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On Jerusalem, Modi government is putting ideology over national interest
Dec 12, 2017

On Jerusalem, Modi government is putting ideology over national interest

Bandwagoning with the US cannot be a substitute for a working foreign policy in our own region and near abroad.

Onward to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030: Will COVID-19 leave many behind?
Feb 16, 2021

Onward to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030: Will COVID-19 leave many behind?

The multiple ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdowns imposed by countries as a response, are being felt in sectors ranging from agriculture to healthcare. The global community must now hurdle massive obstacles to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To correctly assess the impact of the pandemic on global sustainability-driven concerns, it is important to understand not only the inter-linkages between the SDGs,

Open-Source Intelligence Has Arrived
Oct 04, 2023

Open-Source Intelligence Has Arrived

The concept of ‘intelligence’ immediately brings to mind a covert world of spies, secrets, and classified documents. That might have been true in the past, but in the current age, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is gaining prominence. OSINT is intelligence based on information that is publicly available and processed by any interested party, and complements traditional intelligence while providing greater situational awareness to a range of

Operationalising Blue Economy in Africa: The Case of South West Indian Ocean
May 11, 2023

Operationalising Blue Economy in Africa: The Case of South West Indian Ocean

Blue Economy is fast becoming an area of huge interest for African policymakers. Has the rhetoric translated to concrete developmental outcomes? This brief examines the question of how the concept of ‘Blue economy’ should be operationalised nationally and regionally in Africa. It highlights strategic entry points that should be driven by both public and private sectors and supported by South-South cooperation: the development of ports, promot

Opportunities and Challenges for the Quad’s Working Group on Counterterrorism
Jul 03, 2023

Opportunities and Challenges for the Quad’s Working Group on Counterterrorism

In March 2023, the foreign ministers of India, Japan, Australia, and the US (that form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad) announced the establishment of a working group on countering terrorism. While the urgency of counterterrorism cooperation may have arguably faded in political debate in recent years, it remains steady in military-to-military cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels. In a fast-changing glo

Optimising Urban Agriculture: A Pathway to Food Security in India
Aug 17, 2023

Optimising Urban Agriculture: A Pathway to Food Security in India

As global and urban populations continue to grow, and climate change threatens food security, it is imperative that cities—often the largest food consumers—contribute to its production through urban agriculture. Urban agriculture comprises food and non-food products grown for self-consumption or sale. Entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, and citizens worldwide are adopting new technologies to optimise production amid space c

Order Through Practice: Assessing Tokyo’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision
Aug 01, 2024

Order Through Practice: Assessing Tokyo’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision

Since being initiated by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally in 2016, Tokyo’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision has become the preferred framework for diplomatic engagement among like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific. This paper undertakes an assessment of FOIP. The motivation is threefold: first, it creates an understanding of Tokyo’s vision of maintaining a stable global order; second, because FOIP has become inclusive—it

ORF recommends $1 billion SAARC Fund
Jan 22, 2004

ORF recommends $1 billion SAARC Fund

The SAARC should plan a billion dollar Infrastructure Fund for developing water and energy projects in areas with high unemployment and poverty rates, a ORF Policy Brief issued on the eve of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee¿s visit to Islamabad to attend the 12th SAARC Conference.

ORF researcher bags NIXI fellowship
Oct 19, 2010

ORF researcher bags NIXI fellowship

ORF Senior Fellow Dr. R. Swaminathan will work on mobile banking solutions for financial inclusion and prepare a policy document for the government.

Overcoming data challenges in tracking India’s health and nutrition targets
Dec 29, 2016

Overcoming data challenges in tracking India’s health and nutrition targets

In May 2016, the Health Secretaries of the States and Union Territories of India gathered in the capital and issued “The Delhi Commitment on Sustainable Development Goals for Health”. Among others, the document acknowledged the need to invest in health data collection, analysis and research so that these can properly inform government policies and strategies necessary to address the various challenges facing India’s healthcare. Such commitm

Pak Army's positive attidue changing scene in South Asia
May 05, 2012

Pak Army's positive attidue changing scene in South Asia

India has expressed its willingness to extend technical assistance for improving infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan is bound to realise that holding on to terrorism as an instrument of State policy would not be in its interests as Pakistan would be the real sufferers in the long run.

