On a quiet morning near the Ramaguda forest along the Andhra-Odisha border, an elite anti-Naxal force moved through the dense jungle. Acting on pinpoint intelligence about a high-level meeting of top Naxal leadership, small squads stealthily surrounded the location on foot. When the gunfight broke out, the unit’s tactical discipline and fast response neutralised top insurgent commanders. Illustration by The Geostrata This was the 2016 Ramaguda encounter, one of the most decis

Infrastructure has emerged as one of the defining instruments of geopolitical competition in the twenty-first century. Across South Asia, roads, ports, railways, and energy corridors are no longer viewed merely as engines of economic growth; they have become strategic assets capable of reshaping regional influence and security dynamics. Among these, the proposed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project in Bangladesh exemplifies this shift. Illustration b

The FCRA, or the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, is being widely discussed because, on the surface, it discusses regulation of foreign funding, but when examined in depth, it reveals the modern state’s relationship with organised civil society. It questions two ideas: one is stricter foreign funding controls as an essential tool for protecting national defence and increasing accountability, and the other is a strategy to silence and restrict civil society freedom. Ill

Since 2010, India has cancelled somewhere around 22,500 FCRA registrations, with a further 15,000 or so allowed to lapse without renewal. That is a lot of licences pulled. What almost never gets asked, in the noisier corners of the debate, is what actually happens to the buildings, trusts, and bank balances those licences left behind. Illustration by The Geostrata The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026 and now

From Cold War espionage satellites to tools of geopolitical dominance, Earth observation satellites have undergone radical changes. Information obtained through satellites today becomes crucial for shaping national security, economic, and military strategies. The war between Russia and Ukraine is one example where classified state information acquired via satellites can now be seen by everyone around the world. With the increasing tension between the USA and China, countries

“In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one.” Napoleon Bonaparte’s famous maxim is frequently quoted in war colleges globally. Yet it remains one of the most difficult concepts for the modern strategic community to quantify. We spend our careers meticulously calculating the “physical,” the mechanized platforms, the ballistic missile trajectories, and the nuances of procurement budgets. Illustration by The Geostrata But the “moral,” the indomitable spirit, the sha

In World War II, the cracking of the Enigma code helped defeat divisions of the Nazis without firing a bullet, and reconnaissance intelligence helped prevent a nuclear catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis. History has taught us one important lesson: the strongest in a nation’s arsenal isn’t a missile or a jet; it’s the intelligence that prevents them from ever being used. Illustration by The Geostrata Intelligence is such a tool that shapes the options on the table, fa

The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, in a bold claim, stated the centre would wipe out Naxalism from India by March 2026. While top Naxal leaders like Hidma and Nambala Keshava Rao are already eliminated, there are a few more miles to go before Naxalism is completely wiped out from India. Illustration by The Geostrata NAXALISM: THE BEGINNING A group of political insurgents driven by Maoist ideologies is called Naxals, Naxalwadis, or Naxalites. They advocate armed rebelli

Greetings, everyone, We are happy to launch the 2025 edition of the Geomaga. In a way the year 2025 has been a year of national security. From Operation Sindoor against Pakistan to strikes on Myanmar and from technological advancements in the defence sector to the renewed focus on self-reliance, these are the broad spectrum of issues that have dominated the popular intellectual discourse throughout the year. Cover by The Geostrata In this edition of the Geomaga, we have inclu

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

Alongside the ongoing proliferation of drones, drones have moved from exclusively military use towards essential technologies in a wide...

Ukraine, a nation in Eastern Europe, has been entangled with many shortages, which aggressively affect its economy, education,...

The most important element which distinguishes between a developed and developing economy is its infrastructure. The infrastructure of a...

The Indian armed forces are the largest volunteer military forces in the world. They are composed of over 1.4 million active serving...

The term CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) refers to four specific categories of hazardous agents that pose severe...

In a region where history echoes with rivalries and challenges like terrorism and maritime conflicts that threaten peace, India stands...

Data is an important entity that reflects information related to a particular subject or area of interest. It also helps in the analysis...

The official transition period of the United States of America’s (USA) President starts from the day the General Services Administration...

Within the high-stakes world of cutting-edge technology, the race to form quantum computers is one of the most competitive. China and the...

How would India tackle the strategic conundrums that are looming large? How should India shape its foreign policy decisions in a...