News for 'Institute of Defence Studies'

'FDI drains India's resources'

'FDI drains India's resources'

Rediff.com10 Aug 2016

'We are allowing FDI on the terms of the investors, multinationals.' 'We bow down to whatever they say.' 'When they say you open this sector, we open that sector.'

Why do TV channels play the divisive game?

Why do TV channels play the divisive game?

Rediff.com17 Oct 2018

'Embedded with the divisive regime, they administer heavy doses of the opium of religion and nationalism day in and day out,' observes Mohammad Sajjad.

Think tanks help the nation's intellectual churn

Think tanks help the nation's intellectual churn

Rediff.com19 Aug 2014

I still believe that it is a good thing that think tanks are mushrooming in Delhi. They provide a platform for discussion, even if they shed more heat than light. With Parliament almost incapable of serious debate, informed discussion and civilised discourse, where does this nation get its intellectual churn, asks Mohan Guruswamy.

'With Pakistan, where is the question of trust?'

'With Pakistan, where is the question of trust?'

Rediff.com5 Jan 2016

'The message to India is (with attacks like Pathankot) basically what the Pakistani army is trying to test is how serious are you when it concerns the peace process with that country.'

'If it loses its minority character it will be the end of AMU'

'If it loses its minority character it will be the end of AMU'

Rediff.com9 Feb 2016

'AMU is a secular university with an Islamic ethos.' 'We do not discriminate on the basis of religion. Let me tell you Muslims do not need reservations. They need affirmative action in education.'

Why India-China friction persists

Why India-China friction persists

Rediff.com14 Feb 2014

'After more than 20 years of understanding, nothing much seems to have been achieved. What the two countries have been trying to do is to manage the recurrence of border incursions. The two sides must address the disease, and not the symptom of the disease,' says Rup Narayan Das.

Sheena Bora Case: So was it Sheena's skull?

Sheena Bora Case: So was it Sheena's skull?

Rediff.com10 Jan 2020

The software had, perhaps unknown to Dr Tripathi, tracked the changes he had made. The 'morph track' feature of the software provided a trail of what had been done and also indicated that the doctor had, it seemed, opted to morph Sheena's face with the provided skull, much in the same manner that Fantamorph can turn a woman into a cheetah.

'Kashmir is a battle of the mind'

'Kashmir is a battle of the mind'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2017

'Tying somebody to the jeep is not the military way, but the officer was able to come out of the situation without any bloodshed.' 'I am not supporting him, but I am also not criticising him.' 'He had to use some mechanism to save the uniformed personnel, many of whom were Kashmiri boys of the J&K police,' points out Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar (retd), who was instrumental in the surrender of a record 1,267 terrorists in Kashmir.

Lessons for India from the US cyber espionage saga

Lessons for India from the US cyber espionage saga

Rediff.com19 Nov 2013

Today, the biggest challenge for any state is to evolve indigenous hardware options. It is important for the states like Germany, India etc to increase their stakes in the global IT setup and this could allow them to control the US domination, says Ajey Lele.

'Modi is going to put a major imprint on India's foreign policy'

'Modi is going to put a major imprint on India's foreign policy'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2015

'If his three priorities are the economy, the economy, the economy, then there is need for a stable region, a stable neighbourhood.'

How we can build 'Indianness'

How we can build 'Indianness'

Rediff.com27 May 2014

The new government has to make conscious efforts to rebuild social equality and bring the people together.

India's secret project in Karnataka to build H-bomb: Report

India's secret project in Karnataka to build H-bomb: Report

Rediff.com17 Dec 2015

India has built two top-secret facilities in Karnataka to enrich uranium in pursuit of its hydrogen bomb dream.

'Pakistan has to be given the message that we will keep hitting you'

'Pakistan has to be given the message that we will keep hitting you'

Rediff.com18 Feb 2019

'A conventional war is not in fashion today and not seen as being able to deliver the objective.' 'Perhaps surgical strikes that are deeper, this time not on Pakistan's terrorist facilities, but on Pakistan army facilities.' 'The nation has to be prepared for losses.' 'War is not something that can be pussyfooted around.' 'If we go for limited number of posts in Kashmir, these are very difficult posts to capture and very difficult operations.' 'Be prepared for 200 to 300 killed.'

