The author, or should I say authority, behind these words is Sheldon Pollock, Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies at Columbia University, and Mentor-Chief Editor of the Murty Library

Makarand R Paranjape: The deepest Orientalist

Business Standard

New Delhi [India], December 21: Tis the season for whipping up famed family holiday recipes and serving special, homemade holiday desserts. With so many treats surrounding us this time of year, it's easy to accidentally overindulge. Combine the loads of delicious food with cold weather and a lack of regular sleep and exercise (not to mention the stress of the times we are living in), and you might find yourself headed straight to sniffle town.

How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays

New Delhi [India], December 21: The year 2024 was a defining period for industries in India, showcasing resilience, innovation, and adaptability across real estate, education, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods sectors. Companies capitalized on emerging opportunities, achieving remarkable milestones while laying robust foundations for future growth. As they reflect on their achievements, these industry leaders are also setting bold visions for 2025, aiming to drive innovation, sustainability, and excellence in their respective fields.


Industry Leaders Envision 2025 While Declaring 2024 as the Year of Transformation and Innovation

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 21: New Balance, a brand known for its commitment to quality craftmanship, has introduced its prestigious Made in USA  &amp;  Made in UK collection to its stores in Linking Road, Mumbai and Brigade Road, Bengaluru. After establishing stores across the country, New Balance is offering consumers a chance to experience the brand's rich cultural heritage through the launch of the Made collection.

New Balance Introduces Its Prestigious \'Made in USA  &amp;  Made in UK\' Collection to India

According to Isro, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperative activities in human space exploration and research

Proba 3 mission, Isro

Housing sales are estimated to fall 21 per cent annually across nine major cities during October-December period to 1.08 lakh units on high base effect, according to PropEquity.
Real estate data analytics firm PropEquity on Saturday released the sale numbers for India's top nine housing markets -- Delhi-NCR , Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thane. It has estimated sales to rise only in Delhi-NCR.
As per the data, the total sales of residential properties across the nine cities are likely to decline to 1,08,261 units in the current quarter as against 1,37,225 units in the same period last year.
However, sales are likely to rise 5 per cent from 1,03,213 units in the preceding September quarter.
Samir Jasuja, CEO & Founder of PropEquity, said the sales have declined on annual basis because of high base effect.
He said the sales are likely to rise quarter-on-quarter on the back of festive demand.
"A closer look at the numbers reveals that despite th

Housing, Houses, Apartments, residential building

RBI stated that while it has directed banks not to charge excessive rates of interest, it does not directly regulate the rates charged by banks

Supreme Court, SC

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced a 10 per cent reduction in managerial roles, aiming to improve efficiency in response to rising AI competition and economic challenges

google, google logo

The government on Friday announced an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for copra by up to Rs 420 to Rs 12,100 per quintal for 2025 with a budget outlay of Rs 855 crore.
A decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MSP for 'milling copra' has been increased by Rs 420 to Rs 11,582 per quintal, while for 'ball copra' by Rs 100 to Rs 12,100 per quintal for 2025, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.
The total financial implication would be Rs 855 crore.
Cooperative agencies Nafed and NCCF will be the central nodal agencies for the procurement of copra, he added.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ashwini, Vaishnaw

December marked the second policy review meeting for the external members, who have a fixed four-year term

Inflation, Vegetables, Fruits, Budget 2024

They also support a rate cut to avoid the risk of sharp currency appreciation if India does not normalise interest rates when most other global central banks have already embarked on an easing cycle

RBI, Reserve Bank of India

LG VK Saxena called the lapse 'conscious and deliberate' and recommended a special Assembly session on December 19 or 20 to address the issue

VK Saxena

American businesses rely on the H-1B visa programme for the recruitment of highly-skilled talent

H1B visa

Indian YouTuber Nalini Unagar quit YouTube after three years. She claimed that she invested Rs 8 lakh but earned nothing from Google's video platform

YouTuber Nalini Unagar quit YouTube after investing Rs 8 lakh

Markets are pricing in a 95.4% chance of a 25 basis points cut in this meeting, expected to be announced at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), according to CME's FedWatch tool

gold, silver, gold silver prices

A total of 47 projects from Bihar have been issued in-principle approvals for interest subvention on bank loans for establishing new or expanding existing distilleries, the government said on Wednesday.
Currently, 22 ethanol distilleries - 8 molasses-based and 14 grain-based - are operational in Bihar, Minister of State for Food Nimuben Jayatibhai Bambhaniya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The government is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme nationwide, with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) selling petrol blended with ethanol. Under the programme, the government has set a target of 20 per cent ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26.
To boost ethanol production capacity and meet blending targets, the Centre has introduced various Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes from 2018 to 2022.
Under these schemes, 47 projects from Bihar have received in-principle approvals, she said.
For each Ethanol Supply Year (ESY), OMCs invite bids from distilleries for etha

ethanol

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the loss of lives in a boat accident off the Mumbai coast and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.
Thirteen persons died and 99 others were rescued after a Navy craft crashed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast on Wednesday, the Navy said.
At about 4 pm, a Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry Neel Kamal off Karanja near Mumbai, the Navy said in a statement. The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.
"The boat mishap in Mumbai is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Those affected are being assisted by the authorities," Modi was quoted as saying by his office in a post on X.
"The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the boat mishap in Mumbai. The injured would be given

Modi, Narendra Modi

Dhaka has been behind on payments to Adani Power since supply started in July 2023

Adani group

The Trump administration has earmarked clearly three areas on the basis of which it will determine trade negotiations. One clearly is to look at ways to reducing its trade deficit with some countries

trade deficit

Mumbai ferry accident: An FIR was filed at the Colaba police station in south Mumbai under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the Navy speedboat driver

Capsize, Mumbai Capsize, Boat Capsize

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya questions excess recovery claims, seeks relief from authorities

Indian businessman Vijay Mallya leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain February 11, 2020. (REUTERS/File Photo)