December 2014 - Embassy of India, Moscow

EDITORIAL
CONTENTS
POLITICAL
Official visit of President of the Russian
Federation to India .............................................2-9
Ambassador’s interview to International
Information Agency “Rossiya Segodnia”.........10-11
ECONOMY
Digital India plan could boost GDP
up to $1 trillion by 2025: McKinsey ................... 12
ITEC Day celebrated in Moscow .........................13
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
First experimental flight of India’s
mext generation launch vehicle
GSLV MK-III successful .....................................14
Rare plant species found in Palakkad ...................15
CULTURE
Development of Ayurveda in Russia.............. 16-17
Bollywood Saga..............................................18-19
TOURISM
Aurangabad - The City of Gates......................20-23
INDIAN CUISINE
Spiced vegetable biryani......................................,24
Cover pages 1 & 4: Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra
Dear Readers,
2014 was an eventful year in IndiaRussia relations, culminating in the highly
successful visit of President Putin to India on 1011 December 2014. During the visit, India and
Russia adopted a Vision Document ‘DruzhbaDosti’ for strengthening India-Russia partnership
over the next decade. In addition, over two dozen
agreements were signed. Expansion of economic
engagement between the two countries received
special focus during the visit.
2014 also marked the 50th anniversary
of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation
(ITEC) programme. Russia is an important
partner country for ITEC programme. To mark
the 50th anniversary, the ITEC Day was held in
the Embassy on 16 December 2014. Apart from
ITEC participants from Russia, the function was
also attended by ICCR alumni (Russian scholars
who have studied in India under the scholarship
schemes of the Indian Council for Cultural
Relations – ICCR).
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Rahul Shrivastava
Counsellor (Press, Information & Culture)
Embassy of India
Moscow
www.indianembassy.ru
1
INDISKY VESTNIK
Political
Official Visit of President of the
Russian Federation to India
The President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Vladimir V. Putin
paid an official visit to India on 10-11 December, 2014
for the 15th Annual India-Russia Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Russia Vladimir Putin
V. Putin paid an official
visit to India on December
11, 2014 at the invitation of
the Prime Minister of the
Republic of India, H.E. Mr.
Narendra Modi, for the 15th
Annual Summit between the
two countries. During the
Summit, the leaders agreed on
December 11, 2014
a vision for strengthening the
1. The President of the Russian India-Russia partnership over
Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir the next decade. Recognizing
that the special and privileged
"Druzhba - Dosti: A Vision
for strengthening the Indian
Russian Partnership over
the next decade" - Joint
Statement during the visit
of President of the Russian
Federation to India
2
INDISKY VESTNIK
strategic partnership between
India and Russia has been
built on the strong foundation
of mutual trust, bilateral
understanding and unique
people-to-people
affinities,
the leaders emphasized that
the time has come for a
significant broad-basing of
bilateral cooperation to carry
the friendship between the
countries to a qualitatively
new level.
2. India deeply values the
monumental
contributions
made by Russia to India’s
developmental and defence
needs in the second half of
the twentieth century. The
Declaration
on
Strategic
Partnership of 2000 and the
Annual Summits it initiated,
have allowed the two countries
to redefine and strengthen their
partnership in the twenty-first
century.
3. The leaders expressed
confidence that a strong
bilateral strategic partnership
advances the national interests
of the two countries and
contributes to a more stable
and secure world order. The
two countries have resolved
to strengthen this partnership
over the next decade through
concrete initiatives in diverse
areas and to make the
bilateral institutional dialogue
architecture more resultoriented and forward-looking
While both leaders will continue to meet on the margins
of multilateral events, the
Annual Summits will review
and supervise the progress in
the realization of this vision
for India-Russian partnership.
Energy
4.
Acknowledging natural complementarities in the
area of energy and India’s
quest for energy security, the
sides will expand manifold
bilateral cooperation in the
field of energy, including
oil and gas, electric power
www.indianembassy.ru
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin at the delegation level talks in New
Delhi (December 11, 2014)
production, nuclear energy, India. They will also examine
renewable energy sources, and avenues for participation in
energy efficiency.
petrochemical projects in each
other’s country and in third
5. The bilateral program ‘on countries. The leaders have
enhanced cooperation in oil encouraged Indian and Russian
and gas sphere’ underlines companies to pursue greater
the serious commitments participation in each other’s
of the two sides to develop power generation projects, as
cooperation in this area of great also in supply of equipment,
promise. The leaders envisage technology for enhanced oil
broader collaboration between recoveries and extraction of
hydro-carbon companies of coal, including coking coal.
the two countries in oil and
gas exploration and production 6. The two countries view
as well as in LNG projects nuclear energy as a clean,
and supplies. The sides will reliable and viable source
promote natural gas utili- of energy. They have a joint
zation as an abundant and vision for cooperation in
environmentally
friendly nuclear energy, aimed at
source of energy for diverse serial construction of nuclear
purposes in their economies, power units, based on Russian
including motor fuel and design, as also on and existing
feedstock. It is expected that and possible future bilateral
Indian companies will strong- agreements. India and Russia
ly participate in projects will expand their cooperation
related to new oil and gas in science and technology,
fields in the territory of the industry,
localization
of
Russian Federation. The sides equipment and spares, uraniwill study the possibilities um mining, fabrication and
of building a hydrocarbon supply of nuclear fuel,
pipeline system, connecting management of spent fuel
the Russian Federation with and in other aspects of the
3
INDISKY VESTNIK
10. The two leaders see
limitless opportunities for
bilateral cooperation in outer
space to advance societal
applications and scientific
knowledge.
The
space
agencies of India and Russia
will engage more actively on
space technology applications,
space transportation, satellite
navigation, space science
and planetary exploration. In
2015, the two countries will
commemorate the 40 years of
the launch of Indian satellite
Meeting between President of India and President of Russia
‘Aryabhata’ using Soyuz
launch vehicle. By the time
nuclear fuel cycle. Towards Asia’, endorsed by UNESCAP
of the 50th anniversary of the
this objective, the Indian Resolution 70/9.
launch, the leaders would
side agreed to expeditiously
expect significant collaboration
identify a second site, in 8. The energy efficiency
between India and Russia on
addition to Kudankulam, for agencies of the sides will
peaceful uses of outer space.
the construction of the Russian- engage more closely to
designed nuclear power units exchange experiences and best
11.
