Vice President Inaugurates 89th Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that it is widely recognised that no profession offers the kind of opportunity and authority for participating in nation building and societal transformation as does a career in the civil services. Delivering inaugural address at the “89th Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie” today, he said that with this authority comes a huge responsibility. Civil servants must remain cognisant that in a vibrant democracy such as ours, governments exist by popular will only to serve the people and uphold national interest in the widest sense of the term. He said that the Government is a steward of public good. It articulates priorities based on the needs of the people, translates them into policies and implements programmes based on those policies, so that lives of the people improve continuously. These priorities, policies and programmes change with the changing aspirations and requirements of the people, to which the government and civil service has to adjust accordingly. The Vice President said that in this overarching philosophy of governance and public administration, the civil service becomes the principal vehicle for delivery of public goods and services to the people. A politically neutral but committed to public service bureaucracy is thus a sine qua non for the smooth functioning of a democratic government, such as ours. Additionally and in our times, the bureaucracy has another important role, that of a bridge between the people and their elected representatives. The civil servant is expected to faithfully implement the directions of the duly elected government. At the same time, he or she must ensure that nothing which the political executive does transgresses the fundamental law of our Republic. He expressed his concern that while much has been achieved by us as a people in the decades of independence, the fruits of development have reached the public unevenly. We still have starvation deaths, which exist with high levels of malnutrition and under-nutrition. Widespread poverty and unemployment are reality. So is the lack of basic civic amenities, such as healthcare, education, water-supply, sanitation, transport and communication. Acute social and gender inequality and related discrimination are pervasive in our society. India ranks 135 out of 187 countries on the UNDP’s Human Development Index. India has the dubious distinction of being home to the largest number of poor in the world with around one-third of our population below poverty line. This is compounded by existence of the social discrimination and inequality based on caste, religion or region. Each of these derogates from the ideals of justice, equality and fraternity. The Vice President opined that this does not mean that successive governments and generations of civil servants in independent India have not tried to address the maladies that afflict our economy and society. Large investments have been made in social and physical infrastructure. Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, employment generation, literacy, food security, healthcare and shelter have been launched. Subsidies for food, energy and agricultural inputs have been provided at a heavy cost to the exchequer. He said that as functionaries of the state, civil servants must always remember that the emancipation of the deprived and marginalised sections of our society is a special responsibility. Unless they are uplifted, we can never emerge as a strong and prosperous nation. All this has gone hand in hand with demands and expectations that have undergone significant change. We now have an aspirational India, impatient to taste in greater measure the fruits of economic prosperity and social progress, and as a matter of right. Our citizens today seek governance which is efficient, transparent, honest and responsive. There is a sense of urgency in the demand and lesser inclination for patience and forgiveness. The Vice President called upon civil servants that their capacity to perform will therefore depend largely on their ability to evoke public confidence. Critical to maintaining public trust is through upholding the highest standards of integrity that has to be built up and maintained painstakingly over many, many years. In recent times, public cynicism towards government and its functionaries has multiplied. Each one of us in public life has a responsibility to address this scourge by setting impeccable standards of integrity and exemplary behaviour. He concluded that our country is emerging as an important player on the world stage. Our political and economic weight in a globalised world is increasing. At the same time, newer challenges are emerging in which political and geographical boundaries provide no protection against competition emanating from beyond our borders. Civil servants, as members of the higher civil service, would have to continuously enhance their skills and upgrade their knowledge, in order to remain globally competitive. They must strive for training and specialization, as well as use of modern technology in their work, but they must remain sensitive to the welfare of ordinary Indians. Following is the text of the Vice President’s inaugural address : “I am happy to have been invited for the inauguration of the 89th Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, here in Mussoorie. My mind goes back to the day in June 1961 when I entered this campus diffidently with a multitude of thoughts, an admixture of anxiety and expectations, fears and fancies, racing through the mind. Today therefore is homecoming for me, an opportunity to thank the Academy for the rights of initiation, and for the opportunity to acquire friends and sustain many of these friendships for over half a century. I salute the colleagues of that era who are no longer with us. Their memory lingers.  