Author: swasti.sachdeva

Every year, on 20th August, the nation pays homage to its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary and the day is commemorated as ‘Sadbhavana Diwas.’ Sadbhavana which translates to ‘goodwill’ in English, is aimed at promoting peace, harmony and national integration. It hopes to encourage peaceful coexistence among individuals and groups across diversities and instil social peace, solidarity, and fraternity. It is a day to not only pay respects to a former national leader who made significant contributions to India’s growth story but also to remember these great values which are foundational to Indian society. Sadbhavana Diwas…

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is on a historic visit to war-torn Middle East. He traveled to Israel a couple of days ago and this marks his ninth visit to the region since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023. The visit is a part of an intensive and continuous diplomatic effort. Blinken hopes to finalize an agreement for a ceasefire and release of hostages through a bridging proposal of the United States, with the support of the other two main negotiators – Egypt and Qatar. On Friday and Saturday, diplomats of all these three countries…

Policy disputes, leadership tussles and ambitions, public pressure, maneuvering by a bigger party are just some reasons why political parties in India split. The practice is old but still very common. The grand-old Congress Party, for instance, has split dozens of times since independence and has numerous breakaway factions. In the recent years too, some big and popular regional parties have bore the brunt of splits or big leaders leaving the party with their cadre – like the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Trinamool Congress, Lok Janshakti Party, etc. The latest party in the news for this same reason is…

After much anticipation, the Election Commission of India in the morning announced that it would be holding a press conference on the upcoming General Elections to Legislative Assemblies. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar along with other Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sandhu would address the media at 3pm in Vigyan Bhawan. While the states were not announced, speculations began. The tenure of the current legislative assemblies of Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and soon thereafter even of Delhi and Bihar are set to expire. However, all eyes were on Jammu and Kashmir. The terror-stricken, northern-most state of India has not…

The US Presidential Election always garners global attention and has numerous international repercussions. The President of the United States is not only the key decision maker within the country’s borders but as the head of a global hegemon, he has significant geopolitical powers and impacts decisions, events and relations millions of miles away. Indeed, foreign policy is an important component of the presidential campaign of any candidate and attracts worldwide attention.  In less than three months, the US is set to go to polls to elect its 47th President, and the world is glued to the White House race. From…

The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign is a key initiative of the Government of India as a part of the Independence Day celebrations across the country. The campaign invites all citizens to hoist the tricolor from 9th to 15th August and pay their respect. People have been encouraged to hoist the flag at their homes, shops and offices and become a part of the Independence Day fervour. Our flag represents the ultimate spirit of freedom and unity, and is a symbol of our national consciousness. It is key part of all national celebrations. The campaign endeavors to take the flag, and…

Every year on August 12, people around the world observe International Youth Day. The day raises awareness of the many difficulties that young people confront while simultaneously showcasing their enormous potential and accomplishments. According to the UN, these international days provide a platform to bring significant issues to the public’s attention, mobilize political will and resources to address global issues, and commemorate and reinforce humankind’s achievements. History: International Youth Day is an initiative of the United Nations and is being celebrated since the year 2000. A resolution to proclaim August 12 as the International Youth Day was adopted by the…

Late night on Saturday, 10th August, former diplomat turned politician who rose to the ranks of Minister of External Affairs, Natwar Singh breathed his last. A 1953-batch IFS officer, Singh landed up the top job at Raisina Hills in Manmohan Singh’s first UPA government for a short duration. A career marked by many twists and controversies, his death was mourned by top politicians and diplomats in the country. All you need to know about Natwar Singh: Born in the princely state of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, in an aristocratic family, Singh did his schooling from the Mayo College in Ajmer and…

On 8th August, UN member states in a landmark decision, particularly relevant to the present technological era, approved the organization’s first treaty on cyber crime. After reaching a unanimous decision, the UN Convention Against Cyber crime will now be presented to the General Assembly. Background to the treaty: The goal of this treaty is to “prevent and combat cyber crime more efficiently and effectively,” with an emphasis on money laundering and concerns related to images of child sexual abuse. To seek consensus for the United Nations Convention Against Cyber crime, three years of discussions and a two-week session in New…

On the morning of 30th July 2024, India woke up to the devastating news of massive landslides in Wayanad, Kerala. The landslides particularly impacted 6 villages of the Wayanad district – Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, Meppadi and Kunhome. While the region is prone to landslides in the monsoon season, the extent has been particularly huge. It is now one of the most severe natural disasters to have occurred in India in the recent years, claiming the lives of over 400 people, injuring more than 200, with about 150 people still missing, and causing massive infrastructural and economic damages. As per…