The Indian military is recognised as the fourth most potent armed force globally and the recent success of Chandrayaan 3 has cemented India’s status as the fifth great space power. Whereas on the diplomatic front, India’s vaccine diplomacy during the covid-19 pandemic and the role of net security provider in the Indo-Pacific coupled with its leadership of the Global South has affirmed India’s position as a Vishwaguru (teacher to the world) within the international community. According to Morgan Stanley, India stands at the cusp of a transformational decade poised to become the third-largest economy by overtaking Germany by 2028.
Category: India
The Draft Defence Acquisition Procedure 2026
The Draft Defence Acquisition Procedure 2026 (DAP 2026) is the latest proposed revision of India’s defence procurement architecture. Unveiled by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 10 February 2026, the draft aims to fundamentally transform how the Indian armed forces acquire critical systems, weapon platforms and defence technologies under the capital budget. Its objective is to replace the existing DAP 2020 with a more streamlined, self-reliant and strategically responsive acquisition framework that aligns procurement with India’s evolving security imperatives and domestic industrial growth.
India-U.S. Trade: A Strategic Reset in an Uneven Global Economy
In early February 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled an interim framework for a trade agreement, marking an important milestone that goes beyond a simple commercial arrangement: it highlighted a developing economic partnership influenced by both geopolitical factors and market needs. This agreement, which decreases effective tariffs on Indian products entering the American market and enhances reciprocal access, was formulated amid previous trade conflicts and tariff disputes between the two nations
Does Patriotism Come with a Date Stamp?
This question has crossed my mind several times before, but earlier I never found a clear answer. Perhaps it was because, back then, I never thought of jotting these thoughts down, sitting with them, and thinking a little deeper. Over time, however, this question kept returning quietly, persistently until it demanded articulation. Many of us who use Instagram might have come across reels with the caption “Bohot zor se 26 January aa raha hai.”
India’s Voice from the Global South in a Fragmenting World Order
In the grand mosaic of global affairs, where threads of power once tightly woven by a few dominant hands now fray under the strains of multipolarity, a new pattern is emerging. Great-power rivalries, prolonged conflicts, climate crises, and institutional inertia expose the limitations of the post-World War II order. Yet, amid this turbulence, the Global South is no longer a passive observer but an active artisan, reshaping the fabric toward greater equity and inclusion. The rise of multipolarity—marked by the expansion of platforms like BRICS, South-South cooperation, and calls for fairer representation in global governance—offers a profound opportunity
BRICS 2026: Can India Reclaim Multilateralism?
India’s acceptance of the BRICS presidency in 2026 occurs during a period characterised by substantial transformation in global politics. The global economy persists in a state of instability as a consequence of resurgent protectionism, nationalist trade policies, and increasing geopolitical tensions. The tariffs, threats, and unilateral actions undertaken by President Donald Trump have contributed to heightened instability in global market systems. Concurrently, developing economies within the Global South, grappling with debt-related pressures, energy market volatility, and disparities resulting from the post-pandemic context, are advocating for a more equitable global order.
India-Russia Partnership Stands Firm Amidst Global Pressure: Key Takeaways from the Summit
The recent two-day visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India, culminating in a joint media briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, underscored the enduring strength of the India-Russia strategic partnership. This high-profile summit, held against the volatile backdrop of the Ukraine conflict and mounting Western pressure on Delhi, served as a powerful testament to the multifaceted cooperation between the two nations, particularly in energy, trade and defence.
The Evolving Nexus: A Deep Dive into the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit
The State Visit of Russian President H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin to New Delhi on December 4-5, 2025, for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, is not merely a routine diplomatic exchange; it represents a pivotal moment in global diplomacy. This summit, occurring against the backdrop of an intensely volatile geopolitical landscape marked by the lingering impacts of the Ukraine conflict, forces a comprehensive reassessment of the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.’ The core dynamic now defining this relationship is a sophisticated act of strategic balancing by India, leveraging Russia’s crucial, albeit redefined, military role against a mushrooming, energy-driven economic dependence.
The 26/11 Attacks and the Unfinished War on Terror
On November 26, 2008, ten young men from Pakistan sailed unnoticed through the dark waters toward India’s financial capital, leaving a trail of violence in their wake. They had already murdered the crew of an Indian fishing trawler, the Kuber, and now they were approaching Mumbai’s coastline in inflatable dinghies. Their landing at two separate locations in Colaba around 8:00-9:00 PM marked the beginning of a sixty-hour siege that would claim 175 lives, injure over 300, and traumatise a nation. As we stand seventeen years removed from those terrifying nights, the trail of 26/11 continue to shape geopolitics, counter-terrorism strategies, and the lives of survivors in ways both profound and disturbing.
Unhappy Leave: The Radical Idea that could Redefine Work-Life Balance in India
For decades, Indian employees have powered through stress, anxiety, and burnout under the weight of a culture that glorifies overwork. But a quiet revolution may be on the horizon, inspired by a daring experiment in China. Earlier this year, South China Morning Post reported that Pang Dong Lai, a retail company in Henan, introduced “Unhappy Leave”—10 days off per year, no explanations required, simply because employees didn’t feel happy enough to work. The news, also covered by Money control and Business Standard, sparked a global debate about the future of humane work policies.