News for 'The India Program'

Trump backs 'great' H-1B visa programme amid opposition

Trump backs 'great' H-1B visa programme amid opposition

Rediff.com29 Dec 2024

In a major shift from his earlier stance, United States-President elect Donald Trump has expressed his support for the H-1B visa programme and acknowledged frequently using it for his own properties, calling it a 'great programme', according to a report by New York Post.

'Tata, Mahindra Will Not Allow Tesla to Dominate'

'Tata, Mahindra Will Not Allow Tesla to Dominate'

Rediff.com28 Feb 2025

'Every Indian should move to an EV, and the government should not buy any fossil fuel cars. The government should become the first driver of EV adoption.'

'Disappointing': US denies BJP's allegations

'Disappointing': US denies BJP's allegations

Rediff.com7 Dec 2024

The United States on Saturday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegations that organisations funded by the US State Department and elements in the American 'deep state' were behind attempts to destabilise India through targeted attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

Modi slams 'Lutyens Jamaat, Khan Market Gang' over British-era dance ban

Modi slams 'Lutyens Jamaat, Khan Market Gang' over British-era dance ban

Rediff.com1 Mar 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that his "vocal for local" campaign is bearing fruit as Indian products are going global and making their presence felt across the world. He said that India was becoming the land of infinite innovations, finding affordable solutions and offering them to the world. The prime minister also highlighted the country's rising defense products, electronics, automobile sector, and the success of superfoods, Ayush products, and yoga. He said India should be presented to the world as it is, without any bias. Modi said that the country was now emerging as a manufacturing hub and a "factory of the world." He added that India was creating solutions that were affordable, accessible, and adaptable, and offering them to the world without gatekeeping.

Can Student Suicides Be Prevented?

Can Student Suicides Be Prevented?

Rediff.com26 Mar 2025

Mental health experts and counsellors highlight how to identify early signs of distress in children and what parents and peers can do to prevent someone from taking their life.

When Hindus Greeted Muslims On Eid

When Hindus Greeted Muslims On Eid

Rediff.com7 Apr 2025

'I am determined now to celebrate all festivals together.' 'People don't respond much when you try to convince them by talking about principles of secularism etc. But if we revive our shared cultural practices, specially food, we may get a better response.'

Lyon donates Kohli, Bumrah, Ashwin bats for charity

Lyon donates Kohli, Bumrah, Ashwin bats for charity

Rediff.com17 Jan 2025

Nathan Lyon donates bats signed by Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah to support cricketers with disability

What fintechs must do to scale up presence of e

What fintechs must do to scale up presence of e

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

Non-banking entities such as fintech firms will have to tap into use cases beyond peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-merchant (P2M) transactions to scale up the presence of the retail version of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is also known as the e, said industry players. These use cases will enable programmable transactions across domains, including the government's direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes, with subsidies restricted to specific purposes such as food coupons, hospital bills, fertilisers, pesticides, and cross-border remittances.

Excited go into microgravity conditions: Astronaut Shukla on ISS travel

Excited go into microgravity conditions: Astronaut Shukla on ISS travel

Rediff.com31 Jan 2025

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), flying aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a joint effort between NASA and ISRO. Shukla, a group captain in the Indian Air Force, will serve as the pilot for the Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for launch no earlier than spring 2025. The mission will also carry the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the ISS.

Startups To Altman: Make OpenAI Affordable

Startups To Altman: Make OpenAI Affordable

Rediff.com6 Feb 2025

'There is need for India-specific pricing.' 'Google, Microsoft and others also have different pricing.' 'It is important for OpenAI to think on these lines as the global pricing may not work in the Indian context.'

'Everything Is Give-And-Take With Trump'

'Everything Is Give-And-Take With Trump'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

'Transactionalism is in his DNA.'

'All Algo Orders Shall Be Tagged'

'All Algo Orders Shall Be Tagged'

Rediff.com14 Dec 2024

'There has been a spurt of algo platforms, and algo developers, which are neither empaneled nor regulated, but are still active in the ecosystem.'

Meet Avani Lekhara, India's Pride

Meet Avani Lekhara, India's Pride

Rediff.com30 Aug 2024

Avani Lekhara, India's Paralympic shooting sensation, continued her reign of dominance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

'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?'

SA20 head Smith eager to learn from IPL's success

SA20 head Smith eager to learn from IPL's success

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

Smith couldn't hide his emotions while recalling their work in the early days that paved the way for the entry of six IPL franchises in the league.

