India’s diplomacy and FTA negotiations – A turbulent path
India’s approach to trade talks are undergirded by two critical premises. One, concessions are linked to geopolitical context. Two, policy space is a strategic asset and not a bargaining chip. In the case of the US as the administration is prone to flip-flops, India’s insisting on review clauses that lets both sides revisit flash points
Shashi Tharoor and Ram Madhav on the Constitution is about depth versus dispassion
Their recent books on the Constitution approach it through political lens. It makes the comparison interesting as their approach is from different ends of the political spectrum. A reviewer concludes that while Madhav takes a dispassionate look at the role of framers, Tharoor is more polemical
Iran’s humiliation nukes the foundation of non-proliferation treaty
NPT divides the world into nuclear haves and have-nots. The have-nots forego the nuclear option under the treaty for safety guarantees. However, from Ukraine to Iran, it’s nuclear weapons owning states which have been aggressors. It makes a mockery of NPT and is bound to catalyse strategic questions by some states on the trade-offs involved in covert nuclear weaponisation
Where is Iran’s uranium? Fate of strike hangs on 400kg stockpile
US and Israeli attacks hit key nuclear sites but questions remain over stash of enriched material
Samvidhan Hatya Divas: How RSS ran a movement that world witnessed with awe
RSSFACTS: Fifty years after the Emergency, this account recalls how Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian rule was resisted by the underground movement, with the RSS and Jana Sangh playing pivotal roles in defending democracy
Ukraine’s Op Spider Web proves strategy and preparedness are essential to battlefield wins
A surge in drone usage in recent conflicts has led to a belief in technological determinism. Seductive as drones and other weaponry are, evidence from the ground in recent conflicts show that getting the basics right makes the difference. Weapons need to be undergirded by strategy
Assam, please don’t go the Manipur way
The state government’s decision to issue arms license under a special scheme to indigenous people in some districts bordering Bangladesh is a bad idea. If the Sarma government feels some groups are under threat, it’s the duty of the State to protect them. In a tense atmosphere, marked by distrust between communities, putting weapons in the hands of a small number of people can trigger adverse consequences for Assam’s social fabric
How long can it last? Israel and Iran’s endurance battle
Aerial ‘war of the cities’ pits IDF jets against Tehran’s missile reserves
G7 faces a test of relevance at Kananaskis
A traditional advantage of the summit of some of the world’s most influential countries is that shared values have aided forging a consensus and a plan of action, something global multilateral bodies are unable to do. This time, with the US veering towards isolationism the credibility of G7 is at stake. For India, however, a silver lining is that it is necessarily central to any response the G7 wants to craft to counter China
Why Nilambur bypoll result will tell us if Congress is losing its hold in Kerala
Nilambur, which is a part of the Muslim-majority Malappuram district, is a constituency where Muslim population is just short of the halfway mark. It represents an assembly which the Congress dominated for decades by attracting support across religious identities. In a crucial way, it encapsulates the party’s underlying political base in Kerala. It’s the stability of that base which is being tested this week
Israel-Iran conflict is spiraling out of control, putting energy supply chains at risk
Iran’s response to Israel’s attacks shows that it will not back down. The escalation over the last two days’ risks drawing other countries, and not just ones in the region, into the conflict. For India, the immediate risk is a disruption in flow of crude and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz on account of Iran’s retaliatory measures
Israel’s airstrikes on Iran may fuel global geopolitical instability
The fallout on energy markets and the brittle West Asian security situation will depend on the scale and nature of Iran’s response. This conflict is being played out in the backdrop of a breakdown in the longstanding nuclear consensus among major powers, enhancing geopolitical risks. Middle powers such as India, Germany and Japan have a stake in sustaining the current equilibrium and therefore need to step up
RSS draws global attention as US delegation attends RSS meet
RSSFACTS: A US delegation attended RSS’s prestigious valedictory session of third-year camp in Nagpur, signalling rising global curiosity and willingness to engage directly with the organisation, challenging long-held stereotypes in Western discourse.
Dhaka Diary 2: Will an election change anything?
Bangladesh’s economy is in trouble, with critical economic indicators weakening since the July 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Political uncertainty looms with the equation between Yunus and BNP turning fractious. More importantly, for many ordinary Bangladeshis, there’s a sense of quiet despair at the lack of political choice and the absence of positive economic developments. An Indian journalist gauges the public mood in Dhaka
Dhaka Diary 1: Fading impact of July 2024 uprising
It’s almost a year since street protests toppled the Sheikh Hasina regime. The fervour that undergirded the protests and the anticipation of far-reaching change have given way to something akin to weary acceptance. An Indian journalist in Dhaka spoke to a cross-section of Bangladeshis to discern that they yearn good governance
Lessons in Leadership and Unity from Golwalkar: Shaping RSS ideology and succession
RSSFACTS: Marking its centenary, the RSS showcases smooth leadership succession, social reform, and a global vision rooted in Hindutva, as outlined during Golwalkar’s transformative tenure
ASEAN in the Crosshairs: Balancing great powers
The 46th ASEAN Summit highlighted regional security, economic resilience, and Myanmar’s crisis, amid great-power tensions, internal divisions, and evolving partnerships with Europe and global actors
Geospatial technology and its role in India’s Act East policy
India is enhancing regional influence through infrastructure like KMMTTP, reducing reliance on Bangladesh, while leveraging geospatial technology to manage complex terrains, monitor security threats, and counter China's growing strategic presence
Invisibilising Taiwan
A flawed interpretation of a UN General Assembly resolution has allowed multilateral bodies such as WHO to keep Taiwan out from contributing to its work in full measure. Individual countries too have used this resolution to limit engagement with Taiwan. To counter China’s influence, Taiwan has to expand its diplomatic outreach to ensure it’s not shut out
‘One Nation, One Symbol’ is key to India’s self-reliance
Sanghnomics: Swadeshi Jagaran Manch started a campaign to promote self-reliance and national security, advocating a ‘Made in India’ symbol to curb foreign goods, strengthen the economy, and support domestic industries
India-Nepal Ties: A strong bilateral partnership amid China’s looming presence
India-assisted development projects in Nepal are aimed at addressing pressing needs at the ground level as well as strengthening infrastructure and connectivity
Will Shashi Tharoor leave Congress? Tensions rise ahead of Kerala 2026 elections
Shashi Tharoor’s participation in a national diplomatic delegation has reignited tensions within the Congress party. With Kerala elections on the horizon, internal rivalries and leadership ambitions are back in the spotlight
RSS@100: Unravelling the road map for next 25 years and beyond
RSSFACTS: Mohan Bhagwat outlines RSS’s centenary goals: uniting Hindu society, maintaining an apolitical stance, and promoting global transformation rooted in cultural harmony, long-term vision, and inclusive social practices
India’s battle against fake news, debunking it post by post, pic by pic
The Indian government fought the fake news war peddled during Operation Sindoor. Social media handles were monitored and several news channels were issued warnings. The government and the armed forces stayed vigilant and were able to thwart the misinformation war
