130 results found
Large numbers of people, most of them women, are trafficked in the Bay of Bengal region. Despite these countries having anti-trafficking laws in place in line with the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Protocol, the incidence of the criminal activity continues unabated. This brief gives an overview of human trafficking in the Bay of Bengal region, particularly around the contiguous zone of India–Nepal–Bangladesh, which has become a hub of
Establishing a global bioattribution enterprise is crucial to enhancing current frameworks, integrating emerging technologies, and fostering internati
Championing a climate and development agenda in India’s bilateral, regional and multilateral collaborations can help boost trade, drive investments
It is time for Africa, and not just Malawi, to move beyond fee-free education and adopt targeted solutions to improve quality, accessibility and learn
There is a fundamental link between energy and public health. In advancing health, energy security is critical.
The EU is now taking a multi-pronged approach to strengthen its defence capabilities in the midst of Russian invasion of Ukraine and rise of Trump i
India’s August 2021 presidency of the United Nations Security Council allowed New Delhi to exhibit clout, creativity, and diplomacy, as it pushed for its inclusion in the Council permanently. Such a push reignites the “responsible stakeholder” debate in Washington and other Western capitals, particularly to gauge India’s rise against the interests of the US and its allies. This brief argues that the West needs to reassess India in a renew
This brief tackles the crucial role of public diplomacy in enhancing India's global influence. It argues that India should exert effort to communicate its rich cultural heritage and economic growth story to foreign audiences, and recommends a roadmap that involves linking public diplomacy to national security, the establishment of a specialised public diplomacy agency, and creating the position of a chief public diplomat. A well-structured public
New Delhi’s aim to become a global power in the future with a vision of multipolar world order will be possible by expanding its goodwill amongst th
The growing strategic ties with Mekong nations such as Vietnam and Myanmar indicate deepening mutual trust in the rapidly changing regional geopolitic
Institutional collaborations and joint ventures between India and Israel can help address India’s water and food security challenges
The question of municipal leadership is of great significance in urban governance in India. There are various models of the position of chief executive of an urban local body (ULB), predominantly tilting towards the ‘strong mayor’ model either through ‘presidentialisation’ of the office or through a ‘mayor-in-council’[1] system. In India, it is the ‘state appointed municipal commissioner’ model that holds sway, sitting over a popu
Small satellites have gained considerable importance in recent years. Although small spacecraft have existed for decades, their military applications have recently gained prominence owing to technological advances in their development and integration into the armed services of the major spacefaring countries across the world. This paper analyses the significance of small satellites in the C4ISR capabilities of the three service branches of the In
India and France, amid intensifying geopolitical trends in the Indo-Pacific region, are likely to build an even closer partnership.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the formal schooling system in India, as it has across the globe, causing massive pressure on the online education sector. This paper analyses the state of digitalised education in India. It outlines current government guidelines on digital-mode schooling, and uses the case of Maharashtra’s five-year-old efforts at digitalising government schools to gauge preparedness for implementing the guidelines. It highl
Street vending was illegal in urban India for almost six decades until the passage of the Street Vendors Act in 2014. Despite the law having legalised the activity, however, the default policy in most cities across India is to clamp down on street hawkers. Yet street vending remains a viable source of employment for many. As the pace of urbanisation increases across India, it is only likely that a greater number of street traders will contest for
China's increased assertiveness in the South China Sea has been pushing Japan and Vietnam towards greater security cooperation. Bilateral security cooperation has been increasing.
A collective will to integrate climate resilience into urban water governance and embrace innovative management strategies is imperative to secure con
This brief seeks to understand the importance of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiatives in the Bay of Bengal undertaken by the BIMSTEC countries individually, and the dynamics of their collaboration as a subregional forum. It opens with an analysis of the turbulent nature of the Bay of Bengal, because of which disaster management gains paramount importance for the littoral states. The aim is to understand the BIMSTEC countries’
The U.S.-India strategic relationship looks to be set on firm footing, with both sides keen to materialize deeper collaboration across defense and critical and emerging technologies.
IPHLs and the PRISM framework offer a comprehensive approach to strengthening India's public health system
India’s interest could be more than economic, spilling over into the domain of strategy.
A robust federal institutional dialogue between various actors can further enhance the existing Indian model of federalism
The recently revised joint declaration between Japan and Australia seeks to further boost their relations
All the major powers in the Asia Pacific region are ramping up their defence budgets and modernising their militaries. They are also building coalitions with each other through defence partnerships agreements and ports calls.
This will be the first after the meeting of BIMSTEC heads of state in Goa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in 2016.
Indonesia is highly vulnerable to climate change disasters and requires the integration of insurance and mitigation strategies as integral components
With two resolutions in as many days relating to neighbouring Sri Lanka, both moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Tamil Nadu Assembly has revived complex pan-Tamil issues nearer home, with consequences flowing from across the world.
The further strengthening of ties between the US and the Philippines is indicative of the breadth and scope of maritime security arrangements in the r
Through a combination of digital transformation, financing, sustainable agriculture, healthcare strengthening, and education, the G20 nations show str
The Observer Research Foundation’s first Tech Huddle was held on 23 November 2023 and focused on the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in India, highlighting the rapid growth and adoption of AI as well as the complexities associated with developing regulatory frameworks for it. AI governance is in its infancy, both globally and in India, and grapples with issues such as the explainability of AI systems as well as the embedded biases, s
Figuring out how to support the Afghan people without strengthening the Taliban has been the challenge that is confronting the global community
India’s endeavour to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a well-defined and time-bound manner is critical for national and global development. This paper examines India’s data availability to assess the SDGs related to health and nutrition. While India is still facing severe challenges of generating disaggregated information on mortality and cause-specific deaths, the desired data on nutrition and healthcare utilisation are la
