Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

On September 12, 2023, Ms. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, formally inaugurated the First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights in New Delhi. In her address, the President acknowledged the farming community as the world’s primary conservers and true guardians of crop diversity. She emphasized the remarkable power and responsibility bestowed upon farmers and urged recognition of their tireless efforts to protect and revive various plant species. This significant symposium is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, facilitated through the International Treaty Secretariat on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty). The Union Ministry…

Puneet Ahluwalia, a first-generation Indian American entrepreneur, is vying for election as the Fairfax County supervisor in Virginia. This position holds significant responsibilities, including shaping county government policies and enacting resolutions and ordinances that impact the community. Ahluwalia’s motivation for seeking this role stems from a deep concern for the pressing issues facing his community. He acknowledges the growing divisiveness and lack of civility in today’s politics, which he believes hinder effective problem-solving. In a statement, he emphasized his commitment to introducing accountability, sound governance practices, and a diverse range of ideas to the supervisory board. He made a solemn…

India is set to take a pioneering role in the realm of biofuels through the Global Biofuels Alliance, as announced by Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs. This initiative is poised to elevate India’s global standing, particularly as it assumes the G20 presidency. At its core, the Global Biofuels Alliance is an India-led effort aimed at facilitating the widespread adoption of biofuels, thus reducing the world’s reliance on conventional petrol and diesel. The catalyst for this development emerged during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Mr.…

India secured their first victory in the Super4 stage of the 2023 Asia Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan, winning by an impressive margin of 228 runs at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on September 11. This win not only propelled the Men in Blue to the top of the points table but also marked their largest-ever margin of victory over Pakistan. The match, spanning two days, began on a strong note for Team India with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill forming a formidable partnership of 121 runs before losing their wickets in quick succession. Rain forced the match to be carried…

In the context of the upcoming US Presidential elections in November 2024, CNN’s poll has suggested that Indian American Nikki Haley has emerged as a leading contender among Republicans to challenge the incumbent US President, Joe Biden. The presidential race for 2024 features a dozen Republican leaders, including prominent figures like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Former President Donald Trump currently holds a significant lead among Republican candidates, but recent CNN polls have provided a different perspective. CNN observed that in hypothetical scenarios, there is no decisive frontrunner when Biden competes against significant GOP rivals. However, there is a noteworthy…

Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has unveiled ambitious plans to establish the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) workforce, with India potentially emerging as the premier exporter of AI products and talent. Huang envisions India becoming a major hub for AI expertise and exports, stating, “India will produce and export more AI expertise than any other country. AI could also be its largest export.” As part of its mission to lead in AI, Nvidia intends to upskill and reskill every engineer within the company. Huang emphasizes that AI won’t replace jobs; rather, individuals who harness AI effectively will excel. He emphasizes the…

During the opening session of the G20 Leaders Summit on September 9 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen seated behind a nameplate bearing the word “Bharat” instead of the customary “India.” This alteration follows a prior controversy regarding the name change from India to Bharat, which was evident in the dinner invitations extended by President Murmu to the G20 Summit attendees. The invitations were issued under the title “President of Bharat” rather than “President of India.” While there has been no official confirmation regarding this name change, reports suggest that a proposal for such a change will…

S&P Global Insights underscores the significance of India’s robust economic growth and promising forecasts in Southeast Asian nations as pivotal factors driving global economic expansion. Rajiv Biswas, S&P Global’s Asia-Pacific chief economist, emphasized the region’s role not only in the immediate future but also over the long term. He highlighted the Asia-Pacific as a crucial catalyst for global economic growth, particularly India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Biswas projected that the Asia-Pacific region would be the world’s fastest-growing over the next decade. India, in particular, is poised for substantial economic expansion, with Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and…

In a demonstration of continued collaboration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden have affirmed their dedication to enhancing the India-US Major Defence Partnership. Their commitment extends to embracing new areas like space and artificial intelligence, as well as bolstering defense industry cooperation. Furthermore, India’s Ministry of Defence has received a Letter of Request from India to procure 31 General Atomics MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft, enhancing the nation’s armed forces’ intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. During Biden’s inaugural visit to India as President, he engaged in bilateral discussions with PM Modi ahead of the G20 Summit. They commended…

India has recently abolished additional duties on specific American products such as chickpeas, lentils, and apples, coinciding with the impending arrival of US President Joe Biden for a three-day visit to the country. These extra tariffs had been imposed back in 2019 in response to the United States’ decision to raise tariffs on certain steel and aluminum items. Initially, India had imposed these duties on 28 US products in 2019. However, the decision to eliminate these duties on American products was officially communicated through a notification from the Finance Ministry dated September 5. The notification outlined the removal of duties…