VIF Papers
Shipbuilding - A Larger National Perspective

… shipbuilding industry can be a major employment creator with relatively large spin-offs for ancillary industries unlike the automobile and other manufacturing industry … shipbuilding industry has not received the required attention and focused view of competing priorities, uncertainties and lack of assurance on short term returns on government policy measures ... it is essential to galvanize the shipbuilding as a strategic infrastructure industry with the required policy, legislative and institutional measures …

Interests and Contests of Houthi and Al-Hirak Movements in Yemen crisis

… there is apparently a tacit understanding between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over the STC-Hadi government conflict … the recent attempts in September 2019 to bring STC and the Hadi government to the negotiating table reflect Saudi attempts to reach reconciliation to re-group the anti-Houthi coalition ... the stalemated nature of the conflict between the Arab coalition and the Houthis has prompted Saudi Arabia to gradually reconcile its interests vis-a-vis the Houthi Movement …

The Larger Cause of National Defence: The CDS and Defence Reforms

… there are many hurdles to cross in our endeavour to reform our system of national defence to meet the parameters of the nation’s military threats, technological and industrial capacities and fiscal affordability… The CDS … would be just one ‘cog’, albeit a central one, in the management of national defence … it would need a conducive ground to perform in the best manner desired ... In order reap the advantages its full measure, there have to be rebuilt the entire system of our defence management – defence reforms, in short …

Cyber Attack on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant – A Wake Up Call

… India is among the top three countries in the world after the U.S. and China when it comes to phishing and malware attacks ... While governments can’t control every aspect of cyber security, they can certainly help shape the future of cyber security based on lessons learned from other nations, threats and technologies ... all stakeholders have to their heads together, identify the vulnerabilities in the critical information infrastructure and take remedial measures in a time bound manner …

Indian Airpower in Irregular Conflicts: A Conceptual Framework

… Indian airpower has almost continuously been involved in less-than-war and low-intensity or limited conflicts … military helicopter and transport aircraft fleets have put in yeomen service over decades towards this and continue to do so … the Air Force must prepare officers today for the managerial and executive tasks to manage not only people but also ideas and concepts on a broad basis …

Counterproductive Effects of Sanctions - The Myanmar Case Study

This paper attempts to analyse the trend of certain Western countries and the United Nations (UN) to impose or recommend imposition of sanctions on other countries, using Myanmar as a case study. Presently, certain bans have already been imposed or recommended to be imposed by Israel, United States and the UN on officials of Myanmar in the aftermath of the Rohingya Crisis. But this paper is not about Rohingyas and human rights violations. As such, the paper neither concurs nor dispels the allegations made against the Myanmar Government.

J & K : Review of Developments Post the Abrogation of Article 370

… the old order has come to its justified end. There is however, much harmful weed still occupying critical spaces of socio-political, cultural and religious existence. Building a ‘new order’ in a conflict zone is always a daunting challenge. It cannot happen without out-of-the-box thinking, and accepting the task as a mission to be accomplished with zeal and passion. India knows New Delhi can do it …

India-Africa Partnership - An Assessment

… There is a lot of goodwill for India in Africa. African countries appreciate its non-intrusive policies and look towards it for lead and initiative. However, India’s approach has been request-based and not initiative-based... Basically, a cohesive policy and strategic vision for its partnership with Africa is needed ... India must develop a strategic foreign policy and make it initiative-based ...

Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: A Long Struggle Ahead

… there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women, no policy is more important in preventing conflict, or in achieving reconciliation after a conflict has ended .. international community must continue to provide the necessary funding and use its leverage to improve gender equality, women’s security, and their participation in public life. An isolated and neglected Afghanistan will only breed violent extremism, terrorism, and instability in the whole region …

Research and Development in Cyber Domain and Indian Perspective

… India has to develop its own technologies, an electronic manufacturing base, R&D infrastructure and a highly skilled human resource… talented professionals available in the cyber eco system have to be brought in for research on indigenization of cyber technologies… Though a little late, but given the required priority, funding and impetus India has the capability to develop indigenous technology in cyber domain …

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