In the wake of recent political transitions in Bangladesh and shifting regional equations, Dhaka’s foreign policy is undergoing a subtle yet significant recalibration. From a growing openness toward Pakistan to navigating its strategic relations with India, China, and beyond, Bangladesh is stepping into a more assertive regional role while grapplin…

In a historic declaration of economic independence on 2 April 2025, President Donald Trump announced a fresh wave of tariffs on its trading partners and adversaries. Despite a relatively successful meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, India was unable to dodge a bullet on tariffs. President Trump declared a 27 per cent ‘discount…

Sri Lanka’s national budget for 2025 was presented last month by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This marks the inaugural budget of the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which came to power in November 2024. To provide an overview and analysis of the 2025 budget, ISAS Research Fellow Dr Rajni Gamage is joined by Mr Umesh Moramudali, a l…

In the first 50 days of the Trump administration, President Trump has signed several executive orders, many of which focus on tariffs and trade issues. Tariffs have come to be used as instruments of foreign policy, and this has important implications for the global trading architecture. Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (T…

Six months into the administration led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh finds itself navigating troubled waters. The country is currently grappling with socioeconomic instability, political issues, and governance challenges. The coming months will be crucial as more reports from the interim government's appointed reform commissions emerge an…

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington D.C. and the new opportunities and challenges the meeting set out for US and India.…

Populist leaders in South Asia leverage mass appeal, nationalism, and religious identity to consolidate power. In recent years, politicians such as Narendra Modi in India and Imran Khan in Pakistan, while often claiming to empower marginalised groups as part of their campaign rhetoric, frequently exploit religious cleavages as part of a strategy te…

On 1st February 2025, India’s Finance Minister, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget. While last year’s budget was shadowed by coalition politics, this budget seems to be very different. It has focused on stimulating weak consumer expenditure while also prioritising capital expenditure to sustain the economy’s growth at 6 percent. In th…

In the upcoming Delhi elections, welfare promises and populist measures take centre stage. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, hosts Dr Neelanjan Sircar, Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad University, to delve into the dynamics shaping this high-stakes electoral contest. Dr Sircar discusses the escalating 'au…

Donald Trump’s recent re-election marks a pivotal moment for India-US relations, with his administration set to shape trade, immigration, and global power dynamics in ways that could significantly impact India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS, is joined by Ambassador Nirupama Rao, former Foreign Secretary o…

With global and regional economies still stabilising from the various events of the first half of the decade, in this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics) at ISAS-NUS shares the strategic economic outlook for the region in the year 2025. He is in conversation with Ms Divya Mur…

The year 2024 was marked by human conflicts, political shifts and intensification of transnational challenges. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Associate Professor Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, ISAS discusses with Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, the impact of these crises on South Asia. They also discuss the challenges and opport…

President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office as the 47th President of the United States of America in January 2025. Donald Trump’s second term in office is poised to be a continuation of his first term where US’s pre-2017 free trade principles and approach to economic policies is expected to undergo vast changes. As the world waits to see the…

The recent COP29 conference brought climate finance to the forefront of international climate diplomacy, with key outcomes such as the adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance and the new $300 billion target. However, these developments have sparked contention, particularly highlighting the diverging perspectives between de…

This episode of South Asia Chat delves into the political polarisation in Pakistan which has emerged since the incarceration of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The discussion focuses on the ongoing protests led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which culminated in violent clashes with security forces on 24 November 2024. Mr Muhammad Sa…

In April 2024, India delivered three BrahMos missile batteries to the Philippines as part of a US$375 (S$510 million) million deal, making the Philippines the first export customer of the India-Russia joint venture. This highlights India’s growing role in defence technology exports, with BrahMos embodying the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The deal s…

India-China relations have recently seen a positive change as the two countries have successfully disengaged in Depsang and Demchok areas. To further discuss what these developments mean for both countries, Dr Sidharth Raimedhi, Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR), New Delhi speaks with Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research An…

