News for 'Centre for Policy Research'

Modi's government must govern!

Modi's government must govern!

Rediff.com29 May 2019

He has left no one in any doubt about his ability to take bold, even out-of-the-box, decisions, to gauge the feelings and aspirations of the common people at the grassroots and to ensure that polices and schemes do not remain on paper, but are implemented, says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

The School By the Sea

The School By the Sea

Rediff.com13 Feb 2023

The school was run on strict Gandhian lines, with stress on students doing things themselves. Physical comforts were minimal, in keeping with the relatively backward geographical area. But it had a staff of teachers dedicated to educating their students, not just imparting them book-learning, remembers Shreekant Sambrani.

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.

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.

Needed urgently: The Indian National Defence University

Needed urgently: The Indian National Defence University

Rediff.com19 Jan 2015

'A veiled secret of India's defence and strategic culture is the lack of a serious interest in them by the political class. The Indian National Defence University would fill this void,' feels Lieutenant General Anil Chait (retd).

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.

Of Modi, Trump and the rise of crony populism

Of Modi, Trump and the rise of crony populism

Rediff.com9 Sep 2018

India's real risk is not that crony populism would fail, but that it would succeed, consolidating a path that is fundamentally a trap, both in terms of social inequalities and long-term growth, says Michael Walton.

Economists slam govt's economic outlook

Economists slam govt's economic outlook

Rediff.com13 Sep 2013

Prime Minister's key economic advisor C Rangarajan on Friday lowered the growth forecast for the current fiscal to 5.3 per cent from 6.4 per cent projected earlier and listed out host of measures including further liberalisation of foreign direct investment norms to improve economic condition.

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.'

'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.'

Aligarh Muslim University Needs Urgent Reforms!

Aligarh Muslim University Needs Urgent Reforms!

Rediff.com7 Mar 2023

Is it a divine, sacrosanct university, a holy cow, prohibiting human intervention?

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.

'Without winning another state, Kejri can't be a threat to Modi'

'Without winning another state, Kejri can't be a threat to Modi'

Rediff.com11 Feb 2020

'AAP's next target will be Punjab.'

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'

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).

Talk of Aatmanirbhar Bharat hypocritical, says Delhi HC

Talk of Aatmanirbhar Bharat hypocritical, says Delhi HC

Rediff.com27 Aug 2020

The change in eligibility criteria to participate in tenders for providing ground handling services in various regional airports was on Thursday criticised by the Delhi high court which said the central government was being "hypocritical" with regard to promoting local entrepreneurs.

India needs to be more powerful than China: RSS chief

India needs to be more powerful than China: RSS chief

Rediff.com25 Oct 2020

Speaking at the RSS's annual Vijayadashami rally in Nagpur which was broadcast online and attended 50 swayamsevaks (volunteers) due to the COVID-19 guidelines, Bhagwat said when the Sangh says Hindustan is 'Hindu Rashtra', it does not have any political or power-centered concept in its mind.

'Young Cabinet ministers are the ones to look out for'

'Young Cabinet ministers are the ones to look out for'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

'It indicates the grooming of the party's new leadership.' 'It is also a signal to the states that these ministers represent.'

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.

2 Indians in global commission on web governance

2 Indians in global commission on web governance

Rediff.com1 Apr 2014

GCIG is a two-year initiative launched by the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Chatham House.

Manchester, Silicon Valley...

Manchester, Silicon Valley...

Rediff.com12 May 2021

Why do Innovation Revolutions happen outside India, asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

Round 9 of govt-farmer talks inconclusive, next meet on Jan 19

Round 9 of govt-farmer talks inconclusive, next meet on Jan 19

Rediff.com15 Jan 2021

Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said told reporters after the meeting that the unions urged the government to repeal the three laws, but the Centre was unwilling to do so. "We decided to meet again on January 19 at 12 pm," he said.

Can Karnataka become the hub of electric vehicles?

Can Karnataka become the hub of electric vehicles?

Rediff.com14 Sep 2017

Eyes investments of Rs 31,000 cr in research and manufacturing of electric vehicles

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.

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.

How governments can overcome land acquisition woes

How governments can overcome land acquisition woes

Rediff.com20 Mar 2017

The problem can be met, according to Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, research director of India Development Foundation, by the government tapping into its own land holdings.

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Rediff.com3 Oct 2020

The move will help industries in pushing authorities for exemption under various labour laws at a micro-level, along with demanding changes to bring greater flexibility in their operations related to retrenchment, safety standards, and collective bargaining.

China pushes India into bear hug with Quad

China pushes India into bear hug with Quad

Rediff.com23 Nov 2020

China's behaviour in the post-pandemic geopolitical landscape which may determine the Quad's future trajectory, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

'We underestimated the virus'

'We underestimated the virus'

Rediff.com18 May 2021

'By the time actual action began, it was already too late.' 'The virus was raging.'

'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.'

Rajan receives Deutsche Bank Prize, 2013

Rajan receives Deutsche Bank Prize, 2013

Rediff.com27 Sep 2013

The academic prize is sponsored by the Deutsche Bank Donation Fund and carries an endowment of euro 50,000.

Over half of Plan panel staff to be farmed out

Over half of Plan panel staff to be farmed out

Rediff.com2 Sep 2014

New body to replace Plan panel might retain 40% of existing staff

Muslim thinker: Government should withdraw Haj subsidy

Muslim thinker: Government should withdraw Haj subsidy

Rediff.com30 Oct 2012

'The Haj subsidy is a trap used by politicians to curry Muslim votes,' says Abusaleh Shariff, member, Rajinder Sachar Committee.

Why India denied China 5-G trial

Why India denied China 5-G trial

Rediff.com3 Jun 2021

Given the security dilemma prevailing between India and China, India should curb the operation of Chinese telecom companies in India, asserts Dr Rup Narayan Das.

Beware! The Two Economic Indias

Beware! The Two Economic Indias

Rediff.com7 Dec 2021

The substantially increased economic dualism may exert lasting negative influences which could include a reduced potential for economic growth; the persistence of a very weak employment and poverty situation; rising social and political discord; and heightened vulnerability to geopolitical challenges, cautions Shankar Acharya, former chief economic adviser to the Government of India.

'Cyber attacks meant to smear India's reputation'

'Cyber attacks meant to smear India's reputation'

Rediff.com9 Mar 2021

'The hackers' objectives were centred around smearing India's reputation, causing productivity loss, creating operational damage and seeking financial gains.'

Govt cancels Rs 200-crore green fine on Adani

Govt cancels Rs 200-crore green fine on Adani

Rediff.com2 Jul 2016

Adani Ports & SEZ was ordered to pay for damage to environment during the UPA govt

India's COVID-19 recoveries cross 5-lakh mark

India's COVID-19 recoveries cross 5-lakh mark

Rediff.com11 Jul 2020

A total of 5,15,385 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far with 19,870 patients having been cured and discharged in the last 24 hours till 8 am.

'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.'

Xi offers to cooperate with India for COVID-19 vaccine

Xi offers to cooperate with India for COVID-19 vaccine

Rediff.com17 Nov 2020

So far the coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected more than 54 million people around the world and killed over 1.3 million others.