News
Similar narratives in India, US elections?
The United States and India share a range of similarities - from over throwing the British crown and adopting a democratic federal structure with a secular constitution, to boasting a diverse, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, populace. It is no surprise then that one can draw a range of parallels in the political discourse prevalent in the two countries.
Read more
India and Israel: Conflicted Friends Look to the Future
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's historic visit to Israel this month set the momentum for greater high-level engagement between both countries, including a possible visit by Prime Minister Modi. However, his mixed messages during the six-day tour of the region, which included Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA), inject a degree of uncertainty to the Modi administrations' trajectory of relations with Israel.
Read more
The Pakistani Shadow on Indo-Us Relations
We should be treating the visits of Pakistani leaders abroad as part of normal diplomacy that all countries engage in. By paying too much attention to them we boost Pakistan’s political importance and diminish our own stature. Unfortunately, we cannot easily ignore the visits of top Pakistani leaders to the US, not because of concerns about what Pakistan may seek but what the US may dispense.
Read more
What is the 'Hindu-German conspiracy'?
It was a conspiracy all right - but it occurred a century ago and was only in name "Hindu". It was a bit hard for the Americans then to see the difference between "Hindu" and "Indian". There was no confusion, however, about the German plot to smuggle arms from the United States to the subcontinent during World War I to foment a revolt against the Raj.
Read more
India Wakes up to ISIS Threat
It is undeniable that the influence of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is not seeped into the Indian society even though it has not staged any attack inside the country. Ever since this outfit announced its caliphate little more than a year ago, the objective to set its foot in the troubled Af-Pak region, India and other part of Asia is well known to everyone.
Read more
European ideal at stake
Apparently, editors of the Oxford Dictionary could not come to an agreement on how to describe the nature of the current European crisis. They just picked two words from European headlines as an easy way out: Grexit and Brexit. Grexit is about Greece's inability to repay its financial debt and its threat to quit the eurozone if Europe doesn't pay its bills.
Read more
Do we have the right environment to attract FDIs
Time to hold up a mirror to ourselves and examine our warts. For over a decade now, we have had ministers and even Prime Ministers sashaying around the world trying desperately to hawk India as the dream investment destination. Finance minister Arun Jaitley was busy doing roadshows in Hong Kong and Singapore till the other day.
Read more
India's economy after the bloodbath
It is remarkable that despite OECD's forecast of a slowdown in global trade and investment, India continue to grow at over 7 per cent. The IMF has also predicted a slower global economic growth which now seems probable when there are alarming factors in the global arena especially in the Chinese economy.
Read more
Delhi Air Quality Challenges & Action Plan
The ambient air quality has been monitored in Delhi since 1984 by the Central Pollution Control Board formerly known Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The collected data and analysis shows there is deterioration in air quality of Delhi. The air pollution has been a matter of concern because it is impacting environment and health. To combat the air quality problem it is important to understand the reason of problem to implement successful robust action plan in time frame.
Read more
It's time India stopped punching at shadows
For several years, India has aspired to become a member of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organisation, which was established in 1989 as a premier regional institution to promote trade and investment linkages in Asia-Pacific. Despite having close political, economic and strategic ties with many of the member countries of Apec, India's request for becoming a formal member of the group, made in 2007, is yet to be accepted.
Read more