The Right to Reject: A Major Step Towards Cleansing Public Life

Voters in the five states going to polls this November-December viz Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram, will, for the first time have the right to press the NOTA (None Of The Above) button on their voting machines if they are d....

The Telengana Issue & Pros and Cons of Smaller States

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to look into the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is expected to submit its report to the Union Cabinet before the winter session of Parliament. The high-powered ministerial panel had detailed discussions o....

Urgent Defence Reforms including CDS Need of the Hour

Higher defence management has continued to remain the focus of the politico-military establishment for last several years without much progress having been made in the key areas of defence reforms that have been underway since the Kargil conflict. A ....

Debating Culture; Anirban Ganguly; D K Printworld (P) Ltd, New Delhi, 2013; PP 158; Price Rs 400

Dr Anirban Ganguly’s book Debating Culture discusses the concept of culture in the writings of several outstanding national thinkers. He begins with Swami Vivekananda who had a very catholic and wide interest in both world and Indian art....

Prime Minister’s Visit to Russia and China: New Equations in a Fast Changing Global Order

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s back to back visits to Russia and China from October 20 to 24 reflect the evolution of India’s external relations in a world with shifting power balances and the challenges faced in consolidating relations with tri....

Afghanistan Is Far from Being Lost: A Situation Report From The Ground

First Impressions: Uncertainty, yes; but also Optimism about future The creeping sense of despondency, even defeatism, over the future of Afghanistan post 2014 that seems to have set in among a section of the strategic community and top pol....

When Reservation Becomes Reverse Discrimination

Because India is wedded to the principle of social, economic and political justice and equality of status and of opportunity, it is the fundamental duty of government to ensure this for every citizen of India. That is what the Preamble to the Constit....

Indo-US Defence Trade: Moving to a Higher Trajectory

Contrary to most of the commentary that has appeared in the Indian media, the Obama-Manmohan Singh meeting at the White House on September 26, 2013 was unexpectedly successful in setting the Indo-US strategic partnership on the path to a higher traje....

Economic Impact of ‘People’s War’ in Nepal: A Study

1.0 Background The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) started 'People's War' in Nepal in 1996 with the twin objective of abolishing monarchy and establishing a communist republic. During this conflict, the nation bleeded and suffered heavy ....

Round Table Discussion on Afghanistan

VIF organized a round table discussion focusing on Afghanistan on 11th October 2013. Participants in the discussion included Mr. Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF, Gen. (retd) N. C. Vij, Lt. Gen. (retd) Ravi Sawhney, Amb G. Parthasarathy, Amb S....

Contact Us