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Growth: Imperatives for India"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy Kiran Bhatt\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-VP5HAvdaM\/YRfZBhjpuQI\/AAAAAAAAIA4\/c6gJUTSqITcvC82i-G6ngW4nPICzyToSACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1600\/IndraStra-Global-MAIN.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"FDI and Economic Growth: Imperatives for India\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"900\" data-original-width=\"1600\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-VP5HAvdaM\/YRfZBhjpuQI\/AAAAAAAAIA4\/c6gJUTSqITcvC82i-G6ngW4nPICzyToSACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h360\/IndraStra-Global-MAIN.png\" title=\"FDI and Economic Growth: Imperatives for India\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe second half of the twentieth century witnessed the growth of Multinational and Transnational Corporations (MNCs and TNCs) based mainly in the developed western world. However, the extensive growth of these corporations led to the emergence of fear in the developing countries, a majority of whom were newly independent of decades of colonial oppression. These MNCs and TNCs carried out economic activities across borders, this raised the fear of losing sovereignty of the host nations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EOne of the popular ways in which foreign firms are allowed to indulge in the economic activities of a nation is through the process of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). According to Frank (1980), “\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EFDI is the flow of equity capital into a subsidiary where the foreign investor (or TNC\/MNC) has a controlling interest\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.” The\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=0801823439\u0026amp;rlz=1C1CHZN_enIN948IN948\u0026amp;oq=0801823439\u0026amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.2134j0j7\u0026amp;sourceid=chrome\u0026amp;ie=UTF-8\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFDI\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;as a process is a beneficial mechanism for both the countries, the source\/home country as well as the host country. The inflow of capital benefits countries with limited domestic resources. The increased capital inflow when coupled with the introduction of newer technologies can be diffused with the local economy. This could result in the enhanced efficiency of a particular industry. Thus, when a country aims to increase its FDI inflow, it also boosts the manufacturing and service sectors which can employ both skilled and manual labor. This\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.investindia.gov.in\/team-india-blogs\/foreign-direct-investments-top-50-countries-india-2014-20\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Erise in employmen\u003C\/b\u003Et\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;translates into income which enhances the economy of a country.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe Indian Scenario\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIn the Indian scenario too, the FDI has been attributed a major role in economic development, wherein the volume of FDI inflow and level of economic development are positively related to each other. Coming out of the harsh experience of colonial oppression for nearly two hundred years, the Indian government was reluctant to allow FDI inflow during the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/38222942-fdi-in-india\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Einitial decades\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;after gaining independence in 1947. But since then, there has been a gradual shift towards liberalizing the economy where 100 percent FDI is allowed in some selected sectors. The FDI as a process is beneficial for a developing country like India as it helps in the transfer of technology from developed economies, brings in more capital investments, enhances the labor market and employment opportunities to name a few. Further, the governments also benefit through the increase in tax revenue generated by the economic activities initiated by the FDI inflow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAfter gaining independence in 1947, India adopted a socialistic pattern of economic development. The policy was known for its methods of centralized planning, government control, permits, and regulations. The economic policy was largely influenced by the Soviet Union, which was the primary factor to follow the five-year planning method. The collapse of the Soviet Union which was India’s largest trading partner and the hike in oil prices due to the Gulf War resulted in the balance of payment crisis. As a result of which India went to the International Monetary Fund seeking a bailout loan, which demanded reforms in return. In 1991, under the prime ministership of P.V. Narasimha Rao, measures of economic liberalization were initiated, moving away from the protectionist policies that were being followed post-independence.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EImpact of economic liberalization on the FDI inflow\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia had limited FDI inflow prior to the economic reforms. But the reforms due to the 1990-91 crisis bought in the liberalization process. The FDI inflow into India reached historic heights after the reforms. This increase in the inflow also contributed to economic growth significantly. India has successfully emerged as one of the economic superpowers in Asia post the liberalization measures. The substantial increase in FDI inflow in the post-reform period can be claimed as a positive spillover of the economic reforms.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe FDI is seen as one of the important tools to facilitate the growth of an economy. But is there a relationship between the FDI inflow a country receives and the relationship between the source and the host country? There are two possibilities of looking into the matter – one, how do the relationships help to get the FDI; and the other, how does the FDI help in building up the relations. Mechanisms like bilateral investment treaties, bilateral tax treaties, and bilateral political relations can be used to verify the existence of any such relations between the volume of FDI inflow and the kind of relations that the countries share.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EBilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) provide a binding commitment of protection and satisfactory treatment of foreign investors which function as\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177%2F0256090916666681\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ecatalysts\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eto reduce the risk perceived by the source country and increases the inflow for the host country. Generally, these BITs signed by the partnering nations provide the source or home country a substitute for improved institutional quality as it might take a longer time to improve the quality of institutions and policies. Even in India’s case, the BITs have played a favorable role and have contributed to the rising level of FDI inflow into India in the post-liberalization period.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe existence of a conducive business environment is one of the requirements for attracting FDI inflows. The countries which aim to increase their share in the world FDI inflow opt to redesign their tax structure and system which brings global competitiveness. The\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09638199.2014.960442\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBilateral Tax Treaties\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;are one such mechanism whose implementation solves the problem of international double taxation. Under section 90 of the Indian income tax act, India has entered into Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements or bilateral tax treaties with other countries. The major objective of such an initiative is the protection of taxpayers against double taxation. This acts as an incentive to encourage FDI inflow in the economy. The absence of such a treaty could have proven to be a hurdle for the free flow of capital and transfer of technology from various parts of the world.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe relationship between the volume of FDI and political relations is\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/1331677X.2020.1755880\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ebidirectional\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. Firstly, when countries are having a cordial political relationship among them, the situation is supportive of trade and FDI exchange. Secondly, some large entrepreneurs and corporations exert pressure on their home country to allow FDI inflow or outflow by enhancing the relations with the desired country. The second case is an example wherein FDI can be claimed as a catalyst to develop relationships with new countries. Further, the signing of the BITs between states are also dependent on the political and diplomatic relationships between the states.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWhere does India Stand?\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe Asian countries are some of the largest shareholders in world trade. In terms of attracting FDI, India and China are seen as fierce competitors over the years. Though India is consistently performing well in getting its share in the world FDI inflow, several South and Southeast Asian economies have emerged as strong competitors. The lower labor costs and lucrative domestic markets were seen as India’s main competitive advantage. But the aforementioned economies are also developing the advantage. Though the Indian government has taken several measures to improve the FDI inflow, there are a few areas where India needs to focus on in order to stay in the race.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe impact of COVID-19 has resulted in economic instability, both domestically and globally. It was during the pandemic; the Indian Government came up with certain amendments to the FDI Policy. The 2020\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/dipp.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/pn3_2020.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAmendment\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eaims at curbing the opportunistic takeovers or acquisition of Indian Companies suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although, the changes do not indicate any specific country, the clause which mandates prior approval for investors hailing from countries that share land boundaries is interesting. Of the seven countries that India shares its land borders, China is the largest investor. Hence, this particular amendment appears to be targeting Chinese investment, especially ownership of portfolio investors who typically target to invest in listed securities. Given the Sino-India border skirmishes, the move holds political motive too.