News for 'Column'

Is AI Really Boosting India's Economy?

Is AI Really Boosting India's Economy?

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

'The real risk is not that AI will fail to transform India's economy.'
'The risk is that it already is -- while our measurement systems continue to look the other way,' observes Nishant Sahdev, a theoretical physicist at the University of North Carolina.

How C-60 Broke The Back of Naxalism In Gadchiroli

How C-60 Broke The Back of Naxalism In Gadchiroli

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Once the might of the Indian establishment turned completely against the Maoists, there was no way they could survive -- either in Gadchiroli or anywhere else, points out M R Narayan Swamy.

Budget 2026: What The Fiscal Numbers Show

Budget 2026: What The Fiscal Numbers Show

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

The idea of back-loading the target of fiscal consolidation is perhaps guided by the government's desire to be prepared for any adverse developments in the coming year, points out A K Bhattacharya.

Budget 2026 stays committed to long-term growth drivers

Budget 2026 stays committed to long-term growth drivers

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Capex, infrastructure development, and prudent fiscal management are the key focus areas in the Budget, says Nilesh Shah.

Budget reflects a maturing economy

Budget reflects a maturing economy

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

The Budget reflects a clear focus on strengthening India's long-term prospects by leaning on nation-building sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

How Ikkis Reimagines The War Hero

How Ikkis Reimagines The War Hero

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

How Ikkis Reimagines The War Hero

T20 World Cup: Did Anyone Win In Pakistan Boycott Drama?

T20 World Cup: Did Anyone Win In Pakistan Boycott Drama?

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

A lesson to be learned from this incident is participation in an event is the real exhibition of power, and winning matches elevates its credibility, observes K R Nayar.

Japan's High-Stakes Gamble In the Indo-Pacific

Japan's High-Stakes Gamble In the Indo-Pacific

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

In the Indo-Pacific's new era -- where perception shapes reality faster than treaties -- the real entrapment is not of China or the United States. It is the test Japan has set for itself -- and whether partners like India, acting as balancers rather than accelerants, can help ensure that the story ends in stability, points out Varun Arya.

SGB Tax Jolt to FY27 Budget

SGB Tax Jolt to FY27 Budget

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

This single amendment, unfortunately, overshadows much of the Budget's promise, explains Harsh Roongta.

Remained unapologetic on Op Sindoor: Tharoor addresses issues with Cong

Remained unapologetic on Op Sindoor: Tharoor addresses issues with Cong

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor addresses reports of differences with party leadership, clarifying his stance on party positions and emphasizing the importance of national interest.

Can You Solve The Saiyaara Jigsaw Puzzle?

Can You Solve The Saiyaara Jigsaw Puzzle?

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Solve this fun jigsaw puzzle, taken from a memorable scene in the film.

Fear of failure might have crept into all of us: Rohit

Fear of failure might have crept into all of us: Rohit

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

It could be fear of failure among country's elite batters that led to India's global title drought between 2011 and 2024, T20 World Cup winning former skipper Rohit Sharma said on Friday.

Budget Gets a New Address

Budget Gets a New Address

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

Nirmala Sitharaman moved into her Kartavya Bhavan office on October 2, in time to get the work on the Budget 2026-2027 going.

India Are Favourites But Any Team Could Win World Cup

India Are Favourites But Any Team Could Win World Cup

Rediff.com7 Feb 2026

This is the most open T20 World Cup in history. The traditional powers are compromised. The new powers have gained strength, observes Faisal Shariff.

Fresh clashes in Kokrajhar: Army, RAF deployed

Fresh clashes in Kokrajhar: Army, RAF deployed

Rediff.com20 Jan 2026

Fresh clashes between Bodos and Adivasis erupt in Assam's Kokrajhar, leading to the deployment of the Rapid Action Force, suspension of internet services, and imposition of prohibitory orders.

Republic Day 2026: Op Sindoor, defence prowess displayed at 77th R-Day parade

Republic Day 2026: Op Sindoor, defence prowess displayed at 77th R-Day parade

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

Around 100 artistes heralded the parade, on the theme 'Vividata Mein Ekta (Unity in Diversity) that featured a grand presentation of musical instruments, demonstrating the nation's unity and rich cultural diversity.

Budget 2026 Treats Healthcare As Strategic National Capability

Budget 2026 Treats Healthcare As Strategic National Capability

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The Budget reframes healthcare as a strategic national capability, backing biopharma innovation, workforce expansion and technology-led governance to power India's next growth phase.

Budget 2026's tax proposals weave a strategic vision

Budget 2026's tax proposals weave a strategic vision

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The proposals outlined in Budget 2026-27 represent a carefully crafted, multi-year strategy designed to strengthen India's big bets on the path to Viksit Bharat 2047, says Sameer Gupta.

Budget 2026 backs jobs, tech and capital markets

Budget 2026 backs jobs, tech and capital markets

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The Budget emerges as a measured, credible and forward-looking policy document that reinforces India's commitment to remaining a stable, reform-oriented economy amid an increasingly fragmented global landscape, says A Balasubramanian.

Army conducts flag march in Assam's violence-hit West Karbi Anglong

Army conducts flag march in Assam's violence-hit West Karbi Anglong

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

The Army conducted a flag march in violence-hit West Karbi Anglong district of Assam to help maintain law and order after clashes between Karbi and Bihari communities. Two people were killed and over 70 injured in the violence.

