News for 'Socialist State'

Will Cash Transfer Win Bihar For Modi?

Will Cash Transfer Win Bihar For Modi?

Rediff.com4 Nov 2025

If women voters are mobilised in big numbers to the voting booths on November 6 and 11 by the Nitish Kumar-led NDA, then it will be quite difficult for the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan to defeat the incumbent government, points out Sheela Bhatt.

Bihar Polls: Non-Stop Contest For Sops

Bihar Polls: Non-Stop Contest For Sops

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

Both NDA and INDIA are racing to woo marginalised groups with Assembly polls fast approaching.

'Like vampires sucking blood dry': Trump's aide slams BRICS

'Like vampires sucking blood dry': Trump's aide slams BRICS

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

Former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has criticised India for continuing to procure Russian oil, alleging profiteering and contributing to the Russia-Ukraine war. India defends its energy procurement as driven by national interest and market dynamics.

Opposition nominee Reddy loses VP race, keeps ideological stand intact

Opposition nominee Reddy loses VP race, keeps ideological stand intact

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

A profile of B Sudershan Reddy, former Supreme Court judge and Opposition's vice presidential candidate, highlighting his career, judgments, and contributions to constitutional law.

Indira Gandhi Or Modi: Who's India's Strongest PM?

Indira Gandhi Or Modi: Who's India's Strongest PM?

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

Mrs Gandhi's power ebbed and peaked with the times. Mr Modi's has almost been constant, barring the few months of hard dip after the 240 seats of 2024, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Satyapal Malik: From loyalist to outspoken critic

Satyapal Malik: From loyalist to outspoken critic

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

Veteran politician Satyapal Malik, who served as governor of multiple states and later became a vocal critic of the government, has died at the age of 79.

State can interfere with religious practices if...: SC

State can interfere with religious practices if...: SC

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the secular nature of the state does not prevent it from interfering with religious practices and attitudes when they impede development and the right to equality in the larger public interest. The court dismissed pleas challenging the 1976 amendment to the Constitution, which added the terms "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" to the Preamble, stating that Parliament's amending power extends to the Preamble as well.

After Dhankhar experience, BJP to go for tried, tested method

After Dhankhar experience, BJP to go for tried, tested method

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

Several leaders of the BJP and its allies are of the view that the NDA this time is unlikely to follow the instincts that made it pick Dhankhar and will be more conventional in its search for his successor.

Preamble like parenthood, can't be changed: Dhankhar

Preamble like parenthood, can't be changed: Dhankhar

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated that the Preamble of the Indian Constitution is fundamental and unchangeable, comparing it to parenthood. He also criticized the alteration of the Preamble during the Emergency era, amidst calls for review of certain terms.

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

Rediff.com13 Aug 2025

'It is something like traditional Indian families.' 'The family might be run by younger people, but if the patriarch says that you should consider someone for some task, it is very difficult for the others to ignore it.'

Gandhi Called Him 'Father Of The Nation'

Gandhi Called Him 'Father Of The Nation'

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

On his 200th birth anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra traces the life, thought, and legacy of Dadabhai Naoroji, the Grand Old Man of India.

What if 'socialist' and 'secular' go from the Preamble

What if 'socialist' and 'secular' go from the Preamble

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

It is in circumstances like this that the Constitution becomes extremely important. It reminds us that we have a commitment towards higher human values to fulfil, a path to get back to, suggests Shyam G Menon.Else, we risk being rudderless in an ocean of money and majoritarianism, suggests Shyam G Menon.

'Judges Don't Descend From Mars Or The Moon'

'Judges Don't Descend From Mars Or The Moon'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

'The quality of justice is directly linked to the quality of judges -- if that suffers, justice delivery suffers.'

Kerala nuns arrested in Durg for 'trafficking, conversion', Rahul protests

Kerala nuns arrested in Durg for 'trafficking, conversion', Rahul protests

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other UDF MPs protest the arrest of Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh, alleging religious persecution by the BJP government and demanding their immediate release.

Emergency at 50: JP's diary tells nation's darkest tale

Emergency at 50: JP's diary tells nation's darkest tale

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

On that fateful day, Narayan, popularly known as JP and a fierce critic of the then-Indira Gandhi government, addressed a massive gathering at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

'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.'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

Will Harivansh Singh Be The Next Veep?

Will Harivansh Singh Be The Next Veep?

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

'When Harivansh sits in the chair, you feel your voice will be heard.'

MPs submit notices to seek removal of Justice Verma

MPs submit notices to seek removal of Justice Verma

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

Stepping up the heat on Justice Yashwant Varma, parliamentarians on Monday submitted notices to the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the removal of the Allahabad high court judge from whose residence in New Delhi burnt wads of currency notes were found.

Pather Panchali@70: Beautiful, Broken People

Pather Panchali@70: Beautiful, Broken People

Rediff.com4 Sep 2025

Seventy years after Pather Panchali released on August 26, 1955, we finally get it. Shuttling between the village of Boral and a studio in Calcutta, caught between worrying about the next purse of funds and wondering which item to mortgage next, Satyajit Ray was explaining Indians to themselves, discovers Sreehari Nair.

When A Vice President Resigned For The First Time

When A Vice President Resigned For The First Time

Rediff.com22 Jul 2025

Vice President V V Giri's resignation in 1969 triggered political upheavals that saw the ruling party defy its own presidential nominee, the expulsion of a sitting prime minister by her party president, and a historic split in the Indian National Congress, recounts Utkarsh Mishra.

