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CLINTON VISIT
(Continued from page 1)
economic, scientific and technological assistance
that, among others, made the Green Revolution
in the mid-1960s possible.
The end of the Cold War in the 1990s, coinciding
with the liberalization of the Indian economy,
saw a steady improvement in India-US relations
with the Clinton Administration identifying India
as one of the 10 major emerging markets. The
last few years have witnessed a number of high-
level exchanges, unprecedented in the history of
bilateral relations, as well as a commencement
of a “strategic dialogue”, which were expected to
culminate in a US Presidential visit to India in
1998.
The nuclear tests of May 1998 caused a tempo-
rary setback to the relationship. The US imposed
wide-ranging economic sanctions under the 1994
Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act (Glenn Amend-
ment) besides terminating all forms of defense
cooperation, including IMET. The US has, none-
theless, recognized the need to engage India in
an effort to address its own concerns and to
normalize relations.
Following ten rounds of talks from June 1998
between External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh
and Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott,
normalcy has been restored to the bilateral rela-
tionship, although some issues still remain to be
resolved. President Clinton’s forthcoming visit to
India is an opportunity for both countries to
build a new relationship between the world’s
two largest democracies in the 21st century based
on their common strengths, values and interests.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has
exceeded US $12 billion in 1999. There was a
decline in FD! inflows from the US in 1998 (US
$349 million as against US $719 million in 1997),
which could be attributed not only to the impact
of the economic sanctions on the general invest-
ment climate in India, but also to the South East
Asian turmoil and the slowdown in the Indian
economy. There was an upward trend in 1999,
with FDI inflows in the first four months of the
year itself amounting to US$ 186 million. The
waiver of sanctions and the opening up of the
insurance sector in India are likely to further
increase FDI inflows into India in the near future.
Some of the areas in which the two countries are
well placed to launch a new era of cooperation
are science and technology, energy, environment,
infrastructure development and information tech-
nology. Apart from the two governments, co-
operation is also being intensified between
professional societies and business and trade
representatives of the two countries.
Past U.S. Presidential Visits to India
President Dwight Eisenhower on arrival
in New Delhi, December 10, 1959 with
Prime Minister Nehru, Vice President
Radhakrishnan, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, and
President of India Rajendra Prasad.
2 INDIA NEWS « March 2000
President Richard Nixon addressed a state
banquet in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in
New Delhi, August 1, 1969; Prime Min-
ister Indira Gandhi is to the right of the
President.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai welcomes
President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter on their
arrival in New Delhi, January 1, 1978.
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UPDATES, from page 6
tion policy is being formulated and
will be brought to the Cabinet soon,”
federal Civil Aviation Minister Sharad
Yadav has said.
However, the minister refused to give
details of the new policy saying that
it was a “sensitive” issue. He said the
government would set up more inter-
national airports, especially in the
northern part of the country.
On the Y2K preparedness of the civil
aviation sector in the country, the
minister said the sector has already
achieved 95 per cent Y2K compli-
ance. “We have solved the problem
to a great extent. Our engineers are
working on it and I’m quite sure that
we will be fully prepared to meet it
before the deadline,” he said.
Government to reduce stake in
banks below 51%
Indian Government will soon amend
the banking laws to allow privatization
of public sector banks to reduce its
equity below 51 per cent. It would
also put in place a policy on volun-
tary retirement scheme (VRS) in na-
tionalized banks.
“The Nationalized Banks Act and
Banking Regulation Act will be amend-
ed soon to bring down the govern-
ment stake in public sector banks
below 51 per cent,” Devi Dayal, bank-
ing secretary in the finance ministry
has said.
The amendments are likely to come
in the next session of Parliament, he
said. Dayal said by bringing down
the stake below 51 per cent, govern-
ment role in banks would be reduced
in the future. He said the government
was also formulating a policy of Vol-
untary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to
bring down the staff costs in public
sector banks.
Currently, other PSU companies have
a policy on VRS and the policy cur-
rently being framed would be along
similar lines, he said. “The cost of
staff in public sector banks is very
high. By having a comprehensive
policy on VRS, the costs can be
brought down significantly,” Dayal
said, adding that this could help the
banks to lend money at a lower rate
of interest in future.
JASWANT SINGH INTERVIEW (Continued from page 3)
credible because it is survivable and backed by effective civilian
command and control to ensure retaliation.
You appear to be emphasising survivability but will this not
affect retaliation?
No. Retaliation does not have to be instantaneous; it has to be effective
and assured. | emphasise this because effective and assured retalia-
tion enhance the credibility of deterrence. Mobility and dispersal im-
prove survivability. Opearting procedures will ensure the transition
from peace-time deployment modes to a higher state of readiness
when required. Our nuclear assets are limited and consistent with no-
first-use; we have ensured that these procedures do not tempt an
adversary to preemption but strengthen deterrence by underlining the
political resolve for effective retaliation.
Would it be correct to deduce that India will follow different
peace-time and war-time deployment/postures?
This would be a correct assessment. You know that we would like to
convey a sense of assurance in our region, also beyond so that our
deployment posture is not perceived as de-stabilising. We have rejected
notions of “launch on warning postures” that lead to maintaining hair
trigger alerts, thus increasing the risks of an unauthorised launch. In
fact, we have taken an initiative in the U.N. General Assembly last
year, calling on all nuclear weapon States to review such postures, and
move to de-alert, thus reducing global nuclear danger.
How does this posture relate to tactical nuclear weapons?
Regarding tactical nuclear weapons, let me remind you that we do not
see nuclear weapons as weapons of war fighting. In fact, India sees
them only as strategic weapons, whose role is to deter their use by an
adversary. Civilian command and control over decisions relating to
deployment and alert levels are logical.
Is there any change in India’s position on elimination of
nuclear weapons or, let me say, in India’s approach towards
this objective?
| would like to emphasise that there is no dilution of India’s commit-
ment to the objective of achieving a nuclear weapon-free world. We
continue to call for negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention
that would prohibit the production, development, deployment and use
of all nuclear weapons and also provide for elimination of present
stockpiles under international verification. India is the only nuclear
weapon State to do so. At the same time, we also understand that
nuclear disarmament cannot be achieved overnight; it will be a step-
by-step process. We approach this process in a practical sense from
two directions. On one side, we need to strengthen the norm against
nuclear weapons by multilaterally negotiated non-use and no-first-use
agreements. From a technical standpoint, we need to move away from
the present hair-trigger postures to a progressively de-alerted state
that will reduce the risks of accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear
weapons. It will also act as a global CBM. In both these areas, India
continues to take initiatives and our resolutions in the U.N. General
Assembly have been adopted with widespread support.
(Published interview, The Hindu, November 29, 1999)
INDIA NEWS ° December 1, 1999 7
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Prime Minister Vajpayee’s
Independence Day address to the Nation
Sisters, Brothers and
Dear Children,
Accept my greetings on the sacred occasion of Inde-
pendence Day. This is a day of hallowed remem-
brance for us. This is a day of dedication for us.
This year’s Independence Day has special signifi-
cance for all of us. The present century is coming to
an end. The world will have entered the next century
by the time of the next Independence Day.
As we stand at the sunset of the 20th century, and
look back at the events of the era that has passed, we
see the end of colonialism from Indian soil to be the
most important development. Our great leaders, and
many generations of our countrymen, waged a pow-
erful struggle for independence. By doing so, they
paved the way for the independence of other coun-
tries, too. We pay our homage to those self-sacrific-
ing and devoted leaders and patriots who struggled
for freedom throughout their lives, and, when neces-
sary, even laid down their lives as aahuti (offering) in
the great yagya of freedom.
Come, all my countrymen, let us strive to become
worthy heirs to those great leaders. We dedicate
today’s sacred day to their memory.
In the same way, | offer my condolences to the val-
iant jawans, officers and others belonging to the Army
and the Air Force, who displayed magnificent hero-
ism and the spirit of sacrifice in recapturing that part
of our Motherland in Kargil from the enemy. All of us
bow our heads in gratitude for those who were
martyred in the Kargil war.
Almost all our countrymen have seen on television
glimpses of the impossible summits, which our he-
roes overcame and pushed out the enemy. To gain
victory at such heights is not only to surmount the
sky-piercing peaks, it displays the full might of the
jot It is a symbol of the bravery of our Armed
orces.
How can we forget such heroes?
How can we forget those wounded soldiers whose
only wish was: how fast can we get well and rejoin
our battalion to repulse the enemy?
How can we forget the members of the families of
those brave martyrs, who, on receiving the body of
their beloved, said, “We do not have tears in our
eyes, we have pride in our heart”? How can we forget
the mother whose lament was that she had had only
one son, and therefore, could not send another to
fight for our country?
I know that mere words of solace are not enough. We
have to take concrete measures for the families of
the martyrs and wounded soldiers so that they may
live a life of comfort and dignity. It has been said that
we remember and honour soldiers during a war, and
in the immediate aftermath. But as the days pass, we
forget them. And it is a sad fact that many who sac-
tificed their life and limb in previous wars were often
forgotten. I give you my personal pledge that this will
not happen again.
This Red Fort and its world-renowned ramparts are
not merely a geographical spot. The very heartbeat
of India’s freedom struggle is linked to this fort and
its ramparts. In the First War of Independence of
1857, this is where Bahadur Shah Zafar was held a
prisoner.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose made this very fort the
target of his campaign in 1943 and, blowing the bugle
of Independence, gave the stirring call to his coun-
trymen: “Dilli Chalo, Chalo Lal Kile”
It is from this very fort that our first Prime Minister,
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted for the first time, the
tricolour of Free India in 1947.
More than half a century has passed. Today, we stand
at the threshold of a new era. Come, let us enter this
new era united in step and united in resolve.
When | addressed you from this rampart last year,
there was uncertainty and cynicism in the atmosphere.
: was being asked:
® Will we be able to withstand economic sanctions?
© To what extent will we be able to ward off the
economic crisis, which had struck the Tiger econo-
mies of Southeast Asia?
e Will the Government be allowed to carry on its
work?
Today, speaking to a self-confident India, | declare:
© Sanctions have lost their effect. They have be-
come a thing of the past. We have dealt with them
in such a way that they hardly had any effect on
our economy;
© We kept the South-east Asian economic crisis at
bay;
e Yes, the Government was brought down, but the
country was not. It continued to march ahead, ful-
filling the mantra of Charaiveti, Charaiveti (Move
on, Move on). The Government continued to dis-
charge its duty.
© Most important, a war was imposed on us.
We have not just triumphed over difficulties, we have
achieved much. In spite of obstacles that were put in
our way,
See PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS Page 10
INDIA NEWS ¢ August 15,1999 9
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PRESS MONITOR
(Continued from page 14)
sary of the Shakti tests, India has
taken the lead to put forward prag-
matic proposals to harmonise the
concerns of the NPT-community
with the long-term goals of nuclear
disarmament. External affairs min-
ister Jaswant Singh has timed his
proposals in Parliament to prod
the nations now assembled in New
York for the first quinquennial re-
view conference of the Non-Prolif-
eration Treaty after the legitimi-
sation of nuclear weapons in 1995.
New Delhi's aim is to stimulate
some fresh thinking on the issue.
Mr Singh emphasised that India
would not give up its nuclear
arsenal so long as the five nuclear
weapon nations keep theirs;
whether the NPT nations acknowl-
edge India’s status as a weapons
nation or not will make no differ-
ence to the effectiveness and sig-
nificance of the capability. The NPT
community has run out of ideas
and is dangerously poised to un-
leash a new arms race; the US
proposal to initiate a national mis-
sile defence programme will have
adverse implications for the entire
arms control structure. The Indian
foreign minister has offered a step-
by-step approach towards fulfill-
ing the obligations under Article
VI of the NPT to achieve ultimate
nuclear disarmament.
Editorial, Times of India
May 11, 2000
True Confessions
The U.S. state department's assess-
ment in its annual report on inter-
national terrorism shifting the hub
of terrorism from West Asia to
the Pakistan-Afghanistan region
should not come as a surprise.
Only recently, U.S. Secretary of
State Madeline Albright acknowl-
edged the short-sightedness of
supporting Saddam Hussein in his
aggression against Iran; thanks to
the U.S. intervention in Iran in
1953, that country had to bear
Shah’s tyranny for 25 years.
President Clinton during his trip
to Bangladesh regretted that its
struggle for freedom did not get
the deserved support for many
nations. He was no doubt refer-
ring impliedly to the U.S. Now a
decade after Pakistan unleashed
terrorism in this region and started
to Talibanise Afghanistan, the U.S.
has come round to the view that
this region is the focal point of
international terrorism fuelled by
religious extremism and narcotics
traffic.
Editorial, Times of India
May 3, 2000
Patent excuse
Everyone has a right over the
knowledge they create. Which is
not the same thing as having pro-
prietorial rights over a traditional
knowledge that already exists.
Unfortunately, the patent regime
under the auspices of the WTO
has failed to distinguish the two.
The wrangle over neem is a typi-
cal example of the problems that
are being faced. The products of
this plant have been used in India
down the ages for medicinal and
other purposes. But that has not
stopped over three dozen Ameri-
can companies from rushing to the
patent office to register their pro-
prietorial rights over using neem
in some or other form.
The European Patent Office re-
jected one such “neem patent”
granted to an American company
earlier this week. This should help
draw attention to some of the in-
iquitous aspects of the existing
regime. While the verdict should
be welcome news for all users of
traditional knowledge in societies
such as India, it must be borne in
mind that it has taken an India-
based NGO four years to make its
case before the EPO on this issue.
As far as the present patent sys-
tem goes, the dice are loaded
against traditional societies, most
of which are struggling with their
developmental problems.
Editorial, Hindustan Times
May 13, 2000
Back to the future
Gradual restoration of Indo-Rus-
sian relations to the levels which
existed between India and the So-
viet Union is a strategically desir-
able long-term objective. While
forging such an equation with
Russia, India has to calibrate its
relations with the U.S. and China
in a manner where India retains
her independent position and free-
dom of options in dealing with the
U.LS., China and Russia.
The long-term predication on
which India should structure rela-
tions with Russian Federation is
that if Russia re-consolidates itself
and becomes stable politically and
economically, it will remain en-
dowed with nearly 70 per cent of
the resources, man-power and
technological capacities of the
former Soviet Union. Russia's de-
mographic and geo-territorial
characteristics make it a power to
reckon with in Eurasian land mass.
As far as India is concerned, Rus-
sia has an interest in balancing the
influence of the U.S. and extremist
Islamic nations in the Asian re-
gion. Ivanov's visit affirms that on
this objective Russian and Indian
interests converge. The revival of
Indo-Russian connections is based
on this convergence of long-term
interests of both the countries.
J.N. Dixit - Hindustan Times
May 10, 2000
INDIA NEWS © May-June 2000 15,
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Excerpts from
Ambassador Naresh Chandra’s interview on NewsHour on
Senate’s rejection to ratify the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,
Q: Ambassador Chandra,
today the President in par-
ticular called on India and
Pakistan not to take this
vote as a green light to step
up your nuclear weapons
program. How do you read
it?
NARESH CHANDRA: Well, we
have already made an announce-
ment at prime minister’s level that
we have taken a decision not to
test anymore. In fact, the an-
nouncement was made on the
13th of May '98, by my govern-
ment. And the Prime Minister of
India reiterated our approach to
CTBT in the UN General Assem-
bly and also in Parliament. We
don’t oppose and we have said
that we are working to reach ar-
rangements with our friendly pow-
ers, including the P-Five - in or-
der not to -
Q: You’re talking about the
big five nuclear powers?
NARESH CHANDRA: Nuclear
powers. So we have said that we
will try reach an understanding
so that we don’t stand in the way
of the treaty going into force.
Q: All right. But are you
saying, one, that India will
continue to adhere to your
own sort of voluntary ban
on testing?
NARESH CHANDRA: That’s true.
4 INDIA NEWS © November 1, 1999
October 14, 1999
Q: And what about sign-
ing this treaty, which In-
dia has not done?
NARESH CHANDRA: Well, we
are in the stage of evolving a con-
sensus inside India. And this pro-
cess has got delayed because we
had a general election, which
lasted a long time. The new gov-
emment has taken oath of office
yesterday, and it’s a priority for
them to determine their approach
now and the future on the signing
on the CTBT.
Q: Ambassador Chandra,
what about the point — or
how do you respond to the
point that Senator Levin
made; that is, setting aside
perhaps India for a mo-
ment, but that it is difficult
for the United States to
have the moral authority
now to call on other coun-
tries either not to test or to
sign or ratify the treaty
when the U.S. hasn’t done
the latter?
Well, there are two aspects: One
is the treaty ratification. The other
is the U.S. policy as enunciated
by the President and executed. It
is true that non-ratification will
have a bearing on the strength
that the U.S. administration would
have had in persuading other
powers to their point of view. At
the same time, the fact that the
President has indicated that his
policy of non-testing and continu-
ing commitment to the treaty
would lend them some weight
there. As far as India is con-
cerned, for us the debate in the
Senate is a very important input
for our deliberations. When we
consider about signing the CTBT,
the debate in the Senate, the ob-
servations which have been made
will be very carefully taken into
account. But the ultimate test,
whether we sign or not, there is
only one criteria, and that is the
national security interests of the
Indian people. It is on that test
that parliament and government
of India will decide whether to sign
the test ban treaty or not.
Q: Do you see, Mr. Ambas-
sador, a United States that’s
disengaging from the world
at all?
NARESH CHANDRA: | would put
it this way. In every democracy,
both points of view are present in
the national parliament or in the
Congress. And it depends on
which point, what point of view
prevails because politics is es-
sentially local, and nobody can
blame elected representatives
from keeping a sharp eye on what
the voters’ interest is. So it’s a
case of a balance. I| think in the
national parliament, people ex-
pect that a much broader view is
taken. So there is a balance be-
tween isolationists’ view and the
world view.
