Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Aruni Kashyap, an Assamese author and translator residing in Georgia, has been honored as one of the fellows of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute for the 2024-25 term. This prestigious award, granted by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, marks a significant achievement for both Kashyap and his home state of Assam. He stands as the first Assamese to receive this esteemed fellowship, joining 53 fellows selected worldwide for the institute’s 25th anniversary class. The fellowship spans a year and provides recipients like Aruni with the opportunity to delve into research-oriented projects across various disciplines, including humanities, sciences,…

Hema Malini, a Bollywood icon, has maintained a rather elusive presence in the Mathura Lok Sabha constituency, despite winning twice consecutively. Residents of the villages and small towns on the route to the pilgrimage center of Vrindavan feel that their local MP is seldom seen except during election periods. To many, she remains a glamorous figure more visible on television than in their locality. Despite the criticisms, Malini insists that Vrindavan is her permanent home. Nonetheless, she appears poised to secure a third term in the Lok Sabha, a rare feat in an era where voters’ demands and political preferences…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah, has confirmed the departure plans for Indian team players not qualifying for the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. These players will leave in two groups for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. Shah stated that players from teams not making the IPL playoffs will depart on May 24 along with the coaching staff. The remaining players will leave after the IPL final on May 26. Regarding the last league games, Shah emphasized that players from non-qualifying teams will not be rested. He…

Millions of voters across 96 constituencies in India commenced their electoral duties as the nation’s extensive six-week-long election surpassed its midway point. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks reelection for a third consecutive term, eyeing a potential supermajority in Parliament. This phase of voting, spanning nine states and one union territory, holds significant importance for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in strongholds like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Crucial seats in Maharashtra and Bihar, where the BJP governs in coalition with regional parties, are also contested in this round. In Bihar’s Samastipur city, voters queued at polling stations amid tight…

Campaigning for the upcoming general elections in Andhra Pradesh will draw to a close on Saturday, May 11th, as the Election Commission of India will enforce a 48-hour Silence Period starting at 6 p.m. This period precedes the polling for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the fourth phase of elections in the state. Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena announced on Friday that all necessary precautions for the final 72 hours leading up to the polling have been put in place. The 48-hour Silence Period will extend until the conclusion of polling on May 13th, commencing at…

According to a report by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), India witnessed a significant decline in its Hindu population, dropping by almost 8% from 1950 to 2015, while the Muslim community saw a remarkable 43% increase during the same period. Over the course of 65 years, the Hindu population in India decreased from constituting 84% of the total population in 1950 to 78% in 2015. Conversely, minority groups such as Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Sikhs experienced a rise in their respective shares, although the number of Jains and Parsis decreased. Between 1950 and 2015, the Muslim…

The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) actively collaborates to enhance human rights and bolster National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the region. NHRC Chairperson, Justice Arun Mishra, and Secretary-General Bharat Lal participated in the ‘Regional Meeting’ of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of NHRIs in Geneva, aiming to strengthen partnerships and improve human rights standards. NHRC India, via social media, highlighted the involvement of Chairperson Justice Arun Mishra and SG Bharat Lal at the APF Regional Meeting in Geneva. They reiterated NHRC India’s commitment to enhancing human rights and quality of life while reinforcing NHRIs in the region.…

India Ratings and Research has raised its GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 7.1%, citing several factors contributing to this positive outlook. They attribute the upward revision to sustained government capital spending, improved corporate and banking sector balance sheets, and the initiation of a new phase in private corporate investment. However, they caution that uneven consumption demand and challenges in exports due to sluggish global growth could limit growth prospects. They stress the importance of broader-based consumption growth, particularly emphasizing the need for sustained real wage growth for lower-income households. Furthermore, the agency predicts a significant increase in private final…

Multinational corporations are capitalizing on their India-based global capability centers (GCCs) as pivotal hubs for the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications, as highlighted in a recent report by ANSR. These GCCs serve as dynamic platforms for incubating proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives, facilitating the rapid digital transformation across diverse sectors. Positioned as leaders in pioneering GenAI applications, India’s GCCs benefit from a rich talent pool, strategic cost management, and the nation’s burgeoning focus on artificial intelligence. At AB InBev GCC India, GenAI goes beyond mere cost optimization, with Mr. Vijoe Mathew, the global director of analytics, underscoring the GCCs’ role…

Modi is scheduled to speak at two political gatherings in the Berhampur and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Monday, according to a party official. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also set to commence a two-day trip to the state starting Saturday, where he will engage with intellectuals and journalists. Following his rally in Berhampur on April 28, Nadda will return to Odisha on Sunday to strategize for the elections, as confirmed by BJP state unit vice-president Golak Mohapatra. Mohapatra further informed reporters that the BJP chief will participate in party events in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, while the External Affairs…