News for '2025'

FIDE's AICF Nomination Stirs Hornet's Nest

FIDE's AICF Nomination Stirs Hornet's Nest

Rediff.com25 Jul 2026

FIDE's decision to shortlist the All India Chess Federation for a prestigious FIDE Excellence Award has ignited a fierce debate within the Indian chess community.

Will Sheikh Hasina Be Killed If She Returns To Dhaka?

Will Sheikh Hasina Be Killed If She Returns To Dhaka?

Rediff.com8 Aug 2026

'They probably imagine any hue and cry in the event Sheikh Hasina is hanged will be shortlived as it happened when Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan in 1979.'

Mizoram CM Sets Ambitious Futsal Goals For State

Mizoram CM Sets Ambitious Futsal Goals For State

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has called for the state to become a hub for Indian futsal, producing players capable of leading the national team to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Speaking at a felicitation for Tlangnuam Futsal Club, he emphasised nurturing talent for international success and highlighted government investment in sports infrastructure.

Basant Kumar, Shahnavaz Khan Script History With Medals At U-20 World Athletics

Basant Kumar, Shahnavaz Khan Script History With Medals At U-20 World Athletics

Rediff.com9 Aug 2026

Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan became the first Indians to win a medal each in high jump and long jump at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.

Voter ID, Aadhaar, PAN not proof of Indian citizenship: HC

Voter ID, Aadhaar, PAN not proof of Indian citizenship: HC

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

The Calcutta high court has held that voter identity cards, Aadhaar and PAN cards are not conclusive proof of Indian citizenship.

Jordan FA President alleges FIFA offered help for Infantino endorsement

Jordan FA President alleges FIFA offered help for Infantino endorsement

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Jordan Football Association President Ali bin Hussein has publicly accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of 'blackmail', alleging that FIFA offered to resolve the kingdom's football problems in exchange for his endorsement, a claim FIFA has been contacted about for comment.

India Drawn With Maldives, Pakistan In SAFF Championship 2026 Group Stage

India Drawn With Maldives, Pakistan In SAFF Championship 2026 Group Stage

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

Defending champions India have been drawn into Group B of the SAFF Championship 2026 alongside Maldives and Pakistan. The tournament, hosted in Dhaka from November 4-17, will see India begin their quest for a record 10th title against Maldives on November 5, followed by a clash with Pakistan on November 11.

From borrowed rifle to Asian Games: Vidarsa K Vinod's journey of sacrifice and resilience

From borrowed rifle to Asian Games: Vidarsa K Vinod's journey of sacrifice and resilience

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Vidarsa K Vinod, a 27-year-old shooter from Kerala, has secured a spot in India's Asian Games squad for the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events, overcoming significant financial hurdles and training setbacks through resilience and family support.

Zaheer Khan Acquires Jaffna Kings In Sri Lanka's T20 League

Zaheer Khan Acquires Jaffna Kings In Sri Lanka's T20 League

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Indian pace legend Zaheer Khan, through his co-owned Stockholm-based Anchor Sports AB, has acquired the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Jaffna Kings, which will now be rebranded as Anchor Jaffna Kings.

Rahane blames 1 big mistake for Team India's Test decline

Rahane blames 1 big mistake for Team India's Test decline

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.

11-year-old rape survivor delivers baby girl in Haryana hospital

11-year-old rape survivor delivers baby girl in Haryana hospital

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

An 11-year-old rape survivor in Yamunanagar, Haryana, has given birth to a baby girl at the District Civil Hospital. Both the mother and baby are in stable condition. The minor's pregnancy was discovered in May, leading to the arrest of the accused under the POCSO Act. The family has consented to hand over the newborn to the Child Welfare Committee.

Rahmat Shah takes helm as Afghanistan's Test and ODI captain

Rahmat Shah takes helm as Afghanistan's Test and ODI captain

Rediff.com22 Jul 2026

Rahmat Shah has been appointed as the new Test and ODI captain for the Afghanistan national cricket team, replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah, who previously served as vice-captain, will lead the team alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice-captain, starting with the upcoming series against Ireland. Shahidi's tenure saw significant victories and milestones for Afghan cricket, including strong performances in the 2023 World Cup.

AITA Implements Age Cap For Executive Committee Members

AITA Implements Age Cap For Executive Committee Members

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has voted to cap the age for eligibility to its Executive Committee at 70 years, aligning its constitution with the National Sports Governance Act. This decision, approved by a narrow margin, allows elected members to complete their full four-year term even if they cross 70 during their tenure. The move is part of a broader constitutional overhaul overseen by the Delhi High Court, which also includes new tenure provisions and the election of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit.