The joy of visiting the Academy is enhanced by this opportunity to interact with young persons who are about to embark on their own careers in civil services. They do so in exciting times when the world is changing, India is changing, the tasks and challenges are changing. They will have a role to play in shaping a future that is itself in flux. The honour is bestowed on the select few only. You however cannot rest on your laurels. Your journey has just begun, and is a long one. Only your own hard work, integrity, commitment to selfless service and an unending pursuit of excellence will stand you in good stead in this pursuit. Do remain steadfastly committed to these values; success and recognition will seek you rather than the other way round. It is widely recognised that no profession offers the kind of opportunity and authority for participating in nation building and societal transformation as does a career in the civil services. With this authority comes a huge responsibility, you must remain cognisant that in a vibrant democracy such as ours, governments exist by popular will only to serve the people and uphold national interest in the widest sense of the term. Government is a steward of public good. It articulates priorities based on the needs of the people, translates them into policies and implements programmes based on those policies, so that lives of the people improve continuously. These priorities, policies and programmes change with the changing aspirations and requirements of the people, to which the government and civil service has to adjust accordingly. In this overarching philosophy of governance and public administration, the civil service becomes the principal vehicle for delivery of public goods and services to the people. A politically neutral but committed to public service bureaucracy is thus a sine qua non for the smooth functioning of a democratic government, such as ours. Additionally and in our times, the bureaucracy has another important role, that of a bridge between the people and their elected representatives. The civil servant is expected to faithfully implement the directions of the duly elected government. At the same time, he or she must ensure that nothing which the political executive does transgresses the fundamental law of our Republic. Allow me to dwell on some harsh truths. While much has been achieved by us as a people in the decades of independence, the fruits of development have reached the public unevenly. We still have starvation deaths, which exist with high levels of malnutrition and under-nutrition. Widespread poverty and unemployment are reality. So is the lack of basic civic amenities, such as healthcare, education, water-supply, sanitation, transport and communication. Acute social and gender inequality and related discrimination are pervasive in our society. India ranks 135 out of 187 countries on the UNDP’s Human Development Index.  India has the dubious distinction of being home to the largest number of poor in the world with around one-third of our population below poverty line. This is compounded by existence of the social discrimination and inequality based on caste, religion or region. Each of these derogates from the ideals of justice, equality and fraternity. This does not mean that successive governments and generations of civil servants in independent India have not tried to address the maladies that afflict our economy and society. Large investments have been made in social and physical infrastructure. Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, employment generation, literacy, food security, healthcare and shelter have been launched. Subsidies for food, energy and agricultural inputs have been provided at a heavy cost to the exchequer. Nevertheless, the outcomes of these programmes could have been better. Besides the magnitude and complexity of our developmental challenges, poor programme implementation or leakages in the public services delivery has been diagnosed reasons for our underachievement in the development agenda. The figures of leakage and wastage of resources are astronomical. If these are plugged and resources utilised more efficiently, realisation of our development goals could be hastened substantially. As functionaries of the state you must always remember that the emancipation of the deprived and marginalised sections of our society is a special responsibility. Unless they are uplifted, we can never emerge as a strong and prosperous nation. All this has gone hand in hand with demands and expectations that have undergone significant change. We now have an aspirational India, impatient to taste in greater measure the fruits of economic prosperity and social progress, and as a matter of right. Our citizens today seek governance which is efficient, transparent, honest and responsive. There is a sense of urgency in the demand and lesser inclination for patience and forgiveness. Your capacity to perform will therefore depend largely on your ability to evoke public confidence. Critical to maintaining public trust is through upholding the highest standards of integrity that has to be built up and maintained painstakingly over many, many years. In recent times, public cynicism towards government and its functionaries has multiplied. Each one of us in public life has a responsibility to address this scourge by setting impeccable standards of integrity and exemplary behaviour. Policy, ultimately, is implementation. It is what happens that counts. If policies are not translated into specific programmes, which are in turn are not well implemented, failure is logical. Hence, our Officer Trainees should focus, including as a part of your training, on ways and means to improve the public services delivery mechanisms so that benefits of our public policies and programmes reach the intended beneficiaries in an efficient and effective manner. A dynamic civil service, ready to adapt to the changing needs and aspirations of our citizens, is thus an imperative necessity. You as civil servants become the primary instrument for discharging this solemn duty. This enjoins you to a set of do’s and dont’s. Do not become hostage to special interest groups. Do not give in to extraneous pressures in discharge of your duties. Do not seek patrons. Do not deviate from the letter and spirit of the Constitution of India and the principles of Rule of Law. Retain at all times a national perspective and the overall public interest. Gandhiji had said “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” You must therefore reach out to the masses, in order to see things from the perspective of those whom you serve, those who are on the receiving end when you make and implement policies. This approach will make you better officers, but more importantly, even better human beings. Our country is emerging as an important player on the world stage. Our political and economic weight in a globalised world is increasing. At the same time, newer challenges are emerging in which political and geographical boundaries provide no protection against competition emanating from beyond our borders. You, as members of the higher civil service, would have to continuously enhance your skills and upgrade your knowledge, in order to remain globally competitive. You must strive for training and specialization, as well as use of modern technology in your work, but you must remain sensitive to the welfare of ordinary Indians. I wish you success and satisfaction. I thank the Director for having invited me. Jai Hind.”

