News for 'United Services Institution'

Assam passes bill to scrap state-run Madrassas

Assam passes bill to scrap state-run Madrassas

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

From April 1 next year, over 600 state-run Madrassas will be converted into upper primary, high and higher secondary schools with no change of status, pay, allowances and service conditions of the teaching and non-teaching staff.

Netanyahu takes oath as Israel's new PM, to head most hardline govt to date

Netanyahu takes oath as Israel's new PM, to head most hardline govt to date

Rediff.com29 Dec 2022

Out of 120 members of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), Netanyahu has the support of 64 members

The growing tussle between the govt and CAG

The growing tussle between the govt and CAG

Rediff.com22 May 2022

In a first, the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) officers reached out to several ministries in the last week of April as part of a confidence-boosting measure. The meeting brought the CAG officials and those from the ministries across the table to discuss the pain points in their relations. CAG of India Girish Chandra Murmu took this novel step because of growing tensions between those audited and the auditor.

'ISI is rarely questioned in Pakistan'

'ISI is rarely questioned in Pakistan'

Rediff.com18 Aug 2021

'But India, increasingly, is not that far behind, which is a story I never expected to tell.'

Return Of 'Committed Judiciary' Or Judicial Over-Reach?

Return Of 'Committed Judiciary' Or Judicial Over-Reach?

Rediff.com23 Jan 2023

Vice President Dhankar's and Law Minister Rijuju's recent interventions have the danger of destabilising the Constitutional equilibrium, cautions N Sathiya Moorthy.

Netherlands is now India's 5th-largest export destination

Netherlands is now India's 5th-largest export destination

Rediff.com23 May 2022

The Netherlands has emerged as India's fifth-largest export destination in 2021-22 (FY22), jumping from its 10th position a year ago. Exports to the fifth-largest economy in the European Union (EU) bolted 94 per cent to $12.5 billion in the financial year ended March 31. In FY22, the Netherlands surpassed Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, Germany, and Nepal to become India's largest export destination in the EU. Germany, which was earlier India's top European export destination (eighth position), has now dropped two ranks to 10th place.

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

Murthy, who currently is the top Indian-American advisor to President-elect Joe Biden on COVID-19, is a potential pick for the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services and Stanford University Professor Arun Majumdar for the post of Secretary of Energy, The Washington Post and Politico said in their reports on Tuesday that mentions a list of potential picks for various Cabinet-level positions in the Biden administration.

Yogi pitches for special task force in Ayodhya in 100 days, women commandos

Yogi pitches for special task force in Ayodhya in 100 days, women commandos

Rediff.com21 Apr 2022

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed officials to speed up setting up of a commando training centre in Rampur and also form a skilled team of women commandos.

'Mission Shakti will worry China, Pakistan'

'Mission Shakti will worry China, Pakistan'

Rediff.com1 Apr 2019

Mission Shakti 'shows the development within India's military space programme, its desire to be seen as a global space power and its recognition of the potential dangers of China's counterspace programme.'

Did V K Singh's army unit rope in JK minister to topple govt?

Did V K Singh's army unit rope in JK minister to topple govt?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2013

The ruling National Conference on Friday demanded a CBI enquiry or a high-level probe into the functioning of a top secret intelligence unit set up by the former Army chief, General V K Singh. The unit is alleged 'to have used secret service funds to destabilise the Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir.'

Officials 'intimidated' Indian journalists critical of govt: US report

Officials 'intimidated' Indian journalists critical of govt: US report

Rediff.com13 Apr 2022

India in the past rejected similar reports.

Twitter's Agrawal latest Indian to head a global giant

Twitter's Agrawal latest Indian to head a global giant

Rediff.com30 Nov 2021

With his elevation as the CEO of Twitter, Parag Agrawal, in whom co-founder of the microblogging giant Jack Dorsey has "bone-deep" trust, joins the growing power club of Indian-origin executives helming US-based global multinationals. Twitter's outgoing CEO Dorsey announced on Monday that 37-year old Agrawal, an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Stanford University alumnus, will be the company's new chief executive as he stepped down after 16 years at the company that he co-founded and helmed. A report in The New York Times said Agrawal will receive an annual salary of $1 million, in addition to bonuses, restricted stock units and performance-based stock units.

