HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 136 : Model Answer

QUESTION: Describe the emerging cooperation between India and Russia. (8 marks/ 120 words)

Answer.

Russia has been a longstanding time-tested partner of India and both countries have signed “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000.

The Indo-Russian strategic partnership and cooperation has been built on some  major components like Economy, civil nuclear energy, politics, defence, anti-terrorism co-operation etc.

Economic ties:

• The increased volumes of bilateral trade by more than 45 per cent in 2021, this positive trend is supplemented in 2022 by intensified cooperation in energy and fertilisers
• Indian companies are exploring major investment options in Russia, especially in natural resources such as coal, fertilizers, hydrocarbons, minerals, and rare earth metals.

Energy ties:

• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation.

Political ties:

• India needs Russia’s support in the former’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• India and Russia are engaged in several multilateral efforts that are greatly favoured by Russia such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Defence ties:

• Joint exercises between the two Armed Forces are held under the title “INDRA”
• India and Russia are engaged in several multilateral efforts that are greatly favoured by Russia such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Issues of terrorism:

• India’s stance on Syria will certainly help cement its ties with Russia countering the earlier feeling that India was not coming forward to support Russia in difficult times.

Cultural Cooperation:

• Apart from Hindi, languages such as Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit and Pali are taught in Russian Institutions.
• There is general interest among Russian people in Indian dance, music, yoga and ayurveda.

Conclusion: The inaugural 2+2 meeting between India and Russia will help in further strengthening their ties and the push to ‘Act Far East’ also allows India to demonstrate its commitment towards Russia.