News for '-foreign-service'

'They started Opposition unity much too late'

'They started Opposition unity much too late'

Rediff.com13 Feb 2024

'They were as late as June 2023 and they did not follow it up with concrete measures immediately in terms of a secretariat or common minimum programme, working group or seat sharing etc.' 'They continued to have periodic meetings after a gap of weeks where they had tasty dinner and coffee, but beside that they did nothing else.'

Vajpayee ex-aide's book blames Musharraf's K-stand for Agra Summit collapse

Vajpayee ex-aide's book blames Musharraf's K-stand for Agra Summit collapse

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

In the book, Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship Between India and Pakistan, Bisaria says this public telecast sounded to observers like a mid-summit report on the talks, where Pakistan's hard views were being inflicted on India, while New Delhi's positions were unclear.

'India can secure release of naval officers'

'India can secure release of naval officers'

Rediff.com2 Nov 2023

'There is a view that there is a Pakistan angle to this.' 'Pakistan has a large presence in Qatar and would want India to be blacklisted.'

'Xi had already ordered Galwan when he met Modi in Chennai'

'Xi had already ordered Galwan when he met Modi in Chennai'

Rediff.com30 Jan 2024

'My understanding is that by the time President Xi Jinping came for the Chennai summit [2019], he had already instructed his army to undertake the action in Galwan in the summer of 2020.'

'We have taught the Chinese some lessons'

'We have taught the Chinese some lessons'

Rediff.com5 Feb 2024

'In Eastern Ladakh the Chinese attempted salami slicing.' 'Our response has been superb. Our military has responded magnificently.'

India Rekindles Love Affair With Russia

India Rekindles Love Affair With Russia

Rediff.com6 Jan 2024

EAM Jaishankar's mission is aimed at strengthening India's strategic autonomy in a complex international environment, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Is India Distancing Itself From Israel?

Is India Distancing Itself From Israel?

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

India's voting pattern in the United Nations with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict is lately marked by a calibrated distancing from Israel, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

King Charles Meets Vikram Doraiswami

King Charles Meets Vikram Doraiswami

Rediff.com9 Dec 2022

Vikram Doraiswami, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1992 batch, is the youngest Indian diplomat ever to be assigned to the Court of St James.

US May Finally Have Ambassador In India

US May Finally Have Ambassador In India

Rediff.com9 Mar 2023

On March 8, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to advance former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti's nomination as US ambassador to India.

Indira Gandhi sacked my father as Union secretary: EAM Jaishankar

Indira Gandhi sacked my father as Union secretary: EAM Jaishankar

Rediff.com21 Feb 2023

Jaishankar said his father was also a very upright person, "may be that caused the problem, I don't know".

The foreign service has lost its Bhishma pitamaha

The foreign service has lost its Bhishma pitamaha

Rediff.com7 Feb 2012

Ambassador A K Damodaran was the last link between the freedom struggle and Indian diplomacy, the last of those, who walked from a British prison to take on national responsibilities.

Is Biden Using Trudeau To Get Back At Modi?

Is Biden Using Trudeau To Get Back At Modi?

Rediff.com25 Sep 2023

Once the Canadian investigation runs its course, Ottawa may put on the public domain further accusations passing for "evidence" -- and that could happen at some point closer to our general election. All in all, the big question is, what is it that the US is really up to, asks Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Women grab top 4 ranks, 933 candidates make it to civil services

Women grab top 4 ranks, 933 candidates make it to civil services

Rediff.com23 May 2023

Garima Lohia, Uma Harathi N and Smriti Mishra secured the second, third and fourth ranks respectively in the examination, results of which were declared on Tuesday.

Who Gains From Prigozhin's Death?

Who Gains From Prigozhin's Death?

Rediff.com25 Aug 2023

There is a congruence of interests between Ukrainian intelligence and its Western mentors to destroy Wagner and eliminate it from the geopolitical chessboard altogether, argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Why Pakistan Government Spared Mani Shankar Aiyar

Why Pakistan Government Spared Mani Shankar Aiyar

Rediff.com22 Aug 2023

It was only a matter of hours before I would be declared persona non grata; all my work would turn to ashes, and I would be revealed as a typical untrustworthy Indian. I steeled myself for the axe to fall.

UPSC to act against 2 for falsely claiming selection in IAS

UPSC to act against 2 for falsely claiming selection in IAS

Rediff.com26 May 2023

The case relates to Aysha Makrani (from Madhya Pradesh) and Tushar (from Haryana) who fraudulently claimed that they have been finally recommended by the Commission in the civil services examination 2022 against two roll numbers of genuinely recommended candidates, it said.

US Vice President Kamala Harris visits Indian grandfather's house in Zambia

US Vice President Kamala Harris visits Indian grandfather's house in Zambia

Rediff.com1 Apr 2023

US Vice President Kamala Harris remembered her maternal grandfather PV Gopalan, an Indian Foreign Service official, during her tour to Zambia and paid a visit to the Gopalan's family house in Lusaka.

Rahul Gandhi had no political clearance for London visit?

Rahul Gandhi had no political clearance for London visit?

Rediff.com25 May 2022

Another Member of Parliament, Professor Manoj Jha from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, who also went for a function in which Rahul Gandhi was participating in London, had all due permission including -- the due political clearance.

India's envoy in Ramallah, Mukul Arya, found dead in embassy

India's envoy in Ramallah, Mukul Arya, found dead in embassy

Rediff.com7 Mar 2022

It was not immediately known how Arya, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, died.

The Nano That Became A Helicopter!

The Nano That Became A Helicopter!

