News for 'India First'

The Bihar I Have Begun To Believe In

The Bihar I Have Begun To Believe In

Rediff.com7 days ago

Bihar's greatest resource is not beneath its soil but above it -- its people. With a population approaching 140 million and one of India's youngest demographic profiles, Bihar possesses an asset many societies would envy, explains Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Born with a diamond spoon: Lalit Modi defends luxury life

Born with a diamond spoon: Lalit Modi defends luxury life

Rediff.com6 days ago

Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, who claims that there is no wrongdoing by him in the legal cases faced by him in India, has said that he was born with "a diamond spoon", has a kingsize lifestyle, travels everywhere and that "Rs 10-12 crore" may not last with him a week.

'A distinguished leader of the Olympic Movement': Tributes Pour In For Randhir Singh

'A distinguished leader of the Olympic Movement': Tributes Pour In For Randhir Singh

Rediff.com27 May 2026

The Indian sporting fraternity mourns the death of veteran administrator and former shooter Randhir Singh, with tributes pouring in from prominent figures like Abhinav Bindra and various sports organisations.

Bengal Cong divided over merger talks with Trinamool

Bengal Cong divided over merger talks with Trinamool

Rediff.com14 hours ago

Speculation about a possible rapprochement or merger between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has exposed deep divisions within the Congress's West Bengal unit, with senior state leaders vocally opposing any alliance with Mamata Banerjee.

Now TMC split reaches LS as 20 MPs form 'separate bloc', back NDA

Now TMC split reaches LS as 20 MPs form 'separate bloc', back NDA

Rediff.com2 days ago

Amidst the INDIA bloc conclave in Delhi, a significant number of Trinamool Congress MPs convened a closed-door meeting, signalling a deepening internal rebellion and discontent within the party's parliamentary ranks following recent electoral setbacks.

Delhi HC quashes cases against NewsClick, editor Prabir Purkayastha

Delhi HC quashes cases against NewsClick, editor Prabir Purkayastha

Rediff.com10 hours ago

The Delhi High Court has quashed cases registered by the Delhi Police and the Enforcement Directorate against news portal NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, citing that the continuation of the FIR was 'a gross abuse of the process of law' and the investment was an economic decision that 'did not spell out any criminal offence'.

IOC Pays Tribute To Randhir Singh's Legacy

IOC Pays Tribute To Randhir Singh's Legacy

Rediff.com27 May 2026

The International Olympic Committee mourns the death of veteran Indian sports administrator Randhir Singh, recognising his significant contributions to the Olympic Movement in India, Asia, and worldwide.

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

Rediff.com2 days ago

The NDA government has gradually nuanced its position on the issue of demographic challenge.

Why India's Israel-UAE Bet Looks Risky

Why India's Israel-UAE Bet Looks Risky

Rediff.com15 May 2026

Frankly, was it really necessary in the middle of a fratricidal war for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to travel to Abu Dhabi for a one-on-one with the sheikh on April 12?Or, for National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to follow up on April 26? Or, for PM Narendra Modi to follow through today? There are no easy answers, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

Rediff.com11 minutes ago

'The generational shift belongs to Vijay, Udhayanidhi and Annamalai.' 'The BJP cannot fit into the shift.' 'So they threw Annamalai into the situation where he is comparable with Vijay and Udhayanidhi.'

Sindhu advances at Indonesia Open, back in top 10 after 954 days

Sindhu advances at Indonesia Open, back in top 10 after 954 days

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

India's PV Sindhu advanced to the Indonesia Open pre-quarterfinals with a 25-23, 21-16 win over Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan on Tuesday.

'BJP Pressured EC To Oust Natarajan From RS Contest'

'BJP Pressured EC To Oust Natarajan From RS Contest'

Rediff.com15 hours ago

'We can never trust the BJP when it comes to elections.'

The Rediff Podcast: Andrew Holland: 'I'd Bet 80% Of My Money On India'

The Rediff Podcast: Andrew Holland: 'I'd Bet 80% Of My Money On India'

Rediff.com13 May 2026

Market maven Andrew Holland on why India missed the AI wave, why FIIs are leaving, why he personally invests in cryptocurrencies and why he's still betting big on the country.

Indian Super League moves to club-led model as September 4 kick-off confirmed

Indian Super League moves to club-led model as September 4 kick-off confirmed

Rediff.com1 days ago

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has agreed "in principle" to the club-led model of running the Indian Super League (ISL) for two years and has conveyed it to the sports minister, a top official said on Tuesday.

