[CA] Modi's visit to USA

Current Affairs

Modi’s Visit to USA

 

(01) Strategic relations

(02) Economy and Trade

(03) Environment-Energy

(04) Space-Science-public health

(05) Overall

(06) Side topics

(6.1) Modi @Madison Square

(6.2) Modi reform: OCI, PIO, NRI

(6.3) Totalization pact with USA

(6.4) Why Modi did not pledge troops/jets against ISIS?

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 (01) Strategic Ties:

Gang Membership	* Since 2010, Obama said he supports India’s entry to various non-proliferation regimes- Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group * But this time he specifically said, India meets the requirements to join MTCR and NSG * Obama supports India as permanent member in UNSC. (Although he keeps saying that since 2010 no solid steps taken.)
Terrorists	* Both Agreed to dismantle terror and criminal networks like LeT, JeM, D-company, Al-Qaeda and Haqqani network. [Observe they specifically listed Dawood's D-company.] * Asked Pakis to bring perpetrators of the 26/11/2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice * Both will monitor citizens coming from conflict zones of Syria and Iraq. (Because some of them may be terrorists in disguise). * Both to work for women empowerment in Afghanistan. Modi cautioned USA not to withdraw troops quickly from Afghanistan else ISIS story will repeat here as well. * Intelligence sharing against ISIS network. * Will combat fake-currency, narcotics, cyber-crimes, piracy.
Defence	* Defence cooperation Agreement (2008): extended for another 10 years. Now it’ll expire in 2025. This was done after India increased Defence FDI from 26% to 49% * Will upgrade US-India Malabar naval exercise. (Meaning perhaps larger deployments and/or regular participation from more countries.) * USA to help in India’s planned National Defence University.
Miscellaneous	* Asked North Korea to denuclearize. * Trilateral discussion involving US-India-Jap. Foreign ministers.
Did not workout	* USA invited India to join war against ISIS, but India limited its help upto intelligence sharing. * Indian cabinet yet to approve 15,000 crore rupee worth US defense deals involving  - Apache attack helicopters  - Chinook heavy lift helicopters  - Javelin Anti-tank guided missiles.

(02) Economy and Trade:

Bilateral Trade
Present	$100 billion
Target(5 times increase)	$500 billion (no deadline)

Joint vision statement called “Chalein saath, saath: Forward together we go”- Both will find mutually rewarding ways to collaborate in trade, investment and technology

CEO	* Modi met top-US business leaders- assured them stable tax policies and reduced bureaucratic intervention. * Modi invited US businessmen to invest in India “Make in India”. * India-US CEO forum will be re-invigorated.
Investment	* USA will invest 41 Billion$ in India, in next 3 years. * Indo US investment initiative- using India’s Finance ministry and USA’s Treasury department. They’ll focus on infrastructure finance and capital market.
Infrastructure	* USA will help in 3 smart cities- Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam * PPP in Advanced manufacturing, starting from Early 2015.
Transport	* USA to share best practices in rail Management. * USA via its New Silk Road and India-Pacific Economic Corridor, will help India get freer flow of commerce and energy with its Asian neighbors.
Miscellaneous	* India pitched for totalisation pact for NRI contributions to US social security fund. but it could not be signed * Agreed to resolve the stalemate in WTO-Bali summit’s trade facilitation agreement. * RBI and US Fed reserve will partner in oversight of financial institutions. So future financial crisis can be tackled in effective manner.

(03) Energy and Environment:

Nuclear Energy

·        2008: Nuke dead signed

·        2010: Nuclear liability law in India. Foreign suppliers will have to pay money if nuke-disaster because of defective technology or equipment. As result, American nuclear companies like GE and Westinghouse hesitant to invest in India.

·        2014: Modi meet, new “contact group” setup, to solve the issue

PACE	U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE).
PEACE	Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE)
UNFCC	Both will work for post-Kyoto agreement at 2015 UNFCC summit @ Paris, France.
Clean Energy	* $1 billion to purchase clean energy technology, especially solar. * US-India climate fellowship program. * MoU for $1 billion finance for renewable energy exports to India. * USA will be India’s partner country in Technology Summit in November 2014.
Sanitation	* USAID will assist in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan WASH alliance- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Alliance * USA will help setting clean water and sewage facility in 500 cities.

 (04) Space – Science –Public Health:

Health	* Ebola: India pledged 12 million USD to fight Ebola. Joint training of personnel. * USA: will help reducing IMR, MMR in India. * India-US vaccine action Prorgam for dengue, malaria, TB. * Drug companies wanted Modi to make patent laws friendly to them. But Modi maintained- they should produce cheap-affordable drugs (rather than doing Patent “ever-greening” by slightly changing the composition of original molecules.)
SWAYAM	Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) - online education program. Will offer post-graduation programs.
GIAN	* Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education. To collaborate between scientists and businessmen. * Every year, India will invite 1000 American academics to teach in Indian universities.
Space	NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, to be launched in 2021. Separate article later.

