News for 'Policy Measures'

RBI cuts policy rate by 25 bps to 6.25%, first reduction in five years

RBI cuts policy rate by 25 bps to 6.25%, first reduction in five years

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

The RBI under new Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday cut interest rate for the first time in nearly five years as the central bank pivoted the policy stance to support a shuttering economy. The 25 basis points rate cut to 6.25 per cent comes after last rate reduction in May 2020. The last revision of rates happened in February 2023 when the policy rate was hiked by 25 basis points to 6.5 per cent.

'Sovereignty in foundational industries is critical for countries'

'Sovereignty in foundational industries is critical for countries'

Rediff.com22 Oct 2025

'The steel industry has a multiplier effect on direct and indirect employment, national security on the supply chain, technology access etc.'

India flags humanitarian risks in US H-1B fee hike

India flags humanitarian risks in US H-1B fee hike

Rediff.com20 Sep 2025

India has expressed concerns over the potential humanitarian consequences of the Trump administration's new restrictions on the H1B visa program, particularly the disruption to families. The government hopes the US authorities will address these issues.

BJP committing 'big sin': Priyanka on Vande Mataram row

BJP committing 'big sin': Priyanka on Vande Mataram row

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

In a measured but scathing attack, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of committing a 'big sin' by creating a controversy over Vande Mataram and claimed that the government pushed for a debate on the national song as the West Bengal assembly polls were approaching.

Maha set for major civic battle in Mumbai, 28 bodies on Jan 15

Maha set for major civic battle in Mumbai, 28 bodies on Jan 15

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Votes will be counted on January 16 and the outcome will be keenly watched as the BJP-led Mahayuti will seek to stamp its supremacy in urban landscape, especially in Mumbai, while the Opposition parties will try to redeem themselves after last year's rout in assembly polls.

India's Startup Dreams, Ready to Bloom

India's Startup Dreams, Ready to Bloom

Rediff.com17 Sep 2025

Let's work flat out and create a policy framework that fosters the growth of Indian non-family business VC and private equity firms. This will allow our Indian startups' dreams to flourish, explains Ajit Balakrishnan.

India's exports drop 11.8%; trade deficit widens to $41.8 bn

India's exports drop 11.8%; trade deficit widens to $41.8 bn

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

India's exports contracted 11.8 per cent to $34.38 billion in October, showed government data released on Monday. Imports jumped 16.63 per cent to $76.06 billion.

Trump's 5% Rule: How Will It Affect Indian Students?

Trump's 5% Rule: How Will It Affect Indian Students?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2025

Trump's proposed policy limits undergraduates from any one country to 5% at select top US universities, raising concerns for Indian aspirants eyeing elite colleges.

Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism

Operation Sindoor is India's policy against terrorism

Rediff.com12 May 2025

Presenting the full text of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on May 12, 2025, in which he dictated India's new doctrines on countering terrorism.

How Modi's Committee-Led Governance Is Driving Reforms

How Modi's Committee-Led Governance Is Driving Reforms

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

The change in the government's engagement with the economy's need for reforms is more nuanced than how analysts have so far perceived it, points out A K Bhattacharya.

'BJP Isn't Undefeatable In North India, But...'

'BJP Isn't Undefeatable In North India, But...'

Rediff.com19 Nov 2025

'...the electoral playing field is tilted significantly in its favour.'

Will Xi Jinping's Enemies Stage A Coup?

Will Xi Jinping's Enemies Stage A Coup?

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

If Xi Jinping is dethroned in the future, the instrument for that may well be embedded within the PLA, notes former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

'After GST cut, innovation will boost life insurance'

'After GST cut, innovation will boost life insurance'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

The reduction in goods & services tax (GST) on individual life and health insurance premiums has been called a "landmark step" for making insurance affordable and inclusive. In a panel discussion at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025, Anup Bagchi, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance; Mahesh Balasubramanian, MD & CEO of Kotak Life Insurance; Tarun Chugh, MD & CEO of Bajaj Life Insurance; and Ratnakar Patnaik, MD of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), listed what else the industry needs to reach more people.

