From a geo-strategic and cultural point of view, Sri Lanka occupies a pivotal position within India's ‘neighbourhood first’ framework and this significance has only amplified as New Delhi has emerged as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region

With the admission of six countries to the BRICS at the Johannesburg summit, weight of the group at the international level has increased, but along with this what has essentially got a push has been its cooperation mechanism--all this, among member countries

India cemented its place as a major international power in the space sector when its Chandrayaan-3 mission landed successfully near the Moon’s south pole, where attempted landings by several countries have failed earlier due to its rugged terrain, craters and deep trenches

In recent weeks, Indian navy carried out drills with navies of the Gulf countries with an aim to enhance the interoperability and coordination between the two sides, but through such moves, one significant message that India conveyed to the world was that New Delhi along with its partner nations is determined to safeguard the law of sea in the Indian Ocean and beyond

With Chandrayaan 3 mission under progress and success of the Mars mission in 2013-14 injecting a new confidence in its ability, ISRO has achieved a phenomenal progress in the space sector since the launch of the first satellite, Aryabhata in 1975

Despite asymmetries in terms of territorial size, resources, and economy between them, India and the Maldives acknowledge the strategic importance they hold for each other

Both for domestic needs and global opportunities, skilled manpower demands are set to grow and India has indicated that it will do what can make it a hub of highly trained workforce who can stand the test of time and respected for quality output and performance

Semiconductors are the new buzzword in the lexicon of world of powerful advanced nations and India has very rightly started devoting its attention on the invaluable product, which has the power of not only shaking the industrial foundations of the present-day world, but also can make or mar the future of any country’s economy