Whereas the Republic of India achieved its independence on August 15, 1947, and is celebrating 75 years of its independence; Whereas the United States-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is critical for regional and global prosperity; Whereas, according to United Nations population estimates, India will become the most populous country in the world in 2023, with an estimated population of more than 1,425,000,000 people; Whereas strong people-to-people and educational exchanges between the United States and the Republic of India cement our nations’ ties and serve as the foundation for deeper cooperation; Whereas students from the Republic of India comprise nearly 20 percent of all international students studying in the United States, that this community is expected to soon become the largest foreign student community in the United States, and in 2022, the United States Mission in India issued more than 82,000 Indian student visas, a record-breaking amount; Whereas, according to International Monetary Fund data, India is the fifth largest economy in the world; Whereas the furthering of trade and investment between the United States and the Republic of India, two of the world’s largest economies, is in the interest of both countries as well as the broader global economy; Whereas the United States became India’s largest trading partner in 2022, with bilateral goods and services trade almost doubling since 2014, and exceeding $191,000,000,000 in 2022; Whereas the Republic of India hosted the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) negotiating round in February 2023; Whereas the United States designated India as a Major Defense Partner in 2016, and a strong United States-India defense partnership is critical for United States and Indian interests in the Indo-Pacific region