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INDEX

1. National news 1.1 Govt plans to sell Air India, AI Express together

1.2 Speed up trial of politicans, says SC

1.3 Haj subsidy to be phased out next year

1.4 Private sector must invest more in contract farming: PM

1.5 Banganapalle mangoes get GI Tag

2. International News 2.1 Iran displays missile to make anniversary

3. Polity and Governance 3.1 Specify Aadhaar link deadlines, says SC

3.2 Judiciary knows best: SC collegium

4. Economy 4.1 Crypto currencies now come under SEBI lens

4.2 Moving up in the Ease of Doing Business index

4.3 India made Falcon will fly in 2022, says Relinance Group

4.4 Food Processing to be major growth area

5. Science and Tech 5.1 The war on TB

6. Environment / Geography 6.1 Mass bathing in Ganga aggravates antimicrobial woes

6.2 Blackbuck conservation to come up in UP

7. Security 7.1 India offers to share real time maritime data

7.2 Navy to use U.S. aircraft launch system in ship

8. India and World 8.1 China dismisses – India – Pacific quad plan as speculation

8.2 India urged to join Belt and Road Initiative


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Current Affairs (01 to 10 November, 2017)

1. National News

1.1 Govt plans to sell Air India, AI Express together

Government is working to conclude the sale of national carrier Air India by June 2018 and is

keen on selling its core airline operations, together with its low-cost international airline, Air

India Express.

The decision was taken by the Air India-specific Alternative Mechanism — a group of Ministers

led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to decide on the modalities of stake sale in the national

carrier.

As per the decision, the Centre will look to sell AI’s regional airline Alliance Air to a separate

universe of bidders while Air India and Air India Express will likely go together.

The rationale is that we can find prospective buyers from international airlines if we call bids for

Air India and Air India Express together. Since Alliance Air operates flights mainly on regional

domestic routes, it makes more sense to sell it off separately.

The decision was taken after the government held several rounds of backchannel talks with

prospective buyers of Air India and its subsidiaries.

Sources said the government met companies involved in MRO, ground handling and airline

operations to examine whether all the subsidiaries should be sold off together or calling for

separate set of bidders would increase Air India’s valuation.


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Till now, low-cost airline IndiGo has formally expressed interest in mainly buying Air India’s

international operations, including Air India Express which flies to various airports in the Gulf,

Middle East and South East Asia predominantly from Kerala.

IndiGo co-founders have said that though it has been eyeing Air India’s international operations

since “day one”, it would still be interested if the government sells Air India’s entire airline

operations to a single entity.

While Turkey’s Celebi Aviation Holding and Delhi-based Bird Group have shown interest in Air

India’s ground handling arm, India’s oldest private MRO firm AirWorks is keen on buying AIESL.

Without revealing names, officials at the Civil Aviation Ministry said other airlines, both

domestic and international, are also keen to bid for Air India’s airline operations.

The panel is also in favour of hiving off Air India’s properties and non-operational assets into a

special purpose vehicle (SPV) to retire a portion of the national carrier’s debt, sources said.

The Union government recently chose consultancy firm EY and investment banker Rothschild as

the transaction advisors and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as the legal advisor to help

government with Air India’s disinvestment process.

1.2 Speed up trial of politicans, says SC

The Supreme Court asked the government to frame a central scheme for setting up special

courts across the country to exclusively try criminal cases involving ‘political persons.’

In a determined effort to cleanse politics of criminality and corruption, the apex court said it

takes years, probably decades, to complete the trial against a politician.

By this time, he or she would have served as a minister or legislator several times over.

Rejects argument

SC ordered the government to place the scheme before it on December 13, the next date of

hearing. It said the scheme should provide details of the funds required to set up such courts.

The Bench said the Supreme Court would directly interact with the State governments on issues

like the appointment of judicial officers, public prosecutors, court staff and other requirements

of manpower and infrastructure for the special courts.

Seeks report card

Giving no quarter, the apex court directed the Centre to submit a report card by December 13

on the status of the 1,581 criminal cases pending against Members of Parliament and State

Legislative Assemblies at the time of the 2014 elections.

The court said it wanted to know whether its March 10, 2014 order to complete the trial in all

these cases within a year’s time had been complied with or not.