Congress Infighting Blocks Shivakumar's Rise

Congress Infighting Blocks Shivakumar's Rise

Rediff.com16 Jul 2025

Going by political tradition, another formation will likely come to power in Karnataka in the next assembly election, due 2028. And if that happens, Mr Shivakumar will have to sit it out till 2033, points out Aditi Phadnis.

Modi Isn't Going To Retire On September 17

Modi Isn't Going To Retire On September 17

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

'Mr Modi has the power and pre-eminence in the BJP-RSS to choose how long he wants to serve, and he is definitely going to want to contest in 2029.' 'He will only be 79, as old as Donald Trump now, and fitter,' observes Shekhar Gupta.

Can Zohran Mamdani Be New York Mayor?

Can Zohran Mamdani Be New York Mayor?

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

Zohram Kwame Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor if elected New York mayor this November.

The Train Action That Inspired Bhagat Singh

The Train Action That Inspired Bhagat Singh

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

One hundred years ago, a group of 10 revolutionaries carried out an operation that shook the British Empire. Utkarsh Mishra revisits the 'Kakori Conspiracy Case', a turning point in the armed struggle for independence.

'100% communist lunatic, looks terrible': Trump slams Zohran Mamdani

'100% communist lunatic, looks terrible': Trump slams Zohran Mamdani

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

In a stunning victory, Indian-American lawmaker Zohran Kwame Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary race for New York City mayor

Why did Indira govt amend Constitution several times during Emergency?

Why did Indira govt amend Constitution several times during Emergency?

Rediff.com23 Jun 2025

The 21-month-long Emergency also saw the government amend the Constitution several times, including to keep the elections to the offices of President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Speaker beyond the scrutiny of courts and insert the words 'socialist', 'secular' and 'integrity' in the Preamble.

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

BJP and RSS leaders are once again pushing to remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution's Preamble, showing a deeper effort to change India's identity from a diverse, multi-religious republic to a Hindu-first nation, even though they don't have the numbers in Parliament to officially change the Constitution, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

'It Was A Trial By Bajrang Dal Workers'

'It Was A Trial By Bajrang Dal Workers'

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

'The nuns were subjected to abusive language and all types of mental torture.'

Mira Nair's son Zohran wins Democratic primary for NYC mayor

Mira Nair's son Zohran wins Democratic primary for NYC mayor

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

Indian-origin lawmaker Zohran Kwame Mamdani stunned in the Democratic primary race for New York City mayor, upsetting former governor Andrew Cuomo.

'If We Want India To Be A Source Of New Ideas...'

'If We Want India To Be A Source Of New Ideas...'

Rediff.com23 Jun 2025

'Despite being a software powerhouse, we're not producing proportionate original IP, frameworks, or global tech products originating in India.'

Telangana textbook drops 'socialist, secular' from Preamble

Telangana textbook drops 'socialist, secular' from Preamble

Rediff.com23 Jun 2023

The SCERT, however, maintained that the error occurred due to oversight.

Dhankhar Failed To Understand Modi

Dhankhar Failed To Understand Modi

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

By getting Jagdeep Dhankhar to resign at short notice, Narendra Modi has sent a message to his own ideological clan that he brooks no one trying to get too big for their boots, observes Modi biographer Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Charan Singh opposed Nehru's socialist economy

Charan Singh opposed Nehru's socialist economy

Rediff.com9 Feb 2024

Chaudhary Charan Singh, who on Friday was conferred with India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, is popularly known as a champion of farmers.

Caste census: Opposition parties claim victory

Caste census: Opposition parties claim victory

Rediff.com30 Apr 2025

As the Centre announced the inclusion of caste enumeration in the next census on Wednesday, opposition parties said it is a victory for their long-standing demand and sought time-bound implementation.

History in Minutes: When Nehru's Kerchief Became Sudan's Flag

History in Minutes: When Nehru's Kerchief Became Sudan's Flag

Rediff.com27 May 2025

On Jawaharlal Nehru's 61st death anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra recalls how India's first prime minister cultivated a unique role for the newly independent country on the world stage.

'Nothing Wrong If We Rewrite The Constitution'

'Nothing Wrong If We Rewrite The Constitution'

Rediff.com20 May 2025

'The time has come to have a relook at the Constitution as every document has a shelf life.'

Upholding constitutional ethos hallmark of CJI Sanjiv Khanna's tenure

Upholding constitutional ethos hallmark of CJI Sanjiv Khanna's tenure

Rediff.com13 May 2025

Some of his directives had the Supreme Court judges disclose their assets whereas the row over the discovery of cash from a sitting judge's official residence paved way for inquiry.

'As He Was Taken To The Gallows, He Proclaimed 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'

'As He Was Taken To The Gallows, He Proclaimed 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'

Rediff.com12 Jun 2025

Standing near the noose, he recited a couplet in which he said he wished nothing but to sacrifice his life for the motherland. Utkarsh Mishra remembers Ram Prasad Bismil on the revolutionary leader's 128th birth anniversary.

TN Guv Ravi in fresh trouble after asking students to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'

TN Guv Ravi in fresh trouble after asking students to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'

Rediff.com13 Apr 2025

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has sparked controversy by asking students at a government-aided college in Madurai to chant "Jai Shri Ram". The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN) has demanded his removal, alleging that he violated his oath of office and secular principles. The group claims Ravi's actions were against the Constitution, which outlines India as a secular country and emphasizes the importance of upholding secular values in education. The incident follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that overruled Ravi's decision to withhold 10 Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu government, highlighting ongoing tensions between the Governor and the state administration.