7 Life Lessons From Spider-Man: Brand New Day

7 Life Lessons From Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day shows that even superheroes need friends, healthy outlets for their emotions and the courage to learn from their mistakes.

Why Susmita Mukherjee Did 'C-Grade, Sexist Films': 'It Was A Bad Time'

Why Susmita Mukherjee Did 'C-Grade, Sexist Films': 'It Was A Bad Time'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

'It's a very disturbing thing to go back to my life and say, why did I act in such sexist, C-grade films, films derogatory to women. They were just bad films, bad choices. So I did, and did I sell my soul? Of course I sold my soul.'

Indian drugmakers in no rush to shift to US despite tariff threat

Indian drugmakers in no rush to shift to US despite tariff threat

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Indian pharmaceutical companies are not rushing to relocate manufacturing to the United States despite former President Donald Trump's renewed threat of tariffs up to 200 per cent on imported generic drugs. Instead, they are leveraging existing US plants, contract manufacturers, and making selective investments in complex products while maintaining India as their primary production hub.

Ended fast fearing...: Sonam Wangchuk rejects 'deal' charge

Ended fast fearing...: Sonam Wangchuk rejects 'deal' charge

Rediff.com25 Jul 2026

Sonam Wangchuk has strongly denied allegations of a 'deal' with the Centre, clarifying that he concluded his 26-day hunger strike only after receiving a crucial written assurance.

Nearly Half Exit School Before Class 12

Nearly Half Exit School Before Class 12

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Nearly one in two children still leave the school system before completing higher secondary education.

Lok Sabha passes bill to allow charges on UPI, digital payments

Lok Sabha passes bill to allow charges on UPI, digital payments

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

The Lok Sabha has passed a Bill to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, authorising the government to permit banks and service providers to levy charges on UPI and other electronic payment modes. This move aims to create a sustainable revenue model for the digital payments ecosystem, shifting from the current exemption of UPI transactions from such charges.

How UPI Is Expanding Its Global Footprint And Securing Digital Payments

How UPI Is Expanding Its Global Footprint And Securing Digital Payments

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Parliament was informed that UPI has onboarded 55.49 crore users by June 2026, with transactions reaching 24,162 crore in volume and Rs 314 lakh crore in value in FY 2025-26. The platform, operated by NPCI, is expanding internationally through NIPL, facilitating cross-border payments and assisting other nations in building similar systems. Significant efforts are also underway by the Government, RBI, and NPCI to enhance the security and transparency of UPI transactions, including risk-based limits, security frameworks, and public awareness campaigns against cyber-crime.

7 states account for 85% of India's installed solar capacity

7 states account for 85% of India's installed solar capacity

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Despite aggressive expansion, India's solar power sector faces significant hurdles from rising regional disparities in installed capacity and a looming manufacturing glut due to overcapacity in domestic solar equipment production, potentially leading to consolidation and pricing pressures.

Ruturaj Gaikwad named West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy

Ruturaj Gaikwad named West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed captain of West Zone for the upcoming 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, with Shams Mulani named vice-captain, as the team prepares for the season-opening domestic competition.

5 Things You Must Know About Wimbledon Champion Sinner

5 Things You Must Know About Wimbledon Champion Sinner

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon men's singles title, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 to lift his fifth Grand Slam trophy and first major title of the 2026 season, becoming only the 10th player in history to retain the Wimbledon men's singles crown.

I-T portal 'largely stable' despite peak load, Infosys penalised for delays

I-T portal 'largely stable' despite peak load, Infosys penalised for delays

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

The Indian government has informed the Lok Sabha that the income-tax return (ITR) e-filing portal is functioning in a 'largely stable and efficient manner' despite a significant increase in traffic during the peak filing season. However, it acknowledged transient technical issues and disclosed that contractual penalties have been imposed on Infosys for project delays and service-level agreement failures.

Tata Sons AGM: Will Chandra's Term Be Renewed?

Tata Sons AGM: Will Chandra's Term Be Renewed?

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

Just in case the AGM, scheduled At the AGM, if it is held, a shareholders' vote on Chandra's renewal as a director on the Tata Sons board is unlikely but not ruled out.

Know More About Mohanlal's Daughter Vismaya Before Her Thudakkam Debut

Know More About Mohanlal's Daughter Vismaya Before Her Thudakkam Debut

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

As Vismaya Mohanlal makes her acting debut with Thudakkam, here's what you need to know about Mohanlal's daughter, from her Muay Thai training to her life away from the spotlight.

