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In This Issue
From The Desk Of The Editor-in-Chief
In 2026, political instability, economic fragmentation, technological
disruptions, and environmental challenges are increasingly shaping
the global landscape. Understanding these evolving risks is crucial
for policymakers, businesses, and global citizens. We should examine key conflict
zones, economic vulnerabilities, cybersecurity threats, and environmental risks
likely to define the geopolitical environment this year & beyond.
Several regions continue to experience heightened tensions, posing
significant risks to global stability:
Iran-America Conflict
¾ On 18 August ’26, Iran said that the United States had violated a ceasefire
by striking targets near the contested Strait of Hormuz, potentially
complicating efforts to bring the war to a close. US strikes in Iran’s
southern Hormozgan province represented a “gross violation” of a tenuous
ceasefire in place for nearly seven weeks. The US said its attacks
were defensive in nature, targeting missile sites and boats attempting
to lay mines.
¾ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said it could take “a
few days” to negotiate a deal to halt the conflict, after both sides had
previously indicated progress on an initial agreement that would end
hostilities and restart shipping through the Strait. That initial agreement
would give negotiators 60 days to tackle more complex issues including
Iran’s nuclear program.
¾ Iranian media reported that the country’s negotiators had been pushing
for the memorandum to include the release of billions of dollars
of frozen assets. Following the US strikes, Rubio told reporters on his
plane in India that the Strait of Hormuz had to be open “one way or
the other”.
¾ The war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February
28, has caused an unprecedented oil supply shock, pushing up the costs
of fuel, fertiliser and food.
396 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
¾
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas, has been a fraction of its usual level since the war began. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said 25 oil tankers and other vessels had passed through the strait with its permission over the past 24 hours.
¾
Global benchmark Brent crude futures rose by about 3.5 per cent on 18th August 26 to around $US100 a barrel.
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe remains a pivotal geopolitical flashpoint and a dynamic economic zone shaped heavily by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
¾
Geopolitics and Security:-
•
The Ukraine Conflict: The war involving Russia, Ukraine, and neighbouring frontline states dominates regional security.
•
NATO and EU Border Fortification: The European Union and NATO are heavily reinforcing their eastern flanks, turning borders into critical security frontlines.
•
Non-EU States: Nations like Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova remain at the centre of complex geopolitical friction between Russia and the West.
¾
Economy and Growth:-
•
Resilient Growth: The region continues to outpace parts of Western Europe, with projected economic growth near 2.6%, driven by defence spending, industrial shifts, and future reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
•
Integration: EU integration deepens as manufacturing, green tech, and IT services expand eastward into nations like Poland, Czechia, and Romania.
•
Demographic Pressures: Rapid depopulation, low fertility rates, and lagging R&D or AI adoption pose mid-to-long-term risks for sustainable economic booms. Would you like to focus on the economic outlook or the security situation in a specific Eastern European country?
Nearer Home in India, various issues that need our attention are:-
The 2026 NEET question paper leak led to the cancellation of the
IN THIS ISSUE 397
medical entrance exam, nationwide student protests, strict new antifraud
laws, and the resignation of India’s education minister.
Political and Legal Actions:-
• Minister Resigns: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned
on July 25, 2026, due to public anger over the scandal.
• New Penalties: Parliament passed the Public Examination (Prevention
of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026. This law punishes
organised exam cheating with up to 10 years in prison and
heavy fines.
• CBI Investigation: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
filed charges against 13 people, including internal subject experts
who leaked questions using handwritten notes.
Impact on Students:-
• Re-Examination: Over 2.2 million students had to retake the test
in June 2026 after the original May 3 exam was cancelled.
• Mental Health Crisis: The sudden chaos, delay, and extreme pressure
tragically pushed more than a dozen student aspirants to take
their own lives.
• Public Protests: Students, teachers, and doctors held large street
protests in at least 10 states and staged rallies in major cities demanding
a complete overhaul of the National Testing Agency
(NTA).
