scada Courtesy: Green_Mamba/Flickr
17 June 2014

India’s vulnerable SCADA systems

Critical infrastructure in India, including oil pipelines, dams and steel plants, is susceptible to cyber attacks because of outdated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, which manage their operations. A cyber attack on these systems can be devastating. It is imperative for India to take counter-measures

Protester with Soldier_Ukraine 3_210x140 Courtesy: Sasha Maksymenko/Flickr
16 June 2014

A divided Ukraine dividing Europe

As the dispute over Ukraine unravels, geopolitical currents surge in the shadow of historic Cold War narratives. Nonetheless, several EU member states have placed their individual, economic imperatives above the larger agenda of the Union, showing that the core of crisis is economic, rather than political

bhutan Courtesy: Indian Embassy Thimphu
13 June 2014

India-Bhutan: hydropower diplomacy

India’s long-term positive relationship with Bhutan is underpinned by hydropower: India helped develop Bhutan’s power projects and we purchase the surplus energy.The India-Bhutan relationship can be a model for improving links with Nepal which is trying to develop at least three projects jointly with India

Modi with Jigme Wangchuk Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
13 June 2014

India-Bhutan: a unique bond

Narendra Modi has picked Bhutan for his first foreign visit after taking charge, a sign that the neighbourhood is a foreign policy priority for the new government. Bhutan’s economy is closely linked to that of India’s, and despite pressures from powerful countries, Bhutan has always kept Indian interests paramount.

Assad rally Courtesy: al Riyadh
13 June 2014

Assad: baptism by a brutal ballot

Basher Assad has been voted to power in Syria in an election which is widely regarded as lacking legitimacy. This will be Assad’s third term in office and his victory is an indication of the control he continues to wield despite growing western backing of opposition groups

radu Courtesy: sachchahindustani.com
13 June 2014

Social media beyond voter mobilisation

These elections may have been an inflection point, when big data hit critical mass. From now, it will be used to maximal effect to raise funds, influence people and read the national mood. Not just by political parties, but equally by pollsters and the media.

ED Courtesy:
13 June 2014

Marketplace sarvodayanomics

Sarvodaya is market economics, with a soul. There are different means towards achieving this end, but the evangelists need to come up common mantra and thwart vested interests from benefiting a few

GlobSec_2 Courtesy: Gateway House
13 June 2014

Bratislava reflections

GLOBSEC, the Bratislava Global Security forum is central and eastern Europe’s premier security forum. While this year’s edition focused on the crisis in Ukraine, a lack of balanced – or even representative – discourse painted a very bleak picture of Russia and its president

Cyber_Games Courtesy: Conew/Wikimedia Commons
13 June 2014

Policy Catalyst: India’s Privacy Law

Edward Snowden’s revelations about the U.S.’s PRISM surveillance raised many issues related to espionage, electronic surveillance and privacy. It brought home the lack of strong privacy laws in India. As the country sets up its own domestic surveillance system, it must also quickly enact statutory privacy legislation