Must Read News

India Launches Scheme to Boost Global Coconut Production

India continues to hold its position as the world’s largest producer of coconuts, accounting for over 30% of global output, according to a recent parliamentary briefing. The coconut sector is a cornerstone of rural economies, supporting millions of farmers and their families across major producing states including Keralam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Beyond farming, the industry underpins allied sectors such as coir, coconut oil, and other value-added products, which together form a significant component of India’s agro-based ..... Read More

Vikas Khanna readies special Iftar for NYC Mayor Mamdani

As Ramzan continues to be observed globally, communities across New York City are coming together for Iftar meals with family and friends. This year, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked the occasion with a special visit to celebrity chef Vikas Khanna at his acclaimed Bungalow restaurant. During the evening, Khanna personally prepared the Mayor’s Iftar, creating a meaningful culinary experience that went beyond food. The visit also rekindled memories dating back more than two decades. Sharing the moment on Instagram, Khanna posted a photograph ..... Read More

PM Modi Condemns Gulf Attacks, Secures Hormuz Navigation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up diplomatic efforts as tensions escalate in West Asia. On March 17, 2026, Modi held a phone conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, condemning recent attacks on the Gulf country and stressing the urgent need for secure and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, which handles nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments, was closed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran’s military and naval ass ..... Read More

Dhurandhar 2 Sets Box Office Records Worldwide

Ranveer Singh’s highly anticipated spy thriller, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, is poised to set the box office on fire. While the official theatrical release is scheduled for March 19, paid preview shows began on March 18, giving fans an early glimpse of Singh reprising his role as Hamza Ali Mazari. Under the real identity of Jaskirat Singh Rangi, Hamza infiltrates Pakistan’s underworld to relay critical intelligence to RAW, while seeking vengeance on those behind attacks on India. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film boasts a stellar cast inc ..... Read More

India Donates Ship Spares to Seychelles Defence Forces

India has reinforced its defence cooperation with Seychelles by donating ship spares to the Seychelles Defence Forces, underlining its commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean region. The ship spares were handed over by Captain Sachin Kulkarni, Commanding Officer of INS Trikand, which is currently visiting Port Victoria. The visit coincides with India’s participation in the 11th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Lamitye 2026’. During the visit, Captain Kulkarni also met Seychelles’ Chief of Defence F ..... Read More

Jaishankar Advances India-EU Relations Through FTA

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar concluded a highly productive visit to Brussels, engaging with European Union leaders and foreign ministers to discuss the immense economic opportunities under the recently signed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The talks focused on strengthening collaboration across trade, technology, security, and connectivity. During his visit, Jaishankar met with members of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and held discussions with senior European officials, including EU Council President Antonio Costa, European ..... Read More

Sitharaman unveils revamped Stand-up India scheme

The Union Government is set to relaunch an updated version of the Stand-Up India Scheme to provide stronger support to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women entrepreneurs nationwide. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared details during a Lok Sabha session, explaining that the earlier scheme, launched in April 2016, concluded last March and is now being redesigned to deliver enhanced benefits. The revamp follows an extensive review by NITI Aayog and other government bodies to expand the program’s reach and effectiven ..... Read More

Indian American Households Lead Income Rankings

A recent report highlights that Indian American households have a median annual income of approximately $151,200, substantially higher than the US median of about $83,700. This positions them as the highest-earning ethnic group in the country, earning nearly $67,500 more than the average American household—a difference of nearly 80 percent. Although Indian Americans represent a relatively small segment of the US population, around 4.8 million people or 1.4 percent of the total population, their economic impact is substantial. The report at ..... Read More

India-Russia Hold 7th UN Consultations in New Delhi

India and Russia convened the 7th UN Consultations in New Delhi on March 17, focusing on key issues under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agenda, including counter-terrorism, peacekeeping operations, and proposed reforms of the council. The high-level meeting was co-chaired by Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Alexander Alimov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister. Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, along with other senior officials, also attended the discussion ..... Read More

IRNSS-1F Completes 10-Year Mission, NavIC Shines

India celebrated a major space milestone as IRNSS-1F, one of the country’s regional navigation satellites, completed its 10-year design mission life on March 10, 2026. Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in March 2016 aboard PSLV-C32 from Sriharikota, IRNSS-1F was the sixth satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC) constellation. Designed to operate in geostationary orbit at 32.5° East with a 5° inclination, the 1,425-kg satellite has been a silent yet pivotal contributor to India’s self-re ..... Read More

India in talks with Iran on Hormuz ships, aid: MEA

As tensions escalate in West Asia with renewed missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, India has intensified diplomatic efforts to safeguard its interests, particularly focusing on the safe evacuation of Indian-flagged vessels and delivery of humanitarian aid to affected civilians. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that high-level talks with Tehran are ongoing, even as the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global oil and shipping corridor—remains a hotspot of concern. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We are in acti ..... Read More

Bharatiya Temple Hosts 19th Gangaur Festival Celebration

The 19th edition of the Gangaur Festival was celebrated with devotion and cultural vibrancy at the Bharatiya Temple in Pennsylvania, drawing more than 500 members of the Indian diaspora and Rajasthani community from across the northeastern United States. The festival honored the sacred tradition of Isar–Gauri Mata, blending religious ceremonies with cultural performances and social engagement. The event was organized under the leadership of Shri Nand Todi, founder of the Bharatiya Temple, and Dr. Ravi Murarka, President of the Philadelphia ..... Read More