Mizoram is generally peaceful and was declared officially insurgencyfree
in April 2026, though the state has recently seen democratic
demonstrations and civil society protests rather than violent unrest.
Current Key Issues and Protests:-
• FCRA Amendment Bill Opposition: The Mizoram Council of
Churches led protests in August 2026 demanding a complete rollback
of proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation)
Act. Protesters and church leaders fear the bill contains arbitrary
provisions affecting minority and Christian organisational
funding, despite federal assurances.
• Student and Youth Demonstrations: Influential student groups
like the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) organised demonstrations in Au398
The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
gust 2026 over delayed scholarship disbursements for thousands of students, alongside earlier peaceful marches demanding public service commission (MPSC) and educational reforms.
•
Security Status: Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced that the state became completely militant-free following the formal surrender of the last remaining faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) in April 2026.
Manipur is currently facing severe ethnic unrest and widespread protests over census and immigration policies, leading to school closures and high security deployment.
Current Unrest (August 2026):-
•
Census and NRC Protests: Schools and colleges remain shut because groups are protesting the upcoming census. People demand that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) happen first to check for illegal migration.
•
Internet and Curfews: Authorities use curfews and internet suspensions to control violent protests and stop fake news.
•
Public Disruptions: Protests, stone-pelting, and rallies have disrupted markets and public transport in several districts.
Background and Ethnic Tensions:-
•
Meitei and Kuki Conflict: The main ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities started in May 2023. Buffer zones separate the valley and hill regions to prevent more violence.
•
New Fissures: Fresh tensions and clashes have also broken out between Naga and Kuki groups in the hill areas.
•
Highway Blockades: Frequent blockades on major roads have hurt trade, delayed development, and worsened daily hardships.
Government Response:-
•
President’s Rule: The federal government keeps direct control over the state due to the deep crisis.
•
Security Measures: Security forces use tear gas and baton charges to disperse angry crowds during protests.
The geopolitical risks anticipated in 2026 underscore the interconnectedness of global/regional/domestic challenges. From persistent
IN THIS ISSUE 399
conflict zones and economic fragmentation to the evolving landscape of cyber
warfare and environmental crises, these issues require proactive engagement
and international cooperation. Staying informed and prepared is essential for
navigating the complexities of the year ahead.
As you are well aware, The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, the
Flagship publication of RESEARCH CENTER FOR EASTERN AND
NORTH-EASTERN REGIONAL STUDIES, Kolkata (CENERS-K), is an
organisation that believes in original research. In view of the same, The Calcutta
Journal of Global Affairs was launched online in October 2017, and is being
patronised by the environment. The Journal has three issues in a calendar year
ie. ( Jan, May & Sept). In addition to our in-house research, we are grateful to
other researchers who choose our Journal as a platform to publish their original
research work.
For those who are new to CENERS-K and this Journal, I will request
them to visit the websites of the Journal http://globaljouralceners.org/ and
ceners-k.com (Although they are under refurbishment, they will provide some
useful input). In a nutshell, The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs invites writers
to submit articles of the following three types:-
¾ Research Articles of between 5,000 and 10,000 words, exclusive of
footnotes. The footnotes should conform to The Chicago Manual of
Style, 16th edition.
¾ Comment & Analysis articles of 1,500 to 2,000 words.
¾ Book Reviews of 1,000 to 2,000 words. Footnotes are not essential.
The Research Articles, Comment & Analysis essays, and Book Reviews
should focus on the following geographical areas, themes and topics, and should
be of interest to a wide readership:-
¾ India’s Northeast, and India’s role in world affairs, Southeast Asia,
East Asia ( Japan, the Koreas and Taiwan), China, the Indo-Pacific region,
and American (and other countries’) foreign policies towards the
above-named countries and regions.
¾ Diplomacy, conduct of foreign policy, international relations, soft power
(use of film and the arts as tools of diplomacy), diplomatic history, war
and peace, defence issues, geo-strategy, peace studies, informal diplomacy
and Track 2 diplomacy; revolution and counterrevolution; terrorism
and counterterrorism; colonialism and decolonisation; hegemony and
resistance; and issues of Identity and Belonging faced by the diasporic
400 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
communities. Authors may use theories of history, international relations, postcolonialism, gender, and other theoretical approaches.
