Must Read News

Income Tax Cuts in Union Budget to Boost Auto Sales

According to a report by Jefferies, the Union Budget 2025-26 has increased the income tax exemption threshold to $13,775, which is likely to fuel demand for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. The tax reductions are set to benefit middle-class taxpayers, collectively saving around $11.48 billion. This financial relief is expected to enhance discretionary spending, especially in urban areas. The analysis estimates that roughly 35 million taxpayers will receive an annual tax benefit of $344 each, significantly influencing automobile purchases. W ..... Read More

Gujarat Pushes UCC, BJP Calls It Equality, Oppn Disagrees

In a landmark decision, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced the formation of a five-member committee to draft a state-level Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The move, hailed by the state’s leadership as a step that upholds the “spirit of the Constitution,” aims to ensure equality and unity among all citizens of Gujarat, regardless of religious background. Gujarat’s Home Minister, Harsh Sanghavi, underscored the significance of the UCC in promoting harmony by providing equal rights to all citizens. He emphasized that the UC ..... Read More

BAPS Hindu Mandir Opens in Johannesburg, Uniting Communities

This is a good summary of the opening of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Johannesburg. Here are some of the key takeaways and strengths of the summary: Highlights the significance: The summary effectively emphasizes the importance of the temple as the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere and its role as a beacon of unity, heritage, and interfaith dialogue. Covers key details: It includes important information such as the location, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony led by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the 12-day festival, and the pre ..... Read More

‘Nanha Gandhi’ Spreads Cleanliness Message at Maha Kumbh

On the 23rd day of the Maha Kumbh in the spiritual city of Sangam, Prayagraj, an extraordinary young figure has captured the attention and admiration of thousands of devotees. This inspiring personality is none other than ‘Nanha Gandhi,’ a young boy who has taken it upon himself to spread the crucial message of cleanliness. Amidst the sacred rituals and the massive influx of millions of pilgrims who have come to take a holy dip in the divine waters, this small yet determined ambassador for hygiene is urging everyone to maintain c ..... Read More

Modi Cites ‘JFK’s Forgotten Crisis’ to Critique Nehru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested a surprising addition to the reading list of Lok Sabha MPs—JFK’s Forgotten Crisis, a book by US foreign policy expert Bruce Riedel. His recommendation came amid an ongoing debate in Parliament regarding the government’s handling of the China border issue, which had drawn questions from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address. In his reply to the debate, PM Modi took the ..... Read More

India’s Firm Stand on Illegal Immigration Amid US Deportations

In a significant development, an India-bound US C-17 military aircraft carrying approximately 200 deported illegal Indian migrants departed from Texas earlier today. This marks the first major crackdown on illegal Indian immigrants by US President Donald Trump since assuming office last month. The deportation follows a series of discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump during their phone call on January 27, ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington on February 13-14. Since January 24, similar deportation fligh ..... Read More

Chandrika Tandon Wins Grammy for ‘Triveni’ Album

Chandrika Tandon, an Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur, clinched a Grammy Award for her album Triveni in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant category during the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The competition included notable albums like Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej and Opus by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Tandon’s Triveni represents a unique fusion of artistic traditions, featuring South African flutist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese-American cellist Eru Matsumoto. The album combines ancient Sanskrit ..... Read More

Virat Kohli Returns to Ranji Trophy After 12 Years, Boosts Delhi’s Morale

Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy has sparked immense excitement in the Delhi squad, according to captain Ayush Badoni, who praised the positive impact of the veteran batter’s presence. Badoni shared, “Everyone is thrilled and highly motivated to have him on the team. His presence brings a unique energy and makes the atmosphere much livelier.” Kohli’s return to the Delhi squad marks a special moment, as the 36-year-old prepares for his first Ranji Trophy match in 12 years at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in De ..... Read More

Kash Patel Embraces Heritage, Greets Family With “Jai Shri Krishna”

