News for 'Centre for South Asia Studies'

'Trump Has Very Positive View Of Modi'

'Trump Has Very Positive View Of Modi'

Rediff.com17 Feb 2025

'By his words, actions, and body language during their joint press appearance wanted to convey his personal respect and, more broadly, his desire to work closely with India.'

'India's N-programme should be transparent'

'India's N-programme should be transparent'

Rediff.com17 Sep 2009

A leading Chinese scholar has demanded that India should make its atomic programme"transparent" and questioned its status as a legitimate nuclear weapon state, in a commentary that comes in the midst of intense media focus on reports of Chinese incursions along the border.

Farm laws: Centre to take states route

Farm laws: Centre to take states route

Rediff.com29 Nov 2021

'As far as contract farming is concerned, we already have a model Act and states will be encouraged to adopt them.'

Companies Plan Yoga Day Celebration

Companies Plan Yoga Day Celebration

Rediff.com21 Jun 2024

'An in-house contest encourages employees to share yoga and well-being practices with their families.'

Guess which was India's most polluted city in 2023? Hint: It's not Delhi

Guess which was India's most polluted city in 2023? Hint: It's not Delhi

Rediff.com10 Jan 2024

Byrnihat in Meghalaya topped the list of most polluted cities in India in 2023, closely followed by Begusarai in Bihar and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Visa applications to beat pre-Covid levels in 2024

Visa applications to beat pre-Covid levels in 2024

Rediff.com21 Feb 2024

VFS Global expects visa applications from India to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024 with the easing of appointment availability. Vishal Jairath, head-South Asia, VFS Global, said during a media interaction that based on indications from the client governments in terms of appointment availability and the resources deployed by them, visa applications would surpass the pre-Covid levels by a healthy margin. "We have geared up. We have looked at our infrastructure and increased capacity in many locations," he added.

Decades of warnings preceded Sikkim disaster

Decades of warnings preceded Sikkim disaster

Rediff.com5 Oct 2023

A GLOF occurred in parts of Lhonak Lake, leading to a rapid rise in water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River Basin in the early hours of October 4. This resulted in severe damage in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts.

Why Wayanad's Landslide Survivors Are Protesting

Why Wayanad's Landslide Survivors Are Protesting

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

In the months immediately following the 2024 tragedy, reporting on the landslide per se had been a straightforward affair. On one side was death and destruction. On the other side, survivors and the business of survival. It was black and white. What direction to take was clear. Rehabilitation in comparison, felt like a complex situation. One that is fraught with shades of grey. As grey as human life, explains Shyam G Menon.

India Needs A National Security Strategy

India Needs A National Security Strategy

Rediff.com4 Oct 2024

The National Security Strategy document should flag all major issues concerning security strategy and provide guidelines to concerned departments to work out suitable action plans. Since the global and regional geopolitical canvas is dynamic, the NSS document should be deliberated at length before formulation and should be reviewed periodically, recommends Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

It's Going To Get Hotter In India

It's Going To Get Hotter In India

Rediff.com22 May 2024

More than 80 per cent of Indians live in districts vulnerable to climate risks. Among these, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar are the most vulnerable states to extreme climate events.

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Rediff.com5 Jun 2024

The heat index in major metro cities in the country has majorly risen since 2010 compared to a decade earlier.

'Pakistan is taking advantage of US stupidity'

'Pakistan is taking advantage of US stupidity'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2011

Fair, who is a senior Fellow with the Counterterrorism Centre at West Point, said all of Pakistan's strategic and security threat perceptions have always centered around India and all of the military aid and weapons systems it has received from the US has been to beef up its arsenal vis-a-vis New Delhi.

Is Tamil Nadu Heading For A Jallikattu 2.0 Moment?

