News for 'State for Public Affairs'

Grievance redressal method of e-com players not up to mark

Grievance redressal method of e-com players not up to mark

Rediff.com22 Dec 2022

The grievance redressal mechanism of many big e-commerce players is not up to the mark as the number of complaints received by the National Consumer Helpline has risen sharply over the last four years, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said on Thursday. Addressing an event organised by the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), Singh said the number of complaints registered on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has gone up to 90,000 in November compared to 40,000 in the same month last year. "Four years back, the number of complaints pertaining to e-commerce transactions was 8 per cent of the total complaints.

RAW official behind Pannun murder plot? Here is what media report says

RAW official behind Pannun murder plot? Here is what media report says

Rediff.com29 Apr 2024

Quoting officials, The Washington Post said, the foiled assassination was part of an escalating campaign of aggression by RAW against the Indian diaspora in Asia, Europe and North America.

Kuwait fire: Indian mission swings into action

Kuwait fire: Indian mission swings into action

Rediff.com13 Jun 2024

India's mission in Kuwait is ascertaining the full details from the concerned Kuwaiti authorities on the tragic fire incident in a building in the southern city of Mangaf which killed 49 foreign workers, including around 40 Indians, and injured 50 others, even as officials started an investigation into one of the worst fires in the Gulf nation.

Database State to Surveillance State

Database State to Surveillance State

Rediff.com31 Jan 2017

The plan of UID/Aadhaar-based surveillance does not end with the collection of fingerprints and iris scan, it goes quite beyond it and poses a lethal threat to the idea of India, says Gopal Krishna.

MHA seeks report from Bengal govt on attacks on ED teams

MHA seeks report from Bengal govt on attacks on ED teams

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

The home ministry also asked the state government to send details of the action taken following the attacks on the central probe agency teams, the sources said.

'Shocking That PM Gave Investing Advice'

'Shocking That PM Gave Investing Advice'

Rediff.com7 Jun 2024

'Somebody was using somebody to make statements that will stir the stock market and lead to a surge.' 'A sudden surge and a sudden crash is always an ideal situation for people to make illicit gains and then siphoning off the money.'

'Never heard...': Cong on US envoy's remarks on Manipur

'Never heard...': Cong on US envoy's remarks on Manipur

Rediff.com7 Jul 2023

Garcetti reportedly said the violence and killings in Manipur are a matter of "human concern" and the US is "ready to assist" India in dealing with the situation "if asked".

Discussed Canada with Blinken, both sides came out better informed: Jaishankar

Discussed Canada with Blinken, both sides came out better informed: Jaishankar

Rediff.com29 Sep 2023

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that the Canadian allegations with regard to the death of a Khalistani separatist was discussed during his meeting with the Secretary of State Tony Blinken a day earlier and noted that the two delegations came out "better informed" after the meeting.

Unemployment: Disease Lies In Education

Unemployment: Disease Lies In Education

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

In tackling India's unemployment problem, look beyond the finance minister and focus on the education minister, points out Gurbachan Singh.

MHA issues fresh advisory to states amid rising Omicron cases

MHA issues fresh advisory to states amid rising Omicron cases

Rediff.com27 Dec 2021

In the advisory, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said States and Union Territories may consider imposing need based, local curbs and restrictions, to control the crowd during the festive season.

8 Union ministers, 2 ex-CMs, in fray in first phase of LS polls

8 Union ministers, 2 ex-CMs, in fray in first phase of LS polls

Rediff.com17 Apr 2024

Eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers and one ex-governor are among those who are set to test their electoral fate in the first phase of elections on April 19 when 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories will go to polls.

Xi, Putin hint at political settlement to end Ukraine war

Xi, Putin hint at political settlement to end Ukraine war

Rediff.com16 May 2024

"The two sides note that the relationship between Russia and China has progressed to a more advanced interstate cooperation compared to the military-political unions of the Cold War era as it is not bloc or confrontational in nature, nor does it target any third countries," Russia's new agency Tass quoted the document as saying.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Gripping!!

