Context:

• In India, 24 November is observed as Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day (Shaheedi Diwas).

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675):

• Birth: Guru Tegh Bahadur was born in Amritsar on April 21, 1621 to Mata Nanki and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru.
  • About Guru Hargobind: He raised an army against the Mughals and introduced the concept of warrior saints.
• Literary and swordsmanship skills: He spent his early childhood in Amritsar under the tutelage of Bhai Gurdas, who taught him Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Indian religious philosophy.
  • Baba Budha trained him in swordsmanship, archery and horse-riding.
  • His bravery and swordsmanship in the battle earned him the name of Tegh Bahadur.
• Ninth Sikh Guru: He is considered as the ninth guru of Sikhism.
• Anandpur Sahib city: He laid the foundation of Sri Anandpur Sahib in 1664 A.D.
• Mughal Emperor: Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb persecuted him on 24 November 1675 for protesting against the forcible conversion of people to Islam.

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Context:

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million loan to enhance the quality and affordability of tertiary health care and medical education in Maharashtra. 

ADB Grants $500 Million Loan for Healthcare and Medical Education in Maharashtra

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)  has been working with the Maharashtra government to achieve its vision of providing affordable and accessible tertiary health care to all by 2030 and strengthen a cadre of quality and professional medical practitioners.

The Maharashtra Tertiary Care and Medical Education Sector Development Programme:

• Capacity Augmentation: The programme plans to augment bed capacity in state hospitals and recruit at least 500 doctors for these new institutions.
• Policy reforms: The programme will initiate reforms to bolster tertiary healthcare services and expand medical education, particularly in underserved regions.
• Policy Support: ADB’s Programme will foster a conducive policy environment for attracting and retaining medical professionals through performance incentives, a new talent management policy, and the creation of India’s inaugural state-led centers of excellence in healthcare and medical education.
• New Medical colleges: The Programme aims to construct four new medical colleges with tertiary care hospitals, which will include features that are resilient to climate and disasters, gender-sensitive, and socially inclusive. 
• Low cost healthcare: It seeks to lessen the financial burden on patients by improving access to quality drugs, and introducing a performance management system to drive competition among medical colleges.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB):

• About: It is a multilateral development bank, which seeks to help its developing member countries to reduce poverty and improve their people’s quality of life.
• Membership: From 31 members at its establishment in 1966, the Asian Development Bank has grown to encompass 68 members—of which 49 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.
  • India became the member in 1966.
• Membership Criteria:  It is open to members and associate members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East. 
  • It’s also open to other regional countries and non-regional developed countries that are members of the U.N. or of any of its specialized agencies. 
  • Although the majority of the Bank’s members are from the Asia-Pacific region, the industrialized nations are also well-
• Shareholders: As of 31st December 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
• It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

News source: Live Mint

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Context:

• The Supreme Court in its latest judgment ruled that a “Governor cannot be at liberty” to keep a “Bill pending indefinitely without any action whatsoever”.

More about the news:

• Power to recommend changes: The Governor may recommend reconsideration of the entirety of the Bill or any part thereof and even indicate the desirability of introducing amendments. 
  • However, the ultimate decision on whether or not to accept the advice of the Governor belongs to the legislature alone”.
• Inconsistent with the constitutional provision: Failure to take a call and keeping a Bill duly passed for indeterminate periods is a course of action inconsistent with the provision under article 200.
• The judgment is in response to a plea by the Punjab government against the Governor who had kept pending the Bills sent to him by the state legislature.
• Also read-  States in Supreme Court against their Governors – Delay in Signing Crucial Bills

News Source: Indian Express

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Context:

• The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi has been closed down permanently. 

Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi 

• Halt in functioning: The embassy had stopped functioning on September 30 when the senior Afghan diplomats and the ambassador representing the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan left India.
  • The embassy blamed both the Taliban rulers in Kabul as well as the Government of India for pressuring it to stop operations in India permanently.
• Reason for Closure: The closure is attributed to a lack of resources and the Taliban regime’s failure to meet Afghanistan’s interests. 
• Concerns: The permanent closure of the embassy of Afghanistan will create a challenging situation for traders and travelers who want to apply for Afghan visas. 
• Decline in the Afghan community: There has been a significant decline in the Afghan community in India over the past two years which has been attributed to the departure of refugees, students, and traders.

About Afghanistan Embassy:

• The embassy represented the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan until it was overthrown by the Taliban through a military campaign on August 15, 2021.
  • The Taliban fighters quickly took over all the major cities and infrastructure of the country with the withdrawal of the U.S. forces. However, they were not recognised by India as de facto rulers. 
• A stateless Mission: With the displacement of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi had begun to work as a “stateless mission” as it did not represent the current rulers of Kabul, that is the Taliban, with whom India has no diplomatic relationship. 
• Symbolic role: The embassy was performing a ceremonial role helping out Afghan citizens and travellers in India deal with the difficulties they have been facing due to the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

Indian response to Taliban Regime: 

• Diplomatic engagement: India has not recognised the Taliban formally but Indian diplomats have been engaged with the Taliban since the the fall of Kabul in August 2021. 
  • Indian diplomats have met the Taliban’s representatives in multiple locations under multilateral initiatives like the recent Moscow format dialogue. 
  • Recently, India sent a representative to Kazan, Tatarstan in Russia to engage with the Taliban under the Moscow format dialogue. 
• No economic support: The Taliban has been urging India to support it with its economic revitalization through projects like electricity generation and road-building works. 
  • India, however, has not yet indicated that it will review its position on the Taliban. 
  • India has never allowed the Taliban to operate from the embassy of Afghanistan in Delhi even when it governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

News Source: Economic Times

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• The government may consider introducing a Production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (Hemm) and underground mining equipment. 

Revolutionizing Domestic Production of Mining Machinery

• High-Level Committee: An interdisciplinary high-level committee headed by the technical director of Coal India Ltd (CIL) was set up to recommend bolstering domestic manufacturing of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery and underground mining equipment. It has submitted its final report to the coal ministry.
• High Import Bill: Currently, CIL imports high-capacity equipment valued at ₹3500 crores, incurring additional expenses of ₹1,000 crores in customs duty.

• • To curb these imports and boost domestic manufacturing, CIL aims to encourage and develop domestically manufactured equipment to phase out imports gradually over the next six years. 
• Domestic manufacturers: Have been identified for producing mining equipment and the upgradation of technology and capacity.

Domestic Manufacturing of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery

• Committee Recommendation: The committee has recommended a five-year incentive scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of this equipment, which is largely being imported.
  • Tenders for sourcing mining equipment by domestic coal and mineral mining companies come with a ‘make in India’ clause.
  • Standardized Equipment: The equipment used should be standardized to boost domestic manufacturing.
• Projection on Coal: The committee projected that coal will remain the predominant energy source even beyond 2030, and a huge requirement of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery in the next 10 years. 
• Promotes ‘Make in India’: The coal ministry aims to create a robust ecosystem that supports innovation, empowers the workforce, and strengthens the economy.
  • Aligned with the core principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the government proposed a new ₹12,000 crore PLI scheme that would aim to reduce import dependence and create jobs in a sector that is key to rapid infrastructure development.
• Further Readings: PLI Scheme

News Source: Mint

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Context:

• According to the Finnish minister for international trade, India and Finland can work together to find solutions to several global challenges and bring positive outcomes. 

Some Key Highlights on India Finland Relations

• Nuclear Collaboration: Finland is also keen to expand nuclear research and technology collaboration. India has expressed its interest in developing the technology for small reactors, given the importance of nuclear power to its energy mix.
• Finland’s Stand on India- EU FTA: Finland is hopeful that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and European Union (EU) concludes soon, which would be mutually beneficial for all the countries involved.
• Clean Technology: Finland is also looking at supporting sustainability projects that turn waste into energy in India. The country is also seeking collaborations with start-ups.
  • India and Finland have discussed Manufacturing of green hydrogen electrolyzers in India. 
• DESI Initiative: Finland’s India-specific export promotion programme viz. DESI (Digitalization, Education, Sustainability, Innovation) initiative was also unveiled this year.

