JANUARY 2020

Wuhan Virus Similar To Sars
Ms Ishka Yadav, Research Associate, CAPS
25 January 2020: The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on January 20, 2020, that it would be holding an expert panel to decide whether the fast-spreading epidemic spawned by a new virus in China should be announced a global health emergency….Read more

 

FEBRUARY 2020

Realising the potential of Amateur Astronomers for enhancing India’s Space Situational Awareness
Ms Mrunalini Deshpande, Research Associate, CAPS
07 February 2020: Rapid advances in space technology have led to a considerable decrease in the cost of accessing space. This has paved the way for a number of private players to enter the space arena besides the growing number of countries….Read more


MARCH 2020

Nine Years Since Fukushima: Analysing Japan’s Progress and Challenges
Ms Zoya Akhter Fathima, Research Associate, CAPS
06 March 2020: Japan deserves credit for valiantly braving through the catastrophe. The Japanese government as well as TEPCO, have been transparent in owning up to their lapses, and have been working seriously towards making amends….Read more

Why Does Japan Need Nuclear Energy?
Ms Zoya Akhter Fathima, Research Associate, CAPS
23 March 2020: March 11th this year marked 9 years of the unfortunate Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan has been able to successfully rebuild and reconstruct most of the damage caused by the earthquake and the tsunami and the clean-up programme of the Fukushima nuclear disaster also appears to be fairly effective….Read more

The Maiden Test of Pakistan’s Ra’ad II Cruise Missile: An Overview
Ms Nasima Khatoon, Research Associate, CAPS
24 March 2020: Recently on 18 February 2020, Pakistan conducted the maiden test launch of its Ra’ad II nuclear capable air launched cruise missile (ALCM). The Ra’ad-II was displayed for the first-time in 2017 Pakistan Army military parade….Read more

Leveraging India’s Nuclear Energy Power: Taking Lessons from France
Ms Sanjana Gogna, Research Associate, CAPS
31 March 2020: The use of ‘energy power’ derived from nuclear energy can be a potent tool to promote India’s interests and strengthen its position; The experience of France is a viable example to gain lessons from….Read more

APRIL 2020

Rescheduling Of 2020 Npt Revcon At A New Venue: Will It Change The Prospects Of The Revcon Too?
Ms Sreoshi Sinha, Research Associate, CAPS
03 April 2020: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) marked its 50th anniversary from its entry into force on 5th March 2020. The treaty is viewed as the foundation of the global endeavours towards exploitation of peaceful use of nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons….Read more

Has Iran mismanaged its Corona crisis?
Ms Anu Sharma, Associate Fellow, CAPS
16 April 2020: The undermining of the Corona pandemic has made Iran the worst hit country in the West Asian region reeling from this unprecedented public health crisis. The majority of nations around the world are struggling…Read more

Can “Vuavs” Have A Redeeming Role In Combating The “B” Cbrn Threats?
Wg Cdr BS Nijjar, Research Fellow, CAPS
23 April 2020: As the Covid-19 pandemic spread in different countries, images of multi-rotor UAS undertaking spraying operations also started filling the news space….Read more

The COVID 19 Pandemic and its Global Economic Implications
Ms Urmi Tat, Research Associate, CAPS
25 April 2020: The recent manoeuvres by the Indian government to caution markets from opportunistic Chinese investors, is one among the many measures taken by governments worldwide, to take control of the post pandemic economic outlook….Read more

COVID-19 and India’s Response at the Global level
Ms. Sushmita Bharti, Research Associate, CAPS
29 April 2020: While it is difficult to ascertain which country has emerged as a global leader during COVID-19, India has certainly earned adulation from other countries and international organisations like the WHO and the IMF for its efficient and timely management and active efforts at the regional and global levels to combat the pandemic….Read more

Coronavirus Uncovers The Reliance Of Global Supply Chains On China
Ms Ishka Yadav, Research Associate, CAPS
30 April 2020: The outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan in December 2019 drew attention to the weaknesses of China as the paramount global producer….Read more

Understanding the interests of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in India
Mr Saurav Sarkar, Research Associate, CAPS
30 April 2020: Recently, Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) have increased their focus on India and the wider Indian Subcontinent as a whole, on account of different underlying factors….Read more


MAY 2020

The Unavoidable “Chinese Medicine” & Its Side-Effects
Wg Cdr BS Nijjar, Research Fellow, CAPS
02-May-2020: The importance of “Chinese Medicine” in the ongoing efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in India is highlighted by the fact that over 93 percent (700 tons) of this effort was airlifted from People’s Republic of China (PRC) cities of Shanghai, Hong Kong & Guangzhou….Read more

China’s consolidation as a Regional Leader
Dr. Joshy M Paul, Research Fellow, CAPS
03-May-2020: China has worked hard in Southeast Asia to limit what it calls ‘excessive measures’ in response to the pandemic such as travel ban on China-bound travelers and promoted a positive narrative of its ‘resolute’ and ‘highly responsible’ efforts to fight the virus….Read more

