News for 'India Policy Foundation'

Modi opens coffers for Assam before polls, says past govts neglected development

Modi opens coffers for Assam before polls, says past govts neglected development

Rediff.com22 Feb 2021

"Those who ruled for decades since Independence believed Dispur was too distant from Delhi. 'Dilli ab door nahi aapke darwaaze par hai' (Delhi is not far now, it stands at your doorstep," he told a massive gathering.

The real puzzle of doing business in India

The real puzzle of doing business in India

Rediff.com23 Nov 2017

'There is a certain irony embedded in this asymmetric geographical distribution of FDI because most state leaders have shed their inhibitions about promoting 'business' and have understood its virtues as a more cost-effective way of replacing the mai-baap welfarism that passed for economic policy till the early nineties', says Kanika Datta.

Facebook's Hate Content Crisis is Ajit Mohan's biggest headache

Facebook's Hate Content Crisis is Ajit Mohan's biggest headache

Rediff.com28 Sep 2020

'The reality is no one, including some of the names that have shown up in the last few weeks, have any unilateral decision-making power in this,' Facebook India MD Ajit Mohan tells Peerzada Abrar.

How India botched up its war against COVID-19

How India botched up its war against COVID-19

Rediff.com10 May 2021

India is in the midst of its biggest crisis since Independence. It is a national emergency and begs to be dealt with. Politics can wait. Lives need to be saved. We need to vaccinate India at a pace faster than any country in the world, asserts Ramesh Menon.

Facebook launches suicide prevention tools in India

Facebook launches suicide prevention tools in India

Rediff.com15 Jun 2016

With the help of these new tools, if someone posts something on Facebook that makes a user concerned about the person's well-being, they can reach out to the person directly and can also report the post to the US-based firm

American Hindus deeply divided over Trump, Biden

American Hindus deeply divided over Trump, Biden

Rediff.com21 Oct 2020

In a sign of the growing political prominence of Hindus in America, the Trump and Biden campaigns are wooing this religious minority community like never before. Hinduism is the fourth largest faith in the US, representing approximately one per cent of the US population in 2016.

2+2 dialogue important to enhance engagement with India: US

2+2 dialogue important to enhance engagement with India: US

Rediff.com21 Aug 2018

US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis will travel to New Delhi next month for the 2+2 dialogue.

NRIs catalyst in US-India ties

NRIs catalyst in US-India ties

Rediff.com1 Sep 2005

India likely to be among top 20 global FDI sources by 2021

India likely to be among top 20 global FDI sources by 2021

Rediff.com14 Jun 2019

While the UN report said that FDI inflows rose 6 per cent in 2018 to $ 42 billion, the government's own data for the entire FY19 period has shown that inbound equity investments declined for the first time in six years in FY19.

Bill Gates on how to tackle climate change challenges

Bill Gates on how to tackle climate change challenges

Rediff.com18 Nov 2019

Gates, who is also co-chair in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, further said since the issue of climate change is "complicated", different interventions are required to be taken including developing new variety of seeds and their distribution to farmers.

Why India plans to build a space station

Why India plans to build a space station

Rediff.com2 Jul 2019

Once ISRO masters the technology to send humans into space, the next step will be experimenting with technologies allowing humans to live in space.

What Will 2022 Bring The World?

What Will 2022 Bring The World?

Rediff.com1 Jan 2022

From Covid to climate change, Shankar Acharya's look at some of the trends and events that might shape 2022.

'It is not easy to be a gatekeeper of financial stability'

'It is not easy to be a gatekeeper of financial stability'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2020

'There are deeper, underlying, forces at work and we need institutional arrangements to guard against them.'

Maldives deal: India takes China head on

Maldives deal: India takes China head on

Rediff.com19 Apr 2016

'An authoritative source in the government tells me that India has emerged as the net security provider of the Maldives,' says Rajeev Sharma.

