Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Post 370 Kashmir - Roadmap for the future and Emerging Security Challenges

As Jammu and Kashmir enters the fifth month since the abrogation of Article 370, the national and international media, opposition leaders, and many public intellectuals have continued to repeatedly raise serious concerns about the security and communication lockdown in Kashmir. On November 20, 2019, Majid Memon asked in the Rajya Sabha, "When will complete normalcy return to Kashmir?" The question aptly captures the fears, anxieties, biases and also the superficial understanding of a large segment of commentators repeatedly raising alarm bells over the issue of "normalcy" in Kashmir.

January 06, 2020 Issue Brief

The Larger Cause of National Defence: The CDS and Defence Reforms

Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee, Editor, VIF

… there are many hurdles to cross in our endeavour to reform our system of national defence to meet the parameters of the nation’s military threats, technological and industrial capacities and fiscal affordability… The CDS … would be just one ‘cog’, albeit a central one, in the management of national defence … it would need a conducive ground to perform in the best manner desired ... In order reap the advantages its full measure, there have to be rebuilt the entire system of our defence management – defence reforms, in short …

December 27, 2019 Paper

Cyber Attack on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant – A Wake Up Call

Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

… India is among the top three countries in the world after the U.S. and China when it comes to phishing and malware attacks ... While governments can’t control every aspect of cyber security, they can certainly help shape the future of cyber security based on lessons learned from other nations, threats and technologies ... all stakeholders have to their heads together, identify the vulnerabilities in the critical information infrastructure and take remedial measures in a time bound manner …

December 18, 2019 Paper

Indian Airpower in Irregular Conflicts: A Conceptual Framework

Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Rajesh Isser, AVSM,VM (G)

… Indian airpower has almost continuously been involved in less-than-war and low-intensity or limited conflicts … military helicopter and transport aircraft fleets have put in yeomen service over decades towards this and continue to do so … the Air Force must prepare officers today for the managerial and executive tasks to manage not only people but also ideas and concepts on a broad basis …

December 18, 2019 Paper

J & K : Review of Developments Post the Abrogation of Article 370

Abhinav Pandya

… the old order has come to its justified end. There is however, much harmful weed still occupying critical spaces of socio-political, cultural and religious existence. Building a ‘new order’ in a conflict zone is always a daunting challenge. It cannot happen without out-of-the-box thinking, and accepting the task as a mission to be accomplished with zeal and passion. India knows New Delhi can do it …

October 22, 2019 Paper

Homeland Security Conference 2019, on ‘Innovation led Cyber Security Management’, Jointly Organised by the VIF and the FICCI, 22-23 August 2019, New Delhi

The ‘Homeland Security Conference 2019 on ‘Innovation led Cyber Security Management’ was the 3rd edition, jointly organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), and the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) on 22-23 August 2019, in New Delhi. At the conference, the officials from the Indian government, industry experts, academicians, and researchers from various organisations were together to give a powerful discussion with through process on the effective management of cyber-crime and cyber security in India.

September 19, 2019 Event Report

Accession of Jammu and Kashmir and Constitutional Provisions: A Historical Recount

Major General (Retd.) Ajay Kumar Chaturvedi, AVSM, VSM

… Pakistan is a self-appointed Stake Holder in Kashmir Dispute … has always displayed double standards while dealing with J&K … with this new development she has started becoming fearful about its hold on POJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. No wonder Pakistani leadership is making all efforts to internationalise the issue, though without much success so far … for them it is also a loss of face to their public whom they had been fooling all these years with the slogan, “Kashmir banega Pakistan” … it is also a loss of face for the Pakistan Army who considers itself a custodian of Pakistan …

September 16, 2019 Issue Brief

Research and Development in Cyber Domain and Indian Perspective

Maj Gen P K Mallick, VSM (Retd)

… India has to develop its own technologies, an electronic manufacturing base, R&D infrastructure and a highly skilled human resource… talented professionals available in the cyber eco system have to be brought in for research on indigenization of cyber technologies… Though a little late, but given the required priority, funding and impetus India has the capability to develop indigenous technology in cyber domain …

September 05, 2019 Paper

Chief of Defence Staff: A Far-reaching Decision

Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee, Editor, VIF

… Institution of a body of military professionals to participate in defence policy-making at the apex level, duly empowered in highest level advisory as well as management roles, is a call of strategic wisdom. This call must be attended to with alacrity… institution of a fully empowered CDS being the inaugural step towards that end …

September 03, 2019 Issue Brief

Is Indian Airpower Preparing for Tomorrow’s War?

Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Rajesh Isser, AVSM,VM (G)

… the first step in looking at future threat scenarios is posing some uncomfortable but right questions .. these affect all agencies that contribute in a whole-of-nation approach to conflict management .. An over-investment in current doctrines, concepts and platforms today may close the windows to adapt to future revolutionary changes in the coming decades .. It demands agile, curious, creative and questioning minds to gauze ahead and build adaptive capabilities ...

August 14, 2019 Issue Brief