- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
–, population and associated issues
– poverty and developmental issues
– urbanization
7. Geographical features
8. Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
Govt. mulls ombudsman for air travellers
domestic air travellers exceeding prepandemic levels month after month and recording new highs, a spate of complaints from passengers has forced the government to discuss setting up of an ombudsman or an authority to address grievances.
The Department of Consumer Affairs on Wednesday held a meeting with online travel aggregators, officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation after it received nearly 10,000 complaints made through the National Consumer’s Helpline over the past seven or eight months over issues such as delays in refunds from airlines, denied boarding, and unavailability of free seats at the time of booking a ticket and web checkin.
“The establishment of an ombudsman for timebound resolution of con
An ombudsman for the aviation sector is among the major reforms needed to improve air travel
sumer grievances was also deliberated. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Department of Consumer Affairs can jointly work on the modalities involved in establishing the same,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a press statement. Officials also discussed ways to integrate the National Consumer Helpline of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the AirSewa portal of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Former officials also say that an ombudsman for the aviation sector is among the major reforms needed to improve air travel and that such a proposal was mooted as early as 2013.
– institutions
– regulatory
– Government policies
– role of NGOs
– measures
11. Social Justice
– Welfare schemes
– Health
WHO acknowledges India’s success in declining
The World Health Organization released its Global TB Report 2023 on 7th November. According to the report, India has made tremendous progress in improving case detection and reversed the impact of COVID-19 on the TB programme. The treatment coverage has improved to 80% of the estimated TB cases, an increase of 19% over the previous year.
India’s efforts have resulted in reduction of TB incidence by 16% in 2022 (from 2015) almost double the pace at which global TB incidence is declining (which is 8.7%). The mortality of TB has also reduced by 18% during the same period in India and globally. The World Health Organization has made a downward revision of the TB mortality rates from 4.94 lakhs in 2021 to 3.31 lakhs in 2022, a reduction of over 34%.
In the Global TB Report 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, had agreed to publish the data for India as “Interim” with an understanding that the WHO would work with the technical team of the ministry, to finalize the figures.
Following this, there were more than 50 meetings between the technical teams of WHO and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, wherein the country team presented all the newer evidence generated, the in-country mathematical modelling developed including the data from Ni-kshay portal which captures the lifecycle of every TB patient during the course of their treatment.
The WHO team intensively reviewed all data presented and not only accepted, but also appreciated the efforts made by the country. This year, the Global TB Report has acknowledged and published the revised estimates for India with downward revision of the burden estimates, especially TB related mortality figures.
The report notes that India’s intensified case detection strategies have resulted in the highest ever notification of cases – in 2022, during which, over 24.22 lakh TB cases were notified, surpassing the pre-COVID levels. The key initiatives launched and scaled up by the government like specialised active case finding drives, scaling up of molecular diagnostics to block levels, decentralization of screening services through Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres and private sector engagement have resulted in significantly bridging the gap in missing cases.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has received a tremendous response across the country with over 1 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras from all walks of life coming forward to adopt over 11 lakh TB patients. Under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana about Rs 2613 Cr have been disbursed to over 95 lakh TB patients since its launch in 2018. Newer patient centric initiatives like Family Care Giver Model and Differentiated Care have been introduced to ensure further reduction in mortality and improvement in treatment success rates.
– Education
– Human Resources
– poverty and hunger
12. International relations
Taiwan, a Malacca blockade and India’s options
ith China frequently intimidating Taiwan over the past year through deployment of its air force and navy in the surrounding areas, there is the oftposed question whether India would take action in the Strait of Malacca or the Andaman Sea in the event of a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. Any speculative action in the Strait of Malacca or the Andaman Sea would involve either a naval blockade against commercial shipping or China’s key trade and energy sea lines of communication or military action against Chinese naval vessels. The fact is that commercial shipping as well as naval vessels of any country have a right to freedom of navigation on the high seas. A naval blockade against commercial shipping is not feasible.
