News for 'India First'

Rahul, Kharge write to Modi for probe into Ram temple theft

Rahul, Kharge write to Modi for probe into Ram temple theft

Rediff.com4 days ago

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an independent investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. They highlighted that devotees feel betrayed and urged the Prime Minister to ensure accountability and make the Trust's financial affairs public. The controversy follows the arrest of eight people and the resignation of two Trust functionaries in connection with the alleged theft.

Tom Holland: 'The Odyssey Is Epic'

Tom Holland: 'The Odyssey Is Epic'

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

'For a community of people that love cinema as much as you guys do here, this will be one of those moments you'll be comparing every cinema experience you have after this one to The Odyssey.'

India's Myanmar Challenge And Hlaing's Promises

India's Myanmar Challenge And Hlaing's Promises

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

To get its act going in Myanmar, India would need very dynamic diplomacy and not the lazy all-eggs-in-one-basket approach, points out Subir Bhaumik.

Does Rajkummar Rao Get Dada right? VOTE!

Does Rajkummar Rao Get Dada right? VOTE!

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

RajKummar Rao is set to portray Sourav Ganguly in the upcoming biopic Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, with the first look poster dramatically recreating Ganguly's iconic shirtless celebration at Lord's after India's historic 2002 NatWest Trophy victory.

India Owes Iran $7 Billion!

India Owes Iran $7 Billion!

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Formerly Iran's second-largest oil customer, Indian financial institutions were forced to withhold crude oil payments following the 2018 US sanctions.

Women's T20 World Cup: How India Paid Heavy Price For Dropped Catches Vs South Africa

Women's T20 World Cup: How India Paid Heavy Price For Dropped Catches Vs South Africa

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur rued missing opportunities in the field which played a huge role in India's crushing six-wicket defeat against South Africa in Women's T20 World Cup Group A match.

Justin Rose Set For First India Appearance At DP World India Championship

Justin Rose Set For First India Appearance At DP World India Championship

Rediff.com24 Apr 2026

Major champion Justin Rose is set to make his professional debut in India at the DP World India Championship. The tournament, co-sanctioned with the PGTI, boasts a significant prize fund and underscores India's growing importance in elite golf.

India Women Storm To Hockey Nations Cup Title; Secure Pro League Return

India Women Storm To Hockey Nations Cup Title; Secure Pro League Return

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

The Indian Women's Hockey team secured their second FIH Women's Nations Cup title by defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final.

How India's Indigenous Quantum Refrigerator Achieved A Major Milestone

How India's Indigenous Quantum Refrigerator Achieved A Major Milestone

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

India's indigenous Dilution Refrigerator, developed by AQV, has successfully reached four Kelvin (-269C) at the Quantum Reference Facility in Amaravati, marking a significant milestone in the country's quantum technology development and cryogenic engineering capabilities.

Indian Recurve Mixed Pair Misses Bronze At Archery World Cup

Indian Recurve Mixed Pair Misses Bronze At Archery World Cup

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

India's recurve mixed pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma lost 3-5 to Italy, missing out on the bronze medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid. Kirti Sharma also failed to secure a medal in the individual recurve section, resulting in India's recurve archers returning empty-handed from the event. The overall campaign concluded with two medals (one silver, one bronze) from the compound section.

Harshit Rana faces fitness heat as Varun Chakaravarthy's T20 future hangs in balance

Harshit Rana faces fitness heat as Varun Chakaravarthy's T20 future hangs in balance

Rediff.com7 days ago

Harshit's fitness, Varun's longevity under scanner post hamstring injuries

India Dominates Hong Kong To Reach Snooker Final

India Dominates Hong Kong To Reach Snooker Final

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

India's snooker team, led by Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta, defeated defending champions Hong Kong China 3-1 to secure a place in the final of the World Team Snooker Championship. The team will now face either China 'A' or Korea in the title clash.

'Never imagined I would play 100 T20Is': Axar Patel

'Never imagined I would play 100 T20Is': Axar Patel

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel expressed his disbelief at reaching 100 T20 Internationals for India, dedicating the significant milestone to his teammates, coaches, and family.

Big blow for India: Hardik ruled out of England series

Big blow for India: Hardik ruled out of England series

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India's upcoming series against England due to a leg strain. This injury follows previous back spasms that affected his IPL performance. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is also sidelined with a hamstring injury and is awaiting a fitness test. The BCCI has announced the T20I squad, with the ODI squad announcement pending.