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIt is amidst the pandemic, India launched its\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fdi.finance\/atmanirbhar-bharat\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAtmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;initiative to attain self-reliance. The campaign calls for developing the local manufacturing sector through campaigns such as ‘vocal for local’. Although in the long term, India aims to reduce its dependence on foreign countries for products, in the short term, FDI still plays a crucial role. The aim is not to curb the FDI inflow but rather develop manufacturing capacity at the domestic level. This would help India to cut down its imports while increasing its exports and capture a strong role in the global economy. The government sees FDI as an essential tool for growth, which is evident by the change in FDI cap for several industries including Defence Production. The overall objective should aim at the marketing of Make-in-India Products and promoting larger investments in areas such as infrastructure, skill enhancement, and effective utilization of technologies into small businesses to improve profitability. This could be beneficial for the source country through increased returns on investments as well as the host country due to the overall development of industries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia has witnessed enormous growth in the past two decades. But there is an issue with the growth that has been experienced. One can see that the resources in the urban areas are being over-utilized while the rural area is being neglected. The government has to come up with reforms to ensure balanced economic growth, such as incentivizing the foreign companies which are ready to invest in tier two and three cities. Another major issue that might hinder the smooth inflow of FDI into the country is, managing the political class. The countries which are coming from abroad require political support either directly or indirectly. In many cases, foreign investors are required to have good skill of persuasion to please the political class. The common ground between the foreign investors and the government is required to assess the requirements and bring in the necessary reforms which result in an increased inflow of FDI into the economy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe Indian government has taken several policy initiatives to encourage FDI inflow into the Indian economy. In the initial years post-independence, the government largely followed a protectionist attitude with limited opportunity for FDI in few selected sectors, but inflow is seen to gradually increase from the 1970s. With the onset of the liberalization era, the FDI inflow grew manifold, with a substantial increase witnessed during the early 2000s. The increase was halted during the Global Financial Crisis but later has started to recover. FDI might be one of the important sources and forces behind the economic development of India but it is not the sole solution for several other issues like poverty, unemployment, and other socio-economic issues.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout the Author:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EKiran Bhatt\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E (ORCID: \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0510-797X\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E0000-0002-0510-797X\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) is a Masters's Student at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMNbQ3gow9aLWAQ?hl=en-IN\u0026amp;gl=IN\u0026amp;ceid=IN:en\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGoogle News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/flipboard.com\/@indrastra\/indrastra-global-ctkeo059z\" rel=\"nofollow\" 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https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EREPUBLISH: Republish our articles online or in print for free if you follow these guidelines. https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/p\/republish-us.html\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/5520855033889393777"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/5520855033889393777"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2021\/08\/FDI-Economic-Growth-Imperatives-for-India.html","title":"FDI and Economic Growth: Imperatives for India"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-g-VP5HAvdaM\/YRfZBhjpuQI\/AAAAAAAAIA4\/c6gJUTSqITcvC82i-G6ngW4nPICzyToSACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h360-c\/IndraStra-Global-MAIN.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Manipal, Karnataka, India"},"georss$point":{"$t":"13.352384 74.7867838"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-14.957849836178845 39.630533799999995 41.662617836178846 109.9430338"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-1934851316661733948"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-14T09:47:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-14T09:47:00.284-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Coronavirus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Livelihood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Think Tank"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Lessons for the Informal Sector from COVID-19"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy Alessia Destefanis, Tetsushi Sonobe, Dil Rahut, and Jeetendra Prakash Aryal\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1LyNAjH_ewY\/YRfIgDrkM6I\/AAAAAAAAIAw\/rg6n0eHQ_V4PCeQjBlQSHrplfqYb9om6ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s960\/india-4826279_960_720.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"640\" data-original-width=\"960\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1LyNAjH_ewY\/YRfIgDrkM6I\/AAAAAAAAIAw\/rg6n0eHQ_V4PCeQjBlQSHrplfqYb9om6ACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h426\/india-4826279_960_720.jpg\" title=\"Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EImage by Thomas G. from Pixabay\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe informal sector: A major source of livelihood\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe informal sector, which employs over 62% of the global population, is a fundamental source of livelihood for over 2 billion people (ILO 2020). Here, “employment” includes self-employment, and the informal sector refers to the part of the economy that is generally not monitored by a tax authority or other forms of government. Before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the informal sector accounted for 87.7%, 51.5%, and 55.7% of the population in low-, middle-, and high-income countries, respectively (ILO 2018a). The proportion was particularly high in low-income countries (ILO 2018b). A wide variation in the share of the total population employed in this sector was observed across regions in 2018 (Figure 1), with shares of 84% in sub-Saharan Africa and 82% in South Asia but 29% in Europe and Central Asia and 13% in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFigure 1: Regional Distribution of Employment in Informal Sectors\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--bhp1tQSU2E\/YRfG7lzJTgI\/AAAAAAAAIAY\/5z0U1R9OvjoeDUJ7r-Q3HmoaFtYAfeouQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s580\/Figure-1-Regional-Distribution-of-Employment-in-Informal-Sectors.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Figure 1: Regional Distribution of Employment in Informal Sectors\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"340\" data-original-width=\"580\" height=\"376\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/--bhp1tQSU2E\/YRfG7lzJTgI\/AAAAAAAAIAY\/5z0U1R9OvjoeDUJ7r-Q3HmoaFtYAfeouQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h376\/Figure-1-Regional-Distribution-of-Employment-in-Informal-Sectors.jpg\" title=\"Figure 1: Regional Distribution of Employment in Informal Sectors\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ENote: The modern informal sector uses both capital and labor and is organized in firms. The rudimentary informal sector uses only labor and is represented mostly by the self-employed.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESource: Loayza and Meza-Cuadra (2018).\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003ETemporary construction workers, daily agricultural laborers, domestic cleaners, small vendors, and tourist guides were among the most common informal employment activities. Figure 2 highlights that as the level of education increases, the percentage of the population employed in the informal sector declines dramatically. Informal sector employment is concentrated in rural areas: about 90% are in the informal sector in the agriculture sector, compared with only 57% in the industrial sector and 47% in the service sector. The percentage of females in the informal sector is lower than for males (63% male and 58% female), and the composition shows that 45% are self-employed or own-account workers, 36% are employees, and only 3% are employers.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFigure 2: Informal Employment by Education, Gender, and Sector\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w3TJQHNKHJw\/YRfHgEU_wBI\/AAAAAAAAIAg\/xq46gezuc-8nvIAuWCtmZl5ABU8CUaxPQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s580\/Figure-2-Informal-Employment-by-Education-Gender-and-Sector.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Figure 2: Informal Employment by Education, Gender, and Sector\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"390\" data-original-width=\"580\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-w3TJQHNKHJw\/YRfHgEU_wBI\/AAAAAAAAIAg\/xq46gezuc-8nvIAuWCtmZl5ABU8CUaxPQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h430\/Figure-2-Informal-Employment-by-Education-Gender-and-Sector.jpg\" title=\"VFigure 2: Informal Employment by Education, Gender, and Sector\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESource: ILO (2018b).\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EBoth self-employment and wage-employment in informal sectors generally do not require registration, and the skills and investment needed are minimal. Consequently, it is relatively easier to get entry into and exit from this sector, primarily for those who possess very low levels of education, training, and other economic resources. Nevertheless, employees in the informal sector in developing countries have been outside the purview of labor laws, insurance, pension, retirement benefits, and social protection schemes (Narula 2020). Furthermore, wages and returns have generally been low and experienced large variability (Binelli 2016; Meghir, Narita, and Robin 2015). Combined with a lack of endowments and savings, individuals in the informal sector have been socially vulnerable and facing the constant challenges of exploitation, health shocks, and retirement issues (Gidwani 2015). Not all individuals in the informal sector are poor and vulnerable; it is important to acknowledge the existence of socioeconomic heterogeneity.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe informal sector has suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIt is not surprising that the informal sector has been the most hard-hit during the pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the collapse of meager health systems and increased poverty through widespread job and earnings losses.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFigure 3: Impact of COVID-19 and Related Lockdowns on the Informal Sector\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; color: #0e101a; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mia_w8o-4Q4\/YRfHvKW0onI\/AAAAAAAAIAk\/z5DkEXww6PsnWYTp2dlcG9yGKzYY3RiXgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s580\/Figure-3-Impact-of-COVID-19-and-Related-Lockdowns-on-the-Informal-Sector.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Figure 3: Impact of COVID-19 and Related Lockdowns on the Informal Sector\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"290\" data-original-width=\"580\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mia_w8o-4Q4\/YRfHvKW0onI\/AAAAAAAAIAk\/z5DkEXww6PsnWYTp2dlcG9yGKzYY3RiXgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h320\/Figure-3-Impact-of-COVID-19-and-Related-Lockdowns-on-the-Informal-Sector.jpg\" title=\"Figure 3: Impact of COVID-19 and Related Lockdowns on the Informal Sector\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESource: ILO (2020).