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cr RM
40(
ste TOL
on00
Vajpayee visit: Reaffirming the Vision
“As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas
of cooperation — in advancing democracy, in combating terrorism, in energy and
environment, science and technology and in international peacekeeping. And, we
are discovering that our shared values and common interests are leading us to seek
a natural partnership of shared endeavours.”
Prime Minister Vajpayee’s address to the joint session of the U.S. Congress — September 14, 2000
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Prime Minister’s Address
(Continued from page 3)
Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen,
We believe that India and America can — and should
— march hand in hand towards a world in which
economic conditions improve for all.
A situation that provides comfortable living standards
to one-third of the world’s population, but con-
demns the remaining two-thirds to poverty and want,
is unsustainable.
The foremost responsibility that the 21st century
has cast on all of us is to change this unacceptable
legacy of the past.
It should be our common endeavour to overcome
this legacy. I, therefore, propose a comprehensive
global dialogue on development.
We would be happy to offer New Delhi as the venue
for this dialogue.
In this Congress, you have often expressed concern
about the future contours of Asia. Will it be an Asia
that will be at peace with itself? Or will it be a
continent, where countries seek to redraw bound-
aries and settle claims — historical or imaginary —
through force?
We seek an Asia where power does not threaten
stability and security. We do not want the domina-
tion of some to crowd out the space for others. We
must create an Asia where cooperative rather than
aggressive assertion of national self-interests defines
behaviour among nations.
If we want an Asia fashioned on such ideals — a
democratic, prosperous, tolerant, pluralistic, stable
Asia — if we want an Asia where our vital interests
are secure, then it is necessary for us to re-examine
old assumptions.
It is imperative for India and the United States to
work together more closely in pursuit of those goals.
In the years ahead, a strong, democratic and eco-
nomically prosperous India, standing at the cross-
roads of all the major cultural and economic zones
of Asia, will be an indispensable factor of stability in
the region.
Our cooperation for peace and stability requires us
to also define the principles of our own engagement.
We must be prepared to accommodate our respec-
tive concerns.
We must have the mutual confidence to acknowl-
edge our respective roles and complementary
responsibilities in areas of vital importance to each
of us.
Security issues have cast a shadow on our relation-
ship. | believe this is unnecessary. We have much in
common and no clash of interests.
We both share a commitment to ultimately eliminat-
ing nuclear weapons. We have both declared volun-
tary moratoriums on testing.
India understands your concerns. We do not wish to
unravel your non-proliferation efforts. We wish you
to understand our security concerns.
We are at a historic moment in our ties. As we
embark on our common endeavour to build a new
relationship, we must give practical shape to our
shared belief that democracies can be friends, part-
ners and allies.
In recent years, through all the good and difficult
times, we have spoken to each other more often
than we have ever done in the past. | thank Presi-
dent Clinton for this leadership and vision in steering
this dialogue. | sincerely thank members of this
Congress for supporting and encouraging this pro-
cess.
As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new
possibilities and new areas of cooperation — in ad-
vancing democracy, in combating terrorism, in en-
ergy and environment, science and technology and
in international peacekeeping. And, we are discover-
ing that our shared values and common interests are
leading us to seek a natural partnership of shared
endeavours.
India and the United States have taken a decisive
step away from the past. The dawn of the new
century has marked a new beginning in our rela-
tions.
Let us work to fulfill the promise and the hope of
today.
Let us remove the shadow of hesitation that lies
between us and our joint vision.
Let us use the strength of all that we have in com-
mon to build together a future that we wish for
ourselves and for the world that we live in.
Thank you.
&
&
‘F——_—_—_—_—— a
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India-U.S. Space Cooperation:
Reaching for new frontiers
In the early 1960’s, the United States had offered substantial assistance to India in setting up an
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station at Thumba (TERLS). Subsequently, India dedicated this facility
to the United Nations in 1968. Since then, scientists from various countries have launched more
than 3000 sounding rockets for research purposes.
During 1975-76, under a collaborative bilateral agreement, an experiment, Satellite Instrumental
Television Experiment (SITE) was conducted. Under this agreement, a U.S. satellite, ATS-6, beamed
educational programs to direct reception television sets to 2400 far flung villages exposing them
to a new and immensely powerful medium of television.
Anuradha, an Indian experiment for cosmic ray studies was part of NASA's third Spacelab mission.
The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) and Survey of India have made use of data received
from NASA’s MAGSAT Satellite for research and analysis.
India has also participated in Guest Investigator Program of NASA’s Einstein and HEAO-B X-ray
astronomy satellites.
The United States supplied samples of lunar material collected by its lunar probes to India for
research purposes.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding between India and U.S. signed in 1977, India received
data from LANDSAT satellites.
Under a commercial arrangement, Space Imaging of Denver, CO markets the Indian Remote
Sensing satellite imageries of panchromatic resolution of 5m — which until recently has been the
best available in the public domain.
In 1997, NASA & NOAA of United States and Indian Space Research Organization & the Depart-
ment of Science and Technology of India have agreed to share meteorological data from India’s
INSAT satellites. Under this agreement, collaborative research in the area of earth & atmospheric
sciences will also be undertaken.
Bilateral visits of Heads of State/Government
From United States From India
. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru - October 1949
. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru - December 1956
. Vice President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - March 1958
. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru - November 1961
1. President Dwight D. Eisenhower - December 1959 1
2
3
4
5. President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan - June 1963
6
7
8
2. Vice President Lyndon Johnson - May 1961
3. Vice President Hubert Humphrey - February 1966
4. President Richard Nixon - July 1969
. Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi - March 1966
. Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi - November 1971
. Prime Minister Morarji Desai - June 1978
9. Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi - July 1982
10. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - June 1985
11. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - September 1987
12. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao - May 1994
5. President Jimmy Carter - January 1978
6. Vice President George Bush - May 1984
INDIA NEWS ¢ March 2000 3
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Note on Violation of India’s airspace by
Pakistan’s Atlantique aircraft and
consequent action
On August 10, 1999, a Pakistani Naval Anti-Subma-
tine Warfare and maritime reconnaissance aircraft,
called Atlantique intruded 10 Kms into Indian Territory
in the Area of KORI CREEK.
The intruding aircraft was detected by IAF ground ra-
dars and was intercepted 10 Kms south of the Interna-
tional Border. When the IAF fighters closed in to iden-
tify and signal the intruding Pakistani aircraft to force
it to land at an Indian base, the Pakistani aircraft acted
in a hostile manner by turning into our fighter. At that
stage the Atlantique was shot down by an air-to-air
missile from a MIG-21 of the IAF, which hit the aircraft
on the port engine which caught fire.
Following is a comphrensive note on the incident:
e Intruding aircraft was of the Atlantique type. It is
well-known to defence forces, especially navy/air
forces all over the world, that this is an advanced
military aircraft with following essential capabilities:
—The aircraft can not only carry out marine recon-
naissance but also do surveillance / aerial pho-
tography and electronic intelligence gathering.
—Can carry a substantial weapons load (3.5 tonnes
in the case of Pakistan version). This includes
bombs, air-to-surface missiles and weapons meant
for anti-ship and anti-submarine role, as well as
air-to-air missiles.
e Pak military aircraft came well into Indian air space
(up to 10 km). This was clearly a deep intrusion
and violation of our air space in contravention of
universally accepted norms of conduct in bilateral
relation.
¢ This intrusion was also a blatant violation of the
1991 Agreement between India and Pakistan on
Prevention of Air Space Violations and for permit-
ting over flights and landings by military aircraft.
The crucial provision in this Agreement is that air-
craft of this type will not fly within 10 kms of each
other's air space, except by prior permission.
e Pakistan neither informed us nor sought prior per-
mission as required by the Agreement.
¢ Details of intrusions, aircraft type (as described
above), mode of activity including movements of
the aircraft, and its conduct after it was engaged by
our air force, Pakistan’s own statements thereafter
make it clear beyond doubt that this was in no way
a case of an innocent entry or straying into Indian
air space, but a deliberate, planned operation for
surveillance/reconnaissance and intelligence gath-
ering, using a sophisticated reconnaissance/combat
aircraft for this purpose.
6 INDIA NEWS © October 1, 1999
It is crucial to recognise that surveillance / recon-
naissance / intelligence gathering is an offensive
military operation and a hostile activity. It cannot be
passed off as harmless.
The central issue therefore is not whether Pakistan
aircraft was “armed” or “unarmed”. The issue is that
it was a military aircraft engaged in offensive and
hostile military operation compounded by its com-
bat capabilities.
Pak Information Minister was quoted by BBC, soon
after the incident, as stating that the aircraft was on
a “surveillance mission”. Subsequently, the Pak Gov-
ernment spokesman stated that it was on a training
mission.
Following points are relevant in this connection:
—A genuine, routine training mission would never
operate in sensitive border areas, leave alone vio-
late the air space of a neighbouring country espe-
cially at a time of tension. This is precisely what
the Pak aircraft was doing.
—If the aircraft was flying out towards the high seas
on a genuine mission, it could have traversed a
more westward route away from the sensitive bor-
der areas
— If it was on a training mission, this would have to
be linked with maritime reconnaissance. It was
operating over a land area - covering part of our
territory.
—The aircraft was at a height of 5,000-10,000 feet.
This is an unusually low height for an aircraft
supposedly on a training mission. Low attitude is,
however, essential for carrying out photography
of ground features.
Area over which the Atlantique was executing its
manoeuvres, is a sensitive border area and it has
many ingress and infiltration routes. The indication
is that the aircraft was engaged in reconnaissance,
photography and surveillance over these features,
as well as of ground activity on the Sir Creek area.
Though the intrusion was not in this area, the air-
craft is capable of photographing at an angle. Fur-
ther, there are a number of sensitive defence instal-
lations and major civilian (industrial and scientific)
centres on our side near the area of intrusion, and
further beyond the western sea coast of India.
The aircraft intruded four times into Indian air space.
After first entry, it carried out a circular movement,
exited and entered again making another circular
movement, it was after the fourth return into Indian
territory, that it was encountered and engaged.
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press the approval time frame and thereby facilitate
speedy implementation of projects.
FDI proposals approved
From January 1991 to February 2000, the govern-
ment has approved 17,098 foreign collaboration (tech-
nical and financial) proposals with a corresponding
foreign direct investment (FDI) of U.S. $60.4 billion.
Actual inflow of FDI during 1999 reached U.S. $4
billion during 1999.
Information Technology
The new Ministry has been created by amalgamating
two departments, the erstwhile Department of Elec-
tronics and the NIC, which was earlier under the
Planning Commission. The vision of the IT Ministry is
to make India an IT Super Power by the Year 2008.
It would take focused initiatives to accelerate the
internet revolution in India, emphasizing the creation
of useful contents in Indian languages, |OT-enabled
services, IT-education, electronics and computer hard-
ware manufacturing and exports, silicon facility, E-
Commerce and internet based E-Businesses.
Social Welfare
Increased Focus On Elimination Of Child Labor
Elimination of child labor continues to be one of the
major focus areas of the Labor Ministry. The Labor
Ministry has taken an initiative for framing an omni-
bus legislation prescribing 14 years as the minimum
age for employment and work in all occupations.
However, exception is sought in the area of agricul-
ture in family and smallholdings producing for own
consumption. The proposed legislation will also fix a
minimum age of not less than 18 years to any type
of employment and work which by its nature or
circumstances is likely to jeopardize the health, safety
or morals of young persons. The measure would also
help in ratification of the ILO’s new convention, by
India.
Welfare Fund For Overseas Indian Workers
The Labor Ministry proposes to constitute a Welfare
Fund for the Indian Overseas Workers. It will be
utilized for repatriating the workers stranded in for-
eign countries, providing financial assistance to the
kin of workers who die during foreign employment,
transportation home of the bodies of dead workers
and for lump sum assistance to workers permanently
disabled while in foreign employment. Collecting a
fee from each worker leaving the country for overseas
employment will raise the money for the Fund. The
Labor Ministry is also taking several steps to prevent
exploitation of emigrant workers both at home and
abroad. The Chief Secretaries of all the states have
been requested to ensure police surveillance on the
activities of unauthorized agents and register cases
against them.
Space
India’s first third-generation satellite, Insat-3B was
successfully launched from Kourou in French Guyana
by an Ariane-5 rocket on March 22, 2000. ISRO
crossed an important milestone in the development
of indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage for India’s Geo-
synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) when
the first cryogenic engine was ignited at Liquid Pro-
pulsion Systems Center Test Complex at Mahendragiri,
Tamil Nadu on February 18, 2000.
Water Resources
Cooperation with Nepal and Bangladesh
Several projects have been identified and negotiations
have been going on. Joint Project Office - Pancheshwar
Investigation (IPO-PI) has been opened in Kathmandu,
Nepal on 10.12.99 and the Project investigation work
for preparation of a joint Detailed Project Report for
Pancheshwar multi-purpose project has started. This
work scheduled to be completed by the end of 2001.
Govt. of India and HMGN are also cooperating for the
extension of embankments in Nepal on the rivers
Lalbakeya, Kamla, Baqgmati and Khando. Work on
Lalbakeya River has started. Work on establishing
flood forecasting and warning sites on rivers common
to Nepal and India is in progress with the assistance
of Government of India.
The Treaty with Bangladesh is being implemented.
Talks are on with Govt. of Bangladesh for sharing
waters of other rivers common to India and Ban-
gladesh. Joint Committees have been set up on both
sides for monitoring and implementing the Treaty on
sharing of Ganga waters.
INDIA NEWS « May-June 2000 13
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Indian Press Monitor
Partners in peace
All the same, the stress placed on India’s “commitment to enhancing cooperation, peace and stability” in the region
specifically underlines New Delhi’s positive role. The “risk” which Mr. Vajpayee took in visiting Lahore, as
mentioned by Mr Clinton, is noteworthy in this context. It showed that India was ready to go the extra mile to
resolve differences. But, as soon as the situation showed signs of improvement, there were attempts to sabotage
the painstaking efforts, as Mr. Vajpayee pointed out in the joint press conference with the U.S. President. The
“horrible” events in Kashmir the previous night, in Mr. Clinton’s words, can possibly be seen as such a cynical ploy
by mercenaries to whom human lives count for nothing. ; |
— Hindustan Times, March 22, 2000
A Watershed?
The signing of the document, India-U.S. Relations: A Vision for the 21st Century by the Prime Minister of India,
Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and President Bill Clinton of the United States, is an event of far-reaching significance.
It marks the remarkable transformation that has come upon the relations between the two countries since the
tension and suspicion of the Cold War days. The document, which is most comprehensive and covers almost every
possible area in which India and the U.S. can interact is a clear indication of the depth and intensity of the
ngagement sought by both sides.
enea Ment OY — The Pioneer, March 22, 2000
Man of the moment
Even as Bill Clinton’s visit continues to inspire rhetorical flourishes — “the beginning of a new voyage in a new
century”, as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told Parliament on Wednesday — there is little doubt that the
relaxed personal style of the American President has won him as many admirers in this country as has the seeming
tilt in the U.S. policy towards India under him.
— Hindustan Times, March 23, 2000
Upswing in Indo-U.S. relations
The ULS. President, Mr. Bill Clinton's visit to India has inaugurated what could be a brighter and more promising
chapter in the history of the relationship between India and the United States which has for long been a troubled
and difficult one. The first American President to visit India in two decades, Mr. Clinton’s interactions with the
political leadership in New Delhi resulted in a decision to upgrade and intensify the diplomatic contacts between
both sides — regular summit meetings between the —Indian Prime Minister and the U.S. President, an annual
foreign policy dialogue at the level of the Minister for External Affairs and the U.S. Secretary of State and other
regular foreign policy consultations. The decision to institutionalise the Indo-U.S. dialogue and to create an
“architecture” of high-level consultations, marks an acknowledgment on both sides, particularly the U.S., of the
strategic utility of deepening the engagement between the two countries that were clearly until now conforming
to the description of “estranged democracies”. ;
— The Hindu, March 23, 2000
Clinton in Middle India
To India of the silent majority, the Clinton visit is both an engaging spectacle (to be watched after office hours on
TV) and serious business because it marks the beginning of a major change in mutual relations where the wasted
opportunities may be set right. In doing so, India will guard its own interests and America its own, as always. Only
this time, there seems every possibility of the two sets of interests converging because of the post-Cold War ground
realities which were earlier absent. There is nothing artificial or forced, therefore, about the new warmth in Indo-
US ties. It is the natural outcome of events such as the demise of communism and the rise of Islamic terrorism.
— Hindustan Times, March 25, 2000
See INDIAN PRESS MONITOR, Page 12
INDIA NEWS « April 2000 11
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NEWS IN BRIEF
(Continued from page 8)
During the meeting with the chief
executives of these companies,
Information Technology Minister
Mr. Pramod Mahajan said that
government was committed to pro-
mote collaboration and diversifi-
cation and facilitate an enabling
climate through a series of ongo-
ing fiscal and other policy mea-
sures. He said Government was
identifying inputs to create a po-
tential for creating venture funds
totaling 10 billion dollars, up from
2 billion dollars now, over the next
eight years and pointed out that a
national IT Venture Fund amount-
ing to $20 million had been set up
for small and medium enterprises
by his ministry.
Mr. Mahajan said that InfoTech
was one of the fastest growing
sectors of the Indian IT industry,
having achieved a compounded
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5
per cent in production and 43 per
cent in exports during 1994-95.
IT contributed four per cent and
Telecommunication and Electron-
ics 24.19 per cent towards the total
foreign direct investments inflow
between January 1991 and Decem-
ber 1998, the minister said.
Chemical and Fertilizers
delegation visits U.S. and
Switzerland
Indian Minister of Chemicals and
Fertilizers Suresh Prabhu led a
delegation of businessmen from
chemicals and pharma industries
to United States and Switzerland
to popularize the competitive ad-
vantage of India in the two indus-
tries.
