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The Global War against Terrorism: Are We Safer Today?
May 26, 2004

The Global War against Terrorism: Are We Safer Today?

There has rarely been a period in modern history, when the world has not been confronted with terrorism; somewhere or the other, in some form or another, for some reason or the other. As a mean of coercion through violence, terrorism ebbs and flows and keeps undergoing many mutations.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Germany’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
May 21, 2020

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Germany’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Germany’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has earned it almost all-round approval. This special report argues that there is indeed much that German policy has gotten right. But it is also important to keep an eye on the limitations and failings, for which Germany – and other countries that seek to emulate it – might end up paying a very dear price. In contrast, a timely correction of some aspects of German policy could help pre-empt bo

The Grand Illusion
Jul 29, 2006

The Grand Illusion

Eminent Indian nuclear scientists have been expressing their concern about the contents and direction of the Indo-US nuclear deal signed last July. Strategic analysts, former diplomats, prominent politicians and knowledgeable commentators have repeatedly cautioned the government about the minefields ahead. Ought not the government pause and clear these doubts? There is little effort towards this end, and we all seem to be running blind.

The granting of exemptions from US sanctions on Iran: An analysis of its implications
Nov 22, 2018

The granting of exemptions from US sanctions on Iran: An analysis of its implications

In an effort to financially hobble Iran, the United States mandated nations to halt their imports of crude from the country by early November, or else risk attracting sanctions themselves from Washington. Not long after, the US announced that eight nations will be exempted from these sanctions, supposedly in recognition of their effort to cut down on their imports of Iranian oil. This brief argues that while it is true that certain countries did

The great American betrayal
Mar 11, 2013

The great American betrayal

The Obama Administration is putting it out as though the withdrawal is a great achievement. But the reality is shoddier - we are witnessing yet another western retreat from Afghanistan, one that can have baleful consequences for others.

The great disconnect between India and Pakistan
Jun 13, 2019

The great disconnect between India and Pakistan

Taking a lesson from the past, India should resist re-engaging with Pakistan.

The Great Electoral Debate 2004: A Snapshot
Mar 29, 2004

The Great Electoral Debate 2004: A Snapshot

The forthcoming general election is being watched with bated breath and ever increasing curiosity by different observers. Although the election arithmetic remains more or less the same as it was in 1999, the sheer intensity in which the election is being fought and the issues that are being contested in the public debate may have some implications on the future of Indian politics.

The great finance bill trick
Mar 27, 2017

The great finance bill trick

The political funding reforms are an embarrassment to India’s claims of heralding a transparency revolution

The great Indian exam debacle
Jul 21, 2017

The great Indian exam debacle

The “marks moderation” debate, which made headlines this summer, [1] resulted in a frenzied, but incomplete, media coverage. There has been litigation as well, stalling the declaration of high-school results of students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), and various state boards. This brief aims to demonstrate how the reliance on a simplistic metric—of a 101-

The great Indian strangulation trick
Jul 20, 2011

The great Indian strangulation trick

In a stratagem that would make Sun Tzu proud, the government first velvet-gloved an iron fist and then clamped down hard on digital freedom and enterprise

The great liberal fallacy
Oct 24, 2017

The great liberal fallacy

Liberal fundamentalism is now at war with unbridled street anger, whose revisionist purpose and impatience have exhibited a dangerous capacity to self-destruct.

The great potential of India-Australia quantum collaboration
Apr 30, 2024

The great potential of India-Australia quantum collaboration

This commentary provides deep insights into the rapid collaboration that is taking place between India and Australia. It also delves into its implications for the future.

The Great Power Game still continues
Feb 02, 2012

The Great Power Game still continues

Closer home, the Great Power Game will be played in the unstable fields of Ayatollahs' Iran, a Talibanised Afghanistan, whose leaders have their own world view, and a Sunni radicalised nuclearised Pakistan. The main contestants will be China and the US and our strategic planners may have to start planning for an uncertain future.

The greatest show on Earth
May 15, 2014

The greatest show on Earth

Narendra Modi, who is projected by the exit polls done by the media to become the next prime minister, will have to embellish his strong governance image where he has to be fair and seen to be fair in his actions. If winning an election was tough, governance and delivery in India is going to be much tougher.

The Greening Imperative: How Indian States Are Promoting Sustainable Industry
May 25, 2021

The Greening Imperative: How Indian States Are Promoting Sustainable Industry

With natural resources being exploited beyond scope of regeneration, excessive pollutants accumulating in the biosphere, and ecosystems and biodiversity undergoing life-threatening degradation, industrial policies that steer investment towards a greener economy have become an imperative. This paper examines the green component of the industrial policies of 14 Indian states which have been found to be responsible for more than 80 percent o

The grim calculus behind Afghan tragedy
Nov 26, 2021

The grim calculus behind Afghan tragedy

As winter approaches, the suffering of the people of Afghanistan will worsen

The Growing Chinese Assertiveness at Seas
Oct 20, 2010

The Growing Chinese Assertiveness at Seas

There is no doubt that the Chinese have overcome their earlier phase of "biding time" and have started taking a more assertive and at times more aggressive posture at sea. A pattern that is also being witnessed in other spheres as well.

