Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed profound grief following a devastating bus crash in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of Indian Umrah pilgrims. The incident took place early Monday near Madinah and resulted in the deaths of at least forty-two Indian nationals, many of whom were from Telangana. The accident has sent shockwaves across India, prompting swift action from the Indian government and diplomatic missions in the region. In a message posted on X, PM Modi expressed heartfelt condolences to the affected families. He stated that both the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are…

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Southern California recently hosted Sangam, a large interfaith and multicultural Diwali celebration designed to strengthen unity and cultural understanding across diverse communities. The gathering brought together an impressive mix of diplomats, scholars, religious leaders, and community organizations from across the region, reflecting Diwali’s expanding global resonance. At the heart of Sangam was a shared appreciation of Diwali’s timeless message—the triumph of light over darkness and harmony over division. These values shaped the tone of the evening and were echoed by various leaders throughout the event. The celebration drew strong diplomatic participation. Dr. K. J.…

The National Democratic Alliance surged ahead in the Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday, with trends indicating a sweeping mandate for the coalition and paving the way for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to return for a fifth consecutive term. By early evening, the NDA was leading in 204 of the 243 seats, far surpassing its 2020 performance when it secured 122 seats. Nitish Kumar, already the longest-serving chief minister in the state, appeared poised to extend his tenure as results showed strong support for the alliance across most districts. Among the prominent victories, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav secured…

India has reiterated its strong intent to expand commercial ties with Russia, emphasizing fresh confidence-building steps that could accelerate market access and deepen long-term cooperation between both nations. This renewed push came during the 26th meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation, held in Moscow under the broader framework of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC). Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal represented India, while Russia was led by Vladimir Ilyichev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development. According to the Commerce Ministry, the two delegations reviewed the current state of bilateral trade, which…

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to expand by 7.2% year-on-year in the second quarter of FY26, supported by robust private consumption and steady domestic demand, according to India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra). This represents a significant rebound from the 5.6% growth reported during the same period last year and comes after a strong 7.8% increase in Q1 FY26 — the fastest growth recorded in over a year. Ind-Ra highlighted that private consumption continues to be the primary driver of the economy, fuelled by rising real incomes across various income groups, moderate inflation, and a favourable base effect. On…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out a crucial trial of the main parachutes designed for the Gaganyaan mission—India’s first human spaceflight program. The test took place at the Babina Field Firing Range in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on November 3, marking a critical milestone in validating the safety systems of the crew module. The trial is part of a continuing series of Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT), which are essential for qualifying the parachute system for crewed missions. According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan crew module features a complex network of ten parachutes, divided into four distinct…

Sergio Gor officially assumed his role as the United States Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia on Monday. The swearing-in ceremony, held in the Oval Office, was led by Vice President JD Vance and attended by top members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. President Donald Trump praised Gor’s appointment, saying he was confident that Gor would excel in his new position and further strengthen one of the United States’ most important global relationships. “This is a big deal—Sergio will handle it…

 Bollywood actors Vikrant Massey and Mahima Makwana have been signed to play the lead romantic duo in Musafir Café, a forthcoming web-series based on the popular novel of the same name. The streaming giant Netflix is expected to host the show, building on its expanding roster of original Indian content. Production has already kicked off with scenes being shot in the scenic hill station of Mussoorie, creating a tranquil backdrop for the love story. Mahima Makwana has reportedly begun filming her portions on location. The project marks a significant collaboration for both stars as they step into the digital-first format,…

The Indian Consulate in Seattle recently hosted a Pre-Summit Roundtable to set the stage for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, with US Representatives Adam Smith and Michael Baumgartner among the key attendees. The event gathered prominent tech leaders from the Greater Seattle area, who presented insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping global industries, particularly Agri-Tech, as well as the rising potential of data centers and digital infrastructure investments in India. In a post shared on X, the Consulate expressed gratitude to both US Representatives for joining the roundtable, noting, “India AI Impact Summit 2026: Pre-Event Briefing…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced major changes to the framework for anchor investor allocations in initial public offerings (IPOs), aiming to deepen domestic institutional participation and improve market transparency. Under the revised rules, the anchor portion has been raised to 40%, up from the previous 33%, with 33% reserved for mutual funds and 7% for insurance and pension funds. If the 7% portion remains unsubscribed, it will automatically be reallocated to mutual funds to ensure optimal utilization. In a move to widen investor engagement, SEBI has also increased the number of eligible anchor investors for…