News for 'COLUMN'

The Strategic Importance Of Pakistan's Gwadar Port For China

The Strategic Importance Of Pakistan's Gwadar Port For China

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Gwadar is viewed as a critical pearl in China's maritime strategy as it would give a permanent logistical footprint near an important choke point - the Strait of Hormuz and the oil rich Persian Gulf, explains Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Why protecting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's childhood is as important as his cricket

Why protecting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's childhood is as important as his cricket

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

As India awaits Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's senior debut, experts urge cricket to remember the 15-year-old is still a child, highlighting the challenges of balancing extraordinary talent, growing fame and emotional well-being.

Global Streaming Transforms Music But...

Global Streaming Transforms Music But...

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Streaming has globalised the entertainment industry, enabling artists like Diljit Dosanjh and Arijit Singh to reach diverse international audiences.

Qamar Ahmed: Farewell To Cricket's Voice

Qamar Ahmed: Farewell To Cricket's Voice

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Although the front seat in my car will miss his presence, the echoes he left behind will remain for long. K R Nayar mourns legendary cricket writer Qamar Ahmed.

Cough syrups to be available only with doctor's prescription

Cough syrups to be available only with doctor's prescription

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

The Union Health Ministry has amended drug rules, making it mandatory to have a doctor's prescription for the sale of all syrups, including cough syrups. This move aims to enhance regulatory oversight and patient safety following concerns over drug quality and contamination-linked deaths.

India's T20 Experiments End In Disaster

India's T20 Experiments End In Disaster

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

The umbrella of 'inexperience' or 'reset' is merely an excuse. Team India's think-tank will have to admit that this is experimentation without a roadmap, points out K R Nayar.

NCERT brings Emergency into Class 9 syllabus; Pradhan hails move

NCERT brings Emergency into Class 9 syllabus; Pradhan hails move

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

The NCERT has included in the class 9 social science textbook a section on Emergency, which it described as "one of the major challenges to democracy in India" with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailing the move saying future generations should know about the "dark deeds".

Why Disasters Like Wayanad Matter

Why Disasters Like Wayanad Matter

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Cyril Radcliffe drew India's border without ever visiting it. Turns out our environmental clearance system learned the same trick -- and the Western Ghats are paying for it, points out Binu Alex.

Unscramble The Vvan Jigsaw Puzzle

Unscramble The Vvan Jigsaw Puzzle

Rediff.com20 May 2026

Have a blast with Vvan: Force of the Forrest, one puzzling piece at a time!

Does India Want To Repair Iran Relationship?

Does India Want To Repair Iran Relationship?

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

India is navigating a complex diplomatic landscape, attempting to balance its 'forever honeymoon' with the Israel-UAE-Bahrain axis against its historical ties with Iran, as evidenced by recent high-level visits and evolving geopolitical realignments in the Middle East, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Who Will Lord Ram Bestow His Blessings On In UP Polls?

Who Will Lord Ram Bestow His Blessings On In UP Polls?

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

The monsoon session of Parliament will set the tone for how the Hindu community feels about what happened at the Ram Mandir. Whether emotions will be stirred within the voters of India lies solely at the oratory skills of the Congressis and Samajwadis, notes Zainab Sikander.

Why Banks Prefers Retired Bureaucrats...

Why Banks Prefers Retired Bureaucrats...

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

It is because dealing with a regulatory system that is largely headed by retired IAS officers then becomes relatively easy, points out A K Bhattacharya.

Why Is Sanju Samson Always The First To Be Dropped?

Why Is Sanju Samson Always The First To Be Dropped?

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Sanju Samson's biggest opponent isn't the opposition, it's the selection committee. Samson has never been given a long rope; all he receives is a thin thread.

NEET Medical Counselling: Get Your Paperwork Right!

NEET Medical Counselling: Get Your Paperwork Right!

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Many students who do well in the NEET exams miss out on a medical seat because they didn't get their documentation in order. You don't want to be that student, says Ashok Hegde.

Gulf Crisis: How India Avoided Economic Turmoil

Gulf Crisis: How India Avoided Economic Turmoil

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Not a single retail outlet ran dry. Every household that wanted a cylinder got one. India faced neither a 1991 moment nor a 2013 one. Macroeconomic stability held. This was not an accident, and it was not luck alone. It was the work of a government that chose to act as it had during the pandemic -- deliberately and gradually, building one measure upon another rather than reaching for a single dramatic lever, explains V Anantha Nageswaran, chief economic advisor to the Government of India.

The Baramati Meeting I Never Forgot

The Baramati Meeting I Never Forgot

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

I had gone to Baramati to ask about loans. I came back having done a small, accidental good.

Modi-Takaichi Summit Opens New India-Japan Chapter

Modi-Takaichi Summit Opens New India-Japan Chapter

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Notwithstanding the economic complementarities and the host of agreements for deepening economic relation on a host of areas, both sides share common viewpoints on the foreign policy domain and seek common grounds to serve as a counterweight to China, notes Dr Rajaram Panda.

Rupee Exchange Rate Is Not Just A Number

Rupee Exchange Rate Is Not Just A Number

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

If we really want to curb the further depreciation of the rupee and make the rupee appreciate, we want to come out of the mindset that the exchange rate is merely a number, bring policy corrections to help reduce the outflow of foreign exchange by imposing suitable tariffs to discourage imports and bring self reliance, discipline FPIs, and correcting rules governing royalty outflows, suggests Dr Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convenor, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.

