By engaging Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, India demonstrated its capacity to operate across geopolitical divides while remaining anchored in Global South solidarity. These visits were not isolated diplomatic events but part of a sustained effort to reshape international engagement through inclusivity, responsibility, and shared growth. As global uncertainties persist, India’s outreach to West Asia and Africa strengthens its claim to leadership rooted in partnership and a collective vision for a more equitable world order.

The security situation deteriorated further in 2025. A terrorist attack on a Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts checkpost resulted in two fatalities and one injury, heightening tensions. Protests later resumed in Sost, disrupting trade between Pakistan and China via the Khunjerab Pass. The year culminated in two high-profile attacks on October 5, when unidentified gunmen ambushed Maulana Qazi Nisar Ahmed, Ameer of the Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jamaat in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kohistan, near the police headquarters in Gilgit, injuring him and several others. On the same day, Malik Inayat-ur-Rehman, the Chief Court Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt near the City Hospital.

In 2020, Nepal officially adopted a new map that shows Indian territories of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh as part of Nepal. Nepalese currency is being printed by a Chinese firm, a nearly USD 17 million contract to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPMC),  utilizing advanced Chinese technology and lower costs, with the new bank notes featuring Nepal's new map that includes above-mentioned Indian territories.

‘Bande Mataram’, ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ and ‘Hindu-Mussalman ki Jai’ were the three national slogans proposed by Mahatma Gandhi in consultation with Shaukat Ali in 1920 during the Non-Cooperation Movement, and, much later on August 29, 1947, two weeks after the country’s independence and partition, ‘Bande Mataram’ was sung at his prayer meeting in Kolkata in the presence of both Hindus and Muslims.

NADP carries the 200-year heritage in defence manufacturing of ordnance factories and its evolution into a premier Central Training Institute, recognized by DoPT and accredited as “Ati Uttam” by the Capacity Building Commission. NADP has trained over 20,000 officers from IOFS, IOFHS, IDAS, CLS, Armed Forces, and private defence industries. But we are not just rooted in India—we think global.

What is being done to the Aravallis displays much more than deforestation that extends far beyond Rajasthan and northwestern India. If hills can be eroded through redefinition, forests can be fragmented through classification, water bodies can be diminished through measurement, then survival can be denied through legality. The states are acting like it is trusting paperwork more than the ecosystem and reality.

The impact of the US tariff escalation, particularly on agricultural goods, is expected to be significant as the US is one of the largest importers of Indian agricultural products in FY25 (US$ 5.62 billion), accounting for 10.98 per cent of total Indian exports. While seafood (primarily frozen shrimp) has been the top item, there are others as well, including spices and essential oils, basmati rice, processed fruits and vegetables, and baked foods. These are directly linked to the livelihood of Indian farmers.

The WDMMA report notwithstanding, critical shortages of the IAF in terms of fighter jets and the Indian Army’s helicopter shortages can hardly be ignored. In terms of fighter jet squadrons, the IAF now just about equals that of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). What this means in a multi-front war requires no elaboration...... (and) reports suggesting China supplying 40 J-35 stealth fighters to Pakistan starting 2026 should not be ignored. 

International trade wars, ushered in by Trump, have unfortunately started affecting the green energy transition. Since China has developed a virtual monopoly on a range of green technologies from solar panels to lithium batteries, western governments fear Chinese dominance over important economic sectors and are imposing trade restrictions, putting their own climate targets in doubt. In retaliation, China has used its stranglehold over rare earth minerals by imposing export controls, that are expected to hurt many critical sectors in the West, including green energy technologies.

A nation aspiring to be “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 should be expanding the scope of social citizenship and social security, not shrinking it. Reforming MNREGA was both necessary and desirable. Replacing a justiciable right with a discretionary scheme is neither reform nor progress. It is a constitutional, economic and moral step backward. 

The conventional military doctrine based on guarding territories by large land formation requires to diversify and adopt the postulates of non-contact warfare. In the context of the multi-domain nature of conflicts in the backdrop of modern technologies, the military needs to fight in a dispersed and decentralised manner. The requirement of technically-enabled junior leadership is paramount, making directive style of command pertinent.

In view of global supply chain fragilities and realignments, MNCs are aggressively pursuing “China Plus One strategy” to minimize the potential adverse effects on their supply chains. This provides an opportunity for India to emerge as a viable alternative destination for manufacturing due to its large domestic market, cheap labour costs and strategic location. To lure global corporations  to invest in India requires focus on enabling business policies, infrastructure development, and a greater synchronization between trade, investment, competition policies

One thing is clear: AI is no fad. It’s not even a standalone phenomenon, like the pandemic. It’s fast becoming an intrinsic part of the socio-economic fabric. And while 2025 saw some clear trends emerging, the path forward remains less than certain. The biggest source of uncertainty is whether the current trajectories will yield exponential improvements in capabilities, or will plateau, requiring fresh thinking. 

The rupee’s fall reflects a convergence of factors—a strong global dollar cycle, foreign capital outflows, and a high import bill—playing out simultaneously. Given India’s underlying fundamentals, analysts expect the exchange rate to remain range-bound rather than experience an unchecked slide.

As India aspires to become a knowledge superpower, internationalisation must be embedded at the heart of our higher education strategy. This journey transcends state boundaries. It is a national mission with global consequences. If pursued thoughtfully and inclusively, it can transform not only our universities but also our economy, society, and global standing.