News for 'Reading India'

Meher Castelino, 1st Femina Miss India, passes away

Meher Castelino, 1st Femina Miss India, passes away

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Born in Mumbai, Meher rose to national prominence when she was crowned the first Femina Miss India in 1964. Castelino's crowning came at a time when beauty contests and fashion culture were still evolving in India.

IT Sector Faces Transition Amid AI Growth

IT Sector Faces Transition Amid AI Growth

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

A key industry leader acknowledged the India IT services sector faces a "painful" transition due to AI, but emphasized the industry's resilience and ability to adapt through reinvention and focusing on complex enterprise technology.

IT Sector Faces Transition Amid AI Growth

IT Sector Faces Transition Amid AI Growth

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

A key industry leader acknowledged the India IT services sector faces a "painful" transition due to AI, but emphasized the industry's resilience and ability to adapt through reinvention and focusing on complex enterprise technology.

'We're 2 biggest fugitives': Lalit Modi, Mallya mock India

'We're 2 biggest fugitives': Lalit Modi, Mallya mock India

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

Lalit Modi posted a social media video from Vijay Mallya's 70th birthday party in London, referring to the pair as the 'two biggest fugitives' of India.

O'Romeo Gets A Good Start At Box Office, Tu Yaa Main Struggles

O'Romeo Gets A Good Start At Box Office, Tu Yaa Main Struggles

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

O'Romeo scored Rs 33 crore while Tu Yaa Main scored Rs 2.75 crore last weekend.

Farhan Akhtar In Sam Mendes' Beatles Film, Plays Ravi Shankar

Farhan Akhtar In Sam Mendes' Beatles Film, Plays Ravi Shankar

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

'The closure of Don 3 was the best thing to happen to Farhan. If he was committed to directing Don, he wouldn't have been able to take on Pandit Ravi Shankar's role in The Beatles.'

9-judge SC bench to hear Sabarimala women entry plea in April

9-judge SC bench to hear Sabarimala women entry plea in April

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has announced that a nine-judge bench will begin final hearings on petitions related to discrimination against women in religions, including the Sabarimala Temple case, starting April 7.

Sensex rebounds, climbs 316 pts; banks, metal stocks shine

Sensex rebounds, climbs 316 pts; banks, metal stocks shine

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Stock markets rebounded on Friday with the benchmark Sensex closing higher by 316 points after heavy buying in banking and metal shares amid optimism over trade deal progresses and India's participation in Pax Silica.

T20 World Cup: 0,0,0: Abhishek's Wait For First Run Continues!

T20 World Cup: 0,0,0: Abhishek's Wait For First Run Continues!

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

Abhishek Sharma joins unwanted list after registering third duck in T20 World Cup.

T20 World Cup: Why Varun Chakravarthy's Magic Is Fading

T20 World Cup: Why Varun Chakravarthy's Magic Is Fading

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is becoming less effective in T20 Internationals as top teams develop strategies to decode his variations.

AI is fast becoming central to how drugs will be discovered

AI is fast becoming central to how drugs will be discovered

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a side conversation for Indian pharma. It is fast becoming central to how drugs will be discovered, made, and supplied. Along with that shift comes a sharper focus on innovation, on the one hand, and quality and trust, on the other.

Southern states hold the steering wheel in India's ePV transition

Southern states hold the steering wheel in India's ePV transition

Rediff.com20 Jan 2026

India's electric passenger vehicle (ePV) market has expanded sharply over the past five years, with registrations rising from just 3,252 units in 2020 to about 170,000 in 2025. Throughout this scale-up, southern states have remained the bedrock of adoption, consistently contributing around one-third of national electric vehicle (EV) registrations - emphasising the region's role as the structural backbone of India's EV transition.

T20 World Cup: Surya's Knock: Poetry Under Pressure

T20 World Cup: Surya's Knock: Poetry Under Pressure

Rediff.com8 Feb 2026

Suryakumar Yadav's batting was a lesson on how to bat under pressure while the other reputed batters fell one by one at the other end.

