Articles on 2 August 2025

What Has Been Missed is India’s Digital Sovereignty

Context

• The India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officially referred to as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), has been hailed as a model for future trade negotiations.
• While the government has emphasised that no sensitive sectors, such as agriculture and labour-intensive manufacturing, were compromised, a critical area has been notably ignored in both official commentary and media scrutiny, India’s digital sector.
• Given the pervasive and strategic importance of digital infrastructure to national growth, this oversight raises serious concerns about the long-term consequences of the FTA on India's digital sovereignty.

Troubling Concessions in the India-UK FTA

• India’s Strategic Reversal on Source Code Disclosure

  • One of the most controversial concessions in the FTA involves India’s abandonment of its sovereign right to demand ex ante access to source code from foreign digital service providers.
  • This move represents a dramatic reversal from India’s previous consistent stance at international forums like the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • Traditionally, India upheld the right of regulators to inspect software source code pre-emptively to ensure compliance, security, and public safety, especially given the increasing integration of software into critical sectors like telecom, health, and artificial intelligence.
  • Remarkably, even the United States, a pioneer in imposing source code disclosure bans in trade agreements, has recently softened its stance, acknowledging domestic needs for regulation and law enforcement.

• Open Government Data: Misinterpreted and Misused

  • Another alarming concession is India’s agreement to provide non-discriminatory access to its 'Open Government Data' to U.K. entities.
  • Historically, this term referred to transparency and the sharing of public statistics.
  • However, in the digital era, data has transformed into a vital economic and strategic resource, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence.
  • Data-driven patterns and algorithms are now the bedrock of technological innovation and global competitiveness.
  • By opening government-held data to foreign players, India risks forfeiting its competitive edge in building indigenous AI technologies and jeopardizes national security.
  • Even if the provision is currently non-binding, it sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the conceptualization of data as a sovereign asset.

A Troubling Precedent in Data Policy

• Though India appears to have maintained its positions on contentious issues like the free flow of data and data localisation, the inclusion of a clause to consult the U.K. if India provides similar concessions to other nations signals a softening of its stance.
• This clause introduces uncertainty and weakens India’s negotiating power in future trade agreements.
• The risks here extend beyond commerce to touch upon national autonomy in rule-making for digital ecosystems.
• The U.S., once the strongest advocate of unrestricted data flows, has already backtracked, recognising the need for digital protectionism in the face of geopolitical and technological shifts.
• India's concessions, in contrast, reveal a lack of strategic foresight, undermining its ability to influence or resist emerging global digital norms driven by Western Big Tech interests.

The Lack of a Political Constituency for Digital Sovereignty

• Unlike agriculture and manufacturing, the digital sector lacks a clear and vocal political constituency in India.
• This absence has allowed sweeping concessions to be made without public debate or political resistance.
• Yet, digital sovereignty is arguably even more crucial in the long run, as it shapes the infrastructure for economic independence and innovation in the 21st century.
• Just as the subcontinent was once exploited during the industrial revolution, it now faces the risk of becoming digitally colonised, serving as a data mine for global powers while lacking the tools to harness this resource for its own development.

The Path Forward: Formulating a Digital Sovereignty Strategy

• To safeguard its digital future, India must urgently develop a robust digital sovereignty and digital industrialisation policy.
• Such a framework should define the nation’s strategic priorities and provide a blueprint for trade negotiations involving digital sectors.
• These talks must be informed not only by commercial considerations but also by expert insights into technology, regulation, and geopolitics.
• Digital sovereignty experts should be included in negotiation teams and have direct access to senior political leadership to ensure long-term national interests are adequately represented and protected.

Conclusion

• The India-U.K. FTA marks a troubling moment in India's digital journey, not for what it includes about traditional trade, but for what it silently concedes in the digital realm.
• The agreement represents a deviation from India’s previously consistent positions on digital rights, source code disclosure, and data sovereignty.
• If left unaddressed, these concessions could severely limit India's ability to assert control over its digital ecosystem.
• India must act quickly, not only to mitigate the damage but to chart a proactive course toward becoming a digital superpower rather than a passive consumer in a global digital order crafted by others.

What Has Been Missed is India’s Digital Sovereignty FAQs

Q1. What major sector has been overlooked in discussions on the India-U.K. FTA?
Ans. The digital sector has been largely overlooked in discussions on the India-U.K. FTA.

Q2. Why is the source code disclosure concession significant?
Ans. It is significant because it limits India’s regulatory ability to inspect software used in critical infrastructure.