Defence
cooperation
in India.
practices. India and Russia
between India and Russia is
will also cooperate in the
founded on deep mutual trust
7. India and Russia will work development and efficient use
and promotes wider peace and
together to further strengthen of renewable energy.
security. The two countries
regional multilateral coopehave already moved to a phase
ration in the field of energy. Technology and Innovation
of joint design and development
In this context, the sides 9. Noting the synergies
of defence systems. The
recognize that the first Asia- between national efforts by
sides recognize the virtually
Pacific
Energy
Forum the two countries to develop a
unlimited opportunities for
(APEF), held in the city of knowledge-economy powerenhancing this cooperation,
Vladivostok in May 2013, ed by technology and innovaincreasingly based on joint
has laid the foundation for tion, India and Russia will
research and development, joint
an enhanced regional energy increase collaboration in
manufacturing,
technology
dialogue under the auspices joint design, development,
sharing and collaborative
of the UN Economic and manufacturing and marketing
research in futuristic technoSocial Commission for Asia of technology-driven products
logies, in accordance with
and the Pacific (UNESCAP). and scientific interaction
existing
agreements
on
They will be guided by the between the two countries.
military-technical cooperation.
provisions of the ‘APEF In particular, such cooperaTo this end, India has permitted
Ministerial Declaration’ and tion will extend to space
foreign direct investment in
‘Plan of Action on Regional applications, defence technothe defence sector up to 49
Cooperation for Enhanced logies, aviation, new materials,
per cent. The sides will exploit
Energy Security and the communications and informathese opportunities optimally
Sustainable Use of Energy in tion technology.
4
INDISKY VESTNIK
and enrich bilateral interaction
through regular joint military
exercises, training in each
other’s services institutions and
institutionalized consultations
between the armed forces.
12. The sides will intensify
bilateral scientific and technological interaction to increasingly focus on innovative,
high- technology sectors and
their commercial applications.
They will further develop
various support mechanisms
for joint research. Their
bilateral
scientific
and
technological
collaboration
will cover fronti-er areas,
such as environmental science,
power
sector
(including
alternative sources of energy),
energy efficiency and energy
security, information and
communication technologies,
nanotechnology and new
materials, engineer science, bioenergy, nano-biotechnology,
bio-equipment and affordable
diagnosing equipment for
healthcare and agriculture.
It will be aimed at creating
institutional linkages between
scientific research institutions
of the two countries. In view of
the importance of safeguarding
food security, the sides would
expect to conduct further
joint research in the fields of
horticulture and biotechnology.
They will exchange scientific
and technological manpower to
build capacity for exchange of
knowledge most relevant to the
economies of the two countries.
Further academic exchanges
will also be promoted through
www.indianembassy.ru
Joint Press Conference
schemes for visits by scientists
that will enhance human
resource capacity building in
the science and technology
sector. An action plan on this
subject will be prepared.
13. India and Russia recognize
the importance of the Arctic and
the contributions in promoting
cooperative
activities
to
address Arctic issues by the
Arctic Council, given that
Russia is a member and India
has joined as an observer in
May 2013. The sides agreed to
facilitate scientific cooperation
to study the challenges (like
melting ice, climate change,
marine life and biodiversity),
facing the rapidly-changing
Arctic region.
14. Given the strategic
importance of rare earth
minerals and their economic
and commercial utility, the
sides will enhance cooperation
in rare earth minerals’ mining,
technology development and
research. They will explore
5
joint
development
of
technologies for processing
rare earth materials.
Expanded
economic
engagement
15. The sides will promote
bilateral economic, trade and
investment cooperation to
contribute to the enhanced role
of emerging markets in the
world economy and to foster
sustainable, balanced and
inclusive global growth.
16. The two leaders recognized the enormous untapped
potential in bilateral trade,
investment and economic
cooperation. The two governments will intensify efforts
to identify measures to
facilitate the full realization
of this potential. They have
encouraged Indian and Russian
enterprises to explore more fully
new opportunities arising from
increasing national focus on
infrastructure development and
expanding the manufacturing
sector. It is expected that
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changes in India. These
measures
should
expand
the share of direct diamond
exports from Russia to India
significantly.
President of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi
with President Putin
Russian companies will utilize
the opportunities in a wide
range of Indian sectors and
will ‘Make in India’.
17. The sides will encourage
payments in national currencies for bilateral trade. The
Working Group established
for this purpose will make
recommendations on eliminating the existing barriers
and stimulating transactions
in national currencies. The
leaders agreed that the
initiative launched by India
and the Eurasian Economic
Commission for a Joint Study
Group (JSG) to explore the
feasibility of a comprehensive
economic cooperation agreement covering trade in
goods, services, investment
cooperation, movement of
natural persons and mutual
6
recognition of standards, is of
great importance for bilateral
economic cooperation. The
Russian side will support the
productive work of the JSG
so that this Group completes
its study within an optimal
timeframe. The leaders noted
that the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor can
vastly improve the efficiency of
bilateral trade by significantly
reducing transit time and
freight costs. India and Russia
will work together to conclude
the necessary multilateral
arrangements and outreach to
step up the use of this corridor
at the earliest. The leaders noted
with satisfaction the progress
made in promoting direct trade
of diamonds between our two
countries and particularly in
facilitating enhanced diamond
trade through diamond ex-
INDISKY VESTNIK
18.
India-Russia
mutual
investment should become a
new point of growth in bilateral
economic cooperation. There
will be constant focus on
the agreed plans for bilateral
investment cooperation, the
sides will take all necessary
measures to support successful
implementation of such plans.
An emphasis will be laid on
promoting Russian investments
in India in major infrastructure
projects like DMIC, Smart
Cities and Freight Corridors,
as well as in broader sectors
like telecom, power and roads.
