News for 'Economic and Political Weekly'

Who Will Vote For Vijay, And Why?

Who Will Vote For Vijay, And Why?

Rediff.com14 Aug 2024

Where do Vijay and his TVK expect to get their votes from? Vijay has a huge fan following among women, but will they automatically become his voters like they had done for MGR's AIADMK, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

India will have to wait 2 years for S&P's rating upgrade

India will have to wait 2 years for S&P's rating upgrade

Rediff.com31 May 2024

S&P Global Ratings on Friday said it will watch the fiscal numbers for the next 1-2 years, besides pro-growth policies of the new government, before deciding on India's sovereign rating upgrade. S&P, which earlier this week upgraded India's outlook to positive while retaining the sovereign rating at BBB-, expects the new government to continue with pro-growth policies, infrastructure investment and commitment to fiscal consolidation.

Sri Lanka declares emergency amidst protests over economic crisis

Sri Lanka declares emergency amidst protests over economic crisis

Rediff.com2 Apr 2022

Sri Lanka has also imposed a police curfew in Western Province for six hours.

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Next-gen politicians battle it out for Samastipur

Rediff.com9 May 2024

'Dynastic politics has become a tool of convenience for political parties. The BJP does not hesitate to accept it when it comes to its own alliance or party candidates. The same goes for the others.'

Zelenskyy explains war situation, Modi says India willing to help

Zelenskyy explains war situation, Modi says India willing to help

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

Ukraine and Russia need to engage with each other to find a solution to the ongoing conflict between them, India said on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv under the shadow of the raging war.

How India Won Back Maldives's Trust

How India Won Back Maldives's Trust

Rediff.com12 Sep 2024

The avoidable stresses and strains in ties helped in one way. It showed for the entire region how a matured India handled diplomatic relations, especially with a smaller and suspicious neighbour, with practised dignity and patience, unruffled by provocations in word, deed and action, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Budget Hasn't Addressed Real Economy Issues'

'Budget Hasn't Addressed Real Economy Issues'

Rediff.com30 Jul 2024

'Generating employment requires a shift in policy.' 'If not, the country will face economic, social and political challenges in the coming years.'

Blow to Imran Khan as Pak govt to ban his party for anti-state activities

Blow to Imran Khan as Pak govt to ban his party for anti-state activities

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

Khan, 71, has been lodged at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on account of multiple cases against him.

All In The Family In The Name Of Politics

All In The Family In The Name Of Politics

Rediff.com2 May 2023

With some variations, all regional political formations, whether in power presently or out of it, share some common features: Tight family control of the political apparatus, key members in elected or appointed positions, obvious wealth but not quite known sources of income, and family factionalism, sometimes open and bitter, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Will Budget Cause Trouble For Modi?

Will Budget Cause Trouble For Modi?

Rediff.com29 Jul 2024

'Union Budgets are often used as political instruments and that was the intention of this government too.' 'But while the exercise has settled two fronts, it has left open several others and this has the potential to aggravate with time,' predicts Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

UK polls: Sunak, rival Starmer hit temple trail to woo British Hindu voters

UK polls: Sunak, rival Starmer hit temple trail to woo British Hindu voters

Rediff.com2 Jul 2024

While 44-year-old Sunak was at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden on Sunday to promise to keep trying to "make the community proud", 61-year-old Starmer chose another north London Swaminarayan Temple in Kingsbury on Friday to reiterate his commitment to building a "strategic partnership with India".

What new UK PM Keir Starmer's win means for India

What new UK PM Keir Starmer's win means for India

Rediff.com5 Jul 2024

'What my Labour government will seek with India is a relationship based on our shared values of democracy and aspiration. That will seek a free trade agreement (FTA), we share that ambition, but also a new strategic partnership for global security, climate security, economic security'

UCC Can Wait, Personal Law Reforms Can't

UCC Can Wait, Personal Law Reforms Can't

Rediff.com8 Aug 2024

Crucial reforms in Muslim personal law, especially laws related to inheritance and adoption, need to be initiated forthwith; historically speaking, without the State's backing, hardly has any reform taken place or allowed to prevail, asserts Mohammad Sajjad.

Beware! China, Pakistan's Bangladesh Games

Beware! China, Pakistan's Bangladesh Games

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

Bangladesh is in turmoil, which is not good news for India, which shares a porous 4000 km border with it. There is a danger of fundamentalism growing there, and India has to move in to reset its ties with the new dispensation before China and Pakistan make capital out of it, alerts Ramesh Menon.

