Monthly Archives: August 2018

New Delhi, June 12

India has told Russia that ‘illegal recruitment’ of Indian youths who are being sent to war zones has to stop.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said the matter has been discussed with the Russian Government and leadership. “We have told Russia that Indian nationals in war zones have to be returned,” he said.

It has been noticed that Indian youths have been sent to Russia and they have been recruited. “The illegal recruitment has to stop. We have taken this seriously,” added Kwatra.

This comes after two Indians nationals, who had been recruited by the Russian army, were killed in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. One of them is from Punjab.

On Tuesday night, the MEA said the matter had been taken up strongly with the Russian Ambassador in New Delhi and with Russian authorities in Moscow. The MEA said “it has sought return of all Indians who are with the Russian army”. — TNS

Free all recruits

• Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Wednesday the matter had been taken up with the Russian authorities, who had been clearly told that all Indians in the war zone should be returned to India
• Meanwhile, the bodies of the two youths who died in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict are being brought back

In Doda district, 5 troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and an SPO are injured as terrorists attack a joint check post

PTI

Jammu, June 12

A terrorist holed up in a border village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district was killed by security forces on Wednesday in a more than 15-hour-long operation during which his partner was also shot dead and a CRPF jawan lost his life, officials said.

Related News

• Terror threat: J-K Police issue advisory, urges residents to remain vigilant about suspicious activities

According to them, two senior officers escaped unhurt even as their vehicles were hit by bullets during the operation that began on Tuesday night after two terrorists were spotted at Saida Sukhal village.

In Doda district, five troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road on Tuesday night. Traffic on the highway has been suspended as an operation is under way to track down the terrorists.

The two incidents come just days after terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of nine people and injuries to 41 others. The incident occurred on Sunday evening.

Police have announced a Rs 20 lakh reward for information about the whereabouts of the terrorists involved in the attack on the bus and released the sketch of one of the terrorists.

Authorities have claimed that attempts by Pakistan to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir were the reason for the spurt in terror activities in the Jammu region.

In Kathua’s Saida Sukhal village near the International Border — around 60 km from here — the second holed-up terrorist was killed on Wednesday noon in an intense gunfight after being cornered by the joint security parties of the police, Army and CRPF, officials said.

The terrorist tried to break the cordon by firing indiscriminately at the security forces around 3 am. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan Kabir Dass, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, was critically injured in the firing and later succumbed to injuries in a hospital, they said.

During the operation official vehicles of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Sunil Gupta; and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Anayat Ali Choudhary; were hit by several bullets but the officers escaped unhurt.

Additional Director General of Police (Jammu zone) Anand Jain, who supervised the operation, said, “Two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated (from across the border), surfaced in the village around 8 pm on Tuesday and asked for water from a household. The people got frightened and as soon as they informed us, a police team rushed to the village.”  

“One of the terrorists tried to hurl a grenade at the police team and was killed in the exchange of fire,” he said.

Officials said both the slain terrorists are believed to be Pakistanis. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and over Rs 1 lakh in cash were seized from the encounter site, they said, adding the identity and group affiliation of the terrorists were being ascertained.

A civilian was also injured in the terrorist firing and was hospitalised on Tuesday night, the officials said.

In Doda, terrorists fired on a joint check post of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and police at Chattergalla area late on Tuesday night, leading to a fierce gunfight which continued for hours, officials said.

They said five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and an SPO were injured and taken to hospital. Additional security personnel have been rushed to the area to intensify the operation against the terrorists, they said.

According to the officials, traffic movement has been completely suspended on the busy Bhaderwah-Pathankot interstate highway in view of the ongoing search and cordon operation in Chattergalla, Guldandi, Sarthal, Shankh Pader and Kailash mountain range, the officials said.

Without naming Pakistan, ADGP Anand Jain said the “hostile” neighbour is always trying to disrupt peace in the Jammu region. 