Terror is gravest threat to world, says PM in Mozambique

Terror is gravest threat to world, says PM in Mozambique

Rediff.com7 Jul 2016

Amid a spurt in terror attacks in various countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said terrorism is the "gravest threat" to the world, "equally impacting" India and Mozambique which agreed to strengthen security and defence ties and bolster cooperation in food security.

What Modi can expect from Trump

What Modi can expect from Trump

Rediff.com27 Feb 2017

'Trump's stated strong stance against Islamist extremism and terrorism could play into the Indo-US relationship.' 'It could mould US attitude and exert pressure on Pakistan.' 'In the event of US military presence in Afghanistan increasing, however, Pakistan could gain an opportunity to again emphasise its importance.'

2019: The year in photos

2019: The year in photos

Rediff.com2 Jan 2020

We sorted through countless photographs taken around the world to come up with the top photos of 2019. Together these images tell the story of the year -- capturing moments of hope and heartbreak, triumph and tragedy.

Why US threats no longer perturb Pakistan

Why US threats no longer perturb Pakistan

Rediff.com22 Feb 2018

'If the US intention was to use the FATF platform to isolate Pakistan and impose sanctions against it, that is not going to work when influential countries such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia will not lend support to the US campaign,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

MUST READ: The Narendra Modi Interview

MUST READ: The Narendra Modi Interview

Rediff.com2 Jan 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on range of issues -- from Rafale deal to Ram temple and triple talaq.

Mr PM, what were you trying to tell the nation?

Mr PM, what were you trying to tell the nation?

Rediff.com4 Sep 2017

'The BJP has sent out a message that its allies are at its mercy.' 'The allies cannot pressurise or bargain with the BJP any more,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

India Shining! Precious forest land wiped away for 23,716 industrial projects

India Shining! Precious forest land wiped away for 23,716 industrial projects

Rediff.com3 Jun 2016

The government may claim planted trees compensate for forests lost, but that does not mean complex flora and fauna destroyed have been restored, points out Himadri Ghosh.

Three issues for Modi and Xi to consider

Three issues for Modi and Xi to consider

Rediff.com10 Oct 2019

'This novel format of diplomacy -- the informal summit -- will not only facilitate bilateral communication and reduce miscalculations at the very top level of the two governments, but possibly open the space for China and India to speak in one voice on various issues of mutual concern,' note Feng Renjie and Ding Kun Lei

How World War II changed India

How World War II changed India

Rediff.com24 May 2016

'The origins of the model of planned economic development adopted by independent India was a direct consequence of the war.' 'The war provided an opportunity for groups at the margins of Indian society to find new avenues for mobility.' 'The war also led to the emergence of India as a major Asian power and set the stage for it to play a wider role in international politics.'

Sheena Bora Trial: And Peter's back!

Sheena Bora Trial: And Peter's back!

Rediff.com24 Jul 2019

The warmest reception came from his soon-to-be ex wife Indrani, who on spying him getting out of the lift, muttered an "Oh dear!" and walked over to him, trailed by her police guards, wreathed in high-wattage smiles.

The implications of President Park's state visit to India

The implications of President Park's state visit to India

Rediff.com20 Jan 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to India will enhance economic and military ties between the two countries and give the relationship a strategic dimension, says Jiye Kim.

Sheena Bora Trial: Why does Indrani now want a lie detector test?

Sheena Bora Trial: Why does Indrani now want a lie detector test?

Rediff.com14 Feb 2019

Happy with her latest move, Indrani departed from Courtroom 51 with a spring in her step. The woman who hopped up into the jail truck was a cheerful one.

Indian Muslims are patriots; have avoided lure of ISIS: Rajnath

Indian Muslims are patriots; have avoided lure of ISIS: Rajnath

Rediff.com19 Mar 2015

"Just a handful of Indian youth have joined the ISIS. Some have also returned after being persuaded by their families," asserted the home minister.

Why India needs a revamp of its security policy

Why India needs a revamp of its security policy

Rediff.com4 Nov 2014

It is time the new government, unencumbered with the burden of past, initiates a wide ranging review and open debate on the security issues to rectify our short term and long term shortcomings. It has taken some wise steps but has to go beyond this to identify the structural weakness and create systems, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.

Is Hamid Ansari right?

Is Hamid Ansari right?