Before Obsession, 10 Desi Must Watch Horror Gems

Before Obsession, 10 Desi Must Watch Horror Gems

Rediff.com1 days ago

From psychological mind-benders to folklore nightmares and zombie comedies, these 10 Hindi horror films prove Bollywood has produced far more than just things that go bump in the night.

Household Healthcare Costs Rise Again

Household Healthcare Costs Rise Again

Rediff.com6 days ago

Private hospitals accounted for 30.8 per cent of current health expenditure in FY23, while pharmaceuticals and medical goods contributed more than 21 per cent, underlining continued dependence on private healthcare and medicine spending.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns India A Call-Up For Sri Lanka Tri-Series

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns India A Call-Up For Sri Lanka Tri-Series

Rediff.com14 May 2026

Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in the 15-member India A squad for the tri-nation 50-over series in Sri Lanka, starting June 9.

MoSPI Upgrades Data Portal For AI Models To Ensure Credibility

MoSPI Upgrades Data Portal For AI Models To Ensure Credibility

Rediff.com5 days ago

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has upgraded its official data portal to be directly readable by AI models, aiming to prevent reliance on non-credible sources. This initiative includes standardising 288 priority datasets and addressing semantic interoperability challenges to improve public service delivery.

How India Is Leading The Way In Health AI Benchmarking

How India Is Leading The Way In Health AI Benchmarking

Rediff.com8 May 2026

India has launched an open Health AI benchmarking platform to evaluate artificial intelligence models on diverse Indian datasets before deployment at a population scale. The initiative aims to strengthen AI-driven claims management under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

Subhash Kashyap: A Titan Passes Into The Ages

Subhash Kashyap: A Titan Passes Into The Ages

Rediff.com1 days ago

Dr Subhash Kashyap not only enhanced Parliament's image in India and abroad, but also the position of Lok Sabha secretary-general which succeeding secretary-generals have upheld thorough neutrality, objectivity and high degree of professionalism, notes Rup Narayan Das.

Box Office: Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Opens Fair, Peddi Struggles

Box Office: Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Opens Fair, Peddi Struggles

Rediff.com2 days ago

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, secures fair opening weekend at box office; Peddi's Hindi version underperforms.

Want To Study At A Foreign University In India?

Want To Study At A Foreign University In India?

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Foreign universities are unlikely to gain major ground in India's higher education market in the near term, as students and families continue to prioritise return on investment over brand value in a highly price-sensitive sector.

'The Country Is In Stagnation'

'The Country Is In Stagnation'

Rediff.com6 days ago

'Unfortunately, today most ministers are busy with either election duty or praising duty. They are not interested in serving duty.' 'Ministers have become relaxed like retired people still holding onto jobs.' 'Look at how the NEET paper leaked. But there is no accountability.' 'After 12 years, they have become saturated. They are short of ideas.'

China Boosts Indian Ocean Ambitions, Should India Worry?

China Boosts Indian Ocean Ambitions, Should India Worry?

Rediff.com14 May 2026

For India, China's Indian Ocean power projection, maritime domain awareness, dual-use ports, underwater surveillance, antisubmarinewarfare, naval exercises with Pakistan, pose considerable pressure, depleted India's strategic depth and marginalises Indian role, points out Srikanth Kondapalli.

Shetty Advances, Star Doubles Pair Retires At Indonesia Open

Shetty Advances, Star Doubles Pair Retires At Indonesia Open

Rediff.com7 days ago

Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty secured a dramatic comeback victory to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 tournament. However, star men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were forced to retire due to injury, while HS Prannoy exited in the first round. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde advanced in mixed doubles.

Great Nicobar project is not about defence but real estate: Rahul

Great Nicobar project is not about defence but real estate: Rahul

Rediff.com5 days ago

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the government's argument that the Great Nicobar Island Project is about defence and a trans-shipment port is a "lie", and alleged that it is actually about benefiting one businessman so that he can build hotels and casinos on India's most irreplaceable ecological land.

Indian Women's Archery Team Wins Gold At World Cup

Indian Women's Archery Team Wins Gold At World Cup

Rediff.com10 May 2026

The Indian women's recurve team, consisting of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Kumkum Mohod, secured a dramatic shoot-off victory against China to win the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai.

