'The reason why they rushed through the bill was they wanted to avoid using the 2026 Census because the 2026 Census by their own decision will be a caste census.' 'The BJP knows that a significant share of the OBCs who will get captured in the census, for the first time after the 1931 Census, are against the BJP. Only a segment of the OBCs are in their favour.' 'So they wanted to avoid the OBC reservation among women, which is a demand of a lot of Opposition parties.'
Sonia Gandhi criticises the government's proposed delimitation, claiming it's a politically motivated move to delay the caste census and gain an unfair advantage, rather than genuinely promoting women's reservation.
Both sides have now revealed a preference for escalation over strategic defeat, and each new provocation narrows the space for the next pause. The Touska seizure, Iran's refusal to negotiate under blockade, Israel's strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure -- all of these add up to an increasingly untenable situation. This makes the wild card -- Trump and his motormouth -- more consequential than ever, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.
A 17-year-old boy is accused of murdering two friends by pushing them into a pond during Lathmar Holi celebrations near Nandgaon. CCTV footage revealed the crime, contradicting the initial report of accidental drowning.
The story of Prince Yadav, a swing bowler from Najafgarh, who overcame obstacles to become an IPL sensation with the Lucknow Super Giants, showcasing his journey from tennis ball cricket to dismissing top Indian batsmen.
Moving beyond digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the operator of Unified Payments Interface, is planning to add more muscle to the country's digital infrastructure by setting up a fourth subsidiary, NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd (NTSL).
'The White House lunch that Trump hosted for Munir last year came just after Munir returned from a visit to Iran, at a moment when Israel and Iran were at war.' 'Trump said after that lunch that the Pakistanis know Iran very well. He likely views Munir as a useful interlocutor that can give helpful insights on Iran.'
Although extensive air attacks have been carried out to destroy most of Iran's defence capabilities, the latter's resilience and sustenance during the war clearly indicate that the US landing force would encounter severe resistance in the operation, explains Commodore Venugopal Vengalil (retd).
Police in Jharkhand have arrested four more people in connection with the lynching of an elderly woman suspected of being a child-lifter, bringing the total number of arrests to eight. The incident occurred in Lagaba village, Gumla district, where the woman was beaten to death by villagers.
Her remarks come after 84 former bureaucrats, 116 veterans, and four lawyers wrote an open letter asking Rahul Gandhi to apologise over an incident in which he had tea and biscuits at the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament.
Four people have been arrested in Jharkhand's Gumla district for allegedly lynching an elderly woman, suspecting her of being a child lifter. The incident occurred after rumours spread in Lagaba village, leading to the woman being beaten to death.
A man in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his twin sister to death following a period of emotional distress after a breakup. The incident occurred at their home, and the mother of the twins was also attacked when she intervened.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi of acting as the 'B-team' of the BJP, criticising their stance on various issues and alleging a tacit alliance between the two parties.
A major security breach occurred at the Delhi Assembly when a masked man drove an SUV onto the premises, placed a bouquet in the Speaker's vehicle, and fled. Police have detained three people, including the driver, and are investigating the incident.
The BJP has announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections across multiple states, including Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Haryana.
Delhi Police's Special Cell has issued a notice to Penguin Random House India regarding the alleged unauthorized circulation of former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished book, 'Four Stars of Destiny'. The investigation follows reports of the manuscript being illegally disseminated before publication, leading to an FIR.
'When you reach a good point in your life, you should never forget the struggle that got you there. I haven't. That is why I have not become swollen-headed.'
Nitish Kumar's decision to contest the Rajya Sabha elections signals the end of his long-standing tenure as Bihar's Chief Minister, paving the way for a potential BJP leader to take the helm.
A 10-year-old boy died and several others were injured in a suspected cylinder blast in Bengaluru. The Chief Minister has announced compensation for the victim's family and medical assistance for the injured.
Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has clarified that it holds the exclusive publishing rights to General Manoj Mukund Naravane's memoir, 'Four Stars of Destiny,' amid reports of unauthorized copies circulating. The publisher emphasized that the book has not been officially released and warned against copyright infringement.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised the issue of the Indo-US trade deal soon after the zero hour ended and alleged that the information about the deal was being received from Washington instead.
24 Indian-flagged vessels with 677 Indian seafarers were currently located west of the Strait of Hormuz, and four vessels with 101 Indian seafarers were stationed east of the strategic waterway.
The big question is whether Trump is any longer in command of the situation. For all practical purposes, the war seems set to cascade as the US is preparing for a potential ground operation in Iran and threatens to destroy 'bridges next, then electric power plants', points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The Gujarat legislative assembly has unanimously passed a bill amending the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015, to remove terrorism-related provisions. This change aligns the state law with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which now comprehensively addresses terrorism, preventing overlap and ambiguity in legal proceedings.
The BJP has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of using 'victim card' politics to gain sympathy during the assembly elections, dismissing claims of threats to her life as a political strategy.
'The next two to three weeks will not be decided in Washington.' 'They will be decided in Tehran, in whatever calculation Iran makes about the costs of continued resistance against the costs of appearing to have yielded.'
With Income Tax Act 2025 in force, your tax choice can quietly cost you big money if you're not paying attention. Ramalingam Kalirajan explains how
Ukraine has lodged a formal protest with India regarding the detention of six Ukrainian nationals in Mizoram, alleging unauthorised entry and unlawful activities. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is seeking consular access and immediate release of its citizens.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized the Lok Sabha for denying Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi the opportunity to speak, calling it 'absolutely bizarre'. Tharoor stated that Gandhi should be allowed to voice his concerns and that preventing him from speaking undermines the purpose of Parliament.
The Pakistan Army intercepted and destroyed Afghan Taliban drones targeting civilian areas, resulting in injuries. This incident has further strained relations between the two countries, with Pakistan reiterating its commitment to combating terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
The 'rescue' operation occurred within kilometres of Iran's underground tunnel complex at Isfahan, assessed by the IAEA and US intelligence as holding a substantial portion of the country's 60 per cent enriched uranium stockpile. Retired senior US military officers have highlighted that the mission's footprint -- hundreds of special operators, multiple heavy-lift aircraft deep inside Iran -- appears outsized for recovering a single airman. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.
Ask rediffGURU and tax expert Mihir Tanna your income tax-related questions.
In many ways, this is only the beginning -- of a new chapter in India's nuclear story, and of a future where its vast thorium reserves could finally power its ambitions.
The Congress party has issued a show-cause notice to a fifth MLA from Haryana, Jarnail Singh, for alleged cross-voting during the recent Rajya Sabha elections, further exposing internal rifts within the state unit.
Cracks appeared in the opposition ranks as some parties showed willingness to participate in the budget debate, while the government insisted on equal speaking opportunities for all members amidst ongoing disruptions.
'We were in a heavily nuclearised environment. China had tested for Pakistan in the 1980s and helped their missile programme stay just one step behind us.'
Gandhi read out Gen Naravane's social media post on X (then Twitter), which said, 'Hello friends. My book is available now. Just follow the link. Happy reading. Jai Hind.'
The pause gives the US time to breathe, to regroup, to move its expeditionary force into position without risk of interception along the way. It gives Iran nothing -- on the ground, attacks against its infrastructure continue apace. Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
Lamine Yamal's second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao, extending their lead in La Liga.
Much, much, much before Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani fussed over What Jhumka, Asha Bhosle trilled in her alluring voice and teased us with tantalising details about the events leading to her precious Jhumka's loss.