FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 1 INDIA THIS WEEK A Weekly Newspaper Featuring News and Trends from the Indian Sub-Continent Published From the US Capital Web Site: WWW.Indiathisweek.us Volume 36 No. 37 Washington DC. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800; 301-445-1868 E-Mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Friday September 11, 2026 India’s BRICS Chairmanship Takes Center Stage as PM Modi Hosts Expanded 11-Nation Summit in New Delhi New Delhi [India], September 8 (ANI): India is preparing to host a major diplomatic gathering as leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping assemble in the national capital for the 18th Leaders’ Summit, marking two decades since the bloc’s founding. With New Delhi taking on the chairmanship, discussions will focus on advancing international cooperation in trade, digital technology, finance, energy security and global governance reform. The two-day summit will bring together heads of state and government from member nations, along with invited international participants and senior officials, at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan on September 12 and 13. Ahead of the leaders’ gathering, the BRICS Business Forum will take place on September 11 at the same venue, alongside a session of the Women’s Business Alliance. Under its chairmanship, India has already organized more than 350 BRICS-related meetings and high-level engagements across more than 25 cities nationwide. India’s 2026 chairmanship is anchored by the central theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflecting the broader vision of “Humanity First.” The summit agenda focuses on strengthening cooperation among member states while driving tangible outcomes in economic growth, technology integration, sustainable development and institutional governance. Discussions across various sessions are expected to address resilient global supply chains, cross-border payment integration, expanded use of national currencies, micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development, digital trade and artificial intelligence. Talks will also cover energy security, climate resilience, development finance, expansion of the New Development Bank and urgent reforms of multilateral financial and political institutions. Operating across three foundational pillars — political and security matters, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges — the summit is expected to adopt a joint Leaders’ Declaration, subject to consensus among the participating nations. The enlarged 11-member core grouping includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, following Indonesia’s induction as a full member in 2025. Additionally, 10 partner nations — Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam — participate within the broader BRICS framework while remaining distinct from the full member states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the summit, with Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed to attend and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to participate. A visit by Xi would mark his first trip to India Remember: “Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it.” – James Garfield since his 2019 informal meeting with Modi in Mamallapuram, making potential bilateral exchanges a key diplomatic highlight. Other prominent leaders scheduled to participate include South African President Cyril Rama- phosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart To- kayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, alongside expected participation by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The 2026 summit carries significant diplo- matic weight as it marks 20 years of BRICS and represents the first major leaders’ meeting following the bloc’s historic expansion. New Delhi’s presidency places India at the center of global discussions on trade, financial autonomy, technological architecture and climate action, providing a platform for critical bilateral talks with key international partners, particularly Russia and China. India’s four BRICS chairmanships, in 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2026, reflect the evolving priorities of both the grouping and New Delhi’s BRICS SUMMIT SEE PAGE 6 Trump Backs New H-1B Fee in Labor Day Push to Prioritize U.S. Workers Washington, D.C. [U.S.], September 8 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump used his Labor Day proclamation to promote a proposed fee on H-1B visa applications, asserting that the measure would encourage domestic companies to prioritize American workers before seeking employees from abroad. “To ensure we are hiring and training American workers, we are proposing a new fee on H-1B visa petitions that will encourage companies to invest in qualified Americans before looking overseas for labor,” Trump stated in the proclamation issued Monday. By incorporating the issue into his Labor Day address, Trump directly linked the highly scrutinized H-1B visa program to a broader agenda focused on industrial production, trade tariffs and domestic employment security. The H-1B program is frequently used by technology companies and other employers to recruit highly skilled international workers. Indian citizens have