In Russia, Indian participation
in Industrial Parks and
technology
platforms,
in
sectors like pharmaceuticals,
fertilizers, coal and energy
will be encouraged. The sides
will encourage specialized
investment funds to invest
in these sectors and in the
joint manufacturing of high
technology
products.
In
this context, they welcome
the initiative of a direct
investment fund of US$ 2
billion between Rosnano and
suitable Indian investment
partners for implementation of
high-tech projects. They will
protect the legitimate interests
of investing companies. In
particular, the sides will enter
into discussions to renegotiate
the existing bilateral agreement
for protection and promotion
of investments, initially agreed
on 23 December 1994, to
provide for the protection of
foreign investments in each
other’s territory.
19. The leaders noted that
the governments of the two
countries and their industry
representatives should join
hands to disseminate information about business opportunities in each other’s
countries. The sides also agreed
on mutual trade facilitation
measures, particularly with
regards to simplified customs
proce-dures. In this context,
they agreed to finalize shortly a
protocol on a "Green Corridor"
project. The leaders also invited
companies of the two countries
to realize the substantial
opportunities in engineering;
pharmaceuticals; information
and communication technology; chemicals; fertilizers;
metallurgy; agro and animal
products; and transport.
20. The sides will promote
further strengthening and
increasing the effectiveness
of our bilateral inter-regional
cooperation. They noted with
satisfaction that many cities
and regions in the two countries
have established linkages
(Cities: New Delhi-Moscow
and St. Petersburg; BangaloreNovosibirsk;
ChandigarhUfa;
Chennai-Volgograd;
Hyderabad-Kazan; KolkataVladivostok and Yaroslavl;
Kochi-Pyatigorsk; MumbaiSt. Petersburg; Pune-Ekaterinburg; Panjim-Krasnodar; Thiwww.indianembassy.ru
ruvanathapuram-Stavropol;
Thrissur-Yessentuki. Regions:
Andhra
Pradesh-Tatarstan;
Gujarat-Astrakhan and Tatarstan; Haryana-Bashkortostan;
Karnataka-Irkutsk,
KhantyMansiysk Autonomous OkrugUgra and Samara; KeralaIrkutsk; Maharashtra-Siberia)
for cooperation in various
fields. The leaders agreed to
encourage linkages between
other regions and cities of the
two countries with a view to
enhance trade and investment,
tourism, cultural and peopleto-people contacts. The leaders
expressed confidence that
a web of linkages between
these and other regions and
cities will bring substantial
benefits to these regions and
cities and bolster India-Russia
partnership further.
21. With these and other
initiatives, the leaders agreed
to step up efforts for enhancing
bilateral trade in the coming
years and set a target of
bilateral trade turnover of
goods and services at US$30
billion by the year 2025. It
is expected that the level of
mutual investments by then
will be over US$15 billion
each way.
Global order and world
peace
22. Reaffirming their commitment to upholding the
principles of international law
and promoting the central role
of the UN in international
relations, India and Russia will
work together to promote a
7
polycentric and democratic
world order based on shared
interests of all countries. The
two countries will work for
democratization of global
political, economic, financial
and social institutions so
that these institutions better
represent the aspirations and
interests of all segments of the
international community. India
and Russia oppose economic
sanctions that do not have the
approval of the United Nations
Security Council.
23. The sides reaffirmed
the need for UN Security
Council reform in order to
make it more representative
and effective in dealing with
emerging challenges. They
agree that any expansion of the
Security Council should reflect
contemporary realities. In this
context, the sides will work
together to ensure reforms
of the UN Security Council.
Russia will extend its support
for India’s candidature for
permanent membership of the
Council.
24. The two countries will
consult and coordinate in
multilateral fora such as
G20, EAS, BRICS and RIC.
Russia looks forward to India
becoming a full member of the
SCO following the completion
of all required negotiations
procedures. The sides support
the evolution of an open,
balanced and inclusive security
architecture in the Asia Pacific
region based on collective
efforts, considering legitimate
INDISKY VESTNIK
interests of all states of the
region and guided by respect
for norms and principles of
international law.
25. The leaders condoled
the loss of life in senseless
terrorist acts in recent days
in Jammu & Kashmir, India
and in Chechnya, Russia.
They believe that the nature
and spread of international
terrorism in recent years, as
demonstrated by developments
in their shared neighbourhood,
require global resolve and
co-operative measures of the
international community without double standards or
selectivity. The threat to all
humanity posed by terrorism
justifies
a
collaborative
approach, in accordance with
international law and the
Charter of the United Nations,
putting aside differences and
tensions between countries
and regions in other political
and economic areas. The
sides agreed to work together
for the adoption of the
Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism by the
70th Anniversary Summit of
the UN. The leaders expressed
hope that all safe havens and
sanctuaries for terrorists will
be wiped out without delay and
terrorism would be completely
eradicated from the common
region within a decade.
26. The leaders welcomed the
peaceful transition of political
authority in Afghanistan and
called upon the international
community to join efforts to
8
support reconstruction and
economic development in
that country and to continue
capacity building of its national
security forces. The sides hope
to see an Afghanistan that
would within a decade flourish
as a prosperous hub for trade,
industry and energy.
other fora to advance their
shared interests.
29. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
are transforming this world
and playing a vital role in
development. The sides will
collaborate to promote safe,
secure and sustainable use
27. As two states possessing of ICTs globally, including
advanced tech-nologies, India through the UN.
and Russia have converging
interests in preventing the 30. In the backdrop of regional
proliferation of weapons of issues and conflicts, the leaders
mass destruction. This is re- voiced their strong conviction
flected in their participation that political dialogue and
and positions in international negotiation should be the
fora such as the Conference on sole means of resolution of
Disarmament, IAEA, Global conflicts, rather than military
Initiative to Combat Nuclear force.