Is Tamil Nadu Heading For A Jallikattu 2.0 Moment?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

The recent 'revelation' by TN fishers freed by Sri Lanka after they had paid up Lankan rupees 50,000 each in fines, that their hair was tonsured in prison and they were forced to remove their garments other than the underpants, and were also made to clean toilets, as if with vengeance, has touched a raw nerve this time, just as another issue or issues had done it ahead of the Jallikattu protests, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Unless you sacrifice, you can't fight terror'

'Unless you sacrifice, you can't fight terror'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2008

'The country must learn to sacrifice some rights to fight terror. While fighting terror, you cannot have the same freedom,' says intelligence specialist Colonel R Hariharan (retd).

Value our ties with India: China ahead of G20 FMs' meet on Thursday

Value our ties with India: China ahead of G20 FMs' meet on Thursday

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

Qin, who is visiting New Delhi to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting on Thursday, is expected to meet Jaishankar on its sidelines though the foreign ministry here is tight-lipped about it.

'China not too far ahead of India: LSE don

'China not too far ahead of India: LSE don

Rediff.com1 Apr 2005

Prof. John Harriss of the London School of Economics says the huge investments in China have been mostly done by overseas Chinese rather than by international companies.

The Uni That Will Take Your Breath Away

The Uni That Will Take Your Breath Away

Rediff.com31 Jul 2024

One of the world's oldest seats of learning, the ruins of Nalanda University are a true wonder!

Nepal quake triggered Sikkim flash floods? Scientists to find out

Nepal quake triggered Sikkim flash floods? Scientists to find out

Rediff.com5 Oct 2023

The NRSC satellite imagery revealed that the lake covered approximately 162.7 hectares. Its area increased to 167.4 hectares on September 28 but drastically reduced to 60.3 hectares.

Ek Hasina Thi: End Of An Era In Bangladesh

Ek Hasina Thi: End Of An Era In Bangladesh

Rediff.com5 Aug 2024

As news of Hasina's departure spread, hundreds broke into Hasina's residence, vandalising and looting the interiors, providing dramatic expression to the anti-government protests that have killed more than 100 people in the last two days. At the centre of people anger is the Hasina government's controversial quota system reserving 30 per cent jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war. With volatile crowds taking to the streets -- some clambering on Hasina's father and Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statue and smashing it with hammers in a lasting image underscoring the fickleness of history -- Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that the 76-year-old prime minister has resigned.

'Challenge would be to live up to all Obama said'

'Challenge would be to live up to all Obama said'

Rediff.com12 Nov 2010

United States President Barack Obama not just met, but beat India's expectations, feel two veteran career diplomats who between the two of them have over four decades of service in the Indian subcontinent, reports Aziz Haniffa.

How To Prevent Terror On The High Seas

How To Prevent Terror On The High Seas

Rediff.com17 Apr 2024

The world needs to wake up to this new dimension of war at sea and be prepared to face the 'unknown enemy' who have the advantage of attacking at their choice of location and time, cautions Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Tricks of trade: How South Asian network can help India

Tricks of trade: How South Asian network can help India

Rediff.com18 Sep 2014

ADB has often expressed its interest in promoting sub-regional integration in South Asia and perhaps could be involved as a facilitator.

India has 7 of the world's 10 cities with worst air pollution

India has 7 of the world's 10 cities with worst air pollution

Rediff.com6 Mar 2019

According to a report by Greenpeace and AirVisual, air pollution will cause around 7 million premature deaths globally next year.

How to prevent and control diabetes

How to prevent and control diabetes

Rediff.com31 Jan 2006

ICFAI plans centres abroad

ICFAI plans centres abroad

Rediff.com31 May 2005

As part of its efforts to emerge as an international university, the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India is exploring the possibilities of opening up centres in various countries.

Centre to issue government securities without foreign limits soon

Centre to issue government securities without foreign limits soon

Rediff.com24 Feb 2020

While the FPI limit on most bond issues would not be raised above 6 per cent, there would be some in which there would be no limits, reports Arup Roychoudhury.

Antidote against Nipah reaches Kerala; expert panel to decide further action

Antidote against Nipah reaches Kerala; expert panel to decide further action

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

State health minister Veena George said a meeting was held between the principal secretary of the health department and the Union health ministry earlier in the day and now the monoclonal antibody has arrived.

