Courtesy: Wikipedia
In his budget speech, the Indian finance minister hinted at a greater role for natural gas in India’s energy mix. The shift will help diversify our energy sources, reduce our import bills and cut pollution.
Courtesy: Rigues/Flickr
Recent developments at the WTO's two-day General Council Meeting that started on July 24 suggest that India will agree to sign the trade facilitation agreement only if the deal comes bundled with a permanent solution that will allow unhindered roll-out of welfare schemes such as the food security programme.
Courtesy: Wikipedia
India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in Nepal this week in line with the government’s commitment to prioritise ties with neighbours. Ties between India and Nepal have not been smooth with Nepal seeking a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed between the two countries
Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
The launch of the BRICS bank can now give the member countries confidence to experiment with other geoeconomic ambitions. Incubating a non-dollar financial architecture can be the next goal. There are existing models to build upon but India will need smart economic diplomacy to secure its interests
Courtesy: WIkimedia\Commons
Neelam Deo, Director, Gateway House, talks about the implications of the UN tribunal’s recent ruling on the India-Bangladesh maritime boundary dispute. In this interview, she also examines how India can follow up on the decision, what it could mean for our energy imports, and how it will impact global perceptions
Courtesy: Gateway House
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Brazil for the BRICS summit is an opportunity for India to intensify its engagement with South America and reactivate the long-dormant IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) grouping. This grouping is a promising partnership comprising of different models of democracies spread over three continents
Courtesy: idevie.com
The New Development Bank was formalised at the just concluded meeting of the leaders of the BRICS nations in Fortaleza in Brazil this week. The location is to be Shanghai. The more appropriate and natural choice for locating the bank would have been Mumbai. There are several reasons why
Courtesy: RT.com
Talks are on in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 to reach a settlement on Iran’s nuclear programme. The self-imposed deadline expires on July 20. However, with the U.S. insisting that Iran cut back on operational centrifuges any possibility of a comprehensive solution in the near future seems remote
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
When the Modi government presents its first Budget, it will hopefully pay closer attention to India’s defence requirements. Over the years, the defence budget has expanded, but funds allocated for military modernisation have not increased. This should be the government’s priority
Courtesy: Jnn13/Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. has not yet appointed a new ambassador to India. But this absence of urgency is less a ‘signal’ to India and more a result of factors such as a backlog of appointments awaiting approval in the Senate and candidates unwilling to accept the post only for the remaining period of the Obama administration