Author: Malavika Subramanyan

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University has announced that Siddharth Pandey, a location intelligence manager at Deloitte, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS). His selection adds new industry expertise to the alumni leadership body. The GEMS Board consists of 16 individuals, including 15 elected members and the immediate past president. Established in 1994, the board supports the GEMS Alumni Society by shaping its initiatives, strengthening alumni engagement, and promoting professional development opportunities. Board members are nominated and elected by the wider GEMS membership…

India, currently the world’s fourth-largest economy, is steadily moving toward becoming the third-largest by 2030, with projections placing its GDP at US $7.3 trillion. Recent economic indicators highlight strong momentum. In the second quarter of FY 2025-26, India’s real GDP grew by 8.2%, a sharp rise from 5.6% in the same period last year. Growth in the first quarter also remained robust at 7.8%, compared with 6.5% in the previous financial year. The expansion has been broad-based across sectors. The primary sector recorded a growth rate of 3.1%, the secondary sector expanded by 8.1%, and the tertiary (services) sector surged…

India expects to conclude the first tranche of its bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States by the end of 2025, as “most issues have already been resolved,” Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday. Speaking at FICCI’s 98th AGM, he emphasized that New Delhi remains committed to completing the initial phase of the pact within this calendar year. The India–US discussions span two tracks — a broader trade pact and a tariff framework addressing reciprocal duties imposed by Washington. The first tranche will focus on tariff-related matters, including levies on standard goods and petroleum products. Agrawal noted that…

The Indian economy continues to remain on a stable and high-growth trajectory in FY26, supported by strong domestic demand, sustained public capital expenditure, and well-anchored inflation expectations, according to the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Review released on Thursday. The Ministry highlighted that the combination of easing inflation, firming rural and urban demand, and continued policy momentum has placed the economy on a resilient footing, enabling it to navigate emerging global risks while preserving growth momentum for the remainder of the fiscal year. The macroeconomic environment remains stable, backed by resilient consumption patterns and sustained government spending. The positive effects of…

China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump reinforced their emerging “G-2” framework on Monday, exchanging invitations for high-level visits even as Beijing escalated tensions with Japan and India and sharpened its claims over Taiwan. Despite the rising friction in Asia, Washington showed little sign of directly confronting Beijing on the Taiwan issue. During a forty-five-minute phone call, Xi raised concerns over Japan’s recent hardened stance. Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, used her first major foreign policy speech since taking office in September to warn that any Chinese move to blockade or seize Taiwan would pose a “direct…

Akshaya Patra’s journey is one of India’s most remarkable social-impact success stories. What began in 2000 as a modest initiative serving 1,500 schoolchildren in Bengaluru has evolved into a nationwide program that feeds more than 2 million children every day. Scaling a Mission of Nutrition and Education Rooted in the belief that no child should be denied education because of hunger, the Foundation expanded quickly through a model that blends compassion with operational efficiency. By establishing state-of-the-art kitchens — now 78 across 16 states and three Union Territories — Akshaya Patra has transformed India’s school meal ecosystem. Hubli: The Turning…

The White House has defended President Donald Trump’s position on the H-1B visa programme, describing his approach as balanced and rooted in common sense while prioritising American workers in the long term. Officials clarified that the administration supports limited use of foreign workers during the initial phase of major investments but remains firm on ensuring that these roles eventually shift to domestic employees. According to the administration, foreign companies investing large sums in the United States may be permitted to bring in skilled workers temporarily to help establish specialised manufacturing operations, particularly in sectors such as advanced technology and semiconductor…

Hopes surrounding a potential India-US trade agreement picked up speed after Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hinted at “good news” on the horizon. The proposed pact aims to push bilateral trade from the current $191 million to $500 million by 2030, signaling a major shift for sectors tied to exports. With anticipation rising, market analysts believe investors will reposition their portfolios ahead of the official announcement. Market specialists note that industries with strong export exposure—particularly pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automobiles, and textiles—stand to gain the most if negotiations progress smoothly. Value-driven opportunities are expected to emerge across these categories as global trade conditions…

India and Sri Lanka have taken another step toward strengthening their long-standing defense bond by conducting the 11th Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The discussions, held from November 18 to 20, 2025, centered on expanding cooperation, refining interoperability, and reinforcing their shared responsibility for maintaining peace and stability across the region. According to a post by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) on X, the Sri Lankan delegation consisted of six members and was led by Major General Ravi Pathiravithana, Director General General Staff. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a deeper military partnership and outlined…

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor Ahuja has officially announced that she is expecting her second child, sending a wave of excitement across the internet. The Neerja actress posted a series of gorgeous photos on Thursday, proudly displaying her growing baby bump in a soft pink ensemble that instantly caught fans’ attention. True to her reputation as one of Bollywood’s most influential style icons, Sonam embraced a vintage-inspired skirt suit for her announcement. She completed the look with chic black accessories, but the standout element remained her glowing maternity presence. In several shots, she gently cradled her stomach, making the moment even…