On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant milestone by becoming the first active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he launched the ‘Sakriya Sadasyata Abhiyan’ in New Delhi. This initiative aims to enhance grassroots participation within the party. During the event, Modi renewed his membership alongside BJP president J P Nadda and general secretary Vinod Tawde, who has been appointed as the convener for this nationwide membership campaign. Under the new initiative, active members of the BJP are tasked with enrolling at least 50 individuals as party members within specific booths or assembly constituencies. Importantly, only…
Author: Sanjiv Anand
In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Republican Donald Trump by a slim margin of 45% to 42% as the race for the November 5 presidential election intensifies. The poll indicates that voter enthusiasm is on the rise, particularly among Democrats, compared to the 2020 election cycle. The latest survey, which closed on Sunday, shows that 78% of registered voters are “completely certain” they will participate in the upcoming election, an increase from 74% during the same period in 2020. This sentiment is shared across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans…
Indian and Indian-origin faculty at prestigious U.S. universities have launched a unique virtual mentoring initiative called the ‘MARG’ series, aimed at supporting students and researchers from India. Announced on Tuesday, this program is coordinated with India’s Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission, focusing on connecting students from Indian universities—particularly those in smaller cities and towns—with top American universities. The primary goal of the ‘MARG’ series, which stands for Mentoring for Academic Excellence and Research Guidance, is to expose Indian students and researchers to the latest advancements in their fields of study. Participants will receive valuable knowledge, career advice,…
India’s digital landscape is poised for significant expansion, with an additional USD 900 billion expected to be added by 2030, as outlined in a report from Motilal Oswal. Currently contributing USD 0.3 trillion, or around 8% of the nation’s GDP, the digital sector is anticipated to quadruple to USD 1.2 trillion by 2030, making up 20% of India’s total GDP. The report also predicts that while India’s overall GDP will grow by 1.7 times by 2030, the digital sector will outpace this growth, expanding at four times its current size. This trend underscores the increasing role the digital economy will…
India is set to introduce a green steel mission by the end of 2024, aiming to foster sustainable practices in steel production. Mr. Sandeep Poundrik, the Secretary of the Ministry of Steel, announced that this mission is inspired by the National Green Hydrogen Mission and is designed to motivate steelmakers to enhance their green steel output. This initiative comes as global pressure mounts to cut carbon emissions, especially with the European Union planning to implement a 25% carbon tax on steel and aluminum imports. A formal definition of green steel is expected by October, which will pave the way for…
As the election approaches and with no scheduled debates against former President Donald Trump, these interviews could offer critical moments for potential revelations and newsworthy discussions in the last month leading up to the election. During the “60 Minutes” segment, Harris reiterated the Biden administration’s view of immigration as a persistent issue, indicating that Congress must take action to resolve it. When probed about the administration’s immigration policies, she attributed the surge in border crossings over the past three years to the pandemic’s impact. Although faced with queries about the timing of the administration’s response, Harris emphasized the need…
India’s foreign exchange reserves surpassed $700 billion for the first time, marking a historic achievement following seven consecutive weeks of gains, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. As of September 27, 2024, the reserves reached $704.89 billion, driven by a $12.6 billion increase in the latest week, the largest weekly rise since mid-July 2023. This surge reflects the central bank’s consistent dollar purchases alongside valuation gains. India is now the fourth global economy to cross the $700 billion reserve threshold, joining China, Japan, and Switzerland. The country has steadily built up its foreign reserves since 2013, a period…
Jiten Agarwal, an Indian American business leader and CEO of QuantAi, will be hosting a high-profile reception in Houston for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. With the U.S. presidential election around the corner, the event is expected to raise over $5 million, primarily supported by American donors, including prominent Indian American figures like Swapnil Agarwal, CEO of Nitya Capital. Agarwal emphasized the growing support for Trump within the Indian American business community, particularly among small and large business owners who favor Trump’s policies on immigration, foreign affairs, and the economy. He highlighted the achievements of Trump’s first presidency, citing his…
In a touching expression of gratitude and cultural connection, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA recently celebrated Raksha Bandhan, also known as “Universal Oneness Day,” by honoring the dedication and courage of first responders in various cities. This annual event, which represents protection and unity, featured HSS volunteers tying rakhis on police officers, firefighters, and community leaders, symbolizing the protective bond these individuals have within society. In Cleveland, HSS members honored Solon’s firefighters and police officers by tying rakhis around their wrists as a token of appreciation for their service. Attending the event were Solon Mayor Edward Kraus and Vice…
According to the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the number of active credit cards in India saw a continued rise in August 2024, with banks issuing over 0.92 million new cards. This is an increase from the 0.755 million cards added in July, pushing the total number of credit cards in circulation to 105.5 million. Year-over-year (YoY) credit card additions grew by 15.6%, with a sequential increase of 0.9%. HDFC Bank led the market, issuing 0.241 million new cards in August, bringing its total to 21.9 million. However, this was lower than the 0.4 million new cards the…