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Gripping!!

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack begins by asking why the hijack lasted seven days and ends in wondering if the good guys fought the bad ones hard enough, observes Sukanya Verma.

Sumitra Mahajan, SPB, Tarun Gogoi among 118 given Padma awards

Sumitra Mahajan, SPB, Tarun Gogoi among 118 given Padma awards

Rediff.com9 Nov 2021

Veteran doctor and educationist from Karnataka Belle Monappa Hegde and archaeology legend B B Lal were also given the Padma Vibhushan awards.

3 Union ministers hold talks with protesting farmers

3 Union ministers hold talks with protesting farmers

Rediff.com15 Feb 2024

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 in Chandigarh.

Election 2024: The Big Fights In Kerala

Election 2024: The Big Fights In Kerala

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

Kerala's election discourse operates surreptitiously. Its explicit face focuses on important national and local issues. At the same time, it seeks to secure apt communal equations to ensure votes, notes Shyam G Menon.

Mira Nair's son wins election to New York State assembly

Mira Nair's son wins election to New York State assembly

Rediff.com4 Nov 2020

'It's official: we won. I'm going to Albany to fight to tax the rich, heal the sick, house the poor & build a socialist New York. But I can't do it alone. To win socialism, we'll need a mass movement of the multiracial working class as well. So let's build one,' Mamdani tweeted.

Is This Lady Behind Missing Chinese Foreign Minister?

Is This Lady Behind Missing Chinese Foreign Minister?

Rediff.com18 Jul 2023

China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public since June 25. Is he unwell, or has he been purged?

Padma awards for Jaitley, Sushma, Fernandes, Parrikar

Padma awards for Jaitley, Sushma, Fernandes, Parrikar

Rediff.com25 Jan 2020

The Padma Vibhushan for this year has been awarded to a total of seven prominent personalities, while 16 have been given the Padma Bhushan, 118 have been given the Padma Shri on the 71st Republic Day this year, they said.

US indicts Indian national in plot to kill Pannun

US indicts Indian national in plot to kill Pannun

Rediff.com30 Nov 2023

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G Olsen said.

Tsunami alert as 7.5 magnitude tremor rocks Japan; 32K homes face power cut

Tsunami alert as 7.5 magnitude tremor rocks Japan; 32K homes face power cut

Rediff.com1 Jan 2024

The intensity was measured 7 on the Japanese scale -- which ranges from zero to seven -- on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, according to NHK.

3 redrafted criminal law bills moved in Parl, here's what changed

3 redrafted criminal law bills moved in Parl, here's what changed

Rediff.com12 Dec 2023

The government on Tuesday introduced in Parliament three redrafted bills to replace the existing criminal laws by including various recommendations made by a parliamentary panel.

State force should never be used to browbeat political opinion, scribes: SC

State force should never be used to browbeat political opinion, scribes: SC

Rediff.com10 Dec 2021

A bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and MM Sundresh made these observations while quashing the FIRs against editors of a news web portal and others, in connection with articles published in West Bengal.

Modi first foreign head to get Bhutan's highest civilian honour

Modi first foreign head to get Bhutan's highest civilian honour

Rediff.com22 Mar 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received Bhutan's highest civilian award, the 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo', making him the first foreign Head of the Government to receive the honour.

The Last Indian Villages On Tibet Border

The Last Indian Villages On Tibet Border

Rediff.com23 May 2024

'It is a breathtaking journey towards the Tibet border, especially since the Border Road Organisation has accomplished a fabulous feat in black-topping the road till the border.' 'One is left with a salute for the dauntless Indian soldiers who spend the winter in these majestic, though inhospitable areas (we were told that the temperature comes down to minus 40 in winter),' recounts Claude Arpi.

Will expose Rs 40k-cr scam under Yediyurappa govt if ...: BJP MLA

Will expose Rs 40k-cr scam under Yediyurappa govt if ...: BJP MLA

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

Yatnal, who has launched a tirade against Yediyurappa and his family, especially after his second son BY Vijayendra was made the BJP state president, said there was large-scale corruption in coronavirus management during the BJP government.

