First Light: Intelligence & Insights

FIRST LIGHT

May 16, 2026 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra and Dr Sunandini

India's European Pivot: Energy, Automony and Art of Walking Multiple Tightropes

India’s engagement with Europe today extends far beyond diplomacy, it is increasingly linked to energy resilience, critical technologies, strategic supply chains, and the broader pursuit of strategic autonomy in a rapidly transforming global order. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent European outreach has once again highlighted the growing strategic import

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

May 01, 2026 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

The Kremlin Logs: 4th Edn "The World in Interregnum"

American unipolarity is eroding, but no coherent multipolar order has yet emerged. India and Russia carry a special responsibility to navigate this storm together.

schedule 12 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

March 01, 2026 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

The Kremlin Logs: 3rd Edn "Time for Europe to Talk to Russia"

The world order is fracturing. Three decades of unchecked unipolarity, marked by NATO expansion, regime change operations, and the sidelining of international law, have brought us to a dangerous inflection point.

schedule 12 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

February 15, 2026 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

The Big Picture: Parliamentary Paralysis and the Geopolitics of Disruption

India stands at a rare historical juncture, too large to be coerced, too independent to be controlled, and too consequential to be ignored.

schedule 11 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

February 11, 2026 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Dr Sunandini

Women as Frontline Defenders: Village Defence Guards Reshaping J&K Security

Women no longer represent only those to be protected but are recognised as stakeholders in local security governance and intelligence networks.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

February 02, 2026 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Russia's Odessa Drive: Geopolitical Imperatives and Competing Visions

The issue brief examines Russia's sustained bombardment of Odessa as part of a broader strategy to sever Kyiv's maritime access and establish regional dominance.

schedule 12 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

January 30, 2026 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Dr Sunandini

Navigating a Fractured World

The erosion of multilateral frameworks weakens the collective capacity to respond to transnational challenges, making global governance more fragmented and transactional.

schedule 7 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

December 09, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Modi-Putin Summit 2025: Reinforcing Strategic Recalibration

The Modi-Putin Summit strengthened India's energy and defence security while shifting the economic partnership towards co-development and diversification.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

December 03, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra Kirti Chakra, AVSM, VSM (Retd)

Putin's India Visit-2025: Recalibration of Time-Tested Relationship in Turbulent Geo-Political Landscape

When President Vladimir Putin touches down in New Delhi on 04 December 2025, it will be...

schedule 10 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

December 01, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

A Year of Deepening Defence Ties: Why the Indian Army Chief's Sri Lanka Visit Matters

Read the full analysis on the strategic importance of the Indian Army Chief's Sri Lanka visit and a year of deepening defence ties.

schedule 7 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

December 01, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

The Kremlin Logs: 2nd Edn "Russia's Eastern Pivot: A Strategic Recalibration"

President Putin's renewed focus on the Russian Far East marks a reorientation of Russian strategic identity for the 21st century.

schedule 12 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

October 29, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

The IPKF in Sri Lanka: Unpacking the Myth of Military Failure and Exposing the Crisis of Political Will

Operation Pawan was not a military failure but a political one. The IPKF stabilised Jaffna and enabled Tamil elections, but India's wavering leadership squandered its gains.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

October 28, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Russia's Eastern Pivot: A Strategic Recalibration

Russia's Far East contains vast reserves of oil, gas, gold, rare earths, timber, and freshwater, opening a new frontier in Eurasian geopolitics.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

September 28, 2025 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Theaterization: An Emergent Need - OpEd

The Combined Commanders' Conference in Kolkata represented far more than a congregation of India's senior military personnel; it was a strategic landmark.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

September 20, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Syria's Cauldron: Unstable Governance and Shifting Alliances

Syria has become a stage for a global contest of power, ideology, and influence, and its future will shape the geopolitical contours of the region.

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

September 12, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Attrition, alliances, American ambitions: Rethinking the Ukraine conflict and the quest for multipolarity

The Russia-Ukraine war is less a regional conflict than a U.S.-orchestrated prox...

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

September 07, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Major General Deepak Mehra

From Convoys to Combat Power: How GST 2.0 Transforms Indian Army Logistics

GST 2.0 transforms Indian Army logistics, cutting costs on spares, drones, and batteries while...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

August 14, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Dr Sunandini & Akash P Desai

Igniting Innovation

From enabling financial inclusion through UPI to enhancing military capabilities with AI and...

schedule 4 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 27, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra (Retd)

Vijay Diwas: Blood on the rocks, steel in the veins

Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year on 26 July, is more than a commemoration...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 26, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Dr. Sunandini

Opinion | Simla Agreement: A Forgotten Peace Charter Amid Pakistan’s Selective Approach

On July 2, 1972, in the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War, India and Pakistan signed the Simla...

