There’s a global compelling assessment of how 2025 may mark a structural break in global politics and economics. The erosion of the boundary between geopolitics and geoeconomics is significant, as national security has displaced efficiency as the organising principle of global trade. For India, the implications are profound. Remaining outside major regional trade arrangements risks marginalisation at a time when rules-based trade survives only within such blocs. The prospect of a loose bipolar order further complicates India’s strategic calculus. India must combine preparedness with strategic agility to navigate this uncertainty.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Swiss tragedy

Apropos “Tragedy in the Swiss Alps” (Jan 3) The New Year fire in a Swiss alpine resort is a grim reminder that celebrations can quickly turn fatal when safety is treated casually. Early signs of negligence, involving fireworks and combustible interiors, echo disasters from Romania to North Macedonia. That many victims were teenagers makes the loss especially painful. Investigations must go beyond identifying causes to fixing systemic lapses in enforcement. For countries like India, where nightclub fires from Uphaar to Goa reveal repeated regulatory blindness, the lesson is urgent. 

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru

Indore deaths

The news of toilet water leaking into a drinking water pipeline, causing at least 10 deaths, has spoilt the image of Indore as the “cleanest city” of India. The authorities can employ a 2-point remedy: 1) Take the help of AI in all the cities, towns, and villages to prevent the same imbroglio in the future; and 2) Municipalities must use pipes made of foolproof material so that water is not contaminated by sewer leakage.

Sreelekha PS, Telangana

A role model

Sri Krishna Teja’s journey of success was worth knowing. Young IAS officers, who have just joined service, should get inspired and motivated from it to commit themselves wholeheartedly to render public service by being resourceful, innovative, and necessarily compassionate. Sri Krishna has brought laurels to his state and to the districts in which he has served. He has many years of service ahead to render more such ‘invaluable, notable, and praiseworthy service’.

N.R. Raghuram, 

Hyderabad

Corrigendum

The headline of the article by S. Murlidharan in the December 29, 2025, issue of FPJ reading ‘SBI must bring convertible bonds back into mainstream’ was incorrect. It should read ‘SEBI’, not SBI. The error is regretted.

—FPJ

Save the big cat 

Apropos ‘A realistic view of tiger deaths’, the edit rightly takes stock of tiger deaths in the country. It is surprising that despite sanctuaries protecting tigers, the number of tiger deaths is increasing. That the man-animal conflict is on the increase is a fact. Besides, many tigers fall prey to traps laid for other animals. The concerned authorities need to make a note of it and take appropriate steps. As increasing the area of the sanctuaries is not possible, protecting tigers is the only thing we can do. Also, illegal poaching needs to be curbed.

Maya Hemant Bhatkar, Pune