Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth accelerated to 6.2 per cent in the third quarter (October-December) of the financial year 2024-25, marking an increase from the revised figure of 5.6 per cent recorded in the second quarter. The acceleration in growth has been attributed to stronger rural consumption, supported by a favorable monsoon, as well as increased government expenditure on infrastructure projects, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics on Friday. The report further states that the GDP growth rate for the financial year 2024-25 is now projected to be 6.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the economic growth rate…

The grand spectacle of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has entered its final phase, drawing a multitude of celebrities and film personalities from Bollywood. Several well-known figures from the film industry, including Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, and Sonali Bendre, arrived in the sacred city on Monday to immerse themselves in the spiritual splendor of the event and express their deep-rooted faith in the traditions of Sanatan Dharma. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, known for his strong belief in Indian culture and traditions, took a holy dip at the revered Triveni Sangam. After completing the sacred ritual, he praised the Uttar Pradesh government,…

The Kumbh Mela is not a religious event alone; it represents a journey of faith, unity, and spiritual discovery that has become a global phenomenon. Held once every four years, this great fair brings together millions of devotees across India and the world into a common belief — attaining salvation, purifying the soul, and being part of something much greater than oneself. The history of the event is as deep as its spiritual significance, which dates back to ancient traditions that have survived for centuries. Every Kumbh Mela is a demonstration of human endurance, devotion, and unity beyond the barriers…

On Thursday, the Indian government was honored with the Prince Michael Decade of Action Road Safety Award, the most prestigious recognition in the sector, for its strides in improving vehicle safety over the last ten years. Key initiatives that contributed to this achievement include the introduction of a new vehicle safety assessment system and the mandatory integration of ABS (anti-lock braking system) in all newly manufactured two-wheelers. The Kingdom of Morocco was also recognized with the same award. The accolades were presented at the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, where global leaders convened to strategize ways to…

Nita Ambani, the Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, has been conferred with the prestigious Governor’s Citation by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, recognizing her visionary leadership and significant contributions across education, healthcare, sports, arts, culture, and women’s empowerment. The citation highlights Nita Ambani’s transformative impact, benefiting millions both in India and internationally. Reliance Foundation shared the news on social media, calling Nita Ambani a visionary leader and compassionate philanthropist. During the ceremony, she celebrated the honor by wearing a stunning handwoven Shikargah Banarasi saree, showcasing traditional Indian craftsmanship, including Kadwa weaving and Konya design, a symbol of her commitment to…

South Asian security expert S. Paul Kapur has been nominated by former President Donald Trump as the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. This role oversees U.S. diplomatic relations with India and the region. If confirmed, Kapur will succeed Donald Lu and become the second Indian-American to hold this position, following Nisha Desai Biswal, who served during the Obama administration from 2013 to 2017. Kapur serves as a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, focusing on South Asian politics, regional security, and international affairs. He has previously worked with the State Department’s policy planning staff, focusing on South…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s annual student interaction program, Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), is set to return in 2025 with a refreshed format and an expanded lineup of notable personalities. The initiative, designed to help students handle exam pressure, will now include insights from figures like Deepika Padukone, Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara, Vikrant Massey, Bhumi Pednekar, Rujuta Diwekar, Technical Guruji, Radhika Gupta, Sonali Sabharwal, and FoodPharmer. The event will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in a town hall-style format. Launched in 2018, PPC has grown into a national movement, with its eighth edition in 2025 receiving 35.6 million…

Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that Apple Intelligence will debut in India with localized English in April, alongside support for several other languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. Speaking to analysts after Apple’s fiscal Q1 2025 results, Cook emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding its AI capabilities globally. During the quarter ending December 28, 2024, Apple posted a revenue of $124.3 billion, reflecting a 4% year-over-year growth. Cook highlighted that the active installed base of iPhones reached an all-time high across all geographic regions, with the iPhone ranking as the top-selling model in…

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that India’s long-awaited large language model (LLM) is expected to be completed within the next 10 months. This initiative is part of the broader India Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mission, designed to create AI models that incorporate the country’s diverse languages and cultures. The AI project will be supported by the India AI Compute Facility, which has acquired 18,693 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to develop the model, tailored specifically for India’s needs. Vaishnaw emphasized India’s growing AI capabilities, noting that the country now has 15,000 advanced GPUs, positioning its infrastructure on par with global leaders…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a remarkable milestone—its 100th mission. This landmark accomplishment highlights India’s growing space capabilities, and ISRO is already setting ambitious goals, planning another 100 missions in the next five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on X, praising the dedication of scientists and engineers. He also emphasized the increasing role of private companies in India’s space endeavors. “Congratulations to @isro on this historic 100th launch! This milestone reflects the vision and commitment of our scientists. With private sector collaboration, India’s space journey will continue to soar,” Modi stated. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister…