INDUS-X, which stands for enhanced strategic and defence partnership between India and the U.S., was launched on June 21 last year.
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“The India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem has advanced the commitment of the two strategic partners to building a defence innovation bridge under the Critical and Emerging Technology Initiative,” the U.S. has said on the partnership’s first anniversary.

INDUS-X, which stands for enhanced strategic and defence partnership between India and the U.S., was launched on June 21 last year by the U.S. Department of Defence and the Indian Ministry of Defence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, DC.

“In its first year, INDUS-X has advanced both countries’ commitment to build a defence innovation bridge under the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET),” the Department of Defence said in a press release on June 21.

The iCET was launched by Prime Minister Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the QUAD summit in Tokyo on May 24, 2022.

“INDUS-X has strengthened private sector cooperation between the United States and India by facilitating partnerships among defence technology companies, investors, and researchers,” the press release said.

“The third INDUS-X Summit will take place in Silicon Valley in September 2024 with a focus on harnessing private capital for defence innovation,” it said, citing a recent announcement by the White House.

The summit will be co-hosted by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Stanford University. The India-U.S. defence and strategic ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The two countries have inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and also provides for the sale of high-end technology from the U.S. to India.

In October 2020, India and the U.S. sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) pact to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for the sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

New Delhi:

Founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani here on Sunday expressed her gratitude after being felicitated with the 2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility.

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum awarded Nita Ambani at an event held in the national capital.

“I feel extremely honoured and privileged to receive this award…As Reliance Foundation we have reached out to 75 million people in India and what is closest to my heart is empowering women, educating our young children, education and sports for all. Every child must have the right to play and a right to learn…,” Nita Ambani said.

She further expressed joy as the International Olympic Committee decided to make cricket an Olympic sport and emphasized that after 128 years Cricket will make an entry at the Olympics in the US at the LA Games 2028.

“We brought the Olympic movement back to our country after a gap of 40 years…The IOC made cricket an Olympic sport. After 128 years Cricket will make an entry at the Olympics in the US at the LA Games 2028,” she said.

Nita Ambani further pointed out that if India is taking Cricket to the US, it might bring Baseball to India.

“As we take cricket to the US we might bring baseball to India…The exchange of sports is an exchange of dreams and friendships. It is a story of fortitude and resilience…,” she added.

Moreover, the Los Angeles Olympic Games will also include sports like baseball/softball, lacrosse, squash and flag football. The proposal from the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 to include these games in the programme was accepted at the ongoing 141st IOC session held in Mumbai.

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