News for 'Western India'

Secularism part of Constitution's basic structure, says SC

Secularism part of Constitution's basic structure, says SC

Rediff.com21 Oct 2024

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar passed the remark while hearing a batch of petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and others, who have challenged the inclusion of words "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble of the Constitution.

A Day That Ustad Zakir Hussain Gifted Me

A Day That Ustad Zakir Hussain Gifted Me

Rediff.com17 Dec 2024

The eulogies will pour for Ustad Zakir Hussain. There will be those who recount his genius, his enterprise, his achievements, his grace, and his charm. I have no selfies or autographs to remember him by, but I will never forget his most generous and gracious gift to me -- one day in heaven, among the celestial ensemble of Indian music.

No response to 26/11, but it won't be the case anymore: Jaishankar

No response to 26/11, but it won't be the case anymore: Jaishankar

Rediff.com27 Oct 2024

"We should not have a repeat of what happened in Mumbai. That there was a terror attack and there was no response," Jaishankar told reporters in Mumbai.

Kerala floods put focus back on worsening situation in Western Ghats

Kerala floods put focus back on worsening situation in Western Ghats

Rediff.com19 Oct 2021

Gadgil and the report prepared by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by him are back in news after over two dozen people lost their lives in landslides and flash floods in the past few days in the hilly regions of Western Ghats in central Kerala districts of Kottayam and Idukki.

What Modi Can Learn From Trump's DOGE

What Modi Can Learn From Trump's DOGE

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

'Our politicians solely depend on bureaucrats who are unaccountable and follow their own agenda.' 'Our politicians would dare not dream of establishing a DOGE,' argues Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Rediff.com6 Dec 2024

Live on one of Gelephu's inhabitable bridges where elephants will saunter past, be it day or night; or be homed in a never-ending building with flying cars and robot maids? asks ambivalent Sandeep Goyal.

Priyanka, Rakul And The Magic Of Handspun

Priyanka, Rakul And The Magic Of Handspun

Rediff.com2 Oct 2024

Mahatma Gandhi showed India how to fight for Independence using khadi. Today khadi and handloom have become one of the many incredible faces India shows the world.

Disengagement may pave way for further steps: Jaishankar

Disengagement may pave way for further steps: Jaishankar

Rediff.com3 Nov 2024

India and China have made "some progress" in disengagement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday, describing it as a "welcome" move which opens up the possibility that other steps could happen.

Modi's Challenge Of The South

Modi's Challenge Of The South

Rediff.com25 Mar 2024

It is early to make out which way the wind is blowing, but there is no denying that challenges for the BJP, far outweigh the advantages in this region, notes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Maha govt declares desi cows 'Rajyamata Gomata'

Maha govt declares desi cows 'Rajyamata Gomata'

Rediff.com30 Sep 2024

The decision, which comes ahead of the state assembly elections, underscores the cow's spiritual, scientific, and historical significance in Indian society, an official said. It highlights the integral role that cows have played in India's cultural landscape for centuries, he added.

India taking it seriously: US on 'assassination plot'

India taking it seriously: US on 'assassination plot'

Rediff.com30 Apr 2024

India is taking the allegations regarding the assassination plot of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States seriously, the White House has said but refrained from commenting on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into the matter and the criminal case filed by the Department of Justice.

India now a 'major power': Chinese scholar

India now a 'major power': Chinese scholar

Rediff.com4 Jan 2024

India has emerged as a 'major power' by achieving outstanding results in economic development and social governance and its transformation as a stronger, assertive country has made it a 'new geopolitical factor', according to a commentary by a Chinese scholar in a state-run newspaper in Beijing.

Let Us Salute Narayana Murthy

Let Us Salute Narayana Murthy

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

No great achievement or discovery or invention has been achieved without hard work. While the inspiration may have been an insight, it needs work to flesh the insight which requires hard work, asserts Mudit Jain.

Iran Missile Strike Forces Flight Reroutes

Iran Missile Strike Forces Flight Reroutes

Rediff.com7 Oct 2024

Flights from Delhi or Bengaluru, while they may still fly over Iran, depending on the route, have alternative paths that may take them through Central Asia or northern routes.

