Benefits: 

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• • • The MCA-21 database is extensive.
    • It provides up-to-date data on corporate annual returns and results.
    • It offers a more accurate picture of corporate output.

Issues with MCA-21 Database

• Overestimation: The MCA-21 database led to overestimation of GDP growth rates, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

• • Comparison of Estimates: Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) were compared between National Accounts Statistics (NAS) and Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for the period 2012-13 to 2019-20.
  • Findings:
    • GVA: NAS reported an average annual growth rate of 6.2%, while ASI reported 3.2%.
    • GFCF: NAS showed a growth rate of 4.5%, compared to 0.3% by ASI.
• Inconsistent Data: The data from MCA-21 did not align with other macroeconomic indicators, such as bank credit growth and industrial capacity utilization.
• Lack of Transparency: The government’s refusal to make the MCA-21 data available for independent scrutiny raised doubts about the accuracy of the estimates.

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Issues with GST Data

• Unverified Data: GST data may be unverified and could contain errors or inconsistencies.
• Limited Access: The lack of public access to GST data limits its potential for independent analysis and validation.
• Methodological Challenges: Developing accurate estimation methods using GST data may be challenging, especially for specific industries and sectors.

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Coal shipments to India rose 10% year-on-year between January and August 2024, outpacing the 8% year-on-year increase in domestic coal mining.

How Coal requirements are impacted by Rain?

• Most of the Coal Import  was thermal coal shipments, driven by strong demand for electricity and the coal import mandates.
• Coal demand and shipments to India are expected to reduce with an increase in hydropower generation as the monsoon rains.
  • Monsoon this year has picked up in August despite a slow start.
  • It has pushed up reservoir levels by 26% year-on-year.

About Coal and its Imports

• Reserve: India has a total coal reserve of 344.02 billion tonnes and is the second largest producer of coal in the world. 
• India is the second largest coal importer globally
• Power generation from coal: Rose 13% year-on-year, compensating for the 6% decrease in hydropower generation due to low water levels.
  • 72% of the electricity in India is generated from coal
• Indonesia is source for 45 % of India’s seaborne coal imports (Mostly thermal coal)
• Top 5 States in terms of total coal reserves in India are: 
  • Jharkhand > Odisha > Chhattisgarh > West Bengal > Madhya Pradesh.
• Categorization of Resources → Coal resources of India are available in older Gondwana Formations of peninsular India and younger tertiary formations of north-eastern region.

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Classification of Coal

• Anthracite: Best quality of coal with highest calorific value and carries 80 to 95% carbon content. 
  • It ignites slowly with a blue flame and is found in small quantities in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Bituminous: Low level of moisture content with 60 to 80% of carbon content and has a high calorific value. 
  • Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have deposits 
• Lignite: Carries 40 to 55% carbon content and is often brown in colour with high moisture content.
  • Gives smoke when burnt. 
  • Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam) and Tamil Nadu has deposits 
• Peat: First stage of transformation from wood to coal with low calorific value and less than 40% carbon content.

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World Rhino Day is celebrated annually on September 22 to raise awareness about the Rhinoceros and the urgent need for their conservation

Significance of the World Rhino Day

• World Rhino Day is celebrated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other international organizations.
• The day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010 to raise awareness and funds for the five species of rhinos.

Facts About Rhinos

• Related to Horses and Zebras: Rhinos are part of the same group of odd-toed ungulates, making them relatives of horses and zebras.
• Horn Made of Keratin: Rhino horns are composed of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails.
• Long Gestation: Female rhinos have a gestation period of about 16 months.
• Traditional Medicine: Rhino horns are used in traditional medicine, driving illegal poaching despite a lack of proven benefits.

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About One-Horned Rhino

• One among the 5 different species of Rhino
• Significance :Largest of the rhino species.
• Only rhino species found in India
• Naturally found in Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India
• Habitat: Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
• Protected Areas: Pobitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park,Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park.
• Protection Status 
• • IUCN Red List – Vulnerable.
  • CITES – Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule I

Conservation Efforts

• 5 Rhino range nations (India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia) signed  ‘The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’
• Project Rhino is an initiative that aims to protect India’s rhino population. 
  • It focuses on preventing poaching, improving habitats, and raising public awareness.
  • The project collaborates with conservation groups and government agencies to ensure rhino survival.
• National Rhino Conservation Strategy was launched in 2019
• Indian Rhino Vision 2020 aim was to  increase the wild rhino population to 3,000 by 2020, spread across seven protected areas in Assam.
• Population Growth – Rhino population growth in Assam from the 1960s (600 rhinos) to 2024 (over 4,000 rhinos). 
• Global Rhino Population in Greater Kaziranga – 70% of the global population of greater one-horned rhinos species resides in Kaziranga.