Indian Army's Achilles Heel: Artillery Power

Indian Army's Achilles Heel: Artillery Power

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

The army has long been deficient in artillery, the modern battlefield's most lethal killer, says Ajai Shukla.

Can India Deal with Halahal In Amrit Kaal?

Can India Deal with Halahal In Amrit Kaal?

Rediff.com15 Aug 2022

We have our own problems for sure and they are not trivial, but for now, our economy is in not too bad a shape, our politics is as personality-driven and authoritarian as that of most countries in the world. We must make the best of what we have and not be excessively unhappy looking at the grass on the other side of the septic tank which may not be greener after all!, observes Shreekant Sambrani.

To deny statehood to J&K is injustice

To deny statehood to J&K is injustice

Rediff.com27 Jul 2020

It is time we pre-empt Pakistan and the separatists by fast tracking normalcy, advises Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Telecom ministry has a plan to combat tele frauds, pesky calls

Telecom ministry has a plan to combat tele frauds, pesky calls

Rediff.com15 Feb 2021

The telecom ministry will set up an intelligence unit and a consumer protection system as part of continuing efforts to tackle the menace of pesky calls as well as to take strict action against financial frauds perpetrated using telecom resources.

SC sets aside RBI ban on cryptocurrencies

SC sets aside RBI ban on cryptocurrencies

Rediff.com4 Mar 2020

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed banks and financial institutions to provide services related to cryptocurrencies by setting aside the RBI's 2018 circular which had prohibited them. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice R F Nariman, said the Reserve Bank of India circular is liable to be set aside on the ground of "proportionality". "Accordingly, the writ petitions are allowed and the circular dated April 6, 2018 is set aside," said the bench, also comprising justices Aniruddha Bose and V Ramasubramanian.

Three Covid positive UK returnees isolated at Goa airport

Three Covid positive UK returnees isolated at Goa airport

Rediff.com10 Dec 2021

Three passengers, including a British national of Goan-origin, who arrived at the international airport near here on a flight from the United Kingdom on early Friday, tested positive for COVID-19, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.

Draft policy unlocks govt data for all; monetisation likely

Draft policy unlocks govt data for all; monetisation likely

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

The government on Monday published a draft data policy for public consultation, which says all data collected, generated, and stored by every government ministry and department will be open and shareable barring certain exceptions. Also, detailed datasets that have undergone value addition could be monetised by the government. The policy document, called "Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022", prescribes that a regulatory authority called the Indian Data Council (IDC) and an agency by the name India Data Office (IDO) will oversee framing metadata standards and enforcement, respectively.

India to get $ 1.5 bn loan from ADB to buy Covid vax

India to get $ 1.5 bn loan from ADB to buy Covid vax

Rediff.com25 Nov 2021

The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$ 1.5 billion (around Rs 11,185 crore) loan to India for COVID-19 vaccine procurement.

Who botched up the migrant crisis?

Who botched up the migrant crisis?

Rediff.com20 May 2020

'Why has this turned out to be one of the greatest humanitarian crisis that has caught the Centre and the states in a bind with no answers to this unexpected tsunami?' asks Brigadier Narender Kumar (retd).

Reimagining Venture Capital

Reimagining Venture Capital

Rediff.com18 Oct 2022

Ajit Balakrishnan on keeping an eye on democratising finance in India.

Biden nominates Desi lawyer to head office of personnel management

Biden nominates Desi lawyer to head office of personnel management

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

United States President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American lawyer and rights activist Kiran Ahuja to head the Office of Personnel Management, a federal agency that manages America's more than two million civil servants.

Can Gujarat's GIFT city be Asia's next financial hub?

Can Gujarat's GIFT city be Asia's next financial hub?

Rediff.com5 Aug 2020

'GIFT City is now on a growth trajectory,' says Tapan Ray, MD and group CEO, GIFT City, 'The time has come for the GIFT City to take the big leap and emerge as the next financial hub of Asia.'

Be Prepared for Taliban Terror

Be Prepared for Taliban Terror

Rediff.com1 Sep 2021

Pakistan would want to take full advantage of the situation to direct Taliban trained terrorists into the Kashmir Valley, alert Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Pakistan is playing with fire

Pakistan is playing with fire

Rediff.com13 Aug 2020

'By annoying the Arabs and cozying up to Iran, Pakistan may end up losing Arab economic support, annoying the Americans and increase Shia-Sunni tensions domestically,' Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) points out.

