Asia News Agency (ANA) is the original and only diplomatic news consultancy in India and South Asia. It has been serving the India based diplomatic community since 1972 through its editorial services. Among its clients are Ambassadors and High Commissioners of almost all embassies and international organisations based in India.

News behind the News (NbN) is a weekly journal published by Asia News Agency. It is structured to suit the needs of the India based diplomatic community. It analyses week after week, key issues and developments talking place in respect of India’s polity, foreign policy, defence and economy.

Special Studies are prepared by Asia News Agency in partnership with Society for Policy Studies (SPS). These are in the nature of in-depth analytical backgrounders / desk reviews on topics of current interest to its clients.

  • YEARS OF MODI: EVEN AS HE WILL HOLD ON, THE FUTURE IS UNKNOWN

    The BJP government completed seven years in office last week. During these years, the BJP consolidated its political power across most Indian states, while emerging as one of the most dominant national parties. This at a time when the party’s main national opposition, the Indian National Congress, still finds itself lost.

  • NEW IT RULES: GOVERNMENT vs BIG SOCIAL MEDIA

    The new IT Rules for social media, introduced in February, came into effect last week with the govern-ment  asking compliance status from Google, Twitter, Facebook etc.

  • BJP UNDER SERIOUS PRESSURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 7 YEARS

    For the first time in 7 years, the BJP is facing rumblings within the party, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Some say even the RSS is concerned and may step up if things get worse. This is a matter of speculation at present, although further mismanagement of the pandemic is sure to result in fissures becoming open.

  • ISRAELI-PALESTINE CONFLICT: INDIA’S BALANCING ACT

    Even as Israel and Hamas finally announced a ceasefire, India’s policy in the conflict has come in for some scrutiny. In a nuanced statement at the UN, India maintained balance between its historic ties with Pales-tine and its relations with Israel.

  • POLITICAL COSTS FOR BJP AS OPPOSITION GETS ITS ACT TOGETHER

    This study is is 2 PARTS: 1.  OPPOSITION TRYING TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER: Letter from Opposition parties to PM Modi to ‘save’ India, along with suggestions; Congress’ political  offensive;  Uttar Pradesh, a political test case with BJP leaders beginning to  complain; Brand Modi suffers with welfare schemes losing effectiveness. 2.

  • COVID CRISIS: BJP’S IMAGE TAKES A BEATING

    This study is is 3 PARTS: 1. OVERVIEW.  2. OPPOSITION TRYING TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER: Letter from Opposition parties to PM Modi to ‘save’ India, along with suggestions; Congress’ political  offensive;  Uttar Pradesh, a political test case with BJP leaders beginning to  complain; Brand Modi suffers with welfare schemes losing effectiveness. 3.

  • VACCINATION POLICY: FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS

    At the current rate, it will take months to vaccinate around 90 crore of India’s adult population that is eli-gible for vaccination; explains the new policy, states are left to fend for themselves - dual pricing, global procurement by states etc; logistics  bottlenecks; steps to increase vaccine production; addressing shortages by increasing gap of second dose to 12 weeks; understanding the ext

  • COVID CRISIS: FROM BAD TO WORSE; POLITICAL COST

    This study is is 3 PARTS: 1. OVERVIEW.  2. ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS WILL IMPACT NATIONAL POLITICS IN DIFFERENT WAYS: expert view on outcome of the elections; that ‘One nation, one party’ slogan does not work; that ‘One Nation, One Culture’ also will not work; Bigger picture - BJP  has made impressive gains. 3.

  • COVID-19: BLAME LIES WITH LEADERSHIP

    Political implications of mishandling of the pandemic could be grave. Results of  ‘panchayat’ or local body elections in Uttar Pradesh  reveal a considerable weakening of BJP’s rural support base.

  • COVID -19: GOVERNANCE AT BREAKING POINT

    With official Covid infection figures over  the 400,000 milestone and deaths close to  4000,  there is a near collapse of the health infrastructure. The blame game has begun.

  • COVID-19: INDIA IS AT ‘WAR’

    With close to 350,000 cases, nearly 3000 deaths every day and patients dying for lack of oxygen, India is at ‘war’.  The 4 PART STUDY presents an 1. OVERVIEW;  2.

  • THE COVID NIGHTMARE IS BACK

    With the number daily cases crossing 250,000, the impact of the second wave is likely to be worse because new mutants.

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