News for 'Independent India'

Palki Sharma Steps Down as managing editor of Firstpost

Palki Sharma Steps Down as managing editor of Firstpost

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Senior journalist Palki Sharma has stepped down as managing editor of Firstpost. Here's what we know about her exit.

Why BJP, AIMIM, Cong came together in Amravati

Why BJP, AIMIM, Cong came together in Amravati

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Despite their top leaders frowning upon such practices, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Congress came together in the Achalpur Municipal Council in Maharashtra's Amravati district to ensure unopposed election of various committee chairpersons.

What's in your home? Govt lists 33 questions for Census Phase 1

What's in your home? Govt lists 33 questions for Census Phase 1

Rediff.com23 Jan 2026

The Indian government has released the list of questions to be asked during the first phase of the Census 2027, focusing on houselisting and housing enumeration. The survey will cover various aspects of housing conditions, household characteristics, and access to basic amenities.

What Budget 2026 Means For Taxpayers

What Budget 2026 Means For Taxpayers

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

The Budget offers a limited-time regularisation window with clear thresholds, defined payments, and immunity from penalty or prosecution.

Forced to Buy Home Loan Insurance? Know Your Rights

Forced to Buy Home Loan Insurance? Know Your Rights

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

Ask rediffGURU Naveenn Kummar your insurance mutual fund and personal finance-related questions.

Exit polls predict BJP-Shiv Sena victory in Mumbai civic polls

Exit polls predict BJP-Shiv Sena victory in Mumbai civic polls

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

Exit polls predict a clear victory for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, while forecasting a defeat for the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena alliance. Polls also predict results for Pune and Thane.

Sharad Pawar's NCP 'in touch' with BJP in Sangli, Akola

Sharad Pawar's NCP 'in touch' with BJP in Sangli, Akola

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

As the Bharatiya Janata Party is falling short of a majority in the municipal corporations of Sangli and Akola in Maharashtra and needs the support of other parties or elected members, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar has emerged as one of the decisive factors with three seats in its kitty in each civic body.

T20 World Cup 2026: ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland

T20 World Cup 2026: ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

The International Cricket Council has officially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board that it has been replaced by Scotland in T20 World Cup 2026.

At $4.18 tn, India overtakes Japan as 4th largest economy, says govt

At $4.18 tn, India overtakes Japan as 4th largest economy, says govt

Rediff.com30 Dec 2025

India's real GDP grew 8.2 percent in the second quarter of 2025-26, up from 7.8 percent in the first quarter and 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal.

Third row seat: Cong accuses BJP of insulting Rahul, Kharge at R-Day event

Third row seat: Cong accuses BJP of insulting Rahul, Kharge at R-Day event

Rediff.com26 Jan 2026

The Congress party has accused the BJP government of disrespecting opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge by seating them in the third row during the Republic Day parade. BJP leaders have responded by questioning Rahul Gandhi's attendance at other important events.

Wanted to play, but this is govt's decision: BCB

Wanted to play, but this is govt's decision: BCB

Rediff.com25 Jan 2026

Bangladesh Cricket Board maintain they were willing to play the T20 World Cup in India but were overruled by the government, forcing their exit from the tournament.

Manipur gang-rape survivor dies after 2 yrs of trauma

Manipur gang-rape survivor dies after 2 yrs of trauma

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

Kuki organizations are demanding justice after a Kuki woman from Manipur died from an illness allegedly linked to the trauma she suffered after being gang-raped in 2023. They allege government inaction and demand an independent probe.

2,900 incidents: India on unabated minority attacks in Bangladesh

2,900 incidents: India on unabated minority attacks in Bangladesh

Rediff.com26 Dec 2025

India expresses concern over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, condemning violence and calling for justice. They also address the return of a BNP leader and reiterate support for free and fair elections.

Only 17% of boards play active role in shaping company strategy: ISB survey

Only 17% of boards play active role in shaping company strategy: ISB survey

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

Only 17 per cent of boards play an active role in shaping company strategy, said a survey by the Indian School of Business (ISB). According to the survey, 83 per cent of the boards remain passive, playing no active role in the company's management.

25-year-old Hindu youth burnt to death in Bangladesh

25-year-old Hindu youth burnt to death in Bangladesh

Rediff.com25 Jan 2026

He was sleeping in a garage when the fire broke out, and CCTV footage suggests foul play.

Beijing dodges India's Indus Treaty move at China-Pak strategic talks

Beijing dodges India's Indus Treaty move at China-Pak strategic talks

Rediff.com5 Jan 2026

China and Pakistan concluded their strategic dialogue, reiterating their opposition to unilateral actions in South Asia and discussing Kashmir, Afghanistan, and trilateral cooperation.

Accused is entitled to...: Ex-CJI on Umar Khalid's bail

Accused is entitled to...: Ex-CJI on Umar Khalid's bail

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

'Because, if someone remains an undertrial prisoner for five or seven years and is finally proven innocent, how will you compensate for the time lost?'

SC flags airfare fluctuations during festivals, calls it 'exploitation'

SC flags airfare fluctuations during festivals, calls it 'exploitation'

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta termed the exorbitant rise of airfares by airlines as "exploitation" and asked the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file their replies to a PIL seeking binding regulatory guidelines to control the unpredictable fluctuations in airfare and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines in India.

Realty moves to the core of conglomerates' biz strategy

Realty moves to the core of conglomerates' biz strategy

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

India's leading conglomerates are stepping up investments in real estate, recasting what was once a peripheral activity into a core growth driver. Supported by strong balance sheets, established brands and access to long-term capital, major business houses including Aditya Birla, Tata, Godrej, L&T, Raymond, Wadia, Shapoorji Pallonji, Mahindra and Adani are positioning realty as a strategic pillar within their diversified portfolios.

