May 15, 2026

Kautilya

Economy

Indians Paid INR. 263 Billion In Foreign Exchange Fees In 2020: New Study Reveals

Wise, the global technology company operating in global money transfer ecosystem, released a new study revealing that Indians paid over Rs. 263 billion (US$ 3.50 billion) on foreign exchange fees in 2020, out of which ~Rs. 97 billion (US$ 1.29 bilion) were charged as hidden exchange rate markups on currency conversions, payments and card purchases. The outstanding Rs. 166 billion (US$ 2.21 billion) were spent on transaction fees.

By Kautilya / October 28, 2021
Defense

India’s Secretive Stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Demonstrator Breaks Cover

Photos and video of the SWiFT — which stands for Stealth Wing Flying Testbed — appeared yesterday, apparently showing taxi trials of the demonstrator drone that were likely conducted at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in the southern state of Karnataka. So far, there has been no official statement from the Indian Ministry of Defense or from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the latter of which is in overall charge of the project.

By Kautilya / October 28, 2021
Diplomacy

India, Kyrgyzstan NSAs are on the Same Page on Afghanistan

India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday held a dialogue with his Kyrgyz counterpart Lieutenant General Marat Imankulov where they discussed the regional security environment with a special reference to Afghanistan. The secretary of the security council of the Kyrgyz Republic was in India for the first strategic dialogue between the National Security Council Secretariats of the two countries.

By Kautilya / October 28, 2021
Research

New Non-Toxic Organic Photocatalyst can Efficiently Capture CO2 and Convert it Into Methane

Indian Scientists have designed a cost-effective metal-free catalyst to convert carbon dioxide to methane by absorption of visible light. Ongoing research is making a significant effort to reduce CO2 into value-added products, methane (CH4) could be one of the value-added products with significant uses as the cleanest burning fossil fuel and can directly be used in fuel cells as a hydrogen carrier.  It is also the main component of natural gas and has the potential to replace coal for electricity generation and furnishing flexible supply to reinforce intermittent renewable generators.

By Kautilya / October 28, 2021
Defense Diplomacy

Liaison Officer from Seychelles Posted at Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre

A liaison officer from the Seychelles was on Monday posted at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) that has emerged as a key hub in tracking movements of ships and other developments in the Indian Ocean. With the posting of the officer, Seychelles joined a select group of countries such as the UK, the US, Australia, Japan and France to depute officials at the Gurgaon-based facility.

By Kautilya / October 27, 2021
Diplomacy

India, Maldives Ink MoU for Exchange of Public Finance Data

India will have better access to public finance data of Maldives with a memorandum of understanding signed by Comptroller and Auditor General G C Murmu on Sunday with his counterpart in Male. The pact will ensure exchange of information between the two countries on government finances and training of auditors.

By Kautilya / October 27, 2021