Part of the promotional tour was
to popularize India Chem 2000, to
be held in October in New Delhi.
The delegation impressed upon
international companies to invest
in the field of research and de-
velopment in India. The delega-
tion focused on India’s capabil-
ity to emerge as a major R&D
hub, attracting foreign investment
into the chemical sector, technol-
ogy transfer and strategic collabo-
rations.
The delegation met with represen-
tatives from Novartis, Sulzer, Swiss
Society of Chemicals, GEF, DuPont,
Rohm and Haas, Unocal, Enron,
Philips and Chevron during the
visit.
The delegation also held a sympo-
sium on the chemical industry and
its relationship to India’s economic
development in Philadelphia. It also
met with members of International
Petrochemical and Refineries Asso-
ciation.
Satyam enters alliance with
Microsoft for U.S. clients
India’s Satyam Computer Services
Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. have
formed a strategic alliance to jointly
develop and provide web and en-
terprise integration systems to U.S.
state-run companies based on
Windows DNA 2000 technology.
Satyam Computers, one of India's
largest software companies, has
worldwide research and develop-
ment center, which develop, cus-
tomized applications based on
Microsoft technology. The state-
ment said Satyam had used its
software skills to accelerate web
and e-commerce integration with
existing back-end software sys-
tems for Internet start-ups as well
as multinational firms. Windows
DNA 2000 is Microsoft's platform
for building and deploying new
generation e-commerce and web
solutions business.
India May Exempt
Pharmaceutical Companies
From Environment Clearance
India’s Chemical and Fertilizers
ministry has favored the exemp-
tion of pharmaceutical units with
less than U.S. $11.21 million in
investments from obligatory envi-
ronmental clearance and will soon
take up the issue with the Envi-
ronment Ministry. The department
is planning to raise the matter with
the Ministry of Environment and
Forests for exemption and clear-
ance of proposals of new units
and expansion plans for existing
units with less than U.S. $11.21
million investment by State Pollu-
tion Control Boards, ministry offi-
cials said. Observing that phar-
maceutical units were technology-
driven and provided for pre-treat-
ment facilities within their premises
as per prescribed standards, it said
that expansion was imperative for
the industry, which was facing stiff
competition in international mar-
kets.
New Delhi based DELHINET
ties up with UUNET
India’s Delhinet Web Services has
entered into a strategic alliance
with U.S. based Internet backbone
provider, UUNET to offer the
multinational’s services in India.
According to the alliance, Delhinet
would offer services like web host-
ing, remote access, collocation and
other value added services as pre-
mium offering to dot.com compa-
nies, internet service providers and
corporates in India, the company
said in a statement. Delhinet would
also be putting up new services
with UUNET in the United States
to offer premium services to its
clients, the release added.
INDIA NEWS ¢ May-June 2000 9
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INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS
(Continued from page 1)
In the new century, India and the United States will be
partners in peace, with a common interest in and
complementary responsibility for ensuring regional and
international security. We will engage in regular con-
sultations on, and work together for, strategic stability
in Asia and beyond. We will bolster joint efforts to
counter terrorism and meet other challenges to re-
gional peace. We will strengthen the international se-
curity system, including in the United Nations, and
support the United Nations in its peacekeeping efforts.
We acknowledge that tensions in South Asia can only
be resolved by the nations of South Asia. India is com-
mitted to enhancing cooperation, peace and stability in
the region.
India and the United States share a commitment to
reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons,
but we have not always agreed on how to reach this
common goal. The United States believes India should
forgo nuclear weapons. India believes that it needs to
maintain a credible minimum nuclear deterrent in keep-
ing with its own assessment of its security needs. None-
theless, India and the U.S. are prepared to work to-
gether to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons
and their means of delivery. To this end, we will persist
with and build upon the productive bilateral dialogue
already underway.
We reaffirm our respective voluntary commitments to
forgo further nuclear explosive tests. We will work
together and with others for an early commencement of
negotiations on a treaty to end the production of fissile
materials for nuclear weapons. We have both shown
strong commitments to export controls, and will con-
tinue to strengthen them. We will work together to
prevent the spread of dangerous technologies. We are
committed to build confidence and reduce the chances
of miscalculation. We will pursue our security needs in
a restrained and responsible manner, and will not en-
gage in nuclear and missile arms races. We will seek to
narrow our differences and increase mutual under-
standing on non-proliferation and security issues. This
will help us to realize the full potential of Indo-U.S.
relations and contribute significantly to regional and
global security.
The true measure of our strength lies in the ability of
our people to shape their destiny and to realize their
aspirations for a better life. That is why the United
States and India are and will be allies in the cause of
democracy. We will share our experience in nurturing
and strengthening democratic institutions the world
over and fighting the challenge to democratic order
from forces such as terrorism. We will cooperate with
others to launch an international Community of De-
mocracies this year.
2 INDIA NEWS « April 2000
The United States applauds India’s success in opening
its economy, its achievements in science and technol-
ogy, its commitment to a new wave of economic ex-
pansion and reform, and its determination to bring the
benefits of economic growth to all its people. Our na-
tions pledge to reduce impediments to bilateral trade
and investment and to expand commerce between us,
especially in the emerging knowledge-based industries
and high-technology areas.
We will work together to preserve stability and growth
in the global economy as well. And we will join in an
unrelenting battle against poverty in the world, so that
the promise of a new economy is felt everywhere and
no nation is left behind. That is among the fundamental
challenges of our time. Opening trade and resisting
protectionism are the best means for meeting it. We
support an open, equitable and transparent rule-based
multilateral trading system, and we will work together
to strengthen it. We agree that developed countries
should embrace policies that offer developing countries
the opportunity to grow, because growth is the key to
rising incomes and rising standards. At the same time,
we share the conviction that human development also
requires empowerment of people and availability of
basic freedoms.
As leaders in the forefront of the new high-technology
economy, we recognize that countries can achieve ro-
bust economic growth while protecting the environ-
ment and taking action to combat climate change. We
will do our part to meet the global environmental chal-
lenges, including climate change and the impacts of air
and water pollution on human health.
We also pledge a common effort to battle the infectious
diseases that kill people and retard progress in so
many countries. India is at the forefront of the global
effort that has brought us to the threshold of the eradi-
cation of polio. With leadership, joint research, and
application of modern science, we can and will do the
same for the leading killers of our time, including AIDS,
malaria and tuberculosis.
We are proud of the cooperation between Indians and
Americans in advancing frontiers of knowledge. But
even as we unravel the mysteries of time and space, we
must continue to apply our knowledge to older chal-
lenges: eradicating human suffering, disease and pov-
erty. In the past, our cooperation helped ease mass
hunger in the world. In the future, it will focus as well
on the development of clean energy, health, and edu-
cation.
Our partnership is not an end in itself, but a means to
all these ends. And it is reinforced by the ties of schol-
arship, commerce, and increasingly of kinship among
our people. The industry, enterprise and cultural con-
tributions of Americans of Indian heritage have en-
tiched and enlivened both our societies.
Sec INDIA-US RELATIONS, Page 4
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Cultural Calendar
Odissi dance
FREMONT — Jyoti Rout performs
Odissi classical dance, Ganda Devi
Bandhan. The evening also features a
solo sitar recital by David Gray, student
of Ustad Habib Khan.
The event is being held on February 13
at 5 pm at Ohlone College, 43600 Mis-
sion Blvd. Tickets cost $15.
For information, call Shoba at (510) 223-
0786.
IACA banquet
ATLANTA — The India American Cul-
tural Association is organizing its an-
nual banquet on February 20 at 6:30
pm at the Hilton Atlanta Northwest,
2055 South Park Place.
For information, call (770)-953-9300.
Celebrate the millennium’s first Val-
entine Day. Featured are casino games
and prizes, silent auction and Valen-
tine photo/portraits (separate charges).
For more information, call (770) 993-
4356/971-5971.
CPuja: Expressions of
Hindu Devotion
As part of its “Image-in Asia” series for
kids, Smithsonian Institution presents
special sessions on “Birds and Gods”.
Children will explore the exhibition
“Puja: Expressions of Hindu Devotion”
(125 works in bronze, brass, copper,
wood, silver, granite, crystal, stone,
terra cotta and shell, ranging in date
from the 9th to the 20th centuries, on
view at the Sackler Gallery) to find
relationships between birds and gods
in Hindu mythology. In the Image-in-
Asia classroom, the young participants
can then construct mobiles of folded
paper birds and deities who ride upon
them. The sessions will be held on
Saturdays (February - 12, 19, 26) and
Sundays (February - 13, 20, 27). Venue
is the classroom on the second level of
the Sackler Gallery: 1050 Indepen-
dence Ave., SW, Washington, DC. For
more information, please call (202)
357-4880.
Asian Music by
Lalgudi Krishnan
Smithsonian Institution features ‘Asian
Music’ by Lalgudi Krishnan. The ac-
claimed violist, who has received nu-
merous awards in India and appeared
6 INDIA NEWS « January/February 2000
in concert worldwide, will perform in
the south Indian classical style, ac-
companied by ‘mridangam’ (drum),
‘ghatam’ (clay jar) and ‘kanjira’ (tam-
bourine). FEBRUARY 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Venue is the Freer Gallery's Meyer
Auditorium: Jefferson Drive at 12th
Street, SW, Washington, DC. Up to two
free tickets per person will be distrib-
uted one hour before the event. For
more information: (202) 357-2700.
Cultural Portraits of India
An online gallery of Lindsay Hebberd’s
‘Cultural Portraits of India’ exhibition
and book. Lindsay Hebberd, interna-
tionally acclaimed photographer, pub-
lisher and producer of educational pho-
tographic exhibitions, spends the ma-
jority of each year documenting dis-
tinctive cultures, traditions and envi-
ronments around the world.
http://www. culturalportraits. com/
CPindia/cpindia1.htm
15th Annual South Asia
Conference at Berkeley
Center for South Asia Studies
University of California, Berkeley
February 19 & 20, 2000
For Information: Phone: (510) 642-
3608/Fax: (510) 643-5793
Email:
csasasst@uclink4. berkeley.edu
http://www.ias.berkeley.edu/
southasia/conference.html
Maharajas, Women &
Medicine: Medical Pluralism
in the Indian Princely States
An exhibition from the Private collec-
tion of Kenneth Robbins. Presented as
part of Chatham College global focus
year of South Asia
March 5-10, 2000 (noon to 5 pm)
Chatham College Woodland Gallery,
Pittsburgh
A Force More Powerful:
A Century of Nonviolent Conflict
A premier screening of the documentary film “A Force More Powerful, a
Century of Nonviolent Conflict” was held on December 9, 1999 at a function
organized by the US Institute of Peace, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty
International in Washington D.C. The Mayor of Washington D.C., Anthony
Williams, and Ambassador of India to US, Mr. Naresh Chandra joined the
Washington-based Filmmaker, Steve York and the Chairman of the Santa
Monica Pictures L.L.C., Peter Ackerman.
The feature length documentary presents one of the 20th century’s most
important and inspiring stories — the victory of nonviolent power over
oppression and authoritarian rule. It explores*'-*~s situations in which free-
dom was achieved through the philosophy and methods developed by Ma-
hatma Gandhi of India. The first segment documents Gandhi's fight for
India's independence from British rule and includes powerful episodes from
history where nonviolence overcame injustice, discrimination and authori-
tarianism. The film then focuses on 1959 Nashville protests led by Rev.
James Lawson who had studied Gandhi's philosophy and method in India.
The final segment of the film concerns Mkhuseli Jack, one of the most
prominent leaders in South Africa whose inspired boycotts hastened the end
of apartheid in that country.
The film brings to the fore the originality, courage and moral superiority of
the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, the leading personality of the 20th century.
In his own words, nonviolence became “a priceless and matchless weapon.
Those who wield it are strangers to disappointment and defeat.” The great-
ness of these ideas was clearly a powerful force behind the making of the
film. In the words of Producer-Director-Writer Steve York, “when I was in
India, | walked along the dusty road leading to the beach where Gandhi
broke the salt law. It looks about the same as it did in 1930. The place is
nothing special, it’s what Gandhi did there that’s remarkable...”. Several
speakers paid tributes to Gandhi identifying him as the Man of the Century.
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U.S. NEWS MEDIA REPORTS (Continued from page 13)
A Turning Point
In addition, the strategic interests of India and the
United States are converging for the first time since
India’s independence in 1947. Specifically, the two most
daunting challenges facing Indian and American
policymakers are the threat posed by the rise of Islamic
fundamentalism and the emergence of China as an
economic and military competitor. These factors should
foster a frank and open dialogue with India's political
leaders, who are a very patriotic and confident group.
Unlike high-level discussions with Chinese leaders, these
will be a forum where Clinton can air a wide range of
contentious issues such as nuclear proliferation, labor
standards or Kashmir, without having to contend with
onerous preconditions, prickly rejoinders or attempts at
intimidation and retaliation.
— By Ed Rogers
— Washington Post — March 17, 2000
Waiting for Clinton - in Jaipur
First, the president should make clear that the U.S. does
not wish to remake the world in its own image. Echoing
themes in his State of the Union address, Clinton can
say that the U.S. and India are not only the world’s two
largest democracies but also the world’s two largest
multicultural societies. In an era plagued with ethnic
violence, both countries have shown the world how to
live with difference. The president should also let his
hosts know that Americans appreciate the heterogene-
ity of world cultures and admire the contribution India’s
ancient and vibrant civilization makes to that diversity.
Second, the incumbent National Democratic Alliance
government, and current public opinion here appear
ready to accept a new relationship with Washington.
Clinton should say that he is seeking to establish a
cooperative partnership with India. He should indicate
that the U.S. has discarded the Cold War tendency to
balance and equate Pakistan and India, and that the
U.S. recognizes India’s leadership role in South Asia.
— By Matthew Rudolph, Susanne Hoeber Rudolph and
Lloyd I. Rudolph. Lloyd 1. Rudolph and
Susanne Hoeber Rudolph.
— Chicago Tribune — March 8, 2000
U.S. President Clinton addressing the Members of both the Houses of Parliament, in New Delhi on March 22, 2000. Vice President
Krishan Kant, Prime Minister Vajpayee and Lok Sabha Speaker Balayogi are also seen.
14 INDIA NEWS « April 2000
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Joint India-U.S. Statement on the
Occasion of the Official Visit of
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
September 15, 2000
RIME Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton
today reaffirmed the vision they outlined in March
in New Delhi of a closer and qualitatively new rela-
tionship between India and the United States in the
21st century. They reiterated their conviction that
closer cooperation and stronger partnership between
the two countries will be a vital factor for shaping a
future of peace, prosperity, democracy, pluralism
and freedom for this world. They acknowledged that
this vision draws strength from broad political sup-
port in both countries.
The two leaders agreed that the wide-ranging archi-
tecture of institutional dialogue between the two
countries provides a broad-based framework to
pursue the vision of a new relationship. They ex-
pressed satisfaction at the pace and purposefulness
with which the two countries have initiated the con-
sultations envisaged in the dialogue architecture.
In particular, the two leaders are gratified by their
recent exchange of visits, and by the regular foreign
2000; Photo: Government of India Photo Division)
Prime Minister Vajpayee speaking at the White House welcoming ceremony. (September 15,
policy consultations at the ministerial and senior
policy levels.
They expressed satisfaction at the role that the two
countries played in the launch of the Community of
Democracies.
In the economic arena, they reaffirmed their confi-
dence that the three ministerial-level economic dia-
logues and the High-Level Coordinating Group will
improve the bilateral trade environment, facilitate
greater commercial cooperation, promote investment,
and contribute to strengthening the global financial
and trading systems.
They welcomed the progress of the Joint Working
Group on Counter-Terrorism, and agreed that it
would also examine linkages between terrorism and
narcotics trafficking and other related issues. They
noted the opening of a Legal Attach office in New
Delhi designed to facilitate cooperation in counter-
terrorism and law enforcement.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction that the joint
consultative group on clean energy and
environment met in July and agreed to
revitalize and expand energy coopera-
tion, while discussing the full range of
issues relating to environment and cli-
mate change.
They welcomed the establishment of the
Science and Technology forum in July
and agreed that the forum should rein-
vigorate the traditionally strong scien-
tific cooperation between the two coun-
tries. In that connection, they noted the
contribution of the two science and tech-
nology related roundtable meetings held
in March and September.
They also welcomed the recent initia-
tives in the health sector, including the
joint statements of June 2000, as ex-
amples of deepening collaboration in
See JOINT INDIA-U.S. STATEMENT, Page 6
2
5
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India-U.S. Relations:
A Vision for the 21st Century
T the dawn of a new century, President Clinton
and Prime Minister Vajpayee resolve to create
a closer and qualitatively new relationship between
the United States and India.
We are two of the world’s largest democracies. We
are nations forged from many traditions and faiths,
proving year after year that diversity is our strength.
From vastly different origins and experiences, we
have come to the same conclusions: that freedom
and democracy are the stron-
gest bases for both peace and
prosperity, and that they are
universal aspirations, con-
strained neither by culture
nor levels of economic devel-
opment.
There have been times in the
past when our relationship
drifted without a steady
course. As we now look to-
wards the future, we are con-
vinced that it is time to chart
a new and purposeful direc-
tion in our relationship.
Globalization is erasing
boundaries and building networks between nations
and peoples, economies and cultures. The world is
increasingly coming together around the democratic
ideals India and the United States have long cham-
pioned and lived by.
Together, we represent a fifth of the world’s people,
more than a quarter of the world’s economy. We
have built creative, entrepreneurial societies. We are
leaders in the information age. The currents of com-
merce and culture that link our societies run strong
and deep. In many ways, the character of the 21st
century world will depend on the success of our
cooperation for peace, prosperity, democracy and
freedom.