About Finland: 

• Location: Finland is located in northern Europe.
• Borders: It shares borders with Russia to the east, the Gulf of Bothnia, and Sweden to the west.
• World Happiness Report 2023: For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest country.

Background of India Finland Relations:

• Historic Ties: Finland and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations.
  • Established in September 1949, 2023 marks 74 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 
• Collaboration: In recent years, bilateral relations have acquired diversity with collaboration in research, innovation, and investments by both sides. 
• The Indian community in Finland: It is vibrant and well-placed.
  • There are around 14,490 (end of 2019) persons of Indian origin.
  • Indian culture and yoga are very popular in Finland. 

News Source: Mint

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• With more than 1,40,000 Earth orbits, the International Space Station (ISS) has recently completed 25 years.

About International Space Station

• ISS: It is a multi-nation construction project and its main construction was completed between 1998 and 2011.
  • According to the European Space Agency (ESA), it is a co-operative programme between Europe, United States, Russia, Canada and Japan.

• Orbit: The space station orbits in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 430 kilometers, with its orbital path taking it over 90% of the Earth’s population. 
• Average Speed: The International Space Station circles Earth every 90 minutes at a speed of 8 kilometers per second.
• Launch: The first segment of the ISS viz. Zarya Control Module was Russian and launched November 20, 1998. The ISS was completed over the course of 42 assembly flights. 
• Scientific Discoveries on the ISS: There have been discoveries to benefit drug development, new water purification systems, methods to mitigate muscle and bone atrophy and those that have led innovations in food production.  
• Uncertainty in Future Operation:  Plans for the future operation of the ISS became uncertain with the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. 
• Deorbiting ISS: The ISS is scheduled to end its lifetime in 2030. NASA, Canadian Space Agency, and European Space Agency have committed to operating the space station till 2030. 
  • Russian space agency Roscosmos has committed to the space station only till 2028.
  • NASA has requested ideas from the US aerospace industry to build the “US Deorbit Vehicle” (USDV) focused on the final deorbit activity. 
• Further Reading: Gaganyan Mission, Tiangong Space Station

News Source: Indian Express

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Context:

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India  organized the second edition of the CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave in New Delhi.

India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave – Key Highlights

• Investment in Infrastructure: India’s External Affairs Minister sought investments from Nordic-Baltic countries in the development of ports, renewable energy, food processing, and fisheries.
• India’s Trade with NB8: The minister outlined that India’s combined trade in goods with the NB8 countries was around USD 7.3 billion in 2022-23, and the cumulative FDI received from Nordic countries since 2000 stood at USD 4.69 billion

India Nordic Relations

Areas Of Cooperation: The joint statement of the first India Nordic Summit in April 2018 identified four areas of cooperation between India and Nordic countries as follows:

• Economic Growth:  Of the five Nordic countries, four rank in the top 20 trading partners of India in Europe – Sweden at 9th, Finland 10th, Denmark 12th and Norway at 14th. 
• Innovation: India and Nordic countries also share robust innovation cooperation. 
  • For example, India is one of the centers that host one of the five global centers of innovation run by Finland known as FinNode. 
    • The main focus areas of FinNode India are clean tech, education and learning, health care and wellbeing, and innovations to base-of-the-pyramid markets
• Climate Change: During the India-Nordic Summit, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their full commitment to implementing the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development as well as the ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement.
• Global Security: Nordic countries agreed that India is a strong candidate for a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council, expanded with both permanent and non-permanent members. 