\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EFigure 3 shows that the lockdowns and declines in economic activities have severely affected 47% of the 2 billion people dependent on the informal sector. It shows further how the pandemic has impacted most of the individuals belonging to the informal sector in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. As a result of this pandemic, poverty will increase, making it difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030: in 2020, 131 million additional individuals fell below the poverty line, and 797 million will remain in poverty in 2030 (United Nations 2021). Nonetheless, global poverty could be even worse in the future as COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, and intervention is taking more time than anticipated. Globally, casual or temporary wage workers and even regular workers have lost their jobs regardless of industry, location, education, or social position. Among them, those individuals working in tourism, hotels, restaurants, and construction, as well as those employed as food vendors, have been the most hard-hit by lockdowns (Ferreira dos Santos et al. 2020). In addition, the COVID-19 job losses may increase gender inequality as women are less likely than men to recover to their pre-COVID-19 levels of livelihood and employment (Agarwal 2021; Dang and Viet Nguyen 2021). In the developing world, thus, the lives and livelihoods of informal-sector households, especially those headed by females, are being endangered by the pandemic.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWay forward\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EGlobally, the immediate response to COVID-19 was to keep social distance and to contain the virus with lockdown measures. In the informal sector, this individualistic approach has either paralyzed economic activities, endangered livelihoods, or failed to protect individuals, endangering lives and, hence, calling for the next response in casting a social safety net. Although some developing countries have social safety net programs, their implementation has in many cases been crippled by inefficient public delivery systems that are plagued by a lack of transparency (Chakrabarti, Kishore, and Roy 2016). This is far from surprising: it is very difficult for the government to reach out to vulnerable groups because most of them are in the informal sector, about which, by definition, the government has little knowledge.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ENonetheless, some notable successes have emerged recently. For instance, Pakistan’s Ehsaas (meaning “compassion” in Pakistani) is a very large social protection program that was created a year before the outbreak of COVID-19 and has proved to be excellent during the pandemic. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has also emerged as a successful program and aims to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural India by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Digitalization, transparency and accountability, integrity policy, impartiality, political neutrality, avoidance of fragmentation, regular monitoring, and evaluation are key ingredients of the success of social safety net programs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ENational resilience capacities are not equally developed around the globe. Hence, absent of any social insurance coverage, many informal workers in low-income areas have entered the so-called poverty trap. Further, limited resources and competing priorities make the situation challenging for low-income countries. To integrate the informal sector into the mainstream economy, the Government of India launched the National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons on 22 July 2019 (Vikaspedia 2021).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIt is, therefore, clear that achieving a sustained and equitable recovery is necessary to limit further inequalities. In light of the fundamental role played by the informal sector for both local livelihoods and economies, it is imperative to design and invest in transparent, efficient, and well-targeted public safety nets and insurance systems. Public distribution networks should be made more resilient to shocks, and food supply chains need to be more responsive to match varying demands (Singh et al. 2021). Attention should also be paid to building individual-funded public\/private retirement or pension funds. Governments should value informal livelihoods by protecting them and including them in economic development plans at both the national and local levels. Combined together, these initiatives can contribute to coping better with both idiosyncratic and covariate risks while simultaneously integrating the population engaged in the informal sector into the economic life of a country. The advent of digital technology has helped in improving registration processes, transparency, monitoring, and evaluation, thereby improving the efficiency of the social safety net program. Therefore, using digital technology together with financial inclusion policies ranging from inclusive insurance and pension schemes to financial literacy improvement has made it possible to develop and implement the registration process, cash transfer, and provision of other public services quickly and without corruption.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis article was first published in \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.asiapathways-adbi.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAsia Pathways, the blog\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E of the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.adb.org\/adbi\/main\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAsian Development Bank Institute\u0026nbsp; (ADBI)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout the Authors:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAlessia Destefanis\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is a student at the Paris School of Economics.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETetsushi Sonobe\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDil Rahut \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eis a senior research fellow at ADBI\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EJeetendra Prakash Aryal\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is a consultant for various organizations, including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and ADBI.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EReferences\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAgarwal, B. 2021. Livelihoods in COVID Times: Gendered Perils and New Pathways in India.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWorld Development\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;139: 105312.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EBinelli, C. 2016. Wage Inequality and Informality: Evidence from Mexico.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIZA Journal of Labor \u0026amp; Development\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;5: 5.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EChakrabarti, S., A. Kishore, and D. Roy. 2016. Arbitrage and Corruption in Food Subsidy Programs: Evidence from India’s Public Distribution System.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EDang, H.-A. H., and C. Viet Nguyen. 2021. Gender Inequality during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Income, Expenditure, Savings, and Job Loss.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWorld Development\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;140: 105296.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EFerreira dos Santos, G., L. C. de Santana Ribeiro, and R. Barbosa de Cerqueira. 2020. The Informal Sector and Covid‐19 Economic Impacts: The Case of Bahia, Brazil.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ERegional Science Policy \u0026amp; Practice\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;12: 1273–1285.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EGidwani, V. 2015. The Work of Waste: Inside India’s Infra‐Economy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ETransactions of the Institute of British Geographers\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;40: 575–595.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EInternational Labour Organization (ILO). 2018a.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EInformality and Non-Standard Forms of Employment\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. Prepared for the G20 Employment Working Group Meeting Buenos Aires. Geneva, Switzerland.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EILO. 2018b.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWomen and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. Third Edition. Geneva, Switzerland: ILO.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EILO. 2020.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ECOVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy: Immediate Responses and Policy Challenges\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. Geneva, Switzerland: ILO.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ELoayza, N., and C. Meza-Cuadra. 2018.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EA Toolkit for Informality Scenario Analysis.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;Washington, DC: World Bank.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EMeghir, C., R. Narita, and J.-M. Robin. 2015. Wages and Informality in Developing Countries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAmerican Economic Review\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;105: 1509–1546.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ENarula, R. 2020. Policy Opportunities and Challenges from the COVID-19 Pandemic for Economies with Large Informal Sectors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EJournal of International Business Policy\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;3: 302–310.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ESingh, S., R. Kumar, R. Panchal, et al. 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on Logistics Systems and Disruptions in Food Supply Chain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EInternational Journal of Production Research\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;59: 1993–2008.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EUnited Nations. 2021.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWorld Economic Situation and Prospects 2021\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. New York: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EVikaspedia. 2021.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/vikaspedia.in\/social-welfare\/social-security\/pension-scheme-for-shopkeepers\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ENational Pension Scheme for Traders and Self Employed Persons Yojana\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: 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COVID-19"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1LyNAjH_ewY\/YRfIgDrkM6I\/AAAAAAAAIAw\/rg6n0eHQ_V4PCeQjBlQSHrplfqYb9om6ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h426-c\/india-4826279_960_720.