That presents us with an opportunity, but also a
profound responsibility to work together. Our part-
nership of shared ideals leads us to seek a natural
partnership of shared endeavors.
In the new century, India and the United States will
be partners in peace, with a common interest in and
the 21st Century”, in New Delhi on March 21, 2000.
complementary responsibility for ensuring regional
and international security. We will engage in regular
consultations on, and work together for, strategic
stability in Asia and beyond. We will bolster joint
efforts to counter terrorism and meet other chal-
lenges to regional peace. We will strengthen the
international security system, including in the United
Nations, and support the United Nations in its peace-
keeping efforts. We acknowledge that tensions in
South Asia can only be re-
solved by the nations of
South Asia. India is commit-
ted to enhancing coopera-
tion, peace and stability in
the region.
India and the United States
share a commitment to re-
ducing and ultimately elimi-
nating nuclear weapons, but
we have not always agreed
on how to reach this com-
mon goal. The United States
Photo By:
The President of the United States of America, Mr. William ]. believes India should forgo
Clinton and the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee exchang- nuclear weapons. India be-
ing the signed documents on “India-U.S. Relations. A Vision for |iayes that it needs to main-
tain a credible minimum
nuclear deterrent in keeping with its own assessment
of its security needs. Nonetheless, India and the U.S.
are prepared to work together to prevent the prolif-
eration of nuclear weapons and their means of de-
livery. To this end, we will persist with and build
upon the productive bilateral dialogue already un-
derway.
We reaffirm our respective voluntary commitments
to forgo further nuclear explosive tests. We will work
together and with others for an early commence-
ment of negotiations on a treaty to end the produc-
tion of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. We
have both shown strong commitments to export
controls, and will continue to strengthen them. We
will work together to prevent the spread of danger-
ous technologies. We are committed to build confi-
dence and reduce the chances of miscalculation. We
will pursue our security needs in a restrained and
responsible manner, and will not engage in nuclear
and missile arms races. We will seek to narrow our
Continued on next page
2
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Text of Joint India-US Communique on the Exchange of the
Instruments of Ratification of the Indo-US Extradition Treaty
New Delhi, July 21, 1999
“The Governments of India and the United States today exchanged instruments of ratification for
the bilateral Extradition Treaty which was signed by both countries in June 1997. The exchange
has brought this treaty into force from today.
The new extradition treaty has replaced the 1931 Extradition Treaty between the United States
and the United Kingdom which was, till date, also in force between the United States and India.
The treaty is an important step in India-US law enforcement cooperation and cooperation in the
area of counter-terrorism. This exchange constitutes yet another milestone in the continuing
cooperation between our two democracies to promote the continued growth of our contacts and
exchanges in different areas on the basis of mutual benefit and goodwill.”
Salient Points of the Extradition Treaty
signed between India and the U.S. in June 1997
Extraditable offenses:
The offense is extraditable if punishable under the
laws in both contracting parties by imprisonments
for more than one year or by a more severe pen-
alty. This applies:
a) whether or not the laws in the contracting state
place the offense within the same category of
offenses or describe the offense by the same
terminology;
©) whether or not the office is one for which
United States federal law requires the showing
of such matters as interstate transportation, or
use of the mails or of other facilities affecting
interstate or foreign commerce, such matters
being merely for the purpose of establishing
jurisdiction in a United States federal court; or
c) whether or not it relates to taxation or revenue
or is one of a purely fiscal character.
Extradition shall be granted for an extraditable
offense regardless of where the act or acts consti-
tuting the offense were committed.
While extradition shall not be granted for a politi-
cal offense, the following shall not be considered
to be political offenses:
Murder or other willful crime against a Head of
8 INDIA NEWS © August 15, 1999
State or Head of Govemment or a member of their
family, aircraft hijacking offenses, aviation sabo-
tage, crimes against internationally protected per-
sons including diplomats, hostage taking, offenses
related to illegal drugs, or any other offenses for
which both contracting states have the obligation
to extradite the person pursuant to a multilateral
intemational agreement.
Procedures:
All requests for extradition shall be submitted
through the diplomatic channel and be supported
oy required documents, statements, information
describing the facts of the offense, statements of
the relevant provisions of the law regarding the
offense as well as the punishment, a copy of the
warrant or the order of arrest, and such informa-
tion as would justify the committal for trial of the
person in the requested state. For those already
convicted of an offense, extradition request shall
be supported also by a copy of the judgement of
conviction or a statement by a judicial authority
that the person has been convicted.
In case of urgency, a contracting state may request
the provisional arrest the person sought pending
proposal of the request of extradition.
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COMING OF AGE
(Continued from page 5)
providers and at least 12 private
gateways will be fully opera-
tional. In addition, the Indian gov-
ernment is also inviting invest-
ments in broadband networks as
well as in convergence technolo-
gies and almost all the major in-
ternational players have indicated
their interest in getting into these
cutting edge areas. But while the
government has created the nec-
essary legal framework—a cyber
law was enacted recently—and
has shown a willingness to have
liberal investment policies in IT,
the real revolution is at the
grassroots. Not only are hundreds
of thousands of Indians taking to
the internet, but NGOs, civil so-
ciety Organizations, even provin-
cial governments and municipali-
ties are embracing Information
technology to improve gover-
nance and to enhance social de-
velopment.
In Tamil Nadu, for example, farm-
ers can find out about weather
patterns and the best available
prices for their produce via the
net, while in Andhra pradesh,
land records have been totally
digitized. In Madhya pradesh,
which has pioneered many so-
cial development schemes in the
rural area, the government plans.
to put its own policies on the net
to ensure greater transparencies.
India has set out on the IT path—
programming, infrastructure and
of course the dotcomming revo-
lution are all part of it—and the
goal is clear: the energies that IT
will unleash should be for the
benefit of every citizen in the
country.
NEWS IN BRIEF (continued from page 4)
On the crash in stock markets
following RBI’s measures, Sinha
said the market had its own logic
why it reacts to a situation in
particular fashion. “Stock prices
go up in the morning and come
down in evening, even though
there is no policy decision in the
intervening period. The market
has its own logic,” he said.
Cabinet approves Amend-
ment of Cable Network Act
The Government has given its nod
for amendment of the Cable Net-
work Act to provide for adher-
ence by all satellite channels of
program and advertisement codes
to stop obscenity on television.
The amended Act would empower
the government to ban rogue
channels on the charge of show-
ing obscene programs.
The code was earlier mandatory
only for the national channel
Doordarshan. The Cabinet also
approved the proposal for another
amendment to the Cable Televi-
sion Networks (Regulation) Act
to provide for mandatory distri-
bution of two terrestrial and one
regional language channel of
Doordarshan by cable operators
in a manner so as to retain their
quality.
A bill to amend the Cable Act will
be introduced in the monsoon
session of Parliament, Informa-
tion and Broadcasting Minister
Arun Jaitley informed the Parlia-
mentary Consultative Committee
of his ministry. The proposed
amendment will provide for an
improved enforcement mecha-
nism and the authorized officers
to enforce the Act will be desig-
nated in it.
India Challenges Basmati
Patent in United States
patents office
Government has filed a petition
before United States Patents and
Trademarks Office challenging the
grant of patent on basmati rice to
Ricetec Inc, Texas, and Supreme
Court was informed. “The Gov-
ernment of India has now filed a
petition before the USPTO for re-
examination of the grant of patent
to Ricetec,” an affidavit filed by
the Center stated. However, it said
“even if India succeeds at USPTO,
it will not prevent Ricetec from
continuing to call its rice strain a
‘Basmati-like’ or ‘Basmati strain.”
On the other hand, the Govern-
ment said regardless of the grant
of Patent, Indian farmers could
grow Basmati rice without any
hindrance on account of Ricetec’s
patent. Separately, a Technical
Committee under the chairman-
ship of Secretary, Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research,
was also formed to examine the
matter from the technical point
of view, the Government Said. Ex-
plaining the setting up of the
Committees, it said the proce-
dure before USPTO is “one-shot”
where by all documentary mate-
rial justifying re-examination
must be made available in the
first instance.
IT Ministry launches
“Operation knowledge”
to meet HR demand
To meet the increasing global de-
mand for Indian skilled manpower
in the new economy sectors like
software and internet, Ministry
See NEWS IN BRIEF, Page 8
INDIA NEWS « July-August 2000 7
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PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS from page 1
in the future. We have to remain united and prepared not
only when war-like situations come upon us, but in normal
times also, so that we are not ever again taken unawares
by surprise attacks. We have to pay special attention to
strengthening our armed forces, equip them with the latest
weapons and force multipliers. Hitherto our expenditure
on defence has been one of the lowest in the world in
terms of percentage of the GDP, much lower than that of
our neighbours. It is incumbent upon us to rectify this
imbalance.
At the same time let us remember that a country is de-
fended not by arms alone but by wise policies and the
strength of its economy, by the justice and cohesion of its
society, by the unity of its people. We are a peace-loving
people by nature and tradition. We wish to live in peace
with our neighbours and with the entire world. Indeed it
was due to this passion for peace and our desire to avoid
a fratricidal civil war, in the sub-continent, that the leaders
of the Indian National Congress agreed to the partition of
our motherland into India and Pakistan. It is ironic that this
great sacrifice on our part and our desire to live in peace
with Pakistan have not prevented unprovoked aggression
and subversion against our country. In October 1947, in
the very first year of our independence, Pakistan launched
an attack on us in order to wrest Jammu and Kashmir
from the Indian Union. On October 29th Mahatma Gandhi
said at his prayer meeting in Delhi that now that “the
Maharaja of Kashmir has announced his decision to ac-
cede to the Indian Union ...and that he has taken refuge
in the Indian Union, he should be protected”. Answering
the question as to what should the small band of Indian
soldiers sent to Srinagar by air do, Gandhiji said: “Let
them fight to the end. The job of armed soldiers is to
march ahead and repel the attacking enemy. They die in
fighting, but never retreat”. It was this advice by the Father
of the Nation and the apostle of non-violence that our
brave soldiers followed in 1947 and in the recent attack on
us in the Kargil area in Jammu and Kashmir.
In January 1948 Gandhiji said “We must never, under any
circumstances, treat anyone as our enemy...My reason
and my heart tell me that, if for some reason, we are
unable to forge friendship between Muslims and Hindus,
not only here but in Pakistan and in the whole world, we
shall not be able to keep our free India for long. It will pass
into the hands of others”, and the freedom gained by both
India and Pakistan “will be lost”. On the awful prospect of
a war between India and Pakistan he further warmed, with
his shrewd insight into the real politik of the world, that “If
you imagine to-day that we can fight and win, let me say
that even before you do so, some other world power is
going to swallow us up. It will swallow, in fact, both the
countries.
If all my friends who are sensible people and who have
spent several years with me in my work, understand that
much, we would all be safe”.
While driving this basic point home Gandhiji had a clear
grasp of the reality of the situation and said “The fact is
that Pakistan has invaded Kashmir. Indian troops have
gone there as defenders at the express Invitation of the
6 INDIANEWS « August 15, 1999
Maharaja of the State and of Sheik Abdullah who is the
real leader of the Kashmiri people. | shall advise Pakistan
and India to sit together and decide the matter. If they are
interested in a settlement what is the need for an arbitra-
tor.” Gandhiji was against the intervention of a third party
or of a foreign hand as arbitrator. I recall these words
today because they sum up the totality of the position
which we have followed. That was our position at the
Shimla Summit in 1972 and that was the position our
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took when he traveled
to Lahore this year and signed the Lahore Declaration with
the Prime Minister of Pakistan. We adhere to the same
friendly stand but, as we have been let down more than
once in the past, it is prudent of us and it is our duty to
our people to be prepared for any surprise attack on us.
We have to act according to the old adage that eternal
vigilance is the price of freedom as well as of peace.
Friends, as we celebrate our Independence to-morrow we
recall in grateful remembrance the band of great and
selfless men and women who led us in the struggle —
Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Babu Rajendra Prasad,
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Sarojini Naidu and the in-
comparable Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, and a host of
others. We also recall the foot soldiers of that struggle,
countless heroes and heroines who carried aloft the ban-
ner of Swaraj. Their aim was to free this ancient land so
that millions of Indians sunk in poverty, disease and squa-
lor would rise and live in dignity as free human beings. We
have yet to redeem the pledge they gave to our people.
One third of our people still live below the poverty level,
almost half of our adult population is illiterate, and more
than half of our children are under-nourished. And withal
our population is increasing at an alarming rate - it has
been estimated that India’s population would cross the
one billion mark on Independence Day. The great strides
we have made in economic development and in the im-
provement in the condition of our people has been, to
some extent, negatived by this population explosion. We
have to gather the political and social will to stem this tide,
instead of frittering away our energies in the pursuit of the
politics of power and pelf. Great causes cry out for our
urgent attention. The women of India have not yet come
out of the long night of discrimination, inequality and
denial of rights in which they have been living for ages.
But it is gratifying to note that in different parts of India
they have been rising and organizing themselves in move-
ments for self-employment and economic empowerment.
They need political support. The struggle for the basic and
minimum needs of our people - for food, nutrition, health,
education, drinking water and energy — remain an unfin-
ished business. The magnitude of these problems is so
immense that if we do not address them as our over-riding
political, social and economic priorities, the galloping popu-
lation would overwhelm us in the future. Against this
background | am glad to recognize the grass-root move-
ments cropping up in different parts of our country for
supervision of development programmes by the people
for education, health, employment, etc. for which Govem-
ment has set apart large sums of money. The Right to
information is one such grass-root movement which de-
serves wider popular and legislative support. Our natural
environment and life sources such as air, water and land
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PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS
(Continued from page 2)
One of our immediate tasks will be to firmly
put down terrorism, which has come to cast its
cruel shadow on innocent people. Our mes-
sage is loud and clear: The life of every India
citizen under our dispensation is precious. In
our fight against terrorism, we will be guided by
the principle of ‘Zero Tolerance’.
The same principle of ‘Zero Tolerance’ will apply
while dealing with corruption that has bred con-
tempt for the law. One of the first legislations
we will take up is the Lokpal Bill so that the rot
can be checked from the top.
A broad consensus already exists on electoral
reforms to weed out muscle and money power.
We propose to soon introduce in Parliament a
comprehensive electoral reform Bill.
We often talk of the future belonging to our
youth. But, for decades their problems, espe-
cially that of unemployment, have remain un-
attended. We believe that our young women
and men will be the architects of the ‘new’ India
of the 21st century.
I am confident that a buoyant national economy
will create tremendous employment opportuni-
ties. | am equally confident that our focus on
education and health will prepare today’s youth
for tomorrow’s challenges.
The Government of free India had set itself the
noble task of wiping every tear from every eye,
of ending centuries-old discriminations and
social inequities. Somewhere along the journey
from freedom to the eve of this century, Gov-
ernment lost track of that task.
Illiteracy is a curse and a denial of human dig-
nity. As is gender discrimination or, for that
matter, lack of something as basic and essen-
tial as drinking water and primary health care.
My dear countrymen,
e India today needs a Government that cares;
e India needs a Government that will reach out
to the last person in the last row.
Our Government pledges itself to narrowing the
gap between our performance and your expec-
tation.
The Mandate of ’99 is a bond of trust between
people and Government.
We shall not betray this trust.
With the help of a billion people proud of being
Indian,
© There is nothing that we cannot achieve;
e No problem we cannot tackle;
e No challenge we cannot face; and,
e No opportunity we cannot seize.
Jai Hind!
Trade Events
India Intemational Trade Fair '99. Household/
Consumer/Industrial Products. November 14-
27, 1999. India Trade Promotion Organiza-
tion, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi 110001. Tel:
+91 11 337 1390/1831. Fax: +91 11 331 81492/
7896.
IT World 99/Comdex India. Information Tech-
nology Products. December 2-5, 1999. Busi-
ness India Exhibitions, E-22, 2nd Floor, Hauz
Khas Market, New Delhi 110016, Tel: +91 11
685 9402.
International Security and Fire Exhibition 99.
Security Products, Technology and Equip-
ment. December 8-11, 1999. India Trade Pro-
motion Organization. Pragati Maidan, New
Delhi 110001. Tel: +91 11 331 5977. Fax: +91
11 3371869/331 7869.
Broadcast Satellite Communications India '99.
Telephones/Radio/Satellite Communications.
TV and Radio Broadcasting, Electronics Test
Equipment, Components and Subassemblies,
Lasers, Fibre Optics. December 8-11, 1999.
Exhibitions India, C-390 Defence Colony, New
Delhi 110024. Tel: +91 11 463 8880/1/2/3.
Fax: +91 11 462 3320/463 3506.
Inside Outside Mega Show. Designer Products
and Materials for Architects, Interior Design-
ers, Builders and Contractors. December 1999.
Business India Exhibitions, E-22, 2nd Floor,
Hauz Khas Market, New Delhi 110016. Tel:
+91 11 685 9402/9403/1256.
Infranet ’99. Networking for Infrastructure. De-
cember 16-18, 1999. Confederation of Indian
Industry, Gate No 31, North Block, Jawaharlal
Nehru Stadium, New Delhi 110003. Tel: +91
11 462 6295. Fax: +91 11 462 6271.
INDIA NEWS ¢ November 1, 1999 3
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Indian IT industry, the Government of India has set
up a National Task Force on IT and Software Devel-
opment to examine the feasibility of strengthening
the industry. The Task Force has already submitted
its recommendations, which are under active con-
sideration. Norms for the operations of venture capital
funds have also been liberalized to boost the indus-
try. The Government of India is also actively provid-
ing fiscal incentives and liberalizing norms for FDI
and raising capital abroad.
Recently, an IT committee was set up by the Minis-
try of Information Technology, Government of India,
comprising NRI professionals from the United States
to seek expertise and advice and also to step up U.S.
investments in India’s IT sector. The committee is
chaired by the Minister of Information Technology,
Government of India, and members include Secre-
tary, Ministry of Information Technology and a large
number of important Indian-American IT entrepre-
neurs.
