Must Read News

Jay Bhattacharya Appointed NIH Director—Here’s What to Expect

Dr. Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya officially stepped into his role as the 18th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on April 1. Nominated by former President Donald Trump in November 2024 and confirmed by the Senate on March 25, Bhattacharya takes over from Matthew J. Memoli, who had been serving as Acting Director since January 2025. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed confidence in Bhattacharya’s leadership, stating that his tenure will reinforce NIH’s commitment to ..... Read More

Shrina Kurani Named IBank’s Deputy Venture Director

The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) has appointed Shrina Kurani as its new Deputy Director of Venture Capital. In this role, she will spearhead efforts to enhance venture capital investments that fuel California’s dynamic and innovation-driven economy. Kurani, who has extensive experience in both venture capital and sustainability, has been an integral part of IBank since 2023. As a Venture Specialist, she played a key role in expanding funding avenues for high-growth startups. In addition to her work at IBank, s ..... Read More

A Nice Indian Boy – A Heartfelt Indian American Queer Rom-Com

The film A Nice Indian Boy delivers all the charm of a classic romantic comedy while exploring love, culture, and family dynamics in an Indian American setting. Directed by Roshan Sethi, the film stars Karan Soni (Deadpool) as Naveen, a cautious doctor, and Jonathan Groff (Glee, Hamilton) as Jay, a charismatic photographer. Based on Madhuri Shekar’s play and written by Eric Randall, the film follows Naveen as he meets Jay in a temple’s prayer room and again during a photo shoot. Though drawn to each other, Naveen hesitates to embrace his feelin ..... Read More

Rupee Projected to Trade in Range of 85.5-87.5 per Dollar in FY26

The Indian rupee displayed relative stability in FY25 when compared to other global currencies, despite the pressure exerted by a stronger US dollar on major currency pairs, according to a report released on Wednesday. However, towards the latter part of the fiscal year, a shift in dollar strength combined with increased Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows into Indian debt markets helped the rupee rally, enabling the domestic currency to regain as much as 2.4 per cent in just one month, as highlighted in the report by Bank of Baroda (BoB ..... Read More

Sensex, Nifty End Higher Ahead of US Reciprocal Tariffs Announcement

The Indian stock market made a strong recovery on Wednesday, with both the Sensex and Nifty closing in positive territory, just ahead of the deadline for reciprocal tariffs set by US President Donald Trump. The rally was largely driven by a resurgence in banking and IT stocks, which helped the indices bounce back after recent fluctuations. The Sensex recorded a substantial gain of 592.93 points, or 0.78 per cent, to settle at 76,617.44. Throughout the trading session, the index moved between an intra-day high of 76,680.35 and a low of 76,064 ..... Read More

Indian-origin Astrophysicist Earns Prestigious Hubble Fellowship in US

Indian-origin astrophysicist Anirudh Karambelkar has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship, a highly competitive program designed to support outstanding early-career researchers in astrophysics. The fellowship, which had over 650 applicants this year, provides up to three years of research funding at a US institution and aims to nurture future leaders in the field. The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) is divided into three categories based on key cosmic questions: Einstein Fellows focus on fundamental physics, Hubble Fellows ex ..... Read More

UPI Hits Record Transactions in March, Rebounding Strongly

March saw a significant surge in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, reaching an all-time high of 19.78 billion, with a total transaction value of $289.26 billion. This represents a 14% jump in volume and a 13% rise in value compared to February, largely driven by increased financial activity at the fiscal year-end, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). For the fiscal year 2025, UPI payments experienced a remarkable 30% increase in total value, climbing to $3.04 trillion from $2.33 trillion in FY24. The volu ..... Read More

PM Modi Calls Chile ‘Important Friend’—What This Means for Trade & Defense

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chile an “important friend and partner” in Latin America during President Gabriel Boric Font’s first official visit to India. The leaders engaged in extensive discussions at Hyderabad House, identifying new avenues for cooperation in trade, strategic partnerships, and research initiatives. Highlighting Chile’s geographic significance, PM Modi described the country as India’s gateway to Antarctica. A letter of intent was signed to enhance collaboration in this domain, reinforcing India’s comm ..... Read More

