Quad Foreign Ministers: Strengthening Indo-Pacific Security and Economic Ties
The recent gathering of the Quad foreign ministers saw a unified and unequivocal condemnation of the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack. This powerful statement from India, the United States, Australia, and Japan underscored a shared commitment to international law and the urgent need to bring perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of such heinous acts to swift justice. It was a poignant reminder of the enduring threats that necessitate such robust multilateral alliances.
This high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., marked the second Quad foreign ministers’ convergence this year, and the first since the significant “Operation Sindoor.” The discussions, led by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, spanned critical areas from regional stability to economic resilience.
A Unified Front for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
At its heart, the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was informally conceived in the wake of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, evolving into a formalized alliance by 2007 through the vision of Japan’s then-Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. While often perceived through a military lens, the Quad explicitly states it is not a military bloc. Instead, it functions as a diplomatic and strategic dialogue focused on promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
The alliance reaffirmed its unwavering dedication to the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that peace and stability in maritime domains are fundamental to regional security and prosperity. This commitment naturally extends to addressing pressing concerns like the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, where the Quad strongly opposes any unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo through force or coercion.
Driving Economic Security: The Critical Minerals Initiative
A major breakthrough from this meeting was the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative. This ambitious expansion of the Quad’s partnership aims to fortify economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify vital critical mineral supply chains. These minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs), are indispensable components of cutting-edge technologies, ranging from semiconductors and electric vehicles to advanced jet fighters. The initiative highlights a growing global concern over the abrupt constriction and future reliability of these key supply chains, particularly given China’s dominant position in their processing and supply.
The Quad recognized that while rare earth metals are found globally, China currently holds a significant lead in their efficient processing—a lead once held by the US and Japan. India, for instance, faces an escalating demand for critical minerals, projected to more than double by 2030, with domestic mining operations potentially taking a decade to commence production. This dependence, especially on China for materials like synthetic and natural graphite, underscores the importance of the Quad’s collaborative approach and India’s need to explore partnerships with countries like Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil, and Tanzania.
New Horizons: Logistics and Port Partnerships
Beyond critical minerals, the Quad announced plans to host the inaugural Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year, alongside the launch of the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai. These initiatives signal a proactive agenda focused on enhancing maritime and transnational security, bolstering economic prosperity, fostering critical and emerging technology, and coordinating humanitarian assistance and emergency response efforts across the region.
Looking ahead, India is set to host the next Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year, signaling its central role in shaping the alliance’s future trajectory. The Quad’s enduring impact is also channeled through its unwavering cooperation with and support for regional groupings such as ASEAN and its centrality, the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific-led regional groupings, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
The ministers also addressed other global flashpoints, condemning North Korea’s destabilizing ballistic missile launches and pursuit of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, they highlighted collective efforts in rapid disaster response, noting over USD $30 million in humanitarian assistance provided to communities affected by the central Myanmar earthquake in March 2025. As the Quad continues its evolution, these four democracies remain deeply committed to strengthening cooperation for a truly free and open Indo-Pacific, tackling both challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
India-US Trade Talks: Navigating Sensitive Sectors and GM Crops
The economic dialogue between India and the United States, two of the world’s largest democracies, continues to unfold with significant implications for global trade. While former US President Donald Trump once spoke of a “very big” trade deal to open India’s markets, current negotiations highlight persistent “red lines” for India, particularly in its vital agricultural and dairy sectors.
India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has emphatically stated that any agreement compromising the position of Indian farmers or the nation’s agriculture is simply not viable. These critical areas of contention primarily revolve around four key farm products: corn (maize), ethanol, soybean, and dairy, where the US advocates for greater market access against India’s existing tariff and non-tariff restrictions.
Unpacking the “Red Lines”
Corn (Maize): The US stands as the world’s foremost maize producer and exporter, with genetically modified (GM) varieties constituting a staggering 94% of its cultivated area. India, in stark contrast, neither cultivates nor permits the import of GM maize. India imposes a 15% duty on maize imports up to 0.5 million tonnes annually, escalating to 50% for quantities exceeding this threshold. A proposed compromise suggests allowing GM maize imports exclusively as feedstock for fuel ethanol production, a significant development given that over 46% of India’s fuel ethanol currently originates from maize.
