Editors' Pick | Books and Monographs 2024

Curated by Malancha Chakrabarty and Stelin Paul

From decoding the complexities of global geopolitics to pioneering solutions for climate action and emerging technologies, ORF scholars continued to shape critical conversations in 2024. This year, we broadened our horizons across key domains—climate change, technology, security, gender equality, and health—culminating in the publication of thirty impactful books and monographs.

Of these, five standouts were chosen for their readership, relevance, and diversity of authorship. The annual ORF Foreign Policy Survey was the most read, exploring how India’s urban youth view government policies, multilateralism, and the nation’s emerging role in the new world order.

The monograph, India's Grand Strategy: A Framework for the Future that Builds on Bharat's Ancient Statecraft of Peace, Prosperity, and Planet, looked into the importance of articulating a grand strategy in India’s statecraft. It explores how Bharat can align national goals, instruments, and resources under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, recommending that the Cabinet Committee on Security be reformulated into the Cabinet Committee on Grand Strategy. Another highlight is The Raisina Chronicles, which documented the journey of the Raisina Dialogue, showcasing its role in fostering regional partnerships and transcontinental collaborations to address global challenges, featuring reflections from distinguished participants worldwide.

A Roadmap for Green and Transition Finance in India examined the critical importance of transition finance for hard-to-abate sectors facing challenges like stringent carbon border adjustments. Developed in collaboration with the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), the compendium offers a detailed framework to address the financing gap in this space.

Lastly, A Roadmap for AI Governance: Lessons from G20 National Strategies examined the ethical and geopolitical challenges of AI, advocating for collaborative governance and inclusive frameworks to harness AI’s potential responsibly.