Must Read News

Indian-origin scientist finds extraordinary exoplanet

A team of researchers from Pennsylvania State University, led by Suvrath Mahadevan of Indian descent, has identified a planet beyond our solar system that challenges conventional wisdom. This newfound celestial body, named LHS 3154b, defies expectations by being excessively massive in relation to its host star. With a size equivalent to 13 Earth masses, its discovery prompts a reassessment of existing theories on planetary formation. LHS 3154b’s distinctiveness arises from its proximity to an ultracool dwarf star, marking the first instance of ..... Read More

Modi’s pitch to billionaires: Choose India for weddings, support ‘Wed in India’

During the Uttarakhand Investors’ Summit in Dehradun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his call for India’s millionaires and billionaires to choose destination weddings within the country rather than abroad. He proposed the launch of a new movement, ‘Wed in India,’ echoing the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Encouraging young couples to tie the knot in India, Modi emphasized the nation’s strength and capabilities. He questioned the trend of pairs formed by God going abroad for their new journey in married life, suggesting that at least one ..... Read More

Meira Chand receives Singapore’s Cultural Medallion accolade

Meira Chand, a novelist of Indian origin, has recently been honored with Singapore’s prestigious Cultural Medallion, the highest artistic award in the country. This recognition comes with a financial grant of US $58,000 (SGD $80,000) to support her artistic endeavors. The National Arts Council (NAC) of Singapore commended Chand for her ability to captivate a global audience with stories that reflect her multicultural heritage and delve into themes surrounding cultural identities. Specifically, her novel “A Different Sky” (2010), set against pr ..... Read More

Morning Consult: Modi Leads Worldwide in Latest Approval Ratings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again achieved the highest global leader approval rating, securing an impressive 76 percent in a survey conducted by Morning Consult, a US-based consultancy firm. The ‘Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker’ indicates that 76 percent of Indians approve of PM Modi’s leadership, while 18 percent disapprove, with 6 percent withholding an opinion. These ratings, collected from November 29 to December 5, 2023, serve as a substantial boost for Modi and the BJP, especially as they approach the general elections in ..... Read More

Indian Americans celebrate BJP’s triumph in state elections

After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s resounding success in three of four states in recent Indian state elections, New York-based supporters gathered to commemorate the victory. Despite stiff competition, the ruling party retained Madhya Pradesh and secured victories in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Telangana, the main Opposition party, Congress, emerged triumphant. Jagdish Sewhani, President of the American India Public Affairs Committee in New York, hailed the results as a “reflection of the country’s mood,” attributing the wins to people voti ..... Read More

India’s Economy Tops Growth Charts: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

In a session at the Rajya Sabha on December 7, 2023, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, underscored India’s remarkable economic performance in the second quarter, affirming its global leadership as the fastest-growing economy. During the three-day economic debate, she highlighted the robust GDP growth from July to September, asserting that India has consistently maintained its status as the fastest-growing major economy. Ms. Sitharaman further declared India as the world’s second most sought-after manufact ..... Read More

Usha Reddi seeks re-election as Kansas State Senator

Usha Reddi, the current Indian American senator representing Kansas’ 22nd district, has officially declared her candidacy for re-election. Assuming office after Tom Hawk’s departure in January, Reddi aims to extend her term until January 2025. Announcing her candidacy on X, formerly Twitter, Reddi expressed her commitment to public service and working for the people as their State Senator. Her focus areas, as outlined on her campaign website, include health care, mental health, public education, safety, equity, jobs, security, economic growth, ..... Read More

Brajesh Singh, of Indian origin, clinches 2023 Microbiology Prize

Professor Brajesh Singh, an Australian-based microbiology expert of Indian descent, has been bestowed with the 2023 Dorothy Jones Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to microbiology. This prestigious accolade acknowledges his significant role in advancing our understanding of terrestrial life and preserving the global ecosystem. The award ceremony took place at the BMA House in London last month, highlighting the international recognition of Singh’s achievements. As a renowned specialist in microbial functional ecology at the Hawkesbury ..... Read More

