Beyond Layoff

A recent survey of 10,000 people across India has revealed that many borrowers are struggling to manage their loan repayments because their monthly EMIs take up too much of their income. This imbalance between what people earn and what they have to pay each month is pushing them to borrow more — and, in many cases, face aggressive tactics from loan recovery agents. According to the findings, most people in financial distress are paying more than 40% of their monthly income toward EMIs — far above what is considered manageable. This means many families have too little left for basic needs like food, utilities, transport or children’s education. Because basic expenses eat up most of their money, many borrowers fall into a cycle of taking new loans or using credit cards to cover costs. Some are even forced to borrow from friends and family. The survey shows that about 65% of these borrowers have cut essential expenses — including delaying medical treatment or cancelling insurance — ju...

The current state of uncertainty in H1 Visa processes, long wait for appointment at consulates, additional social media scrutiny and uncertainty over Green Card processing times are making young Indians reflect on the American Dream. Many are disheartened by the fast pace of changes in immigration policies that are throwing cold water on well laid plans. In this context, it will be worth learning from the clear-thinking and decisive action taken by Satya Nadella, one of the most influential figures in global technology who was faced with such uncertainty with US immigration processes earlier in his career. Embracing Uncertainty: The Satya Nadella Lesson for India's Dream Chasers Imagine this: You're a bright young engineer from Bengaluru or Mumbai, fresh out of a top college, chasing the American Dream on an H-1B visa. Consulate appointments stretch into years, social media posts from your college protests get scrutinized, and Green Card wait times feel like an endless queu...

The Indian rupee plunged to a fresh all-time low of ₹91.14 against the US dollar on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, depreciating by 36 paise during afternoon trade. This marked the fourth straight session of record lows, driven by relentless outflows from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and growing doubts over a potential India-US trade agreement. As global markets grapple with geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics, the currency's slide signals deeper vulnerabilities in India's external balances. Key Drivers Behind the Rupee's Depreciation FIIs have been net sellers of Indian equities and debt for weeks, offloading over $2.5 billion in assets since early December amid rising US bond yields and a stronger dollar index. This capital flight has intensified pressure on the rupee, which has weakened by nearly 5% year-to-date. Uncertainty surrounding the India-US trade deal exacerbates the situation. Negotiations, aimed at reducing tariffs and boosting bilate...

 The U.S. Embassy in India has abruptly postponed thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews originally planned for later this month, extending the delays by several months. This move appears to be part of heightened vetting measures that include a thorough review of applicants’ social media activity and online profiles. Applicants who had their visa interview appointments set as early as next week have begun receiving emails informing them that their interviews have been pushed back to dates as late as May 2026. The cancellations affect all appointments from December 15 onwards and have sparked widespread uncertainty among applicants and employers alike. This mass delay is expected to cause significant setbacks for skilled Indian professionals waiting to return to or join the U.S. workforce. Many industries, particularly in technology and engineering sectors where H-1B visa holders are highly concentrated, face potential disruptions due to employees being stranded abroad or u...

Indians migrating to Western countries such as the United States often carry a rich tapestry of their cultural heritage and values with them. This migration creates a dynamic process of cultural preservation and community building, as these immigrants seek to maintain their religious practices and social bonds in a foreign land. One powerful expression of this is the establishment and nurturing of Hindu temples and places of worship, which become crucial centres for cultural identity and community cohesion among Indian diaspora populations. According to Garamchai.com, a comprehensive digital directory of Indian-American religious sites, North America is home to over 800 Hindu temples and places of worship. These temples vary widely in architectural style and scale, reflecting the diverse traditions within Hinduism itself. At the larger end, landmarks like the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey and the Malibu Hindu Temple in California stand as monumental symbols of fa...

Born with dwarfism, Baraiya has fought legal battles every step of the way to appointment as Medical Officer at Sir T General Hospital, Bhavnagar. At 3 feet, he barely reaches the height of an average hospital stretcher. That is hardly a deterrent for Dr Ganesh Baraiya, who has vaulted over many to become arguably the first person with a 72% disability to become a medical practitioner. Dr. Ganesh Baraiya, known as "Gani" to his friends and a dedicated doctor to his patients, stands just three feet tall, barely reaching the height of a hospital stretcher. Despite having a 72% locomotor disability due to dwarfism caused by a growth hormone deficiency, he has become one of the first medical practitioners with such a condition, inspiring many along the way. At the Trauma Centre of Sir T General Hospital in Bhavnagar, the 25-year-old is often one of the first responders, wearing his stethoscope and guiding interns in patient care. Born the eighth of nine siblings to an illiterate ...