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 m 3 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 22 nd
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.