News for 'Standing Committees on Defence and External Affairs'

India Confident About US Trade Talks

India Confident About US Trade Talks

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

Officials said the government-to-government engagement between the two countries on all other issues remains normal, but conceded rough spots over trade that need ironing out.

BJP knocks off Congress and others, corners 6 parliamentary panels

BJP knocks off Congress and others, corners 6 parliamentary panels

Rediff.com4 Oct 2022

Opposition parties have not been given the chairmanship of any of the four key parliamentary panels including the committee on home affairs and information technology, which were with the Congress, in the latest rejig announced on Tuesday.

Shift Of Power In Parliament Post Polls

Shift Of Power In Parliament Post Polls

Rediff.com13 Jun 2024

The increased numbers of the Opposition bloc would mean that their MPs are likely to head several more panels than the four that they did by the end of the term of the 17th Lok Sabha.

Tharoor Vs Bhutto: India-Pak delegations to face off in US

Tharoor Vs Bhutto: India-Pak delegations to face off in US

Rediff.com3 Jun 2025

Tharoor said that though India's case might not be at the top of the agenda for the US media, India can get its message across easily.

Ambassador Akbaruddin Shepherds African Outreach

Ambassador Akbaruddin Shepherds African Outreach

Rediff.com29 May 2025

Led by Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule, Group 7 will engage with key countries in Africa -- Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia -- and Qatar to present India's position on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Oppn raises Pahalgam, Trump's remarks, Bihar SIR in session eve meet

Oppn raises Pahalgam, Trump's remarks, Bihar SIR in session eve meet

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

At the customary meeting ahead of the session beginning Monday, the opposition raised various issues, including voter roll revision in Bihar, the Pahalgam terror attack and Trump's 'ceasefire' claims.

Diplomatic front against terror: Russia, Japan, UAE pledge support to India

Diplomatic front against terror: Russia, Japan, UAE pledge support to India

Rediff.com24 May 2025

India has secured international support in its fight against terrorism, with Russia, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates expressing solidarity and a commitment to working together to combat the threat. This follows a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, which claimed 26 lives. Multi-party parliamentary delegations from India briefed the leaderships of these countries on Operation Sindoor, India's response to the attack, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating radicalism. These developments highlight the growing global consensus against terrorism and the importance of international collaboration to address this shared challenge.

Operation Sindoor Outreach What Did Panda & Co Achieve In West Asia?

Operation Sindoor Outreach What Did Panda & Co Achieve In West Asia?

Rediff.com5 Jun 2025

'It is high time that the 'war on terror' is removed from our diplomatic toolbox.' 'Certainly, our parliamentarians have no role in it,' asserts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Can Doval change defence planning in India?

Can Doval change defence planning in India?

Rediff.com22 Apr 2018

'Defence does not new 'planning commissions'; it needs an implementation commission.'

CCS meets after CDS's death

CCS meets after CDS's death

Rediff.com9 Dec 2021

Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended CCS meeting.

DGMO, foreign secy to brief to House panel on surgical strikes

DGMO, foreign secy to brief to House panel on surgical strikes

Rediff.com16 Oct 2016

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs will be briefed on Indo-Pak relations with specific reference to recent surgical strikes.

Job alert: Parliament may soon hire students as interns

Job alert: Parliament may soon hire students as interns

Rediff.com24 Feb 2017

Taking a leaf from the US, Canada and the UK, where students and research scholars get to work with Parliamentary panels, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is pushing for induction of interns in the Parliamentary standing committees.

First-time DMK MPs feel left out, look to Stalin for help

First-time DMK MPs feel left out, look to Stalin for help

Rediff.com5 Jul 2019

The DMK parliamentary party appears to be a house divided, reports R Rajagopalan.

Why did PM punish/humiliate General Khanduri?

Why did PM punish/humiliate General Khanduri?

Rediff.com1 Oct 2018

'The standing committee on defence was flagging what the services had said.' 'As a soldier, General Khanduri might have felt that it was his duty to point this out in the greater good of India,' points out Aditi Phadnis.

Why This 2-Time MP Won't Contest Polls

Why This 2-Time MP Won't Contest Polls

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

'If businessmen should be included in the political process -- which is essential in my opinion -- they need to have the freedom to express themselves and to take stands against the government of the day, without fear of reprisals and attacks on their business.'

US Senate panel raps China, backs India on Arunachal Pradesh

US Senate panel raps China, backs India on Arunachal Pradesh

Rediff.com14 Jul 2023

Less than a month after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, a Congressional senatorial Committee has passed a resolution recognising Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

Ladakh Standoff: Govt, Opposition consensus essential

Ladakh Standoff: Govt, Opposition consensus essential

Rediff.com19 Jun 2020

'A firm national resolve can only deter and defeat the nefarious designs of the adversary,' notes Rup Narayan Das.

MPs question CDS Bipin Rawat on Ladakh situation

MPs question CDS Bipin Rawat on Ladakh situation

Rediff.com11 Sep 2020

This is probably the first time Rahul Gandhi is attending this committee's meeting since being nominated to the panel last year after Lok Sabha elections.

US Senate Panel Set To Needle China

US Senate Panel Set To Needle China

Rediff.com21 Jun 2023

A powerful senatorial committee on Wednesday is set to consider a bipartisan resolution to recognise Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India, pushing back against China's military aggression to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.

Indo-US ties will pick up, Biden no stranger to India: Jaishankar

Indo-US ties will pick up, Biden no stranger to India: Jaishankar

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

"He (Biden) is very much part of this period when Indo-American relations underwent a radical transformation, which I reasonably date back to (Bill) Clinton's visit," Jaishankar said.