The group will:
© Monitor global IT developments and refine Indian
India-U.S. Economic Relations
(Continued from page 8)
The Forum envisages Cabinet level meetings be-
tween the Indian Finance Minister and the U.S. Trea-
sury Secretary, who are expected to meet on an
annual basis. These meetings are to be supplemented
by more detailed exchange of views and experiences
through sub-Cabinet level meetings of officials of
the two governments with participation of associ-
ated agencies like the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission, Federal Reserve Board and the office of the
Comptroller of Currency on the U.S. side and the
Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Ex-
change Board of India on the Indian side. The first
sub cabinet level meeting of the forum was held in
Washington, DC in June and the cabinet level meet-
ing is scheduled for September 2000.
In a recent report, Ernst & Young, a leading interna-
tional consulting firm, projected a growth rate of
7-8% for Indian economy In the next few years
based on the anticipated performance of new
IT policy to meet global requirements. Specifi-
cally, this will help angel investors, venture cre-
ators and incubation;
e Promote the growth of human resource develop-
ment in the IT sector with the aim of creating
quality-based education;
e Promote R&D in the sector by identifying thrust
areas and drawing up a blueprint for action.
India’s most prized resource in today's knowledge
driven economic world is its readily available techni-
cal work force. It has the second largest English-
speaking scientific professionals in the world, sec-
ond only to the ULS. It is estimated that India has
over 4 million technical workers and over 1,832
educational institutions and polytechnics which train
more than 67,785 computer software professionals
every year. GOI is stepping up the number and qual-.
ity of training facilities in the country to capitalize on
this extraordinary human resource. It is the knowl-
edge industry that will help take the Indian economy
to a sustained higher rate of growth and the policy
makers are fully aware of this.
economy sectors and government policies continu-
ing to emphasise reforms. Growth could be faster,
the report stated, if the time lag between policy
formulation and implementation is reduced.
The U.S. investor community is today increasingly
sharing this confidence in the future of the Indian
economy. As the Indian economy grows and sec-
ond-generation reforms are implemented, Indo-U.S.
bilateral ties are bound to strengthen further. The
growing synergy between the two countries in the
technology sectors and a mutually shared respect
for democracy, rule of law and well established busi-
ness practices make the two countries natural busi-
ness partners.
The visit of President Clinton to India in March and
that of Prime Minister Vajpayee to the U.S. in Sep-
tember this year are important milestones in this
growing relationship between the two countries.
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The Coming of Age
In India, a million revolutions are
taking place every day. Long seen
as a closed and insular economy
and one that stifled enterprise in
order to pursue socialistic goals,
India today is posed to leapfrog
into the digital era with great lan
and in an almost seamless, ef-
fortless way, as if to the manner
born.
Notwithstanding its rigidity and ©
its slow-growth orientation, the
old planned economy pattern had
several advantages, not the least
of which was to create infra-
structural behemoths in the pub-
lic sector and give India a strong
industrial base to stand on. More-
over, during that period, several
institutes of academic excellence
were set up, which turned out
bright engineers and managers
by the thousands. Today, India is
reaping the benefit of those in-
vestments and is gearing up to
make a splash in the brave new
IT world of tomorrow. The evi-
dence is all around in the coun-
try and even outside. The highest
number of H1B visas for working
in the United States are given to
Indians; Silicon Valley, Seattle and
other centers of Information Tech-
nology development have thou-
sands of Indians working in them;
India’s own Silicon Plateau, Ban-
galore, is home to some of the
biggest IT companies in the world
and thousands, if not hundreds
of thousands, of bright, creative
youngsters are busy setting up
dot coms, dreaming of becoming
like Bill Gates or Azim Premji, an
Indian who is said to be one of
the richest men in the world.
By Sidharth Bhatia
India is also a big base for off-
shore software development and
applications—in Gurgaon, which
is just on the outskirts of New
Delhi, for example, young Indi-
ans process the backroom work
for large American corporates
and international airlines and
credit card companies. Some
other statistics: India now has
nearly 4 million Internet users—
a small number compared to
many other countries but one
which is increasing exponentially
by the minute—and by the end
of December 2003, the country
is projected to have no less than
100 million Internet users. The
numbers look even more impres-
sive when compared to Novem-
ber 1998, when there were less
than 200000 active net users in
India. Recent surveys have shown
that over 200 Indian cities are
wired to the net and an over-
whelming number of users are in
the 18 to 24 age group though a
full quarter of users are in the
economically strong 25-39 age
band. Interestingly, pure enter-
tainment is among the lowest
priorities for most net users, a
clear indication that the Indian
users wants to leverage this pow-
erful medium for education and
information purposes. E-com-
merce in India is still in its in-
fancy, but is growing rapidly and
today one can buy everything
from books, music, cars and even
Indian art on the net. India is
emerging as one of the biggest
sources of domain name regis-
trations in the world. Employ-
ment in the dotcom business is
upwards of 80000 people within
of India
India and this figure is likely to
increase by six times in three
years or so.
This is of course in addition to
the thousands of people em-
ployed in programming and soft-
ware development. Not surpris-
ingly, therefore, many countries
are heading to India to source
their software and personnel re-
quirements. Germany recently
declared that it would woo In-
dian software engineers with a
special employment card, while
Singapore, Canada and a host of
other countries too have been in
the forefront of attracting Indian
programmers and entrepreneurs.
Indian training institutes are set-
ting up shop all over South Asia,
South-East Asia and even Africa,
teaching programming skills to
youngsters all over the world.
However, to maintain these im-
pressive growth rates in the IT
industry in general and in Internet
usage in particular, huge invest-
ments will have to be made in
infrastructure. The Indian govern-
ment has shown pragmatism and
a liberal attitude towards this
sector, allowing private invest-
ment to come in and ensuring
that India meets all its commit-
ments in dismantling state-
owned monopolies in keeping
with WTO requirements.
At present, much of India’s Inter-
net backbone is in the hands of
the government-owned Videsh
Sanchar Nigam Limited but by
2001, 80 private Internet service
See COMING OF AGE, Page 7
INDIA NEWS ¢ July-August 2000 5
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President Clinton’s visit to India in March 2000 - the follow-up
March 2000: Minister of Commerce and Industry and U.S. Commerce Secretary constituted the
India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue during the visit of President Clinton.
April 2000: The India-U.S. Financial and Economic Forum was constituted during the visit of
Finance Minister to Washington.
The High Level coordinating group for Indo-U.S. Economic Dialogue has been constituted on
the Indian side. The U.S. has yet to communicate membership of the High Level coordinating
group on the U.S. side.
May 2000: Mr. Thomas Pickering, U.S. under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, visited India
for the Foreign Office Consultations and the Asian Security Dialogue, with Foreign Secretary
Lalit Mansingh. Extensive consultations were also held on Sri Lanka, Fiji and Sierra Leone.
May 2000: Discussions were held in May in Washington on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
June 2000: External Affairs Minister met U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Warsaw,
Washington.
Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism.
Science and Technology Cooperation
India and the U.S. had been operating as far back as
the 1950’s one of the largest collaborative programs
in the field of science and technology. An agreement
on setting up the Science and Technology Forum
was concluded during President Clinton's visit in
March 2000.
Energy and Environment
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright signed a joint statement
on cooperation in energy and environment during
President Clinton’s visit to India. A joint working group,
set up within the framework of the statement, held its
first meeting in Washington in July 2000.
Indian-American Community
The million-strong Indian-American community in the
U.S. provides a strong bond between India and the
where both were participating in the Meeting of the Community of Democracies.
June 2000: The Science and Technology Forum was set up.
july 2000: The Joint Consultative Group on Energy and Environment held its first meeting in
September 2000: The second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism will be
held in Delhi. In April, the two sides met in Washington to discuss the Indian Draft UN
esse
U.S. It is notable in the San Francisco-Los Angeles,
New York-New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Atlanta, Miami-Orlando-Tampa and the greater Wash-
ington D.C. area. While the first wave of Indian immi-
grants to the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s were pro-
fessionals like doctors, scientists and engineers, recent
trends show substantial diversification of skills. Indian
Americans, who have organized themselves into a
large number of associations and organizations, are
playing an important role in deepening and strength-
ening cooperation between India and the United States.
Prospects
President Clinton’s visit has given a new beginning to
India-U.S. relations and has opened up opportunities
of greater cooperation both in the bilateral sphere and
in multilateral forums. The visit of the Prime Minister
of India to the United States in September 2000 pro-
vides an opportunity for a further broadening and
deepening of the bilateral relations.
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India, the India caucus in the House of Representatives now numbers 118.
Indian Americans — A Story of Achievement
e There are now more than 1.5 million peoples of Indian origin in America. They reflect the multi-
ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual society of India.
e Indian Americans are represented in many fields including academics and entrepreneurs, doctors
and lawyers, engineers and financiers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Indian American median family income is $60,093 as
against the national median family income of $38,885. The high income clearly reflects the
advanced educational levels achieved by the community.
e More than 87% of Indians in America have completed high school while at least 62% have some
college education. As much as 58% of Indian Americans over the age of 25 hold a bachelor’s
degree or higher.
High levels of education have also enabled Indian Americans to become a productive segment
of the U. S. population, with 72.3% participating in the work force.
Of these work force participants, 43.6% are employed in managerial and professional specialties.
Technical, sales, and administrative support occupations constitute another 33.2% of the work
force.
The remaining 23.3% of the population works in other areas, such as operators, fabricators,
laborers and precision production.
More than 5,000 Indian Americans today serve as faculty members in institutions of higher
education in the U. S.
About 300,000 Indian Americans work in technology firms in California’s Silicon Valley. They
account for more than 15% of high-tech startups in that region. The average income of Indian
Americans in that region is estimated to be $200,000 a year.
Two Indian Americans — late Har Gobind Khorana of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and
late Subrahmanyan Chandrashekhar of University of Chicago — have been awarded the Nobel
Prize, in medicine and physics respectively.
In deed, the NASA’s premier X-ray observatory was named the Chandra X-ray Observatory in
honor of the late Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Known to the world as Chandra, he was widely
regarded as one of the foremost astrophysicists of the twentieth century. The observatory was
launched into space in July, 1999.
Dr. Kalpana Chawla added a new chapter to the history of the Indian American community. In
1997, she became the first Indian or Indian American to fly in the U.S. space shuttle. She was
part of the Space Shuttle Columbia Flight STS-87.
The estimated annual buying power of Indian Americans in the United States is around $20
billion.
Indian Americans are increasingly beginning to take a more direct role in political activities. They
have traditionally exercised the most political influence through their campaign contributions,
and are actively involved in fundraising efforts for political candidates on the federal, state and
local levels.
As a result of these activities, together with the growing commercial interest in investment in
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bined with religious extremism, it becomes a graver
danger to humanity. All of you are familiar with the
saying “Karela Aur Neem Chadha” (The bitterness of
Karela is further worsened by adding to it the bitter-
ness of Neem.)
In our case, over thirty five thousand of our people
have been killed by terrorists. Terrorism has become
a big problem in many other parts of the world, too.
It is obstructing the path of peace and development.
Today, there is a need to mobilize world opinion
against terrorism. Today, on the occasion of Inde-
pendence Day, India stands with full self-confidence.
Our gaze is turned to the future. Our standing in the
world has risen. Now, the people are not attracted by
the controversies and narrow_disputes of yesterday.
Throughout the war in Kargil, | was specially satis-
fea by two features.
© There was no communal tension anywhere in the
country. Goodwill and brotherhood prevailed ev-
erywhere, including in Jammu and Kashmir. This
must have despaired those who thought that riots
would break out in India as soon as the spark of
war is lit. Those who hatched the conspiracy of
strife, must have been truly disillusioned. The
people of all sections of society worked for India’s
success in the war. A powerful wave of patriotism
traveled everywhere.
e When | went to Kargil and met our jawans, I saw
our entire country there: soldiers from Nagaland,
from Assam, from Tamil Nadu, from almost every
state were fighting for the country. There was not
the slightest distance between them on account of
caste or religion or region.
This is the real India. We must make their oneness
our own. We have to live for this India. We have to
work for this India. And, if necessary, we have to lay
down our lives for this India, as our brave jawans did.
Kargil has once again shown that whenever our pa-
triotism is aroused, all of us stand as one with full
confidence and determination, as a fist clenched in
conviction. We face our challenges unitedly. Our
adversaries should beware of this.
At the same time, there is an equally important les-
son for us. Now that the crisis has been beaten back,
do not unclench this fist of unity.
The battle is not over. New challenges are knocking
at our doors. The patriotism that coursed through the
veins of Indians should be made a permanent feature
of our lives.
All of us remember the talisman Gandhiji gave us:
when in doubt about what to do, he taught us, think
of the least, of the most helpless man you have seen,
ask yourself, “Will this step be in his interest?” he
said, and you will see all your doubts melt away.
Kargil gives us a second talisman: As we contem-
plate a step, let us ask ourselves: “Is it worthy of the
sojdier who gave his life on those mountains? Does
the impulse which lies behind it measure up to the
spirit which filled that soldier as he fought to protect
our Motherland?”
The challenges that confront us cannot be overcome
only by the men on the frontiers doing their duty.
There is a need for an organized and disciplined nation
to stand behind them. We must defend our country
and develop our society by keeping national inter-
ests utmost in our minds. If our economy is not strong,
and if we are not self-reliant in important matters of
national security, then we cannot successfully face
external challenges.
All of us, wherever we may be, whatever work we
may be doing, we should discharge our responsibili-
ties well. We must never allow any limb of our nation
or society to become weak. It is clear from the effec-
tive way in which we have overcome our challenges
and dealt with our difficulties, that we can do any-
thing if we resolve to do it. What is needed is to take
a pledge: that whatever we can do, we will now do.
I have a vision of India: an India free of hunger and
fear, an India free of illiteracy and want.
| dream of an India that is prosperous, strong and
caring. An India, that regains a place of honour in the
comity of great nations.
¢ Come, let us build an India in which we have bal-
anced development that benefits all regions and
all sections of society. | note with regret that sev-
eral regions in the country — including the North-
Eastern States — have been the victims of unbal-
anced progress. The nation has an especially press-
ing obligation to bring the people of the North-East
into the developmental mainstream.
© Come, let us build an India in which Dalits, Adivasis,
and Backward Classes are not only freed from eco-
nomic deprivation, but also enjoy the fruits of so-
cial justice. The path that will take us to this ideal
is the path of samata, mamata, and samajik
samarasata.
© Come, let us build an India in which our nari shakti
—our women — are able to realize its full potential
— from shaping the future of their families to shap-
ing the future of the nation. It is our collective
responsibility to empower them economically, so-
cially, educationally and also politically. In this
regard, | would like to see early passage of the
legislation to reserve seats for women in Parlia-
ment and State Assemblies. We have already seen
how women have given an excellent account of
themselves wherever they have got an opportunity
to serve in panchayats and other local bodies.
Come, let us build an India in which the minorities
fully enjoy the fruits of national development, while
having full opportunities to contribute to it. Our
country belongs to all. And all are entitled to equal
and fair treatment in the eyes of the law and the
Government. India, which is home to the great secu-
See PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS Page 12
INDIA NEWS © August 15,1999 11
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differences and increase mutual understanding on
non-proliferation and security issues. This will help
us to realize the full potential of Indo-U.S. relations
and contribute significantly to regional and global
security.
The true measure of our strength lies in the ability of
our people to shape their destiny and to realize their
aspirations for a better life. That is why the United
States and India are and will be allies in the cause of
democracy. We will share our experience in nurtur-
ing and strengthening democratic institutions the
world over and fighting the challenge to democratic
order from forces such as terrorism. We will coop-
erate with others to launch an international Commu-
nity of Democracies this year.
The United States applauds India’s success in open-
ing its economy, its achievements in science and
technology, its commitment to a new wave of eco-
nomic expansion and reform, and its determination
to bring the benefits of economic growth to all its
people. Our nations pledge to reduce impediments to
bilateral trade and investment and to expand com-
merce between us, especially in the emerging knowl-
edge-based industries and high-technology areas.
We will work together to preserve stability and growth
in the global economy as well. And we will join in an
unrelenting battle against poverty in the world, so
that the promise of a new economy is felt every-
where and no nation is left behind. That is among the
fundamental challenges of our time. Opening trade
and resisting protectionism are the best means for
meeting it. We support an open, equitable and trans-
parent rule-based multilateral trading system, and
we will work together to strengthen it. We agree that
developed countries should embrace policies that
offer developing countries the opportunity to grow,
because growth is the key to rising incomes and
rising standards. At the same time, we share the
conviction that human development also requires
empowerment of people and availability of basic
freedoms.
As leaders in the forefront of the new high-technol-
ogy economy, we recognize that countries can achieve
robust economic growth while protecting the envi-
ronment and taking action to combat climate change.
We will do our part to meet the global environmental
challenges, including climate change and the im-
pacts of air and water pollution on human health.
We also pledge a common effort to battle the infec-
tious diseases that kill people and retard progress in
so many countries. India is-at the forefront of the
global effort that has brought us to the threshold of
the eradication of polio. With leadership, joint re-
search, and application of modern science, we can
and will do the same for the leading killers of our
time, including AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
We are proud of the cooperation between Indians
and Americans in advancing frontiers of knowledge.
But even as we unravel the mysteries of time and
space, we must continue to apply our knowledge to
older challenges: eradicating human suffering, dis-
ease and poverty. In the past, our cooperation helped
ease mass hunger in the world. In the future, it will
focus as well on the development of clean energy,
health, and education.
Our partnership is not an end in itself, but a means
to all these ends. And it is reinforced by the ties of
scholarship, commerce, and increasingly of kinship
among our people. The industry, enterprise and
cultural contributions of Americans of Indian heri-
tage have enriched and enlivened both our societies.
