International Relations

Arctic geopolitics is increasingly shaped by climate change, resource competition, and great power rivalry. Discuss how these factors challenge existing norms of sovereignty, self-determination, and indigenous rights.

The contemporary international legal order is caught in a crisis of legitimacy, where the foundational principles of the UN Charter are increasingly being reinterpreted through the lens of hegemonic interests and domestic legal shifts.Critically examine how the expansion of self-defence doctrines, the dilution of sovereign immunity, and the instrumentalization of 'effective control' are reshaping the global rule of law. Does this represent a necessary evolution to meet modern security threats, or a regression toward a system of 'might is right?

Despite trade frictions, tariff disputes and postponed summits, India–U.S. defence and technology cooperation has deepened in recent years. Discuss.

Evaluate the strategic, economic, and socio-political implications of U.S. control over Venezuelan oil infrastructure amid a leadership vacuum. How do such interventions influence domestic stability, global reactions, and international norms governing state sovereignty?

Discuss the impact of sanctions on Venezuela’s oil production and their effectiveness as a geopolitical tool.

Discuss the paradox of U.S. foreign policy under Trump, where claims of promoting democracy and anti-narcotics operations contrast with selective interventions and support for authoritarian regimes. How does this affect the global liberal order and credibility of international norms?

Discuss how the Global Development, Security, Civilization, and Governance Initiatives challenge prevailing Western-centric approaches to development, security, and governance. Are these initiatives reformist, revisionist, or normatively distinct?

Analyse how targeted military actions, contested intelligence, and symbolic or cross-border infrastructure attacks shape escalation, governance responses, and peace negotiations in contemporary conflicts (Russia–Ukraine context). How should states and international actors balance intelligence credibility, information management, military strategy, and civilian protection?

Critically examine how India reconciles the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam with the realism of hard security choices and treaty obligations in its neighborhood. Furthermore, evaluate the role of education diplomacy and crisis-response as emerging pillars of India’s identity as a responsible global actor.

How do the principles of diplomatic credibility, bilateral resolution, and strategic autonomy interact with domestic political scrutiny and multilateral engagements like SCO in shaping India’s response to regional conflicts and contradictory international narratives?

Critically examine how domestic initiatives like PMBJP, GST rationalisation, and PLI schemes can protect India’s pharmaceutical sector from global disruptions such as U.S. tariffs. Discuss their potential strengths and limitations in sustaining growth.

How can India leverage its strategic autonomy, soft power, and civilisational strengths to emerge as a leading global power, while managing the influence of China, the U.S., and other major players?

In what ways can ancient and classical strategic thinkers like Chanakya, Clausewitz, and Sun Tzu inform India’s modern foreign policy, and where might historical strategy diverge from contemporary diplomatic realities?