News for 'Society for Policy Studies'

Lessons For Start Ups From UPI Success Story

Lessons For Start Ups From UPI Success Story

Rediff.com14 Apr 2025

Isn't there something significant in the UPI example for all of us to learn from and execute to enable world-scale success for our startups?, asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

What's Trump's Real Game Plan Against India?

What's Trump's Real Game Plan Against India?

Rediff.com1 Aug 2025

By threatening to punish India with high tariff, Trump is actually planting a tantalising thought in the Indian mind that the Modi government should suitably 'incentivise' him, explains Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Indian student in US arrested by masked agents from near home

Indian student in US arrested by masked agents from near home

Rediff.com20 Mar 2025

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, is facing deportation after US authorities accused him of "spreading Hamas propaganda" and having "close connections to a suspected terrorist." The Department of Homeland Security claims Suri has been actively promoting antisemitism on social media and is connected to a senior Hamas advisor. Suri's lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, argues that his client is being targeted due to his wife's Palestinian heritage and their opposition to US foreign policy towards Israel. The incident follows the self-deportation of another Indian student from Columbia University who was also accused of supporting Hamas.

Salute! India's First Ethnic Gorkha General

Salute! India's First Ethnic Gorkha General

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Lieutenant General Shakti Gurung deserves to be complimented in telling his life story and that of his people, as subaltern communities within this vast and diverse nation of ours clamour for recognition and a plea for their voices to be heard and their aspirations to be met, notes Lieutenant General Gautam Moorthy.

US judge blocks Indian student's deportation over Hamas ties

US judge blocks Indian student's deportation over Hamas ties

Rediff.com21 Mar 2025

In his petition, Suri's lawyer said that he is being punished as his wife, who is a US citizen, is of Palestinian heritage and because the government suspects that he and his wife are against the US foreign policy towards Israel.

Jayant Narlikar: A Voice That Lit The Cosmos

Jayant Narlikar: A Voice That Lit The Cosmos

Rediff.com22 May 2025

'When Dr Murli Manohar Joshi wanted to start a course on astrology, Jayant was the first one to have the courage to stand up and say astrology is not science.' 'That's a very rare quality -- to stand up to authority.'

Every couple should produce at least 3 kids: RSS chief

Every couple should produce at least 3 kids: RSS chief

Rediff.com1 Dec 2024

Expressing concern over declining population growth, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, should be at least 3, well above the present one of 2.1.

Indian Youth Spend More Time on Work

Indian Youth Spend More Time on Work

Rediff.com7 Jun 2025

In 2019, out of the 1,440 minutes in a day, Indian youth spent 148 minutes on employment-related activities, which increased to 158 minutes in 2024.

Pahalgam Attack: Unfinished Battle Against Terrorism

Pahalgam Attack: Unfinished Battle Against Terrorism

Rediff.com30 Apr 2025

The Pahalgam massacre highlights the evolution of terrorism into a multi-domain challenge. India's response must similarly evolve -- from tactical retaliation to comprehensive strategic deterrence. To establish a credible and sustained deterrent, India must also carry out continuous kinetic operations, both overt and covert, suggest Sakshit Raina and Rahul Mishra. To establish a credible and sustained deterrent, India must also carry out continuous kinetic operations, both overt and covert, suggest Sakshit Raina & Rahul Mishra.

Karnataka approves cyber security policy for curbing crimes, data privacy

Karnataka approves cyber security policy for curbing crimes, data privacy

Rediff.com10 Aug 2023

Responding to a question, he said, "It may also deal with fake news, though there is no specific mention in this regard."

Modi 3@1: Challenges, Opportunities Ahead

Modi 3@1: Challenges, Opportunities Ahead

Rediff.com9 Jun 2025

There are challenges galore before him, and it is not going to be easy. In the next four years, he has to conjure a system that changes the optics about him and the BJP both nationally and internationally so that he can ride back on his own, claim the top slot, and not have to lean on a coalition, asserts Ramesh Menon as Modi 3.0 completes a year in power.

'Create Million To Impact Billion Lives'

'Create Million To Impact Billion Lives'

Rediff.com24 Jan 2025

'Can we give young India the tools to solve the problems the country or society faces and uplift the community?'

Why Are Children So ANGRY, AGGRESSIVE?

Why Are Children So ANGRY, AGGRESSIVE?

