Charlie Hebdo_1 Courtesy: Charlie Hebdo
18 January 2015

An inalienable right to question

2015 has begun on a sombre note as France suffered the worst terror attack in the country's history, and India saw protests by right-wing conservative groups against the screening of the film-PK. Both instances show an increasing intolerance against the questioning of established religions

Philippine peace Courtesy: khabrsoutheastasia
8 January 2015

War and Peace

The Islamic State’s violence dominated 2014’s news headlines, masking important non-violent initiatives around the world. But endeavors for peaceful solutions are thriving, and India, with its legacy of a non-violent freedom struggle, must contribute to this process as a counter-force against the advocates of violence

Coal India Courtesy: wikimedia.org
6 January 2015

Hostage taking by unions

The five-day strike threatened by Coal India’s unions has driven home the risks India faces due to excessive dependence on a single company. The Indian economy needs to be secured against such blackmail by diversifying—using more gas and hydropower, and by getting other public sector firms such as NTPC into coal mining

Bolsa Familia Courtesy: globalsherpa.org
2 January 2015

Decoding conditional cash transfers

The Indian government has undertaken a massive financial inclusion scheme to bring bank accounts to the poor. But poverty alleviation needs to be addressed at multiple levels for which the Latin American example of using targeted and customised conditional cash transfer programmes can help India

Brazi_Michael Reid Courtesy: Yale University Press
2 January 2015

Book review: Brazil’s guided capitalism

Michael Reid's book argues that Brazil, a nation that was built by a top-down elite, is now moving to a new phase of a bottom-up approach to political and economic reform

Charkha Courtesy: gaatha.com
1 January 2015

A fresh template for GDP growth

Although the informal and small enterprises sector contributes significantly to India’s GDP, and engages the majority of the country’s workforce, it is barely reflected in official growth numbers. Strengthening this segment will revitalise the economy and substantiate the government’s ‘Make in India’ policies

facebook-map Courtesy: Karen Bleier AFP/Getty
19 December 2014

Digital diplomacy

Social media has disrupted how diplomats communicate with each other and the general public. How are diplomats using these platforms? How will future digital tools change the meaning and capabilities of digital diplomacy? Gateway House presents an educational mini-series on digital diplomacy, profiling Indian digital diplomacy, and the future trajectory of digital diplomacy.

Lima Climate Summit Courtesy: UN Climate Conference
19 December 2014

Climate Change: glimmers of hope?

With the weaker-than-expected agreement at the recent Climate Change Conference at Lima, there is an urgent need to replicate innovative green endeavours in civil society and business for a sustainable global economy with grassroots empowerment

Fidel Castro with Nixon Courtesy: Getty Images
19 December 2014

Cuba: end of isolation

The U.S. has finally ended its outdated policy of isolating Cuba. It is a triumph for the proud and courageous Cubans who have withstood so many overt and covert destabilisation attempts by the U.S. It is also a victory for Latin America which has opposed the U.S. embargo and advocated normalization of relations with Cuba

yoga Courtesy: wikimedia\commons
18 December 2014

An International Day of Yoga

The adoption of June 21 as the International Yoga Day by the United Nations signifies the support that recent diplomatic efforts of the government have received on the world stage. The scientific community now needs to produce data and research on the potential scientific value of yoga