Recent Updates

Rethinking Special and Differential Treatment at the WTO
International Trade and Investment | Developing and Emerging Economies Jul 08, 2025

Rethinking Special and Differential Treatment at the WTO

Debates over WTO reform intensify as Special and Differential Treatment faces scrutiny for its limited impact, vague design, and shifting global dynamics. ...

Serbia’s Jadar Mine and the Battle for the Balkans
International Affairs | Energy Jul 07, 2025

Serbia’s Jadar Mine and the Battle for the Balkans

The Jadar project reflects the EU’s urgent push for lithium to drive its green transition, but its prioritisation of resources over local and democratic concerns exposes a deeper dilemma. ...

One Person, One Lie: Hyperpersonalised Influence Campaigns in the AI Age
Artificial Intelligence Jun 20, 2025

One Person, One Lie: Hyperpersonalised Influence Campaigns in the AI Age

India, like most democracies, now faces an evolved disinformation threat—less about mass manipulation and more about AI-powered, hyper-personalised influence. Propaganda is no longer broadcast; it’s a whisper tailored to one person at a time. ...

The Future of Diplomacy: AI’s expanding role in International Affairs
Artificial Intelligence Jun 18, 2025

The Future of Diplomacy: AI’s expanding role in International Affairs

Diplomacy is increasingly being reshaped by AI tools that aid negotiations and decision-making, but their adoption must be guided by human judgement, cultural sensitivity, and transparency. ...

Digital Dreams, Divided Realities: Navigating Educational Access in India
Education in India | Education | Digital Inclusion Jun 09, 2025

Digital Dreams, Divided Realities: Navigating Educational Access in India

The growing digital divide must be urgently addressed. NEP 2020 aims to transform education by promoting technology inclusion and preparing students for a tech-driven world. ...

Blockchain & EHRs in India: The Next Digital Health Revolution
Healthcare | Privacy & Data Protection | Cyber and Technology May 30, 2025

Blockchain & EHRs in India: The Next Digital Health Revolution

Amid data security concerns and fragmented health systems, blockchain offers India a robust tool to secure health records and enhance digital healthcare ...

Blood Batteries: How Congo’s Conflict Is Shaking the World’s Rare Earths Market
Energy May 26, 2025

Blood Batteries: How Congo’s Conflict Is Shaking the World’s Rare Earths Market

Global tech giants face a reckoning as Congo’s conflict exposes the dark side of ‘conflict-free’ minerals. ...

India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Obstacles, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead
International Affairs | International Trade and Investment May 19, 2025

India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Obstacles, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead

With momentum surging after high-level visits, Brussels and New Delhi must bridge divides on agriculture, services, and carbon rules if they hope to seal an FTA by the end of 2025 ...

India’s Urban Growth Undermines Climate Resilience
Urbanisation in India | Urbanisation May 12, 2025

India’s Urban Growth Undermines Climate Resilience

Real estate-driven urbanisation is deepening India’s flood and water crises, pushing the most vulnerable into harm’s way ...

Nutrition Misinformation and the Limits of Regulation in India
Healthcare May 07, 2025

Nutrition Misinformation and the Limits of Regulation in India

India’s regulatory mechanisms fail to regulate health and wellness misinformation in an era where para-experts and social media algorithms shape public health beliefs ...

Women in the Gig Economy: Between Flexibility and Insecurity
Gender Apr 21, 2025

Women in the Gig Economy: Between Flexibility and Insecurity

The gig economy promises empowerment for Indian women—but without urgent reforms, it may deliver more precarity than progress ...

AI at a Crossroads: Navigating Consent-Centric Data in India
Artificial Intelligence Apr 21, 2025

AI at a Crossroads: Navigating Consent-Centric Data in India

India’s consent-driven data rules may unintentionally hinder AI by limiting access to the large datasets essential for training ...

