News for 'India First'

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.com4 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.

Cricket Fans Rush For India-New Zealand Tour Tickets

Cricket Fans Rush For India-New Zealand Tour Tickets

Rediff.com27 Aug 2026

India's multi-format cricket tour of New Zealand has seen unprecedented early ticket sales, with 26,000 tickets sold in the first 48 hours of the pre-sale. The 12-match series, starting in October, is proving to be a major draw, particularly for white-ball matches, prompting New Zealand Cricket to urge fans to secure their seats quickly.

Sonal Dinusha Makes History With Three Centuries In India Test Series

Sonal Dinusha Makes History With Three Centuries In India Test Series

Rediff.com7 days ago

Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha has etched his name in cricket history by becoming only the third Sri Lankan and ninth overall batter to score three centuries in a two-match Test series, achieving the feat against India in Colombo.

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy merge to create India's largest AI-powered insurance platform

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy merge to create India's largest AI-powered insurance platform

Rediff.com1 days ago

InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have merged to establish India's largest artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled insurance distribution platform, targeting a significant premium book and extensive reach across the country.

India on brink of series sweep despite Sri Lanka's brief fightback

India on brink of series sweep despite Sri Lanka's brief fightback

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

India is on the verge of a comprehensive series-sweeping victory against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test, despite a defiant 115-run partnership between Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92) and Kamindu Mendis (55) in Sri Lanka's follow-on innings.

Miss Universe India Kaziah's Onam Wish Is...

Miss Universe India Kaziah's Onam Wish Is...

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

'I'm celebrating Onam in my heart and I'm just craving sadya. I'm celebrating it in my dream,' says Kaziah Liz Mejo, the first contestant from Kerala to be crowned Miss Universe India 2026.

Blue Colts Dominate Singapore In First Friendly Match

Blue Colts Dominate Singapore In First Friendly Match

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

The India U20 men's football team secured a 3-0 victory over Singapore in the first of two friendly matches held in Bengaluru, as they prepare for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.

India Set For Tough Test Against Panama In FIFA Friendly

India Set For Tough Test Against Panama In FIFA Friendly

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

India's national football team will host Panama in an international friendly on September 26, marking their first encounter. This match is part of a series of fixtures against 2026 World Cup participants, including Brazil and New Zealand, aimed at providing valuable exposure for the Blue Tigers.

Why Australia A's India Tour Is Crucial For Future Test Prospects

Why Australia A's India Tour Is Crucial For Future Test Prospects

Rediff.com3 days ago

Australia A has announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming series against India A in Puducherry. The tour, featuring both four-day and one-day matches, is crucial for exposing players to subcontinental conditions and preparing them for future senior team tours to India, including a Test series next year. The squad includes several players with prior international experience.

Amit Shah Leads Review For India's 2036 Olympics, 2030 CWG Bids

Amit Shah Leads Review For India's 2036 Olympics, 2030 CWG Bids

Rediff.com7 days ago

Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad to review India's preparations for hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. The meeting, also attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat's Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, highlighted the government's commitment to establishing India as a global sporting destination. Discussions also covered the 2029 World Police and Fire Games, set to be held in Ahmedabad.

Who Derailed Tarique Rahman's India Visit?

Who Derailed Tarique Rahman's India Visit?

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

Who is running the show in Dhaka? This kind of flip-flop, culminating in a last-minute decision to skip a maiden visit, can happen only when the remote is in the hands of one of the competing lobbies within the BNP -- one that appears determined to play a game of chess with India.

China, US, India must compensate Nepal for flash floods: Khanal

China, US, India must compensate Nepal for flash floods: Khanal

Rediff.com1 days ago

Nepal has launched a diplomatic initiative to secure climate-related compensation from major greenhouse gas emitters, asserting that post-disaster assistance for recent deadly flash floods should be viewed as a moral and legal liability, not charity. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal highlighted Nepal's disproportionate suffering from global warming despite negligible emissions, citing rapid glacier melt and extreme mountain disasters. The country has formally approached the Loss and Damage Fund board for urgent financial aid following a catastrophic flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river basin.

Former India Coach Soumyadeep Roy Back For Asian Games After Tokyo Controversy

Former India Coach Soumyadeep Roy Back For Asian Games After Tokyo Controversy

Rediff.com18 hours ago

Former India international and coach Soumyadeep Roy is set to join the national table tennis squad for the upcoming Asian Games as a personal coach, five years after being embroiled in a match-fixing controversy at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite the past issues and the suspension of the TTFI, Roy aims to guide his players and contribute to India's medal prospects.

