India’s tourism sector is experiencing a remarkable transformation. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) forecasts that the outbound travel market will reach $55.4 billion by 2034, driven largely by the country’s growing middle class and increasing disposable incomes, which are fueling both domestic and international travel. Indian tour operators are expected to see a 15-17% increase in revenue for fiscal 2025, according to CRISIL. This growth is attributed to enhanced infrastructure, rising incomes, changing travel habits, and government initiatives aimed at boosting domestic tourism. India’s rising prominence in global travel is evident with projections for 2024…
Author: Akancha Mishra
Akancha Mishra
Akancha has been a journalist for about twenty years, and she has a Bachelor of Arts in English Honors and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She and her husband and children Supriya and Alok currently call New York City home.
Before his bronze medal play-off, Aman Sehrawat faced a significant challenge after his semifinal loss on Thursday, August 8. He weighed 61.5kg, which was 4.5kg over the permissible limit for the men’s 57kg category. With only 10 hours to shed the extra weight, Aman relied heavily on the expertise of his Indian coaches, Jagmander Singh and Virender Dahiya, who were determined to help him meet the weight requirement before the next weigh-in. In the world of wrestling, staying within the weight limit has become a crucial focus, particularly after the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat. She was removed from the women’s…
Harini Krishnan, a well-known Indian American community organizer for the Democratic Party in the Bay Area, has been working tirelessly in support of Kamala Harris’s 2024 Presidential campaign. After President Joe Biden exited the race, Krishnan and her team quickly transitioned their efforts from supporting Biden to rallying behind Harris. This shift has energized the campaign, resulting in thousands of volunteers joining within just ten days. Krishnan, who co-directs the South Asians for Harris initiative, has a deep connection with Harris, having supported her since her days as California’s Senator, Attorney General, and District Attorney. Krishnan has been instrumental in…
Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted significant progress in India’s healthcare sector during a Lok Sabha discussion on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 2024-25 budget. Since 2014, the number of medical colleges in India has surged from 387 to 731. This expansion has also led to a substantial increase in medical education opportunities, with undergraduate seats rising from 51,348 to 112,000, a 118% increase, and postgraduate seats growing by 133%. Nadda emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s health sector has seen major improvements, including the largest health scheme globally and a 164% increase in the…
Recruiters have observed a notable increase in inquiries from Indian expatriates, including those at the CXO level, who are considering relocating to India from countries like the US, UK, and Canada over the past year, according to Randstad India. The recruitment agency did not provide specific figures on this surge. The manufacturing sector is projected to expand significantly over the next five years, potentially growing from 2.5 to 3 million employees to about 5 million by 2030, as stated by Yeshab Giri, Chief Commercial Officer at Operational Talent Solutions, Randstad India. The government’s focus on major incentives and the “China…
Hamsa Balakrishnan has been appointed as the associate dean of the MIT School of Engineering, starting August 1, 2024. A professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), Balakrishnan is known for her impactful research in air transportation systems. Her work involves designing and analyzing control and optimization algorithms for complex cyber-physical systems, focusing on areas such as airport congestion management, air traffic routing, and machine learning applications for weather forecasting and flight delay predictions. In her new role, Balakrishnan will be responsible for enhancing the recruitment, retention, and support of academic talent within the School of Engineering. She…
Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has been making waves in his career recently. This week, he surprised his fans by revealing a teaser for his forthcoming track, “Muhammad Ali,” which features a collaboration with American rapper NLE Choppa. The teaser showcases both artists grooving to vibrant beats, hinting at a new anthem that blends different musical styles and genres. Diljit’s 2024 has been marked by significant achievements. His performance in the Netflix biopic “Amar Singh Chamkila” received widespread acclaim, with a soundtrack composed by the acclaimed A.R. Rahman. Additionally, his latest film, “Jatt and Juliet 3,” has already earned…
A team of researchers at the Florida Agricultural and Medical University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering has developed an artificial intelligence tool set to revolutionize surgical training. Spearheaded by Suvranu De, an Indian American professor and the Google-endowed dean of the college, this innovative project focuses on improving surgeons’ skills through a sophisticated AI-powered video assessment tool. The video-based assessment network (VBA-Net), created under De’s guidance, employs state-of-the-art deep learning models to evaluate surgical abilities. This research, recently published in JAMA Surgery, a medical journal of the American Medical Association, holds significant promise for enhancing surgical education and patient outcomes. De…
India has claimed the leading position worldwide in terms of the total number of initial public offerings (IPOs) and issuances, as reported by Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch, Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). During her address at FICCI’s 21st Annual Capital Markets Conference 2024 in Mumbai, which focused on “Capital Market Reforms 2.0 for Viksit Bharat,” she highlighted Sebi’s initiatives to streamline IPO documentation and filing processes. To support the listing of startups, Sebi is updating key performance indicators and is developing a simplified IPO document with fill-in-the-blank sections to clarify uncertainties. She also mentioned that…
