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W
S
N
E
EMBASSY OF INDIA
Q STREET, N.W.
BRONZE STATUE
ROUGH GRANITE PEDESTAL
INSCRIPTION
PANELS
GRASS
BENCH
EXIST. WALK
RAISED GRANITE CURB
GRANITE PAVERS
EXIST. WALK
OPEN LAWN
PROTECTED PARK AREA FOR
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W.
Site of the
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
WEEPING BEECH TREE
EXIST. WALK
21 st. STREET, N.W.
India & World Trade Organization
(Continued from page 18)
gently so as to ensure that the multilateral trading
system results in mutual benefits for all countries."
India was also able to moderate the wording on
global coherence as much as "coherence" has been
diluted to "cooperation" in the critical portions of the
UNCTAD-X Declaration and Plan of Action. India
feels that strengthened 'coherence' between WTO
and the UN organizations may lead to increased
cross conditionalities, which may narrow down our
policy options for development. Thus our success in
diluting the coherence brief in UNCTAD is signifi-
cant.
(b) Under the second track of post-Seattle follow
up Government has held consultations to appraise
the situation arising out of the failure of the Seattle
Ministerial Conference to reach consensus on major
issues.
A meeting of the Advisory Committee on Interna-
tional Trade was convened on February 3, 2000 to
apprise the Committee of the important develop-
ments at and immediately after Seattle and seek the
20
Committee's advice on the way forward. The gist of
the Committee's advice to Government has been to
ask Government to review the implementation is-
sues and prioritise those which are of core interest;
to ensure that our implementation demands are prop-
erly attuned to our autonomous programme of do-
mestic economic liberalisation; to evolve a suitable
response to a situation where even some of the
developing countries are willing to accept some
watered down version of a group on trade and labour
in association with the WTO; and evolve our stand
on environment so that we don't appear to be against
protection of environment; to give adequate publicity
to our positive record of adherence to ILO conven-
tions and ongoing efforts for implementation of core
labour standards; and to formulate a national con-
sensus on biotechnology etc.
(c) The third strand of our post-Seattle approach
has been to participate actively in the meetings of
the General Council of the WTO and its subsidiary
bodies to continue to emphasise the areas of our
concern. India has participated actively in the Gen-
eral Council meetings held post-Seattle on December
17, 1999 and on February 2, 7 & 29, 2000.
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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
engagement sought by both sides.
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 U.S. 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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PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS
(Continued from page 1)
us that our nation has once again demonstrated
its unshakable commitment to democracy.
Our nation continues to march on the path she
adopted when she became a republic in 1950.
With the successful completion of the last elec-
tion of this century, India stands taller in the
eyes of all democracy-loving people of the world.
It has been a long campaign. A lot of heat and
dust were generated during this general election.
But now that the election is over, we should put
the acrimony and bitterness of the last couple
of months behind us. And get down to the task
of nation-building. There is not a moment to lose.
The Opposition's role in a democracy is no less
important than that of the Government. It is a
role mandated by the people and comes with a
lot of responsibility.
Constructive criticism is an essential input for
good policies and programmes. Consensus on
national issues is necessary for effective action.
I look forward to both constructive criticism
and consensus on national issues.
-
My countrymen, the world rushes ahead
whether or not we look up from our narrow
concerns.
Neither do the tasks that confront us abate.
The number of young women and men jobs
must be provided continues to increase. Chil-
dren still go to bed hungry. A sense of insecur-
ity prevails.
The soul of India rebels against this reality.
Starting today, our Government has set itself
the task of implementing our Agenda for a
Proud, Prosperous India. It is my solemn pledge
to all of you that nothing shall prevent us from
the task of good governance.
We talk of the 21st century. In just ten weeks
from today, India along with the rest of the
world, will enter a new era of challenges and
opportunities.
We are pledged to the emergence of a 'new'
India in the new century.
We can redeem this pledge through collective
effort, by resolutely meeting the challenges and
seizing the opportunities of the 21st century.
We may have been sent to Parliament under
the banners of different parties. But we have all
been sent for a common task: to make India a
strong, vigorous, prosperous and caring country.
To meet the challenges, we have to act now. In
the coming days, our Government proposes to:
• Speed up economic reforms and focus atten-
tion on infrastructure development. The new
century demands a new mindset.
• Introduce new laws for financial sector re-
forms so that India can keep pace with the
rest of the world.
• Evolve a programme for achieving fiscal recti-
tude by improved expenditure management,
deep tax reforms and a new mechanism for
speedier restructuring and disinvestment of
Public Sector Units.
• Promote investment, Including foreign direct
investment, by adoption of suitable measures
and removing bottlenecks that lead to costly
delays.
• Re-arrange priorities of development by re-
deploying resources and strengthening insti-
tutions for providing to all:
• Safe drinking water
• Primary health services
• Primary education
• Rural roads
• Housing to rural homeless
In this task, we seek the participation of the
private sector.
My countrymen, all these tasks can be com-
pleted if we work together.
Let us proceed, as the Gita counsels us,
Bodhyanta parasparam-imparting wisdom to
each other.
The opportunities are unlimited. We can use
each one of them to our national advantage if
we stand united-both in prosperity and in the
face of adversity. India's greatest asset is her
unity, and my Government is determined to
maintain this unity at all cost.
See PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS, Page 3
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2 INDIA NEWS • November 1, 1999
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Requ
INDIA NEWS
PUBLISHED BY PRESS & INFORMATION, EMBASSY OF INDIA, WASHINGTON, DC
INDIA NEWS ONLINE: http://www.indianembassy.org
NOVEMBER 1, 1999
Vajpayee Sworn in as
Prime Minister
ALDERMAN LIBRARY
NOV 22 1999
Address to the Nation by
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeed Virginia
My dear
countrymen,
I address you today
to perform a very
pleasant duty: to
thank all of you for
your positive and
clear mandate to the
National Democratic
Alliance and its
friendly parties in
this election.
The NDA represents
the aspirations of
every region of our
October 16, 1999
Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
great nation and every section of our vibrant
society. The NDA, in fact, reflects the spirit of
India in all its diversity. It also mirrors the
fundamental unity in this diversity.
We may have been sent to Parliament under the
banners of different parties. But we all have a
common commitment: To give India a stable
and good Government.
We are all guided by the lofty principles of
Secularism, Social Justice, Social Harmony and
Women's Empowerment. Ours is a Government
wedded to a common ideal: To create a kinder,
Charlottesville, VA
gentler and more tolerant society, free from all
discrimination, fear and insecurity.
Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of a
democracy. It is a matter of great pride for all of
See PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS, Page 2
Election Results of 1999
(Source: Election Commission of India)
Total:
543 Seats
Elections held:
538 Seats
Declared:
537 Seats
Party/Alliance
Seats won
Party/Alliance
Seats won
Natl. Democratic Alliance
Congress & Allies
BJP
182
Congress
112
BJD
10
ADMK
10
DMK
12
Kerela Congress (M)
1
HVC
1
MUL
2
INLD
5
RJD
7
20 RLD
2
Loktantrik Congress
MDMK
1
Total
134
4
MSCP
1
PMK
5
SAD
2
Left Parties
42
Shiv Sena
15
Others
65
Trinamul Congress
8
29
296
Janata Dal (U)
TDP
Total
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India & Information Technology
HE Indian software industry has grown from a
gering U.S. $5.7 billion (including over $4 billion
worth of software exports) in 1999-2000. No other
Indian industry has performed so well against global
competition.
The annual growth rate of India's software exports
has been consistently over 50 percent since 1991.
As per the projections made by the National Asso-
ciation of Software and Services Companies
(NASSCOM) for 2000-2001 (April 1, 2000-March
31, 2001), India's software exports would be around
$6.3 billion, in addition to $2.5 billion in domestic
sale.
Indian Software Industry 1995-2000
(U.S. $ million)
1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01°
for Indian companies. In addition to the export mar-
ket, all of these segments have a domestic market
component as well.
Other key findings of this report are:
• Software & Services will contribute over 7.5 % of
the overall GDP growth of India
• IT Exports will account for 35% of the total ex-
ports from India
• Potential for 2.2 million jobs in IT by 2008
⚫ IT industry will attract Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) of U.S. $4-5 billion
• Market capitalization of IT shares will be around
U.S. $225 billion
The report projects the sector's revenue earnings in
2008 in the following manner:
Domestic
software
Market
490
670
920
1250
1700
2450
Software
734
1085
1750 2650
4000
6300
Exports
India India
Based Centric
($ US billion)
Sub total
(International
Domestic Total 1998
Indian
Software 1224
1755
2670 3900
5700
8750
IT Service
23
7°
30
8.5
38.5 2.1
Industry
(* Source: NASSCOM Report)
Software
Products
8
2
10
9.5**
19.5 0.6
IT-enabled
Service
15
2
17
2
19
0.4
E-business
4
1
5
5
10 0.2
Total
50.0
12.0
62.0
25
87
3.3
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Today, India exports software and services to nearly
95 countries around the world. The share of North
America (U.S. & Canada) in India's software exports
is about 61 per cent. In 1999-2000, more than a
third of Fortune 500 companies outsourced their
software requirements to India.
NASSCOM's 1999-2000 survey indicates a reversal
in the mode of services offered by India. In 1991-92,
offshore services accounted for 5 per cent and on-
site services 95% of the total exports. However,
during 1999-2000 offshore services contributed over
40 percent of the total exports.
The NASSCOM - McKinsey report on
India's IT sector
According to a recently released NASSCOM-McKinsey
report, annual revenue projections for India's IT
industry in 2008 are U.S. $87 billion and market
openings are emerging across four broad sectors; IT
services, software products, IT enabled services, and
e-businesses thus creating a number of opportunities
14
* Legacy/client server, ERP and package work and Internet all have different
proportions of work outside India where revenues are not export revenues.
** Resale of imported products included.
Promotion of IT - governmental incentives:
With the formation of a new ministry for IT, GOI has
taken a major step towards promoting the domestic
industry and achieving the full potential of the In-
dian IT entrepreneurs. Constraints have been com-
prehensively identified and steps taken to overcome
them and also to provide incentives. Thus for ex-
ample, venture capital has been the main source of
finance for software industry around the world.
However, in India majority of the software units is in
the small and medium enterprise sector and there is
a critical shortage of venture capital kind of support.
In order to alleviate this situation and to promote
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JASWANT SINGH INTERVIEW
(Continued from page 1)
to generate a better appreciation of India's security
concerns. Obviously, this is possible only through a
sustained, bilateral dialogue process. An understand-
ing in this regard will restore our relationship to the
pre-May 1998 position. I am also optimistic that this
process of restoration will result in an acceptance of
a secure, self-confident India, thus imparting a new
momentum to these ties.
At the same time, there is no denying that the
manner in which the CTBT was negotiated,
particularly during the last stages, left a great
deal to be desired. This led to resentment
against the proposed treaty. Many in India see
it as part of a discriminatory, nuclear non-
proliferation regime.
The Government's commitment to nuclear non-pro-
liferation remains unchanged. The priority of our
meeting the country's national security concerns
having been addressed, the Government believes
that we now need to convey reassurance to the
international community and, in this regard, desires
to develop a national consensus. The need for a
consensus in any democratic society is self-evident.
I have explained this in the past to the U.S. admin-
istration, and they better understand this approach
after their own difficulties on this issue in their Sen-
ate.
There appears to be lack of clarity about sign-
ing and ratification. Can you elaborate?
Three separate decisions are required of the Gov-
ernment as part of adherence to any international
treaty: signature, ratification and deposition of the
instrument of ratification. These decisions are taken
by the Cabinet. Each of them is a separate decision.
To recall a recent example, in January 1993, the
Cabinet decided that India will become a signatory
to the Chemical Weapons Convention; the decision
to ratify was taken in October 1995, followed by
another decision to deposit the instrument of ratifi-
cation in September 1996.
In your view, how far should India go in
terms of its adherence to the CTBT at this
stage, particularly in light of the uncertainty
about the Treaty's future created by the U.S.
Senate vote?
As I have already clarified, the process of adherence
to an international treaty is a step-by-step process.
