Author: Sachin Yadav
Sachin Yadav
Sachin Yadav is a Ph.D. scholar in International Studies at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi With a background in economics and education, his work bridges political economy and geopolitics. His research focuses on India’s strategic partnerships, South Asia, India’s Neighbourhood and Geoeconomics.
India’s rise in the maritime domain of the Indo Pacific is no longer a quiet evolution. It is becoming a visible assertion, manifested not only through the growth of its naval power but also through its ability to bring nations together, build partnerships and develop regional institutions. February 2026 offered a striking illustration of this transformation. At intervals of just a few days, India hosted the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, Exercise MILAN 2026 and the conclave of the chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. These were not identical instruments of maritime diplomacy. The IFR demonstrated naval capability and…
Introduction South Asia rarely performs well in global press freedom rankings, and the latest World Press Freedom Index is no exception. Released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in April 2026, the 25th edition of the index paints the bleakest global picture since its inception in 2001. More than 52.2 per cent of the 180 countries assessed are now classified as either ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ for journalism, while less than 1 per cent of the world’s population lives in countries enjoying ‘good’ press freedom conditions. Within South Asia, the picture is equally troubling. Nepal, ranked 87th, is the region’s best…
On 3 May 2026, the Government of India released a document titled Great Nicobar Project: Strategic Importance and Sustainable Development, renewing its case for one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure and strategic development initiatives. The document outlines New Delhi’s vision of transforming Great Nicobar Island into a major maritime, economic and strategic hub in the Indo-Pacific region. Few places today embody India’s competing priorities as clearly as Great Nicobar. Located at the southernmost tip of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, the island occupies a position of immense strategic value. It lies just 40 nautical miles from the East–West global…
