The evolving dynamics between Europe and Asia are creating new strategic opportunities for India. This is largely driven by the complex geopolitical landscape in Eurasia, which includes conflicts, shifting alliances, and increasing global interconnectivity.

Factors Highlighting the Changing Geopolitics of the Eurasian Region

1. Hotbed of Conflicts:
   • Russia-Ukraine Conflict: The ongoing conflict has significant geopolitical implications, impacting regional security and international relations.
   • Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: The Nagorno-Karabakh dispute continues to be a point of contention, influencing regional stability and geopolitical alliances.
2. Growing Chinese Influence:
   • Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): China's BRI extends across Central Asia, Russia, and into Europe, significantly enhancing China’s economic and geopolitical influence in Eurasia.
   • Economic Ties with Europe: Europe’s increasing economic engagement with China further solidifies China’s presence and influence in the region.
3. Changing Strategic Priorities of the US:
   • Withdrawal from Afghanistan: The US’s focus has shifted from the Middle East to Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.
   • Strengthening NATO: The US is enhancing NATO's role in response to regional threats and conflicts.
   • Three Seas Initiative: This initiative, aimed at enhancing cooperation between countries from the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas, reflects a strategic focus on Eurasia.
4. Regional Geostrategic Alliances:
   • China-Russia Partnership: The ‘no limits’ partnership between China and Russia is designed to counterbalance US influence.
   • Russia-Iran-China Axis: This emerging alliance reflects a strategic realignment in response to Western policies.
   • Strategic Pentagonal: The collaboration between China, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Pakistan showcases the complexity of regional alignments aimed at countering Western influence.
5. Tilt in Russia’s Foreign Policy Toward Asia:
   • Strategic Visits: Recent visits by the Russian president to North Korea and Vietnam underscore Russia’s pivot towards Asia as part of its broader foreign policy strategy.
6. Alignment of East Asian Countries with Western Europe:
   • Japan, South Korea, and AUKUS: Countries like Japan and South Korea are working to integrate Europe into the Indo-Pacific strategy, with initiatives like AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) playing a role in bridging the gap between Asia and Europe.
7. Shift of Global Order Towards Eurasia:

• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): This corridor exemplifies the commitment of the US, Europe, India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to fostering a more balanced and interconnected Eurasian order. It aims to enhance economic connectivity and strategic cooperation across Eurasia.

Implications for India

1. Strategic Opportunities:
   • Enhanced Connectivity: India’s involvement in initiatives like IMEC provides opportunities to strengthen its economic and strategic ties with Eurasian countries.
   • Balancing Power: By engaging in the evolving geopolitical landscape of Eurasia, India can balance China's growing influence and contribute to regional stability.
2. Diplomatic Engagement:
   • Multi-Alignment Strategy: India’s participation in various regional and global initiatives allows it to maintain strategic autonomy while building partnerships with both Western and Eurasian powers.
   • Increased Influence: Active engagement in Eurasian geopolitics enhances India's role as a significant global player and mediator.
3. Economic and Security Interests:
   • Trade and Investment: Improved connectivity and economic cooperation with Eurasian countries can boost India's trade and investment opportunities.
   • Regional Security: Addressing conflicts and strategic shifts in Eurasia aligns with India's interests in promoting regional security and stability.

Opportunities for India in the Evolving Eurasian Landscape

Strategic Opportunities

1. Strengthening Ties with Russia:
   • Counterbalance to China: India can leverage its relationship with Russia to mediate in the Ukraine conflict and counterbalance China's influence. A closer partnership with Russia can also enhance India's strategic positioning in Eurasia.
   • Integrated Deterrence Strategy: The US's strategy of forming strong security partnerships with middle powers presents India with an opportunity to bolster its national power and military capabilities. Enhanced defense cooperation with the US can strengthen India's strategic posture against both China and Russia.
2. Strategic Partnerships:
   • Growing Defense Ties: India’s expanding defense partnership with countries like Armenia can bolster its broader Eurasian strategy. Such partnerships can help India establish a foothold in the region and contribute to regional stability.

