News for 'North Block'

Will Nirmalaji Cheer The Markets?

Will Nirmalaji Cheer The Markets?

Rediff.com17 Jul 2024

'We are confident that over the next few years the government will strike a fine balance between populist measures and growth, and manage coalition partners well.'

Understand Russian feeling; will acquire Canada: Trump's big remarks

Understand Russian feeling; will acquire Canada: Trump's big remarks

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

United States President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he understands the Russian feeling with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) being on their doorstep.

Doctors to rickshaw pullers, Kolkata rocked by protest rallies

Doctors to rickshaw pullers, Kolkata rocked by protest rallies

Rediff.com8 Sep 2024

People from all walks of life -- former students of several educational institutions, clay modellers, rickshaw pullers and junior doctors -- separately hit the streets of Kolkata on Sunday in continued protest over the rape and murder of a medic in a state-run hospital a month ago.

Toll climbs to 37 as north India is battered by rains: Army, NDRF step in

Toll climbs to 37 as north India is battered by rains: Army, NDRF step in

Rediff.com10 Jul 2023

Incessant rains unleashed more death and destruction on Monday in parts of north India, with 37 people killed in landslides and other rain-related incidents in the last two days even as the Army and NDRF teams stepped in to intensify the relief and rescue operations.

How Indian Weddings Got So Big, Glitzy

How Indian Weddings Got So Big, Glitzy

Rediff.com20 Nov 2024

What was once a solemn Vedic ritual is today a celebration for the entire extended family. And why not? With families living in distant cities, even continents, weddings are seen as an occasion for cousins and uncles to congregate under one roof for two or three days, observes Ambi Parmeswaran.

Public access to 10 sensitive installations removed

Public access to 10 sensitive installations removed

Rediff.com17 Feb 2023

Ten sensitive installations in six states and one Union territory have been declared out of bounds for the general public, with the Centre saying any information with respect to certain activities carried out at these premises may be useful to India's enemies.

Meet Nirmalaji's Core Budget Team

Meet Nirmalaji's Core Budget Team

Rediff.com23 Jul 2024

The finance minister continues to be backed by the same policy team in charting out the broad strategy as in the few earlier Budgets.

Will RBI Governor Get An Extension?

Will RBI Governor Get An Extension?

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

'After a long time, we have a governor who is approachable. The RBI's interactions with us are now much better.'

Sitharaman to ensure 'Ease of Living' during Modi 3.0

Sitharaman to ensure 'Ease of Living' during Modi 3.0

Rediff.com12 Jun 2024

Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday assumed charge as the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister for the second consecutive term and is slated to soon present the final Budget for FY '25 that is going to set the tone for the Modi 3.0 government's priorities and direction for Viksit Bharat. Upon her reaching the North Block office, Sitharaman was greeted by Finance Secretary T V Somanathan and other top officials. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was also present. Chaudhary assumed charge on Tuesday evening.

Budget Must Focus On Raising Revenue

Budget Must Focus On Raising Revenue

Rediff.com18 Jul 2024

With the fiscal deficit target staring at the government, the FY25 Budget has limited expenditure options, points out A K Bhattacharya.

Report or face action: Centre warns former Bengal chief secy

Report or face action: Centre warns former Bengal chief secy

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

The Centre sent a reminder to West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay who 'retired' on Monday to report to the Personnel Ministry in Delhi at 10 am on Tuesday, failing which disciplinary action would be initiated against him, officials said.

Editors Guild calls FinMin's order for scribes a 'gag'

Editors Guild calls FinMin's order for scribes a 'gag'

Rediff.com10 Jul 2019

The guild, in a statement, said it has no dispute with the ministry that journalists should behave with restraint and responsibility while enjoying their access to the finance ministry, but a blanket order is not the answer.

Modi 3.0 mantris off to quick start, priority for 100-day action plan

Modi 3.0 mantris off to quick start, priority for 100-day action plan

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

Signalling both change and continuity, India's new government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term, got into work gear on Tuesday with cabinet ministers and ministers of state filing into their respective offices to assume charge.