Today, we pledge to deepen the Indian-American
partnership in tangible ways, always seeking to rec-
oncile our differences through dialogue and engage-
ment, always seizing opportunities to advance the
countless interests we have in common. As a first
step, President Clinton has invited Prime Minister
Vajpayee to visit Washington at a mutually conve-
nient opportunity, and the Prime Minister has ac-
cepted that invitation. Henceforth, the President of
the United States and the Prime Minister of India
should meet regularly to institutionalize our dia-
logue. We have also agreed on and separately out-
lined an architecture of additional high-level consul-
tations, and of joint working groups, across the broad
spectrum of areas in which we are determined to
institutionalize our enhanced cooperation. And we
will encourage even stronger people-to-people ties.
For India and the United States, this is a day of new
beginnings. We have before us for the first time in 50
years the possibility to realize the full potential of our
relationship. We will work to seize that chance, for
our benefit and all those with whom we share this
increasingly interdependent world.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States of America
Done on March 21, 2000 at New Delhi
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Profile of
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been sworn-in
as the Prime Minister of India. The President
Shri K.R. Narayanan administered the oath of
office and secrecy at the Rashtrapati Bhawan
on October 13, 1999. Shri Vajpayee has as-
sumed the office of the Prime Minister of In-
dia for the third time.
Earlier, Shri Vajpayee was Prime Minister of
India from May 16-31, 1996 and a second
time from March 19, 1998 till date. With his
swearing-in today as Prime Minister, he be-
comes the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal
Nehru to occupy the office of the Prime Min-
ister of India through three successive man-
dates. Shri Vajpayee is also the first Prime
Minister since Smt. Indira Gandhi to lead his
party to victory in successive elections.
Born on December 25, 1924 at Gwalior, Madhya
Pradesh to Shri Krishna Bihari Vajpayee and
Smt. Krishna Devi, Shri Vajpayee brings with
him a long parliamentary experience span-
ning over four decades. He has been a Mem-
ber of Parliament since 1957. He was elected
to the 5th, 6th and 7th Lok Sabha and again
to the 10th, 11th and 12th Lok Sabha and to
Rajya Sabha in 1962 and 1986. He has again
been elected to Parliament from Lucknow in
Uttar Pradesh for the fourth time consecu-
tively. He is the only parliamentarian elected
from four different States at different times
namely - UP, Gujarat, MP and Delhi.
Elected leader of the National Democratic
Alliance, which is a pre-election coming to-
gether of political parties from different re-
gions of the country and which enjoys a com-
fortable backing and support of the elected
Members of the 13th Lok Sabha, Shri Vajpayee
was earlier elected leader of his own Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary party which
has also again emerged as the single largest
party in the 13th Lok Sabha as was the case
in the 12th Lok Sabha.
Educated at Victoria (now Laxmi Bai) College,
6 INDIA NEWS ¢ November 1, 1999
Gwalior and DAV College, Kanpur, Uttar Pra-
desh, Shri Vajpayee holds an M.A (Political
Science) degree and has many literary, artis-
tic and scientific accomplishments to his credit.
He edited Rashtradharma (a Hindi monthly), ~
Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly) and the dailies
Swadesh and Veer Arjun. His published works
include “Meri Sansadiya Yatra” (in four vol-
umes), “Meri Ikkyavan Kavitayen”, “Sankalp
Kaal”, “Shakti-se-Shanti”, “Four Decades in
Parliament” (speeches in three volumes), 1957-
95, “Lok Sabha mein Atalji” (a collection of
speeches); Mrityu Ya Hatya”, “Amar Balidan”,
“Kaidi Kaviraj Ki Kundalian” (a collection of
poems written in jail during Emergency);
“New Dimensions of India’s Foreign Policy”
(a collection of speeches delivered as Exter-
nal Affairs Minister during 1977-79); “Jan
Sangh Aur Mussalman”; “Sansad Mein Teen
Dashak” (Hindi) (speeches in Parliament -
1957-1992 - three volumes; and “Amar Aag
Hai” (a collection of poems) 1994.
Shri Vajpayee has participated in various so-
cial and cultural activities. He has been a
Member of the National Integration Council
since 1961. Some of his other associations
include - (i) President, All India Station Masters
and Assistant Station Masters Association
(1965-70); (ii) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay
Smarak Samiti (1968-84); (iii) Deen Dayal
Dham, Farah, Mathura, U.P; and (iv) Jan-
mabhomi Smarak Samiti, 1969 onwards.
Founder-member of the erstwhile Jana Sangh
(1951), President, Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1968-
1973), leader of the Jana Sangh parliamen-
tary party (1955-1977) and a founder-mem-
ber of the Janata Party (1977-1980), Shri
Vajpayee was President, BJP (1980-1986) and
the leader of BJP parliamentary party during
1980-1984, 1986 and 1993-1996. He was
Leader of the Opposition throughout the term
of the 11th Lok Sabha. Earlier, he was India’s
External Affairs Minister in the Morarji Desai
See PROFILE, Page 7
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India-U.S. should target bilateral trade of $25 billion
over the next five years: Murasoli Maran
Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, has said that India and the United States
should aim at an annual trade turnover of at least U.S. $25 billion over the next 5 years, which would
represent more than doubling of the current level of bilateral merchandise trade, which crossed U.S. $12
billion in 1999.
Addressing the “Conference on Indo-U.S. Trade and Investment — An Agenda for Action”, organised by the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mr. Maran pointed out that although the U.S. was India’s largest
trading partner as well as one of the top investors in India, the range of the existing export basket from India
continued to be limited with India's share of U.S. imports estimated at only 0.7%.
The vision document signed by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton aims to institutionalise the
India-U.S. commercial dialogue and would deepen ties between the Indian and the U.S. business commu-
nities.
In pursuance of the joint vision statement signed by the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and U.S.
President, Mr. William J. Clinton on March 21, India and the U.S. have finalized the Terms of Reference of
the India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue.
Shri Murasoli Maran, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry on behalf of the Government of India and
Mr. William Daley, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, on behalf of the Government of the United
States, signed the understanding for Terms of Reference.
The Minister said that the commercial dialogue would encompass regular government-to-government
meeting in coordination with private sector with the objective of (a) facilitating trade and (b) maximizing
investment opportunity across a broad range of economic sectors including information technology, infra-
structure, bio-technology and services.
The Minister stressed that one of the primary foundations of the new architecture of bilateral relations
unveiled in the Vision Statement would be the economic and commercial partnership between the peoples
and businesses of the two countries.
India-U.S. renewable energy MoU signed
A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of renewable energy was signed between the Solar Energy
Center of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
of the United States Department of Energy.
Shri N.N. Mookerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and Dr. Ernest J. Moniz,
Under Secretary of Energy in the United States Department of Energy signed the Memorandum of Under-
standing (MoU) on behalf of the respective institutions.
The MoU envisages cooperation between the Solar Energy Center and the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory to promote scientific and technological cooperation in the field of renewable energy. The
activities proposed to be undertaken under this MoU include strengthening of capacities for energy
technology innovation, promoting technologies to increase energy conservation and for a cleaner energy
supply.
The contribution of U.S. based companies in the power sector in India has been very significant. Out of
techno-economically-cleared private power projects, which are having foreign participation, 47 per cent
projects have USA based developers are 57 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.
The major U.S. power companies like Enron, CMS Generation, General Electrics, AES Transpower, Bechtel,
Southern Electric, Ogden, PSEG Global etc. are associated with the growth of power sector in the country.
It is estimated that in next few years’ investment by U.S. companies in the Indian power sector could cross
U.S. $10 billion dollars.
6 INDIA NEWS ¢ April 2000
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India-U.S. Science & Technology Relations:
Harnessing the Potential
Visible Institutional Symbols:
The Indian Institute of Tech-
nology, Kanpur, an internation-
ally renowned institute for
technical education and re-
search, was set up with ULS.
cooperation.
Punjab Agricultural University,
Ludhiana, which played a piv-
otal role in India’s green revo-
lution in 1960’s, successfully
collaborated with Ohio State
University, USA.
The National Council of Edu-
cational Research and Train-
ing (NCERT) - an apex body
for education - was set up with
U.S. collaboration.
Some Milestones:
6
1974: The S&T Sub-commis-
sion is established within the
Indo-US Joint Commission on
Economics and Commerce, Sci-
ence &Technology, Education &
Culture, and Agriculture - The
Sub-commission later set up
seven Working Groups in dif-
ferent areas - the last Working
Group meeting was held in
1991.
1983: A new fast track coop-
eration program, the S&T Ini-
tiative (STI), is established to
enhance cooperation in areas
of agriculture, health, monsoon
research, biomass research and
engineering, and solid state sci-
ences, The National Science
Foundation (NSF), USA and the
Department of Science &Tech-
nology (DST), India, are iden-
tified as the nodal agencies.
1987: The US - India Fund
(USEF) is established to carry-
out joint activities such as
workshops exchange of scien-
tists and experts, joint research
INDIA NEWS ¢ March 2000
programs in fields of educa-
tional, cultural and sciences.
1987: An Indo-US Technology
Fellowship Program is initiated
under the aegis of the S&T ini-
tiative.
1987: An MOU is signed for
the Vaccine Action Program un-
der the Health, Medical and
Life Sciences Working Group
of the US-India S&T Sub-Com-
mission.
1991: The S&T fellowship pro-
gram supported by USAID and
DST funds is initiated; the pro-
gram continued till 1994.
1993: Indo-US S&T agreement
is proposed but could not be
signed due to differences over
intellectual property rights
provisions.
1997: The Vaccine Action Pro-
gram is extended up to 2002.
1997: An Indo-US S&T Forum
is proposed to enable regular
exchange of scientists and to
identify promising areas of col-
laboration (joint statement
signed in 1997; terms still be-
ing negotiated).
1997: A program of Indo-US
DST/NSF collaborative re-
search projects is initiated.
© 1997: The Secretary, Health
and Human Services, USA and
the MOS, Science & Technol-
ogy, India signed a joint state-
ment on expansion of Indo-
US cooperation on Contra-
ceptive and Reproductive
Health Research. A joint state-
ment for cooperation under
Indo-US Vaccine Action Pro-
gram is also signed.
© 1997: Indian Council for Ag-
ricultural Research and Texas
Experiment Agricultural Ex-
perts Station sign an MOU for
cooperation in agricultural re-
search.
© 1997: An MOU for scientific
cooperation in earth and at-
mospheric sciences is signed
between the Department of
Space and DST, India, and
NASA & NOAA, USA.
1999: An MOU for coopera-
tion in neurosciences is signed
between the National Insti-
tute of Mental Health, USA
and the National Brain Re-
search Center, India.
Recently published books on India
Father India: Westerners Under the
Spell of an Ancient Culture
By Paine, Jeffery
Harper Perennial Library
ISBN: 0060931019.
Dharmasutras: The Law Codes of
Ancient India
By Olivelle, Patrick
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192838822
India’s Nuclear Bomb: The Impact
on Global Proliferation
By Perkovich, George
University of California Press
ISBN: 0520217721
Defending India
Jaswant Singh
St. Martin’s Press, Inc.
ISBN: 0312220669
Idea of India
By Khilnani, Sunil
Farrar Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374525919
Sacred India
By Dalrymple, William/Hayatt,
Masood/Singh, Sarina/Govil,
Meera
Lonely Planet
ISBN: 1864500638
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/6276 INDIA NEWS
• 7844
PUBLISHED BY PRESS & INFORMATION, EMBASSY,OF INDIA, WASHINGTON, DC
n
http://www.indianembassy.org Virginia July-August 2000
naus- U.S. and India Pledge Cooperative Research
in Health Issues
WASHIngToN - Health and Hu- further step in meeting that com- AIDS and maternal and child
man Services Secretary Donna mitment," she said health areas.
Shalala and Indian Minister of
"It is indeed a momentous occa-
Health and Family Welfare C. P. The new agreement commits In-
Thakur signed a joint agreement sion that the governments of In- dia and the U.S. to address HIV/
dian and the United States are AIDS through a disease preven-
x006190763 use#pd I-google June 13, pledging cooperative research in HIV/AIDS prevention and maternal and child health research. immediate public health concern- ing our countries," said Minister coming together in this collabo- rative venture in the areas of improved surveillance, prevention research, vaccine research and tion program. Their plan includes development, technology trans-
"These joint statements on HIV/ Thakur. "I am confident that these fer, and health services research.
Le.net/2027/uva hitrust.org/access and child health research will help ods and programs that will im- and children around the world," AIDS prevention and maternal both countries develop new meth- prove the health of men, women, people of both of our countries." agreements will go a long way in strengthening the friendly ties between our governments and the Over the past 40 years, scientists from both countries have collabo- ity rates remain unacceptably maternal, neonatal, infant and pediatric mortality and morbid- high. The Indo-U.S. joint effort will focus on nutrition research Both countries recognize that
hand Shalala said at the signing cer- emony. rated on basic and applied bio- medical and behavioral research. and the prevention of HIV trans- mission from mothers to their
"When President Clinton ad- One outstanding program has children.
dressed the Indian parliament in been the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Ac-
The participating Indian institu-
https: in the continuing struggle. The March, he spoke about AIDS and promised America's partnership tion Program, which supports vaccine research. This thirteen- year-old program is serving as tions include the National AIDS Control Organization, the Indian
ing. work we undertake today is a the model for cooperation in both Council of Medical Research
3960 (ICMR), and other Indian agen-
cies, academic institutions, re-
IN THIS ISSUE search facilities, and non-govern-
Generated on 2025-02-09 09:24 Public Domain, Google-digitized Visit of INS Mysore News in Brief The Coming of Age of India Bilateral Meeting of External Affairs Minister with the Conference of Democracies National Initiative for Child Protection (NICP) U.S. Secretary of State and Participation in the . 4 2 3 5 6 fort are: the National Institutes of tional Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the mental organizations (NGOs). The U.S. participants in the ef- Health (NIH), including the Na- National Institute of Mental Health; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Original from See U.S. AND INDIA PLEDGE, Page 2
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India.com goes Global
Excerpts from an article written by
Dewang Mehta, Director,
National Association of Software and Service Companies
The Indian software industry has
zoomed from a mere $20 million ten
years ago to a whopping US $3.9
billion in 1998-99. No industry has
done as much for the competitive-
ness of global corporations and, cer-
tainly, no industry has created as
many millionaires in India in such a
short span of time. In 1998-99, 203
out of the Fortune 500 outsourced
their software requirements from In-
dia. And US customers bought 61
percent of the software that Indian
companies exported to 91 countries
around the world.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, by
picking the Indian city of Hyderabad
to house his company’s first-ever de-
velopment center outside the US,
has already paid the ultimate tribute
to the skill-base of the industry.
Internet and
E-Commerce
Industry experts believe that once
the Internet — although there are
just about 1.4 million users today,
has the potential to explode to 37
million once Net connections are
available on cable-spreads across
India, and will position India as a
global hub for content development
and e-commerce. Currently, more
than 437 of Indian softwaagemouses
provide web based applications and
services, That the Internet is becom-
ing an integral part of the Indian soft-
ware business is also evident from
its use alongside that of high-speed
satellite connectivity for software de-
velopment and delivery. The deliv-
ery through high-speed connectiv-
ity has been a successful factor for
globalization of the Indian software
industry.
Already, in the year 1999-2000,
Internet and E-Commerce related
software solutions exports from In-
dia are expected to bring US $340
million out of estimated US $3.9
billion of Indian software exports.
This is expected to increase to US
$2 billion of e-commerce solutions
exports by 2002, when total Indian
software exports are projected to be
US $8.7 billion, during that year.
Global Presence
Already, 212 Indian software com-
panies have either subsidiaries or
branches overseas, mostly in the US.
Proximity to markets is helping them
to anticipate market conditions and
client requirements, besides
strengthening relationships further
and helping build-enduring partner-
ships.
High Quality
According to NASSCOM's survey,
out of the top 300 companies, about
140 software companies have ac-
quired ISO 9000 certification, and
about 70 more companies are in the
pipeline to be certified. In fact, the
Indian software industry will soon
have more ISO 9000-certified com-
panies than any other country in the
world. Many of its members are now
focusing on acquiring SEI-CMM
(Software Engineering Institute -
Capability Maturity Model) certifi-
cates of quality.
The State
In India, the success of software in-
dustry can be attributed in no small
measure to the excellent teamwork
between Government and Industry.
The Government of India, impressed
by the excellent performance of the
Indian software industry has pro-
vided all support, including fiscal
benefits, the availability of high-
speed data communications and in-
frastructure, besides ensuring an
almost red tape-free system. The
government, in fact, has given the
ted-carpet treatment to this indus-
try. The fiscal benefits include trade
free zones, Software Technology
Park schemes, zero import duty on
software, and 100% exemption on
profits from software exports.
ECONOMIC
NEWS
UPDATES
India and US sign
pact for lifting
Quantitative Restrictions
After months of negotiations India
and US inked an agreement for a 15-
month phase-out of import curbs
between the two countries. Announc-
ing this U.S. Trade Representatives
Charlene Barshefsky said that tariff
restrictions on half of the 1400 odd
India still maintained on imports from
U.S. would be lifted by April 1, 2000.
On the remaining 714 items India
would lift the import curbs by April
1, 2001, She said adding items on
which India maintained import restric-
tions included agriculture and textile
items. India had originally maintained
what has come to be known as quan-
titative restrictions on imports from
United States in as many as 2,700
items.
As per the WTO agreement India had
to phase out these import curbs and
it had so far dismantled it on over
1,300 items. The curbs were main-
tained for balance of payments pur-
poses. On the phase-out of the re-
maining 1429 tariff lines, there was a
dispute between India and US over
the phase out time schedule. With
the rejection of New Delhi's plea by
the WTO appellate panel in Septem-
ber last, the two countries concluded
the bilateral agreement here recently.
India and Singapore to
Work for Asian Free
Trade (AFT) Zone
The Union Finance Minister, Shri
Yashwant Sinha has said that there
is a great merit in the concept of
Asian Free Trade Zone and the issue
must be approached proactively by
all Asian countries. Welcoming the
suggestion of the Prime Minister of
Singapore, Mr. Goh Chok Tong in this
regard, Shri Sinha has suggested that
Singapore should take the initiative
See UPDATES, Page 4
INDIA NEWS ¢ January/February 2000 3
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Draft Report of
National Security Advisory Board on
Indian Nuclear Doctrine
August 17, 1999
Preamble
1.1. The use of nuclear weapons in particular as well as
other weapons of mass destruction constitutes the grav-
est threat to humanity and to peace and stability in the
international system. Unlike the other two categories of
weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical
weapons which have been outlawed by international trea-
ties, nuclear weapons remain instruments for national
and collective security, the possession of which on a
selective basis has been sought to be legitimised through
permanent extension of the Nuclear. Non-proliferation
Treaty (NPT) in May 1995. Nuclear weapon states have
asserted that they will continue to rely on nuclear weap-
ons with some of them adopting policies to use them
even in a non-nuclear context. These developments
amount to virtual abandonment of nuclear disarmament.
This is a serious setback to the struggle of the international
community to abolish weapons of mass destruction.
1.2. India’s primary objective is to achieve economic,
political, social, scientific and technological development
within a peaceful and democratic framework. This re-
quires an environment of durable peace and insurance
against potential risks to peace and stability. It will be
India’s endeavour to proceed towards this overall objec-
tive in cooperation with the global democratic trends and
to play a constructive role in advancing the international
system toward a just, peaceful and equitable order.
1.3. Autonomy of decision making in the developmen-
tal process and in strategic matters is an inalienable
democratic right of the Indian people. India will strenu-
ously guard this right in a world where nuclear weapons
for a select few are sought to be legitimised for an indefi-
nite future, and where there is growing complexity and
frequency in the use of force for political purposes.
1.4. India’s security is an integral component of its
development process. India continuously aims at pro-
moting an ever-expanding area of peace and stability
around it so that developmental priorities can be pursued
without disruption.
1.5. However, the very existence of offensive doctrine
pertaining to the first use of nuclear weapons and the
insistence of some nuclear weapons states on the legiti-
macy of their use even against non-nuclear weapon coun-
tries constitute a threat to peace, stability and
1.6. This document outlines the broad principles for the
development, deployment and employment of India’s
nuclear forces. Details of policy and strategy concerning
force structures, deployment and employment of nuclear
forces will flow from this framework and will be laid down
separately and kept under constant review.
2 INDIANEWS © October 1, 1999
2. Objectives
2.1. Inthe absence of global nuclear disarmament India’s
strategic interests require effective, credible nuclear de-
terrence and adequate retaliatory capability should de-
terrence fail. This is consistent with the UN Charter,
which sanctions the right of self-defence.
2.2. The requirements of deterrence should be care-
fully weighed in the design of Indian nuclear forces and
in the strategy to provide for a level of capability consis-
tent with maximum credibility, survivability, effective-
ness, safety and security.
2.3. India shall pursue a doctrine of credible minimum
nuclear deterrence. In this policy of “retaliation only”, the
survivability of our arsenal is critical. This is a dynamic
concept related to the strategic environment, technologi-
cal imperatives and the needs of national security. The
actual size components, deployment and employment of
nuclear forces will be decided in the light of these factors.
India’s peacetime posture aims at convincing any poten-
tial aggressor that:
(a) any threat of use of nuclear weapons against India
shall invoke measures to counter the threat: and
(b) any nuclear attack on India and its forces shall result
in punitive retaliation with nuclear weapons to inflict
damage unacceptable to the aggressor.
2.4. The fundamental purpose of Indian nuclear weap-
ons is to deter the use and threat of use of nuclear
weapons by any State or entity against India and its
forces. India will not be the first to initiate a nuclear strike,
but will respond with punitive retaliation should deter-
rence fail.
2.5. India will not resort to the use or threat of use of
nuclear weapons against States which do not possess
nuclear weapons, or are not aligned with nuclear weapon
powers.
2.6. Deterrence requires that India maintain:
(a) Sufficient, survivable and operationally prepared
nuclear forces,
(b) a robust command and control system,
(c) effective intelligence and early warning capabilities,
and
(d) comprehensive planning and training for operations
in line with the strategy, and
(e) the will to employ nuclear forces and weapons
2.7. Highly effective conventional military capabilities
shall be maintained to raise the threshold of outbreak
both of conventional military conflict as well as that of
threat or use of nuclear weapons.
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ME IN.THIS ISSUE Mk.
India not to engage in a nuclear arms race:
JASWANT SINGH .......sessesseversscereesseee seiexssesee I
India News is published by the Press & Information Wing,
Embassy of India. An electronic edition is available at
the Embassy’s web site:
http://www.indianembassy.org
You can also receive an email version of India News. Join
the Embassy Announcement List by sending email to
indianembassy @egroups.com
Orissa Cyclones
Prime Minister's Relief Fund
Relief efforts by non-governmental
organizations
Facts on Orissa
Information on Cyclone Damage
or visit the following site:
http://www.egroups.com/group/indianembassy/info.html
The Embassy also maintains a discussion group for India
News readers. You can join by sending email to:
. Economic News Updates ............ ssevinesebaseens 6
Govermment considering proposal to
grant visa on arrival to tourists
Supreme Court rejects TRAI appear
against High Court stay on CPP regime
Roadmap for credit information bureau
Govemment rejects state-owned PGCIL's
equity expansion proposal
New civil aviation policy soon
Government to reduce stake in banks
below 51%
india_discussion@egroups.com
or by visiting the following site:
http://www.egroups.con/group/india_discussion/info.html
Embassy of India
Press & Information
2107 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
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Science & Technology
(Continued from page 9)
Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) of the USA,
in near real time over dedicated telecommunication
links to be specially set up between India and the USA.
1997: A collaborative research program was initiated
between Department of Science & Technology (India)
and the National Science Foundation (USA). This pro-
gram supports workshops and joint research projects
in fundamental areas of science and technology (ex-
cluding medical sciences). At present there are 11
ongoing joint projects and all these projects have been
funded during financial year 1999-2000.
1998: A Memorandum of Understanding between
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New
Delhi and The Cornell University, New York for coop-
eration in the area of Agricultural Research was signed
on November 3. There will also be an exchange of
germplasm and breeding material, as well as scientific
literature, information and methodology.
ICAR had signed a similar MOU with lowa State Uni-
versity during early 1998. Earlier, a Memorandum of
Agreement was signed with the Texas Agricaltural
Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, Texas, on
July 5, 1997, for cooperation in the field of agricultural
research. The first work-plan for the biennium 1998-
99 in pursuance of the Memorandum of Agreement
was signed on December 12, 1997, in New Delhi.
1998: Department of Electronics, Government of In-
dia signed an agreement with Carnegie Mellon Univer-
sity (CMU), Pittsburgh for collaboration in software
Process Improvement Technologies in November. Under
this Agreement, the Center for Information Systems
Engineering (CISE) of CMU will work with the Indian
software community to introduce software process
improvement technologies in India.
2000: An agreement was signed for setting up of
Indo-U.S. S&T Forum during the visit of President
Clinton to India in March. The Forum will promote
research and development, transfer of technology,
creation of a comprehensive electronic reference source
and the electronic exchange and dissemination of in-
formation on Indo-US. S & T cooperation. The Forum
has been registered as a Society with the Office of the
Registrar of Societies in New Delhi on June 23, 2000.
In the early 1960's, the United States had of-
fered substantial assistance to India in setting
up an Equatorial Rocket Launching Station at
Thumba (TERLS). Subsequently, India dedicated
this facility to the United Nations in 1968. Since
then, scientists from various countries have
launched more than 3000 sounding rockets for
research purposes.
e During 1975-76, under a collaborative bilateral
agreement, an experiment, Satellite Instrumental
Television Experiment (SITE) was conducted. Un-
der this agreement, a U.S. satellite, ATS-6,
beamed educational programs to direct recep-
tion television sets to 2400 far flung villages
exposing them to a new and immensely power-
ful medium of television.
e Anuradha, an Indian experiment for cosmic ray
studies was part of NASA’s third Spacelab mis-
sion.
e The Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) and
Survey of India have made use of data received
from NASA's MAGSAT Satellite for research and
analysis.
India-U.S. Relations: Space
e India has also participated in Guest Investigator
Program of NASA’s Einstein and HEAO-B X-ray
astronomy satellites.
e The United States supplied samples of lunar
material collected by its lunar probes to India
for research purposes.
e Under a Memorandum of Understanding be-
tween India and ULS. signed in 1977, India re-
ceived data from LANDSAT satellites.
e Under a commercial arrangement, Space Imag-
ing of Denver, CO markets the Indian Remote
Sensing satellite imageries of panchromatic reso-
lution of 5m - which until recently has been the
best available in the public domain.
e In 1997, NASA & NOAA of United States and
Indian Space Research Organization & the De-
partment of Science and Technology of India
have agreed to share meteorological data from
India’s INSAT satellites. Under this agreement,
collaborative research in the area of earth &
atmospheric sciences will also be undertaken.
10) Qe
ee
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India-U.S. Economic & Trade Relations: P.
A Growing Partnership Ins
• India's economic reforms have generated a trade momentum between India and the U.S. that
grows every year. Starting in 1991, India has carried out sweeping changes in its national
economic policies to stimulate domestic and foreign investment in many sectors of the country's
economy. The effect on trade and investment relations with the United States has been profound.
U.
• The U.S. is now not only the largest investor country in India, it is also India's largest trading
partner.
• The trade between the two countries in 1999 totaled US $ 12.79 billion reflecting an increase of
nearly 100% since 1992.
India - U.S. Bilateral Trade
(in US millions)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
India's Exports 3,781 4,551 5,302 5,736 6,169 7,321 8,225 9,083
net/2027/uva.x006190763 org/access use#pa - 0000 • India's exports to the U.S. have been growing since 1992 at an average rate of 13.7% in dollar Growth Rate India's Imports Turnover Balance (in favor of India) 1,914 5,695 1,866 2,761 7,312 1,790 2,296 7,598 3,005 2,440 3,296 9,032 3,318 2,851 9,487 10,937 3,616 3,705 11,770 4,680 3,545 12,790 3,707 5,376 -
terms.
impers toy the shay ben foy in The rate of grow de lined by 9.59 in 1996.
https: • India's exports to the US have been rising mainly on account of significant increases in the Trade composition
exports of diamonds, textiles and ready-made garments, machinery, carpets, footwear and leather
products, dyes, iron and steel products, chemicals, edible fruit and nuts and spices, coffee and
2025-02-09 09:18 GMT Google-digitized • Six items, namely, textiles and clothing, cut and polished non-industrial diamonds, carpets, • The chief items imported from the U.S. at present are machinery including project items, fertilizers, tea. Indian exports to the US. aircraft and aeronautical equipment, and organic chemicals. shrimp and prawn, footwear, leather goods and cashew nuts, account for about 75% of total O4 Th "ef
See PARTNERSHIP, Page 5
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STATEMENT
(Continued from page 2)
accidental or unauthorised launch.
The NPT community needs to un-
derstand that India cannot join the
NPT as a non-nuclear weapon
state. Statements by NPT States
Parties about India rolling back its
nuclear programme are mere di-
versions to prevent focussed at-
tention on the basic goals of the
NPT.
India’s commitment to global
nuclear disarmament and lasting
non-proliferation remains undi-
luted. While willing to commence
negotiations on Nuclear Weapons
Convention, India also remains
ready to participate in agreed and
irreversible steps to prepare the
ground for such negotiations. A
global no-first-use agreement and
a non-use agreement against non-
nuclear weapon states would meet
the longstanding requirement for
legally binding negative security
assurances and assurances to
nuclear-weapon-free zones. An-
other positive development would
be a commitment by nuclear
weapon states not to deploy
nuclear weapons outside their own
national territories. Nuclear wea-
pon states also need to take steps
to lower the alert status, through
gradual de-alerting actions, con-
sistent with policies of no-first-use
and the defensive role of nuclear
weapons. Tactical weapons that
lend themselves to war fighting
roles need to be eliminated. These
would be some positive and con-
crete steps in the right direction.
India has been a responsible mem-
ber of the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime and will
continue to take initiatives and
work with like-minded countries
to bring about stable, genuine and
lasting non-proliferation, thus
leading to a nuclear-weapon-free-
world.
Information on drought-hit areas
and relief activities
More than 50 million people have been affected by a severe drought
in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and various parts of
India.
Several central Ministries and the State Governments have launched
relief operations to alleviate the situation. Food, water and fodder
are being transported to drought-hit areas. The Prime Minister is
personally coordinating the relief efforts in consultation with the
Chief Ministers of the affected states.
Some of the relief measures taken to tackle the
drought situation are:
¢ Food for work program have been launched.
¢ Potable water is being transported by ship and special trains.
¢ Special funds have been allocated for relief operations.
© More than 400 non-governmental organizations are engaged in
relief activities in these states.
Prime Minister Vajpayee while addressing the nation on April 24,
2000 has appealed to the people to contribute to the National
Relief Fund.
Contributions to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund are tax
exempt under the Indian Income Tax Act. A receipt will be issued
for contributions.
Send your donation by check or money draft drawn in favor of
PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND to
PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110 011 INDIA
Relief contact Information:
State of Gujarat
K.C. Mahapatra
Relief Commissioner
Revenue Department
Government of Gujarat
New Sachivalaya Complex
Gandhi Nagar - 382 010
State of Rajasthan
R.N. Meena
Relief Commissioner
Government of Rajasthan
Telefax: +91 (141) - 382155
State of Orissa
Office of the Principal Resident Commissioner of Orissa, Delhi
Tel: +91 (11) 3019771, 3018498, 3010479, 3792002
Fax: +91 (11) 301 0839
Special Relief Commissioner, Orissa, Bhubaneswar
Tel: +91 (674) 40152, 40832
Fax: +91 (674) 400161, +91(671) 603346 at Cuttack
Relief supplies may be sent through International Committee of Red
Cross or through other NGOs.
INDIA NEWS « May-June 2000 3
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Bilateral Meeting of the External Affairs Minister
with the U.S. Secretary of State and Participation
in the Conference of Democracies
Warsaw, Poland
June 30, 2000
The bilateral meeting was organized on the margins of the conference of ‘Communities of
Democracies’ (CD). CD is a new initiative organized by a number of countries. India was one of
the seven countries of the convening group of CD, which met prior to the conference in order to
prepare a draft declaration, which could be released on the conclusion of the conference. CD is
not an institutionalized grouping against anybody but a joint initiative taken to exchange views
and share experiences on how to strengthen democracy and democratic practices.
The meeting between External Affairs Minister and U.S. Secretary of State lasted for an hour.
During the meeting discussions were held on the modalities of CD.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Madeline Albright reiterated a very positive assessment of U.S.
President’s visit to India in March this year. Ms. Albright also reiterated U.S. President's invitation
to our Prime Minister for a return visit.
The return visit by our Prime Minister is expected to take place in September this year. The details
are being worked out and would be announced subsequently.
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh raised the question of Indian UN peacekeepers in Sierra
Leone and our concerns on this issue. Incidentally, the following day External Affairs Minister was
to meet UN Secretary General to have discussions on this issue. Ms. Albright expressed her
willingness to join him for this meeting and reiterate US concerns. The next day, both the leaders
jointly met UN Secretary General.
As a result of consistent and continuing diplomatic efforts, 21 of the Indian soldiers in relatively
more difficult situations have been released. This is a good development. India also appreciates
Ms. Albright’s decision to join External Affairs Minister for his meeting with UNSG.
The discussions also took place on bilateral issues including nuclear nonproliferation and
disarmament. Indian position regarding CTBT has been articulated by PM i.e. “We are preparing
a national consensus in this matter and efforts would be continued in the coming months in this
direction”.
The two sides also exchanged views on various visits undertaken by the respective sides. External
Affairs Minister had recently been to Iran. Accordingly he shared our perceptions on Iran. Ms.
Albright had just visited Seoul and Beijing. She shared her experiences in these two places,
particularly on the summit meeting between North and South Korea.
INDIA NEWS « July-August 2000
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INDIA NEWS ONLINE: http://www.indianembassy.org
t INDIA-ISEWS
PUBLISHED BY PRESS & INFORMA TAORY EMBAG. OF INDIA, WASHINGTON, DC
(-agattessilta, VA
January/February 2000
President K.R. Narayanan’s address
on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of India
Central Hall of Parliament, January 27, 2000
It gives me great pleasure to
be here amidst you at this sol-
emn function to mark the
Golden Jubilee Celebrations of
the birth of the Indian Republic
and the commencement of our
Constitution. The establish-
ment of the democratic Re-
public of India was obviously,
a significant and glorious
event for India, for the free-
dom and welfare of the hun-
dreds and millions of its
people. But it was also a world
event of far-reaching significance. People talk about the
triumph of democracy in the world against other forms
of Government. For that triumphal outcome, democ-
racy in India has had a meaningful part to play not in the
way of taking part in the ideological cold war, but in the
sense of setting an over powering example to the world.
What Sir Anthony Eden, the Prime Minister of Britain,
said at the time of the emergence of Indian Republic is
relevant in this context. “Of all the experiments in gov-
ernment, which have been attempted since the begin-
ning of time, | believe thatsthe Indian venture into par-
liamentary government is the most exciting. A vast sub-
continent is attempting to apply to its tens and thou-
sands of millions a system of free democracy... It is a
brave thing to try to do so. The Indian venture is not a
pale imitation of our practice at home, but a magnified
and multiplied reproduction on a scale we have never
dreamt of. If it succeeds, its influence on Asia is incal-
culable for good. Whatever the outcome we must honour
those who attempt it.”
