May 12, 2025

FNF-DGAP-CPPR Paper – “Generative AI and its Influence on India’s 2024 Elections”

The paper, “Generative AI and its Influence on India’s 2024 Elections,” authored by D Dhanuraj, Sreelakshmi Harilal, and Nissy Solomon of CPPR, explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) was utilized in the 2024 General Elections in India, a year marked by […]
April 21, 2025

Reforming Kerala’s Land Policies – Unlocking Growth & Freedom

  Context The Kerala Land Reforms Act of 1963 and the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act of 1979 were introduced with the objective of restructuring land ownership and promoting equitable distribution in the state. These legislations sought to transfer land […]
March 13, 2025

Why There’s no ‘Varavelpu’ from Bus Owners to Kerala Budget’s 10% Road Tax Cut Proposal

The Kerala government in its Budget 2025 has proposed to reduce the quarterly road tax for stage carriages by 10%, seemingly to promote public transport. Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal seen arriving to present the State Budget 2024-25 during […]
March 8, 2025

Accelerating Gender Equality: Bridging the Economic Gap for Women in India

This year’s UN theme for the International Women’s Day—”Accelerate Action”—is a stark reminder to reflect on the work left to be done, and the barriers to be tackled to attain gender equality. The insights presented by the Global Gender Gap […]
March 7, 2025

Funding Gender Equality: Where does the Union Budget 2025-26 stand?

Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her eighth consecutive budget, has highlighted the focus on four important groups to drive India’s progress, with women or “nari,” being one among them. The role of women in India’s growth strategy is laid out in […]
March 3, 2025

Is Congress listening to Shashi Tharoor’s Inconvenient Truth?

The Congress having tasted defeats in successive Assembly elections in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor is making a point not only to Kerala’s Congress leaders but also to the party’s national leadership Recent statements by Congress leader Sashi Tharoor on his stand on […]
February 24, 2025

EP 17 | Advancing India-US Relations: Strengthening Trade, Defense, and Technology | Policy Beyond Borders

              The India-United States relationship has surfaced as one of the most critical partnerships in the current world order, which shares global geopolitics, trade, and energy security. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of […]
February 21, 2025

FNF-CPPR Paper – “The Bay of Bengal: Key to Indo-Pacific Security and Global Stability”

The Bay of Bengal, historically a key hub for global maritime connectivity, has become even more significant with the geopolitical emergence of the Indo-Pacific region. Its strategic position between the northern Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait makes it a […]
February 19, 2025

Union Budget 2025 – In-Depth Analysis of the Defence Budget of India

Defence Budget has increased from ₹6.22 lakh crore in 2024 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025 The Indian government in the past few years has focused on modernisation and self-dependency in the defence sector. With a 9.5% increase from the […]
February 12, 2025

Kerala Budget 2025 signals shift towards Private Investment

The budget expectation was therefore straightforward, such that unproductive expenditure was rationalised and new avenues to generate revenue explored. A weak fiscal position has been a long-standing issue in Kerala. As mentioned in the budget speech, there is a realisation […]
February 10, 2025

Jhaadu Loses Its Jaadu — Three Critical Factors Behind AAP’s Delhi Election Loss

Former CM Arvind Kejriwal lost to BJP’s Parvesh Sharma in New Delhi seat. The results of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections have painted a grim picture for the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with party supremo Arvind Kejriwal conceding defeat […]
February 9, 2025

Delhi Elections 2025: Decoding 1.0, 2.0, & 3.0

The AAP had nothing new to offer to the middle class, and the BJP struck their emotions with a timely income tax rebate announcement in the union budget 2025. Delhi election results have weakened the already weak opposition. The loss […]
February 6, 2025

Welfare, Debt and Migration: Can Kerala’s Economy Keep Up?

  Kerala’s public finance management has been under stress for quite some time. In the recently published fiscal management index by Niti Ayog, Kerala is ranked 15 out of 18 states, which shows the depth of the challenges the State […]
February 4, 2025

Union Budget 2025 focuses on Urban Ecosystems, Boosting Economic Activities

The announcement of social security for gig workers is a welcome sign   For the last five years, the frenzy around the Budget speeches has been about capitalinvestment, specifically allocating more money for various infrastructuredevelopments to cater to the demand […]
January 23, 2025

Post-Trump: Why India-GCC Ties Are A Key Factor

Amid global trade uncertainties, India needs to up its game in the GCC zone—a well-thought-out FTA is the need of the hour, which will solidify the partnership, unlocking new opportunities for mutual economic growth!   With India’s markets in the […]