IIT Madras And Herbalife Partner For Plant Cell Fermentation CoE

IIT Madras And Herbalife Partner For Plant Cell Fermentation CoE

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

IIT Madras, in partnership with Herbalife International India, has inaugurated India's first Centre of Excellence for plant cell fermentation technology. This new facility aims to be a national hub for sustainable innovation, research, and development, focusing on producing herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals, while bridging the gap between lab research and industrial applications.

India's Oil Imports from Russia, UAE Surge as Strait of Hormuz Reopens

India's Oil Imports from Russia, UAE Surge as Strait of Hormuz Reopens

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

India significantly increased its crude oil imports from Russia and the United Arab Emirates in June, securing supplies as the Strait of Hormuz began to reopen, with Russian barrels remaining attractive due to discounts and UAE supplies offsetting earlier uncertainties.

Sehwag revives Lord's balcony memory as Sourav Ganguly turns 54

Sehwag revives Lord's balcony memory as Sourav Ganguly turns 54

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Virender Sehwag paid a heartfelt tribute to former India captain Sourav Ganguly on his 54th birthday on Wednesday, recalling the famous shirt-waving celebration at Lord's that remains one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket.

How 'Boss Scam' Cyber Fraud Targets Indian Companies

How 'Boss Scam' Cyber Fraud Targets Indian Companies

Rediff.com6 days ago

India's markets regulator, Sebi, has issued a warning to listed companies and regulated entities about an emerging cyber fraud known as the "Boss Scam." This scam involves fraudsters impersonating senior officials like CEOs or MDs to trick finance teams into transferring funds, often using advanced AI tools or malicious software. Sebi advises organisations to verify requests independently and report incidents to prevent financial losses.

Women's T20 World Cup: Marizanne Kapp's masterclass helps South Africa overpower India in Manchester

Women's T20 World Cup: Marizanne Kapp's masterclass helps South Africa overpower India in Manchester

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Marizanne Kapp struck a scintillating 45-ball 81 as South Africa overwhelmed India by six wickets in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash, in Manchester, on Sunday.

Someone Else Owns India's Off Switch

Someone Else Owns India's Off Switch

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

A sovereign cloud, our own DNS root and Root CA, a defence-led research base that builds for keeps, and a real national cybersecurity strategy that outlives electoral cycles are not vanity projects. They are the difference between a nation that can be switched off and one that cannot, points out Venkata Satish Guttula.

Indian accused of killing wife in US; shared body photos with lover

Indian accused of killing wife in US; shared body photos with lover

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

An Indian man, Avinash Narne, has been charged with first-degree murder in the US state of Washington, almost nine months after his wife, Raajitha Sabbineni, was found dead. Prosecutors allege Narne premeditated the strangulation, staged the crime scene, and had a secret romantic relationship with another woman in India, to whom he allegedly sent photos of his wife's body.

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India A's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed early for the second match in a row against Sri Lanka A, in the Tri-Nation A Series match in Dambulla, on Monday.

How Ahmedabad APL Pipers Overcame Early Setbacks To Secure UTT Victory

How Ahmedabad APL Pipers Overcame Early Setbacks To Secure UTT Victory

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Ahmedabad APL Pipers secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over U Mumba TT in their Ultimate Table Tennis match in Panaji, despite ace Indian paddler Manika Batra losing her singles match. Trailing 0-2, Ahmedabad mounted a spirited comeback, winning the last three matches, including a crucial mixed doubles and men's singles, to clinch the tie. The report also covers Dabang Delhi TTC's 3-2 win over Kolkata ThunderBlades, highlighted by Sutirtha Mukherjee's dominant performance.

Krishna's fifer, Rohit 79 and Jaiswal ton help India sweep ODI series vs Afghanistan

Krishna's fifer, Rohit 79 and Jaiswal ton help India sweep ODI series vs Afghanistan

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Indian Pacer Prasidh Krishna took a career-best 5/23 to restrict Afghanistan to 218 in the third ODI, despite a valiant maiden century from skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi

Anxiety Grows Over SIR Verification

Anxiety Grows Over SIR Verification

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

The population is gripped by anxiety against arbitrariness and the cruelty of a state that sells its actions as minimum government, asserts Aakar Patel.

Ganguly, Anjum Chopra, Pietersen inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Ganguly, Anjum Chopra, Pietersen inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra, along with ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen, have been inducted into the International Cricket Council's prestigious Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Edinburgh, recognising their significant contributions to the sport.

Prithika Pradeep Stuns World No 11 Burun To Win Archery World Cup Bronze

Prithika Pradeep Stuns World No 11 Burun To Win Archery World Cup Bronze

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Teenage Indian archer Prithika Pradeep secured her first individual World Cup bronze medal in Madrid, overcoming world No. 11 Hazal Burun of Turkey.

