As the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) completes a decade since its launch on April 8, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the occasion by highlighting the scheme’s transformative impact on financial inclusion and grassroots entrepreneurship in India. According to the Prime Minister, over 52 crore loans worth ₹33 lakh crore have been disbursed under the scheme, making it a major success story in India’s developmental narrative. PM Modi described the scheme as an outc

  Amtrak has officially resumed its full Hiawatha train service between Chicago and Milwaukee, putting an end to nearly two weeks of disruptions that forced the company to rely on bus substitutions due to railcar shortages. The return of uninterrupted rail operations on the Hiawatha line marks a significant relief for daily commuters and regional travelers who rely on the route as a consistent and efficient means of transportation. The disruption began on March 27, wh

  India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has expressed confidence that the recent tariff hikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump could present an opportunity for India to strengthen its position in global trade. In response to the sudden shift in the U.S. trade stance, Goyal stated that India is well-positioned to benefit economically from the new environment created by America's protectionist approach. Trump recently declared a s

  A 24-year-old American man from Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested in India after attempting to make contact with one of the world's most isolated and protected indigenous communities. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a self-described YouTuber, was detained on March 31 after illegally setting foot on North Sentinel Island, a remote territory in the Indian Ocean known for its hostility to outsiders and strict governmental protection policies. According to Indian aut

A growing wave of visa cancellations is sweeping through international student communities in the United States, raising alarm among students, universities, and civil rights advocates. According to a report by the Associated Press, international students—especially those from India—are facing heightened scrutiny, with some losing their student visas over issues as minor as traffic violations or social media activity. In a troubling shift, several top US universities including Harvard

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, will begin a two-day official visit to India on Tuesday, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Monday. This marks the first official visit to India by Sheikh Hamdan in his capacity as Crown Prince and will include meetings with top Indian leadership as well as engagements aimed at strengthening b

As the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage nears, Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the issuance of certain categories of visas for citizens from 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The suspension affects Umrah, business, and family visit visas and will remain in place until mid-June, aligning with the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The decision reportedly aims to address logistical challenges and prevent unauthorized participation in the Hajj. The countries impacted by this move inc

If you are planning to apply for a marriage-based green card in 2025, prepare for a significantly more challenging and time-consuming process. The changes, largely influenced by the revised policies during the Trump administration, are causing delays across various stages, including biometrics, interviews, and approvals. USCIS has not implemented fixes to these delays yet, and applicants can expect longer processing times as well as more stringent documentation checks. A marria

In a surprising move that has stunned Indian domestic cricket circles, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has decided to part ways with Mumbai and join Goa for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed on Wednesday that they had accepted Jaiswal’s request to transfer, marking the end of a significant chapter in the 23-year-old's career. Jaiswal, who has risen through the ranks of Mumbai cricket to become a national team regular, revealed in an interview

Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent remarks questioning the direction of India’s startup ecosystem have sparked a wave of reactions from prominent startup leaders and tech entrepreneurs. While addressing an audience, Goyal questioned whether Indian startups are merely focused on "dukaandari"—running shops—by prioritizing delivery services, fantasy sports, and betting platforms, as opposed to Chinese startups that are innovating in areas like electric vehicle

For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), securing health and term insurance for themselves and their families back in India is more than just a financial obligation—it is a critical step toward safeguarding their loved ones and managing long-term security. As global citizens, NRIs often weigh the pros and cons of buying insurance in their country of residence versus opting for policies in India. What tips the scale in favor of Indian insurance are three strong reasons: affordability, extensive

The results of the 2026 H-1B visa lottery have left thousands of hopeful Indian professionals facing disappointment. The high demand once again overwhelmed the limited supply of available slots, with only 65,000 positions under the regular cap and an additional 20,000 allocated for applicants holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. Despite the odds, not being selected in this competitive lottery doesn't necessarily spell the end of the road. For those who weren’t chosen, there

The uncertainty surrounding U.S. immigration policies has intensified fears among H-1B visa holders, particularly in the technology sector. As concerns grow over potential policy changes under Donald Trump’s administration, major tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, have issued warnings to their foreign employees, advising them to avoid international travel. H-1B visas play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, particularly in the tech industry, where they

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to announce its annual central contracts for the senior men’s cricket team in April, with significant changes expected across various categories. Among the most talked-about developments is the anticipated return of Shreyas Iyer to the list after a notable absence last year due to multiple controversies. Iyer, who captains Punjab Kings in the IPL, had been dropped from the BCCI's central contracts in the 2023-24 cycle. Ho

India is positioning itself to become a global player in the rapidly expanding fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and chip manufacturing. Experts believe the country’s entry into the AI space, akin to the emergence of China’s DeepSeek, will be driven by strategic public-private partnerships within the next 4-5 years. Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Titan Capital and a prominent entrepreneur, emphasized this potential growth in a conversation about India&

Thousands of immigrant tech workers, especially Indians living in the United States, are currently facing unprecedented uncertainty regarding their future due to President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on strict immigration policies. The tightening of these policies has left many H-1B visa holders—including employees at top tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft—concerned about their job security, ability to travel internationally, and even the citizenship st

The United States Embassy in Romania has announced an important procedural change for all nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective April 7, all applicants must present a printed copy of their DS-160 confirmation page with a barcode to confirm that the same DS-160 form was used to schedule their visa appointment. Before attending their visa interview, applicants must ensure that the barcode number on the DS-160 form exactly matches the one used to book their appointment on USTrav

As the new financial year commences on April 1, 2025, several significant income tax changes have officially come into effect, directly impacting salaried individuals, senior citizens, investors, and taxpayers across the country. Announced during Budget 2025, these updates aim to simplify compliance, improve transparency, and provide substantial relief to the middle class. From revised tax slabs to increased deduction limits and changes in TDS thresholds, here’s a complete breakdown of

American comedy superstar Kevin Hart is officially heading to India for the very first time as part of his ongoing world tour titled Acting My Age. The announcement has sparked massive excitement among Indian fans, who will finally get the chance to experience Hart's dynamic comedic style live on stage. The much-anticipated performance is scheduled for April 30, 2025, and will mark a historic milestone in the celebrated comedian's career. The news was confirmed on April 1 by

In 2014, former U.S. Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia were asked whether undocumented immigrants are entitled to the rights outlined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedoms such as religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Both justices agreed that these rights apply to anyone present in the United States, regardless of their immigration status. Ginsburg explained that the Constitution does not limit its protections to cit