News for 'Scheduled Castes'

EC kicks off process to elect Dhankhar's successor

EC kicks off process to elect Dhankhar's successor

Rediff.com23 Jul 2025

The Election Commission of India has initiated the process to hold the vice presidential election following Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation. The electoral college is being constituted, and the election schedule will be announced soon.

Centre justifies no SC tag for Dalit Muslims, Christians in SC

Centre justifies no SC tag for Dalit Muslims, Christians in SC

Rediff.com10 Nov 2022

The ministry also submitted that the identification of scheduled castes is centred around a specific social stigma that is limited to the communities identified in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

RCB Fans Rejoice: Victory Parade Confirmed!

RCB Fans Rejoice: Victory Parade Confirmed!

Rediff.com4 Jun 2025

The state government has planned a formal felicitation ceremony at the iconic steps of the Vidhana Soudha.

'I'm The Only Acknowledged Dalit In All Of Hindi Cinema History'

'I'm The Only Acknowledged Dalit In All Of Hindi Cinema History'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2025

'If you look around the world at people of colour, religion, caste, sexuality or any of the marginalised communities, we are always talking in numbers.' 'We are always assigning them a statistic.' 'That is an easy way to assuage your urban guilt. Because you hide your apathy with hollow sympathy.' 'We are, in a way, making them invisible.'

Odisha college girl blackmailed by boyfriend, gang-raped for days

Odisha college girl blackmailed by boyfriend, gang-raped for days

Rediff.com8 Nov 2024

Six people, including a minor, were arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old college student for several days and videographing the act in Odisha's Cuttack district, police said on Friday.

365,300 Crimes Against Women

365,300 Crimes Against Women

Rediff.com23 Dec 2023

Cruelty by husband or his relatives accounted for 38.3 per cent of all crimes against women.

How Akhilesh Defeated BJP In UP

How Akhilesh Defeated BJP In UP

Rediff.com6 Jun 2024

Akhilesh's fielding candidates from a broad spectrum of castes, not just Yadavs, and with the BJP losing in several seats in Purvanchal, suggests that smaller OBC communities shifted from the BJP to the SP in the region.

'BJP Won't Be Able To Form Government In Bengal in 2026'

'BJP Won't Be Able To Form Government In Bengal in 2026'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

'The BJP lacks a credible mass leader who matches Mamata Banerjee's popularity.' 'Given the division of votes among Opposition parties, the West Bengal government's dole-giving strategy, and the consolidation of the poor, significant sections of scheduled caste groups and Muslim minorities behind the ruling party, it will be difficult to dislodge the Trinamool from power.'

Sandeshkhali violence: NCSC recommends Prez rule in Bengal

Sandeshkhali violence: NCSC recommends Prez rule in Bengal

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

A delegation of the NCSC had visited Sandeshkhali on Thursday after a large number of women claimed that TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters captured swathes of land by force and also sexually harassed them.

SC refuses to bar Bihar from releasing more caste data, but...

SC refuses to bar Bihar from releasing more caste data, but...

Rediff.com6 Oct 2023

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Bihar government as to why it published its caste survey data but refused to restrain it from making public further data, and said it may examine if the state has power to conduct such an exercise.

SC/STs not homogeneous, observes top court in quota within quota hearing

SC/STs not homogeneous, observes top court in quota within quota hearing

Rediff.com7 Feb 2024

The Supreme Court, examining whether states can sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for grant of quota inside quota, on Wednesday said all SCs and STs may not be homogeneous in terms of their sociological, economic, education and social status.

Hemant Soren distributes portfolios; keeps home, gives finance to Cong

Hemant Soren distributes portfolios; keeps home, gives finance to Cong

Rediff.com6 Dec 2024

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has distributed portfolios among the new ministers, keeping key departments such as Home, Personnel, and several others to himself. The Congress' Radhakrishna Kishore was given Finance, Commercial Tax, Planning and Development Department, and Parliamentary Affairs departments. JMM's Deepak Biruwa was allotted the departments of Revenue, Registration and Land Reforms (non-registration), and Transport. Chamra Linda, another JMM leader, was allotted the departments of Schedule Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes (except Minority Welfare). RJD's Sanjay Prasad Yadav was given the departments of Industries, and Labour, Planning, Training and Skill Development. The Congress' Irfan Ansari got Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, besides Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, and Disaster Management departments. The chief minister also kept to himself the departments of Cabinet Secretariat, Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Official Language, Road Construction, Building Construction, and those departments yet to be distributed to anyone. Among the other ministers, JMM's Ramdas Soren was given the School Education and Literacy, and Registration departments. Party colleague Hafizul Hasan was allotted the departments of Water Resources, and Minority Welfare Department. Panchayati Raj, Rural Works, and Rural Development departments were given to Congress MLA Deepika Pandey Singh. The CM gave Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Excise and Prohibition departments to JMM's Yogendra Prasad. JMM legislator Sudhivya Kumar became the minister for Urban Development and Housing, Higher and Technical Education, and Tourism, Art Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs departments. Shilpi Neha Tirkey of the Congress was allotted Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Department. A total of 11 MLAs took oath as ministers in the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand on Thursday.

