Category Archives: Business & Economy

INTERNATIONAL: ‘6th Indian Ocean Conference’ Dhaka May 2023 : Better Connectivity respecting Sovereignty should be priority, says Jaishankar in Dhaka

“Let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” Jaishankar said in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka.

Improving and enhancing connectivity should be the priority of the countries in the Indian Ocean region; and for India, a land connect to SouthEast Asia and a multi-model one to the Gulf and Central Asia could be challenging but the nations should work collectively for a smooth connectivity, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

“Let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” Jaishankar said in his keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka.

“Connectivity is a crucial issue as the era of imperialism disrupted the natural linkages of the continent and created regional silos that served its own end. Restoring and enhancing flows between distinct regions is of utmost priority. Improving and enhancing connectivity should be our priority.

For countries like India, a land connect to SouthEast Asia and a multi-model one to the Gulf and Central Asia offers its own distinct challenges but the more we work collectively on a smooth connectivity, we will be better off.  But we need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. So let me underline, for India, an effective and efficient connectivity to ASEAN will be a game changer,” he said.

At the session, addressed also by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius President Prithviraj Singh Rupun, Maldives Vice President Faisal Naseem among others, Jaishankar stressed on the need for the countries to take the long view of cooperation as any nation disregarding the legal obligation or violating long standing agreements could damage trust and confidence among the member nations.

Over 25 ministers, state ministers or deputy ministers are participating in the conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh foreign ministry and the India Foundation, a New Delhi -based think tank.

There are distinct challenges, aspirations and agenda for each country in the region and that there are their distinctive pathways to progress, he said. Citing the example of the BIMSTEC under which “the members are cognisant of the challenges they have in governance and modernisation  but dealing with them through deeper cooperation and shared efforts,” the Indian foreign minister said the Indian Ocean cooperation should build up by nurturing such building blocks.

According to him, the nations require to simultaneously address the needs of the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific and its constituent regions. “These are not alternatives but actually self-supporting activities. Naturally there are aspects of specificity, but equally there are broader principles that apply to all. For example, the importance of adhering to law, observing norms and respecting rules is a natural convergence point. It is not possible to build a stable international order without these prerequisites. It is especially so in a continent that has seen so much growth, so much change,” he said.

When a nation disregards the legal obligation, violates long standing agreements, it damages the trust and confidence. It is therefore essential for all the nations to take the long view of cooperation, Jaishankar said.

Another concern for the countries in the region is the unsustainable debt generated by unviable projects. “There are lessons from the last two decades. If we encourage opaque lending practices, exorbitant ventures and price points that are unrelated to the market are bound to bite us back sooner than later. Especially so when sovereign guarantees have been proffered,” he said.

Jaishankar  said  while the world has seized the larger domain of the Indo pacific the issues and challenges of each core constituents or each nation in the Indian Ocean cooperation should not be underplayed. Pointing out that many nations at the Indian Ocean still address developmental challenges that may longer be relevant even while impressing the essential coherence of the Indo Pacific, Jaishankar said those in the Indo Pacific should focus determinately on the Indian Ocean nations and their challenges.

He also said many nations in the region today are confronting consequences of our own past choices.

The Indian foreign minister also urged the nations in the Indian Ocean region to see that maritime security is a shared responsibility.

“We must discharge that global good should not be sacrificed at the altar of any national dominance,” he said. “Diplomacy cannot rest merely by articulating a position that equally needs practical action,” he added. The minister also stressed on climate action and counter terrorism initiatives. “We must also be conscious of the threats to social fabrics posed by extremism and fundamentalism taking advantage of democratic openness. Cost of not doing so is also starkly apparent to all of us today.”

Jaishankar said India is committed to the wellbeing and progress of all nations of the Indian Ocean. Pointing out that the country has dedicated bodies like the Indian Ocean Rim Association or the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium with specific mandate, he said: “We expand on that belief through the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, the SAGAR outlook and our approach to the extended neighbourhood.”

India Foundation president Ram Madhav made the welcome speech.

The two-day Indian Ocean Conference — with the theme Peace Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future — is being held in Dhaka to discuss how the countries of the Indian Ocean region can promote economic development while maintaining peace and stability.

