Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Several members of the US Congress used India’s 80th Independence Day on August 15 to recognize the growing importance of the India-US relationship and highlight the contributions of Indian Americans across the United States. Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties shared messages emphasizing cooperation between the two countries, while also acknowledging the Indian American community’s role in strengthening economic, cultural and technological ties. The White House, however, did not release a public message marking the occasion. Representative Adam Smith of Washington said the relationship between New Delhi and Washington has become increasingly significant. He described India and the…

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called for a stronger economic dimension to the India-US relationship, describing the partnership as one of the most consequential global alliances of the 21st century. Speaking at the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce National Convention, he said the relationship should now progress from strategic alignment toward concrete economic cooperation. Fadnavis positioned Maharashtra as an important platform for this next stage, emphasizing the state’s strengths in talent, connectivity, industrial capacity and technology. He said emerging opportunities created by changes in global supply chains could help India develop reliable centers for advanced manufacturing, global capability centers and…

The Indian and U.S. navies have completed the eighth edition of their joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Exercise 2026 in Kochi, strengthening cooperation and operational coordination in specialized maritime missions. The exercise concluded on August 14 at the Southern Naval Command, following several days of professional exchanges and intensive training. The Indian Navy said the drills were designed to allow personnel from both countries to share operational experience, techniques and best practices related to explosive ordnance disposal. A key part of the exercise involved discussions between subject matter experts on emerging and real-time explosive threats. Participants examined procedures for dealing…

India and the United States continue to engage regularly on negotiations for a proposed bilateral trade agreement, with both countries maintaining their commitment to the framework reached earlier this year. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said on August 13 that discussions between the two sides remain active despite new developments involving tariffs and trade-related measures. Agarwal told reporters that India and the US are working toward completing the framework agreed upon in February. He emphasized that communication between officials from both countries remains frequent as they work to advance the proposed agreement. The negotiations had gained momentum earlier this year, with…

India should pursue a broad package of economic reforms rather than selecting one measure over another, according to Ajay Garg, Chairman and Managing Director of investment bank Equirus. He argues that the country has reached a stage where multiple reforms need to move forward simultaneously to accelerate economic growth. Garg made the comments while discussing a new Equirus roadmap outlining 20 reforms that could potentially help India expand its economy to approximately $20 trillion by 2036. He said that without such reforms, India could still reach that milestone, but the target may not be achieved until around 2047. The proposal…

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to work directly toward resolving differences between Washington and New Delhi over India’s purchases of Russian oil and potential US tariffs, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro pointed to the close working relationship between Trump and Modi when asked whether proposed tariff measures could add pressure to bilateral relations. He indicated that the two leaders would handle the matter through their direct engagement rather than having officials intervene publicly. The comments came amid discussions surrounding legislation linked to the…

Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami, a prominent Sanskrit scholar and philosopher associated with BAPS, has been awarded the title “Vedantavidya-Vishwaguru” by Central Sanskrit University in recognition of his contributions to Vedanta, Sanskrit learning and India’s traditional intellectual heritage. The honor was presented on August 9 at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi during a gathering attended by scholars, academics and religious leaders. Among those present were Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji of Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha in Udupi, Central Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Srinivasa Varkhedi and Shree Somnath Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sukanta Kumar Senapati. The university recognized Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami for…

India’s Government e Marketplace (GeM) is preparing for its next phase of growth with a stronger focus on artificial intelligence, wider participation and more efficient public procurement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal outlined the platform’s priorities as GeM marked its 10th anniversary at an event held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Goyal called for GeM to become more user-friendly and increasingly powered by AI, with the objective of making government purchasing more efficient, competitive, transparent and cost-effective. He said the platform’s second decade should build on its progress while making procurement more accessible to businesses and government organizations…

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan began a four-day visit to Mauritius on Monday, with the trip aimed at strengthening India’s long-standing maritime and defense partnership with the strategically important island nation in the Indian Ocean. During his visit, Admiral Swaminathan is expected to meet senior Mauritian government leaders to discuss issues of shared importance. Key areas on the agenda include maritime security, defense cooperation, military collaboration and capacity building, according to the Indian Navy. The Navy described Mauritius as an important partner for India in the Indian Ocean Region and said the visit reflects New Delhi’s continued efforts to…

The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA)-New England is preparing for a grand India Day celebration in Massachusetts, bringing together the Indian American community to honor India’s independence, cultural heritage, and contributions to the United States. The event will feature Raghuram Sastry, the first Consul General of India in Boston, as the Chief Guest. Organizers described his presence as a significant milestone that reflects the strengthening relationship between India and the United States while recognizing the growing influence and achievements of the Indian American community across New England. FIA-New England Executive Director Deepak Rathore stated that this year’s parade and celebration…