While India's decisions will be made by the Indian
Government, there is no denying that this negative
vote by the U.S. Senate does have a bearing on the
2 INDIA NEWS • December 1, 1999
future of this treaty. I would, therefore, consider it
natural for India to also disaggregate its decision.
Is India ready to join in a moratorium on the
production of fissile material for nuclear
weapon purposes?
We have, after the tests last year, announced our
readiness to engage in multilateral negotiations in
the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva for a
non-discriminatory and verifiable treaty to ban future
production of fissile materials for nuclear weapon
purposes. This decision was taken after due consid-
eration, which included an assessment of timeframes
for negotiations and entry into force of an FMCT. At
this stage, India cannot accept a voluntary mora-
torium on production of fissile materials. Let me add
that FMCT negotiations are a complex exercise it
will be important, therefore, as we go along to
constantly monitor the pace, direction and content
of these negotiations.
Export controls is another element of dialogue
with the U.S. What are the prospects of an
understanding in this area?
India has remained committed to non-proliferation
and maintains a highly effective system of export
controls on sensitive and dual-use technologies and
equipment. We have conveyed our willingness to
strengthen this further, where necessary. In this
regard, an inter-ministerial expert group has been
established. I must add that we do remain greatly
concerned about the fact that certain civilian pro-
grammes in high technology areas such as space,
remain targeted. Our participation in ad hoc export
control regimes, such as Nuclear Suppliers Group
and MTCR will be on the basis of equality. The U.S.
does appreciate that India has a system of laws and
an effective institutional mechanism to implement
non proliferation-related export controls but we need
to make further progress.
There is a perception in the international com-
munity that the document prepared by the
National Security Advisory Board for the
National Security Council is India's official
nuclear doctrine. What is the status of this
document?
Let me correct this perception. The National Security
Advisory Board is a group of non-official strategic
experts and analysts. It was tasked by the National
Security Council to prepare a number of papers,
including one on a possible 'Indian Nuclear Doc-
trine'. This it prepared and submitted to the Na-
tional Security Adviser, also releasing it publicly for
a larger debate. That debate is now under way. It is
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India & the
World Trade Organization
NDIA is a founder member of the General Agree-
ment on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947 and its
successor, the World Trade Organization (WTO),
which came into effect on 1.1.95 after the conclusion
of the Uruguay Round (UR) of Multilateral Trade
Negotiations. India's participation in an increasingly
rule based system in the governance of international
trade is to ensure more stability and predictability,
which ultimately would lead to more trade and pros-
perity for itself and the 134 other nations which now
comprise the WTO. India also automatically avails of
MFN and national treatment for its exports to all
WTO Members.
Third Ministerial Conference of
WTO in Seattle
November 30 - December 03, 1999
The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr.
Murasoli Maran, led the Indian delegation to the
Third Ministerial Conference of the WTO. The dele-
gation also included Members of Parliament, senior
officials from different Ministries and representatives
from the apex chambers of commerce and industry.
Even before the commencement of the Conference
there were widespread protests and demonstrations
in Seattle by a number of anti-WTO groups ranging
from environmental activists to labour unions. The
inaugural session, which was to be held in the fore-
noon of November 30, 1999, had to be abandoned
because of disturbances.
The Chairmen of various Working Groups tried to
narrow down the differences in their respective groups
with a view to arriving at a consensus in the draft
Ministerial text that had been transmitted from the
Geneva preparatory process. However, in view of the
wide divergence of views, no group could present
draft texts for inclusion in the Ministerial declaration
acceptable to all the members. The Chairperson
observed that divergences of opinion remained that
would take time to be narrowed down. It was there-
fore, decided to suspend the work of the Seattle
Ministerial Conference.
Post Seattle scenario:
India is taking advantage of this 'time out' to consoli-
18
date its position on issues of its interest in the WTO.
Three pronged efforts have been launched which are
as follows:
(a) On the one hand, India has continued to high-
light the areas of its concern at important bilateral
and multilateral meetings, which have been as
follows:
In his meeting with the Director General WTO on
January 12, 2000 at New Delhi, Minister for Com-
merce and Industry emphasised that globalisation
has caused uneven growth, increasing the disparities
between the richest and the poorest. This has to be
addressed, inter alia, by addressing the implementa-
tion problems in existing Agreements and opera-
tionalising the special and differential clauses in favour
of developing countries. A consensus could be reached
only if the more controversial issues, such as non-
trade related issues, could be eliminated from WTO.
In his statement at UNCTAD-X (Bangkok - February
13, 2000), the Minister highlighted that "Interna-
tional rule making must....permit flexibility and au-
tonomy to developing countries to pursue their ma-
terial development strategies on the basis of needs
and aspirations of their people." He registered a
strong protest on the part of the developing countries
as to how issues extraneous to trade, such as labour
standards, are sought to be put on the negotiating
agenda, while, on the other hand issues such as the
cross border movement of persons, a matter of great
interest to developing countries is resisted by devel-
oped countries. On the margins of the UNCTAD
Conference at Bangkok, he had also used this oppor-
tunity to have bilateral and plurilateral meetings with
a view to evolve common stand on important WTO
issues.
The UNCTAD Plan of Action has taken on board
some of the important concerns of developing coun-
tries on implementation issues by inter alia recog-
nising that "in the course of implementation of the
WTO Agreements, most developing countries con-
sider that certain imbalances and asymmetries exist"
and that "these problems need to be addressed ur-
See INDIA & WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, Page 20
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The Coming of Age of India
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 élan
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.
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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
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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3. Nuclear Forces
3.1. India's nuclear forces will be effective, enduring,
diverse, flexible, and responsive to the requirements in
accordance with the concept of credible minimum deter-
rence. These forces will be based on a triad of aircraft,
mobile land-based missiles and sea-based assets in keep-
ing with the objectives outlined above.
Survivability of the forces will be enhanced by a combi-
nation of multiple redundant systems, mobility, disper-
sion and deception.
3.2. The doctrine envisages assured capability to shift
from peacetime deployment to fully employable forces in
the shortest possible time, and the ability to retaliate
effectively even in a case of significant degradation by
hostile strikes.
4. Credibility and Survivability
The following principles are central to India's nuclear
deterrent
4.1. Credibility: Any adversary must know that India
can and will retaliate with sufficient nuclear weapons to
inflict destruction and punishment that the aggressor will
find unacceptable if nuclear weapons are used against
India and its forces.
4.2. Effectiveness: The efficacy of India's nuclear de-
terrent be maximised through synergy among all ele-
ments involving reliability, timeliness, accuracy and weight
of the attack.
4.3 Survivability:
(i) India's nuclear forces and their command and control
shall be organised for very high survivability against
surprise attacks and for rapid punitive response. They
shall be designed and deployed to ensure survival
against a first strike and to endure repetitive attrition
attempts with adequate retaliatory capabilities for a
punishing strike which would be unacceptable to the
aggressor.
(ii) Procedures for the continuity of nuclear command
and control shall ensure a continuing capability to
effectively employ nuclear weapons.
5. Command and Control
5.1. Nuclear weapons shall be tightly controlled and
released for use at the highest political level. the authority
to release nuclear weapons for use resides in the person
of the Prime Minister of India, or the designated
successor(s).
5.2. An effective and survivable command and control
system with requisite flexibility and responsiveness shall
be in place. An integrated operational plan, or a series of
sequential plans, predicated on strategic objectives and a
targetting policy shall form part of the system.
5.3. For effective employment the unity of command
and control of nuclear forces including dual capable de-
livery systems shall be ensured.
5.4. The survivability of the nuclear arsenal and effec-
tive command, control, communications, computing, in-
telligence and information (C412) systems shall be as-
sured.
5.5. The Indian defence forces shall be in a position to,
execute operations in an NBC environment with minimal
degradation;
5.6. Space based and other assets shall be created to
provide early warning, communications, damage/deto-
nation assessment.
6. Security and Safety
6.1. Security: Extraordinary precautions shall be taken
to ensure that nuclear weapons, their manufacture, trans-
portation and storage are fully guarded against possible
theft, loss, sabotage, damage or unauthorised access or
use.
6.2. Safety is an absolute requirement and tamper proof
procedures and systems shall be instituted to ensure that
unauthorised or inadvertent activation/use of nuclear
weapons does not take place and risks of accident are
avoided.
6.3. Disaster control: India shall develop an appropri-
ate disaster control system capable of handling the unique
requirements of potential incidents involving nuclear
weapons and materials;
7. Research and Development
7.1. India should step up efforts in research and devel-
opment to keep up with technological advances in this
field.
7.2. While India is committed to maintain the deploy-
ment of a deterrent which is both minimum and credible,
it will not accept any restraints on building its R&D
capability.
8. Disarmament and Arms Control
8.1. Global, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear
disarmament is a national security objective. India shall
continue its efforts to achieve the goal of a nuclear
weapon-free world at an early date.
8.2. Since no-first use of nuclear weapons is India's
basic commitment, every effort shall be made to per-
suade other States possessing nuclear weapons to join
an international treaty banning first use.
8.3. Having provided unqualified negative security as-
surances, India shall work for internationally binding un-
conditional negative security assurances by nuclear
weapon states to non-nuclear weapon states.
8.4. Nuclear arms control measures shall be sought as
part of national security policy to reduce potential threats
and to protect our own capability and its effectiveness.
8.5. In view of the very high destructive potential of
nuclear weapons, appropriate nuclear risk reduction and
confidence building measures shall be sought, negoti-
ated and instituted.
INDIA NEWS • October 1, 1999 3
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Excerpts from U.S. news media on
Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit
A "Tilt" towards India
Two years ago, India's nuclear tests provoked world-
wide condemnation and retaliatory sanctions by the
United States. Yet in recent months, culminating in
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Wash-
ington last weekend, the United States has drawn
closer to India diplomatically than at any time since
the early 1960's. President Clinton has shaped a
new foreign policy course in South Asia by embrac-
ing India and distancing the United States from
Pakistan's military government. These steps have
far-reaching ramifications for all of Asia, including
China, as well as for the issue of nuclear prolifera-
tion. The shift is justified by India's growing impor-
tance.
Editorial, New York Times - September 20, 2000
At This Dinner, Harmony Is Served
India and America clinked glasses in their new whirl-
wind friendship at an elaborate and exotic state
dinner at the White House last night as Prime Min-
ister Atal Bihari Vajpayee profusely praised Bill and
Hillary Clinton and also Christopher Columbus,
"who set sail for India but landed in America. I
wonder where we would be if he had actually reached
India."
The line got a big laugh from the nearly 700 assorted
political, business and entertainment glitterati lucky
enough to snag one of the coveted seats in what was
by far the largest-and possibly last-such event of
the Clinton administration.
Continued on next page
Vajpayee's After Dedication Speech
(Continued from page 9)
It has taken a very short time
from March to Sep-
tember for our two countries to come a long way.
-
At the same time, it seems that New Delhi and
Washington are not a long way off from each other.
I describe this period as "Six Months That Cemented
the Natural Alliance Between India and America".
The Vision Document we signed in New Delhi has
been translated into a specific forward movement in
a number of areas in the Joint Statement adopted in
Washington.
It reflects the synergy of our manual interests.
We have laid a solid foundation for stronger and
more broad-based economic cooperation between
our two countries. I am confident that this founda-
tion will support the attractive architecture of Indo-
American relations in the coming years.
But going beyond the mutuality of economic oppor-
tunities, our two sides have talked candidly about
several important issues that form the texture of our
bilateral relations.
We have talked about security matters. We have
talked about the situation in South Asia.
We have also talked about threat of terrorism to
civilized world order.
Of course, differences are bound to be there between
the two countries. But dialogue between democra-
cies, in an atmosphere of candour and trust, never
fails to dissolve some if not all differences.
And that is what has happened on account of the
continuing dialogue at various levels between our
two democracies.
From divergence, we have moved to a convergence
of thinking and outlook on a broad range of issues.
I heartily thank all those who have contributed to
the success of this dialogue.
I especially applaud the consistent efforts of the
Indian-American community. Your patience and hard
work are paying off. Keep it up.
I thank all of you for the opportunity of sharing my
thoughts with you.
Thank you."
10
10
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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 (FEII) 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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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.S., 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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INDIA NEWS
Special Edition October 2000
-
Published by the Embassy of India, Washington, DC
CONTENTS
Highlights of Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to Washington, DC..
