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India: Where Girls are in Short Supply
India should be booming. It has an enormous and youthful workforce and it is predicted to overtake China as the world's most populous nation by 2030. However, the population figures show a quite startling gender imbalance. That is not an accident
A middle class has emerged, several hundred million Indians have seen lifestyles improve immeasurably and wealth is displayed more conspicuously than ever before. Western attention is often fixated on India's economic growth
India has been consumed by a mixture of doubt, revulsion and a desire for vengeance after the rape and murder of a young physiotherapy student on a bus in the Dehli suburb of Munirka as she returned from a trip to the cinema
30 Million Pilgrims Take Holy Dip at India's Kumbh Mela
In what is described as the biggest human gathering of the world, 30 million pilgrims took the holy dip at the meeting point of the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers at Kumbh Mela in India
Spiritual Guru Launches 'Volunteer for a Better India' Campaign
Thousands of citizens, youth, several civil society organizations and international bodies like UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA on Sunday joined the Art of Living initiative - 'Volunteer for a better India'
India Orders 'Aggressive' Response to Kashmir Provocation
Recent clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbors -- India and Pakistan -- are the worst outbreak of violence in Kashmir since a cease-fire took effect in 2003
BRICs Should Focus on their Own Problems
As the world struggles to deal with its two largest foreign-affairs dilemmas, Syria and Iran, resolutely standing in the way are the BRICs
Identity of 'Mystery' Woman with Indian Contingent Revealed
The identity of the mystery woman who had marched alongside the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games was finally revealed
India's Gambit in the Central Asian Abyss
Central Asia has increasingly dazzled players from near and far, once they've grasped its worth as a crucial source of energy and as a strategic asset. Among these we may count India
India and US Rebalancing Strategy for Asia-Pacific
In the light of the US rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific, the Indian dilemma is how to boost its relationship with the US that can provide an impetus to its economy and defence capability building without antagonising China
The Significance of Connectivity in India - Myanmar Relations
With better connectivity and implementation of various development projects, the Asian Highway would enable the North-East region to become a business hub of South Asia
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Mumbai, India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tries to boost the sluggish economy by cutting interest rates, the third time it has made such move in 2013.
The RBI announced in Mumbai that Reserve Bank Governor Duvvuri Subbarao cut the repurchase rate from 7.50 percent to 7.25 percent, in line with the prediction of 33 of 40 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.
The central bank also said that it has proposed a reduction in the ratio of bonds that local banks are allowed to hold in the held-to-maturity category from 25 percent to 23 percent.
The country's economy has slid, amid weakness in key areas like manufacturing, resulting to lowered growth forecast by the government.
The Indian government released a lower growth forecast earlier this year to 5 percent for the year ending March 31, citing challenges in reviving the economy.
Analysts are concerned that growth could even slow further because of the delays in the implementation of reforms, which have weakened the flow of investment.
This added more pressure to the central bank to step up and take measure that will stimulate growth in Asia's third-biggest economy.
The RBI has said that monetary policy alone is not sufficient to revive growth, adding steps must also be taken to address supply bottlenecks, boost public investment, improve governance and keep fiscal discipline.
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Mumbai, India
Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever Plc announced plans to raise its stake in its Indian unit, at a time when investment by foreign companies to Asia's third-largest economy has slowed down.
The Rotterdam-based company, which sells brands like Lipton tea and Dove shampoo, will invest 292.2bn rupees ($5.4bn) to increase its stake in Hindustan Unilever, representing its biggest deal in more than a decade to help offset slow demand in Europe.
Under the deal, Unilever will purchase 487 million shares for 600 rupees ($11.06) per share, which represents a 21 per cent premium to Hindustan Unilever's stock price of 497.60 rupees at the close.
The global consumer giant is trying to expand its control of India's biggest consumer goods manufacturer amid weak European demand that resulted to its slowest quarterly growth in two years.
Mumbai-based Hindustan Unilever reported a 15 per cent rise in fourth-quarter profit due to lower raw material prices and increased sales from the rural areas.
Hindustan Unilever controls the biggest share of the consumer good market in India, beating rivals Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc and Procter & Gamble Co. Last year, the unit has a 32 per cent share in the country's beauty and personal care market and is predicted to rise further to 44 per cent by 2017, according to Euromonitor Plc data.
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New Delhi, India
Search engine giant Google posted a sketch of India's first passenger train on its India homepage.
