Editorial 1: The horizon for India beyond the G-20, SCO summits
Introduction
- India’s year-long presidency of the G-20, and leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), should not blind us to the persisting challenges the nation faces, due to a concatenation of circumstances. It must, hence, tone down the high expectations that are being generated of reaping a rich dividend from helming the two summits.
The shortcomings
- Global peace, on which India’s Prime Minister had waxed eloquent at the last G-20 summit in Indonesia, is nowhere in sight with India holding the reins.
- Instead, everything points to a further deterioration in the geo-political climate, and to a distinct possibility of impending conflict.
- Priorities listed by India as signifying its presidency, viz., climate change, clean energy, sustainable developmental programmes and reform of multilateral institutions, are likely to take a back seat, given the deteriorating global situation. Consequently, hopes of reaping a rich dividend from the summitry may be misplaced.
The issues between India and China
- For India, presently the foremost is how to deal with a rampaging China, currently on a major diplomatic-cum-strategic offensive across Asia, especially West Asia.
- This is further accompanied by a display of its naval prowess in the seas around much of East and Southeast Asia, and a flexing of its military muscle in the Ladakh and Arunachal sectors of the Sino-Indian border.
- Furthermore China is launching several other regional initiatives to checkmate India in the Indian Ocean region, viz., the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum which has seen participation by an overwhelming majority of Indian Ocean states.
- Currently China is targeting India for going closer to the U.S. and the western bloc, for its partnership in the Quad (India, Australia, Japan, the U.S.), as well as its participation in maritime surveillance exercises with the U.S., Japan and Australia.
- China is also actively engaged in seeking new friends in India’s extended neighbourhood, in a bid to limit India’s influence in this region. West Asia, once a region where India’s influence was preponderant, appears to be fast yielding to China’s muscular and diplomatic offensive.
- India is well aware of China’s ability to embark on hybrid warfare, including the adoption of cyber tactics, engage in the ‘politics of water’ by re-directing the Himalayan rivers, and adapting to modern conditions the tactics of ‘winning wars without fighting through avoiding the enemy’s strength and attacking his weaknesses’. Caution has to be India’s watchword.
The neighbourhood and Russia
- Other turmoils in India’s immediate neighbourhood in South Asia such as the situation in Afghanistan appears to be steadily worsening..
- India’s relations with Russia also appear to be entering a prolonged phase of uncertainty. Russian ties are not necessarily anchored in defence cooperation, but this has been a key factor in cementing their relations.
- As India looks more to the West, specially the U.S., for state-of-the-art weaponry, the inevitability of the relationship can no longer be guaranteed.
- With the Russia-China strategic relationship getting stronger and both countries openly giving vent to their belief in the utility of such a relationship, strains are inevitable in India-Russia relations.
- Russia’s unequivocal attack on the Quad during the SCO Defence Ministers meeting in New Delhi recently, is a pointer to the winds of change that are becoming evident.
- In the meantime, other pacts involving Russia, such as the Tripartite Russia-India-China platform and BRICS, have lost much of their dynamism.
- The economic content of the bilateral relationship is limited, and for the present linked to trading in oil, imparting little dynamism to the relationship.
Conclusion
- India also needs to be aware that the importance of the G-20 appears to be declining in today’s world. The SCO seems to have somewhat greater traction. During its presidency of the two institutions, India may well be called upon to chart a course that balances the contradictory demands of the G-20 and the SCO — and even more so that of the Global South. All this leaves little room for grandstanding, and India should proceed with caution.
Editorial 2: Switching on India’s smart electricity future
Context
- India will soon have a smart transmission system incorporating features that can improve efficiency, disaster preparedness, etc. India is supporting this initiative through a results-linked grant-cum-financing to help power distribution companies (discoms) become financially sound and efficient to deliver better services to consumers.
- Smart Meters - Advanced meter devices having the capacity to collect information about energy, water, and gas usage at various intervals and transmitting the data through fixed communication networks to utility, as well as receiving information like pricing signals from utility and conveying it to consumers.
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Significance of Smart meters
- It is the future where electricity meter becomes the adviser on all things electricity.
- It tells about the electricity use during different times of the day, months and seasons.
- It notifies about changes in power tariffs so that you plan your activities during low-tariff periods.
- It points out to appliances that are using more electricity than they should, and suggests options to replace them with new, efficient ones.
- It will have Greater resilience against natural disasters and cyber-attacks.
- It even allows to trade solar power directly with your peers. All this on a mobile app.
Challenges
- High Capital Costs: A full scale deployment of smart meters requires expenditures on all hardware and software components, network infrastructure and network management software, along with costs associated with the installation and maintenance and information technology systems.
- Integration: Smart Meter must be integrated with utilities' information technology systems, including Customer Information Systems (CIS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Outage Management Systems (OMS),Mobile Workforce Management (MWM), Distribution Automation System (DAS), etc.
- Standardisation: Interoperability standards need to be defined, which set uniform requirements for technology, deployment and general operations.
- Release of Radiation: Unlike the electronic meter, the smart meter allows ‘communication’ among the consumer and the meter, hence there is probability of release of radiation.
Suggestions
- As India marches towards its vision of a financially sound and digitalised power sector through smart metering interventions, it must pursue a user-centric design and deployment strategy. Here are four suggestions on how diverse actors can step up.
- The Ministry of Power should drive a nationwide campaign to educate consumers about smart meter benefits and improve the uptake of smart meter apps.
- The apps should be accessible to users from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and provide actionable tips and information. .
- Discoms must co-own the programme and take the driving seat.
- The majority of smart meters in India are being deployed by the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs), responsible for installation and operation of the AMI system.
- Discoms must closely work with AMISPs to ensure a smooth installation and recharge experience for users. .
- Discoms, system integrators and technology providers should collaborate to devise innovative and scalable data solutions.
- Effective use of smart meter data is fundamental to unlocking their true value proposition. .
- Policymakers and regulators must strengthen regulations to empower consumers to unlock new retail markets.
- Regulators must enable simplification and innovation in tariff design and open the retail market to new business models and prosumagers (producers, consumers, and storage users).
Conclusion
- India is on a unique journey of meeting its growing electricity demand while decarbonising its generation sources. Smart meters comprise a critical part of the transition toolbox, by way of enabling responsible consumption, efficient energy management, and cost-effective integration of distributed energy resources. A user-centric design and deployment philosophy will be crucial for the success of India’s smart metering initiative.