Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday personally congratulated Vice President-elect CP Radhakrishnan after his decisive victory in the vice-presidential polls. The meeting took place soon after the official announcement, with Modi extending warm wishes and appreciating Radhakrishnan’s long political journey and dedication to public service. Radhakrishnan, the ruling alliance’s nominee and current Governor of Maharashtra, clinched the vice-presidential post with a clear margin. Out of the votes cast in the electoral college comprising both Houses of Parliament, he secured 452, while the opposition’s candidate, retired Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, managed 300. The result reaffirmed the National Democratic Alliance’s numerical advantage,…

India recorded a notable 8% month-on-month rise in coal production during August, even as the monsoon season posed operational challenges and typically subdued demand. Yet, when looking at the broader period from April to August, output slipped slightly by 0.6% year-on-year. Between April and August of the current fiscal year, India’s domestic coal production stood at 381.75 million tonnes, just below the 384 million tonnes produced in the same period last year. In August alone, output reached 69.87 million tonnes, an improvement over 64.86 million tonnes in July, though still short of the month’s set target of 73.77 million tonnes.…

Bollywood’s much-loved superhero franchise is preparing for its grand comeback, as filmmaker Rakesh Roshan has revealed exciting details about Krrish 4. In a recent interview, he confirmed that the film is scheduled for release in 2027, with pre-production already moving at a fast pace. The director explained that scripting for the fourth installment was completed relatively quickly, but finalizing the budget was a bigger challenge. With the financial framework now secured, the team is ready to start production. According to Roshan, the extensive groundwork before filming is crucial, which is why pre-production efforts are currently in full swing. Shooting is…

The Indian government has unveiled a major push to strengthen its critical mineral supply chain by approving a $170.4 million incentive scheme aimed at recycling e-waste and battery waste. Cleared by the Union Cabinet on September 3, 2025, the initiative falls under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and will run from FY26 to FY31. It is designed as a near-term solution until domestic mining and exploration of rare minerals can deliver steady results. The scheme covers a wide range of feedstock, including discarded lithium-ion batteries, catalytic converters from end-of-life vehicles, and general e-waste. Large recycling companies, start-ups, and smaller…

US President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted a glittering White House dinner with some of the world’s most powerful technology executives, with the spotlight firmly on artificial intelligence and corporate investments in the United States. The guest list read like a who’s who of the tech industry — Bill Gates, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai were among the prominent names in attendance. The evening also underscored the rising influence of Indian-origin leaders, who made up a significant portion of the room. “The most brilliant people are gathered around this table. This is definitely a high-IQ group and I’m…

India’s landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein — will officially come into force on October 1, 2025, Switzerland confirmed on Wednesday. This marks the first Indian trade pact to feature binding provisions on both trade and sustainable development. The agreement, formally signed on March 10, 2024, is structured to strengthen economic ties, expand market access, and provide stronger legal safeguards for businesses. Known as the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), it represents a significant step in India’s trade diplomacy. Under the terms of the deal, EFTA…

UC Santa Barbara computer scientist Arpit Gupta has been recognized by Google with two distinguished awards for his groundbreaking research on low-cost AI network models. His work seeks to make artificial intelligence infrastructure more affordable, scalable, and efficient, with the long-term goal of transforming how global networks are built and managed. Gupta received the Google Research Scholar Award, which supports promising early-career faculty, and the inaugural Google ML and Systems Junior Faculty Award, given to rising researchers who are redefining the intersection of machine learning and systems engineering. Together, these honors place him among the most innovative voices shaping the…

Indian astronaut and IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has offered an engaging look at life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) through a video he recorded himself. In the clip, Shukla highlighted the unusual process of eating and drinking in microgravity, stressing the need for careful handling of food to prevent floating spills. The video demonstrated how sipping coffee in space differs drastically from Earth, as liquids float in suspended blobs instead of pouring naturally. He emphasized patience while dining, sharing his motto, “Slow is Fast,” to remind viewers that rushing meals in space can easily cause accidents. One key…

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue climbed to $21.1 billion in August 2025, reflecting a 6.5% year-on-year increase, according to official data released by the government. The surge is largely attributed to strong consumer spending ahead of the festive season, underscoring the economy’s resilience. Net GST revenue stood at $18.9 billion, recording a 10.7% growth compared to the same period last year. Both Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) registered double-digit gains, supported by healthy collections in gross domestic revenue, which rose 9.6% to $15.5 billion. This performance has been seen as consistent with India’s recently reported Gross…

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken another significant step toward strengthening their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). On August 29, 2025, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, met with UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, to review progress under the agreement and chart out new areas of cooperation. Both leaders reaffirmed their ambitious goal of achieving $100 billion in non-oil, non-precious metals trade by 2030. Discussions focused on expanding collaboration in renewable energy, healthcare, digital infrastructure, and supply chain resilience, with emphasis on improving real-time data sharing to support bilateral trade…