News for 'Rural India'

Punjab cop shifted as FBI probes transnational extortion racket

Punjab cop shifted as FBI probes transnational extortion racket

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

A Station House Officer (SHO) in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, has been shifted to Police Lines following a fact-finding inquiry initiated by Punjab Police. This action comes after news reports linked the officer to an extortion-related investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under "Operation Hard Ball," targeting India-based organised crime syndicates. The US indictment alleges the officer's involvement in a $400,000 extortion scheme using false murder charges, drawing significant political criticism.

India can return to over 7% growth path in FY28: CEA

India can return to over 7% growth path in FY28: CEA

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran stated that India's economy is projected to return to a 7 per cent-plus growth trajectory by 2027-28 (FY28), or sooner if external conditions improve, despite near-term challenges from the West Asia crisis.

Rupee Fall Exposes India's Economic Weakness

Rupee Fall Exposes India's Economic Weakness

Rediff.com27 May 2026

We who were dreaming of being the third largest economy in dollar terms, have slid back to sixth, thanks to the falling rupee. We are moving about with begging bowls for investments and trade opportunities, which will be a while in materialising, if ever, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Centre notifies draft rules for VB-G RAM G rollout

Centre notifies draft rules for VB-G RAM G rollout

Rediff.com23 May 2026

The Centre has notified draft rules for the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, outlining the framework for the new rural employment programme replacing MGNREGA. The draft rules are open for public feedback until June 21, 2026.

How Shubham Kumar Topped JEE, India's Toughest Exam

How Shubham Kumar Topped JEE, India's Toughest Exam

Rediff.com1 Jun 2026

Gaya native Shubham Kumar topped the JEE exam by avoiding negative news and social media. He credited his parents, Kota faculties and hard work for his success. Gurugram's Kabeer Chillar secured the second rank. Both students attended the Allen Career Institute in Kota.

'Diabetes Is Not A Disease, It Is Only A Disorder. So, Don't Panic'

'Diabetes Is Not A Disease, It Is Only A Disorder. So, Don't Panic'

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

'Control your A, B, C and D.' 'A is A1C, keep your A1C below 7 per cent.' 'B is blood pressure, so keep your blood pressure at 130/ 80 or at least below 140/ 90.' 'C is cholesterol. The bad cholesterol is the LDL cholesterol, and it should be kept below 100, preferably below 70 or 50.' 'D is discipline like diet, exercise, sleep, no smoking, etc.' 'People with diabetes who follow A, B, C and D can live up to even 100 years of age without any complications.'

Cash In Circulation Hits Record Rs 42.86 Trillion

Cash In Circulation Hits Record Rs 42.86 Trillion

Rediff.com22 May 2026

Cash remains dominant for many transactions despite continued expansion in digital payments across the country.

RBI Ombudsman Can Award Compensation Of Up To 30 Lakh For Financial Loss

RBI Ombudsman Can Award Compensation Of Up To 30 Lakh For Financial Loss

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

...and 3 lakh for harassment.

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.

'Why Should We Be Okay With 6.5% Growth Rate?'

'Why Should We Be Okay With 6.5% Growth Rate?'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

'Why not aspire for 8 or 9 or even 10 per cent?'

Will Nagraj Manjule Recreate Sairat Magic With Khashaba?

Will Nagraj Manjule Recreate Sairat Magic With Khashaba?

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

The Khashaba teaser leaves behind the feeling that Marathi cinema is gearing up for something monumental, notes Mayur Sanap.

UP youth with Pakistan terror links arrested in Karnataka

UP youth with Pakistan terror links arrested in Karnataka

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

A 20-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Suhail, has been arrested in Davangere, Karnataka, on suspicion of having links with a Pakistan-based terror organisation. He was working as a painter and was found to be in contact with individuals in Pakistan via WhatsApp and social media. The arrest followed inputs from the National Investigation Agency, and authorities are investigating potential connections to previous cases.

'I Want Roles That Scare Me'

'I Want Roles That Scare Me'

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

'If a character doesn't challenge me, I don't get excited about it.' 'I don't mind failing while trying, but I need to feel that fear of wondering how I'm going to pull it off.'

VB-G RAM G Act from July 1, MGNREGA to be repealed

VB-G RAM G Act from July 1, MGNREGA to be repealed

Rediff.com11 May 2026

The Centre has announced that the Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Modi working to protect India's prestige on global stage: Sharad Pawar

Modi working to protect India's prestige on global stage: Sharad Pawar

Rediff.com20 May 2026

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar has acknowledged that despite political differences with Narendra Modi, the prime minister is working to uphold India's prestige internationally. Pawar emphasised the importance of collective effort for national interest and cited examples of past leaders who prioritised the country's reputation.

'We will keep the consumer at the centre, use technology to optimise, and continue investing behind brands to drive volume-led penetration'

'We will keep the consumer at the centre, use technology to optimise, and continue investing behind brands to drive volume-led penetration'

Rediff.com11 May 2026

"Our strategy has always been to focus on volume-led penetration growth," said Manish Tiwary, chairman and managing director, Nestle India.

Rural India getting richer? You bet!

Rural India getting richer? You bet!

Rediff.com2 Jun 2005

R V Rajan, chief managing director, Anugraha Madison, speaks on how rural India has changed over the last two decades.

One In Three Indian Women Overweight

One In Three Indian Women Overweight

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

Over the past year, the sale of injectable GLP-1 agonists (used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity) such as Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic have surged a whopping 218 per cent.

Heatwave? Just Ride Around In A Hut

Heatwave? Just Ride Around In A Hut

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Aligarh resident Habib Saifi has built a small hut-like structure on his bike to protect himself from direct sunlight during this intense summer.