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Tokyo, Japan"},"georss$point":{"$t":"35.6761919 139.6503106"},"georss$box":{"$t":"7.3659580638211537 104.49406060000001 63.986425736178845 174.8065606"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-5644702256844948963"},"published":{"$t":"2021-07-16T00:29:00.005-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-07-16T00:29:28.196-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Climate"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Coal"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Think Tank"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Coal: India's Wicked Problem"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ch3 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHow to loosen its grip on coal while not abandoning the millions who depend on it\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy Vigya Sharma, Chris Greig, and Paul Lant\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-84UwoXuZDK0\/YPEKxzInBnI\/AAAAAAAAHzU\/TF5MBUr-iZAZkUWBTePjxYxdRXxq6EUogCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1280\/smoke-716322_1280.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Image by Krzysztof Pluta from Pixabay\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"853\" data-original-width=\"1280\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-84UwoXuZDK0\/YPEKxzInBnI\/AAAAAAAAHzU\/TF5MBUr-iZAZkUWBTePjxYxdRXxq6EUogCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h426\/smoke-716322_1280.jpg\" title=\"Image by Krzysztof Pluta from Pixabay\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia is the world’s\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carbonbrief.org\/the-carbon-brief-profile-india\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ethird-largest\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;emitter of greenhouse gases, and its transition to a low-carbon economy is crucial to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. But unfortunately, the nation is still clinging firmly to coal.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EOur new\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S2214629621002103\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eresearch\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;considered this problem, drawing on a case study in the Angul district, India’s largest coal reserve in the eastern state of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mahanadicoal.in\/Others\/ecoalfields.php\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOdisha\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWe found three main factors slowing the energy transition: strong political and community support for coal, a lack of alternative economic activities, and deep ties between coal and other industries such as rail.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia must step away from coal, while maintaining economic growth and not leaving millions of people in coal-mining regions worse off. Our research probes this wicked problem in detail and suggests ways forward.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EWhy India matters\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia’s population will soon reach 1.4 billion and this decade it is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation. This, combined with a young population, growing economy, and rapid urbanization, means energy consumption in India has\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/india-energy-outlook-2021\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Edoubled\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;since 2000.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe International Energy Agency (IEA)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/iea.blob.core.windows.net\/assets\/1de6d91e-e23f-4e02-b1fb-51fdd6283b22\/India_Energy_Outlook_2021.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eestimates\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;India will have the largest increase in energy demand of any country between now and 2040.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAn affordable, reliable supply of energy is central to raising the nation’s living standards. A recent World Bank analysis found up to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/openknowledge.worldbank.org\/bitstream\/handle\/10986\/34496\/9781464816024_Ch1.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E150 million\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;people in India are poor.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAlongside its massive reliance on coal, India has one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy plans, including an aim to quadruple renewable electricity capacity by 2030.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe IEA says coal accounts for about 70% of India’s electricity generation. And as the nation rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic this year, the rise in coal-fired electricity production\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/iea.blob.core.windows.net\/assets\/d0031107-401d-4a2f-a48b-9eed19457335\/GlobalEnergyReview2021.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eis expect\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eed\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eto be three times that from cleaner sources.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ECoal-powered generation is anticipated to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/coal-2019\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Egrow annually by 4.6%\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;to 2024, and coal is expected to remain a major emitter of greenhouse gases by 2040.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWhile India’s energy trajectory remains aligned with its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the speed and readiness of its transition remain a complex, divisive issue. The World Economic Forum’s 2021 Energy Transition Index\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/reports\/fostering-effective-energy-transition-2021\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eranks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;India 87th out of 115 countries analyzed.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EBottlenecks in the transition\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EOur\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2214629621002103?dgcid=author\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eresearch\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;involved visits to the Angul district in Odisha in 2018 and 2019, where we conducted focus groups and interviews. Angul is home to 11 coal mines.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWe found three crucial bottlenecks to the energy transition, which arguably exist in India’s other coal belts and could derail the nation’s decarbonization efforts.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EFirst, the Odisha government has historically been very\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/oxford.universitypressscholarship.com\/view\/10.1093\/oso\/9780190912468.001.0001\/oso-9780190912468-chapter-10\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epro-business\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. Politicians across the spectrum support coal mining and seek to position it as the region’s primary economic lifeline.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe official pro-coal position receives little pushback from Angul residents, who are largely unaware of Odisha’s contribution to national greenhouse gas emissions. Any local opposition to coal usually stems from concern about environmental degradation such as air, water, and land pollution.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EMost of Angul’s residents felt a deep connection to coal because their livelihood depends on it. One participant told us:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003Eeven if all the water is polluted and five inches of dust settles on our well, we would prefer mining to continue as my family’s survival depends on (the contract with the mining company).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EMost participants considered their farming land as an asset to be sold to the mining companies for a significant sum. The money would, in turn, allow them to start a business, buy a car or arrange a marriage in the family.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ESecond, the heavy reliance on coal means efforts to diversify the region’s economy have been\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sup.org\/books\/title\/?id=22441\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003Egrossly neglected\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIn Angul, mining zones and coal-dedicated railway lines passing through paddy fields mean agricultural productivity has declined over time. Rural development agendas have been short-lived, often set within six months of an election deadline then changed or abandoned.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ESkill-development programs in non-coal vocations have also been limited. This lack of viable alternatives implicitly generates local support for coal.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAnd third, a suite of industries in Odisha – such as steel, cement, fertilizer, and bauxite – depend on cheap coal for power. This is reflected across India, where coal has deep ties with other industries in ways not seen elsewhere.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EFor example, in 2016\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Railways-and-coal.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndian Railways\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;earned 44% of its freight revenue from transporting coal. Indian Railways is India’s largest employer and coal revenue helps keep passenger fares low. So in this way, a potential coal phaseout in India would have far-reaching effects.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3 style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe way forward\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EWe offer these pathways to ensure a steady, just energy transition in India:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cli style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia must help its coal regions diversify their economic activities\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003Ebipartisan support for a coal-free India is needed. Transition champions\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/09692290.2020.1813190\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Esuch as Germany\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;can show India’s leaders the way\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003Ea national task force for energy transition should be established. It should include representatives from across industry and academia, as well as climate policymakers and grassroots organizations\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia’s coal regions are endowed with\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-020-18661-9\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Emetals\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eneeded in the energy transition, including iron ore, bauxite, and manganese. With improved regulatory standards, these offer economic alternatives to coal\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003Econcerns about the coal phase-out from communities in coal regions that should be addressed fairly and in a timely way.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe world’s emerging economies are responsible for two-thirds of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/iea.blob.core.windows.net\/assets\/d0031107-401d-4a2f-a48b-9eed19457335\/GlobalEnergyReview2021.