Prime Minister Vajpayee's address to the Joint Session of the
United States Congress
Joint India-U.S. Statement on the Occasion of the Official Visit of
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
5
Dedication of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial.
8
Excerpts from U.S. news media on Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit
10
India's Experience Has Taught That Peace Lies in Strength..
For more information on Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to the United States,
please go to the Embassy's web site http://www.indianembassy.org. The Prime
Minister's speeches are also available in Real Video format.
(Front cover photo by Rajan Devadas - September 15, 2000)
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2
== | |
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U.S. and India Pledge
(Continued from page 1)
the National Institute on Drug
Abuse; the Fogarty International
Center; and other agencies of the
U.S. Government, including the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the U.S. Agency
for International Development.
Under the agreement, both the
NIH and ICMR are the primary
funders of biomedical research in
their respective countries and
support a wide variety of relevant
researches. The institutions have
agreed to convene on a regular
basis to consider and facilitate
proposals for cooperation. They
will also provide technical advice
to each other's scientists and gov-
ernment officials.
Specific areas to be addressed
within this program include:
• Prevention and treatment of
leading causes of maternal,
neonatal and pediatric mor-
bidity and mortality (including
toxemia, hemorrhage, sepsis,
birth asphyxia and trauma,
accidents, diarrhea and other
infectious diseases, etc.):
• Prevention and treatment of
low birth weight and intrau-
terine growth retardation;
• Maternal and child nutrition
and the role of micronutrients
in healthy child bearing and
pediatric and adolescent
health and development;
• Birth defects, genetic disorders
and development research;
Improved understanding of
pathophysiology, prevention
and treatment of infectious
diseases in women and
children including childhood
asthma, acute respiratory tract
infections, gastrointestinal in-
fections, reproductive tract in-
fections and malignancies and
HIV/AIDS;
• Reproductive health including
socio-behavioral aspects, birth
practices and development and
evaluation of newer contracep-
tives;
• Traditional systems of medi-
cine and practices which have
an important impact on the
health and well-being of
women and children adoles-
cents;
• Emergency obstetric care for
miscarriages and other prob-
lems of pregnancy, including
severe preeclampsia, hemor-
rhage and embolism;
• Relationship between mater-
nal; nutrition, fetal growth/de-
velopment and degenerative
diseases in later life; and
• Analysis, consensus building
and policy formulation on
public health benefits and
cost-effectiveness of new
approaches to improve mater-
nal and child health.
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National Initiative for Child Protection (NICP)
Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, launched the National
Initiative for Child Protection (NICP) on June 27, 2000 with an aim to spread better and greater
understanding of the special needs of children and placing child's rights and protection on the
National Agenda. The broad goal of the NICP is to build partnerships with the allied systems
like the police system, the health care system, the judicial system and the education system etc.
The NICP is a campaign, which seeks to place child's rights and child protection on the agenda
of all the allied systems such as the police, the health care center, and the transport departments
and labor departments etc. A greater understanding of the special needs of children in need of
care and protection will result in several positive things like greater access to services such as
health care, education, justice, etc. for children, development of specialized services for
children where they are needed, allocation of resources for children including time, attention,
money, infrastructure etc. and an attitudinal change in perceiving the problems of the child and
in dealing with them.
To make the NICP successful a national core group has been formed for wider consultation and
training of trainers is being organized at the regional level. Preparation of source material is on
the way. The States have been asked to lend their support in this gigantic task. Training systems
have been evolved for the allied systems like police etc. and child protection issues are being
integrated into the curriculum of training institutes. In its first phase, the NICP will be implement-
ed in 14 cities across the country through a network of NGOs.
2 INDIA NEWS ⚫ July-August 2000
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EMBASSY OF INDIA
2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
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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 with UUNET
up
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.
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INDIA NEWS ⚫ May-June 2000 9
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
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, I was specially satis-
fied 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.
• When I 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
soldier 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.
I 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. I note with regret that sev-
eral regions in the country - including the North-
Eastern States I 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, I 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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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
i | |
Role
The Election Commission
Under Article 324 of the Indian constitution the
Election Commission is vested with the role of
supervision, direction and control of prepara-
tion of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of,
all elections to Parliament and to the Legisla-
ture of every state and of elections to the offices
of the President and Vice President.
General Elections 1952-1998
There has been a marked increase in the total number of candidates
contesting in the elections. While in 1952 there were 1864
candidates for 489 seats, the number steadily increased to 4,620
candidates in 1980. During the 1991 elections the number of
candidates contesting had increased almost twice fold to 8,699.
In the 11th General elections a record of 13,952 candidates
contested for the 543 seats. During the 12th General elections
however the number had fallen to 4,750 due to the increase of
security deposit amount.
Polling
Stations
173,213,635 105,944,495 196,084
193,652,069 123,461,815 220,778
216,372,215 119,904,315 238,244
249,003,334 152,724,611 267,555
274,094,493 151,536,802 342,944
321,174,327 194,263,915 358,208
shall be determined by the President as per
rules, and subject to the provisions of any law
made by Parliament:
The President or the Governor of a State, will
make available as many staff as is required by
the Election Commissioner the discharge of
duties conferred on the Election Commission
as stated above.
General Electoral Roll and Elections
based on adult suffrage
There can be no special category, electoral role
based on grounds of religion, sex or race, and
elections to the House of the People and to the
Legislative assemblies is to be on the basis of
adult suffrage, i.e, every Indian citizen who is
not less than eighteen years of age on such
date as may be fixed under any law, made by
the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise
disqualified on grounds of non-residence, un-
soundness of mind, crime or corrupt legal prac-
tice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter
at any such election.
Year
Candidates Electorate
1984
542
1991
Elective
Seats
1952 489 1,864
1957 494 1,864
1962 494 1,985
1967 520 2,369
1971 518 2,784
1977 542 2,439
1980 542 4,620
5,481
1989 543 6,160
543 8,699 514,126,380 275,205,803 594,797*
1996 543 13,952 592,572,288 334,873,286 767,462
1998 543 4,750 605,884,103 375,454,034 773,494
*Excluding Jammu & Kashmir
Votes Polled
355,590,700 202,405,413 434,442
399,816,294 249,585,334 505,751
498,906,429 309,050,509 579,810
Representation of Women in the Lok Sabha
Year
Total number of
seats
Number of Women
members
% to the
total
1952
499
22
4.4
1957
500
27
5.4
1962
503
34
6.7
1967
523
31
5.9
Before each general election to the House of the
People, the Legislative Assembly of each State,
the first general election and thereafter before
each biennial election to the Legislative Council
of each State having such Council, the Presi-
dent may also appoint Regional Commission-
ers as he may consider necessary to assist the
Election Commission in the performance of
functions listed above. The conditions of ser-
vice and tenure of office of the Election Com-
missioners and the Regional Commissioners
* One member was nominated by the President
1971
521
22
4.2
1977
544
19
3.4
1980
544
28
5.1
1984
544
44
8.1
1989
517
27
5.22
1991
544
39
7.18
1996
544
40*
7.18
1998
543
43
7.20
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14 INDIA NEWS • August 15, 1999
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IN THIS ISSUE
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
[email protected]
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:
[email protected]
or by visiting the following site:
http://www.egroups.com/group/india_discussion/info.html
Embassy of India
Press & Information
2107 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
President K.R. Narayanan's address
1
Republic Day Celebration at the Embassy 2
India.com goes Global..
3
Economic News Updates.
3
Information on the hijacked Indian Airline
Flight IC-814
5
Cultural Calendar..
6
D
nd
A Force More Powerful: A Century of
Nonviolent Conflict
Indian American Forum for IAFPE.
South Asian Journalists Association .......
NetSAP DC...
9
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Indian American woman is among top 50
U.S. pharmacists
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VICINI HO A
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
ndi
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India & Intellectual Property Rights
HERE is a well-established statutory, ad-
guard intellectual property rights in India, whether
they relate to patents, trademarks, copyright or in-
dustrial designs. Well-known international trade-
marks have been protected in India even when they
were not registered in India.
Computer software companies have successfully
curtailed piracy through court orders. Computer
databases have been protected. The courts, under
the doctrine of breach of confidentiality, accorded an
extensive protection of trade secrets. Right to pri-
vacy, which is not protected even in some developed
countries, has been recognized in India.
Protection of intellectual property rights in India con-
tinues to be strengthened further. The year 1999
witnessed the consideration and passage of major
legislation with regard to protection of intellectual
property rights in harmony with international prac-
tices and in compliance with India's obligations un-
der Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
These include:
1. The Patents (Amendment) Act, 1999 passed by the
Indian Parliament on March 10, 1999 to amend
the Patents Act of 1970 that provides for estab-
lishment of a mail box system to file patents and
accords exclusive marketing rights for 5 years.
2. The Trade Marks Bill, 1999, which repeals and
replaces the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act,
1958 passed by the Indian Parliament in the Winter
Session that concluded on December 23, 1999.
3. The Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1999 passed by
both houses of the Indian Parliament, and signed
by the President of India on December 30, 1999.
4. A sui generis legislation for the protection of geo-
graphical indications called the Geographical In-
dications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Bill,
1999 approved by both houses of the Indian Par-
liament on December 23, 1999.
5. The Industrial Designs Bill, 1999, which replaces
the Designs Act, 1911 was passed in the Upper
House of the Indian Parliament in the Winter
Session, which concluded on December 23, 1999
and is presently before the Lower House for its
consideration.
6. The Patents (Second Amendment) Bill, 1999 to
16
further amend the Patents Act, 1970 and make it
TRIPS compliant was introduced in the Upper
House of Indian Parliament on December 20, 1999.
In addition to the above legislative changes, the
Government of India has taken several measures to
streamline and strengthen the intellectual property
administration system in the country. The Trade
Marks Registry is also proposed to be further strength-
ened and modernized. As regards the aspect en-
forcement, Indian enforcement agencies are now
working very effectively and there has been a no-
table decline in the levels of piracy in India.
Concerns expressed over
IPR protection & India's response
Q: India does not provide an effective patent protection
in the pharmaceutical sector.
India does provide for patents in the pharmaceutical
sector. Currently the patents are restricted to the
methods or process of manufacture and not ex-
tended to the substances/products themselves. In
terms of the TRIPS Agreement, India has time till
January 1, 2005 to extend patent protection to this
area. The ten-year transition period available for
providing product patents to pharmaceutical prod-
ucts is within WTO rules.
Q: It has been further said that India has failed to meet
its current obligations required under TRIPS Agreement
for implementing appropriate, conforming mailbox and
exclusive marketing rights procedures.
The Government of India has taken the following
steps to meet its obligations:
1. On December 31, 1994, Government of India pro-
mulgated an Ordinance to provide a means to
receive product patent applications in the fields of
pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical prod-
ucts and also for grant of exclusive marketing
rights. Pursuant to this measure the Indian Patent
Office has been receiving product patent applica-
tions in those fields.
2. India has established a mailbox system through
administrative instructions. Numerous applica-
tions have already been filed in this mailbox sys-
tem, and many of them have been filed by Us
companies;
3. India has also made changes to its Patents Act to
Continued on next page
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A
A Profile
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
man of the masses, firm in his political convic-
tions. India has an inspiring leader in Atal
Bihari Vajpayee.
On October 13, 1999, he took charge as Prime Min-
ister of India for the second consecutive term at the
head of a new coalition government, the National
Democratic Alliance. He was Prime Minister for a
short period in 1996. He is the only Prime Minister
since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to have become Prime
Minister of India through three successive mandates.
A veteran Parliamentarian whose career stretches
over four decades, Shri Vajpayee has been elected to
the Lok Sabha (House of the People) nine times and
to the Rajya Sabha (House of the States) twice, a
record by itself. As India's Foreign Minister, Chair-
person of various important Standing Committees of
Parliament and Leader of Opposition, he has been an
active participant in the shaping of India's post-
Independence domestic and foreign policy.
Shri Vajpayee's first brush with nationalist politics
was in his student days when he joined the Quit
India Movement of 1942, which hastened the end of
British colonial rule. A student of political science
and law, it was in college that he developed a keen
interest in foreign affairs - an interest he has nour-
ished over the years and put to skillful use while
representing India at various multilateral and bilateral
fora.
