Issue Briefs

Foreign and Defence Policy

Impact of the Agnipath Scheme on Indo-Nepal Relations, China’s Involvement, and Way Forward for India

Introduction The relations between South Asian countries are laden with historical complexities and shifting strategic concerns. India’s Agnipath scheme is a drastic change in military recruitment policy on the domestic and international levels. In this article, we will analyse the effects of the Agnipath scheme on Indo-Nepal relations, discuss the change in Nepal’s inclination towards […]

Economy and Society
Governance

Gender Budgeting and Electoral Politics in India: From Welfare to Empowerment

Introduction Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) has emerged as a vital tool in addressing gender disparities, by embedding gender considerations into fiscal policies and transforming resource allocation for women-centric programs. Introduced in India in 2005-06, GRB marked a shift from the “Women in Development” approach to a broader “Gender and Development” perspective. The National Institute of Public […]

Social Media As An Emerging Theatre Of Fierce Political Contest: Insights From The 2024 Indian General Elections

The 2024 Indian general elections was the largest, and consequently, the most expensive election ever held, in the world. Notably, social media emerged as a dominant theatre of political campaigning, with parties spending large amounts of money on advertising, on platforms such as Meta, and on running Google advertising campaigns. However, the large-scale embrace of […]

Human Rights & Law

सीआरपीसी के तहत मुस्लिम महिलाएं भी भरण-पोषण की हकदार 

विवेक वार्ष्णेय सुप्रीम कोर्ट के मुस्लिम महिलाओं की गरिमा और समाज में उन्हें बराबरी का दर्जा का देने के लिए एक अहम फैसला दिया है। सीआरपीसी की धारा 125 के तहत मुस्लिम महिलाएं भी गुजारा-भत्ता पाने की हकदार है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने स्पष्ट किया कि मुस्लिम महिलाओं के लिए 1986 में लाया गया कानून उन्हें […]

Foreign and Defence Policy

Towards Enhanced Security: Proposing a Himalayan Guard for India

The region shares borders with Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), China and Aksai Chin, Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Several of these neighbours, notably Pakistan and China, have caused conflicts in India. Additionally, border tensions with Myanmar and sporadic conflicts with Bangladesh have further highlighted the strategic importance of the Himalayas.

Economy and Society

Economic Transformation in Bihar: Challenges, Progress, and Prospects

The post-liberalisation growth that was observed by the western states of Punjab, Maharashtra, and Gujarat was a phenomenon that did not extend to the relatively resource-rich states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bihar’s development continues to be plagued by factors that are linked to the mass migration observed in the state.

Human Rights & Law

गिरफ्तारी का आधार बताना लाजमी हो गया है पुलिस और जांच एजेंसियों के लिए

सुप्रीम कोर्ट के एक फैसले ने भारत के आपराधिक न्यायशास्त्र की तस्वीर बदल दी है। प्रबीर पुरकायस्थ बनाम दिल्ली सरकार के मामले में सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले ने गिरफ्तारी का आधार बताना लाजमी कर दिया है। किसी भी व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार करने से पहले पुलिस या जांच एजेंसी को यह लिखित रूप से बताना होगा […]

Foreign and Defence Policy

India’s Maritime Security Operations – What does India gain?

Introduction Connecting the Far East countries to Europe, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is strategically crucial for global trade and connectivity, playing a pivotal role in shaping regional and international dynamics. Roughly 80% of the world’s maritime oil trade flows through the IOR (Ghosh, 2020). More than 60% of the $17.43 trillion worth of global […]

Economy and Society
Human Rights & Law

The Ins and Outs of Tobacco Farming in India

Background  India currently stands as one of the world’s largest tobacco producers and exporters, second only to China and Brazil, respectively. Across 120 countries, the production of tobacco covers an estimated area of 4 million hectares of land.  Despite being a party to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2004, which […]

Governance

Evolving Landscape of Election Campaigning in India

Introduction Election campaigning in India, the world’s largest democracy, has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades. From traditional methods relying on grassroots mobilisation and rallies to the integration of sophisticated technology and data-driven strategies, the evolution of election campaigning reflects broader societal changes and advancements in communication and information technology. Independence from British rule […]

Human Rights & Law

Pushing Out the Margins: The Gendered Impact of Forced Evictions in Delhi 

Introduction When we think of the term “forced eviction”, it often leads to a visual characterisation of something violent, including the use of physical force or encompassing an ensuing struggle. It is formally defined as “the permanent or temporary removal against the will of individuals, families, and /or communities from the homes and/or land which […]

Environment and Energy

Heat Trapped: Urban Heat Islands and Health Ramifications in Delhi

Introduction Delhi, the bustling capital city of India, records higher temperatures every year during summer. The summer of 2023 recorded the highest temperature of 2023 at 42.9°C in May (Akhtar, 2023). Surrounding semi-urban areas around Delhi, such as Basai and Jhajjar, also witnessed high temperatures throughout the same month; however, while Delhi experienced an average […]

Governance
Human Rights & Law

चुनावी चंदे का ब्यौरा जानने का हक है मतदाता को

चुनावी चंदा या इलैक्ट्रोरल बांड पर दिया गया सुप्रीम कोर्ट का फैसला राजनीतिक दलों और औद्योगिक घरानों के बीच के गठजोड़ से पर्दा उठाने का एक साहसिक प्रयास है। चंदा एकत्र करने में पारदर्शिता के अभाव के चलते सुप्रीम कोर्ट की संविधान पीठ ने छह साल पुरानी चुनावी चंदे की योजना को असंवैधानिक करार दिया। […]

Governance

When Wealth Wins: The Cost of Indian Elections Amidst Overspending Candidates, Exchange Of  Cash, Liquor, Drugs And Gold For Votes, And An Increasingly Wealthy Political Elite

The recent Supreme Court ruling on electoral bonds has brought attention to the nature of political finance and its implication for democratic attitudes in the country. Notably, the first election held after the Electoral Bond Scheme of 2018, the 2019 Indian General Election, stands out as the largest and the most expensive Indian election to […]