¾
Contemporary world affairs, and major events and policies of the 20th Century that are still shaping the world today and are being revisited in the light of new historical material that is declassified and becomes available from time to time.
¾
Articles should have an original point and should offer new evidence or a new interpretation. They should be written in excellent English, and backed by relevant footnotes. Articles are reviewed by our Editor In Chief and the Editorial Board, as well as by external reviewers. Please consult our Guidelines for Authors for details on our house style for grammar and citations, at the end of this issue.
¾
Along with your article, please submit photographs and other visual material, along with permission from copyright holders to enable the Journal to use them.
¾
Please send a copy of the article in MS Word as an e-mail attachment to Maj Gen S N Mukherjee, Veteran, Editor-In-Chief, The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs at snmukherjee@ceners-k.com
Views expressed in the research articles are those of the authors, CENERS-K/ CJGA is not answerable to such queries.
The articles in this issue are as under:--
Dr Pfokrelo Kapesa’s article on “From Walls to Bridges: Towards a New Border Thinking (Lines, Peoples and Movements in the Indo-Myanmar Borderland)” explains how borders continue to be the primary institution around which state power and sovereignty are organised. Northeast India, located at the crossroads of South, Southeast and East Asia, with over 98 percent of its territory as international borderland, continues to be objectified as a frontier region. As a result, a narrow conceptualisation of the border as walls to protect the core persists, reducing the borderland to a buffer zone. Both the colonial and post-colonial state pursue a security-centric approach, with highly militarised systems in place. The ongoing fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border is a case in point. While critiquing the top-down, security-centric concept of the border, the paper calls for a new border thinking. The paper argues that the existing border policy and structures put in place by the colonial state and continued by the (post)colonial state, while marginalising the borderland communities, also
IN THIS ISSUE 401
limit the national and security interests of India.
Dipmala Roka, Debajit Boruah & Japungsar Basumatary’s article on “Evolving
Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: A Realist and Sea Power Analysis of India’s Maritime
Security Strategy” brings out how the Indo-Pacific region has become a critical
theatre in contemporary geopolitics, marked by competing strategic interests,
expanding naval presence and intensifying power rivalries. As the region hosts
critical Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), growing military infrastructure,
extensive trade routes and abundant natural resources, its evolving geopolitical
landscape has added significant complexity to the existing regional security
framework. The study provides a theoretically grounded analysis of the evolving
power structure in the Indo-Pacific, emphasising shifting strategic partnerships
and emerging patterns of maritime competition and cooperation among the
major players. Drawing on Realist theory and Mahanian Sea Power theory, the
study examines how naval expansion, maritime domain control, and sea-lane
security priorities shape state behaviour and regional strategic outcomes. It
argues that India’s maritime strategic posture can be understood as a balancing
response within a rapidly intensifying security environment defined by India-
China rivalry and broader major-power competition. By integrating classical
strategic thought with contemporary geopolitical developments, the study
demonstrates the continued explanatory relevance of realist and sea power
frameworks in interpreting present Indo-Pacific security dynamics and the
evolving regional security architecture.
Reena Bhatiya’s article on “The Sadiya Serpent Pillar as a Marker of Sacred
Borderland Authority in Pre- Colonial Assam: India’s Gateway to Connect with
Southeast Asia” covers the theme of Heritage, Culture of Memory, Nostalgia
and Social Dimensions with the example of the Sadiya Serpent Pillar, with its
historical significance and present relevance. As the Sadiya Serpent Pillar shows,
Northeast India has historically been a thriving crossroads of civilisations,
linking the Indian subcontinent with Tibet, Southwest China, and Southeast
Asia. Through the Act East Policy, regional connectivity, and civilizational
diplomacy, this historical connectivity offers crucial insights for comprehending
India’s current role in Asia. The past of the North-East region not only informs
the present but also shapes the future of this region’s political, economic and
Social Dynamics. Therefore, it is important to analyse the complex relationships
among memory, heritage, and belonging through this symbolic pillar, which
stands at the cross-juncture of the region’s past, present, and future. The paper
covers different themes related to this pillar.
