Digital Bridge between India and Africa

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Union MoS Communications Manoj Sinha during the signing ceremony of MoU between Telecommunications Consultants India (TCIL) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for e-VidyaBharati and e-ArogyaBharati Network Project to establish a pan-African e-network between India and Africa; in New Delhi on Sept 10, 2018. (Photo: IANS/MEA)

Consider the following statements regarding digital bridge between India and Africa.

  1. E-VidyaBharti and E-ArogyaBharti will serve as digital bridge
  2. The goal of this e-network to provide tele-education and tele-medicine facility

Select the correct statements
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer –(c)
Related facts-

  • On September 2018 External Affairs Ministry signed an agreement with the Telecommunications consultants India Ltd.(TCIL) to establish a pan-African e-network between the two nations to provide access in the critical areas of Education and Health.
  • The E-VidyaBharti and E-ArogyaBharti project will serve as a digital bridge.
  • E-VidyaBharti is web-based portals for tele-education which will connect to African educational institutions.
  • E-ArogyaBharti is for providing super specialty Hospitals assistance to African Hospitals.
  • Hence India has friendly relationship with Africa. The government has put Africa at the top of India’s foreign policy priorities.
  • Prime Minister Modi in his recent visit to Uganda has laid out vision for engagement with African countries.

Why Africa is important for India?

  • Crude Oil- oil holds central place in India Africa relations. Currently, approx 70% of India’s oil imports are coming from Middle East (mainly from Saudi Arabia and Iran).
  • Maritime cooperationThere is growing convergence between Indo-African maritime cooperation due to the issues pertaining to both the countries like piracy, drug trafficking and security of sea lanes.
  • UN permanent seat– Both India and Africa are keen to reform the existing global governance structures, especially the UN Security Council (UNSC).Africa plays vital role for India’s emergence as a global actor in the international institutional arena.
  • Market-Africa is emerging as a large market which will benefit India’s investment export to African continent

                                                                             By: Anurag Kumar

Link:

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/india-launches-new-digital-bridge-with-africa-118091000560_1.html

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/africa-a-land-of-opportunity/article8820088.ece

https://idsa.in/idsacomments/why-africa_dshaw_130116