Jammu, June 12

Three encounters and a terror attack on a bus of pilgrims in Reasi within four days have rattled the entire Jammu region.A policeman was injured on Wednesday evening when terrorists opened fire on a search party in a village in Gandoh area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, officials said. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost his life and a terrorist was killed in an encounter in Hiranagar area of Kathua district on Wednesday morning.

The firing was reported from the Kota top area of Bhalesa around 7.41 pm to which security forces retaliated, they said. An intermittent exchange of fire was going on when last reports were received. Reinforcements have been rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon, they added. This was the second terror-related incident in Doda in the last 24 hours and fourth in three days in J&K.

Five troopers of Rashtriya Rifles and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when a group of ultras opened fire at Army and police personnel manning a check-point in Doda. The injured personnel were taken to Bhaderwah hospital for medical treatment. A search operation was launched after the incident. The encounter in Kathua started after a group of at least two terrorists entered Saida Sukhal village near Koota Morh in the district on Tuesday around 8 pm.

A CRPF personnel identified as constable Kabir Dass of 121 Battalion who hails from Madhya Pradesh died in Kathua encounter. Dass suffered a bullet injury on the right side of his upper body and succumbed. A civilian identified as Om Prakash, 45, was also hit on his left arm. He was taken to the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Anand Jain reached Saida Sukhal late on Tuesday where he reviewed the strategy to eliminate the surviving ultra. One of the two terrorist was killed by Tuesday evening.

Jain said two terrorists, who appeared to have freshly infiltrated, surfaced in the village in the late evening hours. “They asked some locals to give them water, but villagers denied after suspecting their identities. The terrorists opened fire in the air and also targeted some locals,” he said.

After receiving information, local police officials reached the spot and killed one terrorist. A search party cleared the houses in the village one by one. On Wednesday morning, drones were used to locate the second terrorist. As per the official, a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the site. Three magazines containing 30 rounds each, one magazine containing 24 rounds, 75 rounds in a separate polythene bag, three live grenades, Rs 1 lakh currency, Pakistan made chocolates, dry channa and stale chapatis, Pakistan-made medicines and injections, one syringe and two packs of A4 batteries were recovered.In the past few months, six of the 10 districts in Jammu region have witnessed terror activities. These districts include Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Doda. (With inputs)

Tribune News Service

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, June 12

High temperatures in May have resulted in faster melting of glaciers in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, causing higher inflows into the Beas and the Sutlej.

According to the data collected by The Tribune, the water level in the Bhakra dam reservoir, located in Bilaspur district, was 1,584 feet on June 12. It was about 39 feet more than the average water level of 1,545.49 feet at this time of the year. In fact, it is even more than the 1,570.63-foot level recorded in June last year. In the Pong dam, which is on the Beas, the water level was 1,313 feet on June 12, against the average of 1304.74 feet at this time of the year. Since not much rain has occurred in HP in the past month, the higher water levels are being attributed to faster melting of snow in the Beas catchment areas.

According to CP Singh, Chief Engineer (Irrigation), Bhakra dam, the higher inflows were recorded in the reservoir in May due to the high temperature and increased snowmelt in the Sutlej catchment areas. He said the higher inflows were recorded in the reservoir despite the fact that snowfall in the Sutlej catchment area was less last year.

Professor AK Mahajan, Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said global warming and high temperatures were causing glaciers to recede. Ironically, few studies have been conducted to study the situation.

Govt goes by seniority principle

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 11

The NDA government, in its first move related to high-profile appointments, named Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi as the next Chief of the Army. He will assume charge on June 30 when the incumbent Army Chief General Manoj Pande’s extended tenure is scheduled to end.

Lt Gen Dwivedi is the senior-most Army officer. With his appointment, the government has followed the seniority principle. When General Pande was given extension in service, there was apprehension among the forces that the government might ignore the seniority principle for this key appointment.

In its previous tenure, the Modi government had extended the term of General Pande, who was to retire on May 31, by one month.