The Growing Gaps in Global Humanitarian Challenges
Apr 01, 2024

The Growing Gaps in Global Humanitarian Challenges

Emergency humanitarian aid, which aims to save lives and reduce people’s suffering in times of crises, has grown considerably over the last century to become a central feature of international relations and of the multilateral system. It is estimated that over 400 million people depend on such aid today. The future of these people and of the humanitarian aid they depend on are fraught with risks, in light of five palpable trends: exponentially

The Growing Tech Focus of the Quad
Jul 09, 2022

The Growing Tech Focus of the Quad

Writing new rules of the road for critical and emerging technologies is a key imperative for the Quad.

The Hague-Delhi Initiative on Global Governance
Nov 22, 2012

The Hague-Delhi Initiative on Global Governance

Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Hague Institute for Global Justice (THIGJ) recently hosted the second workshop of 'The Hague Initiative on Global Governance' in New Delhi between 21st and 23rd November, 2013.

The Hajj - One-way ticket to heaven?
Sep 28, 2015

The Hajj - One-way ticket to heaven?

The tragedy last week snuffed out over 750 lives and injured over 800 pilgrims, during the annual Hajj ritual of stoning the Devil at Mina, a few kilometres from Mecca. This incident again highlights a recurring theme that has dogged the Hajj for hundreds of years.

The Hasina Homerun
Jan 12, 2024

The Hasina Homerun

How Delhi can make the most of its ties with Dhaka

The heavy burden of defying conventional wisdom
Aug 04, 2012

The heavy burden of defying conventional wisdom

People's power, if not checked, would devour all Monarchies unless "all of us clasp each other's hands". That is when Al Jazeera traded its credibility to join the regional Jihad. Because of this summersault, the network has been the most effective tool in Libya and Syria.

The Herculean task of improving air quality: The case of Delhi and NCR
Nov 12, 2018

The Herculean task of improving air quality: The case of Delhi and NCR

Air quality in India’s capital city of Delhi and its surrounding region (or the National Capital Region, NCR) is poor during most months of the year. Various factors contribute to the worsening pollution, including human activities and a deficit in planning and governance. This brief examines the causes for declining air quality in the NCR as well as the mitigation measures that have been put in place by the government at different periods of t

The hidden failure of US-India counterterrorism cooperation
Aug 22, 2018

The hidden failure of US-India counterterrorism cooperation

While New Delhi is getting more diplomatic support for its position, it is doing little to change the threat Pakistan poses.

The high road to growth
Mar 03, 2020

The high road to growth

India can’t escape from the systematic challenge of large-scale reforms

The higher education commission of India bill: A failure of imagination
Aug 21, 2023

The higher education commission of India bill: A failure of imagination

The Ministry of Human Resource Development in late June floated the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, 2018, to repeal the seven-decade-old University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956. The HECI, when established, will replace the UGC that has been the bedrock of India’s higher education system. This brief analyses the draft bill and examines its deficiencies. It suggests that the present bill fails to address the shortcomings of

The history of dialogue in Kashmir does not inspire confidence in Delhi’s latest move
Oct 25, 2017

The history of dialogue in Kashmir does not inspire confidence in Delhi’s latest move

Any solution to the Kashmir issue requires a two track process involving the domestic separatists and the Pakistanis.

The huge size of undereducated youth in the workforce needs to be addressed
Jun 07, 2012

The huge size of undereducated youth in the workforce needs to be addressed

A large mass of uneducated and undereducated would become part of the labour force over the next decade, adding to the potential of the mid-career education market. Neither the government nor the private sector seems to be gearing up for this opportunity.

The hypocrisy of Tamil outrage
Jun 06, 2014

The hypocrisy of Tamil outrage

Hypocrisy of the political leadership of all hues in Tamil Nadu is completely exposed if we focus on the refugee issue. There are presently over 1,20,000 Tamil refugees living in India. Of this, nearly 70,000 still live either in the hundred odd general (open) or the three special (closed) refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.

The I2U2: Where Geography and Economics Meet
Feb 27, 2023

The I2U2: Where Geography and Economics Meet

Minilateral organisations have increased in number in recent years, reflecting a new paradigm in international relations. The I2U2 (India, Israel, United States and UAE), launched in July this year, is one such minilateral. With its priorities set on a geoeconomic agenda, the I2U2 is being driven by both, the member countries’ own motivations and their shared interests. This brief gives an overview of the grouping and its objectives. It

The IBSA Moment
Jul 22, 2013

The IBSA Moment

India, currently the chair of IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa), is responsible for steering the agenda for trilateral collaboration. In its capacity as chair, it is incumbent upon India to revitalise the geopolitical group, which has been so central to the construct of "South-South Cooperation" that engages most political thinkers today.

The ideal solution for an ideal world
Nov 17, 2015

The ideal solution for an ideal world

As the International Court of Justice at The Hague moves forth with proceedings on the cases involving India and Pakistan, it is worth considering whether a decision in favour of the Republic of Marshall Islands would truly be the beginning of a new era.

The identity fault lines of a West Bengal voter
Jun 19, 2019

The identity fault lines of a West Bengal voter

The fallout of this election forefronts the fault lines in the Bengali identity whose syncretic political and cultural climate has now been marred by religious insecurities.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents: Early Evidence in India
Mar 04, 2021

The Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents: Early Evidence in India

This brief collects and analyses current evidence in India regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of children (5-9 years) and adolescents (10-19). Using the ‘snowball retrieval’ strategy, the authors identified peer-reviewed studies, reports and government articles published between January 2020 and February 2021 that were relevant to the research question. The brief finds that not only are children and adolescent