News for 'States'

How Long Can US Forces Fight Iran War?

How Long Can US Forces Fight Iran War?

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

Torn between loyalty to their comrades and disillusionment towards the cause for which they are fighting, they are beginning to cave in. Morale has been the casualty, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

Four dead, five soldiers missing after landslide, flash flood in Arunachal

Four dead, five soldiers missing after landslide, flash flood in Arunachal

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

Five Army personnel are missing after a flash flood in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley, while four people died in a landslide in Upper Subansiri district. Both incidents occurred on Friday evening, triggering extensive search and rescue operations involving multiple agencies.

Why Are Indian IT Firms Cutting H-1B Applications?

Why Are Indian IT Firms Cutting H-1B Applications?

Rediff.com21 Aug 2026

Indian IT companies have significantly reduced their fresh H-1B visa applications for US FY27, a direct consequence of soaring fees imposed by the Trump administration and new lottery system changes that prioritise higher-salaried employees, leading to a seven-year low in registrations.

Vermula And Saranya Lead India's Strong Start At Asian Junior Chess

Vermula And Saranya Lead India's Strong Start At Asian Junior Chess

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

Indian chess players Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi secured gold medals in the Open and Girls blitz sections respectively at the Asian Junior Chess Championship, marking a strong start for the nation. Vermula, a 23rd seed, won on tie-breaks, while Saranya, seeded ninth, displayed tactical precision to claim her title.

TN House demands 543-seat LS formula, 33% women quota from 2029

TN House demands 543-seat LS formula, 33% women quota from 2029

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has adopted a resolution, moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, urging the Union government to permanently fix the Lok Sabha strength at 543 and implement 33 per cent women's reservation by 2029. The resolution also opposes delimitation that could disadvantage states successful in population control.

J'khand exam protest enters 18th day; BJP observes bandh, ABVP march to assembly

J'khand exam protest enters 18th day; BJP observes bandh, ABVP march to assembly

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Student protests in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams have intensified, leading to a state-wide bandh called by the BJP and a march by the ABVP to the state assembly. The agitation, now in its 18th day, has seen police action against demonstrators, an ED money laundering probe, and the arrest of a former JPSC chairperson, while talks between the government and students remain deadlocked.

Bengal govt revokes BJP MP's award for remarks on Netaji

Bengal govt revokes BJP MP's award for remarks on Netaji

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

The West Bengal government has revoked the Banga Bibhushan award from Rajya Sabha MP Ananta Maharaj following his controversial remarks describing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a 'war criminal' and questioning the Azad Hind Fauj's role in India's freedom struggle.

Sushmita Dev's 'lungiwala' slur against CPM MP Brittas rocks Rajya Sabha

Sushmita Dev's 'lungiwala' slur against CPM MP Brittas rocks Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned following an uproar over an alleged derogatory 'lungiwala' remark made by BJP MP Sushmita Dev against CPI(M)'s John Brittas, who had moved a privilege motion. Dev denied the accusation, stating she had not cast aspersions on any state's attire.

Kangana: I Identify As A Bhakt...'

Kangana: I Identify As A Bhakt...'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has publicly endorsed Isha Koppikar's 'andhbhakt' declaration, asserting that such devotion is rooted in love for the country.

Rajasthan govt restricts entry, photography in schools amid CJP campaign

Rajasthan govt restricts entry, photography in schools amid CJP campaign

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

The Rajasthan government has issued an order restricting the entry of outsiders into government schools and barring photography and videography without prior permission, a move that follows protests over poor conditions and an announced inspection by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

SC: Immediate FIRs must be filed for all missing persons, not just children

SC: Immediate FIRs must be filed for all missing persons, not just children

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

The Supreme Court has clarified that its order for immediate FIR registration in missing persons cases applies to every individual, regardless of age or gender, warning states and Union Territories of contempt proceedings for non-compliance.

India all-rounder Mahipal Lomror signs with Surrey

India all-rounder Mahipal Lomror signs with Surrey

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Indian all-rounder Mahipal Lomror has signed with Surrey for the remainder of the County Championship season. He becomes the second player from Rajasthan to join the English side this season, filling a gap left by injuries and international call-ups.

Why Japan Is Expanding Defence Ties Beyond India

Why Japan Is Expanding Defence Ties Beyond India

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

Japan is deepening its defence relationship with India while simultaneously expanding its economic, infrastructure and security engagement with countries around India -- particularly Bangladesh. The result is an emerging Japanese conception of South Asia in which India remains the strategic anchor, but the geography surrounding India is becoming increasingly important, points out Varun Arya.

