South Asia
From Noida to Haryana, India’s Industrial Belt is Cracking Under the Weight of a Distant War
As the Middle East conflict drives up energy costs and empties kitchen cylinders, India’s migrant factory workers are either taking to the streets or heading home, and manufacturers are bracing for both.
Trust, Control, and Code: The Restrictions of India and U.S. Tech “Unionship”
Despite increasing strategic alignment in AI and defense, U.S exports lead, and India’s aim for complete independence is to restrict the development of their technology partnership and ongoing related negotiations.
Op-ed: India Faces Fertilizer Shortage Amid Strait of Hormuz Closure
In the wake of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, international attention has mainly been focused on oil shipment disruptions, with nations turning to pipelines and reserves for relief. Less noticed is the constraint on fertilizer shipments- a critical agricultural input with no strategic reserves- leaving India facing uncertainty regarding over nearly 40% of this key supply, needed to ensure crop yields which are central to its domestic consumption and economic activity, especially during its upcoming June Kharif planting season.
India's Persian Gulf Dependence Becomes a Liability as Hormuz Crisis Deepens
India secured 60 days of crude oil supply and slashed fuel duties on Thursday as the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent the rupee to a record low. The Indian government was forced to invoke emergency commodity laws, an unmistakable sign that a conflict thousands of miles away is landing hard on one of Asia's largest economies.
Op-ed: South Asia’s Economic Growth is Real. Its Stability is Not.
As the Middle East conflict grounds cargo flights and spikes energy costs, South Asia's booming growth numbers are beginning to show the cracks beneath.
India Expands AI Ambitions at Impact Summit
India outlined an ambitious economic growth plan focused on AI expansion at its February Impact Summit, aiming to shift its largely low-skill workforce towards higher-skill sectors, with support from tech companies, and foreign investors. However, climate experts warn that this plan for a rapid AI-centered expansion could worsen the country’s already severe environmental crisis.
India’s Strategic Balancing Act in the Indo-Pacific
Increasing tensions along the Line of Actual Control are pushing India to strengthen partnerships and broaden its strategic role as a stabilizing power in the Indo-Pacific region.
India-China Border Tensions: Security, Strength, and the Future of India's Stability
India’s border dispute with China illustrates how New Delhi prioritizes security and sovereignty over economic competition, particularly before the Galwan Valley clash. As further tensions arise, India’s foreign policy stabilizes diplomacy and defence.
India Collaborates on Climate Goals at COP33
India has delayed announcing its 2035 emissions target even as the COP30 progresses, making it one of the only G20 nations in the conference yet to outline this goal. Many now speculate the government will place a greater emphasis on multilateralism and focus on existing pledges.
The India-U.S. Trade Negotiations: Tariff Relief and the Russian Oil Dilemma
As New Delhi and Washington navigate trade tensions, the balance between energy sufficiency and international alliances remains unpredictable. The negotiations could pronounce India’s standing between the East and West.
Indian Prime Minister Modi Strengthens Ties with US Leaders During Visit
Last weekend, US President Joe Biden met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders from Japan and Australia to discuss the future of one of his key foreign policy platforms: the Quad Partnership.
Prime Minister Modi calls for climate equity at COP28
The Indian delegation to the The United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) pledged to redouble efforts moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, among many other commitments, led by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conference, the only multilateral decision-making body on climate change, is taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
Workers Rescued from a Tunnel Collapse in India After a 17 Day Wait
On Tuesday, rescuers freed 41 construction workers trapped under a collapsed tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, after spending 17 days under rubble. The laborers, all migrant workers from poorer states in India, quickly reunited with their families after their release.
State Elections in India Begin, Testing Support for the BJP
On Tuesday, the state legislature elections within the Indian states of Mizoram and Chhattisgarh began. Elections in the states of Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are set to begin later this week.
The Geopolitical Implications of Sri Lanka Allowing Chinese Ship to Dock
On Oct.25, an advanced Chinese research vessel, Shin Yan 6, docked on the port of Colombo amidst India’s fears of China extending its influence over to the Indian subcontinent on an unprecedented scale.
Police Commandos Targeted During Manipur Unrest
On Oct. 31, suspected insurgents ambushed a group of police commandos sent to the Indian state of Manipur, resulting in a shootout. The situation ended when the Assam Rifles successfully rescued the police from the situation.
India Resumes Visa Services in Canada after Diplomatic Fallout
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa, Canada announced the resumption of visa services on Oct. 25 in Canada, after a diplomatic fallout between the two countries over the last couple of months.
Indian Police Raid Local News Outlet
On Oct. 3, at around 6:30 AM, Indian police staged several raids on the office and private homes of employees at NewsClick – an English-language independent news outlet focusing on “progressive movements.”
Indian Supreme Court Declines to Legalize Same Sex Marriage
On October 17, 2023 in New Delhi, the Indian Supreme Court reached the verdict of denying the recognition of same-sex marriages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration previously opposed petitions to the court because they view the ideology of same-sex marriage as incompatible with the “Indian family unit concept” of a husband, wife, and children.
India’s Response to the War in Gaza
The Indian government is showcasing a diplomatic leaning towards Israel, considering the strong ties between the two countries and the strategic partnerships between them. A key factor is also the close friendship that the two prime ministers share. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrained from taking an absolute neutral position in the Israel-Palestine conflict, unlike his predecessors.