General Dwivedi has commanded the Northern Command of the Army. He was commissioned into the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles on December 15, 1984. During his long service spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of command, staff, instructional and foreign appointments. He commanded the 18th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He has commanded the 9 Corps of the Army, headquartered at Yol near Palampur in Himachal Pradesh.

General Dwivedi is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, National Defence College and US Army War College (USAWC). He was conferred ‘Distinguished Fellow’ in the coveted NDC equivalent course at the USAWC, Carlisle, US. He holds two master’s degrees in strategic studies and military science, besides MPhil in defence and management studies.

Hours after announcing its support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Janata Dal (United) expressed the need to reconsider the Agnipath scheme for inducting soldiers into the Indian Armed Forces.

In a significant development, hours after announcing its support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Janata Dal (United) expressed the need to reconsider the Agnipath scheme for inducting soldiers into the Indian Armed Forces. This move by JD(U) highlights ongoing concerns about the scheme’s impact on military recruitment and the welfare of soldiers.

A Call for Reassessment

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi emphasized the necessity for a fresh review of the Agnipath scheme. “There is a need to have a fresh rethink on the Agnipath scheme,” Tyagi stated in a news channel interview. He noted that since its announcement in June 2022, the scheme has caused dissatisfaction among soldiers and their families, as reflected in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

On Wednesday, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar attended an NDA meeting in the National Capital, where the party reaffirmed its support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Despite this backing, the party voiced concerns about the Agnipath scheme, which had been a contentious issue during the election campaign, with the Congress party even promising to abolish it if elected.

Parliamentary Recommendations

In December 2023, In December last year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, chaired by BJP MP Jual Oram, recommended that families of Agniveers—recruits under the scheme—who die in the line of duty should receive the same benefits as families of regular soldiers. The current rules do not provide pension benefits for the families of Agniveers, unlike the families of regular soldiers who receive lifetime pensions.

The report also highlighted the absence of assured employment or skill development programs for Agniveers, aside from limited job reservations in Central Armed Police Forces.

The Agnipath Scheme: An Overview

The Agnipath scheme recruits youth into the Armed Forces for four years. After this period, 25 percent of the recruits are retained as full-time soldiers, while the rest are released with a one-time financial package. For those retained, the initial four-year period does not count towards pension calculations or other financial benefits.

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is actively reviewing feedback on the Agniveers’ performance to adjust the scheme as needed for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Personnel department heads from all three services are involved in this ongoing assessment.

Concerns and Proposals for Change

The Army is particularly concerned about the declining number of recruits, projecting a significant shortfall by the end of this decade unless immediate steps are taken. The continuous deployment of personnel in Eastern Ladakh since May 2020’s skirmishes has exacerbated this issue.

Operational challenges due to personnel shortages have already been reported. In July 2023, it was first noted that the induction of Agniveers had led to concerns within the armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated in March that the government was “open for change” in the scheme.

Proposals under consideration include increasing the percentage of Agniveers retained to 50 percent and raising the maximum recruitment age from 21 to 23 years to expand the eligible candidate pool, particularly for technical roles in aviation, engineering, and electronics. Without these changes, there could be a significant dearth of personnel, affecting the army’s functional and operational capabilities.

Lt Gen Anil Puri, the then Additional Secretary of the DMA, predicted that the intake of Agniveers would rise to 1.25 lakh soon, up from the current 46,000. By 2026, approximately 1.75 lakh youths are expected to be recruited under the scheme.

The Political Impact

The Agnipath scheme has become a major issue in the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The INDIA Bloc has promised to scrap the scheme if elected. Feedback from serving personnel, regularly gathered by the DMA, indicates dissatisfaction with the current structure and implementation of the scheme.

The decline in soldier strength, projected to peak by the decade’s end, is a significant concern. Measures to address this shortfall are crucial to maintaining the sanctioned strength of personnel, which could otherwise take another decade to achieve.

Election Results and Voter Sentiment

The Agnipath scheme has also influenced election outcomes, causing significant losses for the BJP in areas known for high military recruitment. During the election campaign, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders criticized the scheme, portraying Agniveers as second-rate soldiers and promising to abolish the scheme if elected.

