India
Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Victory: What Does it Mean for Nepal’s Neighbourhood?
The electoral turmoil in Nepal witnessed a new development, when on the 20th of December, 2020 the nation’s president, Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved its parliament. Months of uncertainty in Government, coupled with the disastrous impact of the pandemic drove the nation to a political stalemate, until Sher Bahadur Deuba secured the position of Prime Minister with the backing of the parliament. What is the future course that the new Nepalese government will take and how will it shape their future in the region? K.P Sharma Oli’s exit has stalled China’s rapprochement of Nepal, leaving a vacuum that can be filled by neighbouring aspirations from India. Nepal’s future in the South Asian neighbourhood will be marked by its management of the two regional powers, and a potential balancing act that can protect its self interests.
Geopolitics of India’s Data Protection
India’s data protection policy lays emphasis to the Right to Privacy and sovereignty of its citizens. The first data protection bill proposed in 2018 provided a definitive structure to the various aspects of data management. It is based on the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This policy concerns data localisation, i.e., the legal requirement for data to be stored within national borders. A country’s policies regarding data greatly impact the technology sectors which possess a majority of the data. This first bill incorporated stringent measures regarding data localisation which required companies to mirror the data and store a copy in India. After receiving criticism, the revised bill passed in 2019 removed the data mirroring requirement.
Rising tensions in Eastern-Ladakh – Wider Foreign Policy Implications
In recent history, tensions between China and India over control of the Galwan Valley have never been as high. Whereas China has the upperhand in the border dispute, India is trying to find other ways to frustrate China in its search to increase its geopolitical influence over the region.
China warns India over potential Huawei ban
China has threatened to punish Indian companies operating on the mainland. It will take such action if the Indian Government moves to ban Huawei Technologies from selling 5G telecom equipment
India and Regional Trade in the Indo-Pacific
There are growing concerns over whether India will accept zero tariffs on the majority of imported goods from China. RCEP negotiations illuminate the crossover between politics and economics in the Indo-Pacific.
Indian Elections 2019: Whose Sarkar?
India is heading towards national elections asking ‘abki baar, kiski sarkar’ – whose government are the people going to get? Modi or Gandhi? GRI’s Acting Editor-In-Chief analysis the potential outcomes of the elections.
India’s move towards collective security in the Indian Ocean
India continues to counter China’s regional influence by extending its coastal surveillance radar systems (CSRS) project to the Republic of Maldives, a country with key shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. The extension of the initiative to the Maldives will build up regional maritime domain awareness, and strengthen the security and economic network of littoral countries.