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Chief Minister of West Bengal blamed the CWC for unilaterally releasing water from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs, causing widespread flooding in south Bengal.

About Central Water Commission (CWC) 

• Established in 1945, Central Water Commission (CWC)  works as an advisory body to the Government of India on matters relating to water resources development and management.
• It is a Statutory Body.
• Headquarter of CWC: New Delhi
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti 
• Functions of Central Water Commission (CWC) 
  • General responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering (in consultation of the State Governments concerned) schemes for control.
  • Conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout the country.
  • For the purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.
• CWC deals with only surface water.
  • Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) deals with groundwater.
• CWC Chairman also serves as the Government of Indiaʼs Ex-Officio Secretary
• Work of the Commission is divided among 3 wings:
  • Designs and Research (D&R) Wing
  • River Management (RM) Wing 
  • Water Planning and Projects (WP&P) Wing

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Damodar River

• Known as the Sorrow of Bengal because of its ravaging floods in the plains of West Bengal
• It rises in Palamu hills of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the state of Jharkhand.
  • Passes through two Indian States of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• It flows in South-easterly direction and joins Hoogly River in West Bengal which then flows into Bay of Bengal.
• Dmodar’s Biggest Tributary is Barakar which joins it near Asansol in West Bengal.

About Damodar Valley Corporation

• Established in 1948 as the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India.
• It is a government organisation under the Ministry of Power.
• It constructed four dams in the state of Jharkhand, including Maithon Dam, Tilaiya Dam, and Konar Dam.
• It Operates Power Stations in the Damodar River areas in Jharkhand and the West Bengal 
• Irrigation and canal system of DVC was handed over to the Government of West Bengal in 1964.

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In a recent meeting of the Indian PM and US President on the sidelines of the Quad meeting, the India-US relationship was reaffirmed as a cornerstone for global peace, prosperity, and security.

About India-US Relations

• Basis: The strategic partnership between the United States and India is based on a mutual dedication to democracy and preserving the rules-based international order. 
• Background & Evolution:
  • 1949: Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru meets with US President Harry S. Truman on a multi-week tour of the United States.
  • 1998: India conducted a series of nuclear tests, which led to a period of strained relations with the US.
  • 2008: The NSG granted a waiver to the Indo-US nuclear deal, effectively ending India’s isolation from the nuclear mainstream and technology denial regime. This waiver allowed for increased collaboration in nuclear technology and trade.
  • 2010: The first US-India Strategic Dialogue was convened.
  • 2016: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the US Congress, emphasising overcoming historical hesitations.
  • 2023: The US hosts a State Visit for Indian PM Narendra Modi.
• Strengthening Ties: 
  • Dialogue Mechanism: Both governments have established over 50 bilateral dialogue mechanisms to facilitate effective communication and collaboration. 
  • Collaboration in Multiple Areas: Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, India and the US have actively cooperated across multiple areas, such as defence, security, healthcare, trade, economy, science and technology, etc.
• Reduction of Past Constraints: Historical issues such as concerns over Jammu and Kashmir and the relationship dynamics with Pakistan (de-hyphenation) have been effectively managed.

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Key Outcomes of India-US meet

• Strengthening Strategic Partnership: Both leaders reaffirmed the robust global strategic partnership, emphasizing shared democratic values, and alignment in areas such as defense, technology, and clean energy​.
• Support for India’s Global Role: President Biden praised India’s leadership in the G20 and Global South and reaffirmed U.S. support for India’s bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
• Defense and Aerospace Cooperation: Progress in defense collaboration was highlighted, including the procurement of MQ-9B drones and the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for C-130J aircraft​.
• Technology and Space: Success of the iCET initiative was celebrated, with commitments to enhance collaboration in artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and joint NASA-ISRO research​.
• IPEF Agreement: India signed the US-led 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) bloc’s agreements on a clean and fair economy.
• Clean Energy Collaboration: The leaders endorsed efforts to strengthen clean energy supply chains, unlock $1 billion in financing for renewable projects, and support green technology.
• Health and Economic Initiatives: A new U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework was launched to combat synthetic drug trafficking, along with initiatives in cancer research, SME cooperation, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Return of Antiquities: The U.S. returned 297 stolen or trafficked antiquities to India as part of their Cultural Property Agreement​.

