INDIA'S G20 PRESIDENCY: A VISION FOR INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Introduction:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India’s G20 presidency emphasizes inclusivity, ambition, decisiveness, and action-oriented approaches, reaffirming India’s commitment to democracy and multilateralism.
- As a significant voice for inclusivity, India sees itself as the bridge connecting the world.
Startup20 Engagement Group:
- Under India’s G20 presidency, the Startup20 Engagement Group is established, recognizing the pivotal role of startups in driving innovation.
- India’s strategic approach includes hosting over 200 meetings across 60 cities, contributing to infrastructure development, women’s empowerment, fostering startup ecosystems, trade and investment promotion, and boosting tourism.
Digital Infrastructure and Inclusive Growth:
- India places a key focus on digital infrastructure as a means to achieve inclusive growth. Initiatives like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) exemplify India’s success in this area and offer a global model for emerging economies.
- Financial institutions must adapt to enhance India’s digital growth, ensuring governance and regulation promote equitable access to data-driven opportunities, as demonstrated by the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill.
Multilateral Financial Institutions and Crypto Assets:
- Reforming multilateral financial institutions is essential to address 21st-century challenges and manage debt effectively.
- Additionally, the G20 aims to establish a global regulatory framework for crypto assets, transcending central bank jurisdiction.
Sustainable Growth and Climate Leadership:
- India acknowledges the urgency of addressing climate change and aims to lead the world in sustainability.
- Traditional practices that promote harmony with the environment offer valuable lessons.
- Priorities include sustainable cities, resilient infrastructure, innovative food production, and eco-friendly economic systems.
India Stack for Sustainability:
- India envisions the India Stack for Sustainability as a technology-driven digital infrastructure managing ecosystems, energy, waste, and water resources.
- Leveraging technology and circularity principles, India aims to demonstrate a sustainability-first economy with a focus on artificial intelligence and sustainable practices.
Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Trade Facilitation:
- GVCs play a crucial role in sustainable growth, job creation, and improved living standards.
- India seeks to become a trusted trade partner by enhancing ease of doing business, addressing decriminalization, and embracing Industry 4.0 technologies like blockchain, IoT, analytics, and cloud digitalization.
Low-Carbon Manufacturing and Inclusivity:
- India’s expertise in frugal innovation and skilled resources positions it as a leader in low-carbon manufacturing.
- Balancing climate legislation with livelihood preservation is essential, particularly for the vast MSME sector.
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment are promoted through initiatives like the G20 EMPOWER Digital Inclusion Platform.
Conclusion:
India’s G20 Presidency aspires to achieve just and equitable global growth in a sustainable, holistic, responsible, and inclusive manner. The vision aligns with the principle of “vasudhaiva kutumbakam” (One earth, one family, one future), emphasizing harmony with the ecosystem and fostering a shared global future.
BRICS EXPANSION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Introduction
- The 15th BRICS summit held in Johannesburg recently announced the invitation of six new member countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina.
- This move marks a significant development in the evolution of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and reflects the growing interest from various nations in joining the group.
BRICS Background
- BRICS, established in 2009, has been an annual summit that promotes economic and political cooperation among its member countries.
- It has created two major institutions: the New Development Bank (NDB) for development assistance and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) to support countries facing balance-of-payments pressures.
- BRICS members have expressed dissatisfaction with Western-dominated international institutions, advocating for reforms and a more inclusive global order.
BRICS Expansion
- The recent expansion of BRICS membership includes Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE (West Asia), Egypt, Ethiopia (Africa), and Argentina (Latin America).
- Approximately 40 countries have shown interest in BRICS membership, with 22 submitting formal applications.
- With the new members, BRICS will represent 46% of the world’s population and 37% of the global GDP in PPP terms, surpassing the G-7’s GDP share of 30.7%.
Geo-strategic Value of New Members
- The new BRICS members bring significant geo-strategic value to the group:
- West Asian members (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran) are vital energy players with close ties to BRICS members.
- Egypt and Ethiopia hold strategic positions in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
- Argentina is the second-largest economy in Latin America.
BRICS Achievements and Shared Vision
- Critics have labeled BRICS as a “talk-shop” with no shared vision, but this is unfounded.