No regulator should substitute boardroom judgement: RBI Guv

No regulator should substitute boardroom judgement: RBI Guv

Rediff.com9 Nov 2025

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday said it was not the regulator's job to take decisions for bank boards, speaking in the context of the wide range of enabling reforms announced for lenders during the October monetary policy review, and emphasised that financial stability remained the regulator's focus.

India's selective with flying rights: IndiGo CEO rebuts Emirates

India's selective with flying rights: IndiGo CEO rebuts Emirates

Rediff.com31 Oct 2025

'India is giving selective traffic rights wherever it makes sense to allocate those traffic rights.'

Maharashtra municipal elections to be held on Dec 2

Maharashtra municipal elections to be held on Dec 2

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

Elections for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra are scheduled for December 2, according to the State Election Commissioner. The schedule for other local bodies will be announced later.

DGCA Moves In As IndiGo Turbulence Continues

DGCA Moves In As IndiGo Turbulence Continues

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

The DGCA has formed two specialised teams to internally monitor IndiGo's daily operations.

'Govt Has Executed A Commendable Task'

'Govt Has Executed A Commendable Task'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

'...not merely in managing fiscal mathematics, but in demonstrating conservatism and prudence within that framework.' 'Looking forward, we believe sufficient growth drivers exist -- ranging from government reforms to revival in consumption to favourable monsoons. Numerous factors support the Indian economy.'

US ends automatic work permit extensions for foreigners, Indians to be hit

US ends automatic work permit extensions for foreigners, Indians to be hit

Rediff.com31 Oct 2025

As per the new rule, foreigners who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension, the DHS said in a news release.

Trump's 'America First' agenda: Key policies unveiled

Trump's 'America First' agenda: Key policies unveiled

Rediff.com21 Jan 2025

US President Donald Trump has 'America First' as his priorities and this includes making America safe again, making the country affordable, achieving energy dominance, draining the swamp and bringing back American values, the White House said on Monday.

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

India rejects IMF view that US tariffs will stay indefinitely, hit growth

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

The Indian government has expressed its disagreement with the IMF staff's 'baseline' assumption that the 50 per cent US tariffs on its goods exports 'would remain in place indefinitely', based on which the staff pegged the country's GDP growth at 6.6 per cent this year, and pared its 2026-27 projection by 20 basis points to 6.2 per cent.

Why US-China Face-Off Is Advantage India

Why US-China Face-Off Is Advantage India

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

Amid US-China trade tensions and economic vulnerabilities, India must seize the 'China +1' opportunity, deepen reforms, secure FTAs, and globalise its firms for long-term growth, suggests Ajay Shah.

'Girls Are Taking A Leap Of Faith Every Day'

'Girls Are Taking A Leap Of Faith Every Day'

Rediff.com28 Nov 2025

Bandana Preyashi, the bold IAS officer from Bihar who took on dreaded dons, is the court-appointed mentor to 18-year-old Sakshi, who had fled home to follow her IAS dream.

GST Made Easy From Nov 1

GST Made Easy From Nov 1

Rediff.com25 Oct 2025

Nearly 96 per cent of new applicants will benefit from this simplified approval route.

How insurers stand to gain from GST rate cut

How insurers stand to gain from GST rate cut

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

The exemption of individual life and health insurance premiums from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) enables the insurance industry to make products affordable and attractive, said Ajay Seth, chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025.

Return of coal threatens India's emission commitments

Return of coal threatens India's emission commitments

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

India's new climate pledge to the UN could be weakened by its growing use of coal, even as the country plans a 2035 roadmap to cut emissions and boost clean energy.

Lessons India Taught China In 1962 War

Lessons India Taught China In 1962 War

Rediff.com24 Nov 2025

The well-fought defensive battles in Aksai Chin and eastern Arunachal, in remote and forbidding locations such as Galwan, Rezang La, Gurung Hill and Walong, effectively halted Chinese advances not once but twice during the campaign. These engagements, fought with grit and without adequate support, were not immediately known to the world in 1962, points out Dr Kumar.

