Origin and Rationale behind the Program

Located in South Asia, India has a total population of 1.3 billion people, the second-highest in the world, and a total area of 3.28 million square kilometers, which is nearly 91 times the total area of Taiwan, making India the seventh-largest country in the world. Furthermore, India is one of only seven countries to openly possess nuclear weapons. With a significant increase in overall national power in recent years, a rising India has continuously strengthened its global political and economic status; thus, India has also become a key target country in Taiwan's New Southbound Policy. With a view to cultivating talent familiar with India's political and economic development, culture and society, business and languages, etc., there is a need to initiate a program in India studies. A further detailed explanation follows.

1. The rise of India as a major international trend

India has shown great potential as it experiences rapid growth in various areas, including the economy, technology, and software development, over the years. In international politics, India has also become a key Indo-Pacific player through its membership in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue ("The Quad") along with the United States, Japan, and Australia. As far as the economy and trade are concerned, India has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world by gradually aligning itself with the global economy through economic liberalization since launching its economic reforms in 1991. As of 2020, India is already the fifth-largest economy in the world by gross domestic product (GDP) and the third-largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity (PPP). India's proactive launch of a host of policies, such as "Make in India," "Smart Cities," and "Digital India," has gained international attention. Furthermore, with a median population age of around 27 years, India evidently possesses a great abundance of demographic dividends. At present, India has a middle-class population of nearly 350 million, thus indicating the sheer size of India's consumer market. Additionally, India is world-leading in fields such as software services, space, and medicine. All in all, India is not a developing country in the conventional sense, given that its international influence has grown significantly over the years. Taiwan, as a member of the international community, cannot afford to ignore India's influence, since Taiwan will inevitably be affected by the rise of India, regardless of Taiwan's subjective wishes. Given the social prestige of academics and education, specific actions should be taken in response to this trend by devoting corresponding resources to enhancing the understanding of India.

2. Aligning with the directions of national policies

Taiwan and India have experienced steady growth in bilateral relations since each country established a representative office in the other's capital in 1995. However, there remains huge scope for expansion of bilateral relations. It is noteworthy that India is specifically included in the New Southbound Policy proactively promoted by the Taiwanese government given that India is regarded as a vital international partner and target for Taiwan's development. Taiwan has pursued greater ties with India, as a key target country, given existing bilateral ties in such important areas as export of higher education, participation in regional economic integration, and expansion of Taiwan's global presence. Accordingly, both the Taiwanese government and the private sector expect to expand into the Indian market. In other words, fostering good ties with India is critical to Taiwan's development and a vital policy for Taiwan. Because of the demand for professionals with India-related expertise to implement the development of the above-mentioned national policies, a program related to India studies is currently needed.

3. Meeting the needs of society and people’s livelihoods

While India has gradually become one of the drivers of global economic development, Taiwan and India have seen relatively limited bilateral economic and trade exchanges overall. Taiwan invests much less in India than in China and Southeast Asia. In 2020, the trade volume between Taiwan and India was US$4.796 billion, of which Taiwan’s exports to India totaled US$2.595 billion, and Taiwan's imports from India amounted to US$2.201 billion, a 17.26% decline from the previous year. Moreover, bilateral trade between both countries only accounted for 0.76% of Taiwan's total trade volume in the same year, leaving much room for expansion. Taiwanese businesses are in dire need of help from Indian talent and professionals due to psychological barriers toward India arising from cultural and language differences, along with a severe lack of understanding of Indian society and customs. With the restructuring of the global supply chain, many manufacturers have demonstrated a strong intention to set up operations in India. Against the backdrop of this trend, Taiwan needs more talent and professionals who are familiar with India in view of the country's need to trade with the Indian market.

4. Filling the gap in cultural and educational development

Taiwan's limited educational resources are inadequate to the task of providing country studies programs for all regions. However, out of more than one hundred colleges and universities in Taiwan, none has established a department related to India studies, which is evidently not in line with international trends. India is a complex country, thanks to its unique history of development and growth model, along with its multitude of communities, cultures, and languages. Great importance has been attached to these areas in both academic research and economic and trade practices. With the gradually changing present-day geopolitical landscape, India's political and economic strengths are not to be underestimated. Given the unique importance and future impact of India, there is an urgent need to initiate related programs and further promote India studies.