During the day, there were panel discussions on a roadmap for an economically sustainable future in the Indo Pacific, forging partnership for peace and prosperity, and dealing with non-traditional security challenges for a peaceful and sustainable Indo-Pacific.

source/contents: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: MEDICAL SERVICES / SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: India Emerging as Favourable Destination to Conduct Global Clinical Trials: Report by USA India Chamber of Commerce & PwC India

According to the report, the private sector is a well-suited channel for the top biopharma to conduct more efficient clinical trials with easier and faster access to investigators and patients.

India has the potential to increase global clinical trials in the country by five times in the coming years, a report has said, with experts highlighting the significant opportunities for biopharma companies to leverage India’s rich diversity and robust healthcare infrastructure to develop innovative treatments.

The joint report by the USA India Chamber of Commerce & PwC India titled, “Clinical Trial opportunities in India” which will be released at the virtual edition of the 17th annual BioPharma & Healthcare Summit 2023 to be held on Wednesday in Boston also indicates that through several key drivers, India is emerging as a favourable destination to conduct clinical trials.

According to the report, the private sector is a well-suited channel for the top biopharma to conduct more efficient clinical trials with easier and faster access to investigators and patients.

According to the report, India has the potential to increase global clinical trials in the country by five times in the coming years.

Indian states with high disease prevalence (e.g., cancer) also have the most number of tier-1 cities, with advanced medical infrastructure and availability of investigators. Targeting these states can provide biopharma companies with faster access to patients, sites, and investigators.

The total number of investigators has increased by twice between 2015 and 2020, with the majority of the increase occurring in the internal medicine and oncology specialisations. However, the growth in the number of investigators is largely restricted to tier-1 and 2 cities, the report said.

While the top 20 pharma activity for the major therapy classes in India has remained largely constant in the last decade, growth opportunities exist across key diseases (e.g., pain, epilepsy, cervical cancer) and orphan diseases (ß-thalassemia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), it said.

India has an overall clinical trial participation of three per cent but contributes upwards of 15 per cent to the global burden of most high prevalent diseases (e.g., respiratory infections, cardiovascular, diabetes, cervical cancer), representing an untapped potential for top pharma, the report said.

Top biopharma companies should align their strategy towards tier-1 cities (e.g., Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai) where the higher bed capacity, number of doctors, and presence of tertiary care multi-city hospitals can support enablement efforts of running faster and more efficient clinical trials, it said.

“This year, with India on track to become the world’s most populous country, our responsibility to ensure its people benefit from the innovations that improve human health has never been greater,” said Andrew Plump, President of R&D, Takeda and Chair, USAIC BioPharma & Healthcare Summit.

A critical part of this will be addressing the gap in clinical trial activity in India and identifying opportunities to collectively promote clinical research and help build infrastructure to support clinical trials in the country, he added.

Karun Rishi, president of USAIC, said that the growing interest in clinical trials in India presents a significant opportunity for biopharma companies to leverage the country’s rich diversity and robust healthcare infrastructure.

With a large and diverse patient pool, streamlined regulatory processes, and a highly skilled workforce, India offers a favourable environment for biopharma companies to conduct efficient and cost-effective clinical trials.

By tapping into this opportunity, companies can accelerate their drug development timelines, increase the efficiency of their research, and bring innovative treatments to patients in need, ultimately advancing global healthcare, he said.

“It is painful to see India’s share in the ongoing global clinical trials is less than 3.2 per cent. The global BioPharma companies need to do more to correct this situation from the science and ethical point of view,” Rishi said.

He said that with key data in hand, USAIC over the past year worked closely and engaged with the leadership of top BioPharma companies and CROs globally to brainstorm on this issue.

“Response from sponsors and CROs has been very encouraging. They are ready and want to do more in India. We see the potential to increase global trials in India by 5x in the coming years. This is India’s moment to capture this great opportunity. Three triggers which are under play in India’s favour are diversity, equity, access and inclusiveness in clinical trials; Russia-Ukraine conflict and China’s zero Covid policy,” Rishi said.