H1B Crisis: 'Trump Wants to Scare Indians'

H1B Crisis: 'Trump Wants to Scare Indians'

Rediff.com25 Sep 2025

'If I have to go back, I would rather go back now because I don't want to face that situation when I'm in my 40s.' A young couple's journey through immigration uncertainty reveals not just the human cost of policy announcements, but a surprising rekindling of love for the homeland left behind.

Will Putin's India visit complicate US trade talks? Jaishankar answers

Will Putin's India visit complicate US trade talks? Jaishankar answers

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

On President Putin's two-day trip to India, Jaishankar said for a "big" and "rising" country like India, it is important to maintain good cooperation with as many important players as possible in the world in line with freedom of choice.

Reits to be gradually included in market indices, says Sebi chief

Reits to be gradually included in market indices, says Sebi chief

Rediff.com23 Nov 2025

India's market regulator is moving ahead to include real estate investment trusts (Reits) in benchmark indices in a phased manner, Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said, while asserting that the regulator was working to strengthen the link between infrastructure building and the markets.

Buoyant demand has failed to push steel prices

Buoyant demand has failed to push steel prices

Rediff.com21 Nov 2025

The Indian steel industry is faced with a paradox: Rising demand and falling prices. Demand continues to surge as user industries gather pace, with the World Steel Association projecting around 9 per cent annual growth for India over 2025 and 2026, the year domestic demand is projected to be almost 75 million tonnes (mt) higher than in 2020.

Modi, Putin unveil 2030 roadmap amid US pressure

Modi, Putin unveil 2030 roadmap amid US pressure

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

India and Russia have solidified a five-year plan to enhance their economic and trade partnership, while also addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the threat of terrorism.

Class 4 girl who ended life sought help, teacher ignored: CBSE probe

Class 4 girl who ended life sought help, teacher ignored: CBSE probe

Rediff.com21 Nov 2025

The enquiry committee pointed out several lapses on the part of the school, noting the relentless bullying faced by the girl, and mentioned that her parents had first raised the issue with teachers in July 2024. The panel observed that the class teacher failed to act on the child's distress, even when the girl approached the teacher five times in the final 45 minutes of her life.

Uncertainty over US tariff measures drags markets down

Uncertainty over US tariff measures drags markets down

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

From the Sensex pack, HDFC Bank, Maruti, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, ITC, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bajaj Finance were among the biggest laggards. NTPC, Adani Ports, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel and IndusInd Bank were among the gainers.

'We Are Poised For An Exciting 2026'

'We Are Poised For An Exciting 2026'

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

'Earnings growth will be the main driver of India's market in 2026, with profits expected to rise 9% to 10% in H2 FY26 and accelerate to 12% to 15% in FY27.'

Over 17 lakh died in India due to air pollution in 2022: Report

Over 17 lakh died in India due to air pollution in 2022: Report

Rediff.com30 Oct 2025

A Lancet report reveals a significant increase in deaths attributable to PM2.5 pollution in India, with fossil fuels being a major contributing factor. The report highlights the economic and health consequences of air pollution and the urgent need for a transition to cleaner energy sources.

Tariffs pose downside risk to India's economy: RBI

Tariffs pose downside risk to India's economy: RBI

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

Persisting uncertainties related to the US trade policies pose downside risk to the overall demand in the Indian economy while the inflation outlook for the near term has become more benign than anticipated earlier, RBI said in its latest bulletin on Thursday. In the August bulletin, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also said that India's sovereign rating upgrade by S&P bodes well for capital inflows and sovereign yields, going forward.

How NDA Outwitted Mahagathbandan

How NDA Outwitted Mahagathbandan

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

The NDA in Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, strategically countered the Mahagathbandan's moves by implementing similar policies and announcements, effectively neutralising the MGB campaign promises and maintaining their political advantage.

H-1B Visa: Why Nvidia Will Pay $100,000 For Talent

H-1B Visa: Why Nvidia Will Pay $100,000 For Talent

Rediff.com9 Oct 2025

'As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives.'

Sold Your Car? You're Still Liable...

Sold Your Car? You're Still Liable...

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

A vehicle seller remains legally liable for any accident until the RTO officially updates the registration certificate, even if the vehicle was sold earlier.