The doodle comes as India marks the 160th anniversary of its first passenger train, which ran between Bori Bunder in Bombay and Thane on April 16, 1853. The 34-km distance was covered in 21 minutes.
The Google doodle allows its visitors to embark on a short journey into Indian Railways' history.
The first 'O' of Google doodle is replaced with the front part of the locomotive engine of the passenger train.
Currently, India has world's fourth largest railway network.
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New Delhi, India
India's industrial activity expanded 0.6 per cent in February from a year ago, according to government released data, a signal that the south Asian economy continues to have weak growth.
The latest result, however, beat the median estimate of a 1.0 per cent decline by 16 economists polled by the Dow Jones Newswires. This follows a 2.4 per cent jump in January.
Manufacturing, which accounts for nearly 75 per cent of the nation's Industrial Production Index, expanded by 2.2 per cent in February compared to the same period in 2012.
Indian factories had slower production due to lower demand, more expensive borrowing costs, energy shortages and a lack of urgency in enforcing policy reforms, which have all contributed to the fall of business sentiment in Asia's third-largest economy.
The February reading showed 11-month output for the last financial year ended March 31 increased slightly by 0.9 per cent, in which six of those months saw a contraction.
India's economy is estimated to expand by about 6 per cent in the current fiscal year after growing at an estimated decade-low 5.0 per cent rate in the 2011-12 year, according to government forecast.
While such GDP growth rates are very high by Western standards, it is not enough to provide conditions that can create sufficient employment for a nation of 1.2 billion people with a fast-growing young population.
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New Delhi, India
Novartis' plea to patent a new version of its best-selling Glivec cancer drug was denied by India's Supreme Court.
The Swiss company's legal fight in India began in 2006 after local authorities rejected its patent application for Glivec. The case is one of the several high-profile drug-patent battles that will be key in determining how foreign pharmaceutical companies will compete against Indian manufacturers that make cheaper generic versions.
Some Western firms had previously stated that a court ruling against Novartis could discourage companies from investing more on research.
Glivec, which costs around $2,600 monthly, is used in chronic myeloid leukaemia and other cancer treatment. In India, a generic equivalent could be purchased for about $175.
Glivec, also prescribed by doctors for gastrointestinal tumors, was described to be a breakthrough in cancer treatment after it was developed in the 1990s. However, there were concerns that a patent could make it hard for poorer countries to gain access to generic versions of its products.
India's patent office denied Novartis' application for a Glivec patent on the basis of certain provisions in the country's patent law that includes strict standards for approval of patents.
Novartis applied for a patent in 2006, stating that the new version was easier to absorb and can be used for a fresh patent.
Stabilizing Afghanistan: Role of Key Regional Players
Unless the Central Asian states, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia jointly contribute towards ensuring stability, Afghanistan is likely to fall to the Taliban again or even break up
Despite the unifying power of the monarchy, Thailand remains bedeviled by political tensions and ethnic unrest. These may eventually determine the country's relations with the United States and China
Southeast Asia Between the Giants
China's growing regional presence – not to mention its territorial claims – is prompting many Southeast Asian states to reinvigorate their ties with the United States
India is Winning Soft-Power Battle Against China
India has been reluctant to devise a strategy based on hard power. This helps to explain India's growing consciousness of its soft power - the aspects of Indian society, culture and political values that the world finds attractive
How India Stumbled: Can New Delhi Get Its Groove Back?
India seemed on the brink of becoming the world's next great power. Today, its future appears less certain. Although some have blamed the global economic recession, the real problem is domestic -- namely, the centralized, secretive, and arbitrary political culture that pervades New Delhi
India: Outward-Looking and Inner Turmoil
While India is increasingly considered an emerging global power, it remains a country bedeviled by internal problems. These will inevitably impact upon New Delhi's ability to project power across a multipolar international system
Piracy, not China, the Real Issue in Indian Ocean
When the Seychelles announced the invitation for China to set up a military presence, Indian, American and Taiwanese policy analysts wrote that this was further evidence of a 'string of pearls' strategy to encircle India with naval bases leased by China
Sino-Indian Relations: Mixed Bag of Highs and Lows
2011 witnessed India's firm responses to bilateral issues and China's appreciation of the Indian position, thus providing a positive momentum to India-China relations
Bangladesh: Indigenous Groups Face Land-Grabbing
Northern Bangladesh's mostly Hindu indigenous people are still coming under land-grabbing pressure from the country's predominantly Bengali Muslim population
Pakistan: All-Weather Friendship?