India, he said, has made good progress in streamlining the clinical trials regulatory processes.

“We encourage India to continue to focus on stable and transparent clinical trials regulations particularly involving clinical trial execution in India under International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. India should enhance its clinical trial infrastructure including skills development and incentivize global BioPharma companies to conduct trials,” he said.

“Large-scale ethical clinical trials with high-quality data will lead to collaborations, investments, skill development, translational research, startups, employment generation of high paying jobs leading to GDP growth. Entire innovation ecosystem will be created in India and ultimately enhance Indian patients’ access to innovative medicines,” Rishi said.

Sujay Shetty, a partner and global health industries leader, at PwC, said that the clinical trial activity in India has been increasing steadily since 2014 due to several key regulatory reforms aimed towards global harmonisation, enabling open access to clinical trials in India.

The country’s diverse population, combined with its rapidly advancing healthcare infrastructure, provides a fertile ground for clinical trials to flourish.

This is an opportunity for top biopharma companies to develop a long-term strategy that focuses on the key enablers of innovation and strategic partnerships in India, he said.

Dr Naresh Trehan, CMD Medanta and USAIC advisory board member believes that India’s healthcare landscape is poised for transformation, with its vast and diverse population in need of innovative solutions to address a range of health challenges.

“The country’s potential for clinical trials presents a unique opportunity to leverage cutting-edge research and technology to drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and advance the frontiers of medical science.

By fostering a collaborative and dynamic ecosystem, India can lead the way in shaping the future of healthcare for the benefit of all,” he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Goa a Success. Security Cooperation Top Priority: Secretary General Zhang Ming

Besides, a country with “splendid civilisation” and time-honoured history, India also treasures innovation and science and technology, he said.

The recent SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa was a success and will lay a new mark on the growth of the eight-member bloc, its Secretary General Zhang Ming has said, asserting that security cooperation remains the top priority of the grouping.

India hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting at a beach resort in Goa’s Benaulim on May 4 and 5.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who chaired the meeting, said the session gave an opportunity to dwell on the state of multilateral cooperation in SCO, to address regional and global issues of interest and talk about the reform and modernisation of the organisation.

SCO consists of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India holds the rotating Presidency of the organisation this year.

“The recent Foreign Ministers meeting held in Goa was a success. We have reason to believe that the New Delhi summit will lay a new mark on the growth of the SCO,” said Mr. Zhang, who was a senior Chinese diplomat before taking over as the Secretary General of the Beijing-based grouping.

He said the purpose of the Goa meeting was to prepare the ground for the upcoming summit.

“It is fair to say that our ministers had an in-depth exchange of views and they have completed all the items of the meeting agenda,” he said on May 10, adding that their conclave laid a good foundation for the leaders’ meeting.

The Ministers also had a number of bilateral meetings and candid exchanges on the sidelines of the meeting and discussed issues of common interest, he said.

“So, I believe the Foreign Ministers meeting has achieved the anticipated goals,” he said.

Security cooperation remains the top priority within the SCO, he said.

“So, we address various challenges including terrorism, extremism, separations and drug threat, cross border crimes use of IT for illicit purposes,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, China’s Qin Gang, Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov and SCO Secretary-General Zhang.

“Since taking over the Presidency India has come up with a lot of initiatives on culture and people-to-people exchanges. Their proposals were received and echoed by other member states,” Mr. Zhang told a media briefing here on Wednesday, highlighting the outcomes of the Goa meeting.

Besides, a country with “splendid civilisation” and time-honoured history, India also treasures innovation and science and technology, he said.

The SCO summit was expected to be held in early July this year, according to informed sources. Chinese President Xi Jinping along with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to attend.

In his speech at the Goa meeting, Jaishankar said, “As the chair of the SCO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated India’s priorities as moving towards a ‘SECURE’ SCO.”

SECURE stands for security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and environmental protection.

He said India has successfully concluded over 100 meetings and events including 15 ministerial-level meetings in the run-up to the summit which received enthusiastic participation from member states, observers and dialogue partners.

“The New Delhi summit will take up these topics on priority too. To summarise the Indian Presidency over the past several months features highly intensive and effective preparations,” Mr. Zhang said.

