Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

As Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, he has announced key appointments in his administration, including four individuals of Indian origin. These appointments come even before Trump officially takes office and signal a significant involvement of the Indian diaspora in shaping US governance. Among those appointed is Usha Vance, who will assume the role of Second Lady once her husband, JD Vance, becomes Vice President. Usha’s parents, originally from Andhra Pradesh, made notable contributions in their respective fields in the US. Her father, an IIT Madras graduate, worked…

Two Indian American women, NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams and 20-year-old AI advocate Sneha Revanur, have earned a place in the BBC’s list of 100 inspiring and influential women for 2024. Sneha Revanur is the founder of Encode Justice, a global youth-led movement advocating for ethical AI. With over 1,300 members in 30 countries, her work ensures young voices are included in discussions around AI safety and fairness. Meanwhile, Sunita Williams continues to display remarkable resilience, currently aboard the Boeing Starliner on an extended mission to the International Space Station. A veteran astronaut and former Navy pilot, Williams remains dedicated…

Indian-Canadian academic Ratna Ghosh has been awarded McGill University’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Learning. Conferred during the Fall 2024 Convocation on December 2, the award celebrates her transformative contributions to education over a career spanning more than four decades. Ghosh, who became Professor Emerita in 2023, has earned numerous accolades, including Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished James McGill Professor, and being named to the Order of Canada, Order of Quebec, and Order of Montreal. She was also profiled in Time magazine. Reflecting on the role of education in a diverse world, Ghosh stated, “Diversity…

London-based medical student Harroop Singh Bola, 23, was honored with the prestigious Diana Award on December 5 for his groundbreaking efforts to mentor and support Indian-origin medical students. As the co-founder of the British Indian Medical Association (BIMA), Bola has been celebrated for his impactful work in promoting equity and mentorship within the British Indian medical community. The Diana Award, established in memory of Princess Diana and supported by Prince William and Prince Harry, recognizes young individuals who create meaningful social change. Expressing his gratitude, Bola remarked, “This award highlights the importance of inspiring others to become changemakers and future…

Amita Shetty, currently the director of Break Through Tech Chicago at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), will transition to lead a new Data + AI program set to launch in the 2025-26 academic year. This initiative is part of Break Through Tech Chicago, a national program focused on achieving gender equality in technology fields. The program is made possible by a generous $1 million donation from Google.org and is designed to equip undergraduate students with essential skills for succeeding in an increasingly AI-driven world. It aims to provide more students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to contribute to the…

Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), stressed the urgency of addressing cancer and heart disease through lifestyle modifications and technological advancements during a meeting with Indian Parliament members at the Indian Consulate in New York. He highlighted that chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular illnesses are significant health threats, and preventive measures such as early detection and lifestyle changes are essential. Dr. Kathula called for increased efforts from the Indian government to focus on culturally sensitive healthcare solutions tailored to the Indian community. He emphasized the importance of public health campaigns and…

An Oxford University study has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the PRAGATI platform for driving the progress of 340 crucial infrastructure projects in India, valued at $205 billion. These projects, some pending for decades, have seen significant acceleration due to this initiative. The study, co-authored by Soumitra Dutta and Mukul Pandya from Saïd Business School, credits Modi’s direct involvement as a pivotal factor. Since its inception nine years ago, PRAGATI has streamlined India’s infrastructure landscape. By June 2023, projects worth $205 billion had undergone the PRAGATI review process. Modi highlighted on X how PRAGATI combines governance with technology,…

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the need for integrating technology to ease the workload of police forces and proposed that police stations should become central points for resource allocation. Speaking at the 59th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police, Modi urged the police forces to evolve into more strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable, and transparent units. PM Modi expressed concerns over the growing threats posed by digital frauds, cybercrimes, and deepfakes. He called for the police leadership to view these challenges as opportunities by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) alongside India’s ambition for progress. The Prime Minister…

Ankur Srivastava has been appointed as the inaugural Director of Semiconductor Initiatives and Innovation at the University of Maryland (UMD). This new role will focus on advancing UMD’s semiconductor research and industry partnerships, particularly those related to the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS Act). A prominent advocate for UMD’s role in semiconductor research, Srivastava led a pivotal agreement in early 2024 between UMD and the Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MMEC). This partnership expanded MMEC’s scope to include secure edge microelectronics, 5G/6G communications, and AI-supporting microelectronics. His collaborations include projects with Northrop Grumman through MMEC Hub, such as the Secured Edge Project,…

India’s economy clocked a GDP growth rate of 5.4 per cent for the second quarter (July-September) of the current financial year, according to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics on Friday.  Although the GDP growth has slowed during the second quarter, India still remains the fastest growing major economy in the world as China recorded a 4.6 per cent growth during the July-September quarter. Despite sluggish growth observed in Manufacturing (2.2 per cent) and Mining & Quarrying (-0.1 per cent) sectors in Q2 of FY 2024-25, real gross value added (GVA) in H1 (April-September) has recorded a growth…