Primed for competition: US-China relations in post-COVID World Order
Ms Rushali Saha, Research Intern, CAPS
11 May 2020: Following the outbreak of the pandemic, several indicators have pointed towards deterioration in relations as both the United States and China were locked in a mutual blame game over the origin of the virus, expulsion of each other’s prominent media organisation and competition to exert influence on global governance institutions are faltering in the face of this mammoth challenge….Read more

JUNE 2020

Nuclear Energy and the Future of Warfare
Ms Zoya Akther Fathima, Research Asociate, CAPS
04 June 2020: It would not be an overstatement to say that nuclear energy could potentially revolutionize military logistics in the coming decades. As it already appears, military investment in energy technologies and innovations is likely to grow considering the efficacy and versatility of nuclear energy….Read more

The CTBT and the Possible U.S., China Nuclear Testing
Ms Sanjana Gogna, Research Associate, CAPS
15 June 2020: The U.S. Department of State report titled ‘2020 Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Non-proliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments’ was released on 15 April 2020. It raised concerns regarding China’s adherence to the ‘zero yield’ standard….Read more

The “Atmanirbhar” Clarion Call & The “Mehar Baba Competition” Follow Through
Wg Cdr BS Nijar, Research Fellow, CAPS
20 JUne 2020: The PM’s call for “Atmanirbhar Bharat” is the new mantra to achieve self-reliance, with the insistent need for Indian industry to position itself as a significant contributor to global supply chains….Read more

Russia’s Role in India-China Issues: Subtle and Nuanced
Mr Carl Jaison, Research Associate, CAPS
26 June 2020: In the backdrop of the worst clashes between the two Asian countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar interacted with his counterparts Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral virtual meet….Read more


JULY 2020

Private Participation in Space Activities: Looking Back to Look Ahead
Prof (Dr) G S Sachdeva, Distinguished Fellow, CAPS
14 July 2020: Lately, many countries have expressed interest in participation of private enterprise in independent, stand-alone space activities. India is also one of these. …Read more

The Afghan Peace Process and India’s Concerns
Mr. Saurav Sarkar, Research Associate, CAPS
16 July 2020: There has been increased speculation since the signing of U.S.-Taliban agreement on 29 February 2020 as to whether the Taliban will break ties with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups to adhere to the terms of the deal….Read more

China-Iran Relations and China’s Growing Presence in the West Asia
Mr. Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury, Research Associate, CAPS
20 July 2020: Over the past decade, under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has increased its economic, political, and to a lesser extent its security footprint in the West Asia. The BRI has not only acted as a catalyst allowing China to increase its presence in the region but also for the individual countries to use China as a means to develop and diversify their economies….Read more

Assessing France’s Success in Anti-Terror Operations in Africa
Ms.Arushi Singh, Research Intern, CAPS
21 July 2020: On June 30, 2020, French president Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott to attend the G5 Sahel Summit, spoke about the desire to “Europeanize the fight against terrorism in the Sahel”, as he handed over the lead of counterterrorism operations in the Sahel to the European Union….Read more

AUGUST 2020

China’s ‘Wedge Strategy’
Mr.Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury, Research Associate, CAPS
08 August 2020: Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, recently held a meeting with counterparts in Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan, amidst the border standoff with India, and called for the four nations to “strengthen their connections for regional peace and security.”…Read more

Factors behind the Jalalabad prison raid by the Islamic State Khorasan Province
Mr Saurav Sarkar, Research Associate, CAPS
19 August 2020: The city of Jalalabad, the capital of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, was rocked by the sounds of gunfire and explosions on Sunday evening, 2nd August. While violence in Afghanistan is not uncommon, people were looking forward to a quiet weekend after the Eid-al-Adha celebrations …Read more

Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact of Nuclear Bombings: Drawing Upon Hiroshima and the Movie “The Day After”
Ms Zoya Akhter Fathima, Research Associate, CAPS
31 August 2020: Seventy-five years ago the atom was weaponised for the first time which ushered a revolution in global geopolitics that continues to dictate the behaviour of nation-states to this day. Almost four decades after Hiroshima, at the peak of the Cold War period, when the nuclear threat loomed large, Hollywood director Nicholas Meyer directed a movie called “The Day After”….Read more


SEPTEMBER 2020

Pakistan’s Nuclear Behaviour and Deterrence Breakdown
Ms.Nasima Khatoon, Research Associate, CAPS
01 September 2020: Pakistan’s nuclear development programme and nuclear strategy have largely remained India centric and it essentially seeks to deter India’s conventional force superiority. A close look at changes in Pakistan’s nuclear policy over the years indicates this India centric posture….Read more

China’s Nuclear Ambiguity and the Risk of Deterrence Breakdown
Ms Sanjana Gogna, Research Associate, CAPS
05 September 2020: China’s nuclear strategy is known to be based on the concept of limited deterrence; It’s leaders embrace the idea that the presence of a small number of nuclear warheads is enough to deter nuclear attack and counter nuclear blackmail. At present, China’s estimated nuclear stockpile consists of about 320 warheads….Read more

