News for 'Urban'

Chembur tree collapse: Contractor fined, BMC to implement new SOPs

Chembur tree collapse: Contractor fined, BMC to implement new SOPs

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

A committee investigating the fatal Chembur tree crash has recommended fines of Rs 5 lakh on the roadwork contractor and Rs 2 lakh on the supervising consultant. The panel found no prima facie fault with BMC's garden and roads departments but suggested implementing a Standard Operating Procedure for urban tree safety and appointing tree experts to oversee pruning work to prevent future incidents.

Dil Chahta Hai@25: 'Didn't Know We Were Making A Cult Film'

Dil Chahta Hai@25: 'Didn't Know We Were Making A Cult Film'

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut, Dil Chahta Hai, which released 25 years ago, redefined male bonding in Hindi cinema, moving away from the traditional macho template to offer a refreshing and breezy take on friendship, becoming a timeless classic.

Bajaj Finance's Strong Q1 FY27 Performance Driven by AUM Growth, Digital Initiatives

Bajaj Finance's Strong Q1 FY27 Performance Driven by AUM Growth, Digital Initiatives

Rediff.com9 Aug 2026

Bajaj Finance reported a strong Q1 FY27 performance with 24 per cent year-on-year AUM growth and a 28 per cent rise in consolidated profit after tax, driven by significant increases in consumer financing, gold loans, and commercial vehicle loans, alongside a strategic focus on digital transformation and AI.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Makes History In Indian Box Office

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Makes History In Indian Box Office

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has shattered box office records in India, achieving the biggest opening day for a non-Indian film.

Glimpses Of Monsoon Mayhem

Glimpses Of Monsoon Mayhem

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

The southwest monsoon has intensified across India, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and prompting red alerts for several states, alongside concerns over landslides and urban flooding.

CJP warns of nationwide stir, accuses Centre of backtracking on FIR promise

CJP warns of nationwide stir, accuses Centre of backtracking on FIR promise

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday accused the Centre of resisting the Supreme Court's bid to facilitate quashing of FIRs against students and protesters and demanded that the outfit's members be included in the high-powered committee announced by the court to examine allegations of police excesses and violence against cops.

China Imposes Sweeping Drone Restrictions Following Beijing Plane Incident

China Imposes Sweeping Drone Restrictions Following Beijing Plane Incident

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

China has cancelled drone shows and suspended drone flights across several provinces following a small plane crash in Beijing that raised significant security concerns, especially near top leadership compounds. This move signals a tightening of low-altitude aviation regulations, impacting the burgeoning "low-altitude economy" and civilian drone use, with new laws classifying illegal drone use as a public security threat.

China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin hits its eastern coast

China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin hits its eastern coast

Rediff.com9 Aug 2026

China's national observatory issued a red alert -- the highest level in the country's typhoon warning system -- as Typhoon Dolphin hit Zhejiang province on the eastern coast on Sunday afternoon.

Bengal Police bust Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting ministers

Bengal Police bust Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting ministers

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

West Bengal police have unearthed a sophisticated Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting state ministers, their families, and other high-profile individuals, leading to the arrest of a third suspect, Aditya Singh, an alleged associate of Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim Mondal.

Big win for TN, Supreme Court stays HC order banning cow slaughter

Big win for TN, Supreme Court stays HC order banning cow slaughter

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

The Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on the Madras High Court's directive that imposed a blanket ban on cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu, responding to an appeal from the State government.

In a first, 92 Maoist-free Bastar villages to celebrate I-Day

In a first, 92 Maoist-free Bastar villages to celebrate I-Day

Rediff.com8 Aug 2026

Ninety-two remote villages in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, once a Maoist stronghold, will hoist the national flag for the first time since Independence on August 15. This historic event signifies the end of left-wing extremism in these areas, with the state government leading an extensive campaign to foster national pride.

How Prashant Kishor Shattered BJP Fortress In Bankipur

How Prashant Kishor Shattered BJP Fortress In Bankipur

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Prashant Kishor's stunning Bankipur victory has broken the BJP's three-decade dominance in one of its safest urban strongholds, signalling a major political shift in Bihar.

Meet Prashant Kishor's Wife, Jahnavi Das

Meet Prashant Kishor's Wife, Jahnavi Das

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Prashant Kishor and Dr Jahnavi Das first met while working on a United Nations public health initiative.

