[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6573639,"mediaKeyId","3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71","parentId",3167394,"title","Lecture: India shows economic growth and global pharma role but faces severe air pollution, climate and development challenges","audioSeconds",992,"startMs",1620195,"endMs",2612910,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71&start=1620&end=2612","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71/thumbnail_1620195.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573639/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Lecture-India-shows-economic-growth-and-global-pharma-role-but-faces-severe-air-pollution-climate-and-development-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573639-2e89e6977b3917de966961e8ec052d04/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447975&Signature=hckc6qUK4buZB5OGsmcA87a-0uWByVHtHgkGUkZ2ddXpFgwRSzQv4lQnswxuFJtXO-ELi3RGFo~gqUXe1YYzLFzAm6nd3X4AtXc6oGFfa0HGx7sa78OIfZFk99j5UUmM9oiHSXqDHca~EUhAqulQtAnYlhYs9aQj7WrzmpVuqD5r6sMjqxWwg9KIHKHC~EpXdhwyuWJp7y1xJO-dk0CTDheVGjM8hngAIMXEo7vc3vRQ5OTuVm0P2wnhD9eNyH~mwW5QbUB2EljteMmgplNActqGQmCSZV~awH8lAYK73uv7tqx~zyhJ7aLC4bbBxpn0wj6TiXdF0Lg~kJrFBGbA~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Dr. Milind Takar told the audience that India’s economy has grown to be among the largest by purchasing‑power parity even as many Indians remain poor, and that Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers have played a key role supplying low‑cost medicines to lower‑income countries.

Takar said India now ranks high in overall GDP by PPP but remains low in GDP per capita (he cited an approximate global rank around 170th), which underscores persistent poverty. He described India as a large service‑sector economy rather than a manufacturing giant like China and said India still requires substantial internal reform to close development gaps.

Why it matters: Economic structure, population trends and public health problems affect millions domestically and shape India’s international economic role.

Takar highlighted the role of Indian pharmaceutical firms in reducing costs for HIV treatment. He said that an AIDS drug “cocktail” cost about $45 in the early 2000s and that Indian firms later offered equivalent combination therapies at roughly $10, substantially increasing access in parts of sub‑Saharan Africa.

On demographics, Takar cited India’s population at about 1.4 billion, noting that India currently enjoys a younger population profile while countries such as China face aging and declining populations. He described India’s population as a potential resource that requires job creation and public investment.

Takar described seasonal air pollution in and around Delhi caused by farmers burning crop residue, saying intensive smoke in late October through early December can push air quality indexes above meter limits (he noted meters may stop reading beyond 900). He attributed slow policy responses in part to political incentives favoring election messaging over administrative fixes.

He said climate impacts — higher temperatures, irregular monsoons and extreme heat events — are altering agriculture and public health, and that civic and political attention are needed to implement long‑term adaptation and pollution controls.

Takar concluded that while India has potential for further growth and global contributions, internal reform, pollution mitigation and investments in education and infrastructure are necessary to translate that potential into broad‑based improvements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Great Decisions 2025: \"India: Between China, the West and the South\" - May 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Milind Takar said India has become a large economy by purchasing‑power parity and a major provider of affordable pharmaceuticals to the Global South, but continues to struggle with poverty, uneven industrialization, demographic demands and seasonal air pollution from crop burning.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573642,"Professor warns India—27s democratic institutions and minorities face increased pressure under BJP",1748,704435,2453355,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71&start=704&end=2453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71/thumbnail_704435.jpg","/articles/6573642/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Professor-warns-India27s-democratic-institutions-and-minorities-face-increased-pressure-under-BJP","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573642-66f80c2d6a5d3dde273f61312569407a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447975&Signature=WKY~wkf6OgcwnUDRYFjrgfELDB7X1xSn6JzxH4SuloZhFIsAn30eNwjA0C4lneqZidEkmbq0ZYku6u5BmeCYm0fZvs~Kqg6meFIRRJyh7yFXT7PudVEHUN~v8Mz8a9MYBSIkm7a-XEWYEFNqH20J84Jzwf6ekm0lGB7vWTOL75h8wGppFgiFHmUxA9inhACnSqAW9EjjgR1ZJXlnMInvP6ZGJY~gp0vbsARIK1~BDHK6gc2C2nI9KR4aG7XG-t4~vh~9PY0Y22hbsl06BdM7awn-8mmFcNT-jrxWN3jBPdUWRMlM9s82atSAFRxZAUO3SDI3WBw7GSFVgP44gp0QHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Milind Takar told attendees that India’s democratic institutions have weakened and that social and legal pressures target Muslims, lower‑caste communities and independent institutions.

Takar said the Indian National Congress, once dominant, has declined and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has advanced a Hindu‑nationalist agenda. He described the current environment as “an intolerant state” and noted that Freedom House downgraded India two years earlier to a “partly free” rating.

Why it matters: Erosion of press freedom, judicial independence and university autonomy can affect rule‑of‑law, civil liberties and India’s international standing, Takar said.

