5th Dr. HGV Reddy Memorial Lecture by Nitin Pai on Monday, December 26th
Dear Reader,
Hope you are doing well. In this edition, we bring to you our latest work on regulating futuristic technology, developments in the India-China border dispute in the past week, delay behind India’s defence university and theatre commands, initiatives in the Indo-Pacific for Quad to focus on, China’s strategy in the Indian subcontinent, and green technology for India’s economic growth.
5th Dr. HGV Reddy Memorial Lecture by Nitin Pai on Monday, December 26th
Dr. HGV Reddy was a passionate bureaucrat and a man of many accomplishments. He headed multiple prominent public institutions, such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bhadravati Iron and Steel, NGEF, MSIL, the Coffee Board, and the Handloom Corporation. Apart from his multiple professional achievements, he was deeply involved in the development of Bangalore as we know it today. He was the founder-secretary of Bangalore International Centre, president of Bangalore Club, as well as the captain of Bangalore Golf Club.
Every year, his children, Vani Reddy, Latha Reddy, and Vijay Chandru, organise a memorial lecture on his birth anniversary in his remembrance. This year, Nitin Pai (Director, Takshashila Institution) will be the speaker at the event, hosted by the Takshashila Institution and the HGV Family at our Bengaluru office.
Concentration of Tech Power in Modern World
Regulators all over the world are having a tough time in taking policy decisions on new and fast-developing technology with existing instruments like antitrust and consumer laws. In his column in the LiveMint, Nitin Pai warns against the dangers of concentrating tech power in the hands of the few and its implications for regulators:
Many technologies like brain implants, gene editing, artificial intelligence tools that can generate deepfakes or spacecraft that mine celestial bodies affect all of humanity, but given the particular circumstances of history, are influenced by American entrepreneurs and governed by US law. It is possible to argue that it was always this way. But the difference is that the world was not always this way. Interconnectedness makes a difference. The apps I can use and the features those apps have are controlled by the management of a few big corporations in the United States and they, in turn, are bound by US law. I have no say in this, even notionally, except to choose not to use the technology. That’s not easy, because you need those apps to carry out the most basic functions of daily life.
Although national regulators and lawmakers have stepped in, they are mostly reacting to developments. This means their response will be reflexive and hew to their political and regulatory cultures.
Defence University & Theatre Commands Need Political Push
Apart from boosting domestic defence manufacturing capacity, India’s military effectiveness requires fulfilling two other initiatives - defence university and theatre commands. In his column for The Print, Lt. Gen. Prakash Menon writes that political will must back these initiatives as well:
Since a defence minister with a military background may not be currently practical, the option of forming a small collective multi-disciplinary body—like a permanent military commission within MoD—could be the way forward. The commission can then be tasked to examine and propose solutions to issues like IDU and theatre commands. From now on, one should expect that several matters pertaining to theatre commands, some of them unforeseeable, could arise. A dedicated commission will be useful as it will relieve the people running the affairs of the day and allow them to concentrate on their primary responsibilities. It should be apparent that defence reforms are not feasible without political oversight and push.
Quad Needs an Outcomes-Focused Approach
Recent initiatives by Quad reflect a strategic congruence among the four countries in terms of the desire to shape a “free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific” region. However, in an op-ed for the Indo-Pacific Circle, Manoj Kewalramani argues that Quad must adopt an outcomes-focused approach in the maritime domain, while fast-tracking the IPMDA, to ensure that the initiatives bear fruit:
This is because domain awareness is merely the beginning of what should be a multi-pronged agenda for the Quad’s maritime security and governance effort. Closer coast guard cooperation among the Quad countries, maritime law enforcement equipment development and training support for littorals in the Indian Ocean Region and the use of shiprider agreements to boost law enforcement capacities of countries in the region is the way forward.
In addition, Quad countries should engage in more active maritime health diplomacy, leveraging the strengths of partner states in geographies that are of primary interest to each of them. Such an approach can allow for expanded presence for each of them while leveraging each other’s capabilities and social capital. For instance, the navies of India and Australia could work together to engage in health outreach and humanitarian and disaster management efforts in the South Pacific and the Western Indian Ocean region.
‘China’s Economic Might & South Asian Hedging’
Manoj Kewalramani appeared on The U.S. China Nexus Podcast from Georgetown University last week to discuss China’s engagement in the Indian subcontinent and the strategies that regional states employ to hedge and balance the influence of great powers:
Can India Grow & Green the Planet?
To become a developed nation by 2047, India needs to create more than 20 million jobs each year and grow by over 10% p.a. but all this has to be achieved with minimal impact on the environment. In last Wednesday’s episode of All Things Policy, Sridhar Krishna, Anupriya Mohta & Sudisha Mishra discuss how we can leverage Michael Porter’s framework for the competitive advantage of nations and turn this adversity into a great opportunity to be the country that ‘greens’ the planet through global leadership in Green Technology:
GCPP Ask Me Anything Session on December 21st at 7 p.m.
The new cohort of the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy (GCPP) programme starts in January 2023. Join us for an Ask Me Anything Session on Wednesday, December 21st from 7 to 8 p.m. to clarify your doubts and learn more about the awesome course experience!
Applications for PGP Programme are Open
The Post-Graduate Programme in Public Policy (PGP Programme) is a 48-week multi-disciplinary, specialised programme, designed for students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical and empirical approaches to public policy. The curriculum includes courses on constitutional structure, software of public administration, ethical reasoning, political economy, international relations & foreign affairs, economics, and quantitative analysis in public policy. The students will also be required to undertake a Capstone project in their interest area.
The PGP Programme is suitable for working professionals who are in the public policy space or are looking to explore a career in public policy while pursuing current occupations. Prior work experience of 2 years is a desirable criterion for admission. The PGP programme will equip students with the necessary skills of policymaking, analysis, persuasion and communication in their desired career choice.
That’s all from us this week. Take care!