Economic Opportunities

1. Energy Security:
   • Central Asian Partnerships: Central Asian states, rich in oil, natural gas, uranium, and iron ore, represent potential long-term partners for India in securing energy and mineral resources. Strengthening ties with these countries can enhance India’s energy security and resource availability.
2. Enhanced Trade with Russia:
   • Bilateral Trade Targets: India and Russia aim to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Achieving this target will deepen the economic relationship and open new avenues for trade and investment.
3. Improved Trade and Connectivity:
   • Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Negotiating an FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could significantly boost trade. Coupled with the full functionality of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), India’s trade with Eurasia could expand from around $20 billion to $170 billion.
4. Market Expansion:
   • IT Services and Digital Solutions: India can tap into the Eurasian markets by exporting IT services and digital solutions, leveraging its technological expertise to meet the region's growing digital needs.

Regional Security

1. Countering Terrorism and Extremism:
   • Central Asia Collaboration: Working with Central Asian countries to combat terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking is crucial for regional security and aligns with India’s national interests in promoting stability in the region.

Cultural Diplomacy

1. Leveraging Historical and Cultural Ties:
   • Soft Power: India can use its historical and cultural connections with Eurasian countries, such as those rooted in Buddhism and yoga, to build soft power and enhance its influence in the region.

Challenges in the Evolving Eurasian Landscape for India

1. Geographical Connectivity and Infrastructure:
   • Connectivity Issues: India faces challenges related to geographical connectivity and the slow progress on key projects like INSTC and IMEC. Improving these connections is vital for enhancing trade and strategic engagement.
2. Pakistan Factor:
   • Geographic Limitations: The geopolitical barrier represented by Pakistan complicates India’s efforts to expand its role in Eurasian geopolitics. Overcoming this limitation is crucial for broader regional engagement.
3. Threats from China:
   • BRI Challenges: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) presents a challenge to India’s strategic interests, including its Connect Central Asia Policy. India needs to explore alternatives and strengthen its own connectivity initiatives.
4. Challenges in Indo-Russia Relations:
   • Growing Proximity to China: Russia’s increasing proximity to China and India’s alignment with the US or QUAD could create friction in Indo-Russian relations. Navigating this complex dynamic requires careful diplomacy.
5. Balancing Strategic Partnerships:
   • Managing Divergent Interests: India must balance its strategic partnerships and maintain autonomy while aligning with both maritime (e.g., QUAD) and continental (e.g., Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) coalitions.

Way Forward

1. Enhance Connectivity:
   • Join Greater Eurasian Corridor: India should consider participating in Russia’s Greater Eurasian Corridor and the Northeast Passage to improve connections to the Far East and Japan.
2. Strengthening Relations with the EU:
   • Enhanced Engagement: India’s Eurasian strategy should include deeper engagement with the European Union, aligning its interests with broader European initiatives.
3. Central Asia as Core:
   • Annual Summits: Holding the India-Central Asia Summit annually, rather than biannually, could strengthen ties and enhance strategic cooperation.
4. Balancing Different Regions:
   • Integrating Policies: India needs to balance its Connect Central Asia policy with its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Strategy. Engaging in platforms like BRICS, SCO, and RIC can help promote multi-dimensional strategic cooperation.
5. Intensify Dialogues with Russia:
   • Expand Cooperation: India and Russia should focus on narrowing disagreements and expanding cooperation, particularly in continental Eurasian security, to foster a stronger bilateral relationship.

The Supreme Court directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of water it has in surplus and asked Haryana to do the needful to resolve the drinking water crisis in Delhi. This came after the AAP government in Delhi had approached the SC (alleging the BJP-government in Haryana for stopping Yamuna’s water supply), amidst a surge in water demand during prolonged heatwave.

Where is the Water in Delhi Coming From, and Water Stress in Delhi?

 Delhi gets most of its water from the Yamuna, Ravi-Beas and Ganga rivers.

○ From the Ganga, via the Upper Ganga Canal in UP, Delhi receives 470 cusecs/ roughly 254 million gallons per day (MGD) of water

Two channels (carrier lined channel (CLC) Munak and the Delhi sub-branch (DSB) canals) entering

Delhi from Haryana supply Delhi (1049 cusecs) with water from the Yamuna and Ravi-Beas rivers.

○ The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) also takes water directly from the Yamuna and supplements its river-water supply with ground water drawn from Delhi’s tubewells and wells.

According to the Composite Water Management Index released by NITI Aayog in 2019, five of the world’s 20 largest cities under water stress are in India, with Delhi being second on the list.

