News for 'Public Affairs'

MHA orders states to stop CJP protestors from reaching Delhi

MHA orders states to stop CJP protestors from reaching Delhi

Rediff.com10 Oct 2026

The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all states and Union Territories to coordinate with Delhi Police to prevent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters from mobilising towards Jantar Mantar for a protest on Saturday, October 10. The MHA cited potential public peace disturbances and the CJP's history of non-compliance, noting that the protest request has been rejected.

Who is Ajinkya Shinde? CJP's new face to lead Jantar Mantar protest

Who is Ajinkya Shinde? CJP's new face to lead Jantar Mantar protest

Rediff.com10 Oct 2026

Ajinkya Shinde, a native of Latur, Maharashtra, has taken charge of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Jantar Mantar 2.0" protest in Delhi. This follows the detention of CJP's top leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka, by Delhi Police on Saturday. Shinde, a former computer engineer and AAP activist, is leading the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-list manipulation. The national capital saw a significant crackdown on Saturday, with nearly 500 protesters and leaders detained.

Karmayogi Bharat And OpenAI Partner For AI Capacity Building In Civil Services

Karmayogi Bharat And OpenAI Partner For AI Capacity Building In Civil Services

Rediff.com2 days ago

Karmayogi Bharat and OpenAI have signed an MoU to enhance AI capacity development across India's civil services. This partnership aims to equip government personnel with AI skills through the iGOT Karmayogi platform, fostering confident and responsible AI use for improved public outcomes and a future-ready civil service under Mission Karmayogi.

Arunachal BJP MP flags public concern over Chinese incursions

Arunachal BJP MP flags public concern over Chinese incursions

Rediff.com22 Aug 2026

Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao underscores the critical importance of heeding local warnings regarding alleged Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control, amidst ongoing border tensions and official denials.

India rejects China objection to standardised naming of 28 Ladakh sites

India rejects China objection to standardised naming of 28 Ladakh sites

Rediff.com13 Oct 2026

India has rejected China's objection to New Delhi's standardisation of names for 28 places and features in Ladakh, reiterating that Ladakh is an "integral and inalienable" part of India. China had strongly opposed the move, calling India's establishment of the Union Territory and the naming "illegal and void".

Junior Minister Steps Down After Controversial Drug Den Raid

Junior Minister Steps Down After Controversial Drug Den Raid

Rediff.com4 days ago

Bangladesh's junior minister Ishraque Hossain resigned on Monday after facing controversy for personally leading an armed raid on a suspected drug den in Dhaka. He had uploaded a video of the raid on social media, which sparked public debate and led Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ask for his resignation. Hossain defended his actions, citing his firearm licence and desire to combat drugs, but criticised media narratives.

Rationing Inspector Gets Jail For Bribery In Thane

Rationing Inspector Gets Jail For Bribery In Thane

Rediff.com15 Oct 2026

A rationing inspector in Thane, Vijaykumar Kacheshwar Waghwas, has been convicted in a 2016 bribery case and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine. He was found guilty of demanding a Rs 3,000 bribe from a fair price shop manager, with the court ruling he abused his public office for illegal gratification.

Kerala Government Coordinates Repatriation Of Fire Victims From Germany

Kerala Government Coordinates Repatriation Of Fire Victims From Germany

Rediff.com15 Oct 2026

Three Keralites, Sivin Johny, Nova Sabu, and Anjali Sheela Joy, died in a residential building fire in Bochum, Germany. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan's office is coordinating with the Indian Embassy and Ministry of External Affairs to repatriate their mortal remains, with the state government bearing all expenses. Public representatives have also urged swift action to bring the bodies home.

CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka move HC for urgent hearing on custody

CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka move HC for urgent hearing on custody

Rediff.com2 days ago

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have approached the Delhi High Court for an urgent hearing to challenge the extension of their judicial custody. They were initially detained on October 13 for allegedly protesting at Jantar Mantar, a denotified site. The CJP claims bail proceedings are being deliberately delayed and argues that the special magistrate's order extending custody violates their 'Right to Liberty' and legal procedure, especially regarding surety acceptance.

