News for 'National Geographic News'

Don't undermine the strides made by Jan-Dhan

Don't undermine the strides made by Jan-Dhan

Rediff.com4 May 2016

The assessment of PMJDY should be done within the context of the programme.

Remembering the Iron Lady of India

Remembering the Iron Lady of India

Rediff.com3 Nov 2014

It is unconscionable to choose between Sardar Patel, who united India physically, and Indira Gandhi, who gave meaning, content and pride to the unity of the nation and became a martyr at the altar of national unity, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

How India can fight cyber terror

How India can fight cyber terror

Rediff.com24 Apr 2015

Like China, India needs to encourage 'hacker clubs' in view of the challenges of virtual terrorism, says Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd)

The longest journey by motorbike in a single country!

The longest journey by motorbike in a single country!

Rediff.com13 Jun 2016

At 24, an age when most people struggle to make a mark in their first jobs, Krishanu Kona rode solo for 224 days non-stop, covering 25 states.

Himalayan snub for India as Nepal signs railway deal with China

Himalayan snub for India as Nepal signs railway deal with China

Rediff.com21 Mar 2016

The two countries sealed 10 agreements, including the much-publicised transit trade treaty which will end Nepal's total dependency on Indian sea ports for third-country trade.

The unfinished business of Kargil

The unfinished business of Kargil

Rediff.com29 Jul 2013

The failure to restructure our armed forces in line with contemporary needs 14 years after the Kargil war will impose strategic costs beyond just delays and scandals, says Nitin Pai

How much is Mother Earth worth?

How much is Mother Earth worth?

Rediff.com12 May 2015

Pricing can help prioritise the best use of conservation efforts and funding

Dr Murthy spells out his plans to improve America's health

Dr Murthy spells out his plans to improve America's health

Rediff.com5 Feb 2014

'My grandfather was a poor farmer who fought for democracy and freedom in India and who could have never dreamed that his grandson would have the opportunity to sit before you today and be considered for the position of Surgeon General,' Dr Murthy told a US Senate Committee

Visakhapatnam dreams to become India's San Francisco

Visakhapatnam dreams to become India's San Francisco

Rediff.com16 Jun 2016

A consortium of three US-based firms - AECOM, KPMG and IBM - was given the task of developing the master plan.

'If you sweat in peacetime, you don't bleed in wartime'

'If you sweat in peacetime, you don't bleed in wartime'

Rediff.com6 Apr 2017

'We have to work for our victories.' 'We have to offer a better alternative governance model.' 'Not just criticise the current government.' 'You have to build bridges, learn from what has gone wrong and create a party for all people.'

PDP-BJP alliance is the only way forward in J&K

PDP-BJP alliance is the only way forward in J&K

Rediff.com13 Jan 2015

When he was chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was able to blunt inter-regional and inter-communal tensions which Farooq and Omar Abdullah could not do. Whether he can repeat it with the BJP by his side would have to be seen, says Mohammad Sayeed Malik.

The calculations behind Jaya's opposition to GST

The calculations behind Jaya's opposition to GST

Rediff.com8 Aug 2016

With Tamil Nadu's economy getting increasingly debt-ridden with each passing budget, any concession to the Centre on the tax front, the state government has argued, would only help forgotten 'minor parties' to start hoping of a revival, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Modi's 'hometown' diplomacy with China

Modi's 'hometown' diplomacy with China

Rediff.com21 May 2015

There are still a few lingering issues towards the progress of India-China bilateral relations, the approach for dealing with each other seems to be quite different. With Modi-Xi bonhomie strengthening, it seems that India and China are ready to recalibrate their approaches towards each other, says Sana Hashmi.

Debunking 10 myths about China and the South China Sea

Debunking 10 myths about China and the South China Sea

Rediff.com12 Jul 2016

In anticipation of a verdict to be delivered by the International Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Tuesday, China has orchestrated a worldwide campaign to defuse its findings.

The 'Gone Girls' of India

The 'Gone Girls' of India

Rediff.com29 Aug 2015

Sheena Bora may be the latest of India's 'gone girls' but the list is too long to enumerate, says Sunil Sethi

Why PM Modi needs to engage in West Asia

Why PM Modi needs to engage in West Asia

Rediff.com21 Jun 2014

A new West Asia is emerging and India must engage at the highest level and help shape this change, says Saeed Naqvi

What Parrikar needs to focus on in 2017

What Parrikar needs to focus on in 2017

Rediff.com14 Jan 2017

'The defence minister needs to focus on human resources-related issues at the same pace in 2017 as he did on acquisitions in 2016,' says Brigadier S K Chatterji (retd).

Prostrate before the Arnab experience

Prostrate before the Arnab experience

Rediff.com31 Aug 2015

'While Television generally tends to Clarity,' says Sreehari Nair, 'Arnab Goswami's The Newshour Debate portrays our confusions. Each episode offers both the potency of an intensely-fought boxing match and the giddy pleasures of an orgy.'

Will you quit your job to hit the road?

Will you quit your job to hit the road?

Rediff.com20 Nov 2014

Why are more and more young people quitting their day jobs to travel? Abhishek Mande Bhot finds out.

PM's speech: Passing off WhatsApp forwards as facts

PM's speech: Passing off WhatsApp forwards as facts

Rediff.com12 Feb 2018

'Those who have followed politics even when there was no Twitter know what the word 'jumlebaaz' means,' says Utkarsh Mishra.

