News for 'Centre for Policy Alternatives'

Column: Why Modi Should Not Get 400 Plus Seats

Column: Why Modi Should Not Get 400 Plus Seats

Rediff.com3 Jun 2024

'Imagine what the BJP's urges would be if India's electorate awarded it truly brute majorities like the 400 plus seats the prime minister called for in the 2024 general elections?' asks Shyam G Menon.

2023: 2nd Warmest Year Since 1901

2023: 2nd Warmest Year Since 1901

Rediff.com12 Jan 2024

The five warmest years in Indian weather history have occurred in the past 14 years -- the others being 2009, 2017 and 2010, in order of intensity.

GOAT, Vijay's Failed Political Launch Vehicle

GOAT, Vijay's Failed Political Launch Vehicle

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

Vijay has a lot of young and middle-aged women fans, but as voters, they are possibly now with the DMK, or remain with the AIADMK. Recapturing this constituency would have helped Vijay's political launch and the GOAT script and dialogues could have gone a long way in helping out. But the kind of script and screenplay and the unusually and equally unnecessary long run-time (3 hours, 3 minutes) that GOAT offers takes the film experience over the heads of those that are not familiar with secret agents and uranium theft in Tamil cinema, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

KCR eyes electoral pie beyond Telangana, to launch national party

KCR eyes electoral pie beyond Telangana, to launch national party

Rediff.com11 Sep 2022

Ending speculations, Telangana Rashtra Samiti president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday said he would launch a national party following more discussions with a cross-section of society.

WHO to set up centre for traditional medicine in India

WHO to set up centre for traditional medicine in India

Rediff.com14 Nov 2020

Modi said Ayurveda is India's heritage whose expansion entails the welfare of humanity and all Indians will be happy to see that the country's traditional knowledge is making other countries prosperous.

Kejriwal: From anti-corruption crusader to liquor scam accused

Kejriwal: From anti-corruption crusader to liquor scam accused

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

In his absence, the party stares at uncertainty as many of its other senior leaders are either in jail or in political obscurity.

'Every Election, BJP Unleashes This Demon...'

'Every Election, BJP Unleashes This Demon...'

Rediff.com3 May 2024

'... dividing society not just on religious lines, but also creating rift in families and among brothers and sisters.'

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

Rediff.com11 Jan 2024

What the INDIA alliance needs is neither a counter to Modi's tall personality and undiminished charisma nor a counter-narrative to his Hindutva agenda, now centred on the Ayodhya temple consecration on January 22, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

How to use scrapped vehicles for steel production? Scindia pitches for guidelines

How to use scrapped vehicles for steel production? Scindia pitches for guidelines

Rediff.com15 Nov 2022

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday pitched for policy guidelines to utilise scrapped vehicles as raw material for steel production, saying there are close to about one crore such vehicles in the country. Scindia, who also holds steel portfolio, said the time is not far away when the country will have to move towards green steel, and therefore, the option of iron ore and coking coal will not be available. Green steel is manufactured without using fossil fuels.

Anti-incumbency to factionalism: Factors that will decide Rajasthan poll

Anti-incumbency to factionalism: Factors that will decide Rajasthan poll

Rediff.com10 Oct 2023

Here are the main factors that impact the November 23 elections in the state.

You can design another system without flaws: CJI on election bonds

You can design another system without flaws: CJI on election bonds

Rediff.com2 Nov 2023

The electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties should not become a tool for "legitimisation of quid pro quo" between power centres and people who are benefactors of that power, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it underscored the need for reducing the cash component in the electoral process.

REVEALED: How RBI Operated During Covid

REVEALED: How RBI Operated During Covid

Rediff.com10 Mar 2023

200 staffers, consisting of RBI officials and support teams, who are essential to perform critical functions, were isolated at a separate facility in a dedicated quarantined environment near all three RBI data centres.

Rs 26,400 cr on the cards for FAME-III

Rs 26,400 cr on the cards for FAME-III

Rediff.com4 Jan 2024

Based on discussions with stakeholders, the ministry is proposing to allocate Rs 26,400 crore for FAME-III subsidy alone with electric two wheelers getting around Rs 8,158 crore, electric buses Rs 9,600 crore and electric three-wheelers Rs 4,100 crore, according to sources in the know. Along with some other components like setting up an innovation fund and money for testing , the total allocation could cross Rs 33,000 crore, estimates suggest.

