Concerns with Atmanirbhar Bharat

The story: In July, the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) has released a report titled ‘Road to a UK-India Free Trade Agreement: Enhancing the Partner

 Concerns with Atmanirbhar Bharat

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• The story: In July, the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) has released a report titled ‘Road to a UK-India Free Trade Agreement: Enhancing the Partnership and Achieving Self-reliance’. According to the UKIBC annual Survey on Doing Business in India, 77% of UK companies believe that the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign is an “opportunity” rather than a challenge. But some reforms can have negative consequences for the UK and all multinational companies.
• Points to note: The programme should be viewed as an extension of the “Make in India” campaign, launched in 2014, as they share the aim of securing manufacturing investments from domestic and international business. The package offered a range of financial support measures for the weaker sections of India’s society, for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), and for the agriculture sector, creating fair market platforms, easing rules for businesses and a range of other solutions to support the economy. It has opened up several sectors for foreign investors, including defence, atomic energy, agriculture, insurance, healthcare and civil aviation.
• Concerns: There are some serious concerns, like -

1. May curtail international trade and investment - Certain aspects of the programme have the potential to curtail international trade and investment, such as increased tariffs, non-tariff restrictions on imports, and import substitution. Non-tariff Barrier (NTB) is a trade restriction, such as a quota, embargo or sanction, that countries use to further their political and economic goals. Countries can use non tariff barriers in place of, or in conjunction with, standard tariff barriers (like Custom Duty).
2. Ad-hoc policy change by DISCOMS - The power distribution companies (Discoms) adopt ad-hoc changes to renegotiate power purchase agreements in case of renewable energy sector.
3. Policy issues - Difficulties in India’s Intellectual Property (IPR) enforcement regime, gaps in pharma sector regulations, drug price controls, and norms related to data localisation and governance.
4. Data localisation (i.e. storing data within the boundaries of the country) may restrict the ability of local companies to compete in the global marketplace by limiting access to the global supply chain. This isolation may result in reduced investment and access to capital and customers.
5. Space sector - To open the Space sector to private investors was a significant step but there was a ‘lack of clarity’ about several aspects related to the procedures. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) provides a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
6. Defence sector - The import embargo on the 101 items of defence equipment is planned to be implemented over a period of four years until 2024. Changes in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 are expected to ensure that no item in this list is imported beyond the cut-off date.

• Suggestions: A long term approach that considers regional supply chains and location decision-making is needed to succeed. India should attract investors due to its strengths rather than by using tariffs as a tool to push international businesses to invest and make in India. Focus on STEM, digital, creative and critical thinking skills that will build leaders and workers who can innovate and solve problems. With digital and data services increasingly important in global trade, there is an opportunity for India to fully integrate with other major democratic markets. India should continue to harness and actively invest in the opportunities that Artificial Intelligence, digital technology and data present to achieve its growth potential. Put Sustainability at the Center of India’s Trade and Investment Strategy: If shaped properly, trading arrangements can help support the poor and protect the environment. Countries and trade blocs are cognisant of this fact and are increasingly integrating sustainability and human rights into their trade agreements and strategies.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Programme: It was launched by the PM in May 2020 with an economic stimulus package - worth Rs 20 lakh crores - aimed towards achieving self-reliance. The announced economic package was 10% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019-20, and included packages already announced at the beginning of the lockdown incorporating measures from the RBI and the payouts under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. The package focused on land, labour, liquidity and laws.
• Goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat: It aimed at cutting down import dependence by focussing on substitution while improving safety compliance and quality goods to gain global market share. The govt. claims that "Self-Reliance" neither signifies any exclusionary or isolationist strategies but involves creation of a helping hand to the whole world. It focuses on the importance of promoting “local” products.

 

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