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Forward together we go in space?
Oct 13, 2014

Forward together we go in space?

With much fanfare, Indian Prime Minister Modi's trip to the United States came to a close September 30. However, beyond catchy slogans, are current Indo-US space cooperative initiatives living up to their full potential? Will space help India and the U.S. move forward together for a better world?

Four Walls and a Bubble: Coal and the ABC of India's energy security
Oct 27, 2014

Four Walls and a Bubble: Coal and the ABC of India's energy security

In all the hype and hyperbole about what to do with coal blocks, the plain fact is that the real danger lies in our coal reserves turning valueless for the country, of no benefit to the owner - the people of the land. They will be value less if we don't extract them before they turn un-burnable by climate action a few decades from now.

Four Years of a Military Despot
Oct 14, 2003

Four Years of a Military Despot

I have no problem with military officers running a nation as long as they are out of uniform and have won the mandate to do so. But when a military officer ousts a legitimate civilian government, refuses to shed his uniform and abuses the basic democratic right of franchise, there is a reason for the civilized world to be alarmed and ashamed. Such men are a blot on the democratic, civilized world.

France in Mali -Tragedy with much comic relief
Feb 11, 2013

France in Mali -Tragedy with much comic relief

After sending out confusing signal for months, France may have chosen the worst possible moment for intervention. Because its procrastinations allowed a whole range of potential opponents to mingle and be jointly prepared just in case the French did intervene.

France in the Indo-Pacific: French, Indian Defense Ministers Meet for 3rd Annual Dialogue
Dec 24, 2021

France in the Indo-Pacific: French, Indian Defense Ministers Meet for 3rd Annual Dialogue

France has continued to remain one of India’s trusted strategic partners, with cooperation extending across many issues.

Free speech, privacy and E-surveillance in the digital age
Feb 26, 2014

Free speech, privacy and E-surveillance in the digital age

In this digital age, how free speech is dealt with in a multipolar world, and the emergence of the new and complex forms of censorship were discussed in a talk on "Rethinking Media Freedom in the Digital Age" at the Observer Research Foundation.

Freeing of Textile Trade
Dec 28, 2004

Freeing of Textile Trade

The quotas in textiles, enforced under the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) which was signed in 1994, are going to be lifted on December 31, 2004 and the trade in textiles would come under the WTO directly. It means that all forms of protectionism applied to textile industries the world over, would have to go.

French envoys hopeful of COP21 success
Aug 06, 2015

French envoys hopeful of COP21 success

The COP21 was at the heart of the conversation on July 28 at the French Embassy in India, where the fifth in a monthly series of talks leading up to the Paris conference was held in partnership with Observer Research Foundation.

French officials in Syrian custody could rock Sarkozy's electoral boat
Mar 03, 2012

French officials in Syrian custody could rock Sarkozy's electoral boat

Should the story of the French in Syrian custody become public in France, the voters will ask: did the government sanction illegal entry of our soldiers into foreign countries? Is the Syrian rebellion an imported rebellion?

Friends for the future
Aug 30, 2014

Friends for the future

Although Modi could not make Japan his first foreign destination as PM, he has kept the essence of his promise that he would attach special significance to ties with Tokyo. His trip to Japan is his first bilateral diplomatic engagement outside the subcontinent.

From "Adi" Shankara to "Adi" Vasi
Dec 31, 2010

From "Adi" Shankara to "Adi" Vasi

The amazingly imbalanced judgement on Binayak Sen handed down by the Chattisgarh court has some lessons for all. Basically, intellectuals are being put on notice. Don't cross the Red Line otherwise this will be your fate.

From 'clash of civilisations' to 'clashes within civilisations'
Aug 09, 2014

From 'clash of civilisations' to 'clashes within civilisations'

If the ISIS is not brought under control, the chances are that it could spread to Pakistan, especially Waziristan, a tribal region which plays host to most terror outfits. This could in turn affect India by means of border infiltrations.

From an 'air of permissiveness' to a 'sense of security'
Jan 28, 2013

From an 'air of permissiveness' to a 'sense of security'

Better policing, if nothing else, could help eliminate the existing air of permissiveness and re-introduce a sense of security in women - and also in men - inside their homes and outside - than at present.

From Cold War to Hot Peace: Why BRICS matters
Jul 14, 2015

From Cold War to Hot Peace: Why BRICS matters

The 77-paragraph outcomes statement from the Ufa BRICS summit was inevitably going to be a list of ideas that would cater to different expectations and aspirations of each of its members.