Ethanol: Echoing its dominance in maize, the US is also the leading producer and exporter of ethanol. In 2024, the US exported $4.3 billion worth of ethanol, with India being its third-largest market. However, India currently restricts ethanol imports solely for non-fuel industrial purposes, requiring an “actual user” license. The US, eyeing India’s projected ethanol consumption of 11,350 million litres by 2025, with fuel blending accounting for the lion’s share, seeks to broaden market access for its ethanol.
Soybean: Brazil and the US lead global soybean production and export, with GM herbicide-tolerant varieties dominating acreage in both nations, resulting in significantly higher yields compared to India. While India permits the import of GM soybean oil, the import of whole GM soybeans and the residual de-oiled cake (DOC) is prohibited, primarily because the GM protein matter resides in the raw bean and DOC, not the oil.
Dairy: Although not as dominant as New Zealand or the European Union in global milk powder and butter trade, the US seeks to penetrate India’s dairy market. India’s current duties of 30% on cheese, 40% on butter, and 60% on milk powder effectively render imports, even from low-cost producers like New Zealand and Australia, economically unviable.
The Complex Landscape of GM Crops in India
India’s cautious approach to genetically modified crops is well-documented. Currently, only Bt cotton is approved for commercial production since 2002. Its introduction led to a remarkable surge in cotton production, a “gene revolution” that increased output from 13.6 million bales in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales by 2013-14.
Despite this success, GM crops in India remain a subject of intense debate. Concerns range from potential increases in secondary pests, emergence of pest resistance, and environmental impacts to critical questions about human health, including the possibility of toxicity and allergenicity. Moreover, farmers’ exposure to potential monopolies in the seed business also looms large in these discussions. The ongoing trade talks reflect India’s balancing act between global economic integration and safeguarding its agricultural heritage and food security.
Mizoram’s Literacy Triumph: A New Chapter in India’s Educational Journey
For decades, Kerala held the esteemed title of India’s most literate state. However, a quiet revolution has been unfolding in the northeastern state of Mizoram, culminating in its recent recognition as India’s “first fully literate state” under the central government’s ULLAS program. This remarkable achievement, with Mizoram’s literacy rate soaring to 98.2%, redefines the benchmarks for educational progress in the nation.
According to the Ministry of Education’s 2024 definition, a state qualifies as “fully literate” upon achieving a 95% literacy rate. This new standard positions Mizoram firmly at the forefront of India’s ongoing literacy drive, showcasing the impactful outcomes of targeted government initiatives and community participation.
The ULLAS Programme: Paving the Way for New India Literacy
The ULLAS program, officially known as the Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or the New India Literacy Programme, is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2022 with a five-year mandate. Its core objective is to empower 5 crore non-literate individuals aged 15 years and above across the country with foundational literacy and numeracy skills. This includes basic reading, writing, and simple arithmetic, mirroring primary class learning, alongside crucial “critical life skills” such as digital and financial literacy.
The ULLAS program aligns seamlessly with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which champions comprehensive adult education efforts to achieve 100% literacy. Operating on the principle of ‘Kartvya Bodh’ (sense of duty) and implemented largely through volunteerism, ULLAS exemplifies a collaborative national effort towards educational empowerment.
Literacy Rates: A Shifting Landscape
The question of “fully literate” status has historically involved various datasets and definitions. Kerala famously achieved “total literacy” in 1991 based on National Literacy Mission (NLM) norms, requiring 90% literacy among its population aged 15 to 35. While Kerala then claimed 90% literacy for those aged 15-60, the 2011 Census recorded its overall literacy at 93.91% compared to Mizoram’s 91.58%.
More recent surveys paint a clearer picture. The National Sample Survey’s ‘Household Social Consumption: Education’ for 2017-18 reported Kerala’s literacy rate for those aged 7 and above at 96.2%. Crucially, the Periodic Labour Force Survey’s annual report for July 2023 to June 2024 highlights Mizoram’s impressive 98.2% literacy rate for the 7+ age group, surpassing Kerala’s 95.3%. This statistical shift underscores Mizoram’s sustained dedication to educational outreach and its effective implementation of literacy programs, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards universal literacy.
Prime Minister Modi’s Historic Visit to Ghana: Strengthening Ties in the Global South
In a significant diplomatic outreach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a historic two-day State visit to Ghana, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the West African nation in over three decades. This pivotal engagement formed the initial leg of a broader five-nation tour, signaling India’s deepening commitment to fostering robust international partnerships, particularly within the Global South.
Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi emphasized Ghana’s pivotal role as a valued partner within the Global South, acknowledging its influential standing within the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. His agenda in Accra included critical talks with Ghana’s leadership, aimed at reviewing and enhancing the strong bilateral partnership that underpins the historical ties between the two nations.
