Important Facts For Prelims
Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue
- 01 Feb 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
India’s National Security Advisor hold talks with the US counterpart on the first dialogue on Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) in the US.
- Completing the work on the long-awaited NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) earth observation satellite is an excellent example of how the US-India partnership in space can benefit the world.
What is the iCET Initiative?
- About:
- The iCET initiative was launched by India and the US in May 2022, and is being run by the National Security Councils of both countries.
- Under iCET, the both countries have identified six areas of cooperation which would include co-development and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the rest of the world.
- Under iCET, India is ready to share its core technologies with the US and expects Washington to do the same.
- Six Areas of Cooperation:
- The six areas for cooperation are scientific research and development; quantum and artificial intelligence, defense innovation, space, advanced telecom which would include things like 6G and semiconductors.
- Significance:
- iCET would forge closer linkages between government, academia and industry of the two countries.
- The objective is to provide cutting edge technologies to the rest of the world which are affordable.
- The launch of the ambitious iCET dialogue is seen as “an alignment of strategic, commercial and scientific approaches” in the field of technology.
- This is eventually likely to be mirrored in the progress made in Quad – the informal grouping of four countries, Australia, Japan, India and the United States.
Who is a National Security Advisor (NSA) in India?
- The NSA is the primary advisor to the Prime Minister of India. He also presides over the National Security Council (NSC).
- The current NSA is Ajit Doval.
- The NSC of India is a three-tiered organisation that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern.
- It was formed in 1998, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon.
- NSC operates within the executive office of the PM, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services.
