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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014...

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014 interview. He stated that "there was a time when we counted waves from the shore; now the time has come to take the helm and plunge into the ocean ourselves."   In a world racing toward conflict, Modi has proven India's foreign policy ranks among the world's finest. Guided by 'Nation First' and prioritising Indian safety and interests, it steadfastly embodies  'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' , the world as one family.   Policy Shines Modi's foreign policy shines with such clarity and patience that even as war flames engulf West Asian nations, Indians studying and working there return home safe. In just 13 days, nearly 100,000 were evacuated from Gulf war zones, mostly by air, some via Armenia by road. PM Modi talked with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian to secure Iran's airspace for the safe evacuation of Indians, a privilege denied to any other nation. Additionally, clearance was granted for Indian ships carrying crude oil and LPG to pass safely through the Hormuz Strait. No other country's vessels are navigating these waters, except for those of Iran's ally, China. The same strategy worked in the Ukraine-Russia war: talks with both presidents ensured safe corridors, repatriating over 23,000 students and businessmen. Iran, Israel, or America, all know India deems terrorism or war unjustifiable at any cost. PM Modi amplified anti-terror campaigns from UN to global platforms, earning open support from many nations.   Global Powerhouse Bolstered by robust foreign policy and economic foresight, India emerges as a global powerhouse, undeterred by tariff hurdles. Modi's adept diplomacy yields notable successes. Contrast this with Nehru's era: wedded to Non-Aligned Movement, he watched NAM member China seize vast Ladakh territory in war. Today, Modi's government signals clearly, India honors friends, spares no foes. Abandoning non-alignment, it embraces multi-alignment: respecting sovereignties while prioritizing human welfare and progress. The world shifts from unipolar or bipolar to multipolar dynamics.   Modi's policy hallmark is that India seal defense deals like the S-400 and others with Russia yet sustains US friendship. America bestows Legion of Merit; Russia, its highest civilian honor, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. India nurtures ties with Israel, Palestine, Iran via bilateral talks. Saudi Arabia stands shoulder-to-shoulder across fronts; UAE trade exceeds $80 billion. UN's top environment award, UNEP Champions of the Earth, graces India, unlike past when foreign nations campaigned against us on ecological pretexts.   This policy's triumph roots in economic empowerment. India now ranks the world's fourth-largest economy, poised for third in 1-2 years. The 2000s dubbed it 'fragile'; then-PM economist Dr. Manmohan Singh led. Yet  'Modinomics'  prevailed. As COVID crippled supply chains, recession loomed, inflation soared and growth plunged in developed countries,  Modinomics  made India the 'bright star.' Inflation stayed controlled, growth above 6.2 per cent. IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas praised it, advising the world to learn from India.

Retirement - Your Biggest Festival

During the recent festive season - Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali - you must have noticed how expenses tend to surge during these times. Expenses do rise significantly during festivals and vacations. Similarly, retirement, often viewed as the grandest festival and vacation of your life, can bring higher financial demands due to increased free time and completing your wishlist. This is why proper retirement planning is crucial. If not planned properly, you would have to significantly tone down your standard of living, after retirement.


When should you start planning for retirement?

The simple answer is: as early as possible. Ideally, retirement planning should start the moment you begin earning.


Let us say that you start working at the age of 25. Your employer is giving you a salary. You plan to work till the age of 55 (for 30 years). Is your salary only for these 30 years? That is not the case. When you are working for 30 years, your employer is paying salary not only for your 30 working years but also for the years that you will stay alive after retirement. It is not only for the expenses from age of 25 to 55 but also for the expenses from age 55 to 85 years (assuming life expectancy).


The power of compounding

Many youngsters delay retirement planning, assuming they have time, but starting early allows you to maximise power of compounding - where the majority of benefits are back-ended in nature. For example, if you consider a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in equity or hybrid mutual funds, the longer your money stays invested, the more it grows. The earlier you start, the smaller the monthly investment required to achieve a large corpus at retirement. The more you delay, the harder it gets.


Advisor zaroori hai

Firstly, take help of an expert - a financial advisor. Wealth creation and achieving financial goals is not a do-it-yourself activity. It is sensitive and complicated - the cost of doing nothing and going wrong is massive!


Parameters for retirement planning calculation

Here are key parameters to consider when calculating your retirement needs:

·  Current Age

·  Target Retirement Age

·  Current Monthly Expenses

·  Inflation Rate

·  Life Expectancy


For example, if you are 30 today, planning to retire at 55 with an assumed life expectancy of 85, and your current monthly expense is 50,000, inflation (around 6 per cent) would push your retirement fund requirement to 7 crores. A monthly SIP of 45,000 in equity or hybrid mutual funds can help you reach this goal over 25 years. The later you start, higher your monthly expenses and sooner you wish to retire - all 3 parameters would increase your retirement corpus requirement.


Start now

Achieving financial freedom isn’t difficult, but it requires discipline. If you haven’t started yet, the next best time to begin is now.


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor.  Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

 

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