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Pradosh Vrat 2025 to Coincide with Rare Solar Eclipse – What It Means

Pradosh Vrat, a significant Hindu observance, is held twice a month on Trayodashi Tithi—during both the waxing (Shukla Paksha) and waning (Krishna Paksha) phases of the moon. Depending on the weekday, the vrat carries different names: Soma Pradosham (Monday), Bhauma Pradosham (Tuesday), and Shani Pradosham (Saturday). The fast is especially meaningful for married women, as it is believed to nurture peace and love within a marriage. In the current Hindu month of Chaitra, the first Pradosh Vrat of the new lunar year will be observed on Thursday, ..... Read More

Harmeet Dhillon Joins DOJ, SALDEF Stresses Accountability

In a historic confirmation, Indian American attorney Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has been appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice, making her the first Sikh American to hold this key position. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), a national advocacy group, issued a tempered response to the appointment. In its statement, SALDEF highlighted the crucial role the Civil Rights Division plays in safeguarding constitutional protections and enforcing federal anti-discriminati ..... Read More

India Philanthropy Alliance Launches 2025 Youth Essay Contest

The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) has officially launched its 6th Annual Youth Essay Competition, encouraging middle and high school students across the U.S. to explore social issues impacting India under the theme #FutureByYou. Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the 2025 competition calls on young writers to research and present innovative, solution-oriented essays on India’s pressing challenges. The goal is to amplify youth voices and inspire fresh perspectives for India’s development. Winners from each category will receive a ..... Read More

Oxford Names Mitali Mukherjee as Journalism Institute Director

Veteran journalist Mitali Mukherjee has been named the new director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. With more than two decades of experience covering political economy across TV, print, and digital media in India, Mukherjee is widely respected for her influential journalism and editorial leadership. Before joining the Reuters Institute, Mukherjee served as the consulting business editor at The Wire and was widely recognised for her YouTube show, which explored pressing economic and political ..... Read More

Indian-American lauded by Obama and Biden for using AI to identify heart problems

At just 14, Siddarth Nandyala is turning heads in the tech and medical world with his AI-powered health app that can detect heart disease in seconds. The Indian-American teen, who founded Circadian AI, was recently applauded by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for his innovative contributions. Originally from Hyderabad and now living in the U.S., Siddarth said his love for tech began at age seven with his first STEM kit. “It sparked a curiosity in me that’s never gone away,” he sh ..... Read More

EAM Jaishankar on Trump Tariffs: India Working Toward US Trade Deal by Fall

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, addressed the ongoing debate surrounding US tariffs under President Donald Trump during the News18 Rising Bharat Summit. Responding to concerns about trade tensions, Jaishankar stated that India’s plan is straightforward: continue constructive dialogue with the US, with the goal of finalizing a bilateral trade agreement by fall this year. He emphasized that it’s too early to measure the actual effects of the tariffs, saying, “I don’t think we can talk about the i ..... Read More

‘The Hindu Manifesto’ to Be Unveiled by RSS Head on April 26

The Hindu Manifesto, a new book by spiritual thinker and global Hindu leader Swami Vigyananand, is set to be released on April 26, 2025. The book outlines a civilisational roadmap rooted in ancient Hindu wisdom, with RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat scheduled to launch the publication. Described as a blueprint for national and societal renewal, The Hindu Manifesto draws from classical Indian texts like the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthashastra, and Shukranitisar. The work proposes a value-driven framework for governance and development, ..... Read More

India’s General Insurance Sector Eyes 13% FY26 Surge

India’s general insurance sector is forecasted to witness a 13% year-over-year rise in gross written premium (GWP) in the fiscal year 2026, according to India Ratings. This increase reflects a shift toward value-driven growth rather than a surge in new policyholders. In comparison, the industry recorded an 8.5% growth in FY25, following a higher 12.8% growth in FY24. Analysts credit this upcoming rise to ongoing inflation and higher reinsurance costs in certain segments, which are pushing up policy values. Another major growth engine w ..... Read More