It's becoming difficult for Putin to fund Ukrainian war: US

It's becoming difficult for Putin to fund Ukrainian war: US

Rediff.com6 Apr 2022

The White House is planning another set of sanctions on Russia. This is likely to be announced on Wednesday.

Modi kicks off air service for 'people who wear Hawaii chappals'

Modi kicks off air service for 'people who wear Hawaii chappals'

Rediff.com27 Apr 2017

Regional connectivity will bring development to tier-2 and tier-3 cities which are becoming "growth engines", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating the first flight under UDAN.

Read books: Akhilesh on controversy over his Jinnah remark

Read books: Akhilesh on controversy over his Jinnah remark

Rediff.com6 Nov 2021

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday sought to defend his widely criticised statement equating Muhammad Ali Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru and saying they helped India get freedom even as an Uttar Pradesh minister suggested a narco test for him for 'glorifying' the founder of Pakistan.

Salman Rushdie: The free speech champion whose 'verses' put his life at risk

Salman Rushdie: The free speech champion whose 'verses' put his life at risk

Rediff.com13 Aug 2022

The attack on Rushdie sent shock waves around the world, with world leaders and literary stalwarts saying they were appalled at the attack on the author who championed free speech and lived under the threat of assassination for nearly half his life.

US VP-elect Kamala Harris receives first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

US VP-elect Kamala Harris receives first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

The US vice-president-elect received a dose of the Moderna vaccine from clinical nurse Patricia Cummings at United Medical Center, which is located in Southeast Washington, DC.

UK to hit Russia with 'first barrage' of sanctions, says Johnson

UK to hit Russia with 'first barrage' of sanctions, says Johnson

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will hit Russia with a "first barrage' of economic sanctions, warning that President Vladimir Putin is fixed on a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine".

Nirav Modi has been dethroned!

Nirav Modi has been dethroned!

Rediff.com2 Mar 2022

If there were an Olympics for bank frauds in India, Rishi Agarwal, founder and former chairman of ABG Shipyard Ltd, a nephew of the Ruia brothers of the Essar group, would bag the gold, pushing Nirav Modi to his right, says Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine approved by UK regulator

Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine approved by UK regulator

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

The UK's National Health Service was already lining up thousands of medics and volunteers to be ready to deliver jabs up and down the country.

75th Independence Day: What India should do

75th Independence Day: What India should do

Rediff.com15 Aug 2020

India is too diverse to be governed centrally and with a single system. The way forward is for the central government to keep the monopoly of military power and a share of national resources while the provinces must have greater autonomy, recommends Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Modi turns 72, leads a busy day as wishes pour in

Modi turns 72, leads a busy day as wishes pour in

Rediff.com17 Sep 2022

Wishing him, President Droupadi Murmu said the work for nation-building under his incomparable hardwork, dedication and creativity continue to advance.

How Mamata can woo big-ticket projects to Bengal

How Mamata can woo big-ticket projects to Bengal

Rediff.com11 Apr 2022

The words 'industry', 'industrial development', 'jobs', and 'employment' have been ringing with higher frequency since Mamata Banerjee stepped into her third term with landslide victory after a high-octane election last year. "Our government's next target is industrial development," the chief minister (CM) had been heard stating at different public meetings in the past few months - perhaps setting the tone for the sixth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) slated for later this month. Investor summits by any state are about intent, big numbers, and tall claims. Yet in competitive federalism, its importance as a marketing tool is undeniable.

Full text: President's address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day 2023

Full text: President's address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day 2023

Rediff.com25 Jan 2023

Here's the full text of address to the nation by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of the Republic Day 2023.

India launches Brazilian satellite, 18 others

India launches Brazilian satellite, 18 others

Rediff.com28 Feb 2021

In the first dedicated mission of its commercial arm New Space India Limited (NSIL), the Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday successfully launched Brazil's earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 and 18 other co-passengers, including five built by students, onboard a Polar rocket from the spaceport in Sriharikota.

Is Tourism Destroying Goa?

Is Tourism Destroying Goa?

Rediff.com24 Feb 2023

Poor governance and mediocre short-sighted politics are destroying the paradise that Goa was as its environment, water table, culture and way of life is drastically threatened by tourism and migration, points out Ramesh Menon.