News for 'State Council'

Sports Ministry Sets Stricter Criteria for Asian Games Coaches

Sports Ministry Sets Stricter Criteria for Asian Games Coaches

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

The Sports Ministry has introduced stricter guidelines for selecting coaches for India's Asian Games contingent, prioritising demonstrable contribution and regular association with athletes to manage the increasing number of requests.

Putin intervenes as crisis in West Asia escalates

Putin intervenes as crisis in West Asia escalates

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin is actively working to de-escalate the escalating crisis in the Gulf, engaging with regional leaders following Iran's retaliatory strikes on US facilities after joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Iran lists three conditions to end war

Iran lists three conditions to end war

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

Iran on Thursday spelled out three conditions to end the war with Israel and the United States, which entered its thirteenth day today. Taking to X, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said he reaffirmed the country's commitment to peace during talks with leaders of Russia and Pakistan.

US-Iran: The Weekend Has Left The World In A More Dangerous Place

US-Iran: The Weekend Has Left The World In A More Dangerous Place

Rediff.com13 Apr 2026

The ceasefire is still technically holding, to the extent that no overt hostilities have been reported yet, but the rhetoric has hardened dangerously. The week ahead will also clarify whether the Islamabad failure was a negotiating tactic or whether Washington has genuinely locked itself into a position from which the only exits are climb-down, escalation, or the slow bleed of a new status quo that nobody chose and nobody controls. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.

Nishant Kumar joins JD-U: What it means for Bihar politics

Nishant Kumar joins JD-U: What it means for Bihar politics

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has joined the Janata Dal (United) and committed to strengthening the party's organisation. His entry into politics sparks speculation about a future role in the state government.

Will Trump Attend Islamabad Peace Talks?

Will Trump Attend Islamabad Peace Talks?

Rediff.com15 Apr 2026

The intriguing bit is that Trump is likely to attend the talks in Islamabad this weekend -- if he does, it will be the clearest signal yet that the US is ready to exit the war with some sort of win to show, since he cannot afford to go for the talks and return empty-handed, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War

Maoist debate sparks fierce NDA-UPA war of words in Lok Sabha

Maoist debate sparks fierce NDA-UPA war of words in Lok Sabha

Rediff.com30 Mar 2026

The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate between BJP and Congress members regarding the handling of Naxalism, with the BJP accusing the previous UPA government of failing to contain left-wing extremism and the Congress defending its efforts to curb the threat.

India's Reliance On Strait Of Hormuz Exceeds Global Average

India's Reliance On Strait Of Hormuz Exceeds Global Average

Rediff.com10 Apr 2026

'The West Asia or the Gulf crisis has shown that what we develop as national infrastructure when things are not as bad as they could be, we forget to plan for adversities.'

PM Modi adopts consensus mantra at Inter-State Council meet

PM Modi adopts consensus mantra at Inter-State Council meet

Rediff.com16 Jul 2016

Addressing the Inter-State Council meeting, convened after a gap of 10 years, the Prime Minister told the chief ministers that "we should focus on how we can make our country prepared to counter challenges to our internal security".

Trump Won't Decide What Happens Next In The War

Trump Won't Decide What Happens Next In The War

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

'The next two to three weeks will not be decided in Washington.' 'They will be decided in Tehran, in whatever calculation Iran makes about the costs of continued resistance against the costs of appearing to have yielded.'

Iran renews threat to Gulf neighbours hours after 'apology'

Iran renews threat to Gulf neighbours hours after 'apology'

Rediff.com7 Mar 2026

Amidst ongoing conflict, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signals a potential de-escalation by apologising to neighbouring countries while firmly rejecting US President Donald Trump's demand for unconditional surrender.

'Hypocritical': India slams Pak at UN over airstrikes on Afghanistan during Ramzan

'Hypocritical': India slams Pak at UN over airstrikes on Afghanistan during Ramzan

Rediff.com10 Mar 2026

India has strongly condemned Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan, calling them a flagrant violation of international law and hypocritical given the civilian casualties during Ramzan.

'Trump's Aims In This War Have Been Inconsistent, Changing, Contradictory'

'Trump's Aims In This War Have Been Inconsistent, Changing, Contradictory'

Rediff.com1 Apr 2026

'What we have yet to see on either the US or the Iranian side is willingness to compromise on their ultimate demands and the flexibility to reach an agreement to end the war.