India Becomes World’s 3rd-Largest Wind and Solar Energy Producer

India has officially surpassed Germany to become the world’s third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar sources in 2024, according to Ember’s sixth annual Global Electricity Review. The report states that wind and solar made up 15% of global electricity generation last year, with India contributing 10% to that total. Clean sources — a mix of renewables and nuclear — provided a record 40.9% of global electricity, marking the highest share since the 1940s. In India, clean energy accounted for 22% of the p ..... Read More

India, US Push Forward on Trade Deal Amid New Tariff Tensions

On Monday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks to advance the ongoing India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations. Their conversation followed a major development—US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs, including a 26% duty on all Indian imports to the US. The new tariffs are being implemented in two phases: a 10% base rate started on April 5, and the remaining 16% will come into effect on April 9. These sudden changes have shaken globa ..... Read More

Ajay Anand Joins Wharton AI Program Leadership

In a major step toward integrating industry expertise with academic innovation, Ajay Anand, an Indian American executive at Johnson & Johnson, has been named the first Executive in Residence for the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI). Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Global Services, Strategy, and Business Services at Johnson & Johnson, Anand now brings his leadership acumen to the esteemed Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Wharton’s new Executive in Residence program aims to connect lead ..... Read More

Sundar Pichai Sells $5M in Google Stock Holdings

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, recently divested approximately $5.15 million worth of company stock. As reported in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2025, the sale included Class C Capital Stock executed at prices ranging from $157.23 to $159.97 per share. This comes at a time when Alphabet’s stock is nearing its 52-week low of $147.22, reflecting a nearly 20% drop in 2025 amid broader tech industry challenges. The stock sales were part of a pre-arranged Rule ..... Read More

Avinandan Mukherjee Named Georgia Southern Provost

Georgia Southern University has named Dr. Avinandan (Avi) Mukherjee as its next provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, with his tenure set to begin on July 1. With over 16 years of advancing leadership roles in higher education, Dr. Mukherjee is known for his global academic impact and strategic vision. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held vital academic leadership roles, including provost, chief academic officer at a public research institution, dean at two AACSB-accredited business schools, and head of a market ..... Read More

Oak Brook Trustee Reddy Re-Elected, Pledges Unity

Dr. Suresh Reddy has secured a second term as Trustee of Oak Brook Township in Illinois following the April 1, 2025 elections. Running against three other candidates for three open seats, Dr. Reddy won by a large margin and will serve alongside Jim Nagle and Dr. Melissa Martin. Grateful for the community’s overwhelming support, Dr. Reddy emphasized that this victory belongs to every resident committed to a progressive and inclusive Oak Brook. With a population of around 10,000, Oak Brook lies just 15 miles west of downtown Chicago and is surrou ..... Read More

Indian American Gautam Bhatia Wins Township Trustee Role

Indian American Gautam Bhatia has been elected as an at-large trustee on the Naperville Township board in DuPage County, Illinois. In addition to his personal victory, Bhatia celebrated a broader Democratic success across the cities of Aurora and Naperville. He highlighted the election of Ashfaq Syed, who became the first Indian American city council member in the area. Bhatia has served with the Naperville Township Democrats since 2018, beginning as a precinct committee member before stepping into the role of chair. The township’s board consis ..... Read More

Modi Unveils Pamban Bridge: India’s First Sea Lift

Narendra Modi unveils the Pamban Bridge, a milestone project enhancing India’s railway connectivity. Costing $66 million and spanning 2.08 kilometers over the Palk Strait, it is the country’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge. This new structure links Rameswaram, a prominent pilgrimage destination, to the Indian mainland, replacing the 110-year-old bridge decommissioned in 2022 due to aging and high maintenance.  A trial run was successfully completed ahead of the bridge’s official inauguration. During the inauguration, PM Modi ..... Read More

Google’s Sundar Pichai Applauds Meta’s Llama 4 AI Rollout

In a notable gesture amid intensifying AI rivalry, Google CEO Sundar Pichai publicly congratulated Meta on the launch of its latest AI models from the Llama 4 suite. Meta unveiled three models—Llama 4 Maverick, Scout, and Behemoth—on Saturday, though only the Maverick and Scout models are currently available for download. Pichai posted on X, “Never a dull day in the AI world! Kudos to the Llama 4 team—Onwards!” Meta’s generative AI lead, Ahmad Al-Dale, replied with gratitude, matching the enthusiastic spirit. The launch of Llama 4 is widely see ..... Read More