Terrorism and stringent national
export control measures. The People-to-people ties
Russian side confirmed its 31. Recognizing the enormous
support to India’s intention goodwill, respect and strong
to seek full membership in ties among the peoples of
the Nuclear Suppliers Group India and Russia, the sides
and its readiness to facilitate supported enhancing measures
positive decision of the Group by the two governments to
on this matter. Russia also promote and support cultural
supported India’s interest in exchanges through annual
full membership in the MTCR festivals of culture, exchanges
and Wassenaar Arrangement. between cultural institutions,
think tanks, tourism promotion
28. As responsible users of events and other initiatives.
outer space, India and Russia
share substantive interests in 32. The sides will take
the long-term sustainability steps to strengthen education
through
facilitating
of outer space activities and ties
in maintaining outer space and extending support to
for peaceful purposes. They each other’s students. They
will work together in the UN supported the establishment of
Committee on Peaceful Uses institutional linkages between
of Outer Space in Vienna, the universities and academic
Conference on Disarmament institutions of the two countries.
in Geneva, the UNGA First The sides will promote in this
Committee in New York and context the development of
INDISKY VESTNIK
network partnerships between
universities. Early conclusion
of agreements on mutual
recognition of education,
qualification and degrees
should further encourage
leading
universities
and
research institutions of India
and Russia to support greater
exchanges of student research
scholars,
post-doctoral
candidates and faculties.
and research institutions,
promote physical training
and sports and direct contacts
between organizations of
the two countries. The sides
will encourage cooperation
to promote health and fitness
through traditional Indian
forms of Yoga and Ayurveda,
including
through
Yoga
centres, camps and Ayurveda
centres.
33. . India and Russia will
maintain close contacts and
interaction in international
sports matters. The sides
agreed to deepen interaction
and expand the scope of IndiaRussia cooperation in the
field of sports, to support an
exchange of practices between
sports’ federations, scientific
34. The Russian side welcomed
the simplified visa regime
introduced by the Indian side
in November, 2014 under
which nationals of Russia will
be granted electronic visa on
arrival at designated airports
in India. Both sides agreed to
further ease visa requirements
for mutual travels of certain
categories of citizens of the
two
countries,
including
business visas. This will further
enhance
people-to-people
contacts and boost tourism.
Bilateral perspectives
35. The discussions and
decisions of the two leaders, as
well as the detailed agreements
at the bilateral dialogue have
given the leaders the confidence
that objective political, economic, security and cultural
factors will propel India-Russia
partnership to a level that meets
the aspirations of their people.
The relationship between India
and Russia has been tested by
time and will continue to be a
friendship based on complete
trust that will bring happiness
and prosperity to peoples of
both countries.
CEOs from India and Russia with PM Modi and President Putin
www.indianembassy.ru
9
INDISKY VESTNIK
Ambassador’s Interview to International
Information Agency “Rossiya Segodnia”
Natalia Benyukh
Your
Excellency
Ambassador, we would like
to know your opinion about
Russian President Vladimir
Putin’s visit to India on
December 11 and your
assessment of the outcome
of the visit. You were among
those who welcomed the
Russian President in New
Delhi and who came to see
off him.
Answer: The visit of the
President of the Russian
Federation to India last week
was a significant event in
our bilateral relations. It
was the first Annual Summit
between the leaders after the
new government came into
office in India. It gave our
two leaders the opportunity to
10
evaluate the current status
of our special and privileged
strategic partnership and to
set out a focused agenda for
action in the diverse areas of
our cooperation. This can be
seen in the joint statement that
articulates the vision of the
two leaders for strengthening
our bilateral partnership over
the next decade.
For
India,
what
are the most significant
documents signed in Delhi
and in view of this, what are
the plans set by India before
the country?
Answer:
Besides
the
important Joint Statement,
seven documents were signed
at the inter-governmental
level and a further 13
commercial contracts were
concluded on the sidelines
INDISKY VESTNIK
of the visit. In addition to
these, valuable contacts
were established between
governmental agencies and
business entities of the two
sides that will lead to further
bilateral agreements and
contracts. All these are of
great importance. Initiatives
to impart fresh impetus to
our cooperation in space,
fast-tracking nuclear energy
cooperation, measures to
create
more
conducive
conditions
for
bilateral
trade
and
investments,
bilateral
initiatives
to
facilitate increasing direct
diamond trade and enhanced
cooperation in the field of
oil and gas between the two
countries are also important
outcomes of the visit.
I have gone through
the coverage of the visit
by the Indian press which
as a whole assesses the
visit positively. However,
some publications have
expressed the opinion that
Indo-Russian
relations
have no previous shine
and significance and they
will have to withstand an
endurance test in the light
of the forthcoming visit
to India of US President
Barack Obama in January.
What is your opinion about
this assessment?
Answer: India-Russia relations have withstood many
stringent endurance tests
during the Cold War and
beyond. They have emerged
from each test with their
shine intact. If you see our
PM’s public statement at the
joint media interaction with
President Putin, it would be
clear that there is no ambiguity
in India’s perspectives on the
relationship. Our PM has
said clearly that our strategic
partnership is incomparable in
content; even as global politics
and international relations are
changing, the importance of
the India-Russia relationship
and its unique place in
India’s foreign policy will
not change. Even as India’s
options have increased today,
Russia will remain our most
important defence partner.
It is a key partner in India’s
quest for energy security,
both through collaborations
in generation of nuclear
energy and with an ambitious
agenda for partnership in the
hydrocarbons sector. The priority for our cooperation
include combatting terrorism
and extremism, advancing
peace and stability in Afghanistan and working together
to promote a polycentric
democratic world order based
on shared interests of our
countries. It is clear from this
that we see a continuity and,
in fact, an increasing vibrancy
in our bilateral relations into
the future.
During the Russian
President’s visit, the two
sides set the task of increasing the volume of trade
between the two countries
up to $ 30 billion by 2015.
How will they achieve this
goal?
Answer: During the recent
visit the two leaders agreed
that in today’s world
vibrant economic relations
www.indianembassy.ru
constitute a key pillar of a
strong strategic partnership.