Donald Trump’s recent re-election marks a pivotal moment for India-US relations, with his administration likely to influence trade, immigration, and great power dynamics in ways that will have lasting impacts on India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS, is joined by Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research P…

India-Canada relations have taken a sharp turn in recent months, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2023 allegations of Indian government involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This led to Canada’s request in October 2024 for the removal of diplomatic immunity for six Indian diplomats, sparking a diplomatic standoff. In this epis…

In this episode, Mriganika Singh Tanwar, Research Analyst at ISAS-NUS, speaks with Dr Athaulla Rasheed, former diplomat and foreign service officer with the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discuss the key dynamics of India-Maldives relations, focusing on President Muizzu's official visit to India (6-10 October 2024) aimed at mending bila…

The power sector in Pakistan has remained a priority for each successive government and yet it remains in a state of crisis. It continues to be plagued by issues such as frequent power outages, transmission and distribution losses, high subsidies and limited infrastructure. In this episode Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is in conver…

Haryana's assembly polls are scheduled for 5 October 2024, marking the first direct political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, since the Lok Sabha election earlier this year. In this episode of South Asia Chat, ISAS Research Analyst Raghaw Khattri is in conversation with Dr Satendra Kumar, Senior Researcher at the I…

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Dr Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow at ISAS, talks to Nusrat Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Amherst College, to unpack the July uprising in Bangladesh. They explore the student-led protest movement, its role in reshaping popular culture, and how national memory is evolving in the wake of Sheikh Hasin…

Sri Lanka’s presidential election was held on Saturday the 21 September 2024. The presidential campaign was dominated by three main candidates, the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe running on an independent platform, the main opposition party’s (Samagi Jana Balawegaya) leader Sajith Premadasa, and the National People’s Power candidate, Anur…

India and China have long been locked in border disputes along the Himalayas, with tensions particularly high following a deadly clash in 2020. However, recent negotiations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election have sparked cautious optimism for resolution. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS, is joi…

The past week has been an exciting time here in Singapore with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit. Modi’s fifth visit to Singapore marked a momentous occasion in Singapore-India relations as the two countries upgraded their strategic partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that essentially means deeper bilateral coopera…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Russia and Ukraine one after the other brings to India’s dynamic foreign policy that is enabling it to walk this tightrope. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS, to discuss the sign…

The recent Indian economic survey and budget brought to the forefront the challenge of unemployment and skill gap and mismatch in India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor Bornali Bhandari, Professor at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi, In…

Bangladesh has seen major political developments in the last few months. Student-led protests against the quota system, made widespread by Sheikh Hasina's irresponsible remarks and violent clampdown, led to the end of her 15 year rule as prime minister. Since then, a new interim government has taken shape, led by Muhammad Yunus. As things begin to …

Sri Lanka’s presidential election is scheduled to be held on the 21st of September 2024. This is the first election after the 2022 economic crisis and mass street protests which ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. To understand the complexities surrounding the upcoming election, ISAS Research Fellow Dr Rajni Gamage, is joined by Mr Ameer Faaiz, a …

On 30 June 2024, Taliban officials representing Afghanistan joined the United Nations (UN) and other stakeholders in Doha for the third set of UN-led talks on the Afghanistan peace process. Since 2021, Afghanistan has been rife with economic regression, political instability, and humanitarian crises. Furthermore, the Taliban regime has been critici…

On 23 July 2024, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Presented as the first budget in the newly elected National Democratic Alliance government, this budget brought to the forefront the dynamics of coalition politics and shed light on new schemes for employment and more- in short- providing a s…

Pakistan and its regional security landscape remains a critical issue for its leaders. The country continues to grapple with Islamist militancy and this is impacted by various internal and external factors. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Imran Ahmed, Research Fellow at ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Abdul Basit, Senior Associate Fellow at R…

Food systems, which encompass networks needed to produce and transform food, and ensure it reaches consumers, are facing increasing pressures globally from volatile climate, geopolitics and rising costs. With persistent challenges around food security, undernourishment, soil degradation and food losses and wastage in the supply chain, there is a ne…

