Indo-US Partnership: Leveraging Technology For Progress, Stability
Strengthening bilateral ties can address pressing global challenges and ensure a sustainable future for both nations, experts say
India-US relations are taking a new shape in the changing geopolitical situation. Both countries are collaborating in the fields of deep technology, smart cities, space tech, aerospace, maritime security, and global supply chains. However, different national interests sometimes push back the relationship, whereas some sectors are still unexplored and are relatively less collaborative.
As the world’s second and third largest emitters and consumers of energy, the bilateral sustainable energy and climate relationship between the United States and India is critical. Same as in health, India supplies about 40 per cent of generic formulations marketed in the US, as per ORF. However, experts underscored the critical need for enhanced collaboration between the United States and India, particularly in health initiatives and environmental sustainability.
Strengthening Health Initiatives
The experts weighed on having a bone marrow registry in India. Experts said that currently, India has only about six million registered donors, while, in the United States, millions have registered. Experts highlighted the complexity of matching donors and recipients, given India’s diverse population.
Experts pitched for establishing a robust registry that could save countless lives. They emphasised integrating advanced cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to simplify the matching of donors and expand the registry’s capabilities for other medical purposes. However, they admitted that logistical challenges exist.
Bart Fisher, twice the Nobel Prize nominee author, said, “India needs a registry of 80 million HLA-type people. It has around six million now, which is tiny compared to the need, and the idea I have is that if we combine the registry information with artificial intelligence, we will learn a lot more and will be able to use the registry for many more things. For example, we now use stem cells for a breast cancer cure or a brain cancer cure. It just goes on and on, so we have a solution. But India has been the missing piece, and it hasn't been here it.”
Water Scarcity: A Growing Crisis
Experts discussed the multifaceted water quality crises, accessibility, health awareness, and inadequate infrastructure. Sanjana Jon connected these challenges to broader environmental concerns, highlighting the alarming rates at which glaciers are melting globally. It will increase the sea level and impact the coastal people.
As per a report, both the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the US National Climate Assessment concluded that ice loss was the largest contributor to sea-level rise during the past few decades and will contribute to rising sea levels for the century to come.
To combat these issues, Sanjana Jon, a filmmaker, mentioned the H2O movement that is creating awareness and promoting small, actionable changes among citizens. These initiatives include establishing 776 water holes across India to provide clean water while supporting local wildlife and emphasising that the key to successful water management lies in fostering a culture of conservation, urging individuals to engage in practices like turning off taps while brushing their teeth.
She added, “We have been creating awareness amongst the youth pan India; we had walked with 50,000 students in Chandigarh, Dehradun and in different universities.”
Governance and Accountability
Once H. Auden rightly said that thousands have lived without love, not one without water. As per the Falkenmark Water Index, almost 76 per cent of people are already living with water scarcity in India. Over-extraction of groundwater, inefficient water management, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, inefficient use of water for agriculture, and lack of adequate water infrastructure have been the primary causes of water scarcity, whereas, as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT), groundwater contamination due to arsenic is prevalent in 230 districts across 25 states of India, while that caused by fluoride is prevalent in 469 districts across 27 states.
stressed the importance of effective governance in addressing India's water crisis. They noted that the country possesses sufficient water resources, but mismanagement and urbanisation have led to a decline in traditional water bodies, particularly in cities like Bangalore.
Sanjana questioned why in all hotels and public units the flushing uses good drinkable, usable water down the drain. Why can't just recycled water be used? She added, "PPVR and Inox have come in support of this initiative.”
Global Humanitarian Concerns
From the Ukraine-Russia war to Middle East tensions, the South China Sea to the Korean peninsula is just a step away from mass destruction. The panel discussed this global humanitarian crisis issue even in Sudan.
Notably, Bart praised some of the US decisions, such as the Abrahamic Accord and others. He said, “The Emirates, along with Sudan, are finally making deals with Israel. This was one of the really good things Trump did. He had let countries make bilateral arrangements with Israel.”
He even found the reason for Hamas's attack on Israel in these developments, and he questioned, “Why did Hamas attack? They wanted to upend all the progress that had been made over the last five years.”
However, amid these global challenges, one participant raised critical questions about U.S. foreign policy's perceived double standards, especially regarding human rights advocacy.
A Call For Collaboration
Industry leaders expressed a sense of optimism about the potential for collaboration between health initiatives and environmental campaigns. They emphasised that addressing fundamental human needs—health and clean water—requires a collective commitment from both governments and citizens. As both countries are dealing with complex geopolitical landscapes, the essence shared during the panel serves as a call for enhanced cooperation between the US and India, ensuring a sustainable future for both nations and their citizens.