Election results showed a close contest between the BJP’s NDA and the Congress-led Indi-Alliance, particularly in postal ballots cast by soldiers and paramilitary forces. This indicates widespread discontent among military personnel regarding the scheme.

Opposition Promises and Future Prospects

Rahul Gandhi pledged to discard the Agnipath scheme if his party came to power, arguing that it discriminates against soldiers by denying some of them the same benefits as others. The opposition successfully turned the scheme into a major electoral issue, especially in states with high military recruitment like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not heavily emphasize the Agnipath scheme in their election campaigns, signalling a defensive stance on the issue. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff’s visits to regimental centers and positive remarks about Agniveers did little to sway public opinion.

Historical Context and Broader Implications

Former Army Chief MM Naravane had previously raised concerns about the Agnipath scheme, adding to the opposition’s narrative. Introduced in 2022 to keep the army youthful and combat-ready, the scheme aimed to create a large pool of trained soldiers available for immediate deployment during wartime.

However, in a country with high unemployment, the scheme faced backlash from rural youth who viewed the military as a key employment source. The election results and postal-ballot outcomes revealed that current soldiers also harboured reservations about the scheme.

Conclusion

The Agnipath scheme, designed to modernize and streamline the Indian Armed Forces, has faced significant criticism and challenges. With political promises to abolish the scheme and ongoing feedback from military personnel, the future of the Agnipath scheme remains uncertain. As the government and military leadership consider adjustments, the primary goal will be to balance operational effectiveness with the welfare and satisfaction of soldiers.

he Indian Army has reviewed the Agnipath scheme and has made several recommendations to improve it. These include increasing the percentage of Agniveers, who join regular service after completing 4 years, from the current 25 percent to 60-70 percent.

Review and Concerns

After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, NDA allies JDU and LJP (Ram Vilas) expressed concerns over the Agnipath scheme. They urged the government to review it. The Indian Army has now conducted a review to ensure smooth inclusion of Agniveers and maintain “operational efficiency.”

Major initiatives planned for the first 100 days

Suggestions for Improvement

Sources in the defence and security establishment mentioned that the usefulness of the Agnipath scheme is being evaluated by the armed forces and the defence ministry. The Indian Army suggested increasing the service period from 4 years to 7-8 years. Additionally, they recommended increasing the entry age for Agniveers in the technical field to 23 years. They also suggested that ex-gratia should be provided for disability during training and that exit management should be handled by a professional agency. Moreover, if an Agniveer dies in war, their family should receive a subsistence allowance.

Purpose and Concerns

The Agnipath scheme was initially launched to reduce the pension bill and boost youth recruitment in the armed forces. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of training and expertise among newly recruited soldiers. Sources indicate that if the recruitment from the Agnipath scheme is stopped, the Indian Army will face a significant shortage of personnel below officer rank. This shortage could take more than a decade to fill. Therefore, improving the Agnipath scheme is necessary to recruit soldiers faster and provide comprehensive training. This will help in creating a young force profile without compromising operational capabilities while reducing the pension bill.

ALSO READ

Rethinking the Agnipath Scheme: A Critical Examination

Addressing Experience Issues

A source mentioned, “The experience issue can be resolved with a slight change. Personnel recruited under the old recruitment scheme generally retired at the age of 35. Those who were promoted to the rank of Subedar Major retired at the age of 52. They were experienced and fully trained in every operational skill and drill.” By extending the service period and increasing the inclusion percentage, the Army aims to ensure that Agniveers gain sufficient experience and training.

In conclusion, the Indian Army’s recommendations for the Agnipath scheme focus on enhancing the inclusion and training of Agniveers to maintain operational efficiency and address concerns related to the lack of experience and expertise among new recruits.

It is intriguing that the Dept of Military Affairs waited for two years to launch an inquiry into manpower crunch resulting from the new scheme.

