Geopolitics Leadership Policy Security World

Maldivian Mirage, China Political Tightrope!

Maldives stands at a crucial juncture with President-elect Muizzu’s apparent tilt towards China signalling potential tectonic shift in regional alignments. While the allure of Chinese investments is evident, past patterns suggest that such engagements often come with strings attached, risking economic independence with potential threats to sovereignty. The historical bond with India rooted in mutual respect and shared interests, has ensured stability and growth for the Maldives. As the Maldives navigates its diplomatic path, it’s imperative to recognise the long-term implications of these choices. Over-reliance on China, given its track record, might provide short-term gains but could lead to long-term vulnerabilities, threatening Maldives autonomy, regional harmony and its historically enriched and etched relationship with India.

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Out to Conquer!

Playing right, pursuing human centre policy framework with strategic independence will help Bharat regain its exalted status post G-20! K.A.Badarinath When Walter Russell Mead pointed to emergence of India as a world power after last week’s tremendously successful G-20 summit held under her Presidency, there were enough sneers and jeers from within the country. The learned professor for foreign affairs and humanities at Bard College in New York may have been amused at the way Indian opposition parties’ criticism of G-20 summit in New Delhi that whipped up ‘hundred per cent consensus” declaration. Mead, also a fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship at Hudson Institute was not out of place when he identified emergence of India as a world power as part of three tectonic shifts in global order. The celebrated Wall Street Journal columnist beautifully summed up the post-summit world order as, “India rising, China and Russia seething, Europe shrinking and America dithering…” This is not a solitary view that was available before, during or after the summit. African Union President Azali Assoumani went one step further to state that India has overtaken China as a super power that arrived on the global stage a few years back. Let’s consider Jim O Neill, celebrated economist known for having coined acronym BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) group of developing countries descrition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the ‘ clear winner’. Mead, Assoumani and O Neill may have differing views like several others on top global forums that would be relevant or those getting into diminution in medium to long term. Most were however were unanimous on India and Prime Minister Modi making the best out of G-20. And, they do not mince words on what holds out for India. G-7’s waning influence is something that’s written on the wall and one would only be blind not to see it given Europe’s decline and Canada being in irretrievable mess of sorts. BRIC, on the other hand, as visualized by Jim O Neill was different from what the grouping has emerged to be today. South Africa joining the group of large developing countries in 1999 was the first step towards its expanding arc of influence. Its first expansion however happened only last month when six countries were inducted as full members of BRICS turning it into leading to BRICS Plus. On the parallel, G-20 would have been dead and irrelevant in case there was nothing substantive to take home in the ‘New Delhi’ declaration running into 83-paras on a clutch of global issues. G-20 Plus emergence with joining of African Union has rendered this group ‘prima dona’ position in global sweepstakes on economic and development order. With Ukraine war becoming a sticking point in the negotiations, G-20 formally launched itself into realm of geo-political and security issues. This in turn led to expansion of its mandate albeit indirectly. Aging outfits like United Nations and its umbrella of organizations have lost sheen to these emerging stars like the BRICS Plus or G-20 Plus. Given the intransigence to reform, Britten Wood institutions like World Bank and IMF may have to make way for new kids on the block in the development finance space. Fresher organizations like Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), BRICS New Development Bank or proposed outfits for Green Energy financing may take the decades old multi-lateral funding institutions. Democratization of these organizations and reorienting them to finance developing and least developed countries is something Prime Minister Modi has been harping upon. With Western Europe especially Germany, France and Italy losing pole position, it’s no brainer to say that Bharat has taken centre stage in global engagement. Strategic independence in its foreign policy is something that has stood out big especially during last ten years. And, this open and flexible policy framework will work well at least another ten years. Not going the Russian or Western way on Ukraine war is an example to emulate going forward. Getting into one coterie or other is the easiest option that has been set aside by Prime Minister Modi and his point man Subramaniam Jaishankar and national security advisor Ajit Doval. One factor to watch out for is China, its expansionist drive financed by oligarchs close to the country’s communist party and President Xi Jingping’s insatiable urge for complete control within and outside. Over to Bharat! (author is Director & Chief Executive, Centre for Integrated & Holistic Studies, a non-partisan think tank based in New Delhi)

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India’s Moon Mission Opens Up a Zillion Opportunities