402 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
Dr Binodkumar Singh’s article on “India’s AI journey in Defence Sector: From Experimentation to Deployment” is a relatively recent discipline that emerged alongside the development of digital computers and is the result of centuries of efforts to build sophisticated machinery, coupled with advances in philosophy, mathematics, and logic within the scientific community. AI is transforming the military domain by improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, enabling autonomous systems such as drones, enhancing logistics and maintenance, and supporting command and control through real-time analytics. As a new entrant, India is accelerating AI adoption in its defence sector to improve operational efficiency, surveillance, and decision-making, aiming for self-reliance in future warfare. This article examines how AI is changing military operations to boost efficiency, support decision-making, and improve personnel safety and effectiveness. Its primary contribution is the analysis of India’s AI trajectory in the defence sector, highlighting major defence AI projects. The paper also offers a comparative overview of the global AI ecosystem to locate India’s standing. It also discusses operational, ethical, and legal impediments to military AI adoption, proposing frameworks and measures to address them. Finally, it outlines strategic directions to strengthen AI in India’s defence sector and highlights future trends.
Geetasri Boruah & Saurabh Sharma’s article on “Geopolitics of Eastern Himalaya: India-Bhutan Security Concerns and their Collective Responses” is uniquely situated between two major rising powers in Asia with opposite political ideologies in the 21st century, placing it in a more critical position. Historically, Bhutan has balanced its relations between India and Tibet, but in recent times it has been closer to India for the last 5-6 decades. The geopolitical shift in the Himalayan region puts its influence in India-Bhutan relations. China’s rising assertiveness, cross-border territorial disputes, and the expanding regional ambitions has introduced new complexities on security concerns in the region. India and Bhutan, bound by deep historical, strategic, and cultural ties, have adapted their security collaboration to meet emerging challenges ranging from border tensions to infrastructure competition. The paper examines how traditional and non-traditional security threats are transforming in the Himalayan region and affecting India-Bhutan relations. It will also examine the strategic measures that must be taken collectively to counter these emerging threats.
Dr Atreyee Mitra’s article on “India at the Indo-Pacific Fulcrum in the Age of Multipolarity: Strategic Imperatives” brings out how, in a rapidly shifting world
IN THIS ISSUE 403
order, the Indo-Pacific has emerged as the epicentre of geopolitical recalibration.
As the post-Cold War unipolar moment fades, the 21st century has witnessed
a resurgence of multipolarity — a system where multiple state actors assert
influence in regional and global affairs. Within this context, India’s foreign policy
is undergoing significant transformations to align itself with the challenges and
opportunities of the Indo-Pacific. This article explores how India is navigating
this multipolar era and what strategic imperatives it must pursue to preserve its
national interest and regional stability.
Framed through a hybrid theoretical lens combining realism and
constructivism, the study critically evaluates India’s evolving role in the Indo-
Pacific through its engagement in strategic groupings such as the Quadrilateral
Security Dialogue (QUAD), the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and
bilateral partnerships with Japan, Australia, ASEAN, and the United States. The
paper interrogates India’s attempt to balance power while upholding regional
inclusivity, democratic norms, and multilateralism. The paper argues that India’s
Indo-Pacific strategy actively seeks to reshape normative structures of regional
order. In doing so, India positions itself not as a counterweight alone but as a coarchitect
of a pluralistic regional future.
Thus, the paper tries to analyse India’s approach in the region, where
need-based partnership building becomes a core motive, and at the same time,
improving its internal capabilities, especially in the maritime sector, also plays
an important role in mitigating the challenges arising out of contemporary
geopolitical changes like—the rise of China and great-power play in the Indo-
Pacific region. It also tries to look for growing areas of challenges in India’s
approach towards the Indo-Pacific, including a low naval budget, problems
in India’s economic engagement with its neighbours and India’s balancing act
between the West and China and Russia, which might hinder India’s Indo-
Pacific progress.