Samir Shah Nominated as Prime Candidate for BBC Chair

Dr. Samir Shah, an experienced media executive born in India with over four decades of involvement in UK broadcasting, has been selected by the UK government as its preferred choice for the role of the new chair of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). A recipient of the CBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 for his contributions to television and heritage, the 71-year-old is poised to take over from Richard Sharp, who stepped down amid scrutiny of his interactions with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Dr. Shah currently holds the pos ..... Read More

India brings Chandrayaan-3 module back to Earth orbit

The spacecraft responsible for delivering the Chandrayaan-3 lander to the moon has successfully returned to Earth orbit, showcasing technologies crucial for a future Indian lunar sample return mission. The propulsion module, initially designed to move the lander to a low lunar orbit, performed maneuvers to bring it back to Earth orbit after the lander’s successful touchdown on the moon. The module, equipped with the SHAPE instrument, observed Earth while in orbit. ISRO’s decision to bring it back was driven by having excess propellant. The miss ..... Read More

Ravi Bishnoi Claims Top Spot in MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Bowler Rankings

Ravi Bishnoi’s stellar performance in India’s 4-1 T20I series win against Australia propels him to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, surpassing Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner’s remarkable rise includes nine wickets in five matches, securing the number one spot with 699 ratings points. Bishnoi, since his T20I debut in February 2022, has consistently taken 34 wickets in 21 matches, contributing to his meteoric ascent. Among bowlers, Axar Patel makes a significant jump to 11th place, Mukesh Kumar climbs 45 slots to 104th, Ave ..... Read More

Ramaswamy Displays “Nikki=Corrupt” Sign in 4th GOP Debate

In the fourth Republican Presidential Debate, Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy strategically aimed to impede the growing influence of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. The debate featured a competitive face-off among four candidates—entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Vivek Ramaswamy initially took the lead in speaking time, while Nikki Haley, although relatively silent, became the focal point for attacks from her fellow candidates. Ron DeSantis engag ..... Read More

PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah prioritize “Cyber Safe India”

The National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU), operating within the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), has successfully identified and recommended the blocking of more than 100 websites associated with organized investment and part-time job frauds. Acting under the authority granted by the Information Technology Act of 2000, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has implemented blocks on these websites. These platforms were implicated in facilitating organized illegal activities related to investment ..... Read More

PM Modi congratulates Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, promises full support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to A Revanth Reddy for being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Telangana. Modi assured full support for the progress and welfare of the state. Revanth Reddy, representing the Congress party, took the oath of office administered by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at the L B Stadium in Hyderabad. Modi posted his congratulations, affirming support for Telangana’s progress and citizens’ well-being, emphasizing commitment to collaboration under new leadership. Prime Minister Modi A Revanth Re ..... Read More

Adani Green Energy is the world’s second-largest solar PV developer

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) achieves global recognition, securing the second position among solar PV developers, according to the Annual Global Report by Mercom Capital Group. The report, covering July 2022 to June 2023, highlights AGEL’s substantial contribution to the renewable energy sector. AGEL, with an impressive 18.1 GW of total solar capacity, closely follows France-based TotalEnergies, ranked first with 41.3 GW. Canada-based Brookfield Renewable Partners claims the third spot with 18 GW. AGEL’s notable position underscores its si ..... Read More

Social media deems Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dunki’ a ‘disaster’; fans express worry

The preview for Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film, ‘Dunki,’ has generated a mix of acclaim and critique on social media. Despite the heightened expectations stemming from Shah Rukh’s earlier triumphs in 2023 with ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan,’ the response to the ‘Dunki’ trailer is diverse. Directed by the accomplished Raju Hirani, renowned for several successes, there is considerable anticipation surrounding this project. However, a shift in sentiment is evident on social media, where ‘Dunki’ has become a topic of concern for some users who view the tra ..... Read More

Shukla was honored with an inaugural alumni award by MANIT, Bhopal

Venktesh Shukla, founder of Monta Vista, a California-based seed-stage venture capital firm, was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus award by Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, where he completed his electronics engineering degree in 1975. During the convocation ceremonies, Shukla announced a donation of 134,000 US Dollars to MANIT for a project of the institute’s choice, along with an annual donation of INR one lakh to the MANIT Alumni Association. Addressing the graduating classes of 2022 and 2023, Shukla empha ..... Read More

