News for 'Citizens for Accountable Governance'

HC to hear bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam together after SC sedition hearing

HC to hear bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam together after SC sedition hearing

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

The court further observed that Imam, also a former JNU student, and Khalid were stated to be 'co-conspirators' in the case and it would thus hear both the two bail applications together.

Citing 'oversight', Sitharaman rolls back cut in interest rates

Citing 'oversight', Sitharaman rolls back cut in interest rates

Rediff.com1 Apr 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the government will roll back a steep interest rate cut on small saving schemes such as PPF and NSC -- saying it was an oversight, a move being seen as an attempt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to contain the fallout of a decision hitting the common man in the ongoing elections in West Bengal, Assam and three other states.

Parliamentary panel to Twitter: 'Law of land supreme, not your policy'

Parliamentary panel to Twitter: 'Law of land supreme, not your policy'

Rediff.com19 Jun 2021

Amid a tussle between the Union government and Twitter over the new IT rules, officials of the microblogging site on Friday deposed before a parliamentary panel chaired by Congress's Shashi Tharoor over preventing misuse of social media.

ABG's auditor failed to red-flag fund diversion

ABG's auditor failed to red-flag fund diversion

Rediff.com1 Mar 2022

The auditor of ABG Shipyard, which is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the Rs 23,000-crore default to banks, had settled an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) by paying a small settlement fee in 2019. The regulator had initiated an investigation into the fund diversion from ABG Shipyard and had asked the auditor to explain why it failed to detect fund diversion in time. In his settlement application, auditor MN Ahmed, partner of Nisar & Kumar, a chartered accountant firm, said he ceased to be an Indian citizen and has retired from the profession.

Congress lost political focus before 2014 polls: Pranab in memoir

Congress lost political focus before 2014 polls: Pranab in memoir

Rediff.com12 Dec 2020

"I believe that the moral authority to govern vests with the PM. The overall state of the nation is reflective of the functioning of the PM and his administration. While Dr Singh was preoccupied with saving the coalition, which took a toll on governance, (Narendra) Modi seemed to have employed a rather autocratic style of governance during his first term, as seen by the bitter relationship among the government, the legislature and the judiciary.

Aam Aadmi Party stakes claim to form government in Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party stakes claim to form government in Delhi

Rediff.com23 Dec 2013

Ending the fortnight-long deadlock, the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday staked claim to form the government in the national capital with outside support from the Congress which it had trounced in the December 4 assembly polls.

Why is Modi angry with Twitter?

Why is Modi angry with Twitter?

Rediff.com27 May 2021

Social media is reflecting a reality that the BJP does not want communicated. More people are saying things on social media that are upsetting the government, asserts Aakar Patel.

Adani Group cos under Sebi lens for non-compliance of rules

Adani Group cos under Sebi lens for non-compliance of rules

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

Markets regulator Sebi and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are probing some Adani Group companies for alleged non-compliance with rules, the government told Lok Sabha on Monday. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to a question said accounts of three of the six Mauritius-based funds, that have invested most of their money in Adani Group firms, were frozen in 2016 over the issuance of Global Depository Receipt (GDR) by certain listed firms. No freeze was ordered for their holding in other firms.

PM CARES Fund corpus triples to Rs 10,990 cr in FY 2020-21

PM CARES Fund corpus triples to Rs 10,990 cr in FY 2020-21

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

The disbursal included Rs 1,000 crore for migrant welfare and over Rs 1,392 crore for procurement of Covid vaccine doses.

PFI, 8 other outfits banned under UAPA for 5 years for terror links

PFI, 8 other outfits banned under UAPA for 5 years for terror links

Rediff.com28 Sep 2022

The Centre has imposed a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates for their alleged terror activities.

'Government's first responsibility is to feed its people'

'Government's first responsibility is to feed its people'

Rediff.com20 May 2015

'It is a national shame that the only country that enacted a food security act is now better known as the land of farmer suicides. Indian farming can change only if national irrigation policy is implemented in totality,' Dr M S Swaminathan tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com

'A bad situation, but I don't despair'

'A bad situation, but I don't despair'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2022

'India is a founding and permanent member of this 'club of shame': Journalists are murdered on account of what they write or intend to write, but nobody is finally brought to justice in such cases.'