As Pakistan and China reinforce their relationship, questions have arisen around the changing nature of this alliance, the rhetoric that sustains it, and the implications of greater Chinese influence in Pakistan, particularly for the US and India
Mutual distrust between the United States and Pakistan in part results from mistakes and misjudgments by both countries that date back to the 1979-89 Russian occupation of Afghanistan. But at its heart is an American strategy that not only runs counter to Pakistan's interests
India-Afghanistan Partnership Through the Eyes of the Pakistani Media
In the wake of its strategic partnership agreement with India, Afghanistan has become an untouchable, even an 'enemy', for many Pakistani commentators
India Falters in Countering Terrorism
In the wake of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Indian government took some initial steps toward a more robust counterterrorism policy. Since then, however, a spate of deadly attacks on high value targets have continued, most recently against the High Court premises in New Delhi last month
Indian Foreign Policy in Search of a Balance
The Inidan PM's speech in the UN General Assembly shows that Indian foreign policy may be rediscovering age old themes which had become subdued in recent years.
Counterinsurgency and 'Op Sadhbhavana' in Jammu and Kashmir
Critiques of the Indian Army's counterinsurgency practice have overlooked a critical aspect of 'organisational innovation and operational learning' formalised as Op Sadhbhavana
Indian Earthquake Prompts 'Wake-Up Call'
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 18 September in northeastern India which also caused deaths in parts of Nepal and China, serves as a stark warning to the earthquake-prone region, experts say
Karachi's Long Summer of Violence
Karachi is the biggest city in Pakistan. It is the country's commercial hub, financial capital, naval base, and only operational seaport. For the past several months, this city has once again been in the grip of violence
Kashmir Police Question 3 in Delhi Bombing
Just a day after a powerful blast ripped the entrance of New Delhi's High Court, Kashmir police took three men into custody on the basis of an email believed to have been sent by terrorist group Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami
Indian Democracy Gets a Wake-Up Call
Anna Hazare's movement is a populist one, and like all such campaigns offers simplistic solutions to complex problems. Yet there is no doubt that it has galvanized the urban middle class, and if properly channelled could change the trajectory of Indian politics
Pakistan's Shrewd Shift in Dialogue
Pakistan's delegation, led by army chief General Pervez Ashfaq Kayani, cleverly changed the subject. He came armed with a fifty-six page book on ways the United States should do more to help Pakistan. Kayani also left his chief spymaster at home, practically eliminating potential for in-depth counterterrorism debates.
India's Rise, America's Interest
Until the late 1990s, the United States often ignored India. India's weak and protected economy gave it little influence in global markets, and its nonaligned foreign policy caused periodic tension with Washington. When the United States did concentrate on India, it too often fixated on India's military rivalry with Pakistan. Today, however, India is dynamic and transforming.
It's time, I think, to resacralize progress. One way to start is to recognize the rights of native peoples around the world not to be displaced, to see in their determination to remain in reverent connection to a piece of the earth not something quaint and primitive and of value to them alone, but the heart and center of humanity's struggle with itself.
