22 June 2023

• Diplomacy: PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the White House and addressed a joint session of the US Congress. A sweeping set of defence, technology, and energy agreements was announced.
• Polity: Punjab passed the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill 2023, granting the state power to appoint its own DGP outside the Supreme Court's Prakash Singh guidelines.
• Defence: China blocked India and the US from designating LeT terrorist Sajid Mir as a global terrorist at the UN.

GS area: International Relations, Defence, Science and Technology

PM Modi's bilateral meeting with President Biden at the White House produced one of the most substantive India-US outcomes in recent years.

• GE F414 jet engine: General Electric to produce the F414 turbofan engine in India in partnership with HAL, with approximately 80 per cent technology transfer. This makes India the fifth country to produce jet engines domestically.
• MQ-9B drones: Formal announcement of India's procurement of 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics.
• Semiconductors: Micron Technology to invest 2.75 billion dollars in a semiconductor assembly and test facility near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Applied Materials to launch a semiconductor commercialisation centre in India. Lam Research to train 60,000 Indian engineers in semiconductor fabrication.
• INDUS-X: India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem launched to connect defence innovators, laboratories, and investors in both countries.
• Space: India signed the Artemis Accords, committing to principles for peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. NASA and ISRO committed to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
• Quantum and AI: Joint Indo-US Quantum Coordination Mechanism established.
• Critical minerals: India joined the Minerals Security Partnership led by the US. This covers lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and other inputs critical for clean energy and defence technology.
• Trade: India-US bilateral trade exceeded 191 billion dollars in 2022.

Static linkage: International relations (India-US); science and technology; economy.

GS area: International Relations

PM Modi addressed a joint sitting of both chambers of the United States Congress on 22 June 2023. This was his second such address (the first was in 2016).

• Joint session: A rare event where both the Senate and the House of Representatives meet together to hear a foreign dignitary. Fewer than 100 world leaders have been so invited.
• Key themes: The India-US technology partnership as the defining factor for the future of democracy; India's position as the world's largest democracy; the role of both countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Static linkage: International relations.

GS area: Polity, Governance

The Punjab Legislative Assembly passed the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill 2023.

• What the Bill does: Creates a 7-member Empanelment Committee at the state level to select the Director General of Police from the three most senior officers based on service record and experience.
• Constitutional tension: In 2006, the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh vs Union of India laid down mandatory police reforms. One of those was that the DGP must be selected by the state government from a panel recommended by the Union Public Service Commission after consulting the State Security Commission.
• State's argument: Police and public order are State subjects under the 7th Schedule. The Bill asserts state autonomy in police administration.
• The conflict: The Bill explicitly states that its provisions will prevail over any court judgment, which is legally problematic. State legislatures cannot override Supreme Court binding judgments through legislation.

Static linkage: Polity (federalism, police reforms, 7th Schedule).

GS area: International Relations, Security

China blocked an India-US proposal to designate Sajid Mir, a Pakistani militant, as a global terrorist under the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee.

• Sajid Mir: A Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. The US has placed a 5 million dollar bounty on him. He is one of the main accused in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• 1267 Committee: The UN Security Council's Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, established by Resolution 1267 (1999). It maintains a global list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaeda and associated groups whose assets must be frozen, travel must be banned, and arms must be embargoed.
• China's action: China placed a technical hold blocking the listing. This was the third time China had blocked India-related terror designations at the UN.
• India's response: India and the US stated they would continue to pursue accountability through all available channels.

Static linkage: International relations; internal security (terrorism).

• Prehistoric rock paintings (Andhra Pradesh): Mentioned again in the context of the ASI publishing findings on Mesolithic rock art at Orvakallu, Guntur.
• Sahitya Akademi awards: Ministry of Culture proposed moving from the Akademi's confidential nomination process to an open nomination process for major literary awards. The Akademi and the literary community resisted, citing risks of political interference.
• Star rating for coal mines: The Ministry of Coal launched a star rating system for coal and lignite mines, covering mining operations, environmental impact, technology adoption, and worker compliance. The Top 10 per cent of self-rated mines are validated through inspection by the Coal Controller's Organisation.