Eliminate terror, but with due process: Amit Shah at J-K meet

Eliminate terror, but with due process: Amit Shah at J-K meet

Rediff.com2 Jan 2024

Advising security agencies for appropriate deployment in vulnerable areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah stressed that all due procedures should be adopted while conducting counter-terror operations.

Boycott bastions of Baramulla, Sopore see highest voter turnout in 30 yrs

Boycott bastions of Baramulla, Sopore see highest voter turnout in 30 yrs

Rediff.com2 Oct 2024

Officials said the polling went off peacefully in all segments including special polling stations along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.

What I Discovered In 100 Hours In Seoul

What I Discovered In 100 Hours In Seoul

Rediff.com6 Nov 2024

A sojourn in Seoul, one of Asia's largest metropolises, where the ultra-modern coexists with the ancient -- temples and palaces with futuristic skyscrapers climbing to the stratosphere, K-pop with Buddhism, a village within city limits.

Light rains bring respite from scorching heat in North India

Light rains bring respite from scorching heat in North India

Rediff.com20 Apr 2023

The weather department has said that the skies are expected to be partly cloudy for the next few days in Delhi.

'Already invited India to...': Zelenskyy to UNSC

'Already invited India to...': Zelenskyy to UNSC

Rediff.com25 Sep 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations Security Council that 'we have to prepare' the second peace summit to end the Russia-Ukraine war 'altogether' and he has invited India and other countries to join the peace process.

Over 1,250 complaints lodged at govt camps in Sandeshkhali

Over 1,250 complaints lodged at govt camps in Sandeshkhali

Rediff.com24 Feb 2024

Sandeshkhali Block 2, the epicentre of the violent protests triggered by allegations of land encroachment and sexual misconduct involving local TMC leaders, has contributed the largest share of close to 1,000 complaints.

India to fence entire 1,643-km Myanmar border, free movement to end

India to fence entire 1,643-km Myanmar border, free movement to end

Rediff.com6 Feb 2024

The move could virtually put an end to the Free Movement Regime prevalent along the porous border.

Sri Lanka imposes curfew, blocks social media amid protests

Sri Lanka imposes curfew, blocks social media amid protests

Rediff.com3 Apr 2022

The move is aimed at preventing masses from gathering in Colombo to protest the government's failure to provide relief to the public suffering from shortages of food, essentials, fuel and medicine amidst hours-long power cuts, the Colombo Page newspaper reported.

Gauff, Swiatek headline tough US Open women's field

Gauff, Swiatek headline tough US Open women's field

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

Contenders lurk around every corner in New York, as a gruelling year has left the title vulnerable for those hoping to capture a maiden major title.

J-K BJP rocked by rebellion over ticket distribution

J-K BJP rocked by rebellion over ticket distribution

Rediff.com31 Aug 2024

Two more Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including a district president, submitted their resignations from the primary membership of the party on Saturday, citing their resentment against the choice of candidates in their constituencies for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Why Modi compared RBI ex-governor Urjit Patel to a snake

Why Modi compared RBI ex-governor Urjit Patel to a snake

Rediff.com27 Sep 2023

Under Urjit Patel, the then RBI Governor, the central bank had a habit of making complete about-turns on various issues, including electoral bonds and digital payments, former finance secretary Subash Chandra Garg said in his book titled 'We Also Make Policy: An Insider's Account of How the Finance Ministry Functions.' Citing some instances of about-turns by the then RBI Governor Patel, Garg in his book said, RBI had done so on the electoral bond issue and it had so in case of setting up of Payments Regulatory Board (PRB). RBI also made unilateral decisions like ordering complete data localization for participation in the payment system, Garg wrote in the book which will hit the stands on October 1.

FinMin restricts media, Sitharaman says 'no ban'

FinMin restricts media, Sitharaman says 'no ban'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2019

A clarification issued by the office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a procedure has been put in place for "streamlining and facilitating" the entry of media persons inside the ministry of finance and "no ban is in place" on the entry of media persons in the ministry.

Hyderabad rout NorthEast to top ISL table

Hyderabad rout NorthEast to top ISL table

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

Striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a brace against one of his former clubs.

Piyush Goyal not against e-commerce platforms, but...

Piyush Goyal not against e-commerce platforms, but...

