News for 'Economic and Political Weekly'

Biden not stepping down from poll race: White House

Biden not stepping down from poll race: White House

Rediff.com4 Jul 2024

Biden, 81, is increasingly receiving calls from Democratic Party leaders and editorial boards of mainstream American media to step down from the presidential race and let others from the party lead them in the November 5 elections. So far, he has resisted these calls.

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.

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.

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.'

US-India: A Chicken And Egg Situation

US-India: A Chicken And Egg Situation

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

Delhi's appeasement strategy may now translate as more mega arms deals with the US, generating substantial business and job creation in the American economy. Make no mistake, Americans will use it to pressure India, predicts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

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.

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

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'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

'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.'

'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.'

Mamata Banerjee and the Politics of Impulsiveness

Mamata Banerjee and the Politics of Impulsiveness

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

Hasty, ill-conceived steps show how isolated Mamata Banerjee had been from the national political trend. A fascinating excerpt from Sugato Hazra's Losing The Plot: Political Isolation Of West Bengal.

Vote share politics: Lessons from the Bihar verdict

Vote share politics: Lessons from the Bihar verdict

Rediff.com8 Dec 2015

More than predicting the nature of elections, a closer scrutiny of seat and vote share difference yields an important tool to assess the value of our democratic process, say economists Yugank Goyal and Arun Kumar Kaushik

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.

Shehbaz Sharif set to become next Pakistan PM

Shehbaz Sharif set to become next Pakistan PM

Rediff.com14 Feb 2024

Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, is expected to become Pakistan's new prime minister as the coalition of leading political parties led by them is set to comfortably cross the simple majority mark to form the next government after elections produced a split mandate.

FPIs' love affair with Indian markets continues; pump Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2023

FPIs' love affair with Indian markets continues; pump Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2023

Rediff.com17 Dec 2023

In a dazzling resurgence, foreign investors have graced the Indian equity markets with an influx of nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2023, fuelled by optimism over the country's resilient economic fundamentals amid shadows of a gloomy global scenario. Experts believe that the positive trend may continue in 2024. This follows Indian equities witnessing the worst-ever net outflow of Rs 1.21 lakh crore by FPIs in 2022 on aggressive rate hikes by the central banks globally after net inflows for three consecutive years.