Discuss the relevance of the Gujral Doctrine for India with regard to its relations with its immediate neighbours in the present times.

Relevance

-i- Nepal & Bhutan wish to diversify their export basket away from India especially after economic blockades (Use Gujral doctrine to pacify) -ii- Bangladesh is fast gaining closeness with china. India must extend concessions for leverage. Eg Land Boundary Agreement -iii- Sri lanka's deep economic crises requires economic strategic support of India Eg 2022 crisis -iv- Afghanistan suffering under 'great games' and socioeconomic crises require Gujral doctrine Eg Salma Dam, libraries -v- Relations w/ Pakistan can be improved Eg Indus Water Treaty

Challenges → slow delivery & implementation → SAARC defunct → China's expansion in the region

For a 'neighborhood 1st policy', India must extend 'Panchsheel' non-interferen u f Gujral doctrine concession

21st century is marred with complex challenges with ushering in of digital space. In this light MEA has created 'New & Emerging Strategic Technology' (NEST) division.

Complexity of digital space

• hybrid warfare
• cyber war
• cyber hacking (Eg Kundankulam Nuclear Plant)
• Social Media Algorithms → Mob lynching, Cambridge Analytica
• Industrial Revolution 4.0 (Big data, AI)
• Privacy (Pegasus Snooping)

Priority Areas for techno diplomacy

-i- Security: With emergence of internal and external security threats, technology is sine qua non

• use of drones in Pathankot attack
• drugs in Punjab via drones
• Left wing extremists via social media
• Migration at border needs thermal scanners
• Maritime security after 26/11 attack
• Kundankulam nuclear power plant
• Spy satellite tracker Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota

Fig: Indian Map showing relevance of technodiplomacy in digital progress

-ii- Socioeconomic development Eg Mckinsey shows over 60% jobs under threat due to AI Eg Attention economy exploited -iii- Privacy (a fundament right as per Puttaswamy Case 2015) under threat with → Profiling of citizens → Snooping (Pegasus) → Data localisation (refusal by mastercard) -iv- Political Stability: Democracy of the oldest Democracy (US) under threat by Cambridge Analytica Indian elections: Over 60% first time voters engaged via digital spaces Issues → Paid News, Fake News, Misinformation -v- 'Infodemic' coined by WHO chief scientist due to creating concern for health security

misinformation /
/
Disinfo - Over information

-vi- Extremism Eg Indoctrination by ISIS on Facebook or Eg Environmental extremism, Mental health challenges

Role of techno diplomacy → Productive deliberation Eg Rejecting G20 osaka track → Ensure benefits for Global South Eg WTO IPR exception for COVID vaccine → Ethical governance Eg India enforcing chief compliance officer for Twitter