News for 'Department for International Development in India'

India imposes restriction on public procurement from China

India imposes restriction on public procurement from China

Rediff.com24 Jul 2020

The Government of India amended the General Financial Rules 2017 to enable imposition of restrictions on bidders from countries which share a land border with India on grounds of defence of India, or matters directly or indirectly related thereto including national security, an official statement said.

Modi, Blinken draw China ire for greeting Dalai Lama on birthday

Modi, Blinken draw China ire for greeting Dalai Lama on birthday

Rediff.com7 Jul 2022

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing that "the Indian side should fully recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama."

Modi's welcome ceremony at White House to be one of the biggest

Modi's welcome ceremony at White House to be one of the biggest

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

The first state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US is likely to be a defining moment for Indo-US relationship and both sides are working on a robust outcome document that may take up matters that would decide the contour of the bilateral ties for decades to come, according to people familiar with the planning of the high-profile trip.

CBI begins investigation into Balasore train accident with filing FIR

CBI begins investigation into Balasore train accident with filing FIR

Rediff.com6 Jun 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday started its investigation into alleged criminal negligence leading to the Balasore train accident which claimed 278 lives after registering a first information report (FIR), officials said.

'Chief mouser' Palmerston retires as UK's top diplomatic cat

'Chief mouser' Palmerston retires as UK's top diplomatic cat

Rediff.com7 Aug 2020

Lord Palmerston, famed for regular territorial tiffs with neighbouring Downing Street mouse-catcher Larry, will see out his retirement in the English countryside, where he has been spending lockdown already at the home of a member of Foreign Office staff.

Newark rescinds sister-city agreement with 'United States of Kailasa'

Newark rescinds sister-city agreement with 'United States of Kailasa'

Rediff.com4 Mar 2023

The city of Newark in the United States state of New Jersey has rescinded a sister-city agreement with the so-called 'United States of Kailasa', founded by Indian fugitive Nithyananda, citing deceptive circumstances surrounding the fictional country and terming the incident as regrettable.

Bharat Biotech making single-dose intranasal Covid vaccine

Bharat Biotech making single-dose intranasal Covid vaccine

Rediff.com21 Apr 2021

Efforts are being ramped up for massive production of vaccines and make them available in the shortest possible time, a top government official said on Wednesday, stressing that India currently has a promising pipeline of four-five Covid-19 vaccine candidates, while three have already been approved for emergency use.

Biden Admin 'welcomes India's emergence as leading global power'

Biden Admin 'welcomes India's emergence as leading global power'

Rediff.com10 Feb 2021

Describing India as one of the most important partners of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, the Biden Administration on Tuesday said that it welcomes India's emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region.

India, US to launch innovation forum next year

India, US to launch innovation forum next year

Rediff.com23 Sep 2015

India and the US also agreed to support the efforts of the Harvard Business School and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to develop a cluster map.

Relationship with China has to be based on '3 mutuals': Foreign secy

Relationship with China has to be based on '3 mutuals': Foreign secy

Rediff.com9 Mar 2022

India has made it clear to China that peace and tranquillity in border areas is essential for the development of overall bilateral ties and the relationship has to be based on the 'three mutuals' of respect, sensitivity and interest, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

India projected to surpass China as most populous country by 2023: UN report

India projected to surpass China as most populous country by 2023: UN report

Rediff.com11 Jul 2022

Th report predicted that the world population is to reach eight billion by mid-November 2022.

'Rajapaksa is unlikely to depart the political stage'

'Rajapaksa is unlikely to depart the political stage'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2015

'The path to a resolution of the ethnic conflict is likely to be complicated and controversial with the majority Sinhalese community, and will become less likely if delayed.' 'It will certainly give Rajapaksa fresh political oxygen with which to revive himself and rally the opposition.'

Ex-finance secy booked for corruption in currency security thread supply

Ex-finance secy booked for corruption in currency security thread supply

Rediff.com12 Jan 2023

The CBI, in its FIR, alleged that Mayaram, the UK-based company De La Rue International Ltd and unidentified officials of the finance ministry and RBI hatched a criminal conspiracy to extend undue favour to the firm.