RBI Deputy Governor Outlines Vision For India's Evolving Forex Market

RBI Deputy Governor Outlines Vision For India's Evolving Forex Market

Rediff.com20 Aug 2026

RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain discussed the future of India's foreign exchange markets, highlighting the increasing role of local currencies in cross-border trade, the impact of technology, and existing challenges. He emphasised the need for market evolution to facilitate India's global engagement, absorb shocks, and serve all users efficiently. Jain also addressed concerns about unauthorised forex trading platforms and the importance of customer awareness.

Jharkhand exam stir: Students plan CM residence gherao on Aug 30

Jharkhand exam stir: Students plan CM residence gherao on Aug 30

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment exams announced burning the effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi in all districts on Sunday, accusing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance of "failing to take concrete action" on their demands.

Alzheimer's Can't Be Cured, But Delayed

Alzheimer's Can't Be Cured, But Delayed

Rediff.com21 Aug 2026

'Think of the brain like a machine, and Alzheimer's is like rust.'
'Like a rusty machine breaks down, a rusty brain also breaks down. And when it breaks down, you have memory loss, cognitive issues and so on.'

'Avoid hurting...': Rahul's Pune event gets nod with 30 conditions

'Avoid hurting...': Rahul's Pune event gets nod with 30 conditions

Rediff.com20 Aug 2026

Police have granted permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Pune, but with 30 stringent conditions, including prohibitions on 'objectionable' banners and directives to avoid hurting religious sentiments.

9 year old raped and murdered in Pune, neighbour arrested

9 year old raped and murdered in Pune, neighbour arrested

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Pune district for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a nine-year-old girl from his neighbourhood. The incident occurred in Pimpalwadi village, Junnar tehsil, after the accused lured the victim away.

High-Powered Committee to Drive Banking Reforms for Viksit Bharat, Says FM Sitharaman

High-Powered Committee to Drive Banking Reforms for Viksit Bharat, Says FM Sitharaman

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government's plan to establish a high-powered committee to examine reforms for the banking sector, aligning it with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) and India's next phase of growth.

Karnataka organisations divided over Cauvery water bandh call

Karnataka organisations divided over Cauvery water bandh call

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

A call for a strike by the Federation of Kannada organisations against the CWMA's directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has seen mixed support, with many groups offering only moral backing while essential services and schools are expected to function normally.

HC orders father, UP govt to pay Rs 25 lakh to sisters who converted to Islam

HC orders father, UP govt to pay Rs 25 lakh to sisters who converted to Islam

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the father of two adult women and the Uttar Pradesh government to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh compensation. This ruling comes after the sisters were illegally confined at their parental home for converting to Islam. The court affirmed their right to choose their faith and criticised both the father and the state for infringing upon their fundamental liberties.

Mahua Moitra alleges forced eviction from circuit house, writes to Speaker

Mahua Moitra alleges forced eviction from circuit house, writes to Speaker

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

TMC MP Mahua Moitra has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking his intervention after she was allegedly forced to vacate a circuit house in Nadia district, claiming harassment and threatening legal action. She reported a crowd shouting 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans outside the premises after her refusal to leave.

'Those who oppose 'Vande Mataram' don't know their mother'

'Those who oppose 'Vande Mataram' don't know their mother'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal on Saturday said those who do not say Vande Mataram do not know who their mother is.

Can India Defend Chess Olympiad Double, End Winner's Curse?

Can India Defend Chess Olympiad Double, End Winner's Curse?

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

'Being the defending champions certainly gives us confidence, but every Olympiad is a new event and starts from scratch.'

Praggnanandhaa beats Sindarov for first win in Sinquefield Cup

Praggnanandhaa beats Sindarov for first win in Sinquefield Cup

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured his first victory at the Sinquefield Cup, defeating Javokhir Sindarov in a 95-move game.

Floe AI Model Tackles India's Multilingual Communication Challenges

Floe AI Model Tackles India's Multilingual Communication Challenges

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

Blue Machines AI has launched Floe, a context-aware language detection model designed for AI agents. Floe distinguishes between code-mixing and genuine language switches in multimodal interactions, supporting over 10 Indic languages with ultra-low latency. It aims to improve enterprise AI conversations by understanding user intent in multilingual settings.

Geopolitical uncertainty, elevated oil prices drag Sensex, Nifty lower

Geopolitical uncertainty, elevated oil prices drag Sensex, Nifty lower

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower, with the Nifty recording its fourth consecutive day of decline, primarily due to elevated oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which dampened investor sentiment.

