Must Read News

India’s Export Triumph: Desi Products Leading the Global Charge

India’s economic landscape is undergoing a notable transformation as global supply chains increasingly shift towards the country. In a significant development, India is closing the gap with China and Vietnam in mobile phone exports. While mobile exports from China and Vietnam saw declines of 2.78% and 17.6%, respectively, India experienced a remarkable surge of 40.5%, capturing nearly half of the reduced exports from these countries. This shift is driven by the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, which are beg ..... Read More

Key Takeaways from India’s Post-Election $576 Billion Budget

On Tuesday, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed an ambitious $576 billion spending plan for the current fiscal year. This budget, slightly above earlier estimates, is designed to stimulate manufacturing and job creation in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The government will allocate 2.66 trillion rupees ($32 billion) specifically for rural development and introduce new programs in states governed by key coalition allies supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The updated budget projects spending of 48 ..... Read More

Thanedar’s Bill Set to Revolutionize H-1B Visas for STEM Graduates

Congressman Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American from Michigan, has introduced a groundbreaking bill, HR 9023, known as the Keep STEM Graduates in America Act. This proposed legislation could transform the H-1B visa system by increasing the annual visa cap and simplifying the application process, potentially offering significant benefits to Indian and international students alike. The Keep STEM Graduates in America Act is designed to address the challenges faced by graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. By ..... Read More

AOA Honors Indian-American Couple with Presidential Citation

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recently honored Indian-American doctors and philanthropists Kiran C. Patel and Pallavi Patel with the Presidential Citation. This accolade recognizes their substantial contributions to the osteopathic medical field and their dedication to enhancing healthcare. The AOA Presidential Citation, one of the association’s most prestigious honors, is given to individuals who exhibit outstanding leadership, commitment to advancing osteopathic medicine, and a significant influence on patient care and m ..... Read More

Indian-American Scientist Lalita Ramakrishnan Wins 2024 Robert Koch Prize for TB Research

Indian-American microbiologist Lalita Ramakrishnan has been honored with the 2024 Robert Koch Prize for her groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms of tuberculosis (TB). She will be awarded approximately $132,000 at a ceremony in Berlin on November 8. This prestigious prize is awarded annually to recognize researchers with internationally renowned scientific achievements and is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Health. Lalita Ramakrishnan, a professor of immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Cambridge, ..... Read More

Harris Locks In Delegates, Paving Path to Democratic Nomination

Kamala Harris, the current U.S. Vice President, garnered significant backing from Democratic National Convention delegates on Monday, positioning herself as the likely nominee for president next month, sources report. This follows President Joe Biden’s endorsement of Harris on Sunday, as he withdrew from the race amid concerns over his age and health, committing to serve until January 20, 2025. According to an Associated Press survey, Harris has secured support from 2,538 delegates, well surpassing the 1,976 needed for the nomination, ..... Read More

India to Donate $1M to UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Says Modi

PM addressing at the inauguration of Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Towers in Mumbai, Maharashtra on July 13, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s commitment of $1 million to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre during the opening ceremony of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi. This contribution will support capacity building, technical assistance, and the conservation of World Heritage Sites globally. In his address, Modi emphasized that preserving global heritage is seen as a responsibilit ..... Read More

PM Modi Celebrates India’s Record-Breaking Maths Olympiad Success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed immense pride and joy over India’s outstanding performance at the International Maths Olympiad, where the nation achieved its highest-ever fourth-place finish. The Indian team returned with four gold medals and one silver, marking a historic milestone for the country. Modi emphasized that this achievement will not only inspire many young students but also help popularize mathematics among the youth. Modi’s commendation of the talented participants highlighted India’s dedication to fosteri ..... Read More

Modi Unveils Vision for Union Budget 2024: Aiming for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today that the Union Budget 2024, to be unveiled in Parliament tomorrow, aims to advance the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. Speaking at the start of the Parliament’s Budget session, PM Modi emphasized that India remains the fastest-growing major economy globally, with growth rates sustained at around 8% for some time. Marking the first Monday of Sawan, an auspicious period, PM Modi expressed his greetings and emphasized the significance of the upcoming session. He noted that i ..... Read More