Dhaka sends babu to attend BIMSTEC home ministers' meet

Dhaka sends babu to attend BIMSTEC home ministers' meet

Rediff.com12 Oct 2026

Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with a senior bureaucrat leading the delegation. This absence underscores strained India-Bangladesh ties, particularly following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and Dhaka's request for her extradition from India.

Will neither be intimidated nor back down: Dipke vows to continue battle

Will neither be intimidated nor back down: Dipke vows to continue battle

Rediff.com4 days ago

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said that he and his associates would continue their efforts despite what he described as illegal arrests and detentions.

'Unacceptable interference, double standards': India slams UN rights body

'Unacceptable interference, double standards': India slams UN rights body

Rediff.com11 Oct 2026

India firmly dismissed the concerns raised by the United Nations human rights body on Sunday regarding the security measures implemented ahead of the proposed Cockroach Janta Party demonstration in Delhi, branding the remarks as "unwarranted" and an "unacceptable interference" in domestic matters.

Cabinet approves Fairfax's Rs 52,878-cr bid for IDBI Bank; largest FDI ever in India's financial sector

Cabinet approves Fairfax's Rs 52,878-cr bid for IDBI Bank; largest FDI ever in India's financial sector

Rediff.com14 Oct 2026

The Indian Cabinet has approved Fairfax Financial Holdings' Rs 52,878 crore bid to acquire a 60.72 per cent stake in IDBI Bank, marking the country's largest foreign direct investment in the financial sector.

China opposes India naming 28 strategic locations in Ladakh

China opposes India naming 28 strategic locations in Ladakh

Rediff.com13 Oct 2026

China has voiced strong opposition to India's recent decision to standardise names for 28 strategic locations and geographical features in Ladakh.

Indian killed in Houthi attack on Saudi oilfield; New Delhi slams strikes

Indian killed in Houthi attack on Saudi oilfield; New Delhi slams strikes

Rediff.com16 hours ago

An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This incident follows another attack on the Shaybah oilfield where an Indian was also injured, amidst escalating strikes by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi infrastructure.

Is India-US Trade Deal Near The Finish Line?

Is India-US Trade Deal Near The Finish Line?

Rediff.com7 days ago

Marco Rubio will visit Mumbai and Jamnagar to discuss energy cooperation as S Jaishankar says India-US trade talks are nearing a landing point, with a few issues unresolved.

UN flags mass detentions during Delhi stir, calls for protesters' release

UN flags mass detentions during Delhi stir, calls for protesters' release

Rediff.com10 Oct 2026

The UN human rights office expressed concern over mass detentions during protests in Delhi on Saturday, urging India to respect peaceful assembly rights and release detainees. India rejected these concerns as "misplaced" and "unwarranted interference." The protests, organised by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanded electoral reforms and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter list manipulation, which the Election Commission and BJP deny.

Ramlila Maidan: Delhi's costly protest venue with limited dates

Ramlila Maidan: Delhi's costly protest venue with limited dates

Rediff.com13 Oct 2026

Ramlila Maidan, recently designated as one of Delhi's new protest sites, is proving to be a costly and difficult option for demonstrators. With no free dates for the next two and a half months and booking fees exceeding Rs 1 lakh, it contrasts sharply with the previously free Jantar Mantar. The ground, rich in political history, also poses logistical challenges due to its busy commercial location and impact on traffic.

The Making Of Brand Shashi Tharoor

The Making Of Brand Shashi Tharoor

Rediff.com1 days ago

Brand Tharoor is not perfect. But it is lovable. In a country of 1.4 billion where most politicians sound the same, a man who makes you open a dictionary before breakfast has already won, points out Sandeep Goyal.

IPO Guide: What To Check Before Investing

IPO Guide: What To Check Before Investing

Rediff.com2 days ago

'Read the prospectus as a capital allocator deciding whether the business deserves your capital at the offered price.'

'Yuck For Us To Watch Such A Spectacle'

'Yuck For Us To Watch Such A Spectacle'

Rediff.com29 Sep 2026

'Let's preserve our culture. Let's have this couple preserve their decorum.'