India targeted by 5 Chinese hackers charged in US

India targeted by 5 Chinese hackers charged in US

Rediff.com17 Sep 2020

Deputy US Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Wednesday announced that three indictments have been unsealed in the matter that collectively charge five Chinese nationals with computer hacking and charge two Malaysian nationals with helping some of those hackers target victims and sell the fruits of their crime.

Court bars 'ISIS bride' from returning to UK to fight for citizenship

Court bars 'ISIS bride' from returning to UK to fight for citizenship

Rediff.com26 Feb 2021

The United Kingdom government on Friday won a major legal battle as the Supreme Court ruled against allowing a London-born 21-year-old woman of Bangladeshi descent, who ran away to Syria as a teenager to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, to return and fight her citizenship case.

Manufacturers using banned articles in green firecrackers, says SC

Manufacturers using banned articles in green firecrackers, says SC

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

The Supreme Court Wednesday said that under the guise of green crackers, banned articles are being used by firecracker manufacturers and reiterated that its earlier order banning joint crackers must be complied with by every state.

Omicron: Concerns mount as South African Covid rate doubles

Omicron: Concerns mount as South African Covid rate doubles

Rediff.com2 Dec 2021

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last Sunday that there would be no change to the current lowest Level One of the country's five-level lockdown strategy.

Karnataka lifts weekend curfew, night curbs to continue

Karnataka lifts weekend curfew, night curbs to continue

Rediff.com21 Jan 2022

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with experts, and senior ministers and officials of his government to assess the COVID-19 situation in the state and curbs that were put in place to control its spread.

Modi, CJI bat for use of local languages in courts

Modi, CJI bat for use of local languages in courts

Rediff.com30 Apr 2022

Modi asserted that judicial reform is not merely a policy matter.

Communal rioting cases nearly doubled in 2020: NCRB

Communal rioting cases nearly doubled in 2020: NCRB

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

The NCRB report stated that a total of 71,107 cases of 'offences against public tranquillity' were lodged across the country in 2020, an increase of 12.4 per cent over 63,262 such cases in 2019.

Smog chokes Delhi; worst post-Diwali AQI in 5 yrs

Smog chokes Delhi; worst post-Diwali AQI in 5 yrs

Rediff.com5 Nov 2021

The neighbouring cities of Faridabad (469), Greater Noida (464), Ghaziabad (470), Gurgaon (472) also recorded 'severe' air pollution levels.

Notified Indian govt about snooping in May: WhatsApp

Notified Indian govt about snooping in May: WhatsApp

Rediff.com2 Nov 2019

WhatsApp remains committed to the protection of all user messages through the product we provide, the company said

Indians hold anti-CAA protests in 30 US cities

Indians hold anti-CAA protests in 30 US cities

Rediff.com27 Jan 2020

India's 71st Republic day celebrations in the United States on Sunday were marred by protests and marches, albeit peaceful ones, against recent changes in the citizenship law by large number of Indian Americans in various cities of the country.

'Will my wedding gift be taxed?'

'Will my wedding gift be taxed?'

Rediff.com3 Jan 2020

'When a gift is received in cash, it is likely to be questioned, and your father may need to explain its source.'

Congress leader of tukde-tukde gang: Quotes from Modi's Lok Sabha speech

Congress leader of tukde-tukde gang: Quotes from Modi's Lok Sabha speech

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

Here are some top quotes from Prime Minister Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha.

SC likely to set up a body to look into 'serious issue' of freebies

SC likely to set up a body to look into 'serious issue' of freebies

Rediff.com3 Aug 2022

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked stakeholders like the Centre, Niti Aayog, Finance Commission and the Reserve Bank of India, to brainstorm on the 'serious' issue of freebies announced during elections and put forth 'constructive suggestions' to tackle it, saying no political party will oppose such handouts or like to debate it in Parliament.