Shri Vajpayee had embarked upon a journalist's
career, which was cut short in 1951 when he joined
the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of today's
Bharatiya Janata Party, the leading component of the
National Democratic Alliance. A critically acclaimed
poet, he still takes time off from affairs of state to
indulge in music and in a bit of gourmet cooking.
Born in the family of a humble school teacher on
December 25, 1924, in the erstwhile princely State of
Gwalior (now a part of the Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh), Shri Vajpayee's rise in public life is a trib-
ute to both his political acumen and Indian democ-
racy. Over the decades, he has emerged as a leader
who commands respect for his liberal worldview and
commitment to democratic ideals.
An ardent champion of women's empowerment and
social equality, Vajpayee believes in a forward-look-
ing, forward moving India, a strong and prosperous
nation confident of its rightful place in the comity of
nations. He stands for an India anchored in 5000
years of civilizational history, ever modernizing, ever
renewing, and ever re-energizing itself to meet the
challenges of the next 1000 years.
India's second highest civilian honor, the Padma
Vibhushan, was conferred upon him in recognition
of his selfless dedication to his first and only love,
India, and his more than half-a-century of service to
society and the nation. In 1994, he was named India's
'Best Parliamentarian.' The citation read: "True to
his name, Atalji is an eminent national leader, an
erudite politician, a selfless social worker, forceful
orator, poet and litterateur, journalist and indeed a
multi-faceted personality...Atalji articulates the aspi-
rations of the masses... his works ever echo total
commitment to nationalism.
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1
LSS
age
g, MD
3966
The issue of this periodical Sept. 1999
is not available. Please ask at a service desk
for alternative access to articles in this issue.
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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 FDI 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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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
overspill of the 'Afghanistan' dis-
order syndrome'. That is also
why it had to be defeated.
In parallel to the military, we
also had major diplomatic chal-
lenges on our hands. A firm sig-
nal had to be conveyed to Paki-
stan, as also a clear and unam-
biguous message to the interna-
tional community. Let us accept
that in today's age no conflict,
least of all one between two
nuclear weapons possessing
states can escape global media
spotlight. This was an additional
and a new factor. Managing all
these required a qualitatively
new level of coordination be-
tween the two wings of the
South Block the Ministries of
Defence and External Affairs.
This, too was achieved to de-
monstrable effect.
-
Of course, Kargil posed a chal-
lenge both to the substance of
our foreign policy as also to the
conduct of our diplomacy. The
Prime Minister had at the very
beginning directed the MEA that
the true challenge lay in turning
back the aggressor, in defeating
all his designs, in reversing the
aggression but with the maxi-
mum of restraint. The MEA had,
therefore, also placed before it-
self the objective of protecting
the international flank of the
MoD; so that our operations on
the ground and in the air could
go on unhindered. This was also
achieved in no insignificant
measure. The first requirement,
thus was establishing the fact of
Pakistan's intrusion and aggres-
sion. I would venture to claim
that we succeeded in doing so.
The next requirement was to
spell our objectives with clarity,
consistency and candour. This
was done early, repeated when-
ever necessary and can be
summed up, sequentially, as the
following irreducible minimums.
They were:
A] Pakistan's armed intrusion
in Kargil will be evicted and
its aggression vacated. All
Pakistan regular troops and
extremist elements under its
command and control will
have to withdraw. For this
purpose, our armed forces
will take all necessary ac-
tion on our side of the Line
of Control.
B] Once this intrusion has
been cleared, Pakistan
would need to reaffirm the
inviolability and sanctity of
the Line of Control.
C] Dialogue, as part of the
Lahore process, which
afterall, was initiated by us
could only then be re-
sumed.
Our diplomatic machinery was
geared fully to convey these ob-
jectives to the international com-
munity, as being valid and wor-
thy of support. Continuous in-
teraction was maintained, with
all the major powers, and the
rest of the international com-
munity through our diplomatic
missions abroad, the diplomatic
community in New Delhi and
through personal interaction. It
is a measure of the justness of
India's cause that what I have
cited above, as the irreducible
minimums, found such a large
community of countries stand-
ing up in support. Principally,
let me repeat, it was because
India's stand was recognised as
just, thus it was acted upon. I
wish to also emphasize that the
importance of the inviolability
and sanctity of the Line of Con-
trol, for maintaining peace and
tranquility, was totally accepted
by the international community,
and Pakistan was held as hav-
ing violated this Line. Its efforts
at terming it as imprecise also
failed. Even more, the interna-
tional community accepted
India's view that Pakistan was
guilty also of transgressing the
territory of trust. The interna-
tional community also con-
curred with our assertion that
Kargil was a manifestation of
this medieval malevolence spill-
ing over from Afghanistan, that
these were no freedom fighters,
thus there was a need to con-
front such impulses; in the in-
terest not just of our region but
of the larger global community.
It is noteworthy that under the
leadership of the Prime Minister
the Ministries of External Affairs
and the Ministry of Defence®
worked as one, the combined
synergy of which demonstrated
the true power and effectiveness
of the Indian State. This is, of
course, how it should be. But it
is a matter of satisfaction nev-
ertheless, that this was achieved
at a time of trial, a time which
tests the mettle of any
Government's machinery. In this
is also a lesson for the future.
There was an added dimension
to our total national endeavour.
It was the role of our media
during Kargil operations. It was
marked by exuberant enthusi-
asm bordering, at times, on the
reckless. These young men and
women of the media, who were
in Kargil brought the valour of
our troops, in the face of great
odds, directly into the homes of
our citizens. They touched our
hearts and eyes with the tales of
the bereaved and the families of
the fallen. This was our first ex-
perience of conflict in the TV/
information age. We learnt as
we went along. It would be no
exaggeration, therefore, to say
that the role of the electronic
See KARGIL, Page 4
INDIA NEWS • August 15, 1999 3
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS
(Continued from page 4)
U.S.-India Financial and Economic Forum: The U.S. Secretary of the
Treasury and the Indian Minister of Finance will host a forum on finance
and investment issues, macroeconomic policy and international economic
developments at regular intervals. Their meetings at the ministerial level
would be supplemented by sub-Cabinet meetings and involve, as appro-
priate, the participation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fed-
eral Reserve, Council of Economic Advisors, and other officials of the U.S.
Government and the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank
of India, and other officials of the Government of India.
U.S.-India Commercial Dialogue: The U.S. Secretary of Commerce and
Minister of Commerce and Industry of India will lead a dialogue to deepen
ties between the Indian and American Business communities. The dialogue
will encompass regular government-to-government meetings to be held in
conjunction with private sector meetings. Its aim will be to (a) facilitate
trade, and (b) maximize investment opportunities across a broad range of
economic sectors, including information technology, infrastructure, bio-
technology, and services. Participation will include, as appropriate, repre-
sentatives of other Cabinet agencies and ministries on both sides. Close
contact will be maintained with business associations, and activities will
be planned with the benefit of such private sector input, including the
establishment of subcommittees to pursue specific projects or sectoral
issues of mutual interest.
U.S.-India Working Group on Trade: The United States Trade Represen-
tative and the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned Ministries/
Departments of the Government of India will engage in regular discussion
to enhance cooperation on trade policy. As appropriate, individual trade
issues could be examined in greater depth with the participation of other
agencies with corresponding responsibilities and through creation of sub-
groups. The Group will serve as a locus of consultation on a broad range
of trade-related issues, including those pertaining to the World Trade
Organization. The Group will receive inputs from the private sector (in-
cluding trade policy issues identified in the U.S.-India Commercial Dia-
logue) as appropriate.
8. The two leaders consider cooperation between the two countries in
energy and environment an important part of their vision for the future.
They have agreed to set up a Joint Consultative Group on Clean Energy and
Environment. The Group will hold periodic ministerial/high level meetings
as desirable and appropriate and will lay emphasis on collaborative projects,
developing and deploying clean energy technologies, public and private
sector investment and cooperation, and climate change and other environ-
mental issues. The Co-conveners of the Group will be the Department of
State of the United States and the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
9. The two leaders believe that the strong scientific resources of the two
countries provide excellent opportunities for scientific collaboration be-
tween them. They agree to set up a U.S.-India Science and Technology
Forum. The Forum shall promote research and development, the transfer
of technology, the creation of a comprehensive electronic reference source
for U.S.-India science and technology cooperation, and the electronic
exchange and dissemination of information on U.S.-India science and
technology cooperation, and other programs consistent with the previous
practice of the U.S.-India Foundation.
10. Institutional dialogue in other areas will be considered as mutually
agreed.
Quotes
"Our peoples now expect us to
advance our relationship based
on a shared commitment to
peace and democracy, rein-
forced by a growing mutuality
of interest in political and
technological fields and by an
increasing convergence of a
world view."
- President K.R. Narayanan
while welcoming
President Clinton,
March 21, 2000.
"The Prime Minister did, I
thought, a brave thing in
participating in the Lahore
process. He took some risks to
do it. He'd always said that
just the facts of geography and
shared history called upon him
to do that. But you cannot
expect a dialogue to go for-
ward unless there is an ab-
sence of violence and a respect
for the line of control."
- President Clinton while
addressing a joint press
conference with
Prime Minister Vajpayee on
March 22, 2000.
"India and the United States
must move beyond a mere
intersection of interests to a
focusing of our vision. The
statement that we signed
yesterday is the first step in
this direction. There is a vivid,
vibrant example of the kind of
relationship that should exist
between us. Hundreds of
thousands of Indians are today
in the United States. Your
country has given them the
opportunity to realize their
potential, in turn, they are
contributing to progress in
every sphere."
- Prime Minister Vajpayee
while addressing the
Parliament on
March 22, 2000.
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INDIA NEWS ⚫ April 2000 5
•
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
thus not a policy document of the Government of
India.
Would you like to elaborate on what then is
the essence and thinking on India's doctrine?
The key elements of India's nuclear policy were
spelt out by the Prime Minister in Parliament last
December. To recapitulate briefly:
(a) India shall maintain a minimum nuclear deter-
rent and shall undertake necessary measures
to ensure its credibility.
(b) India has declared a moratorium on undertak-
ing any further underground nuclear test explo-
sions, but R&D activity, including computer
simulation and sub-critical tests, will be con-
ducted as necessary.
(c) Development work on an extended-range Agni
missile is under way and a successful flight test
was carried out earlier this year. Additional
flight testing will be undertaken in a manner
that is non-provocative, transparent and con-
sistent with established international norms and
practices.
(d) India has declared a no-first-use doctrine. This
has implicit in it the principle that India shall
not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-
weapon States.
(e) In order that our minimum deterrent be cred-
ible, we shall adopt and maintain a deployment
posture that ensures survivability of assets. Such
a posture, obviously, provides for greater safety
and security.
(f) India will not engage in any arms race. We
shall not, therefore, pursue an open-ended
programme.
(g) A civilian command and control system, with
necessary safeguards, shall cater for all pos-
sible contingencies.
(h) India's commitment to global nuclear disarma-
ment remains undiluted. We will continue to
work with other likeminded countries and take
initiatives for moving towards a nuclear weapon-
free-world. We will also seek to negotiate CBMs,
both in the conventional and nuclear fields,
with the aim of reducing lack of trust in the
region.
Many commentators find these elements in-
consistent and believe that India has embarked
on a programme that will produce a nuclear
arsenal larger than that of the U.K. or France.
Do you have any comments?
I am aware of such apprehensions. These are born
of the Cold War experiences, ideology, indeed, even
the cliched phrases of those sterile years. The U.S.,
Russia, the U.K., France and China developed their
nuclear weapons as weapons for war. Most nuclear
weapon powers follow doctrines of first use, and all
of them envisage tactical or sub-strategic roles for
their nuclear weapons. The Indian thinking is differ-
ent, principally, because we have discarded the Cold
War reference frame of nuclear war fighting. In our
view, the principal role of nuclear weapons is to
deter their use by an adversary. For this, India needs
only that strategic minimum which is credible. With
the policy of "retaliation only," survivability becomes
critical to ensure credibility. This "minimum," how-
ever, cannot be a fixed physical quantification; it is
a dynamic concept but firmly rooted in the strategic
environment, technological imperatives and national
security needs, and the actual size, components,
deployment and employment of nuclear forces will
be decided taking into account all these factors.