PM Modi Holds Key Talks with Chilean President on Ties

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Chile’s President Gabriel Boric Font at Hyderabad House, as confirmed by Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal. The leaders are set to hold extensive talks to enhance and expand the strong bilateral ties between India and Chile. Font, earlier in the day, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, signing the visitors’ book in tribute to the iconic leader. He shared on X, “Along with our delegation, we paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Ra ..... Read More

Sunita Williams to Visit India, Meet ISRO Team

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams revealed her plans to visit India soon, where she intends to meet with the team at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). During NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Post-Flight News Conference, Williams expressed her admiration for India, recalling how each time her spacecraft passed over the Himalayas during her nine-month mission in space, she was in awe of the view. Williams, who has a deep connection to India through her father, Deepak Pandya, who hails from Gujarat, shared her excitement about connecting wi ..... Read More

Golden Era for US-India Relations Expected Ahead of Trump’s Tariff Deadline

Despite facing challenges in finalizing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) ahead of President Trump’s April 2 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, the US administration remains optimistic about a “golden age” in US-India relations. This optimism is conveyed through statements from high-ranking officials, including US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who reached out to India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to discuss trade and other issues. Although the negotiations between the two countries, led by Assistant ..... Read More

Kash Patel’s First Month as FBI Director: Key Wins

Kash Patel’s first month as FBI Director has seen decisive actions aimed at tackling critical law enforcement issues highlighted during the Trump administration, such as violent crime, gang violence, and drug trafficking. Republican lawmakers have commended Patel for his transparency, particularly his efforts in releasing long-awaited documents to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Patel’s leadership has already led to significant achievements, such as the capture of three high-profile fugitives from the FBI’s most- ..... Read More

Sal Khan to Deliver Commencement Address at Johns Hopkins University

Sal Khan, the founder of the nonprofit educational platform Khan Academy, will deliver the commencement address at Johns Hopkins University’s ceremony on May 22, 2025. Khan, whose journey began in 2004 tutoring his cousin remotely, transitioned from a hedge fund analyst to a full-time educator in 2009, ultimately creating a platform now used by over 170 million people worldwide. Khan’s impact on education is reflected in the millions of students who use his platform, including members of the Class of 2025. Johns Hopkins Universit ..... Read More

Study Finds Shift in Indian American Political Perspectives

In 2024, Indian Americans offered a mixed assessment of the U.S.-India relationship, following the re-election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. A Carnegie Endowment survey found that while a significant portion of Indian Americans approved of the Biden administration’s management of U.S.-India ties, their opinions on Trump’s potential impact on future relations were more divided. Indian Americans are concerned about the prospect of bilateral relations deteriorating under Trump, especially wh ..... Read More

Manish Nautiyal Appointed New CIO of SCFHP

Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) has appointed Manish Nautiyal as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), following the retirement of Jonathan Tamayo, who held the position since 2015. Nautiyal brings over 22 years of experience in healthcare IT and will lead SCFHP’s IT strategy and operations to ensure that technology supports the organization’s mission of expanding healthcare access in Santa Clara County. Nautiyal is a seasoned technology executive with a strong background in software engineering, cybersecurity, telecomm ..... Read More

Arbitration and Mediation Key to India’s Manufacturing Growth: Piyush Goyal

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, emphasized the importance of arbitration and mediation frameworks in India’s journey to becoming a global manufacturing leader. Speaking at the United International Avocat Conference in Delhi, Goyal underscored that a robust legal and arbitration system is critical to India’s rapidly growing economy. These mechanisms play a key role in reducing judicial delays and ensuring a transparent and stable environment for business. He called for strengthening arbitration practices to ..... Read More

Tejas Deoskar’s ‘Ground Zero’ and ‘Devmanus’ Set for Same-Day Release

Acclaimed filmmaker Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar is set to achieve a remarkable feat in Indian cinema, as two of his directorial projects—Ground Zero and Devmanus—are slated to release simultaneously on April 25, 2025. This rare occurrence marks a significant milestone, as both films present distinct storytelling styles across different languages and genres. Devmanus, a riveting Marathi thriller, is produced by Luv Films and boasts an ensemble cast featuring Mahesh Manjrekar, Renuka Shahane, and Subodh Bhave. The film delves into t ..... Read More