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eglobal greenhouse gas emissio\u003C\/b\u003En\u003Cb\u003Es\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E. The energy transition in India, if done well, could show the way for other developing nations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EBut as new industrial sectors emerge and clean energy jobs grow, India must ensure those in coal-dependent regions are not left behind.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; text-align: left;\"\u003EThis article is republished from\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"text-align: left;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;under a Creative Commons license. Read the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/indias-wicked-problem-how-to-loosen-its-grip-on-coal-while-not-abandoning-the-millions-who-depend-on-it-163075\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; text-align: left;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMNbQ3gow9aLWAQ?hl=en-IN\u0026amp;gl=IN\u0026amp;ceid=IN:en\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGoogle News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/flipboard.com\/@indrastra\/indrastra-global-ctkeo059z\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlipboard\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, \u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/IndrastraGlobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFeedburner\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/indrastraglobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETelegram\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EDISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this insight piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IndraStra Global.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003ECOPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/5644702256844948963"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/5644702256844948963"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2021\/07\/Coal-India-s-Wicked-Problem.html","title":"Coal: India's Wicked Problem"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-84UwoXuZDK0\/YPEKxzInBnI\/AAAAAAAAHzU\/TF5MBUr-iZAZkUWBTePjxYxdRXxq6EUogCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h426-c\/smoke-716322_1280.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia"},"georss$point":{"$t":"-27.4975028 153.0136905"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-55.807736636178845 117.8574405 0.812731036178846 -171.8300595"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-5496615571392037852"},"published":{"$t":"2021-07-06T02:59:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-07-06T02:59:16.901-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bangladesh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Electricity"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Featured"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"News"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Power Transmission"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"India sent the First Consignment of Coal to Bangladesh's Rampal Power Plant"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy IndraStra Global News Team\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dYtHRtnqNkU\/YOP-MufiFOI\/AAAAAAAAHxk\/cYzX7bFHTec2o_pxRUl4tVCgVZtds_DCwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s678\/DSC_6820.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"India sent the First Consignment of Coal to Bangladesh's Rampal Power Plant\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"450\" data-original-width=\"678\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dYtHRtnqNkU\/YOP-MufiFOI\/AAAAAAAAHxk\/cYzX7bFHTec2o_pxRUl4tVCgVZtds_DCwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h424\/DSC_6820.jpg\" title=\"India sent the First Consignment of Coal to Bangladesh's Rampal Power Plant\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EOn July 2, 2021, India sent its first coal-laden rake (around 4,000 tonnes) to Bangladesh's Rampal Thermal Power Station located at the Bagerhat district in the Khulna division. The 1,320 MW power plant is a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EBangladesh bound coal is of Grade G-17, having 2,200 gross calorific value (GCV). It is exported by Coal India Limited (CIL) from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust on July 3 and would be unloaded at the Mongala Port in Bangladesh from where it would be sent to Rampal’s captive jetty.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThis export comes in the backdrop of CIL lifting the embargo on coal exports under its e-auction sales policy. Now coal purchasers, including traders, can export the coal bought through this route. This assumes significance given that CIL is India’s largest coal miner, with the allocation under spot e-auction and special spot e-auction accounting for 46 million tonnes (mt) of coal in FY21.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EAccording to CIL's press release; \u003Ci\u003E\"The destination of below 2200 gross calorific value coal purchased under spot e-auction from Dahibari siding of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), the Jharkhand based coal producing subsidiary of CIL is Rampal Power Station, Khulna, Bangladesh. This falls under Maitree Super Thermal Power Project - a joint venture between the Indian power producer NTPC Limited and Bangladesh Power Development Board.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERampal Thermal Power Plant\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003ERampal Thermal Power Plant is\u0026nbsp;being set up by Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL) which is a 50:50 joint venture between India's state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh's Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe BIFPCL had signed the engineering, procurement, and construction contract with the Indian Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in July 2016 for completing the 2X660MW power plant within 41 months or by December 2020. In 2017, the BIFPCL got a loan of $1.6 billion from the Indian Exim Bank.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe construction of the plant started in April 2017, amid a huge outcry at home and abroad by environmentalists, who expressed concerns over the long-term impact of the plan on the biodiversity and ecology of the mangrove forest.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca 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Global.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECOPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EREPUBLISH: Republish our articles online or in print for free if you follow these guidelines. https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/p\/republish-us.html\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     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Plant"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dYtHRtnqNkU\/YOP-MufiFOI\/AAAAAAAAHxk\/cYzX7bFHTec2o_pxRUl4tVCgVZtds_DCwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h424-c\/DSC_6820.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Kolkata, West Bengal, India"},"georss$point":{"$t":"22.572646 88.363895000000014"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-5.7375878361788466 53.207645000000014 50.882879836178844 123.52014500000001"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-5131522071711368234"},"published":{"$t":"2021-05-30T04:02:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-05-30T04:02:21.456-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Foreign Policy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Opinion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Emerging Contours of India’s Foreign Policy"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy Aishwarya R J\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DF8euUgejqw\/YLNGasA6lSI\/AAAAAAAAHkM\/kaa657zkHS4pc9OvXEgd6rwBu5zn4q4PQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1024\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-30T133115.609.gif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Emerging Contours of India’s Foreign Policy\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"512\" data-original-width=\"1024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DF8euUgejqw\/YLNGasA6lSI\/AAAAAAAAHkM\/kaa657zkHS4pc9OvXEgd6rwBu5zn4q4PQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h320\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-30T133115.609.gif\" title=\"Emerging Contours of India’s Foreign Policy\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia's foreign policy has developed in response to evolving circumstances and is focused on defending and pursuing India’s national interests in the international arena. India has come a long way in its foreign policy, from defending its sovereignty to projecting its power. Currently, the increasing significance of the Indo-Pacific, India's active participation in the QUAD, and its efforts to export vaccines and lifesaving drugs during the COVID crisis have elevated India's status.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EGeographic conditions, national morale, political organization, military strength, public opinion, socioeconomic conditions, the international milieu, and historical and traditional considerations have all shaped India's foreign policy. India’s historical roots have a considerable role in its foreign policy; the ancient texts like\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"http:\/\/files.hostgator.co.in\/hostgator201172\/file\/2015020209.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArthashastra of Kautilya\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;and his theories like Mandala, Sapthanga, Shadgunya, Upayas, etc. have turned out increasingly in today’s times as a yardstick to measure India’s foreign policy. The prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement, particularly Mahatma Gandhi with his advocacy of non-violence, provided India with the basis for its normative leadership in the world. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.historydiscussion.net\/history-of-india\/jawaharlal-nehrus-foreign-policy\/682\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epushing the ideas of Non-Alignment and Panchsheel\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;while strongly opposing imperialism, colonialism, etc. extended hands towards developing and underdeveloped nations that were emerging out of war and colonial yoke.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndian foreign policy trends post-independence can be examined through different schools of foreign policy. India's school of foreign policy can be divided into\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/indias-foreign-relations-and-the-course-of-history\/article32006793.ece\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epacifist, pragmatic-centrist, and hyper-realist\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;schools. The Pacifists advocate morality, peace, and internal development, while pragmatic centrists give primary importance to balanced economic and military growth and are more oriented to the neo-realist school of thought. On the other hand, the hyper-realists are focused on achieving higher economic growth and commensurate military strength by asserting India's national power. These schools of thought can be seen in the evolution of India's foreign policy from the Jawaharlal Nehru era to the Narendra Modi era, based on the policies adopted by the leaders based on the timeline and contemporary socio-political situations.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia’s foreign policy majorly focuses on engagement with all domains, including the economic and science and technology (S \u0026amp; T) sector. The Indian economy took a massive shift after the induction of\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/Sundayapp\/GEflSNMjdRctaEbPAzxg9M\/Indias-industrial-reforms-of-1991-The-inside-story.