They agreed that we need to
encourage significantly higher
flows of goods, services and
investments between the two
countries. With this objective
our two countries are close
to finalizing modalities for
conducting bilateral trade in
our national currencies and
for creating fast-track customs
clearance procedures. Our
dialogue with the Eurasian
Economic Union for closer
engagement between India
and the EaEu will also lead
to a favourable impact on
India-Russia economic collaboration. The bilateral investment funds which were agreed
on during the Summit will
give impetus to the flow of
investments in both directions.
We are looking at Indian
investments in fertilizers,
coal, pharmaceuticals and
engineering in Russia and
encouraging Russian investments in a number of civilian
and defence sectors under
our ‘Make in India’ initiative
and large-scale infrastructure
projects. We hope the bilateral
diamond trade will pick up
momentum. Our increasing
collaboration in nuclear energy and hydrocarbons should
also boost our economic
interactions.In short, if we
follow up assiduously on the
agreements and understandings reached at the Summit,
we should be able to achieve
the targets for trade and
investments set by our two
leaders in the joint statement.
Both
the
Indian
Ambassador to Russia and
the Russian Ambassador to
India could be described as
11
the steersmen who direct the
ships of bilateral cooperation
in their harbours in line
with the roadmap adopted
by the leaders of the two
countries. Your Excellency
Ambassador, what are the
steps you have planned for
the implementation of the
signed documents in the
near future? What are the
important events in IndoRussian cooperation that
have been outlined in the
forthcoming months of the
New Year?
Answer: Both the Embassies
and governments of the two
countries have been given
a substantive agenda for
action by our leaders. It is
our responsibility to progress
this agenda. The practice of
Annual Summits as well as
the fact that our leaders also
regularly meet at different
multilateral events, provide
the impulse for us to retain our
focus on implementation of
bilateral initiatives. A number
of institutional mechanisms
provide the framework in
which the bilateral agenda is
pursued purposefully. Even
today discussions are being
conducted in Moscow on a
revised Bilateral Investment
Promotion and Protection
Agreement (BIPPA). We
will have other bilateral
meetings on civil and defence
cooperation
commencing
from the beginning of the new
year in January and leading
through to the Annual Summit
in the latter half of 2015. In
2015, we will also hold a
Festival of Indian Culture in
Russia. I am confident that
we will achieve the goals that
have been set for us.
INDISKY VESTNIK
Economy
Digital India plan could boost GDP
up to $1 trillion by 2025: McKinsey
Muntazir Abbas
Research
firm
McKinsey has said that the
adoption of key technologies
across sectors spurred by the
Digital India initiative could
help boost India’s GDP by
$550-billion to $ 1-trillion by
2025.
The New York-based
company sees an opportunity in
digital technologies and smart
physical systems, and said
that government’s ambitious
Digital India initiative would
have significant impact on
technology adoption.
"PM Narendra Modi’s
ambitious
Digital
India
plan will give priority to
technology trends and help
the country with 20-30%
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INDISKY VESTNIK
incremental GDP by 2025",
Noshir Kaka, managing
director at McKinsey &
Company India told reporters.
"There will be an
additional impact of $550
billion to $ 1 trillion on the
India economy annually
by 2025 with the adoption
of significant technologies
across financial services,
healthcare,
agriculture,
energy, infrastructure and
education sectors".
McKinsey is bullish
over adoption of mobile
Internet, cloud technology,
digital payments, digital
identity, Internet of Things,
intelligent
transportation,
advanced geographic information system and next
generation genomics.
The painpoints, according to McKinsey, include
affordability of devices,
availability of infrastructure,
digital literacy and local
content.
In November 2014,
McKinsey Chief Executive
Dominic Barton said that
India has come back on the
priority list of most of the
corporate decision makers
after Narendra Modi came to
power.
The whiteshoe consulting firm projects India’s
mobile Internet users to reach
somewhere between 700
to 900 million with almost
equal number of smartphone
owners.
"Some gaps such as
infrastructure and standards
need to be fixed besides lastmile connectivity to boost
the digital economy", R
Chandrashekhar,
Nasscom
president and former telecom
secretary, said.
Chandrashekhar stressed upon the need for
appropriate legislation and
regulatory
environment
and incentivizing digital
initiatives to facilitate the
sector.
ITEC Day celebrated in Moscow
To mark the 50th
anniversary of the commencement of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme
of Government of India, the
Embassy of India in Moscow
celebrated ITEC Day on 16
December 2014 at DP Dhar
Hall. ITEC participants and
ICCR students from Russia,
representatives from Russian
government, journalists and
other friends of India participated in the celebration.
On this Occasion,
Ambassador Raghavan said
that Government of India
offers a wide range of courses
in capacity-building and
educational institutions. Its
popularity has been growing
in Russia. Over 1000 scholars
from diverse backgrounds
across Russia have availed of
ITEC training opportunities
in various fields since 1993.
ITEC participants and ICCR
scholars from Russia are a
valuable resource for IndiaRussia people-to-people understanding.
A cultural performance
of Indian contemporary and
folk dances by students of
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural
Centre formed part of the
celebration. A documentary
film by the Ministry of
External Affairs to mark the
50th anniversary of ITEC
programme was also shown.
The ITEC programme
forms an important part
of India-Russia bilateral
relations. Government of
India sponsors short-term
technical training courses for
Russian nationals in premier
Indian
educational
and
training institutions, in areas
such as English language,
IT skills, human resources
management, banking and
finance and entrepreneurship.
The ITEC programme
links India with over 160
countries in sharing of
experiences and capacitybuilding in diverse economic,
political and social disciplines.
www.indianembassy.ru
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INDISKY VESTNIK
Science & Technology
First experimental flight of India’s
next generation launch vehicle
GSLV MK-III successful
The first experimental
flight (GSLV Mk-III X/CARE)
of India’s next generation
launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III
was successfully conducted
(December 18, 2014) morning
from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. Also
known as LVM3-X/CARE, this
suborbital experimental mission
was intended to test the vehicle
performance during the critical
atmospheric phase of its flight
and thus carried a passive (nonfunctional) cryogenic upper
stage.
