Publications
Explained: BRICS Plus at Bharat Mandapam: Widening the Club or Diluting It?
What happened? The 18th BRICS Summit was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12–13 September 2026. On 12 September, BRICS leaders met in a closed session and adopted the New Delhi Declaration. On 13 September, the second and final day, the summit opened up into the O...
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Explained: India's Bilateral Investment Treaty Overhaul: Balancing Investor Protection and Regulatory Sovereignty
What happened? India has been quietly rewriting the template for its Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). The Finance Ministry confirmed that the India-UAE BIT came into force on 31 August 2024, replacing the 2013 Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, and ...
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Explained: India's New FTA Wave: What the UK, EFTA, and New Zealand Deals Signal About India's Trade Strategy
What happened? Between May 2025 and January 2026, India concluded, signed or brought into force a cluster of major trade agreements, but each sits at a different stage. The India–UK CETA was concluded on 6 May 2025, signed on 24 July 2025 and entered into force on 15 Ju...
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Explained: AITIGA Review- Why is India Seeking to Revise its Trade Deal with ASEAN?
What happened? India and ASEAN are reviewing the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), the framework governing preferential trade in goods between the two sides. In September 2022, both sides agreed to undertake a review of the agreement through the AITIGA Join...
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Explained: India’s Maritime Diplomacy From the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Pacific
INTRODUCTION India’s maritime diplomacy has become an important part of its foreign and security policy. Its location at the centre of the Indian Ocean places it close to major maritime routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. These waters ...
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Explained: Escalation at Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Its Impact on Indian Trade
WHAT HAPPENED? The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has re-emerged as a major maritime security concern amid a renewed Houthi offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast. Houthi forces have advanced significantly, capturing the strategic port of Mokha and taking control of key positions near t...
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Tariffs, Russian Oil and India’s Economic Security: Understanding the New Trade Pressure
ABSTRACT The India and United States relationship has entered a period of growing economic and diplomatic friction amid the escalation of tariff disputes and disagreements over India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. The tariff issue has evolved beyond conventi...
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India at BRICS 2026: Strategic Autonomy and Global Governance
INTRODUCTION The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September 2026 under India’s chairship. The summit was conducted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting India’s e...
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EXPLAINED – INDIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES: CLIMATE DIPLOMACY AND STRATEGIC COMPETITION
The Pacific was traditionally less important for India but in the last decade, India has begun to give more importance to the region. One of the drivers is China’s growing interests in the region. This explainer will explore why Pacific island countries are now...
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