Indian Strategic Studies Forum

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On the inauguration of new Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, our team of analyst dived deep into understanding how many Kilometers of new greenfield expressways that were conceptualized, awarded, and saw physical construction start entirely within a single 5-year tenure of successive governments - This benchmark strictly excludes: 1) State Projects: Only Central (NDA/UPA) initiatives count. 2) Inherited Projects: Ribbon-cutting for work initiated by predecessors excluded. 3) Overlapping Projects: Projects taking more than one term to move from blueprint to construction start.

"The scriptwriters of the viral Blockbuster Dhurandhar didn’t need to invent a villain. They just had to look at the three men who formed the “Karachi Project”: The Banker, The General, and The Gangster." @mujifren Brings to life the viral story of the Khanani brothers and how for years ISI-led the assault on India's Economy. issf.org.in/2025/12/the-ba…

In Numbers - India expanded its crude supplier network from 27 in 2018 to 41 countries by 2026. Since India imports up to 88% of its energy needs, diversification reduces vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.

The Finance Bill 2026 proposes massive hikes in tax-free allowances for the Armed Forces, effectively making operational risk allowances 100% Tax-Free. Siachen Allowance: ₹7,000 ➡️ ₹42,500 (6x Increase!) 🏔️ Counter-Insurgency: ₹3,900 ➡️ ₹22,000 High Altitude (Ladakh/J&K): New limit of ₹30,000 ❄️ Earlier tax on allowances was a major pain point for Officers and Soldiers alike. Now, The tax exemption matches the actual risk the soldiers put on the field.

The Indian Armed Forces in 2026 are no longer a sleeping giant but a coiled cobra equipped with the sensors to see, the network to decide, and the speed to strike. @mujifren tells us what is India's Cold Start Doctrine and why Pakistan is "Shit Scared" of it. issf.org.in/2026/02/what-i…

Indian Defence Budget over the years Operation Sindoor and global realignment necessitated a sharp increase Captial Outlay for Forces modernization up by 21.84% from last year

Please download your copy of the summary of Economic Survey 2025-26 prepared by Team ISSF Can be used by both exam aspirants and policy professionals Link 🔗 t.me/ISSF_UPSC/9998

"The brothers are now enemies. The khaleeji shield is broken, and the shards are sharp enough to cut anyone who tries to pick them up." @mujifren writes on the Saudi - UAE enmity and how it impacts India issf.org.in/2026/01/brothe…

@NFPRC_Ind @2047 ISSF appreciates all the hardwork put in by the NFPRC Team Both our Organization share the Nation First mindset We recommend readers to check NFPRC's work

1/ NFPRC hosted its maiden policy workshop, “Accelerating India’s Growth: How Parliamentarians and Legislators Can Enable Viksit Bharat @2047” on 22.01.2026, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. MPs and MLAs from across states participated in interactive discussions on Centre–State coordination and governance outcomes.

Know the Sharks 🦈 of Indian Navy 🇮🇳 ⚓ 1. SSK (Diesel-Electric) – The Coastal Sniper 🚀 The Loadout: Heavyweight Torpedoes, Exocet or Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles. ✅ The Job: Sea Denial. It sits quietly at strategic choke points (like the Malacca Strait) to ambush enemy ships. ❌ The Limit: Endurance. It cannot chase targets for weeks. It must surface/snorkel frequently to recharge batteries, exposing it to radar. 🇮🇳 Indian Example: Kalvari, Shishumar, Sindhughosh Classes 2. SSN (Nuclear Attack) – The Deep Sea Hunter 🚀 The Loadout: Land-attack Cruise Missiles & High-speed Torpedoes (Large magazine). ✅ The Job: Sea Control. It hunts other submarines, protects Aircraft Carriers, and projects power thousands of miles from home without surfacing. ❌ The Limit: Silence. It cannot turn off its nuclear reactor cooling pumps, making it slightly "noisier" than an SSK running on pure battery. 🇮🇳 Indian Example: None, Indigenous SSN program in development 3. SSBN (Ballistic Missile) – The Nuclear Shield 🚀 The Loadout: K-15 & K-4 Nuclear-Tipped Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs). ✅ The Job: Deterrence. It hides deep in the ocean for months, ready to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike if India is attacked. ❌ The Limit: Combat. It cannot dogfight. It is too high-value to hunt other ships; if it is detected, it has failed its primary mission of invisibility. 🇮🇳 Indian Example: INS Arihant, INS Arighaat

"If Mullahs are the past and King is a trap, what is the future? India must advocate for a Nationalist Republic." @mujifren advocates a nationalist takeover of Iran is in India's best interest rather than return of Monarchy issf.org.in/2026/01/the-la…

From the drawing boards of 1944 to the Nuclear Triad of today. 🇮🇳⚛️ ​India’s nuclear odyssey is a masterclass in scientific resilience and geopolitical will. It wasn’t just about building a bomb; it was about building a shield for sovereignty. ​ A visual timeline of India's journey from Atoms for Peace to Strategic Power.👇

A decadal breakdown of India's journey to becoming a $4 Trillion economy. 📈 From ~$20 Billion to ~$4.13 Trillion. 🇮🇳🚀 🔒 Pre-1991: Closed economy. High tariffs. License Raj. 🔓 Post-1991: Markets opened. Private sector unleashed. Global integration.

The Great Divergence: 🇮🇳 India vs. 🇵🇰 Pakistan For the first 50 years, the average Pakistani was richer than the average Indian. Then, the script flipped. 🔄 📉 The Start: In 1970, Pakistan led with higher Per Capita ($173 vs $112). Thanks to generous US and NATO aid. This trend continued till 2007. 🔀 The Crossover: By ~2007, India leapfrogged ahead. With Liberalisation reforms and a booming IT sector helping India's case, while Pakistan started losing Billions to the same terrorism, it helped grow. 🚀 The Reality (2026): India is projected to be nearly 2x richer than Pakistan per capita (~$3,051 vs ~$1,677). A slow start, followed by a massive sprint. The gap is no longer just widening; it’s a chasm

THE COST OF CHAOS: PAKISTAN’S SECURITY ARCHITECTURE COLLAPSE ​2025 has been officially recorded as the deadliest year for Pakistani Security Forces in a decade. The illusion of "Strategic Depth" is burying their own soldiers. Confirmed fatalities have surged to 667+ in 2025, driven by India’s punitive Operation Sindoor and the total loss of control in the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.