India, Feb. 15 -- "Live, Laugh, Love' - and if that does not work Load, Aim and Fire"

'With due apologies to Bassie Anderson Stanley'

From the grandeur of the Republic Day to the FM presenting the Union Budget in parliament, it has been an exciting last few days. The Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union under negotiation since 2007, was eventually signed with an overarching defence and security framework to deepen ties in the domain of maritime security, defence industry & technology, cyber & hybrid threats, space, and counter-terrorism, amongst others. The Union Budget's impact on the defence outlay, in relation to the India-EU agreement on free trade, is palpable. The focus on, and enhanced outlays for, all areas ...