Author: Bhakti Narayanan

During the ‘Startup20 Shikhar’ event in Gurugram, Haryana, Mr. Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, expressed that India’s remarkable economic scale and market potential have been instrumental in fostering the growth of startups within the global startup ecosystem. He emphasized the importance of global efforts to establish inclusive, supportive, and sustainable startup ecosystems worldwide to address global concerns effectively. The Minister highlighted the significance of G20 meetings on startups, stressing the need for facilitating the exchange of ideas, best practices, funding mechanisms, and promoting research and development collaborations. He…

As India gears up to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in a virtual format, it is essential to reflect on New Delhi’s relationship with the group since its inception. India joined the SCO as an observer country in 2005 and became a full member in 2017 during the Astana Summit, marking a significant milestone in its association with the organization. Over the last six years, India has actively participated in all SCO operations, assuming the chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit in September 2022. During India’s presidency, the SCO witnessed remarkable advancements in engagement and cooperation…

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his congratulations to India’s athletes for their outstanding performance at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin, where they secured a total of 202 medals, including 76 gold medals. Alongside the golds, the athletes also achieved 75 silver and 51 bronze medals, surpassing the 200-medal mark, with six medals earned from track events. In a tweet, PM Modi praised the incredible athletes who represented India at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Berlin and commended their perseverance and inclusive spirit. The event witnessed the participation of approximately 7,000 athletes from 190 countries, competing…

The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is an annual festival that takes place in the city of Puri, Odisha, with a rich historical background spanning centuries. The festival originated from Devi Subhadra’s desire to visit Puri, prompting Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra to embark on a chariot journey to fulfill her wish. Since then, the Rath Yatra has been observed annually according to the Hindu calendar. Apart from the well-known Puri Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, there are several other notable Rath Yatra festivals celebrated across the country. Let’s explore some of these captivating events: 1. Puri Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra: The…

Meta has joined forces with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to provide training to one million traders on effectively utilizing the WhatsApp Business app. This collaborative effort aims to assist traders in expanding their customer base and enhancing their business operations over the next three years. In addition to this initiative, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, has introduced the Meta Small Business Academy. This program is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with digital marketing skills and offer them a certification upon completion. The certification provided by the Meta Small Business Academy will prove particularly…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated five Vande Bharat Express trains from the Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Before the flagging-off ceremony, the Prime Minister interacted with train crew members and children on board one of the Vande Bharat trains at the Rani Kamalapati railway station. The five Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off by the Prime Minister include the Rani Kamalapati-Jabalpur route, the Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore route, the Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai route, the Dharwad-Bengaluru route, and the Hatia-Patna route. Present at the event were Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangubhai C Patel, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishaw,…

Indian software giant Infosys announced a major deal with Danske Bank worth $454 million. The agreement aims to accelerate Danske Bank’s digital transformation over a period of five years, with the possibility of extending it for an additional year. As part of the deal, Infosys will also acquire Danske Bank’s IT center in India, which currently employs over 1,400 professionals. The partnership will leverage Infosys’ expertise and industry-specific solutions, particularly through its AI-powered platform called Infosys Topaz. This collaboration aligns with Danske Bank’s goal of becoming a leading digital bank, with significant investments in digitalization and technology. Frans Woelders, the…

Seventeen elected officials of Indian-American descent at the state and local levels have urged President Joseph Biden to establish a collaborative initiative called the New Hindi Language Fund in partnership with the Asia Society. This proposed fund aims to facilitate the teaching of Hindi in middle and high schools across the United States. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the United States, the group presented this request, with support from Indian American Impact, a national organization amplifying the voices of Indian Americans in government, and the Asia Society, a national organization focused on fostering shared futures for Asia…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Joe Biden with a unique and culturally significant gift during their meeting at the White House. The gift consisted of several items that hold deep symbolism in Vedic Hinduism and reflect ancient Indian wisdom. The gift included a small quantity of white sesame seeds, long-grained rice, salt, a piece of jaggery (a type of unrefined sugar), a few milliliters of ghee (clarified butter), an oil lamp, and an idol of Lord Ganesha, all arranged inside a beautifully crafted sandalwood box. Additionally, the gift contained a tamra-patra (copper plate), a silver coconut, a fragrant piece…

During his significant state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron Technology, on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting was for Modi to extend an invitation to the American chip maker to establish semiconductor manufacturing operations in India. The meeting took place in Washington DC, as stated by the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the PMO’s statement, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology, on 21 June 2023 in Washington DC. The Prime Minister invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India,…