'We Expect 1 Million Start Ups By 2035'

'We Expect 1 Million Start Ups By 2035'

Rediff.com13 Mar 2025

'Binary fission will happen -- startups will lead to more startups.'

E2W firms get serious about customer care support

E2W firms get serious about customer care support

Rediff.com10 Dec 2024

Players like Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Kinetic Green and BGauss are introducing premium services and infrastructure enhancements.

India threatens CWG boycott over shocking exclusion

India threatens CWG boycott over shocking exclusion

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

Gopichand, who is often credited with creating a pipeline of top badminton players by identifying them at a young age, described the move by the games' organisers' as appalling.

'Trump Deep Down Admires Modi'

'Trump Deep Down Admires Modi'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

'When compared to many of America's treaty allies in Asia, Modi 3.0 is on a much stronger footing.'

This attack-dog behaviour....: Tharoor slams BJP over US deep state charges

This attack-dog behaviour....: Tharoor slams BJP over US deep state charges

Rediff.com8 Dec 2024

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized the BJP for its allegations that elements in the American "deep state" were behind attempts to destabilize India, saying this "attack-dog" behavior is an embarrassment to India. Tharoor's comments come after the US rejected the BJP's allegations, describing them as "disappointing" and asserting that the US government is a champion of media freedom. The BJP had alleged that the US deep state colluded with the media portal OCCRP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to "damage" India's image.

'Daddy' Tan returns: Can he lead Sat-Chi to gold?

'Daddy' Tan returns: Can he lead Sat-Chi to gold?

Rediff.com17 Jan 2025

Tan Kim Her's voice was tinged with emotion as he reflected on the journey of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the two men he paired and who fondly call him "Daddy".

Budget 2025: More credit for farmers, 6 new schemes announced

Budget 2025: More credit for farmers, 6 new schemes announced

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

In a significant policy shift aimed at boosting agri-productivity and rural prosperity, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced six new agricultural schemes while increasing the subsidised Kisan Credit Card loan limit to Rs 5 lakh from the existing Rs 3 lakh, benefiting 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers.

Union Budget 2025: Will 10K new medical seats curb students outflow?

Union Budget 2025: Will 10K new medical seats curb students outflow?

Rediff.com2 Feb 2025

The Indian government's announcement of 10,000 additional seats in medical colleges next year, part of a plan to add 75,000 seats over five years, has been welcomed by education experts and stakeholders. The move aims to address the shortage of medical professionals and reduce the outflow of Indian medical students to other countries. The budget also includes infrastructure expansion at five new IITs to accommodate 6,500 more students and an allocation of Rs 500 crore to set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education.

'Trump will pick up from where he left off with India'

'Trump will pick up from where he left off with India'

Rediff.com15 Nov 2024

Lisa Curtis, who served as deputy assistant to President Trump and as National Security Council senior director for South and Central Asia from 2017 to 2021, said she expected the same bumps for India and the US, as in Trump's first term, including tariff, dependence on Russia over arms supply and oil purchase from Iran. Curtis, however, said both countries could never enter an alliance but develop a partnership that is "short of an alliance". She hoped them to achieve a cooperation that deters China, but also prepares both countries in case of a crisis or conflict, be it in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, or another flare-up on the India-China border.

Padukone launches badminton coaching program in Mumbai

Padukone launches badminton coaching program in Mumbai

Rediff.com19 Oct 2021

Asked whether they could take help from former players like Gandhe, Padukone said, "We will definitely make use of all the ex-players also, depending on the availability of their time.

Will ICC adopt a new system for Test cricket?

Will ICC adopt a new system for Test cricket?

Rediff.com6 Jan 2025

'I've been a firm believer in that if you want Test cricket to survive and be alive and thriving, I think that's the way to go.'

'Trump Will Unite America Provided...'

'Trump Will Unite America Provided...'

Rediff.com22 Jan 2025

'...he keeps his campaign promises, does what he said he will do which led to his huge victory.'

Satish-Aadya: Climbing rankings while embracing trials

Satish-Aadya: Climbing rankings while embracing trials

Rediff.com8 Feb 2025

Just 18 months after pairing up, the young mixed doubles pair of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath rise to World No 33.