WIndia’s options, the constraints
There are multiple constraints in regard to India’s options in the Strait of Malacca. First, “distant blockades” away from a belligerent nation’s geography can be challenged under international law. Second, the trade that passes through the Strait of Malacca is not just China’s economic and energy lifeline. An overwhelming volume of the trade of Japan, South Korea and even India itself passes through the same Strait. Third, the channel of the Strait of Malacca is long, nearly 500 miles, and involves the sovereignty of other states such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore who would all be affected adversely by a naval blockade. The affected countries are unlikely to support a naval blockade. Fourth, commercial shipping is extremely complex to identify in terms of the sovereignty of the vessel, flag, registration, insurance and ownership of cargo. And these are often multinational in nature and can also be changed as convenient through transshipment at any port in Southeast Asia.
Fifth, apart from the fact that it is difficult to interdict China’s trade and energy supplies, the
Spare the court
Why must the Supreme Court be dragged into matters such as pollution (stubble burning) and the bursting of crackers? In both cases, the cause and the effect are palpable and visible to citizens. Yet, we seem to be lacking in ‘C sense’ (common sense/ citizen sense). By no stretch of logic are these issues “disputes” that need is the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and the Think20 Chair for India’s G20 Presidency intervention by any court of law.
Avinash Godboley,
Dewas, Madhya Pradesh
IITs, pressure points
It is a matter of concern that the crown jewels of India’s higher education system could be staring at a crisis. An overexpansion is destroying the quality of a prestigious name. The Editorial page article additional reality is that even if the Strait of Malacca were “choked”, shipping can take a detour either through the Sunda or the Lombok Straits to reach China. In any case, very large crude carriers carrying crude or natural gas to China do not use the Strait of Malacca which is shallower. They use the Sunda Strait. Sixth, China also has a huge onshore and floating Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) which can help it tide over disruptions, especially with growing overland energy supplies from Russia and Central Asia.
A naval blockade or unilateral action against an adversary’s naval vessels would tantamount to a declaration of war; at the very minimum, it could lead to a conflict, not necessarily limited to the maritime sphere. Regional countries which are adversely affected by disruption in the Strait of Malacca, including friendly countries, are unlikely to endorse any unilateral action. China would use its permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and regional influence to good effect to thwart any such effort.
Lessons from the past
It is also relevant to note that in both the First and the Second World wars, a naval blockade and sanctions led to conflagrations. During the First World War, the British blockade of Germany which lasted from 191419 saw Germany retaliating against British shipping on the high seas with its submarines (Uboats) with deadly effect. Subsequent developments, including the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and the sinking of U.S. merchant vessels by German Uboats eventually drew the U.S. into the First World War. During the Second World War, the U.S. had embargoed Japan’s energy supplies which ran through the maritime commons, which probably played a key role in Japan’s decision to launch the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941.
The ongoing tensions between Iran and the (November 4) itself says the new IITs have struggled to meet the high standards of the legacy institutes. A surprising thing is that all the IITs have their own rules; there are no common rules because they change according to the interests of the director. Students pursuing a PhD face issues in terms of submission on time. There needs to be a good look at why 1,852 PhD seats are still empty. Sreelekha S.,
Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kerala
The concerns raised
the expansion of IITs overseas cannot be viewed as mere apprehensions. It must be ensured that all the IITs have the same levels of excellence.
Jiji Panicker K.,
Anjilimoodu, Chengannur, Kerala
U.S. in the Strait of Hormuz are emblematic of the proposition that interdiction of even commercial shipping can easily lead to a military flareup. Whenever Iran has attempted to disrupt the passage of internationally flagged oil tankers, it has immediately escalated the situation with the U.S. responding by sending its naval and air assets in the region to confront the Iranian vessels.
Conflict scenarios
The larger question in the context of the Strait of Malacca that remains to be answered is whether any of India’s strategic partners, especially the U.S., would support any interdiction of Chinese vessels in a bilateral conflict between India and China, unless the U.S. itself were involved in a kinetic conflict with China. Even in such a scenario, there is perhaps no guarantee of support by other stakeholders in the region, especially the SouthEast Asian nations.
