SPRF
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 […]
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.
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 […]
Conference of Parties: A Talk Shop? The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties [COP] was held in Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt, between November 6 and November 18, 2022. Although touted as the authority on climate action decision-making, the long-term effects of COP remain to be seen. Over the years, representatives have repeatedly called for […]
ABSTRACT This issue brief critically examines the prospects of the India-Central Asia energy relations and trade. Central Asian countries hold strategic and geoeconomic significance for India, especially for energy cooperation. The existing literature highlights two limitations regarding this trade. First is the limited connectivity to the region, and second is the presence of great powers […]
Abstract On 22 February 2021, India signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement or CECPA with Mauritius. It marked the first time India signed a trade agreement with Mauritius (Goyal, 2022). CECPA has the potential to boost trade facilitation between both countries. Moreover, it appears to be a strategic move for India in the […]
ABSTRACT The rising use of economic sanctions as a negotiation tool has shown a decline in military aggression and warfare between rival countries. However, the evidence regarding sanctions’ effectiveness in obtaining political concessions is inconclusive since sanctions apply to vastly different political and economic situations. Through a historical analysis of the use of sanctions, this […]
CONTEXT India’s location at the crossroads of the Atlantic waters and the Indo-Pacific has historically provided it with a geographical advantage in maritime trade. Such a strategic position enabled India to create a stable zone of influence in the northern Indian Ocean Region [IOR]. IOR is the hub of international trade in the 21st century, […]
CATALYST In September 2019, Tapir Gao, the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] MP of Arunachal Pradesh, cautioned the Lok Sabha that China had moved 60-70 kilometres beyond the McMahon Line, also called the Line of Actual Control [LAC], to construct a bridge within Indian territory. Gao warned that “if another Doklam were to happen anywhere, it […]
ABSTRACT Female Maoists constitute a substantial 60% of the total cadres and occupy almost all operational and tactical positions responsible for sustaining the rebellion. This paper details the gendered motivators that have driven women in India’s red corridor to join the Maoist ranks. It also sheds light on the state’s current discourse around women’s participation […]