News for 'India First'

From 1932 to 600 Tests: India's Remarkable Test Evolution

From 1932 to 600 Tests: India's Remarkable Test Evolution

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

India completed their 600th Test with a 165-run win over Sri Lanka. Here's how India evolved from early struggles into a modern Test cricket powerhouse.

SKY-Devisha's First Flight With Baby Girl

SKY-Devisha's First Flight With Baby Girl

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

Cricketer Suryakumar Yadav and his wife Devisha Shetty celebrated a milestone, taking their daughter Riddhima on her very first flight, just weeks after her birth on May 7, 2026.

Electrifying! Olectra first co to deploy 4,000 e-buses in India

Electrifying! Olectra first co to deploy 4,000 e-buses in India

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

Olectra Greentech Ltd has become the first company in India to deploy 4,000 electric buses on Indian roads, marking a significant milestone in the country's transition to sustainable public transport and reinforcing its leadership in electric mobility.

Miss Universe India Kaziah Liz Mej: 'I Wanted To Represent India Since I Was A Kid'

Miss Universe India Kaziah Liz Mej: 'I Wanted To Represent India Since I Was A Kid'

Rediff.com3 days ago

'I moved out of my house at the age of 17 to pursue this dream. Since then, I've been doing everything by myself, managing everything by myself for this one dream of Miss Universe.'

CALM-Brain: India's First Psychiatric Data Repository Launched

CALM-Brain: India's First Psychiatric Data Repository Launched

Rediff.com25 Mar 2026

India has launched its first repository of data on major psychiatric disorders, CALM-Brain, in Bengaluru. This initiative aims to systematically document details of patients with mental illness to improve diagnosis and treatment.

India's Economy Outperforms Expectations With 7.8% Growth

India's Economy Outperforms Expectations With 7.8% Growth

Rediff.com3 days ago

India's economy recorded a robust 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, surpassing both market expectations and the Reserve Bank of India's forecast. This strong performance positions India as the world's fastest-growing major economy, demonstrating resilience despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Iran. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation highlighted the sustained growth momentum amidst global headwinds.

How India's Women's Hockey Team Secured A Resounding World Cup Victory

How India's Women's Hockey Team Secured A Resounding World Cup Victory

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

The Indian women's hockey team secured a dominant 6-1 victory over South Africa in the FIH World Cup, marking their first win of the tournament. Multiple players scored for India, achieving their biggest World Cup win, and setting them up for their next match against England.

How Khelo India Is Shaping Future Shooting Champions

How Khelo India Is Shaping Future Shooting Champions

Rediff.com5 hours ago

Veteran skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan expresses strong optimism about the future of Indian shooting, attributing the potential rise to government-backed initiatives like Khelo India. He is preparing for his third Asian Games appearance and believes India will have the best team across all shooting disciplines in the next four years, thanks to enhanced grassroots development and support systems.

India's Enemies Watch Out: AK-203 Sher Roars!

India's Enemies Watch Out: AK-203 Sher Roars!

Rediff.com24 Aug 2026

India has successfully manufactured and test-fired its first fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, named 'Sher', at the Korwa facility in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in defence self-reliance with 100 per cent Indian components.

India bloomed, doomsayers doomed: Modi on GDP growth

India bloomed, doomsayers doomed: Modi on GDP growth

Rediff.com3 days ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated India's 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter, attributing it to the collective strength of the people despite global uncertainties. He criticised "doomsayers" as the economy showed resilience, exceeding expectations even amidst international conflicts and supply chain issues.

Why Couldn't India Get Dinusha Out?

Why Couldn't India Get Dinusha Out?

Rediff.com6 days ago

'Every batter has a shortcoming somewhere. You need to find where the shortcoming is.'

Golfing Greats Patrick Reed And Bubba Watson To Play DP World India Championship

Golfing Greats Patrick Reed And Bubba Watson To Play DP World India Championship

Rediff.com1 days ago

Masters champions Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson are confirmed to make their debut at the DP World India Championship in October. They will join a stellar field including Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Justin Rose, with Indian stars Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri also participating.

Andhra Pradesh to Unveil India's First Indigenous Quantum Computing Test Beds

Andhra Pradesh to Unveil India's First Indigenous Quantum Computing Test Beds

Rediff.com12 Apr 2026

Andhra Pradesh is set to inaugurate India's first indigenously developed, open-access quantum computer test beds, Amaravati 1S and 1Q, at SRM University, marking a significant advancement in the nation's quantum computing capabilities.

Nepal floods: 'She was coming for Raksha Bandhan, but decided to visit Kailash first'

Nepal floods: 'She was coming for Raksha Bandhan, but decided to visit Kailash first'

Rediff.com6 days ago

An NRI couple from Vadodara, Kinnari and Mihir Patel, who travelled to Nepal from New Zealand, have gone missing after devastating flash floods hit the region, prompting their family to appeal to the government for swift rescue action.