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Significance of India-US Relationship

• Defence Cooperation
  • Foundational Defence Agreements: India and the U.S. have signed key defence pacts, including LEMOA, COMCASA, and BECA. These agreements enhance interoperability and secure military communication.
  • Defense Technology and Trade: India procured MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, and under the Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, the U.S. is co-producing GE F414 jet engines in India.
• Economic Engagement
  • Bilateral Trade: The U.S. is India’s second largest trading partner, with trade in goods and services crossing $191 billion in 2022. The U.S. is a major market for Indian exports, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals and IT services.
  • Investment Initiatives: The U.S. is among the top investors in India, with $6.04 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during 2022-23. 
• Strategic Underpinnings
  • Global Diplomacy: India and the U.S. work together at multilateral institutions like the QUAD, I2U2, advocating for reforms at the United Nations Security Council. 
    • The U.S. supports India’s candidacy for permanent membership​.
• Energy Partnership / Climate & Clean Energy Agenda 2030
  • Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP): Established in 2021, this partnership aims to expand renewable energy cooperation, focusing on solar, wind, and nuclear energy. 
    • The U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 targets clean energy technology development​.
  • Joint Clean Energy Projects: The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has invested in India’s solar energy sector, with loans to Indian companies​.
  • Critical Minerals Partnership: Both countries cooperate on securing supply chains for critical minerals, essential for renewable energy technologies​.
• Education & Cultural Cooperation
  • Fulbright-Nehru Program: This program facilitates academic exchanges, enhancing educational cooperation between Indian and American scholars.
  • Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN): Through this initiative, U.S. faculty members teach in Indian universities, boosting higher education collaborations​.
  • Cultural Property Agreement (CPA): Signed in 2024, the CPA aims to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts and ensure the repatriation of Indian antiquities.
• Diaspora / People-to-People Ties
• • Indian Diaspora in the U.S.: Over 4.4 million people of Indian origin live in the U.S., Programs like the U.S.-India Knowledge Initiative and cultural exchanges foster deep connections, further strengthening bilateral relations​.

Challenges in the India-US Relations

• Geopolitical Divergences:
  • Russia-Ukraine War: India’s neutrality and its abstention from U.N. votes condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have caused friction with the U.S., which emphasises international law and humanitarian concerns.
  • Oil Procurement from Russia: India’s increasing imports of discounted Russian oil during the Ukraine crisis have raised questions about the balance between India’s U.S. partnership and its reliance on Russia​.
• Trade Protectionism:
  • Barriers to U.S. Trade: The U.S. has criticised India’s protectionist policies, such as high tariffs and entry barriers for foreign investments, which limit U.S. market access.
  • Generalised System of Preferences (GSP): The U.S. revoked India’s GSP benefits in 2019 due to trade protectionism, affecting bilateral trade.
• Technology and Export Controls:
  • Export Controls: U.S. restrictions on technology transfers to India, stemming from India’s 1998 nuclear tests, have slowed collaboration in critical sectors like defence and emerging technologies.
  • Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): While India participates in several pillars of the IPEF, it remains hesitant to join the trade pillar due to concerns over environmental and labor commitments.
• Human Rights and Democracy Concerns: The U.S. has raised concerns about India’s human rights record, including issues related to press freedom, treatment of minorities, and democratic backsliding.
• H-1B Visa Dominance: Indian nationals dominate the U.S. H-1B visa pool, creating potential tension if U.S. unemployment rises, particularly in the service sector.
• Strategic Convergence and China:
  • China Factor: Both countries are aligned on countering China’s aggressive behavior, particularly along India’s borders and in the Indo-Pacific. However, India’s multipolar approach sometimes diverges from U.S. strategies​.
  • Multipolarity vs. U.S. Primacy: India’s desire for a multipolar world, where it plays a more significant independent role, sometimes conflicts with U.S. efforts to maintain global leadership. India’s participation in forums like BRICS and its non-alignment stance in some global conflicts occasionally cause friction​
• Espionage and Covert Operations:
  • Khalistan Movement: The activities of pro-Khalistan groups in the U.S. have created tensions. India’s aggressive stance towards these groups, coupled with U.S. concerns over civil liberties, has led to diplomatic strains​.
  • Alleged Plots: The discovery of an alleged plot involving Indian officials targeting a U.S. citizen, along with past espionage accusations, has created distrust between the nations​