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

'The earlier a child is given a smartphone, the worst it becomes when they are 17, 18.' 'Every year you delay in giving a smartphone to child, the outcome becomes better.' 'The behavioural changes that are very specific to smartphones are aggression and anger.'

Why Stalin Is Pushing Keeladi Over Indus Valley

Why Stalin Is Pushing Keeladi Over Indus Valley

Rediff.com2 Jun 2025

'It has the potential to sow seeds of furthering discord when the direction of the discourse is aimed at propagating the perceived supremacy of 'cultural nationalism' from a distant past over the prevailing dominance of 'Constitutional nationalism',' argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Earth records hottest year ever in 2024, surpasses 1.5C mark

Earth records hottest year ever in 2024, surpasses 1.5C mark

Rediff.com11 Jan 2025

The year 2024 was the hottest year on record, with the global average temperature exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. Every month from January to June was the warmest ever recorded, and from July to December (except August), each month was the second warmest on record. Scientists are warning that the world is entering a new climate reality, with extreme heatwaves, floods, and storms becoming more frequent and severe. The report also highlights the failure of developed nations to meet their climate finance commitments to developing countries, despite the urgency of the situation.

Can China Successfully Challenge The US?

Can China Successfully Challenge The US?

Rediff.com16 Apr 2025

If Beijing succeeds in this multipronged effort to challenge the current dominant power, it will have not just economic but political and security consequences. There is no let-up in the South China Sea nor any de-escalation moves on the India-China border. This portends to ominous signalling from Beijing, observes China expert Srikanth Kondapalli.

Some people trying to disturb peace by spreading venom of caste politics: Modi

Some people trying to disturb peace by spreading venom of caste politics: Modi

Rediff.com4 Jan 2025

Inaugurating the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, the Prime Minister exuded confidence that villages will play a key role in pushing forward the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

'Virus has shown us the inequalities of society'

'Virus has shown us the inequalities of society'

Rediff.com5 Mar 2021

'Inequality has been growing in the world. The virus has only amplified it.'

'Sri Lanka's Relations With India At All-Time High'

'Sri Lanka's Relations With India At All-Time High'

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

'Granting the country's highest civilian honour to Prime Minister Modi was surprising as it indicated the government was going out of its way to have India as a close partner.'

Modi calls Maha Kumbh 'Maha Yagya of unity', hails UP govt

Modi calls Maha Kumbh 'Maha Yagya of unity', hails UP govt

Rediff.com27 Feb 2025

The Uttar Pradesh government has said that over 65 crore people visited the sacred site in Prayagraj since the Maha Kumbh began on January 13.

How Many Lok Sabha Seats Will South India Lose In 2029?

How Many Lok Sabha Seats Will South India Lose In 2029?

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

'Kerala will lose 6 seats, Tamil Nadu 9 seats, Telangana and Karnataka 2 seats each, Andhra Pradesh 5 seats.'

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Rediff.com9 May 2024

The share of the Hindu population declined by 7.8% to 78.06%.
In contrast, the share of the Muslim and Christian populations increased by 43.15% to 14.09%, and by 5.4% to 2.36%.

'Blaming India Is Pakistan's Go-To Excuse'

'Blaming India Is Pakistan's Go-To Excuse'

Rediff.com25 Mar 2025

'Neither are Baloch insurgents capable of breaking up Pakistan, nor has Pakistan learned any lessons from the 1971 debacle that led to the country's dismemberment.'

'Why Are People Willing To Suffer For A Government Job?'

'Why Are People Willing To Suffer For A Government Job?'

Rediff.com26 Sep 2024

'When I asked whether they would choose a government job that offered Rs 30,000 a month or a private job that offered them Rs 3 lakh a month, without exception, everybody said, "I would rather have the government job!"'

Trusts, societies have to register with MCA by April 1

Trusts, societies have to register with MCA by April 1

Rediff.com23 Jan 2021

Corporate social responsibility rules that kicked in on Friday also set a three year time-limit for any CSR project, among a series of other amendments introduced by the government.

Top 1% Indians Earn 23% Of Income

Top 1% Indians Earn 23% Of Income

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

Wealth, which can broadly be a measure of assets held as opposed to income earned, is unequally distributed.

Population rise not religion-linked, Muslim fertility rate lowest: NGO

Population rise not religion-linked, Muslim fertility rate lowest: NGO

Rediff.com9 May 2024

In a statement, the Population Foundation of India said it is deeply concerned about recent media reports "misreporting" the findings from the study to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population in the country.

