Policy UpdateAsmatwaliBackgroundIndia’s diaspora in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries numbers approximately 9.7 million out of a total overseas Indian population of 35.4 million, according to data submitted to Parliament by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra...
Policy UpdateAsmatwaliBackgroundOn 17 September 2025, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh, formalising decades of informal Pakistan-Saudi security cooperation into a binding...
Policy UpdateSaachi SaxenaBackgroundIndia’s rapid urbanization has made cities the engines of economic growth while simultaneously increasing their exposure to climate-related risks. According to the World Bank (2025), India’s urban population is projected to increase from 480 million in 2020...
Policy UpdateHimanshi SinghBackgroundThe old buyer-seller connection has given way to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India. India signed a deal with the Kingdom to create the Strategic Partnership Council...
Policy Update Dolly KaushikBackgroundIndia-ASEAN relations have grown into one of the central drivers of Indo-Pacific stability and economic integration. Over three decades, bilateral engagement has moved from early dialogue mechanisms to a full Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.This evolution began with...
Policy Update AsmatwaliBackgroundFollowing the outbreak of a US-Israel military campaign against Iran on 28 February 2026, Iranian forces declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed”, attacking merchant vessels and laying sea mines to enforce the blockade (Wikipedia contributors, 2026a). The...
Policy UpdatePritha ChowdhuryBackgroundInnovation has become a major driver of economic growth and global competitiveness. Countries investing heavily in research and development (R&D), such as the United States, China, South Korea, and Germany, have established leadership in advanced technologies. However,...
Policy UpdateShruti SethiBackground Youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent concerns in India’s labour market despite recent improvements. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025 reports that India’s youth (15-29 years) unemployment rate declined to 9.9% from 10.3% in...
Session ReportMadhesh Raj P RWith the growing challenges of climate change around the world, it has become imperative that governments address them through litigation to ensure the conservation of their respective natural environments. The speaker for the session, Mr...
Policy UpdateSudeepti JoshiBackgroundRail transport has traditionally been a more cost-efficient mode of freight transportation than road. But in India, it has remained a problem due to the coexistence of freight and passenger services on the same rail routes, and...