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Way Forward

• Address Concerns: India and the U.S. should focus on resolving diplomatic tensions by addressing concerns over democracy and alleged plots. 
• India’s Balancing Act Between US and Developing Nations: The United States pays close attention to India’s leadership in multilateral forums, such as the G20 and the SCO. India can use its leadership positions to act as a bridge between the West and developing nations.
• Enhancing Counterterrorism Cooperation for Regional Stability: Pursue greater cooperation on counterterrorism, including coordinating strategies for managing a Taliban-led Afghanistan and leading multilateral efforts to apply pressure on the Pakistani military intelligence complex to abandon support for terrorist groups.
• Cooperation in Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Enhance cooperation in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) as data regulation, information sharing, and privacy protection become increasingly salient issues crucial to the preservation of national security.
• Advancing Multilateral Coordination: Strengthen coordination multilaterally and on international issues, including prioritizing two multilateral strategic dialogues that have gained prominence recently: the Quad and the West Asian Quad or I2U2.
• Boosting Economic Engagement: Increasing investment and trade flows between India and the US is crucial for economic growth, market access, and technological cooperation. The India-US iCET initiative is a positive step.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the fourth Quad Leaders Summit which was held in Wilmington, Delaware on September 21 2024.

• Indian Prime Minister joined President Biden (USA), Prime Minister Albanese (Australia) and Prime Minister Kishida (Japan) for the Quad Summit.

Key Announcements From the fourth Quad Leaders Summit

• The QUAD 2025 Summit: India will host the 2025 Quad Leaders Summit and The United States will host the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting.
• The QUAD Wilmington Declaration: 
  • The Joint Statement reiterated the  group nature as “a force for good” and signalled that it is now more strategically aligned than ever to deliver real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific Region.
    • Peace and Security: The Group vouch for the maintenance of peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific Region as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity
    • The QUAD opposes any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion
    • The Group condemned the recent illicit missile launches in the region and expressed serious concern over aggressions in the Indo-Pacific. 
  • Quad Caucus: The USA Members of Congress announced the creation of a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Quad Caucus as the Quad countries have decided to work with their respective legislatures to deepen inter-parliamentary exchanges.

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• Expansion: The Quad networking will expand to include the Commerce and Industry ministers meeting  for the first time.
• Initiatives Under The Quad Health Security Partnership:
  • Quad Cancer Moonshot: It is a collective effort to realise public and private resources to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in the Indo-Pacific, with an initial focus on cervical cancer.
  • Pandemic Preparedness: Quad plans to coordinate its efforts to promote equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured vaccines, including to try and expand vaccine manufacturing in low and middle-income countries.
    • India will host a workshop on pandemic preparedness and release a white paper outlining emergency public health responses.
    • Australia will increase the pool of deployable public health specialists in response to disease outbreaks, with the first training session scheduled to commence in Darwin, Australia.
    • The United States is pledging over $84.5 million to partner with fourteen countries in the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.
• Maritime Security:
  • Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI): It has been announced to enable the Indo-Pacific regions partners to maximize tools provided through Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behavior. 
    • India will host the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025.
• Indo-Pacific Logistics Network:  A pilot project has been launched to pursue shared airlift capacity and leverage collective logistics strengths to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region. 
• Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025: The Coast Guards of the 4 countries are planning to launch their first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 in the Indo-Pacific to improve interoperability. 
• The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership: The inaugural Regional Ports and Transportation Conference will be hosted by India in Mumbai in 2025 and aims to harness the Quad’s expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific.
• Climate and Clean Energy:
  • Solar projects: India has pledged an investment of around $2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.
  • Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program: The Programme will support projects which develop and diversify solar panel, hydrogen electrolyzer and battery supply chains.
• AI and Technology: The United States plans to invest over $7 million to support the global expansion of Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA), by partnering with Indian institutions for training projects.