Dr Kavita Radhakrishnan Named Interim Nursing Dean

The University of Texas at Austin has appointed Dr. Kavita Radhakrishnan, a Mumbai-born engineer turned nurse scientist, as the Interim Dean of its School of Nursing, effective March 11, 2026. This appointment marks a significant achievement for the Indian American academic community within one of the nation’s leading nursing institutions. Dr. Radhakrishnan’s career exemplifies interdisciplinary excellence. She earned her degree in electronics engineering from the University of Mumbai before moving to the United States to complete a Mast ..... Read More

India Basmati Exports Steady Despite Middle East Tensions

India’s basmati rice exports are expected to remain stable in FY26 and FY27 despite the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to a report by Crisil Ratings. The report estimates export volumes could grow by up to 2 per cent from last year’s 6.06 million tonnes, supported by stronger demand from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. While exports to Iran — which accounted for about 14 per cent of India’s basmati shipments last year — may decline due to logistical disruptions, increased demand fro ..... Read More

India Passenger Vehicle Dispatches Rise 10.6% in Feb Sales

India’s passenger vehicle dispatches recorded strong growth in February, rising 10.6 percent compared to the same period last year. According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), total dispatches reached 417,705 units during the month, reflecting sustained demand in the domestic automobile market. The increase highlights continued momentum in India’s automotive sector, driven by strong consumer interest across both urban and semi-urban markets. Automakers have also benefited from the launch of new ..... Read More

India, Belgium Launch Strategic Dialogue: Jaishankar

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot in Brussels on Monday to discuss strengthening cooperation across several sectors, including trade, investment, semiconductors, healthcare, technology, and innovation. The meeting marked the second day of Jaishankar’s diplomatic engagements in Belgium and highlighted efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries. Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared that both sides explored ways to expand collaboration in emerging industries a ..... Read More

India, Nordic nations discuss ways to strengthen ties

Senior officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and ambassadors from Nordic nations recently met in New Delhi to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation across several key sectors. The discussions focused on strengthening partnerships in areas such as trade, investment, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, renewable energy, clean technologies, Arctic research, and space collaboration. The meeting took place during a luncheon hosted by Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of Extern ..... Read More

Piyush Goyal Urges Firms to Utilize India-EFTA Deal

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, urged Indian businesses to seize the opportunities presented by the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), describing it as a landmark in India’s economic engagement with Europe. Speaking at an event commemorating two years of the agreement, he highlighted that the four EFTA countries—Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland—have made a legally binding investment commitment of US$100 billion. The agreement is expected to generate around 1 million jobs in ..... Read More

US Records $2.8 Billion Goods Deficit With India

The United States reported a $2.8 billion goods trade deficit with India in January, even as its overall trade gap narrowed sharply, according to data released by the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on March 12. The total US goods and services trade deficit fell to $54.5 billion in January, down from a revised $72.9 billion in December, representing a decline of $18.4 billion, or roughly 25 per cent, in a single month. Exports rose to $302.1 billion, an increase of $15.8 billion from December, while imports dropped ..... Read More

Jaishankar thanks Armenia for evacuating Indians from Iran

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the government and people of Armenia for assisting in the safe evacuation of more than 550 Indian citizens from Iran. Sharing his appreciation on X, he highlighted Armenia’s crucial support during these challenging times. The evacuation occurs amid rising tensions in West Asia following US-Israeli strikes in Iran on February 28, which resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top military officials. Iran retaliated with drone and missi ..... Read More

India-US Trade Deal Delayed Pending Tariff Framework

The signing of the India-US trade agreement will occur only after a revised US tariff framework is established, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal confirmed on Monday during a trade briefing. Agrawal explained that the finalisation of the deal depends on Washington restoring global tariff rates following a court ruling that had invalidated previous measures. “Each country approaches the deal with its own comparative advantages relative to competitors,” Agrawal added, as reported by PTI. India and the US had recently announced a framewo ..... Read More

Ravi Bellamkonda Named 18th President Ohio State

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has selected Ravi V. Bellamkonda as the 18th president in the university’s history. Bellamkonda, a globally recognized bioengineer and neuroscientist, previously served as Ohio State’s executive vice president and provost since early 2025, overseeing academic and administrative operations across the institution’s 15 colleges, regional campuses, and University Libraries. During his tenure as provost, Bellamkonda collaborated closely with the University Senate and other governance bodies to adv ..... Read More

US, India Near Critical Minerals Pact: Ambassador Gor

The United States and India are moving closer to finalising a key agreement on critical minerals that could significantly strengthen strategic cooperation and supply chains between the two countries, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said on Friday. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Gor highlighted the deepening partnership between the two nations, saying the growing engagement reflects a relationship that goes beyond traditional trade ties. “The US and India are paying close attention to each other, which reflects something de ..... Read More

IBSA Fund Promotes Women’s Empowerment Through Development

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Fund has emerged as a significant platform for South-South cooperation, promoting women’s empowerment through development initiatives across multiple countries. Leaders from the three nations highlighted the growing impact of the fund during discussions focused on women-led development and international cooperation. Established in 2004, the IBSA Fund has supported more than 50 development assistance projects across nearly 40 countries, demonstrating the collective commitment of emerging economies to susta ..... Read More

PM Modi to Release 22nd PM-Kisan Installment Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme on Friday, marking another round of direct financial assistance to farmers across the country. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the installment will be released from Guwahati in Assam, with more than ₹18,640 crore set to be transferred directly to the bank accounts of over 9.32 crore farmer families through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The initiative reflects the government� ..... Read More