Senate Confirms Harmeet Dhillon as Civil Rights Chief

On April 4, the U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in a 52-45 vote, mostly along party lines. Only Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska broke from the Republican bloc to oppose the nomination. Dhillon, a staunch ally of Donald Trump and a prominent conservative legal figure, will now oversee the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, which handles hate crimes, voting rights, and civil liberties enforcement. Trump had announced her nomination in December 2 ..... Read More

Virginia Passes JJ Singh’s Landmark Bill to Safeguard Places of Worship

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has officially signed the House of Worship bill (HB 2594) into law, a bipartisan initiative introduced by Delegate JJ Singh to enhance safety measures at religious institutions. The legislation, which takes effect July 1, outlines proactive practices for preventing and responding to hate crimes directed at places of worship, aiming to create secure, welcoming environments for people of all faiths. Delegate Singh, the first turbaned Sikh elected to a U.S. state legislature, emphasized the bill’s importance in saf ..... Read More

Indian Americans Shine on Forbes 2025 Billionaires List

Forbes has released its 2025 World’s Billionaires List, with several Indian Americans making their mark among the global elite, despite none reaching the top 200. These individuals have built fortunes across industries such as technology, cybersecurity, aviation, and finance, showcasing the expanding global impact of Indian-origin entrepreneurs. Among the most prominent is Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, who has amassed $7.5 billion through decades of innovation in Silicon Valley, particularly in AI ..... Read More

Partha Pande Named Dean of Voiland College at WSU

 Washington State University (WSU) has announced Dr. Partha Pande as the new dean of the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, starting April 16. His selection followed a national search for a leader capable of building on the college’s tradition of academic and research excellence. Dr. Pande, who joined WSU in 2005, has been serving as interim dean since February 2024. Over the years, he has shown exceptional leadership in advancing technological innovation, supporting student development, and strengthening ties with industry partne ..... Read More

Indrajeet Chaubey Named Next Provost at University of Arkansas

 Dr. Indrajeet Chaubey has been appointed as the next provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas, with his term beginning on July 1, 2025. He will be stepping into the role currently held by Terry Martin, who will transition back to teaching full-time within the College of Engineering. A distinguished figure in hydrology and water quality, Dr. Chaubey has led extensive research into the impact of watershed management on water resources, agricultural productivity, and environmental sustainabi ..... Read More

Dr Raja Sabapathy Becomes First Indian IFSSH President

Dr S Raja Sabapathy, a pioneering figure in plastic, hand, and microsurgery, and the Chairman of Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore, has been appointed as the new President of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH). The leadership transition occurred on March 28, during the closing ceremony of the Federation’s triennial congress in Washington, DC, USA. Founded in 1966, IFSSH comprises 62 member nations and stands as the world’s largest network of hand surgeons. The federation is known for its efforts ..... Read More

BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple Hosts Grand Festive Celebrations

 In a radiant display of devotion and culture, the globally acclaimed BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi commemorated Ram Navami and Swaminarayan Jayanti with day-long festivities. These events marked a significant spiritual and cultural milestone for the United Arab Emirates, drawing participants from various regions. According to the temple’s head priest, Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, the observances began early in the morning with Ram Bhajans that lasted from 9 a.m. until noon. This was followed by a heartfelt aarti ceremony celebratin ..... Read More

Harvard’s Bharat Anand Appointed Dean of NYU Stern School of Business

 Bharat N. Anand, currently serving as vice provost at Harvard University, has been appointed the next dean of NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business. He will officially step into the role this August, also joining the faculty as a professor of business administration. A prominent figure in corporate and digital media strategy, Anand has spent decades shaping the future of business education. He holds a chaired professorship at Harvard Business School (HBS), where he’s been on the faculty since 1998. Recognized for his ex ..... Read More