India-Singapore Relations, Konyak Tribe, Capital Acquisition by DAC

(General Studies II – International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)

• India-Singapore relations are characterized by vibrancy and continuous expansion, with new opportunities emerging in areas like digitalisation, skills development, sustainability, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity.
• The recent visit of India’s Prime Minister to Singapore underscores the importance of this relationship, which has evolved into a strategic partnership with wide-ranging dimensions.

Key Aspects of India-Singapore Relations –

1. Economic Partnership

• Trade Relations:
• Singapore is India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and the sixth-largest globally.
• This relationship is bolstered by strong economic linkages, with Singapore also being the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India.
• Investment Hub:
• Singapore acts as a critical gateway for international investments in India, highlighting its importance in India’s economic landscape.
• Singapore provides a global window that India’s traditional financial hubs like Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai can no longer offer, emphasizing the need for India to address its regulatory shortcomings to better complement Singapore’s efficiency.

2. Strategic and Defence Cooperation

• Defence Cooperation: The relationship has gained a strategic and defence component over the years, particularly in the maritime domain. Singapore plays a key role in India’s regional security narrative, particularly with respect to the Indo-Pacific region.
• ASEAN & Regional Security: Singapore has been pivotal in shaping India’s “Look East” and later “Act East” policies, helping India secure its status as a dialogue partner with ASEAN. This partnership is crucial for navigating regional security concerns, especially in relation to Myanmar and China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

3. Historical and Diasporic Ties People-to-People Relations:

• Singapore has a strong Indian diasporic presence, with the country hosting the largest concentration of IIT and IIM alumni outside India. This reflects the deep historical ties that began with Indian migration in the 19th century, contributing to Singapore’s transformation into a high-achievement hub.
• Indian National Army: Singapore holds historical significance as the base for the Indian National Army (INA) during India’s independence struggle, symbolizing long-standing people-to-people ties.

4. New Frontiers and Emerging Sectors

• Technological Collaboration: India and Singapore are exploring new avenues in digitalisation and advanced manufacturing, positioning both countries as leaders in technology-driven development.
• Healthcare & Sustainability: There are ongoing collaborations in healthcare and sustainability, with both nations focusing on innovation in these sectors to address global challenges.

5. Geopolitical and Regional Influence

• Myanmar Crisis: Given India’s proximity to Myanmar and Singapore’s involvement through ASEAN, the crisis in Myanmar remains a significant issue on the bilateral agenda.
• Indo-Pacific Engagement: As India’s regional narrative shifts to the Indo-Pacific, both countries are navigating challenges posed by Chinese military and political influence, balancing ASEAN centrality with emerging frameworks like QUAD.

Challenges and Opportunities –

• Regulatory Shortcomings: Despite the strong economic relationship, India must address its regulatory inefficiencies to further leverage Singapore’s position as a global investment hub.
• Chinese FDI: The potential reopening of Chinese FDI into India, as mentioned in India’s Economic Survey, could see Singaporean companies playing a significant role in facilitating such investments.

India-Singapore relations have matured into a comprehensive partnership encompassing trade, strategic interests, and people-to-people connections. While new opportunities are emerging in sectors like digitalisation and advanced manufacturing, both countries face challenges such as regulatory hurdles and regional security concerns. By addressing these issues and building on the existing framework, India and Singapore can continue to deepen their cooperation, benefiting both nations in a rapidly changing global environment.

• The World Bank has raised its growth forecast for the Indian economy to 7% for 2024-25, up from 6.6%, in its report “India Development Update: India’s Trade Opportunities in a Changing Global Context.”
• India’s growth remains strong and aligns with projections from the IMF and the ADB, forecasting 7% growth for FY-2024-25.
• India’s growth rate of 8.2% in FY 2023-24 was driven by public infrastructure investment and increased household investments in real estate.
• Also, a buoyant manufacturing sector (9.9%), and resilient services activity, compensated for agriculture’s underperformance last year.

