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“India’s Defence Tech Dilemma: Friends Who Share—and Friends Who Sell”

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               (Rafael Multirole Comabt Aircraft) India’s defence procurement history is a useful laboratory for understanding different exporters’ approaches to technology transfer. Over seven decades New Delhi has received everything from fully licensed Soviet production lines to buy-and-offset Western packages. Two broad patterns stand out: Russia (and earlier the Soviet Union) has been prepared to give India deep access, local assembly and licensed production; France has often accepted industrial partnerships and meaningful offsets (and, more recently, parts-making in India); the United States, by contrast, has favoured controlled sales, foreign-military-sales (FMS) frameworks and strict export controls that limit transfer of the most sensitive technologies. Below I unpack why those differences exist, and use concrete Indian examples — MiG, Su-30, Mirage, Rafale and T-90 — to illustrate the political, industrial and legal drivers. 1) Histori...

Putin’s Diplomatic Chess vs. Trump’s Tariff Wars: The Shifting Global Order and the Emerging Russia-China-India Axis

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Image Source:- The Atlantic   In the volatile arena of international relations, where perception and foresight can often be as powerful as nuclear warheads, the contrast between Vladimir Putin ’s geo-strategic maneuvering and Donald Trump ’s erratic tariff wars has been one of the defining features of the 21st-century world order . Putin, often portrayed as a cold and calculating strategist, has consistently shown an ability to anticipate moves on the global chessboard, using limited resources with maximum impact. Trump, on the other hand, carried the brashness of a businessman into diplomacy, preferring transactional deals and tariff wars even against America’s closest allies. The divergence between these approaches has had far-reaching consequences. Putin’s Russia , though economically weaker compared to the United States, has managed to punch far above its weight by leveraging diplomacy, military presence, and long-term alliances. Trump’s America, meanwhile, alienated key allie...

Exporting Democracy, Importing Chaos: The U.S. Middle East Strategy

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Image Courtesy:- Middle East Daily For more than half a century, the United States has had a complicated, often paradoxical, relationship with the Middle East. From toppling governments to installing client regimes, from launching military interventions to exiting warzones abruptly—leaving chaos in its wake—America’s engagement with the Middle East reflects a strange mix of strategic obsession, ideological ambition, economic interest, and deep-rooted delusion. Despite investing trillions of dollars, losing thousands of soldiers, and facing severe backlash at home and abroad, the U.S. continues to insert itself into the volatile politics of the region. The central question remains: Why is America so fascinated with Middle Eastern regimes, and why does it so often leave empty-handed, disillusioned, and morally conflicted after each intervention?** This blog explores the motivations behind U.S. involvement in the Middle East, the history of regime changes, the psychological and ideologica...

India's Household Debt Boom: A Subprime Crisis in the Making?

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India's economic growth narrative has long been underpinned by robust domestic consumption. However, recent trends indicate a shift towards increased reliance on debt to fuel this consumption, raising concerns about financial stability. The surge in unsecured personal loans, primarily for consumption rather than asset creation, mirrors patterns observed in the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis. This blog delves into the data and trends that suggest India could be on the brink of a similar financial upheaval. Data Contrary:- Economic Survey Of India The Surge in Household Debt As of June 2024, India's household debt stood at 42.9% of GDP , a significant rise from 36.6% in June 2021 . This increase is primarily driven by a surge in unsecured personal loans, which grew by 20.6% year-on-year in the first half of FY25 . Notably, unsecured loans now constitute 19.7% of GDP, reflecting a growing reliance on short-term credit for consumption. Consumption Over Asset Creation A concerning ...

The Double-Edged Sword: America’s Dual Stance on Terrorism and the Pakistan Conundrum

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  (Image Courtesy:- Getty Images) The United States has long positioned itself as a global leader in the fight against terrorism. From the ashes of 9/11 to military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond, America has spent trillions combating extremist threats. However, behind its loud condemnations and costly wars lies a more shadowy and controversial side — one of selective engagement, covert operations, and strategic partnerships with nations like Pakistan, which have themselves been accused of nurturing terrorist ideologies and groups. This duality — condemning terrorism while, at times, condoning or enabling it — has led to far-reaching consequences, not only destabilizing regions but also backfiring on American interests. The entanglement with Pakistan, a country repeatedly accused of harboring terrorist networks, offers a stark case study of this paradox. Part I: The Ideological War Against Terrorism After 9/11, President George W. Bush declared a "War on Terror,"...

The Rising Dragon: How Chinese Technology Challenges American Dominance and Sparks Insecurity

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             (Image Courtesy:- Global Times) For decades, the United States has been the undisputed leader in global technology, home to Silicon Valley giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. However, the 21st century has witnessed the meteoric rise of China, transforming from a manufacturing hub to a tech superpower. With strategic state-backed investments and ambitious innovation goals, China now poses a significant challenge to American tech dominance. This shift, coupled with deep interdependencies between the two nations’ tech sectors, has ignited anxieties among U.S. firms about intellectual property theft, supply chain vulnerabilities, and market competition. This blog explores how China’s technological ascendancy threatens U.S. hegemony and why this rivalry will shape the future of global innovation. China :- Late Pinnacle Of AI and Chip :- Over the past decade, China has surged ahead of the United States in several foundational technology do...

Indian Start-ups:- Mirage or Missed Opportunity

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                          Image Courtesy:- INC4 In recent years, the global tech landscape has witnessed an intense startup boom, with both India and China emerging as major hubs. However, a critical analysis reveals a striking divergence: while Chinese startups have rapidly advanced in artificial intelligence (AI), deep tech, and next-gen innovation, Indian startups have largely confined themselves to consumer-centric, service-based models. This begs the question—why is India, with its vast talent pool and growing digital economy, not producing global leaders in AI and future-defining technologies? The Statistical Landscape: India vs. China in the Startup Ecosystem Before diving into qualitative factors, let’s examine some quantitative contrasts that highlight the disparity:   1. Unicorn Count and Valuation: - China: Over 340 unicorns as of 2023, with valuations often exceeding $1 billion in deep-tech, AI, biotech, a...