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENew Economic Policy Reforms of 1991\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E, which accelerated India’s status as a rising economic power and increased its trade relations via engagement. In the case of Sino-Indian relations, there has been a shift from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy in the last few decades. Despite having major border disputes, there is considerable economic cooperation between them. In the age of technological revolution, India is trying to extend its strategic autonomy in the fields of outer space, information technology, nuclear energy, medicine, biotechnology, artificial intelligence as well as promoting research and development (R\u0026amp;D) towards future technologies and other soft skill areas.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia, with its ‘\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.makeinindia.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMake in India\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E’ initiative, is welcoming Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as developing\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesstoday.in\/photos\/in-the-news\/top-10-indias-indigenous-defense-weapons\/1118.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eindigenous production of defense equipment\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;like Arjun tank, the light combat aircraft Tejas, Dhruv missile, INS Kalvari, etc, which would help Indians maximize its comprehensive national power. The emerging S\u0026amp;T areas where India has been focussing include cyber threat intelligence, big data, quantum technologies, etc. India has made major strides in pharmaceuticals, by being the pharmacy of the world. This has been quite evident during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This also shows how India accommodates its diplomacy along with working towards its goal of a healthy and sustainable world, by pursuing the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/vasudaikakutumbam.wordpress.com\/2015\/03\/05\/vasudhaiva-kutumbakam-%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%82\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVasudhaiva kudumbakam\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;concept of \"the world is one family”. India’s \"Unity in Diversity\" and democratic principles adds to its benevolent credentials. With its efforts in the promotion of comprehensive wellness through International Yoga Day, it is clear that India is enhancing its soft power through the tool of cultural diplomacy. Moreover, India’s increasingly proactive stance on green technologies and efforts to combat climate change multilaterally highlights its growing leadership in the global environmental front.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EHowever, despite having extended India's sphere of influence in various domains, India is not free from challenges where India faces both\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/idsa.in\/speech\/IndiasNonTraditionalSecurityChallenges_agupta\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Etraditional and non-traditional threats\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;to its national security. By being part of various international institutions and platforms like the United Nations and several regional organizations, India is trying to enhance its influence in international and regional affairs; and by countering Chinese influence in South Asia, it is trying to maintain the regional balance of power. India must contend with great powers such as the United States, China, and Russia, as well as an unfriendly neighborhood, and the constant threat of border skirmishes are a major source of concern. One of the leading economic challenges is in the energy sector due to the scarcity of natural resources. Strategic challenges also remain, with two hostile nuclear states in the vicinity and the rampant military modernization such as that of China. Internal issues such as ethnic conflicts within states, terrorism, insurgency, and the ongoing pandemic challenge are all causes for concern.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003ETo counter these challenges, certain institutions work to shape India's foreign policy. The\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/mea.gov.in\/Images\/amb1\/MeA_organograms_NW_20_21nw.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMinistry of External Affairs (MEA)\u003C\/b\u003E,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;along with other ministries and departments churn out policies to tackle traditional and non-traditional challenges. Political parties, bureaucracy, civil society groups, and the media also play a massive role in shaping foreign policy. The Office of National Security Advisor (NSA) also plays a pivotal role in the formulation of foreign policy as is evident from the recent talks between India's NSA Ajit Doval and China's State Councillor Wang Yi post-Galwan clash.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia’s approach in handling issues at both regional and global levels has elevated India as an influential player at global forums. While examining the regional approach from the time of independence, there have been many challenges: the Chakma and Teesta water issues with Bangladesh, fishermen issue with Sri Lanka, cross border terrorism across Kashmir with Pakistan, the Rohingya refugee crisis with Myanmar, and the recent Kalapani issue with Nepal are few examples. To give more emphasis to its neighbors, India took up policies such as Act East Policy which is the extension of the Look East Policy adopted in 1991, the Neighbourhood First Policy, the introduction of Panchamrit which talks about five pillars of Indian foreign policy,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/diplomatist.com\/2020\/12\/25\/indias-sagar-policy-in-the-indian-ocean-region\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESAGAR\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the Indian Ocean Region by being a net security provider in the region, being part of several regional organizations like SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA, etc.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe global approach includes several initiatives adopted by successive governments, beginning with the policy of Non-Alignment by Nehru, which was helpful in the maintenance of India’s strategic autonomy during the Cold War. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the implementation of economic reforms, Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization brought India a new outlook of inclusive economic development. India has been successful in handling powerful nations diplomatically. The best example could be India signing foundational agreements on defense with America just two decades after its nuclear test and a decade after the Indo-US nuclear deal, which includes\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/research\/after-the-foundational-agreements-an-agenda-for-us-india-defense-and-security-cooperation\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBECA, LEMOA, and COMCASA\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAt the same time, India has been engaging with Russia by sustaining decades-old defense cooperation and enhancing its engagement with China in terms of economic cooperation. India has become part of the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com\/2021\/03\/the-quad-what-it-is-and-what-it-is-not\/\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQUAD\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Ewith the US, Japan, and Australia intending to uphold the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, India has also become a key member of BRICS and SCO, which have been setting up alternatives to the Western-dominated world order. India has pioneered multilateralism even during times of crisis, by building institutions such as the International Solar Alliance.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EIndia, with its geostrategic position between two major chokepoints and as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean, must counter emerging traditional and non-traditional challenges in this area. It should also enable the shaping of global narratives in its favor. Most importantly, in the current context, India must deal urgently with vaccinating its population and subsequently help those countries in need, to enable quick global recovery from the COVID pandemic.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout the Author:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAishwarya R J (ORCID: \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6711-1202\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E0000-0002-6711-1202\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) is a first-year Masters's student at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca 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Policy"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DF8euUgejqw\/YLNGasA6lSI\/AAAAAAAAHkM\/kaa657zkHS4pc9OvXEgd6rwBu5zn4q4PQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h320-c\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-30T133115.609.gif","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India"},"georss$point":{"$t":"13.3489958 74.785555899999991"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-14.961240084802419 39.629303217790977 41.659231684802421 109.941808582209"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-836445859308147494"},"published":{"$t":"2021-05-28T01:53:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-05-28T02:08:44.115-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Featured"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Indian Ocean"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"News"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sri Lanka"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sri Lankan Parliament Passes Colombo Port City Bill"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy IndraStra Global Editorial Team\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9yK6XBNG7kU\/YLCEzjC3n_I\/AAAAAAAAHjc\/nVdsFM7ta8A5jNkEs1cfD4HJ2L_MyPVgwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1024\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-28T112054.709.gif\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Sri Lankan Parliament Passes Colombo Port City Bill\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"512\" data-original-width=\"1024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9yK6XBNG7kU\/YLCEzjC3n_I\/AAAAAAAAHjc\/nVdsFM7ta8A5jNkEs1cfD4HJ2L_MyPVgwCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h320\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-28T112054.709.gif\" title=\"Sri Lankan Parliament Passes Colombo Port City Bill\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe newly reclaimed land of 269 hectares in the heart of the Colombo Business District in Sri Lanka has been identified as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by the Sri Lankan Parliament, paving the way for the creation of an International Business and Multi Services hub for South Asia called the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EPort City Colombo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EThe project has been in the works for a while but this week, the Sri Lankan parliament approved the \u003Ci\u003EColombo Port City Economic Commission Bill\u003C\/i\u003E after a two-day debate on it. The Opposition parties in Sri Lanka are against the bill which they say will lead to the creation of a Chinese colony in Sri Lanka. The 225-member Sri Lankan Parliament approved the bill 148-59, according to news reports.