To the extent that a fullblown U.S.China conflict over Taiwan sends ripples across the Indian Ocean, India’s primary role may be limited to a proactive defence of its territorial interests and the security of its sea lines of communication and those of its strategic partners in the eastern and western India Ocean.
In any such eventuality, India’s primary focus would remain on its continental borders with China.
India has traditionally faced China’s military threats on its borders essentially on its own. The new U.S.India partnership in the economic, hightech and military areas is expected to strengthen in the years ahead. The U.S. increasingly regards India as regional ballast for stability in the region. A robust India with a strong economy, nuclear deterrence capability and a credible military can contribute to multipolarity in the IndoPacific.
There are limitations to what India can do in the event of a U.S.China conflict over Taiwan
Australia’s win
Glenn Maxwell showed immense character to win the game for Australia (‘Sport’ page, November 8). It was an innings that could have been cut short because of cramps, but the tenacity he showed to hang in there and take the team home would rank it as one of the best.
G-7 meet appeals for humanitarian pauses
- The Hindu (Delhi)
- 9 Nov 2023
The communique also reiterated G7 support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, highlighted the need for engagement with China and condemned North Korea’s missile tests and arms transfers to Russia.
The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S., with the EU also taking part in the summit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” but, alongside its close ally the U.S. and other Western countries, has rejected calls for a ceasefire that it says would allow Hamas to regroup.
The G7 had appeared to struggle to agree on a firm, united approach to the war, raising questions over its relevance as a force to tackle major crises.
The only other G7 statement came after a meeting of its Finance Ministers on October 12 and amounted to a few, brief sentences. Other group members have issued joint statements.
Long-term plan
On Tuesday, the Ministers also discussed what happens after the Gaza conflict recedes and how to revitalise peace efforts in the West Asia, Japan said in a statement.
Israel has been vague about its longterm plans for Gaza. In some of the first direct comments on the subject, Mr. Netanyahu said this week that Israel would seek to have security responsibility for Gaza “for an indefinite period”.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told the Wall Street Journal that Israel wanted the territory to be under an international coalition, including the U.S., EU and Muslimmajority countries, or administered by Gaza political leaders.
Mr. Blinken told reporters following the G7 meetings that Gaza could not be under Hamas or Israeli control.
“We don’t see a reoccupation and what I’ve heard from Israeli leaders is that they have no intent to reoccupy Gaza,” he said.
– India and its neighbourhood
– groupings and agreements
– Indian diaspora
– International institutions
13. Economic Development
India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee
The 6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 6-7 November, 2023. The meeting was co chaired by the Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Ms. Priya P. Nair and the Lead Executive of the International and Regional Trade Integration, Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration, Ethiopia, Mr. Tages Mulugeta. Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, Shri Robert Shetkintong and other senior officials from both sides also participated in the JTC.
Both sides agreed to expeditiously address all issues impeding bilateral trade and facilitate trade promotion between the two countries. The Indian side invited the Ethiopian side to collaborate on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) of India with Ethswitch of Ethiopia. Further, the Indian side also urged Ethiopia to explore the possibility of settlement of trade transactions in local currency which will help boost bilateral trade and conserve foreign exchange. The deliberations of the 6th Sessions of India-Ethiopia JTC were cordial and forward-looking, reflecting the traditionally friendly and special relations between the two countries.
Both sides undertook a detailed review of recent developments in bilateral trade and investment ties and noted that the relationship has a huge potential to be scaled up even further. To this effect, both sides identified several areas of focus for enhancing both bilateral trade as well as mutually beneficial investments. These include health and pharmaceuticals, automobiles, textiles, infrastructure projects, food and agro processing and so on. Both sides also reviewed the progress of ongoing discussions for Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the field of Standardization & Quality assurance and Customs procedure and agreed to conclude them expeditiously. The Indian side also requested the Ethiopian side to expedite the early finalization of the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the African region, with an estimated growth of 6.4% in the year 2021-22. Bilateral trade between India and Ethiopia stood at USD 642.59 million in 2022-23. India is the second largest exporter to Ethiopia. Indian companies are among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia with existing Indian investment of USD 5 billion of which, about USD 3-4 billion is estimated to be on the ground.
Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future
India’s G20 presidency emphasized that there is need for cooperative solutions amidst global challenges and successfully secured the adoption of the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration on the Green Development Pact. The workshop aims to generate actionable recommendations for the successful implementation of the Green Development Pact, with specific focus on energy transition, ecosystem conservation, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. The outcomes of the workshop will be compiled as an outcome document providing a blueprint for sustainable climate action globally.
The workshop is focused on three distinct sessions with each segment aimed to coalesce into specific action points and strategies that are required to implement the vision laid out in the NDLD:
1) Implementing Clean, Sustainable, Just, Affordable & Inclusive Energy Transition – To promote energy security, facilitate technology access, and encourage innovation, it is imperative to address the affordability and reliability of deploying clean and sustainable energy sources and technologies. At the same time there is a need to facilitate low cost finance and support reliable, diversified and responsible supply chains. Energy security, access and affordability, sustainability and justice would be main areas for discussions.
2) Restoring, Conserving and sustainably using ecosystems – The Leaders’ Declaration emphasizes the importance of healthy ecosystems in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, drought, land degradation, pollution, food insecurity and water scarcity. This theme consists of issues for discussion such as mainstreaming lifestyles for sustainable development (LiFE), designing a circular economy and ending plastic pollution.
3) Adaptation and disaster resilient infrastructure – The Leaders’ Declaration acknowledges the disproportionate impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification and pollution on vulnerable communities with particular emphasis on women and girls. To build national and community resilience, India’s G20 Presidency catalyzed efforts in disaster risk reduction by “Institutionalizing the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group”. Topics for discussion under this session include climate forecast, mainstreaming disaster risk and resilience, coastal states/ city-level preparation and financing climate resilience.
– Government Budgeting
– agricultural produce
– industrial
– Infrastructure
– Investment models
– issues
14. Technology
Trouble with India’s guidelines on genetically modified insects
The guidelines offer standard operating procedures for genetically engineering mosquitoes, crop pests, and beneficial insects – but what ‘beneficial’ means is not clear. This can only impede funders and scientists from investing in this research, and is one of many problems ndia’s bioeconomy contributes 2.6% to the GDP. In April 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released its ‘Bioeconomy Report 2022’ report, envisioning this contribution to be closer to 5% by 2030. This ambitious leap – of $220 billion in eight years – will require aggressive investment and policy support. But neither funding for the DBT, India’s primary promoter of biotechnology, nor its recent policies reflect any serious intention to uplift this sector. Along with more money, policies that enable risktaking appetite within Indian scientists will be required to create an ecosystem of innovation and industrial action.
Funding for biotechnology India has been stagnating for a while. Despite a slight uptick during COVID19, when DBT led the vaccine and diagnostics efforts, funding hasn’t returned to the prepandemic level. The current allocation is also only 0.0001% of India’s GDP, and it needs to be significantly revised if biotechnology is to be of any serious consequence for the economy.
The reduced funding is detrimental to India’s national interests as well, considering the DBT is essential to any pandemic preparedness efforts. Further efforts are also needed to attract private funding in biotechnology research and development, a key area that industry representatives, investors, and government officials have highlighted multiple times.
Funding aside, biotechnology policies also need to be aligned to the economic goals set out in the Bioeconomy report. However, the language in a set of guidelines that the Indian government released recently, pertaining to genetically edited insects, indicate a problem.
In April 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) issued the ‘Guidelines for Genetically Engineered (GE) Insects’. They provide procedural roadmaps for those interested in creating GE insects. They have three issues, however.
