Commentary
Find our newspaper columns, blogs, and other commentary pieces in this section. Our research focuses on Advanced Biology, High-Tech Geopolitics, Strategic Studies, Indo-Pacific Studies & Economic Policy
Times Of India | Unacceptable, for India
By Y. Nithiyanandam
Next month’s global geospatial meeting will be a good occasion to ask why UN’s maps distort Arunachal and J&K. Has it caved to India’s neighbours’ cartographic aggression?
By Dr. Y. Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Times Of India | Our Eyes In The Sky
By Y. Nithiyanandam
Damage assessment of conflicts like India-Pak, Israel-Iran is shaped by satellite images. But these can be gamed. Isro & pvt companies in space sector must up the game so that Indians get good domestic data
By Dr. Y. Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | Oil spills call for new response
By Swathi Kalyani
The absence of mandatory state-level oil spill contingency plans for vessels transiting Indian waters represents a significant policy gap.
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
MoneyControl | US-China trade war leaves India confronting three negative spillovers
By Manoj Kewalramani and Amit Kumar
By Manoj Kewalramani and Amit Kumar
Read the full article here.
StratNews Global | Stuck at Security: The Global Navigation Conundrum and Military Implications
By Y. Nithiyanandam
This Oped examines the technical and regulatory landscape of GNSS devices, the security rationale behind their restriction, and the implications for military professionals globally. Drawing on recent developments in India, we explore how outdated regulations and a lack of technical clarity can hinder both civilian and military users, and what lessons can be learned for other nations.
By Dr. Y. Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Moneycontrol | Geospatial technology and its role in India’s Act East policy
By Swathi Kalyani
India is enhancing regional influence through infrastructure like KMMTTP, reducing reliance on Bangladesh, while leveraging geospatial technology to manage complex terrains, monitor security threats, and counter China's growing strategic presence.
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | Hydropolitics a new reality for Pakistan
By Swathi Kalyani
The Jhelum and Chenab rivers, where Pakistan previously enjoyed greater rights under the treaty, represent over 45,000 sq km of basin area with mean annual flows exceeding 45 million acre-feet.
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | Maritime Trade in Volatile Weather
By Swathi Kalyani
India must invest more in weather monitoring systems to safeguard and leverage its maritime commerce
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | Mapping India’s geospatial intelligence
By Swathi Kalyani
India must prioritise geospatial advancements to counter strategic challenges, unlock security benefits
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
Money Control | Locust invasion threat demands India-Pakistan co-operation
By Rakshith Shetty and Keerthi Shree
As the locust breeding season approaches, both India and Pakistan must depoliticise locust management and prioritise it as a humanitarian imperative. Using technology like drones, weather models, and AI predictions to track, forecast and control the movements of locusts to protect crops
By Rakshith Shetty and Keerthi Shree
Read the full article here.
The New Indian Express | Is China's mega dam project a geopolitical weapon under the guise of development?
By Y Nithiyanandam
Given the ecological, social and geopolitical impacts of the project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, known as the Brahmaputra in India, China must commit to international norms for equitable resource sharing and data exchange.
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
The Diplomat | Y Nithiyanandam on the Risks of China’s Ambitious Yarlung Tsangpo Project
By Y Nithiyanandam
“Without greater transparency on the part of China and cooperative frameworks, this dam could become a flashpoint in an already delicate regional equilibrium”
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | A River Beyond Borders
By Swathi Kalyani
Alterations to Brahmaputra’s flow can adversely affect the dependencies on Teesta – its major tributary – which originates from the Khangtse glacier in the northeastern Himalayas of India.
By Swathi Kalyani
Read the full article here.
The Federal | China’s super dam on Brahmaputra: Why it's a geopolitical challenge and concern for India
By Y Nithiyanandam
With the region already prone to landslides and floods, the massive project undertaken by China could prove catastrophic, says Geospatial expert, Dr. Y. Nithiyanandam, Head of Geospatial Program at the Takshashila Institution.
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Resonant News | China’s Advanced firing range and probable SIGINT facilities near in Shigatse (Tibet Autonomous Region)
By Y Nithiyanandam
This report finds that a sophisticated PLA firing range near Shigatse is being used for high-altitude target practice and weapon calibration. Secondly, it finds evidence of probable SIGINT systems that can listen to a range of signals, including military and submarine communications, from vast distances.
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
The New Indian Express | China's high-altitude heliports in Tibet a sobering reminder of threat to India along LAC
By Y Nithiyanandam
The military dynamics of Tibet are undergoing a fresh change with the construction of high-altitude helicopter infrastructure in the area.
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
The Economic Times | Why fake satellite signals are a real threat to navigation systems in aviation, defence ops
By Y. Nithiyanandam
A recent report highlights a 400% increase in GNSS spoofing incidents. These attacks have affected even modern aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing B789.
By Y. Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Geospatial World | Developing an Effective Space Strategy for India’s Defence
By Y Nithiyanandam
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Nithiyanandam, Head of the Takshashila Institution’s Geospatial Program discusses India’s unique approach to military space development and the increasing importance of Geospatial in defence.
By Y Nithiyanandam
Read the full article here.
Watch the full interview here
The New Indian Express | India's assurances and Bhutan's challenges: A delicate balance in the Himalayan kingdom
By Y Nithiyanandam
India's assurance that financial support for Bhutan's crucial initiatives will continue without interruption serves as a testament to the strong ties between the two countries.
Read the full article here.
The Print | PM Modi’s absence from the SCO summit weakens India’s power as a swing state
By Lt General Prakash Menon
Even as it keeps India tied up in the Himalayas, China is focused on the Indo-Pacific. Swing state diplomacy is India’s counter to this game plan.
Read the full article here.