From Dictatorship to Democracy, the Peaceful Maldivian Experience
Jun 03, 2010

From Dictatorship to Democracy, the Peaceful Maldivian Experience

The Vice-President of Maldives, in his address to the ORF faculty, recounts the long and bitter-sweet struggle against autocratic rule in his country. With an elected government now at the helm and democracy gradually taking roots in different spheres of society, he outlines the crucial challenges that lie ahead for the island nation.

From Down South With...
Mar 07, 2004

From Down South With...

If there is one thing on which all the ¿Dravidian parties¿ of Tamil Nadu stand united today, it is their criticism of the Union budget, presented by fellow Tamil leader Palaniappan Chidambaram. In doing so the DMK, the PMK and the MDMK, allies of the Congress at the Centre, have restricted their criticism to the proposed tax on the daily withdrawal of money from one¿s own bank account.

From Islamabad and After
Jan 07, 2004

From Islamabad and After

By delineating bilateral relations from the larger SAARC format, and at the same time taking them up after the Islamabad summit had addressed major agendas, India and Pakistan have done well for themselves and for the region ¿ without continuing to hold one the hostage of the other.

From Kunming Initiative to BCIM Corridor
Aug 31, 2013

From Kunming Initiative to BCIM Corridor

The BCIM Forum has come a long way, but there are still challenges. Clearing the geopolitical air may prove more beneficial on both domestic as well as international levels, than keeping them in the shadows.

From London to Sharm El-Sheikh
Jul 27, 2005

From London to Sharm El-Sheikh

Eighty-eight innocent civilians, about 60 of them Egyptians, and the remaining believed to be foreign tourists, were killed in three well-synchronised explosions by unidentified terrorist elements at the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on July 23,2005.The city is a popular tourist resort on the Red Sea at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

From MIC to NSIC
Oct 11, 2011

From MIC to NSIC

Nomenclature notwithstanding, the evolution of an Indian National Security Industrial Complex (NSIC) must be watched with interest and caution.

From Neglect to Revival: Making Sense of Russia’s Outreach to Bangladesh
Jan 29, 2024

From Neglect to Revival: Making Sense of Russia’s Outreach to Bangladesh

Despite sharing a close historical relationship based on the Soviet Union’s support during the 1971 Liberation War, Bangladesh had for long been out of the scope of Russia’s foreign policy priorities. This is best exemplified by the fact that no Soviet/Russian foreign minister had visited the country until September 2023. However, amid Western sanctions due to its war in Ukraine and tensions with the US, Russia is seeking to reinvigorate ties

From Pakistan to Sharm El-Sheikh
Jul 27, 2005

From Pakistan to Sharm El-Sheikh

Tantalising tit-bits of information relating to the links between jihadi terrorists in Pakistan and Egypt and in Egypt and the UK have been given in an editorial on the Sharm el-Sheikh blasts carried by the "Daily Times", the prestigious daily of Lahore, on July 25,2005. The editorial titled "Terrorist Link Between Egypt and Pakistan " makes the following salient points:

From the blast in Lahore to Sri Lanka's conundrum
Jan 13, 2008

From the blast in Lahore to Sri Lanka's conundrum

Starting this week, ORF brings you the main events that have taken place in the week gone by in India's neighbourhood, from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka

From the Indus to the Nile - endless strife
Jul 11, 2013

From the Indus to the Nile - endless strife

In the 21st century, ideas and thoughts travel across the globe with considerable speed. And, areas inhabited by those whose ancestors belonged to ancient civilisations like our own are engaged in battles that are ideological and sectarian. Essentially, these are about dominance and reversion to a way of life pitted against those who want the systems changed.

FTA-fetishism to hurt Indian industry in the long run
Nov 16, 2015

FTA-fetishism to hurt Indian industry in the long run

FTAs have helped consumer well-being by increasing consumer choices at affordable prices. However, the problem is that for any government to sign an agreement of this character would necessitate a better feasibility study report that is more holistic in nature.

Funding Elections: Some Lessons from International Best Practices
Dec 01, 2011

Funding Elections: Some Lessons from International Best Practices

To ensure that the role of "big money" in influencing elections and policies is banished from the Indian polity, state funding, small donations, public subsidies, membership fees along with strict disclosure and reporting requirements must be encouraged and assiduously pursued.

Furthering Indo Pak Ties and the Importance of Track Two Dialogue
Jun 07, 2011

Furthering Indo Pak Ties and the Importance of Track Two Dialogue

There is an increasing realisation amongst the media community in Pakistan that their State had been actively involved in training India-centric terrorist groups within Pakistani borders, said a delegation of Urdu journalists from Pakistan who visited ORF.

