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BEYOND THE MANIFESTOS, TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES FOR INDIA’S NEXT GOVERNMENT

Relevance:

• GS 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• GS 3 – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Why in the News?

• Across major global economies, mastering the technological revolution is paramount, from China to the US. India needs to innovate to stay competitive amidst this trend.
• Though, India has utilized digital technologies to enhance service delivery over the past decade.
  • Emphasis has been placed on investing in renewable energy sources.

• A mission mode approach has been adopted to revive India’s semiconductor production.
  • Strategies have been developed to accelerate India’s AI capabilities.

Election 2024 Discourse

• Technology policy may not be a prominent topic in India’s current election discourse.
  • However, the incoming government in Delhi will face significant challenges stemming from rapid technological advancements.
• These challenges include navigating the impact of technological changes on major economies, geopolitical rivalries, and global governance of key areas such as artificial intelligence, space industrialization, and the bioeconomy.
• The next government must prioritize internal reforms to prepare India for harnessing emerging technologies effectively.

China’s Deep Tech Push

• The Campaign for Mastering “New Productive Forces”:
  • The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is spearheading a campaign to master the “new productive forces.”
  • This campaign is pivotal to Beijing’s ambition of surpassing Washington in advanced science and technology production and ascending to the top of the global power hierarchy.
• President Xi’s Initiative:
  • President Xi Jinping introduced the term “new productive forces” during a visit to China’s old industrial heartland in September.
  • The speech focused on transforming the north-eastern rust belt into a tech hub, elevating the term’s significance within “Xi Jinping Thought.”
• Government Support for Advanced Technology Sectors:
  • Prime Minister Li Qiang pledged a “new leap forward” in supporting advanced technology sectors.
  • Priority areas include electric vehicles, new materials, commercial spaceflight, quantum technology, and life sciences.
• Shift to Technology-Intensive Economy:
  • The concept of transitioning from labor-intensive to technology-intensive production has been endorsed for some time.
  • Previous leaders like Hu Jintao emphasized “scientific development” and the importance of technology and innovation for societal advancement.
• Strategic Objective:
  • Under President Xi, China aims for full control over the new productive forces to reduce reliance on foreign technologies.
  • China has achieved dominance in sectors like solar panels and battery storage but trails the US in semiconductor production and generative AI innovation.

Technological Investment of the West

Biden Administration’s Focus:

• President Joe Biden has prioritized regaining American leadership in advanced technology sectors.
• The administration achieved bipartisan support for three significant pieces of legislation:
  • the Infrastructure Investment Act,
  • the CHIPS Act, and
  • the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Together, these enact a robust industrial policy aimed at revitalizing US dominance in advanced technologies, a departure from past economic discourse norms.
• Limiting Support for Chinese Technological Development:
  • The Biden administration aims to restrict US capital support for Chinese technological development.
  • Measures include limiting advanced technology exports from the US and its allies to Beijing.
• Formation of Global Technology Coalitions:
  • The US is forging new technology coalitions with allies, such as the Quadrilateral forum with Australia, India, and Japan.
  • Additionally, the “Chip-4” alliance includes the US and leading semiconductor producers: Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
  • Bilateral partnerships in critical and emerging technologies are being established, including the iCET partnership with India.

Macron’s Call for European Technological Sovereignty:

• French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Europe’s need to reclaim a significant role in global technological power distribution.
• He called for strengthening Europe’s “industrial and technological sovereignty” to close the gap with the US and China.
• Macron advocated for substantial investments in AI, quantum computing, space, biotechnology, and new energy technologies like green hydrogen and nuclear fusion.

India’s Task – Beyond Manifestos

• Leveraging Technology for Development:
  • Prime Minister Modi has utilized digital technologies for service delivery and emphasized investments in renewable energy over the past decade.
  • A mission mode approach has been adopted to revive India’s semiconductor production, and strategies for accelerating India’s AI capabilities have been developed.
  • Technology has been a focal point of the Modi government’s foreign policy, especially in building strategic partnerships with the US and Europe.
• BJP Election Manifesto Commitments:
  • The BJP manifesto pledges to elevate India to a leading space power, enhance national research and development (R&D) infrastructure, establish a research fund, and launch a new mission for quantum computing.
• Need for Sweeping Technological Overhaul:
  • To compete in the global race for mastery over “new productive forces,” Delhi must overhaul its technology departments.
  • There is a need to significantly increase national expenditure on R&D and encourage greater private sector participation in research, development, and production of modern technologies.
• Modernization Imperatives:
  • The existing S&T monopolies under government control are outdated for India’s goal of building a technology-driven economy.
  • Modernizing India’s technological foundation is crucial for economic and national security objectives.
  • The next government must prioritize this agenda to ensure India’s inclusion in the global landscape of “new and high-quality forces of production.”

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-next-government-technology-challenges-c-raja-mohan-9299492/

Mains question

Discuss India’s imperative for technological modernization to compete in the global race for mastery over ‘new productive forces’ emphasizing reforms and strategic priorities. (150 words)