Renault Group to Acquire Nissan’s 51% Stake in Indian Joint Venture

French carmaker Renault Group announced on Monday that it will acquire the remaining 51 per cent stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), currently held by Nissan Motor Corp, thereby becoming the sole owner of the company. This move marks a significant restructuring within the Renault-Nissan alliance, impacting both companies’ operational strategies in India. Despite selling its stake in RNAIPL, Japanese automaker Nissan has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian market, with a focus on strengthening its presence and expa ..... Read More

Finance Minister Sitharaman to Visit London Next Week to Strengthen India-UK Economic Relations

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to visit London next week, from April 8-10, where she will engage in discussions related to bilateral trade and investment. Additionally, she will hold talks under the India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue, a key mechanism aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations. During her visit, Sitharaman is expected to meet with her UK counterpart, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. The India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue serves as a crucial instituti ..... Read More

Indian-American Executive Joins Wharton AI Leadership Initiative

Ajay Anand, a seasoned industry leader, has been selected as the inaugural Executive in Residence at the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. This prestigious appointment aims to bridge the gap between academic AI research and real-world business challenges. As the Senior Vice President of Global Services, Strategy, and Business Services at Johnson & Johnson, Anand brings over 26 years of experience in driving transformation across consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, ..... Read More

Umesh Mishra Honored with 2025 Central Coast Innovation Award

Umesh Mishra, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), has been awarded the 2025 Central Coast Innovation Award. The honor, presented at the annual Pacific Coast Business Times event at the Santa Barbara Hilton, recognizes his groundbreaking contributions to semiconductor technology and power electronics. The Central Coast Innovation Awards celebrate emerging technology and entrepreneurship in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Hosted in collaboration with UCSB’s California Nan ..... Read More

Beena Kothari Assumes Presidency of AIA-NY, Outlines Vision for Cultural Engagement

The Association of Indians in America – New York Chapter (AIA-NY) hosted its inauguration ceremony, welcoming Beena Kothari as the new President along with the Executive Committee. The event, held in New York, saw an attendance of over 150 distinguished guests, including elected officials, community leaders, and media representatives. The ceremony began with the singing of the American and Indian national anthems by Bina Sabapthy, Jyoti Gupta, and Roopam Maini, followed by a Ganesh Vandana performance by Hamsaasya School of Dance. Harsh Vyas an ..... Read More

India, US Discuss Trade, Defense, and Immigration

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently engaged in a high-level discussion, focusing on key bilateral issues. The two officials explored ways to minimize trade restrictions, enhance defense and technology cooperation, and address illegal immigration to the United States, according to a statement from the US Department of State, spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed. During the discussion, Deputy Secretary Landau expressed appreciation for India’s assistance in tackling illegal immigration ..... Read More

Indian Community Honors Dr. Varun Jeph’s Legacy

The Indian American community in New England gathered to bid farewell to Dr. Varun Jeph, India’s Deputy Consul General in New York, in a heartfelt ceremony. Hosted at the residence of Mohan and Shyama Nannapaneni in Southborough, Massachusetts, the event was organized by the Foundation of Indian Americans – New England (FIA-NE) and Team Aid. Nearly 25 community organizations came together to express appreciation for Dr. Jeph’s unwavering service over the past four years, including his efforts during the challenging Covid pandemic. Dr. Jeph’s te ..... Read More

RBI May Cut Repo Rate by 25 bps in April

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to lower the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) in its upcoming April policy meeting, as projected by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). This adjustment is expected to be part of a broader reduction totaling 75 bps during FY26. According to Ind-Ra, headline inflation for FY25 is estimated to decline to 4.7%. However, if US retaliatory tariffs have a greater-than-expected impact, the RBI may introduce further monetary easing measures. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI is set to convene six ..... Read More