schedule 7 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 14, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

OPERATION DESERT HAWK

The dominant narrative in the history of 1965 war, usually covers the operations...

schedule 10 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 14, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Dr. Sunandini

Erasing the Dalai Lama: China’s cultural warfare and its geopolitical consequences

As the birthplace of Buddhism and a civilisational anchor for Asia, India has both the moral authority...

schedule 12 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 14, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

OPERATION DESERT HAWK

The dominant narrative in the history of 1965 war, usually covers the operations...

schedule 10 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 12, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Col Nidhish Bhatnagar

Safer, Smarter Skies

The concept of the Digital Twin, blending real-time data with living, data-driven replicas...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 07, 2025 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Dr. Sunandini and Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Debunking Myths Of Repression: Realities Of Freedom And Development In Modern J&K – Analysis

In the heart of the Himalayas, where the saffron fields meet snow-capped peaks, Jammu and Kashmir...

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 06, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Sanjib Kr Baruah

Why India needs to recalibrate its foreign policy after decade of pro-US shift

India, like many other countries, is still trying to make sense of the mercurial US president, Donald Trump

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 05, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Dr Sunandini & Akash P Desai

National Security Through Innovation and Research

India can become self-reliant and position itself as a global hub of strategic innovation...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

July 01, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Dr Sunandini

A March Remembered, A Future Redefined: One Month Since Women Cadets Passed Out from NDA

The passing-out of women NDA cadets in May 2025 begins a new era of gender inclusivity...

schedule 7 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

June 12, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen. Mehra, Kirti Chakra, AVSM, VSM

Great Power Rivalry in the Arctic and India

Arctic, home to almost four million people is warming three times faster than the global average...

schedule 15 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

June 07, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Col Nidhish Bhatnagar

The New Face of War Is Cheap, Smart, and Already Among Us

Today’s war is fought in Wi-Fi zones, server farms, digital forums, and consumer devices...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

May 20, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Col Nidhish Bhatnagar

Operation Sindoor and Cyber Front: New Face of Warfare

India’s precision-led, intelligence-backed response in Operation Sindoor was not just a military strike...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

May 07, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Major General Deepak Mehra

How is the Josh? High Sir!

Operation Sindoor, a well-calibrated, swift, and lethal strike underscores India’s evolving security doctrine...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

May 07, 2025 Leadership and Crisis Management

By Dr Sunandini

Operation Sindoor: In the Parting of Her Hair, A Nation Drew its Sword

Executed with surgical precision, Operation Sindoor reflects that India’s warfare is no longer limited...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

April 30, 2025 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Major General Deepak Mehra (Retd) and Dr. Sunandini

Canal Crisis As Caution: Why India Must Prioritize Physical Security Assessments Of Critical Infrastructure

The Panama Canal crisis highlights how geopolitical tensions can threaten vital infrastructure...

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

April 29, 2025 National Security & Internal Affairs

By Dr Sunandini

Jammu & Kashmir: A Tryst with Beauty and Brutality

From the tragedy of Pulwama to the carnage at Pahalgam, tracing the arc of terror...

schedule 9 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

April 13, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

CHINA’S POLITICISED MILITARY LEADERSHIP RISKS BATTLEFIELD COLLAPSE

This article delves into the structural weaknesses within China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA)...

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

March 23, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Maj Gen Deepak Mehra

Pakistan’s economic and security failures amplify nuclear risks

Pakistan’s escalating economic instability and internal security failures are drawing global attention...

schedule 7 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

March 21, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Pawan Atri

Russia Remains Resilient, Sanctions and Proxy Wars Won’t Work

After three years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, stoked by the US and its NATO allies...

schedule 5 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

March 05, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

Transition in Syria: A Review

With the economy in dire straits and most of the infrastructure in ruins, Syria requires massive reconstruction...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

January 29, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

Iran-Russia Agreement: Defying Global Hegemony

Iran and Russia have signed a landmark strategic agreement, heralding a new chapter in their relationship...

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

January 24, 2025 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

Syrian Turnaround Stumps Russia-Iran Tango and India

The overthrow of the autocratic Al Assad dynasty in Syria will have severe implications...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

January 08, 2025 Technology & Innovation

By Col Nidhish Bhatnagar

Gains and Gaps

For India, AI presents a unique opportunity to address complex development challenges...

schedule 6 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

October 05, 2024 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

Institutional Reflexes in High-Change Environments

The dispute surrounding Kuril Islands remains a Gordian knot of geopolitics...

schedule 8 min read Read

FIRST LIGHT

October 05, 2024 Geopolitics & Strategy

By Major General Deepak Mehra

Institutional Reflexes in High-Change Environments

The dispute surrounding Kuril Islands remains a Gordian knot of geopolitics...

schedule 8 min read Read