E-kiosks for services like bill payment and job queries are mushrooming all over rural India. Many youths in rural India have taken up CSC projects to start their own businesses and are earning a decent income out of it. The work at CSC basically involves collecting and paying phone and electricity bills of the villagers. Additionally, they can provide add-on services like English course. Srei Infrastructure and Reliance Infocom will set up such centres in PPP in West Bengal.
A growing preference for convenience products and hybrid media consumption, and a surge in digital engagement have led to a rise in the average basket size for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) among rural consumers. The average of the rural FMCG basket saw a 60 per cent rise from 5.8 in 2022 to 9.3 in 2024 as it expanded to include convenience products like ready-to-eat packages and beverages, stated the fifth edition of the Rural Barometer Report, brought out jointly by GroupM and Kantar, which surveyed 4,376 rural adults across 20 states.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the central government of providing special treatment to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case. Mann's criticism comes after Union Minister Amit Shah spoke about gang activities in Punjab.
In a world fractured by uncertainty, India stands out for its policy consistency, paired with sustained ambition, points out Pritam Banerjee.
Revenue collection next financial year may be affected, and, along with this, subsidies on food and fertilisers can go up if the war in West Asia drags for long, according to experts.
The Lok Sabha has passed a bill recognising Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, solidifying the city's status after years of debate and uncertainty. The bill aims to prevent future changes to the capital and received support from both the ruling NDA and the opposition Congress, while the YSR Congress Party opposed the bill.
Trade deals ease risks for Indian equities, but weak demand and stretched valuations raise questions over whether optimism -- especially in smallcaps -- can turn into a sustained bull run, points out Debashis Basu.
Researchers at CSIR-NCL have developed a technology for producing dimethyl ether (DME) as an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), potentially reducing India's reliance on imports and enhancing energy security.
The agreement addresses non-tariff barriers and promotes increased trade in technology products and cooperation between the two countries.
Empowering rural India is of utmost importance and the government needs to do so by provisioning for broadband penetration and financial inclusion.
The US said India will lower tariffs on a "vast array" of American industrial and agricultural goods, such as "fruits, vegetables", to zero per cent under the trade deal announced by President Donald Trump.
Two women, accused of the 2016 murder and robbery of an elderly woman in Kannur, Kerala, have been arrested after nearly a decade on the run. The suspects, identified as Parveen Banu and Sakkeena Fathima, were apprehended in Madhya Pradesh after an extensive investigation by the Crime Branch.
Trump announced that India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington will charge a reduced reciprocal tariff on Delhi, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per cent.
Automobile retail sales rose nearly 18 per cent year-on-year to over 27 lakh units in January, led by continued post-GST momentum, healthy rural cash flows on the back of harvest and weddings, and sustained demand visibility across freight, dealer's body FADA said on Tuesday.
Long thought of as a luxury and domain of urbanites, an e-revolution is silently hitting the rural homes as colour TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and microwaves become a household sight in villages and small townships.
Police raided the farmhouse of an IAS officer in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, detaining 18 people for alleged gambling and leading to the suspension of three police personnel.
In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, 'Before our joint dinner, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian attire.'
'Kartavya is a story of a cop in a situation where both the outside world and the inside world are collapsing.'
Over 4.4 million devotees have visited Mathura, Vrindavan, and other sites in the Braj region to celebrate Holi, with more expected to arrive. Police have increased security and taken action against miscreants to ensure peaceful festivities.
Two women, accused of the 2016 murder and robbery of an elderly woman in Kannur, Kerala, have been arrested after nearly a decade on the run. The suspects were apprehended in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, following an extensive investigation by the Crime Branch.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced a series of welfare measures, including free refrigerators for rice ration cardholders, if the party wins the 2026 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu.
India's current economic growth would continue for at least 15-20 years and Rural India would be the new engine for a double digit growth, Chairman of the ICICI Bank Limited, K V Kamath said.
Dr Krithi K Karanth, CEO of the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), has been awarded the 2026 Esmond B Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize for her contributions to understanding ecosystems and protecting biodiversity.
Nagaland Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla announced the state government's plans to form an interim council for the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) and highlighted key achievements and future priorities across various sectors during the Budget Session.
'I am quite impulsive when making a movie. That is the reason I need to stop sometimes, probably pause.'
24 Indian-flagged vessels with 677 Indian seafarers were currently located west of the Strait of Hormuz, and four vessels with 101 Indian seafarers were stationed east of the strategic waterway.
A profile of Yumnam Khemchand Singh, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Manipur, highlighting his background in the RSS, his political career, and his association with Taekwondo.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has released its manifesto for the West Bengal elections, focusing on welfare politics and women's empowerment with pledges to expand existing schemes, improve healthcare, and develop infrastructure.
Police in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have launched an investigation after graffiti reading 'This road is not for Muslims' appeared on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway. Authorities are also verifying a video purportedly showing two women spray-painting the message.
'IT is not just about export and dollars -- or about big cities like Delhi and Mumbai --but also about how it is improving villages," said a proud Sachin Pilot, Union minister of state for communication.
India Inc was urged Wednesday to invest in rural India, which according to a McKinsey survey, will provide a market worth $500-600 billion by 2020.
Advertisement revenues will go up in 2016-17 with automobiles and e-commerce being big contributors.
Six planets -- Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus -- will appear together in the evening sky.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said it is the foremost priority of the government that the kitchens of over 33 crore families, especially the poor and the underprivileged, do not face any shortage of gas.
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on the eve of Republic Day, emphasising India's role in promoting peace, the empowerment of women, and the country's economic growth.
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.
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.
Aseem Chhabra ranks the Best of 2025's films that released in theatres, or went directly to OTT platforms.
