News for 'Centre for Policy Research'

NEP, 4-year undergrad programme gets DU's implementation approval

NEP, 4-year undergrad programme gets DU's implementation approval

Rediff.com1 Sep 2021

The implementation of the NEP and four-year undergraduate programme were approved by the Standing Committee on Academic Matters and the Academic Council last week.

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Initial data has shown immunity triggered by the two mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- lasts for at least six months

SC rejects pleas seeking probe into R Day violence

SC rejects pleas seeking probe into R Day violence

Rediff.com3 Feb 2021

The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to entertain pleas seeking time-bound probe, including by an apex court-appointed commission, into the tractor rally violence in the national capital on the Republic Day saying the government is already inquiring the matter and the Prime Minister has stated that law will take its own course.

Why meeting Budget's commitment on MSP is not easy

Why meeting Budget's commitment on MSP is not easy

Rediff.com16 Apr 2018

From NITI Aayog to industry leaders to the Reserve Bank of India, all are apprehensive that any major increase in MSP, following the 2018-19 Budget announcements, would push up prices, if not immediately, in the next six to eight months after the decision is taken.

Sensex ends 280 points higher on bank stocks' rally

Sensex ends 280 points higher on bank stocks' rally

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

UltraTech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising 3.06 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Titan, Axis Bank, SBI and Reliance Industries. NSE Nifty advanced 78.35 pointsto close at 14,814.75.

Where does India fit in a Chinese world order?

Where does India fit in a Chinese world order?

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

'India finds itself in an unenviable situation today with its prospects diminished by acutely polarised domestic politics and the setbacks suffered during the pandemic,' notes Ambassador Shyam Saran, the former foreign secretary.

Gold consumption highest among Indian middle-income group

Gold consumption highest among Indian middle-income group

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

Consumption of gold is the highest among middle-income households - those with annual income between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh - who account for an average of 56 per cent of gold sales over the last five years, according to a nationwide survey conducted by India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC) at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). "Per capita consumption is highest among the rich, but total volume still rests with the middle-income group. "With increasing income, there is an increasing propensity to consume gold, although the share of gold in the portfolio does not increase with the same proportion of income," the survey report says.

Modi releases Namibian cheetahs in MP's Kuno National Park

Modi releases Namibian cheetahs in MP's Kuno National Park

Rediff.com17 Sep 2022

Seven decades after they became extinct in India, eight Cheetahs arrived in the country from Namibia by a special flight on Saturday morning and were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP).

COVID-19 peak in India may arrive mid-Nov: Study

COVID-19 peak in India may arrive mid-Nov: Study

Rediff.com14 Jun 2020

There could be a paucity of isolation and ICU beds, and ventilators, according to a study.

Centre opens 10 joint secy level posts for 'outstanding individuals'

Centre opens 10 joint secy level posts for 'outstanding individuals'

Rediff.com10 Jun 2018

The initiative is being called lateral recruitment to senior positions in the government.

Gap in Covishield jabs: Govt rejects reports that experts dissented

Gap in Covishield jabs: Govt rejects reports that experts dissented

Rediff.com16 Jun 2021

The Union health ministry on Wednesday dismissed media reports claiming there was dissent from technical experts about increasing the gap between two Covishield doses and said the decision was based on scientific reason about the behaviour of adenovector vaccines.

Gold price likely to cross Rs 55,000/10gm in 2022

Gold price likely to cross Rs 55,000/10gm in 2022

Rediff.com30 Dec 2021

Gold, which lost its sheen to some extent in the second half of 2021, is likely to regain the glitter in the New Year and cross the Rs 55,000-per-10-grams level amid pandemic woes, inflation worries and stronger US dollar. After a stellar run up in 2020 when the yellow metal touched a record high of Rs 56,200 on the MCX in August, the prices are near Rs 48,000 per 10 grams now. This is roughly 14 per cent lower from the all-time highs and 4 per cent lesser compared to January 2021 levels.

Independent directors feel the heat as frauds take centre stage

Independent directors feel the heat as frauds take centre stage

Rediff.com16 Jun 2018

More than 1,000 independent directors have quit since January 2017; more could be on their way out

FCRA challenge for foreign think tanks in India

FCRA challenge for foreign think tanks in India

Rediff.com28 Sep 2020

Funding challenges are not limited to just one think tank. Several scholars say that access for conducting research and getting foreign funds has become a major hurdle for think tanks, with the government raising many questions regarding such inflows. As a result, many think tanks are keeping a low profile and becoming less prolific.

