Insights

India stands at crossroads on the 63rd Republic Day. The young demographic profile and buoyant economy provide opportunities for further growth. At the same time, there are challenges in the form of poverty, malnutrition, corruption and over-crowded cities. Two decades after the economic reforms, India stands chance of another transformation. The immense potential of the North-eastern states remains untapped. Tourism, promotion of handicrafts, tapping the hydropower potential, and improvement in surface, rail and air transport can help propel the development of the North-eastern region. The public health infrastructure needs an overhaul. Basic amenities remain a distant reality for most of the households of rural India. Better infrastructure could open opportunities to transform rural India into sustainable development zones. 2-tier and 3-tier cities can propel India's economic growth. Proper town and city planning is crucial to facilitate development while retaining the peace an...

The ongoing political reforms in Myanmar augur well for the region, Asia and world at large. Political stability and economic prosperity is crucial for Myanmar to play its deserving role in the region. Although there are challenges in the way, there are opportunities to leverage rich cultural heritage and nature's treasures. It's time to tap the hidden tourism potential of Myanmar, the Golden land, which could not only attract foreign visitors, but also help in the economic development of the local communities. Tourism is now playing a vital role in the development of economies worldwide. Tourism and hospitality sector complement each other and create job opportunities. Myanmar's tourism destinations include a unique mix of ancient and awe-inspiring temples, mosques, sea-side lakes, colonial architectures, Buddhist shrines, Pagodas, mountain streams, ruined and ancient cities, precious species and mammals. One can have a glimpse of unique rowing styles, artistic lacquerwa...

Will the division of a large state to several smaller states enable better administration or development of regions in question? Perhaps, the solution lies in decentralization of administrative functions, rather than the division of a state. But decentralization in itself would not deliver the desired results. Equitable and balanced regional development could be achieved through the combination of DGPP - Decentralization, Good Governance, and Public Private Partnerships. A small administrative region could be a handicap if the same is not backed by good governance or is characterized with political instability. Good governance is crucial for removing the bottlenecks in development and ensuring planned development of villages, towns and cities in the respective regions. Again, decentralization should be complemented with Public Private Partnerships at the district level to achieve the desired development goals, address employment issues, improve surface transport facilities, deliver ...

The Prime Minister has urged for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the association, which is growing in significance with every passing year. The growing political and economic significance of the region was evident with the active participation of the United States (U.S). Greater diplomatic engagement and enhancing trade ties with ASEAN holds high significance for India, which has began to walk the talk on its Look East Policy. At the same time, the 10 countries of the region, would continue to enhance their cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea within the ASEAN Plus Three Framework. In recent times, U.S and European countries have been more proactive in their engagement with the South-East Asian countries. As such, in the emerging global scenario, India needs to continue to strengthen the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC).  For a change, the recent SAARC...