The mission began with
the launch of GSLV Mk-III at
9:30 am IST from the Second
Launch Pad as scheduled and
about five and a half minutes later,
carried its payload - the 3775
kg Crew Module Atmospheric
Re-entry Experiment (CARE)
- to the intended height of 126
km. Following this, CARE
separated from the upper stage
of GSLV Mk-III and re-entered
the atmosphere and safely
landed over Bay of Bengal with
the help of its parachutes about
20 minutes 43 seconds after liftoff.
Two massive S-200 solid
strap-on boosters, each carrying
207 tons of solid propellants,
ignited at vehicle lift-off and
after functioning normally,
separated 153.5 seconds later.
L110 liquid stage ignited 120
S200s were still functioning,
and carried forward for the next
204.6 seconds.
CARE separated from
the passive C25 cryogenic
upper stage of GSLV Mk-III
330.8 seconds after lift-off and
began its guided descent for
atmospheric re-entry.
After the successful re-
parachutes opened, following
which it gently landed over
Andaman Sea about 1600 km
from Sriharikota, there by
successfully concluding the
GSLV Mk-III X/CARE mission.
With today’s successful GSLV
Mk-III X / CARE mission,
the vehicle has moved a step
closer to its first developmental
flight with the functional C25
seconds after lift-off, while entry phase, CARE module’s cryogenic upper stage.
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Rare plant species found in Palakkad
Named Chlorophytum palghatense, the new species is endemic to the grassland
ecosystem of the Dhoni and Muthikulam forests in the Western Ghats
T. Nandakumar
Scientists
at
the
Centre for Medicinal Plants
Research, Arya Vaidya Sala,
Kottakkal, have reported
the discovery of a rare plant
species from the Dhoni hills
in Palakkad district.
It was during an
expedition to study the
floristic diversity of the high
mountains in the southern
regions of the Western
Ghats that the researchers
led by scientist K.M. Prabhu
Kumar and director Indira
Balachandran came across the
new species in the grasslands
of the Palamala hills in the
www.indianembassy.ru
Dhoni mountain range. The plant belonging
to the genus Chlorophytum
of the Asparagaceae family
was later reported from the
Elival hills of Muthikulam
in Palakkad by a team
comprising scientists from
the Kerala Forest Research
Institute, Peechi.
Named Chlorophytum
palghatense, after the place
of discovery, the plant is a
perennial herb endemic to
the grassland ecosystem of
the Dhoni and Muthikulam
forests at a height above 6,000
feet. It flowers and fruits from
September to November. The
finding has been published in
15
‘Phytotaxa’, an international
journal on botanical taxonomy.
Distributed throughout
Africa and India, the
Chlorophytum
genus
is
represented by 17 species in
India, of which 15 occur in
the Western Ghats.
Detailed
taxonomic
studies carried out at Shivaji
University,
Kolhapur,
revealed that the new species
was distinct from C.sharmae
endemic to Munnar. Mr.
Kumar said C.Palghatense
was named thus to highlight
the rich biodiversity of
Palakkad district, especially
as a reservoir of rare plants
endemic to the Western Ghats.
A study has been taken
up to assess the medicinal
properties of the new species,
a pressnote quoting Ms.
Indira Balachandran said.
C.Palghtense has been found
to be similar to safed musli
(C.borivilianum), a medicinal
herb also widely marketed as
an aphrodisiac.
V.S. Hareesh and K.P.
Vimal from the Department
of Botany, Calicut University,
and S.R.Yadav and Avinash
Asraji Adsul from Shivaji
University were part of the
research team that reported
the discovery of the new
plant.
INDISKY VESTNIK
Culture
Development of Ayurveda in Russia:
legislative regulations, prospects and opportunities
Karillo-Arkas A. Kh.
President of
Ayurvedic Russian-Indian
Association
Legislative regulation
Ayurveda in Russia
started being applied in 1989.
In 1990 Ministry of
Health of the USSR legalized
Ayurveda, it was brought in
"The list of types of medical
activity".
The intergovernmental
agreements
on RussianIndian cooperation in the
sphere of Ayurveda were
signed in 1993, 1999, 2001
and 2005.
The Council for Complementary Medicine was
established under the Committee for health protection in
2014, whose task is to amend
the law on health, to add the
complementary medicine specialty, including Ayurveda.
Educational activity
Educational
courses
were conducted in 1990,
1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001,
2005, 2007 and up to date
in Moscow, St. Petersburg,
Saratov and Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg by efforts
of public organizations.
Optional training for
the students of the Moscow
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INDISKY VESTNIK
Institute of Medical and Social
Rehabilitation was conducted
from 1997 to 2001.
In 2006, Ministry of
Health of Russia approved
"Training program for the
Fundamental principles of
Ayurveda".
In 2014 the Russian
Peoples’ Friendship University opened the Institute of
Eastern medicine with the
Department of Ayurveda.
According to a survey
carried out by Ayurvedic
Russian-Indian Association
"ARIA":
•
Since 1990, Russia has
more than 400 doctors who
have been trained to varying
degrees with the Indian
standards, and have received
different levels of Russian
and Indian Certificates.
• Russian physicians are
interested in obtaining new
knowledge and studying the
Ayurvedic medicines and
methods of treatment that
widen their abilities and
improving the efficiency of
patients’ treatment.
Medical treatment activity
*For the first Russia
took interest in Ayurveda
in 1989 after disaster at the
Chernobyl Atomic Electric
Power Station. On the advice
of the Prime Minister of India
Rajiv Gandhi discussion on
opening Ayurvedic Centre
in Minsk were held. Indian
scientists and physicians
of Ayurveda were to treat
children affected by the
explosion at atomic power
station, as well as to develop
preventive measures against
radiation sickness. Plans were
not realized in view of the
reorganization of public.
Based on 24 years of
experience of using Ayurveda
in treatment of patients with
radiation damage effects, I
can confirm with confidence
that great opportunities have
been lost over the years
to save children and adults
patients’ lives who affected
by the disaster.
