DSC_7333 Courtesy: Gateway House
12 March 2018

Summarising the skills challenge

K.P. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Chairman, National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), Government of India, discusses the formidable task of upgrading India’s skills deficit swiftly and inclusively

15maldives-master675 Courtesy: New York Times
15 February 2018

Maldives: the Quad’s first crisis

The crisis in the Maldives is a case study of Chinese investments undermining democratic institutions in smaller countries. It poses long term threats to India’s economic and political security. And almost overnight, it has turned the Indian Ocean into the Indo-Pacific

04 Courtesy: Sameer Patil & Shah Maieen
8 February 2018

The Rohingyas and India’s difficult choices

A recent trip to Cox’s Bazar showed that despite numerous health, social and security challenges, the Rohingya refugees are reluctant to return to Myanmar. India will have to walk a tightrope, keeping in mind humanitarian, security, and geopolitical priorities

labaik-ya-rasool-allah-rally-held-1350502885-2234 Courtesy: Pakistan Times
14 December 2017

Pakistan’s risky experiment of mainstreaming extremism

As Pakistan prepares for general elections, its Army is working to bring terrorist and radical religious groups into the political mainstream. Its leisurely response to recent anti-blasphemy protests by the Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool group and release of terrorist mastermind Hafiz Saeed are a part of this strategy

FOREIGN201710181941000358955523131 Courtesy:
1 November 2017

The rise and rise of Xi Jinping

For the last fortnight, the world has been captivated by the events of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which elevated Chinese President Xi Jinping to the status accorded to Chairman Mao. Xi Jinping has consolidated his position in the CCP, strengthened his hold over the country and provided a policy road-map for the next five years. 'Xi' Jinping Thought' is now enshrined In the Chinese Constitution just as firmly as was 'Mao Zedong Thought'.

xi giving speech Courtesy: Hindustan Times
23 October 2017

Key takeaways from Xi’s work report

Amidst the grand messaging and visual splendour of the 19th Party Congress, Xi made some telling pronouncements. He sent out a stern warning to separatist elements, threatening the country’s unity, and emphasised “ecology” and “environment” over “economy” and “market”. Over and above it all, the Chinese Communist Party that he rejuvenated emerged the real ‘hero’ in the epic story

chinese congress Courtesy: South China Morning Post
17 October 2017

19th Congress is CCP dominance on display

At the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th Congress, President Xi Jinping will surely consolidate and project his power within the Chinese Communist Party. But, there are other crucial elements to be observed and studied beneath the obvious grandeur of the Congress, such as, how it has retained its longevity and tenacity, how it commands loyalty and ideological compliance, and how change gets institutionalised. This week-long event will yield important clues

image Courtesy: Stripes
12 October 2017

Xi’s PLA agenda: real reform or power gambit?

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s reforms, some of which have been effected in the run-up to the 19th Party Congress, have served to both modernise the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and also strengthen his hold on it. They may also have resulted in adversely affecting the PLA’s combat efficacy