Brazil, China & India Can Mitigate Global Crisis
Brazil, India and even China will not be able, by themselves, to correct the dysfunctions that produced the global crisis. But it is true that the economic power of these three countries can mitigate its negative consequences
The Proxy Wars: Kashmir and Afghanistan
Two of the most restive regions continue to influence the strategic calculations of India and Pakistan. And while the projection of soft power by both countries may prove to be a confidence-building measure, its long-term impact upon regional security dynamics remains far from clear
Opportunistic Countries Ready to Cash In on Afghanistan
Even before forces begin leaving Afghanistan, predator nations are pouring lavish praise and buckets full of cash on Afghan leaders, trying to win access to the nation's vast natural resources
India's Need for Iran's Oil a Sticking Point
The United States is threatening to also sanction India if it doesn't observe U.S. sanctions on Iran
Asia is currently in the middle of an unprecedented arms race that is sharpening tensions in the region and competing with efforts to address poverty and growing inequality
A steady improvement in India's economy, together with politico-economic changes in its neighborhood, are prompting a re-examination of the national interest in New Delhi
Isolation and Poverty Loom for Asia's Aging Population
Asia has one of the largest concentrations globally of aging persons, creating a host of potential challenges
United States Reacts to Indian Government's Efforts to Censure Online Content
The United States issued a cautious reaction to the recent requests by India to social networking sites to take down potentially offensive content
Economic Growth Slows in India
Economic growth in India slowed during the third quarter falling to 6.9 percent from 7.7 percent for the previous quarter
India: Border Killings Mount Despite No-Shooting Decree
The death toll at the Bangladesh-India border continues to mount three months after the Indian government instructed its border security forces to stop shooting civilians suspected of being undocumented migrants or a threat to national security
India-China Economic Dialogue: A View from Beijing
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh agreed to establish a regular bilateral strategic economic dialogue mechanism during Wen's visit to India last December, and the first one-day meeting of the China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on 26 September
South China Sea Disputes: Why conflict is Not Inevitable
The South China Sea issue and China's position on it have become subjects of much deliberation, especially since the ASEAN Regional Forum Meeting at Hanoi last July. It is generally believed that the South China Sea will emerge as the hot-spot of conflict in the coming years. Here's why
A Nuclear Retaliation Alternative for India
Since the infliction of unacceptable damage may not deter Pakistan from breaking the nuclear taboo, a 'tit for tat' strategy in case of lower order nuclear use is worth considering
India: No Counter-Revolution Please
Adopting constitutional means and respecting the political process is the only way to achieve sustainable change in Indian politics. The goal of eradicating corruption may be worthy, but Anna Hazare's means are blatantly wrong and ultimately dangerous. It is time this message is delivered to him, loud and clear
Brazil and IBSA: Blueprint for Future Cooperation?
IBSA, comprised of India, Brazil, and South Africa, has improved trade and cooperation among the countries since 2003 IBSA is notable for its South-South cooperation and anti-hegemonic rhetoric However it is not necessarily an easy model for other Southern nations
A Low in Cycle of United States - Pakistan Ties
Osama bin Laden's death during an American raid on his compound in Abottabad, Pakistan, not far from Pakistan's premier military academy, has pushed U.S.-Pakistan relations to a 'new low,' says Hassan Abbas. Abbas says this is typical of the recent rocky relationship the two countries, which need each other but also undercut each other at crucial times
The Future of the Liberal World Order
There is no longer any question: wealth and power are moving from the North and the West to the East and the South, and the old order dominated by the United States and Europe is giving way to one increasingly shared with non-Western rising states. But if the great wheel of power is turning, what kind of global political order will emerge in the aftermath?
Strategic Implications of Osama bin Laden's Death
The death of Osama bin Laden is unlikely to have much of a tactical impact on the wider jihadist movement, but the killing does carry significant implications for U.S. foreign policy moving forward
Much has been made of U.S. President Barack Obama's pledge to support India's push for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which was offered during his November trip to India, but the real story from his visit was its implications for bilateral military trade.
Who Will Be the New Global King of the Hill
China and India stopped being part of what was called the third world when the Communist world disappeared in a shattering of global illusions in 1989. Since then there has been a search to find a new King of the Global Hill. The United States rejoiced for a few years in being the sole superpower, considering it an opportunity to remake the world according to its own advantage.
Interview with India's Environment Minister
India and China have long maintained their economic growth will suffer if they accept binding emission targets under an international agreement on climate change. Instead, they have called for mitigation commitments by the developed world and financial support from rich countries to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
Working Together, Brazil, Russia, China and India Increase Leverage
In 2003, a report authored by Goldman Sachs economists popularized the term BRICs -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- to describe a whole new category of emerging-market powerhouse. The report argued that with sound political leadership and relative international stability, the BRIC economies would together outpace the original G6 industrialized nations in dollar terms by 2040 -- a fundamental shift in the global balance of power. Since then, these four countries have assumed ever-greater importance in the international investment community's collective imagination.
Beginning of the Countdown to Sectarian End-Game in Pakistan?
