SHIKHAR MAINS 2022 - DAY 11 Model Answer English

Q1. विगत दो दशकों में सुरक्षा एवं सामरिक सन्दर्भों में भारत-अमेरिका सहयोग निरंतर बढ़ता गया है। स्पष्ट कीजिये।

India-US cooperation in security and strategic terms has steadily increased over the last two decades. Explain.

Approach -

•      Explain the trend of India-US relations in the introduction.

•      Explain the initiatives of India-US protective and strategic cooperation in the main section.

•      Finally, conclude the answer by presenting the challenges and their solutions of the relationship between the two.

Answer –

          Since India's independence, Indo-US relations have been fluctuating till the 1990s. Factors like Kashmir issue, Baghdad Pact, Non-Aligned Movement, Independence of Bangladesh etc. did not allow Indo-US relations to strengthen. Factors such as India's adoption of LPG model in 1990, dissolution of USSR, rise of Taliban etc. have strengthened the relationship between India and the US. Since then, security and strategic cooperation between India and the US has grown.

Strategic Cooperations:

•      There are three dimensions of Indo-US defence cooperation namely LEMOA, CISMOA and BECA. 

•      Pivot of Asia Policy (this is virtually Asia Pacific policy): This is the policy trump addressed as the policy of Indo-Pacific in 2016. Through this policy, the US is trying to protect its interests in collaboration with India.

•      Apart from this, strategic cooperation remains through Malabar exercise, Quad, with the cooperation of the US, India has become a member of MTCR, Australia Group and Wassenaar, China is not a member of these groups. It will be helpful in bargaining with China regarding India's membership in NSG.

Defence Technology and Trade Initiatives:

•      The Defence Technology and Trade Initiative was launched in 2012 between India and the US.

•      Under this initiative, defence production will be done jointly by the two countries.

•      Through LEMOA, both countries will be able to make mutual use of each other's naval bases, it will be helpful in becoming a blue economy, LEMOA does not mean that India cannot oppose the war policy of the US.

•      The CISMOA Communication-Information Security Agreement has been signed between the two countries, which will be helpful for India in shipping etc.

•      Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, which will give India and the US access to classified geo-spatial data and strategically important intelligence from each other.

Defence Authorization Act:

•      Recently, the US Senate has passed the Defense Authorization Act law and provided that India should be given the same status as Israel and other NATO countries in terms of security. That is, the US will cooperate with India in the same way as it does with NATO countries.

•      This status will help India in research and development in the defense sector, better maritime security, technology transfer.

•      India will get help from the US in a war-like situation.

•      The Act enables India to buy uranium anti-tank rounds.

•      There will be no ambiguity in terms of cooperation of the two through this Act.

•      The Act gives India an edge over Pakistan. This Act is an indicator of India's growing global stature. These Acts are not any kind of commitments on India, that is, India will not have to do any kind of financing, etc.

•      The Act grants NATO Like status to India while keeping it strategically autonomous.

         Thus, it is clear that in the last two decades, cooperation between India and the US in security and strategic matters has increased, but at the same time, there are issues like patent dispute, H1B visa dispute, opposing views on the issue of climate, CAATSA JCPOA. Both should try to resolve these issues at the earliest keeping in mind each other's interests.

Q2. भारत को आत्मनिर्भर बनाने में प्रवासी भारतीयों की भूमिका को स्पष्ट कीजिये । साथ ही डायस्पोरा जुड़ाव के संबंध में सरकार की पहलों पर चर्चा कीजिये ।

Explain the role of overseas Indians in making India self-reliant. Also, discuss the government's initiatives regarding diaspora engagement.

Approach:

• Start the answer with the meaning of diaspora and the numbers related to the diaspora.
• Mention in what way diaspora contributes.
• Elaborate on how the Indian diaspora is crucial in making India self-reliant.
• Mention the initiatives run by the government for diaspora engagement.
• Further provide points related to how the role of Indian diaspora in development of self-reliant India can be further enhanced and conclude the answer suitably.

Answer:

          The Indian Diaspora is a generic term used for addressing people who have migrated from the territories that are currently within the borders of India. In India, diaspora is commonly understood to include Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), of which PIO and OCI card holders were merged under one category OCI in 2015. With 18 million people from the country living outside their homeland in 2020, as per UN and The United Arab Emirates, the US and Saudi Arabia host the largest numbers of migrants from India.

          It contributes by way of remittances, investment, lobbying for India, promoting Indian culture abroad and for building a good image of India by their intelligence and industry. As India moves forward with its self-reliant initiative, Prime Minister inaugurated the 16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention and lauded the efforts of overseas Indians in fighting the challenges the world faced last year. Indian Diaspora that the country always stands with them while mentioning over 45 lakh people were repatriated under Vande Bharat Mission during pandemic.

1. National representation across the globe: Diasporas are symbols of a nation’s pride and represent their country internationally. They help in building a country's value internationally through their huge success stories.
2. Economic contribution: Many emigrants make huge investments into their home countries in domestic financial, real estates, services and technological sectors helping in a huge inflow of capitals that boost local economy and create huge jobs acting as an “Agents of Change”. 
3. Remittances: One of the greatest economic contributions of the Indian diaspora has been in terms of remittances. According to Global Migration Report 2020, India continues to be the largest country of origin of international migrants with a 17.5 million-strong diaspora across the world, and it received the highest remittance of $78.6 billion (this amounts to 3.4% of India’s GDP) from Indians living abroad.
4. Help in technology transfer: Today in the 21 Century we are looking to move in a different direction as far as manufacturing and economic growth is concerned & in Information technology in which India again due to the assistance of oversea India, we have become today a knowledge economy and IT superpower & as we move to AI driven Industrial Revolution 4.0. Rolls Royce speaks of co-creation and co-development of light combat engines in India.
5. Response to Pandemics: In health care many Indians are serving overseas and we get a real sense of how integrated the Indian are in healthcare and pandemic response globally. India will continue to play its role as the world's pharmacy & protect humanity from Covid-19 adding the world is not only waiting for India's vaccine but everyone is watching how India runs the world largest vaccination programme.
6. Diplomacy: An important advantage in having a large emigrant group is furthering the nation's diplomacy through people to people contact. Apart from being Competitive a major advantage is by opening the door in a political way i.e., in US or UK Indians have a voice and are in a good position but we should not forget their loyalty would be to the country of their residence. 
7. Political influence: Diaspora plays an important role in influencing policies and politics of its host country in favour of its country of origin and development of good ties and relations between both countries. India’s permanent membership to the UNSC can become a reality with support from the diaspora.
8. Help in boosting bilateral ties: Diaspora increasingly becoming prominent with getting prominent places in the high offices of their residing nations like UK, USA which further helps in building their economic linkages.

Initially there was apprehension that Atma Nirbhar Bharat will isolate the Indian economy from the rest of the world but now we see it is the greater integration of the Indian economy with the global economy. The diaspora can provide the requisite strategic impulse, which makes it all the more important to unlock their potential. 

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs organizes the following programmes and schemes for the Indian Diaspora abroad.

• Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (RPBD): This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (RPBD) to allow participation of the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend annual Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in India.  So far, 7 Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius and Sydney.
• Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards (PBSA): The Award shall be conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or an organization or institution established and run by Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, who has made significant contribution to the mentioned fields.
• Know India Programme (KIP): The objective of the Ministry's Know India Programme is to help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, with developments and achievements made by the country and bringing them closer to the land of their ancestors. KIP provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to bond closely with contemporary India.
• Study India Programme (SIP): The first 'Study India Programme' (SIP) was organized from 25 September to 23 October, 2012 in Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra with participation of 9 youths of Indian origin from four countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji and South Africa.

The role of Indian diaspora in development of self-reliant India can be further enhanced by:

• Conducting outreach and information campaigns to educate diaspora of investment opportunities and setting up seamless investment channels to induce investment by Indian immigrants.
• Facilitating discussion to inform public policy in India through formation of regional or sectoral groups of advisors from the Indian diaspora.
• Focusing on engaging growing diaspora in emerging countries like South Africa, Southeast Asian Nations etc.
• Improving ease of doing business specifically enabling diaspora to expand operations of their firms in India.

          Outreach has to be far more effective. Connect communication strategy with Overseas Indian needs to be strengthened for promoting Make in India more effectively. Global Pravasi Rishta Portal can be used for better connectivity and communication with the Pravasi Bhartiyas.