105 children aged 3
to 16 years old who suffered
from infantile cerebral palsy
(ICP), bronchial asthma and
gastroenterological diseases
have been treated by
Ayurvedic treatment system at
Moscow Scientific Research
Institute of Pediatrics and
Pediatric Surgery, Russian
Ministry of Health. As a
result of Ayurvedic treatment
of children with ICP, positive
dynamics of baseline electroence-phalogram and improvement of cerebral hemodynamics, besides regress of the
main clinical manifestations
of diseases was also noticed.
This indicated a direct and
positive influence of the
applied treatment on the part
of cerebral regulation of the
disease process. The results
of treatment for children
with bronchial asthma and
gastroenterological diseases
were also positive for subjective and objective criteria.
Children did not have any
toxic or allergic
drug
reactions.
www.indianembassy.ru
The results of the
Ayurvedic treatment of chronic
diseases in Russia:
Treated from Recovered in %
Hypertension
56%
Atherosclerosis
53%
Stroke aftereffects
63%
Infarction aftereffects 54%
Trigeminal neuralgia 64%
Headaches
85%
Diabetes aftereffects
75%
Obesity
30%
Chronic constipation
88%
Rheumatoid arthritis
88%
Bronchial asthma
78%
Respiratory allergies
73%
Chronic bronchitis
71%
Chronic sinusitis
100%
Eczema
68%.
Evaluation of medical activity from 1995 to 2013
*Tens of thousands of
patients were treated with
positive results. Russian
patients positively stand and
well tolerate the Ayurvedic
methods of therapy and
medicines.
*Priority
directions
in improving of patients
treatment efficacy determined
by nosology.
*Regularities of using
Ayurvedic drugs are revealed.
*The standards for
outpatient and inpatient
treatment developed.
*Russian physicians
are increasingly using in their
medical practice Ayurvedic
methods and medicines.
*Great interest of doctors in studying professional
Ayurvedic knowledge is
shown.
17
*A considerable growth
of interest among the people in
Ayurvedic treatment methods
and the demand for drugs has
been observed.
* Currently 9 Ayurvedic
centers with qualified ayurvedic doctors and masseurs
are working in Russia, which
comply with the standards of
Ayurvedic treatment.
All
centers
have
a
positive
business
development
Ayurvedic drugs
A large number of
Ayurvedic drugs have proven
their effectiveness in the
Russian market. These are
such drugs as Liv52, Cyston,
Speman, Tentex, Linkas,
Verona, Bondzhigar, Insti,
Van Bee, Softovak , "Doctor
Mom", other medicines, oils,
BAD (biologically active
additives) and cosmetics.
The steady growth
of sales of Ayurvedic drugs
on average 25% annually,
indirectly
indicates
of
efficiency
and
being
in
demand of Ayurvedic
approach.
Therefore,
positive
opportunities for Ayurveda
have developed in Russia. The
task of the Ayurvedic RussianIndian Association "ARIA" to ensure cooperation between
Russia and India for scientific
integration and development
of Ayurveda in the Russian
health care.
INDISKY VESTNIK
Bollywood Saga
Bollywood - the Indian film industry and the dream factory...
Or maybe this is another individual state of India, that exists
somewhere in our imagination and wherein you can go
when the heart has not enough fairy tales
A dance show of Indian
film industry "Bollywood
Saga" was organized by the
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural
Center of the Embassy of
India in Moscow at the S.M.
Zuev Palace of Culture on
December 17, 2014.
More than 65 dancers,
who are artists of Jawaharlal
Nehru Cultural Center, as well
as ensembles: "Arjumand" of
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Sofico Shoni, "Lila Prem"
of Lydia Conovoy and
"Amritsar"
of
Natalia
Odegova performed at the
programme.
Indian movies are
loved in Russia. Russian
people love heartwarming
stories, inspirational songs
and bright dance. Show
"Bollywood Saga" was not
only a tribute to the stars
of Indian cinema, but also
a journey through the
milestones of Bollywood.
Raj Kapoor, Meena Kumari,
Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit,
Aishwarya Rai, Deepika
Padukone, Priyanka Chopra,
Sadhana, Shahrukh Khan,
Amir Khan, Katrina Kaif,
Salman Khan, Rishi Kapoor,
Ranbir Kapoor are just some
of those great actors, whose
work inspired "Bollywood
Saga".
The dance program was
divided into several thematic
blocks: love as the leit-motif
of Indian films; the evolution
of Bollywood choreography;
dance of the 60s, 70s and
2000s; the influence of
Western and Latin American
music on Indian music and
fusion dance; modern dance
of Indian cinema 2010-2014:
modern dances of young
generation of Indian stars.
The Ambassador of
India to the Russian Federation
H.E. Mr. P.S.Raghavan and
his spouse Mrs. Barbara
Raghavan also honored the
concert with their presence
and personally thanked the
participants of "Bollywood
Saga".
Grand finale
www.indianembassy.ru
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INDISKY VESTNIK
Tourism
Aurangabad -The City of Gates
Aurangabad is a city in the Aurangabad district of
Maharashtra, India. Aurangabad ("Aurang City") is named
after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The city is a tourism
hub, surrounded by many historical monuments, including the
Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara. The administrative
headquarters of the Aurangabad Division or Marathwada
region, Aurangabad is titled "The City of Gates" and the
strong presence of these can be felt as one drives through the
city. Recently, Aurangabad was declared "Tourism Capital
of Maharashtra". By population it is the 5th largest city in
Maharashtra, after Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik.
The city was founded in 1610 A, D. by Malik Ambar,
the Prime Minister of Murtaza. Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar
on the site of a village called Khadki. He made it his capital
and the men of his army raised their dwellings around it.
Within a decade Khadki grew into a populous and imposing
city. Malik Ambar died in 1626. He was succeeded by his son
Fateh Khan who changed the name of Khadki to Fatehnagar.
