Policy UpdateAsmatwali Background On 17 September 2025, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in Riyadh, formalising decades of informal Pakistan-Saudi security cooperation into a…
Policy UpdateSaachi Saxena Background India’s rapid urbanization has made cities the engines of economic growth while simultaneously increasing their exposure to climate-related risks. According to the World Bank (2025), India’s urban population is projected to increase from 480 million in…
Policy UpdateHimanshi Singh Background The old buyer-seller connection has given way to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India. India signed a deal with the Kingdom to create the Strategic Partnership…
India-ASEAN relations have grown into one of the central drivers of Indo-Pacific stability and economic integration. Over three decades, bilateral engagement has moved from early dialogue mechanisms to a full Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.This evolution began with India's inclusion as a Sectoral Partner in 1992, a step that signaled New Delhi's turn toward Southeast Asia following its domestic economic reforms. India was elevated to Full Dialogue Partner status in 1996, which laid the groundwork for annual summit-level interactions established in 2002.The relationship reached formal Strategic Partnership status in 2012 at the Commemorative Summit in New Delhi, and was elevated further to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh in 2022.
Following the outbreak of a US-Israel military campaign against Iran on 28 February 2026, Iranian forces declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed", attacking merchant vessels and laying sea mines to enforce the blockade (Wikipedia contributors, 2026a).
Innovation has become a major driver of economic growth and global competitiveness. Countries investing heavily in research and development (R&D), such as the United States, China, South Korea, and Germany, have established leadership in advanced technologies. However, India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains significantly below the global average, with limited private-sector participation.
Youth unemployment and underemployment remain persistent concerns in India's labour market despite recent improvements. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025 reports that India's youth (15-29 years) unemployment rate declined to 9.9% from 10.3% in 2024. However, significant disparities persist across states, educational levels and rural–urban areas, prompting governments to complement wage-employment strategies with self-employment and enterprise promotion.