Culture Tourism:

·        2015: India introduces visa-on-arrival for U.S. citizens

·        Efforts to make United States’ Global Entry Program available to Indian citizens.

(05) Overall:

Success	Failure
Vowed to destroy LeT, Dawood’s D-company etc.(Will they destroy?)	While Obama has repeatedly accepted “India’s rise, economic prosperity, and contribution to regional and global peace,” but it did not lead to an upgraded relationship.
Obama Specifically listed MTCR and NSG – where India is eligible to join.	Two years from now- new President will be elected (perhaps Hilary Clinton or Bobby Jindal) then   may be USA will change its mindset.
Defense cooperation agreement extended for 10 years.	2010: Obama visits India, says the same things- we welcome you @MTCR, UNSC etc. but no concentrate steps taken.
Contact group to finally sort out obstacles in nuke deal.	Counterview: From American point of view: even after they got us NSG-waiver, their companies haven’t been able to reap benefits because of the nuke liability law. Hence once burned, twice shy of helping India.
Modi’s Meeting with Top 10 Business tycoons and 41 billion dollar investment promise.	WTO-TFA agreement issues unresolved.
Modi managed to connect with NRI crowd at Madison square. Combined with Reforms in OIC, PIO, visa on arrival- So in future- tourism boost.	Defense purchase deal for helicopters and anti-tank missiles did not materialize.

(06) Side topics:

(6.1) Modi @Madison Square

·        Indian diaspora has earned a lot of respect and great identity for INDIA in the world.

·        America is the Oldest democratic country and INDIA is the biggest democratic country

·        USA has people living from all parts of the world and Indian people migrate to all countries of the world

We got three precious things –

 DEMOCRACY (not just the biggest asset but a hope of 120 million people)

DEMOGRAPHIC (dividend 65% population under 35 years age; But skill Development necessary)

DEMAND (world sees India as a big market for manufacturing and consumption)

Development

·        Government alone can’t bring development. People’s participation essential.

·        There were Freedom fighters before Gandhi- they all fought and died. But Gandhi turned it into a mass movement- everyone from a sweeper to weaver to doctor felt part of the freedom struggle.

·        Same way, we need to turn Development into a mass revolution

·        Every citizen should feel that they do their job best-will contribute to the nation.

Events & Targets
2015	Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas @Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Vision 2020	Export nurses, teachers and other skilled personnel from India
2019	150th Birth anniversary of Gandhi. we’ll achieve 100% sanitation

Achievements and initiatives

·        ISRO’s Mars mission travelled 650 Million Km at Rs 7/Km.

·        “PM Jan Dhan Yogana” we have 4 Crores New accounts, junta deposits ~1500 crore rupees.

·        Make in India Program: attract foreign companies to setup low cost production units here, ease of doing business

·        mygov.in where people can give suggestions.

·        New committee to strike –off outdated laws.

·        Clean INDIA program, Ganga cleaning- because it provides livelihoods to ~40 crore Indians.

 (6.2) Modi reform: OCI, PIO, NRI

OCI	PIO
If you or your parents were Indian citizen once upon a time.	If your parents, grandparents or spouse were Indian citizen once upon a time.
Lifelong visa-free travel.	Card Valid only for 15 years.
No need to register at any office. Doesn’t matter how long you want to stay in India.	If staying beyond 180 days in a single visit, you’ve to register Foreigners Regional Registration or Police station.

Modi reforms

·        We’ll combine PIO and OCI. We’ll even cover spouses.

·        PIO card - won’t have to report to police.

·        US citizens can get long term visas to India

·        US tourists can get visa on arrival in India

·        Online visa and visa-outsourcing to reduce delays.

(6.3) Totalization pact with USA

·        5 lakh NRIs contribute ~1 billion$ in taxes, to USA’s social security system. (~15% of salary)

·        Many of them don’t have full immigrant visa and have to leave USA after 3-7 years.

·        But as per US social security norms, if a person doesn’t work for 10 years continuously in USA, his social security contributions are forfeited.

·        Since 2007, India trying to solve this issue by signing a totalization pact with USA. We already have such agreements with 17 countries including Australia.

·        But Americans don’t agree, saying Indian social security system (administered by EPFO) is not compatible with their hi-fi system.

 (6.4) Why Modi did not pledge troops/jets against ISIS?

·        Sending Indian troops in Middle East = not going to happen. Because Iraqi PM said no to foreign troop movement.

·        India providing Fuel and Logistic support to American bomber planes. In 91’s gulf war, PM Chandra Shekhar did this, and was criticized a lot, by the opposition parties.

·        But this time, ISIS beheading= everyone is outraged= less chances of criticism or vote bank politics, even if Modi agreed for refueling.

·        But, USA doesn’t need India for fuel-logistic support. Other Middle Eastern states already providing that.

What is possible?

·        Sharing intelligence and blocking IS attempts to enlist Indian Muslims to join their war.

·        40 countries already agreed for such help to USA. Modi agreed for the same.

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