Dr. Ritu Agarwal’s report on the China-South and Southeast Asia Think
Tank Forum, held in Kunming on July 3-5 with an agenda of ‘Building a closer
community with a shared future’, brings out that it was the 11th consecutive
year the forum was held in Kunming, thereby bringing Kunming back into
focus again in bridging connections between China and the Global South.
Kunming has been designated as a political, economic, and cultural centre
and the transportation hub of the provincial economy. It is also one of the
important cities preserving historical sites and cultural relics, making it an
important tourist destination. In August 1990, the 5th Congress of the CPC
404 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
in Yunnan Province first proposed that strengthening friendly exchanges and economic cooperation with Southeast and South Asian countries would be a key point of Yunnan’s government work. Since then, opening up to Southeast Asia and South Asia has become a focus for Yunnan, and it has established a comprehensive transportation network centred on Kunming, expanding to other cities via highways, railways and aviation. Recently, the State Council officially approved “Kunming City Territorial Spatial Master Plan (2021-2035)”, which plans to transform Kunming into a regional central city facing South Asia and Southeast Asia. During Xi Jinping’s three visits to Yunnan in recent years, he emphasised that Yunnan has been endowed with the significant positioning of “a demonstration zone for national unity and progress, a pioneer in ecological civilisation construction, and a radiation centre facing South and Southeast. Dr.Ritu Agarwal’s report is not only very informative but also gives vision in the functioning of NGOs’,
Research Centre For Eastern And North Eastern Regional Studies, KolkatA (CENERS-K), conducts regular RTDs, seminars, webinars, and conferences on issues of Regional, National and International interest. Just to acquaint our readers, please find Dr. Atreyee Mitra’s report on our flagship event ‘The Annual Calcutta Dialogue 2026,’ jointly organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in its centenary year and CENERS-K, which was held on June 06, 2026, at Hotel Taj Bengal in Kolkata on the theme “Prevailing Global Situation & Impacts on India”. The seminar brought together eminent thought leaders from government, industry, defence, and academia to deliberate on the implications of global developments for India’s strategic, economic, and technological future. This issue includes a detailed report.
The issue also includes a book review of The Fractured Himalaya: India Tibet China 1949-62, authored by Nirupama Rao. The book has been reviewed by Brigadier Niladri Shankar Mukherjee, SM, VSM (Retd). He served as Colonel, General Staff (Operations), Headquarters Eastern Command, and was custodian of all military documents related to the 1962 Operations bearing classification SECRET and above, and is very conversant with the India-China border issue. He is eminently qualified to review the book.
I sign off wishing all readers SEASON’S GREETINGS, HAPPY DUSSEHARA, COLOURFUL DIWALI, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2027.
MAJ GEN S N MUKHERJEE(RETD.)
EDITOR IN CHIEF, CJGA
The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, VOLUME 10, NUMBER 3 (SEP 2026), © 2026
RESEARCH CENTRE FOR EASTERN AND NORTH EASTERN REGIONAL STUDIES, KOLKATA (CENERS-K).
List Of Contributors
Dr. Pfokrelo Kapesa is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of
Political Science, University of Allahabad. She earned her Ph.D in Diplomacy
and Disarmament from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her research
interests include Indigenous knowledge, epistemic justice, decoloniality and
borderland perspectives. Dr Kapesa was a Young Connectors of the Future
Fellow (2015) instituted by Swedish Institute, Government of Sweden. She was
also a recipient of the Cariplo Foundation Scholarship through the Network
for the Advancement of Social and Political Studies (NASPS), Italy 2018. Dr
Kapesa received the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education fellowship for
Transdisciplinarity for Early Career Researchers in Asia (TERRA), 2024. She
has been invited to various international and domestic academic events.