Conclusion:

• India’s cooperation with the Nordic states carries tremendous scope for expanding their economic ties and helping India in innovation and sustainable development. 
• Both sides are also brought together by their shared democratic values and support for the multilateral rules-based order. 

News Source: Business Standards

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Context:

• Kambala, a popular buffalo racing contest of the coastal Karnataka region, is set to begin in Bengaluru this weekend.

More on News:

The event is being organized by Tulukoota Bengaluru and buffalo racing teams from coastal Karnataka.

About Kambala: 

• Kambala is a buffalo race held in Coastal Karnataka districts (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi) during the winter months when farmers harvest their paddy crops. 
• It is dedicated to an incarnation of the Hindu God Shiva – Lord Kadri Manjunatha.

• It is usually held after the southwest monsoon, once the paddy is harvested.
• The race is held on two parallel tracks filled with mud and water. Each pair of buffaloes will also have a jockey, or ‘Kambala runner‘ to control and command the animals on the track.
  • The team that wins qualifies for higher rounds till a champion emerges.
• Kolu: Apart from winning the race, targets also include splashing water; in fact, some winners are even declared on the amount of water splashed; this is called ‘kolu’.
• The Kambala was banned due to animal cruelty during this race  in 2014, 
• However in 2017, under (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, Kambala festival was re-legalised as it was a traditional sport. 

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

• The World Health Organization has made an official request to China for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children.

Surge in respiratory illness in China 

• More than three years after cases were first detected in Wuhan,  debate still rages around the origins of Covid-19.
• Scientists are divided between two main theories of the cause: an escape from a laboratory in the city where such viruses were studied and an intermediate animal that infected people at a local market.
• China’s Response: China’s National Health Commission outlined that the respiratory illness spike was due to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, namely influenza and common bacterial infections that affect children, including mycoplasma pneumonia.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

• Prime Minister participated in ‘Sant Mirabai Janmotsav’ – a programme being organized to celebrate the 525th Birth Anniversary of Sant Mirabai in Mathura.

Commemorative coin of ₹525 to mark the occasion of the 525th Birth Anniversary of Saint Mirabai

• The PM released a commemorative stamp and a coin in honor of Saint Mirabai.

About Saint Mirabai:

• Birth: Mirabai was born into a royal family in Kudki, now Pali district of Rajasthan in 1498 CE. 
  • Her childhood name was Yashodha.
  • In 1516, Mira Bai was unwillingly married to Rana Bhoj Raj the crown prince of Mewar. After the death of Bhoj Raj in 1521 CE, Mira Bai left Mewar in search of lord Krishna. Saint Mirabai is one of the famous Hindu mystic poets of the 16th century and a great devotee of lord Krishna belonging to the medieval era.

• Devotional Journey: It is said that Mirabai met a saint in childhood who gifted her a statue of Lord Krishna and from there, her devotional journey began. 
  • She started praying to Krishna considering him as her divine lover. Mirabai was given royal education including music, religion, and instruction in politics and government.
• Biography: Bhaktmal, a poetry collection that describes the biography of Mira Bai, was written by Guru Nabha Dass ji in 1585 CE in Braja language.
• Contribution to Music: The songs Mirabai sang in Braja language while offering prayer and expressing her emotions to lord Krishan are considered her poetry collection. 
  • These include Raag Govind, Narsi Ji Ka Mayara, Geet Govind ki Tika, Mirabai ki Malhar, Raag Vihaag, and Garba Geet.
  • Her Rag Govind narrating her love for Krishna exemplifies the true spirit of the bhakti movement. 
• Death: She died in 1548 CE at the age of 50 in Dwarka, Gujarat.

News Source: PIB

Know More About – BHAKTI AND SUFI MOVEMENT

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• The Management Information System (MIS) on Social Audit maintained by the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) reveals statistics about social auditing done by states under MGNREGS.

