Regardless of the extent of his beliefs in Jain values, forgiveness was probably not on Kharavela’s mind
Cold War 2.0 may share the rhetoric of bipolar rivalry, but its actual structure is closer to a contested multipolarity
India is expanding its bilateral trade network to counter US trade uncertainty and boost negotiating leverage
The unipolar world order is unsustainable at present; considering the complexity and diversity of emerging geopolitical realities, the rise of multipolarity seems evident
For India, Turkey’s neo-Caliphate ambitions are alarming, especially in the Indian neighbourhood
Diplomatically, New Delhi can be expected to follow the clichéd path of ‘cautious optimism’
When the world turns rough, Bharat stands up for itself but without burning bridges
An India dependent on foreign AI systems risks embedding bias across sectors—from education and entertainment to defence and diplomacy
Reductions in rates on essentials, rationalisation of household consumption baskets, exemptions in health and insurance, and correction of inverted duty structures collectively increase disposable incomes and stimulate aggregate demand
What China does understand—and exploit—is the power of the mind, but behind the show, the PLA remains untested, riddled with corruption, and struggling with reform
With an entrenched establishment, repeated judicial interventions, and deepening polarisation, Thailand’s democracy remains fragile
The India-China relationship will help define the Asian century. Productive competition could drive regional growth, but rivalry might destabilise it
Peter Navarro’s ambush may have generated headlines, but it does not undo the foundation of Indo-American relations
While driven by a shared interest in responding to a shifting US foreign policy, the deep structural competition and distrust mean that a fundamental realignment of relations may not yet be on the horizon
Punitive measures intended to discipline India only accelerate its determination to diversify dependencies, deepen coalitions with Europe, Japan, and ASEAN, and invest in sovereign levers of economic and technological strength
America has never looked so confused, insecure, and dumbfounded as it did when, in the name of tariffs, it pushed away a friendly nation that was supposed to be the cornerstone of its 21st-century Indo-Pacific strategy
Car rides, like other forms of informal diplomacy, provide a key chance for leaders to share lighter moments with their counterparts minus the highly structured formal diplomatic setups
India, Egypt, and Greece can take an initiative in building a new regional architecture that links oceans and continents to emerge not as territories where great powers interact but as players in shaping the common future
Regardless of who wins or loses elections in America, the ‘Brahmin’ as a bogeyman seems destined to remain, for now
India’s strength in the RIC and SCO lies not in conformity but in carving space, turning every summit into leverage, every contradiction into opportunity, and every forum into a force multiplier of its own rise
The worrying part for Israel is the increasing condemnation and resultant diplomatic isolation and trade and arms embargoes by the European countries, hitherto mostly allies and sympathetic to the Jewish state
The SCO Summit definitely comes at a critical time in the context of Trump’s tariffs. However, hoping for an immediate reset in India-China relations would be expecting too much
For New Delhi, the symbolism lies in refusing to vacate a space dominated by Beijing. Its presence affirms that decisions about Eurasia and the wider Asian region cannot bypass India
A reading of the statements issued by New Delhi and Beijing indicates a thematic mistrust lying in the background
The prime minister’s visit to China is the continuation of a long-term, carefully calibrated strategy aimed at normalising relations, managing border and economic issues, and ensuring regional stability, and is not a reactionary policy
To truly experience the ancient heritage of the Malwa region, one needs to drive north of Ujjain to Mandsaur
In Japanese culture, ‘ikebana’—the art of flower arrangement—symbolises patience, balance, and beauty nurtured over time, much like the India-Japan partnership built on the philosophy of ‘jikan wo kakete sodateru’ meaning nurturing growth through time
The Trump factor has altered dynamics in India-China ties but has not necessarily led to a strategic thaw
It is difficult to reconcile India’s strategic culture with persistent obnoxious behaviour from the Americans
The current global trend is forcing India’s hand to choose between nations and blocs, where again there is visible confusion and ruptures, however temporary