Author: Deepika chandrasekar

India’s automobile market is experiencing a significant transformation following the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reductions. According to a recent AI-powered SmyttenPulse study conducted in October 2025, nearly 79% of Indian car buyers are channeling their GST savings into premium vehicles and additional features instead of putting the money aside. The findings highlight a major shift in buyer behavior across tier-I, II, and III cities, with 46% of respondents opting for larger vehicles such as compact and full-size SUVs. Meanwhile, more than 60% of consumers expressed their intent to upgrade within the same brand, focusing on higher-end variants. SUVs…

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has strongly condemned Monday’s event, “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” at Rutgers University, which has drawn bipartisan criticism from Members of Congress and outrage from the Hindu community. The event, framed as academic discussion, featured no practicing Hindus and made sweeping, uninformed claims about the faith. Panelists attempted to distinguish Hinduism from Hindutva while dismissing concerns about Hinduphobia. They also equated the Nazi Hakenkreuz with the Hindu Swastika and implied Hindu organizations were “agents of India.” Outside the venue, Hindu students held a peaceful, permitted protest but…

The upcoming trade agreement between India and the United States is set to open a new chapter in bilateral commerce, with several Indian industries poised to benefit from reduced tariffs. The annual trade volume between the two nations currently stands at about $125 billion, with India exporting roughly $80–85 billion worth of goods while importing around $40 billion. This imbalance, which results in a trade deficit for the US, had earlier prompted Washington to impose heavy tariffs on Indian products. US President Donald Trump has now confirmed that a deal could soon be finalized, bringing tariff rates on Indian exports…

During his visit to South Korea, Donald Trump announced that the United States and India are on the verge of finalizing a long-delayed trade agreement. Speaking on the last leg of his Asia tour, Trump suggested that the deal between two of the world’s largest economies is nearly complete after months of negotiation. Talks had been slowed by differences over India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, Washington’s tariffs on Indian goods, and India’s reluctance to open its agriculture and dairy sectors to US imports. However, Trump said he had “great respect and love” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing their…

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with Maros Sefcovic, the European Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, in Brussels to discuss the ongoing India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The discussions come at a decisive stage as both sides aim to finalize a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade pact soon. Sharing updates on X, Goyal mentioned that the talks centered on boosting momentum for the FTA, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to reaching a swift and balanced agreement that strengthens economic ties between India and the EU. The minister began his Brussels visit by meeting Germany’s Federal…

The final week of October 2025 is lighting up the OTT world with a wave of thrilling premieres. Horror lovers can rejoice as the chilling sequel M3GAN 2.0 hits JioHotstar on October 27, bringing back the deadly AI doll. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, the film sees Allison Williams and Violet McGraw reprise their roles in a sequel that’s expected to push the franchise beyond the $200 million global milestone. October 29 is shaping up to be a binge-worthy day across platforms. Amazon Prime Video unveils Hedda, a modern retelling starring Tessa Thompson, while Netflix drops the noir-style thriller Ballad of…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a compelling virtual address at the 47th ASEAN Summit 2025 on Sunday, underscoring that the 21st century represents a shared era of growth and leadership for India and the ASEAN nations. He described the partnership as pivotal to the region’s progress and highlighted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations stands as a cornerstone of India’s Act East Policy. In his speech, the Prime Minister stated, “The 21st century is our century — it belongs to India and ASEAN. The shared vision of ‘ASEAN Community Vision 2045’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ will together shape a…

Kerala is poised to make history on November 1, 2025, when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally declares the state free of extreme poverty at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram’s Central Stadium. This landmark achievement will make Kerala the first state in India to eliminate extreme poverty, according to The Hindu. The event will feature special appearances by renowned actors Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Kamal Haasan, alongside the full council of ministers and the Leader of the Opposition. Local Self-Governments Minister MB Rajesh highlighted that the project, launched in 2021 as an early priority of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, has…

The Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman held the third edition of the Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) in New Delhi, reaffirming their commitment to deepen defence cooperation and strategic engagement. The discussions, held from October 22 to 23, focused on expanding joint military exercises, advancing expert exchanges in specialized fields, and boosting training partnerships under the Defence Cooperation Plan 2026. In an official post on X, the Indian Army highlighted the importance of the dialogue, stating, “Indian Army strengthens defence cooperation with the Royal Army of Oman. The talks explored new avenues of collaboration in capability development, professional…

Former US federal health official Nirav Shah has officially entered the race for Governor of Maine, seeking the Democratic Party nomination to succeed outgoing Governor Janet Mills. Shah announced his candidacy on X, stating that Maine is “at a crossroads” and requires a governor with proven leadership ready to address pressing challenges from day one. He emphasized his campaign priorities, including feeding children, improving housing, funding healthcare, and promoting economic growth. If elected, Shah would become the third Indian American to serve as a US state governor, joining Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina. Unlike Jindal…