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EThe passing of the Bill is considered a major diplomatic and strategic concern for India, as China's access to the 9-Degree channel increases significantly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003ESlated as the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ci style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E'Gateway to South Asia'\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E, the project is a Public-Private Partnership between the Government of Sri Lanka and project company CHEC Port City Colombo. Port City Colombo is situated alongside the Port of Colombo, which is ranked as the World's 18th best-connected Port and is designed to strike a virtuous balance between commercial, residential, and retail spaces.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1rGNPousllg\/YLCEipXXLMI\/AAAAAAAAHjU\/b5gKoK7e-B0kIp7jxJMQMHKsCB5bM5uPgCLcBGAsYHQ\/s800\/23a3bb40-908b-43df-9f93-3f45accf7193.jpeg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Image Attribute: Aerial view of newly reclaimed land of Colombo Port City\/ Source: FT\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"480\" data-original-width=\"800\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-1rGNPousllg\/YLCEipXXLMI\/AAAAAAAAHjU\/b5gKoK7e-B0kIp7jxJMQMHKsCB5bM5uPgCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h384\/23a3bb40-908b-43df-9f93-3f45accf7193.jpeg\" title=\"Image Attribute: Aerial view of newly reclaimed land of Colombo Port City\/ Source: FT\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EImage Attribute:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAerial view of newly reclaimed land of Colombo Port City\/ Source: FT\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAccording to\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003ECHEC Port City Colombo's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/prnmedia.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/port-city-colombo-to-become-a-gateway-to-south-asia-807239469.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epress release\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ci\u003E\"The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill sets a stable policy environment and an efficient framework of administrative processes. The bill significantly enhances ease of doing business through single-window facilitation, streamlined arbitration mechanism, and globally benchmarked incentives.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe Colombo International Financial Centre Phase 1, which is the first vertical development, is scheduled to break ground in June 2021 and will comprise state-of-the-art business infrastructure with a commitment to International Green Building Standards. All registered entities can enjoy 100% foreign ownership with the opportunity to benefit from relaxed exchange control regulations within the zone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ywtBQ9bfY0g\" width=\"480\" youtube-src-id=\"ywtBQ9bfY0g\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EYamuna Jayaratne, Director Sales and Marketing for Port City Colombo, said, \"\u003Ci\u003EPort City will enjoy a cost advantage of nearly 80% compared with regional hubs such as Singapore and Dubai. The enactment of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill will serve to enhance the ease of doing business and bring it to parity along with regional hubs and most importantly address investor pain points that currently dissuades FDI. Coupled with cost advantages, geographic location, and the quality of life on offer in Sri Lanka, this would serve as a first step in creating a compelling value proposition for investors. Port City Colombo provides an enviable physical setting required to compete with any world-class modern metropolitan city.\"\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003ESri Lanka’s Minister for Capital Markets Ajith Cabraal projected that the initial construction of the port city would bring in investment of $ 15 billion, creating over 200,000 jobs. Sri Lanka, in recent years, has carried out various development projects with an estimated $ 8-billion in loans.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: #0e101a;\"\u003EChina's investments in Sri Lanka hit global headlines when China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited bought a 99-year lease on Hambantota Port for $1.2 bln. While often characterized as a debt swap, the funds from the lease were used to boost foreign currency reserves, not to restructure debt to China. China has been accused of setting a debt trap for Sri Lanka by extending infrastructure loans and then using the debt as leverage in negotiations when the debtor struggles to repay. President Rajapaksa has repeatedly denied the port deal was a debt trap.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMNbQ3gow9aLWAQ?hl=en-IN\u0026amp;gl=IN\u0026amp;ceid=IN:en\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGoogle News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/flipboard.com\/@indrastra\/indrastra-global-ctkeo059z\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlipboard\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, \u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/IndrastraGlobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFeedburner\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/indrastraglobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETelegram\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this insight piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IndraStra Global.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECOPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/836445859308147494"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/836445859308147494"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2021\/05\/sri-lankan-parliament-passes-colombo.html","title":"Sri Lankan Parliament Passes Colombo Port City Bill"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-9yK6XBNG7kU\/YLCEzjC3n_I\/AAAAAAAAHjc\/nVdsFM7ta8A5jNkEs1cfD4HJ2L_MyPVgwCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h320-c\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-28T112054.709.gif","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Colombo, Sri Lanka"},"georss$point":{"$t":"6.9270786 79.861243"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-21.383157284802422 44.704990317790987 35.237314484802418 115.01749568220902"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-7357003116742405740"},"published":{"$t":"2021-05-23T02:25:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-05-24T03:06:06.633-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Business \u0026 Economy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Coronavirus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Iran"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Oil \u0026 Gas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OPEC"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Qatar"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"The Middle East"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Weekly Oil Prices Fall 3% on Possible Return of Iranian Supply"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EBy the Al-Attiyah Foundation\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OvnkOSazxjY\/YKtQCTQVU5I\/AAAAAAAAHhw\/raUng6eWzHA6guLxc15a2VrvBjlV83b5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/s1024\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-24T123217.343.gif\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Weekly Oil Prices Fall 3% on Possible Return of Iranian Supply\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"512\" data-original-width=\"1024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OvnkOSazxjY\/YKtQCTQVU5I\/AAAAAAAAHhw\/raUng6eWzHA6guLxc15a2VrvBjlV83b5ACLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h320\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-24T123217.343.gif\" title=\"Weekly Oil Prices Fall 3% on Possible Return of Iranian Supply\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EOil prices rose slightly on Friday after three days of losses, driven higher by the looming storm in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil prices were, however, on track for a weekly fall as investors braced for the return of Iranian crude supplies after officials said Iran and world powers made progress on a nuclear deal. Brent crude futures settled at $66.44 a barrel on Friday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $63.54 a barrel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EA weather system forming over the western Gulf of Mexico has a 40% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Friday. This early storm prompted traders to buy crude ahead of the weekend in anticipation of potential production shut-ins. However, the gains were limited by the expectation that Iran could add a million or more barrels per day of oil production later this summer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EThe two benchmarks fell almost 3% on the week, after Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani, said the United States was ready to lift sanctions on his country's oil, banking and shipping sectors. Iran and world powers have been in talks since April on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and the European Union official leading the discussions said on Wednesday, he was confident a deal would be reached.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EStill, investors remain upbeat about fuel demand recovery this summer as vaccination programs in Europe and the United States would allow more people to travel, although rising cases of infections across parts of Asia are raising concerns. U.S. energy firms are also showing optimism, adding oil and natural gas rigs for a fourth week in a row, as higher oil prices prompted some drillers to return to the well-pad. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by two to 455 last week.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4CHmaNwSPhA\/YKtKPdNaNBI\/AAAAAAAAHhg\/rCYB4EwZIq8EggjHTnL7uby8P6siSZ83gCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1180\/Oil%2B%2528English%2529%2B%25283%2529.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Benchmark Oil Prices\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"798\" data-original-width=\"1180\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-4CHmaNwSPhA\/YKtKPdNaNBI\/AAAAAAAAHhg\/rCYB4EwZIq8EggjHTnL7uby8P6siSZ83gCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h432\/Oil%2B%2528English%2529%2B%25283%2529.png\" title=\"Benchmark Oil Prices\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAsian LNG Prices Fall on Surging Coronavirus Outbreak in India\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAsian spot prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell last week after India, the world's fourth-largest importer, canceled cargoes as the coronavirus outbreak hit demand. The average LNG price for July delivery into Northeast Asia was estimated at about $9.60 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), down $0.65 from the previous week. Buyers rejecting cargoes offered for more than $10 per mmBtu and an extension of Taiwan's soft lockdown also helped to drag prices down, traders said. India's city gas distribution company, GSPC, has asked suppliers to cancel all cargoes for June delivery. Buyers have been selective as inventories are full and LNG demand for transport, commercial and industrial sectors fell amid rising coronavirus infection rates.