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Current Affairs

INDIA AND USA RELATIONSHIP

Overview:

India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a global strategic partnership, based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.
President Obama characterized India-U.S. relationship as one of the defining partnerships of the 21st Century.
The bilateral cooperation is now broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high-technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health. People to people interaction provide further vitality and strength to bilateral relationship.

India, U.S. sign three MoUs on smart cities

India and United States signed three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) to give a boost to the Centre's flagship 'smart cities' scheme.
The U.S. has agreed to partner with Indian in developing three smart cities in Allahabad, Ajmer, and Visakhapatnam.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation:

The bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement was finalized in July 2007 and signed in October 2008. During the visit of President Obama to India in November 2010, the two Governments announced completion of all steps to begin implementation of the Civil Nuclear Agreement.
U.S. nuclear companies (Westinghouse and GE Hitachi) are in consultations with NPCIL to commence commercial cooperation in this area. NPCIL and Westinghouse signed an MOU in June 2012 committing both sides to negotiate an Early Works Agreement. The civil nuclear initiative has been strengthened by the regular meeting of the IndoUS Civil Nuclear Working Group (CNWG).
India win U.S. assurances of support for its membership in four nuclear regimes: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australian Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). An enhanced insurance pool with a liability package of at least $200 million,
While the insurance pool plan will certainly drive up the cost of building the reactors with companies GE Hitachi and Westinghouse.

India, U.S. to extend Defence cooperation pact

Identified four projects under the Defence Technology Trade Initiative (DTTI) for joint production and development and exploring cooperation for jet engines and aircraft carrier systems.
 We have also decided to take our growing defence cooperation to a new level. We have agreed, in principle, to pursue co-development and co-production of specific advanced defence projects,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
 This would help upgrade the country’s domestic defence industry and expand the manufacturing sector in India.
Mr. Obama said the agreement would guide the bilateral defence cooperation for the next 10 years.
 The two countries agreed to set up a working group to explore aircraft carrier technology and design and develop jet engine technology in India.
 DTTI include next-generation Raven mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), roll-on, roll-off intelligence kits for C-130 transport aircraft and mobile electric hybrid power source.
Four projects were “pathfinder” schemes as they would determine how to go forward in defence co-development. Of these, two projects were with U.S. companies, while two were with the U.S. government.

Counter-terrorism Cooperation:

Cooperation in counter-terrorism has seen considerable progress with intelligence sharing, information exchange, operational cooperation and access to advanced counter-terrorism technology and equipment.
The Dialogue reviewed engagement in each of the Homeland Security Dialogue Sub-Groups, namely:

  • Megacities Policing.
  • Combating Illicit Finance, Bulk Cash Smuggling, and Counterfeiting
  • Cyber-security and Critical Infrastructure Protection.
  • Port, Border, Maritime, Transportation and Supply Chain Security.
  • Science and Technology Cooperation. and
  • Capacity Building.

Trade and Economic Relations:

A separate Commercial Dialogue has been set up to cover:

  • Trade Defence Measures
  • Small and Medium Enterprises and
  • capacity building on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). For greater involvement of private sector in discussion on issues involving trade and investment the bilateral India-US CEO’s Forum was reconstituted in 2009.

Mutual Investments:

U.S. is the third largest source of foreign direct investments into India. The cumulative FDI inflows from the US from April 2000 to March 2013 amounted to about $ 11.1 billion constituting nearly 6.0 percent of the total FDI into India.

Energy Cooperation:

The U.S.-India Energy Dialogue was launched on May 31, 2005 to promote increased trade and investment in the energy sector, through identification of further areas of co-operation and collaboration, while actively working with both the public and private sectors.

Clean Energy:

An Agreement for Cooperation on Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center (JCERDC) was signed between India and U.S. in November 2010.

Space:

Major areas include:

  • exchange of scientists.
  • OCM2, INSAT3D collaboration
  • Cooperation on Mars mission
  • nano-satellites
  • carbon /ecosystem monitoring and modeling.
  • feasibility of collaboration in radio occultation:
  • Earth Science Cooperation:
  • international space station.
  • global navigation satellite systems.
  • L&S band SAR.
  • space exploration cooperation.
  • space debris mediation. NASA and ISRO signed an agreement for activities related to India’s Mars Orbiter Mission.

Cooperation in Science & Technology:

The U.S.-India Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was signed on October, 2005. The United States and the Indian Department of Science & Technology (DST) endowed the India-U.S. Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) with matching funds to facilitate mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in science, engineering, and health. Over the past ten years, the IUSSTF has facilitated more than 12,000 interactions between Indian and U.S. scientists.

Cooperation in the Health Sector:

Under the U.S.-India Health Initiative, four working groups have been organized in the areas of Non-Communicable Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Strengthening Health Systems and Services, and Maternal and Child Health.

People to people ties:

More than three million strong Indian American community includes a large number of professionals, educationists and entrepreneurs, has been increasing its sphere of influence and gaining in political strength.

Cultural Cooperation:

The Embassy, in collaboration with the Indian American Community and cultural organizations caters to the demand to the extent possible. These activities are grouped in to Reading India Series (featuring events related to Indian authors and writings), Performing Indian Series featuring music, dance and theatre Beholding India Series film screening, art and photo exhibitions,  documentary on Jewish contribution to Bollywood, Photo exhibition on Sikh heritage in India, Understanding India Series featuring lectures on comprehensive and cross-sectional views of India.