UGC 2026: 'No One Is Being Criminalised'

UGC 2026: 'No One Is Being Criminalised'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

'Once the actual scope is understood, it becomes evident that the framework is about internal redress and course correction, and in no way criminalisation.'

Most Indian IT leaders find AI augmenting talent: Survey

Most Indian IT leaders find AI augmenting talent: Survey

Rediff.com11 Jan 2026

Indian IT leaders are betting big on agentic AI adoption for business growth compared to the leading western market, where focus is on enhancing traditional efficiency, a survey report by technology consultancy firm Thoughtworks said. The company has claimed to cover 3,500 C-suite and senior IT decision makers across seven countries, including 500 in India.

'Governor insulted his office': Stalin attacks Ravi

'Governor insulted his office': Stalin attacks Ravi

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday claimed that Governor R N Ravi 'insulted' the gubernatorial position he holds, by not reading out the speech at the commencement of the assembly session.

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

'Caring for one's parents is the husband's responsibility, especially if he is the earning member of the family.' 'The wife may be financially dependent on him but that does not create a legal obligation for her to serve or care for her in-laws.'

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

'Dating someone during divorce proceedings is legally permissible as long as it does not involve provable physical intimacy,' says lawyer Navaneet Kumar.

Amid India protests, Yunus govt takes responsibility of Dipu Das' family

Amid India protests, Yunus govt takes responsibility of Dipu Das' family

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

Yunus's office, meanwhile, reconfirmed that financial and welfare assistance would be provided to Das' family, and relevant authorities would remain in close contact with them in the coming period.

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

'If you want to force the press into blacking out the Opposition's views or colour the news to your own liking, we will not do so.' 'We stand by freedom of expression. It is our Constitutional right. We stand by our Constitutional right.'

BJP-led Mahayuti clinches 25 of 29 Maha civic bodies

BJP-led Mahayuti clinches 25 of 29 Maha civic bodies

Rediff.com17 Jan 2026

Breaking the nearly three-decade-old dominance of the undivided Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday emerged victorious in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, and also vanquished the alliance of Nationalist Congress Party factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar in the Pune civic body.

Govt notifies rules to enable 100% FDI in insurance sector

Govt notifies rules to enable 100% FDI in insurance sector

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Following the notification allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector, the Finance Ministry has revised norms to remove the requirement that a majority of directors and key management personnel in an insurance company with foreign investment be Indian residents.

India Inc's profits relative to capital employed at 14-yr high

India Inc's profits relative to capital employed at 14-yr high

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

Companies are squeezing more profits from their operations relative to the capital they put to work, the highest now since 2011. Profit after tax relative to capital employed came in at 10.47 per cent in September, shows data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), higher than the 8.41 per cent seen in September last year. This is the highest since March 2010.

HC allows Zydus to sell generic version of cancer drug nivolumab

HC allows Zydus to sell generic version of cancer drug nivolumab

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

Delhi High Court has cleared the way for Zydus Lifesciences to proceed with the sale of its version of the cancer drug nivolumab in India. nivolumab is used to treat several types of cancer by activating the body's immune system to target carcinogenic cells.

Forces opposing Somnath temple reconstruction still active: Modi

Forces opposing Somnath temple reconstruction still active: Modi

Rediff.com11 Jan 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that forces opposing the reconstruction of the Somnath temple after independence are still active and that India needs to be vigilant and united to counter them. He highlighted the temple's history of resilience against repeated attacks and emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made to protect it.

BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya is no stranger to controversies

BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya is no stranger to controversies

Rediff.com1 Jan 2026

Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya is facing criticism for his crass comments regarding the water crisis in Indore. This is the latest in a series of controversial remarks made by the veteran politician.

Assam Becomes First State To Enter Oil Production

Assam Becomes First State To Enter Oil Production

Rediff.com9 Jan 2026

Assam has become the first state in India to directly venture into oil production, following the discovery of hydrocarbons at the Namrup-Borhat block.

What If Sardar Patel Had Not Passed Away In 1950...

What If Sardar Patel Had Not Passed Away In 1950...

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

If Patel had lived a few years more, he may or may not have become prime minister. But for sure, his presence would have kept Nehru in check, points out Harishchandra.

ICC unlikely to shift Bangladesh's T20 WC matches

ICC unlikely to shift Bangladesh's T20 WC matches

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

"The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which is consistent with the profile of many major global sporting events," the source said.

AIFF charts 21-year roadmap for ISL, I-League

AIFF charts 21-year roadmap for ISL, I-League

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

As per a proposal by stakeholders, the 22-member governing council is likely to be headed by either the president of the AIFF, and it will be the highest supervisor body for the ISL.

Fizz Removal: 'No Pressure From Centre On BCCI'

Fizz Removal: 'No Pressure From Centre On BCCI'

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

Asked about the reason behind the move, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, 'It's because of recent developments across the border.'

BMC results: Congress reduced to marginal force

BMC results: Congress reduced to marginal force

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

The Congress party experienced a significant decline in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, winning a mere 15 seats out of 227. Analysts attribute the poor performance to strategic missteps, infighting, and a failure to connect with voters amidst linguistic and religious polarization.

Raj Thackeray's corporators support Sena-BJP in KDMC

Raj Thackeray's corporators support Sena-BJP in KDMC

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

Amid the race for mayoral posts across civic bodies in Maharashtra, a new political equation emerged in the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation on Wednesday with five corporators of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena offering support to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, which is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Fadnavis fumes as local BJP units tie up with Congress, AIMIM

Fadnavis fumes as local BJP units tie up with Congress, AIMIM

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

The Bharatiya Janata Party has entered into post-poll alliances with rivals Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in some municipal councils in Maharashtra, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tie-ups and warned of action against party leaders involved.