Kamala Harris: Embracing Heritage as She Aims for Presidential Firsts

When Kamala Harris took the oath of office as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021, she made history as the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the second-highest office in the country. Now, following President Biden’s endorsement of her for the 2024 presidential race, she stands poised to become the first Black and Asian American woman to lead a major party ticket. Harris has long embraced her South Asian heritage with pride. In her 2019 autobiography, “The Truths ..... Read More

India’s Economic Surge: Orderly Recovery and Growth Post-Pandemic

The Indian economy has shown robust recovery and growth following the pandemic, with the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023-24 being 20 percent higher than its pre-pandemic level of 2019-20, according to the Economic Survey 2023-24 presented in Parliament on Monday. This achievement is notable among major global economies. The Economic Survey highlights positive growth prospects for fiscal year 2025, contingent on geopolitical, financial, and climatic risks. In 2023, global economic growth was reported at 3.2 percent by the International ..... Read More

Indian-Americans: Biden Did the Right Thing Quitting Race

Prominent Indian-American figures have lauded President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, acknowledging the difficulty of his choice but recognizing it as a move to prioritize the nation. At 81, Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee. Ravi Batra, a distinguished attorney based in New York, commended Biden for his selflessness, comparing his decision to the sacrifices made by soldiers. He noted that Bide ..... Read More

Indian-American Lawmakers Rally Behind Harris as Biden Exits Race

President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw from the presidential race, garnering praise from all five Indian-American lawmakers. Among them, three have expressed strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s likely nominee. Biden, at 81 years old, announced on Sunday his decision to step down from re-election efforts, endorsing his deputy, Harris, for the Democratic nomination, just 107 days before the November 5 elections. The House of Representatives currently includes five Indian-American Democrats: Raja ..... Read More

Elon Musk Congratulates PM Modi as He Tops X Followers Chart

Elon Musk, CEO of social media platform X, congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the most followed world leader on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. Musk wrote on X, “Congratulations PM @NarendraModi on being the most followed world leader!” Last week, PM Modi’s followers on X surpassed 100 million, making him the second most-followed global politician after former US President Barack Obama, who boasts over 131 million followers on the platform. In the rankings, former US President and Republican p ..... Read More

UAE’s Al Maya Group Embraces UPI, Boosting Ease for Indian Shoppers

Kamal Vachani, Group Director and Partner of Al Maya Group, emphasized the advantages that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) brings to Indian consumers. A prominent UAE business group has revealed that it will now accept UPI payments at its locations nationwide, marking a notable development.  UPI, an instant payment system created by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, has now made its debut at Al Maya Supermarket, with the first transaction conducted in the presence of Yatin Patel, Deputy Consul General of India in Dubai ..... Read More

Sanofi Pours $437M into India Hub, Set to Double Workforce

Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical giant, is making a bold move to amplify its presence in India with a substantial investment of 400 million euros ($437.24 million) in its Global Capacity Center (GCC) in Hyderabad by the decade’s end. Aiming to more than double its workforce over the next two years, the company is set to initially invest 100 million euros ($109.31 million) by next year, revealed Madeleine Roach, Executive Vice President of Business Operations, at a recent event. Hyderabad’s GCC, already the largest among Sanofi’s ..... Read More

Vinay Kwatra Takes Helm as India’s Ambassador to the US

On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs appointed Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Ambassador of India to the United States. Kwatra, a distinguished Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1988 batch, will soon begin his new role, filling the vacancy left by Taranjit Sandhu, who retired in January 2024. Kwatra recently retired as India’s Foreign Secretary in July, having had his tenure extended from the original end date of April 30 to October. His appointment comes following Vikram Misri’s recent succession as Foreign Secretary. Kwatra’ ..... Read More

