Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

When discussions turn to wealthy Indian-origin leaders in global technology, figures like Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai often dominate the conversation. However, recent rankings show that neither currently holds the top spot among Indian professional managers. According to the latest Hurun wealth rankings, that distinction now belongs to Jayshree Ullal, the CEO and chairperson of Arista Networks. Ullal’s estimated personal wealth stands at over $6 billion, placing her significantly ahead of other high-profile Indian-American executives. By comparison, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s net worth is estimated at around $1.2 billion, while Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s wealth is close to $700 million.…

India’s Ambassador-designate to Japan, Nagma Mallick, on Friday called on Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru in Tokyo, holding discussions on further advancing bilateral relations between the two countries. Sharing details of the meeting on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan said the discussions focused on strengthening India-Japan ties as a follow-up to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in Johannesburg. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Takaichi met on November 23 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, where they discussed ways to add momentum to bilateral cooperation in areas such…

California is set to recognize Diwali as an official state holiday in 2026, marking a historic move that will grant residents a day off to celebrate the Indian and South Asian Festival of Lights. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill in October, ensuring public schools, community colleges, and state employees can observe the holiday. The festival, which honors the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, will fall on Sunday, November 8, next year. Since it coincides with a weekend, the holiday will be observed on Monday, November 9. This development is especially significant for California, which is…

Indian Railways is set to achieve a major milestone with the development of its first High-Speed Test Track, expected to be completed by March 2026. The project, managed by the Research, Designs, and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under the North Western Railway (NWR), will be built between Gudha and Thathana Mithri in the Jodhpur division of Rajasthan. The initiative, estimated at around US$ 117 million (Rs. 967 crore), spans 64 km and is designed to accommodate train speeds of up to 220 kmph for rigorous testing. Once operational, the track will strengthen Indian Railways’ capabilities in evaluating safety, stability, and performance…

 India has inaugurated a new Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) in Los Angeles, operated by VFS Global, to improve access to essential services such as passports, visas, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) for the local Indian diaspora. This facility, which became operational on December 15, 2025, increases the total number of VFS-operated Indian centres in the US to 17. The Los Angeles centre provides a wide range of consular services including passport and visa applications, renunciation of Indian citizenship, police clearance certificates, Global Entry Programme services, and document attestations. According to Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – Americas, VFS Global,…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in January 2026, marking a major step in Assam’s effort to balance ecological preservation with infrastructure expansion. The project represents a long-term solution to protect wildlife while addressing increasing traffic movement through one of India’s most environmentally sensitive regions. State Agriculture Minister Atul Bora confirmed that the initiative gained strong momentum after the Prime Minister’s visit to Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage site, last year. During that visit, the region’s biodiversity reportedly left a strong impression, helping elevate the project’s priority at the national…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed two-time Olympic medallist and javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, along with his wife, Himani Mor, at his residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday. Sharing highlights of the meeting on social media, PM Modi mentioned that they discussed various topics, including sports, and described the interaction as “great.” Neeraj Chopra, a trailblazer in Indian athletics, became the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field during the Tokyo 2020 Games. He maintained his top form by claiming gold at the World Athletics Championships in 2023 and a silver medal at the…

The STEAM National Honor Society (STEAM NHS), a U.S.-based nonprofit promoting student achievement in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, has announced a strategic partnership with Intelligent Science Group Inc., also known as Science Bank, to publish the 2026 edition of the Future Scholars Journal (FSJ). The journal is a free, peer-reviewed, international platform dedicated to high school and undergraduate research. The collaboration merges STEAM NHS’s mission-driven student research ecosystem with Science Bank’s global publishing capabilities. Together, they aim to improve editorial quality, peer-review rigor, and international exposure for student-authored research. The Future Scholars Journal functions as an official scholarly…

The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marks a significant milestone in India’s trade diplomacy, delivering tangible and wide-ranging benefits across the economy, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The agreement enhances market access for Indian goods, expands opportunities in services and mobility, and strengthens cooperation in agriculture, investment and emerging sectors. It eliminates duties on 100 per cent of Indian exports and includes a long-term investment commitment of US$20 billion over 15 years. Under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership, the FTA supports Indian farmers by boosting productivity and integrating them into global value chains. The agreement also provides…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold discussions with the island nation’s top leadership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. The visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place amid New Delhi’s ongoing humanitarian outreach under Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched in response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. India initiated Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 as the first responder, providing urgent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone.…