22 July 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. India-UAE relations have significantly improved over the last few years. Give examples of key occasions and places where India and the UAE have collaborated.

GS II – International Relations

• Due to their common cultural, religious, and economic ties, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have had strong connections for a very long time. Long-standing energy trade ties between the two nations remain strong, but a new agenda is also taking shape. The two countries have recently looked into new areas of collaboration, such as entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, education, and space.

Significant developments and areas of cooperation between India and the UAE include:

• Economic and trade relations: India is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for 14% of all exports and 9% of all exports of commodities other than oil. India’s third-largest trading partner is the UAE. Another recent agreement was the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. This deal is anticipated to benefit almost 90% of bilateral trade between the two nations, increasing the value of that trade over the subsequent five years from $60 billion to $100 billion.
• The Indian community in the UAE numbers 3.5 million people, or nearly 30% of the overall population of the nation. Indians make up the largest group of expats in the UAE, and their remittances are a significant source of foreign money. A temple in Abu Dhabi will be built on 26 acres provided by the UAE government, which speaks volumes about the level of respect between the two nations. Indians’ role in the UAE’s economic development has been recognised.
• Space cooperation: The expansion of the space sector is a top goal for the leaders of India and the UAE. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and UAE Space Agency (UAESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016 to foster cooperation in the exploration and peaceful use of space. PSLV also launched Nayif-1 from Sriharikota, the UAE’s first nanosatellite, to collect data on the planet’s environment.
• Geopolitical changes in the West Asia region: The bilateral relations between the two countries may have an impact on regional geopolitical shifts on both a bilateral and international scale. Since the Abraham Accords, relations between Israel and the UAE have improved. Israel’s technological advancement can also be advantageous to the UAE and India. The United States, these three countries, and their alliance stand for the ultimate combination of technology, money, and the market. The promotion of security and peace in the West Asian region is significantly aided by the new alliance I2U2 (Israel, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the US).
• Cross-border trading in local currencies: During the prime minister’s recent visit to the UAE, the two countries agreed to establish a framework to promote trading in local currencies like the rupee and the UAE dirham (AED). All forms of transactions, including remittances from Indians residing in the United Arab Emirates, would see lower transaction costs and faster settlement times if local currencies were used.
• India and the UAE have also discussed mutual respect and shared concerns on numerous platforms. This year, the UAE will host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP). As India assumed the leadership of the UN Security Council in December 2022, the UAE vigorously backed India’s application for permanent membership on the Security Council (SC) and for quick reforms of the SC.
• The ability of India-UAE relations to transcend the bilateral and assume a multilateral dimension with boundless potential, in addition to the expanding bilateral connections and communal objectives, is what gives them their special worth. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) now, India’s closest ally may be the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their connection is rooted in both their common past and their bright future.

Q2. France and India have a trust-based relationship that strives to new heights. Describe the main areas of cooperation between France and India in this situation.

GS II – International Relations

• France and India have long been strategic allies in the Indo-Pacific. The two countries have continuously cooperated since their diplomatic ties were established in 1947 and their cooperation was advanced to a strategic level in 1998, developing a high degree of confidence and sharing values rooted in international law. During the recent visit of the prime minister to France, a strategic road plan for the next 25 years named “Horizon 2047” was unveiled in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France and to deepen collaboration in a number of fields.

In the following crucial areas, India and France work together:

• Space collaboration: For more than 50 years, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) have collaborated on satellite launches and a range of joint research initiatives. In 2018, France and India each published a “Joint Vision for Space Cooperation” that outlines the following goals for both countries:
• taking high-quality photos of the Earth.
• and spatial situational awareness.
• involvement in joint climate monitoring missions like Megha-Tropiques and Saral-Altika.
• continuing investigation of the Trishna satellite for monitoring land infrared and the Oceansat3-Argos mission.
• collaboration in defence: An essential part of partnerships, collaboration in defence is marked by dependability and trust. Two notable ongoing defence agreements include the purchase of Rafael aeroplanes and the P-75 Scorpene project. Both countries frequently undertake exercises like Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Varuna (Navy), and Exercise Garuda (Air Force).
• Civil Nuclear Cooperation: In 2008, India and France signed a contract for civil nuclear cooperation. 2018 saw the signing of several agreements between the two countries, one of which was for the construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra. The Jaitapur Nuclear Agreement is planned to be the largest nuclear power project in the world with a 9.6 MW capacity.
• Economic cooperation: India and France have significant economic, commercial, and investment relations. France has grown to be a key source of foreign direct investment for India, with more than 1,000 French companies currently present. Renowned French companies like Dassault, SAFRAN, Schneider Electric, and others have partnered with sizable Indian companies like Reliance, Tata, Mahindra, L&T, and others in the defence and electronics sectors.
• Cultural exchange: Indian culture enjoys a large following in France. The Vivekananda Cultural Centre, an Indian cultural hub, just opened in Paris. Since 2016, the International Day of Yoga has been held in the Indian Embassy in Paris and other French cities.
• Science and technology collaboration: The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advance Research (CEFIPRA), established in 1987 in New Delhi, is actively participating in the S&T sector by supporting joint applications for scientific research and evaluating ongoing research projects.
• Both nations are pursuing ambitious bilateral collaboration on cutting-edge digital technologies in accordance with the Indo-French Road Map on Cyber Security and Digital Technology agreed in 2019. This covers quantum technologies, supercomputing, cloud computing, AI, and AI under the scope of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPIA).
• Cooperation on climate change and energy security goals: India and France are working closely together to transition to a low-carbon economy. Through multilateral and third-country efforts, including as the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership, International Solar Alliance, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), India and France will provide sustainable development solutions to the nations of the region.
• Partnership for the People: The Partnership Agreement on Migration and Mobility, which went into effect in 2021, is a significant step in fulfilling a common commitment to boosting the mobility of students, recent graduates, academics, researchers, professionals, and skilled workers.
• India and France share similar goals for a multipolar world, independence in their foreign policies, and the value of their strategic autonomy. The relationship between India and France has distinguished itself from the other significant alliances that India has established around the world in these and in other ways.