Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor, arrived in Jeddah for the ‘Ukraine Peace Summit,’ excluding Russia and attended by 40 nations including the US and China. His participation highlights India’s intent to contribute to resolving the ongoing 18-month conflict. Ruchira Kamboj, India’s UN representative, expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s Black Sea Grain Initiative, acknowledging recent disruptions in peace efforts. While India refrains from directly condemning Russia’s Ukrainian invasion, it emphasizes conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. China, though neutral, aligns with Russia’s stance. A previous peace summit in Copenhagen saw China absent, but its sudden announcement of sending special envoy…

The Rockefeller Foundation, a US-based organization, has criticized The Washington Post for what it perceives as a misleading report concerning India’s solar power systems. The article in question, titled ‘India joins rush to renewables, but sites rural solar systems fall off the grid,’ was published on July 31, 2023. Penned by Karishma Mehrotra, the article alleges that India has struggled in its transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources like solar energy. According to the article, India’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for the global rush into renewables, citing a lack of planning for maintaining solar energy systems. The…

Investments in the nation have surged by 65 percent between 2014-15 and 2022-23, escalating from approximately $39.5 billion to around $66 billion. Both the government and private sector contribute to the economic investment landscape, as indicated by Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) within the Indian economy. This GFCF stood at approximately $39.5 billion (at constant 2011-12 prices) in 2014-15, experiencing a 65 percent upswing to around $66 billion in 2022-23 (according to preliminary estimates). In order to stimulate investments within the nation, the government also executes the scheme for offering specialized aid to states for capital expenses, along with a…

An Indian American judge oversaw the proceedings involving former US President Donald Trump in a federal courthouse situated in downtown Washington DC. Moxila A Upadhyaya, who became a United States Magistrate Judge on September 7, 2022, was at the helm. Born in Gujarat and raised near Kansas City, Missouri, Upadhyaya earned her Bachelor of Journalism, magna cum laude, from the Missouri School of Journalism, and a Bachelor of Arts, with honours in Latin, from the University of Missouri. She attained her JD, cum laude, from the American University, Washington College of Law, earning distinction for her representation of clients in…

Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, have jointly introduced the Study in India (SII) Portal in New Delhi. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s vision of reinstating India’s global reputation in education. As part of the event, students from countries like Russia, Thailand, Japan, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Korea, who are presently studying in India, offered cultural souvenirs as a gesture of respect to the dignitaries. The “Study in India Portal” is a specialized website that will provide comprehensive information about…

Earlier this year, both Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Jab We Met (2007) returned to cinemas during Valentine’s Day week. Last year, on Amitabh Bachchan’s 80th birthday, several of his iconic films were re-released in theaters, receiving a remarkable response despite their availability on streaming platforms. Now, Koi Mil Gaya (2003) is aiming for a similar feat, set to hit the big screen again on August 4, as part of its 20-year celebration. The report from Hindustan Times indicates that this limited re-release will span 30 cities, intending to capture the magic of the Hrithik Roshan-Preity Zinta starrer. Directed…

Nisha Biswal, known for her extensive background in US foreign policy and international development, has been selected as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). President Joe Biden nominated her due to her 30+ years of experience across various sectors, including the Executive Branch, Congress, and the private industry. Presently, Nisha Biswal holds the role of Senior Vice President for international strategy and global initiatives at the United States Chamber of Commerce. She also oversees the South Asia programs within this position, leveraging her expertise in the region. Previously, Biswal served as the President…

In a significant development, the government of Karnataka and the US-based International Battery Company (IBC) have entered into an agreement. This memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formalized on August 1st, wherein both parties have committed to establish a facility for manufacturing recyclable lithium-ion batteries. The investment for this endeavor, amounting to $1 billion (approximately Rs. 8000 crore), will be made in the state. The MoU was signed and exchanged by IBC India President Venkatesh Valluri and Dr. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industries. This signing event took place in Bengaluru, witnessed by Large and Medium Industries…

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 has successfully completed orbits around Earth and is now on its way to the moon. The spacecraft was injected into the translunar orbit after a successful perigee-firing at ISTRAC. The Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) is scheduled for August 5, 2023. Following that, four orbit manoeuvres will be conducted to position the spacecraft about 100 km from the Moon’s surface in its final orbit. Previously, the spacecraft’s orbit was increased five times after its launch on July 14. On July 25, the fifth and final orbit-raising manoeuvre was completed. Chandrayaan-3 is expected to reach the Moon’s South Pole for a…

According to a report from the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department, India is projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by fiscal year 2027-28. The economists at SBI credited India’s progress since 2014 and estimated that India would achieve this status based on actual GDP data as of March 2023. The report highlighted that India is expected to add USD 0.75 trillion every two years, indicating that India could reach USD 20 trillion by 2047. The country’s global share in GDP is predicted to surpass 4% by 2027, reflecting a significant improvement from its tenth position in 2014…