SAARC’s Significance and India’s Central Role The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), established in 1985, was envisioned as a platform for fostering peace, economic integration, and regional cooperation among South Asian nations. India, as the region’s largest economy and most populous nation, played a vital leadership role in the group—supporting multiple developmental initiatives, including the…
A Strategic Pause Before the Storm In a surprise Sunday night reversal, Canada announced it would suspend its planned digital services tax on U.S. tech giants just hours before it was due to take effect. The move, aimed at salvaging high-stakes trade negotiations with the United States, comes amid renewed dialogue between Canadian Prime Minister…
A New Chief in a Time of Challenge India’s premier external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is entering a pivotal phase under new leadership. On June 28, the Modi government appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as RAW’s new Secretary. He will take over from outgoing chief…
Henley’s 2025 Report Tracks Global Wealth Migration Patterns The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025, released by international investment migration advisory firm Henley & Partners, sheds new light on the evolving dynamics of global wealth migration. With data based on movements of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs)—those possessing liquid investable wealth of USD 1 million or more—the report…
Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra -A 148-Year-Old Tradition of Devotion Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of India’s oldest and grandest annual religious processions. Dating back to 1878, it is second in scale only to Puri’s Rath Yatra and is marked by deeply rooted rituals, spectacular displays of devotion, and a massive public turnout. The 148th edition…
The Commonwealth Games and the Bid Process The Commonwealth Games, a legacy sporting event dating back to 1930, bring together athletes from across the Commonwealth nations every four years. Organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation (now known as Commonwealth Sport), the Games serve as a celebration of sport and cultural unity among member nations. Host cities are selected…
Khamenei Declares Victory Over Israel, Warns US After Retaliatory Strike In his first public remarks since the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Iran’s “victory” over Israel and described the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory strike on a key US military base in Qatar as a “slap to the US.” The address,…
Ceasefire Ends the Fighting — But Triggers Internal Turmoil The 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which erupted following Israel’s airstrikes on June 13, left behind a trail of damage—on both physical infrastructure and national psyche. Israeli strikes, aimed at Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, internal security agencies, and nuclear facilities, intensified regional tensions and raised hopes…
Understanding the University Impact Rankings The Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings assess global universities based on their contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unlike traditional rankings that emphasize academic prestige and research volume, the Impact Rankings evaluate institutions on criteria such as social impact, sustainability, innovation, and inclusive education. These rankings provide a more community-centric view…
The Lingering Curse of Caste-Based Discrimination Despite decades of constitutional safeguards and social reform, inter-caste marriages continue to face stigma and hostility in many parts of India. In particular, rural areas across states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha often witness violent or socially coercive reactions to such unions. While the government promotes…