Khamenei Funeral Signals Shift In India-Iran Relations

Khamenei Funeral Signals Shift In India-Iran Relations

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

It is an unusual choice to depute a retired general for the funeral of a revered religious figure but a thoughtful one in an attempt to inject verve into the bilateral relationship and restore the equilibrium in India's West Asian policies, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Unscramble The Welcome To The Jungle Jigsaw Puzzle

Unscramble The Welcome To The Jungle Jigsaw Puzzle

Rediff.com13 May 2026

Have a blast with Welcome to the Jungle, one puzzling piece at a time!

Why Modi Should Watch Japan's Transformation Under Sanae Takaichi

Why Modi Should Watch Japan's Transformation Under Sanae Takaichi

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

History may remember Takaichi Sanae not as the leader who simply accelerated Japanese rearmament, but as one who governed during Japan's transition from an industrial-age security model to a post-industrial strategic member of the global order, points out Varun Arya.

Omar Abdullah's Kashmir Challenge Revives July 2, 1984 Memories

Omar Abdullah's Kashmir Challenge Revives July 2, 1984 Memories

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Omar Abdullah has so far laboured hard to make best of a bad bargain. Even so, the ground reality is anything but reassuring. The Opposition parties, including notably the PDP, appear to be gaining ground, though more by default. Public patience with Omar's government has nearly run out, notes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.

Kane Williamson: The Cricketer Who Made Me Cry

Kane Williamson: The Cricketer Who Made Me Cry

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

One of the world's gentleman cricketers has quietly walked away from the game, just as he played it: With grace, dignity, and zero fuss.

India-Nepal Boundary Dispute Needs Solution

India-Nepal Boundary Dispute Needs Solution

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

The boundary mess between India and Nepal needs a solution in a manner as mentioned by Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal: 'On evidence not emotions', counsels Lieutenant General Shakti Gurung (retd).

The Day I Walked Away From My Marriage

The Day I Walked Away From My Marriage

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

'Though he said a lot of things, he never once asked me to stay.' Aarti David explores love and betrayal in this short story.

When Raakh Reminded Me Of Horrific College Memory

When Raakh Reminded Me Of Horrific College Memory

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Ramesh is not in our class group photo. He had already vanished from school by the time it was taken. We didn't know why then. A few weeks later, we did, recalls Binu Alex.

Why Taiwan Is At The Heart Of US-China Rivalry

Why Taiwan Is At The Heart Of US-China Rivalry

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

For the foreseeable future, the most likely outcome remains continuation of the status quo. Taiwan will remain self-governing without formally declaring independence, while China continues to apply sustained pressure short of war, predict Krishnan Srinivasan and Manoj Mohanka.

Shubman Gill Powers India To Victory Against Afghanistan In Rain-Hit First ODI

Shubman Gill Powers India To Victory Against Afghanistan In Rain-Hit First ODI

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed on his international debut before captain Shubman Gill played a regal knock to set up India's seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the rain-hit series opener.

BJP wins all 3 RS seats in MP after Natarajan's nomination rejected

BJP wins all 3 RS seats in MP after Natarajan's nomination rejected

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Three BJP candidates have been declared elected unopposed in the biennial Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress party has moved the Supreme Court against the rejection of its candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination.

Why Banks Are Raising Deposit Rates

Why Banks Are Raising Deposit Rates

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

The RBI seems to be acknowledging that all deposits are not equal -- a deposit with a lower run-off assumption is inherently more valuable than one that could disappear overnight, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Why Smallcaps Are Winning The Market Battle

Why Smallcaps Are Winning The Market Battle

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

The remarkable rise of smallcaps reflects the emergence of a broad set of specialised businesses operating in industries where the sectoral tailwinds remain considerably stronger than macroeconomic headwinds, points out Debashis Basu.

Delhi Fires Reveal A Grim Reality

Delhi Fires Reveal A Grim Reality

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

We have built an economy that can deliver everything -- from iPhones to biryani -- to a doorstep in 10 minutes, but it cannot deliver a fire engine through a lane in 20, points out Amit Kapoor.

Time India Embraces China And US

Time India Embraces China And US

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

India's dual pursuit of a robust strategic partnership with Washington and a pragmatic, tension-management policy with Beijing represents the essence of modern multi-alignment. By embracing economic pragmatism, learning to compartmentalize political differences, and engaging in continuous dialogue, India can secure its borders, grow its economy, and contribute to a stable, multipolar Asian century, points out Ambassador Rajasekhar.

Ronaldo and Portugal chase elusive FIFA World Cup title

Ronaldo and Portugal chase elusive FIFA World Cup title

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his 6th FIFA World Cup, headlines the Portugal squad that has a glittering supporting cast that includes Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes.

Unscramble The Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Jigsaw Puzzle

Unscramble The Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Jigsaw Puzzle

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

Have a blast with Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, one puzzling piece at a time!

Bhagwat's Haldighati Claim Diminishes History

Bhagwat's Haldighati Claim Diminishes History

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Maharana Pratap became a hero not because he won a battle, but because he continued fighting after he lost one, asserts Harishchandra.

Why Make Yoga Day A Ritual

Why Make Yoga Day A Ritual

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

We have Yoga Day. We have Hindi Day. We have, I am fairly certain, so many days, though I have never met anyone enjoying these days, notes Binu Alex.

BJP's New Game: Political Engineering

BJP's New Game: Political Engineering

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Ideology is dead; long live the numbers game that is being played with the sole intention of securing a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha for the NDA, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

The NDA government has gradually nuanced its position on the issue of demographic challenge.

Is All Well With US-Iran MoU?

Is All Well With US-Iran MoU?

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Much will depend on how the protagonists use the current interlude to work proactively for the beginning of a durable settlement or, on the contrary, prepare for a new round of escalation, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.