Observer Research Foundation

A global slowdown is impending as the post-pandemic recovery was overturned by the Russia-Ukraine war, worsening geopolitical strife and disruption of global value chains. Although the contractionary effect will be felt worldwide, the emerging economies of South Asia, rife with internal political struggle and economic turmoil, require scrupulous inspection. This paper analyses the series of events which culminated in the unmanageable economic state of affairs in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It is found that despite the unique economic structure of each nation, there is a currency crisis in the offing or has already led to the collapse of each exchange rate. The disposition delves into those systemic and economic factors that inadvertently lead to currency crises and irrecoverable Balance of Payment deficits. The International Monetary Fund seems to be the short-term answer to the problem but long-term measures that structurally reform these economies are essential. This paper delves into the fault lines for such macroeconomic instabilities and suggests a few structural measures to circumvent economic shocks in the longer horizon. This paper provides a thorough analysis of the events and global circumstances during the COVID panedmic that led to the onset of a silent crisis in South Asia.

The rapid urbanization and subsequent motorization experienced in India have profound negative implications on the environment due to increased exhaust emission levels. India is one of the biggest global markets for the motorized two-wheeler (M2W) segment. Therefore, replacing M2Ws with electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) is considered essential to mitigate the adverse effects on the environment. However, developing the required infrastructure to support the operation, especially as desired by the prospective users, is essential to accelerate the acceptance of E2Ws by Indian commuters. Therefore, a travel behavior–based investigation was carried out in this study to evaluate the prospective users’ preferences for the E2W infrastructure-specific attributes. The preferences were investigated in terms of willingness to pay (WTP) for the improvement of infrastructure attributes. The WTP is generally considered a measure of user benefit associated with a specific attribute. For the stated purpose, a stated preference experiment was designed, and preferences of the prospective users for different infrastructure settings were collected from E2W prospective users in Hyderabad. The preference data were analyzed by developing appropriate discrete choice models, namely, multinomial logit and random parameter logit (RPL) models. Further, the influence of socioeconomic and trip characteristics of the prospective E2W users on the infrastructure attributes was also evaluated by examining the heterogeneity around the means of random parameters in the RPL model. The results reveal that prospective users have a higher WTP for improving the public charging infrastructure and parking infrastructure availability. Characteristics such as gender, age, and journey time significantly influence the prospective E2W users’ WTP associated with infrastructure attributes. Based on the results and inferences, the necessary policy measures for developing adequate infrastructure for E2Ws are also presented in this study.

This article examines the regime of State secrets in Portugal, emphasizing the imperative need for greater transparency and its alignment with the democratic principles of accountability and civic participation.From a historical perspective, the study traces the evolution of the concept of State secrets from the Estado Novo period to the post-April 25th democratic consolidation, highlighting how political and social transformations influenced legislation and governmental practices related to the classification and management of sensitive information.The research pays particular attention to the modifications introduced by Law No. 2/2014, of August 6, highlighting the challenges that persist in reconciling national security with the rights to information and administrative transparency.Through a critical analysis of current legislation and its practical application, the article debates the adequacy of the current State secret regime to the demands of a society that increasingly values transparency and public scrutiny of governmental activities.It proposes a reflection on the inherent tensions between the protection of classified information and the growing demand for open and accountable governance.The study concludes by underlining the need for legislative reforms and administrative practices that promote an effective balance between State security and the strengthening of democratic pillars of transparency and citizen participation.

Abstract This chapter documents the growth and evolution of local self-government in India. Despite some major obstacles, the past 75 years have seen the gradual institutionalisation of local government. The historic 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 set out, for the first time, to provide local bodies within the country’s federal system with certain mandatory structures and powers, but these have not been fully effectuated. Although India has experienced increasing levels of participation from marginalised groups (including women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes), active resistance by state-level elites as well as feudal and bureaucratic leadership, in addition to a range of structural challenges, has significantly impeded the deepening of decentralisation and self-governance in the country.

Abstract The chapter provides an analytical overview of India’s approach to nuclear security. It details the legal and institutional steps India has taken to strengthen its nuclear security credentials, while capturing some of the internal political debates that provide an Indian perspective on nuclear security. The chapter also focuses on the logic for India’s nuclear security policy by examining the country’s growing atomic energy sector as well as the changing threat environment. While this chapter does not provide a fully comprehensive narrative of India’s nuclear security approach, it does discuss some of the challenging aspects, such as nuclear and radiological material control and accounting systems, security culture, the insider threat, and nuclear regulation. The chapter’s concluding section identifies areas that India needs to strengthen further in order to improve nuclear security measures as well as external perceptions of India’s nuclear security policy.