News for 'Public Service Commission'

VOTE: Is the Centre right in keeping English out of the UPSC exams?

VOTE: Is the Centre right in keeping English out of the UPSC exams?

Rediff.com4 Aug 2014

English marks in the Civil Service Aptitude Test-II will not be included for gradation or merit and 2011 candidates may get a second chance to appear for the test next year, the government announced in Lok Sabha today seeking to defuse the Union Public Service Commission row that has seen the aspirants on warpath.

Bharat Bandh: Essential services most likely to be hit

Bharat Bandh: Essential services most likely to be hit

Rediff.com1 Sep 2016

Trade union leaders claimed that the strike would be even bigger than the one last year as the number of striking workers is expected to swell to 18 crore

Why Are Voters Not Turning Up To Vote?

Why Are Voters Not Turning Up To Vote?

Rediff.com27 Apr 2024

Is the unusually and unbearably scorching Sun and the general laxity, bordering on laziness, among voters, responsible, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

How Modi plans to change babudom

How Modi plans to change babudom

Rediff.com11 Jun 2019

The PM is keen to fill 40 per cent of joint secretary level openings with outsiders.

Prabhu asks Jaitley to handhold Railways through Pay Commission burden

Prabhu asks Jaitley to handhold Railways through Pay Commission burden

Rediff.com1 Jan 2016

Prabhu hoped that during this 3-4 years period, railways would be able to absorb the impact from their resources

Par panel pulls up DoT on internet shutdowns

Par panel pulls up DoT on internet shutdowns

Rediff.com9 Feb 2023

Expressing concern over frequent internet shutdown without any empirical study, a Parliamentary panel has pulled up the Department of Telecommunications for not maintaining the record of incidents and inaction on several of its recommendations. The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology on 'Suspension of Telecom Services and Internet and its impact' tabled in Lok Sabha on Thursday, the panel has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to lay down a clear cut principle of proportionality and procedure for lifting of shutdown in coordination with the home ministry to prevent any misuse of the suspension rules. The panel rejected the logic of the DoT and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for not maintaining the record of the shutdown, saying it cannot simply take the plea that police and public order are essentially state subjects and suspension of the internet does not actually come under the ambit of crimes.

Parliamentary panel sees red as India has no record of internet shutdown

Parliamentary panel sees red as India has no record of internet shutdown

Rediff.com9 Feb 2023

Expressing concern over frequent internet shutdown without any empirical study, a parliamentary panel has pulled up the department of telecommunications for not maintaining the record of incidents and inaction on several of its recommendations.

UK faith review warns of aggressive Khalistan extremism

UK faith review warns of aggressive Khalistan extremism

Rediff.com26 Apr 2023

In a section entitled 'Sikh Extremism' the review goes into detail of how members of the British Sikh community expressed their growing concern over a small but extremely vocal group "hijacking" the Sikh faith to push a subversive pro-Khalistan narrative.

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

Murthy, who currently is the top Indian-American advisor to President-elect Joe Biden on COVID-19, is a potential pick for the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services and Stanford University Professor Arun Majumdar for the post of Secretary of Energy, The Washington Post and Politico said in their reports on Tuesday that mentions a list of potential picks for various Cabinet-level positions in the Biden administration.

Farooq counters Amit Shah's charges with achievements during NC rule in J-K

Farooq counters Amit Shah's charges with achievements during NC rule in J-K

Rediff.com7 Oct 2022

Abdullah issued a white paper on development undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir during the rule of "Abdullah and Sons" -- as Shah referred the family in his speech at a rally in Baramulla district -- to counter the allegations of corruption.

MP shunts two police officers after lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal

MP shunts two police officers after lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal

Rediff.com16 Jun 2023

Two officers, including a deputy commissioner of police, were on Friday removed from field posting within 24 hours of a lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists staging an anti-drug mafia protest at a busy intersection in Indore.

Will discontinue unconstitutional religion-based quota, Karnataka tells SC

Will discontinue unconstitutional religion-based quota, Karnataka tells SC

Rediff.com26 Apr 2023

In its reply, the state government said reservation solely on the basis of religion is also contrary to the principles of social justice and the concept of social justice aims to protect those who are deprived and discriminated against within the society.

