News for 'Minister of State'

Bengal braces for post-SIR rolls on Saturday amid rising voter tensions

Bengal braces for post-SIR rolls on Saturday amid rising voter tensions

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

The upcoming publication of West Bengal's electoral rolls is expected to intensify political tensions and debates ahead of the Assembly elections, reflecting concerns about voter inclusion and identity.

Convicted Maha minister Manikrao Kokate resigns from Cabinet

Convicted Maha minister Manikrao Kokate resigns from Cabinet

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Nationalist Congress Party minister Manikrao Kokate has resigned from the Maharashtra Cabinet after a court upheld his conviction and two-year jail term in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. This marks the second NCP minister to resign this year.

'Direct fertiliser subsidy transfer very much on table'

'Direct fertiliser subsidy transfer very much on table'

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

On Agri Stack, Expenditure Secy V Vualnam says it's progressing well; using IT, farmers will be able to choose exact fertiliser quantities needed, reducing crowding at fertiliser outlets.

Court Raises Concerns Over Prolonged Incarceration Under PMLA

Court Raises Concerns Over Prolonged Incarceration Under PMLA

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

A special court in Delhi has raised concerns about the use of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) leading to prolonged incarceration based on provisional allegations, emphasizing the importance of upholding individual liberty and the rule of law.

Boys never...: Swami Avimukteshwaranand on POCSO charges

Boys never...: Swami Avimukteshwaranand on POCSO charges

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati addresses sexual abuse allegations, asserting his innocence and claiming the charges are fabricated. An FIR was lodged against him and his disciple following a court order.

Jaguar Land Rover to start production of premium cars at Tamil Nadu unit

Jaguar Land Rover to start production of premium cars at Tamil Nadu unit

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Jaguar Land Rover will begin assembling premium cars at its new Tamil Nadu plant on February 9, marking a step towards full-scale luxury car manufacturing in India.

SteelMin signs MoUs worth Rs 11,887 crore with 55 companies

SteelMin signs MoUs worth Rs 11,887 crore with 55 companies

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

The Ministry of Steel on Monday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 55 companies for 85 projects under the third round of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for specialty steel.

VIDEO: Modi makes historic landing at Assam highway airstrip

VIDEO: Modi makes historic landing at Assam highway airstrip

Rediff.com14 Feb 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Northeast's first Emergency Landing Facility in Assam, boosting regional defense and disaster response capabilities.

Sunetra Pawar Takes Charge

Sunetra Pawar Takes Charge

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

Nationalist Congress Party leader Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday took charge as Maharshtra's deputy chief minister, a fortnight after her husband Ajit Pawar died in an air crash.

Grip and choke: Rahul Gandhi on why he used Jiu-Jitsu terms to attack Modi

Grip and choke: Rahul Gandhi on why he used Jiu-Jitsu terms to attack Modi

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

'In my experience of politics, I have seen political grips and political chokes are mostly hidden. The average person cannot see them,' Rahul Gandhi said.

Tejasvi Surya detained during Bengaluru Metro fare hike protest

Tejasvi Surya detained during Bengaluru Metro fare hike protest

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya was detained for protesting against a metro fare hike in Bengaluru, demanding affordable public transport. The protest followed a statement by the Deputy Chief Minister and highlighted the issue of public transport costs.

Trump now says 200% tariff warning stopped India-Pakistan conflict

Trump now says 200% tariff warning stopped India-Pakistan conflict

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Trump repeated the assertion that Sharif had claimed he saved "25 million lives" when he stopped the war between India and Pakistan.

India, US to sign interim trade deal in March: Goyal

India, US to sign interim trade deal in March: Goyal

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that an interim trade agreement between India and the US is likely to be signed in March and operationalised in April, with chief negotiators meeting in Washington to finalize the details.

Pakistan hockey federation chief Tariq Bugti resigns over Australia tour fiasco

Pakistan hockey federation chief Tariq Bugti resigns over Australia tour fiasco

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

Pakistan Hockey Federation president Tariq Bugti has resigned following a controversy surrounding the national team's accommodation during their tour of Australia. b

Macron's India visit gets a Bollywood twist with Dhurandhar track

Macron's India visit gets a Bollywood twist with Dhurandhar track

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron's recent state visit to India concluded with a tribute video featuring the title track from the Hindi blockbuster 'Dhurandhar,' sparking widespread social media buzz.

Maha minister Kokate stripped of portfolios after fraud conviction

Maha minister Kokate stripped of portfolios after fraud conviction

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate was stripped of his portfolios after being convicted in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. His ministries have been reassigned to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Kokate has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital after complaining of chest pain.

'Studying developments': India after US SC verdict on Trump's tariffs

'Studying developments': India after US SC verdict on Trump's tariffs

Rediff.com21 Feb 2026

In a major setback to Trump's pivotal economic agenda for his second term, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that the tariffs imposed by the president on nations around the world were illegal.

Can The Taekwondo Teacher Bring Peace To Manipur?

Can The Taekwondo Teacher Bring Peace To Manipur?

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

For now, Yumnam Khemchand Singh's leadership will be judged not by promises or symbolism, but by whether his government can prevent further violence and begin the slow, difficult work of rebuilding trust.

India joins US-led strategic alliance Pax Silica

India joins US-led strategic alliance Pax Silica

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

India has joined the US-led 'Pax Silica' alliance, aimed at building a resilient supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and fostering economic security.

