India is one of 25 countries participating in this third conference, which aims to find ways to improve the lives of Afghan people under Taliban rule.

• It will supplement previous efforts such as Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, Moscow Format consultations, etc. 

Conference allowed the Taliban to position themselves as the sole representative of Afghanistan.

• Taliban returned to power in 2021 after waging an insurgency against the U.S.-backed government since 2001.
  • Regional connectivity: Afghanistan is considered as a gateway to Central Asian Region.

Peaceful and Stable Afghanistan is significant for Region as well as for India:

• Security: Reduced insurgency and cross-border terrorism can lead to a more secure environment for India's northern and western borders.
  • Unstable Afghanistan may become safe shelter for terrorists.
• Energy and resources: Stability in Afghanistan could pave the way for the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) pipeline.
• Curbing Drug trafficking: Stable government in Afghanistan can better tackle drug trafficking.
  • Afghanistan is part of the Death Crescent along with Pakistan and Iran. 
  • States like Punjab are highly affected by it. 

India - Afghan relations Post-Taliban Take-over

• India has not officially recognized Taliban, however, it is helping Afghans through different means: 
  • Humanitarian Aid: Supplied several shipments of humanitarian assistance consisting of wheat, medical aid and earthquake relief aid.
  • Education: Continued its Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarship scheme for Afghan students.
• Trade and commerce between both countries is ongoing, including through the Chabahar port.
• India’s technical team in Kabul is monitoring the status and functioning of projects built by it.

Recently, CSC officially included Bangladesh as its fifth member. 

About CSC

• A regional security grouping.
• Aim: To make maritime security, marine pollution response and maritime search & rescue priorities for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Genesis: Formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Later joined by Mauritius. 
  • It was re-branding as the CSC in 2020. 
• Seychelles is an observer member.

India chaired its first meeting as Chair of the Colombo Process. 

About Colombo Process

• Regional Consultative Process that provides platform for consultations on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour.
• Comprises of 12 Member States of Asia such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc.
  • India is one of the founding members.
• Thematic priority areas are: Skills and Qualification Recognition Processes; Fostering Ethical Recruitment Practices, etc.
• UN’s International Organization for Migration provides technical and administrative support to the Colombo Process. 

Bolivia became a full member of MERCOSUR.

About MERCOSUR

• It is Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials) in latin america.
• It was established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in 1991, and subsequently joined by Venezuela and Bolivia.
  • Venezuela has been suspended since December 1, 2016.
• Objective: facilitating the free movement of goods, services, capital and people among the four member countries.
• India has a Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR.

According to WIPO Patent Landscape Report on GenAI, China ranks 1^st with 70.3% of all Generative AI patents published (2014-2023) while India ranked 5^th with 2.5% of Gen AI patents published.

• There is intensified competition in high-end research-based education, especially in applied sciences and technologies crucial to global politics.

Importance of education and research in global competitiveness

• Comprehensive National Power (CNP): Education, innovation, research and technology are vital components of soft power towards making a country a CNP.
  • CNP is an evolved concept which is the comprehensive capability of a country to pursue its strategic objectives by taking the necessary actions internationally.
• Economic Growth: Human capital development through education is vital for labour force participation and productivity.
• Technological dominance: Education and innovation are a vital with evolving nature of strategic aspects like AI, cyberspace etc.

Issues with development in research and higher education for India

• Low investment in R&D: India spent 0.64% of its GDP on R&D in 2020–21. While, most of the developed countries spent more than 2% of their GDP on R&D.
• Lower Private participation: Private sector contributes to only 36.4% of the total national R&D expenditure. Private sector contributes more than 50% in most developed countries.
• Lack of skilled researchers: Number of researchers per million population in India is 262 (2020) [Consistently increasing] but inadequate compared to other countries like USA, China.
• Low quality of research with limited translation into application by industry. This leads to high ‘brain drain’ from India.

Way Ahead

• More innovation is required which is critical to geopolitical, economic, and military dominance in the modern world. 
• Research and education are the determinant factors in the rise and fall of the great powers. 
• International collaborations on R&D with focus on investments, infrastructure and human capital can enhance India’s global standing.

US Congress passed ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act’. 

• It states that it is US policy that the dispute between Tibet and China must be resolved in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, by peaceful means through dialogue without preconditions. 
• It also supports the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way Approach” under which Tibet would remain part of the People’s Republic of China, but Tibetans would have meaningful autonomy.

About Tibet-China Dispute

• Following a brief military conflict between China and Tibet at the start of 20^th century, Tibet declared itself as an independent nation in 1912 and functioned as an autonomous region until 1950.
• In 1951, the Dalai Lama’s representatives signed a seventeen-point agreement that granted China sovereignty over Tibet for the first time.
  • Chinese claim this document is proof of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet while Tibet says that it was coerced into signing this document.

India’s stand on Tibet

• In 1959, India granted asylum to Dalai Lama after a failed uprising.
• Since 2003, Government of India recognizes Tibet Autonomous Region as part of the People's Republic of China following the signing of the Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation between India and China.

India's first overseas Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK) inaugurated in Mauritius.

• This initiative exemplifies deepening relations between India and Littoral and island nations of the Indian ocean region (IOR). 
  • The Indian Ocean countries comprise of 36 littoral and 11 hinterland states. 

Importance of IOR’s littoral and Island nations for India

• Strategic Location: Their proximity to sea lines of communications like Malacca strait is crucial for global trade, preventing privacy & ensuring maritime security.
  • 80% of India’s external trade and 90% of energy trade happens through IOR.
• Vision of regional Leadership: IOR is emerging as new theatre for geo-political competition between global powers e.g., USA, France etc. 
  • Hence, it is crucial for pursuing India’s vision of a net security provider, while also containing the rising footprint of China.
• Blue Economy: Marine fisheries in IOR supplies about 15% of world fish catch (FAO, 2020). IOR is also important for sustainable deep-sea mining. 
• Climate Security: Indian Ocean has warmed faster than any other ocean since 1950s (IPCC report 2021).
  • Rapid population growth & rising climate disasters requires collective action for preventing human vulnerability and regional insecurity.