US Senate panel raps China, backs India on Arunachal Pradesh

US Senate panel raps China, backs India on Arunachal Pradesh

Rediff.com14 Jul 2023

Less than a month after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, a Congressional senatorial Committee has passed a resolution recognising Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

1 Nation 1 Poll: What's Modi's Thinking?

1 Nation 1 Poll: What's Modi's Thinking?

Rediff.com25 Mar 2024

Deriving from Narendra Modi's continuing charisma, the proposed scheme, if and when implemented, can cut both ways. That is to say, if Modi can win, he can lose. Or, someone else in his place, later on, could lose as much as he could win in his time, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will be very difficult for BJP to win elections, if...: Rahul

Will be very difficult for BJP to win elections, if...: Rahul

Rediff.com31 Dec 2022

'When I started this, I just took it as an ordinary yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Slowly we understood that this yatra has a voice and feelings'

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Rediff.com20 May 2023

The project, the agreement for which was signed way back in 2009, had been gaining strategic relevance over the years as India-China ties took a hit.

Hardliners will dominate China's Tibet policy

Hardliners will dominate China's Tibet policy

Rediff.com1 Nov 2017

Statements emanating from the recent Chinese Communist party congress suggest potentially increasing pressure on India with regard to the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, notes former RAW officer Jayadeva Ranade.

NEET, Vishwakarma Scheme, And Tamil Angst

NEET, Vishwakarma Scheme, And Tamil Angst

Rediff.com28 Sep 2023

Medical seats for under-graduates and post-graduates remaining vacant in the NEET era, together with the Centre 'freezing' the number of medical colleges and seats in (Dravidian) Tamil Nadu and the launch of the PM's 'Vishwakarma Scheme' for the nation's craftsmen, are all seen as a bid to further reverse the state's progressive socio-economic agenda of and its achievements of the past hundred-plus years, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Election funding is a complicated issue, observes SC bench in poll bonds hearing

Election funding is a complicated issue, observes SC bench in poll bonds hearing

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

The "opaque" electoral bonds scheme for funding political parties will "destroy democracy" as it promotes corruption and does not allow a level playing field between the ruling and opposition parties, the petitioners challenging the validity of the scheme told the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday observed election funding was a "complicated issue".

CBI will check my bank locker on Tuesday: Sisodia

CBI will check my bank locker on Tuesday: Sisodia

Rediff.com29 Aug 2022

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has claimed that CBI officials will come to check his bank locker on Tuesday and said the agency sleuths will not find anything in it.

Don't Expect Modi To Change!

Don't Expect Modi To Change!

Rediff.com12 Jun 2024

'Commentators have said that dealing with allies as equals will make Modi more sensitive.' 'Remember that the people Modi is dealing with are equally autocratic in their own lairs.' 'Further, Modi always has handy the threat of dissolving Parliament and calling for fresh polls.' 'Most of his own party, and certainly his allies and opponents having blown their budgets of efforts and resources in the just concluded elections, have no stomach for this.' 'They are all greatly looking forward to the loaves and fishes of office on offer.' 'That gives Modi an unbeatable advantage in any push-comes-to-shove situation,' explains Shreekant Sambrani.

'No one knows who is going to be in charge'

'No one knows who is going to be in charge'

Rediff.com13 Jul 2022

'The worry among many international actors is whether there will be stability to provide assistance to the government because the political developments in the last few months are a real concern.'

Relief for Delhiites as rain clears haze, improves air

Relief for Delhiites as rain clears haze, improves air

Rediff.com10 Nov 2023

The air quality is expected to improve further due to wind speed favourable for the dispersion of pollutants.

Will Modi's TN Outreach Help The BJP?

Will Modi's TN Outreach Help The BJP?

Rediff.com4 Mar 2024

If the idea was to garner AIADMK votes with or without the three faction leaders after the party broke ties with the NDA, it may not work after all, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

2 more Oppn parties join INDIA, take number to 28

2 more Oppn parties join INDIA, take number to 28

Rediff.com30 Aug 2023

Ahead of the crucial third round of discussions, the opposition INDIA bloc on Wednesday exuded confidence that it would provide a formidable alternative to bring political change in the country and asserted that it has several prime ministerial faces against BJP's only one.

