News for 'Civil Services Mains'

Markets end at record highs; ITC, banks outperform

Markets end at record highs; ITC, banks outperform

Rediff.com27 Jan 2015

The 30-share Sensex ended up 292 points at 29,571 and the 50-share Nifty closed up 75 points at 8,910.

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.'

Anurag Kashyap: No one takes films seriously in India

Anurag Kashyap: No one takes films seriously in India

Rediff.com6 May 2014

While work on his most ambitious project Bombay Velvet is on, Anurag Kashyap's taut and gritty thriller Ugly screened at the ongoing New York Indian Film Festival.

Gulf jobs shrink for Indian workers, a blow to remittances

Gulf jobs shrink for Indian workers, a blow to remittances

Rediff.com22 May 2016

Despite difficult working conditions, Indians are still seeking jobs in Gulf countries

Modi @3: The view from the foreign office

Modi @3: The view from the foreign office

Rediff.com25 May 2017

Diplomats agree that amid stormy relations with China and Pakistan, Modi has posted impressive foreign policy successes, notes Aditi Phadnis.

Sheena Bora Trial: The tricks memory plays

Sheena Bora Trial: The tricks memory plays

Rediff.com9 Feb 2019

When it came to his cross examination by Sanjeev Khanna's lawyer Niranjan Mundargi, Imtiaz Shaikh appeared to be afflicted by that peculiar gap-in-one's-memory or Choosy Memory Syndrome with his recall of other dates in his life, except those directly related with the murder, shaky or non-existent.

Afghan power-sharing keeps everyone on tenterhooks

Afghan power-sharing keeps everyone on tenterhooks

Rediff.com23 Sep 2014

As Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah form a joint government after contesting the presidential election against each other, Prakash Bhandari reports from Kabul on the problems facing the new, US-brokered arrangement.

'The situation in Sri Lanka is not alarming for refugees to return'

'The situation in Sri Lanka is not alarming for refugees to return'

Rediff.com23 Jun 2016

In a conversation with R Ramasubramanian, Xavier said, "My documentary attempts to find answers to those frequently asked questions from Tamil refugees who are still in India."

Why Jaitley must allocate more funds to states in the Budget

Why Jaitley must allocate more funds to states in the Budget

Rediff.com28 Jan 2015

The upcoming Budget gives Finance Minister Arun Jaitley a chance to let states boost spending.

Why extrajudicial killings will never bring lasting peace

Why extrajudicial killings will never bring lasting peace

Rediff.com12 Jul 2013

It's perverse to rationalise 'controlled' killings or torture -- without going down a slippery moral slope. Once the state stoops to torture, it's liable to sink into tyranny, says Praful Bidwai.

'Congress are better Hindus than BJP'

'Congress are better Hindus than BJP'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2018

'...because we are truer to the spirit of the Hindu faith.' 'There is absolutely no question that the Hinduism of the mob lynchers, the people who have killed others because of what they are eating or how they are worshipping or the faith they belong to or what they're doing professionally, those are, to my mind, not Hindus at all.'

Parliament session from tomorrow, Congress seeks discussion on Uttarakhand

Parliament session from tomorrow, Congress seeks discussion on Uttarakhand

Rediff.com24 Apr 2016

The second half of the budget session of Parliament, beginning on Monday, is all set to be a stormy affair with opposition parties closing ranks over the imposition of Presidents' rule in Uttarakhand.

Mid-day meal tragedy exposes poor state of Bihar

Mid-day meal tragedy exposes poor state of Bihar

Rediff.com22 Jul 2013

The buck for the Gandamal tragedy should not stop with the school-in-charge Meena Kumari. She is just the face of a deeper malaise in Bihar, says Apoorvanand.

'The standing ovation Dheepan got in Cannes truly moved me'

'The standing ovation Dheepan got in Cannes truly moved me'

Rediff.com29 May 2015

'We may have played a small part, but being a part of the film that has won the prestigious award Palme d'Or is definitely a great honour.' Suresh Balaje and George Pius, who own the Wide Angle Creations, were the line producers on the French film Dheepan that won the top prize at the Cannes International Film Festival.

PHOTOS: Srinagar divided into 3 zones for sanitisation ops

PHOTOS: Srinagar divided into 3 zones for sanitisation ops

Rediff.com16 Sep 2014

The flood-ravaged Srinagar city has been divided into three zones to expedite the cleaning up and sanitation operations, an official spokesman said on Tuesday.

