The recent visit to Washington by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - which included an address to a joint session of Congress and meetings with senior congressional leaders - underscores just how important our relationship with India has become, and how critical it is that we set the foundation correctly for the years to come.
Setting a record in its space program, India successfully launched 20 satellites in a single mission on board the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota, an island in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. On board was India's Cartosat-2 series, which will provide regular remote sensing services.
Indian ace Saina Nehwal received a huge boost ahead of the Rio Olympics as she clinched her second Australian Open title after defeating China's Sun Yu in a thrilling three-game final of the Super Series badminton tournament in Sydney. The 26-year-old from Hyderabad beat the world-ranked No. 12 Yu in a match that lasted an hour and 11 minutes.
The Embassy of India in Washington, DC, celebrated the second annual International Day of Yoga on June 18 on the lawn in front of the Capitol Building. The event included traditional dances, interactive yoga sessions and remarks by Ambassador Singh and other officials.
On virtually every other street corner in India, there is a chai wallah, a tea vendor who supplies the piping hot brew that fuels the country. And because everyone needs a daily "cuppa," chai wallahs get to meet people from all walks of life.
The Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs and the US Customs and Border Protection on June 3 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington, DC, to develop an International Expedited Traveler Initiative, also known as the Global Entry Program. Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. India's entry into the Global Entry Program will enable approved Indian travelers to expedite their entry into the United States by using automatic kiosks at select airports.