Rediff.com22 Aug 2024

A day after lambasting e-commerce players for predatory pricing, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he is not against online platforms but India wants such entities to be "fair and honest" in their conduct. Speaking with reporters in the financial capital, the outspoken Union minister said the rule of the law should be followed in letter and spirit, and made it clear that consumer preferences should not be influenced by algorithms.

Delhi Cong chief Arvinder Singh Lovely steps down over alliance with AAP

Delhi Cong chief Arvinder Singh Lovely steps down over alliance with AAP

Rediff.com28 Apr 2024

In his letter to the Congress National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC general secretary (Delhi in-charge).

From desert to hills, rain spares little in north India

From desert to hills, rain spares little in north India

Rediff.com11 Jul 2023

The rain ebbed in some places in north India and pelted down in others on Tuesday, with at least seven more people dead and hundreds stranded as raging waters gushed through villages, towns and fields -- from the desert state of Rajasthan to the hills of Himachal Pradesh.

Crisis deepens as Bengal docs defy SC order, reject Mamata's talk offer

Crisis deepens as Bengal docs defy SC order, reject Mamata's talk offer

Rediff.com11 Sep 2024

The top court on Monday directed the protesting resident doctors to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday, observing that if "there is continued abstention from work, there may be a likelihood of adverse action".

Air pollution in Delhi nears 'severe' category again

Air pollution in Delhi nears 'severe' category again

Rediff.com14 Nov 2023

Squandering the relief due to rain, Delhi recorded a jump in pollution levels and a smoky haze returned on Monday after people flouted the ban on firecrackers on Diwali night.

'Even If We Have To Die, We Won't Let This Port Come Up'

'Even If We Have To Die, We Won't Let This Port Come Up'

Rediff.com13 Sep 2024

'Modi knows the people here are opposed to this project, but he is using the might of government to push this port down our throats.'

Will Vijay Do Business With The BJP?

Will Vijay Do Business With The BJP?

Rediff.com28 Oct 2024

If the BJP has to work as a junior partner of Vijay's TVK, then either the party will have to change the state leader, or the latter should change himself. Incidentally, ever since Vijay started talking politics and elections, the pro-BJP/Hindutva social media had stopped dragging his name into any non-existing issue.' In particular, they have stopped referring to him by his Christian name, 'Joseph Vijay', observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

CBI to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar hospital

CBI to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar hospital

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

The decision followed a petition by former deputy superintendent of the medical establishment, Akhtar Ali, who sought an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged financial misconduct during the tenure of the college's former principal, Sandip Ghosh.

As rains lessen in intensity, focus is on rescue work in north India

As rains lessen in intensity, focus is on rescue work in north India

Rediff.com12 Jul 2023

As the weather improved in parts of north India, which was pummelled by heavy rains for days, authorities on Wednesday worked on a war footing to rescue stranded tourists, restore vehicular traffic on arterial roads and prevent floodwaters from entering new areas.

MoS Mishra meets Shah amid Lakhimpur controversy

MoS Mishra meets Shah amid Lakhimpur controversy

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

The minister then visited the residence of Shah where he closeted for about half an hour.

What Will Modi Discuss At Quad Meeting?

What Will Modi Discuss At Quad Meeting?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

Saturday's Quad meeting in Delaware is taking place against the backdrop of China's assertive behaviour in the South China Sea, its sabre-rattling in the Taiwan Strait and increasing footprints in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, asserts Rup Narayan Das.

India's Neighbourhood First Policy Crumbling

India's Neighbourhood First Policy Crumbling

Rediff.com26 Aug 2024

The fundamental construct of India's neighbourhood policy still needs to be what Vajpayee postulated, Manmohan Singh embraced, and Modi energised. It's just that we need to junk domestic politics and excessive religiosity, while acquiring much humility and a renewed respectfulness towards our neighbours, recommends Shekhar Gupta.

Meet India's SpyMaster

Meet India's SpyMaster

Rediff.com7 Dec 2022

A rare glimpse of Samant Kumar Goel, who heads the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency as he attends a meeting at the home ministry at North Block in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

The Day I Was Reborn

The Day I Was Reborn

Rediff.com30 Aug 2024

'We had been deceived by the clouds, taken to the brink of death, but saved by the Almighty.'