Kolkata Fans Snap Up India-Brazil Friendly Tickets

Kolkata Fans Snap Up India-Brazil Friendly Tickets

Rediff.com1 days ago

Kolkata's passionate football fans have shown immense enthusiasm for the upcoming India-Brazil friendly, with lower-priced tickets selling out within an hour of going online. India is set to play five-time world champions Brazil on October 3, followed by a match against two-time world champions Uruguay, providing a significant test for the Indian squad ahead of crucial Asian Cup qualifiers.

Bangladesh's China-US Tilt Should Worry India

Bangladesh's China-US Tilt Should Worry India

Rediff.com1 days ago

Bangladesh-China and Bangladesh-US relations have evolved from reluctant engagement to increasingly consequential strategic partnerships.

Khalid Jamil reveals what India must do against Brazil

Khalid Jamil reveals what India must do against Brazil

Rediff.com1 days ago

Indian football head coach Khalid Jamil believes playing five-time world champions Brazil and two-time winners Uruguay at home will be a historic turning point for the sport in the country. These high-profile matches are crucial for preparing the team for next year's Asia Cup qualifiers and will boost player confidence and learning.

Tenzing Norgay Awards 2024: Celebrating India's Adventure Heroes

Tenzing Norgay Awards 2024: Celebrating India's Adventure Heroes

Rediff.com1 days ago

Mountaineer Baljeet Kaur, known for scaling five 8000-metre peaks in a single season, is one of four recipients of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2024. Other awardees include Skalzang Rigzin for land adventure, Rimo Saha for water adventure, and Shiv Prasad Chamoli for lifetime achievement, recognising their exceptional contributions to adventure sports in India.

Women's Asia Cup: India look to fix batting woes against Hong Kong

Women's Asia Cup: India look to fix batting woes against Hong Kong

Rediff.com1 days ago

India's women's cricket team will face Hong Kong in their second Women's T20 Asia Cup match, aiming to address batting collapses experienced in their opening game against Thailand. Despite a comfortable win, the team seeks a more complete performance, with key players like Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma in form, while others like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur look to regain form. Hong Kong, having lost to Thailand, will rely on players like Marina Lamplough and Kary Chan to challenge India.

Nepal PM meets Indian envoy in first diplomatic engagement

Nepal PM meets Indian envoy in first diplomatic engagement

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah held his first one-on-one meeting with Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava, signalling a shift towards direct diplomacy after previously preferring group interactions. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral ties, development partnerships, and mutual interests between India and Nepal.

Hockey World Cup: Netherlands dent India's semi-final hopes with 3-1 win

Hockey World Cup: Netherlands dent India's semi-final hopes with 3-1 win

Rediff.com23 Aug 2026

India's strong defensive start unravelled after half-time as three Dutch goals secured a 3-1 win, denting the team's World Cup semifinal hopes.

Ladakh Unveils First International-Level Artificial Ice Hockey Rink

Ladakh Unveils First International-Level Artificial Ice Hockey Rink

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

Ladakh has inaugurated its first international-level artificial ice hockey rink, a state-of-the-art facility costing Rs 42 crore. Equipped with a 24x7 chilling system, it allows year-round training, overcoming the previous limitation of a short natural ice season. This development is expected to boost winter sports, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism in the region.

'India Doesn't Need To Fear Turkish Or Saudi Interventions In A Future India-Pakistan Conflict'

'India Doesn't Need To Fear Turkish Or Saudi Interventions In A Future India-Pakistan Conflict'

Rediff.com1 days ago

'It beggars belief that Saudi Arabia would deploy military force against India, a top partner and market.'

India's Manufacturing PMI Slips to 5-Year Low in August on Weak Demand

India's Manufacturing PMI Slips to 5-Year Low in August on Weak Demand

Rediff.com2 days ago

India's manufacturing sector growth decelerated to a five-year low of 52.8 in August, down from 53.5 in July, as output and new orders moderated due to softer demand conditions, according to the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI).

Why age fraud is India's next big sports scandal

Why age fraud is India's next big sports scandal

Rediff.com8 hours ago

India's sporting landscape is grappling with a pervasive age fraud issue, as evidenced by hundreds of disqualifications in recent championships. Experts highlight the systemic nature of the problem, driven by a chaotic birth registration system and the allure of early career advantages. While the BCCI has implemented bone density tests, limitations persist, prompting calls for stricter measures, including criminal deterrence and a comprehensive national database, to safeguard the integrity of youth sports.

India name 26-member football squad for Brazil, Uruguay friendlies

India name 26-member football squad for Brazil, Uruguay friendlies

Rediff.com2 days ago

The Indian men's football team, led by head coach Khalid Jamil, will play high-profile friendlies against Panama, five-time world champions Brazil, and two-time world champions Uruguay in September and October.

Hockey World Cup: India women rout Germany, clinch historic fifth spot

Hockey World Cup: India women rout Germany, clinch historic fifth spot

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Indian women's hockey team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the FIH World Cup by defeating Germany 3-1 in a classification match, with Navneet Kaur scoring two goals.