Kash Patel, the nominee for FBI director, distanced himself from former President Donald Trump’s controversial pardons of January 6 rioters. During his Senate confirmation hearing, he stated that he does not support commuting sentences for individuals who engaged in violence against law enforcement. On January 30, Patel affirmed his stance, emphasizing that he does not agree with reducing sentences for anyone who attacked law enforcement officers. His remarks mark a notable divergence from Trump-aligned figures, but he will require both m ..... Read More

Rishi Sunak Enjoys Cricket and Literature in India

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak enjoyed a casual game of cricket in Mumbai on Sunday, engaging in a lively tennis ball match as spectators cheered him on. Sharing the moment on X (formerly Twitter), he remarked, “No trip to Mumbai would be complete without a game of tennis ball cricket.” Prior to his visit to Mumbai, Sunak attended the Jaipur Literature Festival alongside his wife, Akshata Murthy, and her parents, Narayan and Sudha Murthy. The festival’s official X account highlighted a discussion featuring Sudha Murthy and Akshata Murthy, ..... Read More

AAPI Hosts Medical Scholars Summit at Rutgers University

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)–Medical Student and Resident Forum (MSRF) successfully hosted its annual Medical Scholars Summit at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, from January 25-26, 2025. Dr. Satheesh Kathula, AAPI President, highlighted the event’s significance in bringing together medical students, residents, and high school scholars of Indian origin for an enriching two-day experience. The summit was meticulously organized by an executive board of young medical professionals, with MSRF President Priy ..... Read More

Apple Intelligence Launching in India This April

Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that Apple Intelligence will debut in India with localized English in April, alongside support for several other languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. Speaking to analysts after Apple’s fiscal Q1 2025 results, Cook emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding its AI capabilities globally. During the quarter ending December 28, 2024, Apple posted a revenue of $124.3 billion, reflecting a 4% year-over-year growth. Cook highlighted that the ..... Read More

For the People: Nirmala Sitharaman’s First Interview After Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has dismissed Opposition claims that Bihar’s budget allocations were politically motivated, asserting that a state with such a high population density and historical significance deserves key infrastructural developments. Speaking to NDTV’s Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia, she defended the Centre’s decision to allocate significant resources to Bihar ahead of its upcoming Assembly elections. During her Budget speech, Sitharaman announced major initiatives for Bihar, including a board to support Makhana producti ..... Read More

How Maha Kumbh 2025 Became the World’s Biggest Festival

Continuing the tradition, Maha Kumbh 2025 has drawn over 275 million devotees to the Triveni Sangam for the holy dip since its commencement. On Thursday alone, more than 4.5 million pilgrims visited, including over a million Kalpwasis. Authorities have ramped up efforts to manage the massive crowds and ensure smooth arrangements for visitors. A tragic turn of events occurred early Wednesday when a stampede-like situation led to multiple casualties and injuries. Following a brief pause, saints resumed their arrival at Triveni Sangam for the s ..... Read More

India Targets 300M Tonnes Steel Capacity by 2030

Close up of man in special dark suit and black protective gloves working angle grinder for metal with large flash sparks. Concept of process working electric steel cutter machine. India must enhance its steel-making capacity by 100 million tonnes (MT) by 2030 to avoid dependence on imports, according to Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in New Delhi, he addressed concerns about global overcapacity and sluggish demand affecting the domestic steel industry. Currently, India has a ..... Read More

Budget 2025 Brings Tax Changes for NRIs and Foreign Investors

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced key tax reforms in Budget 2025, impacting non-resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign investors. To enhance tax clarity for non-residents, the government introduced a presumptive taxation regime for foreign entities providing services to Indian electronics manufacturers. A safe harbour provision was also introduced for non-residents storing components for supply to designated electronics manufacturing units. Additionally, the budget proposed aligning long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax rates for NRIs ..... Read More