Start-ups, small & medium firms to big enterprises will fuel India’s space foray and its economic contribution to $ 100 billion K.A.Badarinath When The New York Times scoffed at India a few years back to even try and send a lander with rover to Moon or attempt a Mars Mission, the publication may not have imagined that it would be real in a very short span. An offending cartoon of 2014 in NYT summed up the editorial board’s humiliation of India’s gumption to get into the ‘elitist space club’ to explore Mars and Moon. But then, the same cartoon made way to social media networks on Wednesday with suggestions that The New York Times make amends after India’s Chandraayan – 3 led to text book precision touch down of lander ‘Vikram’ and the rover, ‘Pragyan’ getting out to explore the moon’s south pole. Well, there were foreign media houses handles that did hail India’s feat. Some did so grudgingly while a few with ‘disbelief’. However, newspaper establishments or TV channels from Europe, US and UK in particular were not remorse about their stance vis-à-vis a purely scientific mission undertaken by a developing country like India with gusto. Some netizens pointed out that the cartoon drawn by Singapore based Heng Kim Song in NYT may have been ‘racist’ and ‘offensive’ in tone. On the other hand, ‘The Economist’ may not have been very happy with Prime Minister Modi for describing the feat as ‘victory of a new India’. What’s wrong with head of the nation sporting his country’s flag and India being victorious is not a crime. Its write up of August 23, 2023 on India’s moon mission was peppered with an acerbic claim that her rover was not as good as the one planned by America or the one owned by China. To show down the Indian achievement, ‘The Economist’ made The Economist leader did not forget to say that Indian lander touched 600 kilometres away from Moon’s ‘proper’ South Pole to apparently dispute the country’s version that it was ‘first’ to reach the place. Even gleeful ‘emojis’ and ‘jai hind’ (long live India) that flooded the internet after India’s moon feat seemed inconvenient for The Economist who could not fully appreciate the ‘aspirational and assertive India’s mind-set. Bloomberg’s Andy Mukherjee gave a political twist to India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission by buying into Congress charge of ISRO engineers that laid the infrastructure were not paid for 17 months. Mukherjee seem to have waded big into Indian political waters. Well, this jingo apart, India’s ‘historic moment’ after the moon landing opens a clutch of opportunities for humanity and major chunk of world’s population as pointed out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Johannesburg in South Africa where he’s huddled with BRICS leaders. What’s very significant about the ‘moon landing’ by Indian craft is that it opens space sector estimated at US $ 546 billion for home grown start-ups, small, medium, micro enterprises apart from the big boys. Big spurt of over 15 per cent at Rs 13,000 crore in market capitalization of companies that contribute to space sector in one trading session on bourses manifests the potential that the sector holds for business growth and expansion. Sixteen space technology companies in India that took roots have also got first and second round of funding from angel investors and established fund houses globally. About 30-odd small ticket funding deals clinched in last couple of years has only added to excitement after the sector was opened to private and foreign partnerships. India may very well put its bets on space economy that is estimated to expand to $ 100 billion by 2025 and account for nine per cent global share from a measly two per cent now. If Prime Minister Modi’s proposal to float a space consortium by BRICS gets adopted, space economy’s contribution to developing countries progress and development will go up multi-fold. This is one level above the BRICS satellite constellation that’s being developed. Collaborative research, skills development, education and related technologies can be jointly harvested to create a common pool. Evolving Indian counterparts to large companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and Arianespace is what Bharat can look forward to as the country readies missions to Sun and Venus beginning next month. Going forward, creating space economy leaders of our own with the vision to realize India’s vast potential next 25-years is something we need to work on methodically. Creating separate funding buckets to bankroll technology intensive space ventures through equity and zero-rate debt is something that India will have to pursue to quickly realise for growth and expansion. Collaboration and finding right partners for each of the space missions may be the key for every country that’s exploring the universe. (Author is Director and Chief Executive, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, New Delhi based non-partisan think tank)

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Does Global High table make sense without India?