After HRD, now Smriti Irani out of government panel

After HRD, now Smriti Irani out of government panel

Rediff.com19 Oct 2016

Union Ministers Smriti Irani and D V Sadananda Gowda have been dropped from Inter-State Council, official sources said on Wednesday.

Amid Ladakh standoff China passes new land border law

Amid Ladakh standoff China passes new land border law

Rediff.com24 Oct 2021

Asserting that sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are "sacred and inviolable", the country's national legislature has adopted a new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border areas, which could have bearing on Beijing's border dispute with India.

Manmohan Singh named member of Parliamentary panel on Finance

Manmohan Singh named member of Parliamentary panel on Finance

Rediff.com2 Sep 2014

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is hailed as the architect of economic reforms in the country, is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, it was announced on Tuesday.

China debate in Parliament should be constructive

China debate in Parliament should be constructive

Rediff.com15 Sep 2020

India-China relations have always attracted Parliament's attention and there have always been useful and productive and constructive discussions how to engage with China, notes Rup Narayan Das.

ICC hearing: Khurshid cross-examined, BCCI says testimony lends weight to its case

ICC hearing: Khurshid cross-examined, BCCI says testimony lends weight to its case

Rediff.com2 Oct 2018

Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, on Tuesday, justified India's refusal to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan during the International Cricket Council's Disputes Resolution Committee hearing into a compensation claim against the Board of Control for Cricket in India, a Board official said.

National Anthem in cinemas: Centre urges SC to modify order, forms panel

National Anthem in cinemas: Centre urges SC to modify order, forms panel

Rediff.com8 Jan 2018

The committee has to consider a wide range of issues relating to the national anthem, and have extensive discussions with various ministries.

Nepal delays discussion in parliament to amend constitution for updating map

Nepal delays discussion in parliament to amend constitution for updating map

Rediff.com27 May 2020

The government had registered the amendment proposal in Parliament on May 22 after releasing the new political map of Nepal depicting Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limipiyadhura as its territories on May 18.

Needed urgently: The Indian National Defence University

Needed urgently: The Indian National Defence University

Rediff.com19 Jan 2015

'A veiled secret of India's defence and strategic culture is the lack of a serious interest in them by the political class. The Indian National Defence University would fill this void,' feels Lieutenant General Anil Chait (retd).

Can INDIA Reverse Article 370 Verdict?

Can INDIA Reverse Article 370 Verdict?

Rediff.com11 Dec 2023

Such a course would require a Constitutional Amendment, requiring a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. Even assuming that the INDIA combine comes to power at the Centre next year, a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha could way off the mark for them, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why is China Focusing on Tibet?

Why is China Focusing on Tibet?

Rediff.com13 Sep 2021

Wang Yang and Xi Jinping's visits signal the beginning of a major Chinese push to bring about a transformation of Tibet, observes Jayadeva Ranade, the distinguished China expert and retired RA&W officer.

Sushma talks tough with China on Azhar; slams double standards on terror

Sushma talks tough with China on Azhar; slams double standards on terror

Rediff.com18 Apr 2016

India on Monday did some plain-speaking with China over its blocking of the Indian bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN and warned the global community of "serious consequences" if it continues to adopt "double standards" in dealing with terrorism.

I have more work than MoS: Tewari on VK Singh's 'jobless' jibe

I have more work than MoS: Tewari on VK Singh's 'jobless' jibe

Rediff.com11 Jan 2016

Hitting back at Union minister and former Army chief General VK Singh's 'jobless' jibe, former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari on Monday said that by God's grace, he had much more work to do than a minister of state.

Nepal approves new map incorporating Indian territory

Nepal approves new map incorporating Indian territory

Rediff.com19 May 2020

Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of their territory -- India as part of Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district and Nepal as part of Dharchula district.

Kartarpur marks first cross-border initiative for India-Pak

Kartarpur marks first cross-border initiative for India-Pak

Rediff.com26 Nov 2018

The construction of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib corridor across the India-Pakistan border has been likened to the fall of the Berlin Wall by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Here's why the corridor is important.

Winter session: The ice is unlikely to break

Winter session: The ice is unlikely to break

Rediff.com23 Nov 2015

The opposition, while not directly stalling Parliament, will insist all legislation goes to standing committees, delaying implementation.

1962 War: 'Secret Reports' lost forever?

1962 War: 'Secret Reports' lost forever?

Rediff.com18 Jul 2020

'The Himmatsinghji Report is still 'missing'.' 'It is a great loss for the knowledge of India's borders.' 'It would have an immense value at a time China is bound to shift its attention to other border fronts in the Himalayas,' notes Claude Arpi.

US-India: Why 2+2 may not always be 4

US-India: Why 2+2 may not always be 4

Rediff.com23 Dec 2019

'This is a historic juncture when the US is in great need of an alliance with India to strengthen its hands in the fierce struggle with China in the Asian theatre,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Israel's Gaza Offensive And The US Dilemma

Israel's Gaza Offensive And The US Dilemma

Rediff.com13 Oct 2023

Israel needs to come terms with the new reality that they are no longer invincible or the dominant power in the West Asian region, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Nepal parliament set to clear new map amid dispute with India

Nepal parliament set to clear new map amid dispute with India

Rediff.com31 May 2020

Nepal recently released the revised political and administrative map of the country laying claim over the strategically key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura.

Manish Tewari revives 2012 troops' movement controversy, draws flak

Manish Tewari revives 2012 troops' movement controversy, draws flak

Rediff.com10 Jan 2016

Questioning the timing of the remarks, the BJP demanded a statement from former PM Manmohan Singh and former defence minister A K Antony on the issue.