Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

In his latest address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced that India has been officially declared a trachoma-free country by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hailing it as a landmark health achievement, PM Modi credited the tireless efforts of India’s health workers and initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission for eradicating this once-common eye disease. The Prime Minister also shared that the International Labour Organization (ILO) now reports over 950 million Indians are benefitting from social security schemes. This marks a dramatic rise from fewer than 250 million people in 2015. “It’s a sign of the expanding…

New Delhi hosted two major diplomatic engagements between India and Vietnam on Wednesday — the 13th Political Consultation and the 10th Strategic Dialogue — aimed at deepening the longstanding Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The discussions were co-chaired by P Kumaran, Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam. The talks reviewed the progress made under the strategic framework outlined in the Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People, first introduced by the Prime Ministers of both countries in December 2020. The roadmap for the next phase of…

The University of West Alabama (UWA) has appointed Dr. Narendra Datta as the permanent Chair of its Division of Engineering Technology, recognizing his leadership and strategic vision during his interim tenure since June 2024. Dr. Datta expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for his new role, noting that he looks forward to continuing work with UWA’s dedicated community of faculty, staff, and students. Under his leadership, the Division has already made significant strides, from acquiring advanced teaching equipment to cultivating strong connections with both industry and academic partners. These collaborations now include respected names like Phifer Inc., Georgia-Pacific, Continental Aerospace, AM/NS Calvert,…

Marking the 50th anniversary of India’s Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media on Wednesday to reflect on what he described as one of the most traumatic chapters in the nation’s democratic journey. Sharing a series of posts, PM Modi reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to safeguarding constitutional values and condemned the 1975–77 Emergency period as a brutal assault on India’s foundational freedoms. To mark the occasion, a new book titled The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader is being released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, the book recounts Modi’s experiences…

Speaking at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on June 24, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s strong and resolute stand against terrorism. Referring to the success of Operation Sindoor, he stated that no terrorist who spills Indian blood would find a safe haven. According to Modi, the operation was a powerful example of India’s evolving defense strategy, where national interest drives decision-making. The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s reliance on foreign defense imports is steadily declining. During Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces reportedly compelled their adversaries to surrender within just 22 minutes—using entirely domestically made weapons. He expressed pride…

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, issued a dire warning during an emergency UN Security Council session, following the United States’ powerful airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to Nebenzia, the U.S. action, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, has “opened Pandora’s box” and pushed the world closer to a nuclear disaster. Nebenzia harshly criticized the Trump administration’s decision to deploy B-2 stealth bombers and cruise missiles in a high-stakes assault on Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He called the airstrikes “reckless” and “provocative,” stating they disregarded the potential radioactive fallout and put millions of civilian…

As part of its intensified evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu, the Indian government has announced plans for three more rescue flights from Iran over the next few days. The update came from Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, who addressed reporters after welcoming a new group of 285 Indian nationals at Delhi Airport on Saturday night. The group had arrived on a special flight from Mashhad, Iran. These evacuees, now safely back on Indian soil, come from various parts of the country including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. The latest arrival…

Often underestimated for its simplicity, Utkatasana—commonly called the Chair Pose—is one of yoga’s most foundational and powerful postures. Though it may appear easy, holding this squat-like stance for extended periods tests both physical and mental endurance. According to Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Kendra, the key to mastering this pose lies in consistent, daily practice. To perform Utkatasana, one begins standing tall, then raises both arms upward with palms facing each other. Knees are bent as if sitting in an imaginary chair, pushing the hips backward and aligning the spine. This positioning creates a full-body engagement, requiring strength,…

After encountering multiple setbacks due to hardware issues, weather instability, and safety concerns aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom-4 mission is now slated for lift-off on June 22, 2025, as confirmed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission features a globally diverse astronaut team representing India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States. The original launch was scheduled for May 29, but technical faults in the Crew Dragon Module’s electrical harness necessitated a delay to June 8. Additional complications followed, including engine actuator anomalies, a leak in the oxygen line, and incomplete readiness of the Falcon-9 rocket—leading…

The Government of India has initiated Operation Sindhu, a strategic evacuation effort aimed at safeguarding Indian nationals caught in the rising conflict between Iran and Israel. The move comes in response to rapidly deteriorating security conditions in the region, with the operation’s first phase focused on extracting Indian students from high-risk areas in northern Iran. In its initial success, India safely evacuated 110 Indian students, who were guided out of Iran and across the border into Armenia on June 17. Under close coordination between Indian embassies in Tehran and Yerevan, the students traveled overland to the Armenian capital, where they…