The Indian Century Roundtable is a think tank dedicated to providing detailed, non-partisan research on India and its liberal democratic institutions.

We aspire to be the world's most trusted source of information about India.

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About the Indian Century Roundtable

As India grows in economic and strategic importance, the world needs objective information on India and its democratic institutions. We provide that information on a "facts not feelings" basis. Many Western journalists, parliamentarians, and business leaders have an impression of India that is 100 years out of date, if it was ever correct at all. Current gaps in Western understandings of India can only be addressed through research that is both highly professional and clearly unbiased. The Indian Century Roundtable is dedicated to providing detailed, objective research on India and its liberal democratic institutions that is free from political leanings or ideological interference.

Meet the Team

  • Maurice Newman AC

    Chairman

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    Maurice Newman AC is the former Chairman of Deutsche Bank Australia & New Zealand, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), and Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Chancellor of Macquarie University.  His career spans over 50 years in stockbroking and investment banking.  Dr Newman has chaired a number of Asian business alliances and has been an adviser to Australian governments, State and Federal.

  • Salvatore Babones

    Executive Director

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    Salvatore Babones is a quantitative comparative sociologist whose most recent book is Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy. In the past he has published on economic development in post-socialist transition economies and quantitative methods for cross-national comparisons. He earned his MS (statistics) and PhD (sociology) from the Johns Hopkins University.

  • Vikram K. Malkani

    Associate Director

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    Vikram K. Malkani has been a technology professional with over three decades of experience across a variety of roles in India’s information technology industry, with nearly two decades spent working for one of Australia’s largest banks. He is passionate about gathering data from diverse sources and analysing it to gain insights into India's socioeconomic development. His articles and research have been published in India and internationally.

“If there is to be a leader of the free world in 50 or 100 years time, it’s likely to be India.”

– Tony Abbott, former Prime Minister of Australia

Recently Published Research Papers

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Core Areas of Research

1

Democracy: Analyses of India's international democracy rankings

2

Freedom: Research into press freedom and religious freedom in India

3

Reform: Research into economic and institutional reform

4

Security: Objective information on internal security and military affairs

Forthcoming research papers funded by donations to the ICR

The Indian Ocean Ports Infrastructure

Seaborne commerce in the Indian Ocean is rapidly increasing, but much of this trade is only passing through. This paper will evaluate the infrastructure needs for Indian Ocean ports, with a focus on India-Australia trade.

Understanding the Basic Structure Doctrine

In 1973 the Supreme Court of India narrowly arrogated to itself the authority to reject constitutional amendments on the basis that they violate the “basic structure” of the Constitution. Does this doctrine support democracy? Or undermine it?

A Primer on the Status of Jammu & Kashmir

The status of Jammu and Kashmir, always a fraught topic, has catapulted onto the world’s front pages in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. Our primer will recount the facts on J&K without favor to any side.

Salvatore Babones at the launch of his book Dharma Democracy: How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy