Digital Sovereignty

Why Indo-Pacific Must Follow Europe’s Push for Digital Sovereignty and Open-Source Tech Independence

A common BIMSTEC policy statement on digital sovereignty would give the region a clearer collective voice and a stronger negotiating footing with foreign companies. Additionally, BIMSTEC can be used to initiate a shift from U.S. cloud storage companies to regional alternatives such as TATA Communications (India) and NIPA Cloud (Thailand).

The Silicon Buffer: Where Does India and South Asia Sit in the US-China Semiconductor Decoupling?

India is carving out a vital role in the global back-end chip infrastructure. Washington actively views India's rise in this sector as a strategic hedge, codifying tech cooperation through bilateral frameworks designed to shift critical supply lines away from East Asia.

India’s A.I. Future Requires a New Approach to Groundwater Governance

The implications of mismanagement extend far beyond groundwater depletion. Foreign investors have withdrawn a record $30 billion from Indian equities so far in 2026. Regional data suggests investors have relocated their withdrawals across Taiwan and South Korea’s AI and semiconductor ecosystems. 

AI and Us: Decision Making Should Not Be Outsourced to AI

AI literacy should become as important as digital literacy. An informed user is ultimately the first and most effective line of defence against blindly accepting what a machine tells us.  

More on AI, Tech and Innovation

Sri Lanka may exhaust $500 million line of credit from India for fuel purchase this month; Colombo seeks further assistance

The crisis has also rocked the country’s political leadership as they face nationwide protests seeking the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa—a demand the government has refused to entertain

India permits Nepal to export 325MW power in its energy market; major energy cooperation in the offing

Once known as a power-starved country, Nepal became a power surplus state last year during the winter months, with its production capacity touching 2000 MW after the commencement of the Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project (456MW)

Pakistan’s trade deficit surges to $35 billion, set to break all records in FY22

Fueled by record import bills due to global high fuel and commodities prices, the trade deficit is expected to touch $45 billion this year by June, surpassing the earlier record of $37.7 billion in FY18

India’s Russian oil purchases minuscule; energy payments not under sanctions, clarifies US; no preaching to India, says Germany

Given India’s pivotal role in the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy and its attempts to curtail China’s influence, Washington has generally been supportive of India despite its neutrality on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its purchases from Russia

India, Australia sign trade pact; Modi calls it a 'watershed moment'

Terming the signing of the pact as another milestone in the growing relationship between India and Australia, Morrison said the agreement further develops on the promise of the burgeoning relationship between the two Indo-Pacific countries that are members of Quad

World Bank approves $250 million for Bangladesh to support post-pandemic growth

“Since 2020, the World Bank has provided over $3 billion to Bangladesh to support emergency response, vaccination, and other Covid-19 recovery efforts,” Mercy Tembon, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune

India bags power projects in northern Sri Lanka earlier awarded to Chinese firm

India was quick to offer grants on the condition  that projects would be developed by Indian firms—an offer Colombo eventually accepted

Amid dollar crunch, Sri Lanka mulls closing down some missions abroad

In February, the country’s foreign exchange reserves dropped to $2.31 billion, with the authorities struggling to pay for the imports of essentials like fuel, food, and medicine

Indian edtech firm BYJU'S named sponsor of the 2022 Qatar World Cup

The Bengaluru-based firm, which offers online education catering to all age groups, also sponsors the Indian cricket team and said the deal was its first major foray into soccer

After India's $1 bn credit line, China considering Colombo’s request for $2.5 bn assistance in economic crisis

In the last few days, at least three people have reportedly died while standing in these long queues due to exhaustion; another man was killed after a brawl over fuel, according to a report by Daily Mirror

Bangladesh achieves 100 percent electrification, announces Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh achieved the enviable target of electrifying every house in the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Monday, almost 13 years after the government launched an ambitious rural electrification program

Ukraine war unlikely to impact Indian economy in a big way

Given the meager oil dependency on Russia and India’s past experience to tackle global oil price shocks, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is unlikely to cause any major impact on the economy, writes S. Majumder for South Asia Monitor

Ten million to get subsidized food in Bangladesh amid skyrocketing inflammation

Over ten million poor people in Bangladesh will receive subsidized food as the government is all set to implement an ambitious scheme aiming to provide relief to poor people being affected by skyrocketing commodities prices

Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis likely to ease as India extends $1 billion line of credit; IMF says exploring all options

Sri Lanka’s crippling energy crisis is expected to ease in the coming days as India extended a $1 billion line of credit, bringing total assistance to Colombo around $2.4 billion since January this year

India needs to expand trade with neighbours: Home Minister

India's Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the country needed to expand trade with the neighbouring countries as in the next ten years it would be among the top manufacturing countries. He, however, did not specify the countries