Author: Akancha Mishra

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Permanent Representatives of the United Nations from 17 countries during their official study visit to India, using the opportunity to emphasize the importance of modernizing global governance. The discussions focused on the growing need for international institutions to better reflect the interests and aspirations of developing nations as the global political landscape continues to evolve. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in interacting with the visiting diplomats and stressed that reforms in multilateral institutions have become increasingly important. He said that the changing world order requires international organizations…

India and the United States continue to strengthen their economic partnership as discussions surrounding trade, investment, and supply chain resilience gather momentum. A recent meeting between India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and UPS Chief Executive Officer Carol Tomé highlighted the growing collaboration between the two countries and their shared focus on expanding commercial opportunities. During the meeting, both sides explored ways to enhance logistics connectivity, strengthen resilient supply chains, and support UPS’s expanding business operations in India. Kwatra also emphasized India’s growing role as a global destination for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and international business partnerships, noting…

India’s Ministry of Textiles is set to introduce the Digital Handloom Atlas during the upcoming GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit in New Delhi, aiming to increase the global visibility of India’s Geographical Indication (GI)-registered handloom and handicraft products. The summit, scheduled for August 5, 2026, will focus on promoting traditional Indian crafts and creating stronger connections between artisans, businesses, and international markets. Organized by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) in partnership with the Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), the event will bring together a diverse group of participants, including overseas buyers from nearly 10 countries, exporters, multinational companies,…

A 13-year-old Indian-American student has developed an innovative approach to reducing pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables by transforming discarded peanut shells into a natural cleaning material. Arika Kundu, a seventh-grade student at Minnetonka Middle School East in Shorewood, Minnesota, created the project called “LIGNEX,” which uses agricultural waste to address a common food safety concern. Kundu’s invention has earned her a place among the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a national competition that recognizes middle school students between the ages of 11 and 14 for developing science-based solutions to real-world problems. As a finalist, she…

India is hosting the 2026 Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of BRICS nations in Lucknow on August 3 and 4, bringing together senior officials from member countries to advance collaboration in official statistics, innovation, and data-sharing practices. The gathering is being organized under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 and reflects the country’s commitment to building stronger and more resilient statistical systems through international cooperation. This year’s BRICS Chairship carries the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” while the Statistics Track centers on “Quality Statistics as Driver of Change.” The focus underscores India’s emphasis on producing reliable…

India is taking on a more prominent role in the Trump administration’s updated public diplomacy strategy as the United States increases its efforts to strengthen engagement across Asia. The shift reflects Washington’s broader objective of expanding its influence in the region while responding to growing information campaigns from China and other authoritarian governments. During a confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sarah Rogers, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), outlined her vision for the agency’s future. She identified Asia as one of the organization’s highest priorities and emphasized that India…

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the first phase of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) will be implemented only after the United States ensures India receives a competitive advantage over neighboring countries and other regional economies competing for the same export markets. Speaking on Wednesday, Goyal explained that the initial framework of the agreement has already been finalized. However, its implementation depends on the United States creating trade conditions that allow Indian businesses to compete on more favorable terms than countries in South Asia, the ASEAN region, and other major export rivals. According to the…

India has achieved a major milestone in the global maritime sector by becoming the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026. The country now contributes 311,936 maritime professionals to the international shipping industry, accounting for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted that India’s position has improved significantly over the past decade. The country, which ranked fifth globally in 2015 with a 5.2% share of the global seafarer workforce, has moved ahead through continued investments in maritime education, skill development, and policy improvements. India currently…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the first set of S-Band radar data from the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, making the information accessible to researchers and users worldwide through the Bhoonidhi portal. The release marks an important step in advancing Earth observation capabilities and supporting scientific studies related to environmental changes. ISRO has also shared sample radar images captured from different locations, including Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, the Brahmaputra basin in Assam, Antarctica, Idaho, Greenland and Indonesia. These images demonstrate the satellite’s ability to monitor coastal wetlands, agricultural activities, ice movement and other changes occurring across…

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a series of high-level meetings with senior Chinese officials during his visit to China, focusing on strengthening bilateral engagement through academic cooperation, diplomatic dialogue and broader people-to-people exchanges. The discussions reflected ongoing efforts by both countries to improve communication and deepen collaboration across multiple areas of mutual interest. On Tuesday, Misri met Li Wentang, Vice President of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) of the Communist Party of China. During the meeting, he was briefed on the institution’s historical background, academic initiatives and intellectual contributions. Both sides also explored opportunities to expand cooperation…