'Centre can't abdicate its responsibility'

'Centre can't abdicate its responsibility'

Rediff.com24 Apr 2023

'The Centre and state need to take a unified approach and take concerted action before this matter assumes menacing proportions because unemployment, the drug trade and the levels of frustration among the youth make them vulnerable to any maverick who promises something better.'

'Govt won't own a single share in Air India'

'Govt won't own a single share in Air India'

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

'The business continuity clause will mean the Tatas will have to keep running the airline for three years, and cannot exit the flying business.'

Tata Power, IIT Delhi to collaborate in clean energy space

Tata Power, IIT Delhi to collaborate in clean energy space

Rediff.com23 Oct 2021

Tata Power on Saturday said it has inked a pact with IIT Delhi to work together on clean energy and other projects that can be transformed from research and development level to pilot stage. Tata Power, one of India's largest private sector integrated utilities, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in areas like smart grid technology, clean energy solutions, a company statement said. Considering the large number of experts with their excellence in different fields in IIT Delhi and Tata Power, there is an immense potential to collaborate between academia, research and domain experts from business with a high transformational impact, it added.

How Vajpayee made India a nuclear superpower

How Vajpayee made India a nuclear superpower

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

Vajpayee had always felt that India must act with conviction and panache. He decided that, irrespective of the attendant risks, he would undertake what many felt was a precarious course. A fascinating excerpt from N K Singh's Portraits Of Power: Half A Century Of Being At Ringside on Atalji's 96th birthday, December 25.

India detects 2 more Omicron Covid cases; total tally reaches 4

India detects 2 more Omicron Covid cases; total tally reaches 4

Rediff.com4 Dec 2021

Cases with the Omicron variant have already been detected in Karnataka and Gujarat.

India still eyes World Bank loans

India still eyes World Bank loans

Rediff.com19 Aug 2013

Diplomatic channels activated to keep India eligible for soft loans from World Bank affiliate, though rules show it's probably time we made way for the needier others.

'Economic rebound has run out of steam'

'Economic rebound has run out of steam'

Rediff.com9 Mar 2023

'When the average growth in the last three years was just 2.5%, how does that make us the fastest growing country?' 'They only tell you what has happened in the last 2 years; they are not taking into account what happened in FY21 on account of their mistakes.'

'Modi has moved foreign policy from elite to masses'

'Modi has moved foreign policy from elite to masses'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2023

'For the first time since I've been following Indian politics, one heard voters talking about India's role on the world stage and the fact that, due to Modi's leadership, India was once again a great power.'

US waives in-person interviews for H-1B visas

US waives in-person interviews for H-1B visas

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

Amid growing concerns of surging COVID-19 cases, the US has announced that it will waive the in-person interview requirement for a range of visa applicants during the entire year in 2022, including for H-1B workers and students, many of whom are from India. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Elon Musk's troubled tryst with India: Tesla, Starlink in limbo for over a year

Elon Musk's troubled tryst with India: Tesla, Starlink in limbo for over a year

Rediff.com30 May 2022

Recently, world headlines buzzed with Elon Musk's announcement that he was shelving his audacious bid for social media platform Twitter. Away from the media spotlight, questions are being asked about the maverick billionaire's plans in India, too. A few days ago, a Reuters report said Musk's flagship Tesla had put on hold its plan to launch electric cars in India.

'If students can learn asking ChatGPT...'

'If students can learn asking ChatGPT...'

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

'What can a teacher do that ChatGPT cannot?'

Marriott's mega India dream: 50 hotels in 5 years

Marriott's mega India dream: 50 hotels in 5 years

Rediff.com27 Nov 2019

The hotels in the pipeline will include a range of Marriott brand portfolios such as JW Marriott, Tribute Portfolio and Sheraton.

'Manipur peace committee members were superimposed by Centre'

'Manipur peace committee members were superimposed by Centre'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

'This committee underscores the Indian State's longstanding conventional approach to leverage top-down conflict management in North East India in general and Manipur in particular.' 'Trying to 'manage' violent conflicts top-down has not worked in the past, and apparently does not seem to work this time either.'

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

'Wherever in the world there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,' President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament.