Indian official assaulted in crisis-hit Sri Lanka, mission alerts citizens

Indian official assaulted in crisis-hit Sri Lanka, mission alerts citizens

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

A senior Indian government official posted in Sri Lanka sustained grievous injuries in an unprovoked assault, the Indian high commission in Colombo said on Tuesday as it urged its nationals to remain aware of the latest developments in the island nation and plan their movements and activities accordingly.

Nawaz Sharif invites rival parties to form joint govt in Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif invites rival parties to form joint govt in Pakistan

Rediff.com9 Feb 2024

Sharif, the three-time former premier, said that there is a need for all the political parties to sit together and form a government to pull Pakistan out of its difficulties.

More than 7,000 resident doctors in in Maharashtra go on strike

More than 7,000 resident doctors in in Maharashtra go on strike

Rediff.com3 Jan 2023

Talking to reporters, state medical education minister Girish Mahajan said he has asked resident doctors to engage in a dialogue and urged them not to stretch the matter further.

Aadhaar To Be Default e-ID

Aadhaar To Be Default e-ID

Rediff.com7 Oct 2023

If a citizen chooses not to use Aadhaar as the default unique identity, then other unique identity proofs masked and linked to Aadhaar would be used.

Punjab minister flips coin to decide on posting of lecturers

Punjab minister flips coin to decide on posting of lecturers

Rediff.com13 Feb 2018

Two lecturers -- one from Nabha and another from Patiala -- wanted to be posted to a government polytechnic institute at Patiala.

Delhi Bill drops a few provisions restricting the state

Delhi Bill drops a few provisions restricting the state

Rediff.com1 Aug 2023

However, the bill will have all major provisions of the ordinance, promulgated by the central government on May 19, a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy dismissed by Trump administration

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy dismissed by Trump administration

Rediff.com22 Apr 2017

Murthy is the second Indian-American to be removed by the Trump administration from a senior position.

UPSC topper hid Muslim identity to get accommodation

UPSC topper hid Muslim identity to get accommodation

Rediff.com12 May 2016

What's in a name? Many would ask. But it was his name that was proving a stumbling block for Ansar Shaikh of Jalna in Maharashtra as the autorickshaw driver's son chased his dream of acing the tough Union Public Service Commission test.

'Despite Covid we don't care about health'

'Despite Covid we don't care about health'

Rediff.com7 Feb 2024

'The first duty of the government is to learn lessons from a bad experience and course correct. It's a pity that the government is making policy without looking at evidence and differentiating between immediate and urgent.'

Over 16,900 candidates qualify in the UPSC prelims

Over 16,900 candidates qualify in the UPSC prelims

Rediff.com15 Oct 2014

16,933 candidates have qualified UPSC's civil services preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, the results of which were declared in a record 50-day time.

Why Isha Singh Wanted To Join The IPS

Why Isha Singh Wanted To Join The IPS

Rediff.com2 Dec 2021

'Many enter the civil services with the desire to do good work but get beaten by the system, step back or become part of it.' 'Ten fantastic officers out of 100 can completely change the game.'

FinMin's diktat to banks on selling insurance

FinMin's diktat to banks on selling insurance

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

Concerned over rising incidence of mis-selling, the finance ministry has directed heads of public sector banks to put in place strong mechanisms to avoid unethical practices for selling insurance policies to customers. The Department of Financial Services has received complaints that fraudulent and unethical practices are adopted by banks and life insurance companies for procuring policies from the bank customers, a letter addressed to chairpersons and managing directors of public sector banks said. There have been instances where life insurance policies were sold to customers aged above 75 years in Tier II-III cities.

Fraternity, prosperity and polarisation

Fraternity, prosperity and polarisation

Rediff.com28 Mar 2023

Economic stagnation is the advance payment for polarisation, which extracts a terrible price.

Whistleblowers to get police security immediately: Maha govt

Whistleblowers to get police security immediately: Maha govt

Rediff.com20 Aug 2013

Social workers, Right to Information activists and whistleblowers who receive threat will now be given police protection immediately, the Maharashtra government informed the Bombay high court on Tuesday.

