India in the Indo-Pacific cover Courtesy: Gateway House
1 February 2022

India in the Indo-Pacific: Pursuing Prosperity and Security

The Indo-Pacific has become an important part of global geopolitics in the recent past, with several great powers implementing concerted Indo-Pacific policies to create economic, social and security linkages with the region. India can use its development experience and futuristic technology to secure stability and prosperity. This compendium of essays explores the comprehensive role that India can play in the Indo-Pacific, from energy and environment, to trade, security, technology and a vibrant diaspora.

amit cover Courtesy: Routledge India
5 January 2022

India and the Changing Geopolitics of Oil

India is the world's third largest importer of oil after China and the U.S. and a major player providing demand security for oil exporters. The technological changes and geopolitical shifts in the oil economy from the West to the East, highlights India's position as a valuable partner in renewable energy, and oil security and production. The book explores the various elements of India's dependence on imported oil, and how it can turn to an advantage. This excerpt analyses the alternatives to the current West-dominated oil markets and industry that are available to India as a leading consumer.

DRUK HYDRO DAM Courtesy: Druk Green Power Ltd
18 November 2021

Bay of Bengal connectivity

The Bay of Bengal is gaining relevance as a significant sub-region within the Indo-Pacific. Despite its importance to regional security, there is inadequate financial, physical, and energy connectivity. India must use its strategic and political pre-eminence and influence in the sub-region to pursue deeper connectivity with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and to block China's growing influence.

Unfinished Connectivity in the Bay of Bengal Courtesy: Gateway House
21 October 2021

Unfinished Connectivity in the Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal is a bridge between the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and with a population of 1.4 billion, an increasingly important economic zone in its own right. India has been slow to build regional connectivity. The space has been filled by China's Belt and Road Initiative projects, which have not always been beneficial for host countries. The region may be better off pursuing digital connectivity by enabling tech startups – areas of India’s strength. This research uses maps to explore the potential for energy, transport, and financial connectivity across the Bay of Bengal.

Quad Economy and Technology Task force report Courtesy: Gateway House
23 August 2021

Quad Economy and Technology Task Force Report

Conceived in 2020, the task force studied promising areas for cooperation between the Quad countries beyond their pre-existing maritime security partnership. The report highlights the need to increase economic and technological interdependence among the Quad countries and to establish common and updated rules and standards for emerging technologies in five study areas. The unique mix of the group – three developed and one developing nation, three Pacific and one Indian Ocean nation, three producer-trading nations with one massive emerging market – lends itself to innovation, experimentation and cooperation that can be a template for a new, post-pandemic geopolitical era.

Lisa Curtis and Surjit Bhalla Courtesy: CNBC-TV18 (Youtube)
5 August 2021

Quad collaboration on economics and technology

On 30 July 2021, Lisa Curtis and Surjit Bhalla, co-chairs of the Gateway House Quad Economy and Technology Task Force, spoke to CNBC-TV-18 on the various channels of cooperation between the Quad countries in technology, supply chains and undersea cables, and the need to counter China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific.

Webcast 2 - Website Courtesy: Gateway House
28 April 2020

Gateway House Webcast: Diversifying India’s Clean Transport

In this webcast, we discuss the transport energy options for India. The government of India intends to pursue Electric Vehicles with aggression, both to help India meet its Climate Change commitments, as also to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels in the post corona era. But is it what India needs? Are the necessary raw materials for batteries accessible in both the near and short term? Can India readily abandon oil, now cheap and from a region which gives jobs to our expatriate population?

shutterstock_1411804163 Courtesy: Shutterstock
5 April 2020

Is rare earth still China’s dominant lever?

The second-most important issue on everyone's mind after the Coronavirus, is Rare Earths - those metallic elements like scandium and cerium, used in every aspect of modern electronics like our cell phones, rechargeable batteries, florescent lighting. The reason is: China. China has the world's largest deposits and production of rare earths, and has not hesitated to withhold its export to countries that disagree with it in the past. 

shutterstock_201055439 Courtesy: Shutterstock
30 January 2020

China’s energy challenges: lessons for India

China’s clean-up of its cities and its success in improving urban air quality hold important lessons for India. But the outbreak of the corona virus and reports that news about it was initially suppressed tell a different story. While physical infrastructure is important, equally vital are a free media and an open society, where people are not afraid to speak