70 lakh mobile numbers involved in financial frauds disconnected

70 lakh mobile numbers involved in financial frauds disconnected

Rediff.com28 Nov 2023

To check digital frauds, the government has disconnected 70 lakh mobile numbers so far involved in cybercrime or financial frauds, Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi said on Tuesday. Emerging from a meeting to discuss issues related to financial cyber security and increasing digital payment fraud, Joshi, who chaired the meeting, said banks have been asked to strengthen the system and processes in this regard. More such meetings would take place, he said, adding the next meeting is scheduled in January.

Chinese defence minister missing, rumoured to have been detained

Chinese defence minister missing, rumoured to have been detained

Rediff.com16 Sep 2023

Speculation about the missing Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu may have been removed and detained became rife after he was conspicuously absent at the meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC) in Beijing on Friday.

Militants gun down 2 Manipur policemen, women block road to airport

Militants gun down 2 Manipur policemen, women block road to airport

Rediff.com17 Jan 2024

A large number of women from Malom in Imphal West district blocked the road to the airport in protest against the killing of the policemen in Moreh.

'BJP Has 6,000 Crores To Spend On Elections'

'BJP Has 6,000 Crores To Spend On Elections'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

'Not even a single rupee from the electoral bonds should be allowed to be used in the election.' 'If it is used in the election, it will taint India's electoral process itself.'

COVID-19: BCCI suspends IPL till April 15; shorter, closed-door affair with double-headers

COVID-19: BCCI suspends IPL till April 15; shorter, closed-door affair with double-headers

Rediff.com13 Mar 2020

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till April 15, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) situation.

Who Will Taste Grapes Of Wrath In Nashik?

Who Will Taste Grapes Of Wrath In Nashik?

Rediff.com19 May 2024

'During times of adversity, a brick becomes better than a stone. That is how I look at the election season.'

External affairs ministry is undergoing change: Khurshid

External affairs ministry is undergoing change: Khurshid

Rediff.com30 Jul 2013

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said his ministry is contemplating a plan to have people from industry on-board to facilitate on issues relating to economic diplomacy.

We want to decide our own matters by ourselves: Maldives Prez Muizzu

We want to decide our own matters by ourselves: Maldives Prez Muizzu

Rediff.com23 Apr 2024

The parliamentary election result was also to prove that the Maldivians want "autonomy in choosing their future, without foreign coercion," President Muizzu said, without naming any country, according to the Sun.mv news portal.

Kamal Nath fighting lone battle to save home turf

Kamal Nath fighting lone battle to save home turf

Rediff.com17 Apr 2024

With many of his close associates leaving his side, it is virtually a lone battle for Congress stalwart Kamal Nath to help his parliamentarian son Nakul Nath win from Chhindwara for a second time amid the Bharatiya Janata Party's aggressive push to wrest the seat.

What's A National Common Mobility Card?

What's A National Common Mobility Card?

Rediff.com19 Oct 2023

The NCMC facilitates convenient travel while integrating last-mile connectivity, a must in India's extensive landscape. It enables travellers to pay for a cross-section of needs, including toll tax, retail shopping, and withdrawing money.

Sangma keeps heavyweight portfolios with NPP, allies get rest

Sangma keeps heavyweight portfolios with NPP, allies get rest

Rediff.com9 Mar 2023

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma retained the key departments for his National Peoples Party, and gave the lesser politically significant ones to alliance partners Bharatiya Janata Party, Hill State Peoples Democratic Party and United Democratic Party as he allocated portfolios on Thursday.

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

On June 26, for the likes of me, the music died. Any impression of potential change held forth by the outcome of the 2024 general election, was vaporised, reveals Shyam G Menon.

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.

Little public tolerance on corruption: PM

Little public tolerance on corruption: PM

Rediff.com21 Apr 2011

Admitting that there is little public tolerance now for the prevailing state of affairs on the issue of corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that his government is committed to face this challenge boldly as people expect swift and exemplary action