Food insecurity has remained amongst the gravest concerns in the world wherein post-pandemic the global food insecurity rose to 11.9%, with instances of undernutrition, malnutrition remaining higher in certain parts of the world like Africa, South Asia etc.  Although 2023 has witnessed certain incremental improvement and steps taken by the United Nations creating a roadmap for countries to ensure food security. However, recent COP 28 negotiations depict that there is a long way to go. In this...

Sri Lanka’s foreign relations are influenced significantly by attempts to recover from the national economic crisis in 2022. Its economic situation remains precarious, with a foreign reserve of US$3.6 billion reported in August this year and with foreign debt restructuring still in progress. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Mr A. L. A. Azeez, former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna speaks to Dr Rajni Gamage, Postdoctoral Fellow, ISAS, on Sri...

The Assembly election results in five Indian states, which were announced on 3 December 2023, had a few surprises. The set of elections was also the last before the 2024 general elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed back to power in Madhya Pradesh, where the election was expected to be close. In Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP defeated the incumbent Congress. In Rajasthan, where ruling parties are usually shown the door every election, the result was somewhat expected....

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Professor Sreeradha Datta, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, ISAS, speaks to Dr Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow, ISAS, on the intricate terrain of Bangladesh’s political scene. They examine historical milestones, electoral intricacies, and the geopolitical dynamics influencing Bangladesh’s future. Join us as they unravel the complexities that define the political landscape of this vibrant South Asian nation.

The 2023 COP28 in the UAE, Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023 comes at a critical time to assess the progress that has been made towards building a more sustainable future. Delegates from nearly 200 countries will engage in critical conversations on funding and financing for climate action, the global stocktake exercise, energy transitions and making climate policies inclusive. To discuss the COP28 and the expected negotiations, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS is in...

Recently, the United States (US) International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced its investment of US$553 million in the Adani Port Project (Sri Lanka). This comes as a surprise to many, given that it is a rarity for a US government agency to be making such investments. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Coordinator for Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity, Policy Advisory...

Climate action is inextricably linked with international cooperation and India has been an active player in this domain. However, navigating this landscape is increasingly complex with rising geopolitical tensions, the proliferation of international forums and the Global North - Global South divide. This episode of South Asia Chat looks at India’s climate diplomacy, maps its journey in this domain and reflects on the strategic debates on furthering climate action. To discuss this, Mr...

Despite traditional fault lines between Israel and the Arab nations, India has obtained a fine balance in the Middle East. However, the recent Israel-Palestine crisis challenges India's partnerships in the Middle East. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS, to discuss the challenges India's ties face in the Middle East, the possibility of peace in the Middle East...

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Rajni Gamage, ISAS, chats with Dr Nishan De Mel, Executive Director, Verite Research, on the key dynamics of Sri Lanka’s ‘crisis recovery’ since the 2022 national economic crisis. This includes identifying key governance-related challenges faced by the Sri Lankan government in carrying out political and economic reforms, the state of the government's political legitimacy and its impact on the country's democracy, and what measures the government is...

Maldives’ incumbent leader Mohamed Solih has conceded defeat, paving way for Mohamed Muizzu to take over the presidency in the island nation. Mohamed Muizzu won 54 percent of the votes in an election campaign that ran on issues like corruption, sovereignty and the India-China balance. In this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS discusses the election and its consequences with Dr Rasheeda Didi, Senior Research Fellow for South Asia Focus Network, Maldives and Member of the...

The Indian Parliament, during a special session from 18 to 22 September 2023, passed the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023 to mandate one-third reservation for women in India’s lower house of parliament as well as state assemblies. The bill, which was cleared with near unanimity, also extends the quota to the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor Krishna Menon, Professor...

Green hydrogen is likely to play an important role in the global efforts against climate change. It is also an important element in India’s ambitious plans such as the goal to be energy independent by 2047 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2070. For that, India has launched several projects and policy measures to push the production of green hydrogen in the country as it aims to become a global hub of green hydrogen production. In this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS is...

