India’s Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) recently set the Cost Inflation Index (CII) for the financial year 2025/26 at 376, a 3.58 percent increase from the previous year’s level …
R. Suryamurthy
R. Suryamurthy
R. Suryamurthy is a Contributing Editor at South Asian Herald. He has worked for The Telegraph, The Tribune, and Press Trust of India.
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Sheikh Hasina Convicted in Absentia for Contempt Over Leaked “License to Kill” Remark
by R. Suryamurthy 5 minutes readBangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on July 2, 2025, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in prison for contempt of court. This marks the first conviction for …
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Shubhanshu Shukla Nears Return from Space: A Strategic Prelude to India’s Gaganyaan Mission
by R. Suryamurthy 6 minutes readGroup Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to return to Earth on July 9 or 10, 2025, concluding a historic 14-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). But this is …
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The Next Dalai Lama: A Child of Faith or a Pawn of Power?
by R. Suryamurthy 5 minutes readIn a move set to escalate tensions with Beijing, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has firmly declared that his successor will be chosen by the India-based Gaden Phodrang Trust …
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Universities Gear Up for $160 Billion Fintech Future with Crypto Programs
by R. Suryamurthy 5 minutes readIndia’s higher education landscape is undergoing a strategic shift, as academic institutions across the country actively embrace crypto literacy and digital finance education. Once considered a fringe interest, cryptocurrencies and …
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Cash to Crypto? U.S. Remittance Tax Fuels Fintech Innovation and Informal Risks
by R. Suryamurthy 7 minutes readThe proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) in the U.S. Congress remains a focal point of intense debate, particularly regarding its evolving provisions on a tax on remittances. …
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Balancing the Ballot and the Budget: States Face Fiscal Strain as Welfare Spend Soars
by R. Suryamurthy 3 minutes readIndian states are set to maintain high levels of social welfare spending this fiscal year, with expenditures projected at roughly 2 per cent of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), …
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Living With Pain: Millions of Older Indians Suffer in Silence as Healthcare Gaps Persist
by R. Suryamurthy 4 minutes readFor millions of Indians aged 45 and above, chronic joint pain isn’t just a minor discomfort; it’s a constant, debilitating reality that impacts their daily lives, often without the benefit …
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India Gains as U.S. Retreats on Section 899; Global Minimum Tax Finds New Stability
by R. Suryamurthy 4 minutes readThe recent decision by the U.S. Congress to drop Section 899 from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” marks a critical turning point in the evolving landscape of international taxation. …
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Beyond Tariffs: U.S.-India Trade Talks Test New Delhi’s Strategic Trade Vision
by R. Suryamurthy 6 minutes readAs Indian trade negotiators commenced what could be their final in-person talks in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025, a looming July 9 deadline casts a long shadow over the …