Cabinet okays private participation in space sector

Cabinet okays private participation in space sector

Rediff.com24 Jun 2020

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the participation of the private sector in the entire range of space activities, including planetary exploration missions, Union minister Jitendra Singh said. The newly-created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) will provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure, Singh, who is the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, said.

Of all farmers' demands, legalising MSP is tricky and highly complicated

Of all farmers' demands, legalising MSP is tricky and highly complicated

Rediff.com6 Dec 2021

Among the key demands of agitating farmers has been a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP). The protest reached a crescendo when thousands of farmers from Punjab and elsewhere marched towards Delhi late last year and decided to block the main entry points once they were denied entry. The Centre, on its part, held 11 rounds of discussions with the protesters and even offered to amend some of the provisions without much success. With now one of their chief demands met, farmers have now moved on to force the government to concede on MSP.

Hijab Row Can Hurt Indian Diplomacy

Hijab Row Can Hurt Indian Diplomacy

Rediff.com17 Feb 2022

India and Indians can ignore Pakistan, but that cannot be said of other nations in the neighbourhood, where New Delhi's 'Neighbourhood First' policy constantly reverberates. Four of the eight SAARC member-nations are Muslim -- Afghanistan and Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The rulers decide the nation's India or anti-India policy in the first two, and street-opinion contributes to the same in the latter two, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

New date for Budget only after Acharya panel inputs

New date for Budget only after Acharya panel inputs

Rediff.com5 Sep 2016

February 6 or 8 likely options; development will be the main theme

Omicron may be dominant strain globally in 2022, claim Singapore experts

Omicron may be dominant strain globally in 2022, claim Singapore experts

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

The new and highly transmissible Omicron variant of the deadly coronavirus has increased immune escape compared with the Delta variant and appears likely to become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain globally in 2022, according to Singapore-based experts.

Arvind Panagariya appointed vice-chairman of NITI Aayog

Arvind Panagariya appointed vice-chairman of NITI Aayog

Rediff.com5 Jan 2015

Pro-growth economist Arvind Panagariya has been appointed as first vice-chairman of the newly announced NITI Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commission.

Covid-19: With great power comes great responsibility

Covid-19: With great power comes great responsibility

Rediff.com18 Jul 2020

Cities are setting the rules that now carry life and death implications for their residents, and most of these rules are sought to be set by the municipal authorities who have never wielded such power, reports Subhomoy Bhattacharjee.

Community transmission of COVID-19 well-established: Experts

Community transmission of COVID-19 well-established: Experts

Rediff.com1 Jun 2020

"It is unrealistic to expect that COVID-19 pandemic can be eliminated at this stage given that community transmission is already well-established across large sections or sub-populations in the country," the report said.

'Antibodies induced by Covishield and Covaxin gradually increase and decrease'

'Antibodies induced by Covishield and Covaxin gradually increase and decrease'

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

'Antibodies remain in the blood for at least seven to nine months.'

India will grow no matter who comes to power

India will grow no matter who comes to power

Rediff.com22 Jan 2019

'People always short-change the resilience of the economy.'

Develop resources for better governance: PM to council of ministers

Develop resources for better governance: PM to council of ministers

Rediff.com14 Nov 2021

The 77 ministers have been divided into eight groups to develop technology-based resources, create a pool of professionals for recruiting in their teams and other similar initiatives to be adopted in the offices of all ministers' offices to bring more transparency and further improve and efficiency of the Modi government, the sources said.

Does India need booster shots to fight Omicron?

Does India need booster shots to fight Omicron?

Rediff.com12 Dec 2021

'Better to prevent than to wait for evidence. Protection delayed can also mean protection denied'

Why India is unlikely to double farmers' income

Why India is unlikely to double farmers' income

Rediff.com2 May 2022

Earlier this month, the Central government said in a reply in Parliament it had taken measures to double farmers' income by the end of FY23 and the progress made so far indicated it was "on the right track". However, a close look at the data and at the assumptions made shows that as of now, it appears the country is unlikely to achieve the goal in real terms.

Rahul Bajaj, World's Favourite Indian

Rahul Bajaj, World's Favourite Indian

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

'Rahul inspired Indian industry with an ethos, an ethos of being more confident, more independent, more thorough, more competitive, more generous, more public-spirited, and more national and more international all at once,' remembers Naushad Forbes.

'Gotabaya Rajapaksa may not resign'

'Gotabaya Rajapaksa may not resign'

Rediff.com12 Jul 2022

'There is fear that the president and prime minister are dragging their feet and won't resign.'