Krystle Kaul: Indian-American, national security expert, vying for US Congress

Krystle Kaul, a national security expert of Kashmiri origin, has announced her candidacy for the US House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Her campaign, rooted in the Democratic Party, prioritizes key issues like public safety, education, and healthcare. If successful in the 2024 elections, Kaul would be the second Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives, following Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. Notably, Susheela Jayapal, Pramila’s sister, has also entered the race for Congress from Oregon’s third Co ..... Read More

Harris, Bajaria sole Indian Americans on Forbes’ 100 powerful women list

Two Indian Americans featured on Forbes’ 100 most powerful women in the world 2023 list are US Vice President Kamala Harris and Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria. The list spans various industries such as technology, banking, media, entertainment, politics, and philanthropy. US Vice President Kamala Harris, ranking third for the second consecutive year, is recognized for her contributions to politics and policy. Harris made history as the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian-American to become Vice President on Jan ..... Read More

President Murmu, PM Modi, and lawmakers honor Ambedkar on his death anniversary

On the 67th death anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes. The day, observed as “Mahaparinirvan Diwas,” saw Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and other parliamentarians honoring Ambedkar at his statue in the Parliament premises. PM Modi acknowledged Ambedkar’s role as the architect of the Indian Constitution and his commitment to social harmony and the welfare of the exploited. In a social media post, PM Modi referred to Ambedkar as an “immortal ..... Read More

India to secure the third-largest economy spot by 2030, says S&P Global Ratings

S&P Global Ratings has projected India’s growth rate for the fiscal year 2023-24 to be 6.4%, a slight dip from the previous year’s 7.2%. The agency expects this growth to continue at 6.4% in the following fiscal year (2024-25), rising to 6.9% in the subsequent year and further increasing to 7% in 2026-27. The rating agency envisions India becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, forecasting it to be the fastest-growing major economy in the next three years. The shift from a service-oriented economy to a manufacturing-focused one is ..... Read More

“Gram Manchitra” GIS app aids Gram Panchayats in spatial planning for holistic development

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has introduced “Gram Manchitra,” a Geographic Information System (GIS) application that serves as a unified planning platform for Gram Panchayats. Utilizing geo-spatial technology, this application acts as a comprehensive decision support system for the formulation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP). It provides a visual representation of developmental projects across various sectors, enhancing planning capabilities at the local level. In addition to “Gram Manchitra,” the ministry has unveiled “mActionSof ..... Read More

PM Modi vows to actualize ‘Inevitable India’ through collective efforts and innovation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for collective efforts and innovation to materialize the vision of ‘Inevitable India.’ Using the X social media platform, Modi shared an opinion piece from Mint titled ‘Inevitable India rings especially true in the sphere of technology,’ authored by Debjani Ghosh. The article recounts the author’s experiences in the United States and Europe, highlighting India’s remarkable global ascent. Ghosh praises India’s pivotal role in international discussions, alliances, and partnerships across various sectors, fr ..... Read More

Indian-origin Engineer Revolutionizes Robots with Human-Like ‘Skin’

Professor Ravinder Dahiya, an expert in electronic skin at Northeastern University’s College of Engineering in Boston, is leading a project funded by a $230,000 National Science Foundation grant. The project aims to develop flexible and compressible electronic skin (e-Skin) integrated with soft magnetic coil-based ultra-thin actuators and touch sensors for robotics applications. The goal is to provide robots with human-like tactile abilities, enabling them to interact safely with objects and assist the elderly in daily tasks. Dahiya’s work addr ..... Read More

Health Services Journal honors Indian-origin transplant nurse

Dr. Agimol Pradeep, of Indian origin and a liver transplant coordinator at King’s College Hospital, has been acknowledged by the prestigious Health Services Journal (HSJ) for her innovative campaign efforts aimed at improving the lives of healthcare professionals. Her notable achievements include winning the award for “Workforce Initiative of the Year” and receiving high commendation in the “NHS Race Equality Award” category, according to a media release from King’s College Hospital. In the UK healthcare system, persistent challenges such as ..... Read More