Social Audit under MGNREGS

• Social auditing in more than 50% of gram panchayats:  This has been done in only six states out of the 34 States and union territories.
  • Kerala is the only State to cover 100% gram panchayats. Other than Kerala, the only States to cross the 50% mark are Bihar (64.4%), Gujarat (58.8%), Jammu and Kashmir (64.1%), Odisha (60.42%) and Uttar Pradesh (54.97%). 
  • States covering 40% or more villages: Telangana (40.5%), Himachal Pradesh (45.32%) and Andhra Pradesh (49.7%). 

• Social auditing in poll bound states: Other than Telangana, among the poll-bound States, the numbers are very low: Madhya Pradesh (1.73%), Mizoram (17.5%) Chhattisgarh (25.06%), and Rajasthan (34.74%). 
• Periodic Social Audit Public Hearings (Janakeeya Sabhas): Kerala is the only state conducting this at the panchayat level to subject the audit reports to close public scrutiny. 
• In the other States, such public scrutiny is done only at the block level. 

About Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)/Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS):

• About: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was enacted in 2005 as a social welfare program by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• Objective: To guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.

Key Features of the scheme:

• Legal Right to Work: The Act grants a legal right to employment for adult members of rural households. 
• Unemployment allowance: Employment must be provided within 15 days of being demanded failing which an ‘unemployment allowance’ must be given.
• Role of Gram Sabhas:  They must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.  
  • Monitoring of work under MGNREGA: Under section 17 of the act, the gram sabha “shall monitor the execution of works”. 
• Work Site Facilities: All work sites should have facilities such as crèches, drinking water, and first aid.
• Funding:  It is shared between the centre and the states. 
• Social audits: They are conducted by gram sabhas to enable the community to monitor the implementation of the scheme.
• Social audit units(SAU): Each State has SAUs which are supposed to work independent of the implementing authorities. 
• Auditing standards: Laid down by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, these were issued on December 19, 2016. 
  • According to them, every SAU is entitled to funds equivalent to 0.5% of the MGNREGA expenditure incurred by the State in the previous year.

• • The audit involves quality checks of infrastructure created under the MGNREGA, financial misappropriation in wages, and checking for any procedural deviations. 
• Provision of Ombudsperson: There should be an ombudsperson for each district who will receive grievances, conduct enquiries, and pass awards. 

News Source: The Hindu

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• This article is based on the news  “IPEF agreement: India has played its cards deftly”” Which was published in the Live Mint.  India recently signed the Supply Chain Resilience Agreement of the Indo Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) at a recent meeting at San Francisco in the US.  

What is the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)?

• IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo Pacific region in May 2023 in Tokyo (Japan).
• Aim: The initiative aims to advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness for the economies involved. The overarching goal is to contribute to cooperation, stability, prosperity, development, and peace within the region.
• Members (14): Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam are members of the IPEF. Together they account for 40 percent of the world’s economic output and 28 percent of trade.
• The framework is structured around four pillars relating to Trade (Pillar I); Supply Chains (Pillar II); Clean Economy (Pillar III); and Fair Economy (Pillar IV). 
  • India had joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar I. 
• Trade ( Pillar-I):
  • Enhance trade engagement among IPEF partner countries.
  • Promote economic growth, peace, and prosperity in the region.
• Supply Chains (Pillar-II):
  • Enhance supply chain resilience and integration.
  • Mitigate disruptions for business continuity.
  • Improve logistics and connectivity.
  • Promote investments in critical sectors.
  • Empower workers through upskilling.
• Clean Economy (Pillar-III):
  • Advance cooperation on research, development, commercialization, availability, accessibility, and deployment of clean energy and climate friendly technologies.
  • Facilitate investment in climate projects.
  • Introduce a regional hydrogen initiative.
• Fair Economy (Pillar-IV):
  • Strengthen anti-corruption measures.
  • Enhance tax measures for transparency.

What is the significance of the IPEF Agreement?