Takar described examples discussed in the lecture: pressure on journalists and academics, legal and social actions that can disproportionately target Muslims, and ongoing discrimination against lower‑caste groups. He referenced police brutality and judicial pressures, and recommended viewing the film Article 15 (a Bollywood film he cited) as an illustrative depiction of caste‑based violence and systemic failures.

He said that some political messaging has used a narrative of Hindu communities being ‘‘under threat,’’ a claim he called false given Hindus’ majority status. Takar added that these tactics are effective in election politics because they mobilize supporters with emotive slogans rather than programmatic policy proposals.

Takar noted that social media amplifies both exposure of abuses and misinformation; he used the phrase “WhatsApp University” to describe informal rumor circulation that can inflame tensions or spread inaccurate claims.

He said democratic backsliding is not irreversible but warned it would require institutional renewal and political change to restore earlier levels of pluralism.","At a University of Indianapolis lecture, Dr. Milind Takar said India has seen democratic erosion in recent years, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party advancing Hindu‑majoritarian rhetoric, pressure on the press and attacks on academic freedom and minorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573647,"India hedging between U.S., China and Russia as it adapts to a multipolar world, professor says",2035,6960,2042705,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71&start=6&end=2042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167394-608a3ab60b1cdfe2ef3c3b91f5222f71/thumbnail_6960.jpg","/articles/6573647/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/India-hedging-between-US-China-and-Russia-as-it-adapts-to-a-multipolar-world-professor-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573647-86c7a0068d78b4b0300e4667e50cfc3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447975&Signature=gmA8eXWK-lNCd0lv~FXzPPnDPG4Whpk-MKPHkguq-pWd8hYn2Pr36Jn-GkercdqodeCLjsVzeBdyoAEywKgZUWAq9X0zmBEy5dyyIOMpZSe99NTbZgu79lKTNdB9fTedQWeDCNWT6zfnADzf~0tSMSrN4~2iUtwqVEbe2rTHNKyDBheBiw0nlm7sj7MY0yb9CBaQkxQ2O-tn5rSGOakLwIncjtkDo8Cg314lgVV92Gcojz2NcrYbWuYL58mUlpAJcJlENJ2vmdYTNOVUIFpOj9BuryFdFe1KG3BZKK~XBuzoS6uUvIeQ32IgkVPYQuEFEfDenOtVRJGelrn1hIRBIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Milind Takar, professor and graduate director of the international relations program at the University of Indianapolis, said India is pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy that balances ties with the United States, China and Russia while maintaining links with the Global South.

Takar told the audience that India’s post‑independence nonalignment evolved after the Cold War into a more pragmatic approach, a position he described as “hedging” that aims to avoid permanently aligning with any single great power. He said that history — including a 1971 treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union, decades of Soviet defense cooperation and India’s decision not to join the Non‑Proliferation Treaty — shaped New Delhi’s long‑term caution toward binding alliances.

Why it matters: India’s choices affect trade, regional security and global supply chains. Takar said U.S. policy, sanctions tools such as the SWIFT financial messaging system and shifting U.S.‑China relations influence how far India leans toward Washington or seeks alternatives.

Takar cited recent examples of India’s pragmatic posture. He said India has purchased sanctioned Russian oil and re‑exported some of it on the open market and noted continued Russian defense ties alongside purchases from France and other suppliers. He described how the U.S. has courted India — including talk of a strategic partnership — while U.S. tariff actions and competition with China complicate deeper alignment.

Takar discussed the disputed India‑China border, citing Arunachal Pradesh as one contested area, and said repeated incidents of small‑scale clashes have kept New Delhi cautious about Beijing. He argued that China’s faster industrialization and poverty reduction have left India behind on key development metrics even as India expands its service economy and technological workforce.

On sanctions and financial tools, Takar warned that measures such as exclusion from SWIFT underscore a vulnerability for countries and prompt India and others to consider alternatives to dollar‑centric systems. He said these considerations, and variance in U.S. policy, will shape how decisively India moves toward or away from the United States in coming years.

\"Neutrality is immoral,\" Takar recalled quoting U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles to illustrate Cold War U.S. attitudes, adding that India’s modern posture reflects a desire to ‘‘make everybody happy’’ so it can pursue economic growth and security.

Takar concluded that India is likely to continue hedging among partners rather than forming a permanent alliance, and that U.S. policy over the next few years will be especially consequential for whether India tilts more toward Washington or maintains a multipolar strategy.","Dr. Milind Takar, a professor at the University of Indianapolis, told an on‑campus audience that India’s foreign policy has moved from Cold War nonalignment to pragmatic ‘hedging’ among the United States, China, Russia and the Global South, driven by security, trade and energy needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lecture: India shows economic growth and global pharma role but faces severe air pollution, climate and development challenges

Professor warns India—27s democratic institutions and minorities face increased pressure under BJP

India hedging between U.S., China and Russia as it adapts to a multipolar world, professor says