The Incident: A Diplomatic Illusion in a Delhi Suburb In a case that sounds like it’s straight out of a thriller, a man from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested for running a fake embassy for over seven years under the guise of representing a so-called “micronation” named Westarctica. The accused, Harshvardhan Jain, turned an upscale…
SIR: A Routine Revision or a Political Flashpoint? The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, a standard exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clean and update electoral rolls, has triggered political ripples in Bihar. Designed to ensure that only eligible voters are listed, SIR often becomes a contentious issue—particularly in…
Understanding FEMA The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, governs foreign exchange dealings in India, ensuring that external trade and payments align with national financial policies. It is particularly significant for sectors attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), such as e-commerce, which must comply with specific norms governing ownership, control, and operations. How Myntra Operates Myntra, a…
From Confrontation to Cautious Engagement India and China, two of Asia’s most powerful neighbours, have experienced a turbulent relationship marked by deep-rooted border tensions and geopolitical rivalry. Relations reached a boiling point after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, which led to a prolonged freeze in diplomatic and people-to-people exchanges. Now, five years later,…
UNESCO: The UN’s Guardian of Global Heritage The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO is best known for its World Heritage Site designations, which include globally iconic…
A Diplomatic Balancing Act: Why These Visits Matter India’s growing influence on the global stage is being strategically consolidated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives from July 23 to 26. The tour reflects New Delhi’s commitment to nurturing vital bilateral relationships—one with a major global power undergoing geopolitical…
The UPI Controversy That Shook Bengaluru Bengaluru, a city long celebrated as a torchbearer of India’s digital economy, is now witnessing a surprising reversal. Across food carts, kirana stores, and roadside stalls, signs now read: “No UPI, Only Cash.” This quiet but growing resistance stems from a recent wave of panic among small and unregistered traders, triggered…
How Pakistan Always Cries in the UN At nearly every global forum, especially at the United Nations, Pakistan has made it a ritual to raise accusations against India—be it about Kashmir, water-sharing treaties, or broader regional peace issues. Despite consistently being seen by many nations as lacking credibility, Islamabad continues to frame itself as a…
A Booming Market in the Digital Age India’s smartphone sector—one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving in the world—has shown strong growth once again. According to a recent report by global technology research firm Canalys, smartphone shipments in India rose 7% year-on-year, reaching 39 million units in the April–June 2025 quarter. This uptick reflects easing inventory…
A New Era of Aerial Firepower for Indian Army In a strategic milestone for India’s defence modernization, the Indian Army on Monday received the first batch of three Apache AH-64E helicopters from the United States, marking a historic step toward enhancing its aerial strike and reconnaissance capabilities. The choppers arrived at Hindon airbase aboard a massive Antonov…
