News for 'Rural India'

Unemployment rate rises marginally to 4.8% in Dec

Unemployment rate rises marginally to 4.8% in Dec

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

Unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above rose marginally to 4.8 per cent in December 2025 compared to 4.7 per cent in the preceding month. The unemployment rate (UR) or joblessness, among persons of age 15 years and above, remained largely stable in December 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday.

Yahoo! eyes rural India

Yahoo! eyes rural India

Rediff.com9 Apr 2007

Taking a cue from the telecom and PC industry, Yahoo!India, is aggressively targeting the new Internet and mobile users in rural India.

Tarique Rahman Sworn In As Bangladesh PM

Tarique Rahman Sworn In As Bangladesh PM

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Budget 2026 is cautious and also focussed on the long-term journey

Budget 2026 is cautious and also focussed on the long-term journey

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

This year's Economic Survey and the Union Budget were more closely followed for more reasons than one.

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

'Husband Can't Force Wife To Look After Parents'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

'Caring for one's parents is the husband's responsibility, especially if he is the earning member of the family.' 'The wife may be financially dependent on him but that does not create a legal obligation for her to serve or care for her in-laws.'

'We have been building AI before it became mainstream'

'We have been building AI before it became mainstream'

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

'Today, we are at a stage where we have launched a voice-to-voice model that supports 14 Indian languages.'

Sunetra Pawar's journey from shadows to spotlight

Sunetra Pawar's journey from shadows to spotlight

Rediff.com31 Jan 2026

Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, has been appointed as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, marking a new chapter for the NCP and presenting her with the challenge of leading the party.

Inflation rises to 3-month high of 1.33% in Dec; remains below RBI tolerance band

Inflation rises to 3-month high of 1.33% in Dec; remains below RBI tolerance band

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

Retail inflation rose to a three-month high of 1.33 per cent in December 2025 mainly due to higher prices of kitchen essentials, including vegetables and protein-rich items.

President Murmu invokes leaders from Nehru to Vajpayee to urge MPs' unity

President Murmu invokes leaders from Nehru to Vajpayee to urge MPs' unity

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

President Droupadi Murmu addressed Parliament, urging unity on national issues like 'Viksit Bharat', swadeshi, and national security. She highlighted government initiatives and the nation's progress.

The World's Most Polluted Place Is...

The World's Most Polluted Place Is...

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

Residential areas now exist cheek by jowl with smokestacks, while convoys of heavy trucks rumble through narrow roads day and night, throwing up clouds of dust.

The 10 Best Indian Films Of 2025

The 10 Best Indian Films Of 2025

Rediff.com26 Dec 2025

Aseem Chhabra ranks the Best of 2025's films that released in theatres, or went directly to OTT platforms.

Internet usage grows faster in rural India; knowhow still a deterrent

Internet usage grows faster in rural India; knowhow still a deterrent

Rediff.com29 Jul 2022

The number of internet users in rural India increased 18 percent last year, faster than growth in urban areas and continuing a trend that started two years ago. Internet users in urban India increased 5 percent in 2021. Rural India has 351 million users, or 37 percent of people there, according to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and data analytics company KANTAR.

North India reels under near-freezing temperatures

North India reels under near-freezing temperatures

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

A severe cold wave has gripped North India, with temperatures plummeting to near-freezing levels in several areas. The cold wave has disrupted daily life, with dense fog affecting visibility and forcing people to stay indoors.

'Insult to Bapu': Oppn MPs protest against G RAM G bill

'Insult to Bapu': Oppn MPs protest against G RAM G bill

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticizes the government's proposed bill to replace MGNREGA, arguing it weakens the guaranteed 100 days of employment for the poor and centralizes control over the scheme.

Third Wave: Bigger Threat in Rural India

Third Wave: Bigger Threat in Rural India

Rediff.com13 Jul 2021

'The roadmap ahead seems very difficult especially in the rural areas where there is very poor infrastructure, vaccine reach and hesitancy.' 'These are a deadly cocktail for the next wave.'

Trade union strike sees mixed response; normal life unaffected

Trade union strike sees mixed response; normal life unaffected

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

A nationwide strike called by central trade unions saw a mixed response across India, impacting various sectors and states differently, with some areas experiencing disruptions while others remained largely unaffected.

RBI to roll out risk-based premium model for deposit insurance

RBI to roll out risk-based premium model for deposit insurance

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

The RBI will now charge banks different deposit insurance fees based on how risky they are, allowing safer banks to pay less premium.

Two-wheeler Industry hits speed bump over ABS mandate

Two-wheeler Industry hits speed bump over ABS mandate

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

India's two-wheeler industry is seen growing 6-9% in 2026, though a proposed ABS mandate for sub-125cc models could push up prices and temper volumes.

Carmakers Go Deep In Bid To Expand Beyond Metros

Carmakers Go Deep In Bid To Expand Beyond Metros

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

Network scale seen as central to tapping smaller markets.

Lancet Flags HbA1c Unreliability In Indians

Lancet Flags HbA1c Unreliability In Indians

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

The Lancet study revealed that the HbA1c test is erroneous in populations with anemia and other hemoglobin-related deficiencies in India.

Modi sold off farmers' blood and sweat: Rahul on US deal

Modi sold off farmers' blood and sweat: Rahul on US deal

Rediff.com3 Feb 2026

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi buckled under United States pressure to finalise a trade deal and 'sold off' the hard work of Indian farmers through the agreement.

'Will Surrendering Pension Policy Attract Tax?'

'Will Surrendering Pension Policy Attract Tax?'

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries.