Now Unnao school students take to the streets in protest

Now Unnao school students take to the streets in protest

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

Hundreds of students at a government residential school in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, staged a protest against alleged poor-quality food, inadequate drinking water, teacher shortages, and the principal's behaviour. The demonstration, part of a recent trend of "Gen alpha protests" in the state, briefly disrupted traffic before officials intervened and assured the students that their grievances would be addressed, leading to a peaceful resolution.

'Nobody is...': Tukaram Mundhe on notice to SRK, Ajay Devgn and Tiger

'Nobody is...': Tukaram Mundhe on notice to SRK, Ajay Devgn and Tiger

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Mundhe said the FDA was examining advertisements for products other than tobacco-related items and would act wherever misleading claims or other violations were found.

India Set To Embrace Fast-Paced 3x3 Basketball With Quest 2026

India Set To Embrace Fast-Paced 3x3 Basketball With Quest 2026

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.

US revoked over 1.75 lakh visas during Trump's tenure

US revoked over 1.75 lakh visas during Trump's tenure

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

The US on Monday announced that it had revoked more than 1.75 lakh visas during President Donald Trump's tenure for a range of crimes from reckless driving to sexual assault.

Nagaland churches body opposes compulsory 'Vande Mataram'

Nagaland churches body opposes compulsory 'Vande Mataram'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has voiced strong opposition to any directive making the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory, especially for Christians. They argue that patriotism should not be reduced to forced conformity and that India's constitutional values of liberty, pluralism, and freedom of conscience must be respected. The council also called for dialogue and sensitivity from state institutions.

Nurse found dead in govt hospital washroom in Kolkata

Nurse found dead in govt hospital washroom in Kolkata

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

A 30-year-old nurse was found dead in a Kolkata hospital washroom, with preliminary investigations suggesting a possible overdose of an anaesthetic drug. Police are probing all angles, including mental stress, while an internal health department committee has been formed.

Iran knew Trump's exact location in Turkey, including his hotel floor

Iran knew Trump's exact location in Turkey, including his hotel floor

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

US intelligence agencies intercepted information indicating Iran had precise details of President Donald Trump's location in Ankara during a NATO summit, prompting a secretive departure due to a specific surface-to-air missile threat and the presence of a shoulder-fired missile near the summit.

BJP rejig: Smriti Irani makes comeback, Ram Madhav gets key role

BJP rejig: Smriti Irani makes comeback, Ram Madhav gets key role

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a significant overhaul of its national team under party president Nitin Nabin, introducing numerous new faces and promoting prominent leaders like former Union minister Smriti Irani to general secretary and former RSS functionary Ram Madhav to vice president. The revamp aims to balance youth and experience while preparing for upcoming assembly and general elections.

Why Messi's Kerala Visit Never Happened: Report Submitted To Govt

Why Messi's Kerala Visit Never Happened: Report Submitted To Govt

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

The Kerala Sports Department has submitted its confidential inquiry report regarding the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state during the previous government's tenure.

Chandigarh, Odisha, MP Dominate; Manipur Edges Maharashtra In Junior Women's Hockey

Chandigarh, Odisha, MP Dominate; Manipur Edges Maharashtra In Junior Women's Hockey

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

At the 16th Hockey Junior Women National Championship in Pune, Chandigarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh secured decisive wins, while Manipur narrowly defeated Maharashtra in a thrilling Division A encounter. Key players delivered strong performances, including hat-tricks, contributing to high-scoring matches and close finishes.

Williams sisters beaten on doubles return at Cincinnati Open

Williams sisters beaten on doubles return at Cincinnati Open

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams made their return to doubles action at the Cincinnati Open, their first match together since 2022.

Gujarat Boosts Athlete Support With Shaktidoot 2.0 Scheme And Rs 388 Crore Infrastructure

Gujarat Boosts Athlete Support With Shaktidoot 2.0 Scheme And Rs 388 Crore Infrastructure

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has launched the 'Shaktidoot 2.0' statewide sports scheme, significantly increasing financial assistance for athletes up to Rs 50 lakh. The initiative also focuses on identifying grassroots talent, supporting differently-abled players, and inaugurating sports complexes and libraries worth over Rs 388 crore. The scheme introduces a transparent, performance-based selection process and immediate aid for exceptional non-scheme players.

Abhijeet Dipke gets invite from Union minister to join NDA govt

Abhijeet Dipke gets invite from Union minister to join NDA govt

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has indicated a potential Union cabinet reshuffle soon and extended an invitation to eight NCP (SP) MPs to join the NDA, even if Sharad Pawar declines. He urged the opposition faction to set aside ideological differences for development. However, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto dismissed Athawale's offer, calling him a "floater." Athawale also addressed the issue of reservation, stating it's a constitutional right.