New research has uncovered names of an additional 9,909 Indian soldiers who died in WW1 but were not accounted for earlier. This flows from a 5-yr research project – The Punjab Registers: Recovering the Names of India’s Fallen Servicemen – of Commonwealth Graves War Commission, UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA), and University of Greenwich. On […]
Synopsis India's Supreme Court is embarking on an examination of religious traditions to determine their compliance with fundamental rights. Key cases under consideration involve access to temples and various customary practices. The court aims to highlight constitutional protections against discrimination, advocating for secular statutes to take precedence over religious exemptions. Yesterday,…
The next twists in the Gulf war are unpredictable. US President Trump has threatened to land troops to take Kharg Island, Iran’s main export hub, despite the enormous risks involved. He has also threatened to blast Iran’s power stations and oil infrastructure if it does not call an end to the war on US terms. […]
Can the world’s greatest naval power be foiled by something as low-tech as floating mines? Right now, massive US aircraft carriers and destroyers dominate the Gulf. Iran has no comparable vessels. Yet the damage caused by Iranian drones and mines has paralysed commercial traffic in the Gulf, and the US is unable to ensure security. […]
The govt has liberalised Press Note 3, an executive device to kill Chinese investment proposals through unending security scrutiny. But strong constraints remain that will keep Chinese FDI very low. This reveals muddled thinking on both economics and security.China today has the greatest pool of savings in the world and the best technology in several […]
Synopsis Jammu and Kashmir’s cricket success highlights a unique industrial opportunity. The region’s special willow can fuel a global sports equipment industry. This can create jobs and reduce youth alienation. Government and private partnerships can boost willow supply and bat production tenfold. Manufacturing hubs can emerge, diversifying into other sports equipment. This initiative promises…
The world is impressed by India’s strong economic performance and, so, FDI has been booming. But readers may be surprised to hear that net FDI (NFDI) has actually been negative in the last 4 mths (-$2.40 bn in September 2025; -$0.167 bn in October; -$0.446 bn in November; -$1.61 bn in December). Gross inflows […]
India is energetically pursuing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). It has signed deals with the UK, EFTA, UAE, Oman, and Australia. It has finalised negotiations with the European Union, a really big market, and ratification by EU members should follow next year. A framework agreement with the US has been negotiated. Donald Trump has already said […]
Synopsis The India-US tariff deal has been widely criticised as a coerced compromise. While US tariffs on Indian goods have been cut from 50% to 18%, the reduction is largely a rollback of Trump-era economic pressure, not a generous offer. India’s government claims it has diversified oil supplies, but critics say being forced to abandon […]
Synopsis India's economy is set for strong growth, exceeding expectations. The Economic Survey highlights rising productivity as a key driver. However, concerns remain about private investment and the impact of freebie culture. Global uncertainties loom, but India is seen as well-positioned due to its domestic market and reserves. The nation must balance growth with resilience. […]