It is a challenging time to be a US ally. America is withdrawing from its role as system administrator in favour of becoming just another self-interested great power. To make matters worse, an informal alliance of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, called the “Axis of Evil”   by Western officials, is emerging.  Illustration by The Geostrata The region most anxious about these developments is the Indo-Pacific, the new theatre of great power competition. For Asia, Donald Tru

Strategic deterrence in the modern era has advanced well beyond single-warhead missiles. Today, nations rely on technologies that ensure credible retaliation, increase survivability, and complicate interception. The Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology is particularly important among these developments. One missile with MIRV capability can launch multiple warheads, each directed toward a distinct target. Illustration by The Geostrata A "bus" or

As the EU implements strict anti-deforestation regulations, exporters worldwide now have to prove the sustainability of their supply chains. With the majority of India’s coffee sector relying on EU exports, it must find ways to comply with regulations while protecting the livelihoods of small growers and holding onto market share, as well as aligning with international environmental standards. Illustration by The Geostrata UNDERSTANDING THE EU DEFORESTATION REGULATION (EUDR)

“The 2025 mandate was fought on the plank of a vivid and vivacious Bihar, with a near-perfect campaign pulled off by the NDA, and gaping failures for the opposition.” Illustration by The Geostrata The Bihar Assembly elections that occurred in 2025 provided one of the most resounding surprises and decisive verdicts in the political history of the state. Expected to be a hard-fought contest, the elections turned into a severe defeat for the opposition Mahagathbandhan party and

The world is heading into a future where the demand for energy is climbing faster than ever. By 2040, the global population is expected to exceed 9 billion, and fuel consumption could rise by more than half. Growing dependence on conventional energy sources has raised real concerns about sustainability and the risk of a deepening energy crisis. Illustration by The Geostrata In the midst of unstable markets, changing tariffs, and uncertain supply chains, India, the world’s mos

The Arctic region and the Hindu Kush Himalayan range are miles apart. Yet, there is hardly any contrast between these two regions; their pristine natural features, all-time sensitive ecosystems and a myriad of evidence that could unlock answers to some of the pressing issues about the changing geological and historical dynamics of our planet. At the same time, they are at the frontline against climate change, whose cascading effect could open Pandora’s box for the world there

The Taliban coming to power in August 2021 represents not only a regime change, but it also reinstated one of the most oppressive regimes towards gender in history. To decode their politics, two crucial steps need to be followed: firstly, the geopolitical realities of the Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and secondly, analysing the usage of state-sponsored violence from a feminist lens. Illustration by The Geostrata As Moghdam states, Afghanistan is the most aggressive cases o

India finds itself at an inflexion point in an era of climate urgency and rising energy demand. Securing, cleaning, and sustaining the energy future of the country, something very few energy sources can achieve on their own, needs to occur at this time. Nuclear energy, widely misunderstood but tremendously powerful, lays out a pathway for India on how to achieve long-term energy self-sufficiency in general, technological self-reliance, and global leadership in sustainable dev

The global security and modern-day geopolitical landscape is increasingly defined by the sophisticated challenge of deterring hybrid warfare and state-sponsored terrorism, a problem acutely felt in the nuclear-shadowed rivalry between India and Pakistan. Illustration by The Geostrata For decades, India’s approach has been to follow a traditional military strategy focused on preventing attacks through sheer defense and maintaining its intelligence networks. Yet the character o

In an ever-evolving, unpredictable world order, a moderate, realistic and flexible country has several opportunities to shape and influence it. It has been observed that opportunities in the international system do not wait for long. There is no true democracy in the global arena. Illustration by The Geostrata A middle-income country like India, which does not hold commanding formal positions at the high tables of bodies like the UN, must try to take the initiative in fields

In India’s financial pulse, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) — Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) are key factors for development. NBFCs are entities that provide similar services to banks but do not hold a banking license, for instance, engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/debenture/securities, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance, and more. Illustration by The Geostrata It has emerged as a vast source of financing for individuals as well a

Across the shifting landscape of global politics, facts bend and twist under the weight of rival agendas. Global trade is no longer limited to goods; they trade choreographed realities. In that subterranean theatre, half-truths and outright fabrications stated briefly as “official facts”, their purpose not merely to deceive but to anchor diplomatic leverage, with an intention to lead allies down false paths of trust. Illustration by The Geostrata Similar to the society George

A brave new world. A highly tabooed energy source. A scourge for some, a holy grail for others - Nuclear power. Can the latest nuclear advancements be deliverance for humanity or a doom ?  Advanced nuclear technology reactors with power capacity of about 300 MW(e)per unit, Small Modular Reactors  constitute about one third of the generating capacity of conventional ones. This innovation in nuclear technology is also sometimes referred to as ‘mini-nukes’ Illustration by The G

With the advancement of technology, the global retail sector has undergone a profound shift in the last two decades, defined by the rise of e-commerce. Once seen as a rival threatening the survival of retail businesses, e-commerce has now become a catalyst for transformation. On the one hand, e-commerce has changed consumer behaviour by making it more convenient. Illustration by The Geostrata On the other hand, it has compelled retailers to restructure their strategies to sus

The legitimacy of Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India is established in law and history, constitutional practice, and not merely a political accident. That is to say, Jammu and Kashmir has a legitimate legal basis, as a result of the Instrument of Accession, the Indian Independence Act of 1947, and the subsequent constitutional integration into the Republic of India. Illustration by The Geostrata THE LEGAL BASIS: THE INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION On October 26, 1947 , Maharaja Ha

Migration and asylum have significantly influenced India's history, shaping its demographic and socio-political landscape. India’s approach, as a nation that has witnessed some of the largest migrations in history, has been shaped by a complex interaction of historical legacies, security imperatives, and humanitarian commitments. Illustration by The Geostrata India has traditionally adopted a pragmatic approach, providing refuge to persecuted groups like Tibetans and Sri Lank

We live in a world of glaring, debilitating contradictions where we produce more food than any civilisation in history, but hunger remains a chronic, worsening crisis. Global agriculture produces trillions of calories of food every year, enough to feed every man, woman, and child, and yet there is the painful reality that over 295 million people in the world today are facing acute hunger, pushing them to the brink of catastrophe. Illustration by The Geostrata This crisis i

From a toothbrush to a laptop, everything we need now arrives in under 30 minutes, driven by the engines of our gig economy, its workers. However, beneath all that facade, the paradox stares right back at us when these very convenience providers are today battling for basic protection and labour rights. Illustration by The Geostrata According to Niti Aayog, India had 7.7 million workers  in 2020-21, a number projected to further soar to  23.5 million workers by 2029-30. With

While for some the battle begins when the whistle blows, for others it's all at home. India, a country home to hundreds of millions of women, often goes underrepresented in female categories across international sports. This draws quick criticism, with commentators and policymakers frequently citing inadequate facilities, funding, or a lack of interest as the primary reasons to blame. Illustration by The Geostrata Rarely does anyone address the rigorously implemented gender n

Pakistan, a country often finding itself splattered all across the globe when discussions revolve around its unabashed association with terrorism , yet again finds itself in the spotlight, all for the wrong reasons. The World Economic Forum Global Gender Report 2025   ranks Pakistan as the world’s worst nation for women. Illustration by The Geostrata A country where a woman once held the helm of affairs, today, is struggling to ensure women’s rights to walk safely outside