Padmini Pillai and Nalini Tata, two exceptional individuals from Boston and New York, respectively, have been selected for the 2024-25 class of White House Fellows. This prestigious fellowship recognizes individuals with outstanding talent, leadership potential, and commitment to public service. Both were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, reflecting their unique accomplishments and dedication. Padmini Pillai Padmini Pilla

Indian Americans have become the largest "Asian-alone" group in the United States, recently surpassing Chinese Americans, according to new Census Bureau data. While Chinese Americans remain the largest Asian group when including multiracial individuals, the number of people identifying as solely Indian on the 2020 census has grown to nearly 4.4 million—a 55% increase over the last decade. This shift reflects a long-standing trend since the 1990s when the U.S. tech bo

Significant changes have been introduced to the Public Provident Fund (PPF) scheme, starting in October 2024. These modifications directly impact Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and accounts opened in the name of minors. The changes aim to simplify the management of PPF accounts and bring uniformity across different types of account holders. Both current and prospective investors should be aware of these amendments as they will affect long-term savings strategies.

Income Tax Return (ITR) filing is a critical component of financial compliance for individuals, especially for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). This process involves reporting income, disclosing taxes paid, and claiming any potential refunds from the Indian tax department. For NRIs, understanding and complying with India's ITR filing requirements can be complex, given varied income sources and intricate tax laws. They often face the challenge of potential double taxation, necessitat

In a positive sign for the Indian economy, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for September 2023 increased by 6.5% year-on-year, totaling ₹1.73 lakh crore. This marks a rise from ₹1.63 lakh crore collected in September of the previous year. The net GST collection after refunds stood at ₹1.53 lakh crore, showing a growth of 4% compared to ₹1.47 lakh crore in September 2022. So far this fiscal year, the government has recorded a gross GST revenue of ₹10.87 lakh cro

A panel of state ministers, established by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, is set to convene in Goa on September 24 and 25. This six-member group, led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, will review the implications of rate rationalization on at least 100 items. The discussions aim to analyze potential changes in GST slabs and rates, particularly focusing on essential goods. During the two-day meeting, the panel will explore various

Recent data shows US job growth over the past year was notably weaker than initially estimated. According to new information released Wednesday, there were 818,000 fewer jobs in March 2024 than originally reported. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) performs an annual review of employment data, aligning monthly payroll survey figures with those from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). This preliminary revision is the largest downward adjustment since 2009, suggest

Koratala Siva, a renowned filmmaker in the Telugu film industry, recently drew attention with his remarks about taxpayer privileges during a podcast hosted by former IAS officer Jayaprakash Narayanan. Known for his successful directorial career, Siva shared a personal anecdote about an incident at the airport where he felt entitled to special treatment due to his high tax contributions. During the podcast, Siva recounted an experience where, due to a tight schedule,

USCIS Announces Second Round of H-1B Visa Lottery for FY 2025 The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans for a second round of random selection for H-1B visa applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025. This follows the initial lottery held in March, which included both the regular H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption, also known as the master’s cap. Selected individuals from the first lottery were able to file their H-1B petitions between A

Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), wrote a letter to Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway regarding protesting students’ demand to display flags of displaced peoples on the Rutgers campus. Students had requested that flags representing occupied peoples, including but not limited to Palestinians, Kurds, and Kashmiris, be displayed in all areas where international flags are present across Rutgers campuses. In his

The Gandhian Society (USA) hosted a prestigious event in Edison, New Jersey, to welcome esteemed guests: Dr. Harshad Patel, Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith Shri Nithin Mathuria ji, President of Aditya Birla Group of Companies Other distinguished guests included Dr. H. R. Shah (Chairman, TV Asia), Nishith Patel (President, Edison Council), Kenny Desai (Ex-President, FIA), Dr. S

"The six-time world Boxing champion will commence her collaboration with Gera’s ChildCentric Homes with her academy, Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, at Gera’s Island of Joy, East Kharadi, Pune" Gera Developments Private Limited (GDPL), esteemed pioneers in real estate and recipients of multiple awards for their premium residential and commercial projects across Pune, Goa, and Ca

NEW YORK: On Saturday, in the bustling heart of Times Square, cultural diversity took center stage as British Women in Sarees partnered with Uma to host the iconic Saree Goes Global event. Held at Father Duffy Square, Times Square, this celebration showcased the timeless elegance of the saree through music, dance, and a vibrant Saree Walkathon. The event received support from the Consulate General of India in New York, Mr. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan. Building on the su

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN: During the 3rd Tashkent Investment Forum, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan formalized an expression of intent to collaborate in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fostering economic growth in Uzbekistan. As part of this partnership, ICD will provide JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan with a Line of Financing (LoF) facility to fund private sector projects, with t