PIX: Here is how states celebrate 78th Independence Day

PIX: Here is how states celebrate 78th Independence Day

Rediff.com15 Aug 2024

Independence Day was celebrated across states and Union territories on Thursday, as several chief ministers announced job schemes while some others vowed their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

India The Diplomatic Ambassador In Global Crises

India The Diplomatic Ambassador In Global Crises

Rediff.com16 Sep 2024

Times have changed, situations have changed, but the basic nature of superpower geo-politics remains the same and so also India's diplomacy -- call it non-alignment, strategic autonomy or neutrality; it all depends on the time scale, notes Rup Narayan Das.

ED to quiz J'khand minister Alamgir Alam after Rs 37-cr cash seizure

ED to quiz J'khand minister Alamgir Alam after Rs 37-cr cash seizure

Rediff.com12 May 2024

Alamgir Alam had distanced himself from the activities of Lal while speaking to reporters after the ED raids, pointing out that he had earlier served with other ministers of the state government too.

Foreign Policy As A Poll Tool Can Be Harmful

Foreign Policy As A Poll Tool Can Be Harmful

Rediff.com29 May 2024

It is time the political leaderships in this country arrived at a common ground over issues of foreign and security policy concerns. There has to be a greater communication between the government and the Opposition leaderships for the nation to present a unified face against the rest of the world, advises N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Will BJP Abolish Reservations?'

'Will BJP Abolish Reservations?'

Rediff.com14 May 2024

'In Western UP, last time a lot of Dalits voted for the BJP.' 'This time, there is a rethink among Dalits about the extent of their support for the BJP.'

Hijab Row: Politics Of Communal Polarisation

Hijab Row: Politics Of Communal Polarisation

Rediff.com14 Feb 2022

Some important simple truths about the issue may be more helpful than high sounding debates, asserts Mohammad Sajjad.

Markets rally make investors richer by Rs 10.58 lakh cr in three days

Markets rally make investors richer by Rs 10.58 lakh cr in three days

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

Investors' wealth soared by Rs 10.58 lakh crore in three days of the market rally, where the BSE benchmark jumped over 2 per cent, and hit an all-time high on Monday. Extending its winning momentum to the third day running, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 363.20 points or 0.49 per cent to settle at 74,014.55. During the day, it zoomed 603.27 points or 0.81 per cent to hit its record high of 74,254.62.

Mudra Bank is more politics and less economics

Mudra Bank is more politics and less economics

Rediff.com2 Nov 2015

Even if Mudra steps in to play its main role of refinancing at some stage, the responsibility for the bad loans remains with the banks.

'You Can't Understand Human Beings...'

'You Can't Understand Human Beings...'

Rediff.com1 Jul 2024

'...without looking into yourself.' 'What matters most is human relationships and the human mind.'

No politics on nation's economics, urges Chidambaram

No politics on nation's economics, urges Chidambaram

Rediff.com3 Feb 2014

India needs a place where all regulators could gather and function as in a war room.

NHRC notice to Bengal DGP over detention of scribe covering Sandeshkhali

NHRC notice to Bengal DGP over detention of scribe covering Sandeshkhali

Rediff.com20 Feb 2024

The National Human Rights Commission in a statement said the allegations raise a serious issue of violation of human rights and also restriction on the freedom of the press.

UP sub-station fire leaves Delhi 'powerless' for 1 hour, homes of LG, CM hit

UP sub-station fire leaves Delhi 'powerless' for 1 hour, homes of LG, CM hit

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

Power distribution company officials said several areas, largely in central and east Delhi, were affected due to the failure. Some areas in north Delhi also faced outages.

Bear attack makes investors poorer by Rs 31 lakh cr

Bear attack makes investors poorer by Rs 31 lakh cr

Rediff.com4 Jun 2024

Equity investors suffered a massive loss of Rs 31 lakh crore on Tuesday as markets went into a tailspin with the BSE Sensex tumbling nearly 6 per cent as vote counting trends showed the BJP may not have a clear majority in the Lok Sabha polls. Erasing the record-rally of the previous trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex cracked 4,389.73 points or 5.74 per cent to settle at 72,079.05. During the day, the benchmark tanked 6,234.35 points or 8.15 per cent to hit a nearly five-month low of 70,234.43.