Pak helping terror regroup
Nov 12, 2003

Pak helping terror regroup

More than Afghanistan and Iraq, it is Pakistan which reflects the failure of the American foreign policy. Or is it naïve on my part to say so since the possibility of Pakistan being sheltered and supported as a nation that spawns terror groups willingly by Washington could in fact be the reality? Why would Washington, or for that matter others, ignore two recent events in Pakistan which clearly point at the regrouping of terror groups under the

Pakistan trending towards collapse
Oct 28, 2014

Pakistan trending towards collapse

Since 1991, India has pursued a policy of engaging Pakistan, regardless of what the latter has thrown at us - bombs, terror assaults, fedayeen. Maybe the time has come to change course ? not by reaching out to the military or taking recourse to tit-for-tat covert war. But by encouraging the peaceful breakup of Pakistan.

Pakistan's charm offensive
Jan 07, 2004

Pakistan's charm offensive

It would not be fair to term Syed Salahuddin's statements on Kashmir as the official Pakistan policy. But the fact that Salahuddin has been making, rather freely, statements on Kashmir, which seem to be contrary to the stance taken by Islamabad-at least for the time being-is a clear pointer to Pakistan's strategy on Kashmir.

Pakistan, China's new frontline state
Jun 22, 2015

Pakistan, China's new frontline state

India cannot ignore what is happening in its North-West. It is not clear what is going to be Indian policy to protect its political, strategic and economic interests in Afghanistan. May be the Indian policy-makers will have to sit back and think of ways to ensure that India's role in Af-Pak region doesn't become minimal.

Pakistan: Singh should make a bold move
Jul 09, 2013

Pakistan: Singh should make a bold move

The UPA government needs to inject some boldness into its Pakistan policy. A.B. Vajpayee, representing the "communal" BJP, visited Pakistan twice during his six-year tenure as PM. Manmohan Singh representing the "secular" Congress has been too timid to go across the border.

Pakistan: The pipeline project, a benchmark issue
Jun 01, 2012

Pakistan: The pipeline project, a benchmark issue

The on-going electricity crisis in Pakistan and the country-wide protests that followed have laid bare the weaknesses in the country's energy policy.

Paradiplomacy in India: Evolution and operationalisation
Aug 24, 2017

Paradiplomacy in India: Evolution and operationalisation

Paradiplomacy as it is conducted by sub-state governments introduces the idea of decentralisation of political power to make regional governments prominent actors in the international sphere. This paper examines the scope for subnational diplomacy in India, as the country seeks to appreciate the significance of federalism and regionalism in promoting local interests, as well as identity, in current international politics. Regional governments ope

Parliament Street: A road that leads nowhere?
Dec 17, 2016

Parliament Street: A road that leads nowhere?

It is often suggested that the live telecast of parliamentary proceedings, far from informing public debate on policy decision making, has pushed MPs to act or speak in a manner that sends the appropriate message to a mass audience outside, and always keeps the viewer in his or her drawing room in mind.

Passive on Syria
Sep 19, 2013

Passive on Syria

Although China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the second largest economy in the world and a rising power on the global stage, its approach to the current Syrian crisis has been nearly as passive as India's policy.

Peace at the Borders
Jun 27, 2011

Peace at the Borders

It is time that India seriously consider "outsourcing" some aspects of its foreign policy to its border provinces. Encouragement of deeper cooperation between border states in both India and Pakistan -especially the two Punjabs, the two Kashmirs, and Rajasthan (India) and Sind (Pakistan) -- could be a good beginning for bettering relations.

People should be counted in any India-Bangladesh relations
Jun 01, 2012

People should be counted in any India-Bangladesh relations

Interest of the people should take precedence in foreign policy formulations which have a direct impact on their lives. This was the overwhelming sentiment expressed by the people living on either side of the India-Bangladesh border during a field visit early May this year.