Given her economic clout, global supply chains; responsible nuclear power & thriving open democracy, its India time under the Sun Dr Amritpal Kaur One representative benchmarks of post-second World War international order is the leading countries coming together for policy networking in the wake of cold war era ‘blocs’. Global engagement has taken a different shape in terms of these groups. There are groups like Permanent 5 in the United Nations Security Council, Group of 7 or G7 which is a group of leading market economies in the world which are also liberal democracies. To the unversed, this might look like global high table of the richest and most affluent countries in the world. In the post second World war era, the world has seen propagation of strategic affairs of the rich countries play out via coordinated groups like G7. The huddling of major democratic countries with market economies increases their impact in the world affairs as they also are permanent members in UNSC, control majority shares in institutions like World Bank and IMF and are among top 10 economies in the world. But, twenty first century is easily touted as the Asian century which means rise of the Asian Giants that will have altering effect on the global pecking order. Whether one accepts or not but China has grown leaps and bounds on economic development despite all its infirmities. And, Indian juggernaut is picking up pace. But, for good part of twentieth century, India was kept out of these influential groups. One way or the other, the high table was denied to India and importantly Indians too lacked the power or the heft to make their voice heard. Had India joined the Western camp after attaining independence post-colonial British era, could the fate of camp following be avoided? Or, Could India maintain its ‘strategic autonomy’ that she freely exercises without any encumbrances? Chances are that India would have been treated like any other third world country joining the Western Camp. Then what has changed in the world which has necessitated incorporation of India into the global high table? Historically, India has always been a country of consequence in the world politics. With its large swathes of land, richly endowed in mineral and non-mineral resources, its unique place in the Indian Ocean facilitating maritime trade made the country ‘Sink of Gold’ and large population ensured that she would be at the center of global high table, a trend which lasted till the advent of colonial powers on her shores. British colonization was majorly responsible to diminish her say and value in the global order. Even then, India was regarded diamond in the British crown, underlining its unique position in the British Empire. When the empire was finally forced out, India got reduced to an impoverished country, typical of third world. It was also the time when Indian voice in the global affaires was effectively ineffective. During first fifty years post-independence, India was effectively a spectator without the means to engage and take independent calls internationally that were of consequence. Change in Indian fortunes also led to other countries perception and reception of India as an effective entity, human race and a society to reckon with. The high and mighty of the world had started out with anti-India stand. Of late, they had to revise their stand given India’s economic development and increasing political clout. Perceptional change began with Nuclear Non-Proliferation. India has consistently stated that Nuclear Non-Proliferation regime under NPT and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty were heavily biased against countries not possessing nuclear technologies and on that ground it did not sign NPT and CTBT. Till the Clinton administration days (1992-2000), nuclear nonproliferation was a major bone of contention. What this issue exhibited was India’s firm positioning in the eyes of major world powers. It was also the time when India was getting itself out of 1991-92 economic crisis with recovery very nascent. According to World Bank Indian GDP in 2000 stood at US $ 468.39 billion as against $10.25 trillion of USA, $ 1.95 trillion of Germany, $ 4.97 trillion of Japan, $ 1.67 trillion of United Kingdom and $ 1.21 trillion of China. In the hindsight, it was also the time when tide started to turn, in Dickensian fashion, ‘it was best of the times and it was worst of the times’. As Indian fortunes shifted, so did the positions on global high table. Civil nuclear deal between India and USA exemplify the change in attitude towards India. George Bush Jr’s administration was responsible to end India’s nuclear apartheid, thereby opening the doors for transfer of latest technologies not only by Americans but also by others. It was also the time when consensus was being built on permanent membership for India in the UNSC. Barring China, rest of the P5 group was in support of India’s candidature. Since then Indian foreign policy got a fresh coat of paint and nuanced approach in the world affairs. India has been able to objectively articulate its individual position to assert its ‘strategic autonomy’. Two events underline this trend. One is the Covid 19 crisis when India provided vaccines support to other countries under the much-acclaimed Vaccine Maitri programme. In fact when major countries were busy in hoarding vaccines, India came forward in support of poor countries by dipping into its own vaccine inventory. Second is the Ukraine crisis, where India pursued its own independent line without budging under pressure. Devil lies in the details and it’s true in India’s case as well. World Bank data shows that by 2022, Indian economy expanded to US $ 3.39 trillion as against $ 25.46 trillion of USA, $ 4.07 trillion of Germany, $ 4.23 trillion of Japan, $ 3.07 trillion of United Kingdom and $ 17.96 trillion of China in GDP terms. At this pace, by 2030, India will be third largest economy in the World. Fresh data from Morgan Stanley suggests that India’s ascent to third place may be much earlier by

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A Resolute Goal

Reform, transform and perform is the mantra that will fuel India’s grand standing as a developed nation by 2047 Rohan Giri India’s Independence Day holds immense significance as it commemorates the nation’s liberation from British colonial rule while embodying its journey to realize 1.4 billion people’s dreams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi address on this special day unveiled a plan to put India on high growth trajectory. Modi painted a compelling portrait on India’s future drawing inspiration from her classical civilizational roots. He set a resolute goal for India to attain developed nation status by 2047. On 77-th Independence Day, Prime Minister began his address by referring to the turmoil and violence in Manipur and its impending resolution. He emphatically stated, “The country stands with the people of Manipur… Resolution is possible only through peace. The Centre and the state government are making all efforts to find a solution, and will continue to do so.” While the state was limping back to normalcy, a lot more needs to be done for making Manipur home to diverse tribes living in harmony moving away from conflict, violence, women’s abuse, pain and suffering of various tribes. Narendra Modi moved on to point the pivotal significance of undertaking economic reforms to fortify India’s global standing. As evident, India’s economy, valued at a staggering $3.5 trillion surpassed that of United Kingdom last year securing its place as fifth-largest in the world. With unwavering conviction, he declared India’s resolute trajectory to ascend into the elite club of top three global economies in next five years. Prime Minister heralded a noteworthy accomplishment – uplifting over 130 million individuals from strangle hold of poverty. He emphasized that India’s burgeoning prosperity serves as a compelling opportunity not only for the nation itself but for entire global community. Modi’s persistent emphasis on these aspects underscores his unequivocal dedication to harnessing India’s demographic dividend and steering it to transform into an economic powerhouse. India is swiftly advancing on development path, garnering significant global recognition for its burgeoning expansion. Modi as Prime Minister, it is both commendable and imperative to nurture aspirations for a resplendent future. Contemplating the trajectory of India’s future, Modi affirmed, “I am confident that in 2047 when India marks 100 years of its Independence, it will be a developed nation. I say this on the basis of the capability of my country and available resources…” Realizing the vision for a fully developed nation demands collective effort necessitating certain sacrifices from each citizen. Prime Minister emphasized, “We have to fight three things now — corruption, family rule, and appeasement. These create impediments to people’s aspirations while corruption has badly affected India’s capability. Modi has rightly targeted fighting against corruption as a key area. While politics of appeasement has inflicted most harm on social justice, the country has to resolve not to tolerate corruption in any form. Global arena not only acknowledges ingenuity of Indian leadership but recognizes strength of the country’s core philosophy. Rooted in India’s philosophical moorings, this perception of entire humanity as one family stands out differently. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, India presented a resonant principle: “One earth, one health.” This principle acted as a beacon of hope for afflicted nations. In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic, the imperative for comprehensive healthcare has come to the forefront. This need has sparked a noticeable surge in the global embrace of traditional Indian healthcare practices such as indigenous medicine, yoga and meditation. Notably, yoga, an amalgamation of physical, mental, and spiritual practices rooted in ancient India has seamlessly woven itself into the daily routines of people across the globe. Moreover, India’s healthcare systems including Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy, progressively garnered global recognition. Presently India is leading the G-20 as the Chair and espoused a grand vision encapsulated by the mantra “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” This profound perspective serves as comprehensive remedy to current challenges like war in Ukraine and forms the bedrock for harmonious and prosperous global coexistence in times to come. The landscape of world order and geopolitics is undergoing swift transformations. New Delhi has engaged with the world powers in new ways by building alliances, strike trade deals and increases defence cooperation. On reshaping global order, Narendra Modi underscored, “In shaping a changing world, Indian people’s capabilities are evident… India’s biggest capability is trust — people’s trust in the government, the country’s bright future and the world’s trust in India. The ball is in our court, and we should not let go of opportunity; no ifs and buts on anyone’s mind about India’s capabilities.” Prime Minister’s 90-minute address also delved into subjects like democracy, women-driven progress and space technology to novel schemes and pressing concern of terrorism. His speech was a clarion call for people to embrace principles of Reform, Perform, and Transform. His vision for a reformed, efficient, and self-reliant India reflects well with aspirations of millions of Indians. As the country navigates its path to progress and prosperity, the roadmap in Modi’s speech provides a framework to guide India’s journey into the future. (Author is Operations Manager at Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a New Delhi based non-partisan think tank)

