Why underground nuclear tests can no longer be peaceful Although PNEs were surrounded by ambiguity of intent from the very onset, retroactive measures after May 1974 have ensured that an underground nuclear test could be ‘peaceful’ only when conducted by or with the assistance of the superpowers. Jayita Sarkar February 20, 2013 IDSA Comments
Creating a Diplomatic Security Force: The need to go beyond cosmetic exercises The government should instead aim to create a single Security Group consisting of a training establishment specializing in security issues and a number of units to meet different areas of security as per the requirement. V. Mahalingam February 18, 2013 IDSA Comments
Maoist’s New Political Line and Challenges The Prachanda faction has made an ideological shift from being a revolutionary outfit to a parliamentary party with emphasis on republicanism, and has signalled its friendly posture towards India by discarding the previously ritualistic reference to India as an enemy. Nihar R. Nayak February 18, 2013 IDSA Comments
Support for Security-Related Expenditure of State Governments through Central Finance Commission The state governments may consider projecting their claims before the FFC for a Central devolution to fund their SRE expenditure, and the FFC should respond favourably and institutionalise this process. Gautam Sen February 18, 2013 IDSA Comments
Shruti and Smriti: Some Issues in the Re-emergence of Indian Traditional Knowledge Both think tanks and universities need to attempt to study traditional knowledge (much of which lies in religious text of many traditions). Rich methodological traditions exist in ancient literature and they need wider study. P. K. Gautam February 12, 2013 Issue Brief
Transformation of Tibet Issue from Hope to Despair: What Next? Despite nearly a hundred persons having immolated themselves over the last few years, these events have passed by without much notice, let alone reaction. Yeshi Choedon February 12, 2013 IDSA Comments
Bangladesh War Crime Trial: The Surprise Second Verdict The verdict against Abdul Quadir Molla by the War Crime Tribunal 2, which sentenced him to life, came as a surprise to many given the graveness of his crime. Smruti S. Pattanaik February 12, 2013 IDSA Comments
Cinema and Strategic Culture As India celebrates a century of its cinematic culture, there is a need to elevate its quality and role to complement India’s power profile and socio-cultural aspirations. A. Vinod Kumar February 12, 2013 IDSA Comments
Aero India: A Non-Expert View India’s power in the next round of politics among nations will stem not simply from the latest purchase of military goods, but also from the manner in which it has amassed them. Srdjan Vucetic February 11, 2013 IDSA Comments
Defence Budget 2013-14: An upcoming tight spot The prospects of allocation for the next year being less than the allocation for the current year are remote because of the immense implications it would entail, although it is likely that the growth in the budgetary allocation for the next fiscal may be less than what has been the case in the past. Amit Cowshish February 11, 2013 IDSA Comments