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1.3 Haj subsidy to be phased out next year

Haj subsidy borne by the government and extended to pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia could

be phased out as early as 2018. The subsidy was to be phased out after a Supreme Court order

recommended the same to the government in 2012, with 2022 as the outer limit.

A meeting of the review committee on the subsidy and Haj services, comprising senior officials

of the Ministries for Minority Affairs, Civil Aviation and External Affairs and the Haj Committee

of India, was held where the decision was announced.

2022 deadline

The Haj Committee reportedly asked for a phasing out with the 2022 deadline in mind saying it

would affect pilgrims from small towns.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi confirmed that the phase out would be

as early as 2018, with the subsidy reduced to “almost nil” from the ₹450 crore being spent this

year.

“The decision is in consonance with the Supreme Court order. The subsidy has been

progressively reduced since 2012 and we are looking to phase it out completely by 2018. We

would like to spend the funds on educational programmes especially for girl children of the

minority community.

Subsidy is only one aspect of the government’s responsibility with regard to Haj, we are

committed to a more transparent and open system for sending pilgrims and their safety and

security while they perform the pilgrimage,” the Minister told media.

He also said that a new Haj policy had been almost finalised and would be made available to the

court and the public soon.

1.4 Private sector must invest more in contract farming: PM

Prime Minister asked the private sector to invest more in contract farming, raw material-

sourcing and creating agri-linkages, and said there are huge opportunities for global super-

market chains considering India as a major outsourcing hub.

Besides, he suggested that aerated drinks manufacturers consider blending 5% fruit juice in their

products, and said such a procedure has major potential since fruit-juice based drinks are an

intrinsic part of Indian food habits.

In addition, he pitched for a venture based on ‘nutrition-rich and climate-smart crops’ to boost

production and supply of India’s coarse grains and millets that ‘not only have high nutritional

value, but can also withstand adverse agro-climatic conditions’.

Three-day meet

The Prime Minister said, “private sector participation has been increasing in many segments of

the value chain. However, more investment is required in contract farming, raw material

sourcing and creating agri-linkages. Many international companies in India have taken a lead in


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contract farming initiatives. This is a clear opportunity for global super-market chains

considering India as a major outsourcing hub.”

Pointing out that increasing urbanisation and a growing middle class were resulting in an ever-

growing demand for wholesome, processed food, he said,

“Over a million passengers have a meal on a train in India, every single day. Each one of them is

a potential customer for the food processing industry. Such is the scale of opportunity that is

waiting to be tapped.”

Sweet, blue revolutions

On sub-sectors of the Indian food industry that have the potential to increase farmers’ incomes,

Mr. Modi said the government aims to take the dairy sector, which is a vital area for the rural

economy, to the ‘next level’ by increasing production levels of multiple products based on milk.

Referring to honey, where India currently ranks sixth in production and export, Mr. Modi said

“India is now ripe for a ‘sweet revolution’.”

Pointing out that India exports fish and fisheries products to about 95 countries, he said, “We

aim to make a big leap in the ocean economy through the ‘blue revolution’. Our focus is on

development of untapped areas, such as ornamental fisheries and trout farming.

We also wish to explore new areas, like pearl farming.” India’s commitment to sustainable

development is at the heart of the government’s thrust to organic farming, he said, adding that

the entire north-east offers opportunities to create functional infrastructure for organic

produce.

Referring to an increase in lifestyle diseases, he said, “The combination of traditional Indian

food, with modern technology, processing and packaging, can help the world rediscover the

health benefits, and refreshing taste of Indian food ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, and

tulsi, to name just a few.

“The perfect blend of hygienic, nutritious and tasty processed food, with the added benefits of

preventive healthcare, can be produced economically, here in India.”

1.5 Banganapalle mangoes get GI Tag

The succulent Banganapalle mango has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, making

Andhra Pradesh the proprietor of the variety known for its sweetness.

The Registrar of Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, O.P. Gupta has accorded the

registration following an application from the Horticulture Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh government is the registered proprietor of the GI tag for mangoes, often

hailed as “the king of fruits.”

Banganapalle mangoes have been grown for over 100 years in the State. It also known as

Beneshan, Baneshan, Benishan, Chappatai and Safeda.

The fruits can retain their quality under cold storage even up to three months, Andhra Pradesh

government said in documents seeking GI.


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The primary centre of origin of the fruit is Kurnool district comprising Banaganapalle, Paanyam

and Nandyal mandals, according to the Andhra Pradesh government which mentioned

Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra as secondary centres of origin.

