In a landmark moment for bilateral economic ties, India and the United Kingdom have inked a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) that promises to reshape the contours of trade, talent exchange, and industrial collaboration between the two nations. Pegged to boost bilateral trade by a substantial $34 billion annually, the deal slashes tariffs, expands market…
In what can only be described as a smart, forward-looking move, India has decided to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals—ending a four-year-long freeze triggered by both pandemic concerns and heightened border tensions. At first glance, this might seem like a routine diplomatic decision. But look deeper, and it reveals India’s deft use of…
In a region riddled with unpredictable adversaries and perpetual security threats, India’s defence posture cannot afford delay or complacency. The arrival of the first batch of U.S.-made Apache attack helicopters at Hindon Airbase marks a critical inflection point in India’s military evolution—particularly for the Army’s combat aviation capability. These warbirds are not just hardware; they…
Parliament is in session—and once again, the Congress-led Opposition has chosen noise over nuance, drama over debate, and street-level sloganeering over statesmanship. What unfolded on the opening day of the monsoon session wasn’t just disappointing. It was disgraceful. Let’s start with facts. As is customary, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) met before the session. The…
The buzz around restoring statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is growing louder. Union Home Ministry officials have hinted at a “concrete announcement” by the end of this year—perhaps around Independence Day or in the run-up to other key state elections. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who returned to power on the back of a strong mandate,…
When the Election Commission (EC) merely acts on its constitutional duty to revise electoral rolls in preparation for upcoming polls, one would expect support from all democratic quarters. Instead, we are witnessing a bizarre and alarming pattern — a chorus of protest led by the Congress, RJD, and now Mamata Banerjee’s TMC. Their hue and…
India’s spectacular success in Operation Sindoor, a four-day calibrated military retaliation against Pakistan following the brutal Pahalgam ambush, has done more than just avenge the death of 24 tourists—it has sent a clear and resounding message: India’s Atmanirbharata in defence is no longer a slogan. It is a battlefield-tested and battle-hardened reality. The operation, which…
The recent attack on a Republic TV journalist in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal is not an isolated incident. It is part of a growing and disturbing pattern of political thuggery, media muzzling, and blatant lawlessness. What is unfolding in Bengal is not just a state’s failure to uphold law and order—it is the steady unravelling…
The Supreme Court’s latest remarks on the dangers of not just communal, but also casteist and regional politics, should jolt our collective conscience. While refusing to entertain a petition seeking the cancellation of AIMIM’s registration, the Court rightly opened the door to a broader conversation—a much-needed national reckoning—on the perverse identity politics that have corroded…
India has once again demonstrated strategic maturity and statesmanship. Despite Beijing’s recent provocations — from siding with Pakistan during the brief but intense conflict earlier this year, to voicing displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama — New Delhi has signalled its willingness to reset ties with China. This intent…