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77 Years Later: Women, Religion, and Gender Biases in Pakistan

Pakistan’s commemoration of its 76th year of independence ironically highlights the dire situation of its women to the world. Even after seven long decades post-independence, women in Pakistan are still deprived of basic rights like education, freedom of expression, and opportunities for employment. Interactions with these women reveal a bleak landscape of their relentless battles and diminishing hopes, questioning the essence of what independence and empowerment should signify in contemporary Pakistan. The Global Gender Gap Index Report 2022 starkly showcases Pakistan’s lamentable gender disparities. Globally, Pakistan regrettably ranks near the bottom in areas such as economic participation, education, health, and survival. These glaring figures bring to light the deep-seated gender biases corroding Pakistani society. Heartbreakingly, interviews depict that many women, from diverse backgrounds, feel oppressed and frequently persecuted. The glaring lack of women in political leadership roles further accentuates the overpowering grasp of patriarchal norms. As Pakistan grapples with increasing vulnerabilities to climate change, it is the women who suffer most. The evident link between environmental concerns and gender inequities is undeniable, more so when environmental calamities intensify the hardships for women. Disappointingly, Pakistan’s leadership and related agencies seem to disregard the urgent need for gender-sensitive climate policies. Women are forced to grapple with the adverse effects of polluted air, dwindling water resources, and other ecological hazards. Karachi, often hailed as the crown jewel of Pakistan, sadly reflects the country’s deep-seated gender prejudice. Interviews conducted there consistently highlight the harrowing challenges women face daily in their pursuit of fundamental rights. The pervasive issue of harassment looms over many working women, indicating a stark absence of safety and respect in society. Their stories resonate with the perpetual tension between aspiring for basic liberties and the grim reality of a society that denies them. While there are sporadic glimpses of progress in isolated pockets of Pakistan, they are largely eclipsed by overwhelming challenges. Although a section of women is experiencing improved access to education and a shift in societal attitudes, such changes only underline the inconsistent strides Pakistan is making towards gender equality. The societal chasm and economic divides paint a grim narrative: a handful of the educated find better opportunities abroad, while many remain entrapped in their homeland. Regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa serve as stark reminders of areas where opportunities for women’s education and employment are scarcely available. For a select few, empowerment is perceived as a state of mind. Yet, such an uplifting perspective is frequently overshadowed by societal constraints. While acknowledging one’s self-worth can be liberating, the overwhelming societal barriers often appear insurmountable. A disheartening reality permeating Pakistani society is that even though education is regarded as a catalyst for change, women’s aspirations are recurrently thwarted. While both genders emphasise the significance of education, it’s clear that education in isolation cannot reform the prevailing norms. A comprehensive transformation is essential. Families, communities, and policymakers must move beyond mere words and take decisive actions to ensure women are accorded their rightful stature in society. Tragically, when evaluating Pakistan’s intricate web of gender inequality, the plights of religious minority women further exacerbate the situation. Hindu, Sikh, and Christian women, already marginalised due to their gender, are subjected to heightened persecution based on their religious affiliations. Reports and personal accounts underscore distressing instances of kidnappings, forced religious conversions, and coerced marriages. These young girls are often brutally separated from their families and pressured into renouncing their faith, further alienating them within their communities. Such heinous acts are not just a violation of religious freedom and human rights but also emphasise Pakistan’s pressing need to address the dual challenges of gender and religious persecution. The commitment to ensuring every woman’s safety and freedom, regardless of her religious beliefs, must be unwavering. Amid these narratives of despair, the question that emerges is – where does Pakistan envision its future in terms of gender justice and religious freedom? With the rest of the world progressing towards more inclusive societies, Pakistan seems to be caught in a time warp, clinging to outdated norms and practices. Yet, it is essential to remember that the situation isn’t bereft of hope entirely. Grassroots movements, led by resilient Pakistani women and their allies, are sprouting across the country. These women, armed with education, determination, and a vision of a brighter future, are challenging the deeply entrenched norms. They are building networks, using both traditional methods and technology, to reach out, educate, and uplift their peers. Furthermore, international attention and pressure could play a pivotal role. Global agencies, human rights organisations, and foreign governments can leverage their influence to urge the Pakistani administration to enforce stronger laws that protect the rights of all its citizens, irrespective of gender or religion. Sanctions, trade agreements, and international treaties can all serve as tools to nudge the nation towards the path of genuine reform. On the cultural front, artists, writers, and filmmakers within Pakistan are pushing boundaries, creating works that challenge societal norms and provide a platform for the oppressed voices to be heard. The role of art and media as a force for change cannot be underestimated, especially in a digital age where content can transcend borders and inspire solidarity and action globally. Pakistan stands at a crucial juncture. The choices it makes in the upcoming years will determine whether it continues its descent into a quagmire of regressive practices or rises, phoenix-like, to create a society that is just, inclusive, and forward-thinking. As the world watches, it remains to be seen if Pakistan will heed the cries of its women, recognise the strength in their resilience, and move towards a brighter, more equitable future.