A Foundation for Enhanced Cooperation
Discussions between Prime Minister Modi and his Ghanaian counterpart focused on diversifying collaboration into new and promising avenues. Key areas identified for enhanced cooperation include investment, energy, health, security, capacity building, and broader development partnerships. This comprehensive approach reflects a shared vision for mutual growth and prosperity, leveraging the unique strengths of both economies.
A highlight of the visit was Prime Minister Modi’s address to the Parliament of Ghana, an honor that underscores the shared democratic values between India and Ghana. This platform provided an opportunity to articulate India’s perspective on global challenges and reinforce the principles of democratic governance.
Beyond Ghana, Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious tour itinerary included stops in Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Argentina. The fourth leg of his journey took him to Brazil for the crucial BRICS summit, an assembly of major emerging economies. The tour concluded with a stopover in Namibia, further broadening India’s diplomatic footprint across diverse continents.
In recognition of his distinguished statesmanship and impactful global leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with ‘The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana’, the nation’s highest national honor. This prestigious award symbolizes the profound respect and appreciation for India’s role on the global stage and its enduring friendship with Ghana.
AI and Copyright Law: Navigating the Complex Intersection of Creativity and Technology
The meteoric rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT and Gemini has ignited a fierce debate, casting a long shadow over the foundational principles of copyright law. Recent rulings in US courts, while varied in their conclusions, have begun to grapple with a fundamental question: are these powerful AI systems built upon stolen creative work?
At their core, advanced AI models learn by identifying intricate patterns within colossal datasets. Their remarkable ability to produce original passages, vivid scenes, dynamic videos, and intricate musical compositions hinges entirely on the quality and breadth of their training data. This data, amassed from a vast array of internet sources including books, articles, images, and sounds, now stands at the center of a legal maelstrom.
The “Fair Use” Frontier and Legal Battlegrounds
Currently, over 21 active lawsuits in the US, filed by a diverse group including writers, music labels, and news agencies, allege that tech companies are committing “theft” by training AI models on copyrighted material without consent. Tech giants, in their defense, argue that their use of this data falls under the concept of “fair use.” This legal doctrine permits the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as research, criticism, review, or reporting of current events, particularly when the resulting work is “transformative”—meaning it adds new expression, meaning, or message to the original.
The Indian digital media landscape is closely monitoring these global developments. Leading publishers in both the US and UK are increasingly restricting AI companies from scraping news content without explicit permission. This has galvanized Indian digital media houses to exert pressure on their government, urging intervention to safeguard journalistic work from what they perceive as commercial exploitation by AI models.
Understanding Copyright in the Digital Age
In India, the Copyright Act, 1957, vests authors with a bundle of exclusive legal rights, including the power to reproduce, issue copies, perform, adapt, or translate their creations. These rights typically endure beyond the author’s lifetime, passing to legal heirs, though they can be wholly or partially assigned for compensation. Copyright law fundamentally aims to protect creative works as intellectual property.
Infringement occurs when a substantial part of a copyrighted work is used without authorization, entitling the copyright owner to legal remedies such as injunctions, damages, and accounts. However, Section 52 of the Act outlines exceptions, specifying acts that do not constitute infringement. Notably, “fair dealing” with any work for private or personal use—such as research, criticism, review, or news reporting—is explicitly exempted, underscoring the delicate balance between protecting creators and fostering innovation and public discourse. The challenge now lies in how these established legal frameworks adapt to the unprecedented capabilities and implications of artificial intelligence.
Gaden Phodrang Trust and the Future of the Dalai Lama’s Reincarnation
A profound spiritual announcement with significant geopolitical ripples recently came from the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who declared that the revered institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, and crucially, that the Gaden Phodrang Trust will hold the “sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation.” This statement, issued just days before the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists turned 90, sets a clear path forward for a succession process long complicated by external political pressures.
The term “Gaden Phodrang” historically refers to the residential quarters of the Dalai Lamas, originating from the second Dalai Lama’s abode at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. While later Dalai Lamas resided in the iconic Potala Palace during winters and the tranquil Norbulingka during summers, the 14th Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India in March 1959 marked a pivotal shift in this tradition.
The Pillars of the Dalai Lama’s Institutions
The Gaden Phodrang Trust is one of three key institutions associated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Registered in 2011 in Dharamshala, India, its explicit aim is to oversee the recognition of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Based within the Dalai Lama’s office, it is managed by former Kalon Tripa (head of the Central Tibetan Administration) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior monk and close confidant, with the Dalai Lama himself heading the trust alongside other aides.