India's Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly in Feb

India's Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly in Feb

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

India's unemployment rate saw a marginal decrease in February 2026, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The survey highlights changes in urban and rural unemployment rates, as well as labour force participation and worker population ratios.

World Bank Chief Advocates 'Small AI' For Farmers

World Bank Chief Advocates 'Small AI' For Farmers

Rediff.com22 May 2026

World Bank President Ajay Banga has advocated for the deployment of 'Small AI' locally deployed artificial intelligence running on inexpensive hardware to address daily problems faced by farmers and rural communities in emerging markets.

Telangana Junior Basketball League Aims To Develop Young Talent

Telangana Junior Basketball League Aims To Develop Young Talent

Rediff.com19 May 2026

The Telangana Basketball Association has launched the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL), a grassroots initiative aimed at identifying and developing young basketball talent. The franchise auction for the league was valued at Rs 1.48 crore.

Outrage As Odisha Bank Asks Man To Produce Sister's Skeleton

Outrage As Odisha Bank Asks Man To Produce Sister's Skeleton

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

A tribal man in Odisha was forced to carry his sister's exhumed skeleton to a bank to withdraw her money, sparking widespread condemnation. The bank claims it only requested valid documents, but the incident has raised questions about the treatment of vulnerable customers.

Modi Has Transformed The Vocabulary Of Indian Politics

Modi Has Transformed The Vocabulary Of Indian Politics

Rediff.com10 Jun 2026

Few leaders since Independence have been able to establish such a direct connection with the electorate or shape the national conversation to the extent that Narendra Modi has done over the past decade, points out former Union minister Dr Karan Singh.

Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Two Brothers Killed In UP Village

Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Two Brothers Killed In UP Village

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

A dispute over the division of agricultural produce between brothers in a village in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two siblings in separate acts of violence.

Switching on in rural India

Switching on in rural India

Rediff.com3 Apr 2004

New Rural Jobs Bill Sparks International Concern

New Rural Jobs Bill Sparks International Concern

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

'Previously, contributing only 25 per cent of material costs, states now face burdens of 40 per cent to 100 per cent of total costs, ensuring poorer states will curb project approvals, directly stifling work demand.'

Rural India tops consumption charts

Rural India tops consumption charts

Rediff.com4 Apr 2014

During the UPA government's second term in office, rural India's consumption expenditure grew at a faster pace than urban India's - for the first time since 1991.

How AI Can Empower Women Journalists In India

How AI Can Empower Women Journalists In India

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary (Information and Publicity), Maharashtra, highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in journalism and encouraged women journalists to embrace this technological shift to enhance their skills and drive positive change.

Dabur faces a tangle of growth headwinds

Dabur faces a tangle of growth headwinds

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Dabur India's stock has fallen over 17 per cent since the start of the Iran war, driven by concerns over a weak monsoon, the West Asian crisis, and rising input costs, which are expected to impact the company's revenues and margins, particularly affecting its significant rural sales and international markets.

Missing Teacher's Daughter Appeals To Punjab CM For Help

Missing Teacher's Daughter Appeals To Punjab CM For Help

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

The daughter of Sunil Sharma, an Indian-origin teacher based in Melbourne who disappeared in Amritsar last month, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for assistance. Police have identified Sharma's brother, who is wanted in a narcotics case, as the prime suspect.

Internet? What's that, asks 84% rural India

Internet? What's that, asks 84% rural India

Rediff.com9 Sep 2010

Internet might have changed the world in a big way, but about 84 per cent of people in rural India remain unaware of the phenomenon, as poor infrastructure has kept it from reaching the masses, says a report.

Raghu Rai: The Genius Who Captured India For Eternity

Raghu Rai: The Genius Who Captured India For Eternity

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

He was childlike with a camera in his hands -- not nave, but wonderstruck, as though the world were always on the verge of delivering something unrepeatable. Pulitzer Prize nominee Namas Bhojani recalls his long association with Raghu Rai, the legendary photographer who passed into the ages on Sunday.

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

'The generational shift belongs to Vijay, Udhayanidhi and Annamalai.' 'The BJP cannot fit into the shift.' 'So they threw Annamalai into the situation where he is comparable with Vijay and Udhayanidhi.'

Child mortality in rural India is alarming

Child mortality in rural India is alarming

Rediff.com19 Sep 2017

Even though the overall death rate of children under the age of one in India has decreased by 7 per cent, the number from rural India is disturbing.

Missing Australian NRI murdered by brother over property

Missing Australian NRI murdered by brother over property

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

A Melbourne-based Indian-origin teacher, Sunil Sharma, who went missing in Amritsar, was allegedly murdered by his brother, Satish Sharma, over a property dispute. Police investigations revealed Satish conspired with property dealers to usurp Sunil's properties, leading to his murder with a baseball bat after being drugged. Sunil's body was then disposed of in a canal, and his family, including his daughter, had appealed for help in finding him. Satish, his wife, and son have been arrested, and a search for the body and other conspirators is ongoing.

Heatwaves Trigger Hidden Ozone Threat

Heatwaves Trigger Hidden Ozone Threat

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

'Can you believe there are over 26,500 deaths linked to heatwave-driven ozone in 2024?'

Empty PG Seats, Missing Doctors

Empty PG Seats, Missing Doctors

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

'When young doctors see limited protection, unpredictable careers and an absence of institutional support, they hesitate.'

Rural India back on politicians' itinerary

Rural India back on politicians' itinerary

Rediff.com9 Oct 2007

The farm sector's contribution to Indian economy is just around 20 per cent and rural India is in a shambles.