Can't fight elections, don't have money: Sitharaman

Can't fight elections, don't have money: Sitharaman

Rediff.com27 Mar 2024

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said she declined the offer of the Bharatiya Janata Party to contest elections pleading that she did not have the 'kind of funds' required for fighting the Lok Sabha polls.

'We Have An Indian Tiger That Needs To Be Uncaged'

'We Have An Indian Tiger That Needs To Be Uncaged'

Rediff.com10 Oct 2024

'What's sad today is that there are so many people who cannot find work, not because the country is devoid of that opportunity, but because we are not doing enough in the country.'

Is Rahul Dividing India To Rule?

Is Rahul Dividing India To Rule?

Rediff.com3 Jul 2024

Is it is necessary to play divisive politics to succeed in the next general elections? asks Dr Sudhir Bisht.

'Ananya Gives It Her 100%'

'Ananya Gives It Her 100%'

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

'In anything in life, privilege helps.' 'Privilege means access. Access means connections.' 'Does it help? Of course, it does. In whatever you do.'

'Won't Allow Severe Cuts, It Will Destroy The Film'

'Won't Allow Severe Cuts, It Will Destroy The Film'

Rediff.com28 May 2024

'The chances of The Shameless passing through the censorship board in India are slim to none.'

When Some Speak For All

When Some Speak For All

Rediff.com19 Jan 2024

...close to the 2024 general election. The BJP calling the Congress 'seasonal Hindu' is as laughable as the saffron party sparing itself the title of 'seasonal extreme Hindu.'

How else should one describe its election campaigns of the past years?
It was typically obsessive religion and personality cult with economic development for fig leaf, asserts Shyam G Menon.

FPIs continue their buying spree; Rs 4,800 crore infused in equities

FPIs continue their buying spree; Rs 4,800 crore infused in equities

Rediff.com7 Jan 2024

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) continued their buying spree and poured close to Rs 4,800 crore in the Indian equity markets in the first week of January driven by confidence in the country's robust economic fundamentals. Additionally, they injected Rs 4,000 crore in the debt market during the period under review, data with the depositories showed. With expectations of a prolonged decline in US interest rates in 2024, there is an anticipation that FPIs will likely escalate their purchase, particularly in the initial months of the New Year leading up to the general elections, V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said.

Don't Expect Modi To Change!

Don't Expect Modi To Change!

Rediff.com12 Jun 2024

'Commentators have said that dealing with allies as equals will make Modi more sensitive.' 'Remember that the people Modi is dealing with are equally autocratic in their own lairs.' 'Further, Modi always has handy the threat of dissolving Parliament and calling for fresh polls.' 'Most of his own party, and certainly his allies and opponents having blown their budgets of efforts and resources in the just concluded elections, have no stomach for this.' 'They are all greatly looking forward to the loaves and fishes of office on offer.' 'That gives Modi an unbeatable advantage in any push-comes-to-shove situation,' explains Shreekant Sambrani.

Rahul's yatra a political gimmick to connect through hatred: RSS

Rahul's yatra a political gimmick to connect through hatred: RSS

Rediff.com12 Sep 2022

RSS joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya, apparently referring to the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra, described it as a "political gimmick" that will not serve its stated purpose of uniting masses.

Americans Must Depend On Hope And Prayer

Americans Must Depend On Hope And Prayer

Rediff.com13 Jul 2024

The two major parties offer the United States choices that are basically unacceptable and the bench strength, such as it is, is not entirely capable of winning popular acclaim, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

'Even If We Have To Die, We Won't Let This Port Come Up'

'Even If We Have To Die, We Won't Let This Port Come Up'

Rediff.com13 Sep 2024

'Modi knows the people here are opposed to this project, but he is using the might of government to push this port down our throats.'

'Can We In Our Businesses Set An Example?'

'Can We In Our Businesses Set An Example?'

Rediff.com10 Oct 2024

'I think some of us, like Mukesh Ambani, myself and those of us who head industrial units, ought to really focus on what we can really do to make the world a safer place, maybe 50 or 100 years from now.' 'For instance, how can we deal with climate change and global warming, right now?' 'The effects of it may not be felt now; in fact, we may pay a price for it today, but it will help the generations to follow.'

NEET-UG Results: What The Future Holds For Aspiring Doctors

NEET-UG Results: What The Future Holds For Aspiring Doctors

Rediff.com28 Jun 2024

As the CBI continues to probe into the NEET-UG paper leak case, career experts help us understand what the future holds for undergraduate medical aspirants.