traditionally represented the largest segment of H-1B recipients, making policy changes a subject of significant interest in India and among Indian professionals in the United States. Clarifying the implementation status, the referenced financial requirement does not constitute a newly enacted fee introduced Monday. The Department of Homeland Security previously advanced a rule proposing a $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B applications, including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption. The fee would be collected upon filing in addition to standard immigration costs and would support administrative expenses. Framing the initiative within a broader fiscal agenda favoring American workers, Trump also highlighted shifts in manufacturing. “After decades of disastrous trade policies that surrendered our industrial strength to foreign nations, companies are now returning home, investing trillions of dollars into the United States economy, and adding over 900,000 American jobs,” Trump stated. The administration attributed the country’s industrial resilience to protective tariffs and pointed to consecutive months of manufacturing growth. “Our Nation is entering a bold new era of American manufacturing, technological innovation, and economic prosperity — powered by the might of the American worker,” Trump said. The official proclamation designated September 7 as Labor Day to recognize the contributions of American workers. The development follows a previous attempt by the administration to impose a $100,000 fee on incoming H-1B entrants. That measure was invalidated by a Massachusetts federal judge in June on grounds of executive overreach, followed by an appeals court’s denial in July of the administration’s request for a stay. Unlike the previous immediate measure, the proposed $103,265 fee is proceeding through the standard federal regulatory process and is not currently an active charge. (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 US House Falls Silent for Nepal Flood Victims as Dozens of Indian-Americans Remain Missing By Geeta Goindi WASHINGTON, September 3, 2026 — The U.S. House of Representatives fell silent this week for the victims of the catastrophic floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, as lawmakers paid tribute to those who died and turned their thoughts to thousands still missing – among them dozens of Indian-Americans whose families are desperately waiting for word that their loved ones are alive. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), led the moment of silence on the House floor Wednesday, surrounded by fellow lawmakers, including Indian-American Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA.). “I rise today to honor the victims of the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet,” Meng said. “The scale of destruction is heartbreaking.” The August 26 disaster devastated communities along the mountainous border region, sweeping away homes, hotels, roads, bridges and immigration facilities and severing communications with travelers who had been making their way to and from Mount Kailash, one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. Meng told the House that nearly 1,000 people had lost their lives and more than 4,000 remained missing at the time of her remarks, including an estimated 90 Americans, the majority of them of Indian descent. Since then, there have been glimmers of hope. Sixteen Americans have been confirmed safe, according to updated information from the State Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), surrounded by fellow lawmakers, leads a moment of silence on the U.S. House floor September 2 for those affected by the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, as dozens of Indian-Americans remain missing. Department, bringing the number of U.S. citizens still unaccounted for to around 75. For their families, however, the agonizing wait continues. Among those missing are Ramesh Sharma, 65, and Neelam Sharma, 64, of New York City. Their adult children, Dr. Radhika Sharma and Akash Sharma, traveled to Nepal to join efforts to find their parents rather than wait helplessly thousands of miles away. Also unaccounted for are Rekha Shashidharan, 54, and her 14-yearold daughter, Rashi, from New York. The mother and daughter had embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and were staying near the border shortly before the floodwaters struck. Their family was later told that the hotel where they had been staying had been washed away. Three other travelers with ties to the New York area — Amita Amin, Immigration Lawyer Law Office of Ryan Morgan Knight Email or call for free consultation ryan@immigrationknight.com 1 (888) 735-0560 Ryan Knight Licensed to practice immigration law Nationwide; Licensed to practice art law in Maryland 67, of Roslyn Heights; Jitendra Manubhai Patel of Merrick; and Tejal Vyomesh Patel, 64, of New Jersey — were traveling together on the pilgrimage. Amin, making her seventh journey to Mount Kailash and her second this year, was accompanied by Patel, the mother-in-law of her son, and Jitendra Patel, a longtime family friend. Relatives believe the three had just crossed into Tibet when disaster struck. Their last communication came roughly an hour before floodwaters