SC rejects Maharashtra plea for caste census 2011 data from Centre

SC rejects Maharashtra plea for caste census 2011 data from Centre

Rediff.com15 Dec 2021

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by the Maharashtra government seeking a direction to the Centre and other authorities to disclose to the state the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 raw caste data of the Other Backward Classes.

IPL Final: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?

IPL Final: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?

Rediff.com3 Jun 2025

There's a 66 per cent chance of rain on Tuesday afternoon, raising fears of a delayed or disrupted start to the IPL 2025 final.

Amid Ambedkar row, Kejriwal announces scholarship for Dalits

Amid Ambedkar row, Kejriwal announces scholarship for Dalits

Rediff.com21 Dec 2024

In the run-up to the assembly elections in Delhi, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal announced an Ambedkar scholarship for free foreign education of the city's Dalit students. The scholarship is a response to the BJP's "insult" of Ambedkar, Kejriwal said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah "insulted and made fun of Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar in Parliament. Crores of people who love Ambedkar were deeply pained," the former Delhi chief minister said. Kejriwal added that the scholarship is a response to the insult meted out by the BJP to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Under the scheme, any Dalit student from Delhi will be able to receive education in foreign universities. If they get admission in any such university, the Delhi government will bear the entire cost of their education, travel and accommodation. Children of government employees will also be eligible for the scheme.

Bill in California Senate against caste-based discrimination

Bill in California Senate against caste-based discrimination

Rediff.com23 Mar 2023

A bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination has been introduced in the California Senate by a Democratic lawmaker, which, if passed, could make America's most populous state also the country's first to outlaw caste-based bias.

SC to hear pleas against EC's Bihar voter list overhaul on Monday

SC to hear pleas against EC's Bihar voter list overhaul on Monday

Rediff.com27 Jul 2025

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi is likely to take up the matter in which the EC has justified its ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying it adds to the purity of the election by "weeding out ineligible persons" from the electoral rolls.

SC bar assn drops farewell for retiring judge Bela Trivedi

SC bar assn drops farewell for retiring judge Bela Trivedi

Rediff.com16 May 2025

Chief Justice of India Justice B R Gavai on Friday praised Justice Bela M Trivedi for her career trajectory from the subordinate judiciary all the way up to the Supreme Court, where she became the eleventh woman judge to be appointed in its history.

Dalit boy tied, beaten up for plucking pomegranate in Telangana

Dalit boy tied, beaten up for plucking pomegranate in Telangana

Rediff.com26 Jun 2024

A 14-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly tied up and beaten by a man on the outskirts of Hyderabad for plucking a pomegranate from his house, police said on Wednesday.

Parl passes bill to club 7 TN castes in one nomenclature

Parl passes bill to club 7 TN castes in one nomenclature

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill-2021 to club seven castes in poll-bound Tamil Nadu under one nomenclature of Devendrakula Vellalars.

No SC status to Dalits who embraced Islam, Christianity: Centre to SC

No SC status to Dalits who embraced Islam, Christianity: Centre to SC

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

The bench was informed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation and others, that the Centre has filed an affidavit saying it wants to appoint another commission to examine the issue.

'If NDA Manipulates Elections, They May Return To Power'

'If NDA Manipulates Elections, They May Return To Power'

Rediff.com3 Jul 2025

'They have no chance of winning if free and fair polls are conducted.'

Waqf Bill brazen assault on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi

Waqf Bill brazen assault on Constitution: Sonia Gandhi

Rediff.com3 Apr 2025

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has criticized the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it a 'brazen assault' on the Constitution and part of the BJP's strategy to keep society in a 'permanent state of polarization.' She also spoke out against the One Nation, One Election Bill, calling it a 'subversion of the Constitution.' Gandhi further accused the Modi government of ignoring the women's reservation bill and other demands for reservation, and of 'dragging the country into an abyss' where the Constitution will only exist on paper. She also criticized the government for limiting the speaking time of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and for not allowing discussions on important issues like the working of the defense and external affairs ministries and the challenges posed by China on the border.

'Why Has Maharashtra Become So Cruel?'

'Why Has Maharashtra Become So Cruel?'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

'What attitude has spawned such gruesomeness in the state of Saint Tukaram, Saint Dnyaneshwar, and great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chhatrapati Shahu, Phule and Ambedkar?'

