Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Rutgers University is set to honour Indian American civic leader Rajiv Vinnakota with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during its 259th commencement ceremony on May 18, 2025. The recognition honors Vinnakota’s lifetime commitment to civic education and youth leadership. Currently serving as the president of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, Vinnakota has spearheaded initiatives that empower Americans to become active citizens. His previous roles include executive vice president at the Aspen Institute, where he led youth engagement programs, and co-founder of the SEED Foundation, the nation’s first college-preparatory public boarding school network for underserved youth. A son of…

India has emerged as a key player in global capital markets, accounting for 22% of global IPO activity in Q1 2025, according to Ernst & Young (EY). While IPO volumes declined worldwide, Indian markets bucked the trend, raising $2.8 billion from 62 listings on the NSE and BSE. The report credits this strong performance to resilient market fundamentals and a rising number of profitable IPOs. While the total number of IPOs declined by around 20% compared to the previous year, the average deal size grew, indicating a healthy pipeline of financially sound companies. Retail investor participation also saw a notable…

BJP Lok Sabha representative Nishikant Dubey has raised fresh concerns regarding national security, pointing to what he described as a new layer of terrorism emerging from Pakistan. According to him, over 500,000 Pakistani women have settled in India through marriage yet haven’t secured Indian citizenship. Dubey took to social media platform X, stating that this growing population poses an internal threat to India’s security framework. His comments come amid a broader crackdown on foreign nationals following a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives. In response, India canceled visas for Pakistani citizens, excluding those on long-term,…

India is likely to be the first country to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with the United States as part of an effort to avoid incoming tariffs under President Donald Trump’s renewed trade policies. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, India’s transparent trade policies, low levels of non-tariff barriers, lack of currency manipulation, and restrained use of government subsidies have made negotiations with New Delhi significantly smoother compared to other nations. Speaking at the World Bank and IMF annual meetings held in Washington, Bessent acknowledged India’s constructive approach and called it a leading example in trade cooperation. This possible…

India and the United States are exploring deeper economic engagement in pivotal areas like semiconductors, nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, and quantum computing, according to Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. While speaking at Stanford University, she underlined that shifting trade and investment trends offer a timely chance for both countries to build strategic partnerships and boost mutual investments. Sitharaman emphasised that since 2019, there has been a significant rise in global trade barriers, with many nations implementing protectionist strategies to defend local employment and industries. In this context, she stressed the need to strike a balance between international trade…

A number of distinguished South Asian American thought leaders and innovators will grace commencement ceremonies at top colleges across the United States, offering motivational addresses and life advice to the graduating class of 2025. At Miami Dade College, Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and CEO of Moms First, will share her message of advocacy and change. Known for championing economic equity for women and mothers, Saujani is also a bestselling author and podcast host. Her podcast, My So-Called Midlife, gained nationwide popularity, landing in Apple’s Top 10 and topping the Health and Fitness category. She started her career…

The strategic and multifaceted relationship between India and Saudi Arabia is set to receive a substantial boost during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the Kingdom next week. Scheduled for April 22–23, the visit comes at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This marks PM Modi’s third official visit to Saudi Arabia, following his previous trips in 2016 and 2019. It also follows the Crown Prince’s State Visit to New Delhi in September 2023, during which he co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) alongside attending the G20…

Ashfaq Syed has made history as the first person of Indian origin elected to the Naperville City Council in Illinois. His victory is a significant milestone for the city’s Indian American community, reflecting their rising civic engagement and support for inclusive local leadership. Prior to launching her campaign, Syed served as the head of the Naperville Public Library Board of Trustees and was actively involved in various community-oriented organizations. With a background in finance and a deep-rooted passion for service, Syed was driven by the desire to give back to the city that embraced his family. “I’ve always believed in…

Apple is poised to hit a major milestone in India, with early IDC estimates showing over 3 million iPhones shipped in the first quarter of 2025 — a record-breaking figure for the tech giant. This leap from last year’s 2.21 million units signals Apple’s rising dominance in India, its fastest-growing market worldwide. Despite the broader smartphone market in India shrinking by mid-single digits, Apple has bucked the trend, thanks to attractive affordability programs like no-interest EMIs, cashback deals, and deep online discounts. These strategies have sparked a strong double-digit growth rate, according to IDC’s Upasna Joshi. The launch of the…

Georgia Tech has announced that Professor Shreyes Melkote will serve as the interim chair of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, starting May 15, 2025. Melkote, who currently holds the title of Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professor for Advanced Manufacturing Systems, steps into the role as Devesh Ranjan prepares to leave the Institute to become the next dean of engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Raheem Beyah, dean of the College of Engineering, expressed gratitude for Melkote’s acceptance of the temporary leadership position. “Shreyes’ track record and his commitment to Georgia Tech make him an excellent choice to…