tore through the border region, destroying infrastructure and cutting off communications. For Meng, whose Queens district is home to large Indian-American, Nepali-American and Tibetan-American communities, the tragedy has reverberated close to home. “We are committed to supporting our Asian American communities across the United States — and especially those who live in my district in Queens, New York — as we navigate this profound tragedy,” she said. “We stand with all those affected, both at home and abroad.” The uncertainty extends far beyond New York. Six Northern Virginia residents are among a group of 10 men who remain missing after setting out for Mount Kailash. Nine members of the group are U.S. citizens — Anil Goel, Srinivas Sudhir Rangu, Laxminath Gopisetty, Kesava Rao Tadipatri, Kirti Acharya, Sudhindra Yapalparvi, Vivek Srivastav, Venkat Balasubramanyam and Venkat Bangalore. The 10th member, Mahendra Gupta, is a Canadian citizen. Subramanyam, whose district includes several of the missing men, said his office has remained in regular contact with the State Department as families seek information. “I am especially concerned that so many U.S. citizens have been impacted and are currently missing, including many of my constituents from Northern Virginia,” he said. “Some of them were community leaders who went to find spiritual connection in the Himalayas.” His office, he said, is pressing for a thorough search-and-rescue operation and regular communication with families awaiting news. Krishnamoorthi has similarly urged the State Department to use every available resource to help locate the missing and provide answers to their families. “The United States must continue working closely with authorities in Nepal and the region to provide answers to families awaiting news of their loved ones,” he said. Among the missing is Poonam Thakkar, 42, of Bartlett, Illinois, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen who had spent two years planning her spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Texas families are waiting, too. Deepak and Madhu Ahuja of the Dallas area had undertaken what was meant to be a joyful “bucket list” journey to Mount Kailash to celebrate Deepak’s 60th birthday. They have not been heard from since the disaster. Venkat Balasubramanyam, a tech program manager from Austin and a member of the Northern Virginia-led group, is also missing. His wife, Usha Iyer, and other family members have been working with authorities in hopes of tracing his last known location. Tennessee has another connection to the tragedy through the Isha Foundation, whose North American center is in McMinnville. A large group affiliated with the organization was caught in the disaster while returning from Mount Kailash, with 22 American citizens among those initially reported missing. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said his thoughts and prayers were with Tennesseans and others affected and that his office was continuing to follow developments. Across party lines and across states, lawmak- ers have called for greater assistance and sustained efforts to locate those still unaccounted for. But behind the numbers are individual families enduring the same painful uncertainty. Some of the missing had saved and planned for years to make the sacred journey. Others were celebrating birthdays, retirement or long-held dreams. Parents traveled with children, husbands with wives and friends with friends, drawn to the Himalayas by faith and the hope of spiritual fulfillment. On the House floor, those individual stories converged in a rare moment of collective silence. “I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence to remember the victims, support the survivors, and honor those working tirelessly on recovery and rescue efforts,” Meng said. For the families of the Indian-Americans who have yet to come home, the silence carries another meaning: the absence of a phone call, a message or any definitive word from the people they love. And as search efforts continue across a devastated and difficult-to-reach region, they are holding on to the hope that the next name added to the list of those found safe will be theirs.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 3 M A K E YO U R R E TI R EM E NT E V E N MO R E Extraordinary Discover premier senior living at an Erickson Senior Living®-managed community. • Gain time and freedom from house maintenance. • Enjoy stylish residences and on-site amenities. • Benefit from a safety net of on-site support. Call 1-800-691-2034 or visit EricksonSeniorLiving.com for your free brochure. • Riderwood® Silver Spring, MD • Greenspring® Springfield, VA • The GrandviewSM Bethesda, MD • Woodleigh Chase® Fairfax, VA 2816250 • Ashby Ponds® Ashburn, VA U.S. Warns EB-1 Green Cards May Become Unavailable for India WASHINGTON, September 3 — The United States has cautioned that employment-based first-preference green cards for Indian nationals could become temporarily unavailable in the coming weeks due to heavy demand, intensifying an already severe backlog that has kept another major category closed to applicants. The U.S. State Department, in its September Visa Bulletin, highlighted that elevated demand and substantial visa number usage by individuals chargeable to India in the