“The Indian side has proposed a substantive agenda for the summit,” he said.

About a question on differences between some of the member states, Mr. Zhang said bilateral differences made no difference to the organisation.

“After India and Pakistan joined the organisation in 2018, the SCO’s efficiency has not been affected. We did not encounter any difficulties,” he said, adding that the SCO’s pursuit of the principles of non-interference in the member countries’ affairs has strengthened cooperation among its members.

“The SCO indeed has no mechanism to resolve differences between member states. No member state has called on SCO to resolve their issues with other member states,” Mr. Zhang said while responding to a question on border tensions between some Central Asian States which are the members of the grouping.

“Thanks to SCO’s basic principles we have been able to create a good atmosphere with cooperation,” he said.

“This environment helps our member states to find commonality and common interests between them which enables them to overcome their differences,” he said.

The SCO had developed over the years a strong anti-terror force called Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

RATS formation was regarded significant as the security concerns in the South and Central Asian region increased after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the sudden withdrawal of the U.S. troops.

SCO pays more attention to issues like energy, food security, public health, climate change and other issues and established cooperation on those fronts, besides trade and economic fronts, Mr. Zhang said.

The organisation is also working on promoting local currency payment mechanisms among member states, besides setting up a development bank of its own, he said. “The SCO is working on this issue on cross border payment mechanism. We would like to promote free-flowing goods and technology,” he said.

The organisation has established a number of cooperation mechanisms working to create necessary legal and institutional arrangements for this, he said, pointing to various meetings by officials of the finance ministries of member states.

Experts are carefully analysing the differences in regulatory legislation and current settlement in local currencies. They are working to identify restrictive factors, its development and prospect for the expansion of the use of local currency in the payment settlement, Zhang said.

“Also, member states are discussing how to establish SCO Development Bank. We are discussing to set up such a bank and special account,” he said.

He said SCO’s popularity is on the rise as more countries have applied for its membership.

Iran is in the process of becoming an SCO new members, he said, adding that the organisation has 14 dialogue partners and six more countries have applied for its observer status.

With Saudi Arabia joining as an observer in the SCO, the organisation is set to make forays into the Middle East as a number of Gulf countries have expressed interest in joining the grouping, Mr. Zhang said.

He sought to dismiss the contention that China, as the founder member of the SCO, is using the organisation to challenge the U.S. and NATO, saying it is just media speculation.

“SCO will not compare itself with NATO. SCO is not a political and military bloc and its aim is about cooperation,” he said.

The groping is also in talks with UN peacekeeping forces, Zhang said.

Some SCO members are taking part in pace-keeping operations. Discussing how to step up cooperation with UN peacekeeping participation, he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NEIGHBOURHOOD / SHIPPING & TRANSPORT: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates Sittwe Port in Myanmar; receives first Indian Cargo Vessel

The Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways highlighted the close historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Tin Aung San on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Myanmar and received the first Indian cargo ship, according to an official statement.

The cargo ship was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

With the development of Sittwe Port, the cost and time of transportation of goods between Kolkata and Agartala and Aizwal will decrease by 50%, the statement said.

“This will promote trade connectivity and people-to-people ties between India and Myanmar and the wider region, and will help boost the economic development of NE states under Act East Policy of the government,” the statement quoted Mr. Sonowal as saying.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways highlighted the close historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

He reiterated India’s longstanding commitment towards the development and prosperity of the people of Myanmar through developmental initiatives like the Sittwe Port.

According to the statement, this project was conceptualised to provide alternative connectivity of Mizoram with Haldia / Kolkata / any Indian ports through the Kaladan river in Myanmar.

The project envisages highway/road transport from Mizoram to Paletwa (Myanmar), thereafter from Paletwa to Sittwe (Myanmar) by Inland Water Transport (IWT) and from Sittwe to any port in India by maritime shipping, it added.

Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the $484 million Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant-in-aid assistance from the Indian government.

“The seaport with maximum capacity of 20,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) will make Sittwe the maritime hub of Myanmar, drastically reduce transportation cost of cargo from other parts of India to our #NorthEast and open unprecedented avenues of economic growth in the region,” Mr. Sonowal said in a series of tweets.