How PM Mudra Loans Are Reshaping India's Economy

How PM Mudra Loans Are Reshaping India's Economy

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

By democratising access to finance, empowering women and marginalised groups, and adapting to India's diverse regional landscapes, PMMY has helped fortify the country's grassroots growth engines, says Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, V Anantha Nageswaran.

Dalit boy stripped, forced to dance for wire theft

Dalit boy stripped, forced to dance for wire theft

Rediff.com14 Sep 2024

A purported video showing the boy dancing to a song with four to five men sitting around surfaced online. In the video, the men were compelling the boy to dance with a smile.

'Votebank ka virus': Modi slams Cong for opposing new Waqf law

'Votebank ka virus': Modi slams Cong for opposing new Waqf law

Rediff.com14 Apr 2025

Modi alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka gave reservations in tenders based on religion, "snatching the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs." But Ambedkar had said there would not be reservation based on religion and there is a bar on giving reservation on the basis of religion in the Constitution, he stressed.

Vijay's Political Challenge Begins Now

Vijay's Political Challenge Begins Now

Rediff.com22 Aug 2025

Vijay, with his chief ministerial ambitions, is a one-man army, at least as of now, and his campaign team considers him omnipresent. He has to be present in all districts, if not all constituencies at the same time, as there is no second-line leader or platform speaker in the party, who can draw crowds, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Bihar govt moves SC challenging HC verdict striking down quota hike

Bihar govt moves SC challenging HC verdict striking down quota hike

Rediff.com2 Jul 2024

The Bihar government has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Patna high court verdict that has set aside the amended reservation laws in the state, which enabled the Nitish Kumar government to increase the quotas for Dalits, tribals and backward classes from 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

EC notices to Cong, BJP over Rahul, Shah speeches

EC notices to Cong, BJP over Rahul, Shah speeches

Rediff.com16 Nov 2024

Top leaders of the two parties are campaigning in Jharkhand and Maharashtra for the ongoing assembly polls in the two states.

Congress promises nationwide caste census, women's quota asap if voted to power

Congress promises nationwide caste census, women's quota asap if voted to power

Rediff.com9 Oct 2023

The Congress on Monday promised that a government led by it will conduct a nationwide caste census and implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies at the earliest, including adequate representation for women belonging to the OBC community.

BJP is 'party of terrorists': Kharge hits back at Modi over 'urban naxal' jibe

BJP is 'party of terrorists': Kharge hits back at Modi over 'urban naxal' jibe

Rediff.com12 Oct 2024

Kharge also accused those in the saffron party of "lynching and beating" people, and committing atrocities against SC/STs.

SC to hear pleas against Bihar voter review on July 10

SC to hear pleas against Bihar voter review on July 10

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to revise electoral rolls in Bihar. The hearing is scheduled for July 10.

Sharp Increase In Illegal Indian Migration To US

Sharp Increase In Illegal Indian Migration To US

Rediff.com4 Feb 2025

Indians have topped the number of illegal immigrants from Asian countries caught at land, sea, and air checkpoints of the US since 2022.

SC gives Centre 3 weeks for stand on quota benefits for Dalit converts

SC gives Centre 3 weeks for stand on quota benefits for Dalit converts

Rediff.com30 Aug 2022

One of the public interest litigations filed in the apex court has sought reservation for converted Dalits on the same footing as is extended to the Scheduled Castes following Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

Rohith Vemula not a Dalit, he ended life because....: Police closure report

Rohith Vemula not a Dalit, he ended life because....: Police closure report

Rediff.com3 May 2024

The Cyberabad police that investigated the case informed the court that Rohith Vemula did not belong to Scheduled Caste and that he was aware of it.

Social justice and empowerment budget expanded by 35%

Social justice and empowerment budget expanded by 35%

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has received Rs 13,611 crore in the Union Budget announced on Saturday, while the allocation for disability welfare now stands at Rs 1,275 crore.

HC cancels caste certificate of Maha MP Navneet Rana

HC cancels caste certificate of Maha MP Navneet Rana

Rediff.com8 Jun 2021

Rana was elected from Maharashtra's Amravati Lok Sabha seat in 2019. She is an Independent MP backed by the NCP.

BJP announces more freebies in Delhi manifesto part 2

BJP announces more freebies in Delhi manifesto part 2

Rediff.com21 Jan 2025

Kejriwal described the BJP's election manifesto as "dangerous for the country".

'What Indiscipline, Where Was It?'

'What Indiscipline, Where Was It?'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2025

'His dismissal could backfire -- not just as a PR problem, but as a crack in the BJP's coalition of castes and communities.'