Agricultural shift from subsidies to sustainability may be the way ahead

Agricultural shift from subsidies to sustainability may be the way ahead

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

India is already a heavyweight in global farm trade in pockets such as rice exports, but experts are urging a pivot from a subsidy- and procurement-driven mindset to a productivity and nutrition strategy that still shields farmers from volatility.

T20 World Cup: 100,000 Fans Fell Silent, Disappeared Into The Darkness

T20 World Cup: 100,000 Fans Fell Silent, Disappeared Into The Darkness

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

To witness over 100,000 people sitting in stunned silence is not a sight one can forget easily.

A War Of Attrition Is The Last Thing Trump Expected

A War Of Attrition Is The Last Thing Trump Expected

Rediff.com14 Mar 2026

As days turn into weeks and America loses more planes, as the destruction of trillions of dollars worth military assets piles up, and dead bodies of soldiers return in ever greater numbers in coffins, Trump will have to answer some very difficult questions to save his presidency, notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I, Raipur: 'Suryakumar Showed Why He Is World No 1'

India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I, Raipur: 'Suryakumar Showed Why He Is World No 1'

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

Suryakumar Yadav slammed a blistering 82 from 37 balls to power India to a thumping seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the third T20I in Raipur on Friday.

Inflation may stay benign: RBI deputy guv

Inflation may stay benign: RBI deputy guv

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

India's retail inflation, which has stayed below the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) 4 per cent target in recent times, is likely to remain benign in the coming months, RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta said in a speech, on Friday, which was uploaded on the central bank's website on Tuesday. Headline inflation dipped to multi-year lows of around 1.5-2.8 per cent in late 2025.

When Shah Rukh Khan Was Upset With Arundhati Roy

When Shah Rukh Khan Was Upset With Arundhati Roy

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

When Arundhati Roy wrote her first novel God of Small Things, her team reached out to Shah Rukh Khan inviting him to read a passage from the book at its Mumbai launch. Perhaps because he still held a grudge, Khan refused the invitation.

Tata Sons Delays Decision on Chandrasekaran's Third Term

Tata Sons Delays Decision on Chandrasekaran's Third Term

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

The Tata Sons board has deferred a decision on the re-appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as Chairman, signaling potential differences within the group. Concerns were raised about losses in certain group companies and the listing of Tata Sons.

'Emmanuel Macron Was Very Charming, Very Attentive'

'Emmanuel Macron Was Very Charming, Very Attentive'

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

'The fact that this was the first stop of French President Emmanuel Macron's trip shows his appreciation of the fact that films are not only a cultural exchange but also a tool of soft power that can foster economic growth.'

Adani commits $100 bn for RE-powered AI data centres

Adani commits $100 bn for RE-powered AI data centres

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Adani group on Tuesday announced a $100 billion investment to develop hyperscale, artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centres powered by renewable energy by 2035. The initiative is expected to catalyse an extra $150 billion in investment across server manufacturing, electrical infrastructure, Cloud platforms, and supporting industries over the next decade.

Can New Zealand stop Kohli? India eye series win in Rajkot

Can New Zealand stop Kohli? India eye series win in Rajkot

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

Virat Kohli's stroke-filled 91-ball 93 set up India's win in the series opener against New Zealand.

Middle East War: Why Strait Of Hormuz Is Iran's Trump Card

Middle East War: Why Strait Of Hormuz Is Iran's Trump Card

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

If the oil infrastructure is attacked by the United States, the whole area could be flooded with oil, spilling into the Persian Gulf.

Want To Donate To A Political Party? Read This!

Want To Donate To A Political Party? Read This!

Rediff.com21 Nov 2025

Avoid donating without checking the receipt proforma showing the political party's ECI registration number and PAN.

Rajaji bust replaces Lutyens' statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rajaji bust replaces Lutyens' statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

A bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the first Indian governor-general, has replaced a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan, symbolizing a move away from colonial influences and embracing Indian heritage.

