Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

The University of Vermont (UVM) has announced the appointment of Indian American Vikas Anand as the new Dean of the Grossman School of Business, highlighting his extensive background in business school administration, strategic program development, accreditation, and global engagement. Anand currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Programs at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management, where he manages undergraduate and graduate programs, executive education, global initiatives, career services, and marketing. Under his leadership, Poole College has seen notable enrollment growth, curriculum innovations, and improved student outcomes, earning strong national rankings and successful employment results. Expressing enthusiasm for his…

India and the United States have signaled a renewed push to strengthen their strategic and economic ties, following a series of high-level discussions in Washington led by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. His engagements with senior American officials highlighted the deepening partnership between the two nations across multiple domains, including security, trade, technology, and energy. During his visit, Jaishankar held separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reflecting the wide-ranging nature of India–US cooperation. His conversation with Rubio was described as comprehensive, covering key areas that shape the bilateral relationship. Both sides…

In a striking episode of global trade diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on Indian goods from a proposed 50% down to 18%. This adjustment comes after weeks of tense negotiations and strategic developments that have reshaped relations between the two largest democracies. Political analyst Ian Bremmer describes such moments as TACO—“Trump Always Chickens Out”—highlighting the president’s pattern of aggressive threats followed by retreat when faced with determined resistance. While Trump bluffs many countries and some succumb, India is not one of them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stood steadfast, refusing to yield under pressure, a key reason…

US President Donald Trump recently held a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, at a time when trade frictions continue to shape relations between Washington and New Delhi. Gor confirmed the discussion through a brief post on social media, urging observers to “stay tuned,” signalling that further developments could follow. His statement came shortly after Trump shared a visual on his Truth Social account featuring Modi alongside himself on the cover of India Today’s “Newsmakers of the Year 2025” edition. The image, which carried the headline “The Mover & The Shaker,”…

Parliament has commenced discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address following the unveiling of the Union Budget 2026–27. The debate, part of the ongoing Budget Session, began in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal moving the motion on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MP Tejasvi Surya seconding it. In the Rajya Sabha, BJP MPs C Sadanandan Master and Medha Vishram Kulkarni will manage the proceedings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to deliver his response on February 4, while Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented her ninth consecutive budget,…

India remained a significant trading partner of the United States in November 2025, as US trade data revealed a sharp increase in the nation’s overall trade deficit. According to figures released on January 29 by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US goods and services trade deficit surged to $56.8 billion in November, nearly doubling October’s revised deficit of $29.2 billion. A trade deficit arises when imports exceed exports. In November, the US recorded a goods trade deficit of $4.4 billion with India, marking it as one of the key countries with which Washington faced a…

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Comoros Foreign Minister Mbae Mohamed to review and advance bilateral cooperation across key development-focused sectors. The discussions reflected India’s continued engagement with island nations of the Indian Ocean region and its emphasis on people-centric partnerships. Both sides explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in health, sports, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The talks highlighted the shared intent to translate diplomatic goodwill into tangible outcomes that support institutional strengthening and human resource development in Comoros. The leaders also underlined the importance of maintaining regular high-level engagements to sustain momentum in bilateral relations. India and Comoros share…

India is set to gain the most from its recently concluded free trade agreement with the European Union, according to United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who described the deal as strongly tilted in India’s favor. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Greer said the agreement offers India broader access to European markets while strengthening its position in global trade at a time of major realignments. Greer placed the agreement within the wider context of changing global trade policies, particularly the United States’ renewed focus on domestic manufacturing. He noted that with Washington prioritizing internal production and placing higher…

On January 27, millions of fans across generations were taken by surprise when Arijit Singh announced his retirement from playback singing. While he did not provide a detailed explanation, the singer cited boredom as a primary reason and hinted at a growing interest in film direction. Over recent years, Singh has already experimented with filmmaking, suggesting that his career pivot may be motivated by a desire to explore storytelling behind the camera. Arijit Singh has directed two films to date. In 2015, he helmed the Bengali feature Bhalobashar Roznamcha (Diary of Love in Hindi), which combined seven short films into…

The United States recently hosted the first-ever meeting of the US India Drug Policy Executive Working Group in Washington, marking a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation against the global drug problem. The meeting reflected the shared resolve of both nations to tackle drug trafficking, prevent the misuse of precursor chemicals, and promote safer communities. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions highlighted the long-term commitment of both governments to address drug-related threats that increasingly cross international borders. The two-day meeting, held from January 20 to January 21, was formally opened by Sara Carter, Director of the Office…