Editorial: July 20, 2024 By Raj Shah

A profoundly dark chapter in the annals of American democracy The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump marks a profoundly dark chapter in the annals of U.S. democracy. This act of violence, targeting a prominent political figure, reverberates beyond partisan lines, shaking the very foundation of democratic principles. Regardless of one’s political stance, an attack on a former leader is an attack on the democratic process itself, challenging the nation’s commitment to peaceful transitions of power and pol ..... Read More

Usha Vance Shines at RNC: Rising Star Amidst Praise and Controversy

Usha Vance has always preferred to stay in the background, quietly supporting her husband JD Vance as he earned acclaim for his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and pursued a U.S. Senate seat in 2022. To JD, she is a beacon of brilliance and calm, a stark contrast to the chaos of his early years. However, the third night of the Republican National Convention marked a turning point for Usha. Stepping into the limelight, she delivered a primetime speech that introduced both herself and her husband to the nation. She eloquently highlighted their journey a ..... Read More

Monish Patolawala Departs 3M to Join ADM as Executive VP & CFO

Indian American executive Monish Patolawala is set to leave 3M and join Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), a global food processing and commodities trading corporation, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer starting August 1. Patolawala brings over 25 years of experience managing global finance and technology teams in top-tier industrial and healthcare companies, including his most recent role at 3M, as announced by ADM on Wednesday. In his new role as EVP and CFO at ADM, Patolawala will oversee Global Finance and Accounting, Globa ..... Read More

Indian Americans Ascend Politically as Usha Vance Emerges as a VP Contender's spouse

When Senator JD Vance was named Donald J. Trump’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, it also marked a historic moment: Usha Vance, an Indian American and practicing Hindu, is now poised to become a vice-presidential spouse. This development underscores a significant reality: at this moment, a woman of Indian descent will either remain in the White House or become the second lady. This milestone is part of the Indian American community’s growing political influence over the past decade. Kamala Harris made history ..... Read More

Shahid Kapoor Ignites Valentine’s Day 2025 with High-Octane Thriller ‘Deva’

Zee Studios and Roy Kapur Films are set to deliver an explosive cinematic experience this Valentine’s Day 2025 with the release of “Deva,” an intense thriller featuring Shahid Kapoor. Under the direction of renowned Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews, the film is expected to be a high-energy spectacle brimming with action, suspense, and dramatic twists. In “Deva,” Shahid Kapoor portrays a brilliant yet rebellious police officer, showcasing his compelling screen presence. Pooja Hegde stars alongside him as a journ ..... Read More

Nine-Year-Old Pranysqa Mishra Stuns AGT, Earns Mahindra’s Praise

Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra, was left in awe after witnessing a remarkable performance by a nine-year-old girl of Indian origin on “America’s Got Talent.” Pranysqa Mishra, who recently appeared on the show, captivated the audience with her extraordinary vocal abilities. Mahindra took to social media to praise Mishra, emphasizing her incredible talent. In a heartfelt post, he noted that this was the second time in two weeks that a very young Indian-origin performer had impressed the judges at “AG ..... Read More

Vivek Ramaswamy’s Fiery Trump Endorsement at RNC Wins Musk’s Praise

At the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday night, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a powerful speech in support of Donald Trump as the November presidential election approaches. Speaking to an audience of 2,400 delegates and numerous Trump supporters in Milwaukee, the Ohio-based Indian-American businessman emphasized Trump’s role in uniting the country through concrete actions rather than mere rhetoric. Ramaswamy, 38, focused on appealing to a broad spectrum of Americans, including black Americans, legal ..... Read More

NRI Deposits Soar to $3 Billion in April-May FY25, RBI Reports

In a remarkable surge, overseas Indians deposited nearly $3 billion into non-resident Indian (NRI) deposit schemes during April-May FY25, a figure that surpasses last year’s deposits by more than four times, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The total inflow for this period reached $2.72 billion, a significant increase from $623 million in the same timeframe the previous year. By the end of May, the total outstanding NRI deposits had risen to $154.72 billion. In May alone, deposits into NRI schemes totaled ..... Read More