Maj Gen Ashok K Mehta (Retd)

Military Commentator

THE Agnipath scheme was a big issue for the Opposition during the recent election campaign. Referring to the scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Opposition of using the Army as a political weapon. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Now, NDA allies Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party in the Modi 3.0 government have sought a review of the scheme.

According to recent reports, the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) has launched an inquiry into manpower shortage resulting from the scheme. Why the DMA waited two years is intriguing, for it was clear as daylight that unacceptable deficiencies would accrue as the quota for recruitment was woefully inadequate in the backdrop of the rate of retirement, especially after the nearly three-year drought in recruitment amid the Covid-19 pandemic. But there was a method to the madness.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was seated among Service Chiefs when the transformative Agnipath scheme was announced in June 2022. Officers of the tri-service DMA spelt out its virtues: arguably a more youthful profile for below-officer rank personnel. Serving Chiefs, whose deep selection generally ensures conformity, later lauded the controversial reform.

Gen MM Naravane (retd), predecessor of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Manoj Pande, reportedly mentioned in his long-delayed book, Four Stars of Destiny, the shock and awe generated by Agnipath, which was described as ‘a bolt from the blue’ for the Air Force and the Navy. The Tour of Duty scheme, conceived earlier by the late Gen Bipin Rawat, was a short-term recruitment plan to be test-bedded for 5,000 personnel. Even before the DMA launched its investigation into Agnipath, I had begun to quiz officers and others about it. The negative views of veterans are well-known. I visited two infantry regimental centres — Gorkha and Garhwali — in Shillong and Lansdowne and the Signals Training Centre in Goa. Until recently, infantry regiments, barring Gorkhas, were only marginally deficient in manpower, but managing units on the LoC and LAC was not easy.

The Gorkhas were the ones to take a hit. Sixty per cent of the manpower for 38 Gorkha battalions comes from Nepal-domiciled Gorkhas (NDGs). Nepal had quietly rejected Agnipath, which was imposed unilaterally — without any consultation — though recruitment is in accordance with the 1947 tripartite treaty between the UK, India and Nepal.

Last month, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said India would act in its national interest and not at the behest of any other country, referring to Nepal. No one needs to tell Jaishankar that NDGs joining the Indian Army is not just recruitment but a strategic bonding and an Indian asset in Nepal. In the absence of recruitment for four years, many Gorkha battalions are nearly 100 soldiers short of the authorised strength. Further, the 40 per cent Indian-domiciled Gorkha (IDG) quota is undersubscribed: so, Garhwalis and Kumaonis are being recruited in lieu of Gorkhas. Last year, Gen Pande even considered disbanding Gorkha battalions.

In Shillong, Sabathu, Banaras and Lucknow, the Gorkha regimental centres are training Agniveers from other regiments. The truncated 31-week training programme is producing yet-to-be-tested short-service soldiers. Even in Goa, where they train communication specialists, no one spoke well of Agnipath. During the election campaign, anti-Agnipath protesters demanded a return to the old recruitment system, whose star attraction was pension. Even as the government is keen to project Agnipath’s resultant youthful profile, the real motive is the reduction of salary and pension bills to create funds for modernisation. In 2023-24, the capital outlay pertaining to defence modernisation and infrastructure development was Rs 1.63 lakh crore, while Rs 1.38 lakh crore were allocated for pensions.

No recruitment for nearly three years of pandemic created a void in the Army alone of 1,80,000 personnel. In addition, the Agniveer intake of around 42,000 (28,000 Army, 8,000 Navy and 6,000 IAF) annually tells a different story. The Army is recruiting for four years with 25 per cent retention from 28,000 personnel, which is 7,000, while nearly 70,000 will retire every year. On top of this, 2023 was the Army’s year of transformation and right-sizing. An additional 1,00,000 soldiers were to be retrenched in addition to the shortfall of 1,80,000 in 2023, plus the yearly depletion. By April last year, after the Integrated Defence Staff ordered a 10 per cent reduction in combat units, manpower deficiency had risen to alarming levels.