Odd-even scheme returns in Delhi from Nov 13-20; in-person classes suspended

Odd-even scheme returns in Delhi from Nov 13-20; in-person classes suspended

Rediff.com6 Nov 2023

With Delhi recording air pollution levels seven to eight times above safe standards on Monday, the city government announced the return of its flagship odd-even scheme after four years anticipating further deterioration of air quality post-Diwali.

Kejriwal doesn't represent India: Centre tells Singapore over his tweet

Kejriwal doesn't represent India: Centre tells Singapore over his tweet

Rediff.com19 May 2021

The Singapore government on Wednesday conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner its strong objection to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's comments about a 'Singapore variant' of COVID-19, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

CBI given me a clean chit: Sisodia after search of his locker

CBI given me a clean chit: Sisodia after search of his locker

Rediff.com30 Aug 2022

A team of about five CBI officials reached the PNB branch at Sector 4 Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital, to execute the search, officials said.

Delhi may see best Diwali day air quality in 8 years if...

Delhi may see best Diwali day air quality in 8 years if...

Rediff.com12 Nov 2023

This time, Delhi saw a sharp improvement in air quality just ahead of Diwali which can be attributed to intermittent rainfall on Friday and wind speed favourable for the dispersion of pollutants.

'If students can learn asking ChatGPT...'

'If students can learn asking ChatGPT...'

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

'What can a teacher do that ChatGPT cannot?'

Lessons For The World From 2023

Lessons For The World From 2023

Rediff.com29 Dec 2023

One looks upon the coming new year with foreboding as current wars in Ukraine and Gaza spill over and escalate and new ones erupt in incipient fault lines across the world, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

Did Nitish Kumar Get Scared Of 'Modi Magic'?

Did Nitish Kumar Get Scared Of 'Modi Magic'?

Rediff.com31 Jan 2024

In switching over, Nitish has sent out a message that if he could not now become the NDA's PM, then he would need to stay on as CM at the very least, which a third term for Modi would not let him have, N Sathiya Moorthy points out.

Will face ED, BJP targets leaders during polls: BRS leader Kavitha

Will face ED, BJP targets leaders during polls: BRS leader Kavitha

Rediff.com9 Mar 2023

Kavitha attacked the BJP government at the Centre, alleging it of using the investigation agencies to target political parties and leaders who do not subscribe to its ideology.

Covid scare in Beijing; school, varsity report fresh cases

Covid scare in Beijing; school, varsity report fresh cases

Rediff.com8 Sep 2022

The Chinese capital issued a fresh coronavirus alert on Thursday after it reported 21 local COVID-19 infections a day earlier, three of which were from a high school and the rest from a university, health officials said.

Can Vijay Succeed Where Rajini Couldn't?

Can Vijay Succeed Where Rajini Couldn't?

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

Will Vijay will go the most successful MGR/Jayalalithaa way, or that of Vijayakanth, Seeman or Kamalahaasan, or will he end up as another Rajinikanth who cries wolf at the last minute and quits the scene even before it all had really begun, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Narasimha Rao was a prime minister with an open mind'

'Narasimha Rao was a prime minister with an open mind'

Rediff.com2 May 2023

'Narasimha Rao asked me why China was doing so well in attracting foreign investments and I gave my frank opinion.' 'I told him that giving thrust to exports had to be a national effort.' 'But in India, the system was very centralised in the Government of India and the state governments had no role to play.'

What Ails India's Civil Service

What Ails India's Civil Service

Rediff.com3 Oct 2023

'A large portion of youngsters who aspire to join the civil services are not motivated by the spirit of public service and idealism of which the civil services offer in abundance.' 'When they join the mandarin club they look for the loaves and fishes of office, rather than make a difference and wipe what Mahatma Gandhi called 'every tear from every Indian',' points out Rup Narayan Das.

Quiet Doesn't Flow The Cauvery

Quiet Doesn't Flow The Cauvery

Rediff.com18 Sep 2023

Today, with the Lok Sabha polls only months away, any inter-state dispute over the Cauvery water dispute has the potential to take more political turns than otherwise, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Chinese Premier Li faces tough time at G20 Summit as India steals the show

Chinese Premier Li faces tough time at G20 Summit as India steals the show

Rediff.com10 Sep 2023

Li also had a difficult meeting with some of the Western leaders on the sidelines, especially Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has signalled Italy's resolve to quit China's famed Belt and Road Initiative for its failure to bring the expected results to Rome.