No other nuclear weapon State has conceptualised
its capabilities in such terms. India can, and has
done, so, because it does not intend to engage in an
arms race. Therefore, the question of an arsenal
larger than that of country X or Y becomes a non-
question. For India, the question is only one of
adequacy that is credible and thus defines our "mini-
mum."
How would you address concerns about India
seeking a "triad"?
Let me address the issue of "triad," not because it
is part of the NSAB paper, but because there may
be genuine misperceptions. It is a known fact that
today India has nuclear capable aircraft and mobile
land-based nuclear-capable missiles. We have an
R&D programme for a naval version of Prithvi that
has been a part of the IGMDP launched in 1983. It
is also a fact that many analysts, particularly in
Western countries, consider nuclear missiles on sub-
marines to be the most survivable nuclear asset in
the scenarios that they have thought of - first strike,
second strike, war and so on. Our approach is dif-
ferent. It is, therefore, premature to talk of an Indian
"triad." R&D programmes will certainly continue,
aimed at enhancing survivability and thus, credibil-
ity, but decisions on production, deployment and
employment will be taken on the basis of factors
that I have outlined earlier. In short, just as parity is
not essential for deterrence, neither is a triad, a pre-
requisite for credibility.
Let me suggest that you look at the Indian nuclear
deterrent as a "triad" based on a different set of
three dimensions - a deterrent that is minimum but
See JASWANT SINGH INTERVIEW, Page 7
INDIA NEWS ⚫ December 1, 1999 3
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
B | |
Wired to the World
Leveraging Power
Through IT
-
According to the recently released
NASSCOM-McKinsey Study on
Indian IT strategies, Indian and
India-centric companies have op-
portunities in four broad areas
value-added IT services, software
products, IT-enabled services and
e-business. The report suggests
that by the year 2008, software
and services will contribute over
7.5 per cent of the overall GDP
growth of India; exports in the IT
India Press Monitor
sector will account for 35 per cent
of the total exports from India;
there are a potential 2.2 million
jobs in IT by 2008; the IT sector
will attract foreign direct invest-
ment (FDI) of $4-5 billion; and the
overall revenues from the IT sec-
tor will be nearly $90 billion in-
cluding $50 billion in exports. The
IT task force is trying to radically Underestimating India
enhance per capita productivity of
software engineers in India from
$15,000-$40,000 at present, to
over $1,50,000 which will be com-
parable to those in the US and
Israel. Moreover, if India can shift
the focus of its software exports
from the low-end to the high-end,
then India can be a $100 billion
player in the IT world by 2008.
By Akshay Joshi
Times of India
May 24, 2000
State of Maryland passes resolutions congratulating India on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Indian Republic
Washington, DC
March 28, 2000
The Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate of Maryland
approved separate Resolutions yesterday, congratulating the Gov-
ernment of India on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the
Indian Republic.
The House Resolution, sponsored by Delegate Kumar P. Barve,
"offers its sincerest congratulations to the Republic of India in rec-
ognition of its Golden Anniversary and as an expression of our true
admiration and great respect for the largest democracy in the world".
The Senate Resolution, sponsored by the President and all Mem-
bers, "offers its sincerest congratulations to the Republic of India in
recognition of its Golden Anniversary celebrating 50 years of de-
mocracy".
The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate presented
the Resolutions to the Indian Charge d'Affaires, Mr. T.P. Sreenivasan
at separate ceremonies at the State House. Responding to the Reso-
lutions, Mr. Sreenivasan said that India felt greatly honoured that the
House of Delegates and the Senate of Maryland had approved
congratulatory Resolutions on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary
of the Indian Republic. He noted that the Indian Constitution, adopted
50 years ago, was inspired by the ideals and aspirations of the US
Constitution. He also said that the honour came to India at a historic
moment when a new chapter in Indo-US relations was opened by
the historic and highly successful visit to India by President Clinton.
The Delegates and the Senators gave India a standing ovation at the
end of the ceremony.
Earlier, several Delegates and Senators attended a reception hosted
by the Charge d'Affaires in the Silver Room of the State House.
The situation in southern Asia
among the three nuclear weapon
powers (China, India and Pakistan)
is very different and the present
era is different from the Cold War
era. Of the three, only India is an
open society and a democracy. The
other two countries are in a posi-
tion to keep their nuclear strategy
and posture concealed from their
public. India has also proclaimed
a no-first-use policy and that
makes it all the more important
that it should be in a position to
project deterrence in a credible
manner. That exercise involves
both the capability and the will to
retaliate. One of the problems In-
dia faces in relation to Pakistan is
the perception among the politico-
strategic elite of the latter about
India's lack of will to sustain a
war.
In these circumstances, it is es-
sential that India should demon-
strate in a non-provocative man-
ner its deterrent capability. A mini-
mum deterrent should demonstrate
its credibility through the command
and control system and the overt
and publicised involvement of the
armed forces.
By K. Subrahmanyam
Times of India
May 15, 2000
Disarming Argument
On the eve of the second anniver-
See PRESS MONITOR, Page 15
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14 INDIA NEWS ⚫ May-June 2000
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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
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INDIA NEWS July-August 2000 7
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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,
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
Washington.
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
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
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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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
50 | |
ial Commercial Agreements
al On
anag
tves
Dever
the
1001
ns IG
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(Continued from page 8)
for three million people in North-
ern India and will help eliminate
more than a million tons of green-
house gas emissions and annu-
ally save over 100 million gallons
of oil.
• Ogden Energy (New York, NY)
signed two business agreements
with Indian counterparts for the
development of regional power
projects.
Balaji Power Project: Ogden
signed an agreement formalizing
its partnership with Balaji Power
Corporation. The two partners
will build, own, and operate a
106 MW greenfield power project.
• Shree Maheswar Power Project:
Ogden signed an agreement with
the Madhya Pradesh Electricity
Board for the construction of a
hydropower dam. When com-
pleted the dam will provide 400
MW of hydroelectric power to the
Madhya Pradesh region.
• U.S. Energy Association (USEA)
(Washington, D.C.) signed an
agreement with the Confedera-
tion of India Industry (CII) estab-
lishing a joint Indo-U.S. private
sector trade and investment work-
ing group which will work with
the both governments to promote
commercially viable clean energy
and environmental opportunities.
Environment
• Global Market Resources, Inc.
(Cary, NC) which is the autho-
rized Asia distributor and con-
sultant for the Hydroclave Sys-
tems signed an agreement with
the Indian company Healing
Medicaids Private Ltd. for the
purchase of the Hydroclave medi-
cal waste system. The Hydroclave
technology provides an environ-
mentally friendly alternative to
traditional incineration technol-
ogy, alleviating the air pollutants
and water run off effects associ-
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ated with incineration as well as
reducing the volume and weight
of waste.
• LightStream Technologies, Inc.
(Reston, VA) signed a business
agreement with its Indian part-
ner, Subhash establishing a stra-
tegic alliance through which
LightStream seeks to introduce its
chemical-free, high-powered
pulsed ultraviolet light water dis-
infection technology.
• Water Systems International
(Washington, DC) signed an
agreement with Haryana State
Industrial Development Corpora-
tion to establish a state-of-the-
art manufacturing facility for
water purification units. WSI is an
environmental engineering firm that
has been active in India, focusing
on water treatment solutions and
drinking water problems. This will
be its first project in Haryana
Tourism
• World Corporate Club, Inc.
(Annandale, NJ) signed a busi-
ness agreement with the Indian
Company, Flex Group of Compa-
nies, to evaluate the suitability of
property for the construction of
an international business club in
New Delhi.
In addition to these commercial
agreements, two Memoranda of
Understanding (MoU) were singed
between the two countries. Under
the two MOUS, EXIM of the United
States has pledged $1 billion for
Indian small businesses to purchase
U.S. made goods and services.
• MOU between the Export Import
Bank of India and EXIM Bank of
the United States U.S.
• MOU between with the Industrial
Development Bank of India (IDBI)
and the Small Industries Devel-
opment Bank of India, a subsid-
iary of IDBI geared to meet the
needs of small and medium-sized
enterprises.
EXIM Bank of the United States also
approved a preliminary commitment
for $358 million in financing to sup-
port the purchase of 10 Boeing
aircrafts for Jet Airways of India.
U.S. President Clinton being received by President K. R. Narayanan at a ceremonial
reception in New Delhi on March 21, 2000. Prime Minister Vajpayee and the U.S.
President's daughter Chelsea Clinton are also seen.
INDIA NEWS ⚫ April 2000 9
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
India-U.S. Sign a Joint Statement on
Cooperation in Energy and Environment
Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh and U.S. Secre-
tary of State Madeleine Albright signed a joint statement
on cooperation on energy and environment issues on
behalf of the India and the United States on March 22,
2000 in Agra. The statement outlines a common agenda
on clean energy development and environmental protec-
tion, including:
-
-
Two ambitious national Indian environmental goals:
10% of new electric power will come from renewable
energy sources by 2012;
and approximately 15% improvements in energy effi-
ciency in power production will be made by 2007-08.
Creation of a binational Joint Consultative Group' on
Clean Energy and the Environment that will focus on
clean energy projects and policy, commercial develop-
ment of clean energy, and, enhanced cooperation on
global climate change;
Promotion of a shared vision that countries can achieve
robust economic growth while protecting the environment
and taking action to combat climate change;
A reaffirmation of the urgent need for international dia-
logue on ways both developed and developing countries
can participate in actions to combat climate change, con-
sistent with treaty obligations under the Framework Con-
vention on Climate Change;
Agreement to work in closer partnership on the further
elaboration of mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, such
as the Clean Development Mechanism; and acknow-
ledgement of the essential role of the private sector and
reference to new initiatives.
South Asia Regional Initiative (SARI) Energy Program:
The SARI Energy Program is a new $50 million USAID
program designed to accelerate investment and trade in
clean energy among South Asian nations, including India,
Bangladesh and Nepal, which the President announced in
Bangladesh on Monday. Program support will help coun-
tries foster regional cooperation and develop the appro-
priate policy, regulatory, and investment environments to
encourage private investment. The program will promote
the use of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and help stimulate economic growth.
U.S. Export-Import Bank Line of Credit: The Ex-Im Bank
will provide a $200 million specialized line of credit tar-
geted for clean energy development projects through a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Power
Finance Corporation.
Clean Energy Trade Mission: To further the goals of
President Clinton's International Clean Energy initiative,
the Department of Commerce will lead a trade mission to
India focused on clean energy projects by the end of the
year.
Greenhouse Gas Pollution Prevention Project (GEP):
USAID will provide $20 million for a three-year extension
of this program to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through energy efficiency and cleaner fuel use. GEP will:
• expand the efforts of India's National Thermal Power
Corporation to increase efficiency in its power genera-
tion plants;
⚫ help increase use of clean energy technology in power
production;
• build local institutional capacity, and increase public/
private partnerships for climate change abatement
efforts; and
• design and demonstrate climate change abatement
initiatives in cities.
Energy Conservation and Commercialization (ECO)
Project: USAID will provide $25 million for ECO, a program
to help promote commercialization of energy efficient
technologies and services. ECO will provide technical
assistance and training to the Ministry of Power, electric
utilities, and regulatory commissions on policy reforms
and will work to address market constraints to greater use
of energy efficiency products and services.
Resumption of Bilateral Energy Consultations and Tech-
nical Assistance: Dept. of Energy will resume its coopera-
tive efforts on non-nuclear power sector policy reforms,
and on public and private collaborative projects related to
clean energy, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
DOE programs were suspended in 1998 in the context of
policy-based restrictions on U.S. assistance to India.
Resumption of EPA Technical Assistance: EPA will re-
establish its environmental cooperation program in India
with proposals to address air quality management,
strengthening implementation of environmental policies
and regulations, risk assessment and management of pri-
ority pollutants, and greenhouse gas reduction projects.
EPA programs were suspended in 1998 in the context of
policy-based restrictions on U.S. assistance to India.