Rediff.com27 Dec 2022

How scrap material became a magnificent Rudra Veena... How children learnt about animals, the real way... How the BRO is strengthening India...

India's first woman permanent representative to UN assumes charge

India's first woman permanent representative to UN assumes charge

Rediff.com3 Aug 2022

A 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Kamboj was previously Ambassador of India to Bhutan and was in June appointed India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, succeeding Ambassador T S Tirumurti.

Ex-China envoy Vikram Misri appointed deputy NSA

Ex-China envoy Vikram Misri appointed deputy NSA

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

The appointment of Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, came after he served as the Indian ambassador to China for nearly three years.

Civil services (main) exam as per schedule on Friday: UPSC

Civil services (main) exam as per schedule on Friday: UPSC

Rediff.com5 Jan 2022

The UPSC has asked the state governments to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the candidates and examination functionaries in their movement.

China, Not Pakistan, Is India's Enemy No 1

China, Not Pakistan, Is India's Enemy No 1

Rediff.com16 Jan 2023

16 Indian Army divisions face China, 20 face Pakistan and two divisions are reserves. This powerful signal can hardly be missed in China or Pakistan, notes Ajai Shukla.

Shubham Kumar Tops UPSC Exam

Shubham Kumar Tops UPSC Exam

Rediff.com24 Sep 2021

A total of 761 candidates -- 545 men and 216 women -- have cleared the examination as per results announced on Friday.

UPSC postpones June 27 civil services pre exam, to be held on Oct 10

UPSC postpones June 27 civil services pre exam, to be held on Oct 10

Rediff.com13 May 2021

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday postponed the civil services preliminary examination, scheduled to be held in June, to October 10 in view of the alarming COVID situation.

Pradeep Kumar Rawat appointed as India's new envoy to China

Pradeep Kumar Rawat appointed as India's new envoy to China

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

Rawat, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1990 batch and regarded as a China expert, will succeed Vikram Misri.

COP27 Does Little On Climate Change

COP27 Does Little On Climate Change

Rediff.com26 Nov 2022

The overwhelming feeling at the end of COP 27 was that despite decades of meetings and landmark accords, like the Paris Agreement, the world was still not doing enough to slow the climate crisis, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Don't Expect Favours From Rishi

Don't Expect Favours From Rishi

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

Some believe that, as prime minister, Sunak will be particularly friendly to India and that he would return the Kohinoor and do similar gestures to his motherland. Such wishful thinking is not likely to materialise as he will act in the best interests of the UK and will not even appear to favour India, argues Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra is India's next foreign secretary

Vinay Mohan Kwatra is India's next foreign secretary

Rediff.com5 Apr 2022

Known to be having extensive expertise in dealing with India's neighbourhood as well as the US, China and Europe, the 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer pipped nearly half-a-dozen others in the race for the coveted post including Indian High Commissioner to UK Gaitri Issar Kumar (1986-batch IFS) and Ruchira Kamboj (1987 batch IFS).

Who was in the room when Modi-Biden met?

Who was in the room when Modi-Biden met?

Rediff.com25 Sep 2021

Defence is at the heart of the India-United relationship, so it is interesting that General Lloyd Austin, the US secretary for defense, was not among the officials present when Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for their first meeting since Biden became president in January.

DU women graduates secure top ranks in UPSC exam

DU women graduates secure top ranks in UPSC exam

Rediff.com30 May 2022

Shruti Sharma, a student of history, has topped the civil services examination 2021, with the first three rank holders being women in results announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday.

DU women graduates secure top ranks in UPSC exam

DU women graduates secure top ranks in UPSC exam

Rediff.com30 May 2022

Shruti Sharma, a student of history, has topped the civil services examination 2021, with the first three rank holders being women in results announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday.

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

Rediff.com2 Jun 2022

The Modi government has to embrace the history of Tamil conquests in South East Asia and stop obsessing about Babar/Humayun, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Why Did The Pope Visit The Russian Embassy?

Why Did The Pope Visit The Russian Embassy?

Rediff.com26 Feb 2022

It stands to reason that at the meeting on Friday, Pope Francis conveyed to the Kremlin, some message in regard of the developments in Ukraine. The long duration of the meeting in the Russian embassy flags that it was substantive. Indeed, it took place even as the first Russian tank column was sighted on the outskirts of Kyiv, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

The Many Firsts Of Droupadi Murmu

The Many Firsts Of Droupadi Murmu

Rediff.com22 Jun 2022

When elected on July 18 -- which is almost a certainty, given the NDA's numbers in the electoral college -- Droupadi Murmu will be the first President born after Independence.

Anurag Srivastava to replace Raveesh Kumar as MEA spokesperson

Anurag Srivastava to replace Raveesh Kumar as MEA spokesperson

Rediff.com6 Mar 2020

Anurag Srivastava is currently serving as the Indian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union. He is from the 1999 batch of the Indian Foreign Service.

Govt dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees

Govt dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees

Rediff.com28 Sep 2021

As part of the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) package, the central government had announced on May 16 last year that it would improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies by corporatisation of the OFB.

Lanka political crisis: Former Gotabaya ally pushes for snap polls

Lanka political crisis: Former Gotabaya ally pushes for snap polls

Rediff.com6 Apr 2022

Democratic Left Front politician Nanayakkara was among the 42 members who declared independence in Parliament from the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) coalition.

Kamala Harris chooses all-women team for chief of staff, NSA, domestic policy advisor

Kamala Harris chooses all-women team for chief of staff, NSA, domestic policy advisor

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

United States Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has named her Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Advisor and National Security Advisor -- an all-women team -- which she said has the experience to hit the ground from day one.