What do you understand by the so called Totalization of social security? Discuss in the light of India–US Bilateral Totalisation Agreement (BTA).

Hint: Totalization agreements are international social security agreements that help benefit rights of workers by eliminating dual social security taxation, both in the home country and the country where an employee works. India had signed totalisation agreements with several countries; recent ..

Why is there a huge dependence on Chinese imports and why is there a need to reduce dependence on Chinese imports? What can be done to achieve this?

China is the global manufacturing hub and many countries including India depend on imports from China. India has a huge trade deficit with China, which makes the already complicated India-China relations even more difficult to navigate. Factors responsible for India’s ..

Examine the effectiveness of the use of economic sanctions to halt nuclear weapon and missile programs of countries like North Korea. What is the way ahead?

The United States has time and again used the tool of economic sanctions as the primary means to exert pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and missile program. However, this strategy has abjectly failed as North Korea’s ballistic ..

Explain how the petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry compare with each other with regards to their sensitivity to geopolitical development.

The petroleum industry and the semiconductor chip industry are very different in nature and profile. However, there is a lot of structural commonality within the two industries. Common link between petroleum and chip industry: Both are dominated by a few ..

What is the significance of the Kartarpur Sahib Pilgrim Corridor? Explain the issues involved in its construction.

The gurdwara in Kartarpur is on the bank of the river Ravi. It is about 120 km northeast of Lahore. It was here that�Guru Nanak assembled a Sikh community�and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539. The union ..

What is S-400 �Triumf� Air Defence System? Enumerate how buying this system will strengthen India�s defense capabilities and will hamper India-USA relations.

An S-400 �Triumf� air defence missile system is one of the most advanced long-range defence systems in the world. India is the second export customer, after China to purchase this most advance defence system. Features of the defence system: It ..

The removal of sanctions on Iran has significant implications on commercial and trade relations between India and Iran. Discuss.

Globally, the removal of sanctions will allow Iran to increase its crude oil exports by 5,00,000 barrels per day. This would further reduce the global oil prices which are already at historic low due to oversupply in the market. Iran ..

In view of the term ‘permacrisis’ gaining media prominence, discuss how India can use its G-20 presidency for addressing the concerns of the Global South?

The word ‘permacrisis’ refers to an extended period of instability and insecurity. The term is gaining media prominence due to the ongoing crisis in Europe because of the Russia-Ukraine war, having negative consequences for the world. Need to raise the ..

With respect to the South China sea, maritime territorial disputes and rising tension affirm the need for safeguarding maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region. In this context, discuss the bilateral issues between India and China.

India is a non-party in the dispute surrounding the South China Sea which involves China, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, India has a deep and abiding interest in the region for multiple reasons. Firstly, roughly half of ..

WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India's stand on the latest round of talks on Food security.

The WTO oversees international trade between nations, and acts as the forum for nations to negotiate and develop the rules that govern international trade. Its major mandate is to reduce trade barriers, tariffs and quotas, while promoting free trade. The ..