About The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)

• The Quad is a diplomatic and Informal partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
  • Quad partners engage regularly through Leaders Summit , Foreign Ministers, Quad Sherpas, senior officials, and experts. 
• Origins: It dates back to the collaboration between the 4 countries on disaster relief efforts in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
  • 2007: The PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, formalised the alliance, as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or the Quad.
  • 2017: The QUAD was revived with the focus shifting to the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s growing assertiveness there. Over the years, the Quad has formed multiple working groups. 
  • 2020: Australia joined the trilateral India-US-Japan Malabar naval exercises, marking the first official grouping of the Quad since 2017, and the first joint military exercises among the four countries in over a decade.
  • 2021: A joint statement titled ‘The Spirit of the Quad,’ outlining the group’s approach and objectives was released in a virtual leaders summit. 
    • The first in-person meeting was held in Washington DC, later that year.
• Informal Nature of the Organisation: 
  • Lacks Governing Bodies: The QUAD doesn’t host a secretariat or any permanent decision-making body like the EU or UN, instead focuses on expanding existing agreements.
• The Objective: The group primarily focuses on maritime security, rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system. The coalition also aims to offer alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
• QUAD+:  The QUAD grouping could also undergo expansion through a QUAD Plus Framework including countries like South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam, amongst others.

Significance

• To Secure Sea Routes of Communication: QUAD has emerged as a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific, free of any influence, amidst China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.
• Contain China: QUAD can strategically counter China’s economic and military coercion as India can take the support of the other Quad nations in the event of Chinese belligerence on its border or  naval front and can also conduct strategic explorations in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Multilateral engagement: India recently has adopted the strategy of Multi- Alignment from Non-Alignment presenting an opportunity to work multilaterally on all kinds of initiatives that can help create, a free and open Indo Pacific region.
• Make a presence in Indo- Pacific: India through engagement with QUAD countries can make inroads in the political landscape of the Indo- Pacific area expanding its Trade prospects, security role, overall global standing.

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Challenges

• India’s Suitability and Reliability as a QUAD Partner: India’s strong ties with Russia and hesitation on data sharing, citing strategic autonomy, have raised concerns on India’s suitability in the grouping.
• Threat of China: QUAD’s formation in the wake of China’s subversion of the international order and attempts to flout the rules based order is still on weak ground as all the countries still maintain a handsome trade relation with the country which does not allow escalation of conflict.
• Less Institutionalisation: The QUAD being an informal alliance has seen some procedural difficulties in realising its various initiatives, Thus an effective Working Group or a Formalisation of the grouping should be the next step forward  .
• Maritime Dominated: QUAD main focus is to maintain Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific which aligns with the security objectives of US, Japan And Australia but doesn’t fully aligns with India’s security concerns, which is the only country to have a land border dispute with China.
• Missing Collective Progress: QUAD lacks effective implementation mechanisms as it is an issue-specific partnerships with shared interests and security concerns, but sometimes  the national interests and priorities of individual countries takes precedence over the QUAD’s vision resulting in poor execution efforts.
  • Example: India- Russia Relations
• Maintaining Strategic Autonomy: India, unlike Japan and Australia, is not an ally of the US and emphasises its strategic autonomy often by taking a different stand on important issues from the other QUAD members making it an Outlier
• Diverging Strategic Focus within the Quad: India’s strategic focus differs from its Quad partners. While the US and its allies prioritize East Asia and the Western Pacific, India’s challenges lie in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, where it faces the China-Pakistan threat with limited support from Quad members.

Way Forward

• Formalise the Governing Structure: The QUAD should establish a governing body consisting of a rotating chair and secretariat, bound by some legal framework to guide the implementation process and hold member nations accountable for progress while keeping the ad hoc and flexible nature of QUAD as it is.
• Narrow down the Expansion: The QUAD Countries should prioritise on the scale and scope of projects being undertaken based on their specific capability so as to delegate funds and resources in a rational way.
• Improve Credibility: The QUAD countries need to collaborate on information and intelligence sharing  through adopting strict information-sharing protocols, so as to uplift each other’s capability and build trust in each other. 

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