• Global Supply Chain Resilience: First multilateral attempt to enhance supply chain resilience globally, addressing inflationary pressures and future disruptions, especially for key raw materials, critical minerals, and semiconductors.
• High-Standard Rules: It represents an effort to negotiate “high-standard” rules between like-minded countries to govern the digital economy, particularly data flows, propel climate mitigation , and tilting power in the global economy toward workers through equitable global tax, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery provisions.
• Flexibility and Open Nature: Its member countries are not required to join all its four pillars and can opt to join any pillar/s of their choice.
• • For Example, India had joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar-I.

Key Highlights IPEF Meeting at San Francisco in the US:

IPEF Agreement –  India sign supply chain resilience agreement

• India, the US and 12 other members of the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) entered into a supply chain resilience agreement.
• Aim:  To cut dependence on China and help shift manufacturing of crucial goods to member nations.
  • For instance, it aims to prevent future supply chain disruptions, as witnessed during the COVID outbreak, as most countries depended on China for various products.
• Other benefits: These include shifting production centers in critical sectors, Supply chain diversification, mobilization of investments, deeper integration of India in global value chains, support to MSMEs and creation of a seamless regional trade ecosystem.
• IPEF Supply Chain Council: It would be set up to implement and monitor the agreement. The council will meet every year and all the members must report on the agreement’s implementation progress.
  • The block would also set up The IPEF Supply Chain Crisis Response Network and The IPEF Labour Rights Advisory Board.
• The pact would come into force after any five-member countries implement the agreement.

Clean Economy Agreement (IPEF):

• Climate Objectives and Net-Zero Emission Economies: Partners commit to pursuing shared climate objectives and pathways to net-zero emission economies.
  • Promotion of sustainable growth and success for all partners is emphasized.
• Clean Economy Investor Forum: Annual convening of the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum, starting in Singapore in the first half of 2024, to catalyze investment for sustainable infrastructure and climate technology.
• Catalytic Capital Fund: Establishment of the IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund administered by the Private Infrastructure Development Group to expand the pipeline of bankable climate-related infrastructure projects.

Fair Economy Agreement (IPEF):

• Enhancing Transparency, Rule of Law, and Accountability: Under the IPEF Fair Economy Agreement, the IPEF partners committed to working together to enhance transparency, the rule of law, and accountability in their economies to improve the trade and investment environment in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Capacity Building Framework (CBF): Establish a new Capacity Building Framework (CBF) to enhance each other’s capabilities to effectively implement all aspects of the proposed agreement.
• Annual Coordination Meetings: The IPEF partners would also hold annual coordination meetings on anti-corruption, labour, and tax to discuss the implementation of commitments, challenges in implementation, and any technical assistance needs.

Concern for India:

• Lack of Market Access Details: Under the IPEF trade pillar, there is ambiguity about the market access India would gain. The absence of clear incentives and potential restrictions raises questions about the benefits for India.
• Export Restrictions: The issue of export restrictions, especially in the context of food and agriculture, remains sensitive. 
  • However, India has been extensively using such restrictions to arrest food prices. India has banned wheat exports, imposed restrictions on rice and sugar exports in the run up to the general elections next year.
• Impact on Manufacturing Sector: The concern is specifically about the potential impact of such a deal on India’s manufacturing, similar to worries about China flooding Indian markets with cheap goods.
• New Age Trade Deals:
  • The IPEF’s departure from traditional tariff-focused trade deals to a comprehensive approach covering intellectual property, services, investment, domestic regulation, digital, and labor and environmental standards raises concerns.
    • Unlike a traditional trade agreement, the U.S. administration will not need congressional approval to act under the IPEF. This also raises doubts among potential participants about its willingness to offer significant concessions under the agreement.
• Strategic-Economic Bloc Formation:
  • The IPEF is seen as an attempt by the U.S. to form a strategic-economic bloc centered on itself, excluding China.
  • Critics argue that the IPEF aims to integrate economies into a system advantageous to the U.S., potentially limiting policy autonomy and industrialization efforts for participating countries, including India.
• Data Localisation Challenge: India has a significant concern regarding data localisation, a contentious issue with the U.S. for the past few years. 
  • India’s proposed data localisation requirements, requiring firms to store data within India, have been criticized by the U.S. as potential barriers to digital trade.