EB-1 category could exhaust the country’s specific allocation before the end of the American fiscal year on September 30. The State Department said that high demand and visa number usage by individuals chargeable to India may require making the visa category unavailable in the coming weeks if India’s prorated limit in the EB-1 category is reached before the fiscal year ends. The department further noted, “This situation will be continually monitored, and any necessary adjustments will be made accordingly.” The EB-1 category represents the employment-based first-preference classification, which caters to priority professionals, including individuals with extraordinary ability, distinguished researchers and professors, as well as certain multinational executives and managers. The warning carries substantial weight for Indian applicants, as several other employment-based green card pathways remain heavily restricted. For September, the final action date for EB-1 India stands at October 15, 2022. This means an applicant generally requires a priority date earlier than this cutoff for a visa number to become available for final issuance, subject to compliance with other eligibility requirements. Meanwhile, In- dia’s EB-2 category, which covers professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability, is designated as “U” (unavailable) in the September bulletin. The State Department clarifies that “U” means visa numbers are not authorized for issuance within that specific classification during the stated timeframe. The category remained unavailable through August and continues to have that status in September.Severe backlogs also affect the employment-based third-preference category. The EB-3 India final action date for September is January 1, 2014, reflecting a queue extending beyond 12 years. For comparison, the EB-3 final action date is September 1, 2024, for most countries not specifically listed in the bulletin, January 1, 2022, for mainland China, and August 1, 2023, for the Philippines. Furthermore, India’s unreserved EB-5 in- vestor category remains unavailable for final action during September, although specific EB-5 set-aside allocations for rural projects, high-unemployment areas and infrastructure projects remain current for all countries. Filing dates provide a slightly broader window than final-action dates. In the September dates-for-filing chart for India, December 1, 2023, is designated for EB-1, while January 15, 2015, applies to both EB-2 and EB-3. However, applicants pursuing adjustment of status within the United States must verify which specific chart has been authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for use during a given month. The mounting pressure on Indian employment-based applicants stems primarily from a combination of strong demand and strict statu- tory caps governing the total number of employment-based immigrants permitted annually. For fiscal year 2026, the State Department indicates a worldwide employment-based preference ceiling of 186,317, while U.S. immigration law generally imposes a 7% per-country limit across family- and employment-based preference categories, subject to adjustments through carryover provisions. (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK US halts Cognizant’s green-card filings amid Trump’s visa fraud crackdown Washington, DC [US], September 9 (ANI): The United States Department of Labour has frozen permanent labour certification submissions for Cognizant, representing the foundational stage through which enterprises sponsor overseas personnel for permanent residency, as the Trump administration steps up enforcement against alleged visa malpractices. A Labour Department official posted “Handcuffs await” on social media while releasing details of the measure, which links back to a countrywide inquiry launched in July. US Department of Labour Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito stated on Tuesday that permanent labour certification documents for Cognizant and Cloudera had been halted following a probe executed alongside the White House Fraud Task Force and related authorities.Breaking the news on the social media platform X while detailing the enforcement step, D’Esposito stated, “Threats to American workers will NOT be tolerated.” He added, “Fighting fraud is a TEAM SPORT. @Sonderling47 and I are for real. @Cognizant’s PERM filings are suspended. @DOLOIG is on the hunt,” pointing to Keith Sonderling, Acting Secretary, Department of Labour.” Alongside @ WHFraudTF, we’re following facts, fraud and finances. Handcuffs await,” he further remarked.This turn of events unfolds amid heightened regulatory examination across the United States regarding corporate reliance on foreign-worker visa and employment-based immigration systems. Large Indian IT services companies have historically relied on overseas talent and US immigration programmes to staff client projects. PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, functions as the procedure whereby American employers petition the Department of Labour for clearance to sponsor foreign staff for permanent residency. Within this protocol, corporate sponsors are generally required to demonstrate that qualified and accessible domestic candidates are unavailable for the position, and that employing