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EEuropean gas prices were also under bearish pressure last week, tracking softer related fuels, notably coal. A nervous start to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) last week, has also likely triggered the offloading of permits in the EU ETS, as UK installations entered the UK carbon market. TTF prices closed at $8.88 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on Friday, down 6.3% from the previous week. Still, colder than normal weather is expected to persist until the end of June, which will continue to support demand for domestic heating and gas for power demand in Europe.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EU.S. natural gas futures also eased to a fresh three-week low on Friday as production continued to edge higher and exports slipped. The price decline came despite forecasts that warmer weather in coming weeks will boost the number of gas power generators burn to keep air conditioners humming. Front-month gas futures fell 0.4%, to $2.91 per million British thermal units, putting the contract on track for its lowest close since April 29 for the second day in a row. That also put the front-month down for the fourth day in a row for the first time since early March and on track to decline nearly 2% last week, after gaining more than 16% during the prior five weeks.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; 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Murli Menon\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIndian Air Force\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-59qAppZGjRM\/YKTCdYT3AfI\/AAAAAAAAHfU\/jEU0kL0ZpoQLCUXeBZRnrSd4ZZ23LGYGQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s1024\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-19T131535.987.gif\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Strategic Implications of India's Second Corona Wave\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"512\" data-original-width=\"1024\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-59qAppZGjRM\/YKTCdYT3AfI\/AAAAAAAAHfU\/jEU0kL0ZpoQLCUXeBZRnrSd4ZZ23LGYGQCLcBGAsYHQ\/w640-h320\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-19T131535.987.gif\" title=\"Strategic Implications of India's Second Corona Wave\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe sense of \u003Ci\u003Eennui\u003C\/i\u003E for the average Indian citizen these days is palpable no doubt. Times are indeed changing the world over and more so in our country. The premature declaration of victory over the virus and the unexpected second wave have torn our social milieu asunder. I have been impacted myself, losing several erstwhile military colleagues and friends to the unforgiving infection. Perhaps we are paying the price for an inadequately invested health care system post-independence, what with lack of ICU beds, oxygen, and medical staff all over the country. These are all not weaknesses that could be overcome in a short period, as aspects such as trained medical personnel and appropriate ICU wherewithal does not materialize overnight.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EWhen the pandemic unfolded last year it was expected that many a ruling dispensation across nations worldwide would pay the price for any suboptimal handling of the challenges posed by the pandemic to its citizenry. The real worry for our country could be more than just adverse economic fallout or societal upheaval. A double whammy would be our national security gets compromised simultaneously. Due caution in terms of our strategic priorities and any plausible mishandling caused by faulty decision-making by a government in health distress would be called for.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe Biden administration initially embarked on an inept bilateral stance in extending aid to India, uncannily espousing the Trumpian \u003Ci\u003E“America First”\u003C\/i\u003E slogan. Fortunately better sense prevailed and substantial assistance is coming our way, mainly comprising medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators and Astra Zeneca vaccines, besides epidemiological assistance from American experts of the ilk of Dr. Anthony Fauci.\u0026nbsp; Considerable other international assistance is expected in terms of medical stores and vaccines from the UK, France, Russia, and Germany including from China if you please and our military is committed to the Covid fight. Even Pakistan has made conciliatory statements about fighting the beast together. That’s not to say we can expect the tiger to change its spots, in terms of her stand on state-sponsored terror. Contrariwise we should expect our worthy but shady neighbor to fish more in the troubled waters of the Kashmir valley, Covid or no Covid. India’s \u003Ci\u003E“Vaccine Maitri”\u003C\/i\u003E policy also appears to be bearing fruit as help is pouring in from many quarters as it indeed ought to in an emergency like we are facing. Dr. Fauci has called for an emergency group to resolve issues of medical supply and vaccination.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EBe that as it may, the real challenge is going to be \u003Ci\u003Evis-à-vis\u003C\/i\u003E the China border threat. The several rounds of high-level military discussions since last year’s stand-off in Ladakh have failed to throw up any tangible de -escalatory norms to assure border security. So should we expect China to attempt to exploit India’s Covid predicament to try and alter the ground situation to her advantage? Regardless of the sympathy expressed by President Zhi recently on our pandemic turmoil, we should expect China to play truant. Her ongoing muscle-flexing in the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea could be indicators of her belligerence to come along the vulnerable Indian borders too. And should things play out that away in Ladakh or elsewhere along the Line of Actual Control this year again, and under pressure establishment in Delhi could find itself straitjacketed into taking some miscalculated military steps, leading perhaps to a military confrontation between the two countries?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EAnother area of concern Covid preoccupation wise would be in India’s expected role in the Quad. More so if things hot up along the Taiwan Straits, we could have things going south militarily in the South China Sea or concerning the Quad\/Quad\u0026nbsp; Plus arrangements. With the Biden dispensation continuing on the competitive track on China and her bullying tactics globally, things could go awry in the Indo Pacific. The other related challenge for the nation would be to maintain its budgeting priorities between defense and development. There could be a “ guns versus butter” malady caused by public opinion swinging in favor of spending more on the health sector, for instance, more specifically to augment the medical infrastructure such as medical staff, hospital beds, and vaccines\/medicines. It is to be hoped that our planners keep their heads in this regard, aiming to not let political developmental priorities impinge on defense allocations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EIt is to be hoped that given the existing strategic linkages between the two countries, the US would like to step in should China venture to extract territorial advantage out of India’s Covid predicament and associated health emergency. Whilst any direct military confrontation along the Indo-China borders would not be in the US’s interest, carefully calibrated defensive military assistance (\u003Ci\u003Eà la\u003C\/i\u003E the just inked two billion dollar six\u0026nbsp; P-8 I Poseidon deal) could help India deter Chinese designs, whilst warding off actual military altercations. Should however a stand-off ensue as happened last year, the USA could adopt suitable diplomatic and economic measures to reduce regional tensions and prevent all-out war. Either way, India could be in for some trying times strategically. Whether the US and our other Quad allies Japan and Australia actively step in to counter Chinese aggression on multiple fronts, our policymakers cannot afford to make any miscalculated moves to be pushed headlong into an unnecessary border war. Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris has exhorted the United Nations to be prepared for the next pandemic. There is no gainsaying the fact that Indian decision-makers have a think coming on putting our house in order medical infrastructure wise. Whilst doing so we cannot afford any strategic mischoices, especially concerning the new kid in the block, the unpredictable Himalayan behemoth.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout the Author:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ca class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/in.linkedin.com\/in\/murli-menon-b9304516\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EGroup Captain (Retd.) Murli Menon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;served in Indian Air Force for 32 years, transiting its tactical, operational, strategic, and conceptual appointment spectra with credit. He was India’s Air Advisor to Indian High Commission at Islamabad, Pakistan (2000–2004). In his second avatar, he served for 8 years with India’s Cabinet Secretariat, including a stint as Consular at Ankara, Turkey from 2008–2011.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EHe was one of the pioneers in the IAF’s Doctrine Think Tank — “Air War Strategy Cell” that produced India’s first\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003EAir Power Doctrine, the IAP 2000\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan data-preserver-spaces=\"true\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;in 1995. His interests include strategic studies and since post-retirement, he contributes to various think-tanks based out of New Delhi, India.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndraStra Global\u003C\/b\u003E is now available on \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/Tbvq4-R3hQ5izxn0b9mqG9Q\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EApple News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMNbQ3gow9aLWAQ?hl=en-IN\u0026amp;gl=IN\u0026amp;ceid=IN:en\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGoogle News\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/flipboard.com\/@indrastra\/indrastra-global-ctkeo059z\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlipboard\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, \u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/IndrastraGlobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFeedburner\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/indrastraglobal\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETelegram\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EDISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this insight piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IndraStra Global.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECOPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/4100210197766183053"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/4100210197766183053"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2021\/05\/Strategic-Implications-of-India-s-Second-Corona-Wave.html","title":"Strategic Implications of India's Second Corona Wave"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Unknown"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-59qAppZGjRM\/YKTCdYT3AfI\/AAAAAAAAHfU\/jEU0kL0ZpoQLCUXeBZRnrSd4ZZ23LGYGQCLcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w640-h320-c\/AIDN007012021%2B-%2B2021-05-19T131535.987.gif","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"New Delhi, Delhi, India"},"georss$point":{"$t":"28.6139391 77.2090212"},"georss$box":{"$t":"0.30370526382115415 42.052771199999995 56.924172936178849 112.3652712"}}]}});