Rajiv Gandhi: 'I Can't Sack People'

Rajiv Gandhi: 'I Can't Sack People'

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

'When I met the prime minister, he asked me, "Dr Ganguly, what do you do with people in your company who lie to you?"' 'I said, "Prime Minister, we counsel them and give them a gentle warning. If they lie again, they are sacked".' '"This is my problem,'" Rajiv responded. "I can't sack people in government".' A revealing excerpt from former Hindustan Lever Chairman Dr Ashok S Ganguly's We Are Our Future: Reflections On Life.

Modi moves to new PMO, Seva Teerth; takes 1st decision on...

Modi moves to new PMO, Seva Teerth; takes 1st decision on...

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex, which will house the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat, marking a shift towards modernizing India's administrative governance.

India must use current geopolitical churn to build manufacturing scale at home: Amitabh Kant

India must use current geopolitical churn to build manufacturing scale at home: Amitabh Kant

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

India should resist knee-jerk responses to tariff volatility in the US and instead use the current geopolitical churn to build manufacturing scale at home, former G20 Sherpa and former chief executive officer of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said on Wednesday.

Stormy first part of Budget Session ends

Stormy first part of Budget Session ends

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

The first leg of the Budget session concluded with debates over the India-US trade deal and a former army chief's memoir, and will reassemble on March 9.

'Nehru Believed India And China Should Be Brothers'

'Nehru Believed India And China Should Be Brothers'

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

'Nehru was an idealist, he was certainly a visionary in one way, but Mao Zedong was not. Mao Zedong was a very down-to-earth strategist. He wanted to take Tibet, to take the plateau, to take the rivers, to take the minerals.'

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Aroop Biswas's resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress said.

India poised to be global hub for digital infra, AI: Modi

India poised to be global hub for digital infra, AI: Modi

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting India as a global hub for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, highlighting the government's incentives for data center investments and inviting the world's data to reside in India.

Row erupts as Tamannaah Bhatia named Mysore Sandal Soap ambassador

Row erupts as Tamannaah Bhatia named Mysore Sandal Soap ambassador

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the makers of Mysore Sandal Soap, sparking controversy over the choice of a non-Kannada speaking actor. The government defends the decision as a business strategy to boost sales outside Karnataka.

Sarma's 'point-blank' video: Assam Congress drags to police

Sarma's 'point-blank' video: Assam Congress drags to police

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

The Assam Congress has filed a police complaint against the BJP for circulating a controversial video of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on social media, alleging it incites communal disharmony.

Kerala Devaswom ex-minister quizzed in Sabarimala gold theft case

Kerala Devaswom ex-minister quizzed in Sabarimala gold theft case

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

An SIT investigating the Sabarimala gold loss case has questioned former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. The interrogation has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties alleging interference in the investigation.

Does NCP merger now depend on BJP's political green signal?

Does NCP merger now depend on BJP's political green signal?

Rediff.com14 Feb 2026

Senior NCP leader Hasan Mushrif admitted that Ajit Pawar was holding talks with NCP (SP) leaders on the merger of the two factions before his death.

Revealed: CM Nitish poorer than ministers, assets put at Rs 1.65 cr

Revealed: CM Nitish poorer than ministers, assets put at Rs 1.65 cr

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's assets have increased slightly to Rs 1.65 crore, while several ministers are wealthier, according to the latest asset disclosure.

Communal clash breaks out in Jabalpur town, 49 arrested

Communal clash breaks out in Jabalpur town, 49 arrested

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Tension gripped Sihora town in Jabalpur district after a communal clash involving stone-pelting and vandalism, leading to police intervention and multiple arrests.

Is Congress-DMK alliance sliding towards collapse over power tussle?

Is Congress-DMK alliance sliding towards collapse over power tussle?

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

The DMK leads the multi-party Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu and the constituents include the Congress and the Left parties.

SC rejects plea against Assam CM Sarma over 'shooting' video

SC rejects plea against Assam CM Sarma over 'shooting' video

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has declined to entertain petitions seeking action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding a viral video, advising petitioners to approach the Gauhati High Court instead.

PSLV-C62 Failure: Centre Orders High-Level Probe

PSLV-C62 Failure: Centre Orders High-Level Probe

Rediff.com22 Feb 2026

The move follows a quiet visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

Trump raises global tariff from 10% to 15% day after SC ruling

Trump raises global tariff from 10% to 15% day after SC ruling

Rediff.com21 Feb 2026

Following a Supreme Court setback, Donald Trump has announced an increase in global tariffs from 10% to 15%, impacting international trade relations and raising concerns about economic repercussions.

'More India Aligns With US, More China Aligns With Pak'

'More India Aligns With US, More China Aligns With Pak'

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

'China continues to perceive its relations with India through the prism of India-US relations, with the US using India to counter balance against China in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.'

'Mamata, Stalin or...': Sena-UBT on INDIA bloc leadership issue

'Mamata, Stalin or...': Sena-UBT on INDIA bloc leadership issue

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

The Shiv Sena-UBT is openly questioning the Congress party's leadership within the INDIA bloc.

Bangladesh election results: BNP's Hindu leader wins; Jamaat's lone Hindu candidate loses

Bangladesh election results: BNP's Hindu leader wins; Jamaat's lone Hindu candidate loses

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

BNP's Gayeshwar Chandra Roy secured a victory in Dhaka-3 constituency.

You don't deserve that chair': Navjot Kaur Sidhu slams Rahul

You don't deserve that chair': Navjot Kaur Sidhu slams Rahul

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

Former Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu sharply criticises Rahul Gandhi for being out of touch and failing to address corruption within the Punjab Congress, potentially jeopardizing the party's future in the state.