October 1, 2026

Kautilya

Economy

India Becomes World’s Fifth Most Digital Economy and Fourth-Largest AI Market

India’s digital rise has been built on scale. The country has hundreds of millions of internet users, one of the world’s largest smartphone markets, massive digital payment adoption, a rapidly expanding start-up ecosystem and a growing base of technology workers. This scale gives India a unique advantage. A digital product or public platform that works in India has already been tested in one of the most complex, diverse and high-volume markets in the world.

By Kautilya / May 30, 2026
Health

India’s Maternal Mortality Decline Marks a Major Public Health Milestone

India’s journey has been remarkable over the long term. Government material had earlier noted that MMR fell from 130 in 2014–16 to 97 in 2018–20, and further official updates placed the figure at 88 per lakh live births before the latest bulletin’s estimate of 87. This shows a consistent downward movement rather than a one-time improvement.

By Kautilya / May 30, 2026
Diplomacy Economy

India–Vietnam Partnership to Expand QR Code-Based Cross-Border Payment Systems

This is significant because digital payments have become one of India’s strongest technology exports. India’s fintech ecosystem, led by fast payment infrastructure, QR-code acceptance and real-time transaction capability, has shown how public digital infrastructure can support everyday commerce at massive scale. The MoU with Vietnam fits into this larger story: India is steadily taking its payment architecture beyond domestic convenience and turning it into a tool of international economic partnership.

By Kautilya / May 30, 2026
Economy Infrastructure

India’s First SkyCast System Opens a New Era of Weather-Smart Aviation

SkyCast is important because aviation safety depends heavily on what happens in the lower atmosphere around an airport. Aircraft descent, final approach, landing and take-off are all sensitive to visibility, wind shear, turbulence, moisture, fog density and vertical atmospheric changes. Delhi’s airport faces some of the most difficult winter fog conditions in the country, where dense fog, pollution particles and low visibility can delay flights, divert aircraft and disrupt passenger movement. SkyCast brings these atmospheric details into one integrated monitoring framework.

By Kautilya / May 30, 2026
Defense

Operation Sindoor Book Puts the Soldier at the Centre of India’s Modern War Story

Operation Sindoor already occupies a major place in India’s contemporary security narrative. According to official government accounts, the operation was launched as a calibrated response to cross-border terrorism, with India targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir after detailed multi-agency intelligence identified nine key terror camps, including sites in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

By Kautilya / May 30, 2026
Diplomacy

Netanyahu’s India Praise Highlights the Unusual Public Warmth Behind a Strategic Partnership

India and Israel have built one of the most practical strategic partnerships of the post-Cold War era. The relationship rests on defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, agriculture, water management, innovation, cybersecurity, space, start-ups, digital technology and political trust. It has grown steadily since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992 and has expanded sharply in the last decade through high-level visits and strategic agreements.

By Kautilya / May 29, 2026
Diplomacy

South African Deputy President’s India Visit Gives Fresh Momentum to a Strategic Global South Partnership

India and South Africa share a relationship that goes far beyond routine diplomacy. The connection carries the memory of anti-colonial struggles, the moral legacy of Mahatma Gandhi’s years in South Africa, the fight against apartheid and a shared commitment to a more balanced global order. Over the decades, this historical bond has matured into a strategic partnership shaped by economic cooperation, people-to-people ties, multilateral engagement and South-South solidarity.

By Kautilya / May 29, 2026
Defense

Indian Army Online Common Entrance Examination for Agnipath Scheme to Begin from 1 June

The recruitment process is structured in phases. The online examination acts as the initial filter, followed by physical recruitment rallies and medical examination for shortlisted candidates. This system gives the Army a wider digital reach while reducing crowding at early-stage rallies and ensuring that candidates first clear a common written assessment before entering the field-based stages.

By Kautilya / May 29, 2026