Afghanistan's Winter of Discontent

Afghanistan's Winter of Discontent

Rediff.com15 Dec 2021

Cut off from the world and having to contend with an orthodox and repressive Taliban government, Afghans are facing the brunt of Pakistan's decades old policy of nurturing militant groups, note Harsh V Pant and Kriti M Shah four months after the Taliban took Kabul.

Cabinet clears Rs 76,000-crore incentive scheme for semiconductors

Cabinet clears Rs 76,000-crore incentive scheme for semiconductors

Rediff.com15 Dec 2021

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 76,000 crore policy boost for semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country in an bid to position India as a global hub for hi-tech production. Announcing the decision of the Cabinet, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw observed that electronics plays an important role in everyday life, and semiconductor chips forms a crucial part of electronics. Outlining the details of the scheme, he said the Rs 76,000 crore programme has been approved for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem.

What Modi needs to tell Biden next month

What Modi needs to tell Biden next month

Rediff.com11 Dec 2020

Prime Minister Modi needs to call Biden next month and clearly say: 'Mr President, the threat from China is clear and present. We, in New Delhi, have determined it to be an urgent national priority to outfit our submarines and aircraft carriers with nuclear propulsion and we want to cooperate with America on this programme",' advises Ajai Shukla.

Foreign powers want to 'defame' Indian tea, Modi says in Assam

Foreign powers want to 'defame' Indian tea, Modi says in Assam

Rediff.com7 Feb 2021

The prime minister was apparently referring to Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg's controversial 'toolkit', which she tweeted and then deleted, outlining ways in which people can participate in the farmers protest.

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Rediff.com20 Jun 2020

'The one aspect which no Indian military thinker would wish to see emerge is a LoC type of posture at the LAC.' 'The LoC is manned for 750 km and terrorist infiltration has led to the creation of a virtual fortress along its entire length.' 'Something mirroring this at the LAC is going to be expensive although deployment everywhere is not warranted there.' 'However, given the complete trust deficit, there appear few alternatives,' notes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

Skilling India 2.0: Challenges aplenty

Skilling India 2.0: Challenges aplenty

Rediff.com15 Jul 2015

Only 2.3% of the Indian workforce has undergone formal skill training, as compared to 68% in UK and 52% in the US

Will Supreme Court's AIADMK rule apply to Shiv Sena too?

Will Supreme Court's AIADMK rule apply to Shiv Sena too?

Rediff.com10 Feb 2023

The case of the two Shiv Sena factions for legitimacy and the party symbol, 'Bow and Arrow', is now before the Election Commission. Whichever way the EC findings go, the other can be expected to move the Supreme Court. They would need a final verdict before the parliamentary polls, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Demonetisation just a bump; India to maintain 7% growth: Cisco

Demonetisation just a bump; India to maintain 7% growth: Cisco

Rediff.com9 Jan 2017

Chambers said Internet will facilitate 3-5 times the economic impact at a much faster pace

The problem with examinations in India

The problem with examinations in India

Rediff.com15 Jun 2018

To understand the problem with public examinations we need to understand the different objectives they serve and how they interact and conflict with each other.

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Rediff.com5 Mar 2020

While the denial rate has dropped slightly to 21 per cent in 2019 from 24 per cent in 2018, the National Foundation for American Policy has said it is much higher for Indian IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro and very low for American companies like Amazon and Google. For instance, the denial rate for TCS and Infosys in 2019 was 31 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, whereas for Wipro it was 47 per cent and 37 per cent for Tech Mahindra. On the other hand, the denial rate for the new H-1B petitions in 2019 was just four per cent each for Amazon and Google. The denial rate for Microsoft during the same period was six per cent, and Facebook along with Walmart was just three per cent each.

'Identify people who need booster doses'

'Identify people who need booster doses'

Rediff.com7 Dec 2021

'People who were vaccinated early on, for example, from January to April this year, namely health workers, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, should be identified for a booster dose.' 'We should start getting ready for administering booster doses to them on priority.'