Tata Sons boardroom feud spills into Tata Trusts as Venu Srinivasan seeks Charity Commissioner probe

Tata Sons boardroom feud spills into Tata Trusts as Venu Srinivasan seeks Charity Commissioner probe

Rediff.com30 Sep 2026

Venu Srinivasan, a trustee and Tata Sons nominee director, has requested a regulatory inquiry into the governance of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the charitable entities controlling 66 per cent of Tata Sons, citing concerns over trustee appointments and the trusts' involvement in commercial affairs.

Elon Musk: Starlink services in India must be affordable, slams 'de facto monopoly'

Elon Musk: Starlink services in India must be affordable, slams 'de facto monopoly'

Rediff.com13 Oct 2026

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.

India shifts Ukraine strategy, engages with Kyiv, Moscow

India shifts Ukraine strategy, engages with Kyiv, Moscow

Rediff.com4 Oct 2026

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has publicly acknowledged India's intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, engaging directly with both Kyiv and Moscow. India is focusing on critical issues like Black Sea shipping safety, grain exports, and energy supplies, moving beyond its previous advocacy role. Jaishankar also highlighted India's historical ties with Russia and discussed the evolving global geopolitical landscape, including the repositioning of the US and the rise of China.

Pakistan Terrorists Set Up Base in Bangladesh

Pakistan Terrorists Set Up Base in Bangladesh

Rediff.com15 Oct 2026

India is deeply concerned by the growing consolidation of Pakistan-backed jihadi and radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly in the strategically vital Chittagong Hill Tracts, which experts warn is transforming the country into a new safe haven for these networks and posing a direct threat to India's security.

TMC stripped of key parliamentary panel chairpersonships

TMC stripped of key parliamentary panel chairpersonships

Rediff.com4 Oct 2026

The Trinamool Congress has lost the chairpersonship of two significant Parliamentary panels following a reconstitution by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This development comes after a split in the TMC, with rebel MPs joining the Nationalist Citizen Party and supporting the NDA. The TMC has strongly criticised the move, alleging that Parliament is being turned into a 'deep, dark chamber' due to their exclusion from committee leadership.

Massive Crackdown: Karnataka Seizes Rs 4.76 Crore Worth Of Diverted PDS Rice

Massive Crackdown: Karnataka Seizes Rs 4.76 Crore Worth Of Diverted PDS Rice

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Karnataka authorities conducted a three-day statewide crackdown on illegal diversion of subsidised Public Distribution System (PDS) foodgrain, seizing 5.65 lakh kg of rice and 24 transport vehicles worth a total of Rs 4.76 crore. Six criminal cases have been registered against nine individuals, and two officials have been suspended for dereliction of duty.

'Stupid comments': Macron slams Trump, Netanyahu amid France unrest

'Stupid comments': Macron slams Trump, Netanyahu amid France unrest

Rediff.com1 days ago

French President Emmanuel Macron criticised unnamed foreign leaders, including Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, for making "stupid comments" and exploiting recent domestic unrest in France for their own political campaigns. Speaking in Doha, Macron condemned the use of misinformation and AI-generated content to misrepresent the situation, asserting there was no foreign interference in the events but manipulation of information afterwards. He specifically called out Trump's claims about France being "under siege" and Netanyahu's assertion of an "invasion of extremist Islam."

Left to skip Vijay's meet called amid rift in alliance

Left to skip Vijay's meet called amid rift in alliance

Rediff.com9 Sep 2026

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to chair a crucial TVK alliance coordination meeting in Chennai. The meeting aims to formalise the ruling coalition's structure, common minimum programme, and joint steering committee. However, the absence of key Left allies and a public rift between TVK and Congress over national leadership aspirations threaten to destabilise the alliance, highlighting a significant test for CM Vijay's political management.

No enough understanding or empathy...: Jaishankar on India-US ties

No enough understanding or empathy...: Jaishankar on India-US ties

Rediff.com29 Sep 2026

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted that India's primary concern regarding terrorism from its neighbour, Pakistan, if not fully appreciated by partners like the US, negatively impacts bilateral relations. Speaking at the Asia Society, Jaishankar discussed the turbulence in India-US ties, particularly in light of Washington's renewed engagement with Pakistan and the perceived lack of empathy for India's terrorism concerns, especially under the second Trump administration. He emphasized that addressing these sensitivities is crucial for improving the relationship.

