India - Partner In Growth
Greetings from the Embassy of India in Washington D.C.!
Welcome to the  October 17, 2018, edition of our weekly newsletter, bringing you important policy and high-impact news about India.
I hope you find it useful.
-- Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary, Press, Information and Culture

YouTube
Facebook Twitter
KEY POLICY DECISIONS
Talks Underway to Include Special Forces in 2019 India-U.S. Military Exercise

The U.S. and Indian armed forces are in talks to include special forces during their joint exercises in 2019, and are also discussing a tri-services exercise, one that includes the simultaneous participation of U.S. and Indian armies, navies and air forces.



WEF, Govt. Launches Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Government have launched the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India, which aims to bring together the Government and business leaders to pilot emerging technology policies.


 
PM Modi: Digital India Has Changed the Life of Indians in 4 Years

In the four years since its launch, the Government's Digital India program has changed the lives of Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, with an increase of digital services to Indians, a rise in e-payments and other innovations.



 
SEBI OKs Foreign Entities in Commodity Derivatives Market

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Government's market regulator, will allow foreign entities to enter the commodity derivatives market in order to hedge their exposure. Analysts predict the move will increase liquidity and improve foreign investment.


 

PM Modi Inaugurates Investors Summit in Dehradun

 

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Uttarakhand Investors Summit in Dehradun, which aims to improve outside investment in the state and showcase India's status at a top-tier destination for foreign investment. 

 


 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
Prime Minister Modi Warns of High Oil Prices Hurting Global Growth

Prime Minister Modi warned oil producers such as Saudi Arabia that high crude prices are hurting the global economy and sought a review of payment terms to provide a temporary relief to the local currency.



 
India's debt is lower than the best or emerging market economies in the world, a top IMF official has said, noting that total debt is about 125 percent of India's GDP. By comparison, China's debt is 247 percent of GDP.



The battle for India's online shoppers has triggereda smartphone gold rush. Flipkart and Amazon are leading an online sales bonanza that will see Indians buy smartphones worth over $1 billion in just five days, according to a tech consultancy.




The Embassy of India will teach free classes in Hindi and Sanskrit beginning soon. Hindi will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. and Sanskrit on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Register at the Embassy by clicking Read More.




Ahmedabad-based technology business incubator iCreate, an international center for entrepreneurship and technology, has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BootUP Ventures and the University of Houston during the recent Vibrant Gujarat delegation to the U.S.




TRANSFORMING INDIA

In an attempt to retain the beauty and the pristine greens in the Himalayan region, Pradeep Sangwan started an organization, which he aptly named "Healing Himalayas." Having always been a city dweller, his decision to move to Himachal Pradesh in 2009 came as a surprise to those who knew him.