Author: Deepika chandrasekar

The Surat Diamond Bourse, celebrated as the largest office complex in the world and even bigger than the Pentagon, was envisioned as a glittering symbol of India’s growing trade ambitions. Yet today, the sprawling complex lies mostly deserted, with only a handful of traders operating inside. The diamond industry, which exports around $28.5 billion worth of gems and jewellery annually, is grappling with one of its toughest periods in decades. Exports have fallen to a 20-year low due to weak demand from China, and higher tariffs under US President Donald Trump now threaten access to India’s biggest market, which accounts…

SpaceX, the aerospace firm led by billionaire Elon Musk, was forced to call off the much-anticipated 10th test flight of its massive Starship rocket late Sunday evening. The company cited a ground systems malfunction that emerged just minutes before liftoff. The launch was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas. But with just 17 minutes remaining in the countdown, the mission was postponed. “Standing down from today’s tenth flight of Starship to allow time to troubleshoot an issue with ground systems,” the company confirmed in a post on X. Although no fresh launch date has…

 Hetal Doshi’s campaign for Colorado attorney general is gaining early momentum, marked by a high-profile endorsement and record-breaking fundraising. The Indian American Impact Fund, a prominent group supporting candidates of South Asian heritage, has formally backed Doshi, calling her a proven advocate for justice and working families. A first-generation American with more than twenty years of legal experience, Doshi says she entered the race because of the ongoing threats facing democratic institutions. She stresses the need to protect Colorado’s tradition of pushing back against federal overreach while expanding the attorney general’s role to strengthen consumer protections and promote economic fairness.…

Nishant Garg, the founder of Delta Enterprise USA and the Telecom Institute of New York (T.I.N.Y.), has been appointed to the CTIA Reverse Logistics and Service Quality (RLSQ) Leadership Council. The announcement, made on August 1, 2025, places Garg among influential leaders shaping the wireless industry’s future in sustainability, repair, and service standards. CTIA, the leading trade association for the US wireless industry, welcomed Garg with a message on LinkedIn, noting Delta Enterprise USA’s reputation and Garg’s leadership. Michelle James, CTIA’s Vice President of Strategic Industry Programs, praised his decades of contribution, calling him both a respected colleague and a…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in Moscow to lead India’s participation in the 26th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). The session, taking place on Wednesday, is part of his official three-day visit to Russia from August 19 to 21, at the invitation of Denis Manturov, the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The Commission remains one of the most important institutional mechanisms for shaping the India-Russia partnership. This round of discussions is expected to pave the way for deeper engagement in areas such as trade, investment, energy, and cultural exchange.…

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar departed for Russia on Tuesday for a three-day official visit aimed at reinforcing the longstanding India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. The trip, scheduled from August 19 to 21, comes at the invitation of Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. During his visit, Jaishankar will co-chair the 26th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) on August 20. He is also expected to address the India-Russia Business Forum in Moscow, bringing together stakeholders to further trade and economic engagement.…

India has reached a landmark achievement in renewable energy, with its solar equipment manufacturing capacity climbing from just 2.3 GW in 2014 to an impressive 100 GW in 2025. Experts describe this as a “historic milestone” that highlights the country’s rapid progress toward energy independence. Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, credited this success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and policies such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for high-efficiency solar modules. The program, valued at $2.74 billion, has been instrumental in strengthening domestic manufacturing while reducing dependence on imports. It also requires local sourcing…

India’s 21st-century space pioneer, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi this Monday, where he will share insights from his recent space mission. These experiences are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s first human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. Shukla, who successfully piloted the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), is on his way back to India. Sharing a smiling picture from his flight home, he described the emotional mix of leaving behind a “family” of fellow astronauts while feeling the excitement of reuniting with loved ones in India. Reflecting on his…

India is preparing to dismantle its decades-long state monopoly over uranium operations, setting the stage for private companies to mine, import, and process the critical fuel for the first time. The move marks a major policy shift aimed at drawing billions of dollars in private investment and accelerating the nation’s nuclear energy growth. Under the government’s plan, nuclear power capacity will be increased twelvefold by 2047, enough to supply roughly 5% of India’s total electricity needs. A new regulatory framework will enable private Indian firms to participate in uranium extraction, imports, and processing. However, the reprocessing of spent fuel and…

India’s standing in the eyes of global investors has taken a sharp downturn, slipping from the most favored Asian stock market in May to the least attractive by August, according to the latest Bank of America Corp. survey. This dramatic shift comes amid escalating trade tensions fueled by US President Donald Trump’s recent tariff hikes. The survey revealed that 30% of global fund managers are now underweight on India, marking the highest bearish sentiment toward any Asian market. Thailand followed with 20% underweight positions, and Malaysia with 10%. Japan emerged as the top choice for investors, with China taking second…