With the capture of Daulatabad in 1633, the Nizam Shahi
dominions including Fatehnagar came under the possession of
the Moghals. In 1653 when Prince Aurangzeb was appointed
the viceroy of the Deccan for the second time, he made
Fatehnagar his capital and called it Aurangabad.
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INDISKY VESTNIK
Ellora represents to
the world the finest and
greatest in terms of sheer
magnificence of Indian sculpture. The awe-inspiring,
mammoth Kailash Temple
is carved out of solid rock,
dedicated to Mount Kailash
of the Himalayas, the abode
of Lord Shiva. This monolithic structure is a very rare
phenomenon that demanded
Ajanta Caves
the most careful planning,
based
not
on
what
was added but what was
removed! is one of the
world’s largest and massive
sculptures. The Ramayana
and Mahabharata are also
depicted here in carvings
as also the many-faceted
personality of Lord Shiva.
Ellora is a repository of
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain
religious expression, a sheer
volume of information in
carved pageantry. The cave
temples and monasteries at
Ellora are excavated out of the
vertical face of an escarpment.
Extending in a linear arrangement, the Thirty-four shrines
synthesize Indian religion and
Indian passion for sculpture
containing Buddhist Chaityas,
www.indianembassy.ru
or halls of worship, and
Viharas, or monasteries,
Hindu and Jain temples.
Spanning a period of about
600 years between the 5th &
11th century AD, the earliest
excavation here is of Dhumar
Lena (cave 29). The Kailash
Temple of the Ellora caves
is the most attractive and
masterpiece of the creator.
Ellora is a priceless page
out of history, and the Ellora
Caves are listed in the worldheritage list. Cave number
32 is famous for a glorious
Yakshi statue and beautiful
ceiling paintings.
Ajanta - a series of
caves, hewn out of rock by
Buddhist monks who found
sanctuary here and left a
legend for posterity. These 30
21
caves with 24 monasteries
and 5 temples have wall
paintings and sculpture of
an aesthetic appeal that is
timeless. The craftsmanship
astounds scholars and art
lovers even today. Some of
the most exquisite paintings
depict the life and teachings of
Buddha as well as his earlier
life as a prince. The Ajanta
caves are like chapters of a
splendid epic tale in visual
form. Natural light brightens
the caves at different times of
the day leaving visitors awestruck by the sheer brilliance
of those ancient masters who
created this marvel of art and
architectural splendor. The
Ajanta Caves are a group of
30 rock cut Buddhist caves.
The basic designs of the caves
INDISKY VESTNIK
are called ‘Chaitya grihas’
and ‘Viharas’. Five caves
are
Buddhist
cathedrals
& the remaining 25 are
monasteries. The Chaityas are
large, rectangular chambers
separated by rows of pillars.
They are decorated by
sculptures and murals which
depict the many incarnations
of Buddha. The Viharas are
rectangular shaped halls.
They have series of small
cells which are attached
on both sides. Opposite to
the entrance is an image
of Buddha. The caves also
include a visual form of the
life of Buddha and interesting
stories from latakas. The
monument of Bibi Ka Maqbara is widely known as the
‘Poor man’s Taj’ was built
in 1679 AD by Aurangzeb’s
son, built it in memory of his
mother Rabia. Ata Ullah was
the architect and he based the
design on the Taj Mahal. The
memorial is built of sandstone
with plastered walls and has
a marble dome. It has an
flowery wall around with an
entrance which provides the
best view of the memorial.
The enclosure of the tomb
is made of marble and is
octagonal. Ajanta Caves
declared as World heritage
site by UNESCO.
The Daulatabad fort
emerges dramatically over
600 ft above the Deccan plain.
It is one of the world’s best
preserved forts of medieval
times and also one of the few
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Kailasha Temple at Elora
Daulatabad Fort
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impregnable forts in Maharashtra with excellent architecture. The city was named
Daulatabad "The city of
fortune", by Mohammed bin
Tughluq, the sultan of Delhi.
Lonar is the world’s
third largest crater. It has its
genesis nearly 50,000 years
ago, when a 2 million ton
meteorite impacted the earth
to create a depression 1.83
kilometers in diameter and
150 meters deep.
Lonar Lake is a saltwater lake, which was created
by a meteor hitting the
Earth during the Pleistocene
Epoch. The impact crater
thereby formed is the only
hypervelocity meteoritic impact crater on basalt rock.
A lake that evolved in the
resulting
basaltic
rock
formation, is both saline and
alkaline in nature.
Hindu Temple statue at Ajanta caves
Lonar Lake
One of the things that
makes Aurangabad stand
out from the several other
medieval cities in India were
its 52 "gates", each of which
have a local history or had
individuals linked with them.
Not many people are aware
of the fact that Aurangabad
is also known as the "City of
Gates".
Makai Gate
www.indianembassy.ru
23
INDISKY VESTNIK
Indian cuisine
Spiced vegetable biryani
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 small cauliflower, broken into
small florets
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and
cubed
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 litre hot vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp hot curry paste or curry
powder
• 1 red chilli, seeded and finely
chopped
• large pinch of saffron strands
• 2 tsp mustard seeds
• 500g basmati rice
• 140g trimmed green beans, halved
• 2 lemons, juice only
• a handful of fresh coriander leaves
• 50g packet salted roasted cashew
nuts
• poppadoms and raita, to serve
Preparation
*
Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7/fan 200C.
Pour the oil into a large roasting tin or ovenproof
dish and put in the oven for a couple of minutes
to heat through. Add all the vegetables to the tin,
except the beans, stirring to coat them in the hot oil.
Season with salt and pepper and return to the oven
for 15 minutes until beginning to brown.
*
While the vegetables are roasting, stir together
the stock, curry paste, chilli, saffron and mustard
seeds.
*
Mix the rice and green beans with the
vegetables in the tin, then pour over the stock mixture.
Lower the oven to 190C/gas 5/fan 190C. Cover the
dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes until
the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
Stir in the lemon juice and check the seasoning, then
scatter over the coriander and cashew nuts. Serve
with a pile of poppadums and a bowl of raita.
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