An Election and a Strategy As the nation prepares for the Vice-Presidential election on September 9, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced it will abstain from voting. The decision fits the party’s long-followed “equidistance” approach—keeping equal distance from both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-backed INDIA bloc. For years, this stance…
A Shift in Washington’s Language In a surprising change of tone, US President Donald Trump recently described India-US ties as a “very special relationship” and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “good friend.” This conciliatory approach came only days after Washington imposed steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including punitive duties on Russian crude…
A War That Reshaped Global Trade The Russia-Ukraine conflict, now well into its third year, has upended not only European security but also global energy markets. With Moscow using oil and gas revenues to finance its war effort, countries buying discounted Russian crude have come under the spotlight. Among them, India—now one of the largest…
A Crucial Forum for Emerging Economies The Brics grouping—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—has grown into one of the most significant platforms for emerging economies to coordinate their views on global challenges. Its importance has only deepened amid rising geopolitical competition and turbulence in global trade. India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently…
The Descent of Political Discourse Indian elections have always been intense, colourful, and full of energy. But in recent years, the tenor of campaigns has seen a disturbing decline. Personal attacks, manufactured controversies, and the targeting of families have replaced meaningful debates on governance, development, and policy. The most recent example—the abuse directed at Prime…
SCO Summit and a Shifting Geopolitical Stage The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, has drawn global attention not just for its scale—hosting 10 member states and 20 invited leaders—but for the symbolism of three major powers sharing a platform. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir…
Festival Joy Overshadowed by Fear As Mumbai prepares for the grand finale of the Ganesh festival, a period marked by devotion and massive public gatherings, an unsettling threat has put the city on edge. A message received by the police claimed that human bombs were planted in 34 vehicles and warned of large-scale devastation using…
Celebration with a Purpose As the nation gears up to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, Odisha has chosen to mark the occasion with a welfare-driven gesture. The state government will distribute work orders for 50,000 houses under the Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, aligning the day of festivity with a promise of social…
Bihar’s Crucial Electoral Battle As Bihar heads toward another high-stakes Assembly election, the political atmosphere is thick with promises, controversies, and competing narratives. Long regarded as one of India’s most politically vibrant states, Bihar has often set the tone for national debates on governance and electoral behavior. This time, one demographic is clearly at the centre of…
Odisha Emerges as India’s Next Semiconductor Hub with Intel-Backed Projects India has declared semiconductors a strategic priority, with the government committing billions in incentives to reduce dependence on imports and build a resilient technology ecosystem. While states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have attracted attention, Odisha is quietly emerging as a significant player in this…
