Author: Shradhanjali Mukherjee

Indian-born entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal has entered the ranks of global billionaires after the rapid rise of his AI-driven software company, Harness, which is currently valued at $5,500 million. His personal net worth now stands at approximately $2,300 million, driven largely by his ownership stake in Harness and earlier gains from selling his first startup, AppDynamics. Bansal’s story began in a small town in Rajasthan, India. He moved to the United States on an H1-B visa with only a few hundred dollars and a clear ambition to build technology products of global scale. After earning a green card, he founded AppDynamics…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday co-chaired the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission and the 5th Strategic Dialogue with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi. The meeting reviewed all aspects of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE and identified key priorities for future cooperation. The discussions reflected the growing depth and breadth of bilateral ties across political, economic and strategic domains. Highlighting the importance of the relationship, Jaishankar said that deeper India-UAE cooperation advances shared interests and contributes to regional and…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a three-nation diplomatic visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, aimed at deepening India’s strategic partnerships and expanding cooperation across political, economic and people-to-people domains. In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said India shares long-standing civilisational ties as well as robust contemporary relations with all three countries. The visit reflects India’s continued focus on strengthening engagement across West Asia and Africa. The first leg of the visit takes the Prime Minister to Jordan, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During his stay in Amman, Modi will hold detailed discussions…

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $1.03 billion to $687.26 billion for the week ending December 5, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India. The increase was led by a sharp jump in gold reserves, which climbed by $1.188 billion to $106.984 billion. Special Drawing Rights also increased by $95 million to $18.721 billion. The central bank continues to actively monitor currency market movements and intervenes when required to maintain orderly trading conditions. India has witnessed a surge in foreign direct investment commitments this year, with total FDI inflows during the first half of FY 2025–26 reaching…

Indian Americans were celebrated as one of the most powerful forces connecting the United States and India during a high-profile Congressional hearing, even as lawmakers issued sharp criticisms of the Trump administration’s tightening immigration rules and visa policies. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia convened on Wednesday to assess the state of the US–India strategic partnership, and throughout the session, the diaspora’s economic and social contributions took center stage. Committee Chairman Bill Huizenga opened the hearing by stressing that more than 5 million Indian Americans serve as a backbone for the U.S. economy. He highlighted their…

India and Brunei advanced their growing security relationship with the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation, held on December 9, 2025. The session, hosted in the Indian capital, marked an important step forward in carrying out the India-Brunei Defence Partnership established in February 2023. Designed as a structured platform for continuous engagement, the JWG aims to deepen collaboration across a broad spectrum of defense and strategic initiatives. The discussions during the meeting focused on expanding direct military cooperation between the two nations. Both sides emphasized strengthening professional exchanges, developing new joint training programs, and enhancing…

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi met Brazilian Navy Commander Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen to advance the growing maritime partnership between the two nations. The discussions focused on strengthening operational engagements, expanding training exchanges, boosting hydrographic cooperation, improving information sharing, and enhancing maritime domain awareness across the South Atlantic region. Both sides reviewed ongoing collaboration and explored new avenues in defence technology, innovation, and naval capacity building. The meeting underscored the shared commitment of India and Brazil to deepen strategic convergence and contribute to a secure and stable maritime environment, particularly in the broader Global South. Admiral Tripathi is…

 Sathi Roy, a first-generation entrepreneur and the founder of Our Highest Mantra (OHM), made a striking entry onto the global stage at the prestigious SCOPE Art Show in Miami Beach—one of the world’s leading contemporary art exhibitions. Her participation was part of the OHM × Orbital Temple showcase, which explored how art, advanced technology, longevity research, and spiritual evolution are increasingly converging in the global cultural landscape. The moment marked a significant milestone for Roy, who has spent the last three years building OHM’s purpose around emotional clarity, aligned living, and human performance. At the festival, Roy introduced attendees to…

India and the United States risk halting more than two decades of strategic progress unless they swiftly address mounting political tensions over tariffs and Washington’s renewed engagement with Pakistan, policy expert Dhruva Jaishankar has warned in a written submission to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. Jaishankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America, told lawmakers that the partnership—built consistently across administrations in both countries—is now facing “a political standstill” driven by disagreements on trade policy and unease in New Delhi over high-level US outreach to Pakistan’s military leadership. He noted that the India–US relationship has strengthened significantly since…

India is on track to become a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2035, powered by its young talent pool, abundant data resources, and a rapidly expanding semiconductor ecosystem, experts said on Monday at the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025. The four-day event, which began on December 6, has emerged as one of the year’s most influential science and innovation platforms, inspiring students, researchers, and start-ups while contributing to the nation’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, according to officials. Speaking at the festival, IIT Ropar Director Prof. Rajeev Ahuja said India’s strengths place it firmly on the path to becoming…