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM has emerged as the latest development within the intersection of environmental sustainability and trade. Its phased implementation will begin on 1st October 2023. CBAM is geared at preventing carbon leakage and encouraging decarbonisation in sectors including electricity, cement, iron and steel, fertiliser, aluminium, and hydrogen. This policy will have important implications for India and other developing countries. In this episode Mr Saeeduddin...

India's G20 Summit brought to the forefront a new global governance agenda. In this episode, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Associate Professor Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, ISAS, Mr Vinod Rai, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS, and Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS, to discuss significant outcomes of the G20 summit and the future of its agenda.

The G20 summit held under India's presidency in New Delhi, on 9 and 10 September 2023, brought with it significant geopolitical changes and new opportunities for Indian foreign policy. In this episode, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor, ISAS. They discuss what the G20 summit has meant for India's relations with the world, especially Europe, Middle-East and the United States, and Delhi's influence in the...

The 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22-24 August 2023 where a major announcement was made regarding an expansion in the grouping’s membership. The current BRICS members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa while the new entrants who will become full members from 1 January 2024 are Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses the economic and...

The Maldives is preparing for its upcoming Presidential elections on 9 September 2023, a significant event that will shape the country's leadership going forward. This election stands out due to the unusually large number of candidates participating, the highest since the 2008 Maldivian Presidential Election. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Rasheeda Didi discusses potential election results, the challenges the current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih faces, and the implications for the...

It has now been two years since Taliban took over control in Afghanistan, following the US withdrawal and the fall of the Afghan government. Afghanistan has since seen significant changes in most aspects of social, political and economic life. In this episode, Dr Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow, ISAS is in conversation with Dr Haroun Rahimi, Assistant Professor of Law, American University of Afghanistan. They discuss how Taliban came to power, how Afghanistan has evolved in the last two years,...

Globally, cities contribute to over 70 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, cities are also very prone to the effects of climate change and the extreme weather events emanating from it. This makes climate resilience and environmental sustainability a foremost issue in urban policy. In this role, cities emerge as spaces of innovation, and across the world we are witnessing newer ideas, policies, technologies and systems being deployed. To discuss these themes in the...

Sri Lanka faced an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022, which culminated in the country declaring bankruptcy and long power cuts and fuel shortages. These led to mass street protests and the incumbent president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, being ousted from power. To discuss the 2023 economic and political situation in Sri Lanka, Dr Rajni Gamage, Postdoctoral Fellow, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Tilak Abeysinghe, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ISAS. The podcast also discusses visits by the Sri...

Nearly six years after the Indian Supreme Court declared that privacy was a constitutional right for all citizens, the government is now close to passing the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (2022). The bill was cleared by the Indian Cabinet on 5 July 2023 and will be tabled in the parliament during the ongoing monsoon session. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses data issues and cybersecurity in India with Dr Anuradha Rao, Founder, CyberCognizanz,...

Feminist and Colonial discourses are key in understanding India’s socio-political landscape. Studying the contemporary operationalisation of these discourses draws from historical contexts, personal experiences and comparative analysis. To discuss these factors on this episode, Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Suruchi Thapar-Bjorkert, Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Uppsala. They discuss feminism and colonial thought and how...

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership between India and France. This occasion was marked by the release of a roadmap – Horizon Communique 2047- which emphasised on the key areas of cooperation between the two states. Partnership in Security for Sovereignty, Protection of Planet and People-to-People Connect were critical themes under discussion during the bilateral talks. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst,...

In July 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), for which India holds the rotating presidency this year. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Mr Nandan Unnikrishnan, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, India. They discuss issues pertaining to the SCO and the Quad, the composition of the SCO, Russia-China relations and India's strategic identity.

In June 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an official state visit to Washington, marking the third official to be hosted by United States (US) President Joe Biden during his term. The visit has been hailed as a demonstration by both sides to take their bilateral cooperation to the next level. While there have been significant developments over the past years, a number of challenges remain. In this episode, Ms Ramita Iyer, Research Analyst, ISAS, discusses Modi's recent visit and...