Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

In a significant boost to India’s electronics and IT sector, the Union Cabinet approved three semiconductor-related projects with a total investment of $15.2 billion. This includes the establishment of the country’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication (fab) unit by Tata Electronics Private Limited in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC) of Taiwan, at an estimated cost of $11 billion in Gujarat’s Dholera. The semiconductor fab is slated to have a capacity of 50,000 wafer starts per month (WSPM), equating to approximately 3 billion chips annually. These chips will serve eight sectors, including high-powered computing, electric vehicles, defense, telecom, consumer electronics,…

India’s economy has surpassed expectations with a remarkable growth rate of 8.4 percent in Q3FY24, defying earlier projections. This surge is attributed to exceptionally high tax collections and effective control over subsidies. Earlier estimates by Bloomberg economists and the Reserve Bank of India had anticipated a slower growth rate of around 6.6 to 6.5 percent for the December quarter. The National Statistical Office (NSO) revised its FY24 growth estimate upwards to 7.6 percent, citing improved control over subsidies and an adjustment in the FY23 growth estimate from 7.2 to 7 percent. Despite this, the NSO’s projection for Q4FY24 growth stands…

Sarojini Naidu, often overshadowed by other prominent figures of India’s independence movement, was a multifaceted personality who made significant contributions as both a freedom fighter and a celebrated poet. Born in Hyderabad on February 13, 1879, to Aghornath Chattopadhyay and Barada Sundari Devi, she displayed exceptional intellect and linguistic talent from a young age. Her father, a distinguished linguist and one of the early members of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad, recognized her potential and encouraged her education. Naidu’s linguistic prowess was remarkable, as she demonstrated fluency in Urdu, Telugu, English, Bengali, and Persian. At the age of 12,…

Tamil Nadu’s Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, criticized the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging a significant disparity in financial contributions. He claimed that for every rupee Tamil Nadu contributes in taxes, the Centre only allocates “28 paisa” to the state. This accusation was encapsulated in the phrase ’28 Paisa Modi’, coined by Udhayanidhi to target the Prime Minister and his administration. However, this statement has provoked a negative response from the BJP. As the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi asserted the dominance of his party, the DMK, in Tamil Nadu, challenging PM Modi to spend…

In the realm of wealth accumulation, Savitri Jindal, India’s wealthiest woman, experienced an unparalleled surge in her fortunes throughout 2023, surpassing even stalwarts like Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. At 73 years old, Jindal witnessed an astounding increase of $9.6 billion in her net worth during the year.Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries (RIL) and India’s wealthiest individual, experienced a comparatively moderate increase of about $5 billion. In contrast, Savitri Jindal emerged as India’s wealthiest woman, surpassing Ambani and Adani. Although Ambani maintains his position as India’s wealthiest, with a staggering…

Flavonols, a subgroup of flavonoids abundant in plant-based foods, have garnered attention for their potential health benefits. Previous research has linked flavonoid-rich diets to improved cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, and lower cancer risk. A recent study published in Nature explored the association between dietary flavonol intake and mortality risk, shedding light on the potential implications for public health. Examining data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers assessed the dietary habits of over 11,000 participants in the United States. By tracking participants over nearly 8 years, the study found that higher flavonol intake was associated with reduced…

On Thursday, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, unveiled a report revealing that India’s leopard population has surged to 13,874, with a range between 12,616 to 15,132 individuals. According to the report titled ‘Status of Leopards’, Central India exhibits a stable or slightly growing leopard population, increasing from 8,071 in 2018 to 8,820 in 2022. Yet, the Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains saw a decrease, falling from 1,253 in 2018 to 1,109 in 2022. The report highlights a 1.08 percent annual growth in leopard population across India’s sampled areas from 2018 to 2022. Conversely, the Shivalik hills…

Swati Mohan, an Indian-American scientist who moved to the US at a young age, stressed the importance of increasing female representation in space research. Speaking at a program at the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum as part of National Science Day celebrations, Mohan highlighted the growing opportunities for women in space research. Recalling her own journey, Mohan noted the scarcity of women in space research when she started her career but expressed optimism about the changing landscape, encouraging more women worldwide to pursue careers in the field. Though she didn’t provide specific figures, Mohan expressed a desire for greater female…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s aim to become a developed nation by 2047 during a public rally in Dhanbad’s Sindri, highlighting the country’s rapid economic growth. He cited the 8.4 percent growth rate in the financial quarter from October to December 2023 as evidence of India’s progress towards this goal. Acknowledging the importance of Jharkhand’s development, PM Modi stressed the need to make both India and Jharkhand prosperous. He expressed confidence that Jharkhand, with its rich heritage, would contribute significantly to India’s development aspirations. PM Modi’s speech was brief as he had to depart for Dhanbad, but he extended…

Ashok Veeraraghavan, an innovative Indian American computer engineer, has been honored with the 2024 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering for his groundbreaking imaging technology aimed at revealing the unseen. Hailing from Chennai, Veeraraghavan, currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering, received this prestigious accolade from The Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science, and Technology (TAMEST). His pioneering technology endeavors to capture images through challenging mediums like fog, smoke, and human tissue, where conventional visibility is limited. Utilizing novel multi-dimensional image sensors and machine learning algorithms,…