Complementing this, the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, a tax-exempt Swiss nonprofit based in Zurich, focuses on maintaining and supporting the Dalai Lama’s tradition and institution, while promoting universal human values, interfaith understanding, peace, non-violence, and environmental protection. The Dalai Lama Trust, established in 2009 as a non-profit charitable organization headquartered in New Delhi, extends support for the welfare of the Tibetan people and advances the Dalai Lama’s lifelong mission of promoting human values and world peace.
India’s Stance Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
The future of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation remains a sensitive geopolitical issue, particularly concerning China. India has consistently asserted that the decision regarding the successor to the 14th Dalai Lama must adhere to established practices, emphasizing that only the present Dalai Lama “has the right to decide.” This firm position comes in direct contrast to China’s stance, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist and insists that any reincarnation must receive approval from the Chinese Central government.
The Dalai Lama, literally meaning ‘Ocean of Wisdom,’ is revered as the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who delay their own nirvana to help all sentient beings achieve liberation. This concept is central to the ‘tulku’ tradition in Tibetan Buddhism, where spiritual masters are believed to reincarnate to preserve and continue their teachings.
The current Dalai Lama was identified through traditional signs in 1939, six years after the 13th Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso, passed away. He was formally enthroned in Lhasa in 1940. China, which denounces the 14th Dalai Lama, strictly prohibits any public devotion towards him. In a significant 2011 statement, the Dalai Lama himself declared that his reincarnation should be found in a “free country, not under Chinese control,” explicitly disavowing any recognition for a politically motivated reincarnation chosen by the Chinese government. This ongoing saga highlights the enduring spiritual and political complexities surrounding one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders.
India’s Calorie Intake Trends: A Narrowing Gap and Evolving Diets
A compelling narrative of shifting dietary patterns and improving nutritional equity is emerging from India, as evidenced by recent data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES). The latest findings reveal a noteworthy trend: the disparity in daily per capita calorie intake between India’s wealthiest and poorest citizens is narrowing, with the top 5% consuming fewer calories and the bottom 5% increasing their intake.
In 2023-24, urban Indians in the top 5% by Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) consumed 3,092 kilocalories (Kcal) per day, a stark 82.3% more than the 1,696 Kcal consumed by the bottom 5%. While this difference remains significant, it marks a substantial reduction from the 114.3% gap observed in 2022-23. Similarly, in rural India, the top 5% consumed 2,941 Kcal daily, 74.2% higher than the bottom 5%’s 1,688 Kcal, down from a 93.9% difference in the previous year.
Understanding the Shifts in Consumption
The overall daily per capita calorie intake in rural India saw a marginal decrease of 0.9% to 2,212 Kcal in 2023-24 from the prior year, while urban areas experienced a 0.4% dip to 2,240 Kcal. However, when viewed over a longer period, urban calorie consumption is 1.5% higher than in 2011-12, even as rural intake slightly decreased. The narrowing nutritional gap is primarily attributable to a reduction in calorie consumption among the top 5%—an 11.1% fall in urban regions and a 5.6% drop in rural areas—coupled with an increase in intake by the bottom 5%.
Intriguingly, the data also highlights shifts in macronutrient consumption. Urban Indians reduced their daily fat intake slightly to 69.8 grams (gm) in 2023-24, while their rural counterparts increased theirs to 60.4 gm. Protein intake remained largely consistent, with rural areas at 61.8 gm and urban areas slightly higher at 63.4 gm. This contrasts with 2011-12, when rural protein intake marginally exceeded urban. These changes suggest evolving dietary preferences and potentially greater access to diverse food sources across different income groups.
Poverty Measurement and Calorie Intake
Historically, India’s official poverty measurement has been intrinsically linked to calorie intake. The methodology involves estimating the minimum consumption expenditure required to meet the necessary calorie intake for survival and work, adopting a physiological approach to define the poverty line. This benchmark, which represents the minimum income needed for basic needs, varies across countries and time periods, reflecting differing economic conditions and living standards.
The HCES data, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), provides invaluable insights into household consumption patterns, offering a crucial lens through which to analyze living standards and economic well-being across the diverse Indian landscape. The narrowing calorie gap signifies a positive step towards more inclusive growth and improved nutritional outcomes for a broader segment of the population.