The government has also listed Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak and Adilabad

districts in Telangana as secondary centres of origin.

A logo too is in place — featuring a bright yellow fruit around which the tagline says

“Banganappalle Mangoes of Andhra Pradesh,” with images of a man and a woman appearing to

be farmers.

While the annual turnover of Banaganapalle mangoes was approximately ₹461 crore, exports

were to the tune of ₹20.68 crore, she had said.

About GI Tag

GI is covered under the Intellectual Property Rights and the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual

Property Rights.

A GI tag certifies the origin of a product or produce from a particular region as the quality or

other features of the product is attributable only to the place of its origin.

The tag helps farmers or manufacturers, as the case may be, to get a better price in the market.


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2. International News

2.1 Iran displays missile to make anniversary

Iran displayed a surface-to-surface missile as part of events marking the anniversary of the 1979

U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis amid uncertainty about its nuclear deal with world

powers.

Thousands gathered at the former U.S. embassy in downtown Tehran where a missile, believed

to be a 2,000 km (1,243-mile)-range solid-fuel Sejjil, was on display. It was the first time Iran

displayed a missile during the annual gathering.

President Donald Trump refused to re-certify the 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Iran and

world powers in October and the U.S. has imposed more sanctions on Iran over its ballistic

missile program.

The U.S. Congress must now make a decision regarding the 2015 nuclear deal, in which Iran

agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

The former embassy in Tehran is now a cultural center while standing as a symbol of a U.S.

defeat for many Iranians. Many Iranians call it the “den of spies.”

The U.S. cut its diplomatic relations with Iran following the embassy takeover and has had no

diplomatic relations since.


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3. Polity and Governance

3.1 Specify Aadhaar link deadlines, says SC

The Supreme Court sent a clear message to the public to not panic, when it directed mobile

service providers and banks to specify the last dates of linking mobile numbers and bank

accounts to Aadhaar in the SMSes and e-mails they send to millions of subscribers.

The court, however, refused to pass any interim order to stay the linking, saying a Constitution

Bench is scheduled to hear Aadhaar cases by November-end.

SC ordered that mobile service providers and banks should specify that February 6, 2018 and

December 31, 2017 are the last dates for Aadhaar linking.

Free to move court

The Bench made it clear that if the final hearing in Aadhaar matter got postponed in November,

the petitioners were free to approach the court to extend the deadline set for linking bank

accounts to Aadhaar.

The government has already filed an affidavit in the SC that it ‘may’ extend the Aadhaar-bank

account linking deadline to March 31, 2018. “The final hearing in the Aadhaar case is starting

from November last week and there is time for linking till December 31.

The Bench recorded in its order that the petitioners, represented by senior advocate Shyam

Divan and advocate Vipin Nair, are “at liberty to press” their case for an extension of the

deadline in case the final hearing does not take place as scheduled.

3.2 Judiciary knows best: SC collegium

Let judiciary, and not the Intelligence Bureau (IB), be the best judge of professional competence

of candidates considered for judicial appointments, the Supreme Court Collegium said.

SC made it clear that the IB should not delve into the professional competence of persons

shortlisted for the judiciary. The IB does a background check on the candidates once their names

are considered for elevation by the High Court Collegium concerned.

The Chief Justice and his two senior-most colleagues met on November 1 to decide on the

recommendations for appointments to Tripura and Jharkhand High Courts and also to consider

the case of three Additional Judges in the Gauhati High Court who were to be made permanent

judges.

The Supreme Court Collegium further laid down that only factually proven information supplied

by the IB on candidates should be taken cognisance of by the Collegium.

“In our view, it would not be appropriate to take cognisance of any unsubstantiated information

based on the discreet inquiries made by the Intelligence Bureau,” the Collegium noted.

Nod for elevation


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In the cases of the three candidates — advocates Rajesh Kumar, Anubha Rawat Choudhary and

Kailash Prasad Deo — for the Jharkhand HC, the Supreme Court Collegium found that the IB had

come up with nothing on record against their integrity. All three have been recommended for

elevation as judges.

In all the cases, the Collegium’s conclusions show that it has microscopically gone through the IB

reports concerning the integrity of the candidates recommended by the HC Collegiums.