Pipedreams over Pipelines
Apr 01, 2005

Pipedreams over Pipelines

During a recent discussion on Indo-US relations, a former senior adviser to the Government of India, who retired some years ago, expressed his surprise that the community of non-governmental strategic analysts in New Delhi had failed to forewarn the policy-makers of the Government of India over the likelihood of opposition from the US to the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran through Pakistan till the Indian border to sell gas to Pakistan a

Pivot to America
Jan 21, 2013

Pivot to America

If President Obama stays the current realist course on foreign policy, resists the liberal temptation to intervene everywhere, sustains the focus on rejuvenating America, the world will be dealing with a very different America.

PLA joint exercises in Tibet: Implications for India
Feb 26, 2020

PLA joint exercises in Tibet: Implications for India

Since 2015, China has been undertaking a thorough restructuring of its military, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. This has involved significant changes in the operational structure of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with the modernisation and optimisation of the military to bring about better jointness and overall efficiency. This paper examines the PLA reforms as they pertain to training and jointness in the Tibet Autonomous R

Playing hardball at the other Davos
Jun 05, 2013

Playing hardball at the other Davos

Considering the importance of the Shangri-La Dialogue and India's declared "Look East" policy, the absence of its Defence Minister A.K. Antony was inexplicable. This was especially so because Mr. Antony was scheduled to be in Singapore a day after the meet, en route to Australia.

Plug in to cross-border recharge
Jan 08, 2013

Plug in to cross-border recharge

Bangladesh has to change its energy policy resulting from demand outstripping the current supply. The country believes in energy autarky with focus solely on use of indigenous resources. But frequent changes of regimes and policies by subsequent governments has only helped arrival of more international oil and gas companies in the Bangladesh market.

PM Modi address in SCO: पीएम मोदी के संबोधन से अमेरिका प्रसन्न; चीन को भारत की दो टूक!
Sep 20, 2022

PM Modi address in SCO: पीएम मोदी के संबोधन से अमेरिका प्रसन्न; चीन को भारत की दो टूक!

रूस यूक्रेन युद्ध के बीच शंघाई सहयोग संगठन में आखिर पीएम मोदी ने समरकंद में क्‍या कहा. उनके इस भाषण पर रूस ने क्‍या प्रतिक्रिया दी. इसके क्‍या निहितार्थ हैं. मोदी के इस संबोध

PM must ensure demonetisation does not increase government’s role in citizens’ lives
Nov 28, 2016

PM must ensure demonetisation does not increase government’s role in citizens’ lives

By demonetisation move, PM has enacted strong policy that has removed nearly all currency from circulation, without an immediate recourse to replenishment.

PM tried his best
Oct 01, 2013

PM tried his best

Posturing for domestic audiences on Pakistan in election year is easy. But dealing with the challenges emanating from an increasingly unstable Pakistan will not be. And if we don't draw the right lessons from Manmohan Singh's failures, there will be no end to the tragedy of India's Pakistan policy.

Political reality of Taliban marks presence in Delhi
Nov 20, 2024

Political reality of Taliban marks presence in Delhi

India's potential engagement with Taliban officials marks a significant policy shift amid geopolitical realities, raising concerns for national security.

Portents of revised LoC ceasefire
Jun 05, 2018

Portents of revised LoC ceasefire

The timing of the recent India-Pakistan agreement can’t be a coincidence, and the Modi government needs to watch its back.

Power and transformation: Jayantanuja Bandyopadhyaya’s hybrid International Relations theory
Aug 20, 2023

Power and transformation: Jayantanuja Bandyopadhyaya’s hybrid International Relations theory

This brief explores the work of the Bengali diplomat and academic Jayantanuja Bandyopadhyaya, whose book, The Making of Indian Foreign Policy (1970) is considered a classic in Indian scholarship in International Relations. It analyses Bandyopadhyaya’s distinctive contribution to IR theory, especially his attempt to craft a “hybrid” approach derived from Gandhi and Mao, on the one hand, and behavouralist systems theories, on the other. It

Preparing for Rio+20: Emerging Dilemmas
Jun 21, 2012

Preparing for Rio+20: Emerging Dilemmas

With clearly increasing patterns of inequity, social strife and marginalisation, India's policymakers must understand that they cannot continue to articulate its pro poor agenda shamelessly at the global high table, without first enabling visible socio-economic transformation at home.

