Securing outer space assets

The UN’s Transparency and Confidence Building Measures for Outer Space Activities to address terrestrial anti-satellite weapons have spawned schismatic instruments such as the EU’s International Code of Conduct and a Sino-Russian treaty. India must weigh its national interests before agreeing to these drafts


The battle for Benaras & Bihar

Be it Benaras which is gearing up for the most crucial battle between BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal, or Bihar and U.P. where people are yearning for the ‘Gujarat model’, this election is focusing on some of the substantive issues that impact India



Re-evaluating rapid transport

India’s transport network has failed to keep pace with the ever-expanding cities. This has necessitated the import of alternatives such as the Bus Rapid Transit System. However, unless impediments like the absence of a dedicated corridor and lack of city planning are addressed, the project is destined to fail


Iraq votes amidst mayhem

Iraq goes to the polls this week. However, there is uncertainty whether the elections will be successful given the renewed insurgencies in many parts of the country


Envisioning a new Asia

As the Asian Development Bank – the region’s leading international financial institution – prepares to convene for its annual meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, it needs to reassess its approach to address the reality beyond the glowing headlines of a region on the rise


Elections: citizens’ initiatives

Elections in India have long inspired a wide variety of citizens’ initiatives aimed at making the electoral process more free, fair and democratic. These initiatives during the 2014 general elections are giving voters not just a chance to be better informed, but also more deeply engaged with the process


Growth or secularism: a false choice

India’s economic distress has seen political parties promising a revival of the economy in the ongoing general election campaign. Slowly, the political discourse has turned into a choice between economic growth and secularism which is undermining the basic principles of Indian democracy


Elections: a view from Pakistan

Preoccupied with Pakistan’s internal politics, the media has shown little interest in the Indian elections. Nor has the Pakistani establishment expressed concerns about Modi’s ascendancy. But the relationship between Indian Muslims and the BJP led government – if it comes to power – will be a concern for Pakistan


Sri Lanka’s UNHRC challenge

India abstained from voting on the recent UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka calling for an international probe into the alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government. Sri Lanka has the option of rejecting the resolution, but it will have to evolve a strategy keeping in mind India’s concerns