Venu Naturopathy

 

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India’s Fiscal Scorecard 2.0: Can It Turn Potential Into Performance In Decade's Second Innings?

India’s states play an outsized role in public spending accounting for nearly +/- 60% of total government expenditure. However, their fiscal health varies greatly across pan India. As someone closely observing both macroeconomic trends and grassroots governance models, I notice a growing divide between states that follow prudent fiscal practices and those still trapped in populist spending cycles.

Guns, Governments and Greed: The Global Nexus of War and Power

When democracies embrace the traits of war economies and view peace as a sign of weakness, we need to question not about those who benefit from war, but rather about those who continue to engage in it. Not only does it include safety, but it also includes power, contracts, careers, and control. 

Op Sindoor: Did India Win Militarily But Lose The Narrative War?

The age of overt, high-visibility strikes is diminishing in returns. Covert operations, cyber infiltration, and disrupting terror logistics silently deliver greater impact at a lower political cost. India needs to establish a dedicated Psychological and Information Warfare Command, rather than relying solely on MEA press briefings or tweets from leaders.

Can BRICS Build to Break the Climate Blockade?

BRICS has the potential—and perhaps the will. Ahead of COP30, it should convene a high-level “Redefining Climate Summit” with other like-minded nations invited to the BRICS table. Let the world know: BRICS can indeed build the force to break the climate blockade. The clock is not ticking anymore. It’s screaming.

More on Spotlight

India’s rise a force for good in the Indo Pacific region

India’s rise provides positive ripple impact to the region and the world, from economic and trade spillover effects to the larger equation of helping to secure and preserve the rules-based order that has been the main bedrock of global trade and maritime capacity, maintaining the sanctity of international law and global norms, and in securing the freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters

Value-neutral journalism a threatened ideal in South Asia

Economic considerations surrounding media ownership in South Asia amplify the difficulties of conducting value-neutral journalism. People and businesses with a strong desire to keep things amicable between governments and public institutions own a lot of big media outlets. Journalists are unable to objectively critique powerful entities due to their reliance on advertising, government contracts, or political patronage. 

India In a challenging neighbourhood: Need to reach non-confrontational equilibrium with China

China’s pervasive and growing economic (finance, infrastructure, trade, and energy sectors), diplomatic, and overt/covert military influence, in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India’s northeastern states, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives, and back to Gwadar in Pakistan is amply evident. The recent bonhomie between Bangladesh and Pakistan, both under China’s influence, raises fresh challenges for India’s security.

Hidden hand behind opposition to Adani wind power project in Sri Lanka?

While a Chinese-backed coal power project in Sri Lanka is being carried out without opposition, Adani’s eco-friendly energy project, which the world is looking to as the energy of the future, is being opposed.

What Trump 2.0 means for Asia: Need to balance national priorities with collaborative efforts

South Asia, home to nearly two billion people, stands at a crossroads as Trump’s policies reshape regional dynamics. India’s growing prominence within the QUAD strengthens its strategic position, but smaller economies like Bangladesh face vulnerabilities.

Trump makes unlikely return to White House - chaos and unpredictability may be new normal for world

The mass deportations - which will potentially affect hundreds if not thousands of South Asians - are not logistically or financially possible and have been pared down by his nominees, limiting it to criminal migrants. 

An Alliance of IITs to tackle the global climate crisis?

A number of leading universities and institutes around the world have initiated net-zero hubs in their campuses but India is the first country to initiate a  collaborative national movement supported by government and industry.  Integrating 23 IITs in this movement will be a groundbreaking concept that can elevate India as the world leader in clean technologies and of skilled human capital.

Politics in the digital abyss: How 'liquid modernity' is shaping populist discourse, particularly in South Asia

Imran Khan’s political journey in Pakistan highlights the transformative power of cyberspace in a liquid modern world. Initially dismissed by critics, Khan leveraged social media to build a narrative of hope and change.  Khan’s PTI has consistently outperformed traditional parties in digital engagement, mobilizing urban youth and the diaspora.

Decolonising the mind: South Asia yet to come out of its British colonial-era laws

If one analyzes the contemporary South Asian legal landscape, one can still see the influence of colonial-era laws and these laws are largely being used to oppress the common people. In Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan one has seen some colonial laws and their oppressive acts being changed and, in some instances, more oppressive ones taking their place. 

Manmohan Singh had an innate vision of India’s greatness

It was an extraordinary speech delivered in the midst of a crisis that had brought India to the precipice of insolvency. Laying out an exhaustive prescription for how he would go about fixing a sick economy, Dr. Singh was sensitive enough to give it a highly optimistic and sanguine touch.

Women beyond their Dalit identity: A feminist moment beyond caste in India

The practices of wearing vermillion on her forehead, a ‘mangalsutra’ (auspicious thread worn by married women in their husband’s name) around her neck, a ‘laal bindi’ (red dot sign that a woman is married) and changing her name to include the name and/or the surname of her patriarch. The claims of patriarchal superiority thus come to embodied in her body, identity, entity, and space. 

Pakistan Supreme Court ruling on May 9 riots has implications for civil-military relations

The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms the pivotal role of the military in Pakistan’s national security framework. While civilian authorities are crucial, the military is often seen as the protector of the nation, especially during times of instability. The Court’s ruling underscores the importance of the military’s involvement in ensuring swift justice for those involved in anti-state activities, particularly when national security is at stake.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A prime minister who saw moderation in politics as a foundational principle

Vajpayee was known to speak slowly, sometimes with long pauses, because he chose his words with utmost care. But in those pithy but strong words lay Vajpayee's innate convictions about his 'idea of India'

One Nation, One Election: Staggered electoral cycle important safeguard of India’s federal structure

The leitmotif of ‘One Nation’ is strongly aligned with the BJP’s policy and rhetoric; consider the 2017 introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (‘One Nation, One Tax’) and the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 (‘One Nation, One Constitution’). The ONOE falls within this inherent paradigm: an overpowering centre under the guise of administrative cost-cutting and electoral efficiency.

Kolkata rape and murder case: Confronting our collective failures

The medic rape-murder case, which captured global attention in an era dominated by the attention economy, had the potential to ignite systemic reforms, given the brutality of the crime. The movement, like many before it, held the power to expose the moral failings of the ruling party in the state. Yet, as so often happens, it faltered within a couple of months—or perhaps was made to falter. Herein lies an uncomfortable reality: we, the aam aadmi (common man), must share the blame.