There has never been a moment in India's history when it has been so adrift in the world, so confused about what it stands for and against and so humiliated, asserts Aakar Patel.
The era where nations thrived through rigid alignments is giving way to an age where the connective State defines power. For India, that era has arrived, points out Dr Nishakant Ojha.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-RSS, labelling them a "bunch of jokers" with no understanding of India, and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as merely "hugging leaders." He also claimed the RSS has become an instrument of large capital, serving Adani and Ambani, and vowed that the Congress would keep pressure on the government until Modi and Shah resign. The BJP hit back, calling Gandhi immature and out of depth.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of "collapsing" India's foreign policy and questioned the government's handling of the recent tensions with Pakistan, particularly the US President Donald Trump's role as a mediator. Gandhi's remarks come amidst a war of words between the Congress and the ruling BJP over their leaders' statements on the Indo-Pak conflict.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy and his remarks referencing the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the West Asia situation.
This might help explain why our global outreach has received such a tepid response. We have chosen to be transactional with the world, as our UN votes reveal, points out Aakar Patel.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that foreign nationals do not possess an inherent or legally enforceable right to enter India, even if they hold a valid visa. The court emphasised that entry is a sovereign function, subject to national security, foreign policy, and administrative discretion. This observation came while dismissing a plea from a Turkmenistan national who was denied entry despite having a business visa, citing adverse inputs and national security concerns.
The Finance Ministry has clarified that the decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 was made independently, refuting claims of foreign influence. The ministry stated the policy aims to build a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem, with MDR funding infrastructure and supporting small merchants.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly criticised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to skip the BRICS summit in India, calling it "immature" and detrimental to Bangladesh's national interest. She argued that the absence lost opportunities for economic development and that foreign policy should not be driven by personal considerations. Hasina also highlighted the current "grave national crisis" in Bangladesh and her intention to return to restore democracy.
Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged the United Progressive Alliance government's credibility has gone down and internal politics of the alliance adversely affected India's foreign policy as evidenced by India's "failure" to sign a transit treaty with Bangladesh.
India's government is set to release its draft National Steel Policy for public consultation, aiming for over 600 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity and 500 million tonnes of consumption by 2047. The policy will also introduce a ~5,000-crore scheme to incentivise small steel producers for carbon emission reduction and address challenges like raw material availability and technological dependence.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday attacked the government for not taking concrete steps in Sarabjit Singh's case, saying the attack on the Indian prisoner inside a Pakistani jail reflects the "total failure" of India's foreign policy.
Foreign institutional investors have withdrawn nearly $40 billion from Indian equities in the last two years and, according to Bernstein analysts, have 'little reason' to invest for the long-term, though they may 'return to trade'. The brokerage highlights challenges such as struggling large-caps, disruption from new technologies, and difficulties accessing small- and mid-caps (SMIDs) at an institutional scale.
The year 2011 saw various events -- the Arab Spring, anti- corruption protests, Europe's sovereign debt crisis -- transform countries and reshape the world order. Gateway House, a leading Mumbai-based think tank on India's foreign policy, takes a look at what these events mean for India, and presents India's top foreign policy cheers and jeers for the year.
The Finance Ministry has dismissed allegations of US pressure influencing the 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI and do not favour international cards. The ministry also asserted that the MDR, applicable to person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000, is unlikely to increase cash transactions or cause inflation, with measures in place to prevent burdening consumers.
In the first-ever separate resolution on foreign policy brought in its National Executive in Bengaluru, BJP attacked the previous Congress-led Government, saying "a cursory glance at the 'lost decade' of the UPA, reveals retreat and a loss of direction in engaging with neighbours, ham-handed diplomacy vis--vis Pakistan and a blind-spot in our foreign policy to the Indian Ocean island states."
'Foreign policy-making cannot be shifted out of Delhi and the regional satraps, who do not have a national perspective, should not be allowed to dominate foreign policy. But regional inputs should be integral to foreign policy-making at every step of the way,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
We should reassess what India's role in the world is and whether we are doing the right thing for ourselves, notes Aakar Patel.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly supported India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He stated that any reform of the UNSC should not grant additional seats to Western countries like Germany and Japan, citing their "militarism and revanchism." Instead, Russia advocates for increased representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, specifically backing India and Brazil, while also emphasizing the need to address African interests.