Flood-prone states rapped for not enacting law on prevention

Flood-prone states rapped for not enacting law on prevention

Rediff.com22 Jul 2022

The standing committee on water resources, tabled in Lok Sabha, said only Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand and erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir had enacted legislation, though delineation and demarcation of flood plains are yet to be undertaken.

COVID-19: India's public debt ratio to jump to 90%

COVID-19: India's public debt ratio to jump to 90%

Rediff.com14 Oct 2020

India's public debt ratio, which remarkably remained stable at around 70 per cent of the GDP since 1991, is projected to jump by 17 percentage points to nearly 90 per cent because of increase in public spending due to COVID-19, the IMF said.

Cong seeks sacking of WFI chief, Rahul slams PM

Cong seeks sacking of WFI chief, Rahul slams PM

Rediff.com4 May 2023

The Congress on Thursday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government over a scuffle between the Delhi Police and the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, with Rahul Gandhi condemning such 'shameful' behaviour with sportspersons and alleging the ruling party has 'never shied away' from committing atrocities on the daughters of the country.

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

Microsoft has become the first global Big Tech company to join the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an Indian government initiative for developing a first-of-its-kind open network for digital commerce. The world's second-largest technology firm intends to introduce social e-commerce via its app in the Indian market later this year. ONDC is expected to open to the public in Bengaluru over the next fortnight as it enters into the next phase of the pilot for further fine-tuning before rollouts in other cities, according to a source in the know.

Fund-raises by fintechs slowed by 47% in 2022

Fund-raises by fintechs slowed by 47% in 2022

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Recently, Slice, a payment app, acquired a 5 per cent stake in North East Small Finance (NESF) for $3.42 million - the first such deal by a fintech in a small finance bank. Slice (valued at $1.5 billion, and backed by Tiger Global, Blume Ventures and Axis Bank) will technically get a toehold in a scheduled commercial bank if NESF were to get a licence to morph into one down the line Such a transition is well within the banking regulator's declared framework. The transaction has to be seen in a larger context.

Phase-I trials of 2 Indian Covid vaccines reveal 'excellent safety': Govt

Phase-I trials of 2 Indian Covid vaccines reveal 'excellent safety': Govt

Rediff.com15 Sep 2020

Phase-I clinical trials have revealed "excellent safety" of the two candidate vaccines indigenously developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research and Cadila Healthcare Ltd and their immunogenicity testing is now in progress, minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

'LIC keeps investing in companies...'

'LIC keeps investing in companies...'

Rediff.com17 Feb 2023

'In equities, it has diversified portfolios.' 'So the short-term movement of individual stocks does not impact them.'

India's Dilemma in Sri Lanka

India's Dilemma in Sri Lanka

Rediff.com21 Sep 2020

Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Modi have learnt from their past mistakes. Modi has understood that Rajapaksa is a 'forever politician' that India has to live with, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Nepal: How did India lose the plot?

Nepal: How did India lose the plot?

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

'By treating Nepali politicians as shabby buffoons to be pampered one day and collared another day, India badly exposed itself.' 'A belief got entrenched in the Nepalese mind that we are a dangerous neighbour,' observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

Rediff.com24 Jun 2023

The dinner Jill Biden and her husband US President Joe Biden hosted for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, June 22, at the White House brought together, Indians and Americans from so many firmaments.

Airport PPPs on a crowded runway; private sector bids could be subdued

Airport PPPs on a crowded runway; private sector bids could be subdued

Rediff.com30 May 2022

Airports hold pride of place in the government's National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) programme to monetise public assets. Private airport operators, including the Adani group, Fairfax, GMR and Zurich Airport, are expected to evince interest in the next round of public private partnership (PPP) development of state-owned Airport Authority of India (AAI) airports. Industry analysts, however, do not expect bids to be as high as the last round, which saw Adani group gain control of six airports.

China asks US to respect Nepal's sovereignty as Kathmandu gives nod to MCC

China asks US to respect Nepal's sovereignty as Kathmandu gives nod to MCC

Rediff.com28 Feb 2022

Much to the surprise of Beijing, Nepal's Parliament on Sunday ratified the contentious US-funded $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation compact along with an interpretive declaration a day ahead of the February 28 deadline set by Washington.