Reasons for Water Scarcity in Delhi

Over-extraction of groundwater: According to the Economic Survey 2023-24, Delhi has a daily water demand of 1,290 MGD, of which the DJB currently produces 1,000 MGD. The gap is met by Delhi’s groundwater reserves.

Pollution of water sources: High ammonia levels (more than 2.5 parts per million) in the Yamuna have long contributed to poor water supply in parts of Delhi.

Impact of climate change: According to the draft of the Delhi State Action Plan on Climate Change, the city is projected to incur economic losses of Rs 2.75 trillion by 2050 as a result of climate change impacts.

Numerous drains and rivulets discharge toxic waste from small and medium industries into the Yamuna river, eventually affecting Delhi’s clean water supply.

Rising temperatures & erratic precipitation patterns pose significant challenges to city’s water supply.

Inefficient water management: The Opposition alleges that the annual water shortage during summers is solely because of the inefficient water management of the state government.

Central Water Commission’s inefficient role in managing the three barrages in Wazirabad, ITO, and Okhla indicates poor coordination and transparency among Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh governments.

Inter-state water disputes: Water disputes between Haryana and Delhi have centred around the allocation of water from the Yamuna river. Haryana alleges that Delhi is drawing more water than allocated under various agreements.

Water treatment plant (WTP) capacity: The WTP in North Delhi’s Wazirabad was functioning below its capacity because the Yamuna did not have enough water (due to deficit rainfalls) for the DJB to draw from the Wazirabad reservoir.

Challenges Posed by Water Scarcity

Health issues: With the reduced availability of clean water, marginalised communities living in unauthorised colonies have to rely on unsafe water sources, leading to waterborne diseases.

Insufficient water supply also hampers the maintenance and cleanliness of public toilets. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail, which increases the risk of diseases such as cholera.

Social and economic impact:

 Increased illness due to poor hygiene and sanitation leads to higher healthcare costs for individuals and the government.

Frequent illnesses impact productivity as people miss work or school, affecting their economic well-being and academic opportunities.

The dependence on water tankers for domestic needs can be unreliable and costly, leading to further economic strain for the marginalised communities.

Solutions to Address Water Scarcity

Water conservation and management:

Recently, the Delhi government ordered a crackdown on water misuse, authorising inspection teams to fine offenders using pipes to wash cars, allowing water tanks to overflow, and using domestic water supply for construction.

The teams are also authorised to disconnect illegal water connections at construction sites or commercial establishments.

To stop waste discharge from entering Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the State Pollution Control Boards need to take the initiatives.

Water rationing strategies must be announced during summer months.

Technological interventions:

The DJB, in collaboration with Hitachi India, is using field sensors and smart metres at the Pitampura water distribution network.

Such technological intervention could enable remote and real-time monitoring and control of plant operations.

Infrastructure development: The DJB can be more commercially-oriented and customers (households, businesses and industries) should be prepared to pay for the ‘real cost’ of supply. The DJB has recently increased infra charges for new water connections.

 Policy and governance reforms:

 State and city governments should consider water resource availability in the region while creating city plans and providing permits for new establishments.

 They must restrict any development activities that are not sustainable in terms of water management.

Community participation in rainwater harvesting:

 Delhi’s rainwater harvesting potential amounts to a staggering 907 billion litres annually.

To effectively implement rooftop rainwater harvesting, various awareness campaigns can be organised at the community level.

In a variety of vertebrates, researchers had identified 40 novel Nidoviruses using artificial intelligence.

About Nidoviruses (notable for their large genomes and complex replication mechanisms)

• They are a large and diverse order of positive-strand RNA viruses (largest RNA genomes among viruses) that infect a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates, including humans, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, mollusks, and helminths

• They are named for the Latin nidus, meaning nest (includes several families of viruses), as all viruses in this order produce a nested set of subgenomic mRNAs during infection

Currently five recognized families within the order Nidovirales:

1. Coronaviridae: Includes viruses such as the common cold viruses, SARS-CoV (which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome), and SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19).

2. Arteriviridae: Includes viruses that can cause serious diseases in animals, such as porcine reproductive & respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in pigs, equine viral arteritis (EVA) in horses.

3. Roniviridae: includes viruses that infect fish, such as the infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV).

4. Tobaniviridae: Includes viruses that infect plants like the tomato chlorotic dwarf virus (TCDV).

5. Mesoniviridae: includes viruses that infect insects, such as the bee-associated nidovirus (BV).