IRDAI mulls linking insurance frauds with individuals' credit score

IRDAI mulls linking insurance frauds with individuals' credit score

Rediff.com27 Jun 2022

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is considering a proposal to make insurance frauds a parameter for calculating credit scores in an attempt to put a lid on the increase in such activity. The proposal, which is a part of the recommendations made by a working group formed by Irdai and the General Insurance Council, suggests that insurance frauds should feature when the risk profiles of individuals are evaluated and should be used to calculate their credit scores. A poor credit score can deprive a person of financial services such as loans and credit cards, and deter him from indulging in fraud.

India, The Electoral Autocracy

India, The Electoral Autocracy

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

'The most important priority for the next 25 years should be to strengthen our democracy so that it is supportive of social harmony, and to not just respect but to take pride in the diversity of Indian society in terms of the variety of languages, religion and religious practices and social norms,' explains Nitin Desai.

Sedition-charged TISS student gets anticipatory bail

Sedition-charged TISS student gets anticipatory bail

Rediff.com2 Nov 2021

The Bombay high court has granted anticipatory bail to a 22-year-old student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who was charged with sedition last year for allegedly shouting slogans in support of jailed JNU student Sharjeel Imam at an LGBTQ event in the city.

SC to hear pleas seeking probe into Pegasus today

SC to hear pleas seeking probe into Pegasus today

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

As per the cause list uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant will hear nine separate pleas on the issue related to reports of alleged snooping by government agencies on eminent citizens, politicians and scribes by using Israeli firm NSO's spyware Pegasus.

Look back at PM Modi's Independence Day speeches

Look back at PM Modi's Independence Day speeches

Rediff.com15 Aug 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation for the seventh time from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day on Saturday and it will be his second speech of the second term in office.

'My dad is my superhero, my Polaris'

'My dad is my superhero, my Polaris'

Rediff.com19 Jun 2022

'He is my friend, role model, mentor and superhero.'

Cong says Facebook influenced polls in India, seeks JPC probe

Cong says Facebook influenced polls in India, seeks JPC probe

Rediff.com25 Oct 2021

The Congress also alleged that Facebook was acting as an ally of the ruling BJP and pushing its agenda.

I-T Portal: Infosys Deserved Better

I-T Portal: Infosys Deserved Better

Rediff.com28 Sep 2021

The tax portal problem is a goof-up by both sides, and making Infosys the only villain in the story is quite unfair, argues Shyamal Majumdar.

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2022

The RBI refuses to classify a cryptocurrency as an asset since it doesn't have future cash flow and its value is always fluctuating because of speculation. There is also no consumer protection, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay, and hence the e-rupee trial run.

Modi govt hell bent on subverting RTI: Sonia

Modi govt hell bent on subverting RTI: Sonia

Rediff.com23 Jul 2019

The UPA chairperson added that the Centre may "achieve its aims" through majority, but in the process, it would be disempowering each and every citizen of our country.

Cyber Fraud Helpline: How it Works

Cyber Fraud Helpline: How it Works

Rediff.com29 Jun 2021

Since its launch in April, helpline 155260 has been able to prevent more than Rs 18.5 million of defrauded money from reaching the hands of fraudsters.

What Cairn, Vodafone, Devas reveal about the Indian State

What Cairn, Vodafone, Devas reveal about the Indian State

Rediff.com23 Jul 2021

The Indian State's arbitrariness may have come to be accepted with resignation within the country, but when it behaves in the same manner with external players, it gets a push-back, observes T N Ninan.

Your private data may be online, courtesy govt

Your private data may be online, courtesy govt

Rediff.com28 Oct 2013

Some depts have posted bank account & income details on net for transparency; experts cry privacy breach

Govt plans to remove 'dil ki doori' first, restoring J-K statehood is last

Govt plans to remove 'dil ki doori' first, restoring J-K statehood is last

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

'For the government, statehood is one of the end-points of the journey. A vast distance has to be traversed to reach there. There are many turns on the road, some resting points, and possibly, many cul-de-sacs.'