Politics

India-UK FTA’s real potential lies in services trade expansion

Let this be remembered not just as the whisky-and-SUV agreement but as the inaugural FTA to prioritise services, digital exchanges, and skilled labour. This establishes the groundwork for a new era in the India–UK partnership, characterised not by nostalgia but by innovation and mutual prosperity

PM Modi’s ₹82,950 Cr Mega Gujarat Visit After Operation Sindoor | Massive Infra & Energy Push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Gujarat on May 26-27, marking his first visit after Operation Sindoor. During this high-profile visit, PM Modi will hold grand roadshows and inaugurate key infrastructure, power, and port projects worth over ₹82,950 crore across Bhuj, Dahod, and Gandhinagar. From massive solar parks and green hydrogen plants to Hyperloop tech and temple development—this visit signals a major push for Gujarat's growth. Watch the full video for key highlights from the PM’s packed schedule.

Military glory or political gambit? What Munir’s new title means for Pakistan’s future

Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Asim Munir pressured Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to make him the Field Marshal. But the new position has attracted widespread criticism and exposed his failure in dealing with four different armed insurgent groups and people’s anger against the army’s interference in civilian life

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expels son Tej Pratap from party for 6 years, cuts family ties

Lalu Prasad Yadav made the announcement in a post on X on Sunday afternoon.

Maoist area of influence has decisively shrunk, but the jury is out on their resolve

The end of the feared Basava Raju in Chhattisgarh on the heels of multiple losses for Maoists has all but crushed its armed dimension in India. Does that spell the end of a movement that was not too long ago called India’s gravest internal security threat? Perhaps not, counsel veterans of anti-Maoist operations. The ideology and some of its diehard adherents are still around. Vigilance is essential 

LIVE: Giriraj Singh on the India opportunity in textiles | Political Economy

Can the Indian textile story stage a comeback? Giriraj Singh, Minister of Textiles in conversation with Shweta Punj speaks about the opportunities and challenges

What the Opposition can learn from RSS when it comes to 'national interest'

RSSFACTS: The RSS has consistently advocated a firm, foresighted policy on Pakistan, urging national unity, strong leadership, and decisive action. It has supported both past and present governments in defending India’s interests and sovereignty

Shashi Tharoor: Suitors aplenty but no great options

The animosity between the MP from Thiruvananthapuram and sections of Congress High Command is barely concealed. It a steep fall from the time Tharoor seemed to be a potential Kerala CM on a Congress platform. Is his defence of the BJP-led Centre a signal of his impending destination, or a harking for a more bipartisan era? Or, is Tharoor just a hard-nosed politician extracting something out of the leadership of a party under pressure?

Joseph Nye embodied ‘soft power’ with his charm and personality

A giant in the discipline of modern international relations, Nye teased out the many dimensions of power. His concept of soft power and its subsequent iterations were widely studied and followed. A strategic affairs analyst pays tribute to Nye who passed away last week

India and Pakistan aren’t getting re-hyphenated

India's emergence as a significantly large economy, ahead of Japan sometime this year, will ensure that doesn't happen. But India will have to ensure that it emerges as the leading player in the China +1 strategy of MNCs and has access to the top AI technologies to translate its recent military triumph into a wider strategic victory

Why people of J&K feel Indus Waters Treaty shortchanged them 

J&K has always been cut up about IWT as the UT has not been to exploit the full potential of its natural resource. In addition, it is believed that the limited use of the UT’s water resources has helped India’s lower riparian states at its own expense. There’s now hope that the situation will change with the Treaty being held in abeyance

Decoding India’s Strategy: Amplifying the anti-terror narrative amid Western ambivalence

Seven teams of MPs visiting different countries should do more than convey India’s role in the fight against cross-border terrorism. They need to find out why many countries are reluctant to support India publicly and find ways to rectify this problem. The battle of narratives needs to be won for both military and economic reasons  

Shashi Tharoor crossed 'lakshman rekha' with comments on India-Pak conflict: Congress sources

There was no immediate reaction from Shashi Tharoor on the issue.