IFirst: Uncertainty of purpose
The guidelines note that GE insects are becoming globally available and are intended to help Indian researchers navigate regulatory requirements. However, the guidelines don’t specify the purposes for which GE insects may be approved in India or how the DBT, as a promoter of biotechnology, envisions their use.
The guidelines only provide regulatory procedures for R&D on insects with some beneficial applications. The introduction states:
“The development and release of GE insects offers applications in various fields such as vector management in human and livestock health; management of major crop insect pests; maintenance and improvement of human health and the environment through a reduction in the use of chemicals; production of proteins for healthcare purposes; genetic improvement of beneficial insects like predators, parasitoids, pollinators (e.g. honey bee) or productive insects (e.g. silkworm, lac insect).”
That is, the emphasis of using GE insects appears to be on uplifting the standard of living by reducing disease burden, enabling food security and conserving the environment. While these are all necessary functions, current biotechnologybased policies are not in sync with the broader commitment to contributing to the bioeconomy.
The guidelines – which are more procedural in nature than indicative of governmental policy – set out forms and instructions for using GE insects of various types. The approval for these experiments comes under the broad ambit of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, a body under the DBT.
The guidelines have been harmonised to guidance from the World Health Organisation on GE mosquitoes. GE mosquitoes represent the most advanced application for this technology – yet the guidelines seem to downplay the economic opportunities that such insects provide.
Engineering honey bees to make betterquality and/or quantities of honey will help reduce imports and also maybe facilitate exports. Similarly, GE silkworms may be used to produce finer and/or cheaper silk, affecting prices and boosting sales. But the guidelines and policy are both quiet on how GE insects can benefit the bioeconomy and for which purposes the government might approve the insects’ release.
Second: Uncertainty for researchers
The guidelines are applicable only to research and not to confined trials or deployment. That is, once the insects are ‘made’ and tested in the laboratory, researchers can conduct trials with them on the approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), of the Union Environment Ministry.
Government authorities will also have to closely follow the deployment of these insects. Once deployed, GE insects can’t be recalled, and unlike genetically modified foods, they are not amenable to individual consumer choice. For example, if a consumer doesn’t want to eat a GM organism, she can choose to buy organic food or food labelled “contains no GMO”.
But if a company decides to release a GE insect in an individual’s neighbourhood, she will have no choice but to be exposed to it. So wider community engagement and monitoring of the impact of GE will be required.
The nature of the technology products – i.e. mosquitoes, honey bees, etc. – also make their private use difficult. In any case, the government will be the primary buyer in many cases, such as ‘GE mosquitoes for disease alleviation’ or ‘honey bees for increased pollination’.
But then there’s no clarity on whether the Environment Ministry will actually approve the deployment of GE insects or what criteria it might use to consider a proposal to do so.
For example, while researchers have developed and tested GE mosquitoes to alleviate malaria in foreign settings, we don’t know if the solution will be feasible in India. On the other hand, as honey bees populations decrease, genetically edited honey bees which live longer, might be of use in India. But if there is no clarity on which idea the government would support, why would anyone invest in research on such insects?
On a related note, the guidelines define GE insects by their risk group and not by the end product. It makes sense to subject any GE insects for human/animal consumption to stringent checks – but why using insects for silk or lac production needs to be checked the same way is not clear. The guidelines can sidestep this by adapting its rules for genetically modified crops for nonconsumption purposes.
Third: Uncertainty of ambit
The guidelines offer standard operating procedures for GE mosquitoes, crop pests, and beneficial insects – but what ‘beneficial’ means, in the context of GE insects, is not clear.
The lack of clarity about the insects and the modifications to them that are deemed ‘beneficial’ will impede funders and scientists from investing in this research. In a country with low public as well as private funding, the absence of a precise stance to identify and promote research priorities hampers progress.
Other geneediting guidelines contain similar ambiguity, such as the National Guidelines for Gene Therapy Product Development and Clinical Trials. They identify a genetherapy product as “any entity which includes a nucleic acid component being delivered by various means for therapeutic benefit”. But they don’t “define therapeutic benefit”, creating confusion on which gene therapy products will actually be permitted.
