Arvind Venkat, 50, made history as the first Indian-American elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Representing the 30th district, the Democratic lawmaker also continues his career as an emergency physician. Since taking office in December 2022 and being re-elected in November 2024, Venkat has focused on improving healthcare accessibility and affordability for Pennsylvanians. Discussing his political journey, Venkat shared that earning voter trust in a district with only 6-7% South Asian residents was a significant challenge. To connect with constituents, he knocked on over 34,000 doors since his first campaign in February 2022, building meaningful relationships in the process.…
Author: Nupur Rohila
Nupur Rohila
Love, nature, women's empowerment, and social issues make up the bulk of Nupur's writing topics. She earned a Master of Arts in Ancient History and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Delhi University before she began writing. It just so happens that Nupur also aced the Junior Research Fellowship exam for history. At present, Neha is working as a freelance content writer.
Tarun Das, former Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has been conferred the prestigious Honorary Citizen Award by Singapore for his exceptional contributions to strengthening ties between Singapore and India. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the honor during a ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Honorary Citizen Award is the highest recognition Singapore offers to non-citizens for significant contributions to the nation’s growth in fields such as business, science, education, culture, and more. Das, a key advocate for Singapore in India, played an instrumental role in fostering Singapore-India relations for over three decades. In 1993, Das led…
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has introduced updated guidelines, adding two new payment options for rooftop solar installations under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This development ensures enhanced payment security and facilitates subsidy grants to households using Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) or utility-led aggregation (ULA) models. The scheme now includes a “Payment Security Mechanism” (PSM) and “Central Financial Assistance” to de-risk investments in rooftop solar setups, particularly those based on RESCO or ULA models. A budget of $12 million has been allocated to the PSM, with provisions to supplement these funds through additional grants or resources…
The Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj began on Monday with the auspicious ‘Shahi Snan’ on ‘Paush Purnima,’ drawing millions of devotees to the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Recognized as the world’s largest human gathering, the event has captivated global visitors seeking spiritual connection and cultural insight. Michael, a former US Army soldier now known as ‘Baba Mokshapuri,’ shared his journey to asceticism. “Life’s impermanence led me to seek salvation. This event’s spiritual energy is extraordinary,” said Michael, now associated with the Juna Akhara. International visitors, including South Korean YouTubers, Japanese tourists, and European pilgrims, were…
On January 10, Representative Ami Bera (CA-06) announced, alongside fellow lawmakers Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), a historic milestone in the U.S. Congress. Their statement celebrated the largest representation of Indian Americans in Congress, with six members serving in the 119th Congress. Representative Bera, who was the sole Indian American member of Congress in 2013, expressed pride in the growing representation, stating that this expansion would pave the way for even more Indian Americans in the future. “I have been committed to this effort since my first day in…
Apple achieved a milestone in 2024 by exporting over $12 billion worth of iPhones from India, marking a 40% growth compared to 2023, according to industry estimates. With domestic production increasing by nearly 46% year-over-year, the tech giant manufactured $14 billion worth of iPhones in FY24, exporting more than $10 billion of these devices. Riding on the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and the growing trend of premiumisation, Apple reached a remarkable ₹1 lakh crore ($12 billion) in exports. Over the past four years, Apple has created 175,000 direct jobs in India, with over 72% being women. The company’s aggressive…
India’s mutual fund folios climbed to a record 22.5 crore ($2.6 million) in December 2024, according to AMFI data. Retail mutual fund folios, covering equity, hybrid, and solution-focused schemes, grew to 17.89 crore ($2.1 million), up from 17.54 crore ($2.0 million) in November. Retail Assets Under Management (AUM) increased slightly, reaching $464,880 million from $462,230 million. Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) recorded strong growth, with 5.43 million new registrations. The SIP AUM reached $158,770 million, while monthly SIP contributions hit a record $3,080 million, underlining investors’ commitment to long-term financial goals. Equity mutual funds saw a 14.5% rise in inflows, totaling…
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in its latest “Future of Jobs” report, employers in India are poised to surpass global adoption rates of emerging technologies. Companies in India are making significant investments in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, energy technologies, and autonomous systems. The report highlights that 35% of Indian employers believe adopting semiconductors and computing technologies will transform their operations, far exceeding the 20% global average. Additionally, 21% of Indian employers see quantum and encryption technologies playing a transformative role, compared to only 12% globally. The WEF report also identifies India’s fastest-growing job roles, including…
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow by 6.4% in 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Statistics’ first advance estimates. This marks a noticeable slowdown from the 8.2% growth seen in FY23. Despite a weaker start to FY25, the ministry is optimistic about a rebound in the second half of the fiscal year, driven by a pickup in agricultural and industrial activities as well as strong rural demand. The forecasted growth range for the year is between 6.4% and 6.8%. Nominal GDP is expected to grow by 9.7%, showing a slight increase from 9.6% in the previous year.…
On January 4, six Indian-Americans were sworn into the US House of Representatives, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political history. This milestone represents the largest Indian-American presence in Congress to date. These six individuals—Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Jeremy Cooney, and Shri Thanedar—form the group informally referred to as the “Samosa Caucus.” This term, coined by Krishnamoorthi, refers to Indian-origin lawmakers in Congress, and the caucus has now expanded from five members to six. All six of these lawmakers are members of the Democratic Party and supported Hakeem Jeffries in his bid for House Speaker.…