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India’s Space Supremacy on Ascent

Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s premier lunar exploration is a milestone in its path to achieving greater excellence, cost competitiveness and emerge as space power Rahul Pawa Human space exploration has predominantly been shaped by superpowers of the Cold War era, with US space agency, NASA and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos leading the way. This is a thing of the past. In recent decades, the biggest surprising candidate in contention is the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Though it started late and faces financial limitations as well as technological constraints, ISRO has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, carving out a unique path as a top-tier global space agency. Established in 1969, almost two decades after NASA, ISRO embarked on its journey amidst a space race that was already in full swing. Tasked with the formidable mission of propelling India into the age of space technology and catching up with technologically advanced nations, ISRO’s journey has been far from smooth. In the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998, the nation faced broad international sanctions. This development dealt a significant blow to India’s space aspirations when Russia, succumbing to pressure from the Western world, cited the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and withdrew from an agreement to transfer crucial cryogenic engine technology to India. The cryogenic engine technology was indispensable for the development of heavy-lift launch vehicles. Such a setback could have easily derailed India’s ambitions. Instead, it ignited ISRO’s determination, fuelling its drive towards self-reliance and innovation. Over next two decades, ISRO focused its efforts on developing its own cryogenic engine technology. Despite numerous challenges, India’s space agency remained unwavering and in January 2014, it successfully launched the GSLV-D5 launch vehicle, powered by an indigenously developed cryogenic engine. This achievement serves as an exemplary showcase of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity, a testament to ISRO’s unwavering commitment to its mission and the Indian Republic. Yet, this is just one chapter in the compelling saga of ISRO, where hurdles are transformed into springboards for success. It is a testament to ISRO’s prowess in transforming adversity into opportunity, illuminating India’s flourishing technological capabilities. As ISRO navigated its journey, it pioneered a new paradigm in space exploration, combining cost-effectiveness with ambition, establishing itself as a trailblazer in affordable space technology. The Mars Orbiter Mission, known as Mangalyaan, epitomises this innovative spirit. Accomplished at a fraction of the cost of similar missions by other agencies, Mangalyaan was not just a frugal exploration but a powerful demonstration of ISRO’s formidable capabilities to the world. A vivid illustration of ISRO’s economical yet ambitious spirit is its mastery of multi-launch capabilities, allowing multiple satellites to be taken into orbit with a single rocket. ISRO showcased this brilliantly in February 2017 when it successfully launched a record-breaking 104 satellites aboard a single PSLV-C37 rocket. This launch included not only India’s own earth observation satellite but also miniature satellites from several international players, underscoring ISRO’s leading role in the global commercial space industry. Furthermore, ISRO’s ability to maintain budgetary controls without compromising on scientific endeavours sets it apart from many international counterparts. Whether it is launching the world’s lightest satellite or sending a mission to Mars at a cost lower than a Hollywood blockbuster, ISRO’s exemplary record reflects that cost-effectiveness and ambitious exploration can indeed go hand in hand. Chandrayaan-3, the latest iteration of ISRO’s flagship lunar exploration mission, is poised to embark on its momentous journey, aiming to achieve a soft landing in the Moon’s South Polar region on August 23, 2023 at 5:47 pm. This extraordinary endeavour, born out of years of rigorous scientific inquiry, stands as evidence of India’s expanding influence as a formidable force in space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 aims to succeed where its predecessor fell short, achieving a precise and controlled landing on the lunar surface. The proposition for an Indian moon mission was formally announced by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his 2003 Independence Day address, and in 2008, Chandrayaan-1 was launched, marking a significant milestone in India’s cosmic journey. Comprising a lunar orbiter and impactor, Chandrayaan-1 not only fulfilled its scientific ambitions but also propelled India into an elite group of lunar explorers. Even before Chandrayaan-1 landed, ISRO and Roscosmos planned its sequel, Chandrayaan-2, with the goal of a moon landing and rover exploration. Due to delays from Roscosmos, ISRO independently developed a lander, pushing the launch to 2019. Technical setbacks and rescheduling notwithstanding, Chandrayaan-2 finally took off on July 22, 2019. Tragically, a software glitch on September 6, 2019, caused the Chandrayaan-2 lander to malfunction, resulting in the loss of communication with ISRO and loss of both the lander and the rover. This incident led to the development of Chandrayaan-3, the next phase of the mission, with the ambitious aim of achieving a successful soft lunar landing. With the clock ticking down, ISRO is diligently overseeing the timeline for the lunar touchdown, taking into account elements such as lunar sunrise. In case circumstances demanded, the landing can be pushed to September from the scheduled August 23 this year. Every step forward brings India’s Chandrayaan-3 closer to a ground breaking achievement on the moon. Successfully achieving this would place India in an elite group of nations; to date, only the US, Russia, and China have accomplished this feat. Odyssey of ISRO embodies the indomitable spirit of human endeavour—an unwavering resolve, tireless perseverance, and self-reliance that magnify India’s ascent as an increasingly formidable space superpower, bolstering its commanding presence within the global space community. Having begun as a latecomer, ISRO has transcended the confines of limitations and boldly challenged established order, thereby demonstrating that constraints are merely catalysts for boundless opportunities. ISRO’s unwavering dedication to perpetual learning, adaptability, and evolution has empowered it to overcome formidable obstacles and lay a robust groundwork for future triumphs. Through a multitude of accomplishments, it has forged an upward trajectory for India, shaping it into a rising space superpower of exceptional versatility. (Author is Research Director at Centre for Integrated and Holistic

