Course Scholars

Lekshmi MK

Lekshmi MK is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), working with the Area Studies-Pakistan Programme and the NIAS Polar and Ocean Studies initiative. She also serves as an Assistant Editor for The World Today and The World This Week. Her research interests include ocean governance, the geopolitics of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, the impact of climate change, maritime security, and environmental diplomacy.

She is currently pursuing her postgraduate degree in Political Science at Madras Christian College.


GP Commentaries
Conflict Weekly Note
The War in Ukraine
The Geneva Talks and Growing Negotiation Asymmetry
Conflict Weekly #319-320, 20 February 2026

February 2026 | CWA # 1976

Lekshmi MK

The World This Week
Munich Security Conference 2026:
Europe’s Security Concerns, Defence Consolidation and Transatlantic Recalibration
The World This Week, # 345, 22 February 2025

February 2026 | CWA # 1974

Lekshmi MK

PR Explainer
Pakistan-Taliban Peace Talks
Background, Issues, Challenges and Implications
CWA #1975

December 2025 | CWA # 1972

Lekshmi MK

Pakistan in 2025
Pakistan's Climate Change Challenges
Governance Gaps, Adaptation Deficit, and Climate Finance Vulnerability
CWA #1972

December 2025 | CWA # 1969

Lekshmi MK

Pakistan’s Climate and Water Crisis
Five Questions on Challenges, Capacity and Policies
CWA #1969

November 2025 | CWA # 1966

Lekshmi MK

Early Bird
Sanae Takaichi’s historic win in Japan
What does it mean for domestic politics and regional stability?
Early Bird

February 2026 | CWA # 1961

Lekshmi MK

End of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
Erosion of arms control, Return of nuclear anxieties, and the New focus on China
The World This Week #342-343, Vol 8, No 03, 08 February 2026

February 2026 | CWA # 1956

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

CW Note
The War in Ukraine: The Trilateral Talks, and the Deadlock over Donetsk & Security Guarantees for Kyiv
Conflict Weekly 317, 30 January 2026, Vol 7, No. 4

January 2026 | CWA # 1950

Lekshmi MK

CW Note
Greenland: Trump’s escalation-deescalation approach and Europe’s defence 

January 2026 | CWA # 1942

Lekshmi MK

TWTW Note
Greenland: Trump’s escalation-deescalation strategy and Europe’s defence

January 2026 | CWA # 1939

Lekshmi MK

State of Global Politics 2025
The UN Ocean Conference: Repositioning the oceans from margins to global priority
The World This Week #338, Vol 7, No 52, 31 December 2025

December 2025 | CWA # 1928

Lekshmi MK

State of Global Politics 2025
United Nations General Assembly Summit: 80 Years
The World This Week #338, Vol 7, No 52, 31 December 2025

December 2025 | CWA # 1927

Lekshmi MK

State of Global Politics 2025
UK and India: PM Keir Starmer’s visit and the Recalibration of Economic, Strategic, and Cultural ties
The World This Week #338, Vol 7, No 52, 31 December 2025

December 2025 | CWA # 1912

Lekshmi MK

State of Global Politics 2025
France and China: President Macron's visit
The World This Week #338, Vol 7, No 52, 31 December 2025

December 2025 | CWA # 1909

Lekshmi MK

State of Peace and Conflict 2025
The Ukraine War: Trump’s 28-point peace plan and Strategic Manoeuvres
Conflict Weekly #313, 31 December 2025, Vol. 6, No. 52

December 2025 | CWA # 1893

Lekshmi MK

CW Column: The War in Ukraine
Ongoing diplomatic push, security deadlock, and strategic manoeuvres

December 2025 | CWA # 1878

Lekshmi MK

TWTW Note
France's President Macron's visit to China: Strengthening bilateral ties, trade, and strategic engagement

December 2025 | CWA # 1872

Lekshmi MK

This Week in History
28 July 1914
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting the First World War

August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

This Week in History
23 July 1952: The fall of Egypt’s monarchy and the Rise of a Republic

July 2025 | CWA # 1773

Lekshmi MK

TWTW Note
US-EU Tariff tensions:
From dialogue to a deadlock
The World This Week #319 & 320 Vol 7, No 28 & 29, 20 July 2025

July 2025 | CWA # 1764

Lekshmi MK & Swati Sood

GP Insights
China’s draft legislation on Antarctica: Legal and institutional clarification and environmental pro

December 2025 | GP Insights # 946
Lekshmi MK

Finland withdraws from Ottawa Treaty

June 2025 | GP Insights # 928
Lekshmi MK

India’s Prime Minister's visit to Cyprus: “New Gateway to Europe” says Cyprus Prime Minister

June 2025 | GP Insights # 927
Lekshmi MK

Ocean Conference in France emphasize on Global Responsibility

June 2025 | GP Insights # 925
Lekshmi MK

Other Scholars

Abhimanyu Solanki is a Research Intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, and is part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team, contributing to the PR Daily Brief. He is also a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and PhD scholar in the Department of Political Science at the University...

Akriti Sharma is a doctoral scholar at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, National Institute of Advanced Studies. She has completed her Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. She is also the recipient of...

Akshath Kaimal is a Research Assistant with NIAS Area Studies-Pakistan, and is a postgraduate in International Studies and International Humanitarian Action

Ankit is a Ph.D. scholar at NIAS, his research interests lie South Asia, peace studies and oral history. His research topic is on political economy of external debt in Pakistan (1971-2021).   Research activities In the STIR program, he is currently assisting in preparations of PR evening...

Brighty Ann Sarah is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) under the Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The Conflict Weekly and The World Today, and part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team.   She...

Research Assistant, Area Studies-China, East Asia and the Pacific     External Publications Femy Francis, "Pakistan elections: four provinces, mixed results, one message | Data," The Hindu, 29 February 2024 Femy Francis, "China’s ties with Africa | Explained,"...

Harini Madhusudan is a doctoral scholar with the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Her thesis looks at Militarisation in Outer Space, which draws from a combination of disciplines of International Law, Security Studies, International Relations, and Outer Space as a domain. She is looking...

Padmashree Anandhan is currently a project associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore. Her research for the NIAS Europe Studies under the Area Studies initiative focuses on protest movements, conflicts, energy, economic, migration...

R. Preetha is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) - Science, Technology and International Relations (STIR) Programme. She serves as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week and The World Today, and is also part of the NIAS Pakistan Reader team. She is currently...

Ms Rohini Reenum is a Doctoral Student at the Science, Technology and International Relations Programme, School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies. Her areas of interest in terms of research are Maritime Security, Ocean Governance, International Relations Theory,...

Tanvi Thara Harendra Jha is an intern, and is undergraduate student double majoring in BSc Clinical Psychology and BA Political Science at the School of Liberal Arts, Alliance University, Bengaluru.

Vani Vyshnavi Jupudi is an undergraduate student at the Department of International Studies, Political Science and History, CHRIST (Deemed to be university) BGR campus. Her research interests include Geopolitics, Conflict Studies, Political Communication and Public Policy.