'Watch what happens to these scumbags today': Trump as war enters 13th day

'Watch what happens to these scumbags today': Trump as war enters 13th day

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

United States President Donald Trump on Friday signalled the US intention of going all out in its campaign against Iran's Islamic regime, warning Iran to watch out for what would happen today and saying that the US was winning the conflict despite what reports claimed.

Goa Woman Accused of Concealing Portuguese Nationality to Enrol as Voter

Goa Woman Accused of Concealing Portuguese Nationality to Enrol as Voter

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

A woman in Goa has been booked for allegedly concealing her Portuguese nationality and fraudulently enrolling in the voter list.

Volleyball Federation of India Receives Provisional Recognition Amid Visa and Payment Concerns

Volleyball Federation of India Receives Provisional Recognition Amid Visa and Payment Concerns

Rediff.com20 Mar 2026

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has granted provisional recognition to the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) while also raising concerns with the IOA regarding visa delays for athletes and pending dues from private partners.

Mumbai Bomb Threat Email: Probe Launched, No Middle East Link Yet

Mumbai Bomb Threat Email: Probe Launched, No Middle East Link Yet

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

Authorities in Mumbai are investigating an email threatening bomb attacks on key buildings, including the Vidhan Bhavan and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Security has been heightened, and officials are working to trace the origin of the threat.

Mumbai Police Request Custody of Anmol Bishnoi in Connection to Mumbai Cases

Mumbai Police Request Custody of Anmol Bishnoi in Connection to Mumbai Cases

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

The Mumbai Police have requested the custody of gangster Anmol Bishnoi, younger brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, who was arrested by the NIA after being deported from the US. He is wanted in connection with several major crimes in Mumbai, including the killing of an NCP leader and a firing incident outside actor Salman Khan's residence.

Maharashtra Announces 'Come Early, Go Early' Initiative for Women Government Staff

Maharashtra Announces 'Come Early, Go Early' Initiative for Women Government Staff

Rediff.com10 Mar 2026

The Maharashtra government has announced a flexible work time initiative for women state government employees working in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The 'Come Early, Go Early' initiative will allow women employees flexible reporting times and earlier departure times.

Trump dials Modi, talks focus on keeping Strait of Hormuz open

Trump dials Modi, talks focus on keeping Strait of Hormuz open

Rediff.com24 Mar 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed the Middle East crisis, with a focus on the Strait of Hormuz.

Nagaland Minister Urges Stronger Efforts to Tackle Gender Inequality

Nagaland Minister Urges Stronger Efforts to Tackle Gender Inequality

Rediff.com7 Mar 2026

Nagaland Minister C L John has called for stronger collective efforts to address gender-based violence and unequal opportunities, highlighting the need for women's empowerment at the International Women's Day celebration in Kohima.

UP MLC Booked for Alleged Forgery and Extortion Attempt

UP MLC Booked for Alleged Forgery and Extortion Attempt

Rediff.com10 Mar 2026

An RLD MLC and four others have been booked for allegedly forging documents and attempting to grab land and extort money from a company in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra cancels bike taxi licences for Uber, Ola, Rapido

Maharashtra cancels bike taxi licences for Uber, Ola, Rapido

Rediff.com9 Mar 2026

The Maharashtra government has revoked provisional licences issued to motorbike aggregators like Rapido, Ola, and Uber due to non-compliance with the Maharashtra E-bike Taxi Rules 2024, including the mandatory use of electric vehicles and submission of required documents.

Shivshankar Menon: 'Pakistan's Insider Threat Is Serious'

Shivshankar Menon: 'Pakistan's Insider Threat Is Serious'

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

'Pakistan's is the only military-controlled nuclear weapons programme in the world.' 'As people get radicalised, the risk of a brigadier or pilot taking matters into their own hands is a real concern.'

Netanyahu debunks death rumours with 'punch card' video

Netanyahu debunks death rumours with 'punch card' video

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to continue targeting Iranian leaders, claiming recent successes in eliminating key figures. He asserted that Israel, with US support, aims to undermine the Iranian regime and empower the Iranian people.

Iran's new Supreme Leader injured in airstrikes?

Iran's new Supreme Leader injured in airstrikes?

Rediff.com11 Mar 2026

Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of the Iranian President, has confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is 'safe and sound'. This comes after certain reports claimed that he had been injured during the ongoing strikes by the United States and Israel, according to Al Jazeera.

