India+Reliance+petrochemical+plant Courtesy: bdnews24
14 December 2016

Three tiers of energy security for India

India imports 80% of its oil and 80% of the imports are from vulnerable regions. This high-cost, high-risk approach is not sustainable, and the current low price of oil offers India an opportunity to secure its long-term energy needs by taking three concurrent steps: diversifying supply sources, investing in oil fields, and using financial instruments

31392385676_97ed4ec6cb_z Courtesy: MEA/flickr
7 December 2016

The Arthashastra in Modi’s India

In Modi’s worldview, bolder than that of his predecessors, India has a bigger place than envisaged before. Consonant with this, the prime minister’s foreign policy mirrors the Arthashastra’s emphasis on pragmatic and intelligent use of power, informed by knowledge and the larger cause of the people. Has it been successful so far?

IMG_9941 Courtesy: The Economist
6 December 2016

Geoeconomic dilemma in realigning Asia

India may be less dependent on the Chinese market than some other countries in the region, but it too wants Chinese investment—and this ambivalence has been evident in India’s varying approach to the AIIB and OBOR. To balance this dilemma in an increasingly complex Asia, India must work with others, in particular with European countries

Sifra Germany Photo Courtesy: Chemould Prescott Road Archives
1 December 2016

A German renaissance in Bombay

Germany’s presidency of G20 in 2017 comes at a time when the country is in a state of deep flux. But its relations with India have always been unshaken. Even 80 years ago, German-speaking immigrants, fleeing the Second World war, greatly enhanced Bombay’s cultural life

GH_Demonetisation_Web-724x1024 Courtesy: Gateway House
24 November 2016

Demonetisation around the world

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on November 8 to demonetise notes of the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 has a precedent. This infographic traces some interesting demonetisation initiatives around the world. From discontinuation of high denomination notes due to lack of circulation, to the use of beer and water as 'real assets' in place of hyper-inflated currency.

tpp-map Courtesy: United States Trade Representative
23 November 2016

A world divided by trade deals?

Amid the debate of a U.S.-centric TPP template or a China-led RCEP model, it is important to consider if such trade agreements are building blocks or stumbling blocks to global free trade. With the passage of the TPP still uncertain in the U.S. Congress, and the RCEP unlikely to be acceptable to the U.S., the more likely global trade scenario will be fragmentation