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Wednesday, April 22, 2026
TopicSoft power

Topic: soft power

UNESCO cites India’s regional OTT content push as example for others, but warns of AI ‘policy gap’

UNESCO report credits India’s cultural export growth to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s push for OTT platforms to produce and promote regional content.

India’s cultural narrative abroad is overwhelming

Rather than presenting the full spectrum of Indian culture at once, a more strategic approach would be to identify one globally intelligible cultural lane & invest in it consistently.

Trump’s hard-power world has exposed India’s economic dependencies

Donald Trump has changed the rules of the global game. A previously confidently rising India finds itself in a spot.

Sholay conquered Iran, China, Russia. At 50, restored classic is visiting Italy and Canada

Sholay made its European debut to cheers at a screening in Bologna, Italy, and is slated for its North American premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

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.

On Camera

University townships — India’s chance to build its own version of what America got right

India’s university towns initiative is an opportunity to do something we have never managed at scale: build knowledge ecosystems rather than knowledge silos.

FTA partners drive India’s trade surge as reliance on non-FTA countries dips, says NITI Aayog report

Share of trade with FTA partners rose from 4.6% in 2006 to 28.8% in 2024. India is currently negotiating or advancing agreements with US, Israel, GCC, Canada & Mexico.

Japan overhauls post-World War II pacifist military approach, lifts restrictions on defence exports

Since October last year, Japan PM Sanae Takaichi has planned to increase defence spending target to 2 percent of GDP.

Trump, Netanyahu’s Iran gamble: The regime change rebound

American objectives are unmet. They neither have muscle nor motivation to resume the war. As for Iran, the regime didn’t just survive, it’s now led by more radical individuals.