News
Addressing India's missing girls: Time to re-evaluate strategies
The issue of declining child sex ratio has long been a national priority for India. However, Prime Minister Modi's announcement of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojna' in January has brought the issue to the forefront again. While initiatives like 'Selfie with Daughter' have helped in symbolically mainstreaming the campaign amongst the urban-educated middleclass, it is essential that the built momentum continues and gets translated into concrete results.
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India's economic reforms: A flashback
Twenty-five years to the day, India began its tryst with the reform process. A balance of payments crisis and the dismantling of the Soviet Union which fashioned the end of rupee-rouble trade meant that India had to pony up in a hurry. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao took the reins of power in extremely trying and difficult times.
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ISIS: Is Central Asia the Next Stop?
There is a growing debate whether the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will advance into the heartland of Central Asia or not, although the figures of people from the region joining the outfit differ from source to source.
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Smart Cities to Enrich Urban Life
In a landmark decision, the Indian Government has given a green signal to the ambitious project of turning 100 urban centres spread across the country into smart cities ,the need for which has been vigorously espoused by the tech savy Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi .The “Smart Cities Mission” that will attract an investment of Rs.480,000-million has as its objective, “recasting the urban landscape of the country by making cities more liveable and inclusive, besides driving economic growth”.
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Why India should join China's MSR
The growth of China has been remarkable ever since it undertook reforms in 1978 and China is currently the second largest economy in the world, even having overtaken Japan. In order to sustain this development, the concept of the Silk Road was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jingping during his visit to Indonesia in October 2013.
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The State of the Economy
One year on, Modi government is being judged and assessed for its performance in various fields. Of all the things that have happened on the economic front, Prime Minister Modi's moves on the social sector insurance policy for the poor stand out as an outstanding achievement. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Paradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana have given hope to the poor because they can now be insured against accident, old age and death.
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The Modi govt's economic story
In politics, depending on your point of view, one year can be a long, or a short time. The Narendra Modi government has hit that anniversary and while critics charge that he has failed to deliver, his supporters argue that a year is simply too short a time to judge the government of a country as huge as India, and one with legacy issues ranging from corruption to misgovernance.
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China Reinforces its Maritime Claims in South China Sea
While last year China created an avoidable controversy by sending its giant drilling rig HD-981 for drilling for oil within the EEZ of Vietnam to bolster its claims in South China Sea, of late Beijing has adopted innovative strategy of building islands of sand for supporting its maritime claims.
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Walking Away or Ignoring Afghanistan is not an Option for India
The policy shift being attempted by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in which he sought to relegate India to the fourth circle of priority and appease Pakistan has had mixed reception in the Indian strategic community. It ranges from disappointment over side-lining of India to a resigned acceptance of an emerging situation in which India's space may get constricted.
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The importance of Modi's Paris visit
There is quite an air of anticipation around the Indian Prime Minister's visit to France. The government's foreign policy pace has been enviable, and Narendra Modi has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude in gauging the mood and the space to manoeuvre with various partners. He has revitalised old relationships and lent them his energy. He has also achieved some real strategic gains,such as the one in Seychelles.
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