Author: Nupur Rohila

India is fast approaching a landmark moment in its clean energy journey, with non-fossil fuel sources set to contribute 50% of the nation’s total power capacity by the end of 2025, as shared by Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Power, Mr. Manohar Lal. Speaking at a major industry forum hosted by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), the minister highlighted how the country’s power mix is shifting dramatically toward renewables. As of May 31, India’s total installed electricity generation capacity reached 475.59 gigawatts (GW), with 235.53 GW coming from clean, non-fossil sources such as solar, wind, hydropower,…

Google has officially begun rolling out its much-anticipated AI Mode in Search for users across India, starting with English-language support. This follows what CEO Sundar Pichai described as an “incredible response” to the feature during its initial trial phase in Google Labs. In a post on X, Pichai shared the update, calling the feature a “total reimagining of Search” and expressing excitement about making it available to a broader audience in India. The announcement was also detailed in a blog post by Hema Budaraju, Vice President of Product Management for Search, who said that AI Mode was first introduced as…

In a significant shift in US trade policy, President Donald Trump declared on Monday night that the United States is nearing a trade agreement with India while simultaneously announcing the imposition of new tariffs on exports from 14 countries. Speaking during a press interaction at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump emphasized that the US had finalized trade agreements with the United Kingdom and China, and that India was close to finalizing one as well. Trump stated that formal communications had already been sent to several nations that failed to reach consensus with the US, outlining…

Indian American tech entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has taken a futuristic leap by acquiring a private island near Singapore to begin building his concept of a “Network State.” Srinivasan, co-founder of the genetic testing company Counsyl and former Chief Technology Officer at Coinbase, envisions this space as a decentralized society driven by innovation, technology, and community-led governance. A New York native raised on Long Island, Srinivasan was born to Tamil-origin physicians Bhavani and Subramaniam Srinivasan, both highly respected in the Indian American community. Academically accomplished, he holds multiple degrees—including a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Chemical Engineering—from Stanford…

In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump announced a new tariff policy on Sunday, stating that countries aligning themselves with the BRICS bloc and its so-called “anti-American” stance will face a 10% surcharge on exports to the United States. The move comes as global leaders from BRICS convene in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th annual summit, signaling the growing economic clout of the expanded alliance. Trump made the announcement through a post on Truth Social, declaring, “Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will…

India’s economic growth for the financial year 2025–26 is expected to be in the range of 6.4% to 6.7%, accordingto the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). CII’s newly appointed President, Rajiv Memani, shared this outlook during his inaugural press briefing, noting that a mix of monetary easing and strong domestic demand will act as primary growth engines over the next fiscal. Memani highlighted several tailwinds contributing to the forecast. A favorable monsoon prediction and a recent injection of liquidity into the financial system by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are seen as key enablers. Specifically, the RBI’s decision to…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his official visit to the United States, held high-level talks with multiple top-ranking US officials to strengthen bilateral ties. The visit comes at the invitation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with engagements spanning security, energy, and international cooperation. In a notable meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington DC, Jaishankar emphasized the growing collaboration between the two countries in tackling organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. He expressed his appreciation for the deepening partnership via a post on X, stating, “Appreciate our strong cooperation in countering organized crime, drug trafficking and…

India’s logistics costs have significantly reduced, now accounting for only 7.8–8.9 per cent of GDP, compared to previous estimates of 13–14 per cent, according to a report released on Thursday by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). The decline reflects the growing success of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the government’s flagship infrastructure coordination programme aimed at improving efficiency across all modes of connectivity. The report, titled Gati Se Pragati, marks a major milestone in India’s drive toward reducing logistical inefficiencies that have historically hampered competitiveness and economic growth. Although India’s logistics costs remain higher than…

Quad Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to ‘Free and Open’ Indo-Pacific The foreign ministers of the Quad nations—India, the United States,Australia, and Japan—have reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the need for peace, maritime security, and respect for international law. In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Washington on Tuesday (US time), the ministers firmly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion, calling for adherence to the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. “As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, we are united…

 India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections have soared to a historic high of $257 billion in the fiscal year 2024–25 (FY25), reflecting a year-on-year increase of 9.4%, as per the government’s official data released on June 30. This surge in tax revenue marks a significant milestone in India’s tax reform journey and indicates a robust and growing formal economy. The average monthly GST revenue during the year stood at an impressive $21.44 billion. What’s more remarkable is the doubling of GST collections in just five years—from $132.5 billion in FY21, when monthly collections averaged around $11.07 billion. As of…