Trump’s Israel Bet: Realistic or Risky?
International Affairs Mar 27, 2025

Trump’s Israel Bet: Realistic or Risky?

Trump doubles down on pro-Israel policies, but at what cost? His Middle East ambitions hinge on regional stability. Will prioritising Israel hinder or help? ...

AI in humanitarian missions: Opportunities and challenges
Cyber and Technology | Artificial Intelligence Mar 06, 2025

AI in humanitarian missions: Opportunities and challenges

From crisis prediction to aid distribution, AI is reshaping humanitarian efforts, but challenges like bias, privacy, and accountability remain ...

Türkiye’s investments in African ports: An indicator of its growing heft
International Affairs Mar 01, 2025

Türkiye’s investments in African ports: An indicator of its growing heft

Following the example of other states, Türkiye has significantly expanded its strategic investments in Africa, strengthening its footprint across the continent ...

Pollution politics: Can BJP deliver where AAP fell short?
Domestic Politics and Governance Feb 26, 2025

Pollution politics: Can BJP deliver where AAP fell short?

Amidst Delhi’s longstanding battle with air pollution and an ailing Yamuna, will BJP’s pledges turn into actions, or are they just poll-time rhetoric? ...

Tobacco consumption in India: Trends, challenges, and policy implications
Healthcare Feb 17, 2025

Tobacco consumption in India: Trends, challenges, and policy implications

Despite regulatory efforts, tobacco consumption in India remains a major health and economic challenge, thus requiring stronger policies, taxation, and public health initiatives. ...

Rising breast cancer in India: Challenges and opportunities
Healthcare | Gender Feb 10, 2025

Rising breast cancer in India: Challenges and opportunities

India has the potential to revolutionise breast cancer treatment by emphasising policy changes, infrastructural development, early detection, and awareness ...

Stubble burning in India: Causes, consequences, and solutions
Domestic Politics and Governance | Climate, Food and Environment Jan 09, 2025

Stubble burning in India: Causes, consequences, and solutions

Despite some successful initiatives, stubble burning continues to be a major problem in rural India ...

Antibiotic resistance in India
Healthcare Dec 26, 2024

Antibiotic resistance in India

The complex problem of antimicrobial resistance needs to be combated with a coordinated strategy, supported by governmental and cross-sector collaboration ...

COP29: Milestones, challenges, and prospects
Climate, Food and Environment | Economic Reforms Dec 24, 2024

COP29: Milestones, challenges, and prospects

Despite the incremental progress made during COP29, much work needs to be done to align with the speed and scale required for the 1.5°C target ...

Exploring India's potential in neuromorphic research
Cyber and Technology | Artificial Intelligence Dec 20, 2024

Exploring India's potential in neuromorphic research

Although neuromorphic approaches to hardware and software are still nascent, India should explore them to become a key player in the field of emerging technologies. ...

Water, sanitation, and health: The overlooked impact of floods on women in India
Urbanisation in India Dec 06, 2024

Water, sanitation, and health: The overlooked impact of floods on women in India

An intersectional approach is necessary to tackle floods, which pose unique health and safety challenges for vulnerable women and girls ...

Evaluating India’s PLI scheme for semiconductors
International Trade and Investment Dec 06, 2024

Evaluating India’s PLI scheme for semiconductors

India’s new semiconductor PLI scheme, the largest of its kind, is an important endeavour, but key challenges need to be addressed to ensure success ...

The inclusion effect: How green finance can better optimise social benefit
Economics and Finance Nov 09, 2024

The inclusion effect: How green finance can better optimise social benefit

Climate financing needs an intersectional gendered perspective to increase its effectiveness and maximise social benefits ...

Contributors

Himanshi Sharma

Himanshi Sharma

Himanshi Sharma is a Research Intern at the Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation. ...

Read More + Himanshi Sharma

Himanshi Sharma

Himanshi Sharma is a Research Intern at the Strategic Studies Programme, Observer Research Foundation. ...

Read More +