Mint | Here are basic principles for an effective national security set-up in India

In an age where the complexity of the national security ecosystem has grown by orders of magnitude compared to 2008, the national security advisor’s role needs clarity, but it’s crucial that the NSA appointee has the prime minister’s confidence.

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The Diplomat | From Russian Ladas to Chinese BYDs: Central Asia’s Changing Priorities

Beijing is steadily drawing the region into its orbit and away from Russia’s traditional sphere of influence.

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The Print | PM Modi’s absence from the SCO summit weakens India’s power as a swing state

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.

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The New Indian Express | New Telecom Act risks normalising dangerous culture of unaccountable state intrusion

Any law student can attest to the principle that definitional uncertainty goes against the core tenets of good legislative drafting, which call for clear and targeted provisions.

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The Indian Express | Why normalcy in India-China ties is likely to stay elusive

Complete disengagement and de-escalation in Eastern Ladakh can provide a starting point for steps to be taken in other domains. Achieving this requires sustained and often frustrating dialogue at multiple levels to devise a roadmap of action

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Firstpost | Putin’s North Korea visit making China uneasy

Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang has sent a signal to Beijing that Moscow has other allies too.

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NDTV | Is India Ready To Go All-EV By 2034? Absolutely Not

A few days ago, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari made a startling announcement: the Union Government plans to eliminate petrol and diesel vehicles by 2034, replacing them primarily with electric vehicles (EVs). This bold move, touted as a step toward reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate goals, could lead India into a crisis of epic proportions if not meticulously planned and executed. The hidden carbon footprint of EVs, the inadequacy of our renewable energy infrastructure, the strain on our power grid and the economic and geopolitical ramifications, all paint a grim picture of a policy that could backfire disastrously.

By Arindam Goswami

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The Times of India | Shake hands for the House

LS has started with fireworks. But this Parliament is tasked with greenlighting major changes like delimitation. Treasury & opposition will have to talk, do backroom negotiations & arrive at workable solutions.

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Mint | Global oil market dynamics are shifting in favour of India’s energy plans

There’s a cause of optimism, looking ahead. Oil prices are projected to fall and grant India the economic space to invest in its transition to clean energy.

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Mint | Remodel higher education: Just fixing exams won’t help

The supply of professional education cannot keep up with demand unless there is a much greater role for private and for-profit institutions.

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The Free Press Journal | Joe Biden Should Withdraw From The 2024 Race

The 81-year-old Biden amplified every fear that has been expressed about him during this campaign — he is old, he is incoherent, he is tired, and he has nothing new to offer to a country that is in dire need of overhaul across some of the most important issues affecting it.

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Moneycontrol | Drones are changing warfare. India needs to move fast

Joint venture and not self-reliance is the best way forward. We also require a culture of collaboration between military and industry. Read full article here.

Firspost | The carbon quandary: AI, big data, and impending environmental crisis

AI’s potential in combating climate change is tempered by a sobering reality: Its reliance on power-hungry data centres. Can ‘green AI’ become a reality before it’s too late?

By Arindam Goswami

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NDTV World | Greater Expectations: Why China Is Going Nuclear 'Faster Than Ever'

Recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that the world's nuclear powers are continuing to expand investment in strengthening their arsenals. While the total number of warheads around the world is declining, the number of operational nuclear warheads is increasing. The US and Russia, of course, account for an overwhelming majority of nuclear warheads. Read the full article here.

The Free Press Journal | The Strategic Import of Pelosi Meeting the Dalai Lama

The last time then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went on a diplomatic mission, the world almost changed. It was August 2, 2022, and despite the stiff resistance from China, and a token opposition from President Joe Biden, Pelosi went ahead with her visit to Taiwan, a country China claims is its territory. Beijing’s retaliation was quick and unequivocal — several military exercises that may have given both the Taiwanese and Biden more than a few moments of anxiety. Read the full article here.

ThePrint | Modi 3.0 must improve civil-military relations. Bring NSS, relieve CDS of extra duties

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the results have certainly strengthened India’s democratic credentials. The future course charted by the central government, led for the third time by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be revealed through its policies and actions, indicating the extent of acceptance of the broad political contours of the electoral verdict, albeit subjectively interpreted. Read the full article here.

Mint | India's employment challenge: 20 million jobs need to be created each year

A number of analysts attribute the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) underperformance in the general election to voter unhappiness with the Narendra Modi government over unemployment, job reservations and farmer livelihoods. 

The Agnipath scheme of military recruitment came in for criticism during the election campaign and many political commentators expect that the new government will be compelled to make changes to it. We should view interpretations of election results with some scepticism, but it does appear that the issue of inadequate employment opportunities has bubbled up to the surface of our political ocean.

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Indian Express | Agnipath 2.0: A solution for armed forces and applicants

The future of the Agnipath scheme is a pressing concern for the new government at the Centre. The narrative that this scheme dampened the NDA’s prospects gained momentum during the election campaign. The spokesperson of the JD(U), a key NDA partner, has publicly stated that the scheme upset some sections and needs to be modified. Despite these political rumblings, there is a noticeable lack of specific alternatives to address the original problems that led to the crafting of the Agnipath scheme. This article proposes an “inverse induction model” as a solution to make Agnipath 2.0 meet its operational, political, and fiscal objectives. Read the full article here.

The Hindu | China’s ‘grey-zone’ warfare tactics against Taiwan

The story so far: Since the new Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te has assumed office, all eyes have been on the rocky start to his tenure. While China’s belligerent response to Mr. Lai’s “pro-independence” and “secessionist” statements was striking, it has now resorted to a sophisticated ploy to respond to Mr. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This is often referred to as ‘grey-zone’ warfare, which comprises elements that frustrate Taiwan in a sustained manner. Read the full article here.

Hindustan Times | Developed country ambitions need deep structural reforms

India’s impressive growth performance has raised hopes of it becoming a developed country in the not-too-distant future. The Prime Minister has set 2047, the centenary year of Independence, as the aspirational target year. However, leapfrogging from being a low middle-income economy to becoming a developed country in the next 25 years requires raising the country’s per capita income by more than five times, from $2,600 to $10,205. This effectively translates into a per capita income growth at 7.5% per year and an aggregate Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 9%. Read the full article here.