Prof.

Kapil Ketan

INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM

Lecture: Geopolitics in Modern India
Purpose: The purpose of this lecture is to Provide detail knowledge and information
about the geopolitical situation of India and its relations with other country.
Introduction

• India is the 7th largest country with an area 3,287,263 km2 and largest population of
1.45 billion surpasses China in 2023. India got its independence from British
colonizers in 1947 but India was divided into two parts (Pakistan and India). Later
in 1971 Pakistan was also divided into two parts (Pakistan and Bangladesh).
Issues with Pakistan
• The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and
Pakistan, arranged and negotiated by the World Bank. It was signed in Karachi
on 19 September 1960 by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then
Pakistan President Ayub Khan.
• While control over the waters of the three "western rivers “the Indus, Chenab and
Jhelum with a mean annual flow of 99 billion m3 to Pakistan. India has about 20%
of the total water carried by the Indus system while Pakistan has 80%.
• India is undertaking three projects to utilize its full share of the eastern rivers,
Shahpurkandi Dam on the Ravi River, Ravi-Beas link in Punjab, Ujh Dam project
on Ujh River in Jammu and Kashmir.
• In 2023, India officially notified Pakistan to renegotiate the treaty, alleging that it
was repeatedly indulging in actions that are against the spirit and objective of the
treaty.
Kashmir Issue
• India was divided into India and Pakistan in 1947. Princely state of Jammu and
Kashmir has a Muslim majority but it was ruled by Hindu Dogra king Maharaja
Hari Singh.
• On 26 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed off the instrument of accession
and Jammu and Kashmir joined the Union of India. On 22nd Oct Kabalis attacked
the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
• After 1965 in 1971 Indian army invaded only Shia majority region of Gilgit Baltistan
in Pakistan. Battle of Turtuk took place between Dec 8-14 and overtook the
Turtuk Tehsil from Pakistan.
Prof. Kapil Ketan

Punjab Issue
• After the division of Pakistan in 1971 they decidedly to revenge it. Next year in
1972 Punjab state elections, Congress won and Akali Dal was defeated. In 1973,
Akali Dal put forward the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to demand more autonomic
powers to the state of Punjab.
• The Congress government considered the resolution a secessionist document and
rejected it. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale then joined the Akali Dal to launch the
Dharam Yudh Morcha in 1982, to implement Anandpur Sahib resolution.
• In order to fulfil their demands, they started violence against people specially
Hindus. It was beginning of terrorism in Punjab. Finally, on 1 June 1984,
Operation Blue Star was launched to remove him and the armed militants from
the Golden Temple complex.
• Between 1987 and 1991, Punjab under an ineffective President's rule. Elections
were eventually held in 1992. A new Congress government was formed under
Beant Singh then Chief Minister (1992-95) of Punjab and it gave the Chief of the
Punjab Police K.P.S. Gill a free hand.

Issues with China

Aksai Chin issue
• Issues with China started when Chinese Premier Mao Tse Dong overtook Tibet in
1951. Later China Utilized the Aksai Chin region which finally leads to 1962 war.
• Aksai Chin is one of the two large disputed border areas between India and China.
The line that separates Indian-administered areas of Ladakh from Aksai Chin is
known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Aksai Chin is situated between Tibet
and Xinjiang two largest westernmost provinces of China.
Arunachal Pradesh
• The sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso (1683 – 1706) was born in Tawang. Since
then Tawang becomes the center of Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh. The
Tawang monastery was founded by founded in 1680–1681.
Tibet Issue
• In 1950 Tibet was an independent country in central Asia. Tibet came under the
control of People’s Republic of China (PRC) after the Government of Tibet
accepted the Seventeen Point Agreement under Chinese pressure in October
1951.
Prof. Kapil Ketan

• In 1951 Tibet was divided into three provinces U-Sang, Kham, Qamdo in 1959
Chinese dictator Mao divided Tibet and merged in the other provinces of China.
This leads to the uprising in Tibet against Chinese establishment.
• Earlier in 1956, armed conflict between Tibetan guerillas and the PLA started in the
Kham and Amdo regions, which had been subjected to Socialist reform. The
guerilla warfare later spread to other areas of Tibet and lasted through 1962.
• In 1959 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso fled to India along with 100,000 Tibetan
refugees and Prime Minister Nehru welcomed and allowed them to settle in
Dharmashala (Himachal Pradesh) in India. Today many Tibetan running Tibetan
governments in exile from India.