'India is important, a long-term work in progress'

'India is important, a long-term work in progress'

Rediff.com23 Nov 2009

Attempting to parse the symbolism and the substance of the summit between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a wasteful exercise, says former diplomat Teresita C Schaffer, currently Director of the South Asia Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. 'Substance' takes time to achieve, and much of it is built on the bedrock of such 'symbolic' high level meetings, she argued.

China worried over US-India military cooperation

China worried over US-India military cooperation

Rediff.com24 Sep 2009

A recent article in the Chinese Communist Party newspaper appears to be more categorical in conveying a message: US-India 'unified strategy' on all major regional issues is possible and that may change the strategic situation in South Asia. This shifts the focus on indications to China's possible counter moves in the future.

'BJP Has Several Big Ideas For 2024 Election'

'BJP Has Several Big Ideas For 2024 Election'

Rediff.com22 Dec 2023

'The allegations of government involvement in targeted assassinations abroad are likely to help, not hurt, the ruling party.' 'True or false, they convey a sense of muscularity and, in some quarters, are celebrated as a harbinger of 'great power' status.'

'The US will be nervous about the Kashmir issue'

'The US will be nervous about the Kashmir issue'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2009

The new administration in the United States means more continuity than change in Indo-US relations, says Teresita C Schaffer, director of South Asia Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

'Pakistan, an albatross around India's neck'

'Pakistan, an albatross around India's neck'

Rediff.com24 Aug 2009

'The unresolved problems with Pakistan are a bit of a drag on its other international ambitions,' Teresita C Schaffer, director of the South Asia programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, DC, think-tank and former US diplomat, tells Aziz Haniffa.

Prescription from Pakistan: How one hospital is a model for Asia

Prescription from Pakistan: How one hospital is a model for Asia

Rediff.com24 Dec 2015

Pakistan's dismal public health system is rife with mismanagement and a paucity of resources. Amidst this shambolic system, one hospital in Karachi has been providing specialised healthcare to millions. Free of charge. As the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation celebrated 40 years of successful service, Dr Sanjay Nagral visited the facility and met the man who helms it, armed with the simple philosophy that 'No person should die only because they are unable to afford medical expenses.'

Taliban's gains pose fears of JMB's resurgence in East

Taliban's gains pose fears of JMB's resurgence in East

Rediff.com15 Aug 2021

The Border Security Force has been put on high alert along the India-Bangladesh border in Assam and Tripura following intelligence inputs of Islamic terrorists planning to infiltrate the country.

India, China and US getting close: Think tank

India, China and US getting close: Think tank

Rediff.com3 Sep 2003

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies in its latest South Asia Monitor said a 'soft' balance of power is developing among the three.

How To Deal With Rising Rents

How To Deal With Rising Rents

Rediff.com19 Feb 2024

While tenants can't escape the impact of rising rentals entirely, they can adopt a few strategies to reduce the impact.

GEAC clears environmental release of GM mustard

GEAC clears environmental release of GM mustard

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has recommended the environmental release of the genetically modified (GM) mustard variety DMH (Dhara Mustard Hybrid)-11, paving the way for the commercialisation of the country's first GM food crop. The GEAC said the recommendation was valid for four years from the date the approval letter was issued. Further studies and coordinated trials will have to be conducted jointly with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) within two years, according to the minutes of the GEAC meeting held on October 18, which was released on Wednesday.

Modi won't do anything radical soon: US expert

Modi won't do anything radical soon: US expert

Rediff.com4 Jul 2014

Thomas Blom Hansen, director of Centre for South Asia and Reliance-Dhirubhai Ambani Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University, believes that Modi wants to make India a dominant power in South Asia and that well not give concessions to Pakistan or anyone.

Yamuna recedes but still flowing two metres above danger level

Yamuna recedes but still flowing two metres above danger level

Rediff.com15 Jul 2023

The situation could worsen if weather predictions of more rain in the capital and upper catchment areas come true.