Preparing Indian Cities for a Shift to E-Mobility
Apr 12, 2021

Preparing Indian Cities for a Shift to E-Mobility

India is driving a transition to e-mobility in a bid to meet its commitments to the Paris climate agreement. Meeting the e-mobility targets will have multiple benefits, including cleaner air, improved health, and a reduced oil import bill. India’s cities will play a key role in achieving the e-mobility transition through planning and the implementation of local policies, but they must first overcome certain challenges. Assistance from the centr

Preserving National Security, the Xi Jinping Way
Aug 11, 2023

Preserving National Security, the Xi Jinping Way

China's assessment of its threat environment has evolved under President Xi Jinping, who underscores the imperative of bolstering traditional and non-traditional security. The Chinese Communist Party believes that inimical forces will attempt to overthrow it by penetrating the ideological sphere. Additionally, following the tumultuous presidential succession in the US in 2021, China has sought to cast doubts on the virtues of democracy, and is le

President in Russia
May 05, 2015

President in Russia

The Indian President's presence at the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II in Russia on May 9 is in part about extending New Delhi's solidarity with Moscow at a time when many Western leaders have decided not to show up in protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's policy in Ukraine.

Preventing hunger and malnutrition in India
Jun 09, 2017

Preventing hunger and malnutrition in India

The prevalence of malnutrition—encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition—is an important indicator of a country’s health. Those who are either undernourished or are obese underperform in various aspects of life, missing out on opportunities to become productive members of society. India is among those countries in the world with the highest recorded numbers of undernourished. As the country aspires to fulfil its economic and social

Price-cap is after all just a new price: The case of cardiac stents in India
Apr 27, 2017

Price-cap is after all just a new price: The case of cardiac stents in India

The February 2017 order by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for fixing the price ceiling for cardiac stents—a device that normalises blood supply to the heart—brings to fore the old debate on the influence of business in healthcare in India. In view of the increasing number of catheterisation laboratories in the country, and the rise in the use of cardiac stents, this article discusses, inter alia:  (a) the role of price

Private sector diversification needed for India’s global infra push
Nov 28, 2024

Private sector diversification needed for India’s global infra push

US prosecutors indicted Adani Group officials. Several countries are reviewing Adani projects. This impacts India's global image and connectivity goals. India's private sector needs to increase its role in international development. This will support India's foreign policy and strategic ambitions.

Promoting Menstrual Health: Towards Sexual and Reproductive Health for All
Feb 10, 2023

Promoting Menstrual Health: Towards Sexual and Reproductive Health for All

There is evidence that sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is strongly linked to menstrual health and hygiene (MHH). Yet globally, governments, policymakers, and non-government organisations (NGOs) fail to include MHH in their SRH agenda. This brief examines the most crucial evidence linking MHH and SRH, and offers a framework to underline the imperative of pushing MHH into the mainstream of India’s SRH agenda. It argues that gaps in t

Public Financial Management for Gendered Outcomes: The Case of Menstrual Health and Hygiene
Oct 09, 2024

Public Financial Management for Gendered Outcomes: The Case of Menstrual Health and Hygiene

The commitment of states towards achieving gender equality as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development received a renewed boost during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, with a marked shift in the discourse from women’s development to ‘women-led’ development. This article uses the Public Financial Management (PFM) lens to emphasise the role of governments in achieving gender-related outcomes. While proposing an outcom

Public-Private partnership way forward for engineering education
Aug 21, 2008

Public-Private partnership way forward for engineering education

Some of the country's most prominent scientists, academicians, policy makers and industry leaders have pledged to come together to explore ways to strengthen research-oriented higher studies in engineering education in India. At a panel discussion on 'India's Leadership in Manufacturing: Role of Engineering Education' organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India's leading

Pushing India’s Small-Scale Industries to the Economic Forefront
Aug 12, 2015

Pushing India’s Small-Scale Industries to the Economic Forefront

India's small-scale industries contribute 15 percent to GDP yet they have been long ignored, receiving little policy support and inadequate infrastructure. As they have the potential to transform the socioeconomic architecture of the country, policy interventions are necessary to make small enterprises more efficient and achieve higher growth rates. This paper describes initiatives to propel India's small-scale industries.