Govt targets zero load shedding this summer

Govt targets zero load shedding this summer

Rediff.com3 Apr 2024

As India's electricity demand soars, the power ministry on Tuesday reviewed the power supply situation to ensure 'zero load shedding' during the summer months. The ministry has drafted plans ranging from delaying planned maintenance of thermal power stations to mandatory operations of imported coal-based and gas-based stations till September. In a series of meetings with industry stakeholders, Union Minister for Power, New, and Renewable Energy R K Singh emphasised the importance of adequate planning to avoid situations where one state has surplus power while another state faces shortages.

Diplomatic Expulsions: Games Nations Play

Diplomatic Expulsions: Games Nations Play

Rediff.com18 Oct 2024

India and Canada have mutually beneficial political and economic linkages. The two countries should get together and find a solution. The expulsion war should, in the meantime, be a guarantee against any deterioration of the situation, asserts Ambassador T P Sreenivasan, the first Indian head of mission to be ever expelled by any country.

Why savings from Russian oil has dropped to a third

Why savings from Russian oil has dropped to a third

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

Savings for Indian refiners from purchasing Russian oil have decreased to a third of what they were in the years following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which triggered global crises, sanctions, and discounted Russian oil seeking buyers. Despite this, savings from importing cheap Russian oil were significant enough to help Indian refiners tide over frozen petrol and diesel pump prices.

Modi-Xi 'Agreement': The Nation Needs To Know!

Modi-Xi 'Agreement': The Nation Needs To Know!

Rediff.com28 Oct 2024

China does not have to give up what it took in 2020, it will never give up its claim to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and other areas, and it has all the time now to plan its next surprise, points out Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).

Australia selectors make surprise pick for England ODIs

Australia selectors make surprise pick for England ODIs

Rediff.com17 Sep 2024

Several other pacers are unavailable due to injury including Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis.

Monsoon advances in India; normal life hit as heavy rains lash Guj, Raj

Monsoon advances in India; normal life hit as heavy rains lash Guj, Raj

Rediff.com30 Jun 2024

Several deaths were reported across the country due to rain-related incidents like lightning strikes and drowning.

Skip Canada! 10 Places To Study Abroad

Skip Canada! 10 Places To Study Abroad

Rediff.com29 Nov 2024

Indian students are looking at destinations that offer quality education coupled with unique cultural and career experiences, often at more affordable costs, says Gaurav Batra, CEO, Infinite Group.

Why West Opposes Strong Leader Like Modi

Why West Opposes Strong Leader Like Modi

Rediff.com9 Jun 2024

'The West has always opposed a strong nationalist leader in India and Narendra Modi is no exception.' 'The West prefers weak leaders who are amenable to Western pressure and Mr Modi's independent stance is not to the liking of the West,' asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

If elected, INDIA bloc to have 5 PMs in 5 years: Modi

If elected, INDIA bloc to have 5 PMs in 5 years: Modi

Rediff.com27 Apr 2024

Congress wants to change the Constitution and rob Dalits, OBCs of quota benefits for religion-based reservation, Modi said.

Solicitor general disses influence of western jurisprudence, sets off argument

Solicitor general disses influence of western jurisprudence, sets off argument

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

The apex court was hearing a plea by a former woman judicial officer who resigned following an inquiry into her allegations of sexual harassment against a Madhya Pradesh high court judge.

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow

Rediff.com21 Oct 2024

Here stood a man who embodied the legacy of whatever Brand Tata stood for, embellished it, and departed into the long night, leaving the brand legacy for others to further enrich, notes R Gopalakrishnan.

ISI, terror groups turn to social media platforms for J-K recruitments

ISI, terror groups turn to social media platforms for J-K recruitments

Rediff.com20 Oct 2024

Once identified, these individuals are drawn into private groups where they are exposed to manipulative content, including fabricated videos depicting atrocities allegedly committed by security forces, the officials said.

Modi's first-ever visit to Ukraine likely in Aug; focus on ending war

Modi's first-ever visit to Ukraine likely in Aug; focus on ending war

Rediff.com27 Jul 2024

The proposed visit is being planned around the Ukrainian National Day of August 24 and the prime minister may also travel to Poland as part of a two-nation tour, they said.

Modi presents 4 BHISHM cubes to Zelenskyy

Modi presents 4 BHISHM cubes to Zelenskyy

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday presented four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) Cubes to the Ukrainian government during his visit to the war-torn country where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy under the shadow of the raging war with Russia.

