Launch Of South Asia Satellite : Sign Of Growing India's Soft Power.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 5 May 2017 successfully launched the communication and broadcasting spacecraft - South Asia Satellite – from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

India’s presence in science and technology fields at the global level.

• Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme: It was instituted by a decision of the Union Cabinet. It is the bilateral programme of assistance in various fields like tele-education and tele-medicine.

• Science and Technology Partnerships: India has entered into partnerships with many developed and developing countries in the fields of science and technology.

• India’s membership in ITER: The ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is an experimental fusion reactor being constructed presently at Cadarache, in the South of France. The project is considered as a step towards future production of electricity from fusion energy.

• Role in conventional sciences: Apart from the new age and emerging technologies, Indians are also playing a big role in the conventional sciences like chemistry.

How these initiatives benefit India?

Membership in multinational institutions: Achievements of Indian institutions have played a big role in India’s membership in premier technology-driven policy institutions.

• Trade Relations: Modern day global trade is largely technology driven.The huge volume of these exports to developed nations helps India in adding strategic depth to bilateral relations.

• Growing India’s Prestige: The international polity revolves around the simple principle – Power Only Respects Power. India’s popularity among the Community of Nations in recent years is largely due to India’s achievements in various fields of science and technology – space, nuclear, information and communication, material science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, etc.

• Technology Transfer: India’s proven track record in niche fields helps in the transfer of technology from other countries.

• Strengthening Strategic Relations: India’s ability to develop cost-effective technologies will help in strengthening strategic bilateral and multilateral ties.

The Means to Success in World Politics rightly observes that the soft power of a country lies in its ability to attract and persuade other countries from the attractiveness of a country’s achievements in various fields in the field of science and technology. India’s ability to leverage the achievements in various is a sign of India’s growing prestige across the world.