Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

A scientist of Indian origin, Aroh Barjatya, affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, is gearing up to launch three scientific rockets into space on October 14, 2023. This launch is strategically planned during an annular solar eclipse when the moon partially obscures the sun. Barjatya, a professor of Engineering Physics and director of the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab (SAIL) at Embry-Riddle, is at the helm of a NASA rocket mission involving multiple institutions. The primary aim of this mission is to investigate alterations in Earth’s upper atmosphere, with potential implications for both air and ground communication systems. The…

Displaying a style of hockey that has catapulted them into the ranks of medal contenders globally, the Indian men’s hockey team secured the gold medal at the Asian Games, beating Japan 5-1. This marked their fourth gold in 19 Asian Games editions and reaffirmed their dominance in the continent. Their consistent performance earned them a coveted spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, making them the fourth team, alongside France, the Netherlands, and Australia, to secure their berths. In the final against Japan, India’s victory came courtesy of skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s two goals (32nd, 59th minutes), complemented by strikes from Manpreet…

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft accomplished its mission goals on the Moon, but the Vikram lander’s surprising ‘hop experiment’ garnered attention from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as reported by Hindustan Times. This experiment involved an unplanned return to the lunar surface on command, hinting at new possibilities for future moon missions. One of the major challenges faced by the ‘Vikram and Pragyan’ duo was reactivating after enduring frigid temperatures as low as -200 degrees Celsius. The hope was that if the onboard instruments survived these extreme lunar conditions, the modules could revive and continue their mission of transmitting lunar data…

Induced AI, an emerging startup specializing in enterprise AI automation, recently achieved a significant milestone by securing $2.3 million in a recent funding round. This funding round attracted notable investors within the industry. One of the prominent figures in this investment was Sam Altman, a co-founder of OpenAI, who played a pivotal role by contributing his extensive knowledge and experience. Other key participants in this funding round included Peak XV, SV Angel, Signalfire, Superscript, IDEO Colab Ventures, Human Capital, On Deck, Untitled Ventures, along with various other investors. Founded earlier this year by two young entrepreneurs of Indian origin, Aryan…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, describing him as a “very wise man” during an event. Putin highlighted the significant progress India has achieved under Modi’s guidance, emphasizing the positive political relations between the two countries. He stated that India’s development aligns with the interests of both India and Russia, fostering cooperation on various agendas. Putin’s praise follows the G20 Summit in India, where the New Delhi Declaration was adopted. This declaration, seen as a “milestone” by Moscow, emphasized peace in the Ukraine conflict without assigning blame to Russia, marking a shift from…

S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, recently concluded an 8-day visit to the United States, earning praise from top officials of President Joe Biden’s administration. During a special reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honor of Jaishankar, President Biden himself hailed Jaishankar as the “architect” of modern US-India relations. The event drew the attendance of notable figures from the Biden administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, Neera Tanden (President Biden’s domestic policy advisor), Dr. Rahul Gupta (Director of the White House Office of National Drug…

On October 3, the tenth day of the Asian Games came to a close with India adding eight more medals to its collection. Notably, Indian athletes Annu Rani and Parul Chaudhary achieved a historic milestone by winning the country’s first-ever gold medals in women’s javelin throw and women’s 5000m events, respectively. Annu Rani achieved gold with a remarkable throw of 62.92 meters, marking her second Asian Games medal, having previously won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games. In the women’s 5000m final, Parul Chaudhary secured gold by crossing the finish line in 15:14.75. The 28-year-old athlete had earlier won silver…

Indian-Americans have gained prominence in the United States, with many holding key positions in the current administration led by President Joe Biden. Neera Tanden, Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, emphasized the strong relationship between the Indian-American community and the government during an event at India House, the official residence of India’s Ambassador to the US. Tanden highlighted the substantial growth of Indian-American representation in Washington over the years, noting that Indian Americans now occupy roles throughout the administration, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the President’s speechwriting team. She attributed this progress to the…

India, having established itself as a prominent voice for the Global South, is now looking to take a more active role in Africa. It is gearing up to explore opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a mega trade agreement involving 55 member nations. AfCFTA aims to create a single market with a combined GDP of approximately $3.4 trillion and serve as a gateway to a population of 1.3 billion, providing a substantial market. Indian investments in Africa are steadily increasing, and African nations are seeking support from India, particularly in areas such as food security, digitization, healthcare,…

According to the latest report from Cushman and Wakefield, the commercial real estate market is experiencing a boost thanks to the increased activity in India’s manufacturing sector. The sector’s share has grown significantly, rising from 6% in 2018 to 15% in 2022. This growth can be attributed to the government’s Make in India initiative, aimed at attracting foreign investment in manufacturing, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. These schemes have the potential to generate an additional Rs. 30 lakh crore (US$ 360 billion) in production by 2027, further fueling the expansion. Notably, occupiers in the engineering and manufacturing (E&M)…