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In a first of the kind, Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata organised an inter-university debate competition on 'Panchsheel and its Relevance' on January 17 to commemorate completion of 60 years of signing the agreement.

The challenge for Iran's President-elect Dr. Hassan Rouhani lies in not only appeasing the highest echelons of country's clergy, but also securing results for an economy that is on the brink of collapse.

The unprecedented devastations and concerns emanating from the ongoing Ukraine war have incentivised Finland and Sweden to solidify their decision of

The ‘India factor’ has played an undeniable role in the Awami League's past electoral triumphs.

It definitely was not in the scheme, but the 'Oxford Union episode' involving Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa may have emboldened the demoralised nation's pan-Tamil Diaspora across the West, with its fallout expected to be felt in neighbouring India as well.

Libya's future looks uncertain. The no-fly zone may not be enough to unseat Gaddafi. If Gaddafi survives and maintains his hold over Tripolitania, the world may have to contend with his wrath and a potential rogue state, uncomfortably close to Europe.

New aircraft carrier Vikramaditya will undoubtedly have a major role to play as force multipliers and strategic game changers in the region, but as a ship without even the basic defences against air borne threats, it will be extremely vulnerable, obviating its usage to its potential to the maximum.

As tensions increase across the border, there is very little keeping the peace together  

The optimism for India, both within and outside the country, can propel the nation towards great heights as the marketplace for ideas becomes fertile

For over a year, China is running a huge anti-corruption campaign. More than 1,82,000 officials have been punished, including high ranking military officials, four national leaders and senior executives of state companies. However, this type of arbitrary and high-handed posture could backfire and become a catalyst for political crisis if it continues in the present way.

The end of INF will have strategic implications well beyond Russia and the United States.

While the establishment of new Integrated Check Post at Attari is a welcome move, there are certain issues which have dampened the spirits of Punjab's traders. The Pakistan government has still not allowed trade of items freely from the Attari-Wagah land route despite it being the cheapest and shortest trade route.

There are multiple reasons for African countries to be cautiously optimistic about the new US policy.

International tension surrounding Iran is yet to affect India, but New Delhi can make tactical gains by maintaining diplomatic flexibility.

China unveils new economic strategy on the world stage.

It is not unlikely that the West’s current engagement/disengagement with Russia could lead to a situation — if not immediately — where the post-

After over a decade of unprecedented growth of Chinese finance, Africans are increasingly concerned over rising debt levels.

It is a pity the Spring ushered in by Arab youth has been willfully wasted by the West. Indeed, the shaken monarchies and the remaining dictatorships have rallied around the US and Europe to protect themselves.

The recent windfall taxes imposed by the UNSC are considered either equivalent to a sin to tax the profits made from the geopolitical crisis or a sin

In the Union Budget, the Finance Minister needs to restore the confidence of the middle class investor who now have little faith in anything other than gold and real estate as the means of preserving and growing her savings.

There is a serious terror threat posed by ISIS fighters returning to their home countries after losing the Syria expedition. While it was important to trace the routes taken by these foreign fighters — both in and out of Syria — one needn’t go to Syria to become radicalised through the ISIS ideology.

The electoral bonds scheme defeats the purpose of improving transparency and accountability in political funding.

We should be prepared for a lower rupee unless the RBI steps in and boosts the rupee by releasing a huge amount of dollars. In this situation, wooing back the FIIs would not be easy. Proping up exports will also not be easy. It would be very difficult for the rupee to regain its former value unless commodity prices decline.

Corporates which leverage algorithms need to hold themselves accountable to mitigate the harm caused by algorithmic systems until proper legislation i

India can now have economic forecasts with a longer and stronger vision. NITI Aayog is the tool to make it count.

Election season has begun in the country as in the next two months, five states are going to have assembly elections which are being billed as mini-general elections. Soon thereafter, parliamentary elections will be held in the first four months of the next year to elect the 16th Lok Sabha (lower house).

If the war of words between the US and North Korea leads to any armed action, South Korea will be caught in the crossfire with unimaginable devastatio

While there has been no perceptible effect of tariffs on the economy of either the US or China so far, additional tariffs which could eventually cover the entire $500 billion of US imports from China will most certainly have a negative effect on both countries and the world.

India could be a STEM powerhouse if only it can ensure its female STEM graduates are retained in the workforce

Digital divides have traditionally been associated with the “connected — unconnected” binary around the world, considering only one aspect of th

Many of the jobs created through large-scale programmes on water can be taken up by women as long as the skilling gap is addressed along with gender i

Feminisation of agriculture is taking place in a number of developing countries, including India, and women are forced to play multiple roles as entrepreneurs, labourers and cultivators. They have to compete with men in getting access to resources which is difficult.

The recent development in terms of the success of the Women's Reservation Bill underscores the importance of continued efforts to ensure women's parti

The pursuit of sustainable development cannot be effectively undertaken without the full and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-ma

Women must play an equal and active role in framing ethical imperatives and defining prosperity, responsibility and accountability in international po

Even today, the Army continues to be organised on the basis of regional, linguistic, caste and religious affiliations. Nearly 70 years since Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose raised combat units in which personnel from all over India served together, it is time that our Armed Forces seriously consider these issues of regionalism, ethnicity and deployment of women in combat roles.

If women’s participation in microenterprises were to increase, it could address two crises that plague the country — job growth and declining part

Women’s representation in India’s Parliament is an important metric to evaluate progress in bridging gender inequities in the country. India has a female population of 662.9 million and is the largest and one of the most resilient parliamentary democracies in the world. As the country completes 75 years of independence, this paper gives a historical account of the progress in women’s representation in Parliament over the past decades. It co

The year 2022 has brought a death knell for Afghan women. The international community needs to act now.

Having created unprecedented diplomatic opportunities in the first term, the UPA has managed to squander them in the second. India's ambassadors, gathering in New Delhi this week, are in a better position than most to reflect on the undeniable reversal of India's international fortunes in the second term of the UPA government.

The accelerating remote work culture born during COVID-19 is bound to further propel the growth of flexible workspaces, especially since several emplo

The Madras High Court¿s notice to authorities in some coastal districts of southern Tamil Nadu over the ¿public hearings¿ on the Sethusamudram project proposal has brought out a new facet in Central-State relations unnoticed by many. Coming under the Union Shipping Ministry, the Tuticorin Port Trust, entrusted with the Rs 3000-crore project,

ORF Director Sunjoy Joshi said the seminar on "BRICS trade, investment and finance cooperation"is part of the ongoing research agenda which will feed into the South Afr ican Summit to be held next year.

While laws provide a foundation for combatting gender discrimination, companies must take proactive steps to create an inclusive workplace

The ORF Chennai Chapter of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) brought together eminent, senior retired civil servants and police officials, well-known academicians and journalists and policy makers for two days, on January 28 & 29, 2005, at a Workshop on the Naxalite Movement. Mr D Raja, National Secretary, Communist Party of India, inaugurated the Workshop, which was conducted under the guidance of Mr B Raman, Distinguished Fellow and Convenor,

Observer Research Foundation on August 21 organised a day-long workshop on ¿ Access to Justice in India¿ particularly for the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Drawing the attention of the participants, ORF Chairman R.K.Mishra, in his welcome address said there was no dearth of studies and recommendations on improving the justice delivery system in the country but the will to implement them was what was missing