News for 'North Block'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

'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.'

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.

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.

Tax Collections May Exceed Budget Estimates

Tax Collections May Exceed Budget Estimates

Rediff.com15 Nov 2023

Taking both direct and indirect taxes, the gross collection is expected to grow 10.45 per cent to Rs 33.61 trillion in 2023-2024.

North India under grip of biting cold, dense fog; 11 hurt in UP accidents

North India under grip of biting cold, dense fog; 11 hurt in UP accidents

Rediff.com21 Dec 2022

Operations at the Delhi airport remained normal. However, three flights were returned or diverted to the Delhi airport due to bad weather in Chandigarh, Varanasi and Lucknow on Tuesday night.

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.

Tablet in a red pouch, FM presents 3rd paperless Budget

Tablet in a red pouch, FM presents 3rd paperless Budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Sitharaman, India's first full-time woman finance minister, had in July 2019 ditched the colonial legacy of a Budget briefcase for the traditional 'bahi-khata' to carry Union Budget papers.

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.

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Rediff.com22 Feb 2024

Startup founders need to sit up and think about how not to take stardom for granted and how not to disappoint their fans who have stood in long queues for those precious selfies with popular entrepreneurs, notes Nivedita Mookerji.

As RBI battles inflation, all eyes are on possible rate cut in 2024

As RBI battles inflation, all eyes are on possible rate cut in 2024

Rediff.com28 Dec 2023

For five consecutive policy reviews in 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chose to hold rates, citing inflation threat. And when the prices did cool off a bit, it reminded all about the target to get the headline consumer price inflation at 4 per cent and the risks from food inflation. Heading into the new year, all eyes are on when RBI will cut the rates, especially after one of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members stressed on the need for such an action in the face of the US Federal Reserve's guidance for easing rates.

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.'

Farmers block roads, railway tracks during 'Bharat bandh'

Farmers block roads, railway tracks during 'Bharat bandh'

Rediff.com26 Sep 2020

Police personnel in adequate strength were deployed across the state to maintain law and order, officials said.

ISL: Cole helps Odisha snatch point against NorthEast

ISL: Cole helps Odisha snatch point against NorthEast

Rediff.com22 Dec 2020

Odisha named an unchanged XI from the side that lost to Bengaluru FC while NorthEast coach Gerard Nus rang in four changes with Federico Gallego handed a start.