an overseas worker will not depress local wage structures or workplace standards. Back in July, the Trump administration initiated a wide-ranging probe into alleged fraud connected to the H-1B and PERM em- ployment visa channels. Cognizant established its roots in Chennai during 1994 and currently maintains its headquarters in Teaneck, New Jersey. Figures published by US Citizenship and Immigration Services indicate that Cognizant secured approvals for 3,510 H-1B visa applications up to June 30, contrasting with 9,413 approvals registered in 2020. The halt placed on Cognizant’s PERM documentation highlights an aggressive new phase in the US government’s campaign addressing alleged employment visa wrongdoing, bringing both the firm and Cloudera under direct investigation. (ANI) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 Jaipur: Wife of tourist guide killed after alleged knife attack demands justice, compensation Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], September 9 (ANI): Tourist guide Manish Soni, who was injured in a stabbing incident in Amer, died during treatment at a hospital, following which his family members and villagers staged a protest and shut down Amer’s main market. According to the family, the accused, Azam, allegedly stabbed Manish with a knife along with his After Satya Niketan building collapse; students raise questions on PG safety in Delhi, state proposes new policy By Tanishq Priya | New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): For students and young professionals who leave their hometowns for Delhi in pursuit of their dreams, a paying guest accommodation gradually becomes much more than four walls and a bed. It becomes a second home where they return after college or work, have their meals, prepare for exams, attend late-night meetings and call their families before going to sleep. But the collapse of a five-storey building housing a boys’ PG in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan on September 6, which claimed seven lives, has shaken that sense of security and made many question whether the place they call home is truly safe. For students and young professionals currently living in PGs across Delhi-NCR, the tragedy has brought a question into their rooms that many had never considered before: Do I really know how safe the building I sleep in is? Until now, choos- ing a PG was largely about rent, food, Wi-Fi and proximity to college or the workplace. The condition of the building, its permissions and approvals, or what would happen in an emergency often remained outside that calculation. Sneha Mishra, who lives at ‘New PG for Girls’ in Sant Nagar, said the collapse has changed the way she looks at the place she has come to regard as home after moving to Delhi from Deoghar, Jharkhand. “When I came to Delhi from Deoghar, this PG became my second home. I eat, study and sleep here, but I never really thought about whether the place I call home is actually safe,” Mishra told ANI. That thought, she said, now follows her even when she is trying to sleep.“Earlier, I never thought about the condition of the building. Now, when I go to sleep, there is a question in my mind — what if the building we trust with our lives is not safe?” she told ANI.The worry does not stop with the young people living inside these buildings. It travels back home, to parents who send their children to Delhi believing they have found a secure place to live.“Our parents send us here believing we are safe. After Satya Niketan, many of us have started looking at the roof over our heads differently,” Mishra told ANI.But for many young people, finding a safer place is not simply a matter of making a choice. It is also a matter of being able to afford one. A better-maintained PG can mean a higher monthly rent, something that can be difficult for a student or someone earning an entry-level salary. In a city where every extra thousand rupees matters, safety can end up competing with affordability. Shilpashree Mondal, who lives in a PG in Noida, stated that her budget leaves little room for choice.“I don’t think even a working woman like me has much of a real choice when it comes to choosing where to live. Budget decides most of it, especially in a city like Delhi, where finding a safe and affordable place can be difficult,” Mondal told ANI.The Satya Niketan collapse initially frightened Mondal. But soon, the fear turned into a closer look at the place where she herself lives.“I started thinking, what if something like this happens to my PG too? I somehow convinced myself that it wouldn’t happen, but there are already things that worry me, like problems with the water supply, poor hygiene and dampness in the walls,” she said. Often, she said, the reality of a PG becomes clear only after moving in.“The owner and caretakers often make things look safer and better than they actually are, but you only realise the real problems once you start living there,” Mondal told ANI. For Pallavi Joshi, who hails from Uttarakhand’s Haldwani and has been living in a Delhi PG for nearly two years, the collapse has changed an otherwise ordinary nightly routine.