Q3. How has the meaning of 'Open Government Data' changed in the digital era?
Ans. It now represents a valuable national resource, essential for AI development and digital innovation.

Q4. What risk does India face by allowing foreign access to its government-held data?
Ans. India risks losing its competitive advantage in AI and compromising national security.

Q5. What is urgently needed to protect India's digital future?
Ans. India urgently needs a clear digital sovereignty and digital industrialization policy to guide future trade negotiations.

Source: The Hindu

The Fact is Mangroves Drive Business

Context

• As the world contends with intensifying climate change, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events, blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves are emerging as critical assets in the fight for ecological and economic resilience.
• Despite their immense value in carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and community livelihoods, mangroves are still largely invisible in financial balance sheets and underrepresented in policy frameworks.
• To shift this paradigm, the Mangrove Coalition proposes a multi-pronged approach that harnesses technological innovation, community engagement, and inclusive monitoring practices.

Necessary Steps Towards Unlocking the Full Potential of Mangroves

• Mapping Natural Capital with Technology

  • Advances in satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and geospatial Artificial Intelligence have made it possible to map mangrove cover with unprecedented precision.
  • This data is essential for evaluating the true worth of mangroves in economic and ecological terms, which in turn informs policy decisions and restoration initiatives.
  • The valuation of mangrove services provides compelling evidence of their importance. For instance, in India, the economic value of mangroves ranges from ₹3,535 million in Pichavaram (Tamil Nadu) to ₹664 billion in the Sundarbans (West Bengal).
  • The carbon sequestration capability of the Sundarbans alone is valued at ₹462 million annually.
  • These figures underscore the need to integrate mangrove ecosystems into mainstream economic planning.

• Inclusion of Local Communities

  • Technology alone is insufficient without the inclusion of local communities who possess deep, generational knowledge of these ecosystems.
  • Their dependence on mangroves for livelihoods necessitates that they be not only included in conservation dialogues but also equitably benefit from restoration and valuation efforts.
  • Local stewardship ensures that conservation is rooted in lived experience and shared benefit.
  • Among coastal communities, particularly fisherfolk, mangroves are valued as critical nurseries for juvenile fish.
  • Healthy mangroves correlate directly with sustainable fish stocks, thus influencing food security and income stability.
  • In urban settings like Mumbai and Chennai, mangroves suffer from pollution and neglect. Degraded ecosystems fail to support biodiversity and threaten both livelihoods and cultural ties.
  • However, community empowerment can reverse this trajectory.
  • When people experience the tangible benefits of mangrove health, such as better air quality, improved fish yields, and flood protection, they become invested stewards of their environment.

Citizen Science and Platforms for Engagement

• Training community members to monitor environmental indicators not only supplements formal scientific assessments but also democratizes conservation.
• When individuals can interpret and track the health of mangroves and associated wetlands, they contribute to data-driven decision-making and build a culture of stewardship.
• Effective mangrove health tools should encompass a range of ecological and social indicators: changes in mangrove cover, quality and timing of freshwater flows, species diversity (including avian, molluscan, and fish populations), and community reliance on ecosystem services.
• These holistic assessments reveal patterns and inform targeted management responses.
• Platforms such as Mangrove Mitras (Friends of Mangroves) serve as engagement hubs that connect urban residents with local ecosystems.
• Through immersive experiences, such platforms can reignite a sense of wonder and responsibility, bridging the gap between people, wetlands, rivers, and mangroves.

Conclusion

• The stewardship of mangroves should not be confined to top-down mandates. Rather, it must be a collaborative effort where the health of mangrove ecosystems and the well-being of communities are seen as mutually reinforcing goals.
• Policymakers and businesses must shift their perspective to view mangroves not merely as biodiversity reserves, but as vital components of climate infrastructure.
• Protecting and restoring these ecosystems requires an active coalition, one that unites science, local knowledge, and economic pragmatism.
• By embracing technology, empowering communities, and nurturing inclusive engagement, we can secure the future of mangroves and chart a path toward sustainable, climate-resilient growth.

The Fact is Mangroves Drive Business FAQs

Q1. Why are mangroves considered important for climate resilience?
Ans. Mangroves are important for climate resilience because they absorb carbon, reduce the impact of storms, and protect coastlines from erosion.

Q2. How can technology help in mangrove conservation?
Ans. Technology such as satellite imagery and AI helps map mangrove areas accurately and assess their ecological and economic value.