The Pakistani leadership has apparently come to the point where it realises that for the survival of the country and its structures, it must buy peace for the present with India
On Iran, India Is of Two Minds
India's growing economy needs a steady diet of Iran petroleum and resents pressure to join the sanctions regime. On the other hand, India isn't anxious to see another Muslim nuclear power emerge
Japan and India: Making Up for Lost Time
India and Japan have had their historical ups and downs. Now, wariness of China and common interests in the Asia-Pacific region are bringing Japan and India together
How to Spot a Growing Military Power
Will Asia's growing economic power be accompanied by a similar rise in its military power? This is a key question for today's policy-makers searching for signs of a shift in the world's military balance
Don't Expect India to Come to the Rescue
Indians do not have much understanding of European crises. If European woes are the reward for fiscal improvidence, Indian governments should have collapsed long ago
Changing Geopolitics and Tasks Before Indian Foreign Policy
While India's ability to handle the challenges may be constrained by a slowing economy, it would need to manage them through requisite diplomatic skill and finesse
'Enclave' Residents Campaign for Citizenship
Thousands of ethnic Bengalis living near the Bangladesh-India border have for decades found themselves citizens of one nation but bound within the sovereign territory of another. In recent months they have escalated their campaign for a land swap that will align their citizenship with cartography
Australian PM Supports Lifting Ban on Uranium Sales to India
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed support for allowing the sale of uranium to India in the near future
Should India Join the Sovereign-Wealth-Fund Herd?
In 2007 China set up its sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment Corporation, with an initial capital fund of $200 billion. Since then, Asia's other emerging economic power -- India -- has been wondering if it should follow. Such a move is ill-advised and that India has more worthy investment opportunities at home
Strategic Partnership with Afghanistan: India Showcases Soft Power
If India is able to sustain a comprehensive partnership with Afghanistan in trying circumstances, it would serve as a model for managing its relationships with other neighbors
Afghanistan: The Regional Complex
Afghanistan's war enters its second decade with the Taliban emboldened and the United States enfeebled. But the power-play between Pakistan, India and China is also now central to an assessment of what comes next
The India - Bangladesh Border: A New Beginning
In the wake of the resolution of several contentious issues, India and Bangladesh must cooperate to create a border that not only enhances trade efficiency but is also secure
There has been no serious study comparing the political trajectories of India and Pakistan. Those who have tried to fill this gap have attributed India's democracy to Hinduism and Pakistan's autocracy to Islam. Fortunately, Philip Oldenburg, a research scholar at Columbia University, is wise enough not to resort to such sociocultural explanations
The Difficulty of Integrating Rising Powers
A major strategic challenge for the United States in the coming decades will be integrating emerging powers into international institutions. The dramatic growth of Brazil, China, and India -- and the emergence of middle-tier economies such as Indonesia and Turkey -- is transforming the geopolitical landscape and testing the institutional foundations of the post-World War II world order
Indian Cuisine: Healthy and Delicious
Fragrant curry, simmering dal, colorful tandoori, spicy korma -- the aromatic, delicious foods of India, with their incredible range of spices, flavors, foods, colors, textures and ingredients, speak for themselves. Looking beyond taste, however, how does Indian food rate in healthiness?
Interdependency Theory: China, India and the West
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the economies of North America and Europe remain fragile while those of Asia continue to grow. This is especially true in the cases of China and India, which both boast near double-digit rates of growth and have therefore inspired confidence around the region. But too many commentators discuss China and India with breathless admiration
No 'I' in 'Team,' but Plenty of 'I' in India
A new government report lists 22 nations that maintain significant business relationships with Iran, despite new United Nations sanctions and even more restrictive laws enacted in Europe and the United States. But one nation dominates the list -- India allows more companies to do business with Iran than any other
The Rise of Asia's Universities
The rapid economic development of Asia since World War II has forever altered the global balance of power. These countries recognize the importance of an educated work force to economic growth, and they understand that investing in research makes their economies more innovative and competitive.
Elections Give India's Congress Party Clout to Push Agenda
For nearly a year, an unmanageable coalition government in India has obstructed the ruling Congress Party's policy agenda and brought the country's economic reform process to a grinding halt. Now that an impressive electoral triumph in national parliamentary elections held in April and May has allowed the party to shed unreliable allies, can its leaders move the country in a more market-friendly direction. There are grounds for both caution and optimism
India's Fortune: Prospects of a Country on the Rise
Nandan Nilekani's book, Imagining India, charts how India arrived at the potentially transformative moment it has reached today and describes the gargantuan challenges the country will have to overcome if it is to fulfill that potential
Indian Ocean: Center Stage for 21st Century Struggles Between India & China
Competition between India and China suggests that the Indian Ocean is where global struggles will play out in the twenty-first century. The old borders of the Cold War map are crumbling fast, and Asia is becoming a more integrated unit, from the Middle East to the Pacific.
