Author: Nupur Rohila

According to a white paper from the Forum for Progressive Gig Workers, India’s gig economy is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%, reaching a gross volume of US$ 455 billion (Rs. 38.42 lakh crore) by FY24. This sector is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s GDP, contributing an estimated 1.25% by FY30 and creating 90 million long-term jobs. Industries such as e-commerce, transportation, and delivery services are key drivers of this growth. The report highlights the expanding importance of gig workers, with the workforce expected to increase to 23.5 million by FY30.…

Dr Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal has been appointed to the newly created Guru Nanak Stipendiary Research Fellowship at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. Set to begin in February 2025, this esteemed role was established through significant contributions from Britain’s Punjabi Sikh community. Dr. Bhogal earned a BSc in Economics, followed by an MSc and PhD in Anthropology, all from the London School of Economics. Her research will focus on understanding how British Sikh families preserve their intangible cultural heritage. Specifically, she will explore the role of childbirth, child-rearing, and homemaking practices in maintaining spiritual and cultural traditions rooted in Punjab’s history…

Producer Ektaa Kapoor, who has been receiving widespread acclaim for her latest theatrical release, The Sabarmati Report, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for declaring the Vikrant Massey-starrer tax-free in the state. On Thursday, the Chief Minister took to his official X account to announce the decision. He wrote, “People’s government has decided to make the film Sabarmati Report, based on a true incident, tax-free in Odisha. The film shows how Karsevaks were burnt alive in the Godhra fire incident to fulfill their vested interests and create unrest. This film will bring to the people…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need to link the cooperative movement to the circular economy and promote international collaboration at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Highlighting the cultural and economic significance of cooperatives in India, Modi noted that India has transformed the cooperative ecosystem over the last decade, including the creation of a dedicated Cooperative Ministry. He stressed the importance of making cooperative societies multipurpose, contributing to sectors such as housing and banking. India currently has around 200,000 housing cooperatives and plans to establish an additional 200,000 multi-purpose cooperative societies in rural areas.…

According to an Axis Securities report, major Indian pharmaceutical companies reported a 10% year-on-year (YoY) growth in Q2 FY25, primarily driven by strong performances in North America and the domestic market. The Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) experienced an 8% year-on-year growth, driven by a 9% increase in chronic therapies. In comparison, acute therapies saw a more modest growth of 4%, influenced by weaker seasonal performance. The report highlighted a 10.2% YoY and 1.7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth for the pharmaceutical sector under coverage, with North America and India business both seeing significant gains of 10.8% and 9.8% YoY, respectively. Looking ahead,…

Dr. Nandan Kumar Mondal, assistant professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Innovative Research Award. This $200,000 grant will support his groundbreaking research titled “MasSpec Pen for real-time non-invasive assessment of ischemic injury in human hearts for DCD Transplantation.” The study aims to use MSPen technology to evaluate ischemic damage in donor hearts, potentially expanding the donor pool for heart transplants. Collaborating with Drs. Livia Eberlin and Kenneth Liao, Dr. Mondal will pioneer real-time, non-invasive monitoring techniques to improve donor heart assessment. Dr. Mondal, who joined Baylor College of…

An old photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a National Cadet Corps (NCC) member has sparked widespread interest on the 76th Raising Day of the organisation. The image, shared by the popular X handle Modi Archive, shows a young Narendra Modi sitting on the floor with fellow NCC cadets, highlighting his early association with the esteemed youth organisation. The post by Modi Archive stated, “A young NCC cadet, now India’s PM! Can you spot him in this picture?” It identified Modi as the cadet sitting on the floor, first from the left. The resurfaced image gained additional significance as…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 116th episode of Mann Ki Baat, addressed the alarming decline in India’s sparrow population, attributing it to rapid urbanization. He lamented that many children today have only seen sparrows in pictures, unlike earlier generations who commonly spotted them on rooftops. To combat this decline, unique initiatives are being implemented to restore the sparrow population. Highlighting the efforts of Chennai’s Kudugal Trust, PM Modi noted that the organization has successfully increased local sparrow numbers by engaging schoolchildren. The trust has taught students to build wooden birdhouses, resulting in the creation of 10,000 nests over the…

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the need to position India as a “Responsible Capitalist” nation, highlighting its unique approach to economic growth. Speaking at the 8th India Ideas Conclave hosted by the India Foundation, she underscored India’s deep-rooted values of sustainability and mindful consumption. According to Sitharaman, India has historically practiced resource-conscious principles not due to poverty but as a moral responsibility to meet needs rather than greed. She stressed that India’s adoption of concepts like the circular economy and reuse stems from a sense of duty, not external influences. This intrinsic approach, she believes, should be promoted globally, showcasing…

After over 50 years of research, Indian-American Dr. Rajan Hooda from the University of Chicago has unraveled the long-standing mystery behind the construction of Egypt’s pyramids. His groundbreaking paper, “The Conjoint Solution and The Shrinking Dual L Notch Ramps,” introduces a novel concept that sheds light on this ancient engineering marvel. Hooda dismisses conventional theories, such as exterior ramps larger than the pyramid or intricate internal tunnel systems, as impractical. Instead, he proposes the “L Notch Ramp,” a series of dual-purpose ramps integrated within each layer of stones, resembling notches. Each layer, constructed like a 210-layer cake, featured ascending ramps…