Courtesy: Wikimedia
India’s Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act as unconstitutional because it infringes on freedom of expression. India's future depends on a social and cultural movement in favor of greater tolerance in public life so that diverse, even offensive, opinions can be freely expressed
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a busy diplomatic calendar in 2014. He travelled to seven countries and met dozens of world leaders in his first six months in office, and received 11 heads of state during that time. Gateway House followed his foreign engagements closely, commenting on them in our weekly newsletter to our members
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs/GoI
The style and substance of the foreign policies of Narendra Modi’s six-month-old government have been remarkably different from those of his predecessors. Gateway House examines the changes in India’s equations with three critical countries—the US, China and Pakistan—and outlines a foreign policy forecast for 2015
Courtesy: Narendra Modi (wikimedia.org)
A major theme at the multilateral summits this month was connectivity, with China at the forefront. India is trailing behind due to a shortfall in investment and political will, among other factors. Prime Minister Modi must follow up on his meetings at the SAARC Summit by robustly taking forward India’s connectivity agenda
Courtesy: Gateway House
Transforming the India-U.S. relationship requires a mutual recognition that new technologies are the most promising way to build the complementary strengths of the two countries. Both Narendra Modi and Barack Obama must now move past earlier disagreements and use tech-driven exchanges to revitalise the bilateral
Courtesy: Gateway House
The recent election in Indonesia gives India a chance to evaluate the many points of comparison between the two diverse and vibrant democracies. Both will face similar challenges, and so Indonesia may be a better parallel as well as partner than China – the usual model cited for development
Courtesy: MEA/Indian Embassy Thimphu
Narendra Modi’s first month in office has seen him deftly handle India’s neighbours, accept an invitation to visit Washington, enhance relations with Bhutan and accord due importance to China. In the same manner, Modi will also have to move quickly and firmly to reassure foreign investors of the dependability of India’s fiscal environment
By inviting all SAARC heads of state to his swearing in ceremony and by choosing Bhutan to be the destination of his first foreign trip abroad, Prime mInister Modi has made foreign policy and SAARC central to the new government's agenda.
Courtesy: sachchahindustani.com
These elections may have been an inflection point, when big data hit critical mass. From now, it will be used to maximal effect to raise funds, influence people and read the national mood. Not just by political parties, but equally by pollsters and the media.
Courtesy: India.com
As the U.S. prepares to leave Afghanistan and refocus on Europe, geopolitical configurations are set to change. India’s new prime minister Narendra Modi’s pragmatism—evident in his acceptance this week of Obama’s invitation to visit the U.S.—will be an asset in rebuilding bilateral ties in this evolving global order