'G-RAM-G Is A Work Guarantee Without Any Guarantee'

'G-RAM-G Is A Work Guarantee Without Any Guarantee'

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

'A work guarantee that can be switched off at will is no guarantee at all.'

Rural India calling MNCs

Rural India calling MNCs

Rediff.com15 Jul 2006

Can The Taekwondo Teacher Bring Peace To Manipur?

Can The Taekwondo Teacher Bring Peace To Manipur?

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

For now, Yumnam Khemchand Singh's leadership will be judged not by promises or symbolism, but by whether his government can prevent further violence and begin the slow, difficult work of rebuilding trust.

India's GDP estimated to grow at 7.4% in FY26; fastest in the world

India's GDP estimated to grow at 7.4% in FY26; fastest in the world

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

The Indian economy is likely to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2025-26, up from 6.5 per cent in the previous fiscal, mainly on account of better performance of manufacturing and services sectors, as per the government data released on Wednesday.

10 Stocks That May Gain From Budget

10 Stocks That May Gain From Budget

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The fiscal tilt towards capex benefits companies in investment-related sectors like capital goods, defence equipment, engineering & construction and metal & mining. The planned cut in revenue expenditure will weigh on companies in consumption sectors like FMCG, consumer durables and retail.

Substance Abuse in India Starts At 12

Substance Abuse in India Starts At 12

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

15% of the participants reported substance use at least once while 10% reported substance use in the past one year.

How will India's auto industry perform in 2026?

How will India's auto industry perform in 2026?

Rediff.com21 Dec 2025

After a record-breaking year, India's automobile industry is entering 2026 on a relatively strong footing, with sales growth expected in the 6-8 per cent range. The outlook is underpinned by policy support, including GST rationalisation, easing monetary conditions, and income tax relief, which together are likely to improve affordability and sustain consumer demand across vehicle segments.

The Directors Who Made An Impact In 2025

The Directors Who Made An Impact In 2025

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

Big films like Dhurandhar, Chhava and Kantara: Chapter 1 hit box office gold in 2025, and its directors, Aditya Dhar, Laxman Utekar and Rishab Shetty, have proved their worth. But many other directors made an impact with their 2025 releases, in various languages.

Growth triggers missing in Dabur

Growth triggers missing in Dabur

Rediff.com14 Jan 2026

Dabur's business update for Q3FY26 indicated mid-single digit consolidated revenue growth. The guidance is that growth in operating and net profits will beat revenue growth. In the domestic business, home and personal care (HPC) revenue grew in double digits, while healthcare is likely to post a sequential growth in low-single digits.

45% growth in active internet users in rural India since 2019

45% growth in active internet users in rural India since 2019

Rediff.com6 May 2022

There has been a 45 per cent growth in 'active internet users' in rural India since 2019, according a study by Nielsen, a global company for audience measurement, data and analytics. The Bharat 2.0 Internet report said that female active internet users grew by 61 per cent since 2019. The report said that India has 646 million active Internet users aged 2 years and above as of December 2021. Rural India has 352 million internet users--almost 20 per cent higher than urban.

February Theatre Watch: O'Romeo, Vadh 2, Tu Yaa Main

February Theatre Watch: O'Romeo, Vadh 2, Tu Yaa Main

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

It's going to be a busy month at the theatres in February.

GST 2.0, Festival Cheer Drove Record Vehicle Sales in October

GST 2.0, Festival Cheer Drove Record Vehicle Sales in October

Rediff.com11 Nov 2025

Festivals also contribute to the rise in overall automobile retail sales, says dealers association.

Electric buses to drive UP's public transport revolution

Electric buses to drive UP's public transport revolution

Rediff.com16 Jan 2026

From EV bus expansion to airport-like terminals and rural connectivity, Uttar Pradesh is overhauling public transport to cut pollution and ensure every village has modern, affordable travel, reports Siddharth Kalhans.

Budget 2026: What will Nirmala Sitharaman do?

Budget 2026: What will Nirmala Sitharaman do?

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's biggest challenge will be to find a new growth driver, particularly against the backdrop of a global economy ravaged by heightened uncertainty and fragmentation, financial markets on a precipice, and global commodity prices on a continued uptrend.

E2W companies seek PM E-Drive subsidy extension beyond March 2026

E2W companies seek PM E-Drive subsidy extension beyond March 2026

Rediff.com27 Jan 2026

India's electric two-wheeler (e2W) manufacturers have urged the government to extend subsidies under the PM E-Drive (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme beyond March 2026, cautioning that a withdrawal could slow near-term demand even as confidence in long-term electric mobility adoption remains intact.

A long-game Budget

A long-game Budget

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

The Union Budget for 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, which was a first, had an excellent domestic macro backdrop. According to the first advance estimates, gross domestic product (GDP) in constant prices is projected to grow 7.4 per cent in the current financial year, against 6.5 per cent in 2024-25.

FMCG players witness strong Q3 recovery

FMCG players witness strong Q3 recovery

Rediff.com11 Jan 2026

Driven by GST reforms, robust festive demand, and softening raw material prices, the FMCG industry expects volume-based growth, supported by a mid-single digit revenue rise and improved operating margins in the December quarter.

Cong announces farm laws-style stir against MGNREGA repeal

Cong announces farm laws-style stir against MGNREGA repeal

Rediff.com27 Dec 2025

The Congress will launch a nationwide campaign against the repeal of the United Progressive Alliance-era rural employment legislation Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on January 5, similar to the pushback against the three farm laws which eventually forced the Narendra Modi government to rollback its decision, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.