Author: Siddhartha Dave

Why Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Cyber Conflict, Strategic Competition and the Future of National Security History of warfare has often been defined by technological revolutions. Gunpowder reshaped kingdoms. Industrialisation transformed armies into mechanised forces. Nuclear weapons altered the very logic of deterrence. Today, the world stands at the threshold of another strategic transformation—one driven not by a single technology but by the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber capabilities. This convergence has emerged as the defining security challenge of the twenty-first century, one that blurs the boundaries between peace and war, civilian and military infrastructure, and human judgement and…

The recent clarification by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 24 June 2026 has settled a legal question that has long been misunderstood in public discourse: an Indian passport is a travel document, not conclusive proof of citizenship. While the statement merely reiterated the legal position under existing law, it sparked intense political debate because it exposed a much deeper institutional gap: India still lacks a universally accepted document that conclusively establishes citizenship. This is not merely an administrative anomaly. In an era marked by electoral revisions, illegal migration, national security concerns, digital governance, and increasing mobility, the absence…

“The era of obedience is over.” With this simple yet profound observation, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat may have identified one of the defining characteristics of contemporary India. Speaking at a recent programme in New Delhi, Bhagwat remarked that today’s youth no longer accept authority unquestioningly. They ask questions. They expect reasons. They deserve affection, time and dialogue. Communication, he cautioned, is increasingly absent not only from public life but also within families. His remarks have naturally resonated during the ongoing debates over the NEET controversy, the rise of digitally mobilised Gen Z activism and even the emergence of meme-driven political…

The recent controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the NEET examination has reignited a familiar pattern in Indian public life. A legitimate grievance over the integrity of a national examination has rapidly evolved into a larger political confrontation, with competing narratives often overshadowing the central question: How should a democratic state respond when public trust in an institution is shaken? Whether one attributes the protests primarily to genuine concern, political mobilisation, or a combination of both, the larger issue is not merely the fate of one minister or one government. It is the credibility of the institutions responsible for conducting examinations…