Revised strategy for Kala Azar eradication launched

Dr Harsh Vardhan calls for social action akin to Pulse Polio mission

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, formally launched a revised strategy for total eradication of the dreaded disease Kala Azar in Patna today after a high level meeting attended by the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi, the state’s health minister Shri Ram Dhani Singh, senior officials from the central Ministry of health & Family Welfare, representatives of WHO, IMA, state Health Mission and medical experts from the four affected states. Former Union Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur, was also present. The new strategy involves carrying out active searches for people with symptoms of the disease in the 54 affected districts of the four states where the disease is known to strike –Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. Thirty three districts in Bihar, eleven of West Bengal, four in Jharkhand and six districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh of Bihar are affected by Kala-azar. The Health Minister announced that early diagnosis and treatment using a single dose called Liposomal Amphoterecin B administered intravenously would help reduce the human reservoir of infection. World Health Organisation (WHO) has agreed to supply the drug free. Dr Harsh Vardhan also unveiled Kala Azar Rapid Diagnosis kits developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). As part of the new strategy, an insecticide, synthetic Pyrethroid, directed specifically at the sand fly, which is known vector source of Kala Azar, would also be supplied for spraying on the walls of homes in the endemic regions. He said, “We have the drugs and the motivation, but what is most necessary is coordination. Since coming to office, I have concentrated on tying up the loose ends. I can say with confidence that like with polio and small box, Kala Azar too will become history by the end of 2015,” the Minister said after the meeting. Kala Azar has also been declared a notifiable disease, which means all doctors, whether in government or private service, are henceforth required to alert the state health authorities whenever they encounter a patient with the disease’s symptoms. The new strategy has been developed by a core group comprising experts and officials of the Health Ministry. The roadmap document focused on efforts at the national, state, district and sub-district levels. Bihar accounts for 80 percent of the cases in India, the moot reason for the Health Minister’s choice of Patna for launching the new initiative. “The people of Bihar have seen our motivation in the Encephalitis immunisation programme. I believe that there can be no politics in health care, especially in the area of immunization. I have received full cooperation from the government of Bihar and hope to get more in the days to come,” he said. He stressed the need for all stakeholders, including WHO and international agencies, to unite and pool resources to fight the dreaded disease whose relatively low incidence in recent years should not be a cause for complacency. Here he reiterated the that the entire population of the affected districts should be sensitised on the need to act as auxiliaries of the government’s health department in this important campaign. “I wish to recall here the synergies which I mobilised at the time of launching the first pulse polio campaign in the country in 1994. We were then successful in rounding up even school children to search out mothers with small children and bring them to the camps for the all-important two drops. The Kala Azar programme needs similar help because quite a few patients skip the full course of 28 days which causes relapse. Also, we need social support for maintaining the efficiency of follow up treatment”, Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

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PM's special lecture at the University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo

"Commitment to peace is ingrained in the DNA of Indian society. This commitment is far above international treaties or processes." "Like a lamp in the dark, India and Japan should focus on shared values of democracy, development and peace." The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has said that commitment to peace and non-violence is ingrained in the DNA of the Indian society. He was responding to questions from students after delivering a special lecture at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. In reply to a question on how India could enhance the confidence of the international community as a non-NPT state, the Prime Minister said this commitment to peace that was intrinsic to Indian society, has significance far above any international treaties or processes. India is the land of Lord Buddha, who lived for peace, and spread the message of peace across the world, he said, adding that India had won its freedom through non-violent means. For thousands of years, India has believed in the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the whole world is our family, Shri Narendra Modi said. When we consider the whole world as our family, how can we even think of doing anything that would harm or hurt anyone, he said. In response to another question, the Prime Minister called for India and Japan to focus on shared values of democracy, development, and peace, saying this effort would be similar to lighting a lamp in the dark. Illustrating his point, the Prime Minister said an intelligent person would fight darkness in a room not with a broom, sword or blanket, but with a small diya (earthen lamp). “If we light a lamp, we need not be scared of darkness,” the Prime Minister said. Replying to a question on environment, the Prime Minister said India had, for centuries, a tradition of dialogue (sanvaad) with nature. People in India think of the whole universe as their family, the Prime Minister said, saying that children call the moon their uncle, and rivers are addressed as “Mother.” He asked the assembled students if they felt “climate change” was a correct terminology. He said that human beings had actually changed their “habits” leading to strife with nature. This strife with nature had caused problems, the Prime Minister said. He referred to a book - “Convenient Action” - that he had written on the subject, and invited students to read it online, if they were interested. The Prime Minister invited the students to ask him questions on social media, saying he would be happy to answer them, and adding that he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were friends online as well. Earlier, addressing the students at this all-women University, the Prime Minister said that if we have to understand different societies across the world, two things are important – their education system and their art and culture, which is why he had come to their University. Referring to the position held by women in Indian tradition and culture, he said that India had the concept of Goddesses, unlike most parts of the world, where God is usually referred to only as a Father. He also mentioned initiatives he had taken for education of the girl child while he was Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Development 2.0

The Planning Commission is in the news. It is being closed down almost 65 years after it began life. Two questions arise. What happened? What next? In thinking about the future, it is instructive to learn from the past.