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Mr Raghaw Khattri is in conversation with Mr Vinod Rai, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at ISAS, and former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, to discuss the recent cabinet formation following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in on 10 June 2024. The new coalition government includes 71 minist…

In June 2024, Sri Lanka has secured the third tranche of a US$2.9 billion IMF bailout programme and is expected to finalise its debt bilateral restructuring agreements with key creditors this month. To understand the state of Sri Lanka’s economy, its progress and challenges, ISAS Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Rajni Gamage is joined by Dr Ganeshan Wignaraj…

The escalating conflict between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed organisations (EAO) is a matter of concern for both India and Bangladesh as both countries share borders with Myanmar. In the early months of 2024, civil servants and military personnel from bordering areas in Myanmar escaped fighting and crossed the border into Bangladesh. The con…

In this episode, we delve into the foreign policy outlook of India in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term. Unlike previous terms, PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured 240 seats, falling 32 seats short of the majority mark of 272. This shift means Mr Modi will need to navigate coalition politics for the first time in his career. …

In this special episode, we are joined by three distinguished experts - Dr Iqbal Sevea, Dr Ronojoy Sen, and Dr Neelanjan Sircar on the outcomes of the 2024 Indian elections. The conversation explores the major factors that influenced voter decisions, such as economic conditions and social dynamics. It examines the distinct strategies employed by th…

In this episode, Professor Tan Tai Yong reflects on the 20th anniversary of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) and shares his vision for its future. Emphasising the critical role of South Asia on the global stage, he discusses its profound impact on regional dynamics, including the intricate relations between Singapore, South Asia, and Sou…

As five phases of polling have concluded in the 2024 General Elections in India, we have seen a plethora of issues being talked about. From welfare and development to accusations of minority appeasement, debates on caste census, wealth redistribution, inheritance tax, unemployment, and Hindutva, this election seems to lack a pan-India narrative, un…

India’s relations with its Himalayan neighbour Nepal have seen intense diplomatic engagement under Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he initiated in August 2014 the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. What have been the outcomes of this policy? What are the issues that strain mutual ties? What are Nepal’s domestic constraints which affect bilateral rela…

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events in India, a country amongst the most vulnerable to climate change, should send the alarm bells ringing. Natural disasters induced and aggravated by anthropogenic activities have significantly impacted lives and livelihoods across the country. How have political parties responded to this threat? Is …

Infrastructure and connectivity have emerged as critical domains of cooperation between China and Nepal. China is engaged in several infrastructure projects in Nepal including the development of hydropower projects, construction of roadways and the recently inaugurated international airport at Pokhra. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shreshtha…

The Himalayas, the world’s so called “third pole” are critical for life within and around the cold, mountainous region. They serve as a home for numerous communities and as the source of several water bodies that support large populations. The impact of climate change is very evident in the Himalayas. Melting glaciers are creating new lakes, rivers…

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has stated that a presidential election is likely to be held between September and October 2024. If held, these will be the first elections held since the 2022 mass people’s protests which caused the political leadership at the time to step down from power. There are multiple political groups and factions that a…

Earlier this month, the Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar in one of his interactions in London stated that the Pakistani government is seriously examining resuming trade ties with India. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Prof C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Profess…

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) was concluded on 2 March 2024. While progress was made on certain commitments by member states, consensus has not been achieved on certain key long-standing issues. In this episode, Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), ISAS, is in c…

In this episode, Dr Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director of ISAS, engages Dr S Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs, on India’s priorities in its relations with the major powers such as the United States, China and Russia. Globally, while Dr Jaishankar advocates reforms in multilateralism and highlights the value of minilateralism and regionalis…

Farmer groups in India have been protesting in New Delhi to demand a legally backed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. The government and farm leaders have gone through several rounds of discussions and negotiations but there has been no breakthrough. On 13 February farmer groups launched the “Delhi Chalo” march and for several weeks prot…