Dr. Dipmala Roka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International
Relations at Sikkim University, Gangtok. She completed her M.A. in International
Relations from Jadavpur University and earned her Ph.D. from the University
of North Bengal. Her areas of interest include International Relations Theory,
Security and Strategic Studies, India’s Nuclear Policy, Border Studies, and India’s
Foreign Policy.
Mr. Debajit Boruah is a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of International
Relations at Sikkim University, Gangtok. He completed his M.A. and M.Phil.
in Political Science from Sikkim University and is currently pursuing his Ph.D.
in International Relations at the same university. His research interests include
Security Studies, Geopolitics, International Relations, Maritime Security and
Indo-Pacific Studies.
Mr. Japungsar Basumatary is a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of
International Relations at Sikkim University, Gangtok. He completed his M.A.
in International Relations from Sikkim University and his M.Phil. in Security
Studies from the Centre for Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat. His
research interests include Gender Studies, Hydro-diplomacy, and Security and
Conflict Resolution.
406 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
Reena Bhatiya is a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi. She completed an MPhil from the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi. She completed her Master’s in Political Science at the Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU. Her research interests are broadly Non-Western Theoretical Frameworks, Borderland Studies in International Relations, the study of remote border areas and the study of these areas as bridges of connectivity for regional trade and commerce. Her current research focuses on the geopolitical and strategic role of Northeast India in bolstering India’s ties to its neighbouring countries and the larger Southeast Asian region. Her research looks at the borderland area as a vital link between Southeast Asia and India, focusing on infrastructure, borderlands, regional connectivity, and new geo-economic ties.
Dr. Binodkumar Singh, presently Guest Faculty, Department of National Security Studies, Manipur University, Manipur. After completing his Ph. D. in 2012 from the Department of Defence and National Security Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh, He joined the Institute for Conflict Management (ICM), New Delhi, and worked as Research Associate till April 2022. In the past 14 years, he has published nine articles in Refereed Journals and nine chapters in Edited Books.
Dr. Saurabh Sharma is an Associate Professor and HOD (Head of the Department) at the Department of International Politics, Central University of Gujarat. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and specialises in international security, conflict and peace studies, post-conflict governance, terrorism, small arms proliferation, and transnational organised crime, with a particular focus on South and Central Asia. His research engages with both theoretical and policy-oriented dimensions of security studies, addressing emerging non-traditional threats and governance challenges in conflict-affected regions. Dr. Sharma has published extensively in reputed academic journals and edited volumes and has contributed to policy discussions on regional security and peacebuilding. He is actively involved in teaching, research supervision, and mentoring students in international politics and security studies.
Geetasri Boruah is a Ph.D. Research scholar in the Department of International Politics, Central University of Gujarat, working on India’s security issues with an especial focus on South Asia. Her research explores geopolitics, border disputes, and strategic challenges that shape India’s national security and foreign policy. She has presented research papers at both international and national conferences,
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 407
and her work has been published in book chapters and peer-reviewed journals.
She has worked as a Research Assistant at Jawaharlal Nehru University after
her master’s from JNU. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Arunachal
University of Studies, Namsai, for one year.
Dr Atreyee Mitra completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Political Science and
International Relations at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, respectively, specialising
in Southeast Asia. She completed her MPhil at the Institute of Foreign Policy
Studies, University of Calcutta. She is a Doctorate in Political Science with
specialisation in International Relations. As a researcher/academician, she has
contributed articles on strategy, focusing on geopolitical studies, international
relations, and maritime security issues. She has participated in and presented
papers in national and international seminars and has publications in journals
and edited books
Currently, she is Director, Internship Program, & Life Member
of CENERS-K. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute
for Contemporary Chinese Studies (ICCS), Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala.
