Author: Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
What is common among the three—Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Mukesh Ambani? At first glance, there should be little in common among the three prominent personalities. The first is the president of the United States of America; the second is the head of the government of Russia; and the third is one of the richest men in India and the world. The common factor is oil, specifically, crude oil. What has bound the three together are the unexpected circumstances that have led to the Donald Trump administration imposing 50 per cent tariffs on much of India’s exports to the US,…
India’s ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could propel it to global dominance, challenging China and attracting U.S. and European support. New Delhi – India is poised to become the world’s leading superpower if the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) succeeds, a project unveiled at the G20 Summit in September 2023. Amid tensions with Pakistan and China, IMEC aims to establish India as a pivotal trade and connectivity hub linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, potentially outpacing rivals and reshaping global dynamics. Strategic Vision of IMECIMEC integrates railways, ports, highways, energy networks, and digital infrastructure, with an estimated $600…
India’s economy outperforms expectations with a robust 7.4% growth in Q4 FY 2024-25, though the full-year estimate of 6.5% marks a four-year low, reflecting mixed sectoral dynamics. New Delhi: On May 30, 2025, India’s Q4 GDP growth for FY 2024-25 was reported at 7.4%, surpassing forecasts of 6.7%, as per the National Statistics Office (NSO). However, the full-year Real GDP growth is estimated at 6.5%, the lowest since the COVID-affected FY 2020-21, compared to 9.7% in FY 2021-22, 7.6% in FY 2022-23, and 9.2% in FY 2023-24. Strong Q4 Performance Amid Annual SlowdownThe Q4 Real GDP reached ₹51.35 lakh crore,…
New Delhi: At the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 held in Bharat Mandapam on May 23, 2025, India’s leading industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani pledged a combined ₹1.25 lakh crore to accelerate development in the northeast, building on their earlier commitments made at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit in Guwahati in February. The summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showcased the region’s potential as a growth hub, aligning with the government’s vision to transform the northeast into a key economic corridor. Ambani’s Six Commitments to the NortheastReliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced a ₹75,000 crore investment over the…
On 20 December 2024, United States District Judge of the Northern District of California Phyllis J Hamilton upheld the allegations levelled by WhatsApp Incorporated (the encrypted messaging service that is part of the larger Meta conglomerate that includes social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram) against NSO Group Technologies Limited (the Israeli manufacturer of the spyware named Pegasus). The court held that NSO Group had exploited a technical loophole and hacked into the WhatsApp accounts inside the personal electronic devices of around 1,400 persons, of which some 300 users are believed to be from India. The crucial questions are: The…
