India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections saw an 8.5% increase in November 2024, reaching over $21.74 billion. This growth was primarily driven by higher revenues from domestic transactions. The detailed breakdown of collections includes Central GST at $4.08 billion, State GST at $5.15 billion, Integrated GST at $10.97 billion, and cess at $1.58 billion. In comparison, November 2022 saw collections of $21.05 billion. Revenue from domestic transactions grew by 9.4% to $16.73 billion, while import tax revenues rose by about 6% to $5.09 billion. Refunds in November amounted to $2.30 billion, showing an 8.9% decrease compared to the previous…
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.
Indian-American Kashyap “Kash” Patel has been nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In his announcement, Trump referred to Patel as a “brilliant lawyer and investigator,” emphasizing his loyalty and “America First” dedication. Patel expressed his deep connection to India, stemming from his upbringing as a Hindu and his Gujarati heritage. Born in New York in 1980, Patel’s parents migrated from East Africa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond and later earned a law degree and a certificate in International Law from University College London. Patel began his legal…
Indian American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with a festive meal featuring smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and apple cobbler. The celebration, observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S., honors the year’s blessings and harvest. In a video message from space, Williams, along with fellow astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, extended Thanksgiving wishes to those on Earth, expressing gratitude for their support. The crew plans to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while enjoying a special meal provided by NASA, which includes…
Allu Arjun is receiving widespread praise for his relentless efforts to promote Pushpa 2: The Rule. The promotional journey began with a spectacular event in Patna, where he impressed North Indian fans with an engaging speech in Hindi. Following this, he continued the momentum with “Wildfire” events in Chennai and Kochi, where he connected closely with local audiences, showcasing his charm and dedication. In Mumbai, Allu Arjun took the excitement up a notch by performing the Sooseski song on stage, alongside his co-star Rashmika Mandanna. This lively performance highlighted his dynamic approach to promotions, creating immense buzz. His enthusiastic presence…
At the launch of Mohinder Amarnath’s memoir Fearless, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar drew intriguing comparisons between cricket and Indian foreign policy. Reflecting on India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup victory, he emphasized its transformative impact on India’s role in global cricket, paralleling this with India’s evolving international presence. Jaishankar highlighted key lessons from cricket applicable to diplomacy: respect is earned through competitiveness, and individual contributions can shape outcomes. Comparing foreign policy to cricket, he noted it involves multiple players, shifting conditions, and psychological strategy, unlike the static nature of chess. He emphasized India’s current global appeal, stating, “Today’s India is…
An influential Indian-American organization, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), has appealed to US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to address the escalating violence against Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community. This plea follows over 200 reported attacks on Hindus and their temples since the Awami League government fell on August 5. FIIDS expressed deep concern in separate letters to both leaders, highlighting the recent arrest and denial of bail for Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu spiritual leader and former member of ISKCON. Das’s arrest on sedition charges has sparked protests across Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka…
India is set to strengthen its climate action agenda by entering into a carbon credit partnership with Japan by early 2025. This collaboration forms part of India’s strategy to boost sustainability and draw foreign investments into green technology. As the world’s third-largest carbon emitter, India acknowledges the pressing need to balance economic growth with effective climate change mitigation. Carbon credits serve as essential tools in the global fight against climate change, allowing countries and corporations to trade emission reductions and meet climate targets more efficiently. This approach aligns with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which facilitates international carbon trading.…
India saw a record 4.49 million personal computers shipped in the third quarter of 2024, marking a modest year-on-year increase of 0.1%. This follows a stronger 7.1% growth in Q2CY24, when shipments hit 3.39 million units. While desktop shipments fell by 8.1%, notebook and workstation categories grew by 2.8% and 2.4%, respectively, with premium notebooks priced over US$ 1,000 seeing a notable 7.6% surge, fueled by online festival sales. HP Inc. led the market with a 29% share, topping both the commercial and consumer segments. Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus followed with market shares of 17.3%, 14.6%, 14.6%, and 9.7%,…
Dr. Swagata Banik, currently serving as the Medical Mutual Endowed Chair for Public Health and Population Health at Baldwin Wallace University, has been named the new dean of the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University (SBU). Dr. Banik will begin his new role on January 21, following a national search. Having been a faculty member at Baldwin Wallace since 2011, Banik has held several key academic positions, including dean of Graduate Education and Research and director of the Center for Health Disparities Research. His extensive background in public health and commitment to addressing health disparities…
Kriti Sanon, who has successfully established herself in Bollywood despite being an outsider, recently addressed the issue of nepotism at the 55th International Film Festival in Goa. The actress, known for her roles in films like Heropanti and Do Patti, shared her perspective, suggesting that Bollywood alone shouldn’t be blamed for nepotism. According to Sanon, the media and audience also play a significant role by consistently focusing on star kids. Sanon explained that the media’s intense spotlight on celebrity children creates audience interest, which, in turn, encourages the industry to cast them. She stated, “It’s a cycle. The audience watches…
