The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 14th October 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

China, India and New Delhi’s Quad dilemma 

Why in News?

PM Modi is on official visit to the United States of America. During this visit, he met with the President of the USA, Joseph Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Delaware.

• In a special gesture, President Biden hosted the meeting at his home in Wilmington.

Key highlights of the visit

During the meeting, the following documents were accepted:

• Joint Fact Sheet: The United States and India are continuing to grow their comprehensive and global strategic partnership.
• Roadmap For U.S.-India Initiative: This initiative aims to create safe and secure global clean energy supply chains.

Key highlights of the Joint Fact Sheet

• India is preparing to launch its first national security semiconductor fabrication plant.
• This plant will create chips for military uses and important telecommunications.
• The project will be supported by the India Semiconductor Mission and is a partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force.
• Named ‘Shakti’, the facility will focus on producing infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide semiconductors.
• This will be India's first such plant and one of the world's first multi-material fabs aimed at national security.
• This initiative is a major development, similar to the civil nuclear agreement, marking the first time the US military has partnered with India for advanced technologies.
• Both leaders recognized the importance of building strong and secure semiconductor supply chains, which includes the establishment of GlobalFoundries’ (GF) Kolkata Power Center.
• The Kolkata Power Center will enhance semiconductor supply chains and contribute to innovations in zero/low-emission vehicles, AI, and connected devices.
• The leaders welcomed the first joint NASA-ISRO research project aboard the International Space Station, planned for 2025.
• A new U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute will be established, mobilizing $90 million over five years to support impactful R&D partnerships between universities in the U.S. and India.
• Seventeen new research awards in AI and quantum technology were announced through the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund.
• A total of $15 million in funding was announced to support joint research between the U.S. and India in next-generation telecommunications, semiconductors, AI, and sustainable technologies.
• Both leaders praised the progress in U.S.-India defense relations, including India's purchase of 31 MQ-9B drones and co-production agreements for jet engines and munitions.
• They welcomed partnerships such as Liquid Robotics working with Sagar Defence, the establishment of a new C-130J MRO facility, and the INDUS-X innovation challenges.
• The leaders also highlighted the importance of military interoperability, space and cyber cooperation, and upcoming initiatives like Liaison Officer deployments and joint exercises such as TIGER TRIUMPH.
• Efforts to strengthen India's MRO ecosystem and align defense procurement systems were also emphasized.
• They applauded the recent completion of the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), which improves the mutual supply of defense goods and services.
• Both sides celebrated their collaboration on clean energy, launching a roadmap to enhance safe energy supply chains.
• This includes unlocking $1 billion for renewable energy projects, DFC loans for solar manufacturing, and partnerships on hydrogen safety and critical minerals.
• They emphasized the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) aimed at innovation, addressing climate change, and creating jobs.
• Initiatives like the Green Transition Fund and public-private task forces were endorsed, along with India's progress towards IEA membership, reaffirming their commitment to accelerate clean energy deployment and manufacturing.
• Both leaders celebrated the new U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework for the 21st Century and its accompanying Memorandum of Understanding.
• This framework aims to strengthen collaboration against the illegal production and trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, enhancing a comprehensive public health partnership.
• They also applauded the launch of the Bio5 partnership involving the U.S., India, ROK, Japan, and the EU to improve cooperation in pharmaceutical supply chains.
• The leaders welcomed the formal launch of the new U.S.-India Global Digital Development Partnership.
• This partnership aims to connect U.S. and Indian private sector companies and resources to promote the responsible use of emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa.
• The leaders also acknowledged enhanced trilateral cooperation with Tanzania through the Triangular Development Partnership.
• This initiative, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development and India’s Development Partnership Administration, focuses on addressing global development challenges and promoting prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
• The partnership aims to advance renewable energy projects, particularly in solar energy, to improve energy infrastructure and access in Tanzania, thus enhancing energy cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
• In July 2024, the U.S. and India signed a Cultural Property Agreement to support the 1970 Convention aimed at preventing the illegal import, export, and transfer of cultural property.
• This agreement is the result of years of cooperation between the two countries, leading to the return of 297 Indian antiquities from the U.S. to India in 2024.

Roadmap for U.S.-India Initiative on Clean Energy Supply Chains

Objectives of the Roadmap

• Job Creation: Create good jobs through clean energy projects.
• Accelerate Clean Energy Deployment: Speed up the global use of clean technologies.
• Global Climate Goals: Work together towards shared climate goals.

Key Initiatives

Financial Support

• Provide $1 billion in multilateral funding through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for clean energy projects.
• Support the growth of manufacturing in the areas of solar, wind, batteries, and energy grid systems.

Manufacturing Focus

• Find investment chances in clean energy supply chains that include:
  • Solar wafers and cells
  • Wind turbine parts
  • Energy storage systems
  • Electric vehicle battery packs
  • High-efficiency cooling technologies

Collaboration with Private Sector

• Partner with businesses to plan pilot projects and build partnerships, especially in Africa for solar energy and electric vehicle deployment.
• Involve the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Indian companies to fund clean energy component manufacturing.

Trilateral Relationships

• Create partnerships with African countries focused on clean energy, emphasizing the conditions for project success and financing strategies.

Policy Development

• Share ideas on policies to boost demand for clean technologies made locally.
• Utilize existing laws such as the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and India's Production Linked Incentive Schemes to improve investment safety.