Six Indian Boxers Secure Medals At Asian U-23 Championships

Six Indian Boxers Secure Medals At Asian U-23 Championships

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

India's U-23 men boxers showcased a strong performance at the Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships in Jakarta, with six athletes advancing to the semifinals. This achievement guarantees India at least six medals in the competition, highlighting the talent of young Indian pugilists on the international stage.

Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal outlines new growth engines: Data Centres, Cloud, and Financial Services

Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal outlines new growth engines: Data Centres, Cloud, and Financial Services

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Bharti Airtel is strategically shifting its focus towards data centres, cloud services, and financial services as key drivers for its next phase of growth, leveraging significant past investments in digital infrastructure, as outlined by Chairman Sunil Mittal in the company's Annual Report for 2025-26.

India playing 'big role' in addressing West Asia crisis: Trump

India playing 'big role' in addressing West Asia crisis: Trump

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

US President Donald Trump has lauded India as an 'essential partner' and 'trusted ally' in addressing regional challenges, particularly its 'big role' in West Asia peace efforts, following discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit.

Indian Athletes To Wear Sustainable Jute-Viscose Apparel At Commonwealth Games 2026

Indian Athletes To Wear Sustainable Jute-Viscose Apparel At Commonwealth Games 2026

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

The National Jute Board has developed a jute-viscose blended apparel for Indian athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, marking the first time jute-based attire will be featured at an international multi-sport event, promoting sustainable textiles and India's jute industry.

India Dominate Opening Day Of ISSF Junior World Championship

India Dominate Opening Day Of ISSF Junior World Championship

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Indian junior shooters made a strong start at the ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, securing two gold medals and one bronze on the opening day. Sejal Kamble won individual gold in the junior women's 10m air pistol, while the team of Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi also claimed gold.

Six Indian Boxers Secure Medals At Asian U-19, U-23 Championships

Six Indian Boxers Secure Medals At Asian U-19, U-23 Championships

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

Six Indian women boxers have advanced to the semifinals of the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships in Jakarta, assuring India of at least eight medals in the U-19 category. Notable victories include Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, Joyshree Devi, Prachi, Chahat, Gunjan, and Anshika.

Want To Exchange Gold? Read This First

Want To Exchange Gold? Read This First

Rediff.com1 Jun 2026

'Customers do not recover the original making charges paid on old jewellery. Sentimental value is lost when heirlooms are exchanged.'

New Funds For Indian Cinema!

New Funds For Indian Cinema!

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

New financial investment funds, including Filmoney Global and CineNow, are entering the 22,000 crore Indian film business, aiming to establish Indian cinema as a new asset class for high-net-worth individuals and institutions, similar to the IPL.

'We flipped over in 3 minutes': Vietnam boat tragedy survivor

'We flipped over in 3 minutes': Vietnam boat tragedy survivor

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Nirmal Kumar, an Indian survivor of the recent speedboat tragedy near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, has recounted the horrific moments when a sudden, violent wave capsized their boat, trapping 15 passengers underwater. The accident, which occurred on July 11, claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists, with 10 from Tamil Nadu. Kumar, who lost a childhood friend, highlighted the lack of immediate medical supplies and appealed for government assistance for the grieving families.

SBI Funds Management IPO: Why the 'moderate' valuation and what's next?

SBI Funds Management IPO: Why the 'moderate' valuation and what's next?

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

SBI Funds Management, India's largest asset management company, has set its IPO price band between 545 and Rs 574 per share, valuing the company at 1.2 trillion. The management explained the 'moderate' valuation aims to instil investor confidence amidst market uncertainty, while also highlighting plans for AI integration, expansion into GIFT City, and new alternative investment funds.

Neeraj Chopra to compete in Asian Games in Japan, confirms Athletics Federation of India

Neeraj Chopra to compete in Asian Games in Japan, confirms Athletics Federation of India

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Neeraj Chopra will compete in the Asian Games in Japan in September-October in his bid to defend the title.

MHA issues fresh National Anthem, National Song guidelines

MHA issues fresh National Anthem, National Song guidelines

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory administrations, and central ministries, reiterating the rules governing the singing and playing of the National Anthem and the National Song, calling for their strict compliance.

Why India Is Set To Spearhead Global AI Deployment

Why India Is Set To Spearhead Global AI Deployment

Rediff.com27 May 2026

A senior Microsoft executive says India is uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of global AI deployment, driven by a massive developer base, rapid enterprise adoption, and robust digital public infrastructure.