No discussion in NCP (SP) camp about merger of two factions: Anil Deshmukh

"The speculation about the potential merger is just a media discussion. No meeting or discussion has been held in the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) camp," Deshmukh said.

Post-Pahalgam trolling raises questions about our moral compass

Taken together, the Vikram Misri-Himanshi Narwal episodes reflect a grave moral decline. The cruelty of the trolling - laden with misogyny, moral judgment, and character assassination - reveals a frightening erosion of basic humanity. Civilized societies adhere to certain norms of behaviour, even in times of conflict

India’s strategic narrative: No more dossiers, a use of visible but proportionate force

Op Sindoor marked a strategic departure point for India in its attempt to combat Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism. In line with international law, India will harness its superior military capabilities to deliver a calibrated response. The onus of managing escalation is on Pakistan, and if it chooses to go up the escalation ladder, India will retaliate. A strategic analyst integrates the many dimensions of Sindoor to present a coherent narrative of what changed in Indo-Pak dynamics

Trump’s premature message on the ceasefire is a setback for India-US ties

The American president’s social media messages about the ceasefire between India and Pakistan are bound to be disquieting for both Indians and neutral observers. From indicating an equivalence between the two countries to going back to hyphenating them, the tenor was inconsistent with reality. This setback may be because of the recent churn in the Trump administration.

India and Pakistan - An immoral equivalence by the Western media

The US conducted approximately 430 drone attacks between June 2004 and July 2018 in Pakistan, resulting in between 2,500 to over 4,000 deaths. Western media was not notably vociferous in demanding rigorous proof about the guilt of the targeted persons. Most anti-terrorism operations are mounted based on intelligence inputs, which would not pass the ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ criteria of criminal trials

Modi’s Op Sindoor Address: National interest, geostrategic calculus, and the art of communication

PM’s address to the nation conveyed a multifaceted message, targeting Pakistan, the international community, and the Indian public.

PM Modi signals ‘new normal’ for the full spectrum of relationship with Pakistan

Last week’s display of aerial superiority by Indian military has catalyzed a reset in the full spectrum of ties with Pakistan. Be it trade or even sharing of Indus waters, Pakistan’s approach to using terror as a part of its strategic tool kit will be the reference point. It signals a long period of dormancy in bilateral ties. However, a reset of approach from Pakistan is unlikely

Indo-Pak Standoff: How the real estate sector fares in times of war

Experts said that past wars and conflicts have taught us that war can temporarily slow down market sentiment and freeze decisions, but they cannot break India's real estate market. Due to the Indo-Pak tension, there may be some short-term sluggishness in the market, but there is no question of an outright plunge.

The making of India’s drone military-industrial complex

Operation Sindoor and its aftermath heralded the age of drone warfare in the Indian subcontinent. India’s drone manufacturing ecosystem proved its mettle last week. Populated by both startups and old industrial houses, the drone ecosystem now needs to add scale and quicken the pace of technological absorption. The government can help by compressing timelines in drone procurement

10 lessons from the 4-day conflict with China-backed Pakistan

The government will certainly conduct an in-depth assessment of the military and diplomatic experience during the conflict. A close examination is required to strengthen our fighting capabilities and enhance our diplomatic skills because the problem with Pakistan is far from over 

India’s aerial shield has held up well, but will need upgrades to combat China’s stealth aircraft

India’s multi-layered air defence system has successfully repulsed scores Pakistani aerial attacks over three successive nights. By acquiring advanced systems and simultaneously producing at scale domestically, India has steadily built air defences that can absorb and inflict punishing attrition over prolonged combat. It has also focused on protecting key targets. For instance, India has ambitions of covering Delhi and Mumbai with a limited ballistic missile defence (BMD) shield that can intercept accidental or rogue launches of some nuclear-capable ballistic missiles