India – Germany cooperation on Innovation

A Vision Statement was recently agreed upon by the Indian Prime Minister and the German Chancellor to increase collaboration on innovation and technology. As compared to other agreements made between the world’s two largest economies, it is by and away the most extensive one.

The Vision Document: What Is It About:

• The initiative’s primary goals are to strengthen relationships between businesses and encourage collaboration in the research and development of cutting-edge technologies like AI and 6G.
• The two countries’ shared democratic ideals and respect for fundamental human rights serve as the guiding principles for its Partnership, the ultimate goal of which is to benefit mankind.
• The Inter-Governmental Agreement on “Cooperation in Scientific Research and Technological Development,” signed between India and Germany in May 1974, formalises the two countries’ longstanding partnership in the realms of science and technology, research, and innovation.

Which Topics Will Be Discussed During the Meeting?

• India and Germany formed the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Berlin for the 6th IGC, and both leaders addressed the partnership’s development (Inter-Governmental Consultations).
• A political compass and rudder for strong connections in climate action and SDGs, the GSDP is an overarching collaboration (Sustainable Development Goals).
• As part of this agreement, Germany will increase its development cooperation portfolio in India by €10 billion, or almost $11 billion.
• About Green Hydrogen, the two nations have decided to work together.
• Since its formation in September 2022, the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Group has been working towards finalising an accompanying Action Plan.
• At the sixth IGC, India and Germany committed to collaborating on development projects in third countries via a process known as triangular development cooperation

These four initiatives, first announced in May 2022, are now at various phases of development:

• Rooted apical cuttings (RAC) technology is used to cultivate potato seeds in Cameroon.
• Agricultural and Food System Incubator Programs for Women in Malawi
• Ghana: Establishing Bamboo-Based Businesses for Long-Term Employment and Financial Stability
• Planning, monitoring, and evaluating social programme interventions in Peru through a prototype GIS portal developed by the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion of Peru (MIDIS).
• A new member of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Germany, has joined the group (IPOI).
• It was hypothesised that Germany and India may work together to construct six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy.

Where can I get the most important information about Germany

• Germany’s borders include nine other countries: France, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Poland.
• Its location is ideal, since it is just in the middle of Europe, between the North Sea and the Baltic.
• Forest: the Black Forest, in southwestern Germany near the Swiss border, is the country’s biggest and most renowned woodland region. Rivers: the Danube, the Rhine, the Ems, the Weser, the Elbe, and the Order. The Danube, one of Europe’s longest rivers, begins here.
• Germany’s government is a parliamentary federal republic, with the President serving as both the country’s chief executive and head of state.
• The Ruhr, Hannover, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, and the Stuttgart metropolitan areas are the country’s primary industrial centres.

Mission Shakti

The Supreme Court has requested further details from the government about Mission Shakti, a programme designed to ensure the wellbeing of women and promote their independence.

This comes after worries were voiced about a potential dearth of protection officers available to deal with instances of domestic abuse.

To What Extent Do These Worries Relate to Domestic Violence?

• A government document submitted to the court states that there are now 4,44,000 incidents of domestic abuse throughout 801 districts.
• It is unknown how many of these districts genuinely have protection officers to properly serve survivors, despite the fact that most of them have one-stop facilities to aid victims under Mission Shakti.
• Appointing a protection officer is required by law under Section 8 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005.
• Women protection officers are especially important in the eyes of the law. They aid victims in filing complaints, assisting the police with information, offering immediate protection and support, educating victims on their legal rights, and standing by them while they go through the legal process.

What is this thing called “Mission Shakti,” anyway?

• Mission Shakti is a programme run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development with the goal of improving protections and opportunities for women.
• Its goal is to make women full participants in nation-building via convergence and citizen-ownership, realising the government’s promise to “women-led development” by doing so.
• Sub-Schemes: It’s broken down into two smaller programmes: Sambal and Samarthya. The “Sambal” project focuses on women’s protection, while the “Samarthya” scheme seeks to improve their status in society.
  • Sambhal: The ‘Sambal’ sub-scheme combines the previous One Stop Center (OSC), Women Helpline (WHL), and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) schemes with the addition of Nari Adalats, which are collectives of women working to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in public and private spheres.
  • For the ‘Samarthya’ sub-scheme, the components formerly part of the ‘Ujjwala,’ ‘Swadhar Greh,’ and ‘Working Women Hostel’ programmes have been included with some tweaks.
  • Formerly separate programmes, like the National Creche Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which fall under the ICDS umbrella, are now included under Samarthya.
  • The Samarthya Program has been updated to include gap funding for economic empowerment.