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4. Economy

4.1 Crypto currencies now come under SEBI lens

The rising popularity of crypto currencies and the increasing number of entities looking at raising

funds through Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) has caught the attention of the capital market

regulator, which is evaluating whether such instruments and offerings can be brought under its

regulatory purview.

According to persons familiar with the development, the Securities

and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is mulling whether an ICO can

be regulated under the existing legal framework or certain

amendments would be required in case the government wants the

capital market watchdog to be the regulatory authority for such

issuances.

Incidentally, crypto currencies like bitcoin, ethereum and such offerings have been under

government radar for long and discussions have been held between various bodies, including

SEBI and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on the possible ways in which this segment can be

regulated.

The central bank is of the view that these instruments are securities and so SEBI should be the

regulating body.

‘Concrete presentation’

The regulator is evaluating whether these instruments can be regulated under the current SEBI

Act or if there is a need for the government to give additional powers or amend the existing law,

he added.

An ICO, like an equity initial public offer (IPO), is an issuance of digital tokens that can be

converted into crypto currencies and are mostly used to raise funds by start-up firms dealing in

blockchain technology and virtual currencies like bitcoins and ethereum.

Unlike an IPO, which is governed by SEBI regulations, there is no regulatory body for ICOs in

India.

According to data from UK-based CoinDesk, nearly $2.7 billion has been raised globally through

ICOs since 2014. Concerns related to ICOs can be gauged from the fact that China recently

banned such offerings after its central bank said that ICOs are “illegal public finance” mechanism

used for issue of securities and money laundering.

According to a recent study, more than 2,500 Indians invest in bitcoin daily. Start-ups like

Zebpay, Unocoin, Coinsecure, Searchtrade, Belfrics and Bitxoxo are some of the well-known

players in the bitcoin and blockchain segment in India.

Crypto currencies and ICOs have risks and involve pooling of money, it cannot be regulated by

SEBI unless it is relatable to the securities market.

Unregulated


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Bitcoins are neither ‘commodities derivatives’ nor ‘securities’ under Securities Contracts

(Regulation) Act, 1956. Amending definition of ‘securities’ alone may not resolve the issue of

bitcoin regulation as there are numerous issues revolving around.

Bitcoin players, meanwhile, feel that instead of a regulator, the industry is in more urgent need

of a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) that could formally lay down principles to take care of

concerns like money laundering and other possible misuse.

The industry is at an initial stage and an SRO would not hinder innovation and, at the same time,

allow the industry to scale in a responsible manner.

In the US, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) applies a so-called Howey Test to

determine if an instrument is to be considered a security. SEBI has an extremely well regulated

process in place and there is no need for a new regulator for ICOs

4.2 Moving up in the Ease of Doing Business index

India’s surge in the latest World Bank report on “the ease of doing business” around the world

— from the 130th position last year to the 100th — could not have come at a better time for the

government.

Facing sustained criticism of late over its handling of the economy, it was not entirely surprising

that Finance Minister held a press conference just to discuss the findings of the Bank’s report.

He reiterated the commitment to pursue more reforms, especially in areas where the Index still

rates India poorly among 190 countries.

Prime Minister has set for his government the target of entering the top 50 in the Bank’s index,

from the 142nd rank India was placed at in 2014 soon after he assumed office.

Specific steps to cut red tape seem to be paying off, with the Bank recognising India as one of

the top 10 countries that have made improvement over the past year, and the only large

country to see a significant shift.

The introduction of the new insolvency and bankruptcy resolution process, simplifications in the

payment of statutory dues such as provident fund contributions and corporate taxes and easier

access to credit are among the key changes that spurred India’s latest ranking.

It is also notable that India is now the fourth best placed in the world for minority investors, well

ahead of several developed nations.

Way Ahead

The Bank’s report, based on executive actions and ground-level feedback from businesses in

Mumbai and Delhi till June 1 this year, however, does not take into account the impact of the

goods and services tax launched a month later.

The quality and pace of course correction on the GST in the coming months will determine if

India can hold its 100th position or move up further.

While the government has valid reasons to be upbeat, it must not lose sight of the larger

challenges. The enforcement of contracts now takes longer than it did 15 years ago, while

procedures to start a business or secure a construction permit remain cumbersome.


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As the country’s largest urban agglomerations, Mumbai and Delhi cannot host the kind of large

factories that India needs to generate adequate employment.