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Good numbers, greater challenges!

Antyodaya combined with family centric approach and spiritual odyssey may provide holistic solution to war against poverty K.A.Badarinath It’s heartening that socio-economic development agenda pursued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun to pay off rich dividends. On twelve development indicators that denote poverty levels, there has been substantive progress in the way 1.4 billion Indians live, pursue their aspirations and engage to achieve life objectives. The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) : Progress Review 2023 report released by Niti Aayog a couple of days back is fairly comprehensive and widely accepted on methodology, sampling and computational tools. Going by this report, over 135 million Indians escaped poverty during 2015-21 under Prime Minister Modi-led government. Many naysayers may tend to dispute these figures and findings. ‘Actual delivery’ and ‘plugging leakage of scarce resources’ in over a dozen of government schemes seem to have made this eminently possible. The MPI was launched in 2021 in line with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Development Initiative (OPDI) surveys globally. Our own MPI covered 707 administrative districts in 28 states and eight union territories to derive that poverty is on definitive decline curve in India. Significant changes have been reported on 12 indicators like nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel availability, sanitation, and access to clean drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts. These indicators have been spread across three broad areas i.e. education, healthcare and standard of living for Indians that was reviewed for years 2015-16 to 2020-21. Most significant finding of this survey has been that states like Uttar Pradesh have done extremely well with over 34.3 million people escaping poverty. States like opposition ruled Bihar, Rajasthan; BJD ruled Odisha and BJP held Madhya Pradesh seem to have performed well in tackling extreme poverty. Hitherto, these very states were regarded as laggards on socio-economic development parameters. Most interesting aspect is steep reduction in poverty levels across rural India dropping to 19.28 per cent from 32.59 per cent in the five-year period. But, poverty reduction has been at lower levels in cities at 5.27 per cent from earlier 8.65 per cent. Even after about 10 per cent aggregate decrease in poverty levels, highest numbers of poor people continue to live in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh going by Niti Aayog report. Now, the big question is whether war on poverty in India has entered a decisive phase. Obviously, much more may have to be done to turn India into a developed country by 2047 on all fronts including the Happiness Index. One sure way of measuring poverty as per UNDP was earnings at US $ two per day. There is no empirical data on number of people earning minimum wages in India. Statutorily, national minimum wages per day was set at Rs 178. Though implementation at ground level has been skewed, the minimum wages threshold translates to $ 1.92 as against $ 2 prescribed by UNDP for a developing country like India. Again, state wise minimum wages are different thereby making an aggregate estimate virtually daunting. Accepted principle was that earnings and poverty alleviation have undeniable link thereby making wages singularly one of the most important parameters in counting the poor and tackling the menace. Challenges to alleviating poverty from India is definitely a herculean task that demands newer socio-economic development models that are neither western driven nor communist way of commanding heights principle. Reaching out to last man standing in true spirit of ‘antyodaya’ or ‘sarvodaya’, taking everyone in inclusive development mode is the sure shot prescription to wiping out poverty in Bharat. In fact, that was pushed for by philosophers like Vinoba Bhave, Deen Dayal Upadyaya and veteran labour leader Dattopant Thengdi and rejected by the Western economists’ gang. A tectonic shift in economic development model may have to be seriously attempted by the new government that takes charge in 2024, be it National Democratic Alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the opposition alliance of 26 political parties that seek to meekly challenge him. Shifting gears may not be easy if the war on poverty has to be won in the least possible time and not wait till 2047, centennial of Bharat’s independence. For this to happen, taking Indian growth story down below the district centres to evolve ‘self-reliant’ vibrant village clusters is an alternative that the next government can seriously consider. Going beyond districts and evolving villages-clusters is something that has only been talked about in seminar rooms and not attempted as a serious development model that’s unique to India. Strengthening grassroots governance especially in hinterlands as single window shops is one way to attack poverty and achieve self-reliance. As BJP gears up to roll-out its manifesto for next five years and vision document for next 25 years, taking governance to people’s doorstep is something it can consider as paradigm shift in its approach to eliminate poverty. Secondly, defining our own yardstick on ‘poverty’ is something that development experts may consider in next phase of India’s development strategy. Is earning $ 2 or $ 3 per day the benchmark or something beyond this bread and butter issue needs serious consideration? Thirdly, migration as a phenomenon has taken India by storm in last 75-years mostly after economic reforms of Harvard variety were forced down by Dr Manmohan Singh and his team. Migration from villages to urban centres and beyond to foreign shores has gripped this country which marks huge brain drain as well. Unless a holistic view of this phenomenon is taken, can we win the war against poverty? Fourthly, family centric approach to socio-economic conundrum confronting Indian people may widen the canvass for war on poverty as it pushes for basic shift in societal structures shaking away the shaky unrealistic western or socialistic foundations. Fifthly, redoing Indian society with spiritual content to happiness will complete the cycle in war against poverty. Finding holistic solutions to inadequacy of resources, governance at grassroots, earnings,

