Australian Strategic Policy Institute | Chinese soldiers gear up for winter warfare

China is putting great effort into developing its soldiers’ ability to operate in high-altitude and cold environments, increasing its military capacity relative to India. Skills as simple as shovelling snow have become part of combat training exercises. Equipment, facilities and procedures are being improved in what appears to be a highly systematic approach to mitigating the challenges of moving and fighting in the Himalayas and adjacent areas.

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Mint | Five steps for India’s new government to get its data act together

Reform India’s statistical system. We need a data glasnost, a population census, closer tracking of the labour market, an effort to fix bugs in GDP estimation, and separate statistical tools employed by states. The story of our economic emergence must be free of distortions.

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Observer Research Foundation | Higher Defence Organisation Reforms in India

The concept of ‘revolution in military affairs’ (RMA)a incorporates the integrated capabilities of the armed forces to create a unified fighting force. In India, these efforts have resulted in Higher Defence Organisation (HDO) reforms in the past decade, notably in the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post, envisioning Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs), and incorporating ‘jointness’ efforts in the overall Indian military doctrine. With India’s national security interests being threatened by the highly integrated Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), India’s HDO reforms are a step in the right direction. However, these reforms are not without challenges.

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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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