Finance Minister’s View on GDP Growth: In a recent statement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the lower-than-expected growth in India’s GDP for the September quarter, calling it a "temporary blip." She emphasized her confidence that India’s economy will regain strong growth in the upcoming quarters. Despite the slowdown in the second quarter, she highligh

On Monday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the Polavaram project in Eluru district to review its progress. During his inspection, he sought details from the officials overseeing the project. The officials informed him that more than Rs 1,200 crore would be needed for constructing the diaphragm wall and guide bund, crucial components of the project. Speaking to the media, CM Naidu highlighted that the government aims to finish the entire Polavaram project b

Ukraine has condemned FIFA after a map displayed during the European World Cup qualifiers for 2026 appeared to omit Crimea from Ukraine. The map, shown during the December 2024 draw for the joint-hosted tournament by the US, Mexico, and Canada, sparked backlash when it excluded Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy accused FIFA of supporting Russian propaganda and violating international law by "redrawing b

Indian tourists may soon enjoy visa-free travel to Russia, with the new arrangement expected by spring 2025. Since August 2023, Indian travelers have already been eligible for e-visas, which are processed within four days. The upcoming visa-free travel agreement will further strengthen tourism ties between India and Russia. In 2023, Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors, placing India among the top five countries for easy travel access to Russia. Consultations between Mosc

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday honored the soldiers who played a pivotal role in India's victory during the 1971 war, known as Vijay Diwas. The day commemorates the surrender of Pakistani forces to the Indian Army, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. In a post shared on X, PM Modi paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of the soldiers who contributed to this historic victory. Modi emphasized the selfless dedication and determination of the Indian soldiers, notin

The Indian rupee opened at 84.83 against the US dollar on Monday, a depreciation of 4 paise compared to the previous close of 84.79. The decline in the rupee is largely attributed to the uncertainty following the announcement of a leadership transition at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Shaktikanta Das will be succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, sparking initial concerns in the market. However, markets quickly adjusted to the news, with experts noting that the RBI is closely monitoring banking sys

Switzerland has decided to suspend the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status granted to India, which could result in higher taxes for Indian companies operating in the country. Starting January 1, 2025, Indian companies will face increased withholding tax rates on income such as dividends and royalties generated in Switzerland. The new tax rules will impose a 10% tax on dividends earned by Indian entities. This move follows a ruling by the Indian Supreme Court in October 2023, which sta

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to finalize the hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy during a virtual meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Under this model, India and Pakistan will not travel to each other's countries for ICC events. The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will be played in Dubai, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. T

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Prayagraj on Friday, hailed the 2025 Maha Kumbh as a "mahayagya of unity" that would elevate the country's cultural and spiritual identity. Addressing a public meeting, Modi emphasized that the Maha Kumbh brings people together, transcending caste and sect divisions. He inaugurated 167 significant development projects worth Rs 5,500 crore to enhance Prayagraj's infrastructure in preparation for the upcoming Kumbh Mela.

The US Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the Visa Bulletin for January 2025, providing crucial updates for green card applicants, with a notable focus on Indian applicants. This bulletin offers insights into the availability of immigrant visa numbers, which are vital for individuals waiting in the green card queue. The limits for employment-based preference immigrants have been set at 140,000, while family-sponsored category immigrants have a cap of

The aftermath of the YSR Congress' landslide defeat in the 2024 general election has left the party in turmoil, with many senior leaders defecting. Prominent figures like Alla Nani, Breda Mastan, Avanti Srinivas, and Grandhi Srinivas have already parted ways with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, signaling the party’s deepening crisis. Adding to the woes, seasoned Andhra Pradesh politician and former Congress MLA Gone Prakash Rao has claimed that 4-5 more MLAs are likely to leav

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He triumphed over the reigning title-holder, Ding Liren of China, in the 14th and final game of their thrilling showdown in Singapore. Gukesh secured the necessary 7.5 points, edging out Liren, who scored 6.5 points, after winning the last classical time control game, which had seemed destined for a draw for most of the match. Before Gukesh, the title of the youngest

Gold has experienced a remarkable rise in 2024, reaching 40 new record highs year-to-date and appreciating by over 28%. According to the World Gold Council (WGC), this surge has made gold the best-performing asset class globally, surpassing US stocks, emerging market stocks, US bonds, and even US currency. In the third quarter of 2024, gold demand exceeded $100 billion for the first time, showcasing its robust market position. Looking ahead to 2025, the direction of the US Federal R

Efforts are underway to secure the early release and repatriation of 14 Indian fishermen, including seven from Tamil Nadu, who have been detained in a Pakistani jail since January. Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin about the ongoing diplomatic efforts. This followed a letter from Stalin, dated November 20, urging swift action for the fishermen’s release. Jaishankar stated that the Indian government had raised the matte

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is currently in turmoil due to the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly stated that it will not send its team to Pakistan, citing security concerns and political issues. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott future ICC events if India does not agree to the proposed hybrid model, where India’s matches are played in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament tak

India's inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), moderated to 5.48% in November, down from 6.21% in October, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This easing, however, is still above the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) target of 4%, with food prices continuing to drive inflationary pressure. The food inflation rate surged by 9.04%, continuing its trend of high costs. Economists had forecast a median inflation estimate of 5.5% fo

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh is set to make history in the World Chess Championship as he nears a potential victory over China's Ding Liren. The series is tied at 6-6 after 12 intense games, and with a dramatic Game 13 that ended in a draw, Gukesh now has a final chance to clinch the title. This pivotal game, scheduled for Thursday, marks the culmination of years of hard work and determination for the young chess prodigy. Born in Chennai on May 29, 2006, D Gukesh began playing ch

Venkatesh Iyer's Surprising Academic Pursuit Venkatesh Iyer, the talented all-rounder who made headlines with his hefty price tag of Rs 23.75 crore at the IPL 2024 mega auctions, is not just focused on his cricketing career. Despite his high-profile presence in the sport, Iyer is also pursuing a PhD and is on his way to becoming Dr. Venkatesh Iyer. His decision to continue his academic journey after his cricket career shows his commitment to education. Iyer even joked about his aca

Sanjay Malhotra, a 1990-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan, has been appointed as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), succeeding Shaktikanta Das. The government announced that Malhotra will take charge from Wednesday for a term of three years. With a background in computer science from IIT Kanpur and a Master's in Public Policy from Princeton University, Malhotra has had a distinguished career spanning over three decades in various sectors, including finance, taxation, pow

The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p