If the decade gone by was one that redefined the contours of global politics in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, it was also a decade that witnessed Indian foreign policy coming into its own, writes Harsh V Pant
Delhi's inability to open up a new canvas with Pakistan and Sharif is symptomatic of its sluggish thinking. Jyoti Malhotra analyses
When S Jaishankar became India's external affairs minister in May 2019, he was largely considered a political lightweight despite his undisputed mastery over foreign policy.
'What gives hope is that Modi's own leadership is vitally linked to his capacity to deliver on the economic front. Indeed, if he succeeds, India's foreign policies will have changed beyond recognition,' feels Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
A think tank, GTRI, has urged India to resist US pressure regarding its UPI policies, advocating for the defence of competition, policy autonomy, and the long-term sustainability of its payments ecosystem. This comes as the Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing charges on UPI transactions, a move GTRI suggests should not be influenced by foreign trade complaints.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBSE to consider deferring the implementation of its three-language policy for Class 6 students, which mandates two native Indian languages, until the academic session starting 2027. The CBSE stated it would consider the suggestion. The policy, aligned with NEP-2020, makes two native Indian languages compulsory for Class 6 and Class 9, with provisions for foreign languages as additional options and no board exams for the third language in Class 10.
Bangladesh-China and Bangladesh-US relations have evolved from reluctant engagement to increasingly consequential strategic partnerships.
That means making it easier to invest, protecting investors through predictable rules, and avoiding policy reversals after investments have been made, notes Rajeswari Sengupta.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration rule that sought to cap the stays of foreign students, journalists, and exchange visitors, citing potential 'catastrophic' damage to the US economy and higher-education system.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the world is entering an age of flux marked by conflicts and tariff volatility, requiring India to respond effectively to these challenges. He reiterated India's consistent stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy, and highlighted India's efforts to engage with both sides. Jaishankar also emphasised India's role in championing the voice of the Global South and navigating complex strategic partnerships in a multi-aligned world.
India's foreign policy establishment is adjusting with alacrity in real time -- an extraordinary spectacle in itself, considering the manifest reluctance to indulge in public diplomacy critical of American moves, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India this week underscores the complex dynamics of global energy policy, as Washington re-evaluates sanctions on Russian oil buyers amidst India's continued reliance on Russian crude.
Foreign policy is always a work in progress and ups and downs are built into foreign policy process. What is permanent is national interest. Hopefully, this year, which will also witness general elections in the country, will also clear clouds in the foreign policy horizon, observes Rup Narayan Das.
A think tank, GTRI, has urged India to resist US pressure regarding its UPI policies, advocating for competition, policy autonomy, and a sustainable payments ecosystem. This comes as the Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing charges on UPI, and the US has criticised India's digital payment systems, raising concerns about the future of India's digital payment landscape.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to foster a domestic payment ecosystem and that the MDR introduction aims to create a sustainable revenue model for smaller domestic companies, thereby protecting India's sovereignty in digital payments.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a three-day visit to India to discuss bilateral ties in energy, trade, investment, defence, and critical technologies, as well as the West Asia crisis. His visit aims to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership amidst existing friction, with a focus on finalising a proposed bilateral trade deal.
For India, the goal is not simply to host another grand diplomatic gathering. It is to prove that a diverse coalition of emerging powers can still deliver.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net sellers in the first week of September, withdrawing Rs 7,443 crore from Indian equities, driven by rising crude oil prices, increasing US bond yields, and a strong dollar.
The conversations on July 22 and 23, 1962, meetings in Geneva between V K Krishna Menon, India's defence minister at the time, and Chinese vice premier Chen Yi are important because, had they been followed up, the subsequent border war may perhaps have been avoided, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
India's economy is projected to lose momentum in the second half of fiscal 2026-27, with tighter financial conditions, elevated energy prices, and broadening inflation pressures posing significant risks, according to DBS Bank economist Radhika Rao.
After a significant 9.9% depreciation in FY26, the Indian rupee has shown comparative stability in the first half of FY27, depreciating by only 1.1%, attributed to regulatory interventions and measures to attract foreign capital, despite ongoing global pressures from rising crude oil prices and foreign investor outflows.
