Lok Sabha Question No. 755 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: US-India Partnership in Technology and Defense
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Yogender Chandolia, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Shri Manoj Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-755

## ANSWERED ON- 07/02/2025

## US-INDIA PARTNERSHIP IN TECHNOLOGY AND DEFENSE

755. SHRI MANISH JAISWAL

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI

SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA

SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the specific initiatives being pursued to enhance the US-India partnership in technology and defense particularly in light of the recent discussions with US officials;

(b) whether any specific areas of cooperation are anticipated to further strengthen the said partnership in the coming years;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

- (d) whether any measures are being taken to address the existing trade disputes between India and the US; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to c) Technology has emerged as a significant pillar of India-US bilateral cooperation.

The   India-U.S.   Initiative   on   Critical   and   Emerging   Technology   (iCET), launched in May 2022, is aimed at strengthening the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries. iCET seeks to bolster collaboration across governments, businesses, and academic institutions, with a focus on advanced technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security, 5G/6G, and space technologies.

Several initiatives are also being pursued to enhance the US-India defense technology partnership. Significant progress has been achieved under the US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including the ongoing collaboration   to   advance   priority   co-production   arrangements   for   jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems. There is also growing defense innovation collaboration between the two governments, businesses,

and academic institutions fostered by the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration

Ecosystem (INDUS-X) initiative launched in 2023.

Both sides continue to be engaged to take forward collaboration in all major technology   fields   including   semiconductors,   civil   and   defense   space, advanced   telecommunications,   biotechnology,   clean   energy,   critical minerals, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum.

(d and e)  All issues pertaining to bilateral trade between India and the U.S. are addressed through established bilateral mechanisms in a constructive manner. The India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum (TPF), established in 2005, serves as a principal platform towards this objective. The Forum is a platform to discuss all concerns related to tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTB), mutual recognition agreements (MRA), streamlining of customs procedure, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, as well as issues related to resilient supply   chains,   good   regulatory   practices,   trade   facilitation,   and transparency.  In   2023,   India   and   the   United   States   resolved   all   seven outstanding trade disputes in the World Trade Organization (WTO) following bilateral discussions under the TPF.

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