“I had never thought about the structure of my PG before. associate, Nazish.Poonam Soni, wife of the deceased, demanded justice for her husband and financial support for her children. “I only want justice and my daughters’ rights. No one has come to meet us yet. I have submitted my demands in writing. The accused should be dealt with in the same way as he killed my husband. I want financial compensation and a government job to support my children and their education. I have mentioned all these demands in writing. I appeal to the administration to provide justice as soon as possible,” Poonam Soni said. BJP’s Hawa Mahal Constituency MLA Balmukund Acharya said the accused had committed a grave crime and would face punishment.”The accused has committed a grave crime. There is no caste, creed, or religion involved; an accused is an accused, whoever he may be. The accused, Azam Khan, has committed a very serious crime by killing a simple person like Manish. He will have to face punishment, and those involved with him will also have to face punishment. Strict action will be taken against the accused, his associates, and his accomplices,” Acharya said. He further said that the demands of the deceased’s family would be taken up with the Chief Minister.”The family will get justice. We will take all the demands of the family to the Chief Minister and ensure that their demands are fulfilled. The protest has now ended,” the BJP MLA said. (ANI)
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India’s BRICS Chairmanship Takes Center Stage as PM Modi Hosts Expanded 11-Nation Summit in New Delhi BRICS SUMMIT FROM PAGE 1 diplomatic trajectory. During its first chairmanship in 2012, India sought to transform the informal dialogue forum into a structured institution, proposing a South-financed multilateral development bank that laid the groundwork for the establishment of the New Development Bank in 2014. At the 2016 Goa Summit, held under the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions,” India broadened the bloc’s focus toward counterterrorism, regional connectivity and collective security, using the platform to urge international action against terrorist networks and cross-border threat financing. During its third chairmanship in 2021, conducted virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic and complex military standoffs along the Line of Actual Control, India adopted the theme “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus.”New Delhi successfully preserved the functioning of the multilateral platform while prioritizing public health, economic recovery and diplomatic consensus. In 2026, as host to an expanded BRICS+ framework, India is using its chairmanship to champion Global South priorities, positioning the grouping as a leading voice for institutional reform, financial inclusivity and sustainable development. (ANI) The Poetic Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- September 11, 2026 We pay Politicians to Work for our Foes? By Rajan George Politicians are catapulted into seats of power, Promising to lift the burdens of the common man, To hear the cries of those who cast their votes, And heal the wounds of a weary nation. Lofty promises thunder from every platform— Grand words, carefully crafted to win the day; They criticize, condemn, and point accusing fingers, So they may claim the halls of power for themselves. But once the banners fade and the votes are counted, The promises often vanish like morning mist. They lie and cheat, concealing their true intent, Serving puppet masters who pull their hidden strings. And without conscience, they reach for their checks, Drawn faithfully from the public coffers each month— Paid by the very people they were sworn to serve, As though duty had been faithfully discharged, Though the promises remaiin unfulfilled. They labor not for those who placed them there, But for the masters who financed their ascent— Lobbying for brand throuh the corridors of power, Winning approvals for products and schemes That too often leave the buyer to burnt. And sometimes, they serve interests beyond our shores, The interests of nations opposed to our own, Standing where our welfare should have stood, Yet demanding, without shame or hesitation, Their wages from the public purse— Paid by the very people Against whose interests they may labor. And then comes the bitterest irony of all: The uninformed public returns to the ballot box, Trusting the same voices, believing the same promises, And once again lifting dishonest men to power— Only to discover, too late, that the hands they raised Were raised against their own country. INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 “Fastest-growing economy”: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights India’s economic growth, lower inflation during Colombo visit Colombo [Sri Lanka], September 8 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday highlighted India’s economic growth, saying the country’s economy has doubled in size over the last 10 to 12 years and its GDP growth currently stands at approximately 7.8 per cent. Addressing a community reception organised for him in Colombo during his threeday visit to Sri Lanka, Rajnath Singh said, “As far as India’s economy is concerned, no one can deny the fact that it is steadily strengthening. Today, India is the fastest-growing economy in the world and a major contributor to global growth, accounting for more than 16 per cent