RBI, Govt Unveil Measures to Attract Up to $50 Billion in Foreign Capital

RBI, Govt Unveil Measures to Attract Up to $50 Billion in Foreign Capital

Rediff.com4 days ago

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the central government have introduced a package of measures, including tax exemptions for FPIs on government securities and a concessional foreign-exchange swap facility, aiming to attract up to $50 billion in foreign capital. This initiative is designed to strengthen India's balance of payments and potentially cover the projected BoP gap for FY27.

India restricts gold imports to 100 kg under Advance Authorisation scheme

India restricts gold imports to 100 kg under Advance Authorisation scheme

Rediff.com14 May 2026

India has capped gold imports under the Advance Authorisation scheme at 100 kg, a day after significantly increasing import duties on precious metals. This move aims to tighten conditions for duty-free gold imports by jewellery exporters and curb non-essential imports amidst a ballooning import bill.

India U17 Women Must Beat Lebanon To Advance

India U17 Women Must Beat Lebanon To Advance

Rediff.com7 May 2026

India U17 Women's team face Lebanon in a must-win game in the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup, with a chance to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time.

NBA Great Vlade Divac Hopes Basketball Gains Popularity In India

NBA Great Vlade Divac Hopes Basketball Gains Popularity In India

Rediff.com8 May 2026

NBA legend Vlade Divac expresses optimism about the growth of basketball in India, acknowledging cricket's dominance but highlighting the potential for Indian talent in the NBA.

Cummins may skip IPL 2027 to prioritise Tests and ODI World Cup

Cummins may skip IPL 2027 to prioritise Tests and ODI World Cup

Rediff.com7 days ago

Pat Cummins has hinted at skipping IPL 2027 as Australia's packed schedule, including a Test series in India, the Ashes and the ODI World Cup, takes priority over franchise cricket.

Pakistan, Bangladesh challenge India-Australia-ECB

Pakistan, Bangladesh challenge India-Australia-ECB

Rediff.com10 May 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board have agreed to support each other at Asian and international cricket forums while seeking greater balance in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2028-31 cycle.

Karandeep Kochhar Tied Second After Impressive Opening Round In Morocco

Karandeep Kochhar Tied Second After Impressive Opening Round In Morocco

Rediff.com5 days ago

Indian golfer Karandeep Kochhar finished the first day of the USD 500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic in tied second place with a round of 6-under 66, just one shot behind leader Runchanapong Youprayong. Other Indian golfers like Aryan Roopa Anand also performed well, while Kochhar expressed satisfaction with his improved putting and readiness for upcoming rounds.

TMC's existential crisis: Can Mamata Banerjee's party survive the internal rebellion?

TMC's existential crisis: Can Mamata Banerjee's party survive the internal rebellion?

Rediff.com5 days ago

A month after losing power in West Bengal and facing a rebellion by 58 MLAs, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) confronts an unprecedented challenge to Mamata Banerjee's absolute authority, raising questions about the party's survival and future.

Rajesh Exports' chief distances firm from LIC's investments

Rajesh Exports' chief distances firm from LIC's investments

Rediff.com2 days ago

Rajesh Mehta, Chairman of Rajesh Exports, has distanced his firm from LIC's investment decisions, stating, "We don't even know where LIC's office is. We have no contact, no connection. This decision of buying shares through the secondary market is their own decision in a prudent commercial manner."

RBI dismisses gold sale rumours, confirms physical reserves steady at 880.52 tonnes

RBI dismisses gold sale rumours, confirms physical reserves steady at 880.52 tonnes

Rediff.com7 days ago

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has debunked reports of gold sales, stating that its physical stock of gold remains unchanged at 880.52 tonnes, countering claims of selling approximately USD 12 billion to protect foreign-currency reserves.

India exit World Team Table Tennis after loss to Austria

India exit World Team Table Tennis after loss to Austria

Rediff.com6 May 2026

The Indian men's team was eliminated from the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals after a 0-3 defeat to Austria in the round of 32.

11 Epic Bicycle Rides Across India

11 Epic Bicycle Rides Across India

Rediff.com15 May 2026

Discover the only way to travel, where fun meets fitness!

10 Smart Tips To Get Hired In The AI Era

10 Smart Tips To Get Hired In The AI Era

Rediff.com22 hours ago

Employers want to know that you do not just know how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or automation services. They also want to know that you understand what AI is, says Kumar Rajagopalan, vice president-strategic initiatives and country head- India at Dexian, a leading staffing solutions firm.