Then Prime Minister Nehru created the Planning Commission in 1950 to formulate a strategy of development for independent India in a long-term perspective. It was widely respected in government. Before long, it also turned into an intellectual hub, with distinguished economists from across the world traversing its corridors. Indeed, it was a role model for similar planning boards in most developing countries. Economic planning was the flavour of the times. It assigned the state a strategic role in the process of development and sought to restrict the degree of integration with the world economy. Both were points of departure from the colonial era, characterised by open economies and unregulated markets, where the outcome was underdevelopment. This approach helped create the initial conditions and laid the essential foundations for industrialisation, not only in India but also elsewhere in Asia and Latin America.
The economic crisis in the mid-1960s, triggered by successive droughts and poor harvests, led the government to abandon planning for an interregnum of three years. The spirit of economic planning never revived thereafter. The focus shifted to crisis management. In retrospect, the planning process should have been reoriented in the mid-1970s. It was a missed opportunity.
This was the beginning of decline. The role of planning was slowly but steadily eroded by administrative fiat. The Planning Commission was gradually transformed into a department of the government without any clear function or mandate. Its supposed task was to mediate on finances between the Centre and the states but this was more form than substance. The statutory transfers were decided upon by finance commissions. The non-discretionary transfers were governed by the Gadgil formula already in place. The residual discretionary allocation of resources to states in the Union budget was in effect decided by the ministry of finance. It was only the ritual of five-year plan documents that continued.
The decline gathered momentum once again in the 2000s. Governments progressively undermined the role of the institution. And the institution progressively eroded its credibility.
In the civil service system, it was turned into a parking lot, to be used by many simply as a platform while waiting for a decent placement. In the political process, whenever governments changed after elections, it was a place to provide jobs for theboys, or girls, as members, who could not be accommodated elsewhere. Some of them waited for better times, while others were content with a Lutyens bungalow and a white Ambassador with a lal batti. It would be unfair not to mention the five-year-plan documents that few read and none believed.
In recent years, the Planning Commission eroded its credibility further, with rosy predictions about inflation that did not come down and growth that did not revive. Clearly, its demise is attributable only in part to the ideological belief that planning is passe in this age of markets and globalisation. The demise is also significantly attributable to its poor performance and growing irrelevance.
Under these circumstances, it is hardly surprising that no tears were shed when Prime Minister Modi announced his decision from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day.
It would be a mistake if this is read as a victory for the dominant ideology of our times. In fact, following the global economic crisis, there is a growing recognition that markets are no magic wand, that the invisible hand of the market is not visible because it is not there and that markets are good servants but bad masters. And there is a strong need to create a new institution in its place without any baggage from the past. But there must be clarity about what it should and what it should not do.
It would be logical to create a National Development Commission, which should think big and think long, but focus on ideas rather than implementation. The organisation must be lean, at most 10 members, with support from a compact, in-house, professional team, drawing upon persons with domain expertise whenever needed, but no secretariat. There is need to reflect on where we want India to be in 2035, and how we get there.
There are two important tasks for this contemplated institution. It could help redefine the role of the government in a market economy in a profoundly changed national and international context. It could provide an institutional meeting-space for Centre-state federalism, in a situation where the National Development Council is an annual ritual and the Inter-State Council is defunct.