Economic growth of China

• In 1978, Chinese President Deng Xiao Peng privatized the Chinese economy.
Since, then China is growing dramatically in manufacturing sector.
• Chinese economy is fastest economy since then. It is the largest manufacturing
hub of world with almost 54% manufacturing output of world.
• China in the global economy is the largest economy in terms of PPP (Purchasing
Power Parity) and 2nd largest in GDP Nominal after USA.
Importance of Sea Routes (Gwadar)
• Gwadar city and port is situated in South Western part of Pakistan in
Baluchistan province near Iran border.
• The Gwadar Port as a project aimed at improving regional and economic
cooperation and will be hub connecting the region’s land and maritime routes.
Malacca Strait
• The Straits of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 580 mi (930 km) in length,
between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The strait is
the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
• China is increasing its investments in Chittagong (Bangladesh), Mandalay in
Burma, Humbantota in Srilanka, Gwadar in Pakistan. China is reducing its
dependence on Malacca by investing various new ports in South East Asian
countries and China is creating its naval bases in South East Asian countries.
Prof. Kapil Ketan

India’s growth in Economy

• In this situation India is growing very fast. Very recently Modi government
announced that Indian economy has crossed 3.75 trillion USD and by 2024 it will
cross 4 trillion USD.
• Our exports are increased to 770 billion USD and we are hoping that by 2030 India
will exports 2 trillion USD to other world countries. In India we have highest
number of younger population than any other countries including China.
India foreign investments
• Maharashtra and Karnataka were the frontrunners in attracting FDI inflows in FY
2023. Maharashtra emerged as the top recipient of FDI with a total of US$14.80
billion, followed by Karnataka (US$10.42 billion), Delhi (US$7.53 billion), and
Gujarat (US$4.71 billion).
• Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal were other states
that also performed well in attracting FDI. Notably, Uttar Pradesh has emerged
as an attractive FDI destination, with investment proposals worth US$400 billion
received during the recently concluded UP Global Investor’s Summit 2023.
Indian Geopolitical ties
Japan relations with India
• Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working
Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World”, a
joint statement that would serve as a guide post for the “new era in Japan-India
relations.”
• On March 19 2022, During a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New
Delhi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged a 5 trillion yen ($42
billion) investment in India over the next five years.
• In Military The two nations have frequently held joint military exercises and co-
operate on technology. India and Japan concluded a security pact on 22 October
2008.
India Taiwan Ties
• Semiconductors are widely used in manufacturing electronics devices like
transistors, diodes, sensors, integrated circuits. Semiconductors are widely used
in all electronic devices, like mobile phones, digital cameras, communication
devices, trains, ATMs, etc.
Prof. Kapil Ketan

• Foxconn is ready to invest in India having its headquarter in Taiwan. India emerges
exporter from importer of Semiconductor.
• By 2020 Taiwan was the unmatched leader of the global semiconductor industry
with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) alone accounting
for more than 50% of the its market. Taiwan semiconductor sector accounted for
US$115 billion.
Role of India in Russia-Ukraine War
• Russia Ukraine war started on 24 February 2022 and ongoing. India utilized this
opportunity which led to a major spike in demand for Indian wheat. Exports in
April touched 14.71 lmt, more than 500 per cent higher that the 2.42 lmt exported
in April last year.17-Oct-2022.
India in Suez
• In 2023, Egyptian President Mr. “Abdul Fatah Al Sisi” offered land to India on both
shore of Suez Canal. The presence of India in the Suez Canal Economic Zone
(SCZONE) would enhance India’s footprints in the Mediterranean region.
• Around 50 Indian companies are investing 3.15 billion USD across various sectors
 like spanning chemicals, energy, textiles, agriculture, retail. It gives access to
global trade routes.
Hormuz Strait
• On March 16th 2023, India on Thursday welcomed the agreement between Saudi
Arabia and Iran to revive full-fledged diplomatic ties, saying that New Delhi has
always advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences.
• The Strait of Hormuz is situated between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates
and Musandam, of Oman. The strait is about 90 nautical miles (167 km) long,
with a width varying from about 52 nautical miles (96 km) to 21 nautical miles (39
km).
• A third of the world's liquefied natural gas and almost 25% of total global oil
consumption passes through the strait, making it a highly important strategic
location for international trade.