As India prepares for the Union Budget of 2025-26, the finance ministry has highlighted the need for flexibility in fiscal policy, given the ongoing global economic and geopolitical challenges. While the fiscal deficit for FY26 is expected to be below 4.5% of GDP, there are concerns over the ability to accurately project receipts and expenditures in the current uncertain environment. The global situation has worsened, with escalating conflicts, further complicating fiscal planning.

In a significant change to school education, the Centre has scrapped the 'no-detention policy' for classes 5 and 8 in schools under its control. This means that students who fail the year-end exams will no longer automatically be promoted. Instead, they will have the chance to retake the exam after additional coaching within two months of the results. If they still fail, they will be held back in the same grade. This move follows amendments to the Right to Education Act (RTE

The controversy surrounding Allu Arjun’s actions during the deadly stampede at the Pushpa-2 screening on December 4 continues to escalate. Police have revealed that despite being informed about the death of a woman, Revathi, and the chaos unfolding at the cinema hall, Allu Arjun remained inside the theatre until the movie ended. City police commissioner CV Anand shared a video, compiled from news channels and cellphone footage, showing the situation during the stamped

On Sunday, US President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author, as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Krishnan, who has held leadership roles at major tech companies such as Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snap, will work alongside David O. Sacks, who will serve as the White House AI & Crypto Czar. Krishnan's role will involve ensuring that

Pakistan, a country grappling with terrorism, political instability, and economic challenges, has once again found itself in a precarious diplomatic situation with its long-time ally, China. The latest controversy centers around Pakistan's attempt to negotiate over the use of Gwadar port in Balochistan, which is part of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). During a high-level meeting, Pakistan reportedly demanded that China provide a second-strike nuclear capability in e

China, the world's second-largest economy, is working to recover from the effects of its three years of pandemic isolation. In a bid to attract more international visitors and boost its economy, China recently announced an expansion of its visa-free transit policy. The new policy, which is effective immediately, allows travelers from 54 countries, including the US, Canada, and several European and Asian nations, to stay in parts of China for up to 10 days. Previously, the visa-f

The Telangana Assembly was adjourned on Monday after BRS MLAs raised slogans and disrupted the debate on the Telangana State Tourism Policy. The debate, which resumed after a tea break, was halted when opposition members continued to protest against the Congress government. In response to the disruption, Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu criticized the BRS legislators for not adhering to the rules and traditions of the House. Speaker G. Prasad Kumar intervened, directing

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

Elon Musk’s Tesla has become one of the top employers of H-1B workers, with over 1,700 H-1B visas approved for Tesla employees in 2020. This marks a significant reliance on skilled foreign workers as Tesla continues to grow. Musk’s early career began with illegal work on a student visa in the U.S., but now Tesla’s future is intertwined with the availability of H-1B workers, a visa program that is crucial for attracting talent to the tech industry. The Trump adminis

 In light of US President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariff measures on China, Canada, and Mexico, India is poised to capitalize on potential shifts in global manufacturing. With Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, manufacturers may seek alternative locations to bypass the 60% levy on Chinese goods. India, with its low-cost labor, skilled workforce, and growing tech sector, is an attractive destination for this shift. Invest

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 50-year regime has ushered in a new chapter for Syria, marked by jubilation and uncertainty. In Damascus, crowds celebrated the regime's collapse, while other groups, including rebel factions, engaged in efforts to stabilize the country and fill the power vacuum left behind. Syrian journalist Abdo Fayyad attributes this shift to the 2016 opposition victories in Idlib, which laid the groundwork for today’s rebel advances. While the future

In a significant development, at least 75 Indian nationals have been evacuated from war-torn Syria, where rebel forces have overthrown President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The evacuees, including 44 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir stranded at Saida Zainab, have safely crossed into Lebanon and will return to India by commercial flights, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The evacuation follows multiple requests from Indian nationals and an assessment of the evolv

President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his plan to end birthright citizenship, a policy that grants U.S. citizenship to children born within the country, regardless of their parents' citizenship. This right, enshrined in the 14th Amendment for more than 150 years, could soon be under scrutiny after Trump takes office on January 20th. Trump has called the practice "ridiculous," stating that the U.S. needs to "get it changed," and that "maybe we&rsquo

Robots are increasingly becoming a part of everyday life, and in a groundbreaking development, China has introduced an advanced AI-powered spherical police robot known as RT-G. Developed by Logon Technology, the RT-G is designed to go beyond traditional surveillance and actively pursue and apprehend suspects. Unlike many Western models focused on monitoring, this robot can chase criminals, shoot nets, and even withstand falls from heights. The RT-G robot is equipped with advanced se

Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on military targets in Syria after Israeli troops seized a buffer zone, previously established after the 1973 Middle East war. The military said it would deploy forces in additional locations essential for Israel’s defense, though it denied advancing toward Damascus. On the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in his long-running corruption trial, denying charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu called the charge

Disease X is a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to refer to a hypothetical, yet-to-be-identified pathogen with the potential to cause a global pandemic. While no cases of Disease X have been identified, the possibility of such an outbreak raises significant concerns worldwide, especially in densely populated countries like India. With the rapid spread of diseases in today’s interconnected world, Disease X could pose a serious threat if preventive measures aren’t

President-elect Donald Trump has outlined his vision for major immigration changes in an interview with Meet the Press. His plans include ending birthright citizenship, deporting families with mixed immigration status, and finding a solution for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Ending Birthright Citizenship Currently, the U.S. grants citizenship to anyone born on its soil, regardless of their parents' immigr

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

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced it would keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the 11th consecutive time. This decision comes despite the GDP growth rate for the July-September quarter falling to a 7-quarter low of 5.4%, which was below the RBI's earlier projection of 7%. The RBI paused its rate hike cycle in April last year after raising rates by 250 basis points since May 2022. In the fifth bi-monthly monetary policy review for the current fiscal year,

Oil prices have shown remarkable stability, remaining in a narrow range since mid-October, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fluctuating around $70 per barrel. This rangebound trend has been characterized by a significant drop in volatility, with recent levels at their lowest since August. Despite ongoing geopolitical risks, such as the tensions between Iran and Israel and the potential impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency, traders have remained cautious. The market's curren