Renaissance and Reticence in India’s North-South Connectivity Platform The distraction of Chabahar’s questionable economic rationale and the embellishment of a centuries-old fascination with Suez alternatives, whilst entirely logical from a Muscovite perspective, must cede priority to New Delhi’s immediate interests in its own strategic backyard Philip Reid | November 30, 2018 | IDSA Comments
Another Capitulation and another Win for the TLYP in Pakistan The challenge that the TLYP poses to Pakistan’s internal stability is even more dangerous than the threat of terrorism. Yaqoob-ul-Hassan | November 22, 2018 | IDSA Comments
Bhutan National Assembly Elections 2018: A Mandate for Change? Voters in Bhutan have shown their political maturity by bringing in a new government, which is an indicator of growing awareness about their rights and their role in holding governments to account. Nihar R. Nayak , Rajrajeshwari Singh , Ashok K. Behuria | November 12, 2018 | Issue Brief
75 Years Later, Are Lessons From the Bari Incident Still Relevant? While planning and executing kinetic operations, it is essential to look at various facets of force application including the possibilities of accidents or surprise attacks by the adversary. Kishore Kumar Khera | November 08, 2018 | Issue Brief
Revisiting Aadhaar System: Post the Supreme Court Verdict One understands that long term benefits of Aadhaar actually outweighs many concerns. However, adequate norms need to be laid down from collection to retention of biometric data, in addition to formulating strong data protection and privacy laws. Kritika Roy | November 02, 2018 | IDSA Comments
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Stocking Oil for Rainy Days A strategic petroleum reserve offers India the leverage to be a serious player in the international oil market, as it will have the option to release supplies when prices spike and recharge the reserve when prices are low. Shebonti Ray Dadwal | November 02, 2018 | IDSA Comments
Food Security in India: Evolution, Efforts and Problems This article examines India’s efforts to achieve food security. It traces the problem, from the inadequate production of food grains during colonial times, to the challenges of procurement, storage and distribution of cereals in post-independence India, after achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The establishment of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and its evolution into the Targeted PDS and the National Food Security Act are outlined. The role of the Food Corporation of India and the efforts to improve it, are discussed. D. Padma Kumar Pillay , T.K. Manoj Kumar | November 2018 | Strategic Analysis
Security Challenges and the Management of the India–Myanmar Border Being highly porous, poorly guarded and located along a remote, underdeveloped, insurgency-prone region and proximate to one of the world’s largest five opium producing areas, the India–Myanmar border is vulnerable to the activities of insurgents and drugs and arms traffickers as well as criminals. Although the Indian government has been alive to the threats that emanate from a poorly guarded India–Myanmar international border, its attention towards the problem has been woefully inadequate. Pushpita Das | November 2018 | Strategic Analysis
Transformation of Indo-Bangladesh Relations: From Insecurity to Cooperation in Northeast India Bangladesh and India are enjoying increasingly close relations in the latter’s northeastern region. This represents a transformation in the two countries’ past relationship, which was characterised by suspicion, distrust and insecurity. This recent change, which began with the arrival of Bangladesh’s current regime in 2009, has resulted in a sense of cooperation, mutual interest and connectivity. This article aims to explain this transformation. Md. Sohel Rana | November 2018 | Strategic Analysis
East of India, South of China: Sino-India Encounters in Southeast Asia With the rise of China and the rising tension between the China-South China Sea littoral states, the Southeast Asian region has emerged as a pivot of international politics. Changing US policy towards Southeast Asia in the wake of China’s rise and India’s initiatives to expand its footholds in the region have further mainstreamed the region. China has shown reluctance in accepting the involvement of an extra-regional power in South China Sea affairs. Therefore, it is likely that in the coming years, the region will witness extensive overt and covert competition between two rising powers. Vikash Chandra | November 2018 | Strategic Analysis
