By Rahul Dixit :  India’s diplomatic circles were anticipating a cold relation between Colombo and New Delhi. However, the MoU on defence cooperation, first of its kind, and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirming the co..

THE world continues to be an intriguing place as surprises and shocks flow unabated in international relations. War looms over some regions even as peace hovers above the dark clouds, awaiting a landing in conflict-zones that are full of negotiators and deal-makers. The geopolitical theatre has too many actors on the stage at this time, jostling for their spot under the limelight. Holding firm on the stage is India, practicing its commitment to strategic autonomy with a multi-vector foreign policy. ..

A LITANY of grievances keeps flooding the social media handles of insurance companies. Each complaint demonstrates a sense of frustration, extreme anger and helplessness of a policyholder seeking end to the ordeal of claim approval. Despite the rapid strides in technology, despite initiation of new schemes in healthcare programmes, many frustrating difficulties still persist in getting insurance claims processed in the country. The insured are always on the toes in case of an emergency, dealing with ..

There are some excellent shows bringing out supreme content in every domain. But there is also a growing breach of the line of decency that is expected to be adhered to by mass media platforms. Rampant use of cuss words, constant sneering, mockery of religious practices have become a part of on-line shows with no check on its spread. Lack of clear guidelines, absence of a rule-book and government’s reluctance to bring censorship for on-line content have combined into a space which runs on its own ..

Today’s India looks heavily inclined towards spending and consumption. The Centre, too, has insisted on it targetting more taxes. But consumption would not create savings as it is last in the chain of that particular economic cycle. The cycle starts with savings and gradually leads to investment which in turn promotes production which finally culminates into consumption...

JUST weeks before his inauguration as the President of the United States, Donald Trump’s tantrums are keeping the world guessing. His views are oscillating between surprise and shock, his threats are fluctuating from ridiculous to downright absurd, his decisions are swinging faster than his golf club. And the world is riding this pendulum on fear and prayer. From imposing tariffs to claiming ownership on countries, Trump has riled many with his strange ambitions. One particular issue that has become ..

The refusal to accept its defeat is the consequence of a false sense of entitlement that drives the Congress thinking. So, whenever the truth offends, the party leadership lies, and lies, and lies. Every lie the Grand Old Party tells incurs a debt to the truth. Racking up of this debt is set to prove ruinous in the future run for the Congress. Already, there are piling gripes over mismanagement by the Congress top brass among its I.N.D.I bloc partners. ..

THE Maharashtra Assembly elections are done and dusted. The MahaYuti, led by a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party, has demolished the Maha Vikas Aghadi and also the perceptions around its slump with a scintillating show. The focus now shifts on Government formation with new equations and also on ushering in of new freebies promised to the voters. The spotlight, once again, thus comes back on the doles which the MahaYuti has pledged to hike for women. In fact, the entire spectacle of election in Maharashtra ..

J J UST like the Big Fat Weddings in India generate global interest for its lavishness and massive spread, the Presidential elections in the United States are also seen as some sort of festival, with no direct connection. Political pundits choose to describe the Indian people’s interest in the US elections as a case of “begani shaadi me Abdullah deewana” and yet the result is latched upon by all and sundry as a possible gamechanger in the Indo-American relations. The landslide victory by Donald Trump ..

“What makes the digital revolution in India so interesting is that it’s been used by the government to actually provide benefits to all members of society. It hasn’t just created benefits for the lucky few. And this, I think, is very different from most other countries around the world,” said Nobel Laureate Professor Paul Michael Romer praising the country’s digital revolution. THIS encomium, coming from a luminary with straightforward and no-nonsense attitude, underscores a proud moment for India ..

SEETHING in extreme anger after the debilitating 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, a few top Congress leaders from Maharashtra had contacted Israeli spy agency Mossad for a covert operation to eliminate the terror masterminds in Pakistan. The operation was well on course of execution before the central leadership stalled it. Why? Restraint was the buzzword for the UPA Government despite the humiliation heaped by a motley group of extremists who held the nation to ransom for three days. The Government ..

THE concept of ‘one nation, one election’, holding simultaneous voting for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, has found a renewed vigour of debate and discussions after the adoption of the recommendations of the Kovind Committee by the Union Cabinet. A new pitch has been raised for the idea of ‘one nation, one election’ with support, praise and also opposition gathering in all parts of the country. The issue, though, cannot be confined only to narrow contours of a political divide. It is a massive transformat..

ANATIONAL debate is raging in the middle of the controversy and commentaries surrounding the web series ‘IC814: The Kandahar Hijack’, opening up a disturbing chapter in India’s security mechanisms. The web series has come with its faults and some illogical “artistic liberties” but at the same time it has redirected focus on the Indian response to the hijack drama played out in 1999. The hijacking of IC 814 flight from Kathmandu to Kandahar and the way the sordid saga was handled by the security and ..