Why Preeti almost quit boxing before winning CWG gold

Why Preeti almost quit boxing before winning CWG gold

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Following her Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medal win, Indian boxer Preeti Pawar reflected on the learning experience that the event gave her ahead of the Asian Games this year and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the boxing culture in her hometown Bhiwani, known as 'Mini Cuba' for producing world-class talent and the fulfillment of her baklava promise after her medal win in Glasgow.

Ancelotti's Brazil reboot leaves Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo out of future plans

Ancelotti's Brazil reboot leaves Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo out of future plans

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo will no longer be in Brazil's plans as they look to build a younger squad for the 2028 Copa America, coach Carlo Ancelotti told Brazilian broadcaster ge.

The Ajinkya Rahane You Must Know

The Ajinkya Rahane You Must Know

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

'While his cricketing achievements are obvious, people should remember Ajinkya Rahane, the person. Because he has inspired youngsters in the dressing room by his powerful humane gestures.'

Why Bank Frauds Keep Rising

Why Bank Frauds Keep Rising

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

'It's not about individuals operating the mule accounts being more or less skilled. Instead, 'lower-level' refers to the role the individual account plays in the broader mule network.'

From World No. 2 to Asian Games Medal Hope: Manav Thakkar's Next Big Mission

From World No. 2 to Asian Games Medal Hope: Manav Thakkar's Next Big Mission

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

'Being World No. 2 will give us good confidence when we compete at the Asian Games.'

Rajasthan HC grants 20-day parole to self-styled 'godman' Asaram

Rajasthan HC grants 20-day parole to self-styled 'godman' Asaram

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

The Rajasthan high court has granted 20-day parole to self-styled "godman" Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013 case of sexually assaulting a minor, saying the state government failed to justify its decision to reject his parole application.

Changing society will see more cases like Sonam's, says SC

Changing society will see more cases like Sonam's, says SC

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

The Supreme Court, while hearing a bail plea in a murder case, made significant observations about the changing nature of society, the vulnerability of the modern generation, the impact of nuclear families, and the role of technology in child-rearing.

'Sheikh Hasina Has Pulled A Political Masterstroke'

'Sheikh Hasina Has Pulled A Political Masterstroke'

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

'After announcing that she will return to Bangladesh, if she does not, her credibility will suffer.'

IFL 2026-27 Season: New Rules For Foreign Players, Youth Development

IFL 2026-27 Season: New Rules For Foreign Players, Youth Development

Rediff.com27 Jul 2026

The Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season will commence on October 16, with new regulations limiting foreign players to three in the starting line-up to boost local talent. Clubs also committed to enhancing youth development through AIFF academy accreditation.

Commonwealth Games: Yamini settles for silver after gritty fight against English judoka

Commonwealth Games: Yamini settles for silver after gritty fight against English judoka

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

India's Yamini Mourya had to settle for the women's 57kg judo silver medal after a valiant fight against England's vastly experienced Acelya Toprak, ending India's bid for a third gold in the discipline at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday.

India's Nuclear Mission Gains Major Momentum

India's Nuclear Mission Gains Major Momentum

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

The government introduced the SHANTI Act, 2025, to support the mission and open the sector to private participation.

HDFC Bank's Workforce Shrinks by 3,343 in FY26 Despite Balance Sheet Expansion

HDFC Bank's Workforce Shrinks by 3,343 in FY26 Despite Balance Sheet Expansion

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

HDFC Bank, India's largest private sector lender, reported a reduction of 3,343 employees in FY26, bringing its total workforce to 2,11,178, even as its balance sheet expanded by 12 per cent. The bank's MD and CEO, Sashidhar Jagdishan, attributed the headcount reduction to redeploying talent from back-end functions to customer-facing roles due to technology-led efficiencies. The annual report also addressed the challenging resignation of part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty, which raised questions about the bank's governance standards.

AI could erode India's outsourcing advantage, warns WB report

AI could erode India's outsourcing advantage, warns WB report

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to alter hiring patterns in South Asia, with multinational companies (MNCs) and firms integrated into global value chains (GVCs) reducing recruitment more sharply than domestic firms, signalling the technology's early impact on the region's export-oriented services sector, according to the World Bank's World Development Report 2026.

EPFO Interest Credit: What You Should Know

EPFO Interest Credit: What You Should Know

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Millions of EPFO subscribers can now check whether 8.25% annual interest for FY2025-26 has been credited to their provident fund accounts.