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De-risking to defanging currency, trade deals

Rupee, UPI, desi currency trade has taken world by storm. Prime Minister Modi thrust in France, UAE paying handsome dividends K.A. Badarinath Defanging to de-risking global trade and currency deals for India is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved in his visit to France and United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week. Agreements concluded during Prime Minister Modi’s visit not only make trade and currency deals more advantageous from Indian perspective but also reflect the country’s growing confidence in shaping commercial partnerships across geographies. Otherwise, how would one explain taking United Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay to France or for that matter, UAE? In his West Asia sojourn, UAE and India’s decision to denominate bilateral trade in Rupees and Dirhams is again a big departure from dollar or Euro centric transactions. This is over and above bringing the UPI and RuPay to Abu Dhabi. Currency transactions at retail level on Indian digital platforms to large rupee denominated trade deals have been described by some analysts as ‘de-dollarization’ of Indian economy. But, India’s latest thrust on currency and trade front are more to do with her growing economic and investment muscle and acceptability rather than moving away from the US greenback or euro. Indians visit to the Eiffel Tower in France by purchasing tickets in Rupees may be simpler way of presenting the implications of latest agreements for hoi polloi. The deal involving Lyra of France and National Payments Corporation of India to become operative in September this year would mean much more than paying for tickets at tourist spots in rupees. Wider and willing acceptance of Indian Rupee in Europe is due to financial innovation making Indian digital payments platform UPI secure and affordable across continents. The decision to link United Payments Interface with UAE’s Instant Payment Platform (IPP) makes the country’s digital payments foray wider and deeper in West Asia. In fact, the deal between RBI and UAE’s Central Bank allows for RuPay and UAE Switch interoperable. India’s structured financial messaging system (SFMS) will go to UAE thereby instantly recognizing Indian debit and credit cards. Larger implication is that holding Indian Rupee by central banks and dealers globally by value and quantity will go up many-fold in few years from now. Also, internationalization of Indian rupee is on the verge of becoming a hard reality. Rupee denominated export and import of goods and services internationally will make the Indian currency more tradable given the large ticket size of these transactions. France and UAE are not isolated cases in accepting Rupee denominated trade deals, UPI, RuPay or Rupee Switch. Singapore’s PayNow had done a deal with NPCI to embark on UPI platform. It moved Indian digital payments platform to South East Asian one step further. In May this year, India and Russia had announced making payments easier through RuPay and Mir cards in both countries. UPI of India and Bank of Russia’s Faster Payments System are being linked to make seamless real time transactions in Rupees and Roubles a reality apart from deal on financial messaging systems. Non Resident Indians (NRIs), businessmen, tourists and students in ten countries including Australia, Canada, US, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom apart from others could either receive or send money once their domestic bank accounts were linked to their international phone numbers. As per independent consultancy Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC), one billion rupee denominated transactions per day is estimated to happen in next two years through United Payments Interface and RuPay network. Already, over 73 per cent non-cash transactions in India have gone digital on UPI. Over 18 countries have either opened or in the process of opening Vostro accounts to settle trade deals in rupees or their respective local currencies moving away from US dollar, euro, UK pound or any major international currency. Latest to join this jamboree is Indonesia whose finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati firmly stated in Gandhinagar indicated that bilateral trade will happen in Rupees and Rupiah. Bangladesh went one step further and began trade settlements in Indian rupees. This was limited to US dollar till last week. India’s trade valued at US $ 1.6 trillion in last one year seem to have shaped the country’s strategy on cross border currency deals and rupee transactions. And, Indian strategy of gaining acceptability for rupee is however distinctly different from China’s ‘wolf worrier’ investment and loans strategy to gain dominance. Significant progress made by India on rupee’s acceptability and trade transactions cannot however sidestep the challenges in making it part of the reserve currency basket. Current strategy adopted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian government has the potential to deliver notwithstanding its limitations. Unless rupee is increasingly used in current account transactions like investments and capital flows, internationalizing the currency may hit a wall. Secondly, as the RBI working group recommended, Rupee must get included in Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies maintained by International Monetary Fund (IMF) to hold its assets. Recalibration of Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI) may have to be considered for hastening the path to internationalizing rupee. There has been serious discussion amongst BRICS countries to settle trade related transactions within the group in local currencies. A conscious decision on use of member countries’ currencies to square off trade deals would translate to democratization of economic world order. For the stakeholders, reduction in transactions costs, limiting the foreign exchange risks and more safeguards to the trade deals will be accrued apart from huge optimization in capital costs. India accounting for a modest two per cent of global trade in value terms limits internationalization of rupee. Similarly, there may be little to modest enthusiasm to denominate Indian debt globally in rupee terms instead of dollar. Internationalizing rupee and turning it to a currency in reserve is a long haul project for which a firm foundation has been laid by the Modi government. (Author is Director & Chief Executive of non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies based in New Delhi)

