Foreign Policy & Security
ORF America
India’s defence export rise opens a door for ...

By Dhruva Jaishankar

The new joint defense declaration between India and Australia articulated a more ambitious objective of defense industrial cooperation, including to “develop arrangements for advanced defense science and technology collaboration.” This may appear challenging, but India has made remarkable developments in its defense industrial capabilities over the past five years. These offer little-appreciated opportunities for many of its partners, including Australia.

India’s defence export rise opens a door for Australia
Foreign Policy & Security
ORF America
Beyond the NZ-India free trade agreement: What ...

By Dhruva Jaishankar

A world in which freedom of navigation or energy supplies can be imperiled by the actions of others will require more international partnerships. A consolidation of relations between the governments of India and New Zealand makes eminent sense in this context. While an FTA is a welcome development, it remains just one step toward what can be a much more broad-based and mutually-beneficial partnership.

Beyond the NZ-India free trade agreement: What comes next?
Energy & Climate
ORF America
The energy sector is AI's natural home. Right ...

By Piyush Verma and Andrei Covatariu

Much of the conversation in Geneva rightly focused on managing AI's growing energy demand. That work is essential, but it is only half the story. The larger opportunity lies in how AI can reduce energy use across industry, buildings, transport and power systems, while enabling greater integration of renewable energy.

The energy sector is AI's natural home. Right now, it's fumbling that edge
Foreign Policy & Security
ORF America
Port of hope

By Vasabjit Banerjee

China evidently recognises the Calcutta Port System as an economic force multiplier for India’s economic power in the region. The Indian government has recently advanced several solutions, from modernisation to expansion of the port system. Yet, more needs to be done by the Indian government and private investors to strengthen the port system to ward off Chinese influence.

Port of hope
Economic Development
ORF America
Debt office overhaul overdue in low-income ...

By Udaibir Das

Two decades of relief and reform treated debt management as a capacity problem. In a low-income country, it is statecraft; the office must stand as an institution of the state, mandated, autonomous and accountable. Reforming it and holding the sovereign and parliament accountable for outcomes means the debt cycle finally has a circuit breaker.

Debt office overhaul overdue in low-income countries

January 2026

Outlook 2026: Emerging markets will need a new playbook

Outlook 2026: Emerging markets will need a new playbook

By Udaibir Das

Global financial institutions continue to frame the 2026 outlook for emerging markets through a familiar cyclical lens. The consensus assumes U.S. monetary easing, a softer dollar and a modest global slowdown will favor local-currency assets, credible disinflation paths and balance-sheet repair. This narrative is historically grounded and internally coherent. It is also increasingly insufficient.

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