How a Teenager Uncovered a Fake Sports Body Scamming Athletes

How a Teenager Uncovered a Fake Sports Body Scamming Athletes

Rediff.com19 Mar 2026

A 16-year-old Taekwondo player uncovered a fraudulent sports body, the 'Youth Khelo India Federation (YKIF),' which falsely claimed government affiliation and scammed athletes, prompting the Sports Ministry to file an FIR.

Women Lawyers Face Steep Career Barriers

Women Lawyers Face Steep Career Barriers

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

Nearly two-thirds (63.7 per cent) said they had, at some stage, found the profession discouraging.

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

NCERT row: IIT-Gandhinagar reviews association with Prof Danino

NCERT row: IIT-Gandhinagar reviews association with Prof Danino

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

IIT-Gandhinagar is reviewing Michel Danino's position as guest professor after the Supreme Court directed institutions to disassociate from him due to a controversy over a chapter on judicial corruption in a withdrawn NCERT textbook.

Budget 2026 lays blueprint for a future-ready digital ecosystem

Budget 2026 lays blueprint for a future-ready digital ecosystem

Rediff.com9 Feb 2026

Budget 2026 is an intentional and ambitious one - From manufacturing growth to services supremacy, from technology consumption to AI-powered transformation. This is the blueprint for a $7 trillion economy built on intelligence, not just scale.

Iran carried out drone attack on water desalination plant: Baharain

Iran carried out drone attack on water desalination plant: Baharain

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

The ministry of interior of Bahrain on Sunday claimed that Iran attacked civilian targets in a water desalination plant after a drone attack.

Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games to be Held in Chhattisgarh

Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games to be Held in Chhattisgarh

Rediff.com6 Mar 2026

The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games will be held in Chhattisgarh, featuring seven medal sports and aiming to empower tribal athletes and promote grassroots inclusion.

Iran Ceasefire: Pakistan Was Reading From Washington's Script

Iran Ceasefire: Pakistan Was Reading From Washington's Script

Rediff.com8 Apr 2026

By all available indications, the White House drafted a face-saving note and handed it, ready-made, to Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was supposed to then post it in the guise of a plea urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks 'to allow diplomacy to run its course'. Trump would then graciously accept Pakistan's 'request' and declare a ceasefire. Sharif dutifully posted the message on X. Except that he, or whoever was handling the account, forgot to delete the tell-tale first line visible in the edit history: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X'. Prem Panicker's must read blog on the Iran War.

'Munir Likely Made The Case To Trump That Pakistan Can Be A Useful Mediator'

'Munir Likely Made The Case To Trump That Pakistan Can Be A Useful Mediator'

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

'The White House lunch that Trump hosted for Munir last year came just after Munir returned from a visit to Iran, at a moment when Israel and Iran were at war.' 'Trump said after that lunch that the Pakistanis know Iran very well. He likely views Munir as a useful interlocutor that can give helpful insights on Iran.'

Iran cannot participate in FIFA World Cup, minister says

Iran cannot participate in FIFA World Cup, minister says

Rediff.com11 Mar 2026

Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the US launched airstrikes alongside Israel, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.

Badal Accuses AAP of Deteriorating Punjab Law and Order

Badal Accuses AAP of Deteriorating Punjab Law and Order

Rediff.com9 Mar 2026

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging a decline in law and order and accusing them of using financial schemes to sway voters ahead of elections.

NCP (SP) Leader Calls for Withdrawal of 'Misguided' Transgender Bill

NCP (SP) Leader Calls for Withdrawal of 'Misguided' Transgender Bill

Rediff.com17 Mar 2026

NCP (SP) leader Anish Gawande has urged the government to withdraw the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026, arguing that it undermines the right to self-determination of gender identity and was drafted without adequate consultation.

Middle East on edge as Iran targets US military bases

Middle East on edge as Iran targets US military bases

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

Residents across the Gulf region, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, experienced fear and disruption following attacks, leading to flight suspensions and heightened security measures.

HC questions DU's blanket ban on campus protests, seeks explanation

HC questions DU's blanket ban on campus protests, seeks explanation

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

The Delhi High Court has questioned the blanket ban on protests and demonstrations on the Delhi University campus, seeking justification from the university and Delhi Police. The court acknowledged the need for balance but emphasized that a complete prohibition is likely untenable.