Author: Akancha Mishra

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has signaled optimism over the ongoing India-US trade discussions, stating that a deal is meaningful only when both nations benefit. His comments come after a U.S. Trade Representative official described India’s proposals as the “best ever” during recent negotiations. While Goyal did not provide a timeline for the finalization of the bilateral trade agreement, he noted that if the United States is satisfied with India’s offerings, the agreement should be formalized without delay. Goyal was responding to remarks by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who praised India’s proposals as unprecedented. “Their satisfaction is very…

India and the United States have made substantial progress in settling long-standing trade disagreements, and officials now believe a long-awaited bilateral trade pact could finally be sealed by March. Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said the overall outlook for FY27 remains positive and noted that the Indian rupee continues to trade below its true value when compared with economic fundamentals. Speaking with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin, Nageswaran said he would be genuinely surprised if the long-pursued agreement with Washington does not come together by the close of the financial year. He admitted he initially expected the deal to be…

India and Brazil have intensified their defence partnership as Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi held high-level meetings in Brasília with Chief Advisor to the Brazilian President Celso Amorim and Defence Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro to explore deeper collaboration across the defence industry and capacity-building sectors. The discussions provided a comprehensive review of the expanding bilateral defence engagement, with both sides focusing on strengthening operational cooperation, enhancing training exchanges, improving maritime security mechanisms, and advancing joint efforts in maritime domain awareness. The two countries also examined opportunities for long-term interoperability and co-development initiatives within the defence industry. The…

Karnataka cadre IAS officer Darpan Jain has been selected as India’s new chief negotiator for the upcoming trade discussions with the United States. A member of the 2001 batch, Jain currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has been deeply involved in India’s trade engagements with several countries over the years. He will represent India during the talks scheduled for December 10 and 11, where both sides aim to accelerate work on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The negotiations will cover a broad range of trade issues, with tariffs expected to be one of…

India and Kenya held discussions to strengthen cooperation in the healthcare sector, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, medical devices, and capacity building. Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika met Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale to review ongoing collaboration and identify areas for deeper engagement. The Indian High Commission described India as a trusted and long-standing partner of Kenya, noting that Indian pharmaceutical products hold a significant share of the Kenyan market due to their quality and affordability. India also remains a preferred destination for thousands of Kenyans seeking medical treatment each year, underscoring strong confidence…

Tata Electronics has secured Intel as a prospective customer for its upcoming semiconductor facilities, a development seen as a strong vote of confidence in India’s growing chip manufacturing ambitions. Industry observers say the move signals Intel’s belief in India’s ability to eventually become a meaningful player in the global semiconductor supply chain. The electronics arm of the 156-year-old Tata Group—known for its diverse businesses spanning everything from salt to software—is investing nearly $14 billion to construct India’s first full-scale semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat. Alongside the fab, the company is also setting up a major chip assembly and testing center…

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker has arrived in India for an official visit aimed at advancing strategic cooperation across security, technology, and regional priorities. Her engagements include Foreign Office Consultations with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, where both sides are expected to review developments in the Indo-Pacific and assess progress in bilateral cooperation. The US Embassy in India said Hooker’s visit reflects Washington’s commitment to strengthening the partnership with New Delhi and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. The embassy noted that the discussions will help advance the administration’s priorities on national security, economic ties, and…

India’s growing prominence as a technological and strategic partner was a central theme this week in Washington, where top US lawmakers and experts warned that the global race for artificial intelligence is entering a decisive and highly contested phase. Their concerns focused on China’s accelerating push to embed AI across civilian, industrial, and military systems—an expansion they believe could reshape global power balances. During a Senate hearing on December 2, members of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy examined how China’s rapid AI progress intersects with geopolitics, defence innovation, and semiconductor access. While…

Indian-origin entrepreneurs made a commanding appearance on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2026, particularly in the newly introduced Artificial Intelligence category. As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, Forbes dedicated a separate segment to spotlight the young trailblazers shaping the next decade of machine intelligence. This year’s list features several rising founders of Indian origin whose companies are pushing the boundaries of automation, enterprise software, and data intelligence. Leading the group are Samir Dutta and Kunal Tangri, co-founders of Farsight, alongside their partner Noah Faro. The MIT-trained computer scientists are developing an AI platform capable of generating complex financial materials—such…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita to visiting President Vladimir Putin, calling the sacred text a source of inspiration for millions across the world. Sharing a photograph on X, PM Modi wrote, “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.” The image shows both leaders holding the book as Modi hands it over during their meeting. The gesture highlights the cultural and spiritual resonance of the Gita, which has been translated into various global languages and continues…