Xi Vs The Generals: Why It Matters To India

Xi Vs The Generals: Why It Matters To India

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

If Xi Jinping can establish control over the PLA Ground Force, relations between India and China will settle down to an even keel. The next few weeks will show whether Xi has finally succeeded in gaining control over the PLA Ground Force. That could bring about the substantive shift in India-China relations that both our leaders have been working for, observes Ambassador Prabhat Shukla.

What's Choking India's Capital Markets

What's Choking India's Capital Markets

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

'Large firms and their interests can dominate the narrative, even as smaller stakeholders and retail investors struggle to be heard.' 'Regulators therefore require deep subject-matter expertise to assess representations, recognise underlying incentives, incorporate the perspectives of less-visible stakeholders, and guard against bias or capture,' notes Ananth Narayan.

Three Key Priorities For Government!

Three Key Priorities For Government!

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

While many areas compete for resources, defence, education, and adaptation deserve focus for maximum impact, suggests Laveesh Bhandari.

After Decades IPKF Set For Overdue Official Honour

After Decades IPKF Set For Overdue Official Honour

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

'Why are IPKF martyrs not being officially recognised and appropriately honoured? And is the government really changing its mind on this now?', asks Aditi Phadnis.

Why Budget 2026 Deserves 8.5/10

Why Budget 2026 Deserves 8.5/10

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

This is the first Budget in my memory of Budgets over the last half a century which has embraced upfront, enthusiastically and emphatically, technology, modernity and fiscal sobriety, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Why RSS Must Choose Bharatiyata Over Hindutva

Why RSS Must Choose Bharatiyata Over Hindutva

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The future of India will be shaped and decided by the choices the RSS makes now, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Why Our Military Leaders Must Be Diligent

Why Our Military Leaders Must Be Diligent

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

The armed forces of India will be wise to remember that its public interface needs to be tempered with discretion, maturity and example, keeping in mind the nation's multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric which is its greatest strength but which can also become its biggest fault-line, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

Will Budget 2026 Fix The Customs-FTA Disconnect?

Will Budget 2026 Fix The Customs-FTA Disconnect?

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Customs regimes can lead to labyrinthine legal disputes. Budget 2026 must recognise that an excessively defensive Customs posture can itself become a trade barrier, point out Mukesh Butani and Shankey Agrawal.

Budget 2026: Time To Fix The Weak Link In R&D Ecosystem

Budget 2026: Time To Fix The Weak Link In R&D Ecosystem

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Restoring weighted tax deductions and adopting a petty patents regime can foster firm-level innovative activity critical for competitiveness, points out Nagesh Kumar.

Can This Budget Deliver Strategic Growth and Jobs?

Can This Budget Deliver Strategic Growth and Jobs?

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

India is growing fast, but to keep growing strong, the government must make more things at home, create jobs, and spend money wisely, suggests Rajiv Memani, regional managing partner, Africa-India Region, EY.

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Why Freebies May Not Save Stalin's DMK

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

While the DMK depends on a 'silver sieve' of welfare schemes to stay in power, its support is slowly draining away under the weight of poor governance, corruption, and voters who are no longer satisfied with benefits alone and now want basic administration to work, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Brand Shubham Gill: Bruised Not Ruptured

Brand Shubham Gill: Bruised Not Ruptured

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

'It is a passing phase'. 'He will bounce back'. 'He is a run machine; poor form is just temporary'. The vote of confidence in Gill was inspiring and reassuring, notes Sandeep Goyal.

Budget At Economic Crossroads

Budget At Economic Crossroads

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

'We believe the truth is in the middle, and that India is at an important crossroads.'

Lessons To Learn From The Tatas

Lessons To Learn From The Tatas

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Usually, in the western view, corporate success is attributed to efficiency, organisational structure, and scale. R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat argue that philosophy, culture, and the transmission of values are more important for sustaining growth and profitability of an enterprise over a period of time.

Can Budget Balance Growth And Fiscal Discipline?

Can Budget Balance Growth And Fiscal Discipline?

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

The forthcoming Budget could think of maintaining public capital expenditure at 3 per cent so that domestic resources are available for private investments, points out N R Bhanumurthy.

Tiger Global Verdict: SC rewrites rules of cross-border taxation

Tiger Global Verdict: SC rewrites rules of cross-border taxation

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

The SC has gone a step further to state that even if one were to not apply the codified GAAR provisions, the judicial GAAR would continue to apply, point out Pranav Sayta and Bhargav Selarka.

RSS@100: The Challenges Ahead

RSS@100: The Challenges Ahead

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

'The RSS, that advocated military strength, remained in the ideological doghouse for over half a century. Many of the RSS' responses even today carry the burden of this past,' points out Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Budget 2026: Next 5 Reforms Needed To Boost Growth

Budget 2026: Next 5 Reforms Needed To Boost Growth

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

Sustaining 8 per cent-plus growth rates is necessary if we are to reach high-income status by 2047, points out Amitabh Kant.

When Votes Come With a Price Tag, Is It Still Democracy?

When Votes Come With a Price Tag, Is It Still Democracy?

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

The Maharashtra municipal elections showed a troubling shift, where votes were traded for cash, convictions no longer mattered, and ideology became an afterthought, observes Ramesh Menon.

Don't Expect Tax Relief In This Budget!

Don't Expect Tax Relief In This Budget!

Rediff.com27 Jan 2026

After the last Budget's announcement of a major tax relief for those earning an annual salary of less than Rs 12 lakh, there is not much that individuals can look forward to in the forthcoming Budget, points out A K Bhattacharya.