The Minister further said a vibrant Sittwe Port can catapult Myanmar’s Rakhine State into a major connectivity hub.

Once fully operationalised the waterway and road components of KMTTP will link the east coast of India to the north-eastern states through the Sittwe port, the statement said. The operationalisation of Sittwe Port would enhance bilateral and regional trade as well as contribute to the local economy of Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The greater connectivity provided by the Port will lead to employment opportunities and enhanced growth prospects in the region, it added.

The operationalisation of Sittwe Port would enhance bilateral and regional trade as well as contribute to the local economy of Rakhine State of Myanmar.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE SERVICES / HERITAGE Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Country’s First Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh

The heritage centre highlights the IAF’s role in various wars. It houses five vintage aircraft and will provide visitors with cockpit exposure and an experience with flight simulators.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday inaugurated the nation’s first Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh’s Sector 18.

Spread across 17,000 sqft at the Government Press Building, the heritage centre highlights the IAF’s role in various wars. It houses five vintage aircraft and will provide visitors with cockpit exposure and an experience with flight simulators. It also houses the first IAF-made patent aircraft Air Force ‘Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft’, a single-engine indigenous flying machine designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958 at Base Repair Depot Kanpur.

Singh is accompanied by Chandigarh Union Territory (UT) Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Member of Parliament (MP) Kirron Kher and other officers of the administration.

A souvenir shop equipped with the IAF’s memorial and scale models has been set up at the centre. A theme-based cafe will also be operational for the public.

The Defence Minister, who is on a one-day visit to Chandigarh, will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a few other projects in the city as well.

Subhead: What is in store for visitors at the Air Force Heritage Centre

A beautiful one-foot wall that has pictures of 58 vintage and retired aircraft will serve as a visual treat to visitors.

Gradually, this centre will also be updated about various rescue operations being undertaken by the IAF all over the country and at the world level. The initiatives undertaken by the Air Force Family Welfare Association for the benefit of the families of air warriors at the station, regional and central levels will also be shown through projectors.

A memorandum of understanding on the heritage centre was signed between the Chandigarh administration and the Indian Air Force in the presence of Banwarilal Purohit in June 2022.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

ASIA: DEFENCE / INDIAN NAVY: Inaugural ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in South China Sea from May 2-8

Defence Minister arrives in Maldives on a three-day visit as Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari embarks on four-day visit to Sri Lanka.

In a further step, in the expanding India-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) military cooperation, the maiden ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) is set to begin on May 2 with war games in South China Sea. Navy Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar is in Singapore for the exercise as well as to take part in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) being hosted by Singapore.

In separate developments, the Defence Minister arrived in Maldives on a three-day visit while Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari embarked on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka.

Indian Naval Ships Satpura and Delhi with Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding-Eastern Fleet “… arrived at Singapore on May 1 to participate in the inaugural AIME-2023” scheduled from May 2-8, the Navy said in a statement. “AIME-2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain,” it added.

The ‘Harbour Phase’ of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from May 2-4 and ‘Sea Phase’ from May 7-8 in the South China Sea, the Navy said. The ships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in IMDEX-23 and IMSC, it added.

The inaugural edition of the naval and maritime defence event IMDEX was held in 1997 and has since been expanding year on year. There are about 50 delegations this year, it has been learnt.

Established in 2009, the IMSC is co-organised by Singapore Navy and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). The conference brings together navy chiefs, coast guard director-generals, policy makers, strategic thinkers and maritime stakeholders to exchange ideas and discuss ways to enhance and foster mutual security in our maritime commons, the IMSC website states.

Maldives visit

Mr. Singh reached Male on Monday afternoon on a three-day visit, the first by an Indian Defence Minister to Maldives in 11 years, according to the Indian High Commission. “Our meeting in Male today was very good. We exchanged views on multiple subjects including further boosting the defence partnership between India and Maldives,” Mr. Singh said after a meeting with his counterpart Mariya Didi.

The entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed during the deliberations. The Minister will also call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In tune with India’s commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Mr. Singh will gift one Fast Patrol Vessel ship and a Landing Craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces, the Defence Ministry said. “During his stay, he will also visit the ongoing project sites in the country and interact with the Indian diaspora.”

India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters, the Ministry added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE / INDIAN ARMY & I.T: Indian Army Creates New Cyber Operations Wing and ‘test bed’ Structures

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The decisions were taken by the top brass during the latest edition of Army Commanders Conference (ACC) which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April 2023.

In a move to augment the operational capabilities along with the absorption of new technologies the Indian Army has decided to create a new wing to handle cyber operations and also plans to create structures to “test bed” the large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the Indian Army.

The decisions were taken by the top brass during the latest edition of Army Commanders Conference (ACC) which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April 2023.

New Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW)

The Army in a statement on Thursday said, “With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future.”

The CCOSW being raised “will assist the formations to undertake the mandated cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of the Indian Army.”

To begin with, the new wing will have officers earmarked and will spend tenure, to begin with at the Command level, sources said. “Cyberspace has emerged as an important military domain both in grey zone warfare as well as conventional operations.”

The decision was taken as “the expansion of cyber warfare capabilities by our adversaries has made the cyber domain more competitive and contested than ever before.”

In another important decision, the Army Commanders during the ACC, in order to augment the capabilities of the forces by absorption of Niche Technologies and equipment, decided to nominate Lead Directorates and ‘Test Bed’ Formations to evolve optimal employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation Pan Army.

Absorption of niche capabilities in Indian Army

Pointing to a large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the Indian Army., a need was felt that force structures are required to optimally exploit them. “Seamless exploitation of niche equipment also has an impact on the refinement of the existing TTPs and maintenance/sustenance philosophy that would have a direct bearing on the training and maintenance of the equipment,” sources said.

The structures will be created, “in order to augment the capabilities of the forces by absorption of Niche Technologies and equipment, it was decided to nominate Lead Directorates and ‘Test Bed’ Formations to evolve optimal employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation of the Pan Army,” added the sources.

These equipments include a variety of Tactical/Mini/ Micro/Logistics Drones/ UAVs, Drone Swarms, Loiter Weapon Systems, Electronic Warfare, Ant-Drone equipment etc. These equipment being procured both through different routes by multiple agencies are intended to enhance the fighting potential of the field formations by infusion of niche capabilities in our force structures. The Army has announced the year 2023 as the “Year of Transformation.”

Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC) is an apex-level biannual event that is an institutional platform for conceptual level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The apex leadership also brainstormed over wide-ranging Strategic, Training, Human Resource Development, and Administrative aspects and took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future.

More significant decisions regarding the process of induction of the Officers into the Force and the welfare of specially-abled children of those soldiers who die in harnesses were taken. It was decided to double the sustenance allowance to such children through the Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF).

In regards to the Technical Entry Scheme (TES) for entry of officers into the Indian Army the training period will be brought down to four years instead of the present five years. It has been done under deliberations on training initiatives to optimise infrastructure, time and resources to maintain an effective and lethal fighting force.

The sources said that in the TES entry scheme, it was decided to transition from the existing 1+3+1 years Technical Entry Scheme (TES) model to the 3+1 TES model from Jan 2024 onwards.

“This change will also accrue benefits of the availability of more officers in the units and address officers’ shortages,” they said.

Simulator training is also planned to be given a significant push through the procurement of 435 simulators at an estimated cost of 791 crores this year.

In order to harness the indomitable spirit and never say die attitude of the soldiers who are Battle and Physical Casualties, Army Commanders decided “to identify and train selected motivated soldiers for Paralympic Events by training them at Army Sports and Mission Olympic Nodes in nine sporting events.”

source/contents: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORD: Odisha’s Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium gets into Guinness World Records Book as World’s Largest Fully-Seated Hockey Stadium

The Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium has been officially recognised as the largest fully-seated hockey stadium in the world.

Guinness World Records officials handed over a certificate to this effect to the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ahead of India’s Pro League game against newly-crowned World champion Germany in front of a cheering capacity crowd.

Built from scratch in just 15 months for the recently-held World Cup, the stadium can seat 20,011 with uninterrupted viewing experience and boasts of world-class facilities — for players and viewers.