It is critical that such procedural reforms reach the hinterland and a road map be drafted for the

larger legislative changes needed in matters such as land acquisition.

Lastly, while foreign investors are important, they often take their cue from the mood of

domestic businesses.

4.3 India made Falcon will fly in 2022, says Relinance Group

The Reliance Group’s joint venture with Dassault Aviation to manufacture components for

Rafale fighter aircraft is much talked about.

However, the group is also harbouring ambitions to fly out business jets and passenger planes

made entirely in India, the first private sector company that may end up doing so.

Reliance, in a joint venture with the €3.6 billion Dassault Aviation, will start making the business

jet Falcon from January 2018 at the Dassault Reliance Aviation Limited (DRAL) facility in Mihan,

Nagpur and the first Falcon is expected to fly out of Mihan as early as 2022 for the global

markets.

Falcons play in the wide-cabin, long-range aircraft segment as they can fly distances between

6000-12000 km, covering a range of travel needs.

The company expects to make 20 Falcons a year, with 2,500 Falcons delivered in the last 50

years of which 2,100 Falcons are operational in 80 countries.

Employment plans

A Falcon 2000S costs $30 million-$40 million, while the Falcon 8X costs upwards of $60 million.

The company expects revenues of ₹800 crore a year from the venture.

The Falcon aircraft assembled at the DRAL facility will be the first to be manufactured for the

export market by an Indian-owned facility.

The manufacturing facility at the Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park is located in the Mihan SEZ.

It is a 51:49 venture between Reliance Aerostructure and Dassault Aviation.

4.4 Food Processing to be major growth area

The food processing industry in India is going to undergo a “sea change” over the next few

years, due to increased agricultural production, better storage facilities, and changing consumer

food preferences, according to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

“This (food processing) is one area in India that, over the next few years, is going to see a sea

change,” Mr. Jaitley said, speaking at the plenary session of the World Food India 2017 event.

“And that change is visible.”

“The farm-to-kitchen chain is going to change in India, like elsewhere, with increased

agricultural production, better storage facilities, more food processing and changing consumer

food preference,” he added.


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“Food processing is going to be one of the principal industries of India in future, and an

entrepreneur in 2017 should think of the industry from the perspective of where it will be in

2040 [or] 2050.” He added India’s GDP growth in future will be driven by areas that have not

exploited their full potential so far.


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5. Science and Tech

5.1 The war on TB

There is a glimmer of hope with India registering a slight drop in the number of new tuberculosis cases

and TB deaths in 2016 compared with 2015. From an estimated 2.84 million new cases in 2015, the

number dropped marginally to 2.79 million in 2016, according to the World Health Organisation’s Global

tuberculosis report, 2017.

Incidence estimates for India are considered interim, pending a national TB prevalence survey

scheduled for 2017-2018.

In terms of mortality, the drop was from 0.51 million in 2015 to 0.43 million in 2016. The

number of deaths and the incidence rate have been falling both globally and in India.

The targets set in the End TB strategy are global reduction of 20% in incidence and 35% in

mortality by 2020, taking 2015 as the base year.

To reach that target, the global drop in incidence has to be 4-5% a year — currently it is about

2% a year. Also, the percentage of deaths should come down from the current 16% to 10%.

With India accounting for the highest TB incidence (23%) and mortality (26%) globally, success in

realising the End TB targets hinges largely on the country strengthening its systems.

The first step in defeating the disease and achieving the targets is to record every diagnosed

patient through case notification (that is, when a person is diagnosed with TB, it is reported to

the national surveillance system, and then on to the WHO).

There was a 34% increase in case notifications by health-care providers in the private sector

between 2013 and 2015. It improved from 61% in 2015 to 69% in 2016.

But much work remains to improve case notifications as only 1.9 million TB cases in the public

and private sectors were notified in 2016, leaving a 25% gap between incidence and notification,

the largest in the world.

Though notification was made mandatory in 2012, multiple surveys and surveillance data still

show large under-reporting of detected TB cases, especially in the private sector.

MDR-TB

With a higher number of people with TB being tested for drug resistance, the percentage with

resistance to the drug rifampicin alone more than doubled to 0.58 million in 2016 over the

previous year.

Also, the number of estimated multi-drug-resistant TB cases increased marginally to 84,000. But

the number of people with MDR-TB enrolled for treatment improved marginally between 2015

and 2016 (from 26,996 to 32,914).

For the first time, baby steps have been taken to offer preventive TB treatment to a small (5%)

number of people who are HIV-positive, and 1.9% of children below five years who are

household contacts of people recently diagnosed with pulmonary TB.


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Notably, domestic funding (74%, $387 million) for anti-TB work has been more than that from

international sources (26%, $124 million).

While better funding might help India inch closer to its stated goal of ending TB by 2025, much

more is needed in terms of funding and commitment on all fronts.


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6. Environment / Geography

6.1 Mass bathing in Ganga aggravates antimicrobial woes

Mass-bathing in the Ganga during pilgrimages may be contributing to anti-microbial resistance

(AMR), says a government-commissioned report on the threat from AMR.

Such resistance —previously acknowledged to be widespread in India — is said to be the reason

for certain key antibiotics becoming ineffective against diseases, including tuberculosis.

Some years ago, researchers from the Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and the

Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi sampled water and sediments at seven sites along the

Ganga in different seasons.

In 2014, they reported in the peer-reviewed Environmental Science and Technology that levels

of resistance genes that lead to “superbugs” were found to be about 60 times greater during the

pilgrimage months of May and June than at other times of the year.

The researchers had then said preventing the spread of resistance-genes that promote life-

threatening bacteria could be achieved by improving waste management at key pilgrimage sites.

The report of the Ganga as a reservoir for AMR genes sits alongside a 2016 study by the Council

of Scientific and Industrial Research — still not made public — that portions of the the river had

“anti-bacterial” properties.


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Resistance to the broad-spectrum antibiotics fluoroquinolones and third generation

cephalosporin was more than 70% in Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella

pneumoniae, and more than 50% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In 2014, India was the highest consumer of antibiotics, followed by China and the United States.

However, the per-capita consumption of antibiotics in India was much lower than in several

other high-income countries.

Other than ‘cultural factors’ such as bathing in the Ganga, the drivers of AMR included excessive

use of antibiotics in the livestock industry and unchecked discharge of effluents by the

pharmaceutical industry.

However, in spite of the challenge, too little work had been done so far to understand it. “This

mapping exercise indicates that AMR research studies in India were of limited scope in all areas,

” the researchers noted.

6.2 Blackbuck conservation to come up in UP

A wildlife conservation reserve dedicated exclusively to the blackbuck is coming up over 126

hectares in the trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad in Uttar

Pradesh.

The State cabinet has approved a Blackbuck Conservation

Reserve in the Meja forest division that is known for its

rocky, undulating and arid terrain.

A herd of around 350 blackbucks is estimated to be

inhabiting the region.

There are a few national parks and sanctuaries inhabited by blackbuck in the country, like the

Velavadar Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and the Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in Karnataka.

However, there are not many conservation reserves exclusively dedicated to the antelope.

Blackbucks, known for their majestic spiral horns and coat colour contrasts, are found in

grasslands and open forests.

They once ruled the open savannahs of north and central India, but are now restricted to just a

few patches and habitats, primarily due to human population growth, ecosystem degradation

and hunting.

The U.P. government evoked Section 36 A (1) and (2) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to

declare the conservation reserve.


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7. Security

7.1 India offers to share real time maritime data

India has made an offer to share intelligence of maritime movements in the Indian Ocean in

real-time with 10 Indian Ocean littoral States.

This comes even as India gears up to counter China’s increased presence in the Indian Ocean

Region (IOR).

The information to be shared includes movement of commercial traffic as well as intelligence.

Indian Navy is hosting Navy and Maritime Chiefs of 10 countries of IOR at the first GMC to

identify common threats in the region and evolve a mechanism on how to tackle them.

Co-operative system

India already has co-operative arrangements with several countries in the region and this

initiative would see that expanding further. For instance, white shipping agreements to share

commercial shipping data have been signed with 12 countries and more are in the works.

Fusion centre

“We have offered them to share real time data on movement in the Indian Ocean. Now let them

review it and get them. This is not so much for conventional military purposes but to deal with

non-traditional threats arising at sea,” a senior officer said.

India is in a position to be a fusion centre, the officer added and this would be based on the

Navy’s nerve centre for coastal surveillance and monitoring, the Information Management and

Analysis Centre (IMAC) located outside the national capital.