'You Gave India More Than You Got Credit For'

'You Gave India More Than You Got Credit For'

Rediff.com27 Dec 2024

'The demise of #ManmohanSingh ji who (looking back) presided over India's actual 'Acchey Din' feels like the end of an era when India was actually (more) democratic, when Indians were free(er) of fear & intolerance and when Indian public discourse had more decency.'

Bibek Debroy: A Guru I Could Look To

Bibek Debroy: A Guru I Could Look To

Rediff.com2 Nov 2024

Bibek Debroy was one of the very few economists not bound by any single area of expertise and was simultaneously curious about economics and politics, myths and maths, chess and chemistry, and what not, remembers Laveesh Bhandari.

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Despite odds, economists confident of India growth story: WEF study

Rediff.com15 Sep 2023

Most economists expect the global economy to weaken in the coming year amid political and financial volatility, but a large majority of over 90 per cent are confident of moderate or strong growth in South Asia, notably India, a survey showed on Friday. At the same time, the outlook for China has dimmed following signs of deflationary pressures and fragility in the country's real estate market, the World Economic Forum's latest 'Chief Economists Outlook' report said. As the world grapples with political and financial volatility, almost six in 10 believe the global economic outlook will undermine progress towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 74 per cent saying geopolitical tensions will have the same effect.

Justice Khanna to take oath as CJI on Monday, Justice Chandrachud retires

Justice Khanna to take oath as CJI on Monday, Justice Chandrachud retires

Rediff.com10 Nov 2024

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has been part of several landmark Supreme Court judgements such as scrapping the electoral bonds scheme and upholding abrogation of Article 370, will be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday.

Needed ASAP: A National Security Policy

Needed ASAP: A National Security Policy

Rediff.com27 Jan 2022

In 2020 India was compelled by China to change its national security strategy. From counter-insurgency, which the army has been focussed on for years, we shifted to conventional war, observes Aakar Patel.

'Indian American Young Men May Vote For Trump'

'Indian American Young Men May Vote For Trump'

Rediff.com1 Nov 2024

'One of the big findings is that younger men seem to have shifted towards the Republican Party.' 'In 2020, about 23% of younger men said they would vote Trump.' 'Now that number is 48%.' 'It is like a 25 point shift, and you don't actually see shifts that big in surveys.'

Can Kejriwal Make It Three In A Row?

Can Kejriwal Make It Three In A Row?

Rediff.com29 Jan 2025

The BJP may win more seats in the February 5 assembly election, but not enough to trump AAP, notes Ramesh Menon.

'Rahul Gandhi Is Stabilising India With Caste Census Demand'

'Rahul Gandhi Is Stabilising India With Caste Census Demand'

Rediff.com27 Aug 2024

'Rahul Gandhi is raising the issue of a caste census though his party has been doing injustice on this front from the 1950s.'

'Govt Unsure How To Fire Economy Upwards'

'Govt Unsure How To Fire Economy Upwards'

Rediff.com6 Feb 2025

'I am optimistic about the Budget because of the fiscal discipline the government has committed to.'

Sheikh Hasina's Biggest Blunder

Sheikh Hasina's Biggest Blunder

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

'The dominance of her party also meant that the institutions became lopsided -- whether it was the bureaucracy or the courts or the military.' 'She centralised power to the extent that you would see her representatives or her party office bearers having overly represented in these institutions.' 'That perhaps would have been the biggest blunder that she committed.'

Excise 'scam': Court says Kavitha 'prima facie' destroyed evidence

Excise 'scam': Court says Kavitha 'prima facie' destroyed evidence

Rediff.com8 Apr 2024

A Delhi court on Monday denied interim bail to Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavitha, arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying prima facie she not only destroyed evidence but was also instrumental in influencing witnesses and there is 'every likelihood' of her continuing to do so in case the relief is granted.

New education policy is foundation of New India: PM

New education policy is foundation of New India: PM

Rediff.com7 Aug 2020

"NEP has given rise to a healthy debate and the more we discuss and debate the more it will benefit the education department. It is palpable that questions will arise on how this huge plan will be implemented. "We all will together do this implementation. Each one of you is directly involved in implementation of the NEP. In terms of political will, I am totally committed and with you," he said.

'Reservation at school level creates an inclusive society'

'Reservation at school level creates an inclusive society'

Rediff.com31 Aug 2017

'Younger children don't really distinguish based on class, gender, income and so on.'