Author: Deepika chandrasekar

In a historic confirmation, Indian American attorney Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has been appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice, making her the first Sikh American to hold this key position. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), a national advocacy group, issued a tempered response to the appointment. In its statement, SALDEF highlighted the crucial role the Civil Rights Division plays in safeguarding constitutional protections and enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws for marginalized communities. “This role demands unwavering and unbiased dedication to protecting the rights of every community,” stated Kiran Kaur…

The Hindu Manifesto, a new book by spiritual thinker and global Hindu leader Swami Vigyananand, is set to be released on April 26, 2025. The book outlines a civilisational roadmap rooted in ancient Hindu wisdom, with RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat scheduled to launch the publication. Described as a blueprint for national and societal renewal, The Hindu Manifesto draws from classical Indian texts like the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthashastra, and Shukranitisar. The work proposes a value-driven framework for governance and development, emphasising the relevance of Hindu thought in addressing modern-day challenges. Central to the book are eight guiding Sutras. The first…

In a major step toward integrating industry expertise with academic innovation, Ajay Anand, an Indian American executive at Johnson & Johnson, has been named the first Executive in Residence for the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI). Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Global Services, Strategy, and Business Services at Johnson & Johnson, Anand now brings his leadership acumen to the esteemed Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Wharton’s new Executive in Residence program aims to connect leaders from top companies with faculty and students, enhancing the relevance of artificial intelligence research while fostering a new generation of…

 Dr. Indrajeet Chaubey has been appointed as the next provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas, with his term beginning on July 1, 2025. He will be stepping into the role currently held by Terry Martin, who will transition back to teaching full-time within the College of Engineering. A distinguished figure in hydrology and water quality, Dr. Chaubey has led extensive research into the impact of watershed management on water resources, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainability. His scholarly contributions include more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and research funding exceeding $40 million. Expressing his enthusiasm…

On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Central Jersey chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CJ) held its Executive Board Induction and Networking Event at Jhopri Restaurant in Plainsboro, New Jersey. The gathering brought together lifetime members, community guests, and local business professionals. Among the dignitaries was West Windsor Township Mayor Hemant Marathe, who served as the Guest of Honor. The evening began with a rendition of the U.S. national anthem by Sia Dixit, followed by a collective singing of the Indian national anthem by all attendees. Sapna Mehta extended a warm welcome to everyone, setting the…

Entrepreneur and 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is doubling down on education reform as a pillar of his campaign, emphasizing the role of STEM education in restoring national pride and preparing America for future global competition. In a recent social media post, Ramaswamy wrote: “75% of 8th graders aren’t proficient in math. Less than 16% of Gen Z says they’re proud to be American. These aren’t unrelated.” The statement followed his meeting with leadership at Ohio’s Center of Science and Industry (COSI), where he discussed strategies to boost science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and promote civic engagement…

Tanvi Lathwal, a 15-year-old shooter of Indian descent, is set to make history as the first Indian-origin athlete to join Australia’s national junior shooting team. She will represent the country in the 10-meter air pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Cup to be held in Suhl, Germany, from May 19 to 27. Inspired by Indian shooting star Manu Bhaker, Tanvi dreams of achieving international acclaim in the sport. Originally from Haryana, Tanvi relocated to Sydney in 2023 with her family. Despite being born in Australia in 2009—during her father’s earlier professional posting—Tanvi had spent several years in India. She…

India’s economy is projected to grow at a rate of 6.7 per cent in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), supported by a cyclical recovery and stable market performance, according to a new report released on Thursday. A cyclical recovery occurs when an economy rebounds after a period of slowdown or recession, marked by increasing economic activity, higher consumer spending, and renewed business investments. Over the past five years, India has experienced robust earnings growth, with the NIFTY index recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent, as highlighted in a report by Lighthouse Canton. As the Indian…

The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) has appointed Shrina Kurani as its new Deputy Director of Venture Capital. In this role, she will spearhead efforts to enhance venture capital investments that fuel California’s dynamic and innovation-driven economy. Kurani, who has extensive experience in both venture capital and sustainability, has been an integral part of IBank since 2023. As a Venture Specialist, she played a key role in expanding funding avenues for high-growth startups. In addition to her work at IBank, she is a Managing Partner at SNØCAP, an early-stage investment firm, and formerly held the position of Vice…

March saw a significant surge in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, reaching an all-time high of 19.78 billion, with a total transaction value of $289.26 billion. This represents a 14% jump in volume and a 13% rise in value compared to February, largely driven by increased financial activity at the fiscal year-end, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). For the fiscal year 2025, UPI payments experienced a remarkable 30% increase in total value, climbing to $3.04 trillion from $2.33 trillion in FY24. The volume of transactions also saw a sharp rise of 42%, reaching 185.85 billion, up…