“This recognition is a testament that our state Odisha has come a long way and has made a mark on the international sports map. It is a matter of great pride for all of us and I thank everyone who was part of this project, the people of Sundargarh and the hockey fans for their unconditional support to the sport. It inspired us to accomplish this Herculean task. I dedicate this recognition to the people of Odisha,” CM Patnaik said while receiving the award.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY – LOGISTICS: India Climbs 6 Places on World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index

PM Modi-led government in October 2021 announced PM Gati Shakti initiative, a National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, to reduce logistics cost and boost the economy by 2024-25.

India has climbed six places on the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023, now ranking 38th in the 139 countries index, as a result of significant investments in both soft and hard infrastructure as well as technology.

India was ranked 44th on the index in 2018 and has now climbed to 38th in the 2023 listing. India’s performance has drastically improved from 2014, when it was ranked 54th on the LPI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had announced PM Gati Shakti initiative , a National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, in October 2021 to reduce logistics cost and boost the economy by 2024-25.

In 2022, the Prime Minister launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP) to ensure quick last-mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturing sector and ensure desired speed in the logistics sector.

These policy interventions are fructifying, which can be seen in India’s jump in LPI and its other parameters.

According to the report, India’s rank moved up five places in infrastructure score from 52nd in 2018 to 47th in 2023. It climbed to the 22nd spot for international shipments in 2023 from 44th in 2018 and moved four places up to 48th in logistics competence and equality.

In timelines, India witnessed a 17-place jump in rankings, whereas it moved up three places in rank in tracking and tracing to 38th. The report quotes modernisation and digitalisation as a reason for emerging economies, like India, to leapfrog advanced countries.

The report said: “Since 2015, the Government of India has invested in trade-related soft and hard infrastructure connecting port gateways on both coasts to the economic poles in the hinterland.”

Technology has been a critical component of this effort, with implementation under a public-private partnership of a supply chain visibility platform, which contributed to remarkable reductions of delays.

NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited applies radio frequency identification tags to containers and offers consignees end-to-end tracking of their supply chain, it added.

According to the report, the average dwell time for containers between May and October 2022 was three days for India and Singapore, much better than in some of the industrialised countries. The dwell time for the U.S. was seven days and for Germany, it was 10 days.

The report said: “The emerging economies with the shortest delays have gone beyond these packages and have implemented bold tracking and tracing solutions. India’s very low dwell time (2.6 days) is one example”.

Further the report said: “With the introduction of cargo tracking, dwell time in the eastern port of Visakhapatnam fell from 32.4 days in 2015 to 5.3 days in 2019.”

Dwell time is how long a vessel spends at a specific port or terminal. It may also refer to the amount of time that a container or cargo spends at a port or terminal before being loaded onto a vessel or after being unloaded from a vessel. Shipping container vessels operate on schedules and delays in any particular port are felt across the service.

The shorter the dwell time, the lower the vessel and marine-terminal operating costs.

The LPI covers 139 countries, and measures the ease of establishing reliable supply chain connections and the structural factors that make it possible, such as the quality of logistics services, trade and transport-related infrastructure, and border controls.

“End-to-end supply chain digitalisation, especially in emerging economies, is allowing countries to shorten port delays by up to 70% compared to those in developed countries. Moreover, demand for green logistics is rising, with 75% of shippers looking for environment-friendly options when exporting to high-income countries,” the report said.

“While most time is spent in shipping, the biggest delays occur at seaports, airports, and multimodal facilities. Policies targeting these facilities can help improve reliability,” said Christina Wiederer, senior economist, the World Bank group’s macroeconomics, trade & investment global practice and the report’s co-author.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE: India’s DRDO and Indian Navy Conducts Successful Trial of BMD Interceptor Missile. Enters Elite Club of Nations having Naval Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Capability.

Country enters elite club of nations having Naval ballistic missile defence capability.

India has successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha.

The missile test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy on Friday.

“The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat thereby elevating India into the elite club of nations having Naval BMD capability,” the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and industry involved in the successful demonstration of ship-based ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities.

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)