CUNY SPH Appoints Davinder Kaur as Online Learning Director

The City University of New York’s Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH) has appointed Davinder Kaur as its new director of online learning. With over 15 years of experience in academic administration, Davinder specializes in online education, particularly for adult and non-traditional students. She has worked across various institutions, including research universities, technology-driven schools, public and private colleges, and non-profit organizations, successfully managing diverse student and faculty needs. Her appr ..... Read More

IAA Houston Unveils Exciting 2025 Arts Season

Following the resounding success of its 2024 season, IAA Houston (Indo-American Association Houston) is set to launch its 2025 season with an impressive lineup of globally acclaimed artists and a diverse range of performances. The upcoming season promises a vibrant journey through Indian arts and culture, combining accessibility, variety, and value for audiences. Designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of artistic tastes, the season includes poetic storytelling and soulful melodies from Jazim Sharma and Salim Arif, as well as the humor-filled in ..... Read More

Anoushka Shankar to Present at 67th Grammy Awards

British-American sitarist Anoushka Shankar is set to represent India as a presenter at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. This marks another milestone for Indian artists gaining global recognition, following comedian Vir Das’ role as host at the 2024 Emmy Awards. In addition to presenting, Anoushka has received two Grammy nominations this year—one for her album Ch II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn and another for her featured performance on Jacob Collier’s A Rock Somewhere. These latest nominations bring her total Grammy nods to 11. ..... Read More

India Leads Global IPO Market with 30% Share in 2024

The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights India’s remarkable rise in global initial public offerings (IPOs), with its share climbing to 30% in 2024 from 17% in the previous year. This growth has positioned India as the top contributor to global primary resource mobilization. According to the report, capital markets play a crucial role in India’s economic expansion by fueling capital formation, increasing financial participation, and enabling wealth creation. Despite challenges such as geopolitical uncertainties, currency fluctuations, and ma ..... Read More

Union Budget 2025-26 Prioritizes Growth and Development

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled the Union Budget 2025-26, highlighting strategies to accelerate economic expansion, foster inclusive development, boost industries, and enhance household financial confidence. A key focus of the budget is increasing the purchasing power of India’s growing middle class. Outlining the government’s objectives, Sitharaman emphasized five critical areas: rapid economic growth, inclusive progress, societal and industrial development, improved household sentiment, and increased middle-class spendi ..... Read More

Diplomats from 77 Nations to Visit Mahakumbh 2025

A delegation of 118 members, comprising heads of mission, diplomats, and their spouses from 77 countries, is set to visit the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Saturday. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing. Addressing concerns about reports of a stampede, Jaiswal confirmed that the visit would proceed as planned on February 1. Meanwhile, a three-member judicial commission has been formed to investigate the tragic stampede that occurred during the Mauni Ama ..... Read More

Indian Food Services Market to Reach $144-152 Billion by 2030

A recent report by Redseer Strategy Consultants, titled The Big Bite: Scaling Success in India’s Food Services, projects India’s food services market to expand significantly in the coming years. Valued at approximately $80 billion in 2024, the sector is expected to reach between $144 billion and $152 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 10-11%. The report highlights how multi-brand food businesses and cloud kitchens are positioned to capitalize on this booming market. These innovative models offer scalability and flexibi ..... Read More

IAF’s Shubhanshu Shukla to Pilot Ax-4 Mission in 2025

Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla, recently named the ‘Prime’ astronaut for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, has been selected to pilot Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), set for Spring 2025. This mission, commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, marks a significant milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, as it will be each country’s first government-backed human spaceflight in more than four decades. Other crew members include ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Hungary’s Tibor K ..... Read More

Kash Patel Takes Step Toward FBI Director Confirmation

Kash Patel, a 44-year-old Indian American, is one step closer to becoming one of the most influential figures in President Trump’s circle, after his confirmation hearing for the position of FBI Director. Patel, who has held various positions as an assistant public defender, federal prosecutor, and congressional staffer, presented himself as a steadfast supporter of law enforcement during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. While often in disagreement with Senate Democrats, he remained composed and stressed his commitment ..... Read More