The Incident: A New Mega-Dam Rises Near India’s Border In a bold move that has alarmed neighboring countries, China has begun constructing a colossal $167 billion hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in south-eastern Tibet — just upstream of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Known in India as the Brahmaputra, the river is vital to…
Strengthening the Backbone of Odisha’s Agriculture Odisha, with its largely agrarian economy, has long relied on monsoonal rains and traditional canal systems to sustain its agricultural output. While surface irrigation systems like major and medium canals support a significant portion of farmland, a vast number of regions—especially uplands and interior blocks—continue to lack reliable water…
A Star Banker and a Scandal That Shook India’s Banking Sector Chanda Kochhar was once hailed as a trailblazer in Indian finance—a symbol of merit, ambition, and women’s leadership in corporate India. As CEO and Managing Director of ICICI Bank, the country’s second-largest private lender, Kochhar wielded significant influence over India’s banking landscape. However, that…
Sanctions, Strategy, and a Risky Trade Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States has warned the world of severe consequences for aiding Moscow’s war effort. A critical part of this deterrence campaign involves sanctions targeting entities supplying military-grade materials to Russia. Despite this, a startling revelation has emerged: an Indian company shipped $1.4 million…
A Long-Standing Dispute Rekindled The Thailand–Cambodia border has long been a fault line of unresolved territorial claims, historical tensions, and nationalistic fervor. At the heart of the dispute lies sovereignty over ancient temple complexes such as Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom, located near the shared border. While occasional skirmishes have flared over the years,…
From Billionaire Tycoon to Regulatory Target Anil Ambani, once counted among the world’s richest men, is now at the center of a sprawling investigation by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED). Chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), his empire once spanned telecommunications, infrastructure, power, financial services, and media. Carving his own path after the 2005 split of the Reliance empire with…
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…
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…