Further, genetic engineering can also be used to unintentionally generate malicious products. In 2016, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency floated an ‘Insect Allies’ programme with the idea of creating insect vectors to deliver geneediting components to plants that are threatened by pests. Scientists quickly pointed out that this application could also be used to create bioweapons. Similarly, the new guidelines don’t sufficiently account for more dangerous possibilities.
So as things stand, the guidelines are not in sync with the ambitions outlined in the Bioeconomy 2022 report.
15. Environment
‘Kolkata AQI deteriorating fast ahead of Deepavali’
The data was collected postDurga Puja festivities between October 29 and November 8, which mark the end of the idol immersion processions and the beginning of the sale of firecrackers
- The Hindu (Delhi)
- 9 Nov 2023
- Shiv Sahay Singh
he Air Quality Index (AQI) in Kolkata has started deteriorating after Durga Puja and has been recorded in ‘poor category’, a study conducted by an environment conservation society across several air quality monitoring in the city has revealed
“The mean daily AQI, PM2.5 and PM10 (in Kolkata) have consistently remained in the moderate zone since the end of Durga Puja. The city recorded an alarming AQI of 249 with PM2.5 and PM10 reaching 104.65 and 188.58 ug/m3 respectively on November 8 at 8 a.m.,” stated a report tiled Kolkata, PreDiwali Air Quality and An Impending Predicament.
TPost-puja festivities
16. Security
INDUS-X Educational Series named Gurukul launched
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defence, organised the maiden INDUS-X Investors Meet on 8 November 2023 at New Delhi as a pre-cursor to the 2+2 Indo-US Ministerial Dialogue. The INDUS-X Educational Series (Gurukul) was also launched during the event. Mr Doug Beck, Director Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), US DoD led the US delegation and Mr Vivek Virmani, PO (G) & COO/iDEX-DIO the Indian delegation. The event was co-ordinated by US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), IndusTech, and mach33.aero (Social Alpha).
The first-ever INDUS-X Investors Event evinced the interest of the investors in the start-ups and MSMEs operating in the defence sector and the emerging opportunities under the INDUS-X initiative. The interactive meet brought all the stakeholders viz Startups/MSMEs, Investors, Incubators, Industry from both sides under one roof to discuss the collaborative agendas and opportunities thereon.
The event also had focused panel discussions with a select audience of 50 thought leaders, including start-ups, investors, government officials and business leaders from the defence industry. The panel discussed on ‘Investment Opportunities in the Defence Sector’, elaborating upon establishing a sustainable commercial foundation for defence collaboration and co-production.
In the Investor-Start-up Connect session, leading Indian and US investors, VCs and defence start-ups offered their insights regarding their plans for the defence sector and the expectations from each other. Select Indian and US startups also presented their profile and innovations to the marquee audience.
The Gurukul initiative is aimed to help the innovators /startups to navigate in the defence eco-system of the US and India. The Gurukul (Education) series will have sessions for the startups/innovators by the experts from both sides including Govt Officials, Corporate Leaders, Industry Forums, Incubators/ Accelerators etc. The kick-off session was launched with an interesting fireside chat between the Director, DIU and the COO, DIO highlighting the opportunities for the defence start-ups under the INDUS-X initiative and the way-ahead.
Mr Beck appreciated the brainstorming session on setting up a Joint Innovation Fund besides the panel discussions on critical issues. He expressed satisfaction with the response to the joint IMPACT challenges and was confident that the Gurukul Educational Series would help the startups in navigating in the defence eco-systems of India and USA.
Mr Virmani added that the path breaking Investor connect event would lead to increased collaboration in the field of defence innovation. He also agreed that the topics finalised under Gurukul will be relevant for all stakeholders, especially the startups. Both Director/DIU and COO/DIO invited the startups and innovators to apply in the joint IMPACT challenges, and to participate in the Gurukul Educational Series.
17. Disaster Management