of that growth–a stature India has achieved today.””After independence, it took 60 years for India’s economy to reach the USD 1 trillion mark. However, in 2014, the size of our economy was approximately USD 2 trillion. Over the last 10 to 12 years, you have seen our economy double in size,” he said. Singh said India’s economic growth was significant at a time when countries across the world were facing challenges regarding economic growth.”At a time when the entire world is facing challenges regarding economic growth, India’s GDP growth stands at approximately 7.8 per cent. Previously, people had to grapple with recurring price cycles; in contrast, during the 12 years our government has been in power under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the average inflation rate has remained at 4.7 per cent,” he said. “Under the preceding Congress government, inflation had even touched levels of 10 per cent to 11 per cent,” the Defence Minister added.The Defence Minister’s visit comes as India and Sri Lanka seek to further strengthen their traditionally close bilateral INDIA THIS WEEK Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online relationship, with defence and maritime cooperation forming a key focus of the three-day visit from September 8 to 10. Singh arrived in Colombo on Tuesday and is scheduled to hold discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership during the visit. According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), India’s real GDP grew 7.8 per cent in Q1 FY27, covering the April-June period. Real GDP was estimated at Rs 81.36 lakh crore in Q1 FY27, compared with Rs 75.46 lakh crore in the same quarter of FY26. The latest growth figure was also higher than the 7 per cent Q1 FY27 growth estimate earlier projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).The RBI had also revised its real GDP growth forecast for the full financial year FY27 to 6.7 per cent from 6.6 per cent. Nominal GDP, measured at current prices, was estimated at Rs 88.27 lakh crore in Q1 FY27, compared with Rs 80.00 lakh crore in Q1 FY26, registering a growth of 10.3 per cent. (ANI) Vadodara [India], September 8 (ANI): India’s own bullet train is expected to begin testing by May or June next year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Tuesday, adding that the testing phase would be followed by its inauguration after two to four months. Speaking at the “NaMo for Viksit Bharat” event in Vadodara, Vaishnaw said the first body frame of the bullet train had recently been completed and sent for a squeeze test. “By May or June of next year, India’s own bullet train will be on the tracks for testing. After a testing period of 2-4 months, the bullet train will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister himself,” Vaishnaw said. He said the bullet train project was being developed in line with the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and highlighted the expected travel time between Vadodara and Mumbai. “When you ride the bullet train from Vadodara, you will reach Mumbai in just an hour and a half,” the minister said. Vaishnaw also said work on the bullet train project was progressing rapidly, with construction on the Surat-Vapi section expected to be completed by December this year. India’s Bullet Train to Begin Testing by May-June Next Year, Commercial Operations by End of 2027: Ashwini Vaishnaw Remember: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.…
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INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 J-K and Ladakh must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map, New Delhi says, backing UNGA “Correct the Map” resolution New Delhi, India, September 6, 2026 — India has voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution advocating for equal-area cartographic projections while firmly stating that its international boundaries, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must strictly adhere to India’s official territorial maps. Responding to media inquiries regarding India’s position, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal outlined the adoption and scope of the resolution. Clarifying India’s position alongside its vote, Jaiswal emphasized that support for equal-area technical representations does not override national territorial sovereignty. “India voted in favor of the resolution and also made an explanation of the vote, stressing the underlying principle of promoting equal-area cartographic representation. We also highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries. India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable,” he added. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa” on September 4, 2026. The resolution stems from an African-led campaign to move away from the traditional 16th-century Mercator projection, which heavily exaggerates landmasses near the poles while visually shrinking equatorial regions such as Africa and South America. “Its purpose is to encourage the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses. The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names,” Jaiswal added. Rather than banning older maps or mandating a single alternative, the UNGA encourages governments, academic institutions and technology companies to use equal-area options, such as the Equal Earth projection, when accurate relative land sizing is required. The measure passed with overwhelming global support, receiving 164 votes in favor. Six nations — Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine — abstained, while the United States cast the sole vote against the resolution. While the Mercator projection remains widely used because of its usefulness for navigation, its visual representation can make areas closer to the poles appear disproportionately large compared with regions near the equator. The Mercator projection makes landmasses near the poles look much larger than they actually are while showing regions near the equator at their true relative size. On a map using the Mercator projection, Greenland looks about the same size as Africa. In reality, Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland. Greenland covers about 2.16 million square kilometers, while Africa covers about 30.37 million square kilometers. On the map, Alaska appears to be roughly the same size as Brazil. In reality, Brazil is nearly five times larger than Alaska. Alaska covers about 1.7 million square kilometers, while Brazil covers about 8.5 million square kilometers. Antarctica appears massive at the bottom of a Mercator map, stretching out to look like an enormous continent that dominates the bottom of the world. While it is still large, its visual area is heavily exaggerated compared with landmasses near the middle of the map. 1951 to be base year for NRC in Manipur, says state Home Minister Imphal (Manipur) [India], September 8 (ANI): Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said on Monday that the base year for the NRC in Manipur will be 1951 and the State Government will pursue the matter with the Centre in line with the resolutions ferred to experience in Assam.He said the Manipur State Population Commission has been constituted as per the resolution adopted by the House on August 5, 2022. Replying to another question raised by Opposition MLA Th. Lokeshwar Singh regard- ment had already adopted a plan and that a 12-member committee was constituted on 7th August, 2024, under the chairmanship of former Minister Awangbow Newmai, to detect and identify the influx of illegal immigrants and the unnatural growth of new villages. adopted by the assembly. He stated this while replying to a question raised by Opposition MLA K. Meghachandra Singh regarding the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur and the original physical records of the 1951 NRC. He further informed the House that the records of the 1951 NRC are being traced. He stated that the State Government alone cannot implement the NRC without the approval of the Centre. He said that the issue of NRC should not be taken lightly and re- ing the issue of illegal immigrants in the State, the Home Minister informed the House that a total of 24,475 illegal immigrants have been detected in the State so far. Out of these, 6,545 were detected in Kamjong district, 3,560 in Tengnoupal district and 14,370 in Chandel district. Replying to a supplementary question, he said that some illegal immigrants have been pushed back while some are there and that this process is being carried out through diplomatic channels. He informed the House that the Govern- Govindas said that the Government has also issued an order on the Action Taken Report of the committee.The Home Minister also said that the State Home Department had constituted an official Executive Committee on March 24, 2023, headed by Commissioner S. Chourasia, with IGP K. Kabib, DCs, SPs, SDOs and SDPOs as members, to carry out verification of illegal immigrants and to assist the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted for the purpose. He said that the verification drive, which had already started, could For Advertisements Call: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 indiathisweekads@gmail.com We b : i n d i a t h i s w e e k . o n l i n e not be continued due to the crisis that broke out on May 3, 2023. He further informed the House that out of the total 24,475 illegal immigrants detected, 14,992 have been pushed back. In Kamjong district, 5,378 out of 6,545 have been pushed back to their country, while the remaining 1,167 have been sheltered in camps opened by the Government in community halls. In Tengnoupal district, only 14 out of 3,560 have been pushed back, while the remaining 3,546 have been strictly instructed to be looked after by the respective Deputy Commissioner after taking their biometric records, so that they cannot move to other places.In Chandel district, 9,600 out of 14,370 illegal immigrants have been pushed back to the Myanmar side, and biometric records of 1,308 out of the remaining 4,770 have been taken.He said that the illegal immigrants are presently kept in tem- porary shelters. In Kamjong district, 1,167 immigrants are kept at Namli, Wanglee, Kaka, Zoro, Iko, Skipi, Huimin Thana and Phaikoh. In Tengnoupal district, 3,546 immigrants are sheltering in Sadang village areas along the Indo-Myanmar border. In Chandel district, 4,770 immigrants are kept at Molcham, Gamphajol, Khangtung, L. Nampao, Yaingol, Bongjang, Kheljang, New Lajang and nearby villages. (ANI)
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