News for 'National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force'

After Kerala rain fury, focus shifts to cleaning houses, public places

After Kerala rain fury, focus shifts to cleaning houses, public places

Rediff.com22 Aug 2018

More than 3,000 squads under health and local self-government departments have started the process of cleaning houses and public places, official sources said.

Delhi CM announces 6 day lockdown starting Monday night

Delhi CM announces 6 day lockdown starting Monday night

Rediff.com19 Apr 2021

According to sources, all private offices will work from home and only government offices and essential services will be open.

Trump downplayed COVID risk to reduce panic: Book

Trump downplayed COVID risk to reduce panic: Book

Rediff.com10 Sep 2020

As per the book, Trump insists to Woodward he would triumph over the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic calamity. "Don't worry about it, Bob. OK?" Trump told the author in July. "Don't worry about it. We'll get to do another book. You'll find I was right."

Mamata petitions PM's against whimsical scheduling of shramik trains

Mamata petitions PM's against whimsical scheduling of shramik trains

Rediff.com27 May 2020

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention on Wednesday in the alleged "whimsical" functioning of the railways in sending Shramik Special trains to West Bengal and urged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre not to pursue politics when the state is battling a dual crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and trail of destruction left behind by Cyclone Amphan.

Sitharaman compliments Army for 'professional' handling of Doklam

Sitharaman compliments Army for 'professional' handling of Doklam

Rediff.com10 Oct 2017

Sitharaman said keeping morale of forces at the highest level was among the priorities of the government.

Top moments from the week gone by

Top moments from the week gone by

Rediff.com20 Apr 2015

Here's a collection of some of the best photos, taken last week, from around the globe.

Remembering Gandhiji in critical times

Remembering Gandhiji in critical times

Rediff.com30 Jan 2021

'During my nearly three decades of military service, both in war and peace, I have usefully drawn upon Gandhiji's storehouse of wisdom.' 'When military intelligence jobs require tightrope walking on the edge of moral and ethical dilemmas, I have looked up to Gandhiji,' notes Colonel R Hariharan (retd).

Doklam standoff 'safely resolved' after talks: PLA official

Doklam standoff 'safely resolved' after talks: PLA official

Rediff.com22 Oct 2017

The official cited it as an example of 'how the Chinese military is trying to resolve issues through dialogue mechanisms'.

Malabar Exercise: Samudramanthan Message to China?

Malabar Exercise: Samudramanthan Message to China?

Rediff.com26 Aug 2021

Although the Malabar is a routine exercise which has been carried out for several years now, security experts attach a lot of traction to it in view of China's assertive behaviour in the South China Sea, observes Rup Narayan Das.

8 Mumbai measures to defeat coronavirus

8 Mumbai measures to defeat coronavirus

Rediff.com20 Apr 2020

'I am proud of Maharashtra and the city of Mumbai, that this is a state which has done more number of tests than any state in India.' 'The more you test, the more number of cases you will pick up.' 'If you do not do the tests, then you are groping in the dark.'

Opinion: Why you should not donate to government funds

Opinion: Why you should not donate to government funds

Rediff.com1 May 2020

'These days, you could give the money to your maid or the person who comes to collect your garbage or your watchman; they are struggling to make ends meet.' 'You could help a friend whose business is at risk due to the lockdown and the struggling economy.' 'Even if you lend money to someone in this crisis, it will be more useful to the economy than parking your money in some government fund,' says Praful Nikam.

Texas gets its boats out as streets turn into raging rivers

Texas gets its boats out as streets turn into raging rivers

Rediff.com28 Aug 2017

Around 13 million people continue to battle "catastrophic" flooding and torrential rains in storm-ravaged Texas where Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc.

The Looming Tower: How 9/11 happened

The Looming Tower: How 9/11 happened

Rediff.com6 Apr 2018

The Looming Tower reveals the bitter CIA-FBI turf battles that led to the worst terrorist attack in America's history.

India's growth story is over

India's growth story is over

Rediff.com2 Feb 2021

You can make all the speeches you want, you cannot argue against 39 straight months of slowing, observes Aakar Patel.

The noise around the land acquisition law

The noise around the land acquisition law

Rediff.com3 Mar 2015

Land laws in India need not be archaic, say experts.

Gadkari's Congress Googly To Modi

Gadkari's Congress Googly To Modi

Rediff.com30 Mar 2022

Is anyone in the BJP listening -- to what Nitin Gadkari had to say, but possibly left unsaid? asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

COVID-19 toll rises to 111, number of cases to 4,281

COVID-19 toll rises to 111, number of cases to 4,281

Rediff.com7 Apr 2020

The highest number of confirmed cases are from Maharashtra (748), followed by Tamil Nadu at 571 and Delhi with 523 cases. Cases in Telangana have gone up to 321, in Kerala to 314, in Uttar Pradesh to 305, while the number of cases has gone up to 274 in Rajasthan.

Has Modi run out of gas?

Has Modi run out of gas?

Rediff.com2 May 2021

Other strong men have stopped Modi and his hordes in states before, but none of them with a footprint or battle cry to shake up New Delhi, observes Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

India has a major stake in Indo-Pacific region: Navy chief

India has a major stake in Indo-Pacific region: Navy chief

Rediff.com15 Feb 2017

Asserting that "maritime muscle flexing" by some countries and other factors have made the Indo-Pacific region "more contested and more volatile," naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Tuesday said that the Indian Navy has its task cut out as it has been a major security provider in the region.

Now, ink attack on J-K MLA Engineer Rashid for beef party

Now, ink attack on J-K MLA Engineer Rashid for beef party

Rediff.com19 Oct 2015

Rashid was at the Press Club in Delhi on Monday afternoon, when three men set upon him and threw black ink on him.

