Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to receive widespread international recognition in 2025, with multiple civilian honours from countries across regions underscoring India’s expanding global influence and strengthened diplomatic relationships. By the end of 2025, the number of global honours conferred upon Prime Minister Modi rose to 29, up from 20 at the end of 2024. The latest recognition came earlier this month when Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman conferred upon him the ‘Order of Oman (First Class)’ for his exceptional contribution to India–Oman relations and visionary leadership. Analysts note that the nine international honours awarded in 2025 reflect unprecedented…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India’s economic rise is the result of sustained and carefully executed governance reforms rather than sudden, headline-grabbing policy moves. He noted that credibility, stability, and long-term confidence are the pillars shaping the country’s growth trajectory. The Prime Minister was responding to an article titled Reform Express 2025 written by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. Sharing the article, PM Modi highlighted what he described as the steady and cumulative work of governance that has gradually removed structural bottlenecks across multiple sectors of the economy. The Prime Minister’s Office said…

Xavier University has announced plans to honor longtime supporters Dr. Ganesh Bhat and Srimathi Bhat by naming a key facility on its new academic campus after them. The decision follows the couple’s generous contribution of $1.5 million to the Xavier Foundation, which is supporting the university’s next phase of academic development. The announcement was made by Xavier University President Ravi Bhooplapur, who highlighted the importance of the gift in shaping the future of the institution. According to university officials, the newly named auditorium will serve as a central space for major academic events, including graduation ceremonies, distinguished speaker sessions, and…

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and lauded India’s extensive support to Sri Lanka during the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Describing PM Modi as “an important voice of the Global South” and a “highly respected leader,” Colonne highlighted India’s swift and multidimensional assistance during the crisis. Speaking to IANS, she said PM Modi is regarded in Sri Lanka as a dear friend who has consistently stood by the island nation during difficult times. Recalling India’s past support, the High Commissioner noted that PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka within…

India is steadily building a commercially grounded relationship with Africa that is large enough to matter while respecting the sovereignty and agency of African nations, according to a recent report. India–Africa trade currently ranges between $80 billion and $100 billion annually, with cumulative Indian investments approaching $75 billion, placing Africa among India’s most important economic partners. Rather than pursuing influence through scale or coercion, India’s engagement focuses on capacity-building and mutually beneficial economic cooperation. A key pillar of this partnership is development finance. India has extended nearly 200 concessional lines of credit across more than 40 African countries, supporting projects…

India and New Zealand have taken a significant step toward enhancing their economic partnership through a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aimed at fostering employment, increasing incomes, and expanding trade opportunities for both nations. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, highlighted the vast potential for his country to access India’s massive market of 1.4 billion consumers, which would simultaneously benefit Indian buyers through improved product variety, competitive pricing, and more efficient supply chains. The agreement is expected to reduce trade barriers across multiple sectors, including agriculture, dairy, food processing, education, and professional services. From India’s standpoint, the FTA aligns with broader…

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…