Author: Bhakti Narayanan

The Australian Air Force swiftly transported emergency relief assistance from India to Papua New Guinea. The USD 1 million relief consignment was airlifted from Port Moresby to Kimbe, the capital of West New Britain, for distribution within the province. The Indian High Commission in Papua New Guinea expressed gratitude, highlighting the timely response to the immediate needs of Papua New Guinea. In the previous month, a special charter flight loaded with supplies took off from New Delhi as part of India’s commitment to aiding those affected by the volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea. This initiative, encompassing approximately 11 tonnes…

As the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir concludes, Ayodhya is witnessing a significant economic boost. The ceremony alone has generated business exceeding $1.2 billion nationwide, and with the temple opening to devotees on January 23, Ayodhya anticipates a substantial increase in religious tourism. Discover five pivotal points outlining how the Ram Mandir influences Ayodhya’s economy. 1. Ayodhya’s Infrastructure: Ayodhya is undergoing extensive infrastructure development, including the beautification of roads and the construction of public facilities such as mutts, ashrams, dharmashalas, and commercial hotels. This substantial construction is expected to stimulate Ayodhya’s economy by creating local employment opportunities and driving…

In her address on the eve of the 75th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu covered various topics, including the G20 summit, the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, and women’s empowerment. She paid tribute to the late Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, posthumously named for the Bharat Ratna. Murmu’s speech emphasized key points: 1. Murmu highlighted the significance of the Constitution’s commencement on Republic Day, emphasizing India’s role as the “mother of democracy.” She spoke of the ongoing transformation in the nation during the Amrit Kaal, urging citizens’ contributions for collective progress. 2. The President acknowledged the historic ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Lord Shri…

Indian athlete Naorem Roshibina Devi, a two-time medallist at the Asian Games, secured the title of the International Wushu Federation’s (IWUF) female athlete of the year in the sanda category on January 23, following a month-long public voting period. Roshibina, 23, emerged victorious with 93,545 votes, surpassing competitors Wu Xiaowei (46,753) from China and Shahrbano Mansouriyan Semiromi (88,179) from Iran. Her accolades include a bronze and a silver medal from the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games. Hailing from Manipur, Roshibina, who previously won a bronze at the World Junior Wushu Championships in 2016, was honored with the Arjuna Award, India’s…

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi marked a historic milestone for Lakshadweep by inaugurating the region’s first on-grid solar project in Kavaratti. Developed by the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), this project features an impressive combined solar capacity of 1.7 MW, complemented by a state-of-the-art 1.4 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This undertaking marks a significant leap towards sustainable energy solutions, aiming to reduce dependency on the Diesel-based Power Generation plant in Kavaratti. Lakshadweep Energy Development Agency (LEDA) will now harness power from these solar installations, symbolizing a transformative shift from diesel-based power to an environmentally friendly energy…

Former US President and Republican frontrunner, Donald Trump, has chosen to keep his Vice Presidential pick undisclosed for the 2024 election, eliminating Indian-American rival Nikki Haley from consideration. Trump addressed this decision during a rally in Concord, asserting that while Haley is “OK,” she lacks the presidential qualities he seeks in a running mate. The former President’s remarks suggest that Haley is unlikely to be selected as the Vice Presidential candidate. Trump emphasized the impact of certain statements on a candidate’s eligibility for the VP role, stating, “When you say certain things, it sort of takes them out of play.”…

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is set to lead the Indian delegation at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, on January 19-20. Preceding the summit, there will be deliberations at the Ministerial and Senior Officials levels. Meanwhile, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh is representing India at the NAM Foreign Minister’s meeting, while MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan will attend the G-77 Third South Summit in Kampala on January 21-22. The theme of the 19th NAM Summit, under Uganda’s leadership, is ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,’ bringing together over…

Union Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the second meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade in New Delhi, announcing the initiation of the Trade Connect ePlatform. This intermediary platform aims to connect Indian exporters with international stakeholders, providing support for new exporters, market information, and insights into free trade agreements (FTAs). Mr. Goyal stressed utilizing FTAs, promoting Startup/MSME exports, and enhancing the service sector. The session aimed at reaching the $2 trillion export goal by 2030 and deliberating on priorities in the 2023 Foreign Trade Policy. The Board of Trade offers a forum for ongoing discussions, consultations, and guidance to the…

In 2023, India became a significant recipient of global liquidity, with around US$15 billion flowing into Indian equities from global mutual funds, as reported by Elara Capital. The report highlighted the substantial foreign inflows, positioning India alongside the United States and Japan as primary beneficiaries, while Europe witnessed outflows. Data indicated that the US, India, Japan, and Hong Kong secured the top spots for the largest recipients of global funds in 2023, with China, Brazil, and Mexico following. Until September 2023, mid-cap funds in India experienced robust inflows, constituting nearly 40% of the total funds. However, the subsequent three months…

India is on track to claim the top spot as the leading global producer of lentils in the 2023-24 crop year, with an expected surge in production to about 1.6 million tonnes, as indicated by Consumer Affairs Secretary Mr. Rohit Kumar Singh. The government’s goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses by December 2027 is in progress, yet a dependence on imports is foreseen for some time. The projected lentil production for 2023-24 represents a substantial increase since 2017-18, propelled by a noteworthy rise in Minimum Support Price (MSP) and favorable market dynamics, encouraging increased cultivation by farmers. Despite initial higher…