Joint Private Sector Statement: The Confederation on
Indian Industry and the U.S. Energy Association announced
a joint statement to cooperate on trade and investment for
clean energy development in India. The parties announced
creation of a new 'green business center' in Hyderabad
and a 'matchmaker' initiative to help bring investors in
contact with business/project opportunities.
•
INDIA NEWS ⚫ April 2000 7
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6
E
India-U.S. Economic Relations
'CONOMIC reforms introduced in 1991 have
radically changed the course of the Indian
economy and led to its gradual integration with the
global economy. Benefits of the reform process are
visible in the form of better growth rates, higher
investment and trade flows.
The effect of these reforms on trade and investment
relations with the United States has been profound.
It is now not only the largest investor country in
India, it is also India's largest trading partner.
Indian economy today - a brief overview
India is among the fastest growing economies of the
world today, with a growth rate of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) of 7% during the last 10 years. Dur-
ing 1999-2000 (April-March), GDP registered a 6.4%
growth. Industrial production increased by 8%. The
performance of infrastructure sector improved sig-
nificantly. Inflation rate was a nominal 2-3% for the
first time in decades. Exports, in terms of U.S. dol-
lars, increased by 11.6%. India also continued to
maintain a healthy balance of payments with for-
eign exchange reserves increasing by $6.1 billion
during the year to over $35 billion. All indications
are that the economy will continue to maintain its
strong showing during the current fiscal year with
exports recording a growth of over 28% and indus-
trial production of 5.6% during the first quarter
(April-June 2000).
U.S. Investments in India
U.S. accounts for 22% of all foreign direct invest-
ment (FDI) approved in India (This excludes Euro
issues and NRI investments). Between 1991 and
June 2000, out of the $63.1 billion foreign direct
investments approved, the US constituted $14.2 bil-
lion.
U.S. is also the largest investor in terms of actual
FDI inflow into India. U.S. FDI inflow was about $2.5
billion between 1991 and June 2000 against a total
FDI inflow into the country of $21.3 billion. The
overall U.S. FDI inflow-approval ratio is 18%. But
during the last three years, the ratio has improved to
27%. This has registered a further significant im-
provement during the first six months of 2000 and
reached 33%.
Amount ($ million)
FDI Inflows from U.S.
737
800
700
600
500
431
400
347
271
300
216
200-
148
119
100-
44
11
0
0
S
h
fi
S
t
t
203
r
a
T
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000°
FDI Inflows 11.3 43.9 147.7 118.9 215.6 271.0 736.6 347.1 431.2 203.0
Sectors predominantly attracting U.S. investment are:
Fuel (Power & Oil Refinery) - 38.93%
Food Processing Industries - 10.60%
Telecommunications - 10.35%
- Service Sector (Financial & Non Financial Service)
- 9.08%
- Electrical Equipments (Computer software & Elec-
tronics) -8.48%
Foreign Investment
Industry-wise Inflows from USA
(1999-2000)
35%
6%
22%
Chemicals &
allied products
Engineering
Electronics &
Electrical
equipments
Services
6
Country-wise FDI Approval (US $ million)
OTHERS
49%
Digitized by
GERMANY
4%
USA
22%
MAURITIUS
10%
UK
7%
JAPAN
4%
SOUTH KOREA
4%
Google
5%
1%
1%
4%
14%
12%
Food & dairy
products
Computers
Pharmaceuticals
In Portfolio Investment also, U.S. is the leading in-
vestor. Out of the 530 Foreign Institutional Investors
Continued on next page
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS
from page 11
lar principle of Sarva Panth Samabhav, fully guar-
antees the religious freedom of all communities. It
is a matter of immense pride for India that all the
religions of the world have a harmonious co-exist-
ence here. Unity in Diversity is our priceless heri-
tage.
It is also a matter of much satisfaction that the past
year has seen a record low in communal violence.
• India is the largest democracy in the world. The
tradition of democracy in our country is very old.
When this Century opened, democracy was the
preserve of just a handful of countries, and even in
them it was limited to small sections of the people.
Today there are just a handful who are still out of
the pale of democracy. There is scarcely a country
whose people do not aspire to it.
Come, let us strengthen Indian democracy. Let us
make it an ideal for other countries of the world. Let
us transform our political democracy into economic
and social democracy.
-
• Come, let us make India a nation of high achievers
in every sphere. In business and economy, in
education, in science and technology, in arts and
culture, and also in sports. Let us make India syn-
onymous with "achievement", achievement of the
kind that can be benchmarked globally. All of us
are heartened by what our young men and women
have achieved in recent times. The success stories
of young Indians working abroad are making head-
lines almost every day. If young Indians can script
such shining successes abroad, why shouldn't we
create conditions for them to do so right here?
Come let us together build a Parishrami Bharat, a
Parakrami Bharat, a Vijayi Bharat.
To realize this vision, let us step out of the swamp of
negativity.
Let us not be obsessed with the past. Face the future.
March with confidence towards the goal.
Turn from problems to solutions.
-
Today, when the 20th century is coming to an end,
and the 21st century is knocking at our doorsteps, let
us draw inspiration from our glorious past and re-
solve to build an even more glorious future.
We are inheritors of an ageless culture and a proud
civilization. Greatness is our past and also our
future.
-
Come, let us make good use of the natural and hu-
man resources of our Motherland, Bharat and make
the 21st century, India's century.
Come, let all of us together raise our voice in saying:
Jai Hind,
Jai Hind,
Jai Hind.
12 INDIA NEWS August 15, 1999
Excerpts from
Ambassador Naresh Chandra's Chat
on Rediff on the Net - August 11, 1999
Q. "Dear Mr. Chandra, congratulations to you and your
staff at Washington, DC for doing such a wonderful
Job in presenting India's case during the Kargil cri-
sis. What do you think the NRI community in the
US should do to better represent India?"
A. "Thank you for your good wishes. People of Indian
origin and NRIs are doing a great job and all I can
suggest is that all should keep themselves informed
and interact meaningfully with our American friends
to point out areas of mutual interest and concerns.
This way we can utilise Indo-US relationships for the
benefit of the South Asia region as a whole."
Q. "Hello Mr. Chandra, hearty congratulations to you
on a job well done. Sir, what repercussions do you
see to India downing a Pakistani surveillance plane?
In fact, today they have fired a missile at us. Do you
agree that the main battle will be won on the diplo-
matic front? Are we prepared for it?"
A. "Thank you. I agree with you that a solution does not
lie in military activity. Diplomacy is a better option,
but the best option is to improve people-to-people re-
lations. There is a lot of goodwill in India for people in
Pakistan and I am sure many sections of Pakistani
people reciprocate this feeling. What we have to pre-
pare for, is to do everything possible to counter misin-
formation and propaganda and promote more under-
standing between the peoples for their mutual benefit
and development."
Q. Mr. Chandra, India has been at odds with Pakistan
since Independence. . . . How do you see us resolv-
ing our differences? Is there a middle road? What in
your opinion is the best solution? Why can't we de-
marcate the border properly once and for all?"
A. It is unfortunate that India and Pakistan have been at
odds but believe me, there is a middle road and the
people of South Asia are increasingly realising that
their future lies in cooperation and economic devel-
opment. To reach this best solution, we have to counter
terrorist and propagandist activity, ie, discourage the
wrong set of people and encourage the more respon-
sible sections for our mutual benefit."
Q. "Hello Mr. Chandra. It is true that Kargil has indeed
changed US perceptions towards India - - albeit to a
small extent? That is certainly encouraging. But do
we- the Government of India, the diplomatic corps
and you people on the spot who are the pointsmen
have the big picture in mind? A comprehensive
strategy to put India-US relations on a truly collabo-
rative course? If so what are its salient features?"
A. US perceptions about India and Pakistan have been
changing for some time. Kargil only helped to bring it
out into the open. The US and other Western coun-
tries as well as China are concerned at the growth of
fanaticism and fundamentalism in Pakistan and Af-
ghanistan. Kargil was the latest example of a very
dangerous nexus between terrorists and a professional
army. This has alarmed most countries who in a
friendly way are also deeply concerned about its ad-
verse effects on Pakistani society itself. We have the
big picture in mind and our attempt is not to show
Pakistan down but to normalise the situation and bring
about the necessary atmosphere for meaningful dia-
logue and cooperation with them. That is the big pic-
ture we have for India-Pakistan and other people in
South Asia"
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MECKMAN
BINDERY, INC
034925 200
4
3/9/2006
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
Excerpts from
Ambassador Naresh Chandra's chat with India Today
Q: Of what consequence and impor-
tance for India was President Clinton's
visit considering that he is nothing but
a lame duck President.
Naresh Chandra: The main purpose
of President Clinton's visit was to send
a clear signal that both India and the
U.S. are ready and committed to forge
a new relationship in the 21st cen-
tury. The summit meeting has been
very successful and laid the founda-
tion for carrying forward meaningful
dialogue and to improve cooperation
in vital areas over a broad range. These
institutional arrangements will survive
a change of government, which is in
any case a regular feature in democ-
racies. Of course the personal contri-
butions of the two leaders will remain
to serve the interlocutors on both sides
in the future.
Q: Sir, how do you analyze the failure
of Indian diplomacy to persuade the
US President not to visit Pakistan. It
does seem that even now the Indian
lobbying in Washington is not very
efficient as compared with Pakistan's.
Naresh Chandra: The approach of the
government of India has been very
much distorted in some sections of
the press. You'll be glad to know that
our invitation to the U.S. President
was unconditional. It was our duty to
inform the U.S. side in advance about
the adverse reaction in India to a visit
to Pakistan at this time, because of all
that had happened in 1999 like the
Kargil crisis, the military takeover and
the Indian Airlines plane hijack. We
always said this is a decision for the
US President to take and the warmth
and the scale of our reception would
not be affected if he decided to visit
Pakistan. You should also know that
leading newspapers expressed opin-
ions against the Pakistan visit. Opin-
ion in the US, among experts, was
divided. Many leading Americans said
that a visit to a military regime would
somewhat tarnish America's image as
a champion of democracy and tend to
10 INDIA NEWS • April 2000
March 27, 2000
legitimize the military government in
Pakistan. Indian diplomacy did not fail.
In fact Indian diplomacy alerted the
U.S. administration of possible dan-
gers; that is why the U.S. President
and official spokesmen were able to
quickly rebut Islamabad's claim that
the visit legitimized the military
government's stand. Our diplomatic
efforts must have been effective as
can be seen from the statements made
by the President and his National Se-
curity Advisor on this subject.
Q: Will signing CTBT really make any
difference in Indo-US ties?
Naresh Chandra: It is evident that
signing the CTBT will narrow down
differences that we have on Non-pro-
liferation issues. However, the chief
criterion for taking a decision one way
or the other would be on the basis of
a consensus and in the context of what
is in the national security interests of
the people of India.
Q: Now that Mr. Clinton has had a
very successful visit to India, what spe-
cific steps will our embassy and consu-
lates take to get NRIs involved in build-
ing a better understanding between the
Congress and India on Kashmir and
also between US citizens and India on
Kashmir. Many still do not have a
proper appreciation of the problems
faced by India in solving the Kashmir
problem. There should be a strategic
plan drawn by the embassy for this
purpose.
Naresh Chandra: The embassy and
consulates have been working very
closely with Indian Americans and this
has resulted in a greater understand-
ing of the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
I agree that more needs to be done but
you should note that a very large num-
ber of members of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate have given
statements and written letters to the
U.S. President supporting India's case
and highlighting the irresponsible ac-
tions of Pak agencies in supporting
cross-border terrorism and fundamen-
talist militant activity. The strategic
plan exists and it is drawn up at the
government of India level to be fol-
lowed and implemented by Indian
missions abroad, including the em-
bassy at Washington, DC.
Q: Do you think India and Pakistan
will sit and talk on Kashmir? If Paki-
stan stops sending in armed militants,
as required by India for talks, what is
there to talk about Kashmir, there will
be peace as such.
Naresh Chandra: The Simla agree-
ment of 1972 and the Lahore declara-
tion of 1999 provide for a bilateral
dialogue to resolve all issues includ-
ing Jammu and Kashmir. India's stand
is that for the dialogue to be meaning-
ful, the conditions essential to progress
and constructive dialogue should be
present. Aiding and abetting terrorist
and militant activity along-with vicious
propaganda are not conducive to hold-
ing a meaningful dialogue. This is com-
mon sense. What India is seeking is
not a set of pre-conditions, but the
building up of a helpful atmosphere.
This requires the ground situation to
improve and for Pakistan and its agen-
cies to live up to its obligations under
the Simla agreement and the Lahore
declaration. I do not agree with you
that if peace comes there would be
nothing to talk about. On the contrary
there are a number of issues on which
we can hopefully make progress and
resolve issues, for example the Siachen
dispute, the Tulbul navigation project
and the better and less costly man-
agement of the Line of Control and
international border. Windows of op-
portunity would also open for coop-
eration in Energy and Environment,
Information Technology, Business and
Trade. We would also like to improve
travel facilities between India and Pa-
kistan to reduce the difficulties faced
by travelers, particularly where mem-
bers of the same family are living on
both sides of the border.
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EMBASSY OF INDIA
Press & Information
2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
FIRST CLASS MAIL
First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Silver Spring, MD
Permit No. 3966
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Periodicals
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IN THIS ISSUE
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
[email protected]
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:
[email protected]
or by visiting the following site:
http://www.egroups.com/group/india_discussion/info.html
Embassy of India
Press & Information
2107 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Ambassador Naresh Chandra
Meets Members of India Interest
Group
1
Draft Report of National Security
Advisory Board on Indian
Nuclear Doctrine
2
Frequently Asked Questions about
Indian Parliament .....
4
Excerpts from Ambassador Naresh
Chandra's live chat on MSNBC........ 5
Note on Violation of India's airspace
by Pakistan's Atlantique aircraft
and consequent action ......... 7
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
PROFILE
(Continued from page 6)
Government from March 24, 1977 to July
28, 1979.
Widely respected within the country and
abroad as a statesman of the genre of Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru, Shri Vajpayee's 1998-99
stint as Prime Minister has been characterised
as 'one year of courage of conviction'. It was
during this period that India entered a select
group of nations following a series of suc-
cessful nuclear tests at Pokharan in May 1998.
The bus journey to Pakistan in February 1999
was widely acclaimed for starting a new era
of negotiations to resolve the outstanding
problems of the sub-continent. India's honesty
made an impact on the world community.
Later, when this gesture of friendship turned
out to be a betrayal of faith in Kargil, Shri
Vajpayee was also hailed for his successful
handling of the situation in repulsing back
the intruders from the Indian soil. It was dur-
ing Shri Vajpayee's 1998-99 tenure that de-
spite a global recession, India achieved 5.8
per cent GDP growth, which was higher than
the previous year. Higher agricultural pro-
duction and increase in foreign exchange re-
serves during this period were indicative of a
forward-looking economy responding to the
needs of the people. "We must grow faster.
We simply have no other alternative" has
been Shri Vajpayee's slogan focussing par-
ticularly on economic empowerment of the
rural poor. The bold decisions taken by his
Government for strengthening rural economy,
building a strong infrastructure and revitalising
the human development programmes, fully
demonstrated his Government's commitment
to a strong and self-reliant nation to meet the
challenges of the next millennium to make
India an economic power in the 21st century.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort
on the occasion of 52nd Independence Day,
he had said, "I have a vision of India: an India
free of hunger and fear, an India free of illit-
eracy and want."
Shri Vajpayee has served on a number of
important Committees of Parliament. He was
Chairman, Committee on Government Assur-
ances (1966-67); Chairman, Public Accounts
Committee (1967-70); Member, General Pur-
poses Committee (1986); Member, House
Committee and Member, Business Advisory
Committee, Rajya Sabha (1988-90); Chair-
man, Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha
(1990-91); Chairman, Public Accounts
Committee, Lok Sabha (1991-93); Chairman,
Standing Committee on External Affairs
(1993-96).
Shri Vajpayee participated in the freedom
struggle and went to jail in 1942. He was
detained during Emergency in 1975-77.
-
Widely travelled, Shri Vajpayee has been tak-
ing a keen interest in international affairs,
upliftment of Scheduled Castes and Sched-
uled Tribes, women and child welfare. Some
of his travels abroad include visits such as
Member, Parliamentary Goodwill Mission to
East Africa, 1965; Parliamentary Delegation
to Australia, 1967; European Parliament,
1983; Canada, 1987; Indian delegation to
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
meetings held in Canada, 1966 and 1994,
Zambia, 1980, Isle of Man 1984, Indian dele-
gation to Inter-Parliamentary Union Confer-
ence, Japan, 1974; Sri Lanka, 1975; Switzer-
land, 1984; Indian Delegation to the UN Gen-
eral Assembly, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
and 1994; Leader, Indian Delegation to the
Human Rights Commission Conference,
Geneva, 1993.
Shri Vajpayee was conferred Padma Vibhushan
in 1992 in recognition of his services to the
nation. He was also conferred the Lokmanya
Tilak Puruskar and the Bharat Ratna Pt.
Govind Ballabh Pant Award for the Best Par-
liamentarian, both in 1994. Earlier, the Kanpur
University honoured him with an Honorary
Doctorate of Philosophy in 1993.
Well known and respected for his love for
poetry and as an eloquent speaker, Shri
Vajpayee is known to be a voracious reader.
He is fond of Indian music and dance.
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INDIA NEWS • November 1, 1999 7
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
U.S. President Clinton and his daughter Chelsea paying homage at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, Rajghat in New Delhi on
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
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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.
12 INDIA NEWS ⚫ April 2000
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- J.N. Dixit
The Hindustan Time, March 29, 2000
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
Indian Americans - A Story of Achievement
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
India, the India caucus in the House of Representatives now numbers 118.
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
13 | |
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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
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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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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
National Defence Fund
Government of India and Embassy of India continue to receive a number of offers for contributions
to the welfare of the armed forces in India. Taking these into account, the Government of India
has decided that those who wish to make voluntary contributions may do so by sending check
in dollars or rupees to the National Defence Fund.
Checks/Money Orders should be drawn in favor of National Defence Fund can be sent to any
one of the following addresses.
National Defence Fund
Embassy of India
Naval Attaché
Attn: Commodore V.K. Bhansali
2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
National Defence Fund
Secretary
Prime Minister's Office
South Block, New Delhi 110011
India
Additionally, Checks/Money Orders can also be sent to Army Welfare Fund. The checks/money
order should be drawn in favor of Army Central Welfare Fund.
Deputy Director(CW-8)
Army Central Welfare Fund,
Adjutant General's Branch.
Army Headquarters,
West Block-III
R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110 066
India
To facilitate payment by NRI's in the US, ICICI Banking Corporation Limited has opened an
account in New York. Contributors must instruct there banks with the following instructions:
Pay
First Union Bank International,
180 Maiden Lane, 18th Floor
NY 10038, New York, USA
Swift Code: PNBPUS3NNYC
Routing Number: (FEDWIRE ABA) - 021000021
CHIPS UID No: 340828 for Credit of Account No. 2000191000069
ICICI Banking Corporation Ltd.
Account No. 01/6823 at New Delhi, INDIA
Checks/Money Orders can also be sent to Air Force Welfare Fund. The checks/money order
should be drawn in favor of Indian Air Force Central Welfare Fund.
Indian Air Force Central Welfare Fund
AFGIS Building, Subroto Park, New Delhi - 110010 INDIA
For Non-Resident Indians: Contributors may remit their donations in
CITI BANK N.A,
111 Wall Street,
New York-NY-10043, USA
for credit to
CANARA BANK,
Foreign Department,
New Delhi,
A/C No. 36052814
for further credit to Indian Air Force Central Welfare Fund
A/C No. 'KRG-IAF-503'
Subroto Park, New Delhi Branch- 110 010 INDIA
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INDIA NEWS • August 15, 1999 13
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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. I 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?
I 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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28
TR
C
C
tre
Te
N.
Excerpts from the Joint Press Conference by
Prime Minister Vajpayee and
President Clinton on March 21, 2000
Prime Minister Vajpayee on
India-U.S. Relations:
"President Clinton and I have just
signed a vision statement. The state-
ment outlines the contours of and
defines the agenda of our partnership
in the 21st century. We both agreed
that our commitment to the principles
and practice of democracy constitutes
the bedrock of our relations and for
our cooperative efforts internation-
ally for peace, prosperity and
democrative freedom."
Terrorism:
"We share a common concern at the
growing threat of terrorist violence
and its links with religious extremism
and illegal trade in narcotics. Both of
us expressed our firm opposition to
the use of any form of violence,
whether as an instrument of terror
against democratic society or as a
means of realizing territorial ambi-
tion. Nothing justifies the use of such
matters against innocent people. We
expressed our determination to in-
tensify our cooperation in this area."
Disarmament:
"President Clinton and I had a frank
discussion on the issues of disarma-
ment and nonproliferation of weap-
ons of mass destruction. The dia-
logue which is in progress between
our two countries on these issues has
enhanced the mutual understanding
of our respective concerns. I've ex-
plained to President Clinton the rea-
sons that compel us to maintain a
minimum nuclear deterrent. I have
reiterated our firm commitment not
to conduct further nuclear explosive
tests, not to engage in a nuclear arms
race, and not to be the first to use
nuclear weapons against any coun-
try."
President Bill Clinton on
India-U.S. Relations:
"I have come to India because I want
us to build a dynamic and lasting
partnership, based on mutual respect
and mutual benefit. India and America
should be better friends and stronger
partners. In a world of increasing glo-
balization, our futures plainly are in-
tertwined."
Terrorism:
"I recognize that India has real secu-
rity concerns. We certainly share your
outrage and heartbreak over last
night's brutal attack in Kashmir. We
offer our profoundest sympathies to
the people, especially to the families
of the victims. It reminds us of what
tremendous suffering this conflict has
caused India. The violence must end.
This should be a time for restraint,
for respect for the line of control, for
renewed lines of communication."
Disarmament:
"I felt today that there was a possibil-
ity that we could reach more com-
mon ground on the issues of testing,
on the production of fissile material,
on export controls and on restraint,
generally.
With regard to the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty, you heard the Prime
Minister's statement about his posi-
tion on testing. I would hope that the
democratic process will produce a
signing and ultimately a ratification
of the Comprehensive Test Ban in
India, just like I hope the democratic
process will ultimately produce a rati-
fication of the Test Ban Treaty in
America that I signed. These are con-
tentious issues. But I'm actually quite
optimistic about our ability to make
progress on them."
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U.S. President Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee making a joint press-statement after the signing of India-U.S. vision
statement, in New Delhi on March 21, 2000.
•
INDIA NEWS ⚫ April 2000 3
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COLD
ent
Information on the hijacked
Indian Airline Flight IC-814
Following is a chronology of events
• Indian Airlines Flight 814 takes off from Kathmandu at 1615 (IST) hours on December 24,
1999.
• The five armed hijackers make the pilot divert the plane over Lucknow and head for Lahore
in Pakistan.
• The Lahore airport authorities refuse to permit the aircraft to land, forcing it to head back to
Amritsar, India.
• The plane lands at Amritsar where the hijackers demand that the aircraft be refueled. The
airport is sealed off.
• The airport authorities make preparations for refueling but the aircraft needs to be brought
closer to the tank.
• The hijackers make the aircraft take off for Lahore despite short runway available and very low
fuel levels. They fatally stab one passenger, Mr. Katyal and threaten to kill more people.
• India persuades the Pakistani authorities to permit the aircraft to land at Lahore.
• Lahore airport is sealed off.
• The aircraft nearly crash lands and is surrounded by Pakistani commandos.
• It is refueled at hijacker's request and headed for Kabul. Pakistani authorities refuse permis-
sion for the bleeding Mr. Katyal to come of the plane, despite willingness of the hijackers.
• Because of the lack of night-landing facilities in Kabul, and later, at Kandahar, the plane is
diverted towards Dubai.
• It finally lands at the Al-Minhat air force base, UAE. The hijackers demand food, medicines
and a stepladder since none is available.
• The hijackers release 25 passengers, and allow the body of Mr. Katyal to be released to the
UAE authorities.
• Early on December 25, 1999 morning, the flight takes off from Dubai for Afghanistan. At 0855
hours, it lands at andahar.
• Senior Indian officials open talks with the hijackers to secure the release of hostages.