DGCA audit raises concern over Air India's ageing fleet

DGCA audit raises concern over Air India's ageing fleet

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

The DGCA probe detected serious issues related to safety oversight.

How the Real Estate Bill will ease home-buying experience

How the Real Estate Bill will ease home-buying experience

Rediff.com29 Apr 2016

The Bill comes at a time when prospective home buyers are avoiding under-construction projects, almost everywhere in the country, thereby drying up sources of interest-free funds for debt-ridden developer firms

Some advice and a word of caution for the next Army Chief

Some advice and a word of caution for the next Army Chief

Rediff.com19 Dec 2016

'Pakistan thinks it is winning this low intensity conflict.' 'It is a serious observation. Half the battle is convincing your adversary that he cannot make headway.' 'A lot depends on how the internal professional management of the army and the handling of situations that are bound to rise sooner than later in his command, are done.'

The real culprits behind India's Partition

The real culprits behind India's Partition

Rediff.com24 May 2018

AMU has once again been pulled into a crossfire of crass political opportunism. In these post-truth times, that the university also had political stirrings not subscribing to the Muslim League is chosen to be forgotten, says Mohammad Sajjad.

'Kejriwal never wanted to fight the Lok Sabha election'

'Kejriwal never wanted to fight the Lok Sabha election'

Rediff.com14 Apr 2014

'I get angry when people throw ink or slap him - but Arvind takes all this in his stride. People nowadays make fun of him and point out his mistakes but they haven't seen his sacrifice. If you understand his commitment towards this country, you will not dare say anything against him," says Dr Bipin Mittal, a longtime friend and family doctor of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

How home loans have changed in the past 4 decades

How home loans have changed in the past 4 decades

Rediff.com15 Sep 2014

HDFC, the pioneer, ICICI, the game-changer, and SBI, the original teaser, turned the market on its head.

Jet-setting Modi: 26 nations in 12 months

Jet-setting Modi: 26 nations in 12 months

Rediff.com31 Dec 2015

A list of all the foreign visits taken up by PM Narendra Modi this year and their outcomes.

'We should not discount the ISIS threat in India'

'We should not discount the ISIS threat in India'

Rediff.com19 Nov 2015

'These ISIS terrorists want to smash Western civilisation, smash India. For the time being though, their main target would be the US and Europe.'

'Entrepreneurs not only shape but create the future'

'Entrepreneurs not only shape but create the future'

Rediff.com23 Dec 2017

Five inspiring women who travelled thousands of miles to Hyderabad recently to grow their business and skills share their tales of global entrepreneurship. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel listened in.

Narendra Modi's prime ministerial speech!

Narendra Modi's prime ministerial speech!

Rediff.com28 Feb 2014

Narendra Modi's speech at the India Economic Convention was the best such oration since Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the nation from the Red Fort in the aftermath of Kargil, feels Shreekant Sambrani.

'The change from pessimism to confidence is a major achievement'

'The change from pessimism to confidence is a major achievement'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2016

'This has to be seen in the context not only of the legacy we inherited, but also of global economic weakness.'
'If after inheriting the very bad situation we have reached this level despite consecutive years of drought and no growth in the world economy, it is no accident.' 'It is a result of the sound macro economic policies followed by this government.' 'We have eschewed populism and stuck to a path of fiscal prudence.'

'It will be business as usual when Modi visits US'

'It will be business as usual when Modi visits US'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2014

The second and final part of former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra's interview to Sheela Bhatt.

Task-master Modi can't be taken for a ride

Task-master Modi can't be taken for a ride

Rediff.com11 Jun 2014

'I have seen in action six prime ministers and ten chief ministers, considered stalwarts in their days, and it is the first time, in all my experience, that a prime minister has gone into such great detail, laying down even the standards of cleanliness that should be maintained in all offices,' says B S Raghavan, former chief secretary, West Bengal.

Bharat Ratna C N R Rao: I expect great things to happen under Modi

Bharat Ratna C N R Rao: I expect great things to happen under Modi

Rediff.com9 Nov 2014

'No PM has said no to anything we have proposed. I am not a politician and I cannot give speeches about things, but a lot of good things have been done in science by previous governments.' 'Under Dr Manmohan Singh, we could do a few important things. I used to meet him once in 6, 8 weeks. He often said, 'Professor Rao, you assume that you have my approval and carry on.' He was shy and decent. He is a real gentleman.' 'Science keeps me going at 80. I feel young.' Professor C N R Rao, the eminent scientist who was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, on the state of science in India.

US, UK, France launch strikes in Syria, destroy chemical weapon factories

US, UK, France launch strikes in Syria, destroy chemical weapon factories

Rediff.com14 Apr 2018

The White House said it has 'a large body' of evidence indicating that the Assad regime was responsible for the April 7 chemical attack in Duma.

Indrani is still the boss

Indrani is still the boss

Rediff.com5 Sep 2017

Indrani is clearly in charge in her little corner. She is speaking rapidly to a not-very-tall, pot-bellied, balding man, whom she repeatedly, decisively, asks, "Have you understood?" The tone is that of a boss talking to an employee. The words "cheque" and "two lakhs" float by.

'Even if the PM grants OROP, the trust is fractured'

'Even if the PM grants OROP, the trust is fractured'

Rediff.com4 Sep 2015

'Modi has entered blunderland as he does not understand the army. He has actually meddled with the army, which is much more damaging than the ignorance of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.' 'People had an impression that the BJP was different. Now it has been made very, very, plain that it is not.' 'Look at the contrast in the behaviour of the prime minister. When they burnt buses in Gujarat for an unjust demand, the prime minister addressed them in Gujarati while the army veterans were on relay hunger strike for the 74th day on that day, but no word on this from the PM.'

Sheena Bora Trial: The secretary speaks. The plot thickens

Sheena Bora Trial: The secretary speaks. The plot thickens

Rediff.com19 Apr 2018

Indrani called her personal assistant Kajal Sharma from the UK, May 3, 2012, and told her she had to sign Sheena's resignation letter as if she was Sheena signing it. But she had to first practice the signature and send Indrani proof of her proficiency in signing Sheena's name before sending the letter off. Sharma said she was reluctant and told the court that she told Indrani as much, but Indrani demanded it of her.

'Sonia and Rajiv had no role in the Emergency'

'Sonia and Rajiv had no role in the Emergency'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2015

'I do not think Rajiv Gandhi at that stage had any influence on his mother. Indira Gandhi relied totally on Sanjay and she looked upon him as a dependable son.' 'What really affected people and eventually Indira Gandhi was the sterilisation drive. She lost so badly in north India because of these drives.' 'She is the one who has given this aura of 'the family' to the Gandhis.' The second and final part of veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor, whose book The Emergency: A Personal Account was published recently, to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Independent India's darkest phase.

Sheena Bora Trial: Was the Mukerjeas' car cleaned that day?

Sheena Bora Trial: Was the Mukerjeas' car cleaned that day?

Rediff.com5 Jul 2018

Though on the face of it appeared Pasbola was asking a series of odd questions that would be difficult for anyone to answer, there was, it gradually emerged, it seemed, a method to the questioning. Somehow, somewhere instinctively, Pasbola knew there was something not right with Riyaz's account.

'India, US must counter Pak terrorists'

'India, US must counter Pak terrorists'

Rediff.com12 Mar 2015

'What is the ISI doing and why can't they understand for their own interest that bringing stability to the region will help all the countries become prosperous, whereas a continuation of incitement will only lead to misery for all.'

The war that helped India regain its military confidence

The war that helped India regain its military confidence

Rediff.com26 Aug 2015

'India was in no position to wage another war in 1965, having suffered a morale-shattering defeat in 1962. The three services were in the middle of a modernisation and expansion phase and therefore not fully trained or battle-ready.'

Hashimpura killings: The trial to nowhere

Hashimpura killings: The trial to nowhere

Rediff.com10 Apr 2015

Right from the beginning, the State abdicated its responsibility in fixing the blame for the Hashimpura massacres or getting justice for the victims.

'Mufti now is very different from the Mufti of 2002'

'Mufti now is very different from the Mufti of 2002'

Rediff.com29 May 2015

'Mufti is much more mellowed, much more accommodating. He knows he is stuck and he knows that he cannot retreat now.'

'The judiciary in India is one institution that is above fault'

'The judiciary in India is one institution that is above fault'

Rediff.com30 Jul 2015

'My confidence in the Indian judiciary is absolute after I saw justice being delivered in Gujarat even when a BJP government was ruling the state. The Muslims of Gujarat believed that they will never get justice in a BJP-ruled state, but the facts are before all of us to make a judgment.'