Realty goldmine or citizen minefield, Dharavi makeover gets wiggle room

Realty goldmine or citizen minefield, Dharavi makeover gets wiggle room

Rediff.com10 Oct 2022

Shankar Prajapati, a 57-year-old potter in Dharavi, has given up hope of getting a bigger house for his family. He lives cheek by jowl in a hutment measuring 200 square (sq.) feet (ft) in the nondescript shanty town. "We have surrendered to our fate. We cannot wait forever for better accommodation. "Perhaps we are not meant to dream big," despairs Prajapati. Raju Korde, president, Dharavi Redevelopment Committee, and a local resident, agrees with Prajapati.

Dad steps down, Jayadev Galla helms Amara Raja

Dad steps down, Jayadev Galla helms Amara Raja

Rediff.com15 Jun 2021

'I have personally been very keen on investing in lithium ion battery technology for some time.'

'We Expect The President To Act!'

'We Expect The President To Act!'

Rediff.com8 Aug 2022

'The government is doing away with crucial laws such as the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Protection Act which had helped safeguard our forests.' 'The President has to show that she will stand in favour of tribal rights.'

IT spending in India to grow 6% in 2021 to $81.9 bn: Gartner

IT spending in India to grow 6% in 2021 to $81.9 bn: Gartner

Rediff.com23 Nov 2020

IT spending in India is projected to rise 6 per cent to $81.9 billion in 2021 compared to this year on the back of growth across segments like enterprise software and IT services, research firm Gartner said on Monday. IT spending in 2020 is expected to total $79.3 billion, down 8.4 per cent from 2019. "The COVID-19 pandemic stalled many digital transformation projects for Indian enterprises, mainly because of the market uncertainties and reduced cash flows," Gartner research vice president Arup Roy said.

How India can protect itself from cyber attacks

How India can protect itself from cyber attacks

Rediff.com18 Mar 2021

The recent report in the New York Times that China had brought India's financial capital - Mumbai - to a halt by hacking the electricity supply grid has not come as a surprise to the CTOs (chief technology officers) and cyber security experts. Indian companies, including critical infrastructure providers such as power grids, ports and radar systems, lack the IT infrastructure to prevent hacking from hostile state actors like China and North Korea, warn security experts. Recently, the United States government warned of yet another breach of critical systems tied to Microsoft Exchange email systems that the company has blamed on China. The breach has impacted thousands of organisations in the US and its impact on India is still unknown.

SC stays agri laws, forms panel; farmers to continue protest

SC stays agri laws, forms panel; farmers to continue protest

Rediff.com13 Jan 2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a stay of the implementation of the contentious three new farm laws hoping this will end the prolonged protests by the farmers and also constituted a four-member panel of agri experts to resolve the impasse between their leaders and the Centre.

'Not too many surprises, not too many gimmicks, and welcome consistency'

'Not too many surprises, not too many gimmicks, and welcome consistency'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

'The term 'pro-growth' must be qualified somewhat because, while a rising tide will lift all boats, it will not necessarily do so equally.'

Mid-, smallcaps outperform in first half of 2021

Mid-, smallcaps outperform in first half of 2021

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Mid- and small-cap indices have outperformed the frontline benchmarks - the S&P BSE Sensex (up around 10 per cent) and the Nifty50 (13 per cent) - in the first half of calendar year 2021 (H1-CY21) by rallying 26 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively. The trend, analysts believe, is likely to continue in H2-CY21 as well. The outperformance in H1-CY21 comes on the back of improved earnings and strong inflows from the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) in Indian equities. However, good monsoon so far, gradual opening up of the economy and the pick-up in the pace of vaccination provides support to the market.

Will Modi go to war with China?

Will Modi go to war with China?

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

'By not even acknowledging China's occupation of Indian territory Modi signalled to Beijing that he was not prepared to used forceful means to vacate the Chinese occupation, and that his government was reconciled to this loss of territory and accepted the fait accompli engineered by the PLA.'

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Rediff.com17 Dec 2020

'Imagine taking care of a patient who is infected with Covid. A human nurse is unable to do that due to fear of infection. The robot can do that task, while it is controlled or supervised by the human nurse. So the robot becomes an extension of the nurse.'

NEET results declared, Odisha's Soyeb Aftab bags top rank

NEET results declared, Odisha's Soyeb Aftab bags top rank

Rediff.com16 Oct 2020

The NEET was conducted on September 13 amid strict precautions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.