Futile to expect India to sign NPT, says former Japanese diplomat
Feb 16, 2010

Futile to expect India to sign NPT, says former Japanese diplomat

Amb. Hiroshi Hirabayashi, former Japan's Ambassador to India and currently President, The Japan-India Association, was in ORF for an interactive session

Future of Nuclear Weapons
Dec 29, 2007

Future of Nuclear Weapons

Mr L V Krishnan, a Nuclear Scientist who had worked with the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, gave a presentation on the 'Future of Nuclear Weapons', at an Interaction in the ORF Chennai Chapter of the Observer Research Foundation on 29 December 2007.

Future Terrorism
Mar 24, 2005

Future Terrorism

International jihadi terrorism of the Al Qaeda model will continue to pose the most serious challenge to the intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies and the police forces of the world in the short and medium terms, that is, for another five to 10 years. It shows no signs of any dilution of motivation and determination.

G-20 a premier forum to discuss world economic issues: Korea
Jun 27, 2012

G-20 a premier forum to discuss world economic issues: Korea

G-20 is an important forum to ensure world economic stability in a world of changing power dynamics and it is imperative that member states use it so, says First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Ahn Ho-Young.

G20 and India
Aug 13, 2013

G20 and India

For India, which is also experiencing declining growth rates in the last couple of years, the priority at the forthcoming G-20 summit at St Petersberg would be issues including the spillover of the global slowdown on emerging economies as well as quota reforms of the International Monetary Fund.

G20 Turkey Summit: Towards resilience, recovery and sustainability
Nov 10, 2015

G20 Turkey Summit: Towards resilience, recovery and sustainability

The G20 Summit at Antalya in Turkey is expected to focus extensively on infrastructure investment on one hand and climate and energy policy on the other. The latter seems quite natural, ahead of the Conference of Parties in Paris in December.

Gaiko Forum report on ORF symposium on Japan-India cooperation
Mar 17, 2008

Gaiko Forum report on ORF symposium on Japan-India cooperation

Gaiko Forum, Japan's prominent think tank sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, has published a detailed report on the symposium on "Security and Strategic Challenges in Asia: Prospects of Japan-India Cooperation" organised by Observer Research Foundation in association with the Gaiko Forum and the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, on March 18, 2008.

Games delay India's aspiration of building sustainable cities
Jul 17, 2010

Games delay India's aspiration of building sustainable cities

The Commonwealth Games was planned to showcase a modern India. But it has actually set back India's urban modernisation plans through disproportionate focus.

Gaoxin-6: Attempting to fill capability gap in Chinese Navy
Jul 20, 2015

Gaoxin-6: Attempting to fill capability gap in Chinese Navy

As China continues to expand its presence in international waters, it is developing capabilities to counter foreign submarines which, otherwise, may pose challenge to its ambitions. This is where the recently launched Gaoxin-6 becomes important for Beijing.

Gas emerging as important bridge fuel
May 23, 2012

Gas emerging as important bridge fuel

Gas in its varied avatars is going to become the most important bridge fuel for the next decades at least, with the world probably going to see very different gas markets dictating the geo-politics of the future.

Gas pricing to be determined by Govt: Petroleum Secy.
Sep 30, 2008

Gas pricing to be determined by Govt: Petroleum Secy.

Various issues and problems impacting the availability and accessibility of natural gas, the fuel of the future, came up for detailed discussions at the recent two-day 7th Petro India 2008, organised jointly by Observer Research Foundation and Indian Energy Forum in Delhi.

Gayoom seeking a comeback in Maldives?
Jan 14, 2011

Gayoom seeking a comeback in Maldives?

Is former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom reviewing his political options for the future in the light of the inevitable mid-term crises facing the MDP Government of his successor, Mohammed Nasheed?

GDP growth a good sign
Sep 30, 2015

GDP growth a good sign

During the US visit, PM Narendra Modi reiterated that India is the fastest growing economy among large countries in the world. Showcasing India's high GDP growth when others are faltering is a good strategy which the government has adopted which pushes India in the limelight.

GDP growth impacts voter behaviour
Dec 06, 2013

GDP growth impacts voter behaviour

The GDP growth does not mean much to the average voter. But prices do that matter as inflation cut into the budget for healthcare and education for children. Thus what will ultimately decide the outcome of the elections will be inflation and the government's inability to control it.

Gearing up for the Modi-Xi meeting
Sep 06, 2014

Gearing up for the Modi-Xi meeting

Not since the era of Indira Gandhi and Deng Xiaoping, perhaps even since that of Nehru and Mao, have India and China been led by such dynamic and forceful politicians as Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping. These leaders are due to meet later this month in Xi's first official visit to India.