Veteran Golfer Eleanor Givens Claims First LET Victory In Switzerland

Veteran Golfer Eleanor Givens Claims First LET Victory In Switzerland

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

Indian golfer Pranavi Urs finished tied-38th at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies event, while England's Eleanor Givens secured her maiden Ladies European Tour title after 15 seasons and 210 starts, rallying from behind on the final day.

Now you can contribute to Nepal flood relief from India via UPI

Now you can contribute to Nepal flood relief from India via UPI

Rediff.com1 days ago

India's UPI International payment system is now playing a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, enabling seamless disaster relief donations from Indian users to Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, showcasing its growing global acceptance and utility beyond tourism. UPI IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Unsplash Key Points UPI International, initially for Indian tourists, is now facilitating disaster relief donations to Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund. The embassy of Nepal in India is actively encouraging Indian users to utilise their UPI apps for these contributions. This marks a significant shift, expanding UPI's cross-border use case beyond tourism to include inbound collection for foreign governments. The move positions UPI International alongside global payment giants like Alipay+ and UnionPay for international aid. Donors need to activate the UPI International feature on their apps to transact, with amounts converted from INR to NPR.

India's UPI Ecosystem Sees Record Growth In August

India's UPI Ecosystem Sees Record Growth In August

Rediff.com2 days ago

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded an unprecedented 24.51 billion transactions valued at Rs 29.8 lakh crore in August, largely propelled by the Raksha Bandhan festival. This surge marks a 22% annual increase in volume and 20% in value, highlighting the expanding reach and depth of the UPI ecosystem. Experts anticipate further growth during the upcoming festive season, while UPI's international acceptance now spans 11 countries.

Putin Offers More Fertilisers To India

Putin Offers More Fertilisers To India

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

Russia remains India's biggest fertiliser supplier, with imports rising nearly 40 per cent in 2025.

Manav Suthar's resilience impresses India spin coach

Manav Suthar's resilience impresses India spin coach

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar faced a challenging day in the second Test against Sri Lanka, conceding over five runs an over initially, but impressed spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule with his resilience and ability to bounce back with two crucial wickets.

How Sonal Dinusha became India's latest spin nightmare

How Sonal Dinusha became India's latest spin nightmare

Rediff.com6 days ago

Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha, who averaged 140 in the recent Test series against India, found solace and success in cricket as an escape from financial hardship. His journey, marked by dedication and a relentless work ethic, saw him rise from a child without a bat to a national hero, with coaches highlighting his unwavering commitment to the game.

V V S Laxman to coach India men's team at Asian Games 2026

V V S Laxman to coach India men's team at Asian Games 2026

Rediff.com5 hours ago

VVS Laxman, BCCI's Centre of Excellence chief, will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be assisted by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. Gautam Gambhir, the regular head coach, will be with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach for the Indian women's team, who will also defend their title.

Vinesh Phogat Challenges Wrestling Federation Of India's Disciplinary Action

Vinesh Phogat Challenges Wrestling Federation Of India's Disciplinary Action

Rediff.com2 days ago

Olympian Vinesh Phogat has moved the Delhi High Court challenging two show-cause notices issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and subsequent disciplinary proceedings.

Surrey call-up puts Auqib Nabi on fast track for India's New Zealand Test plans

Surrey call-up puts Auqib Nabi on fast track for India's New Zealand Test plans

Rediff.com4 days ago

Auqib Nabi's Surrey stint will provide crucial first-class exposure in England as the J&K pacer seeks to strengthen his case for India's Test squad for New Zealand.

Colombo Draw Exposes India's Big Problem

Colombo Draw Exposes India's Big Problem

Rediff.com6 days ago

A world-class Test team can't afford to have a bowling attack that allows batters to feel comfortable. To be the world's best Test team, all departments of the game should be strong and striking.

Russia responds to India's S-400 tender for 5 more squadrons

Russia responds to India's S-400 tender for 5 more squadrons

Rediff.com3 days ago

In a significant development, the Russian side has submitted a detailed proposal to the Defence Ministry in response to the Indian tender for acquiring five more squadrons of the S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence systems for the Indian Air Force.

Deep Dasgupta reveals how Sourav Ganguly's bold mindset transformed Team India

Deep Dasgupta reveals how Sourav Ganguly's bold mindset transformed Team India

Rediff.com5 days ago

Deep Dasgupta said Sourav Ganguly's "I am the king" mindset transformed India's response to sledging, encouraging teammates to openly give back instead of silently channelling their anger.

Gulf tensions drive NRI luxury home investments back to India

Gulf tensions drive NRI luxury home investments back to India

Rediff.com1 days ago

Non-resident Indians are increasingly investing in luxury homes in India, driven by geopolitical uncertainties, particularly the Iran war. This trend is observed across major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and the National Capital Region, with developers noting a significant rise in NRI pre-sales. While some see it as a temporary shift, others believe India is becoming a stable, long-term investment destination for NRIs, especially those from West Asia.