Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island

• On Netaji Subhash Chandra Boss Island, the spotted deer (Chital) population is growing out of control, which is causing issues.

Context:

• The British brought the herbivore to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for game hunting in the early 1900s, and because there were no significant predators to control its population, it multiplied unchecked for years.For the authorities of the Union Territory, it has turned into a “invasive” issue.

About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island

• A member of the Andaman Islands, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island was once known as Ross Island.
• Three kilometers to the east of Central Port Blair is where the island is located.
• It is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ South Andaman administrative district.
• Situated near vital maritime lanes and sandwiched between the Indian mainland, Myanmar, and Indonesia, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands enjoy a strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
• The islands were ruled by the British, the Dutch, and finally the Japanese troops as they advanced during World War II.
• By the end of 1943, the Japanese were forced to cede de jure authority of the islands to the Azad Hind government, and on December 29th, Subhash Chandra Bose landed in Port Blair.
• The PM renamed Ross Islands as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep during his visit to the island in 2018 in recognition of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s memory and the historical significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.
• All the three islands are major tourist spots.

Green Hydrogen

• A Rs-496-crore (until 2025-26) program has been established by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to assist pilot projects that either develop safe supporting infrastructure, including refueling stations, or evaluate the practicality of green hydrogen as a car fuel.

Background:

• Large Indian producers of commercial vehicles, like Volvo Eicher, Ashok Leyland, and Tata Motors, are increasing their R&D and manufacturing capacity in an attempt to produce trucks and buses that run on hydrogen.

About Green Hydrogen :

• Hydrogen lacks color, and its “green” status stems only from the process of production and the energy source employed.
• The term “green hydrogen” describes hydrogen that is created when water is electrolyzed, or split into hydrogen and oxygen, using an electrolyser that is run on renewable energy.This method of producing hydrogen is regarded as being almost entirely emission-free; it is ‘end-to-end’ green since it runs on renewable energy, uses water as a feedstock, and produces no carbon dioxide during use.
• Currently, “grey” hydrogen—which is created from natural gas using energy-intensive procedures and has significant carbon emissions—makes up the majority of hydrogen produced for industrial use.With the exception of a different production process and emissions, green hydrogen is virtually identical to grey hydrogen or hydrogen classified by any other color.

Obstacles to the widespread application of green hydrogen in the transportation industry:

• The biggest obstacle is the production’s exorbitant cost, which is followed by the difficulties in large-scale storage and transportation.
• Due to issues with fuel prices and the need to develop supporting infrastructure, four-wheel battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are still thought to be the best option for green hydrogen-powered vehicles.
• Compared to diesel, gasoline, or even CNG, hydrogen is highly combustible, therefore handling it at retail stations would require extra caution. It is necessary to build strong and reliable handling procedures as well as safety standards before promoting widespread usage.
• At the moment, compressed natural gas (CNG) is intended to be carried by the majority of cylinders made in India. However, hydrogen cannot be carried in CNG cylinders because it must be held at a considerably higher pressure. Because stronger carbon fiber is required for cylinders to handle large masses of hydrogen, high-pressure hydrogen cylinders are more costly. This is a major obstacle to the use of hydrogen as a fuel for transportation. The infrastructure of the current natural gas pipeline is likewise viewed as unfeasible for the same reason.

DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND

• The World Bank issued a warning, stating that the failure to create jobs at a rate to match the increase in the working-age population poses a risk to South Asian countries’ ability to “squander its demographic dividend.”

Context:

• The working-age population increased by an average of 19 million people annually between 2000 and 2023, and this resulted in an average of 10 million new jobs being created in the region.

About DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND:

• “The economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population is larger than the non-working-age share of the population,” is how the United Nations Population Fund defines demographic dividend.
• Because there are more people in India who are working age and have fewer dependents, there are more economic prospects as a result of the demographic dividend.

Aspects of the Demographic Dividend in India

• Large and Increasing Working-Age Population: Since 2018, India’s working-age population (15–64 years old) has outpaced its dependant population.
• Uniqueness: Unlike any other nation in the world, India’s demographic dividend opportunity covers five decades, from 2005–06 to 2055–06.
• increased Education Levels: India’s workforce is becoming more skilled and productive as a result of increased educational attainment.
• Increasing Gender Equality: Women’s engagement in the workforce and educational attainment have increased significantly in recent years, contributing to the notable progress made in this direction.

India – Italy Relations

• The Migration and Mobility Agreement between Italy and India was ratified by the Union Cabinet in December of last year.

Background:

• India and Italy are two very old civilizations that have been connected for two millennia. Italian port cities played a significant role in the spice trade as trading hubs. In the thirteenth century, the Venetian trader Marco Polo visited India and documented his travels in writing.India and Italy established political connections in 1947 upon their independence. From that time on, both countries have maintained a regular exchange of official and political visits, including multiple visits by heads of state.

Relations between Italy and India:

• Both nations have regularly exchanged visits at the official and political levels. For example, in October 2021, the Indian Prime Minister made his first official trip to Italy in order to attend the G20 Summit. As the honored guest of Raisina Dialogue, the Italian prime minister made her first-ever state visit to India in March of 2023.
• India’s fourth-largest EU trading partner is Italy. In 2022–2023, the two nations’ bilateral commerce was valued at US$ 14.25 billion, with India benefiting from a positive trade balance.
• The purpose of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) is to enhance defense cooperation. In order to foster collaboration in a variety of defense fields, including security and defense policy, defense industrial cooperation, and others, India and Italy signed a defense cooperation agreement in 2023.
• A Strategic Partnership was established between Italy and India in March 2023, coinciding with the Italian Prime Minister’s visit to the country. A link was found between the expanded Mediterranean, where Italy is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and serves as a natural bridge into the Indo-Pacific, and the Indo-Pacific, in which India plays a prominent role. Italy’s decision to leave the Belt and Road Initiative is in line with shared objectives for increased global connectivity.
• Italy backed India’s admission to the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement. Through an underwater cable system, the Blue-Raman project, which is centered around an Italian company, aims to transmit digital data for tighter ties between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Italy backed several of India’s largest projects, such as the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Issues/Challenges/Regarding the Relations Between Italy and India:

• Even while India and Italy have historical trade relations that date back to the Roman era, their present trade and investment volumes are rather small.
• A dispute over functional immunity and legal jurisdiction was raised by the Italian Mariners’ case, and it wasn’t resolved until 2020 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered its decision.
• Due to allegations of bribery surrounding the Italian corporation Leonardo’s defense firm in the Agusta Westland helicopter controversy, India cancelled the procurement agreement and barred Leonardo from the Indian defense market in 2015.
• The trilateral collaboration between Japan, Italy, and India was established in 2021, although it hasn’t yet been operationalized.

Way Forward:

• To boost trade volume, find new investment opportunities, and encourage economic cooperation, strengthen trade ties.
• Italy and India stand to gain significantly from two-way commerce if the EU and India establish a trade agreement soon. Additionally, it would strengthen the recently rekindled EU-Indian partnership.
• India and Italy have a shared need to jointly create and support a new global agenda, so they can agree on multilateral concerns.
• Through food festivals and other gourmet events, honor and promote the culinary traditions of both nations. Italian pizza and pasta can be found on Indian tables, and Indian spices can give Italian cuisine a kick.