Even more meaningful was the opinion expressed by an
American Constitutional authority, Prof. Granville Aus-
tin who wrote that, what the Indian Constituent Assem-
bly began was “perhaps the greatest political venture
since that originated in Philadelphia in 1787.”
Mahatma Gandhi had visualized the new Constitution of
India in terms of universal values applied to the specific
and special conditions of India. As early as 1931 he had
written “I shall strive for a Constitution which will release
India from thraldom and patronage. | shall work for an
India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their coun-
try in whose making they have an effective voice: an
India in which there is no high class or low class of
people, an India in which all communities shall live in
perfect harmony. There can be no room in such an India
for the curse of untouchability. We shall be at peace with
the rest of the world neither exploiting nor exploited. All
interests not in conflict with the interests of the dumb
millions will be scrupulously respected whether foreign
or indigenous. Personally, | hate the distinction between
foreign and indigenous. This is the India of my dreams
for which I shall struggle”.
At the core of the Constitution lies the essence of this
Gandhian dream in the form of social justice and social
democracy. Prof. Granville Austin has described the In-
dian Constitution as “first and foremost a social docu-
ment”. He further explained that “the majority of India’s
constitutional provisions are either directly arrived at
furthering the aim of social revolution or attempt to fos-
ter this revolution by establishing conditions necessary
for its achievement”. The very same point was elabo-
rated in eloquent terms by Dr. Ambedkar and Pandit
Nehru. What makes our Constitution relevant to the con-
ditions and the problems of India and the developing
world as a whole, is, in fact, the socio-economic soul of
it. Its uniqueness is that it has combined this harmoni-
ously with the liberal rights and freedoms as conceived
by the Western democracies.
It is after deep thought and considerable debate that the
founding fathers adopted the philosophy and the form of
Government for India. Speaking on the draft of the Con-
stitution Dr. Ambedkar claimed that “It is workable, it is
flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country to-
gether both in peace time and in war time. Indeed, if |
may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitu-
tion, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitu-
tion. What we will have to say is that Man is vile”. Today
when there is so much talk about revising the Constitu-
tion or even writing a new Constitution, we have to con-
sider whether it is the Constitution that has failed us or
whether it is we who have failed the Constitution. Dr.
Rajendra Prasad, as President of the Constituent Assem-
bly, had pointed out: “If the people who are elected are
See PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS, Page 2
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Enron and Reliance to build
optical fiber cable network
Enron Corporation signed a $137
million agreement with India’s
Reliance group for an optical fiber
cable project in the southern In-
dian state of Karnataka. Enron
India and Reliance signed the
agreement on the sidelines of a
global investment meeting in Ban-
galore, through which the state
government hopes to attract $800
million in foreign capital. The pact
aims at laying an optical fiber cable
link across nine districts of the state
covering 1,500 kilometers (930
miles). An official statement said
the network will be completed by
next year and will connect data
center in India’s software hub of
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka
state, to an international gateway
in Bombay to access the European
markets for software.
India to Set up Technology
Fund for Small Scale Sector
The Ministry of Small Scale Indus-
try (SSI) will set up a “Technology
Up gradation Fund” for the small
scale industry on the lines of Tex-
tile Up gradation Fund, SSI minis-
ter Vasundhara Raje said during
the annual general meeting of the
Federation of Engineering Indus-
tries of India (FEI) in New Delhi.
Ms. Raje said the fund would be
similar to the textile fund but added
that a corpus for the fund had not
yet been finalized. The proposal
has been given “in-principle clear-
ance” by the Planning Commis-
sion but the commission has re-
viewing it further.
The Planning Commission has
News in Brief
appointed a study group to make
recommendations for the devel-
opment of the SSI sector. Minister
Raje said recommendations for a
comprehensive policy for the SSI
is being prepared by the Adminis-
trative Staff College (ASC),
Hyderabad. The ASC has been
mandated by the ministry to con-
sider the recommendations made
by all the committee’s on SSI's,
she said adding that all the legis-
lations covering SSI's would also
be reviewed by the ASC which
would recommend possible
changes to avoid duplication and
undue harassment to SSI enter-
prises. The minister said she was
hopeful that a policy for the SSI
sector would be in place within
the next three months.
India’s southern Karnataka
state makes big push for
investment
Over 400 foreign and Indian busi-
ness delegates visited Bangalore
on June 5, 2000 where the south-
ern state of Karnataka hopes to
attract a billion dollars of invest-
ment in foreign capital. Investors
from the United States, Germany,
Britain, Canada, Australia, Swe-
den, Singapore and Hong Kong
attended the two-day meeting with
senior Indian business leaders and
bid for state government projects.
Indian Finance Minister Yashwant
Sinha had opened the event.
Projects worth close to $800 mil-
lion dollars have been offered to
foreign and Indian investors by the
state. They include four minor air-
ports ($5.5 million), revamping
water supply and sewerage treat-
ment ($112 million), highways
($82 million), power generation
($450 million), hotels and resorts
($61 million), constructing a gem
and Jewellery Park, an industrial
township and a food-processing
park.
Competition to attract foreign in-
vestment between the three south-
ern Indian states of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu — which account for 60 per-
cent of India’s software exports —
has intensified in the last two years.
Karnataka leads the pack with soft-
ware exports of $1.2 billion in the
fiscal year to March 2000. But
Tamil Nadu’s software exports
have almost trebled from $91 mil-
lion in 1997 to about $280 million.
Andhra Pradesh registered a phe-
nomenal growth in software ex-
ports from $ 5 million in 1995 to
$131 million in fiscal year 1999.
Foreign firms such as Enron Cor-
poration, De Beers Consolidated
Mines Ltd., General Electric Cor-
poration, Motorola, Toyota Motor
Corporation and RioTinto are
among several who want to do
more business in Karnataka.
Government to privatize
AIR INDIA
Government has decided to divest
up to 60% of equity in Air India
and said it was willing to take a
foreign airline as a strategic part-
ner for India’s international flag
carrier. A meeting of the Cabinet
Committee on Disinvestments
(CCD), led by Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, decided to priva-
tize Air India according to the
See NEWS IN BRIEF, Page 8
INDIA NEWS ¢ May-June 2000 7
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March 21, 2000.
INDIAN PRESS MONITOR (Continued from page 11)
Clinton’s Productive Visit
For the first time, the world’s most populous and most powerful democracies have an agreed vision of the way
to foster closer and more cooperative bilateral relations over a decade or two. Moreover, the vision statement is
not just an essay in rhetoric; practicality is its hallmark. Above all, an institutional mechanism has been put in place
to ensure that the promise is matched by performance.
What makes this declaration of intent credible is that neither side has made any attempt to hide or paper over
differences that persist, most notably on the crucial and sensitive nuclear issue. Mr Clinton has made it clear that
while India is the best judge of what it should do about its security, America wants this country to abjure the use
of nuclear weapons. Mr. Vajpayee has stated that the minimum nuclear deterrent for the security of the country
will remain until there is an elimination of nuclear weapons by all.
— Inder Malhotra — The Tribune, March 29, 2000
After the euphoria
The point to note is that the differences of opinion between India and the U.S. on the issues detailed above have
been accepted by both sides as existential realities which should not come in the way of a long-term broad-based
consolidation and expansion of indo-U.S. relations. The bilateral agreements and memoranda signed on coopera-
tion in the fields of energy, technology and environment, in addition to the “Vision Statement” and the memoranda
signed on institutionalising bilateral contacts, affirm this approach.
— J.N. Dixit — The Hindustan Time, March 29, 2000
12 INDIA NEWS « April 2000
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Joint India-U.S. Statement
(Continued from page 5)
improving health care and combating AIDS and other
major diseases of our time.
The two leaders agreed that India and the United
States must build upon this new momentum in their
relationship to further enhance mutual understand-
ing and deepen cooperation across the full spectrum
of political, economic, commercial, scientific, tech-
nological, social, and international issues.
During this visit, the two leaders had productive
discussions across a wide range of bilateral, regional,
and international developments. In the economic
arena, they agree that India’s continuing economic
reforms, as well as the two countries’ complemen-
tary strengths and resources, provide strong bases
for expansion of economic ties between the two
countries. The two leaders recognized the need to
deepen cooperation on high-tech trade issues. They
noted that the present regime on e-commerce would
be rolled over until the next ministerial meeting of
the WTO, and that the two countries would cooper-
ate in building a wider international consensus on
information technology. The two leaders pledged their
joint commitment to bridge the digital divide, both
within and between countries, so that the benefits of
information technology may advance the economic
and social development of all citizens, rich and poor.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with their
agreement on textiles. They also affirmed the need
for expansion of bilateral civil aviation ties and agreed
to work toward this goal. They recognized the con-
tribution that biotechnology can make to a safe and
nutritious food supply, in offering new options to
farmers to address problems of pests and diseases,
while contributing to environmental protection and
enhancing global food security. The governments of
the United States and India will explore ways of
enhancing cooperation and information exchange,
joint collaborative projects and training of scientists
in agriculture biotechnology research. The ongoing
vaccine research would be further strengthened also,
making use of genomics and bioinformatics. The
governments of both the United States and India
support science-based regulatory activities.
They also noted significant progress on other impor-
tant economic issues including mutual taxation and
investment in the power and other sectors. In regard
to double taxation issues, the competent authorities
of both sides intend to soon negotiate an arrange-
ment under which collection or recovery of tax will
generally be suspended on a reciprocal basis, dur-
ing pendency of a mutual agreement proceeding. To
ensure sustainable economic growth that will lift the
lives of rich and poor alike, the two leaders commit-
ted support for efforts that will make capital mar-
kets more efficient, transparent, and accountable to
attract the billions in private investment that is
needed.
They recognize the need for appropriate technology
for power generation, and the importance of greater
South Asian regional cooperation and trade in en-
ergy, as well as the development and application of
clean technologies that address our respective prob-
lems of urban and water pollution. The leaders noted
with satisfaction the signings of several major com-
mercial agreements, under which U.S. firms will
contribute to the development of the power industry
in India.
The United States and India intend to harness their
cooperation in emerging scientific and economic sec-
tors into a partnership for defining new ways of
fighting hunger, disease, pollution, and other global
challenges of our time. The two leaders pledged
their strong commitment to address the global chal-
lenge of the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
through the close involvement and cooperation be-
tween the governments and civil society in the two
countries. They expressed support for the collabo-
rative program for research in various areas, includ-
ing HIV/AIDS vaccine development, through the Joint
Working Groups of scientists envisaged by the Joint
Statement of June 2000. They agreed to encourage
the formation of a business council to combat HIV/
AIDS with the active involvement and participation
of business and industry to raise awareness in the
industrial workplace.
The two leaders discussed international security.
They recalled the long history of Indo-U.S. coopera-
tion in UN peacekeeping operations, most recently
in Sierra Leone. The two leaders agreed to broaden
their cooperation in peacekeeping and other areas
of UN activity, including in shaping the future inter-
national security system. The two leaders also dis-
cussed the evolving security environment in Asia,
recalling their common desire to work for stability in
Asia and beyond. They agreed that the Asian Security
Dialogue that the two countries have initiated will
strengthen mutual understanding.
The two countries reaffirmed their belief that ten-
Continued on next page
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Kargil and Beyond
Speech by Sh. Jaswant Singh, Minister of External Affairs at
India International Centre on July 20, 1999
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
It is now time to look ahead; to
look beyond Kargil. But even in
charting our course for the fu-
ture we have to assess what
Kargil 1999 was all about? What
were the challenges — military
and diplomatic? What new fac-
ets of our total national com-
mitment and endeavour
emerged? What lessons for the
years that lie ahead? ‘Operation
Vijay’ — as the Prime Minister
said some days back — has
resulted in ‘Vijay’ for India. As
we re-examine the military and
diplomatic challenges that then
confronted us, and which were
successfully managed, we need
to have a preliminary analysis,
draw some first conclusions and
above all, looking beyond Kargil,
draw a route chart for the to-
morrows to come.
First, the military dimension.
Kargil was a military aggression
by Pakistan, with Pak army regu-
lars, across a stretch of the LoC,
in four pockets, from the
Mushkoh Valley in the west to
Tartuk in the Yaldor-Batalik
sector in the East. Initially, with
the aggressor — as with all
aggressors lay the element of
surprise. This was soon coun-
tered locally. Initially, the ter-
rain, too, conferred some ad-
vantage to the aggressor. They
had intruded along ridgelines to
occupy some key heights and
features that dominated a vital
road link, between Dras and
Kargil. The depth of the ridge-
2 INDIANEWS « August 15, 1999
lines north of the LoC and their
gradients, along with nullah ap-
proaches enabled the Pakistan
army to provide crucial logisti-
cal and administrative support
to their troops.
The Indian army’s response to
the military challenge was mea-
sured yet swift, it was focussed,
thus effective. The first task was
to contain the intrusion. For this
an accurate assessment was
necessary about the degree and
extent of it. This involved,
amongst other activities the
drawing of fire. Simultaneously,
a redeployment of troops took
place. Through a successful
containment of the aggressor’s
intrusion was ensured the inevi-
table defeat of this misadven-
ture by Pakistan. The element
of surprise was countered by the
Indian army through the speed
and lethality of its response. On
26th May, the Air Force swung
into action in support of the
ground operations.
Our military objective had been
clearly spelt out to the intruders
retreat or the Indian army shall
evict you. In any event once the
intruder’s aim of interfering with
the Dras-Kargil Highway had
been thwarted the whole ratio-
nale of this aggression had got
defeated. A mere holding of
heights was militarily a counter
productive venture. They were
bound to be evicted — in detail
— one by one; for their occupa-
tion served scant military pur-
pose. For India, occupation of
territory, south of the LoC, was
simply not acceptable both
physically and as a violation of
a principle. Tactical surprise
having been lost early by the
aggressor, the military principles
of superior force, concentration
and firepower were bound to tell.
And they did, decisively. This
phase of eviction did not, in-
deed could not be a phase of
battles of maneuver. The nature
of the terrain, the adversary’s
dispositions plus most impor-
tantly our self-imposed restraints
about the LoC, precluded those
options. The battles for the
heights thus became classic
infantry actions in high altitude,
combining mountaineering and
fighting, against fixed enemy
positions at a higher elevation.
They were actions that de-
manded grit, stamina and daunt-
less courage. Our troops dis-
played all these qualities in full
measure.
Let us be clear about one other
vital aspect. This aggression in
Kargil sector was by the Pak
regular army, it had the logistic
and administrative support of
not the Pakistani Army alone
but of their total state machin-
ery. Secondly, this misadven-
ture was not aimed at infiltrat-
ing into the Srinagar Valley, it
was to occupy territory in Kargil
and in holding that. This pur-
pose, too, was defeated.
The Kargil aggression is not an
extension of the problem of ex-
ternally aided and abetted cross
border terrorism that we have
combated uptill now. It is an
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Recent Policies, Programmes and
Initiatives by the Government of India
Atomic Energy
Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee dedicated
the first of the twin units of the Kaiga Atomic Power
Station to the nation on March 5, 2000. The unit was
operating at 210 MW.
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station already has two
operating units, which were reconditioned and reha-
bilitated in the years 1995-1998. In addition, two new
units based on Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor
technology were being indigenously set up. The re-
actor of Unit No. 3 was made critical on December
24, 1999 and the same has been synchronized with
the grid on March 10, 2000.
Civil Aviation
Disinvestment of Indian Airlines
The Government has decided to disinvest 51% of
Government Equity in Indian Airlines, the national
domestic carrier presently owned by the Government
of India. Of the 51% of equity 26 per cent may be
given to a joint venture/strategic partner. The re-
maining 25% would be offered to employees; finan-
cial institutions and the public. The disinvestments
would be done within the framework of the Domestic
Air Transport Policy.
The Ministry has concluded aviation bilateral agree-
ments with Austria, Romania, Uzbekistan, UK, Thai-
land and Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Oman,
Qatar and Syria providing for an increase of 9680
seats per week in air-seat entitlement in each direc-
tion.
Commerce
Exports exceed targeted growth rate
in 1999-2000
India's exports during 1999-2000 are estimated at
over U.S. $37 billion, which is 11.58% higher in
dollar terms than in the previous year 1998-99. The
growth in percentage terms has thus exceeded the
12 INDIA NEWS « May-June 2000
11.3% growth targeted for the year. In rupee terms,
India’s exports during 1999-2000 have increased by
14.93%. India’s exports have achieved a double-digit
growth after several years.
Setting up of Special Economic Zones
The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) concept has been
introduced for the first time in the EXIM Policy of
2000-2001. Two such Zones are expected to come
up shortly — one in Tamil Nadu and another in
Gujarat. Such Zones can also be set up in the private
sector or the joint sector.
Environment & Forest
The Biological Diversity Bill, 2000, tabled in Lok Sabha.
The Bill seeks to provide for conservation and sus-
tainable use of bio-diversity and equitable sharing of
the benefits arising out of the use of biological re-
sources. With a view to regulate and control noise
producing and generating sources, the Noise Pol-
lution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 notified
for prevention and control of noise pollution in the
country.
Industry
Automatic approval of FDI
The Government have placed all items under the
automatic approval route for foreign direct invest-
ment (FDI)/NRI and Overseas Corporate Body (OCB)
investment, except for a small negative list. This move
is aimed at increasing the present inflows of FDI into
the country to an annual figure of U.S. $10 billion.
Setting up of Foreign Investment
Implementation Authority
To bridge the gap between FDI approvals and actual
inflows, a Foreign Investment Implementation Au-
thority (FIIA) has been set up as an institutional
response to provide foreign investors with a single
point interface with various approval authorities at
both the central and state levels. This would com-
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