Stop Displaying 'Army' On Private Vehicles

Stop Displaying 'Army' On Private Vehicles

Rediff.com8 Feb 2024

Displaying 'ARMY' on private transport is an attempt to milk the respect and reverence that the common citizen has for a person in the armed forces, observes Colonel K Thammayya Udupa (retd). By writing 'ARMY' and displaying regimental insignias, we expect a few misdemeanours to be overlooked.

Shenanigans Surface In Pakistan Military

Shenanigans Surface In Pakistan Military

Rediff.com21 Nov 2023

Recent disclosures allege large scale corruption, nepotism and kickbacks by Pakistan air chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhuin housing land deals in Islamabad and in buying of new aircraft, points out Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

Stringent curbs set in but Delhi's air quality still 'severe'

Stringent curbs set in but Delhi's air quality still 'severe'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2023

The poisonous haze has been causing significant problems for people with existing respiratory issues, according to doctors.

Modi govt reshuffles top secretaries; Ajay Bhalla to be new home secy

Modi govt reshuffles top secretaries; Ajay Bhalla to be new home secy

Rediff.com24 Jul 2019

The appointments committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared Bhalla's appointment as OSD in the ministry with immediate effect.

The AIADMK MP so in love with Kashmir and its saffron

The AIADMK MP so in love with Kashmir and its saffron

Rediff.com11 Aug 2016

Taking part in the discussion of the situation in the Valley on Wednesday, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Navaneethakrishnan couldn't hide his love for Kashmir.

Life of Pi revolves around next-gen cloud services

Life of Pi revolves around next-gen cloud services

Rediff.com6 Jan 2017

Hyderabad-based Pi Datacenters wants to be the first destination of choice for enterprises in data and cloud services.

Irrational poll freebies a serious issue, says SC, urges govt to take a stand

Irrational poll freebies a serious issue, says SC, urges govt to take a stand

Rediff.com26 Jul 2022

Terming as "serious" the promise of "irrational freebies" made by political parties during elections, the Supreme Court on Tuesday wondered why the Centre was hesitant about taking a stand on the issue.

SC pulls up Calcutta HC judge for interview on school jobs scam

SC pulls up Calcutta HC judge for interview on school jobs scam

Rediff.com24 Apr 2023

Observing that judges have no business granting interviews on pending matters, the Supreme Court on Monday sought a report within four days from the registrar general of the Calcutta high court on whether Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay gave an interview to a news channel about the case related to the school job-for-bribe case in West Bengal.

V G Somani: The head of DCGI known as man of actions, not of words

V G Somani: The head of DCGI known as man of actions, not of words

Rediff.com18 Jan 2021

'Safety is my first priority.' 'I need to ensure that any drug or vaccine that our citizens get is first safe.'

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

Rediff.com7 May 2023

The ED said its investigation also revealed that from 2019 to 2022, the sale of 'unaccounted illicit' liquor was almost 30-40 per cent of the total liquor sale in the state.

E-com firm Meesho hints at IPO in 2025; focus shifts to generating profits

E-com firm Meesho hints at IPO in 2025; focus shifts to generating profits

Rediff.com4 Jun 2023

E-commerce player Meesho, backed by marquee investors like SoftBank Group and Meta Platforms, will look at an initial public offering (IPO) only in 2025, and till then, its focus will be on generating profits after tax and not just on being Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation)-positive, top sources in the company told Business Standard in New Delhi. In a clear shift of strategy, the company, which has reduced its cash burn by 85 per cent, is now looking to trim its annual revenue growth target to 40 per cent from the 100-plus per cent earlier. The sources, however, said even this level of growth was far higher than that of most e-commerce companies.

'Adani has deep pockets...'

'Adani has deep pockets...'

Rediff.com17 Oct 2023

'Adani can attract vessels at a much lower cost to Vizhinjam as he has the financial muscle to do so.'

'India and Canada are eager to be strong allies'

'India and Canada are eager to be strong allies'

Rediff.com7 Nov 2023

'India and Canada have almost 200 years of shared history and migrations. This won't be the last of our partnership.'

No novel pathogen behind recent outbreak: China to WHO

No novel pathogen behind recent outbreak: China to WHO

Rediff.com25 Nov 2023

Even when China's widely-publicised exchange with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the queries over the reports of surging cases of mycoplasma pneumonia and influenza flu triggered the worldwide alert, including in India, China said the spike in respiratory diseases was due to an 'immunity gap'.