Q3. What role do communities play in conserving mangroves?
Ans. Communities help conserve mangroves by using traditional knowledge, participating in restoration efforts, and benefiting from sustainable livelihoods.

Q4. What is citizen science in the context of mangroves?
Ans. Citizen science involves training people to monitor mangrove health and contribute to conservation through data collection and observation.

Q5. How can engagement platforms support mangrove protection?
Ans. Engagement platforms like Mangrove Mitras connect citizens to mangrove ecosystems and encourage public involvement in their care.

Source: The Hindu

India’s Indigenous Democratic Traditions - Revisiting the Chola-Era Electoral Legacy

Context:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at Gangaikonda Cholapuram on July 27, 2025, highlighted India’s indigenous democratic traditions, predating the Magna Carta.
• This article re-examines ancient electoral practices, particularly those under the Chola dynasty, and their relevance to modern democratic discourse.

Ancient Democratic Roots - Reclaiming India’s Indigenous Democratic Heritage:

• Democracy in India is not a colonial import but has deep civilizational roots.
• For example, India’s democratic spirit did not begin in 1947, 1935, or even 1919. However, the contributions of British parliamentary traditions or the American Bill of Rights cannot be denied.
• Vaishali - a republic in the 5th century BCE, and village assemblies were early forms of participatory governance.
• Kautilya's Arthashastra references samghas — local governance structures.

The Uthiramerur Inscriptions - A Codified Democratic Framework:

• Chola-era electoral system (c. 920 AD): Inscriptions in Vaikuntaperumal Temple, Uthiramerur (Tamil Nadu), during Parantaka Chola's reign, details an elaborate self-governance system.
• Highlights include -
  • Ward Constitution
  • Eligibility and disqualification norms
  • Committee formation and functions
  • Right to recall elected members.

The Kudavolai System - Ancient Electoral Mechanism:

• The electoral process used in Uthiramerur was called the kudavolai system, or “ballot pot”.
• Under this system, names of eligible candidates were inscribed on palm leaves and drawn from a pot by a neutral child.
• The selected members served for fixed one-year terms, after which the process was repeated.
• This system ensured transparency, impartiality, and civic participation.

Real Marvel of the Voting Method:

• Strict moral and administrative standards: The comprehensive model code of conduct governed who could contest, how they could be removed, and what moral standards were expected.
• For example:
  • Eligibility of candidates -
    • Age between 35–70 years.
    • Must own tax-paying land and reside on it.
    • Must be educated in sacred or administrative texts.
  • Disqualification -
    • Debt defaulters, alcoholics, morally tainted, or corrupt individuals barred.
    • Even close relatives of such individuals were disqualified.
    • Offenders could be barred for generations.

Comparisons and Contemporary Relevance:

• Contrast with modern-day politics: Unlike today’s convicted politicians who often return to power, Chola-era governance enforced lifetime or generational bans on the corrupt.
• India’s electoral legacy reflects values of -
  • Transparency
  • Accountability
  • Ethical leadership
  • Citizen participation.

Modern Relevance of India’s Indigenous Democratic Traditions:

• Reasserts that democracy in India is homegrown, not imposed.
• Serves as a counter-narrative to global democratic erosion, highlighting India’s resilience and originality.

Conclusion:

• India's democratic traditions have a rich, indigenous, and institutionally codified history.
• Far from being a colonial transplant, democracy in India is civilizationally rooted, evident in the administrative practices of the Chola period and beyond.
• Recognizing and reclaiming this legacy is essential for building a more ethical, participatory, and accountable polity in contemporary times.

India’s Indigenous Democratic Traditions FAQs

Q1. What do the Uthiramerur inscriptions reveal about Chola-era democracy?

Ans. They show a structured, participatory electoral system with eligibility, disqualification, and accountability norms.

Q2. How did the Kudavolai system ensure transparency in elections?

Ans. By using palm-leaf ballots drawn publicly by a neutral child, it ensured fairness and impartiality.

Q3. What moral standards were set for candidates during the Chola period?

Ans. Candidates had to be ethical, debt-free, and morally upright, with disqualifications extending to close relatives.

Q4. Why did PM Modi highlight ancient Indian democracy in his speech?

Ans. To emphasize India’s indigenous democratic roots amid global democratic erosion.

Q5. Does India’s democratic legacy predate colonial rule?

Ans. Yes, traditions from Vaishali to Chola-era elections prove democracy in India is homegrown.

Source: IE