I raised the matter at a veterans’ seminar last year, which was presided over by Gen Pande. Stunned silence prevailed. No one in the armed forces is prepared to bell the cat. A Lieutenant General who dealt with manpower — he has superannuated but still can’t be named — went to meet the Joint Secretary concerned in the PMO to inform him about the alarming deficiency. When he spelt out the estimated shortfall, he was informed: “Sahib ko sab malum hai” (Sahib knows it all). Agnipath and Agniveer are believed to be the PM’s contribution to the vocabulary of transformational defence reforms. However, the scheme has severely undermined the operational capabilities of the armed forces. That’s why the DMA has launched an internal survey.

It should be our contribution to the East wind that blows in all directions to bridge the yawning happiness gap for all those left behind.

Lt Gen (Retd.) S.S. Mehta

Former Western Army Commander & Founder Member, Pune International Centre

THE clarion call for Atmanirbharta is for India to become a knowledge hub, discard the colonial mindset and move from a ‘labour arbitrage’ economy to a ‘knowledge arbitrage’ economy. Our destination is a ‘knowledge powerhouse’.

For this, we have the potential, the size and the demographic dividend, and now the growing economic muscle. With the prospect of a sustained 8 per cent GDP growth and the new-wave boost to 6G, chip design and chip manufacturing, new fuel, hydrogen and bio, wind and solar energy, a clutch of unicorns and startups — all have the potential to carve out a wave of environment-friendly and indigenous products. While 6G and chips will be strategic tools that would lead the digital revolution, it is also time to move away from just being a technology follower. It is time to rise to our potential and lead. We have to be a technology provider.

Corporates, both public and private, will need to invest with a mission-mode mindset. The greatest spinoff will be security, national and citizen; both add to make Comprehensive National Power.

Before that, a reality check. There are some critical sectors in the transition journey. As per the Global Knowledge Index report (2023) of the UNDP, our ranking among 133 countries in some critical areas is (the US’s corresponding ranking is in brackets): Pre-university education, 96th (ninth); technical and vocational education and training, 119th (second); higher education, 106th (fourth); research & development and innovation, 54th (fifth); information and communication technology or ICT, 83rd (second).

Innovation and development are the key. Innovation is a process of one idea building on another, resulting in a novel product, process or service, which is commercialised and put to practical use. Development is one step at a time in the realm of science and technology, striving to instil in future generations an innovative spirit. For this, there is a need to shed the ‘rote’ model to that of ‘inquiry and innovation’, which challenges the standard rote answer. Yes, 50+40 makes 90, but when a child says that the total is less than a hundred, he/she has given you an acceptable answer and more. Rote learning is the antithesis of innovation.

The Garden City of Bengaluru is our Silicon Valley, nay Colony. We labour, others do a markup, aggregate our work, and we pay for the finished product. It was good for starters; it was good to showcase our skill to the world. It got a boost with Y2K; that era is well past its shelf life. Bengaluru is changing, but ever so slowly. It needs to hasten its pace and be one of a dozen knowledge hubs (Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and many others) as we journey to 2047. Bengaluru needs to upgrade itself as the ‘Chip Net Integration Capital’ and lead the way to be the next-wave Silicon Hub.

Constraints notwithstanding, we need to build a comprehensive and rewarding innovation system to harness the talent of our GenNext. We have it in abundance at every level. We need to find ways to tap it. Untapped genius is a national loss. GenNext awaits opportunities to be tapped. For when they get them, not just India, entire humanity will benefit.

GenNext, wherever it may be, outside India or on MNC campuses within, has untiringly and repeatedly proven that its contribution is world-class. Don’t rein it in; loosen the reins and empower it. Get rid of rote learning. How to think is more important than being told what to think.

