Category Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies

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Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Scheme, 2005: Beyond Citizenship Benefits

The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Scheme was introduced, in August 2005, by amending the Citizenship Act, 1955, in response to persistent demands for “dual citizenship” from the Indian diaspora, particularly in North America and other developed countries. It was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in 2006 at Hyderabad and became operational from 2 December 2005 (Ministry of External Affairs, 2022; Ministry of Home Affairs, 2021).

DFPGYF Cohort 4 Diplomacy

Fellows List & Details: DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellowship Cohort 4.0

DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellowship– Cohort 4.0 | A Three-Month Online Immersive Introductory Leadership Certificate Training Fellowship Program | Aug-Oct 2026 | IMPRI #WebPolicyLearning Fellows List & Details Fellows’ List & Details DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellowship- Cohort 4.0…

When War Becomes an Operating Cost Insurance, Chokepoints and the New Gulf Security Order

When War Becomes an Operating Cost: Insurance, Chokepoints and the New Gulf Security Order

Rahi Naik

Introduction: Why the Gulf Is Building Security Beyond Washington

For decades, the security architecture of the Arabian Gulf rested on an implicit bargain: Gulf monarchies would remain closely aligned with Washington, while the United States would provide the military deterrence necessary to protect the region’s territorial integrity, energy infrastructure and maritime routes.

That bargain has not collapsed. But it has been tested.

anamika

BRICS Ocean and Polar Science Cooperation: India’s 2026 Presidency and Strategic Policy Priorities

The 8th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Ocean and Polar Science and Technology (OPST) was held in Goa from 12–14 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Presidency, hosted by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).The meeting focused on coastal resilience, joint polar and ocean research, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), Antarctic expeditions and capacity building for young researchers. The discussions also highlighted the commitments for International Polar Year-5. Representatives from eight participating countries, namely Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and the UAE, attended the meeting. The meeting reinforced the growing importance of scientific cooperation within the Global South in the fields of ocean and polar sciences. It broadened BRICS ocean cooperation beyond diplomatic commitments by advancing wider objectives of collaborative research, infrastructure development, and scientific mobility.

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Defence Acquisition Procedure 2026: Reforming India’s Defence Procurement and the Role of Acquisition Deliberations

From DPP to DAP. India’s defence capital acquisition system initially operated without a single formal procedure. A basic framework had existed since 1992, but the first structured Defence Procurement Procedure, DPP 2002, came into force on 30 December 2002 and applied to “Buy” decisions of the Defence Acquisition Council (CAG, Defence Audit, cag.gov.in). Over the next 18 years, the procedure was revised eight times, in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016. These revisions gradually expanded the framework, introducing offsets in 2005, “Make” and shipbuilding categories in 2006, and stronger indigenous content requirements in 2013 (CGDA, DPP 2013). In 2020, DPP was renamed the Defence Acquisition Procedure, DAP 2020, reflecting the shift towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It introduced an import embargo list, a 50% Indian ownership requirement for “Indian Vendor” status, the Buy (Global Manufacture in India) route and provisions for leasing defence equipment (PIB, Ministry of Defence).

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India-South African Custom Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement Negotiations (2026): Advancing India’s Economic Diplomacy and Trade Engagement with Southern Africa

The formal trajectory toward an economic integration framework between New Delhi and Southern Africa advanced significantly with the signing of the Terms of Reference for a Preferential Trade Agreement on August 12, 2026, at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi (Press Information Bureau [PIB], 2026a).

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21 September – International Day of Peace: Rethinking Peace in a Fractured World

Every year on 21 September, the world observes the International Day of Peace. At United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Japanese Peace Bell stands as a powerful symbol of peace and international unity. Cast in 1952 from coins donated by delegates from 60 nations and presented to the United Nations in 1954 by the United Nations Association of Japan, the bell bears the inscription, “Long live absolute world peace.” Its presence reminds the world to pause, reflect and renew its commitment to the enduring ideal of peace.

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