Days after 'will go to war' vow, Musk says H-1B visa system 'broken'

Days after 'will go to war' vow, Musk says H-1B visa system 'broken'

Rediff.com31 Dec 2024

Elon Musk, who has previously vowed to "go to war" to defend the H-1B visa program, has reignited debate surrounding the program by labeling it "broken" and in urgent need of "major reform." Musk, along with Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, has been tapped by Trump to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While Musk acknowledges the need for foreign workers in the tech industry, he believes the current H-1B system needs significant changes, including raising the minimum salary and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the visa. The H-1B visa, which allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has been a subject of debate for years. The tech industry advocates for more H-1B visas to attract highly skilled workers, while some argue that it allows businesses to replace Americans with lower-paid foreign workers.

Sonia Gandhi linked to Soros-funded group backing Kashmir freedom: BJP

Sonia Gandhi linked to Soros-funded group backing Kashmir freedom: BJP

Rediff.com8 Dec 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has links to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation, which has reportedly supported the idea of an independent Kashmir. The party claims this connection demonstrates foreign influence in Indian internal affairs. This comes after BJP's claims of US involvement in destabilizing India, which the US has denied. The BJP also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of collaborating with the Soros-funded OCCRP to damage India's economy and reputation. The allegations have drawn criticism from the US embassy and the opposition Congress.

The Harsh Reality For Wayanad Survivors

The Harsh Reality For Wayanad Survivors

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

In Kerala's society, known for its high material standard of living, plunging into a state of having nothing overnight can be terrible for one's social standing and sense of self-esteem. Rehabilitation entails piecing a community back together after a disturbance and while its aim is noble, the act of reassembling will bring alive disparities and inequalities, explains Shyam G Menon.

What Jay Shah told IOC boss Bach...

What Jay Shah told IOC boss Bach...

Rediff.com21 Jan 2025

The duo met at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and discussed about cricket's future in the Olympic programme.

Child porn: SC nudges Parliament to amend POCSO Act

Child porn: SC nudges Parliament to amend POCSO Act

Rediff.com23 Sep 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday suggested that Parliament should seriously consider bringing an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for substituting the term 'child pornography' with 'child sexual exploitative and abuse material' with a view to reflect more accurately the reality of such offences.

Had Bumrah not been there, BGT series would've been one-sided: McGrath

Had Bumrah not been there, BGT series would've been one-sided: McGrath

Rediff.com1 Jan 2025

Jasprit Bumrah's incredible performance has prevented the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series from becoming completely lopsided in Australia's favour, said pace great Glenn McGrath, lauding the India spearhead for his ball-control and ability to adapt quickly.

Jaipur Lit Fest: Words Against War

Jaipur Lit Fest: Words Against War

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

'Our fractured world has been embroiled in wars and hatred, and many sessions reflect these concerns.'

10 Must Watch Stories From Across The World

10 Must Watch Stories From Across The World

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

This year's Sundance Film Festival was rich with films and the theatres were warm, even as temperatures outside dipped to below freezing point. It snowed only once but the sidewalks remained slippery for a few days.

TCS to drive next phase of Passport Seva Program

TCS to drive next phase of Passport Seva Program

Rediff.com7 Jan 2022

Tata Consultancy Services on Friday said it has been selected by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for the second phase of the Passport Seva Program. In the next phase of the programme, TCS will refresh existing facilities and systems, and develop innovative solutions to enable the issuance of e-passports and further enhance the citizen experience, using technologies, such as biometrics, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, chatbots, auto-response, natural language processing, and the cloud, a statement said. Launched in 2008, the Passport Seva Program saw TCS transforming the delivery of passport-related services, digitising the processes, and setting global benchmarks in timeliness, transparency, and reliability.

Google Unveils AI For India's Developers

Google Unveils AI For India's Developers

Rediff.com18 Jul 2024

Developers in India now have expanded access to Google's powerful AI models with the 2 million token context window in Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2, the next generation of open models.

India, US sign key defence agreement

India, US sign key defence agreement

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

The two countries also signed a 'Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers', which will facilitate the posting of one military officer from each country with the military of the other.

Increase in room rates, higher occupancy to drive gains for Indian Hotels

Increase in room rates, higher occupancy to drive gains for Indian Hotels

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

Indian Hotels reported strong consolidated revenue growth of 29 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the third quarter of the current financial year (Q3FY25), led by revenue per available room, or RevPAR, growth of 15 per cent. The average room rate, or ARR, was up 13 per cent and occupancy improved 120 basis points (bps) Y-o-Y on a standalone business. Like-for-like revenue growth was 15 per cent Y-o-Y, while TajSats (airline catering) grew by 18 per cent Y-o-Y.