Welcoming the offer, a Navy Chief of one of the Indian Ocean littorals present said all countries

should pitch in equally in the effort. “It has to be done equally by all nations, small or big. We

have to work out modalities for the information exchange,” he said on the sidelines of the GMC.

7.2 Navy to use U.S. airraft launch system in ship

The Navy is likely to go with an advanced catapult-based aircraft launch mechanism (CATOBAR)

from the U.S. for its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II), which is on the drawing board.

For some time, India has been exploring the possibility of installing the U.S. electromagnetic

aircraft launch system (EMALS).

“IAC-II will have a CATOBAR launch. However, the kind of propulsion is yet to be decided,” a

senior officer said.The U.S. has offered India its latest EMALS technology, developed by General

Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., which has just been installed on the Gerald Ford carrier.

While the older generation of CATOBAR was powered by a steam catapult, EMALS uses an

electric motor-driven catapult instead, which allows the launch of much heavier aircraft and also

reduces the stress on the aircraft.


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However, the system is expensive, something that needs to be factored in.

“EMALS will allow us to operate heavy surveillance aircraft in addition to heavy fighters,”

another officer observed.

50 aircraft

The Navy envisages the IAC-II to be around 65,000 tonnes and capable of carrying over 50

aircraft. While the Navy is keen on nuclear propulsion, which would give it unlimited range and

endurance, its development in time seems doubtful.

The two countries had set up a joint working group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation

(JWGACTC) under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, which held several rounds of

discussions.The group concluded its 4th meeting in New Delhi.

India’s first domestic carrier, Vikrant, weighing 40,000 tonnes, is in an advanced stage of

construction in Kochi and is scheduled to be launched by 2018-end. It works on a Short Take-Off

But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism similar to that in the present carrier INS

Vikramaditya, with an angular ski-jump.


21


8. India and World

8.1 China dismisses – India – Pacific quad plan as speculation

China dismissed the proposed Indo-Pacific security arrangement among the U.S., Japan, India

and Australia to contain China’s rise as “media speculation” and timed its remarks ahead of the

arrival in Beijing of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In response to a question, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying signalled that

the Indo-Pacific region was part of the global commons. She said the Indo-Pacific — an area in

the Pacific and the Indian Ocean on either side of the Malacca straits — was a “dynamic region”

with great potential.

She stressed that that “stability and peace” in the Indo-pacific was of great importance to

ensure the prosperity of the region.

Ms. Hua’s observations follow the remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on

Monday. At a joint Tokyo press conference with President Trump, Mr. Abe said Tokyo and

Washington “concurred” that they should beef up cooperation to realise “a free and open Indo-

Pacific”, Japanese media reported.

Mr. Abe unveiled his ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy’ last year. According to Nikkei Asian

Review , the Premier’s approach involving the U.S., India and Australia as the other partners “is

partly intended to keep in check China’s growing presence in the region”.

But China is confident that Beijing and Washington will be able to establish a special

relationship, based on mutual interests. “The U.S. is still using a 2010 strategic White Paper

which indicated that the way to contain China was to use India, in alliance with the Philippines,

Australia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea as part of a containment strategy,” said Einar Tangen,

a Beijing-based political commentator.

8.2 India urged to join Belt and Road Initiative

China counselled India to shed its objections to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

and take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which had already drawn wide

international support.

“You and your colleagues have asked this question before and it shows that India is quite

wavering on the issue of the Belt and Road Initiative,” said Chinese foreign ministry

spokesperson Hua Chunying.

Ms. Hua was responding to a question on remarks by the Russian ambassador to India backing a

dialogue between New Delhi and Beijing on the BRI.

“I think you must be very clear (that) since the BRI was proposed by President Xi Jinping,

progress has been made smoothly with strong outcomes.”

India was among a handful of countries that had skipped attendance in Beijing of the Belt and

Road Forum in May, objecting to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passed

through Kashmir.


22


Referring specifically to CPEC, Ms. Hua, in a veiled reference to India, said the project did not

target “third countries” or prejudice China’s position on territorial disputes. “We also said many

times that the CPEC corridor is an economic cooperation. It is not targeted at any third country

and does not involve territorial disputes”.

“We hope that countries and parties with shared vision will work with us to allow practical

cooperation to bring more benefits to our peoples.” Signalling China’s openness to India’s

participation, Ms. Hua said: “We remain quite open and inclusive to cooperation involving the

BRI.”


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