Revisiting Nuclear Anxiety on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Dr Hina Pandey, Associate Fellow, CAPS
06 September 2020: On 29th August 2020, the tenth anniversary of the International Test Ban Day was commemorated; a day that is aimed at enhancing public awareness concerning the negative effects of nuclear weapon tests/explosions and the need for achieving a nuclear weapon-free world….Read more

OCTOBER 2020

Vaccine Nationalism On The Rise
Ms Ishka Yadav, Research Associate, CAPS
25 October 2020: China has fallen short in committing to the COVAX project as China has at least four vaccines for the experiment in the last stage of a clinical trial…Read more


NOVEMBER 2020

Deciphering Chinese views on the liberal world order
Ms Rushali Saha, Research Associate, CAPS
02 November 2020: A dominant theme in the contemporary discourse on International Relations has surrounded the theme of the future of the liberal world order. While some scholars have already hailed its demise, others believe that it continues to survive….Read more

‘Filling the Vacuum’: An Aspect of China’s Foreign Policy
Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury, Research Associate, CAPS
08 November 2020: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Iran, are examples where China has overlooked violations of human rights and international law to further Beijing’s geopolitical aims….Read more

Demystifying India’s Approach to QUAD
Ms Rushali Saha, Research Associate, CAPS
09 November 2020: Two important developments took place recently indicating the deepening of ties and evolving trust among the four democracies in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of common regional security challenges….Read more

Double Whammy of COVID-19 and Sanctions Hitting Hard on Iran
Ms Anu Sharma, Associate Fellow, CAPS
13 November 2020: In October 2020, US imposed another set of sanctions on various Iranian financial institutions and banking channels following its “maximum pressure campaign” against Iran. This has proved to be a double whammy for Iran which is also reeling under the drastic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic….Read more

INDIA’S FORTHCOMING NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY: Analysing the Past to Predict the Expected Outcome
Dr.E.Dilipraj, Research Fellow, CAPS
19 November 2020: During his speech, on India’s 74th Independence Day on August 15, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that the country would soon release its National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS). While the cyber community of the country were already aware about the drafting of the strategy document, such an announcement from the PM during his national address has put the document in limelight…Read more

The Islamic State Khorasan Province: A High-Stakes Political Blame-Game?
Mr. Saurav Sarkar, Research Associate, CAPS
25 November, 2020: The existing political tussle between the Afghan government and the Taliban benefits ISKP and presents it with more opportunities to conduct attacks and strengthen its position….Read more

DECEMBER 2020

Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist: Complications for Biden Administration’s Options on JCPOA
Dr. Hina Pandey, Associate Fellow, CAPS
02 December 2020: Since December 2019, Iran has often conveyed its intention to reverse its commitments under the JCPOA in response to the US abandoning the JCPOA. The upcoming Biden Administration has once again renewed the promise of constructively engaging Iran on the nuclear deal……Read more

Nuclear Power in Japan’s New Goals to Combat Climate Change
Ms. Zoya Akhter, Research Associate, CAPS
07 December 2020: Having once been the third largest user of nuclear power in the world, the Fukushima accident in 2011 saw a major decline in Japan’s civil nuclear programme. The accident resulted in the country shutting down all its nuclear reactors until more stringent safety clearances were authorised….Read more

Deepening India-U.S. Partnership: Implications for South Asia
Ms. Rushali Saha, Research Associate, CAPS
10 December 2020: The positive upswing in India-U.S. relations has paralleled a steep downfall in India-China relations—reaching its nadir following Beijing’s unprovoked aggression in Ladakh. United States has come out vocally in support of India against China….Read more

Reviving the Trilateral: Maritime Security Cooperation between India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives
Mr. Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury, Research Associate, CAPS
14 December 2020:The revival of this trilateral comes at a pertinent time of increasing activity in the Indian Ocean and signals New Delhi’s proactive approach to strengthen cooperation with its partners and ensure peace and stability in the region…Read more

Effect of COVID-19 on Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Digital Spaces
Dr. Kriti Singh, Assistant Professor, Sharda University
18 December 2020: A major threat to the well-being of populations worldwide has been created by COVID-19 deadly virus in the form of the rise of online violent extremism, which escalated during lockdowns. It is evident that the terrorist and extremist groups are taking advantage of this global pandemic to destabilise the political structures and peace and harmony in society…Read more

China’s growing Military-Civilian Synergy in the Indian Ocean Region
Mr. Rohan Khattar Singh, Research Associate, CAPS
24 December 2020: China has begun utilizing its merchant and fishing ships for its strategic objectives. The rising military-civil synergy has allowed Chinese civil vessels to dock at various MSR docks and ports while undertaking economic activities of fishing and transportation of resources. Chinese fishing trawlers have rammed and sunk Vietnamese, Philippine, Indonesian and Japanese ships, creating serious concern for the IOR littorals with small or non-existent navies…Read more