Dr Ritu Agarwal is an Associate Professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies,
School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She
holds a PhD in Chinese Studies from the University of Delhi. Her research
interests include rural political economy, urbanisation, property rights, gender
studies, and provincial politics. Dr Agarwal studied Mandarin Chinese at Beijing
Language and Culture University, Beijing. She has been a Visiting Scholar at the
Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Kunming and a Visiting Fellow at Yunnan
University and Yunnan Minzu University. Her latest book (edited) is titled ‘The
Border Province Reimagined: Yunnan’s Economic and Cultural Ties to Asia’ (2026)
Brig N S Mukherjee, SM, VSM, is presently a Governing Council Member
& the Executive Director of the Research Centre for Eastern and North
Eastern Regional Studies - Kolkata (CENERS-K). He is also a member of the
EDITORIAL BOARD of the Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, an E-Journal
of CENERS-K.
A 1969 batch Officer, he superannuated from the Indian Army in
2003 after 35 years of distinguished service. A highly decorated soldier, he was
decorated with the Sena Medal as Commanding Officer of his Battalion while
carrying out operations in J & K during the peak militancy period of 1991-94.
408 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
He was again decorated with the Vishisht Seva Medal as Colonel, General Staff, of Headquarters Eastern Command for providing exceptional staff support to special forces carrying out anti-insurgency operations in the North Eastern States during the period 1994 - 97. He is also the recipient of the Chief of the Army Staff Commendation for his devotion to duty as Assistant Military Secretary whilst on Staff assignment in Army Headquarters. An alumni of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the War College, Mhow, he held very high-profile Staff, Instructional and Command assignments during his active service.
After retiring from the Army, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Yuba Bharati Krirangan, a department of the Sports Ministry of the Government of West Bengal, from December 2003 to December 2006. He was also Chief Administrator of the Om Dayal Group of Institutes for nine years, from 2007 to 2016. Brig Mukherjee frequently contributes articles and analytical content to professional Journals.
The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs, VOLUME 10, NUMBER 3 (SEP 2026), © 2026
RESEARCH CENTRE FOR EASTERN AND NORTH EASTERN REGIONAL STUDIES, KOLKATA (CENERS-K).
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3, SEPTEMBER 2026
CONTENTS
Research Articles
FROM WALLS TO BRIDGES: TOWARDS A NEW BORDER
THINKING
(LINES, PEOPLES AND MOVEMENTS IN THE
INDO-MYANMAR BORDERLAND)
PFOKRELO KAPESA
PAGE 411
EVOLVING GEOPOLITICS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC:
A REALIST AND SEA POWER ANALYSIS OF INDIA’S
MARITIME SECURITY STRATEGY
DIPMALA ROKA, DEBAJIT BORUAH & JAPUNGSAR
BASUMATARY
PAGE 427
THE SADIYA SERPENT PILLAR AS A MARKER OF SACRED
BORDERLAND AUTHORITY IN PRE- COLONIAL ASSAM:
INDIA’S GATEWAY TO CONNECT WITH SOUTHEAST
ASIA
REENA BHATIYA
PAGE 444
INDIA’S AI JOURNEY IN DEFENCE SECTOR: FROM
EXPERIMENTATION TO DEPLOYMENTS
BINOD KUMAR SINGH
PAGE 463
410 The Calcutta Journal of Global Affairs
GEOPOLITICS OF THE EASTERN HIMALAYAS: INDIA-BHUTAN SECURITY CONCERNS AND THEIR COLLECTIVE RESPONSES
SAURABH SHARMA & GEETASRI BORUAH E
PAGE 488
INDIA AT THE INDO-PACIFIC FULCRUM IN THE AGE OF MULTIPOLARITY: STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES
ATREYEE MITRA
PAGE 509
Report On Think-Tank Forum, Kunming
KUNMING CONSENSUS: BRIDGING NEW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND ASIA
(A VIEW FROM CHINA-SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA THINK TANK FORUM, KUNMING)
RITU AGARWAL
PAGE 541
Report On The Annual Calcutta Dialogue 2026
PREVAILING GLOBAL SITUATION & IMPACTS ON INDIA
ATREYEE MITRA
PAGE 547
BOOK REVIEW
NIRUPAMA RAO, THE FRACTURED HIMALAYA:
INDIA-TIBET-CHINA 1949-62
NILADRI SHANKAR MUKHERJEE
PAGE 556