Yamaha Enters India's 200cc Sportsbike Segment with YZF-R2

Yamaha Enters India's 200cc Sportsbike Segment with YZF-R2

Rediff.com6 days ago

The all-new, globally first YZF-R2 is priced from Rs 2,30,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

303 vs 216: Sri Lanka tailenders outlast openers against India

303 vs 216: Sri Lanka tailenders outlast openers against India

Rediff.com6 days ago

Sri Lanka's remarkable lower-order resistance helped deny India a series sweep, with the tailenders facing more deliveries than the team's openers across the series.

BCB President Tamim Iqbal Confident Of India Series Despite Delays

BCB President Tamim Iqbal Confident Of India Series Despite Delays

Rediff.com4 days ago

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal remains optimistic about a white-ball series against India, despite the originally planned September window being missed. He confirmed that both boards are actively seeking a suitable time, highlighting positive intentions from both sides. Iqbal also reflected on past tensions, including Bangladesh's withdrawal from the 2025 ODI World Cup, acknowledging that negotiations could have been handled better.

BNP veteran becomes new Bangladesh Prez in first contest after 35 years

BNP veteran becomes new Bangladesh Prez in first contest after 35 years

Rediff.com20 Aug 2026

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a close ally of former premier Khaleda Zia, has been elected as Bangladesh's new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years.

NASA invites ISRO to join humanity's first Moon Base mission

NASA invites ISRO to join humanity's first Moon Base mission

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

NASA has invited ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base mission to establish a permanent lunar outpost near the Moon's South Pole, aiming for scientific discoveries and future deep space exploration. This invitation follows discussions at the Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru, where both nations also advanced cooperation under the Artemis Accords and the TRUST initiative.

India crash out of hockey World Cup after Argentina loss

India crash out of hockey World Cup after Argentina loss

Rediff.com24 Aug 2026

The Indian men's hockey team was eliminated from the FIH World Cup semifinal race after a 3-5 loss to Argentina in a crucial pool match. India needed to win by at least two goals but struggled to find form against a strong Argentine side.

Resilient Sri Lanka salvage draw as Dinusha denies India in Colombo

Resilient Sri Lanka salvage draw as Dinusha denies India in Colombo

Rediff.com7 days ago

Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133, his second century of the match, to help the hosts salvage a draw against India in the second Test, denying them a series sweep.

Shafali's 64, Deepti's record spell help India rout Thailand in Asia Cup opener

Shafali's 64, Deepti's record spell help India rout Thailand in Asia Cup opener

Rediff.com4 days ago

Shafali Verma's explosive 64 set up India's 159 before Deepti Sharma's record-breaking 3/0 destroyed Thailand's chase, sealing a 94-run Asia Cup victory on her landmark 150th T20I.

Historic! Vande Mataram sung at Red Fort for the first time on Independence Day

Historic! Vande Mataram sung at Red Fort for the first time on Independence Day

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

This year's Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort uniquely featured the national song 'Vande Mataram', marking 150 years of its profound legacy and historical significance in India's freedom struggle.

India works with Nepal on repatriating flood victims' remains

India works with Nepal on repatriating flood victims' remains

Rediff.com2 days ago

The Indian Embassy in Nepal has released a detailed procedure for identifying and repatriating the mortal remains of foreign nationals, including Indians, who perished in the recent devastating flash floods. The process involves a nine-step protocol by Nepali authorities, DNA matching for unidentified remains, and assistance from the Indian Embassy for coordination and repatriation.

East Bengal's Anthony Andrews Appointed India U17 Women's Assistant Coach

East Bengal's Anthony Andrews Appointed India U17 Women's Assistant Coach

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

Anthony Andrews, the highly successful coach of East Bengal FC, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the India Under-17 women's national team. He joins the team in Tashkent for friendly matches ahead of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, bringing his extensive experience and winning record, including four IWL titles and continental success with East Bengal.

AI Integration To Propel India's ER&D Revenue Beyond USD 100 Billion By 2030

AI Integration To Propel India's ER&D Revenue Beyond USD 100 Billion By 2030

Rediff.com2 days ago

India's Engineering Research and Development (ER&D) sector is projected to exceed USD 100 billion in revenue by 2030, driven significantly by the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into engineering workflows. This growth, highlighted by Nasscom, positions India as a critical global engineering hub, necessitating focus on talent development and strategic partnerships.