'Crisis In The Economy Started Last Year'

'Crisis In The Economy Started Last Year'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

'It is not because of the war in West Asia, which began on February 28.' 'Petroleum product prices are already going through the roof. They are bound to have a serious inflationary impact.' 'A country's leadership is tested in trying times. It is here that the current leadership is failing.'

RBI Keeps Tata Sons Waiting

RBI Keeps Tata Sons Waiting

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

The RBI once again said the Tata group holding company's application for deregistration as an NBFC remains under examination.

UPI payments to remain free, charges to apply only on...: Govt

UPI payments to remain free, charges to apply only on...: Govt

Rediff.com8 Aug 2026

The Indian government has clarified that consumers will not be charged for UPI transactions, and most merchant transactions will also remain free. This comes amidst speculation following an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would be nominal, threshold-based, and aimed at ensuring UPI's long-term sustainability and infrastructure development.

Gujarat on high alert as extremely heavy rainfall likely in 2 days

Gujarat on high alert as extremely heavy rainfall likely in 2 days

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

The administration has been put on high alert following the India meteorological department's (IMD) forecast of extremely heavy rainfall across several districts of Gujarat in the next two days.

Electrifying! Olectra first co to deploy 4,000 e-buses in India

Electrifying! Olectra first co to deploy 4,000 e-buses in India

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

Olectra Greentech Ltd has become the first company in India to deploy 4,000 electric buses on Indian roads, marking a significant milestone in the country's transition to sustainable public transport and reinforcing its leadership in electric mobility.

Gen Z Protests: What Government Needs To Fix

Gen Z Protests: What Government Needs To Fix

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

The challenge thrown by the youth movement creates the opportunity for a more consequential debate on India's economic trajectory because it must remain centered on India's youth as its driving impulse, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

70-year-old man falls into manhole in Hyderabad after heavy rain

70-year-old man falls into manhole in Hyderabad after heavy rain

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

A 70-year-old man, Balaiah, was washed away after allegedly falling into an open manhole in Hyderabad following heavy rainfall. Rescue operations are underway to trace him. This incident follows another recent drowning tragedy in Telangana where four youths drowned in the Sri Ram Sagar Project.

India sees 4-fold surge in high-income earners over five years

India sees 4-fold surge in high-income earners over five years

Rediff.com27 Jul 2026

The number of individuals reporting a gross total income of 100 crore or more in their income tax returns has quadrupled to 576 in Assessment Year 2025-26, up from 142 in AY 2021-22, according to data shared in Parliament.

RBI keeps key interest rate same amid inflation, global risks

RBI keeps key interest rate same amid inflation, global risks

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained its benchmark policy rate at 5.25 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting, prioritising clarity on inflation trends, particularly concerning energy costs and geopolitical developments.

No court relief for Azam Khan university but babu stays razing

No court relief for Azam Khan university but babu stays razing

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by a businessman on behalf of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University regarding the demolition of its buildings, citing that the pleader was an outsider. Separately, the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner's court granted an interim stay on the demolition of 38 university buildings until the final hearing.

Max, Min And Meowzaki Review: Love And Loss

Max, Min And Meowzaki Review: Love And Loss

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

Max, Min And Meowzaki is not something Bollywood audiences are used to in their cinema that thrives on melodrama and noise. Still, it captures a slice of city life that has made space for cat lovers, movie buffs and Carnatic rockers, discovers Deepa Gahlot.

Why You MUST Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly

Why You MUST Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Young adults in India are increasingly grappling with high blood pressure, a condition once thought to affect mainly the older demographics. Cardiologists point to sedentary lifestyles, obesity, chronic stress and unhealthy diets as primary drivers of this silent epidemic.

Cigarette tax hike impacts ITC's Q1 net profit, down 16.2%

Cigarette tax hike impacts ITC's Q1 net profit, down 16.2%

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

ITC reported a 16.2 per cent year-on-year drop in consolidated net profit to 4,394.13 crore in Q1 FY27, primarily due to a significant increase in taxes on its cigarette business. Consolidated net revenues also declined by 11.1 per cent to 19,114 crore, missing analyst estimates.

'India needs deeper bond, forex, derivatives markets for Viksit Bharat'

'India needs deeper bond, forex, derivatives markets for Viksit Bharat'

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Rohit Jain has stated that India cannot rely solely on bank balance sheets to fund the extensive investment required for its 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) goal by 2047, emphasising the critical need for deeper corporate bond, foreign exchange, and derivatives markets.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella EV makes its India debut

Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella EV makes its India debut

Rediff.com20 Jan 2026

Toyota on January 20, 2026, officially entered India's mass electric vehicle segment with the maiden launch of the Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella in Mumbai.

