What is beca and why is it strategically important for india?  

The Indo-US Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was signed during the ‘2+2’ ministerial-level talks between the two countries, in New Delhi on Tuesday, 27 October, and this

agreement is considered important for India, from a strategic point of view. So, what is BECA and why is it crucial for India? WHAT IS BECA? BECA stands for Basic Exchange and Cooperation

Agreement, which will give India and the US access to classified geo-spatial data and strategically important intelligence from each other. In simple terms, the agreement enables the

exchange of sensitive and classified information. WHAT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED? Under the BECA, the two countries can exchange maps, nautical and aeronautical charts,

commercial and other unclassified imagery, geophysical, geomagnetic and gravity data. The agreement will also allow the US to share sensitive satellite and sensor data. HOW WILL THIS HELP

US? Sharing of this intelligence would enable India’s strategic planning. To give examples, with this information, India can closely monitor Chinese naval movements in the Indian Ocean or

the highly accurate US satellites will help India to accurately target military assets of the neighbouring countries like Pakistan. IS THIS AGREEMENT FIRST OF A KIND? The BECA is the fourth

and final foundational understanding that the US has with India. The two countries have already signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (2002), the Logistics Exchange

Memorandum of Agreement (2016), and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018). IS THERE ANY CRITICISM? The UPA government had initially blocked it, owing to fears raised

by security forces on the protection of classified information and access to classified laboratories in India. However, the government said that these concerns have been addressed during

the bilateral talks. _(With inputs from NDTV and The Economic Times)_ Published: 27 Oct 2020, 2:36 PM IST