Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Suchitra Kamath has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who, a recognition reserved for individuals who have made lasting contributions in their professional and civic fields. Known for her ability to bridge business expertise with community leadership, Ms. Kamath has built an accomplished career that spans corporate banking, entrepreneurship, consulting, and civic service. She currently serves as president of Business Karma, where she specializes in franchise consulting. Through this role, she connects individuals and investors with franchise opportunities that align with their goals, lifestyle, and financial plans. She has worked closely with both businesses and nonprofit organizations to foster…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in New Delhi to discuss ways to strengthen India-US economic cooperation. In a post on X, the minister wrote, “Met Governor Iowa Kim Reynolds in New Delhi today. Discussed India-US economic ties and its potential.” This meeting came shortly after Jaishankar’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to US President Donald Trump’s recent comments on bilateral relations. The minister emphasized that PM Modi places great importance on the India-US partnership and maintains a warm personal rapport with President Trump. “PM Modi attaches enormous importance to our partnership…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday emphasized that BRICS nations must evaluate trade flows within the grouping to address imbalances and set an example for sustainable global trade. He made the remarks while representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a virtual BRICS leaders’ meeting, stressing the urgent need for a stable and predictable environment for global commerce and investment. “Trade patterns and market access dominate today’s economic discussions. The world requires cooperative approaches, not restrictive barriers or the linking of trade with unrelated issues,” Jaishankar stated. He highlighted India’s own trade deficits with some BRICS partners, urging the bloc…

China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, has urged New Delhi and Beijing to work together in rejecting tariff measures and trade wars imposed by the United States. Speaking at an event on Monday, Xu emphasized that both India and China, as two leading Asian economies, must safeguard the multilateral trading system and defend the collective interests of developing nations. He criticized Washington’s recent move to impose a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods, calling it “unfair and unreasonable.” Xu argued that the US, which has historically benefited from free trade, is now exploiting tariffs as a weapon to demand exorbitant…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a BJP workshop held at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium inside the Parliament complex on Sunday, where he made an unusual gesture by sitting quietly in the last row alongside other lawmakers. His presence, not as the head of government but as an ordinary parliamentarian, drew attention for its humility and symbolism. During the session, BJP parliamentarians unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the government’s recently announced Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. These changes, approved by the GST Council on September 3, are being described as one of the most ambitious revamps of India’s indirect taxation…

India’s latest tax overhaul, dubbed GST 2.0, is expected to unlock a wave of domestic consumption and provide a cushion against tariff headwinds emerging from the United States, according to industry leaders. The GST Council’s approval of sweeping changes on Wednesday reduces the rate slabs to 5% and 18%, with the new structure taking effect on September 22, coinciding with the start of Navratri. Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group of Companies, called the move a timely catalyst for spurring demand across sectors. He said the rate rationalization would not only stabilize India’s macroeconomic environment but also help counter…

In a landmark move, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, during its 56th meeting that stretched over 10 hours, approved sweeping reforms to India’s indirect tax system. The Council endorsed a simplified two-rate structure of 5% and 18%, while reserving a 40% levy solely for luxury, sin, and demerit goods such as cigarettes and pan masala. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who chaired the meeting with ministers from 31 states and Union Territories, announced that most changes will be effective from September 22, coinciding with the start of Navratri. The reforms aim to reduce the tax burden on households,…

India and Russia are exploring the possibility of expanding their defense partnership with fresh deliveries of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems. The update emerged soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. According to Russian news agency TASS, Dmitry Shugayev, who heads Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, confirmed that discussions are underway. He noted that India already operates the advanced air defense platform and that both countries see potential for further cooperation. While the talks are at an early stage, the proposal signals strengthening defense…

At the Semicon India 2025 summit in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s recent economic performance, pointing to the country’s strong GDP figures as evidence of resilience and growth. Referring to the first-quarter data, he stressed that India has once again surpassed all predictions and expectations. “The results show that India cannot be stopped now,” he said, setting an optimistic tone for the event. Despite global economic turbulence and the United States under Donald Trump imposing tariffs as high as 50% on Indian goods and oil imports, India recorded an impressive growth rate of 7.8%. The Prime Minister dismissed…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin showcased their longstanding camaraderie during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Monday. The two leaders were seen walking hand in hand before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, exchanging smiles and words through translators. Putin, addressing Modi warmly as his “dear friend,” later offered him a ride in his armoured Aurus limousine, a symbolic gesture that drew global attention. Modi, sharing pictures from the ride on X, said that India and Russia have always stood side by side, even during the most challenging times. He emphasized that this enduring…