VIVEK : Issues & Options - November - December 2014

In this issue

The coming budget will reflect the priorities of the government and how far it is willing to go to usher in reforms that would turn promises into substantial deliverables over a period of time. Some alacrity has already been shown by the government in adopting the ordinance route for effecting much needed reforms in coal, insurance, land acquisition and other sectors to overcome the obstructionist stance of the Opposition in the Parliament. Much more is needed to be done in the coming time.

This issue carries a review by Gurmeet Kanwal on what was the year 2014 like for South Asia and some others in the strategic neighbourhood. Of abiding interest to
India is what happens in Afghanistan in the coming years. Gen. Sawhney and Sushant Sareen deliberate on the possibilities of India and China cooperating in Afghanistan with a view to stabilize the situation there. Gen. Gautam Banerjee looks at the state of Maoist insurgency in the last year and portents for the coming year. The success of Indian Mars Orbiter Mission is critically analysed by Radhakrishan Rao while Admiral Raman Puri examines in detail as to what lessons Arihant nuclear submarine programme holds for our indigenization efforts.

South Korea is fast becoming an important cog in India’s Look East Policy which now has been transformed into ‘Act East Policy’. Maj. Gen. Chakravorty gives his perspective on evolving strategic relationship with Seoul. This issue includes many other analytical perspectives that deal with internal and external dynamics of India and its evolving international relationships.

Hope that you find this issue interesting.

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year from Team VIF

VIVEK : Issues & Options Magazine Description:

Vivekananda International Foundation’s E-journal carries exclusive articles by distinguished scholars on diplomacy, strategy, governance, defence, neighbourhood, economy, media, history, science and technological Studies.

Selected articles from the E-journal are also featured regularly on the VIF Webiste : http://www.vifindia.org

VIVEK : Issues & Options is also e-disseminated to a large number of interested persons across the globe.