Author: Akancha Mishra

NASA and ISRO have announced that their long-awaited Earth observation satellite, NISAR, will likely launch in March 2025, after delays pushed back its initial 2024 launch date. The NISAR satellite, developed jointly over a decade, will provide comprehensive monitoring of Earth’s ecosystems, land, and sea ice, with remarkable precision. Using dual-frequency radar—NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band—NISAR will gather data to track environmental changes and monitor natural hazards. The satellite, weighing 2.8 tonnes, was first conceptualized following a 2014 agreement between India and the US. The satellite’s advanced radar capabilities will enable it to produce high-resolution images in all conditions, even…

India is set to initiate its Critical Mineral Mission in 2025, a landmark project designed to secure vital minerals for the nation’s green energy transition and the expansion of its electric vehicle industry. This ambitious initiative will bring together multiple ministries, industries, research institutions, and global think tanks to ensure a consistent and sustainable supply of essential minerals. As global demand for resources like lithium and cobalt intensifies, India aims to secure a competitive position by acquiring mineral assets, particularly in Australia, and attracting foreign investment. The demand for critical minerals is expected to rise sharply, driven by the electric…

Indian-origin Krish Raval, a leadership educator and inter-faith advocate, has been nominated for a life peerage in the UK House of Lords by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Raval, who was awarded an OBE in 2018 for his contributions to leadership education and inter-faith cohesion, is the Founder-Director of Faith in Leadership, a university-based organization promoting inter-faith relations. Raval’s nomination is part of a broader effort by Starmer’s Labor Party to balance representation in the House of Lords, where the Conservative Party currently holds the most seats. Among the 30 Labor Party nominees is Raval, alongside figures like former shadow minister…

India’s 2024 job market reflects significant transformation and adaptability. Over the years, hiring trends fluctuated, influenced by economic changes, advancements in technology, and the shifting dynamics of a modern workforce. While some sectors struggled initially, others gained momentum in later months. Key industries such as IT, FMCG, and pharmaceuticals led the way, with upskilling becoming critical to addressing widening skills gaps. According to Naukri’s hiring data, the first quarter experienced a cautious 10% year-on-year decline. By the second quarter, the job market stabilized, culminating in a strong recovery during the third quarter, particularly in the IT sector and emerging regional…

Indian Railways has completed the Pamban Bridge, marking a significant milestone as the country’s first vertical lift sea bridge. The new bridge connecting Mandapam on the Indian mainland to Pamban Island and Rameswaram is an impressive feat of modern engineering, executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), a public sector entity under Indian Railways. Spanning 2.05 kilometers, the bridge consists of 100 spans, each measuring 19.3 meters, and features a navigational span of 63 meters, making it one of the world’s only two vertical lift bridges. The bridge design, created by the international consultancy TYPSA, adheres to both Indian and…

Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has been named one of The Hill’s 24 Changemakers for 2024. At 35, Khan is the youngest-ever FTC chair and has gained a reputation as a trailblazer in antitrust law. Under her leadership, the FTC has actively pursued cases against powerful corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin, focusing on consumer protection and antitrust enforcement. Khan’s efforts have drawn both praise and criticism, especially from big businesses and lawmakers, who have lobbied for her removal. Khan’s aggressive approach to antitrust law includes blocking major corporate mergers and addressing the issue of…

Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra, along with US Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to review the progress in US-India space cooperation and discuss future initiatives.This visit followed a growing collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), highlighting key projects such as the upcoming launch of the NISAR satellite and the joint training of two ISRO astronauts for a mission to the International Space Station in 2025. During the visit, officials engaged with leaders from NASA and ISRO and…

Following the success of their Tamil films ‘Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae’ (2017) and ‘Andhaghaaram’ (2020), the powerhouse couple Atlee and Priya Atlee are set to make their highly anticipated Bollywood debut with ‘Baby John’. Produced under their banner, A for Apple Productions, the action-packed film features Varun Dhawan in the lead role and is directed by Kalees. Scheduled for a grand release on December 25, 2024, the movie promises to deliver a thrilling cinematic experience. Ahead of the film’s release, the team hosted a celebratory event where Priya Atlee expressed her emotions, sharing, “It’s like a dream come true for…

In 2024, India topped global remittance inflows, receiving an estimated $129 billion, followed by Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, according to a blog post by World Bank economists. This surge is attributed to the recovery in job markets across high-income countries, particularly within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. Remittances are projected to grow by 5.8% in 2024, a significant improvement from the 1.2% growth recorded in 2023. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to reach $685 billion this year. The report highlighted that remittances continue to outpace other financial flows to LMICs,…

The prestigious 2025 Marshall Scholarship has been awarded to three exceptional Indian Americans — Tej Patel, Sridatta Teerdhala, and Pratyush Seshadri. The Marshall Scholarship, named after George C. Marshall, U.S. Secretary of State, was created in 1953 to honor American aid to the UK following World War II. The scholarship funds young, talented Americans to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. Tej Patel, currently enrolled in the Life Sciences and Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania, is an advocate for more equitable healthcare systems. His research in health economics, radiation oncology, and the collaboration between humans…