- BRICS leaders have consistently issued consensual declarations over 15 years, expanding their areas of interest.
- The Johannesburg Declaration emphasizes intra-BRICS cooperation and outreach to other developing countries, focusing on the use of local currencies in trade and financial transactions.
- The Declaration also reflects shared views on global political issues, such as the centrality of the United Nations, conflicts in West Asia, the war in Ukraine, and global terrorism.
Outlook for Regional and Global Affairs
- New BRICS members, particularly those from West Asia, align with the political and economic framework of the group.
- Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pursued independent foreign policy paths and have engaged in regional diplomacy, including dialogue with Iran.
- Iran’s entry into BRICS opens opportunities for regional economic cooperation and north-south connectivity projects through the Chabahar port, involving India.
- BRICS members reject the notion of a “new cold war” and advocate for strategic autonomy in a multipolar world order.
Conclusion
The expansion of BRICS with the inclusion of new members from various regions underscores its growing relevance in shaping global politics and economics.
The group’s commitment to reforming international institutions and promoting a more inclusive global order highlights its role as a significant player in contemporary geopolitics.
The Johannesburg summit is seen as a “turning point in modern history” as BRICS continues to assert its influence on the global stage.
Recent Developments in the Indian Space Sector
Introduction:
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been making headlines with two significant missions, Chandrayaan-3 and the Aditya mission.
- These missions have garnered public attention and have coincided with the G20 summit in New Delhi.
- However, the credit distribution and the long journey behind the Aditya mission reveal the intricate dynamics of India’s space exploration efforts and the role of diverse academic and research institutions.
Chandrayaan-3’s Perfect Touchdown:
Indian scientists recently achieved a flawless landing for the Chandrayaan-3 lander, Vikram. This achievement marked a significant milestone for ISRO and captured public interest.
Aditya Mission to Explore the Sun:
In a separate development, ISRO successfully launched the Aditya mission to study the sun. While unrelated to Chandrayaan-3, the Aditya mission further highlights India’s prowess in space exploration.
Political Milestone:
- The timing of these missions is notable, as they occurred just before the G20 summit in New Delhi.
- The government used this opportunity to showcase these achievements to international visitors.
- Hoardings featuring the Vikram lander and Prime Minister Narendra Modi adorned the airport and VIP routes in the national capital.
Minister’s Claims:
- Science Minister Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Modi for these space achievements, claiming that they were only possible under his leadership.
- However, mission and project directors were more modest in their acknowledgments and emphasized the contributions of thousands of scientists, technologists, and reviewers from various institutions.
Aditya Mission’s Evolution:
- The Aditya mission had a lengthy gestation period, taking more than 15 years to become a reality.
- Initially conceived as Aditya-1, the mission was later reconfigured as Aditya-L1, positioned 1.5 million km from Earth towards the sun, and equipped with seven instruments for data collection.
Key Institutions Involved:
- Several unique institutions played crucial roles in the Aditya mission.
- The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore, which developed the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), has a rich history of solar observation.
- The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, which later became part of IIA, dates back to the late eighteenth century.
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES):
- Founded by MK Vainu Bappu, who also played a pivotal role in establishing IIA, ARIES in Nainital contributes to the Aditya mission. Bappu was a member of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (Incospar), precursor to ISRO.
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA):
- IUCAA in Pune, founded by Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, is another significant contributor to the Aditya mission.
- IUCAA was established to bridge the gap between well-funded national research labs and universities with limited research facilities.
Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences India:
A relatively new addition to India’s academic institutions, this multi-institutional Centre of Excellence hosted by IISER, Kolkata, has a substantial role in developing Aditya’s payload.
Government Support and Autonomy:
- Most of these academic and research institutions have thrived due to sustained government support, credible scientific leadership, and autonomy in their operations.
- Recent attempts to dilute their autonomous character could have detrimental effects on the future of science in India.
- Instead, these institutions require more funding, greater autonomy, and protection from political interference.
Conclusion:
India’s recent space achievements are a testament to the collaborative efforts of a diverse set of academic and research institutions, in addition to ISRO.
The successful missions underscore the importance of preserving the autonomy and funding of these institutions to ensure continued advancements in Indian space research.