'Modi govt failed to understand or to tackle COVID'

'Modi govt failed to understand or to tackle COVID'

Rediff.com1 May 2021

As India logged a world record of over four lakh coronavirus infections on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the entire world is shaken by what is happening here and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "dropping the ball and throwing it to states" after prematurely taking credit for having "won against COVID-19" when the second wave was already underway. "Rely on yourself is the motto. No one will come to help you. Definitely, not the prime minister," Gandhi said, while alleging that the COVID-19 situation has gone completely out of control for the Modi government, and wondered whether it was their way of making the states and the citizens truly 'Aatmanirbhar'.

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

Rediff.com25 Aug 2018

Lives "will once again be at risk" if funding is not urgently secured, United Nations officials have said on the eve of the first anniversary of a military crackdown that forced them to flee their country.

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

Rediff.com25 Jul 2017

'I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me.'

Paytm employee tests positive, India's coronavirus count rises to 29

Paytm employee tests positive, India's coronavirus count rises to 29

Rediff.com4 Mar 2020

All international passengers will henceforth be screened at airports, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said at a press conference. Earlier, travellers from only 12 countries were screened at airports for the disease that has claimed over 3,000 lives and infected more than 90,000 worldwide.

4 ways to deal with the Kashmir crisis

4 ways to deal with the Kashmir crisis

Rediff.com24 Apr 2017

'The strategy has to be restoring order in one part and countering the very effective propaganda through a very nimble monitoring and response system,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, who retired as the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps.

De-terrorise Pak policies towards India, General Sharif!

De-terrorise Pak policies towards India, General Sharif!

Rediff.com6 Oct 2015

'New Delhi feels that given the internal dynamics in Pakistan and the overwhelming powers wielded by the army, one will have to wait for better times to see any meaningful progress in the India-Pakistan relationship,' says Ambassador G Parthasarthy.

COVID-19 crisis: How India's small businesses will survive

COVID-19 crisis: How India's small businesses will survive

Rediff.com25 Apr 2020

'Their dharma propels them to pay their workers; otherwise, they know the boys would starve.' 'At the same time they will not allow their business to suffer,' observes Dr Sudhir Bisht.

Why India suffers from the Panipat Syndrome

Why India suffers from the Panipat Syndrome

Rediff.com12 Feb 2016

'We rarely choose to fight when the threat is still a nascent threat. When we do fight, we fight when the invaders reach Panipat and are preparing to knock on the gates of Delhi.'

27 dead in 2 days, 106 arrested; Delhi remains tense

27 dead in 2 days, 106 arrested; Delhi remains tense

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

Hospital authorities said of the deceased at the GTB, at least nine received gun shots. One of the deceased is also a woman, they said.

In Gujarat cadre PM Modi trusts

In Gujarat cadre PM Modi trusts

Rediff.com8 Aug 2014

At least a dozen officers from Gujarat are handling key assignments in various important central positions

World will realise Pak's potential once India ties improve: Imran

World will realise Pak's potential once India ties improve: Imran

Rediff.com22 Jan 2020

Khan also said Pakistan has decided to partner any other country only for peace and named the partnership with the US as the one.

Kashmir's sorrow

Kashmir's sorrow

Rediff.com11 Sep 2014

'For lakhs of people in the flood-afflicted state, battling against the elements is taking a huge toll. This is the time of the year that apples ripen, rice starts being harvested and preparations start in full swing to put aside some of the food stocks for the long winter months ahead. At this moment, though, people there believe if they can succeed in coming out of this calamity in one piece they will have won the war,' says Rashme Sehgal.

Lyching, farmer issues rock both houses of Parliament

Lyching, farmer issues rock both houses of Parliament

Rediff.com19 Jul 2017

The issue of lynchings resonated in the Rajya Sabha; while in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition accused the government of not being sensitive towards farmers' issues.

Scrapping vehicles in volumes to curb pollution will be a tough task

Scrapping vehicles in volumes to curb pollution will be a tough task

Rediff.com6 May 2021

For deciding which vehicles are to be scrapped, the setting up of fitness centres and regulating them would be a humongous task.

What we LEARNT about COVID-19

What we LEARNT about COVID-19

Rediff.com17 Mar 2021

'If you delay the diagnosis even by 24 hours, in that 24 hours individuals would have affected more people.' 'So, contact tracing, testing, isolation, quarantine needs to continue.'

COVID-19 Effect: Modi is unlikely to give up new powers

COVID-19 Effect: Modi is unlikely to give up new powers

Rediff.com5 May 2020

Four decades of federal evolution made India more secure, but coronavirus is reversing that. Modi's central government has tasted power again and is unlikely to give it up, notes Shekhar Gupta.

The nadir of governance and the destruction of institutions

The nadir of governance and the destruction of institutions

Rediff.com22 Oct 2013

The Indian Army seems to be the new target of attack. The news leaks, of origin unknown, have been attempting to target individuals inconvenient to the government. In the bargain, mutual trust between individuals and institutions has been severely strained, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.

New bill in US Congress to ease arms sales to India

New bill in US Congress to ease arms sales to India

Rediff.com11 May 2016

In a powerful signal to New Delhi that the United States is a reliable defense partner, Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn introduced US-India Defense Technology and Partnership Act in Senate

Modi@1: Ten things I learned this past year

Modi@1: Ten things I learned this past year

Rediff.com22 May 2015

For the past, blame the Congress. For the present, blame the Congress. For everything, blame the Congress. But for your future, vote BJP.

The dud of a stink bomb

The dud of a stink bomb

Rediff.com3 Oct 2017

By castigating the reforms themselves because of the remediable and reversible defaults here and there in carrying them out, Yashwant Sinha is throwing out the baby along with the bath water, says B S Raghavan.