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U.S.-India Relations Forge New Frontiers with Technology and Defense Deals

Prachi Mishra The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Modi to the United States resulted in several key technology deals, MoUs, and collaborations. With growing penetration of emerging technologies in the socio-economic-political and security fabric of nation states, it is imperative for global leaders to come together and work on challenges that impact everyone. The bilateral ties between the United States and India have taken a significant leap forward with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden unveiling a series of groundbreaking technology and defense agreements. During his address to the joint session of the U.S. Congress, PM Modi emphasised the global benefits of collaboration on semiconductors and critical minerals, highlighting the role it plays in enhancing the resilience and diversity of supply chains. With defense cooperation blossoming over the years, the United States has emerged as one of India’s key defense partners. Former diplomats and analysts are optimistic about the future of this relationship, foreseeing strengthened ties and more lucrative deals on the horizon. Atul Keshap, President of the U.S.-India Business Council and former charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, expects the expansion to extend to military agreements, heralding positive outcomes for both nations, democracy, and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. The remarkable scope of the announced deliverables has impressed observers and sparked confidence in the trajectory of U.S.-India relations. Some key highlights are showcased below; Institution building – Both President Biden and Prime Minister Modi agree that as their collaboration grows, technology will become increasingly important. The founding of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in January 2023 was welcomed by the leaders as a significant turning point for relations between the United States and India. They urged institutions of higher learning, corporations, and governments to carry out their common goal for the strategic technological partnership. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment for the United States and India to support an open, approachable, safe, and trust-based digital ecosystem that upholds their shared ideals and democratic institutions. Space – By the end of 2023, NASA and ISRO will have created a strategic plan for working together on human spaceflight. Indian astronauts will receive advanced training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with the intention of staging a cooperative mission to the International Space Station in 2024. This news was applauded by both the US and India. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite was sent to the U.R. Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru, India, and NISAR’s launch from India in 2024 was anticipated. The leaders praised India’s Space Policy – 2023 and urged greater commercial cooperation between the American and Indian corporate sectors along the full value chain of the space economy, as well as to resolve export restrictions and promote knowledge transfer. The Artemis Accords, which establish a shared vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humanity, were signed by India, and President Biden was very grateful for this. Tech trade – Both India and the US applauded the interagency-led Strategic Trade Dialogue’s commencement in June 2023 and instructed both parties to make ongoing efforts to resolve export restrictions, look for measures to boost high technology trade, and ease technology transfer between the two nations. Semiconductors and supply chains – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership as a significant milestone in coordinating the semiconductor incentive programs of India and the US was highly talked about. This will support the growth of commercial possibilities, research, talent, and skills. The decision of Micron Technology, Inc. to work with the Indian government to invest up to $825 million in the construction of a new semiconductor assembly and testing plant in India was applauded by the leaders. Up to 5,000 new direct jobs and 15,000 community work possibilities might be created over the course of the next five years thanks to the joint investment, estimated at $2.75 billion. The leaders also praised Lam Research’s proposal to expedite India’s aspirations for semiconductor education and workforce development by training 60,000 Indian engineers through its Semiverse Solution virtual manufacturing platform, as well as a statement from Applied Materials. Telecom – Two Joint Task Forces on Advanced Telecommunications were established by the leaders, with a focus on Open RAN (O-RAN) and research and development in 5G/6G technologies. The Bharat 6G Alliance in India and the Next G Alliance in the United States will be in charge of the public-private collaboration between vendors and operators. With the support of funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), both India and the US are collaborating on Open RAN field trials and rollouts, including scaled deployments, with operators and vendors from both markets. The leaders praised Indian businesses’ involvement in the American “rip and replace” program. They supported an ambitious plan for 6G networks that called for collaboration on standards, easier access to chipsets for system development, and the creation of cooperative R&D initiatives. Quantum tech – The creation of a joint Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to promote cooperation between business, academia, and government, as well as their efforts to reach a comprehensive Quantum Information Science and Technology agreement, was hailed by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi. The Quantum Economic Development Consortium and the Quantum Entanglement Exchange both warmly welcome India’s involvement in order to promote professional and business interactions with other prominent, quantum-minded countries. Programs for quantum training and exchange will be maintained and expanded, and the US and India will endeavour to remove obstacles to cross-border scientific cooperation. The leaders hailed the start of a $2 million grant program under the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment fund for the combined research and commercialisation of quantum technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), and they urged public-private partnerships to develop these technologies. Science collaborations – The leaders welcomed 35 creative joint research initiatives in emerging technologies that were supported by the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the American National Science Foundation (NSF). Together, the NSF and DST will

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