politics

Vizhinjam: The fascinating political backstory of India’s first deep water port

Dreamt of from the days of the Travancore kingdom, the port which is a mere 10 nautical miles away from the shipping route linking Europe to the Far East, got serious political backing after 1991. An unlikely cast of characters from the Congress and Left Front, along with the Adani group, transformed the dream into reality. That said, its potential remains limited in absence of supporting infrastructure

Hundred day remedies for long standing maladies are invariably worse

Musk could have used the first hundred days to get his team to ask, absorb, assess and analyze information from various sources and only then decide how to cut spending.  Instead, reckless and heartless reductions of spending, to rectify policies that started over close to a hundred years ago, have been very damaging

Focus on justice for Pahalgam massacre, but do not forget the vulnerability of Chicken’s Neck 

This narrow corridor connects India’s northeast to the rest of the country. Increasingly hostile statements about India’s territorial integrity from members of Bangladesh’s government indicate that India cannot for a moment lower its guard. The eastern front is no less important than the western front

The Hindu Manifesto: Rethinking caste and Hindu identity

RSSFACTS: Swami Vigyananand’s ‘The Hindu Manifesto’ outlines eight civilisational pillars for a Hindu renaissance, challenges colonial and Western misconceptions about caste, and promotes a non-discriminatory, culturally rooted vision of Hindu society and national identity

Dredge Wular Lake to maximise the positive spinoff of holding IWT in abeyance

The size of this massive freshwater lake needs to be increased from 29 to 100 square kilometres. Dredging’s in line with the even the treaty provisions and something Pakistan has tried to prevent through a terror strike. Dredging will allow to India to reduce the flow of Jhelum into Pakistan

China's thorium reactor is a wake-up call for India 

India should pursue direct thorium utilisation in parallel to the three-stage nuclear power programme as it’s only the first stage which has been mastered so far. Also, there’s a need to diversify reactor designs to complement the current set of pressurised heavy water reactors

Murshidabad Unrest and SSC Scandal: Mamata battles twin crises ahead of 2026 Bengal polls

Murshidabad’s violent protests and annullment of over 25,000 teacher appointments linked to the SSC scam intensified scrutiny of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's governance, with the BJP accusing her administration of corruption and appeasement politics. Despite challenges, Mamata maintains strong support among Muslim and women voters

America’s messy Afghan withdrawal has left the region awash with arms

When the US hastily withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, it left behind an arsenal estimated to be worth $7 billion in military hardware. The spillover effects are visible in Pakistan and, to a certain extent, in Jammu and Kashmir. Between 2022 and 2024, a series of recoveries, particularly across Jammu’s Doda-Kishtwar-Kathua-Udhampur belt, some featuring night-vision devices, suggests a potential cross-border influx of advanced gear

War Economics: The Kargil cess template and market’s irrationality

The Kargil War led to increased defence spending, tax reform, and military modernisation in India. It also exemplified the 'war puzzle', where anticipated conflict boosts markets, while surprise wars trigger negative investor reactions

With Bangladesh, India needs to go the extra mile

China and Pakistan are aiming to move closer with Bangladesh with diplomatic and economic efforts. What India needs to do to protect its own interests

Baisaran meadow massacre fits a pattern; China factor squeezes India’s options

Underlying pattern of terror strikes in J&K have been visible for a while; target based on religion to widen sectarian fault lines. India’s military options this time are constrained by the China factor. Not only is the Indian army required to safeguard the Ladakh frontier, stretching its resources, it also has to account for active Chinese support to Pakistan through intelligence sharing

National Security: Time to unite against terror and strengthen border security

RSSFACTS: The Pahalgam terror attack reignites national focus on radical Islamism, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and the crucial role of border communities and civil society, with RSS advocating unity, vigilance, and proactive national defence measures

India’s neighbour from hell

Indian understanding of Pakistan and Pakistanis has no rigour. It is mostly anecdotal, flaky, superficial and pedestrian. The distinction that is often made between the Pakistani state and society is entirely and completely fallacious. There is no difference between the two. It is a country whose existence is based on anti-Indiaism and anti-Hinduism

Suspension of Indus Treaty shouldn’t shock Pakistan; it was warned

During Modi’s tenure between 2014 and 2019, Indus Treaty was referred to twice, indirectly and then directly. During his second tenure, Modi referred to the IWT, directly, once in January 25, 2023. In his current third tenure, the Modi government sent Pakistan a notice in August 2024 for treaty modification. Finally, in April 2025, it’s been suspended. Proxy wars have consequences

Indus Treaty suspension is a wakeup call for Bangladesh

Yunus government in Dhaka has been cosying up to Pakistan and China, unmindful of India’s security concerns. Posters of the banned Hizb-ut Tahrir are widespread in Bangladesh. Al-Qaeda flags are a common sight in Dhaka. The India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty comes up for renewal next year. It’s still not too late for Bangladesh to reassess its approach to India

India’s military options are subject to the larger political message being sent

Terror will not get a free pass and India has used it first card, suspension of the Indus Water Treaty. Military options remain on the table but require careful consideration. They can’t be viewed through the prism of emotion. Moreover, the nature of military response will be influenced by the larger political message that India wants to convey

Bluff and Bloodshed: Unmasking General Munir's Kashmir gamble

The Pahalgam massacre bears a chilling resemblance to the Hamas attack on unarmed civilians. It’s a desperate attempt to lure India into a trap. Pakistan anticipates an Indian retaliatory strike. Such a response would be a strategic trap, playing directly into Munir’s hands. India must project strength without succumbing to full-scale war 

Pakistan spends higher share of GDP on defence than India, China or EU

Though Pakistan’s defence spending as proportion of GDP declined to 2.3% in FY25, it was still higher than India’s 2%

How Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s ally earlier, tilted towards India

Pahalgam terror attacks happened when PM Modi was on a state visit to Saudi Arabia. Following the attack, the Kingdom immediately offered India assistance. It encapsulated the extent of change in its approach, characterised by zero tolerance for terrorism and a deepening of counter-terrorism co-operation with countries such as India

Pahalgam terror attack leaves Kashmiris in a bind, loans to repay and a tourist season blown away

Those who took loans or sold personal assets like jewellery and land to invest in the industry now face dire uncertainty. Hoteliers, Shikara riders, and vendors, once symbols of economic stability, may grapple with dwindling visitors and mounting debts as the violence shatters the narrative of normalcy promoted by the government

China’s façade of neutrality in Russia-Ukraine conflict

There may not be a cogent justification for Chinese soldier-volunteers to fight against Ukraine, but China would not send them without a long-term strategy. It must be part of a calibrated strategy that is yet to emerge in public domain

US VPs tend to travel more to Europe, South Korea and Japan

US Vice President JD Vance, on his third official visit, landed up in India for a four-day visit on April 21. The visit comes 12 years after Joe Biden visited India for four days in 2013 as vice president

Karnataka’s caste survey opens a Pandora’s Box for the polity

A deeply divided Cabinet, outraged mutt heads and thwarted ambitions muddy the waters. Two key questions remain unanswered. Will Siddaramaiah realise his ‘dream project’ of making the OBCs have a greater say in Karnataka politics? Can any political party remain unscathed by the fallout of the report? 

Who is the true heir of Ambedkar’s legacy?

RSSFACTS: On Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, RSS leaders praised his legacy, highlighting efforts towards social harmony and constitutional values. Through initiatives like Seva Bharati, RSS advances Ambedkar’s vision, especially among marginalised communities and Scheduled Castes