scorecardresearch
Saturday, July 26, 2025
TopicSoft power

Topic: soft power

RSS, power politics, and the Deep State—transparency is the only antidote

When any political executive has to choose between loyalty and competence, the former takes priority. And I say this with authority, having worked with multiple parties and governments.

Japan to Russia, why Fadnavis is wooing Marathi diaspora — long-term goals, short-term power tussle

Fadnavis has intensified his focus on the Marathi diaspora since he took charge as Deputy CM in the Eknath Shinde-led govt, as evidenced in his 3 foreign trips over the past year.

Talk of yoga & diaspora is fine, but hard power is where Indo-US relationship really shines

Because of its growing military and economic clout, India can afford to be assertive in its foreign policy, ignore the West when buying Russian oil & gain entry to key international clubs.

G20 kickstarts ‘subnational diplomacy’ in India. Smaller cities contributing to global conversations

By organising events and activities alongside meetings, India is involving local communities, civil society organisations, and youth groups. The regional approach to hosting G20 meetings allows India to showcase its soft power.

China trying to build soft power, but its voice outside is brittle and wooden

In ‘The Ultimate Goal’, former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood writes on how Chinese leaders presume the main method of exercising soft power is through state institutions.

Indian food fourth most popular in the world, a study of cuisine trade finds

With Italian, Japanese & Chinese food occupying top 3 spots, cuisine emerges as weakest link in Anglo-American cultural hegemony, says study by US economist.

Prasar Bharati wants to switch off AIR short-wave service, India’s voice around the world

Prasar Bharati's decision might hurt India's reach, but public broadcaster justifies move, saying 'short-wave transmissions hardly have any impact anymore on global opinion-making'.

Until 2016, India was on course to break into soft power group of 30 nations. Then it fell

It is systemic issues like corruption, poverty, inequality, gender inequality, and pollution that weigh on global perceptions of India.

Attempts at remaking India are eroding its soft power globally

India's soft power globally is being undermined by the fact by the impression that it is being governed by obscurantist and intolerant forces. 

Soft power, hard battles

Soft power is not just about movies, sport, music and culture. It's also about quality of democracy and institutions, moral influence.

On Camera

Maharashtra’s language war reaches West Bengal. Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee is the first victim

While the language war in other states is targeting those who can't speak the local language, in Bengal, even those whose mother tongue is Bengali have to constantly prove their Bengali-ness.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

DRDO successfully tests latest version of UAV-launched precision missile, ULPGM-V3

Capable of being fired in plain and high-altitude areas, it has day-and-night capability and two-way data link to support post-launch target, aim-point update.

Modi’s Bharat vs Indira’s India: 11-yr report card of politics, diplomacy, economy, nationalism

As Narendra Modi becomes India’s second-longest consecutively serving Prime Minister, we look at how he compares with Indira Gandhi across four key dimensions.