For the Knowledge Powerhouse Mission, five initiatives are essential. First, raise the quality of education. The National Education Policy (NEP) is a start, but its implementation is slow and it does not have the mechanism to learn and adapt. ‘One size fits all’ is not workable. NEP as a scaffolding is fine. That’s it. It will enable pan-India student and labour mobility. Beyond that, states need to innovate to suit their needs and then execute plans. Second, reduce the bureaucratic control over science and technology to facilitate an environment of easy funding that challenges the status quo, encourages creativity and rewards innovation. Third, improve law enforcement to check IPR (intellectual property rights) pilferage and theft. Fourth, introduce accountability for grant applications, with linkages to job promotion and citizen wellbeing as a part of proposals for the grant/subsidy. Fifth, create norms to kindle the animal spirits in corporates.

A genuinely Indian, globally marketable product has evaded us for too long. It could be a product or a service. The 6G mission is a very good start.

Interestingly, the World Bank had suggested a four-pillar framework that analyses the rationale of human capital-based economies:

n An educated and skilled labour force is required to establish a strong knowledge-based economy.

n A dense and modern information infrastructure that provides easy access to ICT resources to overcome the barrier of high transaction costs.

n An effective innovation system to support a high level of new technology, keep up with the latest and deploy it for the domestic economy.

n An institutional regime that supports incentives and encourages entrepreneurship.

Now, with the basic building blocks in place, we need to recalibrate and integrate a five-fold path. First, within the scaffolding of NEP, develop and execute state solutions. Second, add depth to higher education — quantum computing, photonics, chip design and the like. Third, upskill for chip manufacturing and other knowledge generators at all levels in the value chain. Fourth, relentlessly pursue our innovation mission in 6G. R&D and innovation places you on the global high table, setting standards and specifications. Fifth, adopt Industry 4.0 and harness 3D printing.

Quoting Mao Zedong, TN Ninan said in his recent article in The Tribune, “The East wind prevails over the West wind” and “in the global power balance — the East wind is blowing harder than before.” He is right.

However, as the world’s largest democracy located East, we in India need to make a stronger contribution to the East wind. A globalisation of Indian thought — non-aggressive, benign, non-threatening, sharing and caring — blowing East and West — with knowledge as the legal tender. A renaissance, not a revolution, a tide that raises all boats, within and without.

With the Indian contribution of the concept of ‘zero’, our wind blew East and West. Imagine where we would be without it. Now, it is time to generate the next wave — knowledge.

China’s Deng Xiaoping said in 1987, “The Middle East has its oil, China has its Rare Earths”. Come 2047, GenNext should be confident of saying: “… and India has its knowledge”.

It should be our contribution to the East wind that blows in all directions to bridge the yawning happiness gap for all those left behind.

Foreign elements pose renewed challenge

THE tragic incident in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, where a bus carrying pilgrims was attacked by terrorists, resulting in the loss of nine lives, underscores a renewed and disturbing wave of terror in the region. The attackers, armed with AK-47s and M4 carbines, targeted the bus driver, causing the vehicle to plunge into a gorge. Intelligence reports indicate a shift from local to foreign terrorism in the Valley, with nearly 80 foreign terrorists currently operating in the area. This poses a significant challenge for security forces, as the foreign elements bring a new level of sophistication and brutality. The use of advanced weaponry in the Reasi attack is an indicator of this escalating threat. The broader implications of this attack are profound as it disrupts the peace and stability of J&K and also instils fear among local residents and visitors.

Even as the swift deployment of security forces and the launch of a comprehensive search operation demonstrate a proactive approach, the incident calls for a deeper examination of security protocols, especially in vulnerable areas frequented by civilians. The recent uptick in terrorist activities, including ambushes on military vehicles and attacks on civilians, signals a strategic effort by terrorist groups to destabilise the region and undermine the government’s efforts to restore normalcy, including the democratic process. In this challenging environment, the role of local communities and village defence guards becomes crucial. Their prompt efforts to rescue bus victims underline the need to strengthen community-based mechanisms as they can serve as a vital line of defence against attacks.

As J&K navigates these turbulent times, the government must enhance security measures and foster a sense of unity and resilience among the populace. Terrorism must not be allowed to derail the aspirations of the local people.