Ahmedabad's 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' Invitation for 2030 Commonwealth Games

Ahmedabad's 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' Invitation for 2030 Commonwealth Games

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

India officially launched its bid to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, presenting a vibrant cultural showcase at the Glasgow closing ceremony that blended ancient philosophy, contemporary artistry, and cultural grandeur.

How BJP Plans To Scuttle Prashant Kishor's Bankipur Campaign

How BJP Plans To Scuttle Prashant Kishor's Bankipur Campaign

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

'It is a well calculated strategy of the BJP to hit the JSP and widely propagate that leaders have been leaving PK sensing his defeat in the bypoll.'

'We Are Seeing A Lot More Male Fertility Cases'

'We Are Seeing A Lot More Male Fertility Cases'

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

Doctors attribute the rise in male infertility to obesity, diabetes, smoking, chronic stress, inadequate sleep and sedentary lifestyles.

Commonwealth Games Kick Off With Focus On Sustainability

Commonwealth Games Kick Off With Focus On Sustainability

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

The 23rd Commonwealth Games opened in Glasgow with a vibrant ceremony at the OVO Hydro, blending Scottish heritage with modern performances. King Charles III declared the Games open, emphasising a message of sustainability, particularly regarding plastic pollution in oceans. The event showcased a new, more compact model for the Games, focusing on existing venues and integrated Para sports, following Glasgow's role as a step-in host.

Urban India likely to account for 70% of GDP in FY26

Urban India likely to account for 70% of GDP in FY26

Rediff.com21 Feb 2026

India's urban areas are projected to contribute 70 per cent of gross domestic product in 2025-26, up from 45 per cent in the 1990s, according to a report by Dun & Bradstreet.

Maruti Suzuki's Q1 net profit falls 9% despite sales jump, as West Asia conflict drives up costs

Maruti Suzuki's Q1 net profit falls 9% despite sales jump, as West Asia conflict drives up costs

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) reported a 9.1 per cent year-on-year decline in net profit for the April-June quarter of 2026-27, marking its second consecutive quarterly fall. This dip occurred despite a significant 29.3 per cent jump in sales volume, primarily due to escalating commodity prices, increased energy costs, and logistics disruptions stemming from the West Asia conflict.

The EPlane Company Unveils E200X Electric Air Taxi Prototype

The EPlane Company Unveils E200X Electric Air Taxi Prototype

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Chennai-based deep-tech startup The ePlane Company has successfully completed the assembly of its full-scale electric air taxi, the e200X. This prototype, designated PT-01, is now ready for ground testing, marking a significant step towards flight testing and eventual type certification. The versatile e200X is designed for passenger air taxi services, urban cargo transport, and air ambulance operations, aiming to leverage existing city infrastructure.

BRICS Nations Strengthen Health Cooperation Through Digital Innovation

BRICS Nations Strengthen Health Cooperation Through Digital Innovation

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the strong health cooperation within BRICS, emphasising the critical role of digital health and artificial intelligence in ensuring continuity of care. Speaking at the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting, she noted shared challenges among member nations and showcased India's advancements in digital health infrastructure and AI strategy.

Women Owners Employ More Women

Women Owners Employ More Women

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

In cities where women own a larger share of small businesses, women also account for a larger share of jobs.

Namo Cities: Delhi's decongestion dream faces the test of execution

Namo Cities: Delhi's decongestion dream faces the test of execution

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister's announcement of four 'Namo Cities' aims to decentralise development and decongest Delhi, but experts warn that the initiative may face execution challenges similar to previous urbanisation plans due to inadequate coordination among NCR states.

Geopolitical risks, supply shocks could keep credit-deposit gap elevated: SBI

Geopolitical risks, supply shocks could keep credit-deposit gap elevated: SBI

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

A recent SBI Economic Research report indicates that the significant gap between credit and deposit growth, currently over 530 basis points, is likely to persist if geopolitical risks and external supply shocks continue. However, an improvement in deposit growth is anticipated with inflows into foreign currency non-resident (bank) deposits.

Why India's Youth Anger Exploded

Why India's Youth Anger Exploded

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

The failure of the State when it directly affects our lives, through a corrupt exam system, has produced this current anger, points out Aakar Patel.