In our quest for development, however, there are two specific tasks for this institution. First, we must find solutions for the deep crisis in agriculture, the pathetic almost-collapsing infrastructure and the quiet crisis in education. These are binding constraints on our economic performance, even if we think of the next decade, which need strategic thinking on what is to be done and how it is to be implemented. In attempting quick fixes, we can only mortgage our future.
Second, the importance of manufacturing cannot be stressed enough. Given our most abundant resource, people, it is where our economy’s future lies. It is imperative that we reverse the visible de-industrialisation. This needs strategic co-ordinated thinking, across sectors over time, on industrial, trade and technology policies, indeed even exchange rates and interest rates, which is otherwise impossible, given the turf battles between ministries and theshort-termism of governments.
Some examples might concretise these tasks. How can we resolve the crisis in agriculture: is it simply about irrigation and extension or is it about technologies of the sort that transformed Brazil’s savannah lands into a prosperous agriculture? How can we create transportation, storage or processing facilities for fruits and vegetables that perish without reaching consumers? How can we finance the massive investments needed in infrastructure? How can we make India, already a pharmacy for developing countries, a world leader in pharmaceuticals? How can we retain the competitive edge in information technology, given the technological progress on the anvil, by moving from software to chips and hardware? How can we stimulate R&D that would create technological capabilities in manufacturing firms with a capacity to innovate in some sectors? How can we reconcile environmental concerns with aspirations for industrialisation? How can we develop an aircraft such as the Embraer from Brazil, even though we have failed over the past 50 years? Answers require roadmaps.

Transparency assured in upcoming government organ transplantation network

National Organ & Tissue Transplantation Organisation portal to be open soon

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, has called for total, Information Technology-guided transparency in the interface between organ donor and recipient when the National Organ & Tissue Transplantation Organisation (NOTTO) becomes operational. After a visit to Safdarjung Hospital today, where NOTTO is housed on two floors of the Pathology Building, the Minister said, “There will be no VIP quotas and no recommendations from officers will be entertained. Every life is worth protecting and the spirit of the movement is not to be mocked.” A general waiting list will be maintained. Once a brain-stem dead patient’s consent is available, a state-of-the-art retrieval, matching and transplantation operation will swing into action. A patient who registered his name for the waiting list will be given a number which will not change even if he admits himself to another hospital later. NOTTO’s web portal will be fully operational in the first phase to cover kidney cases within the next 10 days. The second phase is expected to cover some more body parts and will be operationalised in six months. The Rs 149-crore National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Programme will have NOTTO at its apex. There would also be Regional Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisations at Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Guwahati. Six state level organisations are also planned at the new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences at Patna, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Raipur, Bhubaneswar and Bhopal. “I am an organ donor myself and am committed to making this a nation-wide movement.. Why can’t we be like Spain where every brain stem death case leads by default to the body being donated for saving lives? I think we should educate our people more on this necessity,” the Minister said. As a consequence, the Health Minister has ordered Ministry officials to plan a series of programmes involving students and social organisations. Essay writing competitions and social events are planned to raise awareness. Dr Harsh Vardhan spent a long time inspecting NOTTO’s networking office, training centre and the facilities for preserving skin, cornea, bones and heart valves at the National Bio Material Centre which is part of the organisation. A call centre is being set up which will set up contact between donors and people on the waiting list in real time. Incidentally, the Minister had launched the Asian Organ Donor Registry at AIIMS, New Delhi on the occasion of World Organ Donation day (August 6) and on August 26 had released a poster for awareness generation organised by the Indian Medical Association.