Way Forward: 

• Empowered Trade Negotiator: Establish an empowered trade negotiator to coordinate with relevant ministries, report to key government figures, and assess the pros and cons of negotiations. Niti Aayog can facilitate broad consultations with stakeholders and educate the public on the benefits of greater integration.
• Navigate Data Localization Concerns: Address the concerns related to data localization diplomatically and explore solutions that balance India’s regulatory goals with the need for international digital trade. 
• Active Participation in IPEF: Through Continue active participation in the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) discussions and collaborations, India can leverage the platform to strengthen economic ties, regional connectivity, and trade and investment opportunities within the Indo-Pacific region.
• Proactive Internal Review: Initiate an internal review of India’s tax administration involving experts to align with global best practices, enhancing India’s attractiveness for trade and investment.
• Flexibility in Digital Trade: In the critical area of digital trade, India should play a constructive role in evolving global consensus, considering contentious issues like data localisation and fair competition.

Conclusion: 

Balance national interests with the collaborative spirit of the IPEF. Ensure that India’s participation aligns with its economic priorities, while also contributing to the overall objectives of the framework.

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• This article is based on the news  “Critical and emerging tech: A central platform for US-India Collaboration” Which was published in the Live Mint.  The US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) emerged as an important collaboration that would forge closer linkages between the government, academia, and industry of the two countries in areas of Critical and Emerging technologies. 

Announcement: 

• In May 2022, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) “to elevate and expand their strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation.

• It will  be Co-led by the National Security Council Secretariat in India and US National Security Council.
• Leadership for future: The India and US are poised to lead clean energy transformation, diversify global semiconductor supply chains and supply chains in other critical goods, and lead the revolution in AI (Artificial Intelligence), advanced computing, biotech, and quantum computing.

What are the Critical and Emerging Technologies?

• Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) are a subset of advanced technologies potentially significant to India. These advanced technologies are rapidly transforming the global landscape, and have the scope to redefine next-generation industrial and economic growth besides security challenges. (Refer to Table).

About Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET):

• The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology framework creates a broad umbrella for cooperation between the India and US.
• Objective: the iCET seeks to position New Delhi and Washington D.C. as “trusted technology partners” to build supply chains and support the co-production and co-development of items.
• Reap the Potential of the Private Sector: The power of technology and innovation and the potential of entrepreneurship and the private sector to advance the US India Partnership.
• Area Of Cooperation: Under iCET, both countries have identified six cooperation areas, including co-development and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the rest of the world.
• Significance: The initiative also aligns strategic, commercial, and scientific-technological approaches.

Six Cooperation areas of the initiative: 

• Developing common standards in AI.
• Developing a roadmap to accelerate defence technological cooperation and an ‘innovation bridge’ to connect defence startups.Supporting the development of a semiconductor ecosystem.
• Strengthening cooperation on human spaceflight.
• Advancing cooperation on development in 5G and 6G, and 
• Adopting OpenRAN network technology in India.

Challenges at India’s end in leveraging iCET:

• Differences on Global Issues: India’s stance on global issues, such as its approach to the Ukraine-Russia war, can sometimes strain its relationships with key partners, potentially affecting collaboration on Critical and Emerging Technology.
• Regulatory Barriers and Export Control Norms: India’s existing export control norms can create hurdles for strategic technology collaborations and trade. Streamlining these regulations is essential to foster innovation and technology transfer.
• Mistrust and Lack of Commitment: Building trust and fostering a strong commitment to investing in advanced technologies among stakeholders is crucial for India’s success in the Critical and Emerging Technology domain.
• Research and Development (R&D) investments: India’s total spending on R&D as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be 0.7 per cent, which is far too low compared to even near-peer countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa, let alone China or the US according to the NITI Aayog.
• Capacities of PSUs:  According to Defense experts, the DRDO, HAL and its associated laboratories are not the best at developing cutting-edge or emerging technologies like AI that the military can use.
• Ambiguous Technology Transfer Framework: The lack of a clear and detailed framework for technology transfer hinders collaboration with foreign partners, creating uncertainty and discouraging potential partnerships.
• Problem of intellectual property rights: The U.S. Trade Representative highlighted  India was one of the most challenging major economies as far as IP protection and enforcement in its annual Special 301 report. 
  • The Indian industry raised concerns concerning the IP regime in the US, such as high patent filing costs, online piracy, and unfavorable enforcement of industrial design.

Critical and emerging technologies: A central platform for US India collaboration:

US India Technology Collaboration: 

• Semiconductor supply chains:
  • Micron Technology with support from the India Semiconductor Mission – will invest more than $800 million toward a new $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and test facility in India. 
• Critical Minerals Partnership:
  • The India and US forged the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains globally through targeted financial and diplomatic support.

• Advanced Telecommunications
  • India and the US also launched public-private Joint Task Forces, one on developing and deploying Open RAN systems and one on advanced telecoms research and development.It will reduce costs, increase security, and improve the resiliency of telecommunication networks.
• New Frontiers in Space: India has signed the Artemis Accords, joining 26 other countries committed to peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation that will enable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
  • NASA will provide advanced training to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronauts to launch a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.
  • NASA and the ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023.
• Climate Change and Disaster Management:
  • The US Geological Survey and ISRO are negotiating expanded bilateral data exchange that will enable greater insight into the earth, including for various applications, such as climate resiliency, sustainable development and management of natural resources, and disaster management support.
• Quantum, Advanced Computing, and Artificial Intelligence
  • India and the US have established a Joint Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to facilitate joint research between our countries’ public and private sectors. 
  • The US has also endorsed India’s participation in the Quantum Entanglement Exchange and the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, which facilitates exchanges on quantum between nations.

India – US Defence Partnership:

• GE F414 Engine Co-Production: General Electrics and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a MoU and a manufacturing licence agreement has been submitted for Congressional Notification. 
  • The first-of-its-kind initiative to manufacture F414 engines in India will enable  the transfer of US jet engine technology.
• General Atomics MQ-9Bs: India intends to procure armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs. The drones will increase India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
• New sustainment and ship repair:
  • The United States Navy has concluded a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with Larsen and Toubro Shipyard in Kattupalli (Chennai) and is finalizing agreements with Indian defence public sector entities — Mazagon Dock Limited and Goa Shipyard. 
    • These agreements will allow mid-voyage U.S. Navy ships to undergo service and repair at Indian shipyards, facilitating cost-effective and time-saving sustainment activities for U.S. military operations across multiple theatres.
• Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap:
  • The India and US finalized a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap that provides policy direction to Defence industries and enables the co-production of advanced Defence systems.
• Advanced defence materials:  
  • The India and US  have also commenced negotiations for a Security of Supply Arrangement and Reciprocal Defence Procurement Arrangement that will enable the supply of Defence goods in the event of unanticipated supply chain disruptions. 
• Undersea domain awareness cooperation:
  • The India and US resolved to strengthen undersea domain awareness cooperation. 
• Defence “Innovation Bridge”: The India US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) a network of universities, incubators, corporations, think tanks, and private investment stakeholders — was inaugurated on June 21, 2023. 
  • This programme will facilitate joint innovation on defence technologies and accelerate the integration of India’s private sector defence industry with the US defence sector.

Conclusion:  

Critical and Emerging Technology hold immense potential for India’s future growth and prosperity. India must continue to invest in research and development, foster innovation, and create a conducive environment for adopting CETs to realize their transformative power.

For More Information: 

• India-US Relations
• Critical Mineral

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