Author: Bhakti Narayanan

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at the 90th-anniversary event of the Bank of Maharashtra in Pune, lauded India’s achievements in the FinTech sector, specifically highlighting the success of UPI, which now facilitates 45% of global digital payments. She emphasized that digital platforms like UPI transcend borders, urging banks to leverage this transformative technology for deeper growth opportunities. During her speech, Sitharaman reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India, or viksit bharat, by 2047, outlining three essential pillars: economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. She noted that robust banking systems are integral to driving this agenda, stressing…

India has ascended to the position of the sixth-largest market in the MSCI All Country World Investable Market Index (ACWI IMI), overtaking China and now trailing just behind France. For the first time, India has claimed the title of the largest emerging market in this index, which monitors global capital market performance. As of the end of August, India held a weight of 2.35% in the MSCI ACWI IMI, edging past China’s 2.24% by 11 basis points. France remains slightly ahead with just 3 basis points more than India. The MSCI ACWI IMI includes large- and mid-cap stocks and is…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated his 74th birthday on September 17th, adding another remarkable year to his long tenure in public service. Like previous years, this occasion was marked with various development activities. Modi travelled to Odisha, where he launched several key initiatives and laid the foundation stones for important projects. His birthday also coincides with the start of ‘Seva Parv,’ a two-week-long festival organised annually by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to honour his dedication to public service and welfare. Born in Mehsana, Gujarat, on September 17, 1950, Modi has had an illustrious political career, serving as Gujarat’s chief…

In a significant grassroots initiative ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Indian Americans are organising Days of Action to support Kamala Harris. The campaign, named “Kamala ke Saath” (We’re with Kamala), will feature cultural events combined with canvassing efforts aimed at engaging South Asian voters in crucial swing states. These events will offer food, music, and speeches from prominent leaders before volunteers head out to canvas. The campaign targets swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Arizona, where nearly 400,000 South Asian voters reside. The goal is to mobilise this influential voting bloc, which played a key role…

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded in space since their Boeing Starliner capsule departed without them, discussed their challenges on Friday. The duo expressed their frustrations over the prolonged mission, which now looks set to extend beyond the initially planned eight days to possibly more than eight months. This extension follows NASA’s decision to keep them in orbit after the Starliner, which was intended to return them, experienced significant issues. Wilmore and Williams made their first public statements since the Starliner’s return last week. They acknowledged the difficulties of their situation, noting that it was disheartening…

On September 21, President Joe Biden is set to host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. This will be the first time as president that Biden welcomes foreign leaders to his birthplace. He will be joined by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed that Biden is eager to receive the prime ministers, reflecting the significance of the Quad partnership to all the nations involved. According to Jean-Pierre, the Biden-Harris administration has placed a high priority on strengthening…

According to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, Vice President Kamala Harris is widely regarded as having outperformed Donald Trump in their recent presidential debate. The poll shows that 63% of debate viewers felt Harris performed better, compared to 37% who favoured Trump. This contrasts with a pre-debate poll by The New York Times and Siena College, which had indicated a close race between the two candidates. Harris’ supporters overwhelmingly felt she excelled, with 96% rating her performance as superior, while only 69% of Trump’s backers agreed he did well. Harris was noted for provoking Trump into defensive reactions on…

Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks in the United States, questioning whether Sikhs will be able to wear their turban and ‘kada’ or visit Gurdwaras under the BJP-led regime, are at odds with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonstrated respect for Sikh culture. Modi has been seen wearing a Sikh turban during his visit to Takhat Sri Harminder Ji Patna Sahib in Bihar in May and has actively participated in Sikh customs, including cooking and serving Langar. During election rallies in Punjab, Modi was also seen sporting a Sikh turban. Two years ago, Modi hosted a Sikh delegation at his residence and wore…

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in New Delhi on Monday for his inaugural two-day visit to India. This visit is intended to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors. Welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, Sheikh Khaled’s arrival on Sunday followed a formal invitation from Modi. The External Affairs Ministry highlighted this diplomatic occasion with photographs of the warm reception, describing Sheikh Khaled as a “close friend.” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted about the friendly welcome extended by PM Modi to Sheikh Khaled. During his visit, Sheikh Khaled is…

Each year, millions flock to the bustling, rain-drenched streets of Mumbai for a pilgrimage of sorts to catch a glimpse of the revered Lalbaugcha Raja. This iconic 14-foot statue of Lord Ganesha embodies a deep sense of devotion that draws countless devotees, regardless of their ties to the city. The enduring legacy and tradition surrounding the Lalbaugcha Raja have cemented its status as a significant cultural and spiritual symbol. The tradition of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai began as a response to a period of hardship. In the early 1900s, Lalbaug was home to about 100 textile mills that, while booming,…