“International order” is a useful concept to understand the foreign policy of major powers that seek to shape the macro architecture of international politics to their advantage. In recent years, New Delhi has used the concept of “rules-based international order” (RIO) to describe the international arrangement of its preference.

Amid escalating great power rivalry, India’s leadership of the G20 from December 2022 to November 2023 was a test of its diplomatic acumen. Would India be able to successfully host a gathering and ensure a joint statement despite bitter divisions between the West and Russia, while also bridging the gap between developed and developing nations? Would India be able to elevate its global stature in the process, or get mired in the squabbling?

Nirash Barman is unable to cultivate his plot of land that now falls between the India-Bangladesh border and the fence that India has built on its side because of several restrictions placed by the Border Security Force (BSF). To compensate and manage his household expenses, he started growing ganja (cannabis) just by his house. After a few years of successful farming, he caught the attention of the BSF and the police, who raided his home, burned down his fields, and have now subjected his rural neighborhood to stringent surveillance.