Good morning.
Every few years, India decides it is tired of depending on someone else. That moment is here again.
Today's issue is about that ambition - and the people living fuller lives than anyone expected. Let's get into it.
😊 Feels Good
They Were Told Life Slows Down After 55. It Did Not.
Image credits: The Better India
Roweena, 68, spent decades balancing a corporate career and a four-generation household. After retirement, she joined WalkAbout - a community for Indians above 55 - and found herself dancing in Dubai, laughing with strangers who became friends, travelling without managing anyone else for the first time.
Over 1 lakh seniors across India are now part of the platform - taking yoga classes, going on solo trips, learning pottery, performing stand-up comedy.
It is time you told your parents or grandparents about WalkAbout. This might be exactly what they needed. Read More →
😆 Before we move on…
We dare you to caption this.
Drop your best caption - reply to this email. The funniest one gets featured next issue.
What's Stirring
India Wants to Stop Buying from the World. Can It?
What happened?
Key ministries have been asked to identify product categories where India is heavily import-dependent - and map out how to replace them with domestically manufactured alternatives. The push covers electronics, chemicals, defence components, and pharmaceuticals.
Why now?
The Iran conflict exposed how quickly a supply chain disruption ripples into India's economy. Reducing import dependence is no longer just an ideological goal - it is a strategic buffer against geopolitical risk.
The honest complication:
India imports over ₹6.4 lakh crore worth of goods from China alone. Replacing that requires factories, supply chains, skilled workers, and years of consistent policy. The ambition is real. The gap between ambition and execution is also real. Read More →
Why it matters:
When India successfully substitutes an import - as it did with smartphones, where 99% are now made domestically - it creates jobs and reduces vulnerability. The question is how many categories can follow that path, and how fast.
State of the Week - Rajasthan
⚡48 Lakh Smart Meters. Fifth in the Country.
Rajasthan has installed 48.1 lakh smart meters - placing it fifth in India's national rollout. Smart meters send readings directly to the electricity board's servers, eliminating estimated billing entirely.
For a state with a large rural population and historically high power losses, this is a meaningful shift. Read More →
Trivia Time
🍜 Maggi arrived in India in 1983. Which noodle dish was already warming Himalayan kitchens for generations?
Scroll to the end for the answer
🗞️ Also Read
🌧️ Heavy rain alerts are active across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP and several other states today. Check before you step out.
🚜 Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh held a Delhi rally against the proposed India-US trade deal, citing concerns over cheaper American agricultural imports.
💰 RBI has proposed simplified foreign investment rules and opened them for public comments - aimed at making India easier to invest in.
🚢 China's PLA thanked the Indian Navy for rescuing crew members from a fire-stricken tanker off Kerala and called for deeper military ties.
🏏 India begin their Zimbabwe T20I series on July 23 with multiple new faces - a chance for fresh talent to make a case.
🗣️ The government has agreed to discuss the NEET paper leak in Lok Sabha after sustained pressure from opposition parties.
🍜 Trivia Answer: A) Thukpa
A hearty noodle soup from the eastern Himalayas, Thukpa has been a staple in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh for generations - long before Maggi arrived, this was the original comfort bowl.
Before today, had you heard of Thukpa?
That’s all for today. See you in the next issue!