'We don't have a Gandhi to free us'

'We don't have a Gandhi to free us'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

When Meenakshi Arvind and Mookambika Rathinam took an epic car journey from Coimbatore to London, they encountered a world that was more good than bad. In the cry for freedom in a dark corner of the globe, they discovered that The Mahatma remained India's greatest icon.

'There is a sense of fear among Muslims'

'There is a sense of fear among Muslims'

Rediff.com27 Sep 2017

'Public dissent is the highest public duty and I will continue to speak out,' says Harsh Mander.

'The BJP is too smart'

'The BJP is too smart'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2018

'The BJP portrays a make believe world.' 'The Tripura victory is being seen by some as a result of bahubal and money power -- but that would be a very simplistic explanation.' 'Money and muscle power can play a role up to a point, but the BJP's victory is remarkable because it replaced a party that was in power for 25 years.'

Modi's Mongolia visit is important too

Modi's Mongolia visit is important too

Rediff.com12 May 2015

India should enhance its economic, cultural and defence ties with Mongolia. It is high time Modi should focus on gaining clout in smaller Asian countries such as Mongolia. It is in this context, India's engagement with Mongolia would give much-needed impetus to India's foreign policy, says Sana Hashmi.

Will army's flood relief operations win over Kashmiri hearts?

Will army's flood relief operations win over Kashmiri hearts?

Rediff.com10 Sep 2014

The floods that engulfed the state of Jammu and Kashmir have been unprecedented in its history. In fact, the deluge of rains suffered by the state was at par --- and in some case, far worse --- than what was witnessed in Uttarakhand in June last year.

India has limited options in securing hostages' release

India has limited options in securing hostages' release

Rediff.com18 Jun 2014

The ground situation in Iraq is so bad that there is no scope for any non-conventional action or any kind of bravery. Patience, slow movement, and full backing to Indian negotiators would help in a big way, says Sheela Bhatt.

4 ways to tackle Islamic State's terror

4 ways to tackle Islamic State's terror

Rediff.com25 Jul 2016

'The use of nuclear/biological/chemical weapons by Islamic terrorists is just a matter of time.' 'It must be clearly understood what the world faces is a global level insurgency against the world order.' 'Terrorism is merely a tactic and Islamic State its most brutal face, says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Why Lamka won't bury its dead

Why Lamka won't bury its dead

Rediff.com12 Sep 2016

The church bells don't toll in Churachandpur any more. The hill district in Manipur has been in mourning for more than a year.

The Remarkable Sunny Leone!

The Remarkable Sunny Leone!

Rediff.com15 Sep 2016

'Her greatest strength is not her acting or her dancing abilities, but that she has an incredible number of fans.'

Sheena Bora Trial: Indrani's eyes sparkled...

Sheena Bora Trial: Indrani's eyes sparkled...

Rediff.com18 Nov 2017

as the trial proceeds, Peter is beginning to look more and more haggard while Indrani by contrast is blossoming. Khanna appeared exhausted and more down and out than usual at this hearing.

History won't remember Manmohan Singh kindly

History won't remember Manmohan Singh kindly

Rediff.com12 Mar 2014

'History will never forgive Manmohan Singh for having ended the Indian growth story and created a culture of entitlement instead of creating a culture of hard work and development,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Angry suvivors heckle Nepal PM over shortage of aid

Angry suvivors heckle Nepal PM over shortage of aid

Rediff.com29 Apr 2015

Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala was greeted with protests on Wednesday at in relief camps as anger spilled over to the streets.

BJP not willing to change its Telangana stand for TDP's friendship

BJP not willing to change its Telangana stand for TDP's friendship

Rediff.com28 Sep 2013

The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to have learnt a bitter lesson from its past mistake of letting down the people of Telangana for the sake of the Telugu Desam Party's support to the Atal Bihari Vajpaee-led National Democratic Alliance government. This time it is refusing to do the same.

What the BJP needs to know about Muslims

What the BJP needs to know about Muslims

Rediff.com2 Jul 2013

How the BJP's politics plays out at the grass-roots level will determine its relationship with Muslims in the near future, says Sajid Bhombal

'Karnataka government has utterly failed'

'Karnataka government has utterly failed'

Rediff.com8 Sep 2017

'If, in the first 48 to 72 hours, they are just on a wild goose chase, then Gauri Lankesh's murder will not get solved.'

Here's how the commerce minister plans to boost India's exports

Here's how the commerce minister plans to boost India's exports

Rediff.com2 Apr 2015

The government on Wednesday unveiled the FTP for 2015-20.

Xi's India visit: Can Modi play his cards well?

Xi's India visit: Can Modi play his cards well?

Rediff.com10 Sep 2014

President Xi Jinping's visit may put relations between India and China on a new trajectory

India, the lamb state

India, the lamb state

Rediff.com18 May 2014

'Until India fully absorbs the fundamentals of international relations, it will continue to get evil for good,' says Brahma Chellaney.

There is only one faction in the Congress: Sachin Pilot

There is only one faction in the Congress: Sachin Pilot

Rediff.com10 Nov 2013

Refuting allegations of divisions in the Congress in Rajasthan, Corporate Affairs Minister and Member of Parliament from Ajmer, Sachin Pilot, speaks to Kavita Chowdhury on a range of issues, including the Congress's prospects in the coming Rajasthan Assembly polls.

Pakistan's rulers can deceive anyone and everyone

Pakistan's rulers can deceive anyone and everyone

Rediff.com26 Feb 2015

'For so long as the rulers of Pakistan remain committed to confronting and vanquishing India, they will sustain delusions, breed terrorists, and export them.'