Wayanad landslides linked to warming of Arabian Sea: Scientist

Wayanad landslides linked to warming of Arabian Sea: Scientist

Rediff.com31 Jul 2024

He said scientists have noticed a trend of very deep cloud systems developing over the southeast Arabian Sea, and added that sometimes, these systems intrude into the land, like in 2019.

What Is Canada-US Game Plan?

What Is Canada-US Game Plan?

Rediff.com23 Oct 2024

It seems that the West is sending a signal to India that it can return to old hostilities unless India toes their line on Russia. It is no surprise that India is being compared with Putin's Russia in terms of targeting 'dissidents' as the West calls these Khalistani terrorists, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

India's oil import bill could swell to $101-$104 bn in FY25: ICRA

India's oil import bill could swell to $101-$104 bn in FY25: ICRA

Rediff.com30 Apr 2024

India's net oil import bill could widen to $101-104 billion in current fiscal from $96.1 billion in 2023-24 and any escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict could impart an upward pressure on the value of imports, ICRA said on Tuesday. The domestic rating agency said based on its analysis, lower value of Russian oil imports is estimated to have led to savings of $7.9 billion in 11 months (April-February) of 2023-24, up from $5.1 billion in 2022-23.

India's gold demand up 8% in Q4 despite high price

India's gold demand up 8% in Q4 despite high price

Rediff.com30 Apr 2024

India's gold demand rose 8 per cent annually to 136.6 tonne in the March quarter helped by a strong economic environment despite prices touching historic highs, according to the World Gold Council. The aggressive gold buying by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also contributed to the rise in demand. India's gold demand in value terms rose 20 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 75,470 crore during the January-March period of this year on volume growth as well as a rise in quarterly average prices by 11 per cent.

Britain's King Charles visits Bengaluru for Ayurvedic treatment

Britain's King Charles visits Bengaluru for Ayurvedic treatment

Rediff.com30 Oct 2024

Britain's King Charles is on a personal visit to Bengaluru where he is staying at a sprawling integrative medical facility near Whitefield, sources said on Wednesday.

Troops disengaged at Galwan Valley, 3 other Eastern Ladakh spots: China

Troops disengaged at Galwan Valley, 3 other Eastern Ladakh spots: China

Rediff.com14 Sep 2024

Her comments come a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Geneva that roughly 75 percent of the "disengagement problems" with China are sorted out but the bigger issue has been the increasing militarisation of the frontier.

Mumbai gets 100 mm rainfall in 10 hrs; rail, air traffic hit

Mumbai gets 100 mm rainfall in 10 hrs; rail, air traffic hit

Rediff.com21 Jul 2024

Flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were suspended twice for a brief period due to inclement weather and low visibility, a source said.

2036 Olympics: Coming Out Party For India

2036 Olympics: Coming Out Party For India

Rediff.com14 Nov 2023

If Ahmedabad is India's preferred candidate, as seems likely, hosting Olympics 2036 should give it a leg up: A bigger airport, a better metro network, more hotels, flyovers and so on, observes T N Ninan.

'Something Fishy About Election Results'

'Something Fishy About Election Results'

Rediff.com27 Nov 2024

'How can the voting percentage be higher than the actual polled votes?'

Biden praises Modi's 'message of peace' for Ukraine

Biden praises Modi's 'message of peace' for Ukraine

Rediff.com27 Aug 2024

The White House readout of the call had no reference to Bangladesh, which was mentioned in an 'X' post by PM Modi.

Heatwave sears north India, UP's Orai bakes at 46.4 deg C

Heatwave sears north India, UP's Orai bakes at 46.4 deg C

Rediff.com19 Jun 2024

The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas, and 30 degrees in hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 notches.

Despite shrinking discounts, Russian crude flow to India may continue

Despite shrinking discounts, Russian crude flow to India may continue

Rediff.com22 Mar 2024

Despite discounts on Russian crude oil - which fell to the lowest since the Ukraine war began - and the rising sanctions, import volumes from the country will remain stable for now or at least till July, said refinery officials. "There is an appetite for Russian crude, and shipments are not expected to taper off beyond this point unless something major happens. "Talks are on, and buying will continue," an official at a major refinery said.