WORLD
As global diplomacy becomes more multilateral, India seizes its chances
In 2023, India plays host to the G20 and SCO; in May alone, it is deepening cooperation with the West through an informal Quad leaders’ meeting in Hiroshima, alongside this week’s G-7 summit.
INDIA
How NSA Ajit Doval is spearheading India’s parallel diplomacy
The country’s longest-serving national security advisor wears many hats. And he's now playing the role of a strategic troubleshooter
INDIA
Star Wars: Who are star campaigners and what do they bring to the table
As D-day nears, political heavyweights, movie stars, celebrities, and former sportspersons make a beeline for the campaign for Karnataka. Might they matter more than any poll promise?
WORLD
Sudan shows gullible Indians are cannon fodder for traffickers in Africa
Embassy issues advisories in Khartoum; with trapped Indians belonging to poll-bound Karnataka, Twitter war erupts between contestants.
WORLD
Soft power approach works with Taliban, India proves naysayers wrong in Afghanistan
After the arrival of the Taliban in August 2021, New Delhi has clawed its way back in the war-torn nation with its soft power approach, amid positive signs of welcome by the new regime
WORLD
The King of Bhutan comes calling in delicate times
With Chinese construction beginning in Doklam six years after the Sino-India military standoff, India now has another problem in the North East to contend with.
WORLD
India-China relations to see a rockier turn with Dalai Lama unveiling US-born reincarnation
The Dalai Lama’s move to anoint the 10th Khalkha has caught Beijing by surprise; experts say the decision is an internal affair of the Dalai Lama-led Tibetan religious order
BUSINESS
OROP: Oversight leads to logjam, heightening financial stress
The government, preparing to pay DA to government employees, has to first contend with providing defence pensioners as it approaches an election year.
INDIA
G20: India has to be a juggler & tightrope artiste par excellence
With the air of acrimony that permeates the G20, India has to manage a very difficult balancing act if the grouping is to drive significant global outcomes.
POLITICS
SC decision step in the right direction: Former CEC Gopalaswami
New panel will get in more political input; the introduction of the leader of opposition will act as a bulwark against the frequent charge that the Election Commission and its officers are biased in favour of the government.
INDIA
In G20 year, India plans to showcase a much-improved Kashmir
Media reports suggest that the Modi government is planning to pull back the Indian army from the Kashmir Valley to demonstrate normalcy, a changed state after abrogation of Article 370; experts play down two-front threat.
WORLD
As head of G20, India has a crucial role to play: Ukraine envoy to New Delhi
Ukraine has reclaimed 60% of the land which Russia captured since the beginning of the war in February 2022, said Ivan Konovalov; understands India’s old relationship with Moscow
WORLD
Russia-Ukraine war: China sailing on two boats
Beijing has built up a significant anti-US coalition with Moscow during this one-year-long conflict, but fears about the war escalating in Europe and impacting BRI, President Xi’s grand project, are genuine; Russia has used Chinese drones in the war, say former Indian ambassadors to China.
BUSINESS
In murky geopolitics, regional tensions, New Delhi stresses on self-reliance
At Asia’s biggest military air show in Bengaluru, India unveils its indigenous defence production and export plan; earmarks 75% of this year’s defence capital procurement budget for buying weapons and systems from local manufacturers; makes a beginning on the long road ahead.
WORLD
Eye In The Sky: India alert to Chinese spy balloons; IAF has some of its own
Chinese spy balloons have been spotted over India and across the border for a while now. Experts say such intrusion will only mount in days to come, but there’s no need for India to panic.
TRENDS
Pervez Musharraf – the man who waged war and then talked about peace
1999 was the crucible year in Indo-Pakistan relations and the individual, who determined the course was a Mohajir as head of the army and later the government
INDIA
Budget 2023: Defence budget sees nearly 13% hike, gets allocation of Rs 5.93 lakh crore
Border roads get a massive 40% allocation boost, keeping in mind a tense two-front border. Infra development, OROP, self-reliance among key priority areas.
INDIA
What India’s new defence theaterisation plan looks like
For over a year the ambitious theaterisation of the Armed Forces was in slow motion. The arrival of new CDS, General Anil Chauhan, has given a fillip to this master plan, the most comprehensive one since Independence.
WORLD
Biden administration’s latest outreach demonstrates Indian-American backing for Democrats
Four subcontinental languages are given pride of place in presidential advocacy of minority rights in the US
WORLD
Russia-Ukraine conflict: You can play broker only when two warring countries want peace
S. Jaishankar highlights India’s behind-the-scenes role; tried to defuse the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and helped facilitate exports of millions of tonnes of wheat and other grains from Ukraine
BUSINESS
A much enlarged ED – what it means for fighting crime
If the country’s premier agency probing money laundering gets what it has asked for, it will become India’s biggest investigating organisation, a role played by the CBI till now; critics say more draconian measures are on the way.
INDIA
OROP arrears announced: the real work begins now
A long-standing demand of armed forces veterans has been met, but the government needs to look at the finances and complicated logistics involved in its implementation.
WORLD
The great game continues: Why China wants Tawang
The December 9 incident indicates a total breakdown in Sino-Indian bilateral ties, and increased aggression by the Chinese in the Arunachal sector, the main scene of action in 1962.
POLITICS
PM Modi’s matinee idol appeal waning among women
The BJP ’s outreach was spearheaded by its state Mahila Morcha, which organised 'samvad sankalps' and 'satyanarayan kathas' across the state