• Hijackers demand release of 35 other jailed terrorists besides Mohammad Masood Azhar
and US $200 million for the release of 154 hostages.
• Later hijackers drop their demands for a $200 million ransom and the exhumed remains of
Afghan terrorist Sajjad Afghani.
• Passengers released on December 31, 1999 after Government of India releases 3 terrorists
with known links to Harkat ul-Ansar. Hijackers head towards Pakistan.
• On the basis of radio intercepts and collected evidence, the Government of India identifies
the hijackers as Pakistani nationals with links to ISI, an intelligence organization of the Pakistan
Government.
Please visit the Embassy of India web site (http://www.indianembassy.org) for more information
on the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814.
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INDIA NEWS ⚫ January/February 2000 5
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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 21 st 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 FDI 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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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
Constitution of the
Election Commission
The Election Commission consists of the Chief
Election Commissioner and such number of other
Election commissioners, if any as the President
may from time to time fix, and the appointment
of the Chief Election Commissioner and other
Election Commissioners shall be made by the
President, subject to the provisions of any law
made in that behalf by the Parliament. If any
other Election Commissioner is appointed, then
the Chief Election Commissioner acts as the
Chairman of the Election Commission.
Provided that the Chief Election Commissioner
is not removed from his office except in like
manner and on like grounds as a Judge of
Supreme Court and his conditions of service
shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his
appointment.
Provided that any other Election Commissioner
or a Regional Commissioner shall not be re-
moved from office except on the recommenda-
tion of the Chief Election Commissioner.
General Elections - 1999
Number of Constituencies voting on
different poll days in States & Union territories
Poll Dates →
States & Union
Territories
Sept. 5,
1999
Sept. 11,
1999
Sept. 18,
1999
Sept. 25,
1999
Oct. 3,
1999
Total
Seats
Poll
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Days
Andhra Pradesh
42
3
13
15
14
Arunachal Pradesh
2
1
Assam
14
1
Bihar
54
3
2
14
19
19
16
Goa
2
1
2
Gujarat
26
1
26
Haryana
10
1
10
Himachal Pradesh
4
1
Jammu & Kashmir
6
3
2
2
2
Kamataka
28
2
15
13
Kerala
20
1
20
Madhya Pradesh
40
3
14
14
12
Maharashtra
48
2
24
24
Manipur
2
2
Meghalaya
2
1
Mizoram
1
1
Nagaland
1
1
Orissa
21
2
1
1
2
1
1
10
11
Punjab
13
1
13
Rajasthan
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh
25
2
10
15
1
1
1
39
2
19
20
2
1
85
3
West Bengal
42
1
2
30
24
31
42
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
1
1
1
Chandigarh
1
1
1
Dadar & Nagar
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Haveli
Daman & Diu
Delhi
Lakshadweep
Pondicherry
Total Constituencies
Total States/UTs polling on this day
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1
1
1
1
1
1
7
1
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
543
146
124
79
72
122
16
9
5
8
10
INDIA NEWS • August 15, 1999 15
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Di
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Libraries
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
Prime Minister and the Cabinet
October 13, 1999
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. Shri Vajpayee has assumed the office of the Prime Minister of
India for the third time.
Cabinet ministers
1. LK Advani - Home
2. Ananth Kumar - Culture, Youth Affairs and
Sports
3. TR Balu - Environment and Forests
4. Ms Mamata Banerjee Railways
5. George Fernandes - Defense
6. Jagmohan - Urban Development
7. Dr Satyanarain Jaitya
and Poverty Alleviation
8. Ram Jethamalani
pany Affairs
-
-
Urban Employment
Law, Justice and Com-
9. Manohar Joshi Heavy Industries and Public
Enterprises
-
10. Murli Manohar Joshi Human Resource De-
velopment and Science and Technology.
11. P R Kumaramangalam - Power
12. Pramod Mahajan - Parliamentary Affairs and
Water Resources
13. Murasoli Maran - Commerce and Industry
14. Ram Naik Petroleum and Natural Gas
15. Nitish Kumar - Surface Transport
16. Joel Oram - Tribal Affairs
17. Ram Vilas Paswan - Communications
18. Naveen Patnaik - Mines and Minerals
19. Sunderlal Patwa Rural Development
-
20. Suresh Prabhu - Chemicals and Fertilizers
21. Kashiram Rana
-
Textiles
22. Shanta Kumar - Consumer Affairs and Public
Distribution
23. Jaswant Singh - External Affairs
24. Yashwant Sinha - Finance
25. Sharad Yadav - Civil Aviation
Minister of state (Independent)
26. Maneka Gandhi - Social Justice and Empow-
erment
-
27. Arun Jaitley - Information and Broadcasting
28. M. Kannappan Non-Conventional Energy
Sources
29. Dilip Ray - Steel
30. Ms Vasundhara Raje - Small-Scale Industries
31. N T Shanmugham - Health and Family Wel-
fare
32. Ms Uma Bharati - Tourism
Ministers of State
33. Ramesh Bais - Chemicals and Fertilizers
34. Bijoya Chakravarty - Water Resources
35. Shriram Chauhan - Parliamentary Affairs
36. Bandaru Dattatraya - Urban Development
37. Jaisingh Rao Patil - Human Resource Develop-
ment
38. Santosh Gangwar - Science and Technology
39. Chaman Lal Gupta - Civil Aviation
40. Dr Vallabhnhai Kathiriya - Heavy Industries and
Public Enterprises
41. Faggan Singh Kulaste - Parliamentary Affairs
42. V. Dhananjay Kumar - Finance
43. Bangaru Laxman
Implementation
-
Planning and Program
44. Ms Sumitra Mahajan - Human Resource Devel-
opment
45. Subhash Maharia - Rural Development
46. Babulal Marandi - Environment and Forests
47. Ms Jayawanti Mehta - Power
48. Munni Lal - Labor and Employment
49. Omar Farooq Abdullah - Commerce and In-
dustries
50. Ajit Kumar Panja - External Affairs
51. Hiran Pathak - Defense
52. Devendra Pradhan - Surface Transport
53. E Punnuswami - Petroleum
54. A Raja Rural Development
-
-
55. O Rajgopal Law Justice and Company Af-
fairs
56. Dr Raman - Commerce and Industries
57. N G Ramachandran - Textiles
58. Vidaya Sagar Rao Home
-
59. SBPPK Satyanarayanan Rao - Agriculture
60. Bachi Singh Rawat - Defense
61. Syed Shahnawaz Hussain - Food Processing
62. Tapan Sikdar Communication
63. Digvijay Singh - Railways
64. T. H. Chaoba Singh - Culture Youth Affairs
Sports
65. V. Sreenivasa Prasad - Consumer Affairs and
Public Distribution
66. I. D. Swami - Home
67. Dr (Ms.) Rita Verma - Mines and Minerals
68. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil - Finance
69. Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav - Agriculture
The Prime Minister will look after unallocated port-
folios. Ms Vasundhara Raje will also assist the Prime
Minister in handling the ministries of Personnel, Pub-
lic Grievances and Pensions, Department of En-
ergy and Department of Space. Mr. Dilip Ray and
Santosh Gangwar will also assist the Minister of
Parliamentary Affairs.
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INDIA NEWS ⚫ November 1, 1999 5
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | |
are to-day receiving greater attention than before, thanks
to the efforts of citizens and NGO's. But I am afraid, by and
large, we remain reckless consumers than preservers of
these life-sources. It is time that we took conservation and
other environmental questions not as fashionable posi-
tions but as matters of life and death. No development will
be sustainable or justifiable that ignores Nature and the
human being.
On the 26th of November this year it will be 50 years since
we adopted, enacted and gave to ourselves the Constitu-
tion of India. The Constitution is the sheet anchor of our
polity. It is my earnest hope that it would continue to be
respected by all, and be an instrument of social change
and transformation of the status of the underprivileged as
envisaged by Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Science and technology, which occupy the centre stage in
our progress is paying heed to the human dimensions of
development. Thanks to the efforts put in during the first
two or three decades India can today boast of a stabilized
green revolution, a diversified industrial infrastructure, and
a Science and Technology-base for our further develop-
ment. While Jawaharlal Nehru's vision of "science solving
the problem of hunger and poverty" in our country has not
yet been fulfilled, we have been able to break the back of
the demon of hunger by resort to science in our agricul-
ture. Our progress in the development of satellites, atomic
energy, information technology and bio-technology are
not merely climbing the high peaks of Science and Tech-
nology, but are applying the techniques to grass-root prob-
lems and to the human needs of the country. It is hearten-
ing that our scientists are now wide awake to the impor-
tance of patenting our diverse genetic riches before they
are taken away by the advanced nations. India is bound to
emerge as a major scientific-technological power in the
new millennium.
Rolling back or putting a cap on the advancement of
science is contrary to the very spirit and nature of science,
and against the equitable world order that we are pledged
to bring into being.
Friends, in a few weeks from now the people of India will
be exercising their franchise to elect the 13th Lok Sabha
and some of the State Assemblies. Our record of orderly
elections, which form the basis of our democratic polity, is
now acknowledged by the world. Indian voters have exer-
cised their franchise and chosen their representatives with
practical common sense; they have reposed confidence
with generosity; withdrawn it without ambiguity; created,
preserved and demolished mandates. No one dares take
the Indian voter for granted. It is gratifying for us that today
the world significance of Indian democracy has begun to
dawn upon the developed democracies of the world. But
still we must not forget that often in global power-politics
the blood of strategic affinity is thicker than the life-giving
waters of democracy.
I would like to avail this opportunity to urge all contestants
and campaigners in the coming polls to maintain our
democracy's track record, to abjure appeals of a narrow
sectarian nature and show a broad tolerance of opinions of
others. I trust that the ugly phenomenon of voter-intimida-
tion and booth-capturing which has marred voting in some
pockets in the past, will not be tolerated anywhere on this
occasion. The firmness shown in this regard by our Elec-
tion Commission has been widely appreciated.
Our Election Commission, our Judiciary and other Consti-
tutional authorities like the Office of the Comptroller and
Auditor General of India, are institutions of which we are
proud for their impartiality, objectivity and sense of re-
sponsibility.
Likewise we derive great satisfaction from the functioning
of the National Commissions that have been set up for the
welfare of our minorities, women, scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes and other vulnerable sections of our so-
ciety.
Fellow citizens and friends, on this last Independence Day
of the century we have every reason to look forward to the
new millennium with hope and self-assurance. Despite all
the obstacles set in our path we are well served by the
strength of our democratic institutions and we draw suste-
nance from our rich heritage from the past and from the
reawakened spirit of our people. In this spirit we send our
greetings to our neighbours in South Asia to Bangladesh,
Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan with
whom we are engaged in the adventure of building up
SAARC as a prosperous and viable regional entity. We
also send our greetings to the friendly countries of ASEAN
with whom we are closely associated, to Japan and to the
countries of West Asia and Central Asia with whom we
have traditional ties of friendship. I am delighted that our
relations with the People's Republic of China have im-
proved. On the 50th anniversary of the founding of the
People's Republic of China and of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the two countries, I would
like to send our warm greetings to the people and govern-
ment of China. It is a matter of satisfaction to us that our
relations with the countries of the sister continent of Africa,
the Commonwealth of Nations, the European Union and
the United States of America are marked by warmth and
understanding. Our close relations with our time-tested.
friend, Russia, continue to develop and diversify in several
fields as well as in multilateral fora; this is most gratifying.
From the inception of our independence India has been
striving for a one-world that is free from the scourge of war
and free of weapons of mass destruction. In the new
century that is at our doorstep we pledge ourselves to
persist with this effort. Towards this we would like to see
the full potential and scope of the United Nations Organi-
zation realized through wider representation and restruc-
turing. We will continue to attach the greatest importance
to the Non-Aligned Movement in the formation of which
we take pride and which has played an important role in
ending the nightmare of the Cold War and which we be-
lieve is of relevance in providing stability and balance to
the pluralistic world order that is emerging.
Friends, on this Independence Day let us resolve to imbue
our lives with the spirit of that midnight hour when we
made our tryst with destiny. May the tricolor continue to
inspire us and fulfil our destiny as a people and as a
nation.
Jai Hind
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