• Urban unemployment has improved since the pandemic, with female urban unemployment falling to 8.5% in early FY 2024-25.
• However, urban youth unemployment remains high at 17%.
• India’s strong growth prospects and declining inflation rate will help reduce extreme poverty.

Dig Deeper: List initiatives taken by India to reach its US$1 trillion export target by 2030.

• The Konyak Union, the apex body of the Konyak community, has urged the Nagaland government to correct the “erroneous” boundary line between Mon district in Nagaland and Charaideo district in Assam as depicted on Google Maps.
• Konyak Union emphasized that Nagaland was officially created in 1963, incorporating territories inhabited by Nagas, and there was a historical understanding of ancestral boundaries between the Ahoms of Assam and the Konyak Nagas of Mon district.
• However, the official recognition of these boundaries remains unresolved and is under Supreme Court adjudication.
• The Konyaks are Mongoloid in origin. They are the last head hunters of Nagaland.
• A distinct group of Konyaks are easily recognised by their tattooed faces.
• Before the advent of Christianity in Nagaland, the Konyaks were believers of “Animism” worshipping different objects of nature.
• The Konyak society is patriarchal and is dominated by male chauvinism.

Dig Deeper: Read about Naga Hoho.

• Nine Maoists were killed in an anti-Naxal operation by security forces along the Chhattisgarh border in the forests of Dantewada and Bijapur districts. No casualties among security forces were reported.
• Union Home Minister recently reiterated that Naxalism would be eliminated by March 2026.
• Although, as per the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, Police and Public Order fall under State jurisdiction.
• The Government of India supports Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected states through a National Policy and Action Plan approved in 2015, focused on security measures, development initiatives, and ensuring rights for local communities.
• Capacity Building under Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS), Security Related Expenditure (SRE), and Special Central Assistance (SCA).
• An additional ₹1,000 crore was allocated to Central Agencies for helicopters and security camp infrastructure under the Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE Management (ACALWEM) Scheme.
• The geographical spread of LWE violence has also reduced, with affected districts dropping from 126 in 2013 to 38 across 9 states in 2024.

Dig Deeper: Locate on map areas most affected by LWE.

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the defence minister, approved capital acquisition proposals amounting to ₹1,44,716 crore.
• These include Future-ready combat vehicles (FRCVs), Air Defence fire control radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, and fast/offshore patrol vessels.
• FRCVs (Future-ready combat vehicles):
• It will replace ageing Soviet-origin T-92 tanks and will be the Indian Army’s largest contract.
• These Main Battle Tanks will feature superior mobility, multi-layered protection, precision firepower, and real-time situational awareness.
• T-92 tanks were deemed outdated after observations from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Dornier-228 and Patrol Vessels: The Indian Coast Guard’s capabilities with enhanced maritime surveillance, patrolling, search and rescue, and disaster relief operations.
• The DAC also approved Air Defence fire control radars to replace older systems, with 99% of the acquisitions sourced indigenously under Buy (Indian) and Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories.
• Additionally, Forward Repair Teams with cross-country mobility for in-situ repairs during mechanised operations were greenlit.

Dig Deeper: Read about the share of the Defence Ministry in the budget of the current fiscal year.

• Prime Minister Modi emphasized India’s stance against “expansionism” and support for “development” during a meeting with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei.
• Freedom of Navigation: They discussed the importance of respecting “freedom of navigation and overflight,” particularly concerning tensions in the South China Sea.

• Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, security, and lawful commerce in line with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
• Defence: Brunei is a key partner in India’s Indo-Pacific vision. Both leaders stressed enhancing maritime cooperation and regular exchanges
• Joint Trade Committee: It plays a role in expanding trade and economic ties through dialogue.
• Technology: They recognized the significance of food security, technology, and space collaboration, including Brunei’s continued support for ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Telecommand Station.
• The visit, part of India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, marked the first by an Indian PM to Brunei.
• PM also inaugurated the new Indian chancery and visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan.

Dig Deeper: Locate various countries on the periphery of the South China Sea.