Tokyo Declaration for India - Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership

Meeting in Tokyo on 1 September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to realize the full potential of India - Japan Strategic and Global Partnership for continuing progress and prosperity for their people and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world. Elevating the relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, they called their meeting the dawn of a new era in India - Japan relations. Prime Minister Abe expressed his deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi`s choice of Japan as his first destination for a bilateral visit outside India`s immediate neighbourhood. Prime Minister Modi described this decision as a reflection of Japan`s importance in India`s foreign policy and economic development and her place at the heart of India`s Look East Policy. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Abe for his deep personal commitment to strengthening India - Japan strategic partnership, the extraordinary warmth of his hospitality, and the bold vision that characterized their discussions in Tokyo today. The two Prime Ministers noted that India and Japan are Asia`s two largest and oldest democracies, with ancient cultural links and enduring goodwill between their people. The two countries are joined together by convergent global interests, critical maritime inter-connection and growing international responsibilities. They share an abiding commitment to peace and stability, international rule of law and open global trade regime. Their economies have vast complementarities that create boundless opportunities for mutually beneficial economic partnership. The two Prime Ministers observed that the relationship between the two countries draw strength and vitality from the exceptional consensus on the importance and potential of this relationship across the political spectrum, the business community and people in all walks of life in the two countries. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress of individual cooperation programmes and projects enumerated in the Factsheet and directed the respective relevant authorities to further advance cooperation in a mutually satisfactory manner. Political, Defence and Security Partnership The two Prime Ministers decided to continue the practice of annual summits and to meet as often as possible on the margins of regional and multilateral meetings. Recognizing the special quality of bilateral engagement between India and Japan imparted by multi-sectoral ministerial and Cabinet-level dialogues, in particular, those between their Foreign Ministers, Defence Ministers and Ministers dealing with finance, economy, trade and energy, the two Prime Ministers decided to intensify and invigorate such exchanges. In this regard, they welcomed that the next rounds of Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue and Defence Ministers dialogue would be held in 2014. They attached importance to the dialogue between their National Security Advisors, launched earlier this year soon after the creation of the National Security Secretariat in Japan, as a key instrument of building deeper mutual understanding and cooperation across the full range of security issues. They underlined the importance of the 2 plus 2 dialogue, involving Foreign and Defence Secretaries, for their growing strategic partnership, and decided to seek ways to intensify this dialogue. The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of defence relations between India and Japan in their strategic partnership and decided to upgrade and strengthen them. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence during the visit. In this context, they attached importance to the regularization of bilateral maritime exercises as well as to Japan’s continued participation in India - US Malabar series of exercises. They also welcomed the existing dialogue mechanism and joint exercises between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the recent developments in Japan`s policy on transfer of defence equipment and technology. The two Prime Ministers expressed the hope that this would usher in a new era of cooperation in defence equipment and technology. They recognized the enormous future potential for transfer and collaborative projects in defence equipment and technology between the two countries. They welcomed progress made in discussions in the Joint Working Group on cooperation in US-2 amphibian aircraft and its technology, and directed their officials to accelerate their discussions. They also directed their officials to launch working-level consultations between the two countries with a view to promoting defence equipment and technology cooperation. The two Prime Ministers recognized their wide-ranging shared interests in security of maritime and cyber domains, and decided to work with each other and with like-minded partners to preserve the integrity and inviolability of these global commons. They affirmed their shared commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation and overflight, civil aviation safety, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law. Global Partnership for Peace and Security in the Region and the World The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared belief that at a time of growing turmoil, tensions and transitions in the world, a closer and stronger strategic partnership between India and Japan is indispensable for a prosperous future for their two countries and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the world, in particular, in the inter-connected Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on Japan’s policy of "Proactive Contribution to Peace” and Japan’s Cabinet Decision on development of seamless security legislation. Prime Minister Modi supported Japan’s initiative to contribute to peace and stability of the region and the world. The two Prime Ministers decided, in particular, to draw on the strength of their two countries` shared values, convergent interests, and complementary skills and resources to build a strong partnership to promote economic and social development, capacity-building and infrastructure development in other interested countries and regions. The two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to engage with other countries in the region and beyond to address the region`s challenges, deepen regional cooperation and integration, strengthen regional economic and security forums and promote peaceful resolution of disputes. They underscored the importance of closer consultation and coordination between India and Japan in regional forums, including the East Asia Summit processes and forums. They expressed satisfaction with progress in official level trilateral dialogue among India, Japan and the United States and expressed the hope that this would lead to concrete and demonstrable projects to advance their shared interests and that of other partners. They decided to explore holding this dialogue among their Foreign Ministers. They will also explore the possibility of expanding, at an appropriate time, their consultations to other countries in the region. The two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of their perpetrators, origin and