Women's Asia Cup: Record-Breaking Smriti Mandhana Powers India To Semis With Huge Win Over Hong Kong

Women's Asia Cup: Record-Breaking Smriti Mandhana Powers India To Semis With Huge Win Over Hong Kong

Rediff.com12 hours ago

Smriti Mandhana breaks plethora of records as India outplay Hong Kong by 137 runs on Thursday to enter Women's Asia Cup semi-final.

NIELIT To Establish Quantum And AI University In Amaravati

NIELIT To Establish Quantum And AI University In Amaravati

Rediff.com7 days ago

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has approved the establishment of India's first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati by NIELIT. This significant project, funded by the MeitY, Government of India, will focus on advanced technologies like Quantum, AI, and Semiconductors, integrating education, research, and entrepreneurship.

How UPI Revolutionised India's Digital Payments Ecosystem

How UPI Revolutionised India's Digital Payments Ecosystem

Rediff.com24 Aug 2026

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has completed a decade since its launch, becoming the backbone of India's digital payments ecosystem. It has seen exponential growth in transaction volume and value, expanding financial inclusion and setting a global benchmark for real-time payments.

How Technology And Innovation Will Drive India's Growth

How Technology And Innovation Will Drive India's Growth

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, highlighted technology and innovation as central to India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He called for India to lead in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and space, announcing a massive AI skilling initiative for one crore youth. Modi stressed the importance of becoming a global innovation hub, bolstering energy security with nuclear power, and strengthening cybersecurity.

KL Rahul Reveals Why India Rushed for Galle Test Win

KL Rahul Reveals Why India Rushed for Galle Test Win

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

India vice-captain KL Rahul revealed that the team's aggressive approach in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka was driven by the knowledge of an impending heavy shower, which arrived just five minutes after their 165-run victory.

Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh secure India's first gold at US Open Pickleball Championship

Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh secure India's first gold at US Open Pickleball Championship

Rediff.com12 Apr 2026

Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh won India's first gold medal at the US Open Pickleball Championship, defeating top seeds Ryder Brown and Soli Messiri in the U-18 boys' doubles category.

India-Pakistan Handshake Stirs Debate

India-Pakistan Handshake Stirs Debate

Rediff.com20 Aug 2026

Wednesday's India-Pakistan World Cup match in Amstelveen saw players exchange handshakes, a gesture that has become contentious in India-Pakistan sporting encounters, particularly in cricket. While the Indian team dominated on the field, winning 5-3, the post-match handshakes led to mixed reactions online, highlighting the differing approaches to rivalry in hockey versus cricket.

'36 Years Ago Today': Spin Great Anil Kumble Reflects His First Test Wicket

'36 Years Ago Today': Spin Great Anil Kumble Reflects His First Test Wicket

Rediff.com9 Aug 2026

Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble reflected on the 36th anniversary of his international debut, expressing deep gratitude for his 'truly special journey' that began with his first Test wicket, Allan Lamb.

AIFF Names Anthony Andrews As India U17 Women's Assistant Coach

AIFF Names Anthony Andrews As India U17 Women's Assistant Coach

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

Anthony Andrews, a highly successful coach in Indian women's football, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the India U17 women's national team. He will continue his dual role with East Bengal FC while preparing the Young Tigresses for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.

Team India players report for gruelling fitness Test at CoE Bengaluru

Team India players report for gruelling fitness Test at CoE Bengaluru

Rediff.com5 days ago

India's top centrally-contracted cricketers, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, underwent mandatory fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. These assessments, featuring the Bronco Test, 2k run, and YoYo test, are crucial for the upcoming eight-month home season, which includes series against Afghanistan and West Indies, and the Asian Games.

Guess who is wishing India from space ahead of Independence Day

Guess who is wishing India from space ahead of Independence Day

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station have conveyed special greetings to the people of India as the nation prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day, holding the Indian tricolour and underscoring the enduring partnership between the two countries in space exploration.

ODI World Cup: Tilak Varma could be India's answer to middle-order concerns

ODI World Cup: Tilak Varma could be India's answer to middle-order concerns

Rediff.com4 days ago

Tilak Varma is emerging as India's potential middle-order backup, offering left-handed batting variety and developing off-spin as selectors seek younger, flexible options ahead of the ODI World Cup.

Tata Motors claims No. 2 spot in India's PV market with record market share gains

Tata Motors claims No. 2 spot in India's PV market with record market share gains

Rediff.com1 days ago

Tata Motors has emerged as the biggest market-share gainer among India's leading passenger vehicle (PV) makers in the first eight months of 2026, securing the No. 2 position in the PV market.