Jantar Mantar denotified for protests, these are the new sites

Jantar Mantar denotified for protests, these are the new sites

Rediff.com12 Oct 2026

Delhi Police has officially denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, instead naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in east Delhi as the new venues for demonstrations. This decision, issued via a standing order by Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11, aims to address the significant logistical and security challenges posed by protests in the sensitive New Delhi district.

'Bharat Rice' for troops: Army upgrades rations, eases supply to remote posts

'Bharat Rice' for troops: Army upgrades rations, eases supply to remote posts

Rediff.com13 Oct 2026

The Indian Army has launched 'Bharat Rice', a superior-quality rice for defence forces, aimed at improving ration quality and logistics. This initiative, spearheaded by the Directorate General of Supplies and Transport, involves direct supply to Army Supply Depots, including remote areas, and an MoU with FCI for infrastructure utilisation during contingencies. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted its significance for soldier welfare, operational readiness, and national security, emphasising logistics as combat power.

Before Prahaar, Legal Dramas That Put Real Life Lawyers In The Spotlight

Before Prahaar, Legal Dramas That Put Real Life Lawyers In The Spotlight

Rediff.com14 Oct 2026

From Shahid to Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, these films bring real-life lawyers, landmark courtroom battles and extraordinary fights for justice to the screen.

'Dangerous path': India warns citizens against joining Russian military

'Dangerous path': India warns citizens against joining Russian military

Rediff.com30 Sep 2026

The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a strong advisory warning Indian nationals against joining the Russian armed forces, citing significant mortal dangers. The MEA noted instances of individuals seeking recruitment for monetary benefits, with some even renouncing Indian citizenship. The government is actively engaged with Russia to ensure the safety and early discharge of Indians already serving, having secured the release of 139 nationals previously.

Pakistan navy ship damaged after ramming into Indian warship

Pakistan navy ship damaged after ramming into Indian warship

Rediff.com17 Sep 2026

India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Pakistan over an 'unacceptable' naval collision in international waters, citing a breach of a 1991 bilateral agreement on military conduct after a Pakistani Navy vessel collided with an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea.

'Prepare for storm': Delhi top cop urges restraint over CJP stir

'Prepare for storm': Delhi top cop urges restraint over CJP stir

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Delhi Police is making extensive security arrangements for a massive protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10, urging personnel to exercise restraint. The protest demands the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation. Authorities have denied permission, deployed thousands of central forces, ordered liquor shops closed, and proposed metro station closures and border vigilance.

SC orders Delhi police audit, mapping of crime-prone areas

SC orders Delhi police audit, mapping of crime-prone areas

Rediff.com28 Sep 2026

The Supreme Court has issued comprehensive directives to the Delhi Police Commissioner to enhance safety for women and minor girls in Delhi-NCR. These measures include forming dedicated police teams, conducting vulnerability audits of public spaces, improving lighting and CCTV surveillance, and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms. The court also sought reports on the functioning of fast-track courts, utilisation of sexual offender databases, and the Mission Shakti programme.

SC asks high court to consider Delhi Gymkhana members' plea

SC asks high court to consider Delhi Gymkhana members' plea

Rediff.com5 Oct 2026

The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi High Court to reconsider a plea by 11 members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging the Centre's decision to take over 27.3 acres of land leased to the club and subsequent eviction proceedings. The members argue that the government-nominated management cannot effectively challenge the Centre's actions, which they deem a "colourable exercise" of power and a violation of fundamental rights.

World leaders ill after attending BRICS Summit? MEA says...

World leaders ill after attending BRICS Summit? MEA says...

Rediff.com18 Sep 2026

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a warning against 'malicious' and 'misleading' social media posts concerning the health of world leaders, specifically Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attended the recent BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The warning comes amidst unverified claims about Xi's health and an official statement from Ramaphosa's office confirming his withdrawal from public engagements due to ill health.

Jolt to Shabir Shah as NIA court rejects bail pela in 1996 terror case

Jolt to Shabir Shah as NIA court rejects bail pela in 1996 terror case

Rediff.com7 Oct 2026

A special NIA court in Jammu has rejected the bail application of separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in a 1996 case involving violence during a funeral procession. The court cited concerns over national security, public order, and potential intimidation of protected witnesses, while the NIA highlighted Shah's alleged role in inciting violence.