motivations. They emphasised that the evolving character of terrorism called for stronger international partnership in combating terrorism, including through increased sharing of information and intelligence. They shared concern over deteriorating security situation in various countries, and affirmed, in this regard, the importance of elimination of terrorist safe havens and infrastructure. They also called for reinvigorating multilateral action on terrorism, including through the finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations at the earliest. The two Prime Ministers expressed concern over North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including its uranium enrichment activities. They urged North Korea to take concrete actions towards denuclearization and other goals as well as to fully comply with its international obligations, including under all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and its commitments under the 2005 Six-Party Talks Joint Statement. They also urged North Korea to address, at the earliest, the humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abductions issue. The two Prime Ministers stressed their shared interests, including with respect to energy security, in a stable and peaceful Middle East, West Asia and the Gulf regions. They expressed their deep concern over continuing turmoil and instability in the region, from diverse sources of conflict, which has had tragic and devastating impact on countries and people in the region. Ending the region`s conflicts, combating terrorism and resolving outstanding issues, they shared, was of paramount importance, not just for the people of the region, but also to the world. They welcomed negotiations between P5+1 and Iran over the Iranian nuclear issue and urged all parties to show political will and seek common ground while accommodating differences. The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared determination, and called for sustained international commitment to promote Afghan-led economic development, political pluralism and capacity-building in security in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to help it become a united, independent, sovereign, stable and democratic nation free from terrorism, extremism and external interference. The two Prime Ministers affirmed the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, especially its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make it more representative, legitimate, effective and responsive to the realities of the 21st century. They called for concrete outcome in this direction by the 70th anniversary of the UN in 2015 and decided to enhance efforts bilaterally and under the G-4 to realize this. In this regard, they decided to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and outreach with other member states. They also highlighted the outcome of the third round of India-Japan consultations on UN issues held in Tokyo in July 2014. Civil Nuclear Energy, Non-proliferation and Export Control The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries and welcomed the significant progress in negotiations on the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. They directed their officials to further accelerate the negotiations with a view to concluding the Agreement at an early date, and strengthen the two countries’ partnership in non-proliferation and nuclear safety. Prime Minister Abe commended India’s efforts in the field of non-proliferation including the affirmation that goods and technologies transferred from Japan would not be used for delivery systems for WMD. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the decision of the Government of Japan to remove six of India’s space and defence-related entities from Japan`s Foreign End User List. They looked forward to enhanced trade and collaboration in high technology. The two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to work together for India to become a full member in the four international export control regimes: Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group, with the aim of strengthening the international non-proliferation efforts. Partnership for Prosperity Prime Minister Abe affirmed a broader and stronger Japanese partnership for Prime Minister Modi`s bold and ambitious vision for accelerating inclusive development in India, particularly by transforming the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s continuous support for India’s economic development and stated that no country has done more for modernizing India`s infrastructure than Japan. The two Prime Ministers announced the India–Japan Investment Promotion Partnership under which: a) The two Prime Ministers decided to set a target of doubling Japan’s foreign direct investment and the number of Japanese companies in India within five years as an objective to be jointly achieved. They also decided to work closely towards further expanding bilateral trade relationship to the next stage. b) Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to realize 3.5 trillion yen of public and private investment and financing from Japan, including Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), to India in five years, to finance appropriate public and private projects of mutual interest including in the areas of next generation infrastructure, connectivity, transport systems, Smart Cities, rejuvenation of Ganga and other rivers, manufacturing, clean energy, skill development, water security, food processing and agro industry, agricultural cold chain, and rural development. In this connection, Prime Minister Abe pledged ODA loan of 50 billion yen to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) for a public-private partnership infrastructure project in India. c) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the public-private initiatives between the two countries to set up Electronics Industrial Parks in India. They also shared the intention to develop "Japan Industrial Townships” and other industrial townships with investment incentives for companies would not be lower than under the prevailing policy framework such as Special Economic Zone (SEZ), National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ). d) The two Prime Ministers directed their officials to work out an appropriate mix of financing mechanisms, including public-private partnership, and terms for utilization of public funds, taking into account the nature of the projects, developmental priorities, procurement policies, level of industrial and technological capacities and skills available locally. They decided to explore ways to enhance Japanese and Indian participation in appropriate infrastructure projects in India. e) Prime Minister Modi underlined his determination to further improve the business environment in India, including through tax, administrative and financial regulations, in order to boost investment. The two Prime Ministers decided to further deepen bilateral economic and financial cooperation. Prime Minister Abe welcomed the approval to establish Mizuho Bank`s Ahmedabad branch. The two Prime Ministers placed special emphasis on Japan`s cooperation for enhanced connectivity and development in Northeast India and linking the region to other economic corridors in India and to Southeast Asia, which would catalyse economic development and increase prosperity in the region. Prime Minister Modi briefed Prime Minister Abe on his initiative for Smart Cities and renewal of heritage cities, including the city of Varanasi. Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s willingness to support this objective. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the document to promote partnership city arrangement between the ancient cities of Varanasi and Kyoto. Lauding Prime Minister Modi`s vision for development of world class infrastructure in India, including High Speed Railway system, Prime Minister Abe expressed his hope that India could introduce Shinkansen system for the Ahmedabad – Mumbai route. Prime Minister Abe expressed his readiness to provide financial, technical and operational support to introduce Shinkansen system, for which Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation. The two Prime Ministers look forward to the completion of the Joint Feasibility Study on High Speed Railway system on Ahmedabad – Mumbai route. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress in the ongoing flagship projects of India-Japan economic partnership, such as the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) and committed to accelerate their implementation. Prime Minister Modi invited Japanese investments in the development of new smart cities and industrial parks along these corridors. Appreciating Japan’s contribution to the development of urban mass rapid transport system in India, Prime Minister Modi sought Japan’s association with Ahmedabad Metro Project. Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s willingness to support the project in a mutually beneficial manner. Recognising the critical dependence of their economies on imported energy sources and their vulnerability to supply shocks, the two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to further strengthen energy cooperation through the India–Japan Energy Dialogue. They shared the intention that India and Japan would explore a higher level of strategic collaboration in the global oil and natural gas market, including through joint procurement of LNG, upstream development of oil and gas, and joint efforts to promote flexible LNG markets, including through relaxation of destination clauses. The two Prime Ministers also welcomed enhanced cooperation on utilizing highly efficient and environmentally-friendly coal-fired power generation technology and progress on cooperation in Clean Coal Technology (CCT). The two Prime Ministers welcomed substantial agreement on a commercial contract for manufacturing and supply of rare earth chlorides from India to Japan and affirmed their strong resolution for the finalization of commercial contract as well as the commencement of commercial production at the earliest. The two Prime Ministers affirmed the commitment of both counties to actively engage in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and to make RCEP a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement. They decided to cooperate further towards conclusion of RCEP negotiations. Exploring Science, Inspiring Innovation, Developing Technology, Connecting People The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the recent productive Ministerial discussions in the fields of education, culture, sports, and science & technology, and recognized that the two Governments can truly harness the full potential of their relationship by seizing the vast opportunities for collaborating in science & technology, innovation, education, skill development, health, and information and communications technology to create new opportunities for their talented people, transform lives and address global challenges. The two Prime Ministers decided to spur cooperation, in particular, in the cutting-edge fields such as life sciences including stem cell research, material science, cognitive science, applied mathematics, computing and information science, ocean technology and ocean observations, clean and renewable energy, water technology, climate change science and outer space. They recognized the importance to launch joint laboratories in India and Japan. They welcomed the growing collaboration between their research agencies and laboratories, and attached priority to expanding research exchanges, in particular, between their young scientists and students. The two Prime Ministers acknowledged that the richness of the relationship between the two countries came from the long-standing wealth of goodwill and warmth between their people, and expressed their determination to further enhance people to people contacts and promote mutual understanding. In this connection, they welcomed growing cooperation in tourism, youth exchanges, educational collaboration, and cultural exchanges including the cultural activities which will be held under the Festival of India in Japan. Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India initiative. The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of collaboration in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) through ICT Comprehensive Cooperation Framework. Prime Minister Abe invited India to participate in the ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ programme. Prime Minister Modi welcomed this proposal. The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the growing educational and research partnership, including in humanities and social sciences - from the revival of Nalanda University, the ancient seat of learning, to addressing tomorrow`s challenges through the establishment of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), and the Indian Institute of Informational Technology, Design and Manufacturing in Jabalpur (IIITDM-J), cutting-edge institutions of the 21st century. They decided to make efforts to substantially increase the number of exchange students between India and Japan as well as to enhance Japanese language education in India. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of cooperation in the field of healthcare. They appreciated the growing cooperation in the field of women empowerment. Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on his efforts to create a ‘society in which all women shine’. Sharing the view of Prime Minister Abe, Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to recognise the power of women and their important role in nation-building and the development journey of a country. Leading for the future Conscious that from time immemorial whenever Indians and Japanese have come together, they have struck a deep chord in each other; recognizing the importance of their countries` success; grateful to previous leaders for their invaluable contribution in building this relationship; aware of their enormous responsibility to lead at a moment of great opportunities and challenges, the two Prime Ministers decided to create a relationship that will shape the course of their countries and the character of this region and the world in this century. Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality of Prime Minister Abe and the Government and people of Japan. Prime Minister Abe accepted Prime Minister Modi`s invitation to visit India for the next Annual Summit in 2015.