Safe, inclusive India: Prez outlines Modi govt's goals

Safe, inclusive India: Prez outlines Modi govt's goals

Rediff.com20 Jun 2019

Laying the roadmap of the Narendra Modi government for its second term, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said empowering every person is the main goal for a 'New India' by 2022 on the back of a "stronger mandate" for continuing uninterrupted the journey of development started in 2014.

Poll blitz: 50 projects worth Rs 2 trn

Poll blitz: 50 projects worth Rs 2 trn

Rediff.com30 Mar 2019

Before the MCC came into effect, Modi was busy laying stones, cutting ribbons, and unveiling plaques across the country.

'Even if a third wave comes, we must keep it to a ripple rather let it surge to a tidal wave'

'Even if a third wave comes, we must keep it to a ripple rather let it surge to a tidal wave'

Rediff.com16 Jun 2021

'A third wave is possible, but we must try to restrict it to a low level by adopting all personal protection and public policy measures to prevent viral transmission, while speeding up vaccination.'

G-20 acknowledges India's concerns on currency volatility

G-20 acknowledges India's concerns on currency volatility

Rediff.com6 Sep 2013

Taking on board India's concerns, the G-20 Summit on Friday acknowledged that excess volatility of financial flows and disorderly movements in exchange rates can affect economic and financial stability of emerging markets and called for sound policies to address it.

NPR, NRC will be worst than demonetisation: Rahul

NPR, NRC will be worst than demonetisation: Rahul

Rediff.com28 Dec 2019

Gandhi said that the basic idea of these exercises is to ask all poor people whether they are Indian or not. He also said that PM's 15 friends will not have to show any document and the money generated will go into the pockets of those 15 people.

Will CUET Take Focus Off Class 12 Boards?

Will CUET Take Focus Off Class 12 Boards?

Rediff.com4 Apr 2022

Will it promote a CUET-centric coaching culture causing students to focus on the entrance rather than the Class 12th exams?

HC junks plea to suspend Satyendar Jain, says it is for CM to decide

HC junks plea to suspend Satyendar Jain, says it is for CM to decide

Rediff.com27 Jul 2022

The high court held it is not for the court to direct the governor or chief minister for the removal of a person who has committed a breach of oath.

What Brought Economy to Its Knees

What Brought Economy to Its Knees

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

A combination of demonetisation, a poorly and hurriedly implemented GST, and more recently the "botched up" lockdown of the economy to control the spread of Covid has brought the economy to its knees.

An agenda for India's Hillary Clinton

An agenda for India's Hillary Clinton

Rediff.com2 Jun 2014

Sushma Swaraj, like Clinton, has a strong political base in her own party and is likely to have her imprint on foreign policy, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Don't mock India's scientific past!

Don't mock India's scientific past!

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

It is important to approach the belief of people in ancient India's achievements with a sense of proportion, balance and empathy, argues B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

Vikrant: A Giant Leap For Indian Navy

Vikrant: A Giant Leap For Indian Navy

Rediff.com2 Sep 2022

The Indian Navy has a big role to play in support of our strategic objectives in the Indian Ocean. The increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean is a matter of concern and need to be factored. Hence, the requirement of an Aircraft Carrier is a foregone conclusion, asserts Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Sitharaman bets big on infra spending to take highway to growth

Sitharaman bets big on infra spending to take highway to growth

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

While she primed up spending on infrastructure to create jobs and boost economic activity, Sitharaman did not tinker with income tax slabs or tax rates. Her Budget for the fiscal year beginning April 2022 proposed a massive 35 per cent jump in capital expenditure to Rs 7.5 lakh crore, coupled with rationalisation of customs duty, an extension of time for setting up new manufacturing companies and plans for starting a digital currency and tax crypto assets.

India a 'bright spot' on cloudy global horizon: IMF chief

India a 'bright spot' on cloudy global horizon: IMF chief

Rediff.com16 Mar 2015

IMF MD Christine Lagarde hailed the government's latest Budget.

States, Centre not on same page on digital health mission

States, Centre not on same page on digital health mission

Rediff.com14 Oct 2021

Tamil Nadu plans parallel programme with unique user IDs