Blogs and Articles

Black Sea Strategic Significance in the Russia–Ukraine Conflict The Black Sea is a semi-enclosed strategic water body linking Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Mediterranean through the Turkish Straits. Its significance has grown amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict, as it has become simultaneously a military theatre, an energy corridor, a grain-export route and a strategic maritime […]

Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change Indicators & Water Availability Himalayan glaciers constitute one of the world’s major high-altitude freshwater stores and are often described as the “Water Towers of Asia.” They perform a dual function: they act as indicators of climate change through changes in mass, thickness and velocity, while also regulating downstream river discharge through

Industrial Heat Electrification in India: Opportunities and Challenges for MSMEs Industrial Heat Electrification in India can simultaneously advance India’s goals of decarbonisation, energy security and manufacturing competitiveness. Industrial heat refers to the thermal energy required for processes such as heating, drying, boiling, melting, curing and steam generation, which remains substantially dependent on fossil fuels in

Introduction The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) was launched in 2000 to provide enhanced food security to the “poorest of the poor”, particularly households facing extreme economic and social vulnerability. The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 retained AAY as a distinct category, providing 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month, unlike the per-capita entitlement

Introduction Wetlands are ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and associated plant and animal life. India’s wetlands include lakes, marshes, mangroves, estuaries, floodplains and man-made wetlands. They act as “natural infrastructure” by supporting biodiversity, water security, livelihoods and climate resilience. Importance of Wetlands Biodiversity conservation: Wetlands provide breeding, feeding and nesting

Introduction The Finance Commission, constituted under Article 280, is a constitutional mechanism for addressing vertical fiscal imbalance between the Union and States and horizontal fiscal disparities among States, thereby strengthening India’s fiscal federal compact. The Sixteenth Finance Commission (FC-16), while retaining States’ share of the divisible pool at 41%, has significantly reoriented grants-in-aid towards local

NATO’s Strategic Transition: Greater European Responsibility and Implications for India NATO’s Strategic Transition marks a significant evolution in global security as Europe assumes greater conventional defence responsibilities while the United States continues to provide strategic deterrence and critical military enablers. Driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, changing U.S. strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific, and long-standing burden-sharing

Body I. Critical Minerals and Their Strategic Importance 1. Energy Security and Clean-Energy Transition India’s transition towards renewable energy, electric mobility and battery storage will substantially increase demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and copper. Any disruption in their supply can therefore slow India’s decarbonisation efforts and increase the cost of achieving its climate and

Introduction Public health focuses on population-level disease prevention, health promotion, surveillance and creation of healthy living conditions, whereas healthcare primarily focuses on diagnosis and treatment of individuals. Public health focuses on population-level disease prevention, health promotion, surveillance and creation of healthy living conditions, whereas healthcare primarily focuses on diagnosis and treatment of individuals. The constitutional

Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) Notification for the Western Ghats: Challenges, Significance & Way Forward Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) Notification for the Western Ghats has become one of the most significant environmental governance issues in India. The Western Ghats are among the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, yet implementing the ESA notification has remained challenging due to