'Worst Gulf Crisis For Migrants In 50 Years'

'Worst Gulf Crisis For Migrants In 50 Years'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2026

'In India, there is this first generation migrant, say from a small village in UP. He didn't go to the Gulf to buy a big house but make the life of his family better.' 'He may have paid 1 lakh rupees to an agent to go to the Gulf. Imagine what will happen to him and his family if he has to come back. He and his family will become poor again.' 'He went to the Gulf to come out of poverty, but this war will make his family trapped in poverty once again.'

The Top 25 Pan India Films In 25 Years

The Top 25 Pan India Films In 25 Years

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

This is also the time when South Indian films started doing well, commercially and critically, on a Pan-India scale.

Lakshya Sen Falls Short in All England Final Against Lin Chun-Yi

Lakshya Sen Falls Short in All England Final Against Lin Chun-Yi

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England title ended in a narrow defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in a thrilling final marked by high-intensity rallies and attacking play.

T20 World Cup: Kotak hints at batting order changes for Zimbabwe clash

T20 World Cup: Kotak hints at batting order changes for Zimbabwe clash

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addresses concerns about Abhishek Sharma's form and hints at possible changes in the batting order for the crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Zimbabwe.

Cooling hub Sri City gets a Carrier legacy stamp

Cooling hub Sri City gets a Carrier legacy stamp

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Sri City in Andhra Pradesh is dubbed the "Cooling City" of India, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the air conditioners (ACs) manufactured in the country. On Tuesday, this industrial hub added one more feather to its cooling credentials. Carrier Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Ltd, the Indian arm of the oldest AC company in the world, Carrier Global, signed a deal to invest around ~1,000 crore for a new manufacturing unit at Sri City.

Mitchell slams century as New Zealand down India to level series

Mitchell slams century as New Zealand down India to level series

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

K L Rahul's unbeaten ton was eclipsed by Daryl Mitchell's splendid 131 not out as New Zealand levelled the three-match series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in the second ODI.

Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala to Keralam

Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala to Keralam

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

The Union Cabinet has reportedly approved the Kerala government's proposal to officially change the state's name to Keralam, following a resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly.

U-19 WC: All eyes on Suryanshi as India eye sixth title

U-19 WC: All eyes on Suryanshi as India eye sixth title

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

At just 14 years old, Suryavanshi is already one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the world, having first made headlines with an electrifying 35-ball century in the Indian Premier League's 2025 season.

Markets bleed; Sensex tumbles 1,236 pts on selling in RIL, HDFC Bank

Markets bleed; Sensex tumbles 1,236 pts on selling in RIL, HDFC Bank

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

Benchmark Sensex tumbled 1,236 points or 1.5 per cent while Nifty closed near 25,450 on Thursday following an across-the-board sell-off amid escalating geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran.

9 Samosas With Yum Stuffing

9 Samosas With Yum Stuffing

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

India's favourite teatime indulgence, the samosa, comes with many kinds of stuffings.

Met Epstein a few times: Hardeep Puri reacts to Rahul's charges

Met Epstein a few times: Hardeep Puri reacts to Rahul's charges

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Puri's clarification came after Gandhi claimed that the Union minister's name has also figured in 'Epstein Files' released in the US.

Pvt-funded highway construction model highest priority: Gadkari

Pvt-funded highway construction model highest priority: Gadkari

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

On the back of an aggressive asset monetisation push, the government will press the throttle on the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model - under which private developers fund highway construction - for future highway development, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said.

Mohun Bagan to Play Next ISL Game in Empty Stadium After Fan Misconduct

Mohun Bagan to Play Next ISL Game in Empty Stadium After Fan Misconduct

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has penalised Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) following spectator misconduct, ordering their next Indian Super League (ISL) match to be played without fans. The club has accepted a financial penalty but expressed disappointment over the stadium closure.

Wealth is...: Modi shares Sanskrit couplet after US trade deal

Wealth is...: Modi shares Sanskrit couplet after US trade deal

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

Modi's remarks came hours after the US and India agreed on a trade deal under which Washington will bring down reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from current 25 per cent.