India’s Big Semiconductor Bet In the digital age, semiconductors are the invisible backbone powering everything from smartphones to satellites. Recognizing their strategic importance, India launched its Semiconductor Mission in 2021 with a massive outlay of ₹76,000 crore to build capacity in chip design, fabrication, and display manufacturing. The ambition is clear: reduce dependency on imports, join global…
A Legacy of Nurturing Ideas At the heart of India’s innovation landscape stands IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC). Established in 2000 with support from SIDBI, it began as a modest initiative to encourage entrepreneurship. Over 25 years, it has grown into one of the most influential academic incubators in the country—transforming ideas into…
The Race for Fifth-Gen Supremacy The fifth-generation fighter jet is the pinnacle of modern military aviation—defined by stealth, advanced avionics, and software-driven combat superiority. Nations that field such aircraft sit in a very exclusive club, led by the United States, Russia, and China. Now, India is charting its own path with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA),…
A Dark Chapter Revisited The night of November 26, 2008, remains etched in India’s memory as one of the most harrowing episodes of terror. Ten armed militants from Pakistan unleashed a wave of coordinated attacks across Mumbai, striking landmarks like the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and Nariman House. Over three days of…
Modi’s Call for Homegrown Tech Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently championed the idea of Swadeshi—supporting indigenous goods and services to build self-reliance. That call has now extended into the digital realm, where messaging platforms dominate everyday communication. With ministers echoing Modi’s appeal, attention has turned toward Arattai, an India-made messenger app that promises to be a…
Clash Over Content Regulation Elon Musk’s social media platform X has once again found itself in a legal battle in India, following a Karnataka High Court ruling that allowed authorities to remove online content through a government portal without judicial oversight. The court had stated that “social media companies cannot be allowed to work unregulated in…
Setting the Stage at the UN At the 80th high-level session of the UN General Assembly in New York, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a speech that resonated well beyond the hall. Opening with a warm “Namaskar from the people of Bharat,” he outlined India’s vision for navigating today’s fractured global landscape. His message was firm…
Energy Rivalries Fuel the Backdrop Global energy politics is increasingly defined by tug-of-war strategies—where nations jostle to secure resources, diversify supply chains, and shield themselves from external vulnerabilities. With oil trade being reshaped by sanctions, alliances, and shifting demand patterns, the discovery of new reserves is not merely an economic event but a geopolitical one. Against this…
A Refiner Under Pressure Nayara Energy, one of India’s largest private oil refiners, has long been a vital player in global energy flows. Operating a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat, the company traditionally exported gasoline, gasoil, and jet fuel to markets spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. But its Russian backing has put it under…
Ladakh’s Long Standing Demands For years, Ladakh has witnessed peaceful agitations demanding full statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule to protect its fragile ecosystem, land, and culture. What began as a people-led campaign saw a sharp turn this September, when prominent engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk intensified the movement through a hunger strike…
