During his address to the U.S. Congress in June 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a point to recognize Vice President Kamala Harris’s Indian heritage. He remarked, “There are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them proudly sit in this chamber, and there is one right behind me, who has made history,” gesturing toward Harris. Modi humorously referred to the small group of Indian American lawmakers as the “Samosa Caucus,” celebrating their cultural contributions. Harris, whose mother was born in India and father in Jamaica, is the first Indian American to run for the highest office…
Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee
Shradhanjali Mukherjee
Salina Shah
When the unpopular President Joe Biden, who had not seen a 50% approval rating since 2021, was removed from the Democratic presidential ticket, many assumed that Vice President Kamala Harris, a candidate with Indian heritage, would easily secure the Indian American vote. Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother from Tamil Nadu, became the first Indian American to run for U.S. president. However, despite endorsements from prominent Indian American figures like author Salman Rushdie and tech entrepreneur Vinod Khosla, Harris has struggled to rally support from the community. This difficulty is compounded by Harris’s past unsuccessful attempts to secure a…
In the initial 100 days of Modi 3.0, the Indian government has made significant strides with the approval of infrastructure projects worth approximately $36 billion. Each project has a designated inauguration date, including the development of Wadhavan Port in Maharashtra, which is budgeted at $9.2 billion, and the expansion of the PM Gram Sadak Yojana to connect 25,000 previously unconnected villages at a cost of $6 billion. Additional investments include $6.1 billion for roads and high-speed corridors, new railway lines, and the construction of three new airports, along with metro projects in Bengaluru, Pune, and Thane. The government’s focus on…
Speaking at a lecture titled “Global Uncertainties and Resurgent Bharat” organised by the Vishwamanthan Research Foundation, Prafulla Ketkar, editor of Organiser Weekly, highlighted India’s growing role as a source of solutions during global crises. Ketkar emphasised that the world is looking toward India with renewed hope, primarily due to its unique concept of “spiritual democracy.” According to him, this concept grants people the freedom to believe in what they feel is true, which in turn fosters an environment where innovative and compassionate solutions can emerge. Ketkar pointed out that this kind of freedom in India allows for a diversity of…
India is steadily positioning itself as a prominent global research hub with aspirations to lead the biotechnology sector, according to Ajay Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. At the Global Bio-India 2024 Summit, Sood emphasised the nation’s swift progress in research and innovation, pointing to a remarkable improvement in India’s global standing. A recent report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) showcased India’s progress, noting that the country now ranks in the top five for 45 out of 64 technologies, an increase from 37 the previous year. Sood also acknowledged India’s impressive growth in biological…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Doda in Jammu and Kashmir this Saturday to address a public rally backing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory. The elections, spread over three phases, will take place on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the vote counting scheduled for October 8. Union Minister Jitendra Singh visited the rally site on Friday to review the arrangements for the public meeting on September 14. Singh emphasised the significance of the visit, noting that it marks the first time in nearly five decades that…
New Delhi [India], September 11 (ANI): Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, praised the reception at SEMICON India 2024, calling it ‘unprecedented’ and ‘exponential.’ He highlighted the event’s vast scale, with over 100 global CEOs and CXOs from the semiconductor supply chain in attendance. Manocha expressed confidence in the industry’s commitment to making India a key player in the semiconductor sector, noting its importance to global industries and humanity. The three-day SEMICON India 2024 conference, which began on Wednesday, aims to showcase India’s semiconductor strategy and its goal of becoming a global hub for semiconductor production. Randhir Thakur, President and CEO…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2024 on September 11, articulating his vision for Indian-made chips to feature in every global device. Addressing the conference, Modi highlighted India’s growing role in the semiconductor sector, underscoring that over $1.8 billion has been committed to semiconductor manufacturing, with numerous projects in progress. Modi stated that India aims to grow its electronics sector from $150 billion to $500 billion by the end of the decade. He noted that India offers a stable ecosystem and ease of doing business, crucial for semiconductor growth. The conference, held from September 11-13 at India Expo Mart,…
India and the US launched their most extensive ground combat exercise to date, named ‘Yudh Abhyas,’ at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan. This 21-day exercise, involving around 600 troops from India’s Rajput Regiment and 600 soldiers from the US’s 1-24 Battalion of the 11th Airborne Division, aims to bolster military interoperability and refine combat skills. The 20th edition of Yudh Abhyas represents a substantial escalation in scope, complexity, and equipment deployment, according to an Army officer. The exercise will enhance joint military capabilities for counter-terrorism operations in semi-desert conditions, focusing on realistic simulations of such missions. Tactical drills…
The Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that the Agni 4 intermediate-range ballistic missile was successfully launched. The missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, and met all technical and operational benchmarks, according to a ministry official. The official also noted that the launch was conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). This success follows a previous achievement on April 4, when India successfully conducted a flight test of the Agni-Prime, a new-generation ballistic missile. The Agni series of missiles, developed by India, are surface-to-surface ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads over…