Rediff.com2 Sep 2017

'Is Ansari flagging a genuine concern? Is a rectification called for?' 'And finally: Do minorities matter?' asks Shekhar Gupta.

Why do we treat our soldiers like this?

Why do we treat our soldiers like this?

Rediff.com11 Jan 2017

'We owe our existence to the men in uniform, and we owe it to them to cleanse the armed forces by driving away every bit of corruption that eats into it,' argues Sudhir Bisht.

Preventing another Pathankot: A soldier's solution

Preventing another Pathankot: A soldier's solution

Rediff.com2 Jan 2016

'Attempts at long-term rapprochement have been rather feeble from both sides. The primary cause of the lack of progress is that these efforts do not appear to have the support of the Pakistan army,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

Why the IAF needs a specialist intelligence branch

Why the IAF needs a specialist intelligence branch

Rediff.com11 Jan 2016

The Indian Army and more recently the Indian Navy have already set up dedicated intelligence branches. It is surprising indeed that the IAF, where real time and timely intelligence is most vital for effective and safe prosecution of the air war, has still not done so itself, says Group Capt (retd) P I Muralidharan.

How Indian soft power can overwhelm Pakistan

How Indian soft power can overwhelm Pakistan

Rediff.com31 Oct 2016

'Openness is a great weapon in the armoury of more open societies. That's why the fight with Pakistan isn't just about India be six times bigger, but equally bitter and insecure Pakistan,' argues Shekhar Gupta.

'If Nehru had declared his intention to attack, then the Chinese were not going to wait'

'If Nehru had declared his intention to attack, then the Chinese were not going to wait'

Rediff.com18 Mar 2014

No account of the 1962 war could be complete without Maxwell's authoritative analysis. Which is why we are reprinting this article which was run on Rediff.com in June 2001.

'People seem to be mesmerised by Modi'

'People seem to be mesmerised by Modi'

Rediff.com24 May 2017

'The BJP has latched on to the idea of nationalism, but the nationalism they advocate is not nationalism as we have understood it since the time of the freedom movement.' 'This is not secular nationalism, it is Hindu nationalism.' 'It is a form of nationalism that is exclusionary and it tends to conflate national interest with the government.' 'So, if you disagree with the government, for example, on surgical strikes or demonetisation, you are anti-national or holder of black money.'

'Kerala incident is a huge violation of child rights'

'Kerala incident is a huge violation of child rights'

Rediff.com16 Jun 2014

J Sandhya, member, Child Rights Commission, speaks to Shobha Warrier about the recent incident where more than five hundred poor children from Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal were being sent to Kerala orphanages, and why children's rights need to be protected with vigour.

Aadhaar is based on unscientific thinking, fallible biometric data

Aadhaar is based on unscientific thinking, fallible biometric data

Rediff.com21 Nov 2017

Biometric authentication is based on the unscientific and questionable assumption that there are parts of human body that does not age, wither and decay with the passage of time.

China's mandarins get candid about problems ahead

China's mandarins get candid about problems ahead

Rediff.com19 Mar 2015

Premier Li Keqiang highlighted his government's performance in the last one year and the challenges ahead in various fields. Compared to other reports by his predecessors, Li spoke more frankly about the mounting challenges faced by the country. Srikanth Kondapalli on the two recent Chinese parliament sessions.

Why Indian nationalism must win over Macaulayan ideas

Why Indian nationalism must win over Macaulayan ideas

Rediff.com17 Jun 2014

In the second and final part of his column, Col Anil Athale says the fight between forces of Indian nationalism and Macaulayism aided and abetted by West is going to be long, hard and dirty. The outcome will decide whether India becomes a superpower or continues to wallow in the swamp of underdevelopment.

'Ayurveda is medicine with intelligence, modern medicine is like a bullet'

'Ayurveda is medicine with intelligence, modern medicine is like a bullet'

Rediff.com18 Nov 2014

Ayurvedic expert Dr G G Gangadharan on how the ancient Indian medical practice needs to be propagated in the country of its origin

Why do the Chinese want